Cordless Operated Power Tools - Your Favorite

[bunyip]

Li Ion doesn't self discharge like the NiCad Ni MH and there was nothing worse than needing a tool for a small job and finding the battery is dead that you knew was full 2 months ago.
Li Ion and brushless motors supply more torque than I though would be possible a few years ago.
If I hang onto my old NiCad tools they could be valuable as antiques in a few years but no one is going to buy them now.

 

[kco]

I have DeWalt 20v 3/8" impact driver, 4 1/2" grinder, 6 1/2 circular saw, 1/2" impact wrench and 3/8" drill (which are listed in frequency of use). I only got the 3/8" impact driver and the 1/2" impact wrench last summer and am amazed at how much easier they are on the hands and how much more effective they are.

Two weeks ago I added the 20v Max DCE100B compact jobsite blower:

DEWALT DCE1B 2V MAX Compact Jobsite Blower Baretool: Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement

because our Looftlighter BBQ starter (like a big hair dryer) that I use to reload wood in the furnace shorted out and I had to resort to hand bellows. I saw the blower on YouTube and am pleased at how good it is for getting a load of wood going. As well, it does a good job of blowing dust out of the workshop and carport.

 

[Doofy]

Two dollar hairdryer blows just fine to get the wood fired up and a leaf-blower works just fine for blowing out the garage. Have the wife troll a garage sale or two...

 

[truckdiagnostics]

Put me on the "Stupid" list...

My last 18V DeWalt hammer drill battery was going out, so I order a pair of rebuilt batteries; $75. Shortly afterwards, the clutch in my drill went out. So I sent the hammer drill in to DeWalt for repair; $100 flat fee. Instead of repairing my drill, they simply sent me a reconditioned drill. All seemed well in the world.

Not so - 3 months later (now) that reconditioned drill totally locked up. DeWalt offered to fix it free, but the truth is, I'm pretty much tired of fooling with it. And the 6 week wait is unsatisfactory as well.

I would have been way better to have simply trashed the 5 year old DeWalt 18V Ni-Cad battery hammer drill and replaced it with a better Li-ion drill - OR a Milwaukee impact. Actually, I'm open to suggestions as to which way to go. I've already squandered $175 on a worthless DeWalt repair job and new 18V Ni-Cad batteries, so my flavor right now doesn't lean toward DeWalt.

Right now I'm getting by with my old faithful DeWalt corded 3/8" drill. That's a good reminder as to how convenient cordless tools are.

consider the 18 to 20 volt converter. what we did seems to be working. We are moving towards the 20 volt as loose or break the 18 volt stuff. Milwaukee dewalt seem to be about the same? the kid who has all Milwaukee doesn't complain about the dewalt stuff

 

[Old Red]

I have made some purchases since starting this thread. I invested in 2 pieces of 18volt dewalt equipment. 1 was a tool only reciprocating saw...I only bought it after the accidental 18v grease gun tool only purchase. So I'm stuck with that 18v stuff for a while. When it comes time to replace batteries I will likely just purchase the 18v Lithium battery they make especially for the 18v tools.

Next, I have decided to got the Milwaukee 12v lithium route. There are 70 or 80 tools in this line. What I LOVE about it most is it appears this line is much more compact. Very light and handy with still yet lots of power when you go brushless. So I purchased a Milwaukee M12 screw driver that came with 3 batteries and a charge, I already owned the heated camo jacket. I have 2 other pieces in the mail on its way. A 3/8" fuel Impact Wrench to bust lug nuts and operate on smaller equipment as well as a heated hoodie. Those jackets and hoodies are the best thing since sliced bread. I will get he dremel tool and ratchet next. So there you have it, after 9 pages of very good reading, I have decided to go with Milwaukee 12v (M12) and keep the old dewalt stuff running. I am just not sure I will need any bigger power tools and I think the M12 line has me covered.

 

[newbury]

I've the DEWALT DCBL720B 20V Lithium Ion XR Brushless Blower and love it for limited usage. I've also a Stihl 350 and a Stihl 550 2 stroke blower. And 2 corded Toro blowers. The DeWalt is my go-to machine for everything small. Blow off the deck, clear the porch, blow the sweetgum balls off the driveway. Everything bigger goes to the 550.

 

[Old Red]

I've the DEWALT DCBL720B 20V Lithium Ion XR Brushless Blower and love it for limited usage. I've also a Stihl 350 and a Stihl 550 2 stroke blower. And 2 corded Toro blowers. The DeWalt is my go-to machine for everything small. Blow off the deck, clear the porch, blow the sweetgum balls off the driveway. Everything bigger goes to the 550.

I'm glad you brought this up. I am a blower fanatic and this is my most used piece of equipment that I own. I have 2 Stihl Magnum backpack blowers and a small BG55 blower. But a cordless handy unit to do small stuff with is very appealing to me. This was one of the hardest things I had to give up in my decision to move toward the M12 Milwaukee line of cordless power tools...there is no blower option or any other power hog options in this lineup. So if you are in that scenario and you like your battery operated blower that much...would you just recommend getting the Stihl version battery operated one or the Dewalt etc. etc.?

 

[newbury]

<snip>So if you are in that scenario and you like your battery operated blower that much...would you just recommend getting the Stihl version battery operated one or the Dewalt etc. etc.?

The Stihl is another battery platform, a much more expensive platform.
I looked briefly at other battery operated blowers but most had a fairly small end and did not seem to be able to lift wet leaves.

For example, as much as I disliked getting another battery platform I've bought two of the B&D 12" chain saws. At $110@ w/ battery & charger.

 

[dragoneggs]

I've the DEWALT DCBL720B 20V Lithium Ion XR Brushless Blower and love it for limited usage. I've also a Stihl 350 and a Stihl 550 2 stroke blower. And 2 corded Toro blowers. The DeWalt is my go-to machine for everything small. Blow off the deck, clear the porch, blow the sweetgum balls off the driveway. Everything bigger goes to the 550.

I have the Stihl BG65 I think and it wasn't cheap. Would love a cordless blower but then I might not use the Stihl and let it sit too much. I do already have a big collection of 20v tools. How is the air volume and velocity with the 20v Dewalt? Impressive? Say yes and I will pull the trigger.

 

[EddieWalker]

Makita has a blue line of cordless tools and a white colored line. The white ones are their light weight, smaller, more compact versions. They are also the ones that fail quickly and fall apart after a little use. I made that mistake twice. First was with the white impact driver. It comes with two smaller batteries that have a little block on them so you can only use those batteries on the impact driver and the radio. They don't last very long, so I just leave them in my work shop and rarely use them. Same thing with that little impact driver. It still works, but you cannot adjust the speed. It either off, or on in full speed.

Second mistake was in their small white compact vacuum cleaner. For a few months, it was great. Super handy at cleaning up on the job, and between tile when getting ready to grout. But then it lost suction, and no amount of cleaning the filter, or anything else would work. I finally gave up and tossed it. I've never bought another Makita white tool since, and wont. It's blue tools only for me!!