How did you choose your "battery platform"?

[Coach James]

I didn't pick a single brand. I bought the tools I liked and now have cordless from Hitachi, Bosch, Milwaukee, Porter Cable, Ryobi, Kobalt HF and C-man plus ones I inheritated from my dad.

Coach

 

[marineman]

I had quite a few in the old Dewalt 18V Nicad line but as my batteries all slowly died off I decided to upgrade to a new lithium line and the milwaukee Fuel line seemed to be the best at the time for the tools I needed most, hammer drill, 1/4" impact and 1/2" impact. Those are my most used and most important power tools so I wanted a top quality brand for them. I've also added a bunch of Ryobi tools now that aren't as important or as high of use items, got a roto-zip, right angle drill, cordless palm router and a few others. All of my Ryobis do exactly what they're intended to do and I like that if the batteries ever get upgraded they will still work with old tools but I do like having a bit higher quality for my critical use tools.

 

[LeeG]

I was a Dewalt guy for years. When my NiCad batteries started to die, I wanted to upgrade to LiIon. DEWALT had been promising a converter to let me run my older tools with the new battery. After about 2 years of waiting, I gave all my Dewalt tools to my nephew and went Milwaukee. Never have regretted it. I do a wide range of handyman type work and have been very happy with them. I currently own 27 different tools, plus several duplicates

 

[Trock03]

I got heavily into the cordless tool game in the early 2000s. All DeWalt 18v nicad and they were all free in the form of safety awards at work. The batteries started crapping out several years ago so I bought the 20v adapter kit to keep the old tools going. Have added a few new DeWalt brushless tools since then but the old 18v tools still receive most of the abuse and are still running strong.

If I was starting fresh though I'd probably give my money to Ryobi because of their great price point and the wide range of offerings. I'm a homeowner so I'm not earning a living with my tools.

Yard equipment is another story. A few years ago I went all in on cordless lawn tools. My research told me that Ego was the way to go because of their battery technology and I haven't regretted it. I've got the trimmer, edger, big mower and big blower. Probably going to pull the trigger on the 16" chainsaw as well. I live on the Texas gulf coast so they're maintaining a big lawn almost all months of the year.

TC

 

[davethorik]

I was using hand me down 18v nicad Porter Cable until I was given a Milwaukee M18 set as a gift.

 

[theoldwizard1]

My son has DeWalt from a few years back (they may be NiCad).

I just started my Milwaukee M12 collection. Very happy so far, especially with the Fuel (brushless) tools.

 

[kctyphoon]

I will buy anything that Milwaukee makes.. clothes, flashlights, cordless tools, cordless lights, right down to their markers.. the tools are competitively priced and often exceed what you'd expect.

Best part is their m12 and m18 lines are equally supported - meaning both platforms receive equal attention and are always having new tools being introduced. They might be the only brand actually doing this..

Converted over from 18v Dewalt a few years ago - and it was a tough choice at the time. Now - no regrets.. not one..

 

[DFB]

I had Makita cordless for years and years 7.2V to 18V and batteries just always sh*t out. And it would cost a small fortune to replace them especially from the local lumberyard before all this internet bargaining power and the proliferation of Home **** stores, Flea Bay and the like. So when lithium was fairly new with power tools and I needed/wanted a new "12V" actually 10.8 at the time I THOUGHT I wanted to stay with Makita but the reviews on batteries still sucked and the new line up of Milwaukee tools just felt better in hand. So I went with that and there has been no looking back. I have yet to have one single battery problem or even a tool problem. (Milwaukee is not without issue thou on some things but the good outweighs any minor problems IMO)

I built on the 12v line first and was long time before I even purchased any 18v because I still had my old Makita stuff and still do.

Had Hitachi on my Boss's dime ehh so soo I liked them but Milwaukee just has so much to offer for everything I do from construction to mechanical repair.

