Cordless Power Tool Advice Requested

[kngelv]

I currently have seven DeWalt 20V tools. All are brushed. The DeWalt tools are frustrating me more and more because on some recent projects the battery life has become a problem. The amount of cuts per amp hour with the reciprocating saw is horrible and the blade holder is not working right anyway. I was about to just buy a brushless one when I came up with another and I think better idea. I have decided to take all of my DeWalt tools to my 85 year old mothers house and leave them there for any projects that come up - which happens quite often. This way I'm not hauling tools over there all the time. I plan on replacing them and adding a few more tools for home. I have a few Milwaukee 12V tools and may add more but I will be looking for 18V or 20V brushless to replace the brushed Dewalt. I am only considering DeWalt, Milwaukee or Makita - no others. I do a lot of interior/exterior work on the house. Assembly projects like benches, shelves, sheds, decks and skate ramps. I also work on vehicles and dirt bikes. I know that no one brand makes the best tool in very category but obviously sticking to one platform makes things a little easier. I'm also wondering if anyone just says screw it and goes with multiple platforms. The obvious advantage is flexibility while a million chargers is a big disadvantage not to mention the cost of extra batteries. Any thoughts appreciated but no flame wars please. Thank you.

James

 

[16again]

I'm a Milwaukee guy. That said, if you're happy with Dewalt, why not just upgrade your current platform to Dewalt brushless?

 

[JradM]

I'm also wondering if anyone just says screw it and goes with multiple platforms.

That's my cue. I've got Dewalt 12v, 20v and 60v, Milwaukee M12, Porter Cable 20v, Worx 20v, Craftsman v60, Ridgid 18v, Ryobi 18v, Bosch 12v and 18v.

I just bought what I got deals on. Most of the time it's a non-issue. Usually the deals are good enough that I'm getting batteries and charges with my tool for less than sticking with something I already have. It does mean I have several chargers - however I have one homemade tool box with one of each charger mounted to it for the times I need to take my tools away from home.

You'll likely get lots of responses about which brand to buy if you just want one. In my opinion Dewalt and Milwaukee are practically indiscernible overall. Sure, one might have the advantage today on a particular tool - but it's not by much and might not last. They're the top dogs.

Makita makes good stuff too and has a lot of variety. LXT is a bit dated battery tech, but I expect it to continue for several years yet. XGT just came out, but it's baffling why Makita decided to go that route.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

OP maybe a corded reciprocating saw with a good and correct blade for the job may help. Learned the hard way years back trying to save a few $ on blades, not yet a convert for cordless saw of any kind.

 

[SARG]

Just to mention
I finally just bought a set of eight M!8 tools and put the "others" I had been utilizing in the garbage.
Frustrations all gone.

 

[engineer2]

If I were starting over I would look at Makita's new 40V XGT line. Kind of expensive because it's new.
Makita often has some great deals where they include extra batteries. Last Christmas they had a deal with their 7-1/4 circular saw, four 5.0 batteries, dual charger and a free tool of your choice for $250.

Nothing wrong with staying with DeWalt. I had some back in the NiCd days.

 

[MongoTA]

I started with Dewalt 12v (drill and saw), then 18v (drill only), and now the 20v line.

Everything is brushless, and I can't stress how important that is with regards to battery life. Battery amp-hour is obviously important when you get into the larger tools, but even my smallest batteries will keep my basic tools going for a few days on a single charge.

I have quite a few in the 20v family, including the flex. Not a single tool or battery has let me down.

My one regret is that Dewalt did not have a right angle impact, at least not one that I could find. They may have one now, I actually think they do, But I looked at the Milwaukee line, and they're sort of backwards from Dewalt...Dewalt has so much in wood and they are missing a few tools for mechanics, whereas I saw Milwaukee as the opposite, most every tool for mechanics but they were missing a few in wood. That was a few years ago and their lineups have certainly evolved.

When it came time for me to commit to a line of tools, I went Dewalt. I think either line would be good today. I've used both, but not Makita.

The nice thing is that with maybe 8 or 10 batteries on hand, from the smaller 2amphour to several of the larger 9ampHour 20/60 flex batteries, any new purchases like the two I just bought, an impact wrench DCF899B and an angle grinder DCG418B, are tool only.

If I need more batteries, I get them on special around the black thursday season.

Can't speak about Makita, but I know I'd be happy with Dewalt or Milwaukee.

