Cordless tool kits/combo's

[Mmfh]

Hey Guys,
I've asked before about cordless drills and who uses what, I'm looking to find this time info on the combo kits. The ones that include the drill, circular saw, sawsalls, ect.

Been checking out the Dewalt larger kits. The one kit actually has what looks like a cordless "Rotozip". I really like that idea, Love my Corded rotozip.

Anyway, these kits come in different quality levels, maybe some are made here and some are made over sea's??, I would like to know what models are the good ones.

I did several repairs on a person's Audi, and saved them about $1000 from what they had expected to have to pay somewhere else. As a bonus they want to buy me one of the top of the line cordless tool kits. Merry Christmas to me!!

I said I liked Makita and Dewalt, he said give him the model number and he would go and get it.

I would like to get a good quality set as he has told me to do, please help me with info on what is actually the good stuff.

Thank You very Much!

Mm

 

[ilovetards]

I have the makita 18v Kit that includes, drill, impact driver, sawzall, skilsaw, angle grinder, and jig saw. I'm an electrician by trade and this kit has paid for itself many times over. I am happy with battery life and performance of all the tools except the angle grinder. It is expected though, as its pretty easy to kill a battery cutting steel boxes with that thing. Hope that helps.

 

[mudflap]

If going DEWALT, the XRP series is the pro grade, the rest of it is all homeowner grade stuff. And if going MAKITA, the blue tools are pro grade, white is homeowner stuff. Make sure you get ones with lithium batteries, lot of retailers are trying to unload their old nicad stuff.

 

[PsRumors]

Ihave the Ridgid version. It comes with a lifetime service agreement. After two years of ownership the charger quit, it was replaced without much hassle. The battery that has gone bad is proving to be a pain in the *** to have replaced. They keep telling me the battery is fine but it wont drive a 3" screw into a 2x4. They now want me to return all the tools in the kit to be checked. I know the tools are good as i have a good battery

So basically......i have been happy with the Ridgid product and the LSA agreement on the equipment just not on the batteries.

 

[bhalv]

I've been using the craftsman 19.2v system for almost 4 years now and it has held up really well. how much you lay down at the start really depends on how much your going to be using them, consider the fact that your batteries will die at some point and the cost of replacement can be insane. if your using stuff occasionally go with craftsman, if you are using it everyday, grab something along the lines of milwakee or dewalt

 

[Mmfh]

I have the makita 18v Kit that includes, drill, impact driver, sawzall, skilsaw, angle grinder, and jig saw. I'm an electrician by trade and this kit has paid for itself many times over. I am happy with battery life and performance of all the tools except the angle grinder. It is expected though, as its pretty easy to kill a battery cutting steel boxes with that thing. Hope that helps.

I didn't know that Makita made so many different cordless tools, I'm going on the hunt for a large kit like you have.

Would you happen to have a kit number? Model number? Are these the blue tools?

Thank you!

 

[Mmfh]

If going DEWALT, the XRP series is the pro grade, the rest of it is all homeowner grade stuff. And if going MAKITA, the blue tools are pro grade, white is homeowner stuff. Make sure you get ones with lithium batteries, lot of retailers are trying to unload their old nicad stuff.

This is exactly what I wanted to know, which ones are the cheap homeowner ones and which ones are real.

I've read that the Newer Lithium batteries even though they don't have memory which is good, they also don't last as long as the earlier Nicad?

Is there any truth to this, Nicad is much cheaper and my old Nicad Makita lasted for almost 20 years.

Its confusing trying to figure out exactly what is what, the manufacturers I'm sure do this on purpose for the different retailers.

Thank you!

 

[Mmfh]

Ihave the Ridgid version. It comes with a lifetime service agreement. After two years of ownership the charger quit, it was replaced without much hassle. The battery that has gone bad is proving to be a pain in the *** to have replaced. They keep telling me the battery is fine but it wont drive a 3" screw into a 2x4. They now want me to return all the tools in the kit to be checked. I know the tools are good as i have a good battery

So basically......i have been happy with the Ridgid product and the LSA agreement on the equipment just not on the batteries.

I'll check into Ridgid some more, I want to get a large kit if I can so all the different tools will use the same batteries and charger. I haven't seen much of that with the brand but I will look some more.

Having a LSA seems like a big thing to consider when thinking about which brand to go with.

Thank you!

 

[Mmfh]

I've been using the craftsman 19.2v system for almost 4 years now and it has held up really well. how much you lay down at the start really depends on how much your going to be using them, consider the fact that your batteries will die at some point and the cost of replacement can be insane. if your using stuff occasionally go with craftsman, if you are using it everyday, grab something along the lines of milwakee or dewalt

I've liked the Craftsman stuff for a long time, long time, but lately it seems like the quality has gone done a bit. I'm going to be reading reviews some more today to see what people are saying.