As for Dewalt well I been working trades for years and took so much sh*t from mouth breathers for my Makita being Japanese and Dewalt MADE IN USA and being the best I will never buy or own them. I have used them and they are high quality tools good fit finish and performance and not knocking them (Just a personal conviction)

Gosh reminds me of two uncles one a Korean war vet didn't talk to his brother for life because he married a japanese woman when he was in the Air Force and brought her to America. F'n Grow up.

Shoot I have quality Ryboi chop saw long before Home Depot marketing made it a mainstream homeowner grade tool. They used to be a serious choice along with old some of the old names like Delta and Rockwell and even Porter Cable tools

 

[Crazyjake8493]

My 1st cordless drill was a CM, with nicad batteries, it didn't last long. Went with a ryobi kit, batteries crapped out after 18 months.
Li ion batteries came out I switched to rigid, mostly because of the LAS. So much for that after the batteries crapped out after a year.
I then went to bluepoint for a 3/8" Dr impact, little over 2 years and the batteries and gun were junk.

The Ridgid batteries are covered in the LSA if you bought them in a kit and remembered to register it. I don't have any Ridgid tools, but my dad loves them for that reason. My argument is that if the tools are built to last they wouldn't need a lifetime warranty.

 

[skruft]

I used various brands (Sears, PC, Milwaukee) then years ago got a DeWalt 18v basic drill and found it to be good, if heavy, so I bought more DeWalt as I needed them. The latest thing is an adapter to use the 20v Max batteries.

I don't know the others well enough to say one is best.

For purely good feel in the hand, the best I tried was a Panasonic.

I see people using Makita, Milwaukee, DeWalt.

 

[Lisamelting]

I started out with DeWalt around 20 years ago. Around 3 years ago I received a Milwaukee M18 drill as a gift. Since then I've added an M18 impact driver and sawzall. So as of now it's a mix of both but I feel Milwaukee is the direction I'm heading. Honestly, both platforms have served me well and if not for receiving the Milwaukee I may have stayed with DeWalt.

 

[Reese]

I have had Makita 9.6 Nicad, Dewalt 18v, Skil 18v, Ryobi 18v, Dewalt 20v, Milwaukee M12 and M18, and Snap on 14.4.

I normally choose a platform by whatever is widely available in the local pawnshops. I own rental property so my tools live a hard life and are subject to getting stolen. It's handy to be able stop by a pawnshop while I'm in the hood to buy a cheap replacement.

I really like the feel and weight of the Snap On tools. I have owned most of that line in the last year. I normally can buy them reasonably cheap and flip them for a good profit on Ebay. I keep thinking I will keep some, but the profit potential always seems to win out.

The Skil tools were new as a Christmas gift one year, those are the only new cordless tools I have ever owned. The Skil tools were nice for a cheap set of lithium but the battery and charger only lasted a year and they seemed to quickly disappear from the market.

The only tools I really hated were the 18v Nicad Ryobi. The tools felt cheap and seemed gutless. I wasn't too upset when they were stolen from my truck in the hood.

I currently have the Dewalt 20v and Milwaukee M12. I really like the Dewalt, but I'm not as excited about the Milwaukee, they may end up on Ebay.

 

[Finky198]

There once was a really Hot Hilti sales rep at the local Home Depot...

I had a good time flirting, but kept it Strictly business in the end. I bought lots of quality tools at excellent prices... and I’m still using all my stuff today that was in 2010.

 

[Htscheg]

I habe Dewalt at home, and at work I use Ingersoll Rand Cordless, rugged and heavy duty, I alao use Sanp-On 14.4 volt stuff, works great and have no complaints!!!

 

[CoryDH]

I had an old ni-cad craftsman drill, upgraded to a new craftsman drill at the wrong time I guess but wanted another battery a year or so later and could not find one. They were just coming out with the C2 stuff I think it was or whatever that first jump into lithium was. Said piss on it and bought a dewalt set and just stuck with em. The batteries all interchange though and the yellow looks better than teal or aqua or red. Haha. The guy I trained under when I really got into power tools and made a living with them for a stretch used Makita and I did like those. His were white. Looked dirty as hell but worked great.

