Just bought a new house and it's giving me a ton of stuff to do. I figure going into the bye week is a great time to get some work done. I'm pretty lacking in the power tools department. Looking at grabbing a drill/driver combo this weekend to hang an outdoor TV.
Does anyone have advice on reliable brands or models? Any general recommendations for someone starting to build their inventory. I pretty much only have hand tools at this point but I know I'm going to need a bunch with future projects.
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Once you buy something with a battery, you end up getting other tools that use that same battery, so it's a good idea you're seeking advice now.
I have Ryobi tools... Ryobi doesn't have good customer service and honestly their tools aren't that great. I'd go in a different direction if I were starting over.
I've heard good things about Dewalt, but I don't have any personal experience with their tools.
Echo the battery thing. My wife got me a makita 18v drill years ago. I've been happy with it, but there's a huge mental block to buying any other brand. I picked up an impact driver and the 36v multi-use head (currently just have the weed eater but eying the pole saw attachment). Since the tool head came with a double charger and two batteries, I'm never running out.
That said, at work, we are 100% Milwaukee. So i guess it says something that people with an infinite budget and really heavy use choose that brand.
Rigid or Milwaukee are probably the best if you'll use them frequently.
Ryobi is fine for the occasional use. I have a set that I've had for the past 6-years, and those 18v tools have worked okay.
Then there's the Harbor Freight offerings, if you want the cheap one-and-done option.
Ohh I can help with this one! I'm a mechanic that uses them all day every day, and I also used to repair power tools and have been inside and out of them.
My first recommendation is just stay away from harbor freight power tools. Some people would shoot me for saying it but they really are just junk compared to decent brands. And the warranties on most of your brands are decent enough.
The best these days in my opinion is the Milwaukee stuff. And they literally have just about anything with more stuff coming out all the time. If you are an occasional user just around the house then all you need is the 12 volt stuff. It is all super impressive and I honestly use less 18volt stuff every day, because the 12 volt stuff hits hard and you can buy higher capacity batteries for them. Home Depot this time of year has the main isles packed with their shit. Find a good combo set with an impact driver and drill. Batteries are crazy expensive, but get a high capacity one to go with it and you will always have power. I drop my stuff by accident all the time from heights and they are tough tough.
There are other decent brands with alot of similar options. Kobalt if you are a Lowes guy. Ridgid and Ryobi are decent. Some people want to harm me for this too, but I would stay away from DeWalt these days. They are just not the tools they used to be.
Make it easy, though, and just pick a good brand and stick with it. Milwaukee, along with some others, have outdoor power equipment as well that use all the same batteries (although are 18volt). I have a good mix of both 12 volt and 18 volt and I think all of their chargers do both. Most brands have great support for their batteries and will generally just swap them out for you if one goes bad. We have a Milwaukee tool truck that visits the shop which makes it all very easy.
Anyway, have fun buying tools!
This set right here is well worth the money.
The 4mah battery alone is pricey on it's own.
I will second this recomendation i have this set and that driver and drill are beast. Also like wasknick says this time of year you can find all kinds of deals on the M12 stuff at the home despot
Third it. Love my Milwaukee battery tools. Owned the driver for over 10 years and used the hell out of it. 0 issues.
Down another $30 from when you linked it.
Dewalt was bought out by Black & Decker a while back and they haven't been the same since.
OP, I've been on the Porter-Cable train for a while and have no complaints. It's like everyone else says though, once you get your first drill, everything after that is going to be compatible just for simplicity's sake and the next thing you know, you have 4 of the same battery for 10 different tools.
Sooo... I work at Stanley Black & Decker (along with quite a few other Hokie alumni!). Just for the sake of clarity, B&D bought Dewalt back in 1960, so what you know as Dewalt today hasn't changed. And btw, Porter Cable is also owned by Stanley Black & Decker. Just saying.... ha!
With that being said, I am obviously partial here, but the Dewalt 20v system is perfect for any home owner and in many ways above and beyond (as well as Milwaukee). I personally personally do think the Porter Cable 20v stuff is a really good middle ground. The trouble is that there's just not a huge amount of tools available. Also with Craftsman taking off (also now SBD owned...) the PC stuff isn't well supported.
