notsofast
Member
A Dewalt drill and Makita circular saw
and a Dyson handheld vacuum
and a Dyson handheld vacuum
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Cordless Power Tools, what do you have?
- Thread starter ace22
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jtcarm
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- Joined
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Same stuff here.
I was going to switch to Makita, then got a 20v Drill/impact driver combo for Father’s Day.
I still have all my 18v Nicad tools but am down to one good battery. Dunno what I’ll do when it goes.
The 5ah 20v batteries might finally make cordless saws viable. Only the recip was much use with the 18v, and not for very long.
Just drill/driver here. DeWalt 20v. Had a 14.4 nicad, but replacement batteries cost more than the new 20v. kit, and the new lithium batteries are SO much better. Everything else I have is corded.
Unless we count the lawn mower as a power tool - and I guess it is. I have a 56v. E Go self propelled mower that I am really enjoying. Thinking about getting a string trimmer to go with it since I'm currently using a corded one. Dragging that cord around gets old.
Unless we count the lawn mower as a power tool - and I guess it is. I have a 56v. E Go self propelled mower that I am really enjoying. Thinking about getting a string trimmer to go with it since I'm currently using a corded one. Dragging that cord around gets old.
dodgecharger
Member
I'm a mechanic with 30 years in the trade and am replacing my air tools with milwaukee cordless, both 18 and 12 volt fuel (brushless). It's absolutely wonderful not having to drag an air hose every where. Their impacts have every bit the power or more as any high end air impact.
Frank46
US Veteran
Only have two cordless or battery driven tools. One is a dewalt 14 volt drill and the other is a 18 volt Skil battery job. All my other power tools are corded 2 circular saws, 3 other drills, and a couple air driven impact tools and almost forgot the Bosch corded drill/hammer drill. Had to search Lowes for a corded 3x21" belt sander. Frank
Ivan the Butcher
Member
As an Apartment maintenance man for 40 years, I saw the trend start in the 70's, and come through to today.
Any cordless tool works, or it doesn't! It is powerful enough or it isn't! If you need heavier duty equipment, you can find what you need! I have seen 2 cycle Roto-Hammers and circular saws! Pasload makes self contained nail guns!
I have a few B&D Cordless screwdrivers, they were pretty lame for household level of use, then I found that they were perfect for reloading! Low rate of RPM's, low torque, and low noise volume. They allow case trimming, primer pocket uniforming, and crimp removal for over 100 rifle cases on a single charge! If a cutter edge digs in, there isn't enough torque to ruin a $3 piece of 338 Lapua brass.
About 25 years ago I bought a C-96 Broomhandle Mauser. I used a Makita 9.6V drill to power a case length trimmer, that allowed me to form 200 brass from 223's in a little over an hour, and just recently, I did 600 pieces of ACC 300 Blackout brass using a Ryobi 18V.
As I took positions with different companies, I used the brand that my men used most. That way we had common batteries! I owned both DeWalt 18V and Ryobi 18V. When I retired I gave the DeWalt tools to my son that was an Industrial Maintenance man. The firm bought him 4 new batteries without the bat of an eye!
So now I putter, and take side jobs. I use Ryobi because the tools work good enough, and are easier to afford replacement when stolen!
(I once dropped a 2 day old DeWalt 18V recip saw 3 stories from the roof, that hurt my wallet!)
For heavy duty work I use corded Porta-Cable and Milwaukie, nothing else holds up! I have 4KW and a 5KW generators for real work, but for medium duty, Ryobi have worked out fine! The Ryobi +1 system even has a wet/dry shop-vac, a 16" chain saw, and the tool I use most when camping; a 14" fan! I bought 1/8" shank router bits for the +1 version of a Roto-zip and trimmed laminates and light cabinet work! (I haven't figured out the need for a 18V caulking gun yet!)
Ivan
Any cordless tool works, or it doesn't! It is powerful enough or it isn't! If you need heavier duty equipment, you can find what you need! I have seen 2 cycle Roto-Hammers and circular saws! Pasload makes self contained nail guns!
