[Will brushed cordless tools become obsolete?]

Good question.  From a consumer viewpoint, brushed tools will always be "better"--less expensive, user serviceable, less prone to damage from abuse/accidents.  Just about everyone here is a diehard tool user/collector, so naturally more runtime and better specs (as most brushless tools boast of) appeal to us.  Harry Homeowner, though, is likely much less discerning, caring more about price and perceived quality.  In my opinion, this is why DeWalt continues to sell new 18v tools.  They are tried and true tools that many people think are still top of the line.  A few months back, I paid a local guy to help me hang drywall.  He brought his 18v XRP drill, but I'm fairly certain my 20v Max stuff changed his opinion.  His batteries died quick, so he found himself using my brushless drills and impact driver more often than not, and he was amazed by the screwgun with collated magazine.  I eventually let him use an adapter to keep running his drill with the 20 batteries.

 

Anyway, I digress.  So long as they continue to see profits, major tool manufacturers will offer brushed tools.  They may slowly reduce the types of bare tools and single tool kits, but larger combos will probably continue to be offered at prices far below those of premium brushless combos.  Think of the DCS393 and DCS381; both are saws with cost-cutting features that are solely offered in combos.  Similarly, look at recent special buy combos.  DeWalt and Milwaukee offer three tiers of drill/impact kits nowadays: brushed, budget brushless, and pro brushless.  The brushed (e.g. DCD780/DCF885) is noticeably cheaper than the budget brushless, which is in turn significantly cheaper than the pro brushless.  

 

Simply put, proven designs (DeWalt 18v, brushed tools in general) will continue to be sold until they are no longer profitable.  Most consumers don't need to pay more for a brushless tool, so they will continue to buy basic models over more premium offerings.  Meanwhile, many of us will continue to buy the latest BL/Fuel/whatever else our preferred brands offer and scoff at those buying that 18v XRP kit at Lowe's (I'm exaggerating; I don't think less of anyone due to what they are buying and am actually glad when I see anyone spending their hard-earned cash on a tool).

 

TLDR; Brushed tools will be around for the foreseeable future.

[18v Compressor?]

Should I buy, or wait for the DeWalt?  My local Home Depot is getting rid of them and has had at least two in stock for the past few weeks.  I noticed a few days ago that they've dropped from $180 to $150.

 

I don't really need a small compressor, though it would come in handy for some projects and to inflate tires.  Really, the price is what is causing me to try to find an excuse to pick one up.  I recently bought a few more batteries, the ROS, and the router, so the compressor would be a welcome addition to my Ridgid collection.

 

Anyone have one?  Is it worth buying instead of waiting for the DeWalt?

[Florida and Texas]

I've been watching Irma coverage since waking up at 0500 this morning (I slept in, usually wake up no later than 0330 on days off).  Picked up a few more Ridgid batteries, made sure everything is charged, and have adequate food and water for me and the dog just in case.  If the power goes out, my neighbors won't know how I'll still have light, radio, and fans.  Speaking of which:

 

 

12 minutes ago, Jronman said:

I hear everyone talking about getting fans. What are they used for in a hurricane situation?

 

I'm not a hardcore hurricane expert (never been in the center of one, closest thing was TS Lee in 2011), but I own a house in Louisiana and have lived in the Deep South for the past nine years.  I think the reason fans are so talked about is the same reason I've been talking about them: they circulate air that is otherwise humid and maybe stagnant (if any water damage has occurred).  I'm just looking forward to being relatively comfortable, watching some more TIA videos on the phone (streamed through a radio), and having plenty of light.  That is, if the power even goes out. 

[Long-Gone Retail Chains]

2 hours ago, JimboS1ice said:

My grandfather worked for Montgomery wards paint division, which got sold to ace which is now Valspar. My parents have a chest freezer from wards that's about 30 years old and still going


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I've got my dad's old welder and air compressor, both with Wards branding.  Sad that some people probably find such items at yard sales and think they were a tool or appliance company. 

[What tools did you buy today?]

Tried getting a BOGO Ridgid 4.0Ah pack as part of the promo (buy 2 bare tools or batteries, get starter kit free), but no dice.  While on the subject, though, the local Home Depot has another Rocket light promo that qualifies for the current Milwaukee light promo.  The older promo includes a 5.0Ah battery and charger in the box, while the current promo throws in a separate 5.0Ah battery.  The old one was great, the current one pretty decent, but getting both with one purchase is outstanding!

 

So, I contemplated leaving the Ridgid stuff behind, but decided to fill some gaps in my cordless tool collection instead.  With the storm headed this way, I really wanted a couple more batteries for my fans, so I decided to pick up the random orbit sander and router to qualify for the free starter kit, while also picking up the last BOGO 4.0Ah pack.  With the storm coming, I'm fairly prepared for a few days without power (worst case scenario).