Sent from my LG-TP450 using Tapatalk

 

[MushCreek]

I have two Milwaukee corded drills that I bought new in the 70's. When planning to build my house, I went with the M18 platform about 7 years, based on reviews. I'm still amazed by their performance, and my corded stuff is gathering dust. I'm just now starting to add tools from the Fuel line.

 

[trackwelder]

DeWalt because I can use their brand new batteries on my 10+ year old tools that still work. I know they’ll still support the product unlike Makita, Milwaukee and others.

I had a ton of dewalt stuff but they dragged bringing the adapter to market for so long I dumped it all.

 

[Oldgloryfirearms]

I personally have two platforms. I use Makita 18volt platform for all woodworking and OPE and i use the Milwaukee M12 platform for their automotive tools, impacts, wrench's , etc. I do have some duplicate tools for example drills but to me its worth it because IMHO I believe Milwaukee is the best on the impact side and Makita makes the best woodworking tools routers, saws, etc


I should note that my budget does not accommodate for Festool so they are out but if it did I would drop Makita in a heartbeat.

 

[buba]

I upgraded from the 18v Dewalt line to 20v Dewalt years ago with no regrets.

When it came time to replace my old 6V screwdriver I went with Bosch 12v and added a few other Bosch 12v's over time. Can't beat the Bosch 12v for size/weight to power ratio, The weight to power is especially good for older folks with arthritic hands.

 

[cgv69]

I was a long time Makita guy because back in the day, Makita owned the cordless drill market. Back then, most of the non-drill cordless tools of the time (and there were not many that I recall) were pretty much worthless.

Back then I was an installer and I started out with their 7.2v model with metal keyed chuck. I love that drill because it was perfect for the type of work I was doing and I still have that drill today but it does need some new batteries. I later got what was pretty much the professional standard for many years, the 9.6v stick drill and then later moved up to a 14.4v t-handle type model. Never really cared much for either of those last 2 drills.

A few years ago I needed a new drill and seeing how I wasn't that impressed with my last 2 Makita's, I started looking around at what else was available? I don't like or have a need for big heavy drills so I focused on 12v drills. Based on the reviews of the time and how it felt in my hand, I ended up getting the Milwaukee M12 drill and loved it.

Since then, Milwaukee has exploded their M12/M18 line up with the Fuel stuff and all sorts of useful and capable battery powered tools, some of which I never even knew that I needed or wanted. I've since bought into the Milwaukee Fuel line up big time. I'm up to ~10 different Milwaukee Fuel tools and see many more in my future.

 

[Alpine4x4]

Makita and Ryobi for me. Ryobi was my first drill given to me as a gift. Soon after I received a Makita 18V drill, impact, and angle grinder combo and have since added a 1/2" brushless impact. I'll be adding a makita circular saw, sander, and most likely some yard tools to the arsenal. The Ryobi is my in house quick use drill.

 

[Locker537]

My parents bought me a Milwaukee M12 drill/driver kit that came with an OMT, bag, two batteries, and charger when my wife and I bought our first home. It served me very well over the years, and I began my M18 addition with a high torque FUEL 1/2" impact when it went on sale a couple years ago.

 

[garagelogician]

My monkey brain likes the color red, I don't care for yellow...and Milwaukee has a leg up with tools geared towards mechanics which is my hobby of choice.

 

[red94chev]

Grew up using my grandfather's old 18V Dewalt tools and hated them with a passion. Seemed like they were always week and batteries lasted minutes before going dead so that put a bad taste in my mouth. When I was old enough to warrant the purchase of my own power tools, Makita was my choice for whatever reason. I've been thoroughly happy with my decision.

