BTW, the guys I work with use Dewalt and Bosch. Both are highly regarded here.

And when it seemed that a Bosch battery wasn't holding charge properly, the company immediately sent a replacement, no problem.

ridgid tools have been working very nicely for me.. Ithink they still might be offering a lifetime warrenty if you register the product.. I use dewalt cordless at work mostly because I have 6 batteries now and wouldnt make sense to change brands now...

I love my Dewalt cordless tools!

I have two Makita 9.6v drills that I bought in 1985 and their still going strong.

i also have a number of Dewalts that have taken a beating and they are on the job everyday.

When comparing the Craftsman to Ryobi its apples and oranges because Ryobi makes the craftsman. Personally, in my extimation they both are fair for a homeowner who uses it occassionally but I wouldn't want to rely on them to make a living.

Costco, Craftsaman, Coleman, and Ryobi?

Give it a break. Pry the old wallet open and buy something worth something; Dewat; Bosch; Makita. Buy some TOOLS, not soem fakes.

I still use a Makita 9.6v cordless that I purchased in 1991. It has been dropped many times - some from on top of an extension ladder and barely has a scratch on it. The original battery still functions albeit not as well as the replacement I finally purchased a couple of months ago. Can't go wrong with Makita products. At work we also have Bosch and Dewalt and they all work perfectly.

Last year I got a 12v impact driver as a rebate/bonus for purchasing a Makita mitre saw. I absolutely love it. Extremely powerful and small.

So nobody's going to admit they've tried the cheaper stuff, eh??

Anyway, it looks like there's a consensus to stick with the good stuff.

Out here in the west almost all my subs use Ryobi,of course the rest mentioned are good too. I have always favored Milwalkee,Makita,and Bosch,but I must confess I have bought Ryobi's lately,Their flaslights are hard to beat.

Gary

Panasonic makes the best drills, they surpassed Dewalt a few years ago.

Other than that, I like Dewalt and Bosch.

Homebound-
I'm someone who spends on better quality tools, but I'm not a snob about it. I do tend toward the Bosch, Makita, Milwaukee, and DeWalt tools...but not everybody needs these. Craftsman and Ryobi make some perfectly fine tools, and I even got one of Costco's Coleman drills for my college age daughter: it'll be fine for her for a couple of years. Go to the library and read the reviews in woodworking magazines and Consumer Reports. You should be able to buy something that is a good compromise between reasonable cost and reasonable quality.

I almost went with the Coleman 4-tool pack for $80 at Costco with 2 batteries, but I then discovered there's practically no way to buy replacement batteries, even on the web from Coleman.

For the same kind of set of GOOD tools at the place I go to for all my power tools, it would cost you upwards of 400.00 .

If you want good tools, look for names like Bosch (which most of mine are), Makita, Dewalt ( so long as you get the higher voltage tools), Milwalkee, Porter and Cable-- You don't have to spend for the top flight tools-- you can still get a good name tool and get something that might be a little lower powered if it's just for work around the home. But these are the trusted names in the trades. Even Ryobi makes SOME good tools. As for Craftsman, if someone GAVE me Craftsman tools (POWER tools, that is), I'd give them away. Their hand tolls like their wrench sets etc., can't be beat. But their power tools are only an excuse to give Bob Vila a job.

Well, I am not one to trash Craftsman or any of the other "consumer" tool perveyors, since a good half of my collection has those names on them. But I know there IS A DIFFERENCE, and it's not just service and parts.

Professional tools will, in most cases, simply do the things they're supposed to do better than their less expensive imitators. I think the difference is that they are designed by people focused on helping the user, rather than being designed by people focused on trying to cut some of the cost out of professional tools.

You still have a decision to make, though, and that is: Will I need this drill, or saw, or sander to perform on a professional level often enough to justify the extra expense?

The most illustrative expenience I have had personally on this issue is when I replaced a fairly new 18-volt craftsman drill (circa $100) with a simlar voltage Milwaukee (circa $250). With the craftsman only about a year old, I never would've replaced it except that I had become frustrated with the way it wouldn't grip small bits adequately.

