I need some advice on tools......

[rmblam]

I myself prefer Dewalt, but there are many other decent products available. I'd go with a nicer drill over the circular saw myself just out of sheer usage. Most people will use the drill more often than the circular saw.

Skil Circular Saw This one should suffice most home users and is reasonably priced (Check Menards). You are looking at upwards of $100 or more for a Makita or Dewalt.

Cordless drill? You can save a lot of $$$ by going with a corded one although the cordless is nice. A 3/8 inch Dewalt Heavy Duty keyless chuck runs about $60 and is my drill of choice. You'll even have enough money left over to buy him a heavy gauge 20 amp extension cord if you shop smart.

Good luck.

 

[Yeeny]

Thanks Batti and rmblam, I really appreciate this. I love when he asks me for something I know nothing about, and expects me to pick it out. Why oh why can't he be into computers? I could handle that so much more.

mechBgon: That's what I was thinking.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

G/F
Definatly get the Dewalt cordless drill.
Also If he's going to be doing house work, you need to get him a couple rolls of the all mighty Duct Tape. No handyman should be without it.

It is the best tool you can get him.
Because, just like the force. It has a dark side and a light side and it binds the universe together.

 

[Yeeny]

JL: That is so funny you said duct tape, it reminded me of one of his handyman jobs. He broke my clear plastic salad bowl in half, and decided to fix it. He scotch taped it back together, and when I put salad in it and picked it up, it went all over the floor. I was soooo mad, and all he had to say was ops?" How I have not killed him yet is beyond me.

 

[qacwac]

Yes, go to Sears in Rivergate Mall, Madison, TN. There is a real nice guy named Seth there who will sell you a Dewalt. And a PowerMiser 12 waterheater with a 5 year maitenance agreement. A craftsman lawn tractor too if your wanting one.

 

[Mday]

geeez, i want to get a jigsaw and a power sander for myself, and wanna spend $100 each.

anyway, you gotta spend more on the saw than on the drill.

 

[Yeeny]

qawac: Are you trying to make a commission sale off me? Nice try, but since I live in NY, I think Tennessee is a bit far of a drive.

 

[ultravox]

I will jusr echo what others have said to reinforce the gist of it. You are better off buying quality tools than tools designed for the "Home Handyman" One usually buys B+D then later upgrades to a Makita or Dewalt. It doesn't cost cheaper going that route than buying the Makita right off the bat. I learned this the hard way. Sears (craftsmen) does make excellent tools although I do find them a bit overpriced compared to Dewalt or Makita. Good tools are a joy to work with and the stronger the better. When in doubt between two different brands, always go with the one that has a higher Amp rating. The tool generally performs better and it's easier on the old fuse-box when doing some heavy work.

BTW.those are excellent gifts to give a guy. My wife often buys me tools or accessories as gifts but knowing exactly what hubby wants is important especially when buying rotor bits or very specialized tools....good call GF !

 

[chansen]

I'll agree with the sentiments on DeWalt and Porter Cable.

For cordless drills, 12 or 14.4 volt is all you typically need. Do not get a 18 volt drill because it costs less - it will actually be of similar power, but of lesser quality and very heavy. I like my Porter Cable 12 volt. It has an excellent 2 hour peak detecting charger and a safer battery conection detail than the Dewalt. Dewalt is far more popular though, and has two different models in each voltage. My Porter Cable is priced between the two, but is more comparable to the high-end DeWalt and comes with a good cordless screwdriver to boot. If you are trying to save some money, there is nothing wrong with the budget DeWalt line. And if you want to add another manufacturer to your list, look at Bosch - light but expensive. I don't like Milwaukee cordless drills - they tend to get very hot.

Circular saws. Skil is the classic manufacturer of these (i.e. Skilsaw). Theirs are the only ones I've used, but only their contractor line of worm-drive saws (the motor is mounted behind the blade instead of beside. The most important thing here is motor HP. If he intends to do fine work with it, look for a sturdy base that doesn't wobble easily. Do not get a cordless circular saw unless he has asked for one - they cut way too slow for me. I'd rather get more extension cords.

And if you want to get both under budget, consider a corded drill as well. They are much more powerful than cordless, and lighter, which helps tremendously on overhead work, for example.

And remember, Home Depot sales staff are about as knowledgable as Circuit City staff. Most here have given you sound advice. Except that guy who suggested Dremel?

Regards,
Craig

 

[Toolman]

As someone who earned their living with their tools (still do part time)for almost 15 years, these are my recommendations:

Keep in mind that these recommendations are with quality and durability foremost in mind.

1) Routers - Porter Cable makes the best routers, no question about it! Dewalt is good too.

2) Circular Saw - Skil worm drive is my first choice, Porter Cable or Dewalt a close second. Stay away from Sears or Hardware store brands.

3) Cordless Drill/Driver - 14.4 volt Dewalt, Dewalt Dewalt & Porter Cable

4) Electric Drill - Porter Cable or Dewalt

5) Chop/Miter Saws - Dewalt & Hitachi both excellent!

General comments:

Milwaukee - makes great tools but I personally do not care for their ergonomics. They haven't kept up with the times. The triggers on their drills are so long I find it difficult to release the trigger and still hang onto the drill. No need for the triggers that long.

