Cordless Power Tools - Escalating Costs

[DFB]

Milwaukee 12v right angle cordless drill is one of my next additions to their other tools I already own. Bare tool is only $79.00 and the Milwaukee 2415-21 12V Cordless M12 3/8 in. Right Angle Drill Driver Kit can be often found for less $129 reg price. from CPO or HD.
Watch for a father day sale.

I don't think anything in their 12v series can be beat for the price. Just gave a bunch of them a workout yesterday I needed to reframe a handicap bathroom that wouldn't meet Mass code inspection. Was installed wrong by some out of state Pennsylvania builders my boss hired to build a barn style building to be a new store at the orchard before Christmas. They skipped on inspections. That was just one of the corrections I need to make to get a CO for the building. He got a good screwing there.

The impact drivers both 3/8 and 1/4 " hex along with the hammer drill, reg drill, hackzall all performed great. Hammer drilled a series of half inch holes in concrete for wedge anchors to attach new pt sills, tightened in seconds with the 3/8 impact driver and deep well socket, counter bored all my bottom plates with 1" spade bit using the drill. 1/4" hex driver to remove all the screws to strip the existing sheetrock, hackzall to cut leftover framing nails and to free the door frame during demo. Plus rocked all afternoon to the radio, and tossed most all of them all into the xtra large carry bag when I left to go home. I'll use their ultra light hex driver to set new sheetrock screws after the framing inspection next week.

If there is a drawback I would say its that most kits are fitted with the smallest of the battery options 1.5 amp, so also the shortest run time. Not much of prob with multiple batteries tho. Accordingly they are also pretty cheap to buy.

 

[amigauser]

I use all Milwaukee cordless (and corded) tools, some old 14v and 18v. Generic replacement batteries are cheap on eBay.

 

[oosik]

I would be at a loss to complete projects out on the property without my corded tools (ex- Milwaukee Hole Hog) and portable generator. Fortunately, everything fits in the bed of my Polaris ATP.

 

[Redbug]

Over the years, I have slowly reverted back to corded tools. They are always dependable. I just load up a small generator and use whatever hand tools that will help if away from an outlet. I just got tired of depending on batteries that are undependable, expensive, and need periodic replacement.

 

[nc redneck]

I used to be a big Makita user, but a few years ago they priced themselves out of the market. I now use Ryobi with lithium ion and have had great luck. I have commercial and residential rentals so only average 3 days per week of hard use. Just a thought.

 

[oosik]

You know - thinking about tool use - I only use corded tools out and away from the house, with the generator, 3-4 time per month. The problem being when I do use them its long and hard - something a cordless tool can not stand up to. The cordless tools are used around the house where use is almost always less than half an hour. Any & all cordless batteries should stand up to that.

 

[Mendonsy]

I went to Ryobi also. The nice part about the Ryobi system is that the same battery works with everything so I can always steal a battery from another tool if I need one in a hurry.
I have not had a battery fail yet, but I have picked up a couple spares when they were on sale. The tools have also been very reliable, no problems at all with them. I have two Ryobi drills, an impact driver, a pole saw, and a weed eater.

 

[nc redneck]

Mendonsy
Thoughts on pole saw ? any input. I have been using Remington 120 volt electric that I have had for many years. It requires Gen set in truck or inverter installed on Kioti. Love to hear your thoughts on Ryobi pole saw. As I get older it seems to get heavier each time I use it.
Thanks
Scott
PS Impact driver does a great job.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

DFB's post about the Milwaukee M12 line of cordless hand tools since today is the first time I ever used one. We have a nice Kobalt 18v Lithium Ion set containing a LED work light, 1/2" drill, sawsall, circular saw that is about 3-4 years old. After battery issues for 30 years I love the Lithium Ion technology.

Needing a grease gun I decided to by pass the low end manual grease guns but then learned the profession grade were selling for $50-$100. After about reading for a few days I decided Milwaukee M12 and M18 grease guns were getting some of the best reviews in that price range. It was the Lithium Ion technology that closed the deal. I got the M12 for a final price of $185 new off eBay. For $85 more I would have went with the M18 line and had 18 volt base line to build from. All of my life I have over bought (63 currently) and as DFB points out there are places where over sized hand tools just do not work well so I forced myself to got with the M12 line. Today was the first time to put this Milwaukee grease gun to work and I loved the size and its performance. I have a M12 flash light on the way because we find with our Kobalt set we use the work like 100x as much as the other tools in that set.

Yes quality cordless tools cost money but they are so useful. After a storm like today we can grab the two Kobalt batteries and the reciprocating saw with a long wood blade and if we run into down limbs we can make enough cut to at least get through some of the small county roads.

We have corded tools and we just use them around the house area but as others have noted seldom do we run down a saw or drill battery. Cordless tools are much safer when like putting up gutters and working off of a ladder.

The old ones that saw the batteries die hard after about a year just make me made but not the Lithium Ion powered hand tools that we have.

 

[sodamo]

Been using craftsman 19.2 since 1998, used for much of my remodel in Ga and the drill and 1/4" driver were heavily used building this house, all the SIPs are screwed not nailed. Probably been through a dozen batteries and on the verge of getting lithium replacements. Also use the reciprocating saw and the 51/2" circular for most things, but also have coded if needed. The 3/8 angle drill is mostly used when I have a tight space. Got my 2nd 1/4 driver with 1/2 drill when the combo was on sale and I was in need of batteries and the kit was a much better deal, cheaper than just the batteries and charger, this was mid 2007 and last time I bought batteries. From time to time I read these threads and others, consider "upgrading", but in the end decide I have no issue with the tools as long as I have strong batteries. So now I'm about to buy my first lithium 19.2 batteries and see if life continues. I did have one drill Peter out, no longer has Hi Speed. Never seem to use the flashlights. Need to check, but have at least 1 drill I've never used. Never bought just a single tool, just combos on sale. Got my first 1/4 impact because I decided to do metal studs. I initially picked up a Ryobi, on recommendation from a fellow home builder. Was never completely comfortable with the cost of the driver, battery, and charger so hadn't played with the tool. One day, I happened to be in Sears for something else and there one special was driver, 1/2" drill, 2 batteries and charger for less money. I bought the combo and took the Ryobi back for refund. That was in 2007. Not sure that one Ryobi battery would still be working. I do have a corded Ryobi reciprocating saw I like as well as a Makita Circular saw and Ridgid worm drive for the bigger stuff.

David Sent from my iPad Air using TractorByNet