Good luck!

 

[82355]

I would stick with DeWalt because you already have them. I bought DeWalt, because everyone I worked with had DeWalt. I hate non interchangeable batteries. A of people I know have now switched to Milwaukee, but I already have the DeWalt, so I am sticking with them.

Martin

 

[subroc]

Clearly we are all an expirament of one. What works for one might be a bad or lousy idea for another. I have Dewalt 18v brushed that I use with adapters as well as a couple aftermarket batteries, 20v max brushed and brushless and a 60v saw. I also just picked up a few Milwaukee M12 tools. In the past I was reluctant to add another platform. But, I wanted one of their 12v ratchets so I added a few things along with it. If someone is minimalist as far as batteries are concerned and generally tries to get by with just a couple having a tool with batteries for it probably makes sense to have multiple platforms. But, committing to a platform makes having 4, 8 or even a dozen batteries a reasonable choice. Having 6 or 8 platforms with 6 or 8 batteries that can't be used cross platform seems counter productive to me and not very logical.. Anyway enjoy vthe shopping. Bringing home new tools is always fun.

 

[M635_Guy]

I don't love DeWalt's ergonomics overall, but there's really no mistake to be made between DeWalt, Milwaukee, Metabo, Ryobi and a couple others.

I leave out all of the "old" brands (Porter Cable, etc) because they've become limited and nearly house brands. I leave out RIGID, Craftsman, all HF stuff, Kobalt, etc. because if the box store changes their mind you're going to be stranded. I hate being stranded.


Personally, having a bunch of different chargers makes me twitchy, so I standardized on Milwaukee FUEL and brushless and I'm completely pleased with all of it (and it's a fair bit...)

 

[Professional Tool User]

If your battery life problems have to do with the batteries wearing out, I would just replace the batteries and see if repairing the broken tools is worthwhile. As a Milwaukee guy, if the decision is made to start over, I'd go with Milwaukee.

 

[JradM]

I leave out all of the "old" brands (Porter Cable, etc) because they've become limited and nearly house brands. I leave out RIGID, Craftsman, all HF stuff, Kobalt, etc. because if the box store changes their mind you're going to be stranded. I hate being stranded.

Porter Cable certainly should be avoided.

Ridgid is a brand owned by Home Depot and made by TTI, it's not going anywhere.

Craftsman is a huge and recent investment for SBD. I doubt it will die anytime soon either.

Kobalt has a target on it's back - but at the same time Chevron has consistently released new tools and tech, even recently. I thought it would get pushed aside for Craftsman, but so far I've been wrong.

 

[redm18]

I'm the wrong person to ask about this as I recently just bought into my 5th battery eco system. Craftsman C3 (first system when I bought my first home) Craftsman Nextec decent stuff but got discontinued. Milwaukee M12 and M18 and now Ryobi One+. I got into the Ryobi One + for tools that I want but don't want to spend Milwaukee money on ie stuff to keep in the truck or whatever. I have had one C3 tool **** out on me and one Milwaukee M18 battery **** out on me so I think most stuff is pretty decent.

 

[pbon]

I like one platform but that is me. I have Milwaukee but if Dewalt or Ridgid or Ryobi or Makita have what you need they are fine. I have about 35 Milwaukee tools and can share batteries and chargers. It is simpler and I have Milwaukee at 3 locations. 1 location I have Ryobi. I have given away or am gradually getting rid of anything else like some Ridgid.

 

[f121]

Pick your favourite colour.

I use makita because that’s what most trades in the UK use, and it’s what most of my buddies have so it’s easy to borrow or lend a tool. Honestly I don’t see any difference between dewalt makita and Milwaukee for their 18v ranges - it’s different for the 12v range, Milwaukee clearly blows the others away with m12.

 

[MushCreek]

I'm all M18. I built my house with them. Most of my tools are still the older brushed models that I bought about 10-12 years ago. I have 7 batteries; only one has gone bad. I blew the low speed gears on my drill mixing thinset (not a good idea) but it still works fine on high speed, so I bought another drill, and use the old one when I need two drills set up. I use my stuff a lot, and they've really held up.

 

[Max]

I have mostly Milwaukee but am slowly moving to Dewalt due to chuck issues on my Milwaukee drill/drivers. I think any if the three you mention - Dewalt, Makita, Milwaukee - will work well for you.

