I have an old Ryobi set that has done well for several years for light use (batteries keep dying); however, my demands are about to increase dramatically (650' fence, deck, storage/shelving, etc.). I'm thinking it would be best to upgrade to corded tools, so I'm looking for the best mix of quality and value.

Any suggestions on brands? I'll be looking for the usual (drill, circular, and reciprocating) and maybe some other items, depending on what I can borrow and how much I'll need to use them (e.g. table saw, miter saw, jig saw). Also, any advice on amperage, speed, and chuck size would be appreciated.

I've always heard recommendations for Dewalt and Bosch.

[Edited on September 8, 2012 at 7:56 PM. Reason : .]

9/8/2012 7:52:43 PM

Ridgid tools (from Home Depot) are good stuff, warrantied for life, and you get one free battery replacement per year

http://www.ridgid.com/tools/power-tool-warranty

my maintenance guy at work stands behind 'em

9/8/2012 8:54:29 PM

i've bought all my power tools from harbor freight since ~'05. i've had one problem with the 8 different types and that was with a recip. saw. i did not have the receipt but brought it back anyway. i was honest with the guy and told him it is about 2 years old but it quit recippin'. he said no problem and told me to go get a new one. he swapped it out on the spot. i love harbor freight.

9/8/2012 9:01:00 PM

corded tools - harborfreight
battery tools - hitachi or some company using li-ion batteries

9/9/2012 8:02:21 AM

A little pricier solution but what about pneumatic tools if you need something for heavy duty and need to last. I still got tools from my uncle that he bought from the 70's that work like new.

9/9/2012 8:26:51 AM

these are all good suggestions. if you go with battery - Li-on is the only way to go. Also, don't waste your money on a huge kit unless it's 50% discounted or so.

cordless combo:
- 1/2" drill, 2-speed
- recip. saw
- 1/4" impact drive
- 1/2" square anvil impact (takes tire rotations to a new level)
- circular saw (runner up)
- light (runner up)


if you go corded...
- 1/2" LOW SPEED drill for the big stuff
- recip. saw
- portable band saw (worth it)
- hitachi 4.5" grinder (big boy)
- ridgid 4.5" grinder (with the motor behind the grip for 1-handed use)
- jig saw (not impressed with cordless jig saws)

9/9/2012 12:19:19 PM

most folks rarely need a porta-band. just keep some cut-off wheels for the grinder around and get a decent hacksaw.

and the average homeowner would be better served by a decent hammer drill than that 1/2" impact

i would get a corded circular saw. the cordless ones die fast. if you're in a remote part of the yard without power, you can usually measure and then go back up to the house to cut. cordless recip saw is a good idea.

[Edited on September 9, 2012 at 5:14 PM. Reason : adsf]

9/9/2012 5:09:55 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. I thought about neumatic, but I didn't want to drop that much right now and that seemed even less portable than corded. I'm sick of replacing batteries and then constant battery changing (I know new, better brand Li-ions would be better, but I'm thinking I'd like to just skip this all together. I'll look at harbor freight, but I'm still concerned about quality.

And in all honesty, my Ryobi set still works; I can just get the Li-ion batters and have cordless drill, recip. saw, circular saw, and light; I'm just thinking ahead and wanting decent quality or better corded tools for primary use.

9/9/2012 6:15:29 PM

http://www.primecell.com/pctools.htm ?

9/9/2012 8:47:36 PM

For building utility shelving, decks, outdoor furniture, etc., I spend a lot of time with a miter saw for dimensional lumber and a circular saw for sheet goods. I also have both a corded and cordless drill, which works out pretty well for going between the workbench to fabricate things, and the shop floor or outside to assemble them.

Here's what I have, and what I think of it:

Delta Contractor Table Saw: Awesome tool for general purpose use. I bought it second-hand, lightly used, and it's held up very well. It needs little adjustment and is very accurate. Portability is obviously an issue with this size saw, but there are some good benchtop/portable saws out there now that you can get carts for to extend their table size.

Delta Bandsaw: Good for resawing lumber, cutting curves and circles, or making small quick cuts if you're into building furniture, but I wouldn't go out and get one unless that's what you're doing.

