Which brand 18V Li-ion battery/tool system?
 

I need:

- a sawzall
- an impact screwdriver (for deck assembly work)
- hammer drill
- perhaps later, an impact driver for lug nuts
- and maybe some more later ... (BTW I already have a 19.2V Nicd drill/driver)

Use will be light duty home renovation.

I think it's logical to buy the same brand that use the same batteries and charger. I'd like to have 2 batteries and a charger.

So...

Porter Cable OK? Craftsman? Or should I step up to Makita or Dewalt?
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I have a "Green" Makita 18V lithium set with 1/2", drill 3/8" impact and 1/2" impact and love them! The batteries last way longer then anything I've ever used and the tools just feel and work great. I can't speak for the "White" stuff but have heard they are still great tools. I'm supplied Dewalt XRP at work and the tools just aren't on the same level as far as I'm concerned.

Check out the Craftsman C3 line-up. They even have battery powered leaf blowers. :)

Dewalt XRP and actual contractor level Dewalt are different from what I learned.

That said... I think my Dewalt stuff works great and a buddy uses it for his job everyday with success.

I have all of the tools you're looking for from Hitachi in 18v Li-ion, as well as a circular saw. I like them very much, not much more than PC but much better quality imo. I use them for general homeowner/DIY stuff like you're planning and they're plenty for me.

I have all Ryobi stuff. I really like them. Edit: My friend has two small makita's and they're awesome. Very handy.

I have owned Dewalt and Rigid in the past. My current tools are Makita (after using Makita tools at the shop). Love em, best cordless tools I've used.

I also have the Hitachi Lion set. I remember reading somewhere about Lion batteries among tools having different chemistries. You want the lithium manganese. I believe Hitachi and Dewalt use it. It is supposed to allow more charge cycles.

Milwaukee are amazing jumped to them for their cordless 1/2" impact then the other tools followed. Makita is a close second use them in the shop at work just seem to go through a set of batteries a year.

How much do you want to spend? There is a wide price range between Milwaukee and Ryobi...

I'm very happy with my new rigid impact and drill set. I chose rigid for the price and the lifetime service agreement. It was a great deal IMO.

DeWalt. It's what I have and love it. Sawzall, grinder, flashlight, impact gun, drill. I had a snap on before, but like the DeWalt better, much better. I have 6 batteries but only 4 chargers lol

No consensus.

Is Porter-Cable any good?

Asks about good brands.

Gets six suggestions.

Wants to know about seventh brand.

I was in the market a few months ago for a Li ion set. I ended up going with the Nicad porter cable set at lowes for $129. I could not be happier. Yes, they are heavier, but replacement batteries are cheap, and the tools work awesome

Drill, reciprocating saw, circular saw, and flashlight. I've used the drill and reciprocating saw a bunch and I'm impressed with the battery life. It replaced my Craftsman 18V Nicad drill.

If I used it every day for work, I'd go for Li ion for the weight savings. My occasional used made this kit a steal.

I bought the same kit as djp, and added an impact screwdriver. I've been satisfied with it, it's great for around the house jobs. If I had to make a living with my tools, I'd buy something else.

I rock this:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1348335871

M18 Red Lithium 18-Volt Cordless 2-Tool Combo Kit - Compact Drill / Impact Driver-2691-22 at The Home Depot

Worth every penny. Lithium batteries that charge from dead to full in like 15 minutes. Super super effing light.

Had one of these:

http://ultratodayidea.info/images/Da...L._494_449.jpg

Which is a makita version of the Milwaukee. Piece of shit. Bought brand new, used six months and the charger died. Still have it, not willing to drop money on a new charger so it collects dust.

I've never found any thread, comparison, or review that could demonstrate any real difference by brand for this stuff. Maybe 20 years ago, but these days I expect they're all made in the same 2 or 3 factories anyway. Decide what features are important to you, narrow it down to specific sets, then look for the best deal. Fill out your warranty card.

I beat the hell out of two Milwaukee 1/2 " impacts.. I also have a big hammer drill and a rotary.

I have a 14v Skil drill and I've gone through 4 batteries. They dont hold a charge worth crap. it makes me flaccid.

I like deWalt.

We've been using DeWalt at work for several years in 12V, 14.4V and 18V flavors...XRP and non. 12V is eh... 18V has the same power as 14.4V but weighs more. That sucks if you're actually holding the tools for extended periods of time.
Battery life for each use is pretty decent, but we found that the batteries were about done (in our applications) after 2-8 months, depending. Don't put a newly-dead (read: hot) battery on the charger. duh

We've recently switched over to the 18V Makita system after some limited testing in some light construction settings by one of our project managers. So far, all is well, and we love the quick-charge feature! Definitely feel lighter and more ergonomic than the DeWalt stuff, though I don't think they offer a recip saw for this system...but I haven't exactly looked, either.

I literally just bought this:
Factory Reconditioned Ryobi ZRHJP002K 12V Lithium-ion Drill Kit

I prefer "reconditioned" because of the basic reality that every electronic item I've bought that was reconditioned has never failed. I assume they are tested to a different standard. I also buy the cheapest power tools because they always fail to charge after a while. This was the cheapest Li-Ion drill I could find that came with a spare batter and charger.

My drill batteries sometimes sit for months, what is the best way to extend their lives?

I've had fantastic luck with rigid li-ion stuff. Used the 18v drill for a year and a half every day on the job as my primary tool. The small batteries would last me a little more than a full day's work, and they charge to 100% in 15 minutes flat. My best friend loved using it when I let him borrow it once, and I ended up buying him the full-on Rigid 18V kit as a wedding present.