 

[pbon]

I agree Milwaukee drill chucks start loosening up after a few years. I replaced the chuck on one and have another that should be replaced. But this is very doable and covered by warranty for the first 5 years. Given how the breadth of the M18 platform suits my needs (property maintenance, automotive work, some yard work), I can accept one small weakness — though the drills may be the most used M18 tools I have.

I also agree with the comments that the M12 line is great. When I was younger, I reached for the biggest tool with the biggest battery. Now I reach for the tool I think will do the job. Helps the wrists and elbows over time. Sometimes the M12 drill or impact or hackzall won’t do it and I have to go bigger but I am impressed by the little M12.

 

[American Locomotive]

If you already have DeWalt 20v tools, just stick with DeWalt 20v tools. Buy a few new batteries, and invest in the brushless tools. Power and battery life is significantly better.

 

[Woody1320]

I recently switched over completely to Ridgid, as the LSA and the deals being offered on the brushless line were too good to pass up. I had Ryobi and Makita previously (with the only Makita tool being an impact driver...I still have it). I love having one platform. It makes things a little easier. I know Ridgid wasn't a brand you mentioned, but the set I ordered fit many immediate needs, plus I needed to step up to brushless. I used just about every new tool in the set for rebuilding the first set of deck stairs out back, and I have zero complaints. I had looked at Milwaukee and Dewalt quite a bit, and I would've easily pulled then trigger on either given the right deal.

 

[subroc]

If you already have DeWalt 20v tools, just stick with DeWalt 20v tools. Buy a few new batteries, and invest in the brushless tools. Power and battery life is significantly better.

This makes the most sense. Replace what needs replacing. Add additional batteries if your current quantity doesn't get it done. Add brushless tools going forward. When I use one of my old 18v tools with a battery adapter, many more than 15 years old, I am glad I bought good stuff built to last. Why move on?

 

[dnschmidt]

Porter Cable certainly should be avoided.

Ridgid is a brand owned by Home Depot and made by TTI, it's not going anywhere.

Craftsman is a huge and recent investment for SBD. I doubt it will die anytime soon either.

Kobalt has a target on it's back - but at the same time Chevron has consistently released new tools and tech, even recently. I thought it would get pushed aside for Craftsman, but so far I've been wrong.

That doesn't mean that Craftsman SHOULDN'T die.

 

[kngelv]

So far I'm leaning Milwaukee or DeWalt. The brushed DeWalt I have will be at another location thirty miles away so there will be no crossover with any new stuff even if I go with DeWalt. At work it's Milwaukee and Hilti. I like the assembled in USA part of some DeWalt but am not completely opposed to the Milwaukee. There is a place about 35 miles from me that has the full lineups of DeWalt, Makita and Milwaukee. At least 50 tools of each on display. I think I'll go there Friday and put my hands on all the tools I'm thinking of getting. Whichever feels best would likely make the most sense.

James

 

[Al Borland]

I have Milwookie M12 and M18, DeWalt 18 and 20v (brushed and brushless 20v), and a variety of Ryobi stuff.
Different Chargers don't bother me. Usually use the Ryobi for work lately because the Green color seems to deter thieves.
I can leave them in the bed of the truck in crappy neighborhoods, and they stay put.
Additionally, I've had multiple issues with the newer DeWalt drills. (Chucks and gearboxes)

 

[finn]

I have multiple 20v brushless Dewalt tools.and an older 18v Dewalt brushed drill. Also M12 Milwaukee brushed and brushless, and multiple M18 brushless tools, with some Assorted brushed and brushless Bosch thrown in.

Multiple platforms obviously doesn’t bother me.

Both Milwaukee and Dewalt perform well for me, but I am not a tradesman. I would stay with Dewalt. It’s an American company, unlike Milwaukee. I bought a lot of Milwaukee in the past couple years, but the future buys will likely be yellow.

 

[dnschmidt]

I have a different viewpoint. I buy the best available tool in each category. Let me explain. I have a shitload of Milwaukee and Makita but I also have a Bosch sander (which is superior to all other cordless sanders that I'm aware of) Dewalt impact wrenches and drivers (The TTC made me do it as they proved to be superior to Milwaukee's offerings in the Mid-Torque and Compact categories. Metabo screwdrivers and grinders, I-R's file belt sander (because it's to only one available that uses a standard sized belt).