If you commit to the Dewalt 20v system you'll have access to great tools for DIY projects as well as a good outdoor products to maintain your yard (string trimmers, leaf blowers, chainsaws, etc.). Plus the FlexVolt system is a difference maker (60V Dealt batteries for higher powered tools that also work on your 20v tools, staying in the system).
If you have any pointed questions feel free to reach out. I know way too much on this topic.... good luck with the DIY projects!
My Milwaukee driver and drill combo is almost bulletproof. I have gutted my entire second floor including replacing floor joists and that driver will put a screw or bolt into anything with no hesitation. The batteries last so long I lost the charger once from so little use. Worth every penny.
I was an RV technician for about half a year and everybody there had a different brand that we all swore by (save for one poor guy). We typically went through at least a battery a day when busy, so we used our drills a lot.
The senior guys with money for fancy tools all had DeWalt drivers. (This has been regarded as "top of the line" since I worked for a cabinetmaker in high school, and they were just coming out with 12V batteries for power tools).
I had a Ryobi set, we had a guy with a Milwaukee, Black and Decker, Kobalt- you name it- everybody stood by and praised their 18V drill set.
New guy buys a 19.6V Craftsman, and he has to return it for a new one at least every other week. That thing was straight trash. Maybe they fixed their issues, but I won't even consider an electronic product from Craftsman.
To pile on what wasknick was saying- DeWalt might not be as far ahead of any other major brand anymore, but I think the difference in price is as big anymore (on all tools) either.
I use 18V Ryobi for all kinds of tools in my wood shop, and I've started updating my DeWalt collection to the new 20V batteries. (I have a really good DeWalt blower for yard use and an 18V Ryobi weed eater that are both champs. I even have a battery powered mower- that's not my proudest purchase but I'm an imbecile and a terrible caveman whenever I have a small combustion motor I'm trying to start. The only gasoline tool I have left is an auger).
Buy a set and look for tools and deals with the big batteries. Buy a brand that your preferred Home Improvement store carries.
And stay the fuck away from Craftsman.
Your disdain for craftsman is amusing because yes it's all garbage made now by Stanley/Black and Decker. Stanley/Black and Decker is also who owns DeWalt now as well 🙃
Black & decker and dewalt have been the same for years. Toyota/Lexus type deal where the guts are the same, the trimmings are slightly different, but you pay for the name.
Source: designed some assembly line equipment for dewalt 15 years ago and all the components we ran were on both B&D and dewalt BoMs
My disdain for Craftsman is primarily based on a brand new model of 19.6V drill that I saw a guy replace 5 times within 2 months in 2006.
At least the clerks in that Oklahoma City store never pried too hard into the "professional use" clause of the refund policy.
That's somehow never flipped into a recommendation for me.
Their lifetime guarantee on replacing broken hand tools was great though. Not sure they still do that?
I'm not heavy into auto work, so I haven't had to deal much with broken hand tools.
My in-laws (farmers from Riner) have a few legendary tales about returning broken, massive, rust-covered Craftsman wrenches from decades ago and getting replacements, no questions asked.
I seem to recall that under the Stanley acquisition, old tools stamped with "Guaranteed for life" would still be honored, but not new tools going forward.
That's a fantastic question. Anybody else have insight on this?
Pretty sure the guarantee died when Sears did and they sold of the name.
I asked and was told the warranty was still in place.
2 reasons.
1) Great selling point plus when you bring a broken tool back to replace, they get you back into the store - you buy more.
2) Easy to do and most hand tools broken are not brought back for replacement
3) Easier and much cheaper than dealing with ANY lawsuit.
My parents own a landscaping company and as a kid I cannot recall how many times we took 3-4 broken Craftsman shovels back to Sears for a free replacement. It was crazy and growing up, I thought all shovels had this warranty.
Craftsman is now sold by Lowes and my Dad said the warranty it is still in effect so long as you have the receipt.
Interestingly enough, the only other industry I've ever found this to be the case as well is the fly fishing industry. Break a $500 rod in your car door, send it back and get a new one, minus the shipping.
buck knives
That's cool, did not know that!
I have a Ryobi lawnmower and chainsaw and a bunch of batteries for them. Chainsaw is just big enough for my lazy attorney ass to maintain the acre of scrub oak and pinon that we have and to get laughed at when I take it to our friend's 35 acre property.
