Cordless Power Tools - What is good/best?

[Kinman]

A warning to Makita users - don't let the batteries sit unused and not recharge them for months, because if they self discharge enough (they all eventually do), the battery is ruined and the charger won't charge it. I have a routine where I top off all batteries around the 1st of each month. It's painful to throw away $100 or $100+ batteries. This might apply to all the brands.

Thats the main reason I always keep one on the charger and replace with the one on standby. I nearly always use one of the tools often enough to avoid letting the standby discharge. I do not know about the newer stuff but the older XLT stuff with the Star on yellow needs to be kept up. The newer stuff is brushless, I have not upgraded...they have 5amp batteries now and their 1/2" drive impact hammer is a monster. I keep threatening to dump my air compressor and tools because the Makita 1/2" drive will do everything my 1/2" drive air impact will do and much easier to operate. I can get the air tool into smaller areas, the electric is quite large. I know professional mechanics that no longer use air tools, Matco, Snap-On and others make excellent rechargeable electric impact tools. If your looking for top of the line electrics, check out Matco or Snap-On...you will pay for them. About all I use my air compressor for anymore is for air pressure to blow something off, it has paid for itself over the years.
One of the things that sold me on Makita was watching a friend of mine work on a cabinet, I asked him if he needed a flashlight...he pointed his Makita at me and hit the switch HEADLIGHTS.

 

[PPS1980]

I coached a High School Robotics team for years. Those kids beat the heck out of the battery powered tools that we provided for their use. Never had a problem at all with the Ryobi tools. No problems with the batteries either (although I do recommend the smart charger that costs more $s as the batteries seem to have a longer time to discharged).

 

[Protocall_Design]

I have a bunch of Ryobi tools. All use the same batteries, even the old, old dark blue ones. They all still work fine, too, even the old blue ones.

My favorite cordless tools of all are the S&W coil nailers. They can shoot a lead nail 100 or 200 yards, no problem! And fun to use too! I have them from .22 finish nails up to .44 framing nails, and everything in between. The batteries seem to last forever.

 

[Farmer17]

I've owned a construction company since 1992 and nearly every workman around here uses DeWalt. With that being said you don't need a DeWalt if you're not using it 8 hours per day and their tools and batteries are expensive. If Australia has Home Depots they have a fathers day sale right now where you get a kit with a lot of Ryobi tools for $199. Circular saw, reciprocating saw, vibratory tool, drill, impact gun, a charger and a large and small battery. I have nearly every Ryobi 18V tool they make check it out.

RYOBI Tools

 

[walkin jack]

I think a lot depends on the tool and how it is used. No one uses every brand so no one can say which is best. I've used a goodly number of them but not nearly all.

In my experience the best I have ever used was my Echo 16" 58volt chain saw. That thing is awwwwweeee-soooommmmeeeee. The saw ain't bad, neither. ;^)

 

[Frank46]

Around here DeWalt is probably the best choice. But has the "made of Globally sourced components" on the case. Have two DeWalt battery powered drills. The 20 volt came with a 2ah battery. And there is a 4ah battery but at a cost. $189 for two. Most of my other tools are electrically powered the old fashioned way,by a power cord. Frank

 

[srsmyth]

I have had Panasonic, Ryobi, Craftsman, and DeWalt over the years and they are all great tools, but ending up with different battery designs is a nuisance and is usually the weak (expensive) link. Decide what you will want for the future of your tools and try to stay with the same battery platform if possible. I recently needed a one handed reciprocating saw for pruning/cutting Buck Thorn and DeWalt was the only one I could find locally.
It works great and came with a 5ah battery in a package with charger & bag.


Make darn sure the batteries will fit your ice auger.