Best Battery Powered Tools - what say Mud?

[Hugh Heifer]

I have a Craftsman set (18volt drill and light) that has been decent but when I read the ratings on the replacement batteries that cost about $30 each everybody says the batteries suck and just spend your money on a new kit. Mine are about 6 years old.

What says mud on the best battery powered tools?

Brand? volts? combo kits? Your experience and why.

 

[haystax]

Hilti - the only way to go. They are expensive tools but I think they are worth it when you compare brands and features of other cordless tools. I have been extremely happy with the 14.4 Li Ion cordless impact driver and drill. The impact driver is really impressive, way more versatile and valuable than a cordless drill.

I have used the impact driver in every phase of building my house and have worked with guys using Dewalt, Makita, Ryobi, and Hitachi tools and the Hilti stands out. I have to admit I have not seen the Hitachi Li Ion or Dewalt Li Ion and that may be an unfair comparision. I do know the Hilti is not much more when comparing Li Ion

They are all better than they were 5 years ago, just remember you generally get what you pay for when shopping for tools -

 

[gladly]

I agree that the hilti tools are great, but we've had great experience with dewalt stuffs at work, there were two drills which were already old and beat when I started, 4+ years ago, and we've since bought three more, and with the new batteries, the old drills are still performing admirably
we've found that it makes more sense to buy a $229 kit with a new drill and 2 batteries rather than spend $99 on a charger and/or $79 on a battery. just throw a new and an old battery in each kit and they keep you going just fine
definitely the weak link on the dewalt has been the charger, though

 

[KLF]

Very very very happy with my Makita LXT Li-Ion tools. I use the impact driver way more than I ever thought I would. Super handy for stripping interiors and engines. I also use the heck out of the flourescent light.

The Hilti stuff is good, but kinda like Snap-On, a bit over-priced for the average homeowner with casual use. It's really heavy stuff too.

You couldn't GIVE me a Dewalt.

 

[haystax]

The Hilti stuff is good, but kinda like Snap-On, a bit over-priced for the average homeowner with casual use. It's really heavy stuff too.

I was going to end my "get what you pay for" comment with "except for Snap-On"

Although the Hilit tools may be more tool than the "average homeowner" needs, you can't really compare them to a Snap-On tool because Hilti builds all their own stuff and it is generally getter a higher quality product in every component. Motors, gears, plastics, chargers are all made by Hilti and not outsourced to mexico or china like a lot of the other brands

Snap-On is rebadged junk with a high price tag. I own some Snap-On stuff, really prefer thier new double pawl ratchets to any other brand. For sockets and endwrenches and common hand tools SK, IR, and Crafstman Pro are hard to beat. I buy more Proto than anything now due to the supplier I like to deal with.

My preference in all construction power tools would be Hilti, Hitachi, Milwaukee, Makita, Bosch, with Dewalt lumped in with the "cheapies"

No one makes a better saw than the old faithful Skil wormdrive -

No one makes a better hole hawg or sawzall than Milwaukee -

 

[D'Animal]

I used to use Makita back in the 80's. The batteries lasted me about a year and I would then have to replace them.

Through attrition, I slowly switched over to Dewalt. First was the 9.6 and then the 14 and now the 18volt. The 18volt batteries have lasted me about 6 years. The new 18volt Dewalt lith-ion batteries are about $120. I have been very happy with my Dewalt tools.

 

[beaufort-fj60]

x2 on the dewalts... I've had a few 18v batteries that been going for at least 6 years. Only one broken sofar.. it was due to launching a boat off a huge wave and crashing back in the water. The battery was in a dewalt radio...

 

[KLF]

Agreed with haystax, especially on the Snap-On comment. I was just using them as an example. I have one of those old Skil wormdrives, it's a brute. Love my Milwaukee SuperSawzall too.

Makita batteries have improved so much you really shouldn't compare them to 20 years ago.

The place where I buy all my Makita stuff had to stop carrying Dewalt. They got too many of them returned. Then Dewalt started hassleing them for not pushing enough product, it's all about sales with them, they don't care about quality anymore. Homey Depot can eat returns, but the small guys can't.

 

[Cuerno Largo]

I got a Makita Li-ion impact drill at the recommendation from a friend that is a contractor and that thing rocks. I have been very happy with it, but I was upgrading from a B&D so I probably would have been happy with anything.

 

[mminter1973]

have a 18v snapon 1/2 impact and a 18v dewalt drill. Those are the 2 best battery powered tools i have found after numerous others.

 

[jts560]

I don't care what anyone says, DeWalt makes good stuff, some how water got into my drill box and sat there for at least a week before I noticed. Dried it out and still works fine. A lot of water, not just some condensation. I use it to work, not just hang pictures on the wall.

Believe it or not Ryobi drills are pretty tough (and cheap), just big and heavy. After owning a Ryobi weedeater I can't believe I just said Ryobi is capable of making a good product.

The new cordless stuff with the Lithium batteries are so light and compact compared to NiCad its amazing.

Rigid has a sweet lifetime warranty, even covers batteries. Just something to consider.

 

[Urrrk]

I have a Dewalt 18 Driver drill and like it quite a bit, though it has taken a pounding (cracked case) over the years and may not have much life left in it. Batteries hold up really well. I'm tempted to just get a new one and keep the old for a "second setup" drill.

