For me... in my opinion... having been in or around construction all my life now more into hobbies home repairs/remodels and such.

CORDLESS, all day long, but the funds aren't really much of an issue at all for me if it's something I can use want.

Milwaukee or DeWalt own the pro space basically, around here anyway, and are both good to go. For the home-gamer you can get by with much cheaper but I have no recommendations.

Have my charger on a bench... one full battery comes off a dead one goes on. Line the batteries up beside it. Sitting right side up means it is full. Sitting upside down it needs charging. It's near the exit to my garage. If I walk by and see the batt on the charger is full it comes off and a flat one, if there is one, goes on.

I am a card carrying Milwaukee Fan boy, the ones I can remember I have so far...
12V 3/8 Drill driver
18V Fuel 1/2 Drill driver
18V Fuel 1/4 Impact driver
12V Oscillating tool
18V Fuel Saws-all
18V Fuel Circular saw
18V Fuel Angle grinder
18V Fuel 1/2” Impact
18V Fuel Hedge trimmer
18V Fuel Blower
18V Fuel Framing nail gun
18V Fuel flashlight

And a few of the ones on my to buy list.
Jig saw, Pole tree trimming saw, router, weed-eater, finish nail gun, 3/8 ratchet.

Let me put in a word for Makita 18V LXT brushless/cordless tools. I have the drill/impact hammer combo, the reciprocal saw, the little router (with plunge and regular base), the sander (not used as I use Festool corded sanders, and without a vac there's too much dust), and have just ordered a HEPA shop vac (because the Festool dust collector is such a beast).
Come to think of it, add the hammer drill and a right-angle drill/driver to the list. Oh, and a caulking gun. Holy crap, I've got a lot of these.
The tools are compact (most of them), with lots of power.

I’ll speak up as a Ryobi fanboy.

Cordless 18v One+:
Drill
Grinder
Circ saw
Cut off tool
Sawzall
Impact driver
Rotary cutter
Flashlights (multiple)
Vacuums (multiple)
Brad nailer
Glue gun
Air inflator
Boom box
Blower
Weed eater
Sprayer


Lots of batteries and multiple chargers.

I’ve never had a single tool give out. Granted, just a household user that uses them infrequently and short duration, but they’ve always done what I wanted them too.

I’ve got Dewalt everything (except a Milwaukee impact wrench that was a gift) and I’m 100% happy with all of it. Hell the little 5” 18v circular saw has performed above its weight class. I pondered a jigsaw but the old corded Bosch gets the job done.

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
I’ll speak up as a Ryobi fanboy.

My collection is not quite as thorough as yours, but I'll echo the Ryobi fanhood. The caulk gun is WELL worth the money.

I don't know (yet) if Ryobi One+ stands up to industrial use, but for homeowner use I think it's great.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
I’ll speak up as a Ryobi fanboy.

My collection is not quite as thorough as yours, but I'll echo the Ryobi fanhood. The caulk gun is WELL worth the money.

I don't know (yet) if Ryobi One+ stands up to industrial use, but for homeowner use I think it's great.

This for me as well. I have 4 4ah batteries that really extend the use of the tools.

Jim

Milwaukee fanboy here also.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
Fact is that corded always out perform cordless.

With one exception, at least: Drill motors.

Before buying my Hitachi drill/driver set I tried to find a corded drill motor that would match what you could get with cordless. Doesn't exist. The reason is today's batteries have the ability to supply essentially unlimited current. Current a power cord cannot hope to match.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
Me - anything BUT Ryobi.

Or Black & Decker and a few others.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
I have Makita, DeWalt, Bosch, Porter Cable all in corded units but only Milwaukee in cordless.

Lessee... In power hand tools I've Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, Porter Cable, Hitachi (*), Ridgid, Rockwell, and Elu (**). Mostly corded.

Oh yeah: And my very first power tool ever: A very old 3/8 in. variable-speed corded Black and Decker drill motor with with an aluminum case, rather than plastic

(*) Now Metabo HPT
(**) A German woodworking tool mfgr. acquired by DeWalt in 1994

I own a whole bunch of Milwaukee cordless tools and really like them, but if you're new to the game and just playing at it around the house, Ryobi will likely serve you very well. As has been said above, once you opt for a particular cordless vendor you're going to be wed to them ongoing, so choose accordingly.

FWIW, Ridgid gives a lifetime warranty on their cordless tools, including the batteries. This lifetime warranty covers other tools besides battery operated, see the link I added below.

You MUST register the item purchased with Ridgid very soon after purchase.

LINK TO RIDGID WARRANTY


I think that's a pretty good tool brand to consider.
.

I did a good amount of fixing in my old place when I moved so my recent, somewhat handy thoughts on it. I think the most useful cordless for laymans purposes are a cordless drill and cordless sawzall. I also have a battery mower and trimmer and those are great as well. Batteries seem to have good life and work well. I have a circular saw in cordless (got it in a ryobi days sale a bit back) and corded variety and I have not used the cordless one. The battery system is good and lasts.