I have a few B&D Cordless screwdrivers, they were pretty lame for household level of use, then I found that they were perfect for reloading! Low rate of RPM's, low torque, and low noise volume. They allow case trimming, primer pocket uniforming, and crimp removal for over 100 rifle cases on a single charge! If a cutter edge digs in, there isn't enough torque to ruin a $3 piece of 338 Lapua brass.
About 25 years ago I bought a C-96 Broomhandle Mauser. I used a Makita 9.6V drill to power a case length trimmer, that allowed me to form 200 brass from 223's in a little over an hour, and just recently, I did 600 pieces of ACC 300 Blackout brass using a Ryobi 18V.
As I took positions with different companies, I used the brand that my men used most. That way we had common batteries! I owned both DeWalt 18V and Ryobi 18V. When I retired I gave the DeWalt tools to my son that was an Industrial Maintenance man. The firm bought him 4 new batteries without the bat of an eye!
So now I putter, and take side jobs. I use Ryobi because the tools work good enough, and are easier to afford replacement when stolen!
(I once dropped a 2 day old DeWalt 18V recip saw 3 stories from the roof, that hurt my wallet!)
For heavy duty work I use corded Porta-Cable and Milwaukie, nothing else holds up! I have 4KW and a 5KW generators for real work, but for medium duty, Ryobi have worked out fine! The Ryobi +1 system even has a wet/dry shop-vac, a 16" chain saw, and the tool I use most when camping; a 14" fan! I bought 1/8" shank router bits for the +1 version of a Roto-zip and trimmed laminates and light cabinet work! (I haven't figured out the need for a 18V caulking gun yet!)
Ivan
Daniel Howe
US Veteran
I have a dewalt 20volt drill simply because the company I worked for had a repair agreement and the would repair it free of charge. Now that I'm retired if I have to replace it I will buy Ryobi, I like to stay with USA made when possible and dewalt is not.
wheelgun28
Member
I'm a Makita guy, have too many tools to change now. I have several drills, drivers, 1/2" impact, vacuum, blower, chain saw and on and on. Quite happy with them all really.
In the 1980s I bought a Makita 9.6v drill. It wasn't great but wow was it handy. It had a metal case and room inside for an extra battery and some bits etc. Sadly it got stolen when our office was burglarized, insurance covered it. Then I got a Milwaukee 14 volt, circa 1997 (?). It had a nice box, two batteries. It was much more powerful and longer running compared to the old Makita. Eventually, the batteries became weak and weren't holding a charge.
Then I had a Dewalt 14.4, the last Dewalt Id ever buy. It was again new more powerful than the one before it, a crappy case but ok. Worked ok, all in all, felt cheap compared to the Milwaukee. I had some work to do at home so I had the drill charging in my basement on a workbench. Long story short I go out with my wife for several hours. We come home the house stinks to a level that cant be described. Its an acrid stick to you smell, burning awful odor. We start searching the house, almost ready to call the fire department. I look downstairs and find the Dewalt charger and battery smoking and half-melted. It was so hot it could not be touched, anything flammable in contact with it may have ignited. I unplug it and move it to the concrete floor to cool, even the wood bench where it sat was smoking hot. Now the good part! Bring it back to the store where I bought it, sorry not under warranty we can sell you a new one. A month later the big box store has a Dewalt dealer in the store. I tell him my tale, I get "oh yeah we had some trouble a while back, I can give you a ten percent discount on a new one". No thanks keep your junk and be grateful I'm not making it into a suppository, is what I was thinking. I was probably smoking more than the charger at that point, deep breath, deep breath, walk away...
I guess I did one better, bought a Makita 14.4 volt in all its glory. Years later made that one my house drill and work went on to the 18volt. The 14 volt still works nearly twenty years later, one original battery works, ish. I bought one new one great for around the house.
Around here, building trades use Dewalt (the rich guys use the big$ brands), mechanics use Makita and now Milwaukee, industrial use mostly Makita. All of it has crossover and lots of keeping up with the Joneses.
If I was starting out, I'd probably be looking closely at Milwaukee. If I was just using them at my home I'd seriously look at Ryobi or Ridgid. People that have them like them and speak highly of them.
In the 1980s I bought a Makita 9.6v drill. It wasn't great but wow was it handy. It had a metal case and room inside for an extra battery and some bits etc. Sadly it got stolen when our office was burglarized, insurance covered it. Then I got a Milwaukee 14 volt, circa 1997 (?). It had a nice box, two batteries. It was much more powerful and longer running compared to the old Makita. Eventually, the batteries became weak and weren't holding a charge.