Makita - I use to luv Makita & thot the world of their tools. Stay away from any of their compound slide saws, you'll be sorry unless you're a wood butcher. Generally, difficult to find/get parts!

Sears - I have no problem with their hand tools and recommend them for all but the professional wrench turners. Their power tools however are a different story. Sears power tools ARE NOT QUALITY! And there is NO lifetime warranty on their power tools.

Black & Decker - never really used their tools, other than Dewalt.

Hardware store brands - Run! Run far! Run fast! Do not look back! Let me share a story. A friend built a good size two story barn style garage. His hardware store brand skilsaw ate the farm. He went and bought another. A few days later it met the same fate. By the time he was done with his project he had bought 4 saws at $49.95. 4 x $49.95 + tax = $215.79 plus all the time and trips to the store. I just laughed at my penny pinching friend. If he would've bought quality the first time it would have lasted to hand down to his grandkids. My grandkids are gonna have an awful lot of tools to hand down to their grandkids!

Email me if you have any questions or anything. Also, mail order is a great way to save money. Often they ship for free (minimum order) and no sales tax. I can give ya some good sources.

 

[Feisters]

I would also recommend Porter-Cable. Mainly because they are rugged and made in the USA. . . until now. I just replaced a USA made 12 volt cordless drill that was stolen, with another Porter-Cable. Lo and behold, when I unpacked it, the label read Made in China. Grrrr. It still seems to be of the quailty I've come to expect from Porter-Cable tools. We'll see how it holds up. At any rate, get him a name-brand (not B&D, not Makita) 12 volt cordless drill for starters. Throw in a good set of drill bits (1/16"-3/8&quot and a driver bit set as stocking stuffers.

 

[Wolfie]

Makita's are nice. (plus my uncle works there) Dewalt's are nice. Black and Decker are nice. (I have a circular saw from black and decker I got in 1981 and it still works great)

Wolfie

 

[Feisters]

Makita and B&D are ok for occasional around the house use. They do not hold up to daily use. I've worked constructon and maintenance for 15 years and have learned the hard way to not buy cheap tools. It might cost you more at first, but you'll save in the long run.

 

[Fatdog]

Great suggestions from everyone else so I just want to add this. If you go cordless, don't go less than 12 volt. And for any power tool you get, try and get it with a case. A power tool with out a case is like a hotdog without a bun!

 

[MrPALCO]

Milwaukee will last longer than any, and is priced about the same...


edit...sp

 

[BoberFett]

The professionals that I know swear by DeWalt.

 

[lowtech1]

Cordless drill is nice, but if you don't already have one, then try a corded drill. Corded drill is much more powerfull and is cheaper than cordless drill. If you chose the corded drill, then try to get a small/light weighted one with a large chuck...a heavy drill is too cumbersome to use for most work around the house.

As for a circular saw, it all depend on how much use it gonna get...A worm-drive circular saw is about 2X the cost of a regular saw, but it is much nicer to work with (no kick back) compare the regular saw.

If your husband is willing to do alot of work around the house, then you should get him a set of Makita or Bosch, other wise a set of cheap Back & Decker, or Skil will do.

 

[chansen]

Geez, who would have thought that a bunch of computer folk would know so much about power tools. I'm downright impressed with us.

Regards,
Craig

 

[Napalm381]

<< The professionals that I know swear by DeWalt. >>

I work at Home Depot in the summer, and I have met contractors that swear by Porter Cable and Milwaukee also. I've even met some that say Dewalt is crap.

Then again, somebody mentioned that Home Depot workers don't know squat about tools. Riiiiiiiiiiiight.

 

[ArkAoss]

POWER TOOLS

Well i recently acquired a set of craftsmen 18 volters, drill and one of those new mini rotary saws, was using it with the diamond cutting disk for my dremel, . .. . just imagine, then the collet broke (not part of the tool part of my cheap bit)

dewalt definitly good, b/d now definitly cheapy
duct tape great, but electrical tape is good too. . .
if he does alot of projects, either get him somthing with 2 batterys and a fast charger or a corded and some good cord, and a reel, and real fun, train your son to wind up the cord for him!! I learned young that fine art. what was fun was my dad, being an electrician, rather than replacing cords that where stiripped, he repaired 'em. and when they'd get tangled while he was working, I'd walk the tangles out. I am now extremly warry of his repair jobs, and the twitch in my eye has almost gone away


/funny tale

 

[BoberFett]

Napalm

I'm sure it comes down to preference. Besides, we have our Intel and AMD, carpenters need something argue about needlessly.

But one thing I know all the pros will tell you is to stay away from B&amp;D if you plan to use your tools for more than hanging a picture once a year.

 

[Mday]

um, those old people at home depot know a lot of crap about tools =)

 

[chansen]

Sorry if I offended, Napalm, but most big box sales staff tend to push what they've been told to sell. Others do know what they're talking about, but you just never know.

Regards,
Craig

 

[Mday]

did he ask for sex?

 

[lowtech1]

It funny that you guys swear by Dewalt, and sh!t on Black &amp; Decker...Just so you all know B&amp;D is the parent company of Dewalt