owning multiple cordless tool brands

[charbar]

I try to keep it to a minimum on different brands. I suppose if I ONLY worked out of my shop and didn't mind having a giant hodgepodge of different chargers and batteries laying around then different brands would be fine.

I run all Dewalt 20V for the bigger stuff (incl. 18V tools with adapters) and for the smaller stuff (baby impacts, cordless ratchets, lights, etc) I use SnapOn 14.4v.

I think it would be hard to find just ONE brand that would cover most of what you want, however I think Milwaukee with their Fuel line probably has the most offerings(?).
If I were to start over from scratch I would give probably Milwaukee a hard look as a company that probably covers everything I would need.
Im just too invested in other brands to consider switching.

 

[PugetDude]

18V is Ryobi.
12V is Milwaukee.

Covers everything I need.

Dumped my Ridgid stuff so I wouldn't have to support a third battery platform- and they pissed me off with their fauxwarranty.

 

[metaldad]

just focused now on milwaukee.
why? because red is easier to keep clean than yeller.
got rid of dewalt 12v, 18v, makita 9.6v, 18v. crapsman 12v
not adding to my ridgid 18v.
oh, and i have (2) bosch job site radios, with 18v batteries to run them.
im not going to add to the bosch list. red only

 

[M635_Guy]

I'm all Milwaukee.

I'm not interested in having a variety of chargers, and the adapters aren't something I'm messing with either. There aren't really any big mistakes among the big guys you can choose from Dewailt, Makita, Milwaukee, Rigid, Ryoboi, etc. It seems like Milwaukee has a lot of good stuff going on, and I'm entirely pleased with all of mine.

I don't include Craftsman, Huskey, HF aren't included in that "big guys" group, not because they don't make fine tools, but I don't trust them to stick with their battery platform.

 

[anndel]

I have Milwaukee, Makita, DeWalt and Bosch. I know it's dumb but I like the best each has to offer.

 

[propmaker]

I'm have a ton of Milwaukee M18, Festool cordless track saw and jig saw, Fein cordless multitool.

 

[got2boostit2]

The Red team turned me off with a 1/2" impact that the batteries wouldn't last more than a year. Then bought a right had drill and had battery issues. So Dewalt, Dewalt, Dewalt for a long time. Well was watching a Rob Dahmn video and saw a Red rotary. Searched and bought one because of two extra batteries and now can use my right hand drive drill again and also added the rotary with some bits. So far in a weeks use, liking them but don't want to give in just yet. Dewalt has done me well around the shop and home so not giving up on them.

 

[64merc]

I tried really hard to stick with Milwaukee for 12v and Makita for 18v, but little by little I've accumulated a bit of everything. If another brand makes the best tool, or it's a great deal, it's hard not to stray.

 

[Lucid Moments]

I have mostly Dewalt cordless tools, but I have one Bauer angle grinder that I took in trade, and a matching pair of 12V Bosch drill and driver pair. I would far rather have a Dewalt cordless grinder than the Bauer just for the simplicity in battery maintenance. I really like the little Bosh drill/driver combo though. They aren't for big jobs, but they do great for small ones and are their small size makes them much more convenient to use.

 

[motoretro]

(3) Cordless
Dewalt String Trimmer 20V
Dewalt 1/2" Impact Wrench 20V
Milwaukee Drill & Light 12V (Ni-Cad)

 

[xjfish]

I'm all mixed up. Mostly:
20V Dewalt/MAC
12v Milwaukee
14.4 Snap-On

 

[p00p]

Well, there is something to be said for that. I don't believe many if any adapters are store items or can be had locally. But, is eBay or Amazon a readily available or "easy to find and buy" location? I have 6 adapters for Dewalt 20 volt batteries to 18 V tools. I bought 4 when they first came out, 2 after market and 2 Dewalt. I paid a premium for them, in retrospect, silly money. The last 2 I bought a year or so back that were after market eBay items I think I paid $13 each. A deal to be sure. Just looked around and it appears a $20 bill plus or minus a bit will get an adapter for almost any battery platform brand to any tool brand these days.

