Which 18v LI combo set up?

[glsmaverick]

So I am in the market for a new set up when it comes to drill/driver, circ saw, impact and sawzall. Right now I have a cheapy ryobi set up that I bought about 7 years ago and for the time being it has served me fairly well. But with a new house and multiple bigger projects I would like to get something a little more robust able to make it through the long jobs with minimal charging. I have narrowed it down to three brands; Makita, Milwaukee and DeWalt.

First the Makita set.
http://makita.com/en-us/Modules/Tools/ToolDetails.aspx?ID=25945

I dont know a lot about the Makita stuff but this is the perfect size kit for my needs, everything I would need. I have seen a few professional contractors come in to my facility at work and they all use Makita.

Second would be Milwaukee.
http://www.milwaukeetool.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=2692-24&CategoryName=SC%3a+M18+Cordless+System

I have read some good things on Milwaukee. PM rated there impact driver number one in tests and I value PM's opinion on most things

Third would be Dewalt:
http://www.dewalt.com/tools/cordless-combo-packs-18-volt-combo-packs-dck655x.aspx

I have some hands on experience with Dewalt tools and have found no flaws with them as of yet but it was only the drills not any other tools.

What do you all think give me some opinions. Everyone came through really well for my zero turn mower conversation so I am hoping for the same outcome here. Thanks!

 

[kythri]

Based on my luck with the Ryobi stuff, I'd probably go Milwaukee if I was looking to "step up".

TTI bought/builds Milwaukee, same owner/builder as Ryobi. Before anyone says anything, I am NOT NOT NOT making an allusion to them being the same tools, simply saying that I'm impressed with my Ryobi 18V NiCad and LiIon stuff, and that if I felt the need to go a "better" brand, the fact that they have the same manufacturer would play a large part of my decision. Milwaukee is a "premium" brand, and if the "low end" stuff is this good, the "high end" stuff should be better.

Dewalt is good stuff, not knocking it, but it really doesn't seem worth the price. I've used a fair amount of Dewalt stuff, and it really doesn't seem to be any kind of magic.

The last time I used Makita, it was great stuff, but, completely hearsay, I've seen a lot of negative reviews about current production stuff as I traverse these here internets.

 

[mrholeshot]

In cordless tools of those the Dewalt hands down. Every powertool I use to own was Makita. Something happened and they went to **** in quality. Milwaukee changes up battery design way to often. Much of Dewalts corless lines can use the same chargers and batteries they have for 15 years.

I have several sons in construction and some really popular stuff as the new top dog in this area is Hatachi. They seem to be doing the opposite as Makita and making leaps and bounds of improvement. My next corless tools will be Hatachi.

 

[Mike83]

I'd go Milwaukee, but skip the cordless sawzall and hammer drill. Those are tools I would go corded for. Get the impact driver / drill kit ($200). The light probably is not worth it either. I recently bought the 1/2" drive big M18 impact and it is sweet. I converted a 1/4" hex impact driver to 3/8" impact with an anvil swap. Last week I got the Milwaukee jobsite radio for my birthday, which is also awesome.

I did have a problem with an XC M18 battery I bought...crapped out after one charge. Milwaukee paid return shipping and replaced it under warranty (which is 5 years). I was without it for one week, but I don't need the tools for daily use.

 

[Abbott]

I find Makita's quality to be top of the line. I have two 18 volt Ion drills, an impact, a skill saw and a Sawzall. Two chargers and three 3.0 amp hour battery's and two 1.5 hour batteries. Every tool is top quality and works flawlessly. I find also find the tools very comfortable to use and lightweight compared to the other top brands (Dewalt, Milwaukee and Hitachi). I consider Makita nothing short of excellent.

 

[IndyGarage]

18v is not enough for a circular saw or a sawsall, and it's really overkill for a drill. I've owned 3 different 18v circular saws, and every one disappointed.

If you need a cordless circular saw and sawsall - you have to go to Milwaukee V28, or Dewault or Bosch 36 Volt. If 18V is overkill for a drill, then 28 or 36 is way overkill.

I have the V28's and you will not be disappointed with them. I can't talk about the Dewaults or the Boschs, but I've heard the 36volts didn't sell well. (I don't think the V28's sold what they thought they would either).

As far as brand goes, they all upgrade their lines often enough that it is impossible to tell between them. Makita, Dewault, Milwaukee, Bosch, Panasonic and Hilti are all top notch for cordless. Some folks like Ridgid and Porter Cable also.

 

[Abbott]

18v is not enough for a circular saw or a sawsall, and it's really overkill for a drill. I've owned 3 different 18v circular saws, and every one disappointed.

My 18 volt cordless tools work fine for me, they do everything I ask from them and are never underpowered. I also use a Skill worm drive Skillsaw, a corded Milwaukee Sawzall and a corded Milwaukee drill where they are needed.

 

[dankicksass]

I'm a Makita fan, went to Milwaukee for an impact wrench and I want to go back to Makita for that too. Corded and cordless drills, flashlights, small impacts from Makita live in the bottom of my toolbox.

 

[I_AM]

I'd go with the Milwaukee based on me experience with the drills alone. At one of my jobs we were using Dewalt exclusively for years (all 18 volt, most xrp hammer). They performed great for years and then, over the past two years, we started to replace some of the older ones with the current model dewalts. We have had nothing but problems with the new ones. Mostly the clutches failed and would slip even when shut off. On others the cases cracked between the motor and the transmission. They don't seem to be as good as the older ones, they do change them design slightly from year to year. And the warranty is useless if you use them commercially.

We decided to slowly replace them with Milwaukees. We were hesitant to do so because we had 8 or 9 drills and about 25 good batteries. We have been very satisfied so far. I really like the battery level indicator (some other brands offer this also) and the overall comfort of the drills.

I should also mention that we use these in a very abusive application.

You shouldn't forget about Ridgid. they are priced well, look nice and i have heard great thing about people swapping out bad batteries an warranty.

 

[toolfreak]

Makita, I really like their LI tools.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'm happy with my Dewalt tools.

 

[Abbott]

You shouldn't forget about Ridgid. they are priced well, look nice and i have heard great thing about people swapping out bad batteries an warranty.

Yeah, Ridgid tools are pretty nice but they are to heavy.

 

[Keep]

I have the Bosch 18v lion and have been very happy with it, though I only have the drill, driver, and recip.

Of your choices, I like the Makitas those are the ones I was going to buy until I found the Bosch on sale.

 

[cooliorz]

I briefly had a Milwaukee M18 combo (drill and impact driver) which I thought was excellent.
I exchanged the kit for a Makita drill, impact driver and flashlight combo. They were about the same price. I ended up wih the Makita because I liked the lighter, smaller impact driver and the steel chuck on the drill. Milwaukees impact driver has slightly more power, though.
neither of these brands have bit holders, which is unfortunate.
As far as quality goes, they're both excellent. You can't go wrong with either.