fm2176

Almost all of my impulse buys see me considering returning them. Then I think, "some day..." I haven't had time for much more than minor projects for the past couple of years. Instead, I've taken advantage of great deals on tools, usually looking at the little used--if not unused--tool lying around. Those days will be done in another week, though. I'll be moving to an area where I'll always have a lot to do, while working fairly normal hours once again and having weekends off.

I saw this on ToolGuyd yesterday. It looks like DeWalt is trying to offer a more compact and lightweight light than they would be able to with a 20v version. I have a number of 20v lights and two of the 12v pivoting head lights. This one appears to be substantially smaller than any of those. The cord is my main concern...if it is lost or damaged another must be procured.

It's in store. I saw it but passed it up as I don't need any of those tools.

I bought one a couple of weeks ago but have only used the battery so far. I was comparing the display to the 575 yesterday and am glad I got the one I did. Though I'll likely pick up a 575 eventually, I've already got brushless Ridgid and Fuel saws if I want something lighter.

I noticed that HD stopped selling B&D cordless tools, leaving DeWalt and Makita as the only non-TTI cordless tool presence in-store. As for SBD, it's crazy how many different brands they offer; it could be easily imagined to have SBD consolidate down to three brands if they wanted. They've got two Bostitch platforms alone (I don't believe they are compatible): the 18v at Wal-Mart and the 20v nailers at Lowe's. Something about SBD's business model works, though, so who am I to call it stupid? As for Lowe's, SBD does have a chokehold on them. Even so, serious tool users are better served by going to HD, in my opinion. Whatever agreement is between HD and SBD, the orange store has the upper hand when it comes to SBD's premier tool brand. They sell the nailers, FlexVolt, and a number of other DeWalt tools which Lowe's doesn't sell, to include hand tools. Lowe's is stuck with Bostitch (no other tools available) and Porter Cable (generally regarded as much lower in quality) nailers, while they switch between Bostitch and FatMax hand tools. When you compare in-store offerings of Makita, Ryobi, Ridgid, and Milwaukee to Hitachi, Bosch, B&D, Porter Cable, and Bostitch, I feel as though HD wins every time unless the consumer is already heavily invested in one of the latter brands. Going back to the batteries, I think that a lot of the qualms I have with SBD's "lesser" brands is that they all use different batteries. If they stuck to, say, B&D, PC, and DeWalt as their primary battery platforms and made other brands compatible with one of those, it would make more sense to buy into the very limited Bostitch systems or other small brands (such as the FatMax power tools from a while ago).

Electrical clearance has largely dropped to $.03 pricing. I picked up four 250-count jars of Ideal Wire-nuts and a few pairs of the Klein Extreme gloves (made by Mechanix) for $11.03. In terms of power tools, they currently have Milwaukee kits and lights at around 30-50% off. I found the original Rocket light for $125 in Opelika, AL but passed on it.

True, I didn't take into account TTI's licensing vs. SBD's ownership of their respective brands. In a sense, TTI has a brilliant marketing strategy, licensing respected and well-known trade names and remaining loyal to battery platforms released in the infancy of modern battery tech. I missed out on the whole V18 to M18 debacle, but have read enough older threads to know that tool users generally aren't happy when they invest a lot of money in a brand only to have their chosen lineup discontinued with minimal support. DeWalt was bad-mouthed many times over for not releasing their DCA1820 adapter earlier, while a few years ago I was upset to see PC abandon their 18v line so soon after buying into it. SBD's "family" approach also seems wise given their ownership of the brands. While I can imagine that Milwaukee, Ridgid, and Ryobi power tool engineers share some knowledge and technology, I can also see where the licensers of those brands would not want them to be remotely compatible. SBD, on the other hand, can freely share tech between brands, minimize production costs by sharing some machinery, and even divert or clone products to other lines, as in the case of the Restorer. Anyway, the differences in battery design piqued my interest yesterday, but today I'll be actually burning through my batteries. I have an overgrown yard to clean up, so the Ryobi pole saw and the DeWalt string and hedge trimmers will be put to good use, along with my Sawzall with pruning blades and gas powered chainsaws and lawnmower. A local Lowe's has the 40v lawnmower in stock, but I don't want to open that can of worms by starting to invest in 40v Max tools and batteries.

The pictures aren't professional in quality, I know, but the FlexVolt 9Ah is only marginally larger than the Milwaukee. Comparing the three, I'd say the Milwaukee 9.0 HD is slightly larger than the FlexVolt 6Ah, while the FlexVolt 9Ah is similarly larger than the Milwaukee. In other words, weight aside (I don't have a scale handy), these batteries are similar in size--if you need/want runtime at the compromise of having a large pack, I can't see why the battery size itself would win out in a Milwaukee vs. DeWalt contest.

