[Converting to cordless - need advice]

ToolBane offers some very good advice that's not tarnished with brand bias.  You'll find a lot of people who will tell you that [insert brand here] is the greatest out there, but the truth is that all of the established brands-and even some of the less-mentioned ones like Harbor Freight's Bauer and Hercules-will likely perform better and last longer than what 90% of homeowners need or even expect.

 

I wish I could steal his claim of "running" certain brands, but I'll admit that I'm more of a tool owner who occasionally does a project or decides to torture a tool as opposed to regular usage.  I currently have DeWalt 8v, 12v, 20v, and FlexVolt; Milwaukee M12 and M18; Ryobi 18v (and a single Tek4 scope); Ridgid 18v; and a single Hitachi 12v rotary tool.  Previously, I've owned Porter Cable 18v; Hitachi 18v; Kobalt 20v; Black and Decker (14.4v, IIRC); and I used the old Black and Decker/DeWalt UniVolt tools professionally back in the '90s.  

 

Since you're in Kentucky, I'm going to assume that you have both Lowe's and Home Depot stores within a reasonable distance.  I'm a big fan of instant gratification, so the bulk of my tool purchases have been from these two stores.  Only one brand is sold at both (DeWalt), and in my opinion, the Lowe's exclusive brands are a bit less established than the Home Depot exclusive brands, which brings me to my suggestions:

 

Ryobi - offers both inexpensive and borderline pricey options in an extremely large line with a lot of things that other "budget" brands don't offer, such as larger capacity (6Ah and 9Ah) batteries and hybrid tools.  If I only wanted one brand and was on a budget, I'd go with this.

 

 

Ridgid - much smaller line than Ryobi but with a lot of innovative tools that more than cover the basics.  The Lifetime Service Agreement registration is not as much of a pain as the internet claims...I've registered my tools with only a couple of them requiring me to upload the receipt.  The fact that batteries included in kits are covered under the LSA makes Ridgid a prime candidate for someone who wants to buy once, take care of their tools, and have a backup in case of an eventual failure.

 

DeWalt - you mentioned the Atomic line, the advantage to it is that it is part of the overall 20v Max system.  Basically, you can use any 20v Max battery with any 20v Max tool (and can also use 60v Max FlexVolt batteries in the 20v tools).  Further, some radios and most chargers can be used with the 12v/20v/60v Max family of batteries.  So, your concern about battery compatibility is offset by the fact that DeWalt

 

Between the two most visibly popular brands on these forums and elsewhere (Milwaukee and DeWalt), I'd go with DeWalt due to both their greater big box availability and their popularity with those who end up pawning them (I've gotten a number of deals at pawn shops where Milwaukee just seems to be nonexistent).  Also, as previously alluded to, 20v Max is the basis for DeWalt's battery format: both the 12v and 60v batteries are similar in shape and design (though those are separate systems with limited compatibility with some accessories).

 

At the end of the day, it's your choice as to brand.  Makita, Bosch, Kobalt, Craftsman, MetaboHPT, and other brands I haven't mentioned much all offer quality tools with their own advantages and disadvantages.  Any of those brands will offer the basics of what you need.  Oh, and once you get an impact driver, you'll wonder how you drove screws without one; they make short work of even the longest decking screws and can even be used in a limited capacity to drive other fasters (lag bolts, etc.).

[3/4" Fuel OneKey Impact Failure, warranty issues]

I had trigger issues with my 2763 impact wrench a few years ago.  Sent it in and it was fixed with no issues.  It is concerning that they are denying warranty service, especially since it's your word against theirs, and they can likely provide evidence of the alleged water damage (but not proof of who caused it-it could have been exposed to moisture during shipping, or even by a careless warranty center worker).

 

I had a good experience with my single Milwaukee warranty claim, but if it would have gone poorly I'd be in the same boat you are, questioning whether or not I should invest more heavily in the brand.

 

Companies have to balance out warranty claims with customer satisfaction.  In my opinion, DeWalt has done an excellent job.  I've submitted three warranty claims through them:

 

DCB102 dual charger - one side stopped charging.  They had me ship it to a service center and I got a new one less than a week later.

