Panasonic or Hitachi.? I need a new drill and impact, really hate to give up on my made in Germany, Milwaukee stuff, but I am tired of buying batteries. Old Ni-Cad stuff. Guess its time to get up to date on some NEW brushless Li-Ion. Any Hitachi or Panasonic users feel free to throw out some suggestions. Thanks.
Cordless tool shootout.
- Thread starter SwampCat
- Start date
bigdave39355
Active member
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2014
- Messages
- 34
i like the 18v li-ion Bosch tools....
tshetter
Well-known member
As much as I love my Bosch 18v and 12v collection I really do think the Milwaukee Fuel line is far superior in terms of power and ergonomics. They are damn comfortable in the hand.
I would never give up my Bosch 12v impact though, it is compact and lightweight, and has more than enough power for 95% of what I do.
I would never give up my Bosch 12v impact though, it is compact and lightweight, and has more than enough power for 95% of what I do.
I love my Hitachi 1/4 hex impact... Fit's your hand perfectly and takes a beating. 3 years driving sockets with a 3/8 square adapter on trucks and heavy equipment. Been kicked, dropped, gone swimming in ATF and coolant but never skips a beat.
I am/was a hitachi fan. Still have 2 old 12 volt nicads that built my huge deck just fine. Only have 3 batteries and 2 were going all the time. They did great for me....never saw the need for bigger, except a bigger chuck. Then I was suckered into buying into the m18 line. The 1/2 drill and hex impact, and I am hooked! The drill and hex impact are not the fuel line, but are outstanding! I just got the 1/2 fuel impact gun and it is a BEAST! I want more! The drill and driver lasted all day helping a freind build a house in 20 below weather in dec/jan. I was told lithium batts were bad in the cold. Not mine. I am going to buy more m18 stuff( 3/8 impact, sawzall, jigsaw, grease gun) and get some m12 goodies too.
That said I still have a soft spot for hitachi, I think their tools are great for the price and way underateded. I will keep mine for home use, and rebuild the batteries when needed. I drove some long screws in thick wood with them, and they never did me wrong. They earned their keep, but if I find hitachi for cheap I will grab it and use it for home. I am an auto mech by trade.
That said I still have a soft spot for hitachi, I think their tools are great for the price and way underateded. I will keep mine for home use, and rebuild the batteries when needed. I drove some long screws in thick wood with them, and they never did me wrong. They earned their keep, but if I find hitachi for cheap I will grab it and use it for home. I am an auto mech by trade.
bareass172
Well-known member
I know it's not Panasonic or Hitachi, but if you're tired of buying batteries Ridgid does lifetime warranty on their tools and batteries. If I had to choose between Panasonic and Hitachi I'd go Hitachi all day long.
retfr8flyr
Well-known member
The Ridgid Lifetime Warranty is not what it seems. You need to read the fine print on their warrant. The lifetime is what they decide is the normal lifetime for that tool, not your lifetime. If they decide the normal lifetime for a battery is say 3 years, then they will replace it for that length of time. After that it's not under warranty anymore.
Also a tip for anyone buying a Ridgid product. You have to have the original receipt from your place of purchase, not a copy and the proof of purchase code from the original box that it came in, or no warranty. So make sure you keep these, as they have to be sent in to Ridgid.
Also a tip for anyone buying a Ridgid product. You have to have the original receipt from your place of purchase, not a copy and the proof of purchase code from the original box that it came in, or no warranty. So make sure you keep these, as they have to be sent in to Ridgid.
SMKS
Well-known member
I'm not trying to be "that guy," but Ridgid technically has a "lifetime service agreement," not a lifetime warranty. Basically, you have to jump through hoops to register it and use the service agreement. If you don't follow through properly, you can't use the service agreement and you get a 3-year warranty.
All the info is here:
https://www.ridgid.com/us/en/three-year-limited-lsa
Last edited:
bareass172
Well-known member
I don't want to hijack this thread, but I also don't want misinformation spread here either. I'm not associated with Ridgid, just clearing any confusion.
https://www.ridgid.com/us/en/three-year-limited-lsa
...Once all conditions of the registration process are fulfilled, the tool’s service coverage lasts the lifetime of the original purchaser...The Lifetime Service Agreement covers all worn parts in properly maintained tools. This includes normal wear items such as brushes, chucks, motors, switches, gears and even cordless batteries in your qualifying RIDGID® Brand hand held and stationary power tools. These programs also cover replacement rings, driver blades and bumpers on RIDGID® Brand pneumatic tools...
Yes I only copied the important bits, but I didn't leave anything out that would contradict the point, that's why I included the link to the whole thing above. If I'm wrong, please correct me.
