I Done Did It, Broke My Rule & Got the Other Red (Power Tool)....

[darkzero]

Or should I say the other other red? Well when I think other red I think Skil (don't know why). Then there's Hilti but I don't work in those trades & I don't see Hilti around me. So the other other other red?

I had typed up a long *** post as to why I bought this tool but no one is gonna care. Heck I don't even care for anything SB&D Craftsman myself. I've been using MW for the past 10 years (Dewalt before that, Makita if I ever jump ship). But I'm no fan boy, I'll never buy MW hand tools, tape measures, or care for their packout. I'm even starting to get a distaste for MW cordless tools & batteries.

Anyways I got an old price matched deal for their cordless screwdriver from Lowes. Been wanting some kind of "full size' cordless screwdriver to compliment my smaller lighter duty ones. This all started cause I got the V20 handheld vac during BF (same thing as the Dust Buster). We have one at work & I liked how well it works. But this don't mean I'll continue to buy V20 stuff.





Very first use was to disassemble my M12 Subcompact to swap the anvil.



Not much out there for tool mounted bit holders. It does have two magnets on top for holding bits. I got aftermarket bit holders for Dewalt, was a 2pk. Some slight cutting to fit then dyed them black. I tried 3D printed ones with magnets but I didn't like how cheap they felt. Plus I use these style on my MWs. Not gonna use the belt clip on this one so I just slapped on both of them.





Never would I have thought I'd ever buy a SB&D Cratsman cordless tool let alone two of them. I'm actually pretty happy with it so far.... surprisingly.

 

[Robinson1]

From what I’ve seen SBD craftsman is pretty much just older dewalt models in red plastic. Im not convinced this is a bad thing as most of those older dewalt models were plenty good enough.

Some of it is likely Porter Cable in red plastic as SBD has all but abandoned the PC line.

Craftsman is a lot like Ryobi too as they have a ton of random task specific tools and SBD seems to use it as a testing ground before releasing a Dewalt version. Homeowner specific and garden tools come to mind.

 

[darkzero]

Yep, I feel like SB&D Craftsman V20 stuff is much like what Ryobi is for TTI, more basic models aimed for DIYrs & stuff that would likely never be offered under MW or Ridgid. Dewalt has a model like this but it's on their 12V platform. Looks like SB&D Craftsman intended to have a 12V line also but it never came to be.

 

[charbar]

Any idea if the DeWalt 20v batteries work in the Craftsman tools?

 

[darkzero]

I don't own any current Dewalt stuff so no idea personally. But the Craftsman V20 batteries look quite different & there are adapters available so I'm assuming no.

 

[Robinson1]

Any idea if the DeWalt 20v batteries work in the Craftsman tools?

Not without an adapter but you can buy one from at minimum a couple dozen sellers on eBay, Etsy or Amazon

 

[david3921]

I have two of those vacuums except they're Black and Decker. One in the garage and one in the house. I use my PC batteries in them.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NCKR934?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[sparky 1971]

I've started buying another red as well. Bauer from Harbor Freight. In the last month I've had three Fuel failures.

1) the super duper end all-be all high torque impact wrench. I've had it for a long time, but it's so awkward that I rarely used it, usually opting for old faithful, the IR231. Pulled the Fuel out because I didn't feel like stringing a mile of hose outside, pulled the trigger and no worky. Changed the battery, still no worky. Put it another battery and it still didn't work. Ran the hose out of the shop and used the air. Threw the Milwaukee in the trash and bought a Bauer high torque, which pales in comparison to the Fuel, but oh well, at least it works.

2) The week before last I was using the M18 Hole Hawg but only drilled one hole and it quit. Changing the battery made no difference. This doesn't piss me off as bad as the others because I bought it a long time ago, the day it was released by Milwaukee for sale is the day I bought it. If I were to guess, I'd say it's drilled about 5000 holes, maybe the equivalent of 15 houses, so really not that good but it is what it is and it's lasted longer than the others. I'm debating on whether to send it in to get fixed, I've had the Super Hawg repaired twice with one of those under warranty. I did buy the new version, this time with a quick lock chuck, and will admit that the new unit is much more powerful and faster. I used it today for the first time and drilled about 30 7/8" holes through studs.

