Battery Powered Tool Brands

[jyoutz]

Milwaukee changed the game years ago when they came out with the 18 volt Fuel lineup, but most everyone else has caught up and make really good battery powered tools. That being said I am a Milwaukee man mostly due to me buying all that stuff years ago and the fact that there is virtually nothing that they don't offer tool wise from chain saws to air inflators and everything in between, probably the largest assortment out of them all and lastly I have had to send 2 different tools back through the years and had zero idea when I had bought them and they sent me back a repaired or new tool both times and paid the shipping both ways, pretty good customer service IMHO, others experiences may be different.

I do love Milwaukee tools and have their old school corded hammer drill and sawzall. But speaking a warranty, no company beats the HF Hercules tools. If the tool doesn’t work, you take it to a local store and they look up the purchase date. If it was purchased less than 5 years ago, they tell you to go get a new tool off the shelf. I’ve only had to replace one tool and that was due to a hard drop on concrete where the case cracked. They replaced it.

 

[SPYDERLK]

As a homeowner/DIYer I went with the Ryobi One+ line. They have kept the battery interface the same from nicad to first gen li-ion to newer li-ion. They have probably the broadest line of tools using the same battery, and are good enough for heavy DIY use. I did burn out a compact drill-driver driving 3" screws in bridge timbers. My friend was using it, and I think he had it in high gear, because it twisted his wrist in low.

You'll get ridiculed on job sites and not taken seriously if you're a contractor, however.

Compact drill, hammer drill, impact driver, 6-1/2" circ saw, recip saw, 4-1/2" grinder, die grinder, 34° framing nailer, lopping shear, hedge shears, led light, caulking gun

+1 on Ryobi, for all the reasons you noted. I fit in the "heavy duty homeowner/DIY" category, and they've stood up very well.
Most of the pros I know use DeWalt, rarely see anything else. Not a lot of love among the pros I know for Makita which is a bit surprising given the rave reviews you see online.

I too use them, since I dealt with an upright contractor who rated them as the best value - cost vs benefit. I cannot disagree.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I do love Milwaukee tools and have their old school corded hammer drill and sawzall. But speaking a warranty, no company beats the HF Hercules tools. If the tool doesn’t work, you take it to a local store and they look up the purchase date. If it was purchased less than 5 years ago, they tell you to go get a new tool off the shelf. I’ve only had to replace one tool and that was due to a hard drop on concrete where the case cracked. They replaced it.

I like the HF Hercules corded grinders. I am up to four now, three 4.5" and a 4.5" to 6". No swapping out blade type. Way more power then cordless. Any corded hand tool purchase going forward will be the Hercules line.

 

[paulsharvey]

I like the HF Hercules corded grinders. I am up to four now, three 4.5" and a 4.5" to 6". No swapping out blade type. Way more power then cordless. Any corded hand tool purchase going forward will be the Hercules line.

Makita corded grinders are great.

For the OP, first step is figure out what tools you need, and what tools you may want in next few years. See what the starter kit costs, plus the other stuff you need. Milwaukee, never heard anything bad, but you might be $700+ into the system. Once your into it, your kinda stuck. You wont be $700 into Milwaukee and get the $99 1 battery 1 grinder special from Dewalt; your stuck spending the $229 on the Milwaukee version.

Nearly all starter kits give you only 2 batteries and they are the small capacity ones. Most tools, 4AH is a good spot between weight vs capacity; but look at the cost of each systems 2.5/4/6 amp hour batteries as part of the shopping.

 

[paulsharvey]

Case in point, not that im cheering for Rigid, 2 4 AH batteries with a spare charger; $99. Milwaukee, 1 4.0 AH battery, not charger, $139. Even Ryobi, 2 4.0 AH batteries are $149, and no spare charger.

Milwaukee is better, but is it 3x better? And do you need 1.5x better, and 3x cost, thats what you need to decide.

 

[ultrarunner]

I do love Milwaukee tools and have their old school corded hammer drill and sawzall. But speaking a warranty, no company beats the HF Hercules tools. If the tool doesn’t work, you take it to a local store and they look up the purchase date. If it was purchased less than 5 years ago, they tell you to go get a new tool off the shelf. I’ve only had to replace one tool and that was due to a hard drop on concrete where the case cracked. They replaced it.

Kind of… neighbor bought the small angle grinder along with wire brush cups to prep an old painted concrete walk.

In 3 days he went through 3 even exchanges and on the 4th he was told no more and issued a refund… all in the same week.

 

[jyoutz]

Kind of… neighbor bought the small angle grinder along with wire brush cups to prep an old painted concrete walk.

In 3 days he went through 3 even exchanges and on the 4th he was told no more and issued a refund… all in the same week.

