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Ebay (US) is great and quite a few sellers ship to AUS. Be careful though, some charge crazy amounts for shipping, so avoid them. Only yesterday I nearly ordered a Dewalt DCD791 for $136 AUD delivered. So far it seems much cheaper for Dewalt skins than here AUS. The compact brushless reciprocating saw is also available for about $200 AUD delivered ($300 here in AUS). I recently bought a Black Subcompact Makita drill and 2.0ah batteries with fuel gauges from US Ebay (both not available in AUS, only a teal subcompact and 1.5ah with no fuel gauge). It only took about 2 weeks for delivery! I highly recommend US Ebay. You can also use some of those postal proxy/forwarding services, where you can buy from any US shop and ship to a specified US postal address, and the service will forward it to you in AUS. A mate of mine does this.

As the title suggests, will we see the major manufacturers stop producing brushed cordless tools altogether? They are often more robust, have true variable triggers, are cheaper to produce etc etc. Is the "must be brushless" mentality bringing the end for them?

I very much doubt the tripple hammer is "best in class". There's just not enough evidence out there, only hype. One thing that shows, is that the Makita consistently finishes in the top 2, if not first place. Here's the link to the ToolBoxBuzz comparison which Hitachi declined to enter (as mentioned by @kornomaniac already). http://www.toolboxbuzz.com/cordless-tools/impact-driver/impact-driver-head-to-head/ Hitachi needs to earn best in class, not just claim it I want to see Makita TD170 VS Hitachi Triple Hammer, then we can settle it.

Just an update, I did some brief testing with my DCD796 using a 10mm drill bit, 100mm deep into hardwood. I was able to drill on all clutch settings above 3 (so 4-13).

Twist?

I can't wait to see Hitachi X2 with those new 36V batteries. If it is a thing anyway

Yes, I would love to know how much vibration this saw has. If anyone gets their hands on one, please report feedback here

Automatic welding helmet. An unknown Chinese helmet from eBay. I bought it because of the cheap price ($120 AUD) and large viewing area. It's supposed to have a "true colour" lens but I wouldn't be able to tell having never used many helmets. Much better than my flip down helmet!

Unimig Arc 170 DC inverter welder. I was given it as a Christmas gift. It's great. Nice welds and a very compact unit. I only started welding a year ago and first borrowed an old welder from my brother in law (hard to weld decent with). I used to watch my granddad welding and I was always in awe. Since then it's always something I've wanted to do. Now I'm mid 30's and finally doing it. Until today I've always used a flip down welding helmet. Now I have an automatic helmet, and what a difference they make! I can now tac weld with confidence. Anyway, I've said too much. Welding is probably my favourite thing to do with tools. Such a great skill to have (or try to have).

That does sound kinda clunky and not suprised that few are using it. Something outside of your phone, like A wrist band or something you put in your pocket that automatically enables the tools when in range/close proximity (~1m), and the tool by default doesn't work if nothing is "enabling" it (I guess it would transmit every 10 seconds or similar to keep it active). This could be bluetooth or the same tech used for credit card paypass/touch, RFID chip etc. You do nothing but go near the tool (like hold it) and it works. Put it down and its locked. Or a simple manual button like a keyless entry for your car. Click, beep beep, on for all tools in your tool box, tools default to off after 20 minutes of not being used.

A bluetooth wrist band that is the "key" to enable a tool (you have to have the key on you for it to work). Have any of the manufacturers using bluetooth done anything like this? It doesn't have to be a wrist band, maybe the key could go in your pocket, on your belt, put it wherever you want. It just has to be near the tool for it to work (~1m). No key nearby, no work. Just like using a key to start your car. You could pair multiple tools to a key ( so all your tools work with the same key), or have a key for each tool. Maybe even have your mobile work as the "key", so you have to have your mobile phone with you for them to work. Again, I've probably just described exactly what Dewalt/Bosch/Milwaukee are doing already. I haven't paid much attention to the bluetooth stuff coming out, it just seems mostly not worth the effort (a solution looking for a problem, which is 99% of the software industry this decade).

