Cordless tools dilemma

[850xpeps]

I’m not sure where the chuck issues are with makita. I am hard on my tools and they’ve been great. But I also do research and buy the top or upper quality line. Not the homeowner makita.

 

[jd_1138]

I would like to keep everything with interchangeable batteries, so that means going all Makita, or all another brand


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I'd probably just replace with Makita stuff if you want to stay with one battery platform. If you're a DIYer, the non-brushless stuff is fine and it's dirt cheap in bare tool form or reconditioned off ebay or CPO. Then pick up a kit with 2 batteries, charger, tools. It's best to pick up batteries as part of kits because batteries alone are almost as much as the kit that includes the tool. Though some of the kits have small capacity batteries.

I am in the Makita 18V and Ryobi 18V platforms. The less important tools, I buy in Ryobi like jobsite radio, multi-tool, lanterns, flashlights. My main stuff like drills and recip are in Makita. I also have the Ryobi impact driver. It's handy to have a second one if I am working with someone who doesn't have one. I was helping my friend build a deck, and I handed him the Ryobi impact driver.

But really it's not a huge disadvantage to be on 2 platforms, as it opens up options across 2 huge brands of tools. Ryobi stuff is cheap. And you need 4 or 5 batteries anyway, so having like 3 Makita batteries and 1 or 2 Ryobi batteries is the same cost or less than 5 Makita batteries. Only real extra expense is an extra $20 or so for a 2nd charger.

But if you can afford to stay completely on Makita, then that's fine too. It is nice having all the tools be able to use all your batteries. I beat the heck out of the Makita tools I have (as a DIYer who does work for 2 relatives too), and it never fails me. They've been dropped a lot off ladders.

I had Dewalt stuff before, and it was excellent and just as good, but I sold it to a contractor friend who needed a Dewalt infusion to his arsenal. I felt guilty having pro grade Dewalt as a DIYer. So I went with Ryobi but then found the Makita stuff on sale, so I am on 2 platforms now.

 

[King Nothing]

I’m not sure where the chuck issues are with makita. I am hard on my tools and they’ve been great. But I also do research and buy the top or upper quality line. Not the homeowner makita.

I know that Makita has black and white 18v tools. I always thought that those were the homeowner stuff while the blue was the pro grade stuff. I have the blue stuff


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[850xpeps]

I know that Makita has black and white 18v tools. I always thought that those were the homeowner stuff while the blue was the pro grade stuff. I have the blue stuff


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They make different quality blue stuff. You can usually google and get the difference. Say they might have 4 different 1/4” impacts. Maybe 4 or so 1/2” drills. All varying in quality for more severe duty.

 

[King Nothing]

What other tools if any do you want to add in. As far as quality goes it's hard to go wrong with just about any major brand

Circular saw, recip saw, jigsaw (but damn it’s expensive). Weed eater. Maybe a few others


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[jd_1138]

I know that Makita has black and white 18v tools. I always thought that those were the homeowner stuff while the blue was the pro grade stuff. I have the blue stuff


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I don't think the color indicates pro or consumer grade. I think all their tools are pretty much pro grade. My Makita tools are teal.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Makita-Li-Ion-Hammer-Driver-Drill-Kit-XPH012-R-Recon/282911235265?_trkparms=5926%3AKEYWORD%7C5079%3A0

There's a great deal on a hammer drill, charger, battery for $80. It says reconditioned, but I've never had trouble with recon tools. They usually look new and are probably just returns. Under the daily deals, search for Makita and a lot of good deals pop up.

 

[cderalow]

I went Ryobi and have absolute no regrets. I'm a hobbiest and a DIYer, but I've never had a tool fail me. I did just recently have a NiCd battery fail, but it was the only one I had for a long time and I used and abused the heck out of it...it made it 3 yrs. And as far as a the selection of tools and jobs, you just can't beat them.

