Looking at Metabo Cordless - Any experience?

[dr_clyde]

My Makita stuff is starting to show its age, I have some stuff now that's maybe 8 years old. I don't have a ton of bare tools to replace, so I'm not really worried about replacing a whole fleet. All I have is drills, impact drivers and an impact wrench. Before I replace them, I thought I'd sniff around Metabo's cordless lineup.

Metabo is my go-to for corded power tools. They have tons of metalworker specific tools that none of the "home center" brands seem to have. I'm talking weld bevelers, pipe and tube finishers, surface burnishers, cordless mag drills, ect. Stuff I actually use, so I've been considering a switch to them.

Anyone have some Metabo cordless experience they'd like to share?

They seem to have like, 3 or 4 different battery capacities. Are these interchangeable? I don't want to buy the high capacity batteries and find they don't fit most of the tools.

I would consider Fein or Hilti if they are competitive, but they don't seem to have as many tool options.

I don't want anything from Milwaukee, DeWalt, Porter Cable, Bosch, Makita, Black and Decker, Ridgid, Ryobi, ect. They simply don't offer the tool lineup for industrial users.

 

[dnschmidt]

Two problems with Metabo:
1) They have been bought out by Hitachi. Nobody yet knows whether Hitachi is going to screw them over like Stanley Black and Decker did Porter-Cable and Black and Decker Industrial which were superb tools.
2) The batteries are going to cost you an arm and a leg. You can go on EBay and get genuine Milwaukee 5.0 batteries two for $112. Two 9.0 batteries for $175. For Metabo batteries they are going to bend you over and not use any lube either. Each will likely cost you $200.

I have tons of Metabo grinders, polishers and sanders and I love all of them. But when you go cordless you're at the mercy of the battery. In my opinion the M18 Milwaukee line is the best bang for the buck you can buy. That stated if you're willing to get raped on the batteries the tools themselves should be excellent.

 

[dr_clyde]

Two problems with Metabo:
1) They have been bought out by Hitachi. Nobody yet knows whether Hitachi is going to screw them over like Stanley Black and Decker did Porter-Cable and Black and Decker Industrial which were superb tools.
2) The batteries are going to cost you an arm and a leg. You can go on EBay and get genuine Milwaukee 5.0 batteries two for $112. Two 9.0 batteries for $175. For Metabo batteries they are going to bend you over and not use any lube either. Each will likely cost you $200.

I have tons of Metabo grinders, polishers and sanders and I love all of them. But when you go cordless you're at the mercy of the battery. In my opinion the M18 Milwaukee line is the best bang for the buck you can buy. That stated if you're willing to get raped on the batteries the tools themselves should be excellent.

Right, they're expensive, but they have some tools that the box store brands DON'T have.

Show me the Milwaukee cordless tube sander or the Makita surface burnisher, and I'll give them another look. I use tools that most of the other brands simply don't have.

I really don't care about value for dollar so much as getting top quality tools that I actually will use. I just don't want to pay $500 for a cordless tool that is a POS.

 

[Ign]

Even the brushed Metabo cordless grinders were beating the brushless stuff in testing. I no longer have that link. Searching the web might get you there.

I agree they have an amazing line of oddball industrial tools in cordless

 

[Ign]

If you wanted to get snazzy try 3D printing an adapter for M18 batteries. That'd be the ticket for long-term, easily accessible and relatively affordable power.

 

[bob15]

Two problems with Metabo:
1) They have been bought out by Hitachi. Nobody yet knows whether Hitachi is going to screw them over like Stanley Black and Decker did Porter-Cable and Black and Decker Industrial which were superb tools.
2) The batteries are going to cost you an arm and a leg. You can go on EBay and get genuine Milwaukee 5.0 batteries two for $112. Two 9.0 batteries for $175. For Metabo batteries they are going to bend you over and not use any lube either. Each will likely cost you $200.

I have tons of Metabo grinders, polishers and sanders and I love all of them. But when you go cordless you're at the mercy of the battery. In my opinion the M18 Milwaukee line is the best bang for the buck you can buy. That stated if you're willing to get raped on the batteries the tools themselves should be excellent.

Do you even own a Metabo cordless tool? New OEM batteries go for between $ 100-125 all day long. Where are you getting 200 bucks from.

