Top 10 Tool Brands to AVOID! (Cordless Power Tools 2024)
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- čas přidán 1. 06. 2024
- Investing in cordless power tools is hard enough so here is a list of the top tool brands you should avoid in 2024.
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Thanks!
Thank you sir. You rock!
@@denoftools what are your thoughts on Makita? I've liked makita but it seems that they are falling behind compared to TTI milwakee and other major brands.
@@xzibito187 I started off with Makita back in the day and will always have a soft spot for them but if we are being honest they just are not as focused on the retail market. The 36V line was a big change up for them and is very impressive but their 18V line is a bit stagnant, their battery system is way behind the curve and their prices are pretty high.
@@denoftools Thanks for the reply, I feel the same way
No one company makes the best in every tool.
The best tool is the one that works for you that you can afford.
Don’t tell the Milwaukee fanboys that! 😂
@@74JB😂 truthfully spoken 👏. Hit or miss with the big 3 red yellow or baby blue. Although Mikita is becoming increasingly better in my opinion. Unsure on their battery life see a lot of failures on large commercial job's.
@@thedude8976 agree! I like Makita but they never offer any deals! Can be hard to get excited about them. The battery failures are very interesting…for what they charge, I wouldn’t expect that
You build or renovate a house , cut some 2 by 4 , you dont need expensive miter saw for that , you dont need to buy 12" miter saw that cut 4 by 8 beams .
I have sliding miter saw , it build one house , i got it for free, when owner moved , he had no room for it, its cheap brands , amazingly still works after 10 years.
While that is true, far too often there are armchair quarterbacks that pretend we all need the "best" and a large % of the time it is just can it perform some simple task, a few % faster. Cordless tools have been around for decades now and even on major brand BRUSHED tools, there are lots out there that can get the typical jobs done.
In other words, I would very much stick with as few brands as you need to cover your bases, so you have interchangeable batteries, chargers, and so your tools don't get into fights with each other when you're not looking. ;)
You chose Ridgid because you think they’ll warranty your drill forever. I chose Ridgid because I like orange. We are not the same.
You win this round!
Purchase better get some orange krylon
The truth hurts about Ridgid 😂
Ridgid red > Ridgid orange. Fight me.
I had an old girlfriend who had a nice collection of Makita. Thought she knew tools… turned out she just liked the teal color.
The only tool store within 40 miles of my farm is Lowes, so I dived into the 5 year warranty Kobalt XTR line. The battery on the big 1/2 inch impact stopped working after about 3 years so I went to Lowes to exchange it. The customer service told me no, you have to return all of the kit. What are you saying, I get an all new kit just because the battery failed? Yes.
I ran home and gathered up everything that came in the kit, returned to the store and walked out with a brand new box right off the shelf. Wow!
This is one reason why I am happy with Kobalt brushless 24V max tools.
My buddy has all Kobalt tools just for that reason. He's an all about guy but specializes in flooring.
Okay but I'd consider that freakin' annoying. My tools work fine and I don't need or want to gather them up and exchange them. A better customer service rep would have just said "okay we'll take this new set, pretend you returned it, then throw your bad battery in it and give you one of the new batteries out of it". That would make me happier. I'm not looking for unjust enrichment, just what i paid for.
Bought a Kobalt quick change bit and box cutter, and both were crap, wouldn't trust them to make a real tool!
Good information 👍. Thanks !
Never used Kobalt battery stuff. Used a few of their hand tools. Good warranty that they would replace whole set.
20 years ago when I did a two year stint as an installer I bought a set of 19volt Craftsman hand power tools. They worked great for me and never gave me a problem. 20 years later and I still have all the tools and they still are going strong. Yes I have replaced the batteries twice but the original chargers are still working. I have built patios, fences, sheds, and garden boxes for myself, freinds, and my adult children. I want to get a new set of Makita, Dewalt, Ryobi, or Milwaukee but I guess the emotional drag to Craftsman is strong. I'm glad you rate them close to, or on par, with Dewalt. I just wish Sears was still around.
Sounds like a great value. If it's not broken...
Everybody wishes sears was still around
No one supports the sears Craftsman 24 volt max system, and those of us with those tools are screwed for batteries and support. Due to this and the fact the BD Craftsman batteries are incompatible with 19.2 sears ones is a reason I will never buy Craftsman again
Team Ryobi or Ridgid. Ryobi as of late has been beating Ridgid in multiple tool categories and cheaper with better performance. If you want lifetime service agreement (more or less lifetime warranty), get Ridgid. Ryobi just has a ton more variety of tools like lawn care and more people have Ryobi tools which means your ability to find a tool that is used or new on marketplace for example, is much higher. Ultimately why I went with Ryobi
@lukas______ I have been on team Ryobi for the last 6 years, mostly because they have said they aren't changing the battery form factor and the massive selection of compatible tools.
I understand where you're coming from. As a professional mechanic for over 30 years, I was all in on Snap-On. Now as a retiree, I have bought several Bauer cordless tools and for no more than they get used, they are more than adequate. Milwaukee and DeWalt are great tools, but I can't justify the price.
I have 11 of the Bauer cordless tools and I love them. I evenbshell out the extra $ for the replacement plan because I can bring any of them in just before that expires, get a new and in a couple cases a new generation tool and just rebuy the insurance. Case in point and don't laugh, I exchanged my two Gen one chargers for the Gen 2 because the Gen ones does not have (sigh) screw slots for haning them on the wall... 😐
Do they replace them at the store or do you have mail them in?
