Hopefully this thread will stay on topic and not go to the dark side. I'm at the point where I could go to another cordless tool platform other than Makita. Dewalt seems to be the platform of choice but wonder if others might have experience. I don't mind paying more for quality but their flex-volt batterys are very expensive. I would use the typical drill, driver, circ saw, saws all type, maybe blower(I know their blower choices are limited).

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Tony H
W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Manual transmission

Past cars:
Porsche 914 2.0
'64 Jaguar XKE Roadster
'57 Oval Window VW
'71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new
'73 Toyota Celica GT

Love the thread idea - Ive been curious myself.

I will say that I have the Ryobi 18v pieces (Drill, circ saw, cheap blower and a weed wacker).
Im not sure Id recommend them, because the construction *looks* cheap, but the batteries and tools are holding up under 'boring residential dad' use.
They were mostly gifts so Im cool with it for now (and looking for threads like this)

-John

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

I have the same ones and have done a ton of work with them. I was using dewalt before but in my opinion the cost to quality is better with the Ryobi. I've totally switched over to Ryobi now.

I’ve had my ryobi stuff for about6 years. And everything still works like new. 18volt droll, impact, circular saw, saber saw, weedwacker and chainsaw pole. Although ryobi makes a lot good tools I would consider them more of a light duty set. For $200 your can have a pretty good set off tools

My dad has rigid cordless tools and they have some serious torque but they are Heavy like a mofo. If your doing a project that requires you to use the tool all day your arm is definitely gonna be hurting

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1993 e300
1995 e320
1994 e320
2006 s500 4matic
2004 Jeep wj overland
2001 Ducati 748
2004 Honda shadow aero

I'm also on the Ryobi 18V system, and probably for the same reason as everyone: HD pushes them. The batteries and chargers pretty much lock you into the platform after the first tool. In that regard, the old NiCad Ryobi batteries were useless. But the lithiums are durable and hold a good, long charge. And Ryobi is unbelievably good about compatibility. Not only do the 18V's run all their small tools, the lithiums are direct replacements for the older NiCads, so the investment in tools wasn't wasted.

I suspect that I could find a better tool from a different vendor for any given category, but the Ryobi system is unusually complete. I have the drill/driver the impact gun, the tire pump, the circular saw, the reciprocating saw, the flashlight, the dustbuster, and the latest addition is the 10" chain saw. The drill has lasted a dozen years under very hard use, as has the impact gun. The resiprocating saw is garbage, but the circular saw is a very handy thing for light work. I have to say that the little chainsaw works great for what it is. You won't get too far on a battery, but if I bring a bucket of four batteries with me, I can spend the whole afternoon in the woods. So not much different from toting a gallon of gas and a balky two cycle saw. I'm considering buying the full size 40V saw, but that's a decision point because I'd need a new collection of batteries.

It's almost embarrassing to admit having such a large collection of cheap crap and being happy with it, but there it is, I've said it. In my defense, I have corded tools from Porter Cable, which used to be a great name.

I use Milwaukee cordless tools and don't have any issues.

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Jim

I think that you are implying a good point; that while battery quality and cost are important, the qualities and diversity of the tools they power are important as well.

Which line(s) of battery-powered tools are best for you? I would look at it from that perspective, and come up with two or three lines which seem to work, THEN look at battery perofrmance.

I have a bunch of black and decker stuff -- the quality and price are on the low end but over the last 5-6 years I have only had one battery fail on me (out of 6) and all of the tools are still operable. Battery life kinda sucks for some things like a leaf blower (batteries are 1.5ah to 4.0ah, the 1.5s will get ablut 10 minutes on the blower) but it is enough for my yard, and easy enough to swap out quick.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

We've got quite a lot of DeWalt tools in our production facility. The corded tools are bulletproof, nearly indestructible. The battery operated tools are good quality but they keep discontinuing support of the batteries. The oldest set we had was tough as nails, but alas, could not get a battery from anyone anywhere. We upgraded about 10 years ago to a new set of tools and actually got in touch with DeWalt before buying that the damn batteries would be supported. They said yes, we bought, 5 years later, forget it. We're on our last battery that holds a charge (briefly) and when it goes, out goes the DeWalt. It won't be replaced with another.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 157K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 125K (SLoL)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Gone and wanting to forget:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™) [Definitely NOT a Benz]

That’s what I have. Clearly, I don’t put constant industrial use on them. I’ve had no problems.

My chainsaw is a Cobalt. Prior to this, all I owned were stiehl and they were fine. I’m older now and don’t have the strength and stamina for a big chainsaw. I get about 10 min of heavy cutting per battery and it takes about a half-hour to recharge. So I have two chargers and three batteries. “Theoretically” I could go at a constant pace, but then there’s the stamina issue. So I take five at battery change then get back to it.

I st have a gas splitter, which I’m very happy with. I wonder if they will ever go electric to drive the hydraulics.

There have been electric log splitters for a long time. I don't think they bother wasting efficiency by transforming the power to hydraulics.

My dad is in his mid 70s and is not the type to slow down for anything. The heft and stamina issues were getting to him on the chainsaw front as well. He has an extension style Ryobi battery powered chainsaw that he absolutely swears by. So much so that he's gotten a Ryobi electric weed whacker. And now a drill. All use the same battery pack and there are "extra capacity" sizes available. He's got one of the bigger packs on the saw and it'll last him all afternoon trimming trees, bushes, and under brush.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 157K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 125K (SLoL)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Gone and wanting to forget:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™) [Definitely NOT a Benz]

I continue to use my Steihl gas powered limb saw because limb cutting doesn’t demand near the strength nor endurance as cutting up 36” oak and hickory. We had a tornado last year and lost dozens of large trees across the farm and in the road and on neighbors’ properties. So we are all accumulating mountains of split hardwood. The winter was so warm I burnt less than 1/4th Wood I split!

One of my daughters drank the battery yard tool Koolaid. She’s got a mower, weedwhacker and pole saw and really likes the battery convience shared among the tools. I don’t recall the name brand. Her husband is a Ryobi shop tool guy. He knows his stuff so I’m sure it’s a good choice.

Ryobi is still low end but have improved a lot over the years. I used a bunch of them now and then when working with clients who owned them. I don't begrudge anyone wanting to go for economy with them as they are adequate. Most carpenters are tool snobs however. Not completely irrational, there is something a bit higher quality about Makita.

I've known guys who swore by Hilti cordless, others by Milwaukee. Both pretty good IMO.

Lately my drill bits are Ryobi. Good quality for price.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

That's about where I am with DeWalt. I've had one of their 12" chopsaws, basic, not slide for more than 20 years. Their angle grinder is good, palm sander as well.

But early on I was unimpressed with their cordless tools. Back in the late 90s the way the battery mounted to the tool was really weak. Makita much better. They've improved quite a bit but I've stuck with Makita just out of stubborness I guess. Makita also has moved on with battery design. Seemed that most of my drills were going over the hill by the time I couldn't get the batteries anyway. I don't have a lot of cordless tools. My only other ones are a Makita 18v angle grinder and Makita chucked drill. In some settings and times of day the impact driver is just too noisy.

I prefer to use corded tools for most everything else, the lifespan of the tool, the power, just yields a lot more bang for the buck. My old Bosch 3/8 drill cost about as much as a new Makita battery, and batteries will go south with age, count on it. Though they seem to last longer these days.

I saw a Makita 18v chopsaw once, probably 12 years ago at least. I mentioned that here and the long lost Med Mech bought one. Said it was really useful when he had to bang out some small thing on a scaffold and had trouble running a cord.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K