 

DS450 ToughSystem box - a side handle broke, they sent me a new box and requested that I send the old one back (I like to think it was for them to investigate the failure/weak point).

 

DCB204 battery - it stopped working and was close to its 3-year warranty expiration.  DeWalt sent a new battery and I still have the old inoperable one to either cannibalize or recycle eventually.

[Streamlining Battery Platforms]

On 1/27/2021 at 9:02 AM, Eric - TIA said:

It's an amazing web of lines they have all twisted to make it more compilated over the years.

 

You summarized my post very succinctly.  I tend to get wordy, especially when I'm killing time...

 

 

[Streamlining Battery Platforms]

On 1/25/2021 at 11:15 AM, Eric - TIA said:

  So to answer your question, I think a universal battery platform would be a great idea.  Right now I wouldn't invest in any of these brands because I am not sure which one will be around tomorrow.  If I know that the batteries are common, I would be more willing to invest in a brand because it if wasn't supported or wasn't coming out with new tools, I can just buy into one of the other brands on this platform.

 

44 minutes ago, ToolBane said:

Porter Cable just seems lost in the mix. Maybe it could be licensed as an exclusive line for a home improvement chain in a similar manner as Ridgid is for Home Depot, but along the way I agree with the sentiment that a unified battery platform shared with Craftsman makes a lot of sense. Have more product overlap to reduce development costs, and also have some versatility for consumers to have slightly varied tiers of tools without having to fully buy into entire additional platforms.

 

Ultimately I don’t think it matters exactly where they decide to divvy up all their different brands across the market, they just need some concrete plan to commit to and stick with it.

 

SBD's brands seem to have more detractors than other corporations' due in large part to the number of battery platforms they've had over the years.  I didn't stay up to date with tool news when Milwaukee discontinued the V18 line some twelve years ago, and while the change to M18 caused a few to switch brands, you don't commonly hear people bring up Milwaukee (or other TTI brands) when they complain about batteries and tool system longevity.  Over the past few years, I've heard and/or thought the following gripes and opinions about SBD cordless tools (some of which isn't necessarily their fault):

 

DeWalt: 20v Max "false advertising"; 18v Li-Ion batteries discontinued; 18v line incompatible with 20v Max; 12v Max "dead" (before the XTREME tools were released); 12v Max not competitive with M12

 

Craftsman: not compatible with Sears Craftsman systems; overall confusion with Sears Craftsman; distrust due to Sears' abandonment of previous Craftsman systems

 

Porter Cable: changeover from 18v to 20v Max; lack of growth in the system compared to competitors (namely Ryobi); future of the system (especially since the acquisition of Craftsman)

 

Bostitch: 20v Max: "So, I'm buying this battery system that only supports a few nail guns?"; 18v: Wow! Walmart carries Bostitch power tools, these must be almost as good as DeWalt!  Wait, where'd they go?"  (Coincidentally while writing this, I found that my local store has a drill/impact combo for $30.  Went to the store and searched to no avail, if it still shows one in stock I may ask about it the next time I go.  Not getting my hopes up since this system hasn't been sold for a while)

 

Fatmax: Walmart sold them, then Bostitch replaced them.

 

Black & Decker: "why doesn't this B&D battery marked 20v Max fit my twenty year old drill?"

[Craftsman Coming Back To Lowes]

21 hours ago, Eric - TIA said:

Agree, seems like a replacement for PC.  I hope they don't stop making the PC routers as I they are great routers.  However their power tools were nothing to write home about.  I did like the drill size but something very easily replaced by Craftsman.

 

Eric,

 

I agree, PC could (should?) become a corded-only brand that focuses on routers, sanders, and perhaps their better-known trademarks such as the TigerSaw recip.  Craftsman could thrive being cordless-only, with a large platform marketed as a DIY/light professional use alternative to DeWalt's pro tools.