Yes, but my idea of an adapter is going from one brand to another brand.
Dewalt to BD or Fuel to Greenworks etc

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

I had the craftsman c3 stuff and it worked just fine for me except for the 1/2in impact was not powerful enough. The drill chuck didn’t like tiny drill bits and it made a wierd noise since it was new but otherwise just fine. I upgraded to the dewalt 20 volt with the 899 1/2in impact. I looked for some c3 yard tools but by then craftsman quit making them so I picked up some ryobi 18 volt since Home Depot is just a few blocks away and they are identical to the craftsman aside from batteries and color and now i can get any ryobi 18 volt tool because they have made them for years and they are a great value but the dewalt tools are my more used stuff so i got better quality there. If they would have come out with the better ryobi stuff a year sooner I might have ryobi then. I also have a 12 volt power torque cordless ratchet from oriley auto parts that works nicely. Probably would have gotten that in ryobi had it came out sooner

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I own Ingersoll in both battery platforms for automotive and m18/m12 for home remodeling. I have the odd Bosch driver but don't use it much anymore. I think the model number was ps-21?

 

[Formula]

Just Milwaukee and Snap On for me

 

[niget2002]

I'm all in on Dewalt, but I admit I don't have a lot of tools.

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

 

[M635_Guy]

I have Milwaukee, Makita, DeWalt and Bosch. I know it's dumb but I like the best each has to offer.

If the charger and battery thing doesn't bother you, it's not dumb Heck - it gives you less reason to not buy a cool new tool

I'm just cranky about what I call "fiddly" details - I don't want a lot of chargers and I don't want a rainbow of battery flavors to figure out when I'm trying to get something done. I've got a Milwaukee Rapid Charger on my wall that handles both M18 and M12. I've wound up with a couple more batteries than I need on both, but that bothers me (far) less than lack of interchangeability. Most of my tools are in the FUEL line, and there isn't a sucker in the bunch.

With corded stuff I have very little loyalty - I'm going for the best one that fits my needs/budget.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

Having the same battery platform makes things a lot easier however most contractors have multiple lines of tools.

I have both Dewalt in Milwaukee

I am heavily invested in dewalt because they were the first ones to introduce a battery operated concrete saw (flex volt) but then Milwaukee came out with a battery powered water supply tank that I needed so I have both lines. Dewalt doesn’t make a water supply tank for wet cutting with the concrete saw

So I have a Dewalt concrete Saw with a Milwaukee water tank providing water to it

I usually stick with dewalt because I have the most batteries and tools for their platform But I have no issues using or buying a different line if they have the better tool for the job

I have a dewalt 4 port battery fast charger which has been a total game changer in regards to charging batteries which makes a huge difference when I am using a lot of cordless tools on the job

 

[p00p]

If the charger and battery thing doesn't bother you, it's not dumb Heck - it gives you less reason to not buy a cool new tool

I'm just cranky about what I call "fiddly" details - I don't want a lot of chargers and I don't want a rainbow of battery flavors to figure out when I'm trying to get something done. I've got a Milwaukee Rapid Charger on my wall that handles both M18 and M12. I've wound up with a couple more batteries than I need on both, but that bothers me (far) less than lack of interchangeability. Most of my tools are in the FUEL line, and there isn't a sucker in the bunch.

With corded stuff I have very little loyalty - I'm going for the best one that fits my needs/budget.

I agree.
If anyone owns a cordless reciprocating saw [sawzall] might be able to relate to the need of having more than 1 replacement battery.
only if I could put the B&D 40v MAX series battery or run in parallel two 20v MAX batteries in the B&D cordless sawzall...