Dewalt 10" compound miter saw and stand: This is one of my most-used tools, right behind the table saw. Having a miter saw stand of some kind is a must, IMO, and if you build a lot, go ahead and splurge on a nice stand. It makes working with large pieces much, much easier, and it's faster to set up and tear down than saw horses. Plus, you get to use your saw horses for cutting sheet goods instead of going back and forth. Get a 12" or sliding saw if you're doing a lot of framing with large material, otherwise I think you can get away with a regular 10" saw.

Dewalt 7" circular saw: Awesome for breaking down sheets of plywood, OSB, etc. and handy if you need to make a few cuts in dimensional lumber without setting up the miter saw. If you have nothing else, I'd at least have one of these. For cutting sheet goods, nothing beats a circular saw and a guide clamp/contractor clamp for speed and ease, IMO.

Dewalt Jigsaw: I bought this for a project that I needed it for, but haven't gotten much use out of it otherwise. A nice tool for making interior cuts, but I end up using the router for that half the time anyway, so I'd skip this one unless you actually need it to build something in particular.

Dewalt 12v drill and Ryobi corded drill: I go for the cordless 9/10 times purely for convenience, but if I'm doing a bunch of repeated operations like doing pocket holes, I'll set up the corded drill. It's got a lot more power, and it's consistent for long, constant use. Not something I can say for the cordless, as I'm constantly switching batteries when it sees heavy use. I underestimated how much I'd use the cordless one, so if I had it to do again, I'd probably have gotten a nicer 18v model, but hindsight is 20/20. Having the cheap corded drill has worked out fine, since there's a lot less to screw up there at any price point.

As you can see, I have a penchant for Dewalt tools, mostly because my dad and I have both used them for years and never had any major failures. If you only use your tools occasionally, I don't suppose it really matters what brand it is, as everyone seems to like whatever they have just fine. For fine woodworking, my dad prefers Porter Cable and Delta stuff, but I only own a few Delta pieces and no PC. All my stuff is a mix of Delta, Dewalt, and Jet, with a lone Ridgid planer that has done very well considering the cost.


Feel free to ask more specific questions, I just wanted to throw out a high-level idea of what tools I ended up finding most helpful.

[Edited on September 10, 2012 at 8:29 AM. Reason : .]

9/10/2012 8:28:03 AM

ok so i have the craftsman 18.8 volt bag full of shit...vs my work bag of tools
craftsman stuff seems to have more bells and whistles (levels, adjustable angles etc), & more torque then equivalent dewalt... but wouldn't survive a 2nd story fall like the dewalt would has.

9/10/2012 9:09:48 AM

Quote :

"most folks rarely need a porta-band. "

blaspemy. uses are immaculately conceived.

9/10/2012 10:22:44 AM

they certainly are handy as hell for someone like you. for the average homeowner handyman, that money is better spent on other tools imo.

9/10/2012 10:50:18 AM

On top of all the spot-on recommendations others have already made, I'd suggest getting the lightest weight lithium cordless drill you can find within your budget. For most Harry Homeowner projects, you're going to spend a lot of time driving screws, drilling small holes, etc. and in most of those cases bigger (higher voltage) isn't better. These new compact, lightweight, maneuverable lithium drill/drivers are awesome; fatigue is reduced and comfort is increased.

For drills/drivers, IMO, you can't beat a combo of a corded 1/2" keyed chuck drill with a handle paired with a compact cordless 12v or 14.4v lithium keyless chuck. Milwaukee is another solid brand (in my experience) for corded tools that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet.

A couple quick note on compound miter saws: I'd recommend getting one with a laser guide just for convenience and also going ahead and springing for a 10" with a slide or a 12". Having that little extra bit of capacity can go a long way.

Also, a Kreg pocket hole jig is worth it's twice its weight in gold.

[Edited on September 10, 2012 at 11:07 AM. Reason : .]

9/10/2012 11:04:16 AM

^+1

If you work on cars or otherwise have a need for 1/4 impact, this thing would be great all-in-one drill and driver http://www.lowes.com/pd_349908-54602-RK2515K2_4294707802

I have the drill-only (http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=349912-54602-RK2510K2.1 ) version and it's awesome. I wish they had the combo tool back then. Also, free li-ion battery replacement FOR LIFE. They go on sale for under 100 every so often.