Interesting. A friend of mine is a professional welder, and all he buys are Hercules angle grinders. He says they last as long as the more expensive brands. Are you sure you are talking about te Hercules line or the cheaper HF tools?

 

[ultrarunner]

Interesting. A friend of mine is a professional welder, and all he buys are Hercules angle grinders. He says they last as long as the more expensive brands. Are you sure you are talking about te Hercules line or the cheaper HF tools?

I believe it is the cheapest HF brand…

He bought a Milwaukee corded to finish the job and no issue.

I remember he commented the Milwaukee had metal where the HF had plastic…

 

[paulsharvey]

On grinders; concrete cup grinders, are Rough on a angle grinder; and ive destroyed a couple dewalt corded ones, but the Makita kept going. Now, I still have the Makita corded one, but added the Rigid cordless. Its great, for quick clean up, maybe a couple cuts, the blade change is tooless, which is nice too; But, it doesnt have the speed, power, or battery life to truly replace the corded one. At the same time, its very very handy, if you understand its not for heavy, continuous grinding.

 

[PreacherM]

I didn't read the entire thread. I really like my 20v dewalt tools. Dewalt 20v compact reciprocating saw is really sweet. Full length stroke but is balanced great for one handed use. Milwaukee doesn't make one like that, but would have mo qualms about the quality of the red tools. Buy what seems to fit your needs best.

 

[jyoutz]

I believe it is the cheapest HF brand…

He bought a Milwaukee corded to finish the job and no issue.

I remember he commented the Milwaukee had metal where the HF had plastic…

Yeah, the cheap HF brands (warrior, Chicago Electric) aren’t very good. I wouldn’t recommend the cheap tools, but would compare Hercules to Milwaukee and DeWalt.

 

[caver]

I picked up a Hercules corded L-head grinder a couple years ago as it was a return and real cheap. I didn't need another grinder but couldn't pass that price up for a new looking grinder.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I have an old Chicago Electric grinder that looks like it lives in the back of a pickup truck but still runs. I keep it around with a wire cup wheel on it.

I got a cordless Bauer grinder off the return table that was indeed handy. Got about 5 or 6 years out of it. Picked up another off the return shelf but when I tried it out there was a severe clicking. Bad machining or something so I returned it.

Sawsall's tend to vibrate but my Bauer is worse than my corded Milwaukee.

 

[ultrarunner]

I have an old Chicago Electric grinder that looks like it lives in the back of a pickup truck but still runs. I keep it around with a wire cup wheel on it.

I got a cordless Bauer grinder off the return table that was indeed handy. Got about 5 or 6 years out of it. Picked up another off the return shelf but when I tried it out there was a severe clicking. Bad machining or something so I returned it.

Sawsall's tend to vibrate but my Bauer is worse than my corded Milwaukee.

Do you find the Super Sawzall has less vibration?

 

[jjeff]

Recently ventured into a website called temu I recommend one shouldn't venture on it if you have an addictive personality. Anyways bought some knock off DeWalt tools also 8 and 9 ah DeWalt knock off 20 volt batteries all work surprisingly good at least for now and what I use them for. I charge the batteries on real DeWalt chargers and use the batteries in both knockoff DeWalt and actual DeWalt tools with no problems and at a fraction of the price of actual DeWalt products. Are they as durable as actual DeWalt products probably not but for a diy tool junkie, hobby farmer hold there own for the price so far.

 

[JamesRich]

I'm a mobile heavy equipment mechanic and all the battery tools I use are Milwaukee, both M18 and M12. They are expensive but they are tough!

 

[Duds13]

Case in point, not that im cheering for Rigid, 2 4 AH batteries with a spare charger; $99. Milwaukee, 1 4.0 AH battery, not charger, $139. Even Ryobi, 2 4.0 AH batteries are $149, and no spare charger.

Milwaukee is better, but is it 3x better? And do you need 1.5x better, and 3x cost, thats what you need to decide.View attachment 5336661View attachment 5336662View attachment 5336663

Milwaukee isn't going to replace those batteries for free when they go bad either

 

[Duds13]

Rigid 18V have been good to me. Lifetime warranty, even on the "starter" batteries; but, there isnt as many counterfeit tool/battery options as there are with Milwaukee and Dewalt. Counterfeit isnt even the right term, imported "compatable" batteries and tools. Rigid has a pretty good line up of tools, but not as wide as Dewalt.

My 20+ year old Rigid drill died on me recently. No problem at all getting it warrantied, was sent an updated model with no issues.

 

[Duds13]

Corded grinders? How bout this one, lol. Inherited it from my father-in-law when he passed

 

[QRTRHRS]

Do you find the Super Sawzall has less vibration?

Yes but the Milwaukee dates back twenty plus years plus my Bauer is not variable speed.