Cordless tool combo kits

My current craftsman combo has been reliable but both batteries have crapped out in the last few months. Tried ordering new batteries the last few days and the Sears/Craftsman site won't let me add to cart. Maybe its just time to upgrade.
Whats the best quality for the $ deal going now?
What brand to stay away from?
Need drill,impact ,sawzall, skillsaw, and light.

 

DeWalt and Milwaukee have served me well throughout the years.

Also have Bosch...but the model I have was definitely more of a homeowners model not quite for everyday abuse...I mean use.

Dewalt batteries crapped out, Milwaukee didn't, Bosch didn't.

Milwaukee and Bosch gears drive crapped out, but can still use them for lighter loads. This was due primarily to abuse though.

Gonna have to watch this thread as I am about to pull the trigger on a new combo kit also.

Drill. impact, sawzall for me.

 

I've owned dewalt in the past but recently swapped to Milwaukee...absolutely love them. I've got two impacts, an impact driver, small sawzall and a hammer drill.

 

I gave Craftsman at home and they are good for the price I got them for. We use Milwakee at work-- they will wow you.

 

I should have added the Milwaukee was by far the longest lasting issue free also.

All of these cordless tool kits took a beating.....just being out in below zero temps not only for work but also for storage...the work trucks never had heat in the back where the tools were stored.

 

At work we use exclusively Milwaukee. At home I use the Ryobi One+ 18v system. Either one works great. I have owned and used Bosch, Hitachi and DeWalt cordless before and none of them impressed me.

 

I have owned Dewalt ryobi Milwaukee Bosch and am currently using rigid at house like Milwaukee but bought rigid because gave lifetime warranty on batteries. so depends on use and money... I'MO Dewalt batteries are subpar

 

I changed to Milwaukee years ago because they were the first brand to offer the heated jacket's in Australia. I purchased a jacket and wanted some spare batteries so I got a drill and impact driver kit that had 2 battery's. I have since added a fuel reciprocating saw and circular saw. They have all been great tools.


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I still have an old Sears 9.6 volt drill somewhere, and the Hitachi 14.4 V I had lasted almost 15 years.
When I got new, I went with Dewalt, and just recently got a Sawzall to add to the pile. They all use the same battery style, so I'm stuck for a while. Thought about going to the 60V, but way pricey.
Brother has Milwaukee and loves 'em.
Didn't actually know I needed an impact, but now that I have one...........FTW

 

Consumer reports latest magazine just rated all the cordless drills if you believe their findings.

They said the homeowner ones are lighter and more powerfull than in the past. Brushless motors can now be found on some of the lower end models like Porter Cable and are a good price.

Lots of choices... Milwaukee makes some great stuff, and on the lower end I would look at Porter Cable.

 

Had Rigid and Milwaukee at work. Rigid's were heavy, and the lifetime Home Depot battery replacement program was a joke. Milwaukees's worked well but the battery life wasn't that great, and battery replacement cost was very high. Since I have been retired I have the 20v DeWalt brushless with the Lithium batteries. 3 years now and working great. Mind you I don't punish these anywhere near what I did when working. I have the hammer drill, impact gun, 6" circular saw and the sawzall. The last 2 are especially handy on outside projects.

 

I have all those tools and more in Makita LXT 18v. I'ts my second set as the first wore out after many years of heavy use. (batteries, not tools. tools are still being used [daily]by my wife with a third set of batteries)
I have the drill, impact/driver, sawzall, skillsaw, grinder, rotory hammer drill, 12 drive impact and light + two chargers and 4 batteries. Yes, a lot of money, but all worth their weight in gold.
I've used every brand, Milwaukee, Dewalt, Makita, Bosch, you name it. We use our tools hard, too hard!

I keep going back to the Makita. I don't NOT like Dewalt! They are too heavy, and do NOT fit my hand. One of my coworkers likes the Milwaukee, but the 1/2 drive impact gets returned about three times a year for repair. It's extremely powerful, maybe thats why it breaks...

Don't buy into the 20v BS. They are still 18v under load just like all the other tools.

No matter the brand, don't let the batteries out in the cold.

 

this goes for ALL brands!

I think they all can, and do. We lost a Dewalt battery last week that was like new and been used inside. I switched it to the charger since we used it for a little while and the charger didn't even light up...Like it was not even plugged in... battery was not dead, but wouldn't charge.

Black and Decker, Porter Cable and Dewalt were bought out by Stanley Tools.

 

I found this interesting...

Tool Industry Behemoths: Who Makes & Who Owns Most Tool Brands?

 

How sad that Porter-Cable, once a mainstay of industrial and high school woodworking shops, damm near indestructible tools, are now considered "low-end".

Ryobi has some brushless tools now. Looks like good stuff. I want the impact driver.

 

Thats a great post, Brian!
Thanks!

 

Some were just rebranded.



STill good tools!
I've worn out all three of these

I prefer the new style Dewalt though

This is my fourth

 

TD boss has those in Milwaukee. .. he installs fire supers sion sprinklers so he cuts a lot of black iron pipe.. 1.25 inch makes great closet rod

 

Supposedly this is who manufactures everything.

 

Doesn't/didn't Makita sell a chainsaw that was made by another company (Dolmar?) or vice versa?

I have and like Milwaukee but don't have much experience with any others.

That manufacturing graphic would make me want to go with Makita.