Shuutr

maybe you could use. I was searching for images of ridgid and milwaukee drills and this popped up. (credit toolreporter)

similarly there is the free tool with purchase of a combo at toolbarn http://www.toolbarn.com/makita-xt260p.html Buy the LXT 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion Drill-Driver and Impact Driver Combo Kit (XT260) $229 and Choose from a Free Circular Saw, Padle Switch Grinder, Reciprocating Saw, Angle Grinder or Battery While Supplies Last Includes: One (1) 18V LXT Cordless Lithium-Ion 1/2 in. Driver-Drill - XFD01ZOne (1) 18V LXT Cordless Lithium-Ion Impact Driver - XDT04ZTwo (2) 18V LXT 3.0 Ah Lithium-Ion Battery - BL1830One (1) 18V Lithium-Ion Rapid Optimum Charger - DC18RCOne (1) Carrying Bag

Makita LXT437 LXT 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion 4-Tool Combo Kit Includes: 1/2 in. LXT Hammer Drill Driver - LXPH01Z1/4 in. LXT Impact Driver - LXDT04Z6-1/2 in. LXT Circular Saw - BSS611ZLXT LED Flashlight - LXLM01(2) LXT Lithium-Ion 3.0 Ah Batteries - BL1830Rapid Optimum Charger - DC18RAContractor BagOperating ManualIf I search for it, it comes up $319, but with this link $249 http://www.cpooutlets.com/makita-lxt437-lxt-18v-cordless-lithium-ion-4-tool-combo-kit/mktnlxt437,default,pd.html?ref=em20150627a&utm_medium=email&utm_source=em20150627a&utm_campaign=clubcpoMKTNLXT437a&src=mktnlxt437emailexcla

How wrong would it be to buy the milwaukee bottom and dewalt top?

You could wait for the new ridgid 18v nailer to come out. Bushless hyperdrive.... http://toolguyd.com/ridgid-hyperdrive-brushless-nailers/ Looks like there may be several new releases coming. Including porter cable https://twitter.com/rrescot/status/589146755125612546/photo/1 I know the last iteration of the 18v nailer from ridgid didn't get great reviews. I got one on clearance and it seems to work ok, but people (you know, the web collective) stated it was pretty finicky. Maybe they evolution is coming soon

I'm somewhere in the middle. I wouldn't toss my stuff around or leave it to the elements, but I'm pretty lax on maintenance. I'll blow off my workbench and if I see some sawdust buildup I'll clean it out. A little paint splash here, a little grime there, meh. I have had the same push lawnmower for 5 years and replaced the air filter and oil once. I guess I should pay more attention.

I haven't bought reconditioned from them yet. But very tempting. One thing I have come across what I think is a good deal only to realize it is older models showing up. They are two generations old and I don't want to invest in that.

I replaced my craftsman mechanics set with dewalt and am glad I did. They were more comfortable to use and have performed very well with little bit of time I have used them. The Milwaukee pliers and screwdrivers have been great. I'd follow the advice here and buy something better than craftsman now or plan on buying it later.

Not trying to argue but My white set (18v compact driver and impact) and my teal set(hammer drill and recip saw) had LXT on the side. But it may have been homeowner vs professional color scheme thing. Their 10v drill/ impact driver combo are also white. Edit: quick google suggest the white 18v line have the shorter runtime batteries aimed at the homeowner / DIYer / low end contracting crown and the real line are the longer running flagship line.

I love that you have the Makita product line brochure pinned up there on the left. Like a menu..."I'll take that one, and that one,..."

well done. I'm kinda regretting Gifting my small Makita set away. Enjoy yours.

If you see the XC two packs in store, they are $79. I already have a couple, but the two packs are a great deal.

These are on sale on the HD website for $43/2pack. Free shipping to home. A lot better than $69 for one batter. Not as good as the $18, but I missed that an my 12v impact driver only has the two batteries it came wit. http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-12-Volt-4-0-Ah-Hyper-Lithium-Ion-Battery-2-Pack-AC820592/205358343

I'm not surprised they haven't that. When shopping it's hard to not go with more power when the option is there and the price and weight isn't that much different.

I agree. I would have thought they would have added three lights. It seems everyone was moving that way. Odd

The only thing that kept me from getting Milwaukee sooner was I didn't know enough about tools to justify the higher prices some of their FUEL products demand. Now I have a pretty good set going. I think the gen public may be the same way. The lines that aren't as innovative will use that price difference to keep their sales up until they can match Milwaukees lineup.

I have the 12v Impact driver and it stays in my truck. I got it on clearance a few months back and more than worth what I paid. I just ordered the 2x 4.0 h batteries as those are on sale now. This thing is great. Used it numerous times and hasn't let me down yet.