Then I had a Dewalt 14.4, the last Dewalt Id ever buy. It was again new more powerful than the one before it, a crappy case but ok. Worked ok, all in all, felt cheap compared to the Milwaukee. I had some work to do at home so I had the drill charging in my basement on a workbench. Long story short I go out with my wife for several hours. We come home the house stinks to a level that cant be described. Its an acrid stick to you smell, burning awful odor. We start searching the house, almost ready to call the fire department. I look downstairs and find the Dewalt charger and battery smoking and half-melted. It was so hot it could not be touched, anything flammable in contact with it may have ignited. I unplug it and move it to the concrete floor to cool, even the wood bench where it sat was smoking hot. Now the good part! Bring it back to the store where I bought it, sorry not under warranty we can sell you a new one. A month later the big box store has a Dewalt dealer in the store. I tell him my tale, I get "oh yeah we had some trouble a while back, I can give you a ten percent discount on a new one". No thanks keep your junk and be grateful I'm not making it into a suppository, is what I was thinking. I was probably smoking more than the charger at that point, deep breath, deep breath, walk away...
I guess I did one better, bought a Makita 14.4 volt in all its glory. Years later made that one my house drill and work went on to the 18volt. The 14 volt still works nearly twenty years later, one original battery works, ish. I bought one new one great for around the house.
Around here, building trades use Dewalt (the rich guys use the big$ brands), mechanics use Makita and now Milwaukee, industrial use mostly Makita. All of it has crossover and lots of keeping up with the Joneses.
If I was starting out, I'd probably be looking closely at Milwaukee. If I was just using them at my home I'd seriously look at Ryobi or Ridgid. People that have them like them and speak highly of them.
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Targets Guy
US Veteran
Master Mechanic 12V drill, flashlight and saber saw
Craftsman 18V drill
Dewalt 18V drill, 20V impact driver, 20V drill, Work Radio w/ charger
New ones will more than likely be Dewalt but I am hearing more and more about Ryobi so I may check them out.
The Dewalt 20V impact driver is a monster by the way.
Craftsman 18V drill
Dewalt 18V drill, 20V impact driver, 20V drill, Work Radio w/ charger
New ones will more than likely be Dewalt but I am hearing more and more about Ryobi so I may check them out.
The Dewalt 20V impact driver is a monster by the way.
DeWalt 18V for drills and small saws, most acquired over a decade ago and still working fine. I bought a 20V DeWalt drywall gun to replace my ancient corded Makita, but even with the cord I liked the Makita better.
For yard work, EGO makes some great 56V tools; I have a long-bar hedge trimmer, leaf blower and chain saw. I also have a chain pruner made by Ryobi (18V), but the quality is not in the EGO league. Still, it's good enough for occasional higher work in medium trees that need attention.
For yard work, EGO makes some great 56V tools; I have a long-bar hedge trimmer, leaf blower and chain saw. I also have a chain pruner made by Ryobi (18V), but the quality is not in the EGO league. Still, it's good enough for occasional higher work in medium trees that need attention.
None. I got a De Walt cordless drill as a gift and I haven't used it in at least 5 years.
Still attached to the cord.
Still attached to the cord.
I use the Makita 18V LXT line. I have a drill, circular saw, jig saw, a recipro saw, a small blower that's handy for blowing dust out of things like computers, a weed whacker that works really well, and even a little vacuum cleaner that's very handy when I don't need a corded vacuum. And they all use the same batteries. No problems with any of them.
Sigma40sw
Member
I have a Dewalt 18V set of tools that are over 20 years old. As most have mentioned the 18V Ni-Cad batteries are the weak link as they break down over time. I recently bought a Dewalt 20V right angle drill for a project I had that was in a small space. In the process I found Dewalt makes a 18V battery adapter that will allow you to use the new 20V lithium batteries in your 18V tools. I got the adapter and will now be using the 20V Lithium Batteries with my 18V tools. Its like they all have a new life. No use getting rid of old tools that still perform.
Milwaukee Tools are the best in the business.
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