My stuff is Makita which the only issue I’ve had is with the 3/8” drill. Everything else has been fine.

 

This is me but Ive had no issues with them but Im a hobbiest..prob dont use them hear as much as others ..Ill still swear by Makita quality👍

 

I just switched from DeWalt to Milwaukee. I didn't like the new DeWalt batteries. I have been using Milwaukee tools at work for over 10 years. They hold up better. Tools and batteries. Home Depot has the best deals on package sets that I could find online.

 

Thanks Ryan,

Milwaukee is my second pick option I've considered. My only hesitation has been that since they seem to be the new trendy brand I see everywhere, that the quality has gone down. Have you noticed anything along those lines?

 

Milwaukee is the one I would switch to if I wanted the same variety (and more) of tools as you had with Ryobi. Milwaukee has a pretty vast variety of electric tool solutions not just for general carpentry work.

I have had Dewalt and Ryobi but switched everything to Milwaukee years ago, they seem to have the solution for any tool I might need, not cheap, but the tools last and the batteries seem to hold up better than the Ryobi Batteries. I still don't trust that Dewalt won't change batteries again like they did when they switched from 18 v to 20.

It doesn't hurt that Home Depot is basically a Milwaukee factory store these days..lol

 

I use DeWalt primarily. I've added some Milwaukee into the mix recently, both are fine.
I don't know if I or anyone else can specifically answer your question. Depends on what specific combos are available in your area or online. I bought mine awhile ago so my info will be dated.
I did upgrade to some of the 20volt tools as I needed replacements a couple years ago. I was glad to find out they made an adapter so my old 18v? tools work with the new battery types. The 20v have been out for quite awhile, so I'd expect them to come out with the newer better thing as soon as you buy current model . Hopefully they make adapters again. I haven't looked in awhile, maybe they have already upgraded...
But ya, I have the all the basics, all work fine, I recommend getting a 5amphr battery for the circular saw. That one sucks a lot of juice and dies quickly.
Get the kit/pack that covers most of your needs and add bare tools as needed.
I'm not sure why most kits seem to include the small impact driver, I've never had a use for it, but maybe I'm the odd man out.
My buddy has the Milwaukee large impact, and that thing is awesome, comes in very handy if you do mechanic type work.
Good luck! Let us know what you go with and if you're happy with it.

 

I use Makita professionally but Dewalt is a decent brand, there's a lot of combo kits available but your not specific enough for me to recommend one for example do you need an angle drill, sawzalll, or grinder?
some of the kits mix and match different tools but I have no idea what you need in yours...

 

Elec utility I work for have 75 line trucks. DeWalts are on nearly all of them. No complaints, do as intended.

About 3yrs ago, my air impact wrench died. When I started looking at new ones, I discovered there were cordless impacts. So a little research and Milwaukee gave the biggest bang. I have since bought the compatible Milwaukee drill and driver. Happy with them too.

 

FWIW, if I didn’t have Makita, I’d have Milwaukee due to the better reviews in recent years.

 

TTI owns Milwaukee and Ryobi both, among various other lines. So, are you actually getting “Milwaukee tools” quality?

 

And Stanley Black & Decker owns DeWalt ... I haul there stuff . . .

 

DeWalt here though I have a Ryobi polesaw which is turning into a PITA. There is a piece on the bar that should be metal. It is plastic and broke. Will see if I can fix it with using a couple very thin flat washers. Or if the part is available on line.

 

Seems like any discussion about tools turns into a red vs. yellow poll. Is Milwaukee sturdier and better? Yeah most (incl me) think so. The popularity has gone up but it is still the king before you get into the Hilti-type brands. I own team yellow, though and it’s more than good enough for me.

If you’re off-grid and in the cold (I have no experience with lithium battery tools and cold weather), seems like you’d want the best.

if you have big money to spend, go see which tools feel the best and get you a stock of 6 Ahr batteries. But if your Ryobis are still going and doing what you like, get some new batteries and keep gettin after it!