This is just a long-stud tire changer with occasional drilling. I guess I'll keep the batteries in the house so they don't see high temps.

I also have these plus the 1/2" impact. Some of the best money i've ever spent, well worth the extra money.

The Grand Am team uses Hitachi and Milwaukee, i'd say they are equally nice.

Another +1 for Makita.

if its for hobby you cant beat the cradtman price, but i did kill a sawzall already.

Are these battery-powered impact drivers actually any good?

I got a 4-pack Makita kit (recip, hammer drill, impact driver, circ saw...) and two batteries for it.

They aren't the slim batteries so they do last a very long time. The chuck on the Hammer Drill is seizing up now after a year and so is the chuck on the recip saw. The batteries also shit the bed on me 8 months after I bought it.

Over the last 4 months I've redone an entire house with this kit so it is getting very VERY heavy use.

Battery power is fine using a drill or impact driver, but when it comes down to the recip saw and circ saw...only takes a few cuts to kill a battery and the power just isn't there like a plug in.

For home use its great though.

Just my two cents.

I'm going to regret this, I know it.

The 2 best tools that I own... and I'm talking about THE 2 BEST TOOLS THAT I OWN... my Go-To devices that never let me down and have been absolutely awesome are...

1. Black & Decker 18v cordless regular old 3/8 drill. It's going on 10 years old, and I use it weekly and have used it for everything, including putting down row after row of decking screws.

2. Black & Decker 24v cordless weed-whacker. Same as above... about 6 years old, cuts like a gas one, will do my whole yard + some of the neighbors in a single charge on "turbo".

I don't own any other B&D products, but you can't beat the price, and I have had great luck with them. Would I feel good banging them around a job-site or dropping them off a ladder... NO. But for "residential home use", the price-point cannot be beat.

I think so. I don't use them on my F-250 but for everything else...

Makita. I bought a 12v impact driver from them in 2005 and I still use it every time I wrench on a Miata. Had to replace one of the batteries, though - not because it didn't still hold a charge (it did), but because I had dropped it so many times that the battery case split open.

Just picked up an 18v Makita a couple of months ago for lug nuts and suspension and I love that as well.

Get this, and don't look back.

If you have the extra money get the XRP DeWalt stuff, and you'll never have to replace anything.

Pawn shops are your friends.
Usually 40% off for brand new items.

If you aren't familiar with tricks to pay less at pawn shops ask.

i always want tricks to pay less, anywhere. elaborate.

Pawn shops rarely pay you more than 50% MSRP when you sell them stuff, and that is on new items.

The biggest trick is to not NEED anything, and be willing to walk away without disappointment. Even if you really want the item, you cannot show it, and this includes bartering back and forth to long. This shows you really want the item.

Tool set.
MSRP $1000

In brand new condition they will mark it at $950
The pawn shop probably paid $300-$350 tops.
You look the item up online, and its on sale at the local home depot for $799
You offer $500, and don't look back.
You'll probably haggle a little, and get it for $550-600, or you can be stubborn (which is what I do), and take out 500 cash.

Chain shops aren't as easy, but they are more organized, and usually have better stuff.

Usually there will be a date on the tag.
If its less than a month good luck getting a deal.
If its 3+ months old, you should be able to haggle them down further.


I have the luxury of haveing quite a few shops in Texas, I don't know how it compares to other parts of the country.

Any particular part numbers?

one time i asked for a discount on a picture frame that was banged up at kohls. they gave me an extra 15% off. that extra $1.50 really went a long way.

Makita BTW450 for the 18v high-torque impact.

It you just want an impact for changing tires get the HF cordless. Its exactly perfect for that. Doesnt quite spin fast enough for putting the nut onto shock shafts though.

But if I'm going to get a corded set, I'm going to do it right the first time and get Milwaukee, maybe settle for dewalt if i get a killer deal on it.

Makita ftw! Bought a combo set with 1/4" impact, hammer drill and circular as several years ago. Li-ion was still pretty new to tools at the time. One battery stopped charging a year later with very light use. I was pissed and suffered with one for the longest time, replacement was $80 from amazon and I sometimes think about picking up a third just for convenience. Picked up the 1/2" impact for autox tire swaps and then got rid of the r-comps later that year. Both get a ton of use on the car, I've never found a bolt on the miata the 1/2" can't break free. I've got the BTW450 1/2", not sure which model 1/4" LXsomthingorother.

FML, $760 locally.

Depends on the brand and the torque output, but I'd say overall.. Yes.

My Milwaukee impact isn't something you'd be installing lug nuts with, but I use it for general engine assembly. Gets things moving on and off very quickly but doesn't put out too much torque.


Cover cost and shipping, I'll send you one.

Go to every Lowes, and Home Depot within 30miles, and look at add the open box/ returned items. I usually can talk them down 30-40% because it was missing something not important.

Dont waste your money on anything else when it comes to cordless impact driver.
CT7850, Impact Wrench, Cordless, Lithium, 18 Volt, 1/2" Drive (U.S.)

Milwaukee! I have used dewault, makita(white) and Hilti. The Milwaukee drill motors and Impact drivers are superb. Light, strong, small, last a good while on full use. We really like our Hilti Sawzall and Hilti Angle Grinder. Save your money for the better power tools. Our Milwauk's don't slowly loose power over the period of use like most, rather they just turn off giving you more use

Been rocking the same one for a little over two years. I went with it over the Snap-on because they hadn't gone Lithium yet. Best money ever spent! Got it as part of the LXT421 package. Price has come down a bit since then but I paid about $800 for the whole package 2 years ago.

I have a Porter Cable Lithoum drill-I like it-holds a charge for months and months.