 

Battery situation is now as follows:

 

Rocket light: 33Ah of batteries (2x 9.0Ah, 3x 5.0Ah)

Ridgid fans: 20Ah of batteries (4x 4.0Ah, 2x 2.0Ah)

DeWalt radio, USB charger, Bluetooth speaker, and various lights: 46+Ah (7x 2Ah, 4x 4Ah [one more is at work with the spotlight], 2x 5Ah, and 1x 6Ah, plus eight or more 12v 1.3 and 1.5Ah batteries)

 

Filled two 5 gallon bottles for the water cooler yesterday, and about to bring in the patio furniture in a bit. 

[Long-Gone Retail Chains]

Montgomery Ward used to have a nice video game section.  I recall seeing the Sega Master System display and seriously considering asking for it.  The Sears catalog had me also considering the Atari 7800, but I eventually got my NES instead.

 

One thing I forgot to add is how nice it is to see former retail space repurposed.  I used to be amazed at pictures of Dixie Square Mall that urban explorers have shared on various blogs.  That was the mall used the The Blues Brothers, and though I've never even been near the area, it was sad to see trees growing up through the floor.  On the other hand, Baton Rouge had Bon Marche Mall until twenty or so years ago.  Driving down Florida Blvd one doesn't even recognize the former mall, which is now occupied by Cox Communications and some other businesses.  I didn't recognize it as a former mall until I drove around the unaltered back and saw the unmistakeable layout.

[What tools did you buy today?]

On 9/8/2017 at 1:03 PM, dwasifar said:

Howzabout this little Hitachi 12v rotary tool:

 

 

Check out that clearance price at Lowe's.  Don't strictly need this but for $39 I couldn't say no.

 

 

Comes with a case, which is a big deal for me; I like organization.  They included two little bags of accessories, but disappointingly the case has no organization for those, so I'll probably have to improvise something.

 

 

It's a little butt-heavy when you hold it.  I don't think I'd have paid the original $99 price for this, but for $39 it's a hella good deal.

 

 

I picked one up for a similar price (maybe $36) a couple of years back, along with the Hitachi rotary kit for an additional $15 or so.  It's a decent tool, especially for the price, and if you luck out you may be able to find additional batteries for cheap.  My local Lowe's had some 12v Peak batteries for $5 apiece earlier this year.  I bought three but the dog chewed one of them up.  Oh well, cheaper than some dog toys, I guess.

[Long-Gone Retail Chains]

There used to be few home improvement retail chains in the central Virginia area which are no longer with us.  Builder's Square, Home Quarters Warehouse, and Hechinger were three that I recall seeing and occasionally even venturing into.  There was little need for the wares such stores offer insofar as my family was concerned, so the few chances I had to see the interior were memorable.  I don't recall Home Depot back then (though I'm sure they were around the area), and the local Lowe's was not much larger than a Dollar Tree. 

 

To be honest, I don't remember a whole lot about these stores, despite remembering all sorts of stores like Bradlees, Ames, Hills, Best, Service Merchandise, Roses (still in business, but a shadow of its former self), Thalhimers, Miller & Rhoads, McCrory, G.C. Murphy, and numerous other chains.  Sadly, Sears and Kmart will probably soon be added to that list.  Retail history is a subject that has long interested me, though; from the dead malls and label-scarred shopping centers with dated designs, to the shifts in popularity for retail centers.  Downtown was still thriving in the early '80's, enclosed malls finally dominated the latter part of the decade, and now the open-air town center (in some cases merely an upscale and massive strip mall) is killing many malls.  These are and were places where handymen bought their tools and supplies, housewives outfitted the children with school clothes, and families spent memorable (if only for the kids throwing a fit) times. 

 

A fairly recent store to go out of business is Alco.  In 2012 I moved to a one-light town in Georgia.  There are a couple of gas stations, one with a McDonald's, and a Dollar General and supermarket, and until a couple of years ago there was also a store that is best described as a mini-Walmart.  Alco appeared to be a lawn and garden store when I first saw it.  They had a small fenced in lawn and garden section in the parking lot, lawn mowers out front, and even had a sign that proclaimed they were starting to sell beer!  When I first walked inside, though, I was amazed.  Those of you who never had an Alco can imagine a store the size of a Walmart market.  Rather than groceries, though, they had clothing, footwear, home needs and decor, furniture, hunting/fishing supplies, electronics, seasonal departments, toys, a few aisles of non-perishable food, milk and eggs up front, hardware, and of course, tools!  In other words, they sold just about everything Walmart does on a smaller scale and with less selection.  Prices were unable to compete with Walmart, but factoring in gas and time, they were bargains as opposed to driving 60 miles round-trip.  I shopped there often before placing all of my stuff in storage for an all-expense paid trip to Afghanistan, then moved closer to the installation once I got back.  A couple of months later I read that Alco was going out of business, leaving a lot of small communities with Dollar General or Family Dollar as their only retail option.  I made a last trip to see what was left (not much) and walked out a final time.

