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Product Cordless tools

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Chicken lights

Chicken lights

Forum Pony Express Driver
School me on cordless tools. I have 3 or 4 Milwaukee now, all sharing the same batteries.

A 3/8" cordless impact would be nice. A cordless screwdriver would be nice too

What are the problems you run into with different battery's?
 
I have to confess, I have bought into the Milwaukee lineup. Firstly because I have been fairly impressed with the tools, they have been as good or better than my limited experience with the other brands. And secondly and maybe most importantly I didn't want a bunch of different battery types. I started with the 1/2" impact wrench and two batteries, from there I just bought "tool only" deals and slowly added batteries as they came on sale or yard sale etc. I recently added m12 tools to go along with the m18's.
 
Are you asking about cordless tool in general or Milwaukee specifically?
I standardized on Ridgid. I still have the first Ridgid cordless drill I bought in 2005. Works like a champ to this day. Since then, I've added a driver, screw gun and drill.
I also own Ridgid recip saw and vibrating saw.
Suffice it to say, I like their tools.
 
David said:
Are you asking about cordless tool in general or Milwaukee specifically?
I standardized on Ridgid. I still have the first Ridgid cordless drill I bought in 2005. Works like a champ to this day. Since then, I've added a driver, screw gun and drill.
I also own Ridgid recip saw and vibrating saw.
Suffice it to say, I like their tools.
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Cordless in general. That's good to hear positive about another brand other than what I have now. I'm not biased one way or the other and recently watched a guy completely trash Milwaukee tools on a couple videos.
 
I have a deep dislike of most things with a battery. Mostly because the batteries are usually dead when I need the tool and I find the distraction of having to solve that problem extremely annoying. I like to work with spontaneity and not have to wait for hours to charge batteries. Keeping batteries in a charger all the time also reduces their life span and results again in dead batteries even tho they are hardly ever used. Batteries are also very expensive and a corded tool always seems to have far more power than a battery powered tool. I regularly drive 3 inch wood screws with my corded drill for hours, a feat my battery driven drill will never achieve. Most jobs I do, have a power outlet within easy reach, so I find it far more convenient to use corded tools even if I have to fight with the power cords. I do have a token Black and Decker cordless drill which I got because it was cheap. To me its just as good as any other cordless brand and remains in storage unused most of the time.
 
We use cordless tools a lot, not always an electrical outlet in the middle of the farm yard. I started with Ryobi tools due to the price. The tools stand up pretty good with casual use, everyday on the job i have my doubts. After 5 years we are starting to get battery issues, ie not lasting very long. Just getting into Milwaukee tools, we will see. In my basement shop i have a couple of different cordless drills, a Kawasaki that i bought cheap at PA, it is a great drill, a Porter Cable drill i got really cheap at a no return sale, batteries wouldn't charge. A few minutes on google showed me how to jump start the batteries and now i have a second awesome drill.
The pro workers i know pretty much all use Milwaukee, or Rigid, only a few companies own all the major tools. All are built to a price point.
 
I don't use my cordless tools commercially so have no relevant feedback in that regard. I have a collection of Ridgid tools bought when on sale for home renovation projects. For example I wanted a reciprocating saw and "they through in" a 1/2" hammer drill back in 2008 or so. Later I wanted a circular saw and ended up with another hammer drill, an impact driver and a work light along with a couple batteries. All batteries are interchangeable regardless of vintage.

The point of all this is that they all continue to work with the exception of the original battery. The best part is that battery is being replaced at no charge. The original hammer drill is on the way (freight paid) to a service depot to have the 2-speed selector switch repaired (it still works but is broken). This is one lifetime service warranty that is actually honoured.

FWIW
 
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That came with a cordless drill I think, but other than driving wood screws it doesn't see much use.

Is that too big / over powered for interior (auto) screws?

Is that too underpowered for 1/4-5/16" bolts?
 
You’re basically married to the battery choice. I went Rigid, have all sorts of tools, no issues. Burned out my original drill after 14 years by mixing too much cement and mortar

Brushless tools are very nice.

Original batteries have been replace over the years but now rigid has lifetime battery warranty.

Most used tools:

Impact driver
Reciprocating saw
Circular saw
Air compressor (was a game changer on acreage)
Angle grinder
Multi tool (oscillator)
Job site blower
LED work light
 
I have Makita 18, Dewalt 20, and Milwaukee 12. I had a few onesy twosy units from other brands over the years starting with a small ni-cad hand drill.