 

[2Busy]

Not a pro so all home use here, but on the high end for that (lots of remodeling and DIY). I have Ryobi 18v Lithium for lawncare (hedge trimmer, saw, blower) going on 10 years use and Porter Cable 18v NiCD for power tools (drill, sawzall, circular, flashlight) that are so old I don't remember when I got them (15-20 years??). I also have compressed air with IR impact tools, Hitachi nailers, etc., in my garage. I'll probably always stay with Ryobi for the lawn just because of the price point but I've forever wanted to move "upstream" with the power tools to Dewalt or maybe Milwaukee but I can't get the Porter Cable stuff to break. If that Porter drill ever dies or the batteries start to fail I'll have an excuse but no obvious signs of either yet.

Maybe that says something...do guys who aren't on a job site every day really need the good stuff?

 

[Tynee]

I needed a new codless drill, had been really happy witb a Bosch 14.4 I had for many years, but wanted to see what was out there. Looked at Bosch, Milwaukee,DeWalt, and Rigid. Decided that the torque and speed available in the Rigid 18V line presented the most value. I’m very “bang-for-my-buck” oriented in my home tool purchases, so I started with a drill/impact starter kit on sale at HD that got me an extra 2aH and charger for free after rebate. Added a work light, sawzall, circular when I was headed down to TX last year to do some Harvey clean up. Recently added the 1/2” impact. Would like to add a multi-tool, fan, and grinder as well as a 4 or 5 aH batt. Having a harder time justifying that money.

 

[Bennylava]

Always seems to come back to makita. Looks like the others are catching up or caught up, but makita keeps some kind of slight edge.

Is there another jump up in performance and quality after makita? Maybe Festool?

 

[...]

Started with Makita 20 years or so ago. Went to craftsman a few years ago but since they haven't come out with anything new in a long time, I started now moving into more Milwaukee stuff..

 

[seber]

The progression of Black and Decker to B&D Professional to Dewalt was a big no for me. B&D had gotten so bad they had to change the brand. It turns out they did a good job but too late for me. I had also had a lot of experience with underpowered Makita tools and with really good Milwaukee corded tools. All that make the choice very obvious.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Ryobi here.

I like the fact that they haven't changed their battery interface in a decade, meaning there are a *LOT* of used tools out there that are just as good today as back then with a simple change of a battery pack. Pawn shops and garage sales are good for picking up the unusual tool. I don't like that Home Depot is the only source of Ryobi tools in the retail side, but they do often get some unusual bare tool only offers that make it worth looking at.

I thought them to be home garage / consumer light use only, but the impact guns are pretty darn decent, and the 1/2" impact can break any bolt I throw at it, so I can't complain there.

The shop blower is small, compact and dumb. It's stupid. It shouldn't be a thing. And yet I bought one for $50 and... wish I had bought it years ago. I have been using a larger electric leaf blower for blowing off stuff in the garage and now this cordless one- I mean, it's just there, hanging on the wall with a battery ready to go. Is it the best tool out there? No, it's the tool I reach out for when I need one because it's handy, available, and WORKS. It works far better than I want it to. I want to dislike and dismiss it as trash, yet it keeps earning its keep and my respect.

I recently picked up the 3.5 gallon shop vac. Rectangular, squat, and- surprisingly also very good. It was perfect for detailing my car and has become my go to vac in the garage.

Darn it, I like these things too much. Corded tools are in another cabinet drawer and the Ryobi's are the ones I grab now.

They just work.

 

[macs_rock]

I've got all Milwaukee gear, because they have the tool selection I like (more stuff geared for automotive use, the heated gear, etc) and because the M12 stuff is generally powerful enough for my needs. I do have a 2767 High Torque M18 Impact wrench though, which I love and use any chance I get. I'm sure I would have been happy with Makita or DeWalt, but only with the basic stuff. I don't think Makita or DeWalt make a cordless Dremel-type tool, and if they do, I doubt the battery will be the same as their stubby impact or their circ saw or their drills. For me, it's M12 unless more power is needed, then M18.

 

[speed bump]

Started out with Craftsman 19.2v tools because that is what my family was invested in.

Bought a 10.8v Hitachi impact and abused it mercilessly for years so when it was time to upgrade I got the 18v impact and drill. The drill clutch doesn't stay engaged while drilling so I started looking at changing platforms.

