Best Battery Powered Tools - what say Mud?

[Pin_Head]

My experience is that the tool doesn't matter as much as the battery.

The cost of replacing most of the batteries I have experience with (DeWalt, Makita, Hitachi, cheapo Chinese) is higher than the cost of a new tool with the batteries and chargers. I have never had any brand of tool that didn't outlive its batteries. Throw the old one away and buy a new one.

 

[Rob Faucett]

Makita XLT Li-Ion

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.

X2 Working great for me!

 

[patpend2000]

When you are buying your tools do yourself a favor and buy one of the small Li-on screwdrivers, I have the Bosch version. They are so much handier than the big drill around the house and they fit in your bags.

 

[Michael Hanson]

I like 18 volts and up. Sometimes Makita,milwaukee,hitachi, etc.I dont like the cheak no names.These usually will burn up with long use and we have burned them up in a single day. Merry Christmas Mike

 

[D'Animal]

Does anybody have a good source for Dewalt 18v batteries?

I priced a new 18v lith-ion at the welding shop and it was $120.

 

[beaufort-fj60]

last 18v i got was $90 at lowes

 

[D'Animal]

last 18v i got was $90 at lowes

Was it the Lith-Ion or the "Old Style?

I checked both lowes in the big city twice and they did not have the lith-ion, just the nic-cadium.

 

[Joe_E]

Does anybody have a good source for Dewalt 18v batteries?

I priced a new 18v lith-ion at the welding shop and it was $120.

Check Ebay D'Animal. Usually can find good buys for items like these from respectable sellers.

dewalt 18v lithium battery, Home Garden, Business Industrial items on eBay.com

 

[D'Animal]

Thanks a lot for the link.

Check Ebay D'Animal. Usually can find good buys for items like these from respectable sellers.

dewalt 18v lithium battery, Home Garden, Business Industrial items on eBay.com

Does anybody know if my regular 18volt chargers will work with the Lithium batteries? I never thought about it but I see a lot of Lithium chargers on the link.

 

[-Spike-]

Yep, if you don't mind fires.

-Spike

 

[KLF]

My thoughts on the batteries is that ya it sucks to still have a perfectly operating tool but batteries that don't charge, so what I'm doing now with my LXT set is buying one battery a year, rotating the oldest out to be recycled. My Li-Ion batteries are now 2-1/2 years old, still doing fine, but Santa brought me a new battery to start the rotation.

 

[D'Animal]

I just bought a few New in Box Dewalt Lith-Ion 18volts for $46.10 each.

Check Ebay D'Animal. Usually can find good buys for items like these from respectable sellers.

dewalt 18v lithium battery, Home Garden, Business Industrial items on eBay.com

Thanks again for the link.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

My experience is that the tool doesn't matter as much as the battery.

The cost of replacing most of the batteries I have experience with (DeWalt, Makita, Hitachi, cheapo Chinese) is higher than the cost of a new tool with the batteries and chargers. I have never had any brand of tool that didn't outlive its batteries. Throw the old one away and buy a new one.

Agreed. That is where I am at. My tools always outlast the batteries and the batteries are very expensive. The reviews on the Craftsman replacement batteries put them in the s***ter. Interesting stuff. Maybe I should add a poll.

I had a cheap Ryobi I got out of some discount catalog and it lasted for many many years. 15 maybe? Longer then either one of my Craftsman.

 

[Rattler]

I have a bunch of the Ryobbi 18+ tools and like them a lot and they have never let me down. I am not a professional or aything though. I had a Craftsman 14V drill that was a PITA (yea, I know, made by Ryobi). The batteries lasted @ 1.5 years and were $$ to replace. Thats how I ended up with the Ryobi. I only had one battery issue and it went away; dirty contact it turned out to be.

I have the older version of the stapler and it has to have a pretty good battery in it to work right but it does work well.

I recently picked up the chainsaw cheap. It really isn't too bad for trimming small trees. It does seem to go through a battery kinda quick though. Might just be the cold weather here.

I had a page bookmarked about a trick of using an automotive battery charger on bad batteries to zap them. PC died and lost it though.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

Well, I have found myself in need of a 1/2 inch drive drill so I guess I am going to check SLowes and Home Depot in the AM. I was hoping to stay right at $100 for an 18 or 19v but I am sure I will go over that.

 

[Poser]

Well, I have found myself in need of a 1/2 inch drive drill so I guess I am going to check SLowes and Home Depot in the AM. I was hoping to stay right at $100 for an 18 or 19v but I am sure I will go over that.

Chris man... 18V Lithium-Ion Milwaukee


I own 2601-22 pretty sure I got it at the orange store this spring.



I wish you were closer, you could use it all you want bud...

 

[Hugh Heifer]

Added a poll. Only ten spots for choices.

 

[Thornton]

In my opinion the new Makita lithium-ion has put it back to the top of the heap. I've still got my old Makita 9.6 that I got over 20 yrs. ago and it's outlasted 2 Dewalts.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

In my opinion the new Makita lithium-ion has put it back to the top of the heap. I've still got my old Makita 9.6 that I got over 20 yrs. ago and it's outlasted 2 Dewalts.

The old 9.6 is the bomb. They still sell those batteries. I have read that the new Makita lithium batteries do not last but a year or so. Have you had another experience?

I just bought a Milwaukee compact 18v Lithium. Resisted dropping some serious coin on a combo pack. I would have gotten more bang for my buck but I have never had the need for anything but a drill and a light and my Craftsman light stil works off the old nicads. I am going to take one of those Craftsman batteries apart and see if I can get the inards from Batteries Plus.

 

[spressomon]

Burned up a Ryobi after 1-smallish deck project. The next one, a Bosch, held up well until the batteries went south after a few years of good use. Bought a Festool (I have many other Festool tools that I love) cordless kit last summer and it is above and beyond the best cordless drill I have ever used.

If you're making a decision from a spec sheet you probably won't be impressed by the Festool. But real world performance: Second to none.

But I can't vote for Festool as it's not listed