I was gonna get some batteries for my old DeWalt 9.2 volt drill, but then i saw this thing. It was much lighter, more compact, and looked well-built, and the free battery replacement sold me (i must be on my third DeWalt ni-cd set)

9/10/2012 12:22:25 PM

again, Ridgid

Quote :

"The Lifetime Service Agreement provides the original owner of qualifying RIDGID® Brand tools a lifetime of free replacement batteries, free service and free replacement parts subject to the limitations set forth below."

Quote :

"The Lifetime Service Agreement is available free of charge, on all eligible RIDGID® Brand hand held power tools, stationary power tools and pneumatic tools, subject to the terms and conditions stated below"

Quote :

"Register by logging on to http://www.ridgid.com..."

Quote :

"The 3 Year Limited Warranty, The Recon Limited Warranty and the Lifetime Service Agreement covers all worn parts in properly maintained tools. This includes normal wear items such as brushes, chucks, motors, switches, gears and even cordless batteries in your qualifying RIDGID® Brand hand held and stationary power tools. These programs also cover replacement rings, driver blades and bumpers on RIDGID® Brand pneumatic tools"

c'mon now. 650' fence and harbor freight? no

9/10/2012 9:02:25 PM

Quote :

"i've bought all my power tools from harbor freight since ~'05. i've had one problem with the 8 different types and that was with a recip. saw. i did not have the receipt but brought it back anyway. i was honest with the guy and told him it is about 2 years old but it quit recippin'. he said no problem and told me to go get a new one. he swapped it out on the spot. i love harbor freight."

them fucking cheap ass niggers wouldn't even swap out my 9.99 heat gun when it died! but they dropped everything when a pair of thugged out homeboys wanted to buy a digital scale that was locked in the display case

9/11/2012 12:54:52 AM

http://www.festoolusa.com/default.aspx

There is no reason to ever buy any other power tool. Save up and but it once.

9/11/2012 8:05:21 AM

Bought a 14.4v Dewalt Drill from Home Depot in 2001. I still keep it handy and it still holds a charge well enough for small tasks around the house.

Upgraded to a new (not refurb) 18v Dewalt last fall for right at $100. It's been great. More torque than the old one and the batteries hold up really well.

Search Slickdeals.net periodically. There are good deals to be had. This isn't bad:
http://tinyurl.com/8t439lf

[Edited on September 11, 2012 at 9:55 AM. Reason : l]

9/11/2012 9:39:45 AM

Quote :

"c'mon now. 650' fence and harbor freight? no"

i just built a 13x14 screened-in porch using 6x6 supports along with boxed beams and an a-frame roof using harbor freight tools so yes. lol

9/12/2012 12:05:56 PM

BUMP!

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-ONE-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-All-in-1-DIY-Combo-Kit-12-Tool-P859/204065437?MERCH=RV-_-RV_homepage_rr-1-_-NA-_-204065437-_-N#.UoO0_Z0o5dg

What's the consensus on Ryobi? This looks like an interesting kit, but, still not sure its worthy.

I love the fuck out of me some ridgid and Milwaukee, but, $$$.


(this is more for discussion, I don't need to be buying power tools.... although santa may be coming...)

11/13/2013 12:29:47 PM

all of mine are ryobi. Only complaint I have is the older batteries... which isn't really an issue any more with their Li-on+ series. The NiCD or whatever batteries were horrible.

For light to medium duty, DIYer, I think they've been great.

^is that a sale price... seems cheap if I recall individual prices correctly.

[Edited on November 13, 2013 at 1:36 PM. Reason : 2 batteries with that kit... eh, ok I guess]

11/13/2013 1:32:33 PM

I think the deal is the mitre saw is included.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Kit-with-Free-4-0-Amp-Hour-Battery-5-Piece-R9651-AC840087/204496965#.UoPKUV4o7cs

nice runner up - $499 Ridgid 5-piece with an extra 4.0Ah battery - total of (3) 4.0Ah batteries in that kit.


What I "really" want:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Combo-Kit-9-Tool-2696-29/203230035#.UoPKtF4o7cs

I have a need for 100% of those tools, and that's no lie.