[Streamlining Battery Platforms]

Watching a hammer drill test video on YouTube just now, I was reminded that TTI does have some brand redundancy of sorts.  This is yet another video where Hart and Ryobi are compared (along with other brands), and I note that the two are often similar in test results.  In this case, an $80 Hart kit including a 1.5Ah battery is tested against a $158 Ryobi kit with 4.0Ah battery as well as an off-brand, M18 Fuel, FlexVolt Advantage, and Makita drills.  

 

While Hart and Ryobi seem to be peers, albeit with the latter offering more premium kits and a lot more tools, I'd say that TTI still gets this relationship right.  Namely, Ryobi is well known as a Home Depot house brand, while Hart started dominating Walmart a year or two ago.  The two stores are not direct competitors and their customer bases are a bit different, so Hart and Ryobi aren't necessarily in direct competition.  Contrast this to SBD and their presence in Lowe's, where Porter Cable continues to be sold alongside Craftsman despite the latter seeming to have taken its place in the hierarchy.  For better or worse, Walmart doesn't have a whole lot of brick and mortar competition these days, with Kmart being almost dead and Target targeting a slightly different demographic, but imagine if Porter Cable could enter into an agreement with Target.  Admittedly, Target has very little focus on tools and home improvement, with my local stores relegated to a few basic hand tool kits and one aisle of basic hardware/home improvement goods.

[Ryobi Days?]

Does anyone look forward to this event?  It seems to be hit or miss in terms of overall value, and a thread on another forum shows a lot of displeasure over last year's event.  For those who don't keep up with the sale, it boils down to an annual event with Home Depot displaying a large center aisle promo at the front of the store, usually in the form of a battery starter kit or basic drill kit for $99 with free bare tool.  The kit may differ year to year, as does the max price on the "free" bare tool.

 

I picked up my first Ryobi One+ tool during Ryobi Days a few years ago and feel as though I got a good deal.  That year, the kit was a "30-minute" multi-chemistry charger with 3.0 HP batteries, and I picked up the pole saw to use at a project house.  Since then, I've gotten a couple of other promos but nothing to write home about.

 

If anything, I'd say that Ryobi Days is great for the casual homeowner and kinda "meh" for dedicated tool users and/or tool junkies.  In other words, if you're starting out, or if you need one of the free tools there are worse ways to go.  If you already have a lot of tools, Ryobi Days' free tool selection will probably seem lackluster or just not worth it.  For example, the free tool can be anything from an inflator that goes on sale for $20 to a multi-port charger or radio that are normally $79, making deal-conscious buyers have to choose between something they may need or a better bargain.  Then too there are those who use the buy and return method, returning the bare tool (or kit) and getting something they need for cheap.  While I've never done this, I can imagine that using this to return a "free" $79 item is well worth it if someone wants/needs the inflator, as the latter is so inexpensive regularly.  

 

Any thoughts on Ryobi's most hyped non-holiday event?  

[Modifying 20v tools for flexvolt]

9 hours ago, Meatball said:

Has anyone tried this or seen any instances of it?

My 20v vacuum is dead - I think because the motor died. I love this nifty little tool for daily around the house jobs so I figured, 'why not juice it up?'

 

I can replace the motor with something higher rated, confirm the electronics can handle the higher voltage, and verify the contacts are set up to take advantage of flexvolt and modify them as needed. In theory, it should work, right?

 

 

 

Theoretically, this should work.  A 54v motor, some fairly simple calculations and confirmation that the higher voltage won't fry anything, and your vacuum may live again.  Then again, I don't know what kind of electronics are inside the vacuums.  I have both 20v Max wet/dry vacuums (DCV580 and DCV517).  Both are great little machines, though I've recently used the M18 vacuum a bit more.

[Streamlining Battery Platforms]

7 hours ago, Jronman said:

There is too much duplicate tools. I would say have 2 tiers (no middle tier). Each major category would have a homeowner and a pro brand associated with it and no more. The Homeowner focused tools would be compatible with each other and the pro focused tools would be compatible with each other. Basically Metabo's CAS but with SB&D products. SB&D and SB&D Pro could be a new sub-branding to indicate the CAS like functionality. SB&D would use B&D batteries and SB&D Pro would use DeWALT batteries (12v,20v,Flexvolt) Here are my pairs homeowner first and pro second.