BUT the lawnmower is perfect for the very small yard that we have, and Mrs. Smlltwnsthrnlwyr says 'it's just like vacuuming the yard' so I haven't mowed the yard in the 3 years we've lived here.
Starting a power tool inventory is a lot like a marriage, or long-standing contract. Once you settle on one, you ultimately buy everything in that lineup, to utilize the battery and chargers. Almost like a life-long commitment it seems. We have many youth soccer games, (8 kids), so we spend hours straight at the fields. We liked Milwaukee's job-site fans. Now that we've gone that direction, investing over $500 in (two) fans + extended long life batteries + charger, all future tools will in this lineup.
So far, can't say enough about the quality and construction of said items.
Congrats on the new home, best wishes—
IMO for the average homeowner, pick your favorite color and stick with it.
Lime green, yellow, red, orange, teal.
(Ryobi, Dewalt, Milwaukee, Ridgid, Makita)
Me personally, I run Milwaukee for tools like drills, drivers, and sawzalls. Things that need some oomph.
But I also have a variety of Ryobi tools because I like buying a bunch of tools and they're generally affodable. Ryobi has a huge variety of tools in their 18v lineup. I've got 2 different fans, a jobsite lamp, hot glue gun, brad nailer, compact jobsite blower
I use the heck out of little Ryobi clamp fan in the summer. Also could be suitable for golf carts and baby strollers.
Agree with this 100%. I'm a hobbyist woodworker and have a house that's approaching a century old. Ryobi has been my choice for cordless tools that don't require a high degree of build-quality/precision (drill and impact driver, reciprocating saw, circular saw, etc.) because if it busts, Home Depots are everywhere and have better sales/inventory than Lowe's (in my experience) and they're cheap enough that if I have to replace it, it's not gonna break my wallet like Makita or Bosch will.
Ryobi also has a backwards-compatible guarantee on their batteries - i.e. my 8-year-old 18V driver (and charger!) will work with any new 18V batteries they will make in the future. Harbor Freight has discontinued several tool "brands" of theirs in recent years and their batteries are not cross compatible with the replacements which pissed a lot of people off.
Regarding Harbor Freight, I use the following guidelines:
If I need a tool once, I'll rent it
If I'll need it occasionally I'll buy Harbor Freight
If I wear it out or it breaks from regular use I'll upgrade to name brand
If my safety depends on build quality (ex. table and miter saws) I'll buy name brand
It's funny for Harbor Freight as I would use the following:
If I need it once or twice I check the price on rental or purchase and tend towards Harbor Freight if close.
Certain tools if you check the reviews last and last ( I have a lathe, oscillating tool, and sawzall) which have lasted forever....sander died in 2 hours.
As someone who has owned DeWalt, Milwaukee, and various bargain brand brand power tools I would personally recommend Milwaukee. I have started phasing out my DeWalt tools. In my experience Milwaukee batteries are was less hassle than DeWalt's. In the 10+ years I've owned my drill/drivers and circular saws I've replaced over 5 DeWalt batteries and never had to replace a Milwaukee battery.
I do tend to subscribe to the mindset of buying a harbor freight for an odd or specialized tool you plan to only use a couple times and then upgrading it if you end up using it enough to break it. That being said you are probably going to use a drill more than almost any other tool in your collection, so I would go ahead and get a nice one now.
Milwaukee for drills and impact drivers. They make a nice compact electric ratchet as well.
I've been pretty happy with Ryobi since becoming a homeowner. They are relatively inexpensive and have held up to my light to moderate use with no issues. That includes repairs, installations, a bathroom remodel and building two gaming tables that have stood up pretty well.
Some notes:
Avoid Craftsman at all costs. Their quality disappeared shortly before Sears died.
I upgraded to the brushless 7 1/4" Ryobi circular saw this spring and it's been a great tool (I bought a better blade than what they include in the box, of course). Keep an eye on the upcoming early Black Friday sales, etc.
Another vote for Milwaukee. I started off with the 12V battery system which is perfect for most homeowners (many of those tools will outperform 18V tools from other brands). Many of my Milwaukee tools are over 5 years old and I haven't had any issues with them. The two original batteries are still going strong as well. Also, stick with authentic batteries - there are lots of cheap knockoffs that will not last more than a year.