I experienced genuine tool owner satisfaction from the minute I picked up that Milwaukee drill. I put in the tiniest drill bit I owned and it performed flawlessly. Since then I have tried to split the workload between the two drills, saving the Milwaukee for the more demanding jobs and using the Craftsman on easy stuff and on jobs where dropping from a ladder is a possibility. I am constantly amazed, however, how many times I grab the Craftsman to do something "easy" then end up turning to the Milwaukee 'cause I get tired of "playing around" with an inferior tool.

Bottom line: If you plan on using it very much at all, get something good.

I started with a 12V Craftsman. One battery died within a year (wouldn't hold a charge), and the second lasted maybe two years. As I am just a weekend remodeller, it didn't get hard use. Despite my previous faith in the Craftsman brand, Sears wouldn't do a thing for me. They want you to pay extra for an extended warranty (any warranty?) and if you don't, they don't stand behind the product. So I have this not-so-old drill and two toxic dead batteries to dispose of.

I found a 14V Ryobi (I wanted light weight) at Home Depot which has a much more sophisticated charger, and I expect that to help the battery life. Ryobi has a 2 year warranty, batteries included, for no extra charge. Check out their 18V kits with combined tools.

I'm including a link to a great article on rechargeable batteries. Good luck.

Here is a link that might be useful: taunton article

Just for clarification, many Craftsman and Ryobi electric and cordless hand tools are twins---the same guts on brand cases.

Black and Decker now owns not only DeWalt, but Delta and Porter Cable brands as well.

To further complicate the situation, a bunch of folks left Delta a couple of years ago and started a company called Orion---who designed and produces the new Craftsman table saws, among other things.

As far as cordless tools go, I have tried a couple of the no name brands---junk. The chargers often take 4 or more hours to fully charge a battery and the gears are often cheap plastic---as opposed to better grade plastic gears in some better brands. I bought a $70 Hitachi 14.4v drill and found out it is actually an Hitachi Koki---not the usual strong Hitachi tool----although it would be a good DIYer tool for that price. It just does not have the strength of the DeWalt. I leave it in my shop, since the DeWalts are in the job trailer.

I have a 14.4v DeWalt cordless drill I use professionally and for HfH volunteers----it lasted four years before the batteries began to wear out. I paid $170 for the drill, 2 batteries, and the 1 hour charger. New battereies were $105---the least expensive rehabs were $90. So, I found a drill/circ saw combo on sale for $200---now I have two drills, two good batteries, two useable old batteries, and a saw----the new drill/saw cost me $95 above the price of two batteries.

To solve my "occasional use/occasional weekend project" situation, my best bet might be to get some used, quality tools that are in decent shape. Now off to the Pawn shops! (I got two Bosch nailers for a good deal this way.)

If you want cheap throwaway tools, you could always go to Harbor Freight!! Hell, for 250.00, you could buy a full sized wet saw with a 10" blade!! BRAND NEW!! Of course, it comes with a "tail light warranty"! :-)

Here are some other thoughts on "cordless vs. cord" from another gardenweb section:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/wood/msg1017553117637.html

Bill,
Why would you spend $250 on something you are just going to throw away? My neighbor tried to turn me on to Harbor Freight and when I looked in there I was amazed at all the useless crap that they were charging money for. Besides if you live in the USA, BUY in the USA. We need to take better care of our own people and give everyone back their jobs.

The Coleman Cordless drill is a nice "disposable" drill at about $40 (including battery). Currently, Menards home stores sell batteries at about $15. Other than Menards, I see virtually no place to get a new battery so that is a little of a concern.

If you need something for a really big ongoing job you would be better off with DeWalt or Bosch however.

kawiman-- If you put that post together with my other posts above, you'll see that the suggestion about Harbor Freight was OOZING sarcasm. :-)

I recently purchased the Coleman drill from Costco. After one day's use, I return the unit. We had a lot of problem with screwing things. The drill kept sliping because it couldn't stick to the screw.

Anyway, we are now shopping for a DeWalt.

Well...

I agree that most Harbor freight stuff is cr*p, but I did get a wet saw for $80 that's identical to the one my local rental shop charges $40/day for.

