Often it strikes me, that We should be appreciative that we have, and have had,
so many different options.
so many different options.
What triggered you to align with a certain manufacturer for your cordless tools?
- Thread starter GON
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About 8 years ago I bought a Milwaukee M18 cordless drill and impact driver combo on sale, it came with 2 batteries and the deluxe M12/M18 charger. I pondered between that and the Ridgid equivalent that was also on sale but the Milwaukee had a better feel to it and a way better feeling trigger, so I bought the Milwaukee. I've since added a 1/2" drive M18 (non fuel) impact, and a M12 electric ratchet and M12 3/8 (fuel) cordless impact wrench. Since I got the deluxe charger, I've just bought the bare tools and aftermarket batteries. Still super happy with the original drill and impact driver I got, the original batteries still hold a great charge even in the dead of winter. Anything is better than that 6-7 volt black and decker crap I grew up with, no power, poor battery life and wobbly chuck right out of the box. I had a coworker of mine help me build a porch, and he brought his Ryobi 18? volt cordless drill. I kind of laughed at first since he said he bought it because it's green, but I used that drill a lot and really like it too.
Agreed. Of all my tool purchases, the Lithium era cordless systems have to be among the best, most-used, most reliable, and highest value for the buck.
My first cordless of note was the 12V Skil drill driver in the late NiCad era. It was mediocre at best, and it ground down to a halt from internal friction a few months after I purchased a second battery for it (as the first one was dying, and they cost a fortune back then). Even though I felt burned on the second battery purchase, I did get a lot of use out of it, including driving most of the screws for a large deck (with pre-drilled holes from a corded drill). With two batteries and only one extension cord to manage, I felt very productive.
Röhm, the chuck that come on most tools is crap, there are some exceptions with higher end units, some have very nice chucks both keyed and keyless, the ones on TTI Milwaukee are pretty sad but they don't consider cordless hand drills to be precision drilling tools so that is the reason.
A good chuck and good cobalt 35 (for hand held drills, cobalt 42 for presses) with a 135° split point bit using cutting fluid for metal will drill like magic and greatly prolong battery life on cordless.
Increasingly I use step bits when possible. But quality of step bits is all over the map and sizes are limited, etc
The other problem with Milwaukee-provided chucks is that if they get over-tightened (which is arguably necessary just to get them to hold) it essentially destroys the chuck. Once you finally get it to back off it's stiff and makes bad ratcheting or clicking noises even when it should basically spin freely, eg rapidly opening or closing to adjust the size.
But as I've said, my latest 2904 said "Germany" on the back of the chuck but I didn't even give it a chance to disappoint me (fool me twice, shame on me....) and immediately swapped for a Rohm
But as I've said, my latest 2904 said "Germany" on the back of the chuck but I didn't even give it a chance to disappoint me (fool me twice, shame on me....) and immediately swapped for a Rohm
Years ago, I had several battery drills of varying brands. When the batteries died, I could buy a new drill with batteries for less than a replacement battery. Bought a Ridgid with the lifetime battery guaranty. Lasted about 3 years. When I went to Home Depot for a replacement, they told me that they no longer made those batteries and was told that there was nothing they could do. To this day, I never buy any tools at Home Depot.
I was at Sears one day and they had a sale on 18V set that had a 1/2 drill, reciprocating saw, small circular saw, flashlight and a sheetrock cutout tool. I thought that having several tools that use the same batteries, I could justify buying a replacement battery when the originals died. Later, when Dewalt went to the 20V lithium batteries, I bought adapters on eBay allowing me to use 20V on the 18V tools. The original tools all still work well. Being married to Dewalt due to batteries, I have continued to buy Dewalt. Bought my wife a string trimmer and a blower to keep the patio clean. I also bought 1/2 and 3/8 impact drivers, a 4 gallon sprayer, 2 right angle drills, 1/2 hammer drill and 2 inflators (keep them in my vehicles-very handy items). Had one 20V battery fail under warranty and it was promptly replaced by the retailer. A few of the 20V batteries are almost 10 years old and are still going strong. The tools all have performed well.