I could talk about the pros and cons of each for hours. Instead, I'd like to pick a few winners and the battery paradox.

Early Milwaukee 12V batteries were garbage. They typically failed in less than a year. New batteries are great. The M12 system is small, compact, and handy as hell. You cannot beat the convenience of the drill and driver combo set for screwing things together or kit assembly jobs like Ikea furniture, Purple Martin condo assembly, etc etc drill the hole with the drill, tighten the screw with that driver. The driver is small enough to outclass a power screw driver. I like this combo sooooo much that I gave a set to each of my 4 kids for Christmas one year.

Dewalt 20V tools are the bomb. They are big and heavy, but they are amazing. The big 1/2 driver generates massive torque. My big air gun has gathered dust ever since I got it. Big huge tractor lug nuts get done with ease. And the 3" gang nuts on my disc plows are handled with aplomb. I even bought the small compressor and I use it for inflating tires from 8psi in the big tractor tires to 80 psi on the planter gauge wheel. So far it beats bringing the machine to the shop. It is slow compared to shop air, but it has an auto set. You just set it and walk away to do something else. The other Dewalt goldmine is their 20V chain saw. I have his and hers machines (a long story). My big husky commercial gas chain saw gathers dust for all but the biggest trees. For most 20V tool needs, the Dewalts are equal to 115V corded tools. I have not had the need for a big 60V Dewalt tool so I can't comment. That in itself tells you how good the 20V system is. The 20V Dewalt are my favorites today. I have friends who swear by the Milwaukee system too. I prolly have 10 Dewalts that all work great so I'm not about to switch. Besides, 3 different batteries is already too many.
 
Once you are committed and have a few tools it is cost prohibitive to switch.

On the job site I thing Milwaukee has a strangle hold. Apprentices get heckled for buying other brands. Like high school and clothing brands my son says (electrician)

Also, I’ve had the cordless portaband saw and didn’t like that as a cordless. Sold it and went corded.
 
I'm a Milwaukee user, switched over from Ryobi tools several years ago and now have a pretty full selection of both M18 and M12 tools. Yes that does mean two battery formats, but the M12 line has some tools that are smaller lighter or just not available in the M18 line. If you want a true cordless screwdriver, not an impact driver, This is the one I have. It does not have the impact function which makes it much better suited to smaller screws like automotive trim work. I use it for the dozens of screws securing the plastics body panels on my motorcycles which need to be removed for servicing.


milwaukee_2401-20_1_1.jpg
 
I'm old enough to have seen that first great revolution in power tools, the variable speed reversible Skil 3/8 drill. That ability to drive screws was amazing. It was a revolution, much greater in Canada because we used Robertson screws. I had very low opinion of battery powered tools, the batteries was always dead.I bought a POS Poulan chains saw for quartering game and trail work on the quad to replace the battery powered recep saw. When I needed a driver in cramped tight space in a wall I bought a lithium Ion 20volt Dewalt brushless 1/4" impact driver. It was compact. I love the thing. Unlike drill/driver the bits last, even the hated Philips do ! The double battery chainsaws have now become a standard accessory on quads and UTVs. Wish I had one. I have an early 20 volt Dewalt 1/2" impact and a 3/8" drill, handy but nothing special. They are used in the RV. With my arthritis in my hands, I bought a 20 volt Dewalt caulking gun for RV repair work.

All 18 volt batteries will deliver 20 volts, so the 20 volt is just marketing. Mechanics like Milwaukee , carpenters like the 60 volt Dewalt, HVAC boys like the MaKita . But choose your colour.
 
I have Dewalt 20V, Dewalt 18V, Milwaulkee 18V and Milwaulkee 12v.

You can buy "very good" in both brands. "best" is subjective, but for impact drivers and impact sockets, dewalt has a strong lead at the moment.

Your batteries don't limit you. All my 18V / 20V tools run on both battery platforms. All you have to do is buy an adapter or 2. Even the old 18V delwalt tools with the old batteries can run all the batteries with an adapter.

I really like the price/performance of my Dewalt DCF 891.

"Torque Test Channel" on youtube has a monster speadsheet with all the battery tools, rankings, and prices.
 