OP: I have had a 18v Metabo hammerdrill (BS18LT) for years now....zero complaints. I would buy another one in a NY minute if I needed another one (actually I did buy a second cordless 1/2" drive dril/driverl.....gave it to my Dad)

As far as I know all the 18 volts batteries are interchangeability. If there is one in doubt, e-mail Metabo. I had a question about their jigsaw COO and received an answer in a couple hours (germany....fyi)


And please skip Milwaukee sales pitch.....their cordless line hasn't been the same since they cheapened up and moved production from Germany to china.

 

[losvre]

I also have the Metabo SB18LTX made in Germany for 7 years now and no complains at all. The batteries still last quite a bit and I rarely use the second one for DIY.

I also got the Jigsaw STA LTD 140 a few months back and it is a monster with very good quality made in Germany. It cuts straight lots of power although it is quite loud and eats the batteries like breakfast at full speed.

Only thing I have noticed whilst I was attending a tool fair is that the battery was not firmly attached on a few of the drills.

Make sure that you buy one made in Germany because the others feel "different".

If you have the opportunity to see them from close it could be best or free returns in case you do not like the feel since the tools is also personal preference.

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[neophyte]

Two problems with Metabo:
1) They have been bought out by Hitachi. Nobody yet knows whether Hitachi is going to screw them over like Stanley Black and Decker did Porter-Cable and Black and Decker Industrial which were superb tools.
2) The batteries are going to cost you an arm and a leg. You can go on EBay and get genuine Milwaukee 5.0 batteries two for $112. Two 9.0 batteries for $175. For Metabo batteries they are going to bend you over and not use any lube either. Each will likely cost you $200.

I have tons of Metabo grinders, polishers and sanders and I love all of them. But when you go cordless you're at the mercy of the battery. In my opinion the M18 Milwaukee line is the best bang for the buck you can buy. That stated if you're willing to get raped on the batteries the tools themselves should be excellent.

It’s actually worse for Metabo than being bought out by Hitachi.
Metabo was purchased by the power tool division of Hitachi, which was then sold to a private equity firm called KKR Co. Inc.( Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.). KkR was involved in the buyout of RJR Nabisco, and a number of their buyouts haven’t turned out well for the companies involved.

On the other hand, a number of German small power tool manufacturers who don’t have a cordless program have joined with Metabo to produce a unified battery platform used by multiple brands, so if you need certain specialized tools, Metabo would be helpful.
I forget all the brands, bur Starmix a shop vac manufactured was included, as was Steinel, mostly known for their heat guns. Also Rothenberger, a major manufacturer of plumbing tools. I think Eibenstock, a specialized manufacturer of power tools, was as well.

 

[Hytekrednek]

I have 2 Metabo grinders, and the cordless recip saw. I LOVE them. They are far better than the dewalts they replaced. I plan to get a metabo cordless brushless hammerdrill soon, well, it is 1 of 2 I have not decided between yet. The other I am considering is the Hilti cordless hammer drill.

 

[sam.coll]

Yes have the Metabo 18V brushless hammer drill and brushless 400nm impact wrench, love them both and would not hesistate to buy again. Next on the list is 125mm angle grinder and probably an impact driver. As far as I know batteries are interchangeable across the ah ratings. Love the ability to be able to dial down the speed and power on the impact wrench. IMO the thing that lets metabo down is the fact they are lagging behind the big 3 with their selection of brushless tools. Im hoping they release a brushless high torque impact wrench in the near future.

Went with Metabo over Makita because I'm using the impact on live high voltage powerlines, the latest Makita batterys with fuel gauges stop working and show an error on the charger as soon as they are used on energized lines and need to be replaced.

I went with the 7.0ah batterys.

 

[racingtadpole]

All my cordless stuff is now Metabo, do it, you won’t regret it.

 

[Monte]

I would go with Metabo

http://www.cordless-alliance-system.com

 

[zkling]

I've used their 1/2" drill, bandsaw, 4.5" grinder and mag drill, all cordless, all VERY nice. If I could justify for personal use, would get their full lineup.

 

[anndel]

"Working in my garage is like playing advanced Tetris... something always has to move to get to the next tool." - PelicanPines .... same here only I have to move the cars out of the garage as well!

You can't go wrong with Metabo but do it quickly before KKR messes it up.

 

[exmaxima1]

Yes have the Metabo 18V brushless hammer drill and brushless 400nm impact wrench, love them both and would not hesistate to buy again.

