Replacing all AC Power Tools with Battery Powered Tools.

[GlockPride]

Glad you’re happy @Snapshot2022, but your assertions that all tools are made in China by one company are simply not true. Therefore, it’s nigh impossible to take you at your word for the rest of your post.

TTI in China does make Ridgid, Ryobi and Milwaukee. Perhaps others.

I used to work for Makita, which Home Depot, has as a big box exclusive. Some of their items are Chinese made, but certainly not all.

 

[jmike314]

 

[streak]

I have a mix of older Craftsman and newer Dewalt battery powered tools.
One of the craftsman tools is a little circular saw that has a 5" blade I think it it without going out to the shop to look. It will crosscut a 2X4 but is much better for thin paneling or plywood jobs. Only weighs a pound or so without the battery but it's danged handy at the farm when making repairs on the deer stands.
Craftsman discontinued the 18. something volt batteries, so was getting ready to trash them. A quick search on Amazon showed some knockoff replacements. They work great! Bought three for the price of one of the old craftsman batteries.
When/if any of the Dewalt batteries fail I'll be looking at the knockoffs as well. Much cheaper and higher capacity.
Back when having to use my tools for a living, only bought top of the line because those would stay with you for years with heavy use.
Now being retired, the convenience factor comes into play. Just want to grab a battery powered tool, use it for a second or two and put it up, not have to spend time hooking up an extension cord, and so on.
I don't need top of the line stuff anymore because in reality it's only going to get used a couple hours a year if that.

Careful with those craftsman batteries. My cousin lost his shop thanks to one of those craftsman batteries and charger that caught fire. It was one of those battery packs that looks like two tubes. Insurance man and fire inspector weren’t shocked either

 

[dennishoddy]

Careful with those craftsman batteries. My cousin lost his shop thanks to one of those craftsman batteries and charger that caught fire. It was one of those battery packs that looks like two tubes. Insurance man and fire inspector weren’t shocked either

Mine are newer than that but thanks for the heads up for those that may have some of those in their shop.

 

[Profreedomokie]

I changed over from Porter Cable to Kobalt years ago. Just going from NiCad to Lithium batteries is the biggest improvement. Lowes used to run sells on the PC where you could buy a drill with battery and charger cheaper than just buying the battery alone sometimes. I sold all the PC tools to a friend for a very low price and about half of it was NIB.

 

[Snapshot2022]

I have a mix of older Craftsman and newer Dewalt battery powered tools.
One of the craftsman tools is a little circular saw that has a 5" blade I think it it without going out to the shop to look. It will crosscut a 2X4 but is much better for thin paneling or plywood jobs. Only weighs a pound or so without the battery but it's danged handy at the farm when making repairs on the deer stands.
Craftsman discontinued the 18. something volt batteries, so was getting ready to trash them. A quick search on Amazon showed some knockoff replacements. They work great! Bought three for the price of one of the old craftsman batteries.
When/if any of the Dewalt batteries fail I'll be looking at the knockoffs as well. Much cheaper and higher capacity.
Back when having to use my tools for a living, only bought top of the line because those would stay with you for years with heavy use.
Now being retired, the convenience factor comes into play. Just want to grab a battery powered tool, use it for a second or two and put it up, not have to spend time hooking up an extension cord, and so on.
I don't need top of the line stuff anymore because in reality it's only going to get used a couple hours a year if that.

That's me also retired but not quitting what i want to keep doing, glad to hear about the knock off batteries working, as it's the price of OEM batteries that kill you with their cost.

As for the siizes power tools my smaller Hart's do a very good job, i worried about the smaller sized Hart 1/2 inch Impact wrench but it sure did the jobs and i don't miss the extra weight.

As i found all the battery powered tools you find at Home Depot and Lower today are Mfg. in China, now around in 2008 i bought a big Bosh 1/2 inch heavy duty drill at Home Depot Mfg. in Switzerland came with two bateries and charger charger Mfg. in China, came in a nice heavy carring box with a handle to hold drill from twisting, paid $300 US for it back then, it's been a real work horse also batteries still great i just always keep them fully charged.

Don't use it a lot Home Depot had a Bosh small angle drill on sale $65 down from $150 if i recall just could not pass it up knowing how good the other Bosh tool had worked also two batteries charger and nice zipper bag.

 

[Snapshot2022]

Mine are newer than that but thanks for the heads up for those that may have some of those in their shop.

I also had a DeWalt Charger catch fire went to a DeWalt repair shop in my City, the Jerk gave me a hard time replacing it. All them Chargers are Mfg. in China so you need to beware when leaving your batteries charging.

 

[Ready_fire_aim]

Interesting. I may have to check out these “off brands” a bit closer.

Doing construction for a living I have lots of time under my belt with cordless tools. Milwaukee is great quality, but expensive. I run ridgid cordless stuff currently. Honestly the ridgid 18v stuff hasn’t been impressive when used hard. Good warranty though.

I just can’t over the price on these damn battery tools! My buddy recently bought a brushless dewalt circular saw, the top of the line one, it was $300! IMO my old craftsman corded circular saw I got for $25 at a garage sale still beats it big time.

Same with sawzalls.. the battery ones are great for making a few cuts. But when it’s time to really put in some hard demo work we grab the corded ones every time!

My buddy also bought one of those $800+ dewalt flexvolt dual battery 12” mitersaws. It’s weak compared to my corded one that was $350.

IMO cordless stuff is great for certain applications: on roofs/ladders where dragging cords is a pain, jobsites with no power on, quick small jobs, etc… But 90% of the time I’ll take a corded tool over battery when doing serious work.

Drills and impacts go battery 100% though! I’d say buy a good cordless impact/drill combo, then go corded most everything else.

 

[Roy14]

Milwaukee is the brand to beat these days, most people in trades seem to be switching to them.

I have a soft spot for Hilti from use of their corded tools but Milwaukee can be purchased so much cheaper it’s hard to compare, and the quality of their new stuff is not far off either.

The older Makita stuff I’ve used was bulletproof but I’ve never messed with their battery powered line.

 

[Roy14]

I should mention that I’m impressed with the Dewalt 60V cut off saw. Using it at work for FE, it’s half the weight and 1/3 shorter in length making it much more maneuverable in tight places. I have had them die on me mid cut after fairly extensive use, and have to grab the gas powered unit to finish the job, but I definitely prefer using the Dewalt, it doesn’t wear you out nearly as quick. Overhead cuts with a Husky in gear is pretty miserable.