18 Volt tool kits

[Jhoff310]

Ok guys need a hand here..
Looking to get my son an 18 or 20 volt tool set for Christmas. He is a carpentry student ( Senior year in HS). 90 % of his class get hired on with the big contractors in the area. What are the good sets..I know Dewalt is about the best you can get...(not looking to drop a huge amount of cash). I want to get him something basic but good. By basic I mean drill, driver circular saw and sawzall...the rest he can buy.

I still have my old ryobi set from 10 years ago that has never failed me. I see an influx of off brands and other brands that I'm not familiar with (kawasaki etc..) in the power tool dept.

I know I will get alot of replies in regards to personal preferences, thats fine. I just want good honest reviews....the good, the bad, and the ugly.

THanks,
Jeff

 

[fourjeepin]

If I was starting from scratch, I would buy Rigid. Tools seem to be solid and lifetime warranty on the batteries.

 

[Teken]

You absolutely can't go wrong with DeWalt. All of tools I own are from DeWalt and have used them since day one.

Having said that the best value, warranty now is from Rigid. They are the only company that I am aware of that provides a lifetime warranty on the tool(s) and the consumable battery!

If you're tight on cash wait for the HD sales and purchase some key items from Rigid. Ensure you fill out the on line warranty to activate the lifetime warranty though.

Makita is also a great brand to purchase with respect to power tools.

Teken . . .

 

[Terra Nova]

If I was starting from scratch, I would buy Rigid. Tools seem to be solid and lifetime warranty on the batteries.

^This

For a guy starting out that would be what I would lean towards. I'm a fan of Milwaukee personally and have a fair amount of their tools but for the performance vs cost and the lifetime warranty on batteries it's near impossible to beat Rigid.

 

[dlenkewich]

If I was starting from scratch, I would buy Rigid. Tools seem to be solid and lifetime warranty on the batteries.

Second this, Rigid is priced fair and stands up like Dewalt. I love my Rigid tools. My only Dewalt piece is on the waiting list to be replaced with a new Rigid when money permits.

 

[mmb617]

Are you guys saying that Rigid will replace batteries when they will no longer hold a charge, under warranty? If that is indeed true then I think buying Rigid is a no-brainer.

The whole problem with cordless tools is that once the batteries wear out the tool is worthless as new batteries usually cost a significant percentage of just buying a whole new tool.

I use DeWalt's at work and the life of the old Ni-Cads was about 3 years. Once the batteries were shot even though the tool still ran fine it didn't make much sense to buy new batteries as the price was so high. My last DeWalt drill/drivers I went with the then new Li-Ion batteries so I don't know yet how long they'll last, but I do know battery replacement cost is very high.

I'm going to have to do some research on this Rigid warranty as it seems too good to be true!

 

[gregtwojeeps]

I had a contractor come in to work on a heat pump the other day and his tool bucket had nothing in it but the more compact, newer 20 volt Dewalt tools. I wonder if they are going to be better than the 18 volt tools ?

 

[Teken]

LIFETIME SERVICE AGREEMENT FOR RIDGID® HAND HELD POWER TOOLS, STATIONARY POWER TOOLS AND PNEUMATIC TOOLS

In addition to the 3-Year Limited Service Warranty currently included with RIDGID® Brand Hand Held Power Tools Stationary Power Tools, and Pneumatic Tools, purchasers of these products may elect for a limited time to receive a free Lifetime Service Agreement.

To accept this Lifetime Service Agreement, you must register your product and submit proof of purchase as described below. The Lifetime Service Agreement provides the original owner of qualifying RIDGID® Brand tools a lifetime of free replacement batteries, free service and free replacement parts subject to the limitations set forth below.

The Lifetime Service Agreement is available free of charge, for a limited time on all RIDGID® Brand hand held power tools, stationary power tools and pneumatic tools, subject to the terms and conditions stated below.

Customers have 90 days from date of purchase to register tools for the Lifetime Service Agreement.

Teken . . .

 

[STANIMAL]

I have had a Ryobi set for at least ten years , never had a problem and replacement batteries are cheap .

 

[f150skidoo]

Makita or Milwaukee.

 

[NUTTSGT]

For starters I buy a smaller two piece set, like a drill and impact or drill and recip saw. Personally, I have Dewalt stuff and am quite happy with it, chances are they will be replaced with more Dewalt when the time comes.

 

[ishiboo]

I think you'd be happy with any of the name brands. Bosch, DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita. Keep in mind 18v/20v are the same, as are 10.8v/12v "max" lines. There may be marketing differences but the tech is the same.

I love ALL my Bosch 18v and 12v tools, ONLY disappointment is non-availability of a couple things like a cordless grease gun.

 

[ishiboo]

BTW... for the money, I think the big Menards Masterforce 20v set cannot be beat. Just picked on up for the guy working on my barn (cash $10/hr laborer) and it's a REAL nice set for the money with a lot of tools.

I believe there are Menards by you so that's why I suggested it.