 

Seems like any discussion about tools turns into a red vs. yellow poll. Is Milwaukee sturdier and better? Yeah most (incl me) think so. The popularity has gone up but it is still the king before you get into the Hilti-type brands. I own team yellow, though and it’s more than good enough for me.

If you’re off-grid and in the cold (I have no experience with lithium battery tools and cold weather), seems like you’d want the best.

if you have big money to spend, go see which tools feel the best and get you a stock of 6 Ahr batteries. But if your Ryobis are still going and doing what you like, get some new batteries and keep gettin after it!

Funny you mention off grid and cold weather. Did some binge watching of Northwoods Survival yesterday. Featured brands for cordless power tools included:

• Dewalt
• Milwaukee
• Rigid

Did not see Ryobi being used.

 

My Dewalt tools have been slowly increasing, as I want to share the same 20V batteries throughout.

 

Same, I built my collection around batteries, not tools. Right time of year, Home Depot has batteries 50-75% off. Will continue with dewalt for the foreseeable future, many batteries still in the packaging

 

This is the set I bought. Has everything I needed to get started. I've bought a vacume and plan on getting a few other things eventually.

 

Righto, I’ll take a look at it!

Thanks…
Otterpaw

 

I love ryobi for things like brushless 4 1/2, handheld chainsaw 8’, glue gun, orbital sander, and multi tool. My main drill are m18 and m12. I have two m12 impacts, two drills, and a m18 impact and drill. All tools were purchased on sale. Also have an m18 polesaw that works well. This to me is the way to go. M12 are super light weight and great for most drilling screws. But when drilling through wood concrete or auto the m18 shines. I also have a brushless wratchet m12 i just oicked up with two batteries for 200$. Mileaukee isnt cheap but worth it. My m12 2009 set still runs like new batteries are still at 90% + capacity and inuse them daily.

 

That m18 for 1k while good is steep. Only one charger. Can get the hammer and impqct on sale for 250 if your patient. Ryobi last thanksgiving had a two 4mah battery and free tool combo. I picked up an angle grinder and multi tool both came with chargers. The brushless angle grinder is very similar to Milwaukee. I honestly like the m12 stuff better “holding an outstretched arm to put in a screw with m18 can be difficult” but having both really rocks.

 

Milwaukee M18 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Compact Drill/Impact Combo Kit (2-Tool) w/(2) 2.0 Ah Batteries, Charger & Bag 3692-22CT - The Home Depot

Replace your hand tool by swapping it with this Milwaukee M LithiumIon Brushless Cordless Compact Drill Impact Combo Kit w Batteries Charger Bag.

www.homedepot.com

 

all brushless, both kits above put ya at the 500 mark keep your ryobi as well some 700 tool options and use them rough there cheap enough to replace. Take the rest of the 500 and buy needed bare tools on sale like sawzall, circular etc.

Milwaukee M12 FUEL 12-Volt Li-Ion Brushless Cordless Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit (2-Tool) with M12 3/8 in. Ratchet 3497-22-2457-20 - The Home Depot

Introduce a versatile device to your workstation with the choice of this extra ordinary Milwaukee M LithiumIon Brushless Cordless Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit w and Bag. Base is machined to

www.homedepot.com

 

Thanks for the recommends! I’ll take a look…

Otterpaw

 

I switched to Milwaukee after having problems with makita stuff, 10+ years of collecting Milwaukee tools and batteries. The older Milwaukee batteries are now beginning to get shaky …so having to replace them. Some Milwaukee tools have been problematic. Overall - Still seem to be fewer than dewalt problems

 

I've been in the commercial construction space for quite awhile now. Our guys are fairly split on Red or Yellow. To be honest though, If I didn't already have so many DeWalt tools I probably would have switched over to Milwaukee. They keep coming out with new equipment and gear. I'm pretty impressed with their impact drivers, as that's what we typically use on our sites. The Milwaukee just seems smoother in operation. No real complaints with DeWalt, they've taken a beating and work just fine.

