Cordless conundrum
- Thread starter Marky Mark
- Start date
OP
Marky Mark
Member
Nail the *********.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Both are owned by Stanley Black and Desker.
Likely the 1/2" impact is mostly for removing lug nuts. Buy a HF 1/2" breaker bar and then buy a 3/8" drive 12V impact like the Milwaukee M12 Fuel 2454 AND a 3/8" to 1/4" hex adapter. Break the nuts loose with the breaker bar and spin them off with the impact. Or for about an extra $40, get the M12 Fuel 3/8". It should handle lug nuts and you will have a foot into a top quality tool line that will last you a lifetime !
If your small circular saw does not come with a carbide blade, buy one.
Augus7us
Well-known member
I don't think you'll be disappointed with either of your choices.
Here are two gotchas with Rigid you should know ahead of time:
First you must register the tools within 90 days of purchase. Probably obvious since its been mentioned but I was lazy with one of my cordless tools and called thinking they would hook me up. They would not budge. If its 91 days they are going to tell you sorry.
Second and more importantly, the blip I posted above notes it only applies to purchases from "authorized retailers". When I last checked around a year ago the only authorized retailer was Home Depot. You need the serial number and your receipt to register, they will know where you purchased it.
The last thing I'll tell you is if you're not in a hurry HD does have some good sales on certain Rigid tools. I bought their gen5 5 piece kit and got a really good deal on it when it was on sale. I want to say I saved about $100 off retail and this wasn't a black friday sale, I'd rather pay full retail than deal with that
.
Here are two gotchas with Rigid you should know ahead of time:
First you must register the tools within 90 days of purchase. Probably obvious since its been mentioned but I was lazy with one of my cordless tools and called thinking they would hook me up. They would not budge. If its 91 days they are going to tell you sorry.
Second and more importantly, the blip I posted above notes it only applies to purchases from "authorized retailers". When I last checked around a year ago the only authorized retailer was Home Depot. You need the serial number and your receipt to register, they will know where you purchased it.
The last thing I'll tell you is if you're not in a hurry HD does have some good sales on certain Rigid tools. I bought their gen5 5 piece kit and got a really good deal on it when it was on sale. I want to say I saved about $100 off retail and this wasn't a black friday sale, I'd rather pay full retail than deal with that
.Hands down, I think this is solid advice.
WittHay
Well-known member
He also has a video "Top 10 reasons Milwaukee Tools ****" Dont put too much stock into what the Bear has to say. Its just YouTube entertainment
A lot of guys like a single brand collection. I am the opposite, started buying cordless about 5 years ago. Went with DeWalt, Makita and Milwaukee and this year added Stihl. I dont care if I have 10 batteries of the same type, I buy the tool that I like the best
To the OP, I think Ridgid is a good choice. Ryobi is not very popular with the people I know. But you see Ridgid cordless used quite often by tradesman, farmers and general handyman type guys
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Parrothead
Well-known member
You're 100% right, the Craftsman that you buy at Lowe's today is indeed wired differently. The older craftsman Bolt On (aka B&D Matrix) series Craftsman is the same as the Porter Cable, and Black and Decker, well at least as far as wiring.
I can verify the old Craftsman Bolt On stuff worked with Black & Decker as I'm using a Craftsman Bolt On faster charger to charge my Black & Decker batteries that I use in my Black & Decker lawn tools.
*I too got a good deal on the B&D 20v.
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Yeah having 2 or 3 platforms isn't such the bad thing people make it out to be. Most tools come with a battery or 2, so you will always have batteries for the tool(s) in that brand.
And it gives you flexibility. For less important tools, you can go with a cheaper brand like Ryobi, Craftsman, Porter Cable for your lights, radio, 2nd drill, etc.. Then for the main tools go with Makita, DeWalt, etc.. I am in Makita and Ryobi.
arcier
Member
I have been happy with every Milwaukee tool I have ever purchased. Both corded and battery.
If you just buy individual tools/batteries, they come with a 3-year warranty. But the kits come with an option to sign up for the lifetime warranty, which includes batteries. You get parts and service at any authorized center, which includes many Home Depots. I've had a drill lose its gearbox, and they fixed it without any problems.