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
FWIW, Ridgid gives a lifetime warranty on their cordless tools, including the batteries. This lifetime warranty covers other tools besides battery operated, see the link I added below.

You MUST register the item purchased with Ridgid very soon after purchase.

LINK TO RIDGID WARRANTY


I think that's a pretty good tool brand to consider.
.

Rigid is good, but about that battery warranty. They only warranty batteries purchased as part of a tool set. If you buy any additional batteries, they don’t have the lifetime warranty. And make sure you jump through all the hoops. They don’t make it easy.

Having said that, my brother did get new batteries for his drill. If I wasn’t all into Milwaukee Fuel, I’d probably go Rigid.

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
FWIW, Ridgid gives a lifetime warranty on their cordless tools, including the batteries. This lifetime warranty covers other tools besides battery operated, see the link I added below.

You MUST register the item purchased with Ridgid very soon after purchase.

LINK TO RIDGID WARRANTY


I think that's a pretty good tool brand to consider.
.

In my business installing playground equipment we used cordless 1/2” and 1/4” impacts and drill/drivers in commercial applications for 15 years. Outside, hard use, 6 days a week, several hours a day, even in rain. DeWalt was my initial go to. Pretty tough, decent ergos, but batteries were always failing and expensive to replace. Decided to try something else when tool refurbishing exceeded the cost of new. Tried Milwaukee briefly, but we found the ergonomics were poor if you used them several hours a day. Periodic use you may never notice, but painful for us. Tried Rigid because of the lifetime tool and battery warranty and were very impressed. They didn’t offer the variety and range of tools as the other guys, but great reliability, design, comfort, and an unbeatable warranty. We went to Rigid whenever possible and never regretted it.

Orange rigid is made by TTI (under license from Emerson Electric) who also makes Ryobi and Milwaukee among others. There’s a lot of incest in this business.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jigray3,

I’m a DeWalt user personally and have been for a couple decades. Started with the 18v nicads then made the jump into the 20v. I only purchase the brushless motor models and use them fairly heavily in my current job role. I’ve also purchased the 60v flex cordless saw and man that thing is a beast. I don’t have a need for any of my corded models any more. Only downside to it is the cost of a spare battery.

Around here many of the framing crews have switched to using only cordless circular and reciprocal saws. DeWalt is the preference and I haven’t heard one saw they prefer any other brand or that they miss their corded versions. It’s interesting but usually I see framers running DeWalt while the mechanical trades are using Milwaukee.

I have Arthritis in the Radial Head of both wrists and the first two joints of each thumb. Probably due to a life time or wrenching, started rebuilding carbs when I was 10.

As a result I am a Milwaukee man, M12 or M18 their tools just plain work.

At my last job, we researched drills, drivers, sanders, and other tools... and went with the best brand for each instead of going with one brand for all.

Over the course of 5 years, we spent at least 3x the cost in replacement batteries, or new tool systems vs going with a singular brand.

In the meantime, I use Ryobi at home. The battery format stayed the same from NiCad to Li-Ion saving money on tools, and they use the same batteries for the new brushless tools (many brands went from 14.4v to 18v to 20v between to changes forcing battery changes).

My only knowleable answer is stick with one brand and one type battery... (Amp hours can vary and that's okay)

I use the Milwaukee 18volt system in my work and at home... but besides guns one of my addictions is their 18volt tools... I own something like close to 40 (I think, I lost count after 30).. the one item that I've learned to deal with is tightening their cordless drill chucks.... they will loosen up... and if you do go with Milwaukee only buy their batteries... I tried to go cheap via Amazon and some off brand ones and they would not even stay connected to the tool.. sent them back.

All of my stuff is Makita 18v, it just works and works. Had Milwaukee tools issued to me at an old company, we constantly had issues with them. I know many like them, but they didn't hold up for me.

Modern battery tools (quality brand) will hang with corded tools all day. Those that say they are only good for 1/2" material haven't picked up a good cordless tool in some time. They've come along way.

Guess I need to head over to HomeDepot.com to see what sales they have...

18v x 2 (36v) 12" sliding compound miter saw
18v x 2 (36v) 7 1/4" circular saw
18v sawzall
18v jig saw
18v router
18v multi tool
18v drill
18v impact
18v chainsaw (surprised the hell out of me)
18v sander
18v radio

Many more that I'll add on as time goes on.

I’ve been redoing my 10’x60’ dock over the last few weekends and my 60V dewalt circular saw didn’t miss a beat. I cut every deck board and several PT 2x8’s (very, very wet ones) and it wasn’t any different than a corded saw, but except that there was no cord to get in the way.

The 9AH battery never ran out, and I can use in my 20V tools. I used it when pulling screws from the old deck board with my impact driver. Did the whole thing and never had to change the battery.

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:
There are tools in the 12 volt line which DeWalt doesn't have;
2" PVC shear

My 2” PVC is the standard air cooled, manually operated one I got at a local farm store. It goes though 2” schedule 40 or schedule 80 like butter. Why an electric one?