Where do you buy your cordless power tools?

[sb]

Boch

[fatnslow]

I just picked up a Ryobi 18v drill and impact driver for $99 from Home Depot. They're great. Comes with two batteries and a charger.

Also, check craigslist. A lot of people are looking to unload their tools for cheap in our current economy.

+ 1 on this reco for a new home owner watching your budget. Buy a nice saw on craigs list and the impact driver will be your best friend as long as you remember to keep your battery charged. As an avid DIY guy with two rental homes I have yet to kill a drill. Batteries on the other hand seem to fail around 5-7 years. I just end up buying a combo pack with multiple batteries on sale of what I already own. For a few hundred bucks you can get set up for some good projects, cordless set up, used miter saw, various hand tools. Harbor Freight is great for cheap automotive tools you only need to use a few times but I would be a little suspicious of their cordless/motor products.

[Foggy_Goggles]

Predictable responses I suppose. While I'd like to think I'm a mystic wood shaman transporting my tools in velvet boxes that's not reality. Think more like production carpenter, tools banging around in the back of the truck, snow, dirt, rain, and my guys using the tools.

Festools are very nice but I just can't justify the additional expense. Dewalt sucks the same way Ford & Chevy suck which is to say not at all. Not sexy, not the best but very dependable. Some of their tool like chop saws do suck, IMO.

Nothing against Bosch, I have many of their tools but I know nothing about their cordless sets nor do I know anyone that has any. Why should I buy them.

[adrenalated]

Not a pro. But a DIY homo remodeling my entire house. Also mechanic work VERY regularly. My brother wrenches full time.

Both of us have and use the 12V Milwaukee impact and drill set. He's had his set for several years and uses the tools daily. I've had mine about a year less and use them multiple times a week. All have held up great and are still going strong. I added the mini sawzall and reciprocating multi tool and both have proven useful for around the house, though I don't think they're robust enough for a pro to have much use for them.

Based on that I bought the Milwaukee 18V hammer drill, impact, circ saw, and jigsaw. Haven't used them as much but have been very happy with them so far.

All the 18V stuff was factory reconditioned and came from cpooutlets.com at a great price. Packaged well, shipped fast, etc. They are owned by a mega corp so if you're not cool with that probably not the vendor for you.

[iceman]

They all suck, just buy Harbor Freight and pitch them when they break.

[Foggy_Goggles]

I checked that cpooulets.com place. Their re-con prices are the same as I can get new from Ferguson. They have a sale going through the end of May. This tool upgrade of I have two of a select set of tools for an upcoming project. We have to go up on a lift and remove deck railing so the roofers can install EPDM.

I'm not anti HD & Lowes. I just buy elsewhere if I have the choice (often I don't). I have a vested interest in keeping my local hardware and lumber yards open. The closes big box is 1 hr+.

[Foggy_Goggles]

Out of curiosity, what makes a specific cordless tool "suck"? I ask because all the contractors and tradesman I know, which is quite a few, use and abuse cordless tools almost all day everyday. Nobody says any of their major brand cordless tool "suck". Some are better than others, yes.

Usually it's the pro's putting down the products of the everyday joe but this seems the other way around.

[stfu&gbtw]

I'm a mystic wood shaman transporting my tool in velvet boxers

Describes me to a "T".

[Dhelihiker]

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home...s/4292657.html

Buy Makita if you have the $$$

No you buy Hilti if you have the money

[fastfred]

I got a dewalt cordless circular saw 18 v with a 6 inch blade had it ten years the thing is the bomb used to be one of my favorite tools years ago, used to sleep with it cause she purred so nicely to me

other than that and about ten cordless drills those are the only cordless tools I have, the drills are all dewalt too never really have any issues with them other than buying new batterys every year, cordless tools are dumb other than the drills and saw

I got lots of broken sawzalls framing guns circular saws hammer drills anyone want to make an offer I'm selling I drop shit all the time bash it in and leave it out in the snow and rain if it can't keep up its junk, so my dewalt drills and saw must be good

isn't there a murdochs in grand county? I been buying dewalt tools from them, buy stuff from my local hardware store too

[XXX-er]

I've had the same corded circular saw & drill for about 45 yrs

[bmg97]

They all suck, just buy Harbor Freight and pitch them when they break.