Pride gets me as well, which is why the bulk of my tools are XR or Fuel, but sometimes we can't overlook sheer value, or the fact that a tool simply isn't available in a "premium" brand. I initially invested in DeWalt's premium tools before being enticed into Milwaukee. Later, I realized that some tools such as a router and sanders weren't available unless I "downgraded" to Ridgid or Ryobi. My Ridgid versions are perfect for my needs (bought another router today as well) and turned me on to the prospect of owning TTI's least expensive brand. I'll find out how the pole saw works tomorrow. In a way, I wish I weren't so prideful...90% of what I do could be accomplished by Ryobi. The other 10%, well, I've still got hand tools and ingenuity.

So, I just tested out the Ryobi glue gun and have to say, I'm impressed. However, I had the spare battery sitting next to a Ridgid after just moving a few DeWalt 12v Max batteries and found myself interested by how different TTI (Milwaukee, Ridgid, Ryobi) and SBD (DeWalt, Porter Cable, Bostitich, FatMax, Black & Decker) battery designs are. TTI 18v batteries are vastly different in design. Ryobi uses a stem battery to ensure compatibility with even the oldest One+ tools; Ridgid uses a slide-on style that also allows compatibility with older tools but which creates a larger base for drills; and Milwaukee uses a more streamlined slide-on pack that replaced the V18 battery system. None of these batteries are remotely compatible with each other. SBD, on the other hand, seems to take a more familial approach in battery design. Their various battery systems are not designed to be interchangeable, but it seems that many people have converted Porter Cable batteries or tools to permit their use with B&D, or vice versa. The contacts may not line up, or there may be more or less in various brands, but overall the batteries look very similar. I recall looking at some B&D 12v Max stem batteries when I had my Porter Cable 12v Max tools and finding that the only difference was which side a plastic tab was on. Everything else seemed identical, and I found some testaments to their interchangeability online. Then too, there are the similarities in cross-voltage battery systems with SBD. DeWalt is the most blatant example of this, having chargers and accessories which work with either 12v Max or 20v Max batteries. In my mind, this was a precursor of sorts to FlexVolt, which (as all the regulars here know) can power not only the 60v and 120v tools but also most of the 20v system--barring those tools which have small batteries compartments, such as some radios. Anyway, my theory is that TTI had a unique theory when designing the tools they produce. Ryobi was seen as a stalwart holdout and, lacking the need to attract those with demanding needs, has been given increasingly newer battery technology in a system that is far older than any other mentioned here. Ridgid, being the middle offering, was also relegated to keeping its form factor, which is more in line with modern designs. Milwaukee, meanwhile, was intended to be the leader in innovation, technology, and naturally price. This caused them to adopt a battery format that many of us would consider modern (slide-on, more compact than earlier slide-on designs such as Ridgid's or Porter Cable 18v) and stick to it even as technology has progressed far beyond what many of us might have forecast. I think that SBD, however, wished to modernize all of their brands with smaller format batteries, keeping them largely the same. I can imagine that they found reduced production costs by having some of the older batteries share many components (i.e. PC and B&D 12v Max), and decided to stick with that business model. Besides this, their brands' offerings have always been less diverse than TTI's, with the exception of DeWalt and arguably Porter Cable (which might have matched Ridgid's diversity at one point). Speaking of DeWalt, I feel that they found a decent 20v Max battery design from the get-go and gradually realized that their 12v tools aren't that much smaller or lighter than compact 20v versions. All told, I find that DeWalt and Milwaukee batteries are very close in size, from 2Ah to 5Ah to 9Ah FV/HD. Ridgid tends to be a bit larger, but Ryobi is relatively massive, with their 3Ah nearly the same size as a DeWalt 6.0 XR. Despite, or perhaps due to this, I enjoy all three of the more expensive brands, while looking forward to putting the Ryobi tools through their paces. What are your thoughts?

The fact I'm starting this thread hints at my newly acquistioned Ryobi tools. Anyway, as with the DeWalt, Ridgid, and Milwaukee threads, what prompted you to make your first Ryobi purchase? If you don't own any or are simply uninterested, why? Ryobi has stepped up their game big time since they ditched the low-grade blue and decided to cater to budget-minded people, both professionals and homeowners. Ryobi Days finally got me, with the 3Ah starter kit and free pole saw. I've got a fair amount of yardwork to do tomorrow and needed a pole saw. DeWalt doesn't offer one that I know of, and even if they did it likely wouldn't be available locally. To be honest, the 18v glue gun has interested me since its release, so its current reduction in price just made the purchase a little easier. We'll see if I revisit this thread in a few months; there are few tools Ryobi offers that I don't already have in other TTI brands or Yellow, but the caulking gun and a few others might be too tempting to pass up. I also plan to pick up a 2-pack of the 6Ah batteries before June 20th (the last day of the promo).

