actually id argue on the batteries being crap. if you stay with a good brand like milwaukee or makita , the batteries have never been better. li-on is the cats meow.

I get new batteries every couple years at the Black Friday sale. $99 gets you two new batteries and new drill with a case and charger. I want lithium but don't need them.

For personal use the Dewalt stuff has been great. The only trouble I have had is with a jigsaw. It doesn't cut straight, came like that. I use it anyway. I have other jigsaws if I prefer to use them.

ive got a bosch jig saw. amazing! zero blade play. i use it 90% of the time on steel. ive cut tons of 1/4'' plate with it.

YMMV but I use mostly DeWalt and Hilti drills. Right now everything I have is quite old but still chugging along.

My 18V DeWalt is 2008 vintage and has been beat on without much mercy since than. I have done everything to it, including using it to run a pump to pump out 250 gallons of oil in one shot. The drill was so hot...but I just lined up about 12 batteries and kept it going.:D Sunday I had to put some brackets on a set of stairs so it got a mud bath.

The Hilti stuff is almost 10 years old, and indestructible. I have a hammer driver, regular drill, and two corded concrete drills.

No battery has died on me yet. I kind of want the DeWalt stuff to pack it in so I can get their new 20v system or just go all Hilti.

I have that one too, a corded one. I was proud to pay retail for it back then. Got a spare at a pawn shop later.

I got mine back when they were made with non-slave labor, well, actually it was probably made with Western-Slave labor right here in the US.

Big Bosch router is another favorite but used very little.

What are your collective thoughts ion Ryobi? I am sold on Makita for drills/drivers and their oscillating multi-tool. Ryobi seems to have many positive reviews on other tools like miter saws, circular saws, drills, etc.

In that case I've had real bad luck.

I've bought Makita and Bosch Professional stuff for the last 5 years - and they've all died. My Li-ion batteries are not left uncharged for prolonged periods and I keep 'em inside during the winter months so they don't freeze. If I have to do more to keep 'em going they'll be competing for old Mercedes time!

In England they are considered to be OK DIY standard but no way as good as the "real" stuff - they are hard to come by here in Holland though so I haven't seen the more recent stuff.

Is it possible they were over-charged?

I just discovered this problem with my cell phone, whose Li-ion battery is swollen, and dies when it drops to 70% charge, because I would not immediately unplug the charger after the battery charged.

I have a small Ryobi bench planer that's pretty good. Bought it used for $100. I believe they were the first to come out with the smaller size. Numerous of my clients have Ryobi screw guns. They're adequate but a bit heavy and clunky. One client has a Ryobi chop saw that is surprisingly good considering it's low cost. I almost bought a small Ryobi table saw recently but managed to fix the fence on my old Makita well enough. I think Makita might have been the first to come out with the small portable table saws as well. Not sure but they seemed to be in on the chop saw thing pretty early too.

I buy the Ryobi hex bit kits all the time. Good value, about $20.

I've given up on Makita.... too many batteries gone bad.

Having good luck so far with the DeWalt 18v stuff, all my cordless now take the same battery.

I wouldn't buy anything that says Ryobi... maybe bits like cmac suggested....

Well with these batteries you kind of need to use the charger - 'cos as mentioned above - they don't fit in any other type...

...all of the chargers that I've used turn themselves off. So I assume they're not just waiting until the batteries are fried before they stop the current!

My DIY client - an IT prof who secretly wishes he was a working man - I teach him tricks all the time, he's the guy with the Ryobi chop saw - likes my impact so he bought the entry model, the small 12 volt, in pic next to my getting worn 18 volt. It's surprising useful. Way better than the 9.6 volt Makiter impact that I first had back in the late 90s. I might get one - $100 at the Depot. Would be good for screwing a perpendicular hole in a corner as the diameter of the body is small.

Thermo ply makes excellent floor protector. We have it on a new kitchen floor now. Called that as it adds an R factor or two if you put on in addition to sheer wall. Thick cardboard (solid, not corrugated) about 1/8 thick.

I appreciate all the good feedback.

Now a more fundamental question:

Can you recommend a good tool box/bag that would comfortably and stylishly (ok, not necessarily stylishly) carry the drill, driver, oscillating multi-tool, and assorted hand tools and accessories -- ratchet & sockets; pliers, screwdrivers and miscellaneous items -- so they are neat and easy to identify and access?

I have a couple similar to this one.
Klein Hi-Viz Sit/Stand 3-Tier Tool Box, Tool Boxes & Storage, Organization & Storage - McFeely's

Great box, carries a lot and you can stand on it.