You mean like as soon as you open the box ?

[nickwm21]

Ummmmm, ok. I guess we have differing opinions of what a professional builder is, all I know is I'm building a mile of new subway right now. All of the power tools I buy for my crews comes with 20 amp twist locks, and I've NEVER bought cordless for the guys for these reasons:

1. Batteries don't keep up with heavy civil building.
2. Cordless gear disappears from the jobsite faster than anything else.
3. I can't afford to have union labor spend one minute looking for another battery, or worse send a crew home because they burnt them all out. At $75/hr for a carpenter (fringes included in that price), cordless is insanity.
4. More weight + less power = tired and slow guys = less production

Some guys show up with their own cordless gear, and they get the picture quite quickly that their shit can't keep up.

That said, I stand by my post. There's a time and place for both corded and cordless. I love my 14v for the easy house stuff and reach for it on a regular basis. When I'm out rebuilding a fence, drilling iron or steel, or doing basically doing anything that requires more than two hours of work, I'm reaching for the corded drill. Maybe I'd be happier if I replaced my batteries, but I'm afraid I'd be pissed off again in 6 months, and be reaching for my corded again.






And I have no alias.

DJ - I am wondering how this has changed in your work in the last 7 years?

I am not involved in heavy civil, but I do build OSHPD Hospitals for a living. Cordless is now the norm. Obviously the plumbers, electricians, framers are all cordless, but the trades that weren't before are switching.... Most drywallers are now hanging with a cordless gun, ironworkers are snapping TC bolts with cordless 1/2" impacts, I even see concrete carpenters with cordless skilsaws in lieu of the classic wormdrive.... The battery technology has made big gains, they now only swap out once or twice a day and they have the power they need.

[old goat]

I had a 9V Makita cordless drill for many years, thing was great. A few years ago I replaced it with a Makita 12V drill and impact driver set (I have 18V DeWalt and corded stuff for the heavier jobs. Problem is, the chuck slips, as does the chuck on my corded Makita hammer drill--both keyless chucks. What's the deal? I though Makita was supposed to be good stuff. I never had that problem with the old drill.

[Art Shirk]

If anyone in the Seattle area is looking for a smoking deal, Dunn Lumber has a few sets of the Milwaukee Impact Driver and Hammer Drill with the M18 batteries for $189. Amazing deal. I've abused the shit out of mine and they are still torquey as hell.

[AlpiNord]

Instead of tossing cordless tools or replacing them due to dying batteries, Prime Cell Rechargeable Battery Service will rebuild your battery packs with a higher capacity upgrade.

Edit: Just stumbled on this cordless drill rating site.

I'm not sure where Porter cable stands now that it's owned by B&D, but my corded and cordless drills have lasted quite a long time.

I've been under the impression, HD & Lowes sells 'dumbed down' consumer models vs pro grade tools. Harbor Freight too. Right or wrong?

Why would a DIY homeowner need a 1/2" cordless drill?

[Timberridge]

I had a 9V Makita cordless drill for many years, thing was great. A few years ago I replaced it with a Makita 12V drill and impact driver set (I have 18V DeWalt and corded stuff for the heavier jobs. Problem is, the chuck slips, as does the chuck on my corded Makita hammer drill--both keyless chucks. What's the deal? I though Makita was supposed to be good stuff. I never had that problem with the old drill.

This drives me crazy. I've had this problem with newer Bosch, Dewalt and Makita drills. It's like they use a cheaper steel now for the jaws, because I'm finding little bits of metal on them all the time.

[RootSkier]

Foggy: I have been using 18v Dewalt for years with no complaints. The newer high voltage stuff is simply better. Charges last longer and the batteries are a lot lighter.

I'm not building anymore, but when I was, both Amazon and eBay were always the cheapest. My local lumberyard is a hog on tool prices.