1. General Power Tools: B&D and DeWALT
2. General Hand Tools: Stanley and Stanley Fatmax
3. OPE: B&D and Craftsman
4. Cordless Mechanics Tools: B&D and Mac
5. Portable Jobsite Storage: Stanley and Vidmar
6. Non Portable Storage: Stanley and Lista
7. Consumables(Blades, Bits, Sandpaper,etc.): Irwin and Lenox
8. Mechanics Hand Tools: Blackhawk and Proto
9. Customized Tools (basically the SB&D equivalent of what Tanos does): Stanley and Facom
10. Pneumatic and Fasteners(Air/Battery nailers,staplers,riveters) B&D and Bostitch
11. Specialty Woodworking: B&D and Porter Cable

 

I like your train of thought, however, I'd say that Craftsman and Mac are both essential brands for SBD when it comes to mechanics tools.  Since I worked in a dealership over twenty years ago a lot of things have changed, but I still see tool trucks rather often and I know that their business model of extending truck credit is a convenient--if slightly predatory--way of helping mechanics and technicians do their job.  By predatory, I don't mean with high interest, but rather the relatively high prices of the tools themselves.  I sometimes find tools I bought off the Snap-On, Mac, or Matco truck back in the day that I paid a premium for (especially some of the Lisle specialty tools that see a significant markup on the truck).

 

If Lowe's got fully on board with Craftsman and started offering separate had tools, both companies could see a lot of success.  Basically, do with Craftsman what they did with Kobalt when they launched in 1998: offer quality USA-made tools that are an alternative to both the truck brands and the Home Depot / Harbor Freight brands.  I worked at the Cadillac dealership down the street from a Lowe's when Kobalt launched and though I never bought into the brand at the time I thought it was interesting that an alternative to Sears had popped up.  Now, having owned some Williams-made Kobalt tools, I wish I'd have paid more attention back then.

[Streamlining Battery Platforms]

If you were in a position to do so, would you reduce the number of battery platforms Stanley, Black & Decker (SBD) offers into a few compatible/interchangeable brands?  Their primary big box competitor here in the states, TTI, effectively offers three brands covering overlapping, yet distinct, tiers.  Milwaukee, Ridgid, and Ryobi offer just about any cordless tool or accessory needed with Ryobi mostly marketed as a value brand capable of most job, Milwaukee as a pro brand with an emphasis on trades, and Ridgid somewhere between the two but with an unmatched lifetime serivce agreement.  For the most part, TTI's brands don't directly compete with each other for display space or sales, and having four well-supported battery systems (I won't count Tek4 or Ridgid 12v as they seem all but dead in the water) with relatively minimal overlap seems like a good marketing marketing strategy for the corporation as a whole.

 

This leads me to SBD, which has a number of brands that seem to directly or indirectly compete with each other.  DeWalt is the "premium" brand, but what of Craftsman or Bostitch nail guns?  Where does Porter Cable fit into the equation, and are Black & Decker tools as good as Ryobi or just throwaway homeowner-grade junk?  With that said, each SBD brand has a legacy, strong brand recognition, and at least some amount of fan service.  As such, in my opinion they'd be best served by creating "universal" brand tiers that share common batteries while maintaining the brand themselves.  For those already invested in current battery systems, an adapter similar to the 20v Max to 18v DeWalt DCA1820 could be released.  My unsolicited thoughts are as follows:

 

DeWalt/Mac: Professional Use - keep the current 12v Max and 20v Max batteries, and continue marketing DeWalt as the premier "jack-of-all-trades" brand with Mac continuing its automotive focus.  Perhaps extend the awareness of Mac cordless tools by either a) selling them alongside DeWalt in stores, or b) making yellow versions of things like ratchets.  

 

Craftsman/Porter Cable/Bostitch: DIY/Light Professional Use - the former could be focused on automotive and basic carpentry tools (saws, drills, etc.) with Porter Cable focused on sanders and specialty tools (like the 20v Max tile saw) while Bostitch maintains its niche in the nailer market.