I was at Sears one day and they had a sale on 18V set that had a 1/2 drill, reciprocating saw, small circular saw, flashlight and a sheetrock cutout tool. I thought that having several tools that use the same batteries, I could justify buying a replacement battery when the originals died. Later, when Dewalt went to the 20V lithium batteries, I bought adapters on eBay allowing me to use 20V on the 18V tools. The original tools all still work well. Being married to Dewalt due to batteries, I have continued to buy Dewalt. Bought my wife a string trimmer and a blower to keep the patio clean. I also bought 1/2 and 3/8 impact drivers, a 4 gallon sprayer, 2 right angle drills, 1/2 hammer drill and 2 inflators (keep them in my vehicles-very handy items). Had one 20V battery fail under warranty and it was promptly replaced by the retailer. A few of the 20V batteries are almost 10 years old and are still going strong. The tools all have performed well.
I've never been a fan of DeWalt, but this just ices the cake, no DW tools for me.
I have owned them all, Makita, Milwaukee, Ryobi, Bauer, Hercules, Skill, and more, still have most of them, except DW and Milwaukee, as I gave all my Milwaukee to my partner when we switched to Flex for our everyday HVAC tools.
Back When Black Friday was in it's infancy, Sears practically gave away (first 18v then 19.2) stuff. I'd had a hand me down Makita drill that sometimes needed a whop to work, and one BF Sears had a Drill/Flashlight combo with 2 batteries and a charger for something like 19.99. I was pretty religiously using Craftsman hand tools, so that was an easy decision. The next year I bought another combo. It was an odd combo, something like a sawzall and some other cutting tool. I think it was 39.99 but the caveat was this set didn't have a battery or charger, still, $39 and I had 2 batteries and chargers. Then they went to 19.2 volt and 5 years later my 18v batteries were as worthless as old plugged nickels. I'd say I got my moneys worth out of the drill and sawzall. The drill and sawzall replaced my bathroom subfloor and when I put a roof on the house the saw got good use, plus the drill drove thousands of screws when I build my 20x20 shed from scratch materials. That flashlight is probably what killed the batteries. I used it many a night out on the boat.
Now I just buy what is on sale. I rarely use my tools, so I have a Black and Decker cordless chainsaw and a drill. A Kobalt weed eater and a pole saw - which I love. And a Ryobi hand me down impact, which I need a new charger for. It was last charged approx 2021 and believe it or not I used it last weekend. Go go Ryobi power. I was gonna toss it because I NEVER really use it and just wait on something cheap to go on sale at the Big Red HF , but that impressed me enough that I'll buy a cheap charger on Amazon for it. I also use a cheap charger for the B&D off of Amazon. I ran over the factory one.....
If I was a professional who used tools daily - I wouldn't be like that of course.
Now I just buy what is on sale. I rarely use my tools, so I have a Black and Decker cordless chainsaw and a drill. A Kobalt weed eater and a pole saw - which I love. And a Ryobi hand me down impact, which I need a new charger for. It was last charged approx 2021 and believe it or not I used it last weekend. Go go Ryobi power. I was gonna toss it because I NEVER really use it and just wait on something cheap to go on sale at the Big Red HF , but that impressed me enough that I'll buy a cheap charger on Amazon for it. I also use a cheap charger for the B&D off of Amazon. I ran over the factory one.....
If I was a professional who used tools daily - I wouldn't be like that of course.
I'm in the Makita camp, originally based on @Trav recommendation. Pricey, but the best usually is. Love the impact.
I have a Milwaukee Fuel ratchet and 1/4" impact, but I am sorry I bought them as it is now my understanding they are products of China. I think Milwaukee may be manufactured in numerous countries; I know I don't have the whole story.
I do get a ton of use out of the little impact. The Makita is a lot dirtier now... And the leaf blower keeps the garage and driveway clean.