I added the 18V system last year to get into their outdoor power equipment and I've been really happy with those tools as well.
There are routinely combo deals that get you either a free tool or free batteries (like the one linked above or this one). I only buy their tools through deals like these and they happen throughout the year.
Also, if you do not already have one, look into getting a Home Depot credit card. They send 10% off coupons on purchases over $299 to me monthly and give 6/12/18/24 month 0% financing offers monthly.
Milwaukee is the way I'd go. Every Dewalt I've had has had the Dewalt wobble (bits don't spin on a straight axis) and it can make certain things frustrating.
If you're just starting out, depending on your budget Home Depot has a 0% CC and you can buy a larger Milwaukee kit (drills, impacts, saws, etc) and get everything you need for basically free money. I'd stay away from large battery powered things like table and miter saws as they need a ton of juice to operate safely and batteries are damn near 1/2 the cost of power tools these days.
Hanging a TV I cant recommend a 3/8" impact enough to set the lag bolts into the stud firmly, among other projects I don't use ratchets if I don't have to anymore
edit: the HD credit card is 0% occasionally with promos and upon application, not all the time
As much as I otherwise love my DeWalt, the wobble is going to lead to me finding a replacement.
TIL this is a thing.
...and now it all makes sense. I thought it was just my drill that was a POS.
This is the first purchase into a line. Once you're in a battery tool line its pretty hard to justify switching. I'll hit on the ones I've used but the best idea is go mess around with them in the store, talk to friends that have a set borrow theirs ect.
Ryobi - Gonna be your budgetest option. Pros: They make a battery powered everything. Cons: CS sucks, they're pretty bad tools for anything thats bare minimum house hold use.
Kobalt - I have a drill driver set from them solely because buying the set was cheaper than buying a battery for an air pump I keep on my boat. They're okay but Kobalts tool quality overall has plummeted in the past few years.
Dewalt - This is the brand I personally use. Like you started with their impact driver and drill set, just bought tools as needed from then on. I haven't run across a tool that's bad in this department, built a boat and done an incredible amount of household stuff since then.
Makita - This is what my dad uses they're bad ass, love everything he has Makita. I don't think he's ever had anything bad to say about them he, to this day is still using the first gen Makita battery driver and drill set. which has to be 10 years old now (I don't even think the batteries are even compatible with the newer stuff)
Milwuakee - IMO they're leading the performance battery game right now. They probably have the best reputation and the best power of everything I've used. Contractors I've worked with swear by their tools and warranty. They're overkill for normal household needs but will last forever
All of that said you probably won't go wrong with any of these. I'd stick with Dewalt, Makita, and Milwaukee find something in your price range and watch slickdeals.com for tool sales.
So I'm going to mention another brand that I haven't seen, Kobalt. Bought my first house this year and while looking for a lawn mower and weed eater that wasn't gas, my cousin showed me his Kobalt weedeater and it was the lightest weedeater I've ever held. This was super important as my yard is pretty much a mtn side. Came in a set of weedeeater, leaf blower, battery, and charger I have not had any issues out of it or any of the other tools I have bought from them. I got a tool set for around ~150 bux that came with a battery and charger, drill, flashlight, and saw.
They usually have sales where you can buy a tool set or battery set and get a tool free around Turkey day or Christmas, according to my cousin who has been using Kobalt for years.
I have mostly Ryobi and over the last decade have had 1 battery go bad, and the little air compressor die from over use. I love them and they do right by me.
My father in law is a professional contractor. He uses both the Ryobi and Milwaukee brands. Ryobi does sell beefier models for heavy duty use if you kill the light weight models.
TTI makes both Ryobi and Milwaukee. I am not sure if that makes them the same or not. I seem to have a different brand for everything. I bought a good extension cord instead of a battery before battery tools were a thing, so I don't feel tied to any brand, though I do have a B&D battery leaf blower and weed eater for the part of the yard nothing else reaches. I kind of like not having to worry about the battery charge, or getting gas powered stuff to start, and just get the best individual tool for what I need, whether it is a single job special tool or quality tool for frequent use. I am not using anything everyday, and the only tool I had break was the cheapest tile saw they had at Lowes (yellow - don't remember the brand), that I bought to do one small bathroom and had it die on the fourth room 8 years later (not that good with marble flooring). You will save a lot if you get a good extension cord and a cheap tool that will work for those you are not likely to use very often - tile saw, jig saw, etc.
