Rechargeable Power Tools - Recommendation?

[dmccarty]

Check the replacement cost on the batteries of the different brands. I have Dewalt 18v tools and I have three dead batteries right now. Two died of old age. The last over heated in the charger, smoked quite a bit, and melted itself to the charger. I need to call Dewalt on that one...

So I need at least two batteries at $90 a pop. I'm going to see if I can find RobertN's deal.

I have a real problem spending $90 on a battery. A new corded Dewalt drill was $60-70. I have an B&D drill that is at least 15 years old and still going. We built a play set for the kids and we used the Dewalk 18v and B&D. That B&D was much faster. Course it was attached to a cord.

The cordless tools allow you to quickly setup and do a simple job. In the time it takes to get the extension cord and then roll it back up a cordless can get the job done. Time vs Money issues again. I guess if I can get two batteries I'll buy again....

Later,
Dan

 

[rlk]

Dan, if you have a Lowes close by, check for DeWalt batteries. Last year I picked up 2 18V DeWalt batteries for $119. Both batteries were in one package. Right beside of them, were individual 18V batteries for $90 each.

Bob

 

[Glenn9643]

Another big plus for the Ryobi 18V 1+ is battery cost.
I think I paid 39$ for two at HD.

 

[shvl73]

I'll agree with the others that Ryobi works well for average homeowner type work. I've had mine for 5 years. I bought the combo pack from Home Depot, drill, circular saw, recipro saw, flashlight for $199, they're cheaper now. This past Christmas Depot had 2 batteries for $29.99 or a drill with 1 battery for the same price. I opted for the drill kit.

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks everyone for all the Ryobi recomendations.

I started out with Sears, then after about five years that one wore out, so I upgraded to their 18 volt drill about a year and a half ago. One battery is just about useless and the other is good for small jobs only. I have to rely on my 110 volt drill with a cord to finish most projects.

Not only are the batteries on the Sears drills worthless, but the trigger isn't very smooth. It tends to work OK when it's all the way on, but just adding a little power causes all sorts of issues.

I'm gonna give the Ryobi a try.

Eddie

 

[dmccarty]

Bob,

There was a conversation on TBN a year or so ago that mentioned getting the two Dewalt batteries. I check Lowes. Twice. But they don't have them. I googled earlier today and Northern seems to have a good price for two at $110. I guess two for $110 is better than one for $90 but goodness that is a lot of money.

After the battery melted down I will no longer keep the chargers in the house. I caught mine smoking. I picked up the charger and tossed it in the back yard. It was sooooo hot I was afraid the thing would blow up. Thirty minutes after I tossed it, my wifey came home and I showed her what happened. That battery was still too hot to touch. I'm afraid that if I had not been home that thing would have caught fire. It was on a counter with a wall cabinet right above it which may have been close enough to have caught fire and then burned down the house.

Scared the hooyey out of me....

Later,
Dan

 

[Bedlam]

I am going to check at Home depot. when I was looking for batteries, they were almost 50 a piece. , thus cheaper to buy the drill, charger and two batteries in combo..
I just talked to a friend who has dewalt, and the battery replacement is more than he can buy a new setup Ryobi.
You have to wonder how many customers will switch from Dewalt top a Ryobi just because the batteries are overpriced.
I wonder if the Dewalt batteries are that much better, to bring the higher price. Or is Ryobi just keeping the battery price low to attract the Dewalt owners.
And for the ones that almost catch fire. WOW.
Guess we should charge them outside and keep an eye on them.I usually charge them and then take them off charge and unplug it as soon as they are charged.
Were the batteries that smoked and got hot older?
Allan

 

[dmccarty]

Were the batteries that smoked and got hot older?
Allan

I don't think so. One battery had died a year or so ago and I think it was the oldest. The other one just died. The day the last battery melted I needed to drill a few holes so the battery and it was dead. I leave the batteries in the charges pluged in all the time so the battery should have been charged. Long story short the circuit breaker had popped on the recepticle that had the charger. Thought that was strange and went ahead and recharged the battery. Did my chores and put the battery back in the charger. 30-60 minutes later is when I smelled something....

I'm kinda stuck on Dewalt. I have the drill, a pane/circular saw, and recipricating saw that use the 18v batteries. They got me...... To be fair the oldest battery had to be close to 10 years old. The youngest was maybe 3 years old. But if I was buying new I would certainly look at the other brands and most definately I would be checking the cost of the replacement batteries.

Later,
Dan

 

[hilld]

You have to wonder how many customers will switch from Dewalt top a Ryobi just because the batteries are overpriced.
I wonder if the Dewalt batteries are that much better, to bring the higher price. Or is Ryobi just keeping the battery price low to attract the Dewalt owners.
Allan

That is funny as Ryobi, Rigid (HD Brand) and Milwaukee powertools are all owned by the same company (TTI). Rigid is a HD only tool, made for HD specs, Ryobi is their entry level tool and Milwaukee their professional tools.

The same goes for DeWalt (owned by Black&Decker), the B&D are the entry/consumer level, the DeWalt the professional level.

I generally find that the professional tools hold up to abuse better (getting dropped, or overworked), however, for the occasional use, there is nothing wrong with the consumer models. I have both consumer and professional tools and will sometimes use all of them, rather than switching drill bits or screw bits and have enough tools for some helpers on big jobs.

Derek

 

[California]

It looks like Ryobi is the clear winner for occasional use. Thanks to everyone for posting, I have learned a lot and probably avoided some wrong choices.

After reading these posts I did a little research and saw a couple of points not mentioned here:

Homelite is relabelled Ryobi, completely interchangeable.

Hope Depot's website is said to have occasional sales so it is worthwhile to check there before buying locally.

Thanks to everyone!