DeWalt, Bosch, Ridgid

Hurley

Looking at new cordless tools. Have DeWalt, looking at Bosch, and Ridgid to but don't know anyone using them. Would appriciate info on either, especially 18 volt.

mdshunk

They are all famously high-quality, with none of them being notably worse or better than another. Whatever you get, it will be the one you'll need to stick with, so that all your batteries will interchange. I often recommend to pick a brand that you get get serviced quickly in your local area, so that they won't be out of service very long when they break down.

POOLMANinCT

i have been abusing a ryobi 18v set for about 3 yrs now.
and they have been good to me in certain applications.
i use mine for pool work. cutting miles of pvc, drilling holes to tap threads, cutting lumbe for forms.

and when i say abuse, i mean abuse. drop them in excavations, cut lines below water level etc stuff i would never do to my dewalt set.

anyway for pool work light (pvc, form lumber) app ryobi cheapos, no complaints. i just opt to use a less expensive tool in my wet concrete muddy environments. the whole set was 200 bucks and has a few seasons under it, not bad.

will admit their run time sucks.

hatchet

Tell you what - I've been very impressed with the new LI Makita products.

__________________
Rich
WIT Construction Co.
Superior MT Contractor

Hurley

Thanks. I'll be checkin out Ryobi and Makita.

Chris G

Ryobi is the best of the cheap brands.

And by the way, am I the only one who looks at "CPSpool" and sometimes reads it as cesspool? Absolutely no offence intended, I was just wondering.

POOLMANinCT

thats hilarious
Pool & Spa llc, at your service

CPSpool

ray in connecticut

kklick

Here is a file you can download (.75 mb) that has a review of 18 volt cordless kits including milwaukee, dewalt, metabo, bosch, craftsman, makita, panasonic, porter-cable, rigid and ryobi. cordless tool review

Came from the 2007 tool guide from fine home building and fine woodworking.

Personally I'd stay away from the cheaper tools and go with something a little better. One of the guys working for me has the rigid 18 volt set. Seems to have ok power but it just kills batteries. They don't seem to last at all. The charger quit working after about 6 months and had to be replaced. The sawzall is junk. The reciprocating end that holds the blade in has broken twice and had to be replaced. It would be had to convince me to buy a set.

I used to use the dewalt 18 volt set. after about 4 years it just plain wore out. I'll give it credit it was a good dependable set with very few problems.

I replaced it with the milwaukee 28v set last winter and don't regret it one bit. Its been by far the best cordless set I've used. Sawzall is a heavy duty demolition machine. Circular saw is very easy to use all day. Trigger and safety switch work with little effort. If I Have to cut something this saw is the first choice. The drill is another fine tool with no complaints.

If I buy another set now it would be milwaukee hands down. I just wish they had a few more tool options similar to dewalt. (cordless cutout tool, jigsaw, grinder ect.)

RobertCDF

I would look at the ridgid lithiums. They are about the only company that has it figgured out. You can use ANY ridgid battery in their lithium tools. 7.6 V 12V 14.4 V 18 V and 24 V lithium. I have a crapload of ridgid cordless including about 12 batteries in various voltages. Plus the 24V lithium kit is $397 right now. I also like the way thier battery slides in instead of clips on like the dewalt and bosch.

As far as bosch goes. They are also a great tool. I got rid of mine when the radio/charger I had died so I had no way to charge the batts. But the drill I had was a great tool with some nice features and layout.

I dont have any Dewalt cordless. As the only ones I ever used belonged to other people. And every one the batteries would just fall out (look out if there is breakable items under you ) As well as the fact that the batteries always died quickly. Now I understand that these tools were used but its hard to get a bad taste out of you mouth.

__________________
Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
Colorado Custom Decks
Custom Composite Decks

kklick

here is a good comparison of cordless circular saws. Number of crosscut on a 2x12 pine per battery charge.

This came off of milwaukee's web site so I suppose it could be a little subjective. Not sure. I'd guess it's probably pretty accurate. I would like to see the new rigid numbers compared in this test though.

cmwacasey

About 8 years ago ,I bought a cheap bandsaw at a import tool supplier,for $200.00.I later saw the exact saw with different rigid name covers at home depot for $500.00.never been a fan of rigid since.

King of Crown

its like asking Ford or Chevy?

and in case your wondering, i dont want to know!!!!!

__________________
Real nice guys

kklick

If you're looking at woodworking tools there are alot of them out there that look almost identical with some models. Grizzly, general, delta ect. Alot of the cheaper companies buy from a manufaturer and have their label and colors slapped on it.

Cheaper tools usually are not much different than some better models that cost more. The main thing is motors. A cheaper motor makes for a cheaper tool so they just slap a smaller or cheaper motor in there and sell for less.

As in most cases you get what you pay for. Take the time to research what you're buying.

Mike Finley

If you're going to start over, why not take advantage of the best, move out of 18vt technology, as good as it is it's just crap compared to the new higher voltage systems like Dewalt's 36 volt or Milwaukee's 28 volt systems.

With 4 major criterias for choosing these tools- power, weight, run time and variety. The 18 volt systems only have 1 out of the 4 as an advantage, the variety, and that's not going to last too much longer.

dayspring

Chis, I'll have to admit, I have too!

I lean towards the Makita brand myself, however, the Milwaukee V28 volt kit would be my choice if I were buying a new, more powerful setup.

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"Never met a man yet that I couldn't learn something from"
http://remodelingncarolina.com

Hurley

Thanks all for the info, will defenitaly be expanding my options. And I just have to say I never read it as cespool, until somone mentioned it.

all-pro

I just got the new makita cordless pack and I really like it. It is only 18v but it being L. I. makes it last 3 times longer than other 18v. Yeah, there are some higher Voltage stuff out there but they start to get big and bulky. If I am going to drag something that big and bulky around I might as well use corded. Just my preference though. I also thought that the LED lights were kind of corny but they ended up coming in quite handy. Nice for lower light.
Shane

thom

I was a Milwaukee fan but their cordless tools are crap. The warranty is worse. They tell you two years, but state it does not cover wear realted failures. I sent in two failed chargers. Their response was they had obviously been used, therefore they had worked, so any failure was wear related. This wasn't the local repair station but corporate.

dayspring

That is good info to know.

I've got a Milwaukee 18 volt hammer drill/driver, used it for 1 year, no problems except battery life does leave something to desire. I have not moved into the L-ion mode yet, maybe I need to stick with the Makita. brand when I do.

I did read somewhere that Ryobi bought Milwaukee out, maybe it's already showing.

__________________
"Never met a man yet that I couldn't learn something from"
http://remodelingncarolina.com

Greg Di

I recently switched to the Makita 18V Lion setup from Bosch 18V and I am very impressed with the Makita tools. The circular saw is absolutely fantastic to use. I use it more than my corded saws now I think.

The Drill is also very well balanced and a pleasure to use.

The run times are ridiculous. I have 4 batteries and there are days when I don't even have to plug in the charger, yet I'm using the tools all day.