 

[F-22]

Imo it's worth considering CAS tools

CAS - Cordless Alliance System

www.cordless-alliance-system.com

Multiple brands use the same battery system. It's a nice idea and more and more brands are joining, though obviously not the big three you noted... But german Metabo makes all kinds of top notch tools, especially grinders. Other smaller brands make top of the class niche tools, for example for woodworking or stone grinding, some things so niche even the big three don't have an offering for. And if you don't like a Metabo drill, you can always try a Mafell one, or a Rothenberger, and the batteries don't limit you at all. We have these tools at work.

Though I assume the issue is availability of German tools in the USA.

Out of the three you listed, I'd go with Makita. They just have the most tools, and the high power tools use the same 18V batteries but take two to wire it into a 36V system. Simple and works. Besides, if you also might want to save money on some more niche tools, the chinese copy makita tools and those use the same original batteries, so again you have more options with the same battery system. I don't think they copy Dewalt or Milwaukee since those are more limited to the US market, but Makita is global and very present in Asia and other third world countries. It's also the only large power tool manufacturer to be an independent company, others are conglomerate owned...
I have a Makita impact driver and a drill and two 5ah batteries. Months ago I bought a knock off Makita angle grinder off alixpress for ~30$. For that money, it works great, didn't have any issue yet and I did use it quite a bit. I wasn't quite sure if I needed a cordless angle grinder, but it's great for cutting stuff. If it dies, I'll probably buy the real deal, but for now it seems to hold up just fine for my needs. It's also brushless and all on roller bearings, so it might last quite well too.
You can also easily get knock off makita batteries, though I never tried those.

 

[iamrfixit]

What batteries are you using with your recip saw?

I have two of the older dewalt 20v reciprocating saws, both are brush models probably approaching 8-10 years old now. The recip saw is the one tool I've never even thought that I really felt needed the advantage enough to upgrade to brushless. They've just been a workhorse and the batteries last forever on it. I have a couple dozen 5ah batteries, a couple 6ah and several 6ah and 9ah flexvolt, don't have or use any of the compact batteries. I use my recip saws often, have the same models at work and they see even heavier usage. Maybe you just need higher amp hour batteries?

I got the compact recip saw (DCS367) a while back. I think it's brushless, honestly I haven't even used it yet. It was the "free bare tool" included when I bought something else a few months ago.

 

[kngelv]

What batteries are you using with your recip saw?

I have two of the older dewalt 20v reciprocating saws, both are brush models probably approaching 8-10 years old now. The recip saw is the one tool I've never even thought that I really felt needed the advantage enough to upgrade to brushless. They've just been a workhorse and the batteries last forever on it. I have a couple dozen 5ah batteries, a couple 6ah and several 6ah and 9ah flexvolt, don't have or use any of the compact batteries. I use my recip saws often, have the same models at work and they see even heavier usage. Maybe you just need higher amp hour batteries?

I got the compact recip saw (DCS367) a while back. I think it's brushless, honestly I haven't even used it yet. It was the "free bare tool" included when I bought something else a few months ago.

Two 5A one 3A two 1.5A. One cut per .5A

James

 

[engineer2]

I agree with the Makita post above. They work as expected, last for years, and don't break. The 18V batteries have been around for over a decade and are very reliable. I've beat the **** out of my 10 year old Makita impact driver and it just keeps working like new with the original battery. The Makita thread here is pretty small because there are no problems to post about. The tools just work.

 

[kngelv]

"I never understand these conundrums. By the tool you like. I don’t know why people get wound up over having too many battery platforms. I have mostly 20V DeWalt and 12V Milwaukee. But if I like the tool I’m not going to pass it up because I need a different battery. I like that DeWalt is the only one of the big players that actually makes some of their cordless stuff in the USA. I think nearly all their non-automotive 20V and Flexvolt is better than the equivalent Milwaukee. I also think the Milwaukee 12V is better than the DeWalt 12V line. I have cordless Hilti stuff at work and also like Makita. There are guys on this site with over 50 3/8 ratchets and hundreds of sockets yet they must have only one battery platform. Strange but true."


This is my response a year ago to a thread on Milwaukee vs DeWalt. I should probably heed my own advice. Today is the day to figure out what I'm going to do.

James

 

[Dakotadadv8]

kngelv I agree pick the tools you like regardless of battery platform, have Dewalt and Makita for drills, drivers, and wrench. Only cordless where it makes sense for me. Looking at Snap-on brushless 1/2 drive, trying to read GJ reviews not opinions.