Skil wormdrives are great, but I'm afraid I've toasted the clutch in mine.

 

[-Spike-]

I like my RIGID 18v cordless tools. My biggest complaint is that they don't make more- I'd like to have a cordless 4 or 4 1/2" grinder. They offered a cordless w/d vaccuum that I picked up and like very much, but they discontinued it. I have the NiCd batts, but they just came out with a Li-Ion 18v that fits my tools, so for once I might not buy all new tools when the batts crap out. I use the impact every day, the vaccuum nearly every day, the drill/hammer drill quite often, and the circ saw, recip saw, caulk gun and flashlight less often, but they all work well for their uses. A bit clunky, but nice features. I used to be a Makita guy, but years ago they changed the drill and I wasn't impressed. Haven't used any other tools in the last few years to have an opinion vs. the RIGID line.

-Spike

 

[hodag]

I have a 14.4V Milwaukee 1/2" cordless drill that I have had for going on 10 years. It is held together with duct tape and you have to wiggle the trigger just right to get it to go, but it still goes. Same original batteries. The charger needed a new capacitor once from leaving it out in the rain, but my FIL is a electrician/tinkerer, so it cost me nothing.

I just bought a Craftsman 19.2V setup this fall. Been good so far. Sometimes the chuck works loose while using it, but that is my only complaint. I had a wall of my old garage that I was tearing down fall over on the drill and case. The drill survived, but the charger's case was cracked and didnt work. Took it back to Sears and walked out with a new one.

The Craftsman came as a kit with a right-angle drill which has also come in way handier than I would have thought.

Hodag

 

[Cruisin'Carolina]

18V Dewalt...12 years running

I have the flashlight, drill, and cordless Skilsaw

 

[wfd175]

I have a 14.4 dewalt that has 1 of 2 (dropped 1 and had to replace) of the original batteries that still works fine after 13 years. I keep the batteries fully charged and it works fine. It seems like they don't make the batteries like they used to: that said

The 5 yr old 18v dewalt stuff drill and sawsall we have on the rescue squad that rarely gets used sucks. We even have the battery conditoner charger. We keep replacing the batteries about every 1.5 years. It must be a lack of use thing or they don't make them like they used to. I don't believe the conditioner is working that great.

I did purchase a litium ion bosch impact driver and small drill that does just what I need, when I need it. I purchased because they both fit my tool bag. Unlike the dewalt which is in a steel box.

I came to the conclusion when the 18v sawsall quickly de-charged on an accident scene to just go ahead and start with the corded stuff. My milwaukee hole shooter always fires right up. I dont' mind using a generator once in a while or an extension cord. Sometimes it's quicker to lay out a cord, than to stop and switch batteries or wait for one to charge back up.

Take a good look at the lithium ion stuff, it's kinda new. But i believe it's what they use in most hybrid vehicle systems.

 

[EdsCruisin]

I have the Ryobi set up and it works pretty well in my opinion. The batteries lasted about 5 years before I had to upgrade and buy a new pair. In pairs they are much cheaper. In the realm of "bang for the buck" I think Ryobi is hard to beat. But keep in mind that Sears 19.2 cordless are also Ryobi, with one more battery cell.

If you crack open the battery packs they are all basically the same. The batteries are likely manufactured in the same place too. The technology that makes one brand better than the others is the power efficiency of the tool and the battery conditioner, not the cells themselves. You can rebuild them yourself cheap.

 

[Joe_E]

I agree that the hilti tools are great, but we've had great experience with dewalt stuffs at work, there were two drills which were already old and beat when I started, 4+ years ago, and we've since bought three more, and with the new batteries, the old drills are still performing admirably
we've found that it makes more sense to buy a $229 kit with a new drill and 2 batteries rather than spend $99 on a charger and/or $79 on a battery. just throw a new and an old battery in each kit and they keep you going just fine
definitely the weak link on the dewalt has been the charger, though

I've been contemplating this same dilemma. Have had a 18v Milwaukee cordless hammer drill for a while now and am down to the last battery and even that one doesn't hold a good charge.
I think these jitbags deliberately try to charge $75 bucks for a bat so you go out and buy a whole new kit.
Which I am about to do I guess.
It's like going to Sears for a socket you don't have and seeing it would be smarter to buy a whole kit for a couple dollars more. Bastads!

 

[Trollhole]

Hands down for the money. Dewalt. I have one of the first pre dewalt 12v's. Back then it was called Blcak and Decker Profesional series. Have had it rebuilt once. It's 14 years old and goes strong. I used it for constructions for about it's first 3 years. It has been through hell and back. I have used the newer ones and the I think the same quality is there.

You won't be disapointed.

 

[KLF]

Hands down for the money. Dewalt.

You can't compare a 14-year old tool to the crap they are making now. Especially the even crappier stuff that Homey Depot sells.

It's like going to Sears for a socket you don't have and seeing it would be smarter to buy a whole kit for a couple dollars more. Bastads!

I know what you mean. I went to Lowe's the other day to get some cord to wire up some new fluorescent lights in my basement. I found it was actually cheaper to buy pre-made extension cords and cut the ends off, than to buy raw cord off the spools.