I have been using Ryobi for years, and I love them.
Same here. Never had one fail on me and I use them hard.
I could have written your comment. 30 year old cordless tools that still work well can't be beat! Admittedly the old drill has a wire cup brush that lives in it,and my original recip saw has a pruning blade that lives in it,but the rest of my collection gets used hard regularly. I'm a glazier, and there's no telling what I may have to work on, so my Ryobi tools stay busy! So glad I didn't fall down the dewalt rabbit hole like the majority of my colleagues @@tooltime9260
Ryobi is the Rodney Danger field of power tools ...NO RESPECT I have a huge selection of of 18v various even the old blue tools still with the neons used them for about 15 years
I have had a couple failures but the price is so good it is still cost effective. The 18 v line is far more complete than any other manufacturer... by far.
@@fractuss batteries yeah....every now and then I use em like there's no tomorrow.... The power tools themselves have held up fine batteries.Not as much because I use the hell out of them
I have Bosch power tools and yeah the majority of them have been bought online, ie Amazon, Acme tools, CPO tools etc. You wont find much at Lowe's. But that doesn't mean they should be avoided because they are some of the best built tools i own.
I can confirm. I live in Europe and have both bosch and milwaukee 12v+18v lines. Milwaukee has some niche tools for mechanics, but as built quality there's no competition. Like american vs german cars basically. This guy is allover the place with his recommendations.
I have Bosch and Dewalt, Bosch has never let me down even high torque.
Anyone else miss Cummins Tools?
They were a lot like HF but they also dealt in closeouts and refurbs.
They always had TONS of refurbed Bosch tools.
Sadly Cummins the engine company wanted to get in to tools so they took them to court, forced them to change their name, & blowout all the tools that said Cummins on them. They went out of business shortly after.
Bosch have a professional range and a DIY range
@@michaeldunham3385 Bosh pro works, but bosh green isn't worth the metal it's stamped from. The divide is so large and the way they promote bosh green as quality tools so shady. If you screw over uninformed low end consumers you can't call yourself professional IMO, even if you do sell good tools to people that know their stuff.
Hello, long time viewer here. Im a long time Ridgid fan. Ive been using their tools since 2008. I have never had to send a tool back for repair yet. But I have had to send a tool set back for replacement because the batteries was no longer available and was worn out. Rather than just send me new batteries for my tools they went ahead and sent me an entire new set including two new batteries and a new charger. So I thought this was exceptionally good of them to go ahead and do this as opposed to just giving me a lower voltage 18 volt battery which would work on the 24 volt systems. And have also had several of the 18 volt batteries fail. And each time they have gotten replaced no questions asked and just a few days and not even having to send the core back. So for my experience rigid is an exceptional tool line. Don't worry though while me and you still disagree on rigid and we can always agree to disagree, I still agree with you on many other things. Thanks for all you do.
I have three power Ridgid power tools. I didn’t know you had a time limit for registration on my table saw so I lost out on the lifetime service plan. On the other two tools I promptly filled out the on-line forms. However, with both tools I received a follow-up questions a couple weeks later. I answered those questions only to have one other follow-up question a week or so later. If had failed to answer any of these questions, my lifetime service would be voided. I can only assume this tactic is intentional on Ridgid’s part
I’ve had no issues with registering my Ridgid tools. No follow-up requests, none denied. I’ve heard others say they’ve hade trouble, so I know it happens, but I haven’t seen anything to indicate it’s deliberate.
It won't take too many cuts for the soft start switch on that table saw to fry itself, and it will cost you $300+ to buy a replacement.
Then, after each use you may want to clean the underside with a high focus on the screw dive otherwise the cheap plastic handle on the blade height adjustment handle will just snap off.
Good luck.
Please don't fault Ridgid, a fine line of plumber's tools now owned by Emerson Electric with decisions made by TTI who rent the Ridgid name for cordless power tools.
With Ridgid, the service agreement does require registration, which is a hassle. But they have always stood behind it. I had 4 24v batteries replaced under warranty on a large combo kit ($600 retail in the mid 2000’s). When they stopped supporting the 24v system, they sent me an ENTIRE 18V combo kit as compensation…and I still have all of the working tools and working batteries (one has poor battery life) from the 24V set. That is customer service. In addition to the 2 unsupported 24v batteries, i now have 4 18v batteries that can be used on any of the 18v Ridgid tools I have (only one was replaced so far at no charge), so have no downtime at all when another battery pack fails and requires replacement at no charge. Batteries are what typically fail on a cordless tool, not the tool itself, so getting batteries replaced at no charge for life is the real value of the Ridgid lifetime service agreement.
Not a warranty. Stop saying “under warranty”. I have some Ridgid tools myself, but It is a lie and you are doing the liars bidding. They deny claims all the time even if you are registered. It is really is based on whether they have refurbs in inventory to replace it with. If they don’t, they deny you.
It is BS.
Ridgid re released a 24V battery R85008 in 2016/17 and I bought 3 of them..they were 57.72 watt hour labeled..my 2006 to 2010 24Volt rigid batteries are 69Watt hr.
The 24volt original batteries had cells inside larger on physical size than common 16500 lithium cells..that's my engineering guess why they dropped the 24 volt system..
@@3beltwestythis was in 2018; they no longer supported the 24V batteries under warranty.
@@reneneron2971 Two of the 2016/17 era 24 V Ridgid Batteries were from Ridgid as warranty "support" free replacements for 24 Volt new batteries from a decade prior. ; another was new from Ebay.
