Power Tools Question

isugcs

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Feb 21, 2007
1,669
59
48
Waverly
I'm looking at buying some power tools. I'm thinking DeWalt is a good brand with the 18 volt batteries. Does anyone have any suggestions on brand? Place to buy? Voltage? Thanks.
 

MNclone

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2006
3,687
119
63
Burnsville, MN
I would go with the Dewalt Set that is on sale at Home Depot on Black Friday. There are also a few places that have a dewalt drill for $99. Also a great deal.
Too bad it is sunday already.
 

brianhos

Moderator
Staff member
Bookie
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Jun 1, 2006
56,882
30,371
113
Trenchtown
I'm looking at buying some power tools. I'm thinking DeWalt is a good brand with the 18 volt batteries. Does anyone have any suggestions on brand? Place to buy? Voltage? Thanks.

I recently got a Hitachi to replace my dewalt. It was about 1/2 the price, and is a lot nicer drill than the dewalt was. That is the only cordless tool I have.
 

tigershoops31

Well-Known Member
Apr 13, 2006
5,486
386
83
Ames
I'm looking at buying some power tools. I'm thinking DeWalt is a good brand with the 18 volt batteries. Does anyone have any suggestions on brand? Place to buy? Voltage? Thanks.

I've always had DeWalt, but got a Makita drill from a friend that works there and it blows away any drill I've ever had. I'm not sure where they fall price range (mine was free), but if it's even close to DeWalt's prices I'd go with Makita.
 

cytheguy

Well-Known Member
May 23, 2006
1,528
206
63
I'm also looking at cordless drills. I only need it for basic projects around the house. Does it matter if it's a 12 or 18 volt for those types of projects?
 

clonefarmer

Member
Apr 16, 2006
435
9
18
I've got several Dewalt tools--cordless and corded--that have been problem-free. The 18volt tool combos are pretty reasonable now. Home Depot, Lowe's and even Sears now have specials on them ahead of Christmas. Or go to Google and type in DeWalt tool sale. Amazon.com has a tool sales division and Maxtool.com has factory-reconditioned tools for sale. It all depends on what you need. I built my house with a 12 volt DeWalt drill. Drove a lot of 3 inch screws with it. There's even a DeWalt factory store just south of Merle Hay Mall that occasionally has a sale.
 

brianhos

Moderator
Staff member
Bookie
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Jun 1, 2006
56,882
30,371
113
Trenchtown
I'm also looking at cordless drills. I only need it for basic projects around the house. Does it matter if it's a 12 or 18 volt for those types of projects?

If it is only for basic stuff, get a 12 volt. I have an 18 volt right now and that baby is heavy. Of course I can drill through poured concrete with it, but you are more suited to rent a corded hammer drill for work like that.
 

jumbopackage

Well-Known Member
Sep 18, 2007
5,479
249
63
I have an 18 volt Dewalt and am quite happy with it. It's the only cordless power tool I own.

Everything else I own is either Bosch or Dewalt, with the exception of my hammer drill which is a German company called Metabo. You really can't go too wrong with any of the "name" brands, though there are certain tools that some manufacturers make that I would stay away from (i.e. hammer drills from DeWalt). Cordless tools certainly have their place, but for anything other than light work, you're going to want something corded, IMO.

It all depends on what sort of jobs you want to tackle.
 

BryceC

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 23, 2006
26,472
19,648
113
I used to build grain bins and my boss used exclusively dewalt stuff - They definitly seemed rugged enough for what we did.

I dropped a cordless impact off 3 sets of scaffolding one time onto concrete and it kept working just fine.
 

Scott34

Well-Known Member
Mar 16, 2007
3,721
1,255
113
43
Cedar Rapids
We use a lot of Dewalt tools for almost everything. Dewalt has a very durable drill and lasts a long time. I personally have a 14.4 volt and I think I would rather have that then the 18. Its lighter and can almost do anythin that the 18 can do and its cheaper. The only that is bad about the Dewalt drills is that the batteries are about $60 a peice. If a person is just going to home projects I would actually go with something like craftsman or something like that. I know that at one point and time they had a lifetime battery replacement policy.

I agree with jumbo, there are certain tools that you want to buy certain brands for.
 

Jer

CF Founder, Creator
Feb 28, 2006
23,584
23,462
10,030
I've read a lot of great reviews about Hitachi and will probably go that route next time. I do have to say that if you're just doing normal household things, it really doesn't matter. You could go with Black & Decker and get things done just as quickly. If you're going to lug the tools to a job-site or something like that, then you obviously want something like DeWalt for their ruggedness. Keep an eye on Amazon.com and Northern Tools as they always have really good deals between now and Christmas - as well as at the local big tool stores.
 

wolverine68

Well-Known Member
Mar 30, 2007
2,575
68
48
Urbandale
www.gvc.edu
DeWalt is higher quality (Makitas are probably the best, butr also most expensive), but the new 18v Lithium Ion batteries on the Ryobis are amazing. Charge fast, last long, stay at full power the whole way through. They're also a good price. My 2 cents!
 

brianhos

Moderator
Staff member
Bookie
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Jun 1, 2006
56,882
30,371
113
Trenchtown
I've read a lot of great reviews about Hitachi and will probably go that route next time. I do have to say that if you're just doing normal household things, it really doesn't matter. You could go with Black & Decker and get things done just as quickly. If you're going to lug the tools to a job-site or something like that, then you obviously want something like DeWalt for their ruggedness. Keep an eye on Amazon.com and Northern Tools as they always have really good deals between now and Christmas - as well as at the local big tool stores.

I second Amazon, I got my drill there for like $79, it was $169 at home depot.
 

cytech

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2006
6,480
242
63
Hiawatha, Iowa
I have mostly Dewalt power tools, both 18v and 14.4 volt, if all you are bujying is a drill I would go with the 14.4. OR if you are going with the combo then go with the 18v.
I also have Milwaukee 118v combo set and they are very nice as well. And I even have a Ryobi Drill and circular saw as well and they aren't half bad either, but I would say I like the dewalts the best.
 

kgreeny

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Apr 11, 2006
1,251
41
48
Milwaukee is by far the best brand out there, but the are a little higher priced.
 

cytech

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2006
6,480
242
63
Hiawatha, Iowa
Milwaukee is by far the best brand out there, but the are a little higher priced.
I liked the Milwaukee combo set but I did switch to Dewalt from them. I had to many problems with the batteries going bad with the Milwaukee's. Which in the end turned out to be a problem that they ended up recalling alot of batteries about
 

MadCy

Active Member
Apr 9, 2006
813
33
28
Madison, WI
I have two Porter Cable drills. I have the 14.4 1/2 drive/hammer drill & the 19 volt 1/2" drive. These drills have unreal torque and battery life compared 18 & 14 volt DeWalts in my opinion. Definitely worth a look.

According to consumer report, here are the rankings of the Cordless tool kits: 1. Mikita 2. Dewalt 3. Milwaukee 4. Porter Cable 5. Bosch.
 
Last edited:

CHim

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Apr 20, 2006
1,217
429
83
I have a craftsman kit that does everything I ask. I would put my vote in for any of the ones listed by MadCy, while adding Rigid to the bunch.
 

Latest posts

Help Support Us

Become a patron