Quality Power Tools

[Fireguy116]

Out of the big 3: Milwaukee, DeWalt and Makita, who makes the most quality cordless power tools? I looking at durability and longevity. We got into the discussion at work and we googled it to see and found so much info from so many different places. So i figured I would tap the knowledge and experience of all of you.

 

[finn]

Bosch

 

[fordgasm]

 

[kbeefy]

I think most who use them regularly for work are split between Dewalt and Milwaukee.

Most of mine are Dewalt and work very well. I have 12v, 18v, 20v, and 40v stuff.
Most of my techs use Dewalt. I also have IR 19.2v, Bosch 12v and Porter Cable (19v? can't remember).

 

[yelchevelle]

I don’t think that there is much difference in any of them. I replaced my 18 volt dewalt cordless with Milwaukee m18’s. Love them, but the dewalt worked great too. I use makita for 4.5” variable speed grinders. I use them mostly for stone/masonry and the dust killed pretty much every other brand I have tried. So far, the makitas have held up.

 

[tarbellb]

Up next Ford Chevy Dodge. GO

 

[Robinson1]

Not enough difference to matter. Pick your favorite color

 

[Boilerhouse]

Doubt if there is a clear winner or loser. My cordless are yellow and corded are blue. Some of the blues are over 30 years old. I'd be happy adding red to the family.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Up next Ford Chevy Dodge. GO

Toyota.

 

[thin_concrete]

Up next Ford Chevy Dodge. GO

Beat me to it.

Go try and feel what’s best in your hands and go from there.

 

[BreeStephany]

This is definitely a discussion topic that will bring up a lot of opinions.

I love my Milwaukee V28 tools / M28 batteries, hole hawg and super hole hawg but also LOVE my Makita 18v impacts, 1/2" 18V drill and jobsite radio.

My Milwaukee tools and one of my Makita impacts have been going strong for almost 13 years. Granted, I have gone through several sets of brushes and a few gear cases on my V28 drill and a few sets of brushes on my Makita impact, but they have put up with a LOT of worksite abuse.

My Makita impact withstood a 35ft drop off a scissor lift onto a concrete floor with no damage other than a bent bit extension soon after I bought it and has since withstood a few drops of 10~12ft ladders and is still going strong.

I will say that my Makita 18V batteries definitely lasted much longer than my Milwaukee V28 batteries, but after 13 years of use, they both eventually gave up the ghost and have since been replaced with newer generation batteries, but the nice thing about the Makita's 18V series and Milwaukee's V28/M28 series is that newer generations of batteries still use the same base format.

I haven't been the biggest fan of DeWalt, though I have a friend with a set from 15+ years ago that he go the Li-Ion conversion base for and his tools are still going strong.

I think your biggest decision should be what you want for tools and see which brand supports all the tools you want with the same battery.

Just my two cents.

 

[pizza]

Out of the big 3: Milwaukee, DeWalt and Makita, who makes the most quality cordless power tools?

idk, i think they all make dozens of models each
are we including discontinued tools in the count?

 

[ChrisLS8]

Quality wise? Makita by a margin. The others are good but just in my experience they leave a bit to be desired in that department compared to Makita

 

[BTL-A4]

Oh, boy! Fasten your seat belt, this will get "interesting". One of my first posts was about hand tools made in the US; I had no idea it was a sensitive subject and got about 30 replies overnight. I think the thread went to about 100!

I predict here's what will come up:

1. People will want details:
What are you going to use the tools for? Do you want not only power tools, but garden tools?

2. Who are you?
Are you a pro or DIY/HO (homeowner) person looking for something for work/home?

3. The stories about people we know:
For example, I got a buddy who uses Ryobi and he works on cars all the time and he beats the **** out of them. They have every tool you can imagine and the batteries are readily available. I think they are backward-compatible as well.

4. Personal experience and recommendations:
I have the 20v Black and Decker (orange) and they work just fine. I'm a serious DIY (woodworking and I work on my car). I like the yard tools they have, too.

5. The "but if I was to do it again" comments:
I'd consider Ryobi, but Makita is nice and they have the garden tools I need as well.

6. The "HF *****" comments.

7. The smart-alecky comments about Ford v Chevy, Snap-On is better, etc.

8. The fanboys of various other brands will comment.

So let the fun begin!

By the way, no disrespect to anyone; I enjoy and appreciate all the comments.

 

[MushCreek]

My only experience is with Milwaukee M18 tools, so not much help. I do have an older DeWalt drill, but there's no comparison with the newer stuff. I built my entire house with the M18 tools. I have corded tools, but they never get used any more. Local contractors seem to use Milwaukee, with DeWalt coming in a close second.

 

[fasteddie]

My 2 cents, DeWalt gets dirty faster.

 

[JoeMcGov]

Out of the big 3: Milwaukee, DeWalt and Makita, who makes the most quality cordless power tools? I looking at durability and longevity. We got into the discussion at work and we googled it to see and found so much info from so many different places. So i figured I would tap the knowledge and experience of all of you.

For strict compliance with that ^^^ part of the criteria then the field expands to now include Hilti.

 

[bob15]

Out of the big 3: Milwaukee, DeWalt and Makita, who makes the most quality cordless power tools? I looking at durability and longevity. We got into the discussion at work and we googled it to see and found so much info from so many different places. So i figured I would tap the knowledge and experience of all of you.

What brand truck do you like?

Personally I wouldn't buy any of the 3 you listed, I prefer Metabo cordless tools.

 

[seber]

What color are the walls where they will be stored?

 

[DFB]

Toolbox preference helps too

 

[gungatim]

I have yet to find a brand of cordless tool, and that includes the cheapest Skil, Harbor Freight and other junk store made-up off-brands, that did not have enough durability and longevity to outlast the batteries.

maybe a better question is who makes the most durable and long lasting batteries?

 

[bob15]

maybe a better question is who makes the most durable and long lasting batteries?

Energizer Batteries. They even tell you that in their commercials.

 

[boatshoes]

maybe a better question is who makes the most durable and long lasting batteries?

Ridgid with their lifetime service agreement that covers batteries.

 

[M6erfan]

The real question is, which weight oil to use in them. Discuss....

 

[gungatim]

The real question is, which weight oil to use in them. Discuss....

I only use synthetic batteries and don't charge them until 15,000 hours. but when I do, I send them into a lab for analysis everytime to see what condition they are in. sure it costs more but I plan on keeping my cordless tools until Tesla comes out with their line of cyber-tools which I can charge for free at the local charge & brew a few states away...