Cordless tool combo kits

Yes.
Dolmar makes Makita.
Sometimes referred to as Dolkita.

 

I don't use tools that much-not very handy- but have been happy with my DeWalt 18v tools. I have the saw zall, the impact driver, the drill, and a 1/2" impact wrench that has retired my air impact.
I know the plumber and carpenter that I use swear by Milwaukee.

 

For a homeowner, once the batteries die it is cheaper to throw out the drill and buy new again. I bought a dewalt drill with 2 batteries and a charger for less than the cost of two batteries.

 

I'm a diehard Makita fan.
Makita was the first to charge each cell in the battery pack individually.
Most brands just wait until the battery hits full voltage, then the charger shuts down.
Often only one cell is actually at full voltage when this happens, leaving the weaker cells always less than full.

I have the 18V line at home and the 10.2V line at work

 

I bought a Porter Cable 18v drill, sawzall, circ saw, & light kit 6 years ago and have zero complaints. All the batteries still work fine, including the two I got for $10 at a yard sale. They get average homeowner use plus a few bigger projects. I used them to build my wood shed rebuild my 16x20 deck, built level floors for 2 boats, etc.

 

Makita owns Dolmar.

Having some experience with the industry, Makita is currently the best choice for US consumers. Most of these tools no matter the brand will offer decent performance. Look beyond price and performance. Who makes products in the US? Who is not just a subsidiary of some faceless corporation that gets passed around like a Craigslist Toyota?

Makita and Hilti are last two stand alone major brands. Metabo used to be in that list, but Hitachi recently gobbled them up.

 

Good luck trying to use that battery warranty. They make you jump through hoops to file a claim, and can and will deny you for any number of stupid reasons.
Read the fine print of the warranty.

 

I've had good luck with Milwaukee and DeWalt.
I've picked DeWalt batteries out of the trash that worked absolutely fine for me. At 50 bucks and up for a spare I don't care where they come from nor whose name is on it.

I had a great set of Makita tools with the black stick batteries but this current set of red hammer head batteries have had their woes. Plus this battery works with this charger but not that one and that one this one but not another is a PITA. Plus I have one drill that seems to be taking some batteries but not others all of a sudden but I think it's the drill.

 

I have used about everything, but dewalt 20 volt is what I run now. I burn up a couple impacts a year. The batteries on the twenty volt are great in the 0 degree range. Makita, and Milwaukee batteries don't seem to want to charge in the cold for me.

 

I’ve had a range of colors of drills. Currently I have the 18v Milwaukee and the 12v Milwaukee. I have these over other brands because the local farm store is a dealer. Before these I had Bosch, DEWALT, rigid, ryobi, makita, and black&decker. I really like the battery gauge on the 18v batteries so I don’t take a dead battery out the door. The dual charger is also nice-both 18v and 12v can be charged on 1 charger. The DEWALT 18v line was nice, but battery life sucked. They have an adapter out to put the 20V MAX batteries onto the old 18v tools- might get one of those for my laser level when the batteries I have now die.

 

I have the craftsman 19.2V impact driver, drill, sawzall and 1/2" impact, had them for about 5 years no real issues, one battery died this year though. I use the crap out of the driver, battery life is pretty good with the impacts not so much with the sawzall.

 

Dewalt 20v or Milwaukee 18v, I have always run Dewalt 18v now everything is upgraded to the new 20v stuff, which is actually 18v running. I am in Lowes about every day so Dewalt is more convenient.

 

Been using Milwaukee M18 hammer drill, impact driver, sawzall and grinder for several years now with no complaints. Partner uses similar 20V Dewalt products with no complaints either. I think most of the major brands will serve you well but regardless of what you get, but I think the best investment is tools with Lithium batteries. My current lithium batteries have easily doubled the life of any NiCad and NiMH battery unit I have had in the past. I really like the XC batteries

 

I have had really good luck with Milwaukee. I currently have the M18 FUEL drill, driver, impact driver and grinder. They are pricey, but they do seem to last longer than the big box products for me.

 

Agree with your statement about Porter Cable. Years ago I bought a corded PC recip saw. Great quality. Good power. Worth the money.

My father in law bought a rechargeable combo set for me just a couple years ago.

Definitely a homeowner set. Probably a decent set for someone using it a couple times a month, but not for heavy use. One drill and one battery died so far.

 

After really taking a hard look at combos I couldn't justify $300+ for a new set when my tools are all ok . Dug around for a couple hours on the net and some tool forums and found a company that has an aftermarket replacement battery 2 pack $34.
I did decide my next combo will be Makita though when these tools crap out . Thanks for all the insight !

 

For people who run these tools for a living, Makita comes in second for all of the qualities they are looking for.
The number 1 rated brand is Festool, but unless you go to a specialty supply type of store, you won't even know the name.
Makita and Milwaukee are usually pretty close on design and features.
Last I heard, one company in Taiwan actually makes all of the cordless tools, not sure if that is true.
Just be aware that Makita sells different grades of the same voltage tools, some targeted at home owners and hobbies, the other is professional grade with the big 4 amp hour batteries

 

Festool is really targeted at cabinetmakers and woodworkers. It's far from affordable. Yes, they use it on This Old House, but for the average homeowner or even contractor, it's overkill. I also don't know too many homeowners who run Hilti power tools either. That being said, I'd love to have a shop full of both brands.