I have a Milwaukee Fuel ratchet and 1/4" impact, but I am sorry I bought them as it is now my understanding they are products of China. I think Milwaukee may be manufactured in numerous countries; I know I don't have the whole story.
I do get a ton of use out of the little impact. The Makita is a lot dirtier now... And the leaf blower keeps the garage and driveway clean.
I have zero bland loyalty. I have a 16 year old makita circular saw, impact driver, drill and 1/2 impact gun. All still work great. Milawakee had some GREAT automotive tools so I went that way for car stuff. Some people make it their personality and identity, me? Ill pass on putting giant "bran name" stickers on my car and spending too much money on their coolers.
My wife ordered a Rigid leaf blower and string trimmer combo set. 18V and 4AH isn't really enough battery life or thermal mass to run hard for very long in either of them, but they do work well enough if you bring a few batteries and I have 3 3AH ones. Registered for the lifetime warranty on all it again, but doesn't seem like we're going to need it too soon.
That impact is a great tool, put a 5 or 6A battery on it and it makes more power for a longer time.
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More and more TTI/Milwaukee stuff is being made in Vietnam. I guess there is not enough profit margin in Chinese labor for a Chinese company.
Got a new hot water heater last week. Plumbers had this tool:
M18 and M12 FORCE LOGIC Plumbing Installation Press Tools | Milwaukee Tool
Shop heavy duty plumbing power tools including M18 and M12 FORCE LOGIC press tools and press tool accessories.
www.milwaukeetool.com
I didn’t know that pipes could be crimped nearly instantly, in lieu of, a solder joint.
Huge time saver, and the guys really liked it because if the pipe is leaking slightly as they’re doing the install, the crimper works, where a solder joint simply can’t get enough heat (unless they’re carrying a bit of Wonder Bread around…)
Milwaukee has a wide variety of very specialized, trade tools, especially for plumbing. I think if I were in the skilled trades, I would lean towards Milwaukee.
Makita makes fine cordless tools, and in fact, they invented cordless tools, and they have a really great variety of outdoor power equipment running on their 18 V system.
But that pipe crimper sure was nice…
Cool.....Got a new hot water heater last week. Plumbers had this tool:
M18 and M12 FORCE LOGIC Plumbing Installation Press Tools | Milwaukee Tool
Shop heavy duty plumbing power tools including M18 and M12 FORCE LOGIC press tools and press tool accessories.
I didn’t know that pipes could be crimped nearly instantly, in lieu of, a solder joint.
Huge time saver, and the guys really liked it because if the pipe is leaking slightly as they’re doing the install, the crimper works, where a solder joint simply can’t get enough heat (unless they’re carrying a bit of Wonder Bread around…)
Milwaukee has a wide variety of very specialized, trade tools, especially for plumbing. I think if I were in the skilled trades, I would lean towards Milwaukee.
Makita makes fine cordless tools, and in fact, they invented cordless tools, and they have a really great variety of outdoor power equipment running on their 18 V system.
But that pipe crimper sure was nice…
For repairs, "propress" as it is called in the industry, is great. The fittings are very expensive compared to conventional sweat fittings, but the savings in time, to the business owner is where it is at. Of course none of this translates to your bill......but you get the idea. I have used "propress" many times, and it has its advantages, but like everything else, it has its draw backs aswell, of course.
"Megapress" however has been a game changer in black iron gas pipe. It uses the same principles as "propress". Propress acutally forces the pipe and fitting into a hexagonal shape as one......the "O" ring is really a "hex Ring"....where as the mega press only presses the fitting with some teeth for extra security. You can count on at least a 70% decrease in install time with both systems. but a 500% cost of fittings increase. For gas, it is a game changer, night and day
The problem with both is when there is a leak, or you are working in tight spaces. It still has to be done right, of course.
But yes, Milwaukee owns the market when it comes to these specialized tools at least here in the USA. Many of the tools are "good ideas" but are not to practical for a professional. The Pro, MegaPress are worth it IMO.
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