 

The attachment some of us get to places we frequent--even chain stores run by mindless corporations that care only about our money--can be real.  Don't get me wrong, the places that are now gone and the businesses that are no longer don't cause emotions to well up inside of me.  Still, these were places where men and women earned a living, provided for families and themselves, and which were generally relied upon to make life a little more convenient. 

 

Okay, so an off-the-wall post that will very likely be on page 2 in no time, but it killed a little time for me.  Conquered the Finance homework, organizing tools, and about to YouTube it up with AvE, The Great War Channel, Forgotten Weapons, and some retro gaming channels.  Batteries charged, 10 gallons of water available, steaks for the dog, and a few cans of green beans and rutabagas just in case Irma decides to crush the Chattahoochee Valley.

[Tool Tracker (Excel)]

Okay, I'm finally getting around to working on this some more.  In the end, it will be a monstrosity, as I'm including my various Ridgid and ToughSystem boxes and their contents as well.  Ultimately, though, it should help me track where everything is and what I have.

 

I'm thinking of filling my bottom boxes as follows:

 

DS450: Electrical bags (2x), hammer drill, reciprocating saw, other tools that would be useful for electrical work

DS400 (with cart): Various cordless tools and such that would be useful for general construction/remodeling work

Ridgid #1: Drywall screwguns, cutout tool, and various drywall tools for any drywall projects

Ridgid #2: Various tools for home projects/kind of an extension of the second DeWalt box

 

The small boxes will be filled with specialty tools, batteries/chargers, and other stuff.  I'm thinking about using one for low voltage electrical (though I may just keep that stuff in a bag instead), and while I found the DS130 perfect for batteries a few months ago, I now need at least two of them, plus additional boxes for Milwaukee (and maybe soon Ridgid) batteries and chargers.

 

The medium boxes will be dedicated to hand tools, with at least one of each devoted to plumbing, electrical, drywall, and general projects. 

 

The other boxes like the Ridgid crates, ToughSystem organizer, and the ToughSystem radios will be outfitted and/or added as needed.

 

It's a work in progress, juggled at the moment with my Finance school work (maybe by the end of the class I'll realize I'm broke all the time due to power tool purchases), but in the end, this will work out nicely when I take on a lot more projects next year.  As a Drill Sergeant living in an apartment, my tools are sadly more decorative 95% of the time than they are workhorses.  Next year will find me with a lot more time off and located only a couple of hours from my in-laws' run-down house.  Windows, HVAC, doors, cabinets, flooring, yard work, gutters, you name it needs to be done before I retire and move 1000 miles away back to my home.  Of course, once I get there, I have big plans, and as it looks like I'll be living there alone, the entire house might become a workshop.

[Hurricane Irma headed my way!]

I'm sure everyone here is hoping for the best for you, as I am!  Unfortunately, big storms are a way of life in Florida and along the Gulf Coast.  Try to stay as safe as possible; I'm preparing for my area  to be hit in a couple of days (though nowhere near as hard).

[Florida and Texas]

5 hours ago, BMack37 said:

I'm charged up and ready, got the bluetooth speakers and battery backups. Milwaukee lanterns and bt speaker can also charge my phone. I also have some regular batteries that I can rig up to charge my phone if necessary. The fan is going to be my best friend.

 

 

 

 

I was just thinking about how much better prepared serious tool owners are than average people.  The area I live in will likely be hit but probably not as hard as further south.  Still, I have cordless fans to create some air flow, and a slew of lights and phone charging options.  Left the USB charger at work, but I have 2 Bluetooth speakers and 3 ToughSystem radios to keep the phone charged.

 

Anyway, I'm about to head out to refill my two 5-gallon water bottles, and may pick up a couple more Ridgid batteries for the fans.  Depending on reports I may acquire a box or two of MREs this weekend as well.  Like I said, it shouldn't be too bad here on the Georgia/Alabama border, but you never know...

 

Here's to hoping that Irma is much ado about nothing.

[Retiring an old tool]

While I'll agree that it's sad to see an old standby outlive its usefulness, it is a testament to evolution that such a sturdy old box should no longer be ideal for the modern worker.  I still have my first tool box, one of the ubiquitous steel 20" Craftsman types that are still sold today.  It is heavy, prone to rusting, lacks any sort of IP rating, and the size is just large enough to lose smaller tools while not being able to fit larger tools including some hammers.