Ryobi is the consumer grade brand and Milwaukee is the commercial grade. Most warranties with Ryobi are voided when they are used in a commercial setting.
TTI also makes Ridgid power tools (or did- I assume they still do).
I've had a porter cable set of tools for almost 10 years, use often and have had no issues.
This guys content is amazing if you're looking at one off tools:
https://youtube.com/c/ProjectFarm
More than just tools, but love his content!
Same. I don't have anything that would require a battery powered grease gun, but you better believe that I watched that entire video!!
Let me tell you something. That battery powered grease gun saved my forearm many times. That thing is amazing. Also a favorite is the caulk gun.
I have a Dewalt 20v combo pack (drill, impact driver, circ saw, sawzall, multi tool, and sander). Came with two batteries and one charger. These sets go on sale this time of year for Black Friday and Christmas - there are some good deals if you're patient. I've been a Dewalt fan since I worked at Pleasants Hardware in high school 20 years ago - but that's probably because they had the most free tshirts and other swag. As a Steelers/Pirates/Penguins fan the color scheme also worked for me. Next purchase will be a leaf blower to replace my corded one.
Ryobi does make a sweet bucket fan that will give you goosebumps when it is 90 degrees out. Dewalt doesn't have one.
I like dewalt. Been doing woodworking and have a few drills, hand router, blower, etc.
That being said, you dont have to be stuck with a certain line. They make battery adapters now to go from Milwaukee to dewalt, etc etc etc.
Here is the scoop: Home Despot dot com has a "Special Buy of the Day" on their website, with different stuff on sale every day and it's all with free shipping. They feature power tools/sets/combos semmingly at least once per week. Look for a Milwaukee set on sale with at least two batteries and a charger, and as many tools as you can swing; most tool sets will come with a cool bag or carry case too. I went with the "M18 FUEL" lineup, where "FUEL" refers to brushless motor technology which helps with battery life. As someone else posted above Milwaukee 12V stuff is stout too. In my case some of the 12V stuff seemed a little bit small for my hands, so go to a store and heft a few tools to see what feels best. I am constantly amazed at the durability of the Milwaukee tools and how long their batteries last. The 18V Box-shaped vacuum cleaner is my favorite tool of all time. It is powerful, it sucks, and no cords! and at like $99-$119 for "tool only" it's really reasonable. The 1/2-inch impact wrench is an absolute beast with 1400 ft-lb of "nut busting" (heh heh heh....) reverse torque.
Keep scanning the "Special Buy of the Day" and over time you'll see other Milwaukee tools to add to your collection, often with batteries.
That said, there is a downside to Milwaukee and that is price (hence the looking for a sale). A friend is big on Makita, and Makita has an interesting approach where you can use two of their batteries at once in some tools to achieve a 36V (or 40V I forget) power source for something like a lawn mower. But apples to apples (when on sale) the Milwaukee is almost as affordable.
I have some Ryobi stuff. The 40V items (weed whacker and leaf blower) haven't been all that impressive honestly, especially in battery life. I only have a couple of 18V Ryobi things but I LOVE their 4 gallon garden 18V backpack sprayer. Where was that my whole life? Love it love it love it!
FYI, Makita is 18v base. 36v for dual battery tools. Now that I have the power tool head for the weedeater, I'm looking at getting more of the attachments...gotta catch 'em all!
I got an 18v Makita drill and driver kit and have used them fairly extensively. Even dropped the drill once or twice (not from a height really, just waist height), and love them. I got a third battery and a weed eater, and have loved them. Single battery weed eater, so not as powerful for tough stuff as a corded or gas model, but good for generic use.
Have had the drill/driver set for probably 6 years and go through bouts of heavy use and non-existent use. The impact driver was up to pushing a 5 or 6 inch lag bolt through a support beam into a 6x6. I would definitely buy again!