11/13/2013 1:54:43 PM

I always joke with my brother in law because he has a dewalt tool set that cost 700 bucks and I have the same tools made by craftsman for less than half and the truth is the only difference is his can fall off a 3rd floor roof and survive and I wouldn't expect mine to.

My craftsman set is easily 6 years old now and the only issues are the batteries are worthless now.

11/13/2013 3:27:17 PM

^ I have the same tools as you - 19.2V drill, 1/4Impact, jigsaw.... 3 nearly dead NiCad's and 1 new NiCad.

Shit's just too bulky (especially the drill with the levels in it).

11/13/2013 3:49:25 PM

hammer over impact? surely you jest

11/13/2013 4:01:50 PM

Quote :

"I think the deal is the mitre saw is included. http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Kit-with-Free-4-0-Amp-Hour-Battery-5-Piece-R9651-AC840087/204496965#.UoPKUV4o7cs nice runner up - $499 Ridgid 5-piece with an extra 4.0Ah battery - total of (3) 4.0Ah batteries in that kit. What I "really" want: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Combo-Kit-9-Tool-2696-29/203230035#.UoPKtF4o7cs "

Both of those use those li-ion batteries that explode in Tesla cars. May want to re-think that and get a gas-powered air compressor and some air tools. Much safer, more powerful, you don't have to recharge the batteries all the time. And a level built into the drill? Who needs that shit? That's just one more thing to break. Those fucking electric tools are way too heavy, like you said, even with those new batteries. Deff better off with the lighter air tools. And then the batteries burn up and you end up with toxic heavy metals in the landfill.

11/14/2013 8:42:44 PM

Dude, chill.

11/15/2013 7:07:40 AM

Both of those use those li-ion batteries that explode in Tesla cars [when the vehicle crashes or experiences an impact at highway speed]

gtfo, hippie.

11/15/2013 8:43:03 AM

beh, he's just harassing.


Went and checked out the toolery at home depot last night - BOY, they've got the shit out for Christmas!

Coolest cordless tool I saw was the M18 Fuel impact from Milwaukee, the brushless motor one, motor & chuck were smaller/shorter than the battery pack!

After looking at the new Ryobi, although the new color & advertising is 'in your face' their physical size and design screams 'a few years old' to me. Ridgid looks really nice.

11/15/2013 8:50:05 AM

haha, no, they haven't changed much in the last few years.

11/15/2013 9:45:07 AM

Hammer works on concrete impact works on higher torque.

11/15/2013 10:07:04 AM

I think the jest was regarding

Hammer = axial
Impact = torsional

11/15/2013 10:10:39 AM

I bought this setup about 6 months ago and love it.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_234292-34252-PCCK602L2_4294707836%2B4294962151__?productId=4751832&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1¤tURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=PORTER-CABLE

Always had Dewalt before, but after reading reviews decided on this. Plus from what I have read they use metal gears instead of plastic. Not that I have ever had a gear fail.

11/17/2013 10:23:17 AM

^I like the PC tools; bought the 18V kit for gf's bro last Christmas.... wish they would release the rest of their 20V product line.

11/17/2013 12:28:47 PM

Quote :

"Both of those use those li-ion batteries that explode in Tesla cars [when the vehicle crashes or experiences an impact at highway speed]"

What do you think happens when you stop a cordless drill on a concrete floor? Dude, battery always hits first. Those cordless drills with electric batteries are a fucking disaster waiting to happen.

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=17109




Air tools are the way to go.

Quote :

"http://www.nvtc.ee/e-oppe/Marina/tools/Air%20drill_pneumatic%20drill.jpg"

No cheap plastic, can drill through 1 inch thick metal plates, no dangerous toxic metals, can run for days on site with just one gallon of gas, no stupid gimmicks like built-in levels, LED lights, laser pointers, or those magnets to hold screws and bits. This is a fucking real man's tool.

Quote :

"gtfo, hippie."

I bet you never even held a proper air gun before. Enjoy your girl scout electric tool kit

11/17/2013 1:12:49 PM

ha. comparing a crash of multi-thousand pound vehicles traveling at 30+ ft/s to a couple pound drill falling from 5' high.

I'll let you know when my drills decide to fly

11/18/2013 9:39:57 AM

Ha, won't have to wait long, those plastic toys will fly with a gust of wind

11/18/2013 2:08:03 PM

bump.....