 

While the quality of older tools and tool boxes is rarely matched today, the convenience and ease of use is often much better in even the cheapest of tools.  My old Mac upright stack I used professionally is solid (and beat up) as all get out, but I can pay half as much nowadays for a much larger brand new box with stuff like ball bearing slides than I paid for the used Mac.

[Don't mess with mobile plant operators!]

Nice compilation, kinda scary how road rage can affect heavy equipment operators and others though.

[What brand Power Tool should I invest in?]

For sheer expansion purposes, I'd go Ryobi.  Every Home Depot has an endcap devoted to the brand, as well as a significant number of tools in the aisle.  Additionally, holiday promos and the Ryobi Days event offer a lot of bang for the buck.

 

Kobalt 24v seems great, however, and battery prices are probably the lowest of any brand.  If Lowe's was the only local option, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Kobalt.

[DYIer looking for a good tool platform.]

5 hours ago, DR99 said:

I'm sure Ryobi tools have fed a lot of families over the years.

 

My neighbor runs an electrical contracting business and all he has is a Ryobi drill.  Granted, he rarely has to get his hands dirty these days, but he used it to extend out his shop for a new RV.  When I saw what he and some family and friends built, I was amazed.  I'd have had impact drivers, cordless screwdrivers, and a variety of other cordless tools strewn about with 4Ah+ packs in them, yet he screwed in every fastener with only a drill and likely just the smaller batteries that came in the kit!

[Dead, Dying, or Stagnant Tool Brands/Systems?]

"Why isn't this in the DeWalt section" you ask?  Because despite DeWalt supporting a few stagnant and arguably dying/already dead systems (12v XRP, 14.4v XRP, 18v XRP, and some will definitely argue 12v Max and perhaps 8v Max), the brand itself is going strong with 20v Max and Flexvolt continuing to grow.  Instead, this thread is a commemoration of sorts for those cordless systems that are no longer with us.  Feel free to bring up the good, the bad, and the ugly about those nearly forgotten (perhaps for the better) tools that some of you made a living with in years past.

 

I traded in cordless tools for pneumatic tools pretty quickly, and then traded those in for an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and later an M4 carbine.  Regardless, I remember two systems, one used professionally and one used around the house: the Black & Decker UniVolt and the B&D 14.4v NiCad.

 

The UniVolt was used when I was a kid of 17, working for my girlfriend's uncle fabricating and installing FlipClean gutters (we made the hinges out of custom aluminum stock with lots of fun toys like a bandsaw, lathe, drill press, and tumbler).  We had both B&D and DeWalt drills and batteries in at least 7.2v, 8.4v, and 9.6v, and everything was cross-compatible if memory serves me right.  In fact, I still have my old drill with two batteries and charger in the metal case and have been meaning to grab it since there isn't a whole lot of info online.  For heavier work we had a 12v hammer drill, but the UniVolt covered most of what we needed.  A charger was always plugged in and plenty of fresh batteries were kept on-hand; it became standard practice for us to carry an extra since they liked to die at the most inopportune times, like when you were at the top of a ladder, with the gutter at the perfect pitch.  Good thing I usually prepped the gutters and downspouts on the ground and left the others hang them.

 

The B&D 14.4v may have never been a system.  I don't know, it may have only powered a handful of standard drills with no other tools being released.  I picked up a neat retro drill, the RD1440K, for cheap and it met my needs well enough that I left a somewhat glowing review on Amazon seven years ago: https://www.amazon.com/Decker-RD1440K-Anniversary-Cordless-Driver/dp/B00006FX9U/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

If I had to do it again, however, the review wouldn't be quite so good.  Hindsight is always 20/20 and while NiCad was the best thing going when I purchased the drill, by the time I left the review some manufacturers were releasing lithium-ion batteries for their tools.  Looking back, each time I had to use it the battery would be dead.  After confirming that the nice silver battery that came with the drill was dead, I picked up three more batteries on clearance at Walmart, found the charger had died and made another trip out to buy the multi-voltage charger.  As I was starting to learn a little more about tool systems, I made a point of charging those batteries every few months until...I stopped.  Honestly, I don't even know where the drill is.  I'm pretty certain it's in storage and the batteries are probably dead.  With its unique look, it will be a wall hanger like the UniVolt. 

 

As stated above, my experience with cordless tools has been brief until recently.  I look at what I currently own and wish I had such tools doing gutter work, framing houses (I was the cut man, and a cordless saw would have been nice), or repairing vehicles and equipment.  That said, I know that some obsolete or almost gone systems made a lot of money for some of you in the past.  My disabled brother probably looks back fondly to his days using DeWalt 18v XRP to earn a living doing a variety of work.  He finally got a 20v Max drill/impact combo earlier this year, so I gave him an 18v adapter, a couple of 1.5Ah batteries (OCD? I only want XR batteries, kind of like how I only want Fuel and not regular M18 tools), and some other goodies like a ToughSystem radio.  To think, one day we'll all probably be thinking of 20v Max and M18 in this same light.