My Brother in law swears by his Ryobi stuff


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I looked at Ryobi, but the problem I had is they are certainly cheaper in-store, but when you look online there are a lot of good deals on the higher end brands. So good that you can pretty much Amazon Prime any DeWalt / Milwaukee / Makita tool to your front door for a similar price to the Ryobi in-store at HD. And once you remove the price advantage of Ryobi, it kind of lowers the appeal for me.

I'm in this boat. I invested in a Ryobi 18V combo 17+ years ago when I started college. Basic Drill & flashlight combo with two batteries, charger and a hard case. Now, I've still got the drill and flashlight, though I've added a bunch of tools to my collection and no longer use the old NiCad batteries.

Amazingly, that original drill still works just as well as two of its newer contemporaries. Not quite as well as the newest brushless units, but certainly as well as a newer brushed motor one.

Between multiple circular saws (5-1/2", 6-1/2", 7-1/4") multiple impact drivers, hammer drills, regular drills, sawzalls, handheld sanders, jigsaw, nailers, lights, inflators, and a bunch of outdoor law equipment, it's served me well.

I've got somewhere around 15 various sized batteries and 25+ tools invested in the system spanning across the 17 years (even a cordless hot glue gun).

I've never had any of the tools fail. One or two batteries have gone bad on me, but they were replaced with little hassle.

granted, I'm a homeowner/hobbyist and don't use my tools every day for 8+ hours a day, so they're not heavily abused or used, but when they've been called into action, they've always been able to meet the task at hand.

 

[Rickster]

Milwaukee & Ryobi One seem to be the Big-Dogs in the market right now. I would search through the manfs tool line-ups and see which manf has the most tools that you feel you will buy.

 

[engineer2]

2. Buy a new brushless Makita kit with hammer drill, impact, circular saw, 2 batteries and charger for around $320

The 6.5" circular saw is very handy. I haven't used my Skilsaw since getting it.

Makita makes a huge variety if drills and impact drivers. Kind of like good-better-best. Most of the Makita stuff at Home Depot is the homeowner level good-better stuff. Fine for occasional use. Better to pay extra and get the multi-speed impact driver and the metal gearbox hammer drill in my opinion. These are your most-used tools, so it's wise to get the better models.

 

[P89DC]

Take the dead battery packs to a Batteries Plus store and have them replace the individual cells with new ones.

 

[majorbanjo]

I'm heavily invested in Milwaukee and love nearly every tool I've bought from them.....however, still pissed they don't make an M18 laser level....

 

[King Nothing]

Take the dead battery packs to a Batteries Plus store and have them replace the individual cells with new ones.

It’s not that easy. The Makita batteries have a chip in them that interfaces with the charger. After 3 times being put in the charger and unsuccessfully charging that chip “self destructs” and that battery will never charge again. At least that’s how it was explained to me


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[850xpeps]

It’s not that easy. The Makita batteries have a chip in them that interfaces with the charger. After 3 times being put in the charger and unsuccessfully charging that chip “self destructs” and that battery will never charge again. At least that’s how it was explained to me


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It doesn’t self destruct. You can buy the chip board off eBay or the like and replace. As long as the cells are good. They also have a charge limit.

I’m sure other brands share something similar being lithium. They are controlled for a purpose of not burning houses down or exploding lol but you are right battery places around here won’t touch any lithium brand.

 

[850xpeps]

Take the dead battery packs to a Batteries Plus store and have them replace the individual cells with new ones.

Open one up and you’ll see why places won’t touch them. I have messed with replacing a cell and it’s tedious but doable.

 

[King Nothing]

Thanks for all the ideas and opinions. I think the answer for me right now is going to be a replacement Jacobs chuck and a pair of 4ah batteries. These tools have done me well for 6 or 7 years now so I don't see the need to upgrade them


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[850xpeps]

Good deals in Canada on some things right now if your up here.