 

[ThatSickRip]

I started my venture with a basic M18 kit. Then I had to rebuild my 4Runner front and rear ends, so I got into the M18 impacts. Caught the Red sickness, and started buying M18 stuff, some that were for one off projects, and then I got into the M12 line. In hindsight, the M12 line wouldve been fine for my needs. I just recently got into Ryobi because I couldnt justify some of the M18 prices for similar tools for DIY and one off projects. So in hindsight, I couldve done fine with the below:

M18: OPE, and impacts for auto work at the time
M12: DIY and homeowner stuff
Ryobi: DIY and one off projects

 

[subroc]

Yes, but my idea of an adapter is going from one brand to another brand.
Dewalt to BD or Fuel to Greenworks etc

Exactly the point I made.

All except the Greenworks are readily available.

Well, my idea of an adapter is one that will fit the "major brand" batteries for use on another major brand tools of similar voltage. Dewalt to Makita to Milwaukee to Ryobi to Ridgid, etc.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Just curious if anyone has multiple brands? I have a few Milwuakee tools all fuel versions and they rock! But sometimes I see deals on other brands etc etc, is it worth the hassle of different batteries and chargers?

No !

 

[Badgerstate]

I just buy whichever deal is the best, I dont care about colour brand or multiple platforms/batteries

It's all disposable/consumable **** that will be obsolete in 5 years

Don't even worry about it!!!

Unless you buy Ryobi. You could have an old blue Ryobi, go out to HD and buy a brand new Ryobi HP battery and it will work in that tool.
You cant say that about every brand but its one of the really great things about Ryobi.

 

[dr_clyde]

I buy the tools I need to do the work. I don’t really care what the color is.

My default is Metabo, (actual Metabo, not the HPT **** at the box store). They just make really high quality stuff.

I also have:
Makita 18v
Milwaukee M18
Milwaukee M12
Snap-on 18v
Bosch 18v

I prefer to stick with a platform I already have if given the choice, but I’ll get whatever I need to get things done. No one grams makes everything I use, or makes the best of everything.

 

[ex-x-fire]

What I don't get is why the cheap cordless tools Amazon sells just don't all agree on a standard battery platform? Just pick a standard and stick to it.
Don't make it hard to choose by battery.

Yeah, even if you have to cut a tab to make it work in other brands.

 

[Badgerstate]

For those who are saying, "why dont they all just have a common battery platform that is interchangable?", its simple: economics.
If they make a battery that fits their tool and their tool alone, they can lock you into buying only tools from them. Thats why you can often buy a basic drill/driver with a battery for next to nothing. They know that if they get you in the door with a cheap drill, you will probably buy more tools that fit their battery and next thing you know, you have an entire garage of their tools.
Thats certainly what I did. I started out with a Ryobi weed wacker, which turned into a Ryobi weed wacker, mower and leaf blower. It then turned into a Ryobi weed wacker, mower, leaf blower, shop blower, circular saw, jig saw, router, impact driver and hammer drill. I dont mind it because Ryobi's tools and batteries perform well, last a long time and are affordable. What really turned me off and away from Milwaukee was the cost. Milwaukee's tools arent that bad for being pro grade tools but the batteries are very overpriced, IMO. The same could be said for DeWalt and Craftsman too. You could say, "Yeah but Ryobi's newer stuff is creeping up there in price too" and youre not wrong. Thats why I dont buy brushless unless Im forced to. All of my Ryobi stuff is brushed and it works just fine. Sure, it has a bit less power than the brushless stuff but it works fine for me, who mostly just does woodworking with the occasional DIY home project.
To each their own. I do love my little DeWalt Xtreme 12v screw driver and my Milwaukee M12 jobsite radio. LOL

 

[Al Borland]

Unless you buy Ryobi. You could have an old blue Ryobi, go out to HD and buy a brand new Ryobi HP battery and it will work in that tool.
You cant say that about every brand but its one of the really great things about Ryobi.

Yeah, but...
"Blue" Ryobi batteries get stuck in the one+ chargers,

 

[anavrinIV]

Technically I have 3. 18V is Makita, 12V Milwaukee, and I have a cordless dremel that is near the end of its life but still technically working (most of the time) If the 12V milwaukee rotary tool was any good I would replace the Dremel, but alas...