 

Black & Decker: Homeowner Use - keep the lower price point and expand the system as well as sales/special buy promos to better compete with Ryobi.  TTI has a "good, better, best" system with a lot of innovative tools such as pulse drivers (Ryobi Quietstrike, Ridgid Stealth, Milwaukee Surge) being separated by their size, weight, and power while maintaining a cross-platform sense of quality.  Black & Decker would benefit from seeing versions of tools currently offered in other SBD lineups and could also be used to test newer innovations without risking higher tiered brands' reputations.  In a pinch, bring FatMax cordless tools back to the states and make them a compatible but more premium version of the B&D lineup.

 

I'm picking on SBD because they are unique in my opinion.  Makita is, well, Makita, Bosch focuses on their namesake (though it might be nice if some Dremel tools were adapted to use Bosch 12v batteries), and Metabo HPT did away with their separate platforms a couple of years ago.  A trip to Lowe's for a new drill can find the uninitiated overwhelmed by the number of choices, half of which are SBD brands.  Metabo HPT, Bosch, Skil, and Kobalt take up a relatively small amount of space compared to DeWalt and Craftsman, while Porter Cable and B&D are a bit more subdued in their presence/marketing.  For those interested, Toolguyd has a comprehensive list of who owns what: https://toolguyd.com/tool-brands-corporate-affiliations/?utm_source=topmenu&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=buying-guides.

 

Anyway, what are your thoughts?  We've discussed universal battery systems before in the guise of cross-manufacturer systems, but the consensus is usually that this would not be financially beneficial to the corporations and would open the door to litigation (imagine being able to fit a Harbor Freight Warrior battery in an M18 Fuel OneKey tool, or a High Output battery in a DrillMaster).  Should SBD keep the status quo of pushing DeWalt and Craftsman to the forefront of sales, keeping B&D relegated to a small homeowner quality system, and letting Porter Cable, Bostitch, and other brands just kind of exist?  Should they emulate TTI and downsize to only three brands, or should they keep the brands but consolidate the number of battery systems, effectively creating "families" of brands with different end users in mind?  

[Craftsman Coming Back To Lowes]

20 hours ago, Michael Klein said:

That's amazing! I'm glad to hear that! 

Craftman is also one of my favorite brand beside Dewalt and Milwaukee.

 

It looks like Stanley, Black and Decker (SBD, who bought Craftsman from Sears) has plans to bring back at least some of Craftsman's former reputation, as I've heard that they're going to start making some hand tools in the US once again.  While SBD is pushing Craftsman cordless tools rather heavily, though, and some tools seem to be red versions of their DeWalt counterparts, most of us regard the SBD Craftsman power tool line to be on par with--and a potential replacement for--Porter Cable.

 

[Skil battery powered tools]

On 12/20/2020 at 6:56 PM, Der_Dachs said:

That stinks.  Thats one thing that Ive always loved about Ryobi though: any battery from the last 20 years will work with any tool, no matter if its a blue Ryobi or a lime green one.

Batteries are expensive and it stinks when a company decides to phase out an old battery system and youre forced to invest in a whole new system.

 

True, I'm optimistic that today's systems are here to stay for the foreseeable future, though.  Most major manufacturers haven't switched battery styles over the past ten or so years, despite vast advancements in both battery design and the tools themselves.  I have exactly one DeWalt 12v Max Xtreme tool (the 3/8" impact wrench), and my batteries made in 2010 work fine in it  As for Ryobi, I have one of my father-in-law's drills he bought in kit form about fifteen years ago that's fully functional with my most modern One+ battery.

[Well, That Was Anti-Climatic (2021 Inauguration)]

Despite the subject, I'll try to leave politics out of this.  If anyone feels a need to bring them up, please do so respectfully.

