Need new cordless system

[fordman84]

Anyone have suggestions? My porter cable 18v LiIon system isn't that old, but apparently they took a page from Milwuakee's book and decided to market the exact same stuff as 20V but with a slightly different battery system, then stopped stocking the 18v LiIon batteries.

So I'm a little pissed that it costs so much to buy an 18V battery for my entire lineup. Anyone have knowledge of that industry to know what might actually be future proof? Prefer to stick with 18-24v.

 

[fordman84]

As for needs, drill and impact are my main tools. But have recip, circular, and jigsaw currently. May replace those or may not. Drill and impact are the main needs.

 

[Rex Racer]

As for needs, drill and impact are my main tools. But have recip, circular, and jigsaw currently. May replace those or may not. Drill and impact are the main needs.

I have a bunch of Dewalt cordless drills in the basement and all the batteries were junk in 3 or 4 years.

I have a bunch of Makita 18V cordless tools and even the oldest (10 yrs) are still holding a charge.

I picked up a Ryobi 18V drill/impact drill combo set last year and while they don't have the balls the Makita stuff has I think most homeowners/hobbyists wouldn't know the difference. At $100 for two drills, two batteries and a charger they are decent for the price.

I haven't owned any Ridgid cordless tools yet, but now that they are offering "Lifetime Service Agreements" I will consider them in the future.

 

[bamabear82]

I've got a Makita 14.4v with the NiMh batteries that I've had for years that's still going strong. I bet I've put on over 100 metal roofs with that sumbitch back when I worked for my grandfathers construction company. Of all the drills en sech I've had it's by far been the best one. I picked up a Craftsman 19.2 volt drill a couple of years ago that's been good too, only used for around the house stuff tho.

 

[fordman84]

I loved my Makita 9.6V years and years ago. Loved this porter cable, but can't buy 18v liIon batteries for it anymore. Don't want to go to the gimmick 20v and reward them for their crap.
Lowes is pushing their Kobalt line pretty hard. Know nothing about them except if I need spare batteries I can get em for $20 a pop. That might be a winner. I like the Ryobi one battery system and how you can run everything off that one battery. They are smart enough to know that if you get someone in your ecosystem then you have won. Everyone else tries to make tiny changes that forces everyone to repurchase everything.

 

[ckhokie]

Anyone have suggestions? My porter cable 18v LiIon system isn't that old, but apparently they took a page from Milwuakee's book and decided to market the exact same stuff as 20V but with a slightly different battery system, then stopped stocking the 18v LiIon batteries.

So I'm a little pissed that it costs so much to buy an 18V battery for my entire lineup. Anyone have knowledge of that industry to know what might actually be future proof? Prefer to stick with 18-24v.

2 suggestions:
First is Craigslist. Regularly able to find good deals on nice tools, typically barely used. Not sure how much of the stuff may be stolen
Secondly, oddly enough our outlet mall has a tool outlet store that I've gotten some good deals at. I bought my last drill reconditioned (and yes, when the batteries go to shit, it's often cheaper to replace the whole setup). For the price, I really like what I have
Direct Tools | RIDGID® 18V Li-Ion Compact Drill/Driver |

 

[fordman84]

Tahnks for the link, will look at it. I am not a professional, but I do use my tools a lot. The impact driver gets used at least every weekend. THe others were all nice to haves and gifts. Teh ability tobuy bare tools without batteries for cheap gives my wife easy choices for holidays like fathers day

 

[BTHOtu]

Damn. I have the same porter cable 18V everything.

I'm looking into new air tools. My impact can't ever break lug nuts loose anymore.

 

[BTHOtu]

Welp, one of my Porter Cable Batteries just shit the bed...

 

[rjshull]

Milwaukee is the only choice. My family owns a fairly large Plumbing HVAC family and the only tools that have ever held up to a heavy commercial work load is Milwaukee. Majority of the contractors in the industry use Milwaukee. DeWalt, Porter Cable, Makita, Ryobi, Ridgid all suck, they are homeowner brands. Spend a few extra dollars and go with Milwaukee.

 

[BTHOtu]

I have some Milwaukee tools at work. Sawzall, Band Saw, Cordless Impact, and a drill with enough torque to break your wrists if your're not careful. Porter Cable was good enough for light duty stuff around the house.