Sorry to hear @Roasty 3 out of 5 times this year I've been in Bunnings before 8am and there have been Tradie's who had their tools stolen overnight. One of the staff once said how high the amount of theft has been lately. It might be a sign of the times in the "lucky country"; the cost of living getting out of control and people getting desperate. Most people wouldn't steal if they were doing ok. Still a bad thing to do.

Saw looks great. Loving the subcompact range.

I'm glad I stayed with Bosch 12V. Those tools will be great to have! Especially the planer. Their 12V line is quite innovative in ways, and best of all, COMPACT.

Bosch is hard to find in Australia relative to the other brands.

+1 Dewalt OMT

Great photos. I don't have much yet but here's the list: - Subcompact drill - TD170 impact driver - stick vacuum - rapid charger - 2 x 2ah batteries - 1 x 5ah battery

Go for 2 of the major platforms. It's not twice as good having one, it feels more like 5 times as good picking the best from each. One extra charger and battery doesn't cost much. Makita, Dewalt or Milwaukee. If one only, Makita. I chose Makita and Dewalt. They both seem to have more best in class tools (or close to) and better high power approaches (X2 and Flexvolt) than Milwaukee. Also less expensive. It's really great having those two. A blend of the best, and the two platforms that compliment each other the best imo. When you see a new Flexvolt tool or new Makita impact come out, no prob, you can have both! Good lighting is easily found without needing a tool platform. It's also far less expensive. Buy corded and 18650 floodlights/flashlights/lanterns with usb or generic battery chargers.

Thanks for the tips. I was hoping the higher clutch settings would be close to the drills max torque, so a 70Nm max drill might allow ~64Nm in top clutch mode, allowing some level of drilling. I'll definitely try the impact driver. @Stercorarius was that one of the newer brushless Metabo's?

Does anyone know/have experience with how well a cordless drill protects you against kickback when using the clutch mode for drilling? Let's say you use the highest clutch setting, in theory it should slip just at the point when it binds up and tries to twist (if the torque exceeds that setting). When drilling metal (i.e. when it binds up just before going all the way through) it just might stop that final twist. The clutch would likely hold through the drilling if the hole isn't too big. Hopefully (to avoid embarrassment) this isn't some commonly known trick that I haven't heard heard of. I wanted to test this theory out today but things came up.

18650 powered lantern with IP64 rating, max 350 lumens, magnetic base, USB chargeable, 3 white modes and 2 red light modes (to keep the bugs away). Only $13 AUD on ebay delivered from China! I've also ordered a slightly bigger version that can use either a 18650 or 26650, has 400 lumens and a compass on top. It also has an extra USB out port to charge phones etc. Only $15 AUD! These are so cheap I will start modding them. A caribiner clip and some magnets on the sides for starters, and perhaps a cover so I can have 180 degree lighting when preferred. I actually sold my Bosch 12V DeciLED to get these lanterns. That light was amazing but too bright. I was also considering getting into Milwaukee for their lighting options but I'm finding far cheaper options on ebay. I think the M12 lantern is $70 AUD alone.

I recently got the DCD796 and it does this. I've had a few bits fall out. It's like the chuck loosens due to the motor brake. I used it briefly yesterday and tightened the chuck a lot tighter than I usually do and the bits stayed in ok, although I feel the chuck was a tiny bit easier to loosen than I expected, so maybe it did loosen up a little bit but it's hard to tell. Great drill!

Great news. Thanks for the inside info. I'll take an absolute guess at that question. Hitachi?

Correct @dwain It's a sad thing. Even budget brands like Stanley FatMax & Ozito have one. The only other brand I found is Black & Decker (doesn't count). Let's hope Metabo have something spectacular brewing. That along with a brushless recip saw!

Which brand/s, if any, have never had a brushless impact driver?