Thanks for the warm welcome. My wife rolls her eyes every time a new tool shows up. I have a feeling when I meet my demise she'll curse my name numerous times as she sells off my collection.

Another solid review. I'll probably get the sander to go with my x5 set

This chest is on my very short list. I hope I can get the funds up before they disappear.

I agree on buying used and buying small to start. The first bike I "got" was a 1600 Yamaha road star that was my dads when he passed. It was a beast but the skills are the same. My problem was I got off balance on an uphill stop sign and slowly laid it down. Sold it and bought a 750 Honda shadow. Great bike. Plenty of power to get me across county. Later traded up to a Honda 1100 cruiser. Perfect for me. As for the wife, get a comfortable seat with a back support. Also get a magnetic tank bag so you can grab and go when you stop without having to fiddle with opening saddlebags to get your important stuff.

So like I mentioned in the mechanics tool set thread, I bought the dewalt 3/8" Socket Wrench Set with Pear Head Ratchet when they were on sale recently. I have had a craftsman 100 piece set for years and decided to pick up a new set. The first thing I noticed was that the dewalt ratchet is noticeably heavier. Not burdensome but heavier. It also ratchets at smaller intervals than my craftsman. And it was smoother. My first project was to hang a garage door opener in my new garage. The garage has taller a ceiling than I'm used to and had to buy a taller ladder (8') than I had previously owned (6'). I also had to buy extensions for the opener mount, but ultimately I was able to use my new ratchet. I did have to move from one side of the opener to the other a couple times. His meant moving the ladder. Well I must have left the ratchet on the top of the ladder because as I moved the ladder it fell from the top. My reflex was (o-my-gosh-my-new-ratchet-is-going-to-bite-the-dust) to soften the fall of my new prized full polish ratchet ..... with my foot. Bad idea. The weight that struck my foot was far greater that what I expected given my experience with the lighter craftsman. So much more. My foot starts to swell immediately. My tennis shoes (bad choice) was visibly growing. And now slightly bleeding. The head of the ratchet had actually broken the skin on my foot through my shoe. I know now that it was dumb because I know nothing would have broken if I let it fall. The thing that makes this even more ridiculous is that when the set went on sale I bought the other sizes and a full mechanics set. I bring that up not as a humblebrag but to make the point that I had another. I left for the beach for our family vacation the next day and limped up and down the beach like a fool. Anyway, lesson learned. Dewalt is Heavier than craftsman.

I got the 204 piece set when they were on sale. Excellent set. I bought the 118 piece set to gift, and bought the smaller 25 piece 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" sets in smaller cases for easier carry. What little I have used them, they have performed very well. And the ratchet has held up to some 8 foot drops. Funny story I'll share in another thread.

I guess I should have started here. I'm a 37 year old father of three living just outside of Austin that finally got serious about my tools. I'm not a tradesman but I'll try to fix or install anything once. I'm the amateur woodworker that never took shop in high school but I'm making up for it now by learning the expensive way. Like many DIYers I started amassing cheap tools that were on sale or gifted by people who knew even less about tools than me years ago only to be eventually frustrated. I'd go to grab that ole NiCad craftsman 13.2v drill to assemble something only to have the battery fail to hold a charge. Then grab the random screwdriver only to have the handle crack. A few years ago I finally decided I was going to buy a good cordless drill. I was going to bite the bullet and spend more than $50 on a drill. I got a compact 18v makita drill/driver and impact driver set. That was pretty much the beginning of my current illness. We can no longer park in our garage my workshop. I look for projects then try to justify when I need a new tool for said project. "I need to tear apart that desk...do I own a sledgehammer?" But some purchases are more expensive than others and I'm hoping to not waste money but reading what you, the collective tool aficionados, have experienced before dropping my pretty pennies on the counter. Thanks for setting up this forum.

I started (when I finally got serious about quality cordless tools) with a makita 18v compact set. One battery died just out of warranty but I was really impressed with the set. They do have a wide offering but the battery replacement was close to $100 so I looked around. I saw the rigid comoact 18v set with the LSA and jumped on it. Really like the set. After a year with the compact set the x5 set came out bought that. Could not be more pleased. At the same time I started trying 12v sets. I haven't had a bad experience with Bosch (impact driver and drill/driver), ridgid (impact driver), hitachi (impact driver and drill) and Milwaukee (non-Fuel drill and impact driver). Milwaukee has a very extensive 12v lineup. So I gifted the Bosch and Hitachi. Ridgid stays in the truck. And the Milwaukee set has grown to include hackzall, ratchet, flashlight, multi tool, and rotary tool. So I guess I'm a team red 12 volt guy and team orange 18 volt guy.