My sister and dad went with Dewalts 20v system so I have been buying 20v Dewalt for the last 2 years. If they hadn't made the choice first I likely would have gone Milwaukee but i'm not disappointed in the Dewalt tools.

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

Dewalt. They're good, affordable and, most important, they're everywhere.

Although I always wanted to buy Bosch.

 

[Bockscar]

Re: How did you choose your "battery platform"?

What are anyone's thought on Rigid....I like there warranty.....currently I have Craftsman 19.2 since 2005 have been looking at them all.....have heard that DeWalt isn't what it used to be

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[dr_clyde]

I honestly prefer corded tools for most everything except drills and impact drivers. Even then, I use a corded drill or drill press if I can.

That being said, I have 2 platforms. In my shop I have Makita. I like their drills. I also have a cheap cordless impact wrench from them, but I usually use air.

At home I use Bosch, they were on sale. I have a drill, impact driver, sawzall, and flashlight. I think I paid $200.

If I could start over, I'd use Metabo or Hilti. They make more tools for metalworkers than anyone else.

 

[Finky198]

^^^ as much as I like my cordless stuff.
My corded grinders, drills, and saws are still use more often than not...

 

[DFB]

Years and years ago when I was young and just starting out I tried various HO type brands like Black & Decker and more notably I bought a lot of Craftsman corded tools...they always had their various levels of quality...good, better, best. And of course they had their store card line of credit for larger purchases, like tool boxes bench saws etc. Most where decent But it seemed they carried the respect of various other brands and weren't pro quality though their industrial branded line was really top notch. You really do get what you pay for.

And I could never afford to just pay cash for big name tools in the local hardware/lumber center in those days first starting out, princess bride and all, one who rather have a dining room table than a table saw!

Though I did buy a few there though my Makita corded circ and 7.2v cordless drill there.

Then Sears started with their "Brand Central" thing in the 90's maybe and I could now buy various brand name tools and still use their store credit. So I went with all Makita, I really like Makita tools and carried them on jobs for like 2 decades taking massive **** when all the mouth breathing USA chanters touting yellow tools on job sites.

Later when I need an impact they were fairly new and we had an HD store by then I looked at the Makita drivers the sales weren't that prevelant and prices seemed very high which prompted to look at the new RED... Milwaukee and I settled for a 12v impact driver mainly the price but the fit and feel was great too. Makita had lost me on their 12v line with the white pod style tools.

Long story short never looked back and have been amazed at the depth and innovation in the Milwaukee lineup. I use items that may not be as mainstream than just a drill driver/impact. The transfer pump, the new little air compressor, finish nailer, heat gun solder iron, all the different lights, all the different impact wrenches just great stuff. Now there are table saws, chop saws etc that cordless just awesome. Only thing I am missing still is a cordless framing nailer really. Well maybe I will be surprised yet.

 

[ChaseDE]

Cheap, readily available, large line of tools, well reviewed and my favorite color? Ryobi (green) it is!

 

[rick carpenter]

I have an old Bosch 18v impact that came with two slimpack batteries. I never did buy the fatpacks as I had intended to do at first because one slimpack could last 6+ hours putting up sheetrock.

I like Milwaukee's selection of batteries in the M12 line, but their prices could be more to my liking. I like the size of the M12 XC6.0, nice and compact. I can't decide if I'll get that or the two-pack of XC3.0's next for my M12 brushed impact and drill/driver.

My last purchase was a brushless Ryobi 18v hammer drill with a 4.0 battery. I read here on GJ that Ryobi has committed to keeping the same battery platform throughout the life of their 18v tools. Sure enough, a couple of several-years-old 4.0 batteries we have at the house mate right up to the new h/d. Not all the bells and whistles though. So battery compatibility and tool price sent me Ryobi's way.

I'll probably stay with Milwaukee for any more M12 tools and Ryobi for any more 18v tools since I have their batteries and chargers.

 

[yamaha0343]

Dewalt. They're good, affordable and, most important, they're everywhere.

This, and the selection of tools is massive.