As far as using the service agreement, I have always just walked into my store and had items changed out on the spot. You do have to call and re-register the new item to replace the old one with Ridgid or else you lose the lifetime warranty, but again this just takes a few minutes. Many of us own tools that need to be mailed out for warranty, so even if the store wouldn't do it, is it that much different than other tools?
Sorry for the brief hijack, I just want to be sure this is all clear.
Not true, you can read the warranty here:
https://www.ridgid.com/us/en/three-year-limited-lsa
...Once all conditions of the registration process are fulfilled, the tool’s service coverage lasts the lifetime of the original purchaser...The Lifetime Service Agreement covers all worn parts in properly maintained tools. This includes normal wear items such as brushes, chucks, motors, switches, gears and even cordless batteries in your qualifying RIDGID® Brand hand held and stationary power tools. These programs also cover replacement rings, driver blades and bumpers on RIDGID® Brand pneumatic tools...
Yes I only copied the important bits, but I didn't leave anything out that would contradict the point, that's why I included the link to the whole thing above. If I'm wrong, please correct me.
This was the way this was done for a long time, but they recently changed it so you just enter the code off your HD receipt into the website along with the tool serial # and it automatically registers the product within just a couple of days. No need to mail stuff in anymore.
You're right that if you don't register you end up with the 3 year warranty, but you have 90 days to register after purchase and with the streamlined procedure I mentioned above it's really very simple. Takes maybe 5 minutes once you have the account established with them.
As far as using the service agreement, I have always just walked into my store and had items changed out on the spot. You do have to call and re-register the new item to replace the old one with Ridgid or else you lose the lifetime warranty, but again this just takes a few minutes. Many of us own tools that need to be mailed out for warranty, so even if the store wouldn't do it, is it that much different than other tools?
Sorry for the brief hijack, I just want to be sure this is all clear.
SMKS
Well-known member
what "store" did you walk into to exchange your item? Was it under the 3-year warranty or the LSA?
Another problem with the Ridgid LSA is you'll find posts online from people who had a problem within the 3-year warranty, got it serviced/fixed for free, but didn't know they were using the warranty and not the LSA. So they talk up the LSA when they really used the warranty.
Techie1961
Well-known member
I use nothing but Rigid for my pipe tools but won't touch their power tools. I may be wrong but I was told that they aren't the same "Rigid" company as the pipe tools. I don't see the quality in them. Apparently they licence the name for use.
I pretty much only buy Milwaukee tools. Great quality and warranty. I have a lot of them and never had an issue taking them back to my dealer where I bought them.
I pretty much only buy Milwaukee tools. Great quality and warranty. I have a lot of them and never had an issue taking them back to my dealer where I bought them.
pauls_workshop
Well-known member
Hi, there are lots of GJ threads on cordless tools now, but I'll plug the Ryobi 18v line. Many tools in it are very very good and they are all much lower cost than the competitors. Ryobi/Rigid/Milwaukee are all made and owned by TTI parent company now. Generally it really is a Ryobi = very good (lite pro use or DIY use)/Rigid = pro use/Milwaukee = pro use +. Craftsman C3 line is also same as Ryobi and are rebadged Ryobi. Many like the C3 tools too, which are similarly great buys for the money. - Paul
Bud, one more thing to consider is the support for the product. Panasonic makes some awesome stuff, but if you need parts or service, you cant just go to the local big box to get it. The tools warranty has to be convenient to you as well.
Much prefer dewalts new 20v max line. Good tools, good battery life and a decent cost. Other choice would be the milwaukee stuff. Higher the ah of the batteries the more worth it imho. I have a porter cable set that I got a few years ago b/c it was on clearance. Good tools and honestly the impact driver is as powerful as the older dewalts and so forth but the batteries are like 2.0 ah and run out fast.
firebox40dash5
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2012
- Messages
- 4,185
+1 on Ridgid's service agreement not being as great as it sounds. My dad is a contractor and bought a ton of their stuff becuase of the lifetime free batteries. Over the last year or so, he decided the hassle and wait time to get it handled wasn't worth it and has been switching to Dewalt. If it sounds to good to be true, and such. A lifetime warranty on a consumable product is going to cost a company a mint to keep going, and they're eventually going to do about anything they can to keep those costs down. It drives initial sales great, but eventually costs you double in replacement costs AND lost sales from customers who are getring free tools vs. buying new ones. 
If you're looking to pay for premium tools and want a good tool selection, I'd look at Milwaukee Fuel as well. I've heard lots of good things about their warranty service as well, and the 3 year warranty on the XC packs makes me feel a lot better compared to the 1 year warranty and early battery death my Makitas suffered from.