The 24 Volt Rigid tools I have all still work well. Most are with a 2005/06 date code. They run slower on 18 Volt Rigid batteries. The "sawsall" 24V Rigid tool from 2006 is a brute. The design theme then was a more robust tool than todays.
I understand you placing Bosch on your list. But all my Bosch corded and cordless tools are great. And last a lifetime. I still have an old 10.8 volt screwdriver. Still works and the batteries stay charged.
It wasn't on the list for performance. It was on there for limited of availability to individual buyers.
@@SpartanORGNtry going to Lowe's.. They have the 18 & 12 volt line. This Bear is married to china freight.... So there's that..
You can get almost the entire line at Lowes (as well as being sold in a lot of smaller stores) and they regularly run sales and battery bogo's. You can actually get some really great deals on Bosch stuff pretty easily, and they are solid quality tools with some of the best battery tech and form factor. His whole video on why you shouldn't buy Bosch 18v didn't really make any sense either.
The Lowe’s near me only sells flex, dewalt, craftsman,Klein and Toughbuilt they don’t even have any thing else
The 5 lowes in my area have small bosch section its nothing like it was 10 years ago. Bosch has been focusing heavy on concrete tools the past few years and really neglecting their US market.
Really a shame. Great names such as Porter-Cable, Black & Decker, Milwaukee, and Stanley have been reduced to a shadow of their former selves.
Agree completely with DOT about Porter-Cable & Ridgid made only the best professonal grade plumbing tools mostly in Ohio til they got bought by Home Depot 😊
Milwaukee definitely hasn’t, they’re still climbing
Buy a battery adapter. I am using Milwaukee tools with Ryobi batteries and they work great
I'm mostly in the Hercules line for my woodshop, but I have an assortment of brands. It's asinine what they did to Porter Cable. The old routers are prized and I'm still using the two I have.
I’ve been ryobi over 10 years now. Never had a tool fail and I have them all even nail guns. Heck they do so well I got the 40volt weed wacker and leaf blower and they’re fantastic.
Ryobi is not on this list. Love all my ryobi 18v tools however I was disappointed with their 40v line and went ego for that
As someone who has had a lot of brands, I've ended up with a decent amount of Craftsman v20 brushless stuff. I really enjoy it. The whole Craftsman lineup including batteries has gotten more affordable which is why I've expanded into the line. All started with a couple good deals.
Einhell is called Ozito in Australia. They have a decent range of diy tools. Sold through Bunnings only (Australia’s home depot)
We saw them as Ozito in UK when Bunnings bought Homebase, they were a bit rough, but looked like they might work. But we already had Einhell in a different livery.
@@CrimeVid same batteries fit both, I have mainly Einhell, but a couple of Ozito tools. UK
Got a bunch of rebadged Skil tools during an Amazon sale for about $35 apiece, with a bunch of accessories included. They seem like perfect loaner tools, as they will tend to come back and people won't ask to borrow them again.
This was an excellent and well presented video. Your advice was spot on and fair. I have used and purchased most of the brands you discussed and found your advice to be pure wisdom. I supervised installation crews who used both company tools and personally owned tools. As cordless tools took over the job-site scene, maintaining the fewest number of battery platforms became important. This was often hard to do because of the fierce and sometimes irrational loyalty installers often held in tool brands. Frankly, battery life and performance was our most important matrix. Picking the best platform at the professional level is extremely important. The cost of having and maintaining several platforms is not to be underestimated!
Thanks for this video, in the UK, Milwauke is very expensive, but I bought Sorako battery chainsaw for small jobs etc and it's well made and does the job, but it only comes with a 4AH battery, but on trying to by a second battery or better still, a 6 AH, I can't find one anywhere, not even AExpress, I also have a small battery cultivater as I'm aged 79 now and I can't get replacement batteries or spare blades for this either.
Looks like the Chinese have given up supporting all the lesser makes now , lithium shortage ?
It's easy to get spares for my De Walt and Makita tools
Snap on , mentioned, made me smile, the fitters at work re Christened them "Snap off " as, like my 3/4 " wheel socket, the steel was dead soft 😊
My message for people who buy obscure brands is to make sure that you buy a spare battery and blades etc to last the tool out .Thanks again for your Video, Ian 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 😊
I started with Ryobi back with the blue tools. All my old blue tools are still working today as well as all the newer yellow tools. I’ve never had any break. I love that they vowed to not change their battery platform.
Great video! I appreciate you NOT sugar coating the brands that suck! I have been a Ryobi user for awhile because of their selection. They are decent tools and the battery packs interchange easily enough. For what I do around the home, DeWalt and Milwaukee are overkill. I understand they are built better. Having noted that, I'm really interested in the Harbor Freight tools.. (Bauer/Hercules) Perhaps you could do a video on why a user would opt for either tool. Lastly, it's a shame what some of these larger companies have done to the old name-brand tools. (Craftsman etc.)
Thanks. Subscribed!
👍
absolutely love your honesty and your commitment to staying authentic. you’re not a sellout and for me integrity holds a lot of water.
I have a black and decker 20v drill I bought so I could leave at work without worrying about it growing legs. Works really well, did some masonry and tile work so I really pushed it to its limit. Only downside is it doesn’t have a hammer setting so drilling tile takes a while.
Good Information young man. Thanks for sharing your opinion on the tools.
