Cordless tools

[Jim Doane]

I just attended the international buliders show in Orlando last week. Got to try all the lithium ion cordless tools out first hand. The Milwaukee 28 volt and Dewalts 36 volt. Do any of you have the Milwaukee 28 volt set yet?I currently own the Ridgid 18 volt kit and thinking of switching.

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[Davestone]

Drove by the builders show in Orlando,two weeks ago, Saturday evening 6:30....i was the one in the blue Durango that was in a wreck..if you happened to see me.Don't have any of the cordless tools, though, could have used one to fix my bumper next day. :tup1:

[opiethetileman]

I have about 12 cordless drills. i will say the new makita rocks but my favorite weapon in the aresonal would be the 18 volt milwalkie hammer drill nothing stops that baby gee builders show hell you show have posted it here we could have gone. make sure you go tot coverings its soon and you are near by.

[Levi the Tile Guy]

I was perfectly happy with my 18v hitachi, but now depressed that it ould be a 30lb. 36v dewalt

[cx]

I've been using the new Makita LXT tools for a couple months now, Jim. I'm very pleased with them.

I have had 18v DeWalt tools for many years, and have gotten more than my money's worth out of them, but the batteries are just poor. They do fine when new, but just don't last, and at 80 bucks a pop, I was going broke on batteries.

I have the Makita circular saw, drill/hammer drill, and the little impact driver. I like each one better than its DeWalt counterpart (never had an impact driver, though). They're just better designed and have several nice little features that you might not think you'd care about 'till you have'em, like the lights that show your work and the line, blower to keep the sawdust off the line, etc.

Haven't compared the recip saw yet on accounta they haven't sent me one. They were s'posta be available this month.

The one thing I don't like about the tool set is the cloth carrying bag. I think they really missed the boat there. I like my two-tool molded plastic cases with room for saw blades and drill bits and such.

But if you've never had one of those little impact drivers, you're gonna fall in love. :)

Haven't tried any of the 28 and 36 volt stuff at all. I think if I need a tool that heavy, it might as well have a chord on it. :shades:

My opinion; worth price charged.

[Jim Doane]

At the builders show I tested the brand new 36 volt Dewalt cordless tools first. Dewalt had a work station set up with each cordless tool, a piece of wood and the competiors corded tool pluged in to power from a outlet.The 36 volt all provided the same power, torque as the corded tool. I really abused the jigsaw, circular saw, impact driver, and hammer drill. I borrowed a piece of 4x4 8 foot pressure treated from the (Milwauke exhibit) All Dewalt had was # 2 spruce 2x4 stock to test the tools. All of the 36 volt tools performed equal to the corded counter parts. I really abused all of there tools at each station to duplicate real world conditions. One note all of the Dewalt reps at the show were not the most trained about the new line of 36 volt tools , So I had a feild day and put them to the test ,as a crowd gathered as I sent wood chips flying all over the floor :) . I Liked all the tools except the hammer drill/ drill.It is to big ,bulky , and the controls to select hammer/ drill ,clutch settings, and 3 gear speeds are very confusing!The 36 volt is the same weight as the 18 volt but its bigger in size and felt very uncomfortable to use. The one other negative of this new tool line is no battery fuel guage on battery itself. They had a fuel guage at the charger but that is no good in the feild. If I grab a battery from the truck I want to know if it has half power, full power etc , before I climb the scaffolding and find my battery will only drive two screws.. I will continue with the other reveiws Tuesday. Just a note I own tools from Makita , Milwaukee, Ridgid, Bosch, and Dewalt. I just want to pass along my experiance with each tool manufactuer at this show. My tools are part of my life (work) get tired of guessing at who has the best tool .

[Jim Doane]

I own the Rigid 18 volt cordless set currently with 5 batterys so I stoped at the Ridgid display next. They had a demo area set up for their tools but no lithium ion tools. I asked a rep when the lithium ion tools from Ridgid will be out and he said they wont be . I asked why and he said the technology is to new and they are investing their time into more 18volt products. They also had a new 18volt battery to replace the current one . It will have 20% more run time,but of the old technology not lithium ion. So I was a little disapointed .

[pitterpat]

CX, I had one of those impactors for a yea now; it's a Bosch.

Yeah I got the bosch 18v kit too with a cloth bag. I don't like it either, most everything else I have has a molded plastic case. cept my Fein tools Multimaster, it came with a metal case, we'll see how long b/4 it rusts.