After 2 weeks of research. I need help.

[GerMec]

Hey there,

as the title says I have been researching and grabbing onto stuff in real life for the past few weeks. But I cannot decide. I am gonna be a homeowner and I basically only own mechanics stuff, so I cannot even put a hole in the wall.

What I want:

Hammer drill
Drill (with quick change stuff for tight corners)
Maybe at some point a jigsaw.
Tire inflator
Vacuum
Forget the cordless impact

I am German so no US only brands please.

What I found out:

12V should be plenty of power, but the available stuff in 12V is not that great as 18V.

I really like the Makita ergonomics (used the 12V drill commercially), but their stuff is not really "up there" in my opinion (tire inflator, vacuum). They do not offer a drill with changeable chucks.

Dewalt: I really like the ergonomics but no inflator nor vacuum (in 12V).

Bosch: No inflator, but plenty of used stuff on the market. I do not like the chunky handles of the 12V drills

Milwaukee: They have everything in 12V that I want. Chunky ergonomics (somebody can compare the Bosch 12V against the Milwaukee drills?), $$$, I did not like their 18V Vacuum (Used it commercially, somehow did not like it).

Options:

Everything 12V Milwaukee
Bosch/Dewalt 12V Drill + 18V for the rest
Bosch/Dewalt 12V Drill + Corded for the rest (I alreay own a compact cordless compressor, but I really whish for something quicker, lighter)

Everything 18V (Bosch+ Milwaukee M12 inflator)

I will probably use the stuff maybe 2-4x a year not more...

What would you do?

 

[engineer2]

Makita 18V owner here. They pass my German sense of good design and their products are very reliable.
They make everything you need and Europe is their biggest market.
Is Makita commonly available in Germany?
True they don't make a drill with quick change stuff, but I have never needed that. Not commonly used in the USA.

 

[WagonHo!]

Metabo if they weren’t recently bastardized by Hitachi.

 

[KnurledNut]

Highly suggest an impact driver.

 

[nezzman]

UK here.

I went with Milwaukee 18v for battery gear. I have an impact wrench, impact driver and combo drill.

For other things, such as circular saw, jig saw, I just get corded, and go for what’s a good deal. Mikita, Bosch…

I have found them all to be fine.

 

[Walkers]

I have all the tool you are looking for in Makita. Changeable chucks aren’t really a thing. You want tight quarters you need a 90 degree drill. I use several of the drills and a sub compact hammer drill regularly for work, and they hold up and function well.

 

[wrenchr]

Makita for all my home stuff, no worries.

 

[GeoBruin]

I have almost every tool you mentioned in Milwaukee 12 volt and think all of it is good stuff. The inflator gets a bad rap when compared with the 18 volt version, but for topping off passenger car tires, it's fine. I actually find the 12 volt vacuum to be tremendously powerful for a 12 volt vacuum. It's size is really handy as well.

 

[Dave455]

Another Brit here! I undertake a lot of projects and maintain three properties, so my power tools see a good bit of use.

Some advice - consider corded tools. As a homeowner you will not be using tools every day, or even every week, so corded can work better. I would still go cordless for the drills, but not necessarily the rest. Your call. If you go corded, mixing brands is an irrelevance.

I’d forget the hammer drill. These are outdated tools now. SDS (even cheap ones) are far superior and the way to go. Makita even offer a 12V SDS, and it’s amazing!

I’d stick to the makers that are big in Europe, primarily Bosch or Makita. I have tools by both, and they’re great. Bear in mind that both makers offer a huge range of tools, at vastly different prices and quality levels. I tend to avoid the cheapest (Chinese) tools, but the next grade up (Malaysian Bosch / Romanian Makita) has all been great.

I doubt you will find any one maker that offers the best in every tool category. In cordless I’m currently running both Bosch and Festool 12V, and Bosch and Makita 18V. I think this is unavoidable.

My suggestions -

Hammer Drill - a cordless SDS by either Bosch or Makita, probably 18V

Drill / Driver - probably a Bosch 12V. If you want interchangeable chucks, pay up and get a Festool CXS!

Jigsaw - corded Bosch or Makita

Tire Inflator - no experience so can’t advise.

Vacuum - corded, simple, industrial. Any one!

Cordless Impact - either a Bosch or Makita - whatever uses the same batteries as one of your drills.