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metaldad
Well-known member
marky has p/c. not a frequent user of cordless. stay with p/c. especially if b&d batteries are adaptable.
i'm not a huge fan of cordless. however, another
on ridgid and their warranty. as stated, for the lifetime, must be purchased from a ridgid 'authorized' dealer. bought a fan off ebay (great for car shows on hot days), not 'authorized', only 3 year warranty.
on their batteries, have had 2 replaced.
on the tools, had an issue with a 18v 1/2'' vsr, the trigger futzed up. brought to an authorized repair - berlands house of tools (great place), seems part obsolete. they lined me up, with a replacement KIT! lith ion vsr drill, 2 batteries, charger, bag. although i think the replacements are only 3 year
https://www.berlandstools.com/
i'm not a huge fan of cordless. however, another
on ridgid and their warranty. as stated, for the lifetime, must be purchased from a ridgid 'authorized' dealer. bought a fan off ebay (great for car shows on hot days), not 'authorized', only 3 year warranty. on their batteries, have had 2 replaced.
on the tools, had an issue with a 18v 1/2'' vsr, the trigger futzed up. brought to an authorized repair - berlands house of tools (great place), seems part obsolete. they lined me up, with a replacement KIT! lith ion vsr drill, 2 batteries, charger, bag. although i think the replacements are only 3 year
https://www.berlandstools.com/
Farmall450
Well-known member
Exactly what I did. Spare bluetooth radio/speaker is $40 from Ryobi; $100 for a speaker only from DeWalt. Extra cordless grinder, shop light etc, sometimes the cheap stuff is just fine.
PhantomEB
Well-known member
All air tools are Ingersoll Rand but also all my Cordless is Ridgid. Got a hammer drill on the way and hope to pick up a sawzall before long.
They are always evolving with the batteries but one thing, my 5 year old drill takes the same battery as my new 1/2” impact.
They are always evolving with the batteries but one thing, my 5 year old drill takes the same battery as my new 1/2” impact.
OP
Marky Mark
Member
I ended up going with Ridgid - the LSA and battery warranty are hard to beat. Went with the Home Depot Christmas deals. Bought the Octane charger/battery kit and got the 1/2" impact wrench free, then bought the Hammer Drill/Impact Driver kit. I think the Ridgid is a great balance between quality and value.
MarylandUSA
Active member
Same here, and I'm glad I did. Living with three, four, or even five battery platforms has proved easier than I expected.
Started with Milwaukee M18. Added M12 for the inflator, which encouraged me to buy an M12 lantern and flashlight. Turned to Makita CXT 12V for their one-handed hedge shear and one-handed grass shear; added a CXT ML103 mini light and I might buy the CXT personal fan. Went with Milwaukee M4 for its best-in-class Panasonic-made screwdriver. Turned to Hilti 22V for my car vacuum.
I use one Ryobi 18 tool: the 18-inch fan. But I power it with Milwaulkee M18 batteries, using an adapter.
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LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
jg4660
Well-known member
I'm in the same boat as the OP. Ive been a craftsman C3 user since they came out and have loved them. Recently i've been thinking of switching to a new platform which i thought would be Dewalt. I bought a Dewalt drywall screw gun ($139) for a project im doing. It came with a free 5ah battery. The tool itself seems well made and works great except for the fact the battery fits so loose it makes me question it.
Came across a Ryobi One+ screw gun while looking around HD. It was free with the purchase of the (2] 4ah battery and charger starter kit. I picked this one up too. It works every bit as good as the Dewalt and has some features like quietdrive that the Dewalt doesn't and a couple other things that give me the impression that the designers really put some thought into this line. I think i'll be keeping the Ryobi and returning the Dewalt. Not sure what will replace the C3 drills, Impact and sawzall i have but Ryobi is a definite option.
JG
Came across a Ryobi One+ screw gun while looking around HD. It was free with the purchase of the (2] 4ah battery and charger starter kit. I picked this one up too. It works every bit as good as the Dewalt and has some features like quietdrive that the Dewalt doesn't and a couple other things that give me the impression that the designers really put some thought into this line. I think i'll be keeping the Ryobi and returning the Dewalt. Not sure what will replace the C3 drills, Impact and sawzall i have but Ryobi is a definite option.
JG
bds1984
Well-known member
I am in the same spot that you are. I have had the C3 system for longer than I can remember and will be using them until they are no longer viable. For me it makes no sense to completely abandon that platform since I am am heavily invested in and just acquired three new batteries and a new brushless drill. With that being said, I also have a DeWalt 20v brushless drill which is nice, but outside of the holiday shopping season, I find them to be pricey for tools unless you score a battery deal with a free tool, and for me isn't that great of a deal. I did take advantage of the Ryobi battery deal from Home Depot a few weeks ago since I received their cordless stick vac from my dad. I was heavily contemplating the Ryobi deal and this just pushed me to pull the trigger on it and now I have two 3-amp batteries, the 9-amp, and the shop blower in addition to the stick-vac with 4-amp battery. To top it off, I earn points on my credit card for Amazon and Home Depot I can use for future tool additions to my collection for free or very little out of pocket.
Formerjeeper
Well-known member
If anyone’s interested in some slightly older but lightly used Makita stuff, send me a PM. Haven’t posted it in classifieds yet but I have a hammer drill, impact driver, sawsall, charger and multiple batteries, all 18 V LXT. The only kicker is they are pre-Star so won’t use newer batteries unless you file the tabs off.