I dropped Milwaukee as my main line in favor of Metabo HPT (hikoki) and haven't looked back. Easily one of these most under rated brands that's actually pushing what cordless tools could do at a very criminally priced entry point.
Same here. I have recently made the switch to metabo htp and have no complaints 💯. Great prices, great ergonomics, lifetime tool warranty. I don't care for Lowe's. I get better prices online🤌👏👏👏👏👏
18/36V Metabo fan here. And you can get an adapter to run them off AC. No other line has that.
Is metabo the old hitachi?
I appreciate the great information. Tool companies and lines have totally changed in my lifetime. It seems the change is constant and can be challenge to get your head around. My mom thinks I'm special too, but I'm not any different than everyone else.
Porter Cable made great corded tools until about 30 years ago. My old 6 inch random orbital sander still works great! The next couple I bought after that crapped out way to soon.
I know a few people who, whether they are former professionals or just normal people who never did much above DIY, really just love high-quality tools. They buy the Snap-Ons, they buy the Hilti's, and they just use them like regular people.
I can kind of understand it, I lean towards that way myself; the feeling of holding and using a good, well-made tool, knowing you dont have to ever worry about it getting the job done, and likely even lasting long enough to pass down to your kids and grand-kids, is quite satisfying,
I still remember the announcement during 1980s "This Old House" and the "New Yankee Workshop" that the show was brought to us by Porter Cable.
P.C. commercials would make you want to become a woodworker all by themselves. If you didn't want to become a woodworker, you'd want to become a videographer because their commercials were beautiful.
I was given a Ryobi set over a decade ago and so I have expanded my collection. They are great for my use. I have thought about switching to Waukee but the Ryobi tools have worked for my use case.
Great video! I really appreciate the frank and honest discussion!
I've become a big Ryobi fan boy. But I also have a few Dewalts, a couple of Bosch drills ½" pistol grip and right angle drills and I also have one of those B&D Matrix sets and haven't had an issue with any of them. Oh and Kobalt 24v ½" and ⅜" drive impact wrenches and right angle grinder.
My wife and I planned to buy power tools, then saw this vid, thank you for these tips! We went with Milwaukee Power Tools, quite happy!
Great video Jeff. The only Porter Cable tool I have is a corded Tiger Saw. Great recip. Im primarily in the Milwaukee line but have a lot of Ryobi stuff but it is mostly "gadgets" (fans,lights,laser levels).
Nice video. Do a Tool Brand to pickup 2024
100% right on ! I do think the tool market is getting to be TOO much selection and odd brand names that go no where. Shine on big guy !
I'm a DeWalt guy. I didn't know about the Craftsman brushless line being just as good. I knew that SB&D owned them all it's just good to know that that particular Craftsman line can be as reliable as my DeWalt tools. Thanks for the informative video.
Thanks for the review, I think I agree with everything you said, amazing for me to say that to anyone. All my cordless stuff is Ryobi. With all the returned and open box resellers out there, you simply can't get a better value for the prosumer. I've only had two issues with Ryobi tools, ever. 1) I used an impact driver with a wire wheel for a loooooong time on a project. Toasted the motor. My bad. 2) My oscillating tool stopped oscillating 10 minutes into the first time using it. Returned it, got a new one, no worries, new one works great. I've used and abused these tools for many, many years on everything from 6" structural screws to tightening strap clamps on a car. Left them in the rain, one got watered by the irrigation system, dropped them from the top of a 6 foot ladder, over and over again, and they are all still working. The only other tools that I like as much, are my corded and pneumatic Dewalt tools. I don't use these as much anymore, but when I do they are always there for me, so much so, that on my random orbital and 1/2 inch drill, I need to replace the cords.
When I graduated from Harbor Freight cordless drills in 2011, I went with Ryobi. This was mostly because I was relocating and Home Depot was close. Been happy with nearly everything I bought (around a dozen different tools so far) and am still using that first blue drill. Have had it smoking a few times and spilled acetone on it once scarring the case rather badly. It remains my go-to for daily use.
Thank you for saying something good about Ryobi. I don't see that very often. BTW, my shed doesn't have power yet so I made a lighting system for it that uses One+ battery power for LED lighting inside and out. Works great. Next door neighbor had me set up one for his shed too.
2nd on the Ryobi's-got into them on price when they were all nicads, bought a few more during annual sales. Have half dozen of the 4ah batts (small ones only useful on drills and multitool, any heavy use it is too easy to trigger the internal protection circuitry and they no longer charge unless you trick jump 'em with another charged batt.)
Only cordless Ryobi tool that's ever died on me was the early air compressor and I probably caused that by doing all 4 load range E tires to 80 psi with no cooldown time...
Dropped the 1/4" impact 12', still running strong. For the price don't think they can be beat and if I kill one by accident it's not a $250 loss.
@@MrMEmEmEmEMEMEeeeeee Been a long time since my last NiCd gave up. The lithium ion batteries have been great. Still using the first ones I bought 5 years or so ago. Bought the 4Ah batteries in a two-pack for under $100. Not likely to find that kind of price in other brands unless you buy the knock-offs.
I bought into Rigid years ago and have stuck with them because I've been generally happy with them. And now I have a big pile of batteries, so I'll continue. But TBH, if I didn't already own the line, I probably wouldn't buy into it, but would go with either Milwaukee or Ryobi. I have a few Bosch tools, but they're corded. I also own a few yard tools from Worx, and a handful of other things. The only time I really worry about brand is when I'm looking for cordless. For corded stuff, I don't have to worry about compatibility of really expensive batteries.