[TTI: Which Brand to Choose (Pulse Driver)?]

The title says it all.  I'm considering buying a pulse driver in the eventual future and figured I'd gather opinions.  I'm currently invested in Milwaukee with two 9.0Ah and three 5.0Ah batteries, and have two 4.0Ah and one 2.0Ah Ridgid batteries.  However, Ryobi offers some unique tools, so eventually Lime Green tools may supplement the Yellow, Red, and Orange ones.  Conveniently, all three companies have a version of the pulse driver--the Fuel Surge (Milwaukee), Stealth Force (Ridgid), and Quiet Strike (Ryobi).  Intuition tells me to buy the Ridgid kit as a way to amass more batteries and expand that system.  I really don't need the Milwaukee and lack any compact batteries to use with it.  Meanwhile, Ryobi mainly appeals to me for the niche items they offer like the glue gun and inflators, not core tools. 

 

Essentially, I've kept the bulk of my cordless tool collection Yellow.  Red crept in with outstanding deals (over $1900 in tools for a little over $900), and Ridgid was a recent addition for the sake of comfort.  Naturally, DeWalt does not currently offer a competing model so I'm left wondering: go cheap, go middle-of-the-pack, or go Red?

[Favorite Big Box for Tools?]

3 hours ago, DR99 said:

Home Depot used to sell used returned tools. They stopped that practice a few years ago and it all just either gets rtv'ed or tossed. Honestly the open box used stuff wasn't worth what they were asking. Some of the stuff look well used and they wanted like 75 80% of retail. Not worth it compared to normal clearance deals HD offers usually.

 

They probably found that the market just doesn't support reselling returned tools.  I find it odd that the same chain known for selling new products at 75% off on clearance sells display tools (and formerly used tools) for a premium.  I've noticed that a lot of stores will have a display drill, sans batteries and charger for, say, $80 when one can buy the complete kit for $100. 

 

3 hours ago, DR99 said:

Lowes is not nearly as good as HD when it comes to left over stock deals for some reason. It wasn't bad a few years ago but lately the deals are pretty meh.

 

I preferred Lowe's back when they had more treasures tucked away.  Incidentally, Porter Cable 18v tools could still be found back then: I scored things like the OMT kit for under $70 and a fluorescent area light for free!  The best left over stock deals I can recall were for holiday accessory bundles like bit sets and such.  They'd sport a "New Lower Price" of $25 from $50 as soon as they were displayed, but a month or so later some could be found for $12.50 or so.  Lowe's is much more generous than Home Depot on display models, though.  I picked up a second 8v Max gyro driver for $18.  Figured my kit came with two batteries, so it was worth it.  A few months ago the local store had a cart (or "buggy" in this area) full of chargers and batteries at $5 apiece.  I picked up an extra 8v Max charger, Kobalt 20v max charger, and Hitachi 12v peak and 18v batteries and chargers.  I believe I got 3 of the former and one 3.0Ah 18v.  Sure, the dog chewed one of the 12v batteries up (oops...) but I walked out having spent under $40.  I kind of wish I'd have picked up the Bosch batteries and a charger, but didn't want to open that can of worms.

[Favorite Big Box for Tools?]

Drive through lumber stores seem like they may be convenient.  Stine Home and Yard in Louisiana has one, though theirs is on one end of the store and allows customers to walk through it.  For purchases of more than a few pieces, it would certainly be preferable to drive through and have the employees load your truck as opposed to loading up a lumber cart and wheeling it outside.  Unlike Builders, though, Stine does have a fair amount of lower end tools to complement DeWalt and other pro brands.  I can swear I paid well under $100 for my since-stolen 10" miter saw.

[Favorite Big Box for Tools?]

11 hours ago, Jronman said:

Depends on what you want to include for big box. If you only include going to a physical location I would have to choose for my top choice Builders because it has a heavy focus on pro brands and is only 20 minutes away from where I live. Also you walk in and the tool section is right there basically front and center. I have seen some discount bins or something there but I haven't looked into them. The store could be bigger but I won't complain. My second choice would be Home Depot because it feels like it has a good selection of tools. My third choice would be Ace Hardware. There may not be the largest selection or the latest and greatest but seems like you can find more oddball things that the bigger stores don't sell. 

 

For online I like Acme tool because of the deals and Amazon is good as well for having prime shipping and a good selection of tools.