Basically a dual charger with 5ah batteries is the price of these. So get free battery, blower and trimmer

 

[Fialaja]

I am a die hard Makita guy too, I still have the old pod style MXT stuff 14.4 volts nimh batteries they last a really long time out in the garage subjected to extreme temps and left in the chargers, I tend to get 10 years before they start to degrade. At $149.99 for a 2 pack, batteries aren’t too expensive for me as a home shop guy. I cannot justify the switchover to lithium when these tools still have life in them and get the job done 15+ years later.

 

[mudflap]

Take the dead battery packs to a Batteries Plus store and have them replace the individual cells with new ones.

The Batteries Plus stores near me wont rebuild Lithium packs, but they still do Nicad.

 

[mudflap]

I know that Makita has black and white 18v tools. I always thought that those were the homeowner stuff while the blue was the pro grade stuff. I have the blue stuff


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True..The white and black are homeowner grade..built to a price point for the big box stores..still good tools, comparable to Ryobi. I think they all have 2 lines. Dewalt XR/XRP line is pro stuff. Milwaukee Fuel, etc. And maybe like somebody else said...even different levels of Pro stuff...?

 

[MayerMR]

This is a good point - look at the full tool lineup of Makita vs the competitors and make sure whatever system you invest in has all the tools you would want. And also the specs on the tools you want.

I looked at Ryobi, but the problem I had is they are certainly cheaper in-store, but when you look online there are a lot of good deals on the higher end brands. So good that you can pretty much Amazon Prime any DeWalt / Milwaukee / Makita tool to your front door for a similar price to the Ryobi in-store at HD. And once you remove the price advantage of Ryobi, it kind of lowers the appeal for me.

No argument there, it's absolutely true...but it's also true for the Ryobi stuff

The Batteries Plus stores near me wont rebuild Lithium packs, but they still do Nicad.

Any idea (roundabouts) what they charge to rebuild the NiCad packs?

 

[Voi]

True..The white and black are homeowner grade...

They also have the black with white lettering subcompact line, which seems to be marketed to both homeowners & professionals.

 

[Snap_cap]

I am going on a little rant about cordless tools, wonderful things they are. I still have perfectly usable power tools from the late 50s and great Milwaukee stuff from the 70s and 80s. Since the advent of common cordless tools, I have had to dispose of a number of them because the technology gets better (great) and the batteries are no longer supported. Things I don’t use all the time, I buy corded quality stuff and it lasts practically forever. I’m in the boat with you with you on my Mikita cordless 18v drill, I would love another of their tools but they changed the batteries again and don’t have cross compatibility. I need to look at these as disposable consumables. That isn’t how I view tools and it irks me.

One nice idea that DeWalt has implemented is an adapter to convert their 18V NiCad system to use their 20V LiOn batteries.

Too bad other companies haven't followed suit with their own product lines.

 

[diesel_dan]

In 2003 when Home Depot came out with Ridgid power tools, I was a Makita guy and I had their 14.4V stuff. But I kept paying as much for batteries as the tools themselves cost. The Makitas were the bomb and worked Hard.

But I went ahead and bought a set of 18V Ridgid tools, all NiCad back then. Used my Makitas still and upgraded them to NiMh with a charger to match. Those new batteries lasted all of 2 years...

My Ridgid stuff was still running, then one battery died and the other was weak so I took them into Home Depot, got the run-around and ended up talking to the store manager, who handled getting the set in to the repair center and back, but they only replaced one battery, the other was still weak.

Finally, years later, both Ridgid batts failed and I packed everything up and went to Home Depot to go-to-war! Told service desk gal just to call manager; for what, she asks? My batteries are dead and I know he will get them replaced. Do you want your money back for the whole kit? No, I just want batteries... Then go to the Rental Dept.... Why I ask? She says they will check your tools out. I'm pissed because I think I'm getting the run around, but I head down there.

The (older) guy at Rental, looks at my receipt and says: you bought your set before you had to register the tools, if anyone ever questions you, tell them to look at the "Ridgid book". And then he handed me two new batteries and also registered them into the system; he said always register your new battery so it always can be replaced (they had a huge shelf system in back full of batteries). He also said: just come straight to Rental at Any Home Depot and they'll handle your battery replacement...