If you're looking to pay for premium tools and want a good tool selection, I'd look at Milwaukee Fuel as well. I've heard lots of good things about their warranty service as well, and the 3 year warranty on the XC packs makes me feel a lot better compared to the 1 year warranty and early battery death my Makitas suffered from.
RCStocker
Well-known member
Hitachi is under rated and Panasonic is a home line in my book.
Bosch or Milwaukee are the only 2 I buy and use in my construction business.
I have the older heavy duty Milwaukee 18 v and have had a few batteries go out but the newer ones or replacement ones last much longer and have not gone out. They had a bad batch of batteries 8 or so years ago. The quality of these two brands is more than a cut above the rest. They are both better than Snap-on cordless and for a fraction of the price. My Milwaukee drill is so smooth. They make the best electric drills on the market and have for the past 60 years.
Bosch or Milwaukee are the only 2 I buy and use in my construction business.
I have the older heavy duty Milwaukee 18 v and have had a few batteries go out but the newer ones or replacement ones last much longer and have not gone out. They had a bad batch of batteries 8 or so years ago. The quality of these two brands is more than a cut above the rest. They are both better than Snap-on cordless and for a fraction of the price. My Milwaukee drill is so smooth. They make the best electric drills on the market and have for the past 60 years.
Sk8Crash69
Well-known member
I have the Bosch 12v and 18v and would recommend both of them in a heart beat.
neonlazer
Well-known member
Milwaukee Fuel M18
jsharpphoto
Well-known member
i have the Dewalt 20v Max stuff and I love it. I like that they offer different size (Ah) batteries. If i'm using my jigsaw, I don't really want the heavy 3ah battery on there, but if i'm taking my drill or impact driver up on the roof, I grab the 3ah because who wants to come down the ladder just to replace a battery.
i may be the minority here, I don't see much love for the dewalt power tools.
i may be the minority here, I don't see much love for the dewalt power tools.
ckadams00
Well-known member
I love my Makita 18v. I don't use it professionally but it is a great tool with lots of power. I also just picked up a Rockwell 16v Li impact at Menard's and so far I really like it - I know there are better brands, but it's small, strong, and was on clearance with 2 batteries, charger and bag for $80.
Techie1961
Well-known member
I remember the Milwaukee bad batteries. Took them to the service centre and they handed me brand new ones, no questions asked.
It's a no brainer. Panasonic has always been superior to these other brands when it comes to cordless technology. (unfortunately pricing also reflects that)
I bought into the Rigid LSA when I decided to switch to L-ion tools. I have a battery that is only eight months old and is all ready shot. I had the Milwaukee fuel, and the Rigid in my cart, I wish I had gone with the Milwaukee. My old Makita 18v Ni-Cad tools are still going strong. Panasonic is pretty spendy, that's all I know about them.
bareass172
Well-known member
My local Home Depot, the same one I bought it from. It was done under the LSA because I had to call Ridgid and register the new tool to replace the old one so I continue with the LSA.
I won't argue with this, it happened to a friend of mine. I believe that he could have done something about it by making a phone call but he decided he didn't care that much. He lost his LSA and now has the standard 3 year warranty on the new tool.
Why not get it replaced?
I'm not here to argue with anyone, just stating my experiences with Ridgid and they've all been good. If I'm the only one on the planet with no problems, then I guess I'm lucky. I just know that I would rather have a LSA on batteries that will absolutely, without doubt, eventually need replacing at ~$80-$100 a pop even if it means jumping through hoops to replace them. Just my $.02, nothing more.
firebox40dash5
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2012
- Messages
- 4,185
Don't you have to re-register anything that gets replaced, regardless of why, or how?
Why not get it replaced?
Oh, I plan on it. It is a two and a half hour round trip to HD. I only go to Missoula when there is a few things needed. The impact driver is a nice little unit. The big reason I went with the Rigid was the free radio, as I was in the market for a Ipod dock as well. I just see all the new Milwaukee fuel tools. There seems to be a lot larger selection. I am not knocking Rigid at all, I just would have done it differently.
Oh, I plan on it. It is a two and a half hour round trip to HD. I only go to Missoula when there is a few things needed. The impact driver is a nice little unit. The big reason I went with the Rigid was the free radio, as I was in the market for a Ipod dock as well. I just see all the new Milwaukee fuel tools. There seems to be a lot larger selection. I am not knocking Rigid at all, I just would have done it differently.
tgb
Well-known member
Makita 18 volt used everyday for last 4 years no issues at all
bareass172
Well-known member
Yep, or else you lose the LSA. When mine was replaced I made a phone call and they removed the old tool and added the new tool in it's place. Not hard at all.Don't you have to re-register anything that gets replaced, regardless of why, or how?