JeremyJ

Thanks for this very thorough comparison.The best I've seen.

The sad part is most of these companies are capable of doing this. Put a compressor and a vacuum into these rolling and stack-able tool boxes. DeWalt Flexvolt/hybrid power air compressor/vacumn in a rolling Toughbox. Ridgid has so many compressors and vacuum combinations they could install into the Pro tool boxes. Even Husky has a rolling tool box system now, put a compressor in it. When does the Ryobi tool box system, come out? lol

A couple years ago I started picking up the modular Ridgid Pro Toolboxes for my bigger woodworking tools. In lieu of a Milwaukee version and being cheaper than tough system/festool. Just recently I purchased the Ridgid 4.5 gallon ProPac "toolbox shape" Model # WD4522. After working with some Festool vacs and seeing the Tstak adapter for their dust extractors, it got me thinking.... Put this vacuum and concept into one of 22" Pro toolbox or a rolling base: http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-4-5-gal-5-0-Peak-HP-Pro-Pack-Wet-Dry-Vac-WD4522/100638389 Do the same for the new battery powered compressor: http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-1-Gal-18-Volt-Hand-Carry-Air-Compressor-Tool-Only-R0230/300507507 They have been on such a roll lately with the 18V tools. They already specialize in vacuums and could be the poor mans Festool with sanding and dust control on saws/etc. By not continuing to go modular, there are huge missed opportunities. I might just go to with new cheaper Tough System....

M18 and M12 Bigger tools like impacts and saws are M18 and smaller skill/accesory tools are M12. Since the company I work for uses Dewalt and we work out of a van the only everyday personal tools I take for me are M12 Fuel driver/drill/hackzall, radio and multitool. I'm either putting up trim with the van/miter saw or doing some touch ups,low voltage/speakers/painting and the M12 Fuels are more than adequate. My personal corded tools like routers/planers/sanders are Bosch. I'm trying to stay one company for battery tools. Everything else is corded.

The Ridgid boxes are the same size as the tough boxes and are $99 for all three during Xmas/fathers day. I have one big, two mediums and one small for holding my routers/sanders/planers etc. I also bought the milk crate version to hold all my paint trays, rollers and some plastic sheeting. It lets everything air-dry, don't forget the boxes will hold moisture in too on a rainy day if left cracked. If you are looking for a cheaper option for smaller tools use the Milwaukee small parts organizer and take out the bins, they have the weatherproof seal and do the stacking/opening modular box tricks. They are missing a deep box and a cart. I have all my M12 tools in these, radio, hammer-drill, impact, lantern, multitool, Paslode trim guns with a little customization. My Ridgid large wheeled one won't fit under my truck cover either, perfection is hard to come by. DeWalt has a similar tool box to the big Milwaukee one in the picture with an extendable handle and some tiny wheels....

The saw seems real nice (comparable to Festool) and the price seems pretty good, but what kind of prices for the tracks and accessories if they are in fact Maffell? A work surface/MDF table can't be far behind.

Nice review, thanks for the honest opinions. I have not heard if they make crown stops for the saw or if there is a way to rig some without losing cutting height using a crown "box". Any idea?

These are the kind of applications Milwaukee needs to really capture the woodworking and trim carpenters. I am a Milwaukee guy with experience using Festool and now recently with DeWalt miter/track saws and would love to go Milwaukee. The new miter (and planer) is a start, but I still bought a corded DeWalt 12" slider. Crown stops, dust collectors and options for stands are still needed for the M18, plus I got a free large stand with my Dewalt... Until the dust collection becomes a priority this will be a hard market to crack. Imagine a M18 compact table saw, Fuel track saw, domino/dowel jointer, routers of all sizes, and all made with proper dust collection tolerances. Hope all this works out for you.

I am really loving this industry push towards a cordless jobsite. With Milwaukee and Ridgid coming out with proper battery miter saws and Dewalt with their miter saw, table saw and power source the future is almost here. Can we all agree that stationary tools/saws/room lights/fans and vacuums should all have receptacles for an extension cord? Even Ryobi can afford to put these on their moderately priced 18v light and fan, both. I am looking at the purchase of a Milwaukee miter saw, but without a way to plug it in..... this is kind of a deal breaker. Future table saw, lights, fans and small vacuums will also get the same thought process. You do you guys look at this?