I told him I was interested in a compact drill and driver set, does anyone do the lifetime battery warranty? Yep, he says, Ridgid - just be sure to register them online. So I bought a set of 18V Lion Ridged units.

Weeks later I was charging one of the Lion batts and looked at the footprint on the base. Hmm, it looks like my 13 year old NiCad 18V base, and guess what? Versus just about everyone else out there that obsoletes their perfectly good tool by changing the battery, The ******* Ridgid 18V batteries work on all the Tools!! And I don't have to buy another new battery EVER!

I AM Brand Loyal now, and that Brand is Ridgid! I can't break them and I don't worry if I do. But buying batteries has cost many a friend a bundle in switching brands or constantly buying batteries, for perfectly good (otherwise) tools...

Loved my Makita stuff, but they're all dead on the shelf or gone...

Scott

 

[mudflap]

I have seen the Ridgid battery replacement thing go both ways for people. The key is to register them within the set time. No problems if you do that.

 

[850xpeps]

In 2003 when Home Depot came out with Ridgid power tools, I was a Makita guy and I had their 14.4V stuff. But I kept paying as much for batteries as the tools themselves cost. The Makitas were the bomb and worked Hard.

But I went ahead and bought a set of 18V Ridgid tools, all NiCad back then. Used my Makitas still and upgraded them to NiMh with a charger to match. Those new batteries lasted all of 2 years...

My Ridgid stuff was still running, then one battery died and the other was weak so I took them into Home Depot, got the run-around and ended up talking to the store manager, who handled getting the set in to the repair center and back, but they only replaced one battery, the other was still weak.

Finally, years later, both Ridgid batts failed and I packed everything up and went to Home Depot to go-to-war! Told service desk gal just to call manager; for what, she asks? My batteries are dead and I know he will get them replaced. Do you want your money back for the whole kit? No, I just want batteries... Then go to the Rental Dept.... Why I ask? She says they will check your tools out. I'm pissed because I think I'm getting the run around, but I head down there.

The (older) guy at Rental, looks at my receipt and says: you bought your set before you had to register the tools, if anyone ever questions you, tell them to look at the "Ridgid book". And then he handed me two new batteries and also registered them into the system; he said always register your new battery so it always can be replaced (they had a huge shelf system in back full of batteries). He also said: just come straight to Rental at Any Home Depot and they'll handle your battery replacement...

I told him I was interested in a compact drill and driver set, does anyone do the lifetime battery warranty? Yep, he says, Ridgid - just be sure to register them online. So I bought a set of 18V Lion Ridged units.

Weeks later I was charging one of the Lion batts and looked at the footprint on the base. Hmm, it looks like my 13 year old NiCad 18V base, and guess what? Versus just about everyone else out there that obsoletes their perfectly good tool by changing the battery, The ******* Ridgid 18V batteries work on all the Tools!! And I don't have to buy another new battery EVER!

I AM Brand Loyal now, and that Brand is Ridgid! I can't break them and I don't worry if I do. But buying batteries has cost many a friend a bundle in switching brands or constantly buying batteries, for perfectly good (otherwise) tools...

Loved my Makita stuff, but they're all dead on the shelf or gone...

Scott

Knock on wood couple of my makita lithium are rounding 12 or so years. And they get used. Couple dead ones. And newer dead ones but I found that it’s usually connected to a hard impacted damaging a cell.

Rigid makes some alright tools but I’ll stick to makita.

And you can buy an adapter for old to new on most tools.

My cordless tools get used and abused building every day all day. Does your rigid? I know everyone on here wants to brag about how cheap they are and blah blah blah. One any job site I have been on I haven’t seen one rigid cordless.

The majority is makita, dewalt and Milwaukee. With some Bosch and the odd Hilti for the rich kid.