3) On Christmas Eve I broke out my least used power tool, the Fuel Sawzall and it quit after about 30 seconds. I doubt it's been used 10 times but I've had it for years. This morning I threw it on the bench and my pre Fuel Sawzall from the shop in the service truck and tomorrow I will probably buy a Bauer for the shop.

 

[tarbellb]

My M18 Fuel sawzall also shite the bed, tore it apart- pc board failure
Out of warranty and likely $100+ to fix

I poured concrete into a 3lb coffee bucket, stuck the indexing foot of the sawzall into it - its now my doorstop

 

[darkzero]

That ***** that it failed but I love what you did with it. I've been watching a lot of Dean Doherty's videos lately.... I can see why he's not a fan of MW.

 

[KnurledNut]

A buddy of mine took his Fuel impact driver apart after it died suddenly. He didn’t see anything wrong so he brought it to me and said I could probably figure it out. I immediately pulled the motor/switch/wiring/controller assembly out of it which is basically all one piece and said you need a new one of these. He wasn't humored when I explained why.

Another friend of mine has his own business fixing tools much like Dean. He dreads seeing Milwaukee stuff come in, which is pretty often. Several of his customers are switching to HF stuff after getting tired of paying a premium for overpriced short-lived power tools.

I tread lightly around the subject here as GJ largely bleeds red.

 

[sparky 1971]

I tread lightly around the subject here as GJ largely bleeds red.

Until recently I was a staunch defender of Milwaukee. No more. I am too far vested in red tools for work so I'm not changing because I'm not buying another line of batteries, but if I were to do it all over again, knowing what I know now, I'd probably be in another brand. I don't mind wearing stuff out but when tools are failing and they aren't even scuffed up yet due to lack of use, something is wrong.

I'll also add in that other than a warranty replacement on a bandsaw, I haven't had many problems with the M12 line. The original multitool was a joke, but that was my fault because I was asking too much out of it and the dustbuster style vacuum got tossed in a dumpster after one use, but again, it wasn't designed for what I was asking out of it.

 

[sparky 1971]

My M18 Fuel sawzall also shite the bed, tore it apart- pc board failure
Out of warranty and likely $100+ to fix

I poured concrete into a 3lb coffee bucket, stuck the indexing foot of the sawzall into it - its now my doorstop

That's a marvelous idea. I'm gonna steal it but make a modification; I'm going to use a Harbor Freight bucket. I'll shoot a couple of cans of spray foam in it first so it doesn't get too heavy and I'm never going to have to screw around bungee cording the back door to the shop open again.

 

[darkzero]

I tread lightly around the subject here as GJ largely bleeds red.

There are brand fanboys, loyalists, or whatever you want to call them everywhere, nothing wrong with that. People here are much more civil though, sorry to say but I believe it's an age/generational thing.

People on reddit get so **** hurt when you talk **** about brands they like, it's entertainment for me. Funny cause I'll talk **** about red (well speak reality) even though I'm currently a MW user myself, they can't handle that. The HF guys there are even worse. They can't accept that HF used to be **** & that a number of things there still are. I have nothing against HF though even 25 yrs ago. I shop there too.

 

[FTWingRiders]

I run Milwaukee and Makita, but when my old Craftsman 19.2 D-handle detail sander finally died and neither of those made a similar one, I checked out the new Craftsman, and sure enough, they made one just like my old faithful sander.. so now I have 3 brands I run. I always check all 3 when I looking for something, and compare them to get the one that works for me.

 

[tarbellb]

That's a marvelous idea. I'm gonna steal it but make a modification; I'm going to use a Harbor Freight bucket. I'll shoot a couple of cans of spray foam in it first so it doesn't get too heavy and I'm never going to have to screw around bungee cording the back door to the shop open again.

Thanks
I would keep the base a bit heavy, the saw weighs enough to make it tippy otherwise

In all its glory

 

[tiredoldironworker]

My company reimburses me for my Milwaukee cordless tools and that's great. We have a lot (mostly hi-torque impacts, impact drivers, and drills) and run most of them hard. However, my M18 fuel sawzall only lasted 6 months of infrequent use. Sent it to warranty center and received it back in about a week. It works again, great! I pulled it out about a week later and it worked! Fast forward 3 months and SAME PROBLEM! The motor spins up but no movement at all on the business end. Milwaukee also stated only a 90 day warranty on warranty repairs. They obviously didn't fix what was really wrong. I am not done with them because all my work cordless tools are MW but I will seriously weigh my future purchases. It looks like I am fixing to have a new doorstop as well.