I'll check into Craftsman as well.

Thank You!

 

[cajunfirehawk]

Check out the Milwaukee lineup too, they have a ton of cordless tools as well and a great reputation. I have an 18v drill and impact (model 2691-22) combo I paid $179 w/free shipping deal some time back, best $ now seems to be $199.

 

[PCO6]

I received a DeWalt 20V drill and driver combo kit as a gift and I'm very happy with both tools. I looked into additional tools (circular, reciprocating and jig saws, etc.) and could only find them in combo packages. Those combos also included the drills I already have so there's no point in buying one. I've only looked at Home Depot, Lowe's and Canadian Tire but in each case they couldn't tell me when the individul tools will be available. I even asked a DeWalt rep who happened to be at Home Depot and he couldn't tell me. He did say he "thinks" they will be coming out with a job site radio / charger in the new year.

I've done a bit of internet searching on this and haven't found an answer yet. Does anyone know when the individual DeWalt 20V tools are coming out? I know they exist! I like the 20V because the batteries and chargers are quite a bit cheaper.

 

[gmwelder86]

I like my makitas personally, Ive used them at work and as a pipe fitter have beatin the **** out of them and never had one stop working. Im talking dropping from heights, using under water, covered in vic lube. Never had one quit. If you look on their website you will see the amount of tools they make for their 18v set is crazy if you can use it chances are they make it. Recently I saw they make a cordless die grinder, thought that was cool.

http://www.makita.com/en-us/Modules/Tools/Cordless/Default.aspx

 

[805gregg]

I bought Dewalt and gave my Makita away.

 

[acer66]

One thing to check is what tools are in the combo kit.
I just read over at toolguyd.com that the 20V circular saw in the kit is not the one they sell separately.
http://toolguyd.com/dewalt-20v-combo-kit-saw-differences/
Not sure if other manufactures do the same but I guess if one does it.

While the 18V XPR is heavy it is really a workhorse and takes a beating.

 

[PCO6]

acer - Thanks for the link. Interesting report and comments that followed.

 

[acer66]

Yeah, I never thought about that but I am in the market for new cordless tools and it amazing what is going on there.
A different letter or number can make quite a difference and some of these tool have quite a long part no.
or websites just show part of the no. and so on.

 

[Jbullfrog]

I have Dewalt and Makita 18v tools. The Makita grinder has more power, but likes batteries. If you go with Dewalt look for a kit that has the newer square bases. The tools are the same, but the base lines up with the Lithium Batteries better. The Makita tools have replaceable brushes and are built to be serviced, where the Dewalts take a motor assembly that is almost as much as a bare tool. Dewalt is the only one that offers the radio charger, as they have the patent.

 

[Danglerb]

I like the Dewalt XPR and Milwaukee, but bought Craftsman C3. With somebody else buying it would be Milwaukee, and I would include a good vendor not just the model number since prices vary a lot.

This one is normally $131k, on sale for $373.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003WJRCY8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[mudflap]

This is exactly what I wanted to know, which ones are the cheap homeowner ones and which ones are real.

I've read that the Newer Lithium batteries even though they don't have memory which is good, they also don't last as long as the earlier Nicad?

Is there any truth to this, Nicad is much cheaper and my old Nicad Makita lasted for almost 20 years.

Its confusing trying to figure out exactly what is what, the manufacturers I'm sure do this on purpose for the different retailers.

Thank you!

The only drawback to lithium batteries is they dont function as well as nicads in extremely low temps, other than that they are superior in every way. look to make sure the batteries that come with your kit are rated at 3mah, the pro grade units should, weekend warrior tools will be 1.5, or 2 mah. DEWALT / MAKITA / MILWAUKEE are all good, i would stick with one of them. Unless you really want to break the bank, look at HILTI, or FESTOOL.

 

[ilovetards]

I didn't know that Makita made so many different cordless tools, I'm going on the hunt for a large kit like you have.

Would you happen to have a kit number? Model number? Are these the blue tools?

Thank you!

They are the blue tools. I don't have the part no. for the kit I have but I did get them from home depot here in Canada. They have the kit on their site so perhaps HD in the US is the same. I plan on adding the sds hammerdrill in the near future as well. The bag that came with the set can barely hold all the tools I have added

 

[Greatbear]

Dewalt is the only one that offers the radio charger, as they have the patent.

Bosch has jobsite radios that also double as chargers, they have licensed the patent/idea from DeWalt. The new PowerBox 360 models use and charge the 14.4 and 18V LiIon packs, there are older models that charge and operate from the NiCd cells. I have one of each, and they are hands-down the best jobsite radios made. Not cheap, but have the best sound quality and feature set of any other brands IMO.