 

[ToolPolisher]

To throw in a curveball:

Buy the best bare tool for the job then buy Rigid batteries for the LSA and use battery adapters for the tools. Win, win, win? Or just the dumbest idea ever?

 

[M635_Guy]

"I never understand these conundrums. By the tool you like. I don’t know why people get wound up over having too many battery platforms. I have mostly 20V DeWalt and 12V Milwaukee. But if I like the tool I’m not going to pass it up because I need a different battery. I like that DeWalt is the only one of the big players that actually makes some of their cordless stuff in the USA. I think nearly all their non-automotive 20V and Flexvolt is better than the equivalent Milwaukee. I also think the Milwaukee 12V is better than the DeWalt 12V line. I have cordless Hilti stuff at work and also like Makita. There are guys on this site with over 50 3/8 ratchets and hundreds of sockets yet they must have only one battery platform. Strange but true."


This is my response a year ago to a thread on Milwaukee vs DeWalt. I should probably heed my own advice. Today is the day to figure out what I'm going to do.

James

It's a preference thing. I have 4 batteries in my garage, served by three chargers: Milwaukee M12 and M18 (all kinds of stuff), Kobalt 80v (string trimmer and blower) and Ego (mower).

The Kobalt trimmer and blower was a weak moment for me - they were pretty inexpensive on sale and work pretty well, but would really love to be all-Ego for my lawn/yard care stuff. If/when the Kobalt gets fluky/breaks or Lowe's decides to end the experiment, I'll probably sell them and get Ego. I hate store brands.

I like having fewer chargers to keep track of/find room for, and interchangeability of batteries has obvious benefits. Those things are worth it for me, but understand some people don't care. It boils down to what you value. The good news is there aren't many stinkers in the major brands, so there's not much penalty for either strategy.

 

[M635_Guy]

To throw in a curveball:

Buy the best bare tool for the job then buy Rigid batteries for the LSA and use battery adapters for the tools. Win, win, win? Or just the dumbest idea ever?

PersonalIy, I don't think adapters are a great solution. It tends to make for awkward handling in a lot of cases, and that alone is a No for me.

 

[Bubba Fett]

You really can't go wrong with DeWalt, Makita, or Milwaukee. I usually go with DeWalt because that's what most stores in my area have, and there is a repair center within driving distance if I ever need it. Honestly, I think local availability is the biggest factor. There is no point in investing in a platform that is difficult to get, and I like to check them out in person before buying.

If you need to same some money...

Porter-Cable is now the house brand for Tractor Supply. Their tools are not bad, and are basically the same as what is sold under the Craftsman brand at Lowe's. Ridgid and Kobalt are both good brands, but they seem to have limited model selection.

Just stay away from the random-letter Amazon "brands" which are usually junk, and maybe even dangerous. I'm also weary of HF brands, except for maybe Hercules, but that one is pricey enough that you are not really saving money, and the warranty periods are very short.

 

[ThePostman]

The new Dewalt stubby 3/8” impact and the "mid-torque" dcf891 are phenomenal so far in a pro-use automotive environment. I already had the batteries and some tools. I thought about switching to Milwaukee, then the atomic line came out from DeWalt.

 

[seber]

I would limit the choices to Milwaukee because of the incredible range of tools available and Dewalt because you already have a good place to start from. Going to Makita or any of the others really doesn't make sense. Multiple platforms might be OK for some but for most people that's just another frustration. No one needs more frustration.

 

[82355]

There are guys on this site with over 50 3/8 ratchets and hundreds of sockets yet they must have only one battery platform. Strange but true."

This comparison doesn't really make sense. All of those ratchets, and all of those sockets will work interchangeably with each other. I would not tell you to buy a 5/8" drive ratchet.

Martin

 

[kngelv]

I figured I would update this thread. I decided to go the Milwaukee route. I really wanted to like the assembled in USA DeWalt stuff but a lot of the tools I would buy are made overseas anyway so it was only a couple that would be made here. Plus I thought the quality was lacking a bit in comparison to my older brushed DeWalt stuff. The newer stuff had worse chucks IMHO. I waited for the new Milwaukee Gen 4 stuff to release and just picked up this combo kit today. The mechanical chuck on the drill is a lot better than the old model and I like the three lights on the impact. Will use them both on a project over the weekend to see how they do. BTW both tools and the charger are made in Vietnam while the batteries are made in Malaysia.

James