 

[finn]

This thread has taken an absolutely shocking turn!

 

[darkzero]

Nobody likes my tool.

 

[tarbellb]

Nobody likes my tool.

Sorry @darkzero didn't mean to derail the thread

I did check out the TTC vid about that Cman impact, got some guts but super bare bones

Bottom line- all the big boy names better be worried, these low budget models are getting decent

 

[darkzero]

Sorry @darkzero didn't mean to derail the thread

I did check out the TTC vid about that Cman impact, got some guts but super bare bones

Bottom line- all the big boy names better be worried, these low budget models are getting decent

Haha, no worries, I don't care, & the post you quoted was just a joke in reply to finn.

The tool I posted about is not the impact driver, it's the screwdriver, basically a drill with the clutch settings but no 3 jaw chuck, just a 1/4 hex chuck & only one speed (one speed gearbox, trigger provides variable speed). Not a very popular tool but useful to me. I have plenty of other impact drivers (4 Milwaukees).

 

[MT800]

Yeah, I'm a MW fanboy. I now get Bosch when I need/want another power tool. I have a angle grinder and I like the disk
change style, also have a Bosch multitool I like.

 

[egdede]

Bosch for me since 1997 or so. I was buying a 'cordless drill' at sears to start a new construction job. That was the only power tool I was told to bring. I copnsidered Makita to be the standard at that time. Makita was out of my budget. I bought a Dewalt. The Dewalt was dead out of the box.

Found out it was recalled despite still being sold on the floor. I had a new job starting the next day. Thje dept manager upgraded me to a Bosch. It was so much better than everyone elses dewalt and better enough than the Makitas that I Have been a Bosch fan boy sonce then.

I've always had to search Bosch out, but I find their cordless tools last and last.

 

[Aaron_W]

I expected Bauer from the title, but yeah Craftsman is also red.

 

[Farmall450]

I've started buying another red as well. Bauer from Harbor Freight. In the last month I've had three Fuel failures.

1) the super duper end all-be all high torque impact wrench. I've had it for a long time, but it's so awkward that I rarely used it, usually opting for old faithful, the IR231. Pulled the Fuel out because I didn't feel like stringing a mile of hose outside, pulled the trigger and no worky. Changed the battery, still no worky. Put it another battery and it still didn't work. Ran the hose out of the shop and used the air. Threw the Milwaukee in the trash and bought a Bauer high torque, which pales in comparison to the Fuel, but oh well, at least it works.

2) The week before last I was using the M18 Hole Hawg but only drilled one hole and it quit. Changing the battery made no difference. This doesn't piss me off as bad as the others because I bought it a long time ago, the day it was released by Milwaukee for sale is the day I bought it. If I were to guess, I'd say it's drilled about 5000 holes, maybe the equivalent of 15 houses, so really not that good but it is what it is and it's lasted longer than the others. I'm debating on whether to send it in to get fixed, I've had the Super Hawg repaired twice with one of those under warranty. I did buy the new version, this time with a quick lock chuck, and will admit that the new unit is much more powerful and faster. I used it today for the first time and drilled about 30 7/8" holes through studs.

3) On Christmas Eve I broke out my least used power tool, the Fuel Sawzall and it quit after about 30 seconds. I doubt it's been used 10 times but I've had it for years. This morning I threw it on the bench and my pre Fuel Sawzall from the shop in the service truck and tomorrow I will probably buy a Bauer for the shop.

Damn, when it rains it pours. My dad's 1/2 BL MW sometimes needs to be "crank started" for some reason. Unclear why.

OP, I've had great luck w/ the V20 stuff. They also have nice premo USA made models of some stuff (1/2 drill, 1/4 impact). The BL 1/2 impact is also really good (I got 3 of the sets cheap a year or two ago when they were on clearance at F&F). I have those in every vehicle, and a whole lineup of the tools in my work truck.

 

[darkzero]

Never expected to get even more V20 stuff but thanks to their free battery swap promo here I am. I already shared this in the battery swap promo thread but wanted to add it here.

The deals were way to good to pass up, $150 got me all of this. I'm still shocked.




EDIT: My second score. This time only $70 for 5 more batteries, a jigsaw, 150W inverter, & a hot glue gun. The mini fan was from Ace Hardware but got a discount on that too, $17.