Check out this link: https://www.thetoolsquare.com/ridgid-vs-milwaukee/
I like Rigid where they have lifetime warranties and cost is a bit better. Rigid is a great mid level brand and solid for most DIY'ers. Milwaukee is a top brand and it seems delivers more power and better use of battery power as well but could be overkill depending on your level of use that will come with more cost. If you want a top of the line brand or want the most options and additional assesories, go with Milwaukee. If you want a great mid tier tool, I would recommend considering Rigid. If cost is not a factor, go with Milwaukee as it is a top of the line brand.
Been in the electrical trade for a while now and gotta say if you're just doing diy home stuff and not relying on the power tools day in day out the rigid and porter cable stuff can get the job done if you don't have the dough to get the bigger stuff.
Now I'm a red and black man myself absolutely love the longevity of Milwaukee's stuff. Still have my original set I bought when I got into the trades and they keep on kicking 7 years later used heavily every day. For smaller around the house stuff drill driver setup you could get away with the 12v line of the Milwaukee's stuff they are much much more powerful than they used to be and could save you some serious dough in terms of an 18v set vs 12v set. To get tools I buy from home Depot and just wait for them to go on sale
Milwaukee is probably near the top for power tools for quality and reliability. We use this brand at work, 18v stuff across the board. Milwaukee uses their batteries in many formats. Two recommendations I have are a tower light that tripods out and a pruning chainsaw that both run off 18v batteries.
At home I use DeWalt. It is a slightly older set and is versatile. Brand is probably not as good as it once was, but readily available and performs pretty consistently.
Makita is another great go-to brand across the line on various tools and platforms.
You get what you pay for on power tools. You can buy cheap stuff and it will do ok, but tools should last nearly a lifetime. Batteries are expensive and not long lasting no matter the brand.
We have a bunch of different brands on our farm. The only failures of battery products have been Dremel, Black & Decker, and Kobalt.
The kobalt failures were two different 40v max batteries that just stopped charging. This is lovely since we have multiple weed eaters, a pole saw (which was recalled), and a leaf blower that all need them.
I started out cheap. Went B&D on my first battery drill. It smells when it runs (definitely not a brushless motor) and won't hold a charge. I use it for my home brewing grain mill occasionally. Otherwise, it's a paper weight.
I then got a big set of Porter Cable. They've performed well. The circular saw is an oddity... it's wrong handed.
Then I slowly started accumulating dewalt tools. Again, no issues. The big battery is nice. The air compressor does a great job. I used the impact on one of our tractor wheels just to see how it fared. It had to beat on it a bit longer than a corded or air drill, but it did the job.
We have Milwaukee, and again, have limited problems. They're left out in an open shed. Have had a few batteries decide not to charge. But, overall, they're solid. The grease gun is totally worth it if you're greasing much of anything.
I really want a battery powered fence stapler. My elbow tendinitis wants one more.
Get good bits. That will save more headaches than anything. You don't need top of the line. But don't get the flat black B&D multipack from Wally World. The only cheap bits I buy are harbor freight step bits. I don't use step bits often enough to justify paying what other brands are asking.
1) Brushless motors will last a lot longer than motors with brushes....worth the price difference.
2) Buy the biggest tool set you can afford..... that'll get you the most bang for the buck. Christmas sales are great.
3) Buy a set with tools you will have use for......my ordered list: blower, drill, impact driver, sawzall/pruner, rachet, circular saw, oscillating multi-tool, grass trimmer, hedge trimmer, inflater.
4) Ryobi 18V are for home use, but they produce the largest variety of tools; their battery latch mechanism sucks. As mentioned earlier, TTI manufactures both mid-grade Ryobi and professional grade Milwaukee.
5) Don't buy a set with less than 2 batteries, and get an extra charger. Read the fine print on multi-port chargers....they often hold multiple batteries, but only charge one at a time.
FWIW, I have the craftsman V20 system for outdoor tools, so I have a blower, string trimmer, and pole saw that I've used for years now with no trouble. Otherwise I have a couple of V20 Dewalt tools, a circular saw and a jigsaw, and an old 16V craftsman drill. No problems with any of them.
Power Tools
Since we're going there.
Milwaukee is probably the best right now. But, if you're not going to be a super heavy user, Ridgid is a good choice for cordless tools. Both are made by TTI. Ridgid comes with lifetime battery replacement if you complete the registration for it. I've had good luck with my drill and driver combo. I've had several Dewalt and the Ridgid has outlasted them all. The Dewalt drills (3 of them) all had gearbox failures. Note though two things: I think the lifetime service agreement is only available if you buy through Home Depot. Also, the batteries that come with the tools are good but not the highest capacity (2ah vs 4,5 or 6ah). Spare batteries that you buy not with a tool aren't covered under the lifetime service agreement.