 

Over the past few months I've been a fringe player in the recent Inauguration, working to ensure that key pieces melded together while staying out of the big picture and avoiding any direct exposure to the events themselves.  This past week saw our schedule flipped as the team and I worked to bring all of the military elements together during a wholly unique transition of power in our Executive Branch of government.  I had the honor of being a part of the Inaugural Parade and a bunch Inaugural events years ago, so I know the amount of time, effort, and (let's face it) shenanigans that go along with the formalities during a normal Inauguration.  Let's just say that the downsized celebrations were welcome considering the pandemic and the violence that has taken place since last year.

 

As we ramped up to 1200 on Wednesday, I wondered what-if anything-might happen.  National Guardsmen were in DC in droves, and when I missed a turn going into work I got to drive past the heavily fortified Capitol (a uniform and proper ID worked wonders, and no, I have no insight as to the Guardsmen since I'm on Active status and there's this whole Posse Comitatus thing...).  I was wondering what might transpire and was relieved to see that it was uneventful.  

 

I may be moving to yet another very unique assignment before retirement, but this career has already taken me to places I never fathomed as a young(er) FM2176 looking to simply join the Infantry and go to war.  Sure, I've done the whole war thing, back when it was "fun" as we toppled Saddam's regime in 2003, but I've also helped young men and women to enlist, turned them from civilians into Infantry Soldiers, rendered final honors in Arlington National Cemetery, taken part in multiple national events, worked in higher headquarters in Afghanistan, and served in positions that enabled me to help victims or save Soldiers from their own dark thoughts.  I've met Presidents, Medal of Honor recipients, Wounded Warriors, celebrities, and too many others to mention; not bad for a kid that grew up in a trailer park.

 

As a proud Virginian with roots that go back some 400 years, as a Soldier who's carried on a tradition of service dating to the 1600's, and as an American, I hope this nation continues to endure even during the most trying times.  Before long I'll fade away from federal service and plan to continue serving my community in a vocation that is more unpopular now than ever.  In the meantime I'll keep up my tool addiction, create oddities as I get the inspiration, and maybe even hone my skills one of these days (ideally while keeping my digits and natural beauty 🤡).

 

Anyway, back to the tools!  America will always need tradesmen and builders!

[What tools did you buy today?]

I picked up two Packout 10" totes for $42 apiece.  The 15" tote is marked down to $42 but I have yet to find any in stock.  I'll probably transfer some of my electrical tools from one of the AWP totes to a Packout tote, and maybe use the other for plumbing stuff.

[Dewalt batteries 18v vs 20v]

5 hours ago, Ricky said:

I'm  thinking Dewalts need to pull their collective fingers outta their arses ,and stop screwing their Customers over .

I was a Dewalt product pin up boy ,Dewalt pretty much most things ,from Hacksaws,Tool belts to Boots and a bunch of 18v stuff, then screwed over with battery change frim Post to  sliders ,many tools still almost new ! 

Then the 20 v and 24 v ranges ,with different batteries !!!

Stop screwing us over, is this Tradie ,will move to Makita !!!

 

If DeWalt made any real mistake in the gradual change from 18v to 20v Max, it's that they continued to fully support the older system for so long.  Here in the States, the 18v line was only discontinued in the past year or two, meaning that for at least 7 years (2011-2018) new tools could be purchased in either style.  Our big box retailers like Lowe's and Home Depot offered multiple $99 holiday kits, with an 18v XRP often displayed next to the 2-3 20v max Models on sale.  While many of these were likely purchased for the replacement batteries, some people doubtlessly bought the 18v kit with the mindset that these tried-and-true workhorses were still top-of-the-line.

 

I consider the early 2010's to be pivotal in tool and battery technology, a time when many brands were optimizing their designs to drive ever more powerful tools.  Ryobi has proven that sticking with post-style batteries is possible, with their One+ system being almost universally interchangeable.  Most other manufacturers, however, decided that changes were needed to create the "battery of the future", if you will.  Despite alienating some established users, companies like DeWalt expanded the horizons of cordless technology.

 

DeWalt gets the brunt of the hate here, probably because the 18v system was so popular and well-established.  Let's not forget, though, that other brands had notoriously short-lived or under supported systems, such as the Milwaukee V18 or M28.