I don't blame you...the tools I own are decent but I wouldn't put them quite in the top tier of brands. They definitely aren't worth paying more than DeWalt and similar brands.

The tools take a little getting used to since I'm used to DeWalt, primarily the light trigger on the grip of the impact and drill I picked up. In a way, it's very nice, being able to activate the light without pulling the trigger, but it can get annoying if something bumps against the tool, and I can imagine it would kill a battery if the tool is tossed in a bag with the battery attached and the light turns on often.

My experience with Milwaukee so far has been positive. The only issue I had was with my 2763 Fuel impact wrench. The trigger started acting up shortly after I bought it, making a fizzing sound (is if something was shorting out) whenever I tried staging the trigger, with the tool giving an error code. I contacted the warranty department, printed the return label, and promptly put the impact in my truck...where it sat for three months before I sent it back. In about a week I had my repaired impact back, which has worked fine since. I think in kind of the same way. Until my last couple of purchases, all of my cordless Milwaukee tools were higher demand Fuel models (except for lights) which filled holes I had in the Yellow line. A rotary hammer, circular saw, Sawzall, and impact wrenches were it, until boredom got the best of me and I picked up a bare tool One Key impact driver. A couple of weeks ago I picked up two of the non-Fuel brushless compact drills for $54 each, primarily for the compact batteries, though they also allow me to have a dedicated Milwaukee tool box with basic cutting and driving tools. Until the recent acquisition of the 2.0Ah batteries, all I had were five 5.0Ah and two 9.0Ah batteries.

This is the same as the DeWalt and Milwaukee threads. Though Ridgid seems much less popular in these forums, what made you choose to buy into the brand, or set you against the idea? For me it was the Georgia heat. I was sweating away in my truck while staying overnight with initial entry soldiers in the field, loving the space in the backseat but unwilling to let it idle all night for the AC, as my coworkers would do in their much newer vehicles. All of the buzz around the forum and on other tool-related sites was about the upcoming release of the DeWalt fan. It was late August, I saw the fan would be available in October, and I figured that enough was enough. After seriously considering Ryobi, a Special Buy lured me into Orange. Buy two bare tools, get a 2.0Ah starter kit free. Two is better than one, right? Plus they had a few 4.0Ah two-packs left over. The next day I forked over some $220 and walked out with two fans, three batteries, and a charger. Follow-up Special Buys netted the router, ROS, air compressor (bought for $150, returned and rebought for $50 a week later), and vacuum. Follow-up clearance deals found me with a special edition 4-tool kit (mainly for the two additional 4.0Ah batteries) and belt sander. The fans? Well worth it, I used both Monday while replacing my brake booster and master cylinder in the searing heat. Everything else? Outstanding so far. The LSA for everything? Kicked back once for the belt sander, scanning and uploading the receipt saw it approved within a few days; the 4-tool kit took a couple of weeks to process but was approved without a problem.

In a similar vein to the DeWalt thread, I figured I'd ask the same questions here. What drove you to decide for or against Milwaukee when making that initial tool purchase? I only spent a little over a year forgoing Milwaukee deals after deciding that the Yellow "20v" tools were what I'd replace my obsolete cordless system with. To be honest, I'd already been partially brainwashed by the regular content on here and other sites. I knew that I couldn't really afford multiple systems, before becoming a Drill Sergeant left me with no hobby other than looking for deals on my rare time off (and with more disposable income than I normally had due to the long work hours and lack of social activities). With my willpower weakened, and after wanting a rotary hammer for months (passing up a corded Yellow model for 50% off a month or two earlier), I waltzed into my local HD and saw a clearance table. On it lay a 2713-20 Fuel rotary hammer for 75% off, with a 5.0Ah starter kit for 50% off next to it. I passed it, went back, walked away, and went back again, buying both for around $130 plus tax. That was all it took, and though I've (mostly) refrained from buying multiples of tools in different brands, I now own more than a few Red tools that clash nicely against all the Yellow.

