Cordless Operated Power Tools - Your Favorite

[EddieWalker]

I have two Makita 7 1/2 slide compound 18v miter saws. They are amazing for small trim, etc. Well worth the price.

All my cordless tools are Makita, so that's what I would be buying. Why do you have two?

 

[truckdiagnostics]

My battery operated Milwaukee sweet shirt! At lest this week it is! its not a tool but......... otherwise my impact. get the 20 volt dewalt, hands down better than the 18 volt. The kid uses Milwaukee he says if he had to do it over he would look long and hard at dewalt. they have come a long ways as of late. that 60 volt 71/4 circular saw is something else.

 

[newbury]

My son got me addicted to the DeWalt 20V max line. He wanted a ~$300 combo set for Christmas/Birthday. I had gone through several brands of NiCad tools, all died young.
I figured it up about last September and I've now got over $3,000 RETAIL worth of tools and batteries in the DeWalt line. That includes about a dozen tools, a dozen batteries and 3 or 4 chargers. My latest was the 7 1/4" miter saw and the wet-dry vacuum. There are some duplicates like flashlights. I wish they made a 20V chainsaw, or one that would take 2 20v batteries.

And the older I get the more I find that the 20V is adapted to my work habits, by the time I exhaust a 5AH battery with my sawzall I'm ready to take a break

 

[Thall303]

On a Farm, cordless is the only way to go whenever possible!

 

[pmsmechanic]

I'm into the M-18 line with Milwaukee. I like it so I'm not planning on changing lines. 2 impact drivers, 2 - 1/2" drills, 7 1/4" saw, 1/2" impact gun, a hoodie and a jacket. The impact drivers get used the most. I'll never willingly use a drill for driving screws again. I also use the impact drivers a lot as impact wrenches. They are sure compact and handy.

 

[Will_C]

I have DeWalt 18v drill, 1/4 impact' 1/2" impact and sawzall. The 1/2" impact has retired my IR air impact. I bought the 18-20 converter kit with a couple of batteries earlier this year, as my 18v batteries crapped out. If I add anymore tools, they will be 20v Li-ion. Tools
Will

 

[Steppenwolfe]

All my cordless tools are Makita, so that's what I would be buying. Why do you have two?

One for me, one for a crew to take to a job site. They are really handy, and amazing at what they can do. I only buy Makita, got some tools 30 plus years old. My son likes Milwaukee, they do seem to be pretty nice.

 

[airbiscuit]

So, what is the advantage of using the impact driver vs drill (with adjustable torque) for driving screws?

 

[gsganzer]

I've been surprised how often I use my Milwaukee 18V 4.5 inch angle grinder. It does eat batteries pretty fast though, compared to any of my other cordless tools.

 

[airbiscuit]

So I went in to rural king after xmas to purchase a dewalt battery powered grease gun. They had an 18v and a 20v. All my stuff (only 2 items - 1 drill 1 impact) is 18v...do you make the investment in your older nicad 18v system or do you buy and move forward with the lithium 20v which has more offerings and seems to use newer technology. You then have mixed batteries and more stuff out on your shelf. I have been wrestling with this and it may not be a big deal and it's just commonplace for everyone to have mixed battery setups and what not.....

Next questions - What are some battery powered power tools you cannot live without. I only have a drill, 1/4 impact, and now a grease gun. Looking at purchasing a sawzall....any suggestions? Anything I need that I cannot live without and I just don't know it? Stuff you use all the time for various projects that is helpful for us out here in the country.

My advice is to never buy another nicad tool - even if that means you have two different platforms for a while. Your nicad stuff will crap out soon enough and then it is lithium ion and never look back. In fact if you see a good deal on a lithium ion set, buy it before your nicad craps out.

I think all the major brands are good. I love my Milwaukee 18V, but I could have been just as happy with Dewalt, Makita, etc.

Figure out for yourself which tools you use the most and let that be your guide. Once you find out how much you like Lithium cordless power, you will find yourself wanting one more tool than you thought you needed

For my needs, here was my order of preference:

Drill/Driver set
Circular Saw
Angle Grinder
Hackzall (less bulky reciprocating saw)

And now there's that next tool that I'm sure I need