[Craftsman Coming Back To Lowes]

On 10/25/2020 at 11:22 AM, Der_Dachs said:

Yeah, new Craftsman isn't the same as old Craftsman was...

 

...For me and I think for many who loved Craftsman, real Craftsman is dead and there is really nothing special about SBD Craftsman.  I personally have found myself buying more Husky tools lately because I can simply take them back to any HD, no receipt needed and exchange them for a new tool.  No hassles, no questions asked; just like how Craftsman used to be.

The new Craftsman just lacks the stage presence, if you will, of the old Sears stuff.  Sure, I can walk into Lowe's and be exposed to a sea of red Craftsman signage, but the effect is diminished by the equally prominent DeWalt yellow, Kobalt blue, and in some cases MetaboHPT green.  Also, whereas Sears had aisles devoted to hand tools, with each different size and style of socket or wrench getting its own peg, Lowe's (at least the ones I visit) focuses almost solely on kits.  To be honest, Home Depot is similar, with Husky's hand tool section occupying almost no space compared to the multiple aisles Sears had even ten years ago.  

 

One thing I'll miss, even from the last time I went into a Sears almost two years ago, is the sheer size of the tool section.  The stores devoted nearly a quarter of a floor to tools and lawn and garden, creating an oasis of sorts for those of us who were dragged to the mall by our families.  😀  Many of the Sears stores I went to had tool sections that rivaled Harbor Freight in size, albeit with Made in the USA Craftsman and other reputable brands.  Speaking of which, I wouldn't be surprised if Harbor Freight's rise in popularity was aided by Sears' struggles over the past couple of decades.  

[Who is the best battery manufacturer]

On 1/17/2021 at 7:31 PM, Jronman said:

Any professional grade brand will used a cell of good enough quality to last years. Most brands are not compatible with the next you will need that brands tools to go with their batteries.

 

This...  Modern batteries used by today's major brands are the result of years--if not decades--of research and experience as exactly what components/design factors make the best power source for a given tool.  We have really seen this over the past five or so years, with each manufacturer releasing their version of high performance batteries for "smart" or high draw tools.  FlexVolt, Milwaukee HO, Ryobi HP, etc. are all examples of batteries designed to complement smaller (2ah, etc.) batteries.  

 

To put this in perspective, ten years ago cordless circular saws generally used smaller blades (6-1/2", 5-3/8") and made due with the same batteries used in drills and the like (back then 3ah was standard for a "large" pack).  Now you can get brushless 7-1/4" saws and have a choice of using a small battery--perhaps losing a little performance and lacking longevity--or using a 9ah or even 12ah battery that will run the saw for much longer.

 

[Flexvolt problem]

9 hours ago, Km1.05cnst said:

Battery not charging!!! ANY ANSWERS/SUGGESTIONS!!??

 

  -- My dewalt 9ah battery is not charging. When I hook it up to the charger the red light flashes like it's charging and 20-30 seconds later the red light stops flashing indicating that it is fully charged. Only problem is that the battery is not charged at all. Dewalt sent me a replacement but I would love to fix this one and sell it. Any answers to what the problem is???

I have a 20v Max 4ah battery that was doing the same thing.  DeWalt sent a new one, no questions asked, and after closer examination I realized that one or two of the terminals were corroded.  I saved the old battery as I'm certain the cells are good, and I think the charger is simply unable to read the battery's condition.  Check your connection terminals, you may find a similar issue.

[Roofing Nailer / MultiVolt Circular Saw Combo]

So, I stumbled across one of these at two separate Lowe's locations this past weekend (description and price after my comments, in case the link disappears): https://www.lowes.com/pd/Metabo-HPT-was-Hitachi-Power-Tools-Framing-Finish-2-Tool-Kit/1003008470

 

I have to admit, my first thought was "hmmm, I might need that.  Then I thought better...I don't have a pressing need for a roofing nailer and I already have premium saws from DeWalt, Ridgid, and Milwaukee.  So, I didn't really pay too much attention to it, rather looking it up when I got home before realizing that the nailer is pneumatic.  So, a pneumatic nailer, cordless circular saw, battery and charger for under $300.  The nailer alone sells for $10 more, and the bare tool saw is $179 (or $517 in kit form including battery, charger, and power adapter).