 

Builders looks like a decent store, and appears to be a Do It Best affiliate.  For better or worse, the few Do It Best stores we have in the southeast are smaller hardware stores.  It's great seeing the selection of Channellock products some of the better stocked stores offer, but prices tend not to be the best (though I do make a point to buy something whenever I stop into one.  A lot of the time small towns have hardware stores that appear to be offer little compared to big box chains.  Looks can be deceiving, though: I found a store in Manchester, GA and another in Montgomery, AL that each carry a lot of DeWalt products other stores don't stock. 

 

I agree about Ace, though I would group True Value and Do It Best with that chain.  I had a roadside emergency earlier this year and needed a 32mm wrench to tighten up my pitman arm (the nut had somehow backed almost completely off--not good).  Lowes, Advance Auto, Autozone, and Tractor Supply did not carry one (they maxed out at 30mm and 1-1/4" or so), so I made do with an adjustable wrench and a length of pipe.  A lot of smaller stores carry nearly a full line of Channellock, DeWalt, or Craftsman hand tools, to include larger sized wrenches.  For what it's worth, I did later find a Craftsman 32mm--which I believe was the last time I purchased a tool from Sears--and keep it in the truck box.

[DYIer looking for a good tool platform.]

On ‎9‎/‎2‎/‎2017 at 8:58 PM, Wesley S. said:

I am in the process of updating my cordless tools platform. I have checked out Dewalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Ridgid and Kobalt. I am looking to use them around the house and various outdoor projects(deck). I am looking for something reliable and that will have no problems going through matieral.

 

Here's my $.02 about the brands you've checked out:

 

DeWalt:  Solid professional brand with a lot of options should you choose to expand beyond the basic (drill, impact driver, saws).  FlexVolt gives you more powerful tools while the batteries maintain compatibility with 20v Max tools, and price-wise, DeWalt is often less expensive than Milwaukee. 

 

Milwaukee:  Another solid professional brand that until recently offered tools that DeWalt didn't (brushless 7-1/4" 18v circular saw, among others).  They seem to be fixated on keeping the M18 platform for all tools, which limits their ability to compete with higher voltage tools, and they are one of the more expensive brands widely available in the US.

 

Makita:  Yet another solid brand which I admittedly don't know much about.  Platform-wise they seem to offer many of the same tools as the previously mentioned brands do, though, so in terms of variety you can't go wrong.

 

Ridgid:  A professional brand that is manufactured by the same company as Milwaukee and seems to be positioned just below that brand in price.  They have an outstanding Lifetime Service Agreement (though some have had bad experiences registering for it) that is unmatched by any other brand as it covers batteries as well as tools.  They also offer innovative tools that higher-tier brands do not such as cordless routers and sanders, but they lack the breadth of tools the first three manufacturers offer.

 

Kobalt:  A (possibly) up-and-coming platform, 24v Max, seems to be met with praise and offers possibly the least expensive batteries on the market.  Many people were alienated by the rapid change from 18v (1.3Ah batteries) to 20v Max (2.0Ah and 4.0Ah batteries and slightly better specs), which were interchangeable, and then the abrupt termination of 20v Max in favor of this new system. 

 

If price is your only concern, go with Kobalt; if you want expansion possibilities go with DeWalt, Milwaukee or Makita,; and for longevity purposes go with Ridgid.  I personally chose DeWalt but have gotten a few Milwaukee and Ridgid products over the past year. 

[Favorite Big Box for Tools?]

The title says it all: what's your preferred Big Box tool source? 

 

Admittedly, my "hobby" these days is combing through Lowe's and Home Depot stores, sometimes as far as 100 miles away from home.  You never know what kind of deal may be found, and it gives me an excuse to get out of the apartment and take the dog for a nice ride down highways and byways (I rarely hit the interstate unless traveling longer distances).  So, out of sheer boredom, I figured I'd compare the Orange and Blue stores from a variety of standpoints.  Years ago Sears would have been a factor, but they have gone the way of the dodo in this area.

 

Tool Selection:  Both stores have every basic tool a homeowner or general construction worker would need.  Some smaller stores may not have some specialty tools, and niche trades will likely find a supply house a better choice.  For this reason, I'd say that the two are tied were it not for one reason...Home Depot's rental centers at many stores.  Those larger tools that aren't sold may be rented instead, providing an alternative to larger tool rental companies in a familiar atmosphere. 