Rick, I started with Craftsman C-19 full-size tools 20+ years ago (maybe 25+ ?), upgrading them to LiIon batteries (which required new chargers, but used points/coupons/sales so it didn’t hurt too much). Then I started looking for compact tools and selected Bosch 10/12V as they had a good rep and reliable refurbished ones were available at good prices. I recently (~4 years ago?) started acquiring Milwaukee M12, but recently replaced my perfectly good Bosch 1/4” hex impact driver with a newer, adjustable model. Three different battery platforms, but I have enough of each to make it OK.

The list of individual tools is towards the end of this post:

https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/2024-shop-tour-tool-list.112190/

I need to the update the list (that’s something I’ll try to do this week).

Oh, I forgot the Proxxon Rotary Tool (that’s on the list) and an “automatic” DeWalt 8V screwdriver (that’s not). Also a B&D Handy Saw (but that doesn’t have a separate battery).
 
My very first battery operated power tool was a DeWalt 9.6 volt drill. Got it in a package deal w/ a bunch of other woodworking tools. It worked OK, underpowered, but the potential was there. Only battery finally died, at that point DeWalt was starting the 18 volt line, I got an 18 volt drill for Christmas one year. Still have it, along w/ a few other 18v tools (recip saw, 1/4" impact driver, 1/2" impact gun, circular saw, light. None of which I bought new. The light sucks.). I've gone through a half dozen or so batteries over the years. As much as I use cordless, they work fine for me. I still largely prefer corded or pneumatic but the cordless are nice for a quick job, remote or light work. I don't feel the need to upgrade @ this point. I may get an adapter & go to 20v when these last 2 18v batteries die.
 
Anybody who thinks that the Dewalt 20V HD Driver DCF900 is light duty hasn't used one. It is rated at 1030 ft-lbs. of max fastening torque and 1400 ft-lbs of breakaway torque. I don't know about the breakaway, but I can attest to the tightening torque.

I use mine all the time and it's a heavy duty beast. It is as much at home out in the field as it is in a shop. I put my 115V and air drive drivers away and don't use them anymore.

I wouldn't call the chain saw a heavy duty saw, but it sure gets used.

At the other end of the spectrum is the 20V spot light. It's another gem in the dewalt stable and another tool that gets used daily around here. It's bright enough to shine at the hood above an engine and work off the reflected light. Outdoors, it's fantastic for shining critters or trouble makers. Best of all, it has a red light option to preserve your night vision.


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Chicken lights said:
A 3/8" cordless impact would be nice. A cordless screwdriver would be nice too
Click to expand...
Makita man here, Japanese quality and they are the only that only has to be a great tool company vs serving some private equity or conglomerate overlord (who's likely never used a screwdriver).

But that doesn't matter to your question.

imo you want a drill with a hammer function (for all things drilling). You can use that tool for driving screws, but adding a small hydraulic impact screw driver is a really nice.. The later doesn't have a drill chuck and takes 1/4" hex bits directly. Its a quiet impact (if you get hydraulic) so has amazing amounts torque which are variable with the trigger speed control.

I used to be a doubter on their power or flaky batteries, but that's in the past - 100% convert now. Batteries imo are no longer an issue. I'm not using them 8 hours a day, and with a spare battery or two have never had a problem. For that matter, the tradesmen that are using them 8 hours a day still go battery for the convenience. They last well and life is better without extension cords. Can't remember the last time I used a corded tool .... wait, I can. the Biax, but so far have no choice there :)
 
Mcgyver said:
Makita man here, Japanese quality and they are the only that only has to be a great tool company vs serving some private equity or conglomerate overlord (who's likely never used a screwdriver).

But that doesn't matter to your question.

imo you want a drill with a hammer function (for all things drilling). You can use that tool for driving screws, but adding a small hydraulic impact screw driver is a really nice.. The later doesn't have a drill chuck and takes 1/4" hex bits directly. Its a quiet impact (if you get hydraulic) so has amazing amounts torque which are variable with the trigger speed control.

I used to be a doubter on their power or flaky batteries, but that's in the past - 100% convert now. Batteries imo are no longer an issue. I'm not using them 8 hours a day, and with a spare battery or two have never had a problem. For that matter, the tradesmen that are using them 8 hours a day still go battery for the convenience. They last well and life is better without extension cords. Can't remember the last time I used a corded tool .... wait, I can. the Biax, but so far have no choice there :)
Click to expand...
I'm going to look into the screwdriver @BMW Rider posted, but as it takes a different battery than what I own I'm not locked into that direction. Like @kevin.decelles mentioned, once you have some batteries and tools in one colour, it makes sense to stay with that colour
 
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