Whatever you opt for, get decent accessories. I’m quite happy with Makita tools, but use them with better drill bits, blades and screwdriver bits than Makita offer!

 

[Robinson1]

Installation drills (the ones with interchangeable chucks) are a niche market and to be real honest unless you plan to build cabinets or furniture you'll likely never use it. Or if you do you'll use it as a drill and all the right angle and offset adapters will just sit in the case.

That being said I like the Bosch 12v line as it's the only one of the current 12v offerings that are really compact. Yes the other manufacturers 12v tools are smaller than their 18/20v counterparts but the Bosch stuff is just tiny. That can be good and bad depending on the job at hand.

The average homeowner is going to hang curtains and blinds, pictures, assemble some kit furniture or a grill. 12v would work fine.

And before someone steers you another direction. Back before lithium batteries were a thing and most tools still had cords. I had a Milwaukee 12volt nicad drill. It was pretty weak and underpowered compared to whats available today. I cant even begin to tell you how many thousands of pounds of deck screws that thing put in.

 

[toolenthusiast]

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

As a homeowner who is using the tools for his own home use, you can’t beat Ridgid 18v in my opinion. Free batteries for life or as long as they make 18v. Performance wise, their 1/2 inch brushless impact does everything I need to do in the garage, Impact drivers and drills, saw, etc helped me build numerous big things around the house including a deck.
Their brushless stuff is great. Lifetime warranty is wonderful on everything including batteries.

 

[PelicanPines]

Don't be afraid to buy TWO of some tools. I have two or more... Hammer drills, impact drivers, routers, sanders.

 

[dnschmidt]

As a homeowner who is using the tools for his own home use, you can’t beat Ridgid 18v in my opinion. Free batteries for life or as long as they make 18v. Performance wise, their 1/2 inch brushless impact does everything I need to do in the garage, Impact drivers and drills, saw, etc helped me build numerous big things around the house including a deck.
Their brushless stuff is great. Lifetime warranty is wonderful on everything including batteries.

In Europe this would be the AEG brand. Ridgid is an America only Home Depot product.

 

[GerMec]

Thank you for your replies. Went again to the local hardware store. Makita aint it. Bosch: love the 12V FlexiClick but thats the only tool in their lineup I would want.

So Milwaukee M12 everything it will be. For the beginning a M12 hammer drill and the FDDX installation driver

 

[vwpieces]

If the Milwaukee warranty is as easy as it is here in USA I think you made a good choice.
I have not been disappointed with any of my 12V Fuel tools. Also have 18V too... just ordered the 2880 grinder and the portable router today to expand the collection.

 

[Shocker]

Good choice on the Milwaukee. I have all 12v stuff and I love it. Everything just works. Batteries are great and overall quite powerful.

I rarely have to bust out my 18v Ridgid stuff. Even 5" lag bolts into 8x8 hemlock posts, the 12v impact drives them right in.

 

[bobg03]

Don't be afraid to buy TWO HUNDRED of some tools. I have two HUNDRED or more... Hammer drills, impact drivers, routers, sanders. AND PLIERS AND SCREWDRIVERS...

Fixed it for you..

 

[GerMec]

I actually dialed back on the drill. Sadly the M12 FDDX SOLO is signifcantly more expensive than the BOSCH Flexiclick with a charger, 2 batteries, all attachments and L-Boxx (Bosch stuff is sold plenty privately, so I was able to get a good deal). Also the reviews left me with mixed feelings and I know I love the Bosch form factor. Probably still going with the M12 stuff for the rest.

 

[KnurledNut]

True they don't make a drill with quick change stuff, but I have never needed that. Not commonly used in the USA.

The huge handle on the M12 would drive me nuts.
Same with the 3/8 chucks on both units.
Same with such weak power, 265 in lb Bosch, 300 in lb Milwaukee.

My 18v Makita impact mated w/ a 2ah battery is so small and light and the handle is much more comfortable for extended use than the bulky M12 battery-in-handle design.

By the time those attachments are added on these interchangeable units, I dont see how you gain much accessibility, with such small impact drivers and drills now available on the market.

Seems the advice from a few members to avoid these lego sets fell on deaf ears.

 

[seber]

Some things just need to be corded. Circular saws and vacuums fit that category.