 

Given the steep drop in price, I'd venture to say that this wasn't an overly possible combination at its original price point.  How many pros use MetaboHPT cordless tools, and what would be the likelihood of someone in the market for a pneumatic nailer paying extra for a cordless saw (or vice versa)?  Anyway, the price is below.  If I still had the Hitachi impact driver I gave away, or if I needed a roofing nailer, this might be at my house now.  I think I will keep an eye on them, though, in hopes of another price drop.

^$279^.00

Actual price was $607.00

$607.00Save $328.00 

Offer ends on Jan 29

Ends Jan 29

Metabo HPT (was Hitachi Power Tools) 1.75-in 15-Degree Pneumatic Roofing Nailer

Item #2635004Model #KITNV45C36M

 

[Discontinued battery charger]

Most likely, no.  B&D is part of Stanley Black & Decker (SBD), however, so depending on the system you might find an SBD brand's charger that works with minor modifications.  For example, the Porter Cable 12v Max and B&D 12v batteries were compatible if a tab was removed.

 

I'd recommend trying to find a used charger.  

[What tools did you buy today?]

I scored two new to me tools this weekend.  The first is a Toledo No. 1 pipe vise from my wife's grandparents' shed.  It needs cleaning but should come in handy in the shop.

 

The second is a Jet DC-650 dust collector.  We got a heads up on some free cabinets, and the shop we picked them up at (they were new but had been sitting for five years) had both a radial arm saw and a dust collector sitting outside.  The shop had closed by the time we returned, and the RAS was gone (probably just moved out of the shop for the cleaning they were doing), but the dust collector was still there.  One of the co-owners was still there, so I asked about it and he told me I could take it.  No idea what, if anything, is wrong with it, but it was full of dust and needs to have the cord replaced.  The DC-650 doesn't have the best reviews but free can't be beat.

[Holiday Cooking Outdoors]

The food turned out well.  I used the recipe linked above for the ham, substituting King syrup for the Karo dark corn syrup as the latter was out of stock everywhere I went.  In my opinion, the recipe could have been halved, as the pan my ham was in was full to the brim with syrupy marinade.  As such, the top half of the ham was a bit more smokey while the bottom was essentially simmered in sweetness.  The pecans themselves were ready to be turned into pralines, so I scooped and strained the ones left in the pan, put a little sugar on top, and enjoyed those separately.

 

My wife got inspired to make broth out of the remnants of the turkey, and the leftover ham was divided between breakfast and a pot of cabbage and potatoes.  The dogs feasted on what was left after a few days; it's always humorous watching the 50-lb. female mountain cur (hound breed) stealing a ham bone from the 100-lb. male black lab.  They were going back and forth over the remnants of the country ham for a couple of weeks after Thanksgiving.

 

I made some beef, vegetable and noodle soup yesterday.  I like relatively hands-off cooking, so my go-to inside the house is the Crock-Pot (my wife has bought into the Instant Pot craze).  I'll likely take the larger Crock-Pot with me as I head south today to finish some drywall and prime/paint a room.  It should be a good week for a large pot of chili.

[What would you buy?]

The M18 vacuum would be my choice.  As for batteries, if you're lucky you may find a 2-pack holiday buy (Home Depot usually has these around the holidays but I didn't really pay attention this year).  

[To the Crew]

Same to you and the rest of the Crew!

[Tacklife Drywall Sander]

I'm considering it, ToolGuyd has one review of a Tacklife tool (a pruning saw) and they seem to sell their stuff exclusively on Amazon.  Looking at pictures of their various stuff, I'd say they're one of the many brands that simply slap their label on mass-produced Chinese tools, but the price is hard to beat.  As I was looking around earlier this week, I was reminded that DeWalt has a cordless drywall sander now.  I'm trying to figure out how to convince the wife that I "need" to spend over $400 on that, then I'll have to justify a good dust extractor.  😀