Parents got me a Milwaukee M12 3/8" square anvil impact for crimmus... brushless. my goodness. has an electronic 2-speed/torque range selector too.

(not my pic)

1/3/2014 3:57:54 PM

damn. that sounds slick. how is battery life?

1/3/2014 5:59:39 PM

cant comment yet, have about 5 min usage so far. I actually love the low torque setting for snugging small-med fasteners (1/4-3/8" bolts) before torqueing.

1/3/2014 8:57:21 PM

************************
************************
************************

Bump


Possibly in the market for a 12" sliding compound saw (double bevel). Any recommendations? What's the failure points/mechanisms on the cheaper saws? Shitty motor? 'Cause $150 to $700 is a big damn range.

Just general use/DIY/etc. I've been using a compound 12" dewalt (pretty sure 12" though it could be a 10"), but it's my brother's, who gave it to my dad, from whom I borrowed it from for a while... we live 3 hours apart, so it's a PITA to share.

I think I could do a 10" blade if the sliding gives me that extra board width capacity. Though I think I prefer 12" still.

Can get a free stand ($200 stand) with the Dewalt DWS780... that makes it a decent deal, considering I was looking at some $300-$400 saws + needing to get a stand.

[Edited on March 3, 2015 at 1:41 PM. Reason : .]

3/3/2015 1:16:05 PM

I'm going to give you an adjacent answer...

I have this http://www.medfordtools.com/evolution/rage3DB_saw.html?gclid=CKeu55qBjcQCFUnl7AodeyAAFw

It is the best tool i've ever owned. Cuts steel like butter and i don't have to worry about catching anything on fire.


but
A. its 10"
B. Its a low speed saw so if you're cutting wood all the time you have no need for it.

3/3/2015 3:23:56 PM

ah, yep, it's wood.

and the occasional PVC pipe or other plastic-type material. maybe metals at some point, but nothing I know of right now.

3/3/2015 5:55:39 PM

Quote :

"Possibly in the market for a 12" sliding compound saw (double bevel)."

ditto...looking at the cheapo from harbor freight since i'm nothing better than a weekend warrior (and even then, it's like one weekend a month): http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-double-bevel-sliding-compound-miter-saw-with-laser-guide-system-61969.html

currently $198 and has 4/5 stars with 26 reviews...i assume it will go cheaper ($150, maybe?), but who knows

slickdeals occasionally has a 12" by a "real" brand pop up for ~$200

you mention $150...which one were you looking at that's that cheap?

3/4/2015 6:54:24 AM

^I thought it was the same chicago electric saw on amazon... could have sworn that yesterday is $150 + like $20 shipping; but today it's $164 + $45 shipping.

I'm just a weekend warrior too, so maybe I'm over-buying here, but I'm a bit hesitant to go to "cheap". Between motors shitting out and reading too much on the internet, I'm concerned about cut quality/correctness, expandability, etc. I've always used DeWalt and Bosch... never actually owned them though.

[Edited on March 4, 2015 at 9:33 AM. Reason : .]

3/4/2015 9:30:25 AM

I'm digging this sonicrafter

3/4/2015 9:49:23 AM

Quote :

"cut quality/correctness, "

To me, this is the main challenge with cheap cutting tools. Even as a weekend warrior, if you can't get a clean, accurate cut, it's useless. That said, i don't have any experience with the HF miter saws, so I'm clueless on whether that will be your issue.

I have a cheapo circular saw, and even with a good blade, i can never get a great cut. I assumed i was doing something wrong. I borrowed a friend's nicer Bosch, and with my same blade, no more problems. this is purely anecdotal, of course.

3/4/2015 9:55:39 AM

^yeh. And I'm trying to do some of my own trim work (crown for example) and will hopefully make some basic furniture pieces with trim... so if the cuts are shit it's not even worth it.

3/4/2015 11:45:12 AM

I'm assuming you're getting splintering on the back side of your piece? Try using a sacrificial backer board...or make a "zero clearance" insert for your saw. This should help a ton for getting clean cuts as long as you also have a nice blade. Even on the cheapest of saws, if you have a nice blade and a backer board, you'll get a nice cut.

3/4/2015 2:48:22 PM