Also, I like orange.
I've got an old Hitachi 12v impact driver at work. Have had it for at least 10 years. Original battery and all. Not a powerhouse by any means but it's great for low torque jobs on small hardware (10-24 machine screws mainly).
Great video Bear. Thank you. My older corded Porter Cable, Bosch.and Craftsmen tools are still loved and frequently used. I wanted to simplify my ecosystem so went Makita on all my cordless tools.
HD did not stand by the Lifetime warranty with all paperwork supplied on my tools. Manager told me not to bring it back.
Excellent video. Thanks.
Thank you for doing an outstanding job with your shows..........great info!!!
excellent presentation my friend. I’m a craftsman guy myself and been beating them up for years no issues. the marine x channel just gave you a big shoutout.
Menards sells their store brand MasterForce as well as 20v Skil, 20v Worx, 20v Metabo HPT, Bosch 12 and 20v. They even have a bit of Black and Decker
I appreciate your honesty Jeff that's why I watch !
As a hobbiest, the problem I have with Harbor Freight power tools, is that I have no confidence that their lines will stay available, for replacement batteries, repair parts etc.
I was in automation and built a lot of backplanes and cabinets. I speced and used B+D when everyone else used Dewalt. They worked fine and I never wore one out. But the best part was every one was playing musical batteries as the day wore on but mine were right there when I needed them
I got milwaukee 12v.. use to love makita but the batteries started lasting about a week.. the 12v milwaukee seemed to have just as much power at half the weight.
That’s bad luck! I’m in a huge Makita group and most of us have dozens of old batteries that are 15 years old that are still kicking around. The only time I’ve had any of my batteries die it was when I cheaper out and got the knockoffs.
Love the Milwaukee M12 line. I started with them as a low cost entry point. After upgrading to M18 I still use the M12 a lot around the house because they're enough for most household chores and weigh a lot less. Super convenient for light duty.
@@natesewell9402I like the Milwaukee 12v but the ergonomics are lousy for anyone with small or medium hand size. I have large hands and the grip is still not comfortable.
I’ve had great luck with my craftsman luckily. I’ll keep buying more of it.
same craftsman is good
I appreciate your honesty. To each his own i guess. Im just a dyi er and i like ridgid. I do have a drill that the chuck wont work anymore. Ive heard that is a problem. But, ive used it for years so hey, it is what it is. Shine on bro and,GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS!
I have 4 Bosch hex drivers, one of them is the 12V Chameleon, two others are standard brushless and one is brushed. Zero issues with any of them. Most of my stuff is 12V Milwaukee, 3 brushed hex drivers, a rotary tool, a oscillating tool, the (IMHO) pitifully weak brushless 12V vacuum, a soldering iron (Ok, not great). And from Worx, I have a 20V oscillating tool, which is totally fine, one of the 20V cube vacs(Weaker than the Milwaukee, for some reason), a "Maker" 20V rotary which has less torque than the $9 corded tool tent one(With a lot of accessories!) I bought about 20 years ago that still works as good as the day I bought it, a glue gun, which is fine, and a pair of the power scissors, which are OK, but I would like a detachable battery, as it always seems to die about 90 done with a job. I have so many hex drivers due to having RC cars and electronic hobbies, there are so many uses for them and they save my old messed up hands from a lot of pain.
Ryobi is an amazing bang for buck. I've even bought 'for parts' tool on eBay and they warrantied it with a brand new one because it was less than 3 years from the manufacture date
😂😂😂😂
Years ago I bought the B&D weed eater and leaf blower combo with 2 batteries and it worked great (still does, still use both), and when I needed a drill for around the house, I bought one of theirs since I already had 2 batteries. Continued on with their impact, mouse sander, a couple of the random orbital sanders, the circular saw, the jig saw, got their Matrix system which includes a bunch of different attachments, I have a pole saw for pruning trees, the hedge trimmers (almost lost a finger 2 years ago from those... whoops), and added the extended hedge trimmers as well. I also have a bluetooth speaker and their inflator that I keep in my car. It's all solid. Highly recommend any and all of it if you're already in their line for DIY stuff.
That said, the tools I mentioned are pretty much all they offer, so when I wanted to get more into building and woodworking, I switched over to Dewalt. B&D doesn't have nail guns, routers, grinders, and lots of other things I'll be getting over the coming months. Their selection just isn't there.
If I had it all to do over again, I would've just gone with Dewalt from the start to save myself from redundancy, but I had no idea I would end up getting so into all this. I thought I was just buying a tool here and there for a project or two, and then got into woodworking. For the time I needed them, my budget, and their affordability, the B&D stuff has all been really great. AND their warranty department is top notch. I had an issue with one of my ROS sanders and they replaced it without question. I've worked a lot of those tools harder than most people would, and with the exception of my original drill starting to smell a little funky like the brushes are going, I can't complain about any of it. I've had the drill for well over 10 years, and I'm honestly surprised it has served me as well as it has. Especially considering I didn't even know what an impact driver was for a long time, so my drill was drilling holes AND driving every single fastener for me for years. I'll continue to use the outdoor stuff, and will probably keep the Matrix kit in my car.
I agree not to get into B&D at this stage of the game, but wanted to give them some love because they've held up a lot better than a lot of people would expect.
P.S. I forgot I also have one of their 20v stick vacuums as well. It's not super great, but it's alright for spot vacuuming.
Your BD batteries will work inthe PC tools. visa versa.