Makita man here. We beat the hell out of them at work and I finally just migrated to them for home use based on performance. Expensive but worth it. The 1/2 impact drill will take care of lug nuts without breaking a sweat. 20v is the same as 18v. The 20v folks just advertise peak voltage instead of nominal.
I really want a power tool discussion topic now. What's everyone's favorite specialty tool (from any of these brands)? What I have is Milwaukee but lots of brands make specialty stuff.
Aside from the regular half inch impact gun which is prob the best thing I have that I use all the time (damn thing is a hell of a beater) I have a sideways impact as well that is such a lifesaver in those hard to reach spots.
I use the soldering iron all the time as well. Used to use butane (I rarely ever solder on the desktop so plug in is impractical for me).
Next I want this.
Milwaukee Torque Wrench
Torquing bolts is the worst. This looks like it will make it a bit more fun.
Not plugging for Dewalt, per se. But my Dewalt oscillating tool has gotten me through quite a few jams when I thought there wasn't any good way to do something. That thing is versatile as hell.
Pick your brand, but get yourself a damned oscillating tool.
I don't own but got to use a friends Snap-On version of this and it is divine
So two brands come to mind from your questions. First Greenlee is my dirty dark addiction for specialty hole punching. Shits super pricey but man a hydraulic hole puller is worth its weight doing electrical work.
For soldering irons only one way to go with Weller machines those puppies are precise and will work forever.
I will just say that I recently had a very poor experience with a Rigid miter saw. Blade was mis-aligned, bolts on the fencing were so tight I couldn't budge them, there was interference between the fence and the motor so it was impossible to use the full range on the miter axis, and it was making a grinding noise when it was braking. Just an extremely disappointing tool all the way around. Exchanged it for a Dewalt and I have no complaints.
Other power tools I own are a drill, impact driver (both Dewalt), and a circular saw (bosch, not cordless). They all work well.
It seems each company has things they do well and things they don't. I've had good luck with my Ridgid cordless drill and driver and I really like my Ridgid cast iron top table saw but I hate my Ridgid router.
I have a DeWalt miter saw (DWS779) that I bought an aftermarket upgrade for $80 to add the light kit to cast the blade shadow (feature of the DWS780 which was $250 more than the 779).
Table saw, I have the Delta 36-725 that I got on sale when they brought in the 725T2 a few years ago (haven't seen any real complaints about that one, either) and I bought a Bosch Plunge/Fixed Router kit when it was on sale back in July.
Yeah, it's neat having everything in the garage be the same color scheme, but knowing you got good tools at a good price feels better 😁
If I won the lotto, I'll add in some Powermatic yellow and Laguna Slate Gray.
We exclusively use Milwaukee 18-volt tools (including extended pole chainsaw, which is freaking sweet) at work, and I have all but one Milwaukee tool at home. Absolutely cannot beat them IMO. But holy shit do they cost money...
Milwaukee has some killer impact guns. Cannot recommend them enough. We put them thru hell and they keep coming back for more. Have a lot more torque than your run of the mill airgun (obviously not your bigger stuff...stick to those).
Carpentry, just go Dewalt. Also, their grease guns are second to none.
Congratulations on the new house.
my $0.02 Actually more-
deWalt 20V and Milwaukee are all in all very good
I've got a couple of ryobi- if you don't use it often they're OK
if you need a vibrating saw Fein is the best. your hand won't be numb if you use it for an hour.
If you need a demolition hammer or Hammer Drill Bosch SDS is the way to go. If you've got one project find one on Ebay/craigslist/pawnshop buy it and resell it.
Festool is wonderful- especially the tracksaw, dust collectors and routers. They are frightfully expensive but will last forever. If you're going to do alot of woodwork remodeling highly recommended.
Finally The Graco Ultra Cordless paint gun is fantastic. if you're doing a lot of painting its worth the price.
A couple of non big box places to shop- Tool Nut - Carries most brands great service often runs sales etc
HIghland Woodworking- Festool and Fein