Power tool brand to buy for general stuff?

[fuzzybabybunny]

My uncle needs to get some power tools for creating raised garden beds, simple greenhouses, and misc stuff around the house.

He's getting older too so he wants things that are lighter weight if possible.

What brand should he get? Corded or cordless? There's lots to choose from but I feel like a brand needs to be decided on first especially for cordless tools due to the battery compatibility.

 

[shortylickens]

Bosch.

Also, the Home and Garden forum has lots of threads.

 

[paperfist]

Ryobi cordless makes some pretty good tools and their batteries are pretty much the same for all their tools.

The neat thing with that brand is they also make garden tools like little battery cultivators, string trimmers, etc which isn't something you find with other brands like Dewalt, Milwaukee, Hitachi, Bosch....

 

[BoomerD]

I switched to Ridgid a few years ago. Register them and you get lifetime service if they break/fail.

 

[rommelrommel]

Corded is lighter, more powerful. Cordless is the way to go with most of it if you don’t mind the bit more weight. Bosch, Milwaukee, makita, dewalt, hitachi all are good. Ridgid is alright and if you register everything right for the warranties can be economical.

 

[gorcorps]

I like all my Ryobi stuff. Downside is they're exclusive to home Depot, so if you don't have one nearby it kind of limits you.

 

[Billb2]

Bosch, cordless, re-manufactured from CPO outlet.

 

[Exterous]

Corded is lighter, more powerful.

Yep. I will say that Ryobi has been good to me. My dad bought me some of their cordless tools when I got my first house 9 years ago and I've bought more here and there since then. Even the old stuff still works fine. I'm not building entire houses but Ryobi helped me finish 1.75 basements and a myriad of other, smaller home projects

 

[zinfamous]

HD usually rotates summer sales for power tool packages, between Milwaukee, Ryobi, Makita, and maybe Bosch for a few weeks at a time. You can get pretty good deals on a nice drill set (impact driver + drill, for example). I'd say whatever brand among these they have on sale at and given time is a good deal. It's a nice way to start a proper tool collection cheaply.

Also, local flea markets, around here anyway, often sell well-used tools dirt cheap. I think it's mostly contractors unloading stuff that they have replaced. You can usually check if they work on site and honestly, if you get at least 2 or 3 years out of a tool for 10 bucks, why complain?

 

[Midwayman]

Corded tools I don't worry much about brand. Unless its like harbor freight they all seem competent. I have ended up with a lot of porter cable stuff for corded tools. Cordless I worry a lot more about. Bad cordless tools are just an exercise in frustration. I have dewalt 20v lithium for most of my cordless stuff and I'm happy there.

 

[gorcorps]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-1...5-Ah-Batteries-Charger-and-Bag-P884/203466936

Keep an eye on this set IMO, it goes on sale a few times a year for $200 which is when I bought it, and it has a lot of great tools in there.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I personally like Ryobi for a lot of general home jobs. I also use Dewalt for bigger jobs when I need it. Almost all cordless.

 

[Thebobo]

Porter Cable made great tools not sure now since they were bought by Stanley Black & Decker.

 

[Mayne]

I use Dewalt for all my cordless needs.

 

[lxskllr]

Boss needs a drill. What would you look for in a professional battery drill?

 

[FeuerFrei]

I use Dewalt for all my cordless needs.

You forgot to include an image of yourself with sleeves rolled up, hardhat, holding a Dewalt die grinder.

 

[herm0016]

I like the ridgid stuff. have gotten a couple batteries to replace the old first gen batteries from them. never needed service on anything else.

 

[Midwayman]

Porter Cable made great tools not sure now since they were bought by Stanley Black & Decker.

Yah. They're not top end or anything. Somewhat better than the black and decker/ryobi/rigid stuff, but cheaper than the big names like dewalt, millwaukee, etc. I'm not exactly brand loyal though. Whatever is at the right intersection of features and price.

 

[lxskllr]

Yah. They're not top end or anything. Somewhat better than the black and decker/ryobi/rigid stuff, but cheaper than the big names like dewalt, millwaukee, etc. I'm not exactly brand loyal though. Whatever is at the right intersection of features and price.

You kinda need brand loyalty with cordless, no? It helps a lot to have compatible batteries/chargers.

 

[BoomerD]

You kinda need brand loyalty with cordless, no? It helps a lot to have compatible batteries/chargers.

That’s really the ONLY reason to be brand loyal with cordless. IIRC, there are only 3 or 4 factories in China that make ALL the cordless tools for the various brands.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I'm just going to get him this wired circular saw from Ryobi:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-14-Amp-7-1-4-in-Circular-Saw-with-Laser-CSB135L/205216329

It's pretty lightweight. The Ridgid ones are way heavier.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

You forgot to include an image of yourself with sleeves rolled up, hardhat, holding a Dewalt die grinder.

With a beer in the other hand.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Personally as far as brand I would go with Dewalt or Makita - just my bias pick of brands in the drill world.

That’s really the ONLY reason to be brand loyal with cordless. IIRC, there are only 3 or 4 factories in China that make ALL the cordless tools for the various brands.

Yeah, but.... they use different colors!

 

[Mayne]

Personally as far as brand I would go with Dewalt or Makita - just my bias pick of brands in the drill world.



Yeah, but.... they use different colors!

agreed. I really only deal with drills.

 

[Thebobo]

Yah. They're not top end or anything. Somewhat better than the black and decker/ryobi/rigid stuff, but cheaper than the big names like dewalt, millwaukee, etc. I'm not exactly brand loyal though. Whatever is at the right intersection of features and price.

They use to be at the higher end as I said then went to bargain bin when they were bought IMO, they've been around Since early 1900. I have a early PC Circular saw and an electric corded drill.