 

I was heavy into Porter Cable and Bosch in my cabinet shop for a long time. Bosch got too price proud, and Stanley ran Porter Cable into the dirt by discontinuing all of the popular industry used tools, then what was left started hanging plastic on instead of metal, thus cheapening the tools up.
Stanley pushes Dewalt hard now, as their main line of tools.

 

My only battery driven device is my Craftsman drill. It's been strong for about 15 years. I use mostly gasoline and corded power tools as they last until I'm done. Sure it's a bit of a pain to lug cords around the property, but I live in a suburban tract home with power outlets everywhere. I did, however, have a Ryobi battery powered angle grinder, which lasted about 45 seconds of normal use. I took it back to HD and bought a Dewalt corded. No regrets.

 

I used Milwaukee professionally- good product but pricey and not so durable. Used Ryobi for a bit- threw all that away and found it to be garbage. Switched primarily to DeWalt a long time ago and put these tools through the ringer. Dropped a impact from 140' high onto hard ground 5 years ago and still using that impact. High end 12" DeWalt Sliding Miter/ Double Bevel Saw worked awesome for 2 years- then? Nothing, no smoke no nothing. Took it to Craftsman Industrial Store and no questions asked- took it and 2 days later- new motor, switch, lubed it and cleaned it all up. That was 5 years ago. Then- cordless drill stripped out #2 speed- no questions asked; rebuilt it all for nothing. Then- old impact quit- paid $75 and all replaced (gears, motor, switch, casing). No doubt DeWalt is rock solid. Even the old batteries have adapters i can use for the older stuff like reciprocating saw (sawzall) non lithium. I suggest pick one and stick with it from this point fwd- the batteries and chargers are expensive so live with some of the cons for whatever you pick but make out with cross compatibility. Like laser levels etc.

 

Bauer tools seem to be serving me well, but its only been a year, and I am retired.
Makita tools have served me well, but they lost me changing battery shapes. I can still get some of them, but that's going away soon.

 

I have a wood shop, and recently needed to get a palm sander. I like Dewalt tools and noticed the battery powered tool was $130, or I could get the corded tool for $65. Funny how much more it costs having the convenience of a cordless tool. Plus the various corded tools I have don't run out of juice and just seem to have a lot more torq. I admit that having a cordless drill (or 2) is very convenience around the yard, lol.

 

Used Ryobi for a bit- threw all that away and found it to be garbage.

. I did, however, have a Ryobi battery powered angle grinder, which lasted about 45 seconds of normal use.

I've never personally owned a Ryobi battery powered tool but I taught high school shop for a few years and the kids would have them dysfunctional in a couple of days, invariably.

I have Dewalt and Porter Cable and a number of Harbor freight which I buy to be purposely disposable. For instance I tore down an old building (oak lumber) a few years ago and didn't want to destroy my Sawzall and bought a HF. The front bearing is shot, (from first tear down job), but it still runs I use it on rough stuff on occasion to save my Sawzall. I Paid $19.95 when I bought it 12 years ago.
.

 

Oops, I'm spreading misinformation. The Harbor Freight, sawzall type I bought is corded not battery.

 

Not to derail the thread, but if your batteries are going down and the tools are still good, some Batteries Plus stores will refurbish the batteries. I did that with my Kobalt set and keep using it. Kobalt changed batteries and new were non existent.

Cheaper than new batteries or toolsets. The guy at the store told me that for currently available batteries the refurbish cost was about half of buying new.

I do not use my tools for a living or that hard.

 

I’d not heard of that! Definitely worth looking into. Thanks for the info…

Otterpaw

 

I was a craftsman 19.2v guy for many years. I switched over to dewalt 20 volt. Love dewalt. Have a lot of them including 1/2” impact 3/4” impact. Grease gun. Angle grinder As well as all the lights drills drivers etc etc. now that I’m this deep into dewalt I wouldn’t change due to the pile of batteries and tools.I do like the fact of the 60 volt battery being used in the 20 volt tools. BUT I have to admit Milwaukee is really impressive as well. Kinda a ford Chevy dodge type argument. But my direct experience is with dewalt and very happy with all products I have. Best of luck