I have all the tools you have and love them as well. Never had one fail yet. I have moved up on some tools and yes, they don't have a grinder which would be very nice. I even have the small stick vac and am actually surprised how well it works. Sure beats my Kirby which weighs close to 25 lbs. LOL (that vac sits in the closet and is close to a trip to the Goodwill)
@@kkarllwt They'll also work with other brands if you buy an adapter. I have one that lets my B&D batteries work with my Dewalt tools. I don't use it, but it does work, and I like having it just in case I need it.
Thanks good stuff.
I use the Ryobi battery eco system. Mainly with Ryobi tools but also with a few other brands for which you can get inexpensive battery adapters.
The adapters allow a wide range of cordless power tools to operate with the one battery system.
Today, CZcams recommended me your channel (and I watch a ton of tools videos etc..). Today, was a good day! Awesome video and presentation!.
I've got a whole set of the Craftsman 19.3V cordless tools that I bought over 15 years ago. I've had to go to Amazon to get new batteries, but the tools still work great.
19.2 I'm still using mine after 10 years also. I also found out the Ryobi guts go in the C3 batteries
Good to know.
I'm fine with Bauer cordless tools, but I much prefer Hercules (although I suspect both are made in the same factory). The additional cost for Hercules is often minimal, you get a better tool, and a FAR superior warranty. I just scored a massive HF deal, where I got a free Hercules cordless tool bundled with a 4-amp charger and a 5-amp battery for $99.98. I was so happy that I went back the next day for the same bundle with a different tool. Now I have two Hercules chargers, two batteries, a 1/2" brushless impact wrench, and a 1/4" brushless driver.
It all depends on the intended usage. I generally buy Harbor Freight due to the lower cost. I've been happy with them. It just doesn't make sense for me to spend big bucks on contractor-grade power tools that get light usage. It's a waste of personal resources. If I used my power tools to make a living, then yes I'd buy the expensive stuff.
As a retired bridge constructor and now own a woodworking shop, there are many tools out there that have quality and some that don't. Over the years you will learn how to spot a quality tool or junk. For battery powered tools, I never buy cordless unless I know I am going to use it outside my shop and need the convenience of the tool. As for Hilti, defiantly not for the weekend warrior. They are very expensive. But when you need a tool to get the job done, Hilti fasteners is top of the line and will save you lots of money in the long run. While installing 1" 1/2 by ten inch bolts in bridge caps, only Hilti had the equipment for the job. We had hundreds of bolts to install and Hilti came through with diamond tip water cooled core drills. The bits would go through concrete like butter and when it hit re-bar, slow down a little and keep going. The drill motor alone was over $2000. As for Festool, they love their product and I will not waste my money on the green and black. If you look in my shop and my former shop when I was working, you will find a lot of blue boxes with Makita wrote on them. Bang for the buck, Makita gets my money. By the way, I have a 1/2" Porter Cable cordless drill motor I have had for at least ten years and still my go to drill in the shop.
Great video. My first cordless tools were craftsman from sears than the old blue ryobi 15-20 years ago. A couple of years later, I switched to dewalt 18v. 5 years ago I switched to black & yellow 20v system and heavily invested in due to the fact that their warranty shop is just 30 mins away and they've always honored it within the 3 the years window frame.
I went Dewalt 20V about 11 years ago working on my son's Eagle Scout project. I haven't looked back. Plenty of tools and the batteries hold up well. There are some Milwaukee tools I think might be better but I am not having 2 battery systems.
Same here and its true that there are better Milwaukee tools but that only really matters if you are a big time professional contractor. I am not, so DeWalt is perfect for me.
The biggest issue I have with Ryobi is they have a bunch of different battery types for the more niche tools.
The reason I go with Milwaukee is because even with their more niche tools, they still use 3 battery types only (unless it’s something tiny like a headlamp that uses AAA batteries): M12, M18 and MX Fuel, that’s it.
I bought my house a year ago with a long list of DIY renovations and no cordless tools; I didn't want more than 2 different battery platforms, so I ended up going mostly Ryobi with a few Dewalt tools and that has worked out great. Although Porter-Cable and Metabo don't fit the criteria I was looking for in cordless tools, I've been happy with corded offerings from both manufacturers. Menards carries a pretty large selection of Metabo and I got a solid deal on a Metabo miter saw. PC's corded oscillating tool accepts Dewalt blades and their corded angle grinder is a solid value.
I shine on the Craftsman V20 line. Started with the mower/weed eater combo and I've been hooked ever since. Looking at the nailers next. It's red DeWalt at a better price to me, totally agree.
I'm right there with you on Porter Cable. I have a corded router from the 1970s and it's great. No commitment on Black & Decker on cordless so I'm primarily into Ryobi as a DIYer. If I were 40 years younger I might go with HF Bauer or Hercules. I have a Black & Decker cordless that shares the same battery platform as a post-Sears Crapsman cordless drill that I swapped a pocket knife for with a friend who found the drill in the street.
Yeah I still love my big Porter Cable Routers.
I chose Milwaukie as my primary tools so I could stay with one battery/charger platform. Also use Hilti, Dewalt, Makita, Bosch, Porta Cable both corded and battery. Hilti quality and service are worth the extra cost.
I started with Ryobi back before they even had 18volt tools. When them came out with 18 volt I filled my service truck with them. Before long I got to the point that I rarely plugged anything in. I have found that just about everything they make are winners. I am retired now but I continue to buy the 18v Plus tools. My most recent stellar purchase is a cordless carpet and upholstery extractor. Dollar for dollar they give me most bang for the buck.