[Meadow Skipper]

Out of curiosity, what makes a specific cordless tool "suck"? I ask because all the contractors and tradesman I know, which is quite a few, use and abuse cordless tools almost all day everyday. Nobody says any of their major brand cordless tool "suck". Some are better than others, yes.

Usually it's the pro's putting down the products of the everyday joe but this seems the other way around.

This is a good question. Unless there's a good answer I'm done with stressing over which of the major brands (Milawaukee, DeWalt, Ryobi, Bosch, etc) is best and just go for the best deal that I can find.

[gravitylover]

http://www.toolnut.com/
These guys are right down the road from me and the store is awesomely dangerous. I've been in a few times and the temptation to max out my cc is overwhelming.

[old goat]

I have Ryobi stuff and DeWalt stuff (older). The Nicad dewalt batteries seem to last a lot longer than the Ryobis. Haven't had Li batteries long enough to know if there's a difference. The old Makita nicads seemed to last forever; again too soon to know about the Li's.
I've found the 5 in cordless Dewalt saw to be useful if I just have a light cut or two to make, otherwise I use my corded Makita. The cordless will make a mess of plywood if you try to cut with the battery run down. Anyway the saw came with a drill, two batteries and a charger for a price better than a drill kit alone. My Ryobi cordless brad nailer is nice for tacking trim--heads are less visible than finish nails, and no dings from misdirected hammer blows.
I'm a homeowner that's built a lot of stuff for myself--framed and trimmed a second story, cabinets, sheds, decks, staircases, furniture, etc., so I guess somewhere between a NYC apartment owner and a contractor.

My operating room has really nice cordless oscillating and reciprocating bone saws--very nice not to have air hoses trailing from the sterile field to the unsterile area.

[warthog]

The Rigid stuff fits your description.

Look at the kits though, you save a ton of cash by buying in a kit.

I have 2 drills, 1 impact, 1 multi tool (totally awesome piece of gear- multiple heads available), 1 sawzall, and a radio(for baseball games).

Lifetime warranty on the batteries once you register the tool.

I have pretty much abused these all, as much as a homeowner can.

I recently used the impact driver to throw 3 1/2" lag bolts through 2X4's and seat them in studs in my garage. Did about 20 in a row. Battery was at 3/4 strength at the end. I did drill pilot holes in the 2X4.

The batteries are strong as hell. The only thing that kills them is leaving them out in the rain. HD replaced them no questions asked.

[DJSapp]

DJ - I am wondering how this has changed in your work in the last 7 years?

I am not involved in heavy civil, but I do build OSHPD Hospitals for a living. Cordless is now the norm. Obviously the plumbers, electricians, framers are all cordless, but the trades that weren't before are switching.... Most drywallers are now hanging with a cordless gun, ironworkers are snapping TC bolts with cordless 1/2" impacts, I even see concrete carpenters with cordless skilsaws in lieu of the classic wormdrive.... The battery technology has made big gains, they now only swap out once or twice a day and they have the power they need.

My main points still stand for construction. Batteries still need to be changed out, can't be banged/dropped/damaged, union carpenters now go for $82/hr in San Francisco, cordless gear still is the first thing to disappear. The power has improved to the point that most crews are using cordless drills for screws and pilot holes, but the skill saws aren't there yet when you're ripping sheets of 7/8" MDO and 4x4's all day every day.

If I have guys on hammer drills, it's usually because they need to drill several hundred holes 6" or more into concrete. Batteries can't keep up with that yet.

As for homeowner durability, I took my makita impact driver into my pool to drill out a epoxy putty plug in a 3/4" drain pipe. Stuffed it into a 1 gallon ziplock bag to keep it kinda dry and went to town. Worked like a champ and got it done, but sacrificed the battery and gun in the end.

[DJSapp]

And some other reasons the finish trades run cordless is running cords all over the place can damage other work in place as the guys are shaking them out, dragging them around, etc. Typically not the kind of work I do.

and FWIW, here's the current project I'm working on:



We have the concrete packages and the cable stay bridge coming into the building. I may know a thing or two about heavy use of tools.

[nickwm21]

and FWIW, here's the current project I'm working on:

I work for the GC building the tower. I hope we're playing nice up there.