I'm genuinely curious as to why you decided to go with DeWalt tools (or why you didn't), as well as what you feel their strengths and weaknesses are. I will be posting similar threads in the Milwaukee and Ridgid forums as I own a number of their tools, but will leave the other brands out for now--feel free to start your own in those forums if this subject piques your curiosity... As for me, it was simple, I was kind of indoctrinated. The first guy who took a chance on a 17-year-old high school dropout used B&D and DeWalt tools exclusively (there was some blurring between the brands back then). He hired me for his small gutter business, which manufactures hinge systems his father designed and which he and a couple of helpers installed. A few years later, my brother began investing in 18v tools, using them for various businesses and the trades he worked in. I had it pounded into me that Yellow simply belonged on the jobsite. To be fair, though, it was my quest for deals that really got me started down the path I've been on. Cheap 12v Max batteries coupled with a clearance Bluetooth speaker were the gateway to a very substantial number of 12/20/60/120v Max purchases.

Sorry about your experience; having personal or business property stolen downright sucks! I agree with the statements about Packout being a big "STEAL ME!" sign, though. I keep too much stuff in my truck, including a Milwaukee 2767 kit, which I keep covered and with the black side up. I haven't gone to this extreme yet, especially as my tools are in pretty great condition, but I've been considering painting my tools and/or boxes. I have 8 total Milwaukee boxes (none Packout, 4 each of the 13" and 26" Jobsite boxes) which stand out among the ToughSystem, Ridgid, and other tool boxes I own. As for the OneKey app, I have it but have yet to sync my single Tick to it. I played around with the impact driver settings, and agree with the consensus that the more the merrier when it comes to having the app regardless of personal use. I also downloaded the ToolConnect app, which I currently have no use for. Maybe one day it'll help locate someone's stolen tools.

Here is what my local store had a few days ago. One socket set and a VersaTrac accessory kit. I'm sure there'll be much more displayed soon.

Secret squirrel

College graduation gift for myself. Gonna have to one up it once I earn my Master's.

Market Garden

This is something that I think we sometimes forget, especially when we are hyped up on recent releases by our favorite tool brands. FlexVolt was released what, two years ago? Prior to that, I recall a lot of complaints about how much DeWalt needed to catch up to Milwaukee. Since then, 12v Max seems all but dead but more recently I've heard more gripes about how far behind Milwaukee when it comes to 18v+ systems. I own both Milwaukee and DeWalt, and as more of a hobbyist/DIY'er, I'm generally a generation or more behind. For example, I bought the Fuel circular saw and Sawzall last year, both of which are now considered "old" designs by today's standards. This is good...professionals such as Joe can take advantage of newer technology while maintaining those "old" tools that are still unmatched. Amateurs such as me can look at all the newest tech and consider what we might purchase once prices come down or special buy packages are offered. Everyone wins in the long run, as companies compete for the "most powerful", "fastest", "most compact", "lightest", most torque", insert your own descriptor here. Meanwhile, those same companies are releasing new tools previously only offered in red, yellow, teal, or another color. DeWalt's had a cordless table saw for some time now...Milwaukee just released one. Time will tell which voltage is optimal for prolonged performance. The Milwaukee show is naturally going to cater to the strengths of Milwaukee's tools. One glance at the chainsaw video shows the Stihl has a worn bar with a less aggressive and probably dull chain while the Milwaukee is brand new. I'm sure DeWalt would show their FlexVolt saw handily beating the Milwaukee in a similar match. It will take objective tests and reviews to determine the true "winner" in the long run.

Fried chicken

Well, I finally figured out who to gift the old Porter Cable stuff to. I had my best friend in mind, but he decided to go out drinking and got popped for DUI back in November. With the aging batteries, I didn't want to risk storing these tools for him for three years, and a coworker has been talking about wanting better cordless tools for a while. He got a DeWalt 12v Max drill last year but was disappointed in its power. Well, that coworker is about to be medically retired from the Army at the ripe old age of 28. I've been staring at the PC tools for so long now I decided he can use them much better than I can, especially as they been completely supplanted by brushless DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Ridgid versions. I've been trying to find a bag large enough to hold them all, but most likely tomorrow will be my last day with these tools. Though they have been maligned here and elsewhere, the PC 18v tools always served me well despite their tiny (by today's standards) batteries. With the drill, impact driver, OMT, circular saw, reciprocating saw, inflator, area light, work light, two chargers, five batteries, battery status indicator, and a few accessories, along with the 12v Max drill and impact kit, my coworker should find this system preferable to his current tools. I've already warned him that these are technically obsolete, so batteries will have to be rebuilt or purchased from third-parties. That said, the batteries are still going strong despite some being eight years old. How have you bid farewell to no-longer-needed tool systems? Cordless technology has grown by leaps and bounds over the course of this decade, but so long as the batteries will hold a charge, even "obsolete" tools can still render good service. Do you gift them to a friend or family, sell them, exchange them for new tools, toss them in a closet, or simply discard them?