 

Tool Brands:  This is where things get subjective.  I used to prefer Lowe's, especially when they had domestically produced brands on clearance.  Naturally, once those clearance deals were gone and the offshore tools ruled  the shelves, I started going to Home Depot more often.  Lowe's currently sells Bosch and DeWalt power tools (some stores carry/carried Metabo as well), with a handful of arguably "lesser" brands (Kobalt, Hitachi, Porter Cable, Black & Decker, Rockwell).  Home Depot sells Milwaukee, DeWalt, and Makita, along with brands like Ridgid, Ryobi, and B&D (and some Bosch saws).  For overall brand representation and in-store availability, Home Depot wins the power tool category.  Similarly, I'd say that Home Depot has the better selection of tool brands.  Ridgid, HK Porter, Milwaukee, Wiss, DeWalt, Estwing, Empire, Klein, and a multitude of other brands are available.  At Lowe's you essentially have Stanley/Black & Decker (SBD) and Irwin brands available, along with a few outliers like Vaughan.  For some reason, though, I've always preferred Kobalt to Husky for hand tools.

 

Special Buys:  Both stores have occasional offers that are pretty hard to pass up.  When it comes to Home Depot, the modular boxes (Ridgid or DeWalt) are unbeatable when they go on sale (like the DeWalt is now) and the simple availability of comparatively "better" or at least more diverse brands like Milwaukee, Ridgid, Ryobi, and Makita as well as DeWalt usually make the Orange store's deals more tempting.  When it comes to special buys on accessories, Lowe's is destroyed by Home Depot, in my opinion.  Brands like Diablo will often have BOGO deals on saw blades and grinding/sanding accessories.  Lowe's will occasionally offer a good deal on accessories, but they simply do not stand out like they do in the other store.  This could be due to store layout as well, though.  Most Home Depot stores have a wider front aisle with plenty of room to place brightly colored Special Buy displays, while Lowe's often has less floor space and shares the color blue with one of the brands that usually offer such deals, Irwin.  Lowe's does win with the more common Special Buys, though.  They use a green sign that contrasts nicely with the shelf space, while Home Depot uses signs that blend in.  For an example, browse the tool aisles and  you may notice the current Ridgid and Diablo promotions do not stand out quite like a neon green sign does.  Lowe's also has the discount applied automatically, something which Home Depot may have finally started (I know they were still having to scan the on-screen coupon for BOGOs a year ago).  Home Depot also has another drawback, explained below in Discounts.

 

Customer Service:  I rarely interact with the customer service desk, but the few returns I've done have been fairly decent overall.  Both stores vary in terms of knowledgeable staff and the number of associates available at any given time.  Since I've literally memorized where almost everything is, and each company uses only two or three layouts in most stores, I usually avoid interacting with the associates unless I need something that is locked up. 

 

Locations:  There are plenty of stores in the greater Columbus, GA area, with Atlanta (a little over 100 miles away) naturally having some of the nicer Home Depot stores in the vicinity of its corporate headquarters.  Across Georgia, though, I found that Lowe's often had locations in smaller towns such as Hinesville, Vidalia, Waycross, or Statesboro, while Home Depot stuck to larger cities like Savannah and Brunswick.  In the immediate vicinity, there is one Lowe's and two Home Depots, with another one of each about 30 minutes away in Opelika, AL.  For most people, either store would meet their home improvement needs and there would be no need to drive a half-hour to another store (as was the case in Hinesville, GA).  For tool aficionados such as me, though, it's worth the  extra drive just to pick up the brand I want (e.g. Klein instead of settling with Southwire).

 

Discounts:  I use a military discount for nearly all of my purchases, and am a big fan of saving the extra 10%.  As mentioned above, Home Depot has a drawback compared to its competitor: the discount does not apply to Special Buys.  While I don't hem and haw about not getting a discount, it is nice to know that even with a BOGO offer I'll save 10%.  It seems that Lowe's offers the discount on nearly any purchase; the only time I was denied it was when a manager gave me a good price on a non-stock item.  Regardless, it is great to have this privilege at either store, and while the discount sweetens the deal it is not a deal-breaker.

 

Left-Over Stock (LOS) Deals:  I consider left-over stock to be former promotional merchandise that went unsold and wasn't pulled from the shelves.  This can result in pretty decent deals a lot of the time.  When I recently bought two Ridgid cordless fans with a free starter pack, I knew I'd need another battery so I grabbed a 4.0Ah from the shelf, regretting not waiting until the holiday season.  Lo and behold, a final walk around the tool section resulted in me finding a BOGO 4.0Ah pack left over from some previous offer.  A few other stores I visited yesterday had two or three of these as well, so if you're in the market for Ridgid batteries, keep an eye out.  Another LOS deal was the Milwaukee Rocket light with 5.0Ah starter kit.  A current promotion tosses in a 5.0Ah battery with the bare tool purchase, effectively including a 2-pack of batteries and a charger with the purchase.  You'll also find LOS turning into clearance merchandise, such as the Milwaukee 9.0Ah starter kit with free Sawzall or circular saw currently selling for as much as $75 below its original price.  Lowe's does not seem to have anywhere near the same amount of LOS deals as it seems that most of their Special Buys are not packaged differently from normal items (a BOGO battery deal would require two individual batteries instead of two packaged together with Special Buy labeling).