It works pretty good, two tied together is heavy enough for walking around. I have 3/4 tools w/accessories in each. I might have to find a way to tie two or three together and cut out the bottoms and still keep it leak proof. I would love to put all my tools in these (circ saws, routers w/accessories, planers). I might have to buy one of those "off brand" Milwaukee hand trucks.... I waited awhile before buying into a stackable tool set. I bought some Fuel tools that came with the nice cases except there is no storage for accessories. I really like the ability of opening a box that's under another, thanks to Festool. I wanted to go a little cheaper and almost went with Tstaks, they have many different style boxes and carts/wheels. But none of them were waterproof and I work out a truck. Dustproof is nice also.

Has anybody bought or used the new pneumatic 3.5in Full round head Framing nailer or the roofing nailer. They are kinda pricey compared to Bostitch, the brand I've always used.

Here's an older picture of my Red team.

Nice, thanks Knarlycarl. I think you just sold me on the bucket. I think I might even try to get a hold of another vertical insert.

Do you think this box would work well as a mud/paint box? Specifically bigger troughs/mud pan/caulk guns, do paint brush handles fit in any of the receivers? I have them all in a husky bag, but it's a dusty husky now. I'm asking a lot, but thanks.

I do trim carpentry and have all my M12 tools in them. They do seem to have a little flex, not plastic snapping flex. More of a rubber flex. I set them on concrete floors all the time and have dropped one on its corner with just a scuff mark to show for it. I have them set up like this 1. M12 radio, charger, four batteries and a lantern/flashlight-always connected to my drill/driver box (battery box) 2. M12 hammer drill, impact driver, multitool, drill/bits, studscanner, angle finder etc(driver box) 3. Paslode trim, paslode brad, accessory tools/nails (trim box) 4. M12 hackzall, right angle drill, rotary tool, flat bar, old chisels etc (tearout box) 5. Screw organizer with some electrical parts (screw box) 6. M12 Jig, Kreg jig and screws (custom trim) I just take whichever ones I need for that day out my truck. Hanging trim/floors-1,2,3, with custom woodwork +4 Kitchen tear out-1,2,4, install- all six The multi head drill has my interest and the right angle impact also.

Do you think you could fit the contents of the drill kit in one of the small parts organizers?

I have the m12 Jigsaw, great little saw for trim, flooring, laminate. For hard woods I would go m18 /corded. I have used the carvex and an older Bosch. Both great jigsaws.

I would have been happy with them using the small parts organizer as a template with an insert. I would appreciate it if they made a thinner and two taller version of the small parts organizer so they could lock to my already existing Milwaukee boxes. Sell the bigger ones without the cups and put a handle on the lid. The small parts organizers are great for m12 tool storage. The jigsaw fits, the hackzall, the lantern and even the radio(tight fit) all fit. I have all my m12 tools packed in these. These don't seem to be the home-run I was hoping for. Maybe, I have just seen the genius of a cupless small parts organizer....

I went through this process a couple years ago when I was looking to replace my Milwaukee nicad set. I started out buying two separate M12 Fuel(brushless) hammer drill and impact driver kits. That way I got two chargers and four batteries. And free tools with each purchase. Then I got the M18 Fuel Circ and Sawzall as bare tools with a free charger/batteries, some tools just need the 18volt power.( Although I do have the M12 Fuel hackzall- mini sawzall.) Many times a year HD has Milwaukee sales with free bare tools (right angle drill, lanterns, batteries, heated coat, and lower price items). Just go to HD.com and type in "Milwaukee free tool" in the search bar. In terms of buying on a budget, Ridgid is good for a pro and Ryobi is great for a homeowner (with lawn care equipment). DeWalt is now making lawn care equipment also. Something to think about. I have used all mainstream tools, Dewalts, Ridgid, Ryobi, Portercable and even Festool.

Love it. I use when putting trim down in a closet/unlit space.

I had to reorganize my tools and purchased some more organizers.

When I started buying the m12 line they had the free tool deals at home depot online. Buy one get a cheaper bare tool. Fuel hammer drill right angle drill(free) Fuel impact driver Fuel impact wrench 3/8 ratchet 3/8(free) Fuel hackzall multitool(free) jigsaw two led flashlights radio/mp3 gray hoodie vacuum I think a lantern is next.

It looks like I will have to work some overtime to get these. Next question is do these come with the small parts organizers as a hard case? Or do they even fit?

I have used the Ryobi, Ridgid, Hitachi and the Dewalt contractor and portable table saw. The Ryobi fence is not precise, having to measure both ends of the blade to the fence for every cut. The fence on the Dewalt seems to the smoothest and most accurate, they have accurate table saws and miter saws.

I never thought I would say this about hidden fasteners.....wow.