One brand my not have the best of everything but I don't need to have the absolute best, a few ft-lbs here or a small feature lacking there isn't going to make or break my purchase decision. I have limited garage space and keeping up a bunch of different batteries is (for me) more hassle than it's worth. I would rather have a bank of swappable batteries than have to stop what I'm doing because the one I need ran out of juice.

 

[finn]

Craftsman, Skill, Bosch (12&18v), Dewalt (18&20v), Milwaukee (12&18v), so I guess that makes five brands and eight platforms, spread across two houses 2500 miles apart, and two garages and a shop.

The Craftsman is ancient and obsolete so it probably shouldn’t count as an active platform, although I haven’t got rid of it yet.

Skill is in Arizona, with a battery platform that, to my knowledge, seems to be obsolete. Still works fine for now, though

18v Dewalt is using an adapter for 20v batteries, and is more or less on backup reserve status. Most of my newer acquisitions, with the exception of two Milwaukee 18v impacts, have been 20v Dewalt.

I just bought the two Milwaukee impact wrenches, and it looks like the charger will also cover my older Milwaukee 12v tools...nice feature.

I have been tempted to acquire some Kobalt, Makita, and Ridged, but have resisted. I am happy with the Bosch, Milwaukee, and especially the Dewalt. All of them are viable and I would have no issues buying more.

Multiple chargers haven’t been an issue to me. I usually buy bare tools, so the chargers really aren’t accumulating enough to cause a burden.

 

[javyLSU]

Running multiple battery platforms doesn’t bother me at all. I’d much rather buy the tool that I want than settle for what’s available on a chosen single platform. The only thing that would have bothered me was having chargers everywhere, but I solved that problem by making one of my drawers into a power drawer:



One drawer houses a Snap-on 7.2/14.4 charger, 2 Milwaukee M18/M12 rapid chargers, 2 DeWalt/MAC chargers (12/20V and FlexVolt), and Porter Cable/Black & Decker 20V rapid charger.

 

['52Chevy]

At the moment I only have 2. Milwaukee M18(probably getting the M12 stuff as well) and Toro 60V for OPE.

Got my old 14.4 working yet and the newer 20v stuff. Wife bought something on 24v for herself. Going to start looking at 40-60v outdoor stuff. Doesn't bother me at all.

I recommend the Toro 60v. I have the mower, and blower. I have had 0 complaints(only 1 season so far though and really it was only a half season).

I went with Milwaukee for the string trimmer, because I wanted the edger attachment and Toro didn't offer that. I got the 12AH M18 battery though in the package for a decent price.

 

[TailGunner3000]

Running multiple battery platforms doesn’t bother me at all. I’d much rather buy the tool that I want than settle for what’s available on a chosen single platform.

^^^this^^^

I currently have cordless tools from Ryobi, DeWalt, Bosch, and Makita. I simply see the tools and the batteries as one entity. It's likely Milwaukee will join the stable soon.

 

[Monte]

7 is the right amount

 

[DIY_Guy79]

I have Makita. But it wouldnt bug me too much to branch into another brand, especially if it saves me money, which it likely would.

 

[Granite80]

I am all Milwaukee these days. M12 for lighter duty stuff and M18 for heavier duty stuff. I started years ago with Makita, but had some problems with the batteries - probably just bad luck. Then moved to Dewalt, which are good. I really like the options in the M12 and M18 platforms so have gone there. Gave my Delwalts to my son when he moved into his first apartment. So they live on


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[SweetD]

I am mostly Ryobi mostly for the price and variety of tools available. Going with Ryobi has let me buy many more tools, even seldom use tools that are nice to have. Overall as a home DIY-er, I am very happy with them.

This is my sentiment exactly. Just a home DIY'er so I use, but don't typically abuse, my stuff.

Also, I like the directtoolsoutlet.com "overstock" website for Ryobi - they also have Rigid. I've bought a lot of "factory blemished" One+ tools, and none of them have ever had any blemish I can see.