 

Clearance Deals:  Both stores can be pretty decent with clearance deals, though it seems that Lowe's is much more sporadic.  Clearance tools at Lowe's often requires a venture down the tool aisles, looking for yellow labels that are not usually extremely discounted.  Some stores will have a designated section as well, while others will occasionally put out a table with used/missing parts/etc tools (an especially good way to score bare tools).  I haven't seen a Home Depot that sells obviously used tools outside of the rental center.  That said, it is possible to find some good deals at Lowe's, such as the Fatmax levels that were recently priced as much as 75% off.  Home Depot seems more methodical (in an erratic way, if that makes sense).  Pricing seems to start at either $.06 or $.00, with the former dropping down to $.02 before being pulled from shelves (though savvy bargain hunters can score literal penny deals, I've gotten exactly two on items that originally sold for under $10).  The latter ($.00) pricing seems to drop more slowly and may not drop any more.  It seems that Lowe's is more apt to clearance out a tool due to it being discontinued or no longer carried, and the best deals are when they switch brands (leading me to outstanding scores on Wiss, Ideal, and Fatmax in the past).  Meanwhile, Home Depot will have more variance store to store, with some stores selling items on clearance at half price while other nearby stores still have that item at normal pricing.

 

"What Are They Doing?" Deals:  Finally, these are the items that you find on clearance at significantly discounted prices and buy because you are sure they will no longer be stocked.  Home Depot has done it with items such as the DeWalt DCV517 vacuum and the Fuel 2763 impact.  Lowe's has done it with the Jawhorse and very probably other items.  Each time I'd find a yellow clearance sticker reflecting a price 25-50% lower than original, only to find the shelves full of that same item a month or so later.  Perhaps it is due to some vendor agreement or a need to move unsold inventory to make room for new products, but it makes little business sense to me that I should be able to pay $150 for two Jawhorses that the store is obviously desperate to get rid of, only to find five more in their place the following month for $150 apiece. 

 

Anyway, I was bored, but think I'll close for now.  What is your favorite big box tool store, and why?  Mine used to be Lowe's for the clearance deals as I started going regularly when they were getting rid of Ideal low voltage tools and Wiss metalworking tools.  Unfortunately, I missed the year prior when they were selling Knipex and Channellock electrical tools at super discounted prices.  Nowadays, however, it would have to be Home Depot for not only clearance deals but also for Special Buys and brand availability.  Another boring weekend or two and I might complete my TTI trifecta by buying into the Ryobi One+ system.  While DeWalt is by far my favorite power tool brand, my Milwaukee Fuel tools and Ridgid fans are great!  It was even better waking up to the dog barking this morning due to a power outage, turning on a Ridgid fan for air circulation, using the Rocket light to find a battery for the ToughSystem radio, and finally using the radio to charge my phone and stream SiriusXM using 4G.  Cordless, it's truly the way to go...  Until my batteries start dying in the years to come, and the manufacturers move on to the next big advance in technology.

 

 

[Bye bye dewalt :(]

Damn, that sucks.  A burglary started my descent into tool-buying madness a few years ago.  Fortunately, I didn't have much in the way of cordless tools back then, but the thief took a generator, lawn mower, air compressor, and a bunch of other tools, guns, and my TV.

 

If anyone is interested, I have a spreadsheet I built a few months back while on 24-hour duty.  I still haven't updated it with serial numbers, but it has tabs for various brands and everything from a description of the tool to the place and date purchased.  Maybe updating it will be next weekend's project.  I'm also planning to make a video of my tools with screenshots of the serial numbers.  It's a pain to take individual pictures, and a YouTube guy that explained how he protected his video game collection brought up that video is one of the best ways to prove ownership. 

[What tools did you buy today?]

Got a perfect grade on my first Finance quiz, so I rewarded myself with a DeWalt OMT with free 6Ah battery at Lowe's.  I was debating the XR circular saw to replace my Fuel saw, but decided to save $27 and wait for a future deal (or another perfect grade next week).

 

Again, sorry for never including photos; my phone doesn't let me upload them.

[Home Depot]

For those interested, Phenix City, AL has a few of the Sawzall kits at $175.  Kinda sucks since I just picked one up for $200 a week or two ago.  As for the pricing, I think its pretty good.  This kit basically gives you a free 9.0Ah battery and rapid charger while saving $5 on the Sawzall.

 

Also, I went on a casual cruise this morning and found a DeWalt 7-1/4" miter saw for $200.  Already had one but for $192 with tax I couldn't pass it up.  Good thing I picked up two of the DWX725B work stands with brackets earlier this year.  Another store had the saws for $280, my local store still has them at $350, and the one I already had cost around $240 with tax.