It's true.
None have failed me yet.
I have a few powerful Milwaukee tools for standby in case more power is required for the project.
Guess what, Ryobi is 98% powerful enough.
What a great review. I have always believed that you buy the best tools you can afford because they will be with you, in some cases, for life. I agonize over tool purchases until I am satisfied that I have the best tool before pulling the trigger. You have verbalized all my research on power tools with great accuracy and, above all else, honesty.
Thank you!
Hello I’m a big fan of the channel. I was wondering what you think of the Harbor Freight tap and die master set? the Icon and the other brands. I very rarely need a tap and die set. but I am thinking that it comes up enough that It might be a good thing to have around the shop. Since I would not use it a ton I rather not spend over a hundred dollars (really a lot less than that). However I do want to know that it is a sold set that will be ready to go when I need it. I would pay for quality especially if wasn’t that much more. hence why I am looking at the Harbor Freight option and why I am reaching out to you. So I would be very interested to know your thoughts. thank you
I been mostly torn between ridgid and hurcules.
Ridgid has their lifetime "agreement"
Hurcules has their 5 year warenty, and so far i trust harbor frieght warenty. Also, hurcules is blue.
I bought into the Einhell line when they were on deep clearance at Snow Joe (thanks to the Bear telling us about it back then).
Basically got a bunch of brushless tools w 4 aH batteries and chargers for $35 or less including brushless impact wrenches, jig saw, hammer drill, & grinder. Have had no issues with the group. Lately a local reseller has had various Einhell stuff without batteries dirt cheap. I got a brushless rotary hammer for $15. Ditto hedge trimmers and a 36v (dual 18v battery) transfer pump.
I don't think the guys at Torquetest will be breaking down the Einhell impact anytime soon, but 2 of them have replaced the old 4way lug wrench in our two SUVs for tire changes on the road for very short $
Never heard of that brand. Where are they sold/made? That sounds really cheap. Like cheaper then my son's play tools.
@@thedude8976 All from China last time I looked.
@@johnhorner5711 🙂yup
I started out with a bunch of Ryobi stuff. When I wanted to upgrade, I couldn't decide between Milwaukee and Dewalt. After realizing that one does certain tools better than the other and visa versa, I went with both. Mostly Milwaukee M18 and Dewalt 12v, but I also have plenty of M12 and 20v max xr stuff. I'm completely happy with the flexibility to get the best and most ergonomic tool for the job. No regrets having two different battery platforms.
I went Dewalt with lithium tools but I have some of the old Sears / Craftsman Ni cad stuff yet with the lithium conversion kit since the Ni cads are probably toast at this point. Last year I splurged and went with Festool for a 5” random orbital sander and dust extractor corded system. Yes it was expensive but the sander transfers little to no vibration to my hand and there is very little dust so for me it’s worth it. I also have 20V B+D pole saw and hedge trimmer that I’m using harder than they were designed for clearing brush and the lack of toughness is definitely showing. I’ll probably replace the polesaw with a HF Bauer - they have a pretty good deal where you buy a battery and charger and they throw a tool in for free.
Yeah we did not have Harbor Freight or Sears when I started my cordless tools, I bought a B&D drill set and the 1/4" impact driver, then I read that I could mod my tool to use B&D battery. Then I got the B&D sawzall. Then Harbor Freight showed up and I found this show. Mine is junk, but I use them every few months or years... Just little light duty. I would go HF Hercules now. They are here... The others are all nice and some are great... I am retired in an apartment.
I agree Black and Decker is nothing like DeWalt or Milwaukee, however I have been able to score three cordless mid range drills on special one for $29 and two for $20 all with a battery and charger. For around the home driving screws and occasional wood drilling they work fine. I have my DeWalt if I want to install a deck or put together a shed with screws. The first Black and Decker drill is three years old and still going strong. For $20 if it gives me five years of service or more I am happy. Just like you don't need Snap on or Festool for most jobs, I don't need Milwaukee or DeWalt to install curtain rods or put an anchor in the wall. Go ahead now B&D haters and have at it. LOL
I totally agree with your assessment for all 10 brands and the reasons for their given status. These are the best reasons for avoiding these brands. I was pretty surprised that you endorsed Ryobi and ditto for why Ryobi is a serious contender. You're doing everyone a favor by putting this video up, thanks!
I started with the B&D 20v max for a weed eater and blower and have a few other of there tools and have great luck with what they used for.
I cry when I think about what happened to Porter Cable. IMO, they were bought was because they competed with De Walt. I believe this is the same reason that they discontinued making Routers.
Delta was purchased as a package deal with Porter Cable. Stanley B&D ruined both brands. I stopped buying DeWalt stuff because I am pissed off at Stanley B&D :). My preferred brand these days is Makita because they always make solid products, don't appear to buy and destroy other brands, and are not owned by a Chinese conglomerate.
Okay but Porter Cable cordless was never competitive with Dewalt cordless. Their claim to fame was decades ago in the corded tool space and they were better than Dewalt at the time.
Porter Cable was the tool brand that I would always see advertised on PBS when I would watch This Old House and the New Yankee Workshop every weekend. Never have owned one... its like they disappeared when I got old enough to own sharp things. 🤣
Black and decker bought Porter Cable to make them go away. Much like when GM bought up and closed down trolly lines.
Tractor supply still puts some out but it's getting smaller and smaller.