Did 4 rooms and a granite tile counter top with it. The blade is showing some wear, and I'll definetly get a better one when I do the 1000+sfeet of tile in the new house, but it really has been a good tool for the money.

Maybe its just the exception that prooves the rule.

I found a super cheap Black friday deal on the Coleman 4-piece 18V set, so I went with it. ($60 total after rebate and $10 in my pocket from Pep boys). Still wasn't worth it, after the headaches on my first small job with it.

After using Bosch tools for the past year, these Coleman seem to be a major step backward:

1) Drill has high pitched "whine" when you touch the trigger.
2) Drill clutch is too sensitive, even on highest setting. Good luck drilling those drywall screws all the way into something hard. I was "backing out" to drive them in. Grrr.
3) You need only three hands to operate the cordless circular saw: one to hold your stock, one to hold the saw, and one to push back the guard when you start, since it gets stuck on the wood that you're trying to begin cutting. If you have three hands, this is not a problem.
4) Batteries don't power the circ. saw very well. I was cutting a small 1/2" piece of Ash (sorta like a cross between pine and balsa - very light stuff), and it was dying. Unbelievable!
5) Rip fence on circular saw doesn't slide under the bottom of the saw, so don't think you'll be ripping off that extra 3/4" or less with ease. (I don't even think you could take an inch off, for that matter.) Annoying.

The light worked fine!
...and I still haven't bothered to try the cordless reciprocating saw. I can hardly wait. Live and learn.

I just picked up a new Dewalt 18v drill for $119 on sale at lowes. Came with 2 batteries and charger. Pretty good deal. I need tools for work and for power stuff(I dont use much power) I only use Dewalt, milwaukee, or makita

You might consider either the Craftsman/Diehard 19.2V or the Ryobi 18V OnePlus set. Both are made from Ryobi and have gotten decent reviews as a "value" weekend warrier type tool. Replacement batteries are inexpensive and readily available. There is more history with the Ryobi tools...the batteries are backward compatible to tools made 5 years ago but the Craftsman drill got a slightly better review in December's Consumer Reports.

Wow. Lots of opinions, not much help, huh? Here's my opinion no help answer. I'm still using the Milwaukee 9v I inherited from My Dad, circa 1990, only one battery, but it still works, despite having been left on a shelf and flooded. But, it has no power. I use Dewalt everyday, because I started with it. Recycled my first battery after 10 years. It has been dropped from 8 feet several times, worked through drywall dust, and been rebuild once, for $85 max repair cost at dewalt. Case is busted up, but I have six batteries, several types of drills, and chargers. I depend on it.
I also bought a Ryobi kit when they were too expensive, just to try. They are dependable, but the drill is uncomfortable all day long, by the second day.
I can also buy 3 complete sets of Ryobi for the cost of one Dewalt set. As far as batteries go, I have to leave the Ryobi in the charger, or they die early (1year). Dewalt bats last a good long time. I suspect that accounts for some of the price dif.
As far as Sears goes, please understand they are a reseller, just like Harbor Freight, and you don't always know what brand you are getting. I know Black and Decker makes a lot of their product line, so does Vermont American for blades and such.
We often use the cheaper tools on short term jobs, and it is a throwaway, or we suspect a "friend" will "lose" or destroy it.
I am perfectly happy with Ryobi for price and quality.
Rigid is a Home Depot brand, you will be hard pressed to find parts, and they are also a reseller.
Ryobi also, I believe, is making an attachment to run their stuff corded. Rigid may also. This makes them more attractive, I would think.
As far as corded, I use only Milwaukee, Skill for the cheap stuff, and Dewalt, which, by the way is not american, yet made here... I have Milwaukee tools that are going on 20 years. Tank stuff.
Len
P.S. I am a remodeler, and agree with most of the above comments, also. There is a ton of brand loyalty regarding tools, for good reason.

I think the general consensus is to buy Dewalt, Bosch, or Makita.

I'll admit that I tried to go cheap a couple years ago and bought a couple Tool Shop tools at Menards. I hate them.