 

[NCCheesehead]

Being that he is looking to work for a contractor in the field I'd say Dewalt 20v or if money is tighter Dewalt 18v. I say this because on my jobs the Dewalts are the majority so chargers, tools and batteries are always available to be borrowed in a pinch. I'm in the process of phasing out my 18v stuff in favor of the lithium 20v. Much lighter, faster charge and not as effected by temperature.

Be careful when buying Dewalt on price alone. There are 3 different 20v batteries available and lower priced kits have the smaller capacity batteries. Brushless is what you what in the tools which ticks the price up a little more.

 

[ishiboo]

Being that he is looking to work for a contractor in the field I'd say Dewalt 20v or if money is tighter Dewalt 18v. I say this because on my jobs the Dewalts are the majority so chargers, tools and batteries are always available to be borrowed in a pinch. I'm in the process of phasing out my 18v stuff in favor of the lithium 20v. Much lighter, faster charge and not as effected by temperature.

Be careful when buying Dewalt on price alone. There are 3 different 20v batteries available and lower priced kits have the smaller capacity batteries. Brushless is what you what in the tools which ticks the price up a little more.

Keep in mind 18v Lithium and 20v Lithium are (basically) one and the same. By saying "My 18v stuff" you must be referring to NiCad

 

[NCCheesehead]

Yea sorry. 18 nicad is what I was referring to and 20 lithium.

 

[MXmaniac]

I bought the Ridgid set (drill and impact) for the Lifetime Service Agreement. I've been using them for nearly a year and they have been flawless. I haven't needed to warranty anything yet, but I like knowing that, for as long as I own the tools, Ridgid will take care of any problems.

I also like where Ridgid mounts the LED light to light up what you're working on. My coworkers have Makita and Bosch sets, and the LED seems to just cast a shadow over whatever I'm working on. I'd rather it not have a light at all, than just light up everything AROUND what I'm trying to see. But Ridgid places the LED down by the battery and it seems to work a lot better for me.

 

[Jack Olsen]

One more vote for the Ridgid. The part that makes me crazy about cordless tools is that the batteries get old and you end up talking yourself into another expensive purchase every four years. So long as they continue to make good on the lifetime free battery deal, I'm a fan.

On top of that, they're also very good tools.

 

[Bobdog]

I use DeWalt professionally and have no complaints. Most of the guys I see have either DeWalt or Milwaukee and they seem about equal. Haven't seen any Ridgid in a few years.

I think the 18 volt NiCads are being phased out of production, so if I were looking for a new set of tools, I'd probably buy 20 volt Li Ion.

Just my two cents.

 

[Greatbear]

The Rigid free lifetime battery guarantee requires the owner to have all their ducks precisely in a row or there's no guarantee. You need to register the tools and batteries within a certain time period after purchase, and the original sales receipt is needed for claims. Being that so many receipts are printed on thermal paper that fades to nothing in a few months, you need to keep a good copy of the receipt as proof along with the original. The batteries can't be abused or tampered with. So far I don't know anyone who has "tested" the warranty personally, but there are stories on the internet that paint different pictures, from easy to impossible to get resolutions for defective batteries. Like all internet stories, some have credence and some don't. The ones being denied do point to registration and receipt issues. Remember, a company out to make money won't be making any if they are constantly giving away the primary products that ensure a steady stream of cash, i.e. proprietary consumables. Lifetime warranties run the gamut from Sears making it easy with their tools to companies like Rigid, who count on people forgetting or losing some part of the needed process and making claims easily deniable. Cordless tools aren't the cash cow for their manufacturers, batteries are. A gentleman named Gillette learned he could practically give away an expensive razor knowing that people will need new blades on a regular basis. These days, the printer companies make it so it is nearly the same cost to throw away the entire printer and buy a new one once the ink is used up, rather than buying new cartridges.

 

[lilscorpion]

If I had a penny for each screw I've driven into a cabinet assembly with my 18v Dewalt impact driver...

Collectively I have probably 2 dozen various cordless dewalt tools. Never a failure, all still work like new (though don't look new anymore), and I've used the hell out of all of them. I've recharged batteries so many times I couldn't tell you which is the oldest.

I look at all brands when I'm in the store it only buy Dewalt. People tend to stick with what works for them. I have friends that have had similar luck with Milwaukee.

 

[kenburkholz]

I worked in a shop for 37 years that used nothing but DeWalt cordless tools,and Milwaukee corded tools. I learned to like them both,and they served us well. Ken.

 

[nick366]

Get a set with lithium batteries. I personally have the Milwaukee M18's and they are great. Drill and impact driver is about all I need cordless. The new brushless ones are nice too. Spend the money now and have a tool that lasts.

 

[creativecars]

I will give a thumbs up for the 18v Skil. I have worked them hard for 7+ years and the L-ion batteries will work in the same tool as the ni-cad.

That said,
Since he is going into the construction industry I would go with DeWalt. Not that they are any better but those old SOB’s he will be working with will give the kid all kinds of **** for not knowing what tools to buy. I would tell them to piss off, but he will be the new kid on the block.

 

[Teken]

Just a heads up in todays HD flyer is a Ridgid 5 piece 18 volt system for $399.00. It normally sells for $100.00 more but this is for the pre Black Friday sale.

Hope this helps out the fellow who needs it.

Teken . . .