Rechargeable Power Tools - Recommendation?

[JerryG]

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.

Later,
Dan

A while back, Sears had the twin pack for about $100 just like at Lowes where I bought mine.

 

[MotorSeven]

Had bad luck with sears drills/batterys, used a Dewalt for 6-8 years and found the batterys lasted less than 2 years. Currently have a Porter Cable 18v that is 4-5 years old on the original batteries.

Food for thought----the HD Ridgid tools and batterys both have a lifetime warranty. Assuming they don't go out of business, it is a heck of a deal.

RD

 

[rickmacheske]

I've had Sears, Dewalt, Porter Cable and Ridgid (HD brand). The Ridgid wins hands down. Porter Cable is second.

I bought the Ridgid combo pack two years ago and use it for everything. We own a couple investment properties that I have to work on from time to time that causes me to use my tools at least every weekend. Also, the Ridgid combo was very inexpensive when you look at it. HD had some kind of special offer. I'm thinking that I spent $212 for all of this:
1. Drill/driver
2. Reciprocating saw
3. Jig saw
4. Circular saw
5. Flash light
6. 3 batteries
7. dual battery charger (very nice quick charger)
8. Bag that doesn't really fit everything

Had to mail in for the 3rd battery and jig saw with the deal.

Oh...these tools definitely take abuse. Have dropped the drill and reciprocating saw from a 9 foot ladder on to concreate many times with no damage.

Wife now uses the porter cable......rest are in the trash...

 

[NewToy]

I have a 24v DeWalt hammer drill that is an absolute monster. It will screw in 3/8 x 6" lag bolts into landscape timbers without even breathing hard. By far the most powerful drill I've ever had including 120v jobs. It's probably 5 yrs old now and still using the original battery.

John

 

[2nstonge]

Check out the Rigid stuff at HD, it's a step up in quality from Ryobi but not that much more expensive and it has a lifetime warranty INCLUDING BATTERIES.

-Norm

 

[dancer]

I am getting incredible service from a matched pair of Makita 12v -- impact driver and separate drill fit into a common hard case and share a battery charger -- that I got from Amazon.com on a good deal (about $110 for the pair). Each came with its own battery and the batteries are interchangeable between the two tools. Keep your eyes open for deals.

 

[RichZ]

The batteries aren't completely warranteed. I e-mailed Ridgid asking them if it was true that the batteries were warranteed, and they responded that the batteries are only warranteed if they are defective, and Ridgid determines if they're defective. Also, they said that you have to bring the batteries to a certified Ridgid repair center for them to make the determination. In my case, the center is over an hour away. I was looking for an 18 volt cordless drill, and decided to go with a Hitachi, which I'm happy with, so far.

 

[Bedlam]

That warranty seems right I have a friend who runs a shop, and it was told to him they were covered. well the battery wouldn't take a charge after 5 months so he asked to get another and they told him they would have to have the battery tested. They got back to him several weeks later and told him that the battery was fine. But he failed to recharge it soon enough after it died. He wasn't too pleased.
They lost a customer there, and it was sold to kind through a tool truck , that also sells other tools. So that vendor lost his business as well. Interesting really, that those same companies will then spend thousands plus on TV commercials.. (out of touch with the customers)
AL

 

[2nstonge]

Unfortunately, I don't think any consumer grade tools have an 'unconditional warranty'; misuse, abuse, acts of god, etc, voids the warranty. So, even if the Rigid folks have to verify the battery is defective that's a whole lot better than Ryobi, Craftsman, Skil or some other entry-level manufacturers will do for their batteries - they consider batteries a 'consumable' item and unless it craps out within days of leaving the store, you own it.

You can get great deals (less $$ than Ryobi, et al) on Amazon for Hitachi, Makita and other contractor grade stuff if you have the patience to play the price check game. Some of these prices change multiple times a day for no apparent rhym or reason but you can score big and have a tool that will last you a lifetime (except for the batteries!). Milwaukee has the new lithium batteries that are actually backward compatible with some of their older niCad tools..yet one more variable to be aware of.

-Norm

 

[mudcat]

They run the DeWalt two pack deal every Christmas at Lowes and HD. I think it is around $99. I have also seen an add in a construction magazine where you can have any battery rebuilt for $39.