Last week the Bomgaars down the street was having a big DeWalt sale, so we leapt at the chance and bought a six-tool combo 18-volt set (regularly $570) for $414. I think it makes sense to standardize your batteries (and minimize your headaches) by sticking with one manufacturer as well.

From a professional experience standpoint I can not recommend Porter Cable high enough. I was a Maintenance Technician in an industrial factory a few years ago and we had Milwaukee, Dewalt, and Porter Cable cordless drills for use by the most heavy handed people you could imagine. Porter Cable outlasted everything.
From a DIY standpoint I have been working on a whole house remodel since Feb of this year and I can tell you that Skill is making some very nice cordless tools at a good price

You have gotten a lot of advice from much more professional opinions (or advance DIYers!)

We have a few sets of mastercraft (between DH and I and our fathers)... so about 5 batteries. We have been doing a MAJOR house remodle. ANd they have gotten us through (though barely!) They don't have the strength of the battery life that a more professional quality will have.

However, we studded 1400 square feet with them! And used them to put together furniture, shelving, some drywall etc. I think it depends what you want them for. All purpose, putting together IKEA furniture they are great, average/beginner DIYER they will work for you.

I've screwed thousands of screws with my 18V ryobi, It does the job. I wish it were a little lighter sometimes, but otherwise fine. I have corded versions of all the other tools. As a DIY, I use my screw gun, nail guns and miter saw the most. I would recommend getting a good brand name for these. For tools you may only use once or twice you can get the consumer brands. I've also had good luck at buying reconditioned prof grade tools. I got a Bosch Hammer drill and a Makita belt sander this way @ 50-70% of MSRP.

Leni.

Rigid is a Home Depot brand,

This is absolutely incorrect. Home Depot has a franchise to sell Rigid tools but they are in fact a sideline of the Ridge Tool Manufacturing Company in Elyria, Ohio which is perhaps the oldest and absolute best manufacturer of Professional Plumbing tools in the industry.

Dewalt and Bosch seem to be the tool of choice for my 15-man carpentry crew.

I have a Ryobi Drill and just love it. But I needed a drill that would fit my smaller hand so it might not fit a man's hand very well. We also have a Makita sander that has worked well for us for years now. Out of all our tools I use my rechargable Dremel the most. It is very adaptable, small so I can operate it with no problems and there are tons of attachments. I even trim my dogs nails with the sanding attachment!

search this forum

Here is a link that might be useful: JLC tool forum

Ryobi makes decent DIY tools. Many Craftsman are made by the same company that makes Ryobi. I'd avoid Coleman, Kawasaki and some of the other brands sold at Costco and Sams. These are generally subpar.

I wanted a decent recip saw for home/garden use and after much research ordered from the place below. It came with 2 batteries, charger, a case, blades............and I've been more than happy with it!

Here is a link that might be useful: CPO

My wife got me a 6-piece DeWalt 18 volt set for my birthday. So far it has been great.

I've used the 1/2" drill a ton. It is a little heavy so after a long project it can get tiring (i put a drywall screw attachment that countersinks the screw to the proper depth, and after hanging 3 sheets on a ceiling my arm was like jello, so I switched to a corded drywall screwdriver).

The recip. saw has been pretty good. I've cut off a bunch of old copper drain pipe with it, and used it to demo a small wall. The battery did die fairly quickly when doing the demo.

I was sceptical about the circular saw, but for light-duity work its prety good. I've cut through quite a few 5/8 sheets of plywood with no trouble. If you had to cut a lot of plywood you'd want a corded saw of course. It worked pretty well for my bathroom remodel

The impact driver works well. Smaller and lighter than the drill so I often throw a phillips bit in it and use it for a screw driver (but depending on what you are screwing you need careful since it doesn't have an adjustable torque setting). plenty of torque - this can drive anything I need it to.

The grinder is the last tool I tried out. I used the metal disc to cut off a few copper strips, and it worked well. I've also used a diamond tile blade to do a few cuts in tile. The battery didn't last that long. I think I'd rather have a corded tool and not bother with cordless. i noticed the first time I used it the safety didn't work, so I think I might call and see how DeWalt's service is.

flashlight - it works, not much else to say about that.