I have what I believe is the same Metabo hammer drill, but not sure if it's the
brushless version. It looks exactly the same. Very heavy, and the drill/hammer mode switch pops out of gear unless you hold it while using it. Also have one of their tiny 3.6v cordless drivers, but the batteries are no longer available (and the counterfeits don't hold a charge). I would not buy another Metabo cordless tool.

 

[dnschmidt]

exmaxima1, Got to MTO battery's webpage. They have rebuilt four of the 3.6V batteries for me at very reasonable cost. You just send your dead ones into them and they take them apart and install new cells that are quite superior to OEM.

 

[PureLeaf]

I have tons of Metabo tools, I thought they weren't bad (not quite up to the quality of the Fein tools I have). Then I experienced their customer service. I'll never buy a metabo tool again. I'm waiting for my batteries to die so I can throw it all away.

A good portion of Metabo cordless is made in China (the reciprocating saw is an ancient thing that used to be rebranded by ridgid, the new compact one is made in china, both of their circular saws are woefully underpowered). Its very easy to buy higher performance, cheaper tools with better service here in the US. I thought I was getting the best by paying the high prices, and have had alot of disappointments with Metabo.

I recommend looking elsewhere, or buying all of my Metabo tools so I can get rid of them and buy from a company that stands behind their tools.

 

[losvre]

In my experience, Metabo has very good and not good at items.

Avoid all made in C***a and also I suggest get in the shop/ fair, etc. and try before buying because the differences between models are obvious.

Otherwise buy something else, although most tools nowadays have gone downhill except a couple of brands like Fein and again avoid a Fein made in C***a.

 

[losvre]

Most important is what tools you are interested in and the money you are willing to spend.

If you want the best circular saw then buy Mafell with Metabo batteries, I know many say Festool is best but I believe on the saw + rail is/ was better until lately at least.

Similar to some other brands and Metabo batteries might be the best in the market.

 

[dnschmidt]

I generally love Metabo but like every other tool company there are some things they do great and other things they do not so well. With respect to great you start with their grinders. In my opinion the best in the world. Their Duo sander is top of the line as well. Their polisher sort of ***** and it stops when you bear down on it. This saves the motor but my feeling is that the motor shouldn't need to be saved.

Everybody has something they do great:

Milwaukee: The Sawsall and most of their M18 line.
Dewalt: Good circular saws.
Bosch: Jigsaws and Rotary Hammers. Their woodworking routers are pretty good as well.
Makita: Their polishers are the best I've ever used.
Metabo: grinders

This is the way I see it. Others might differ.

 

[losvre]

The problem with cordless is of course the batteries. I think up to two different platforms is ok but not viable to have many different brands.

So which are these two brands[emoji6][emoji482]

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[Cheepbeer]

I buy tools and components that are readily available. Metabo is getting more exposure but Milwaukee and Dewalt are available anywhere. Same way with my chainsaws and stuff. I'd like to try another brand like husky or jonsered, but lack of dealers and affordable parts aren't in the works around here. So it's Stihl.

 

[PureLeaf]

Make sure you also don't mixed up Metabo and Metabo HPT (which is the new name Hitachi tools are going under).

 

[losvre]

Make sure you also don't mixed up Metabo and Metabo HPT (which is the new name Hitachi tools are going under).

[emoji106]

If you can test before you buy it will be ideal. Not all the drills are made equally; even the made in Germany ones.

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[losvre]

Just to add that a few Metabo drills made I Germany I tested in a tool fair they had a bit play at the tool/ battery interface.

The one I have below is solid 7 years now but different design.

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[Ign]

^^^I couldn't figure out WTH you were talking about initially. Here a "fair" would be a "demo" or trade show.

 

[losvre]

^^^I couldn't figure out WTH you were talking about initially. Here a "fair" would be a "demo" or trade show.

Trade show that is. They had demo of lots of power tools and was looking on the new Metabo.

I liked Fein the best which I am considering when the batteries of Metabo are dead.

Festool great stuff as well but very pricey for DIY.

 

[PureLeaf]

Trade show that is. They had demo of lots of power tools and was looking on the new Metabo.

I liked Fein the best which I am considering when the batteries of Metabo are dead.

Festool great stuff as well but very pricey for DIY.

I agree, I'm on the Metabo platform and can't wait for my batteries to die, so I can dump the tools.

I have a Fein cordless drill, and their 18v flashlight and the tools come off with a much higher fit and finish. The 4 speed FEIN drill is fantastic. The only downside of Fein is they have alot smaller offering in cordless tools. Fein has also given me excellent customer service. Something that can't be said of Metabo.