Porter Cable sponsored “The New Yankee Workshop”. That series ended when the sponsorship ended.
YUP PC was all we used back in trade school 30+years ago
I have about 10 PC 20v tools. Very cheap on FB or craigslist. The B& d batteries work in these tools ( 20 v ) THe PC batteries work in B& D
Very coherent and well researched. I'm glad I found your channel! BTW the only Bosch tool I own in the big Bull Dog corded drill. While I do get their bits for all my drilling, to me they're overproud of their tools.
Great video man, you've consistently put out the best videos on CZcams regarding power tools and I appreciate your sincerity and content!
Ultimately, brand doesn't really matter. Some people are just snobs about certain things. I started my six figure business with Walmart Tools and only "upgraded" to name brand tools years later because of a black Friday sale, and built on it but by bit from there. Whatever works and gets the job done is fine - don't worry about it. I know, time is money, warranty is important, compatibility and continuity throughout your setup equates to efficiency, but nails / screws don't care what they're being installed with.
I agree and disagree. I can do any job with low end or high end tools. What I have found. A good tool will help you get the job done faster. They break less often. In a lot of cases they are stronger and also have more choices for different applications. Time equals money. Something else how the customer views you equals money. If you show up to a job with some bargain basement tools,that first impression can hurt you. I have seen it happen. Any job can be done by cheap tools but I feel it is unwise. I go with a middle of the line tool line in DeWalt. Not the cheapest and definitely not the most expensive. DeWalt has never let me down.
I bought a used Black and Decker Firestorm 8 tool set used from a building maintenance guy who was retiring. He said the tools never let him down since he bought them new. It came with 2 batteries and a charger in a large canvas bag.
I’ve had the B & D tool set for 2 years now and they work great.
And yes “my mom is proud of me,” ( not sure why you felt the need to say that in your video).
DIY tools
Thank you Jeff. I always appreciate your reviews and content. I have a question. Maybe 2 years ago I got a screaming deal at Amazon on a 1/2 inch 20 volt Battery porter Cable combo. Granted, it has the piggyback charger I'm not cracked up about. But the deal was amazing! Did I make a mistake? I still have 2 DeWalt drills but I wanted an impact and that's why I bought it. That and the deal. Did I goof? Thanks again Jeff! 😊😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤❤
I bought some of the Einhell stuff when it was being cleared out of Snowjoe. Particularly the inflator and the vacuum. I paid basically nothing for it, and it's excellent. Would buy again, particularly as a deal.
To me... unless it is an instant replacement thing...a drill is a drill... if it turns the bit/tip... what is the point of spending 4÷ times the price... how can it be soooo much "better"???
Been burned on Ridgid as well. Never again. Your list seems reasonable.
Thanks for this kind of information. It adds perspective.
You mentioned Bauer and Hercules at HF. I’m curious what you might think of the Bauer drill presses, esp the smaller ones, 8” and 10”.
Good information, thank you.
At 24:30 "I can't make this stuff up"
Me: well, you COULD. But nobody would believe you.
I bought Ridgid when my green Ryobi hammer drill crapped out (blue Ryobi is still going), then the replacement Ryobi was junk. Ridgid hammer drill grew to 7-1/4” saw, framing nailer, and inflator. The Octane batteries had rubber bumpers, new ones look fragile. Now the electronics in the inflator are going nuts, same as my Ryobi inflator. I agree about Hilti. If you have to ask the price, you can’t afford ‘em. But when I was operating powerhouses for a billion dollar utility, the Hilti man made special trips to the plant to sell to our Machinists. The Porter Cable story is SAD. They were one of the greatest power tool pioneers, their fantastic helical drive saw landing just before the Great Depression. R.I.P. I guess I should bite the bullet and buy Milwaukee, to match my red corded tools. But I admit to looking hard at Bauer and Hercules.
Hercules is a great value and their warranty process is second to none. 5 yrs for the Brushless tools with in-store replacement the same day is better than most PRO brands
No kidding. I’ll probably end up going that route.@@engineer_alv
14 year old Ridgid 18V drill on my 3rd or 4th set of free batteries and still running strong. No complaints here.
Right on target! I just subscribed to your videos. This video is value added.
Only festool ive seen in the wild was the dust extrator at a hospital which made sense.
Seen a bunch of finish carpenters and guys that do millwork with the track saw
HILTI tools from the '80s were made like tanks. They could not be broken.
Good video. Love that you're willing to freak out the bullies with a little truth-telling. I happen to be a tool snob. I come from a construction family. My experience suggests that a great tool can be found anywhere. Sticking to one manufacturer for all your tools does not always provide the best results. Some brands have "star" tools, and then the rest of the line is competent. You have to do research, and seek experienced users. Not all hands are alike, so how a tool feels in the hand matters. Smart design is not easy to find, but when you find it, and the functionality score is a 10, then you win big, especially if the price is right. I LOVE when an experienced user talks honestly about his experience. Knowledge is power, especially when the agenda is to help someone make the right spending decision. There are way too many tool manufacturers on the market, but stiff competition is always good for the consumer.
You pretty much nailed it, at least for the brands I'm familiar with. TRAGIC what RIGID & Porter Cable have become... For me it's Milwaukee or nothing, been "phasing out" my DeWalt stuff, know it's still pretty good, but no one's innovating even close to what Milwaukee's been doing. The same can be said for Klein when it comes to electricians hand tools. Don't know what's gotten into them, but near every time I look at their display rack, I see something new and usually quite clever.
Just found your channel, great first video!