Cordless Tools - Which Platform?

[David Mack]

Having long managed with only mains powered and hand tools, I am thinking of going cordless. But which manufacturer/platform to go with? I want the flexibility of a common battery type across a range of tools (for woodworking/DIY and gardening), so my initial choice will determine which range I use for the foreseeable future. 

Any recommendations as to which to go for or which to avoid?

Anyone seen good deals on 'starter' packs of tool(s), battery and charger?

Any ranges that include 12V chargers for use on the boat, or do folk just use a mains charger via inverter?

[LadyG]

Not sure about gardening, I used Ryobi petrol tools. Quality hand tools, if you have them give best results long term

I'm interested in a small sander for tidying up the paintwork, but for any big job one really needs mains. 

Edited December 2 by LadyG

[Hudds Lad]

I have a fair bit of DeWalt stuff. Woodworking etc. stuff is as good as you'd imagine, but also have some gardening gear which is their split boom platform, very good IMHO for a non-professional potterer. Whilst i can use the 9Ah 18V/54V flexvolt batteries from the gardening stuff on the hand tools, the weight and bulk has so far stopped me trying. Also the big batteries are bloody expensive (i was lucky to catch a promotion where one of the tools netted a free battery with proof of purchase).

[Gybe Ho]

Ryobi target the general home DIY market and have a broader range of tools e.g. hedge trimming, car tyre pump.

 

DeWalt if you want your power tools to be colour coordinated with your DeWalt branded work clothing.

 

Otherwise you want Makita.

 

Don't get suckered into buying into an older generation lower voltage battery system, though it gets complicated with Makita who have some 36v kit but 18v seems destined to be their mainstream standard.

 

Fully price up the battery cost, with a 5Ah 18v Makita at around £75, batteries could be 25% to 30% of your conversion budget.

[jonesthenuke]

I use Ryobi 18V stuff for most things, seems to be a good compromise between quality and price.  For higher spec stuff I buy Makita.

[Bacchus]

I got suckered into the Stanley world when I chose a cordless strimmer and there was an offer for a free second battery - certainly influenced a recent purchase of a multi-tool, and would for any other similar purchases, but the Stanley range is up there with any of them (if you choose the "fat-max" versions)

Other than that, professionals seem to use Ryobi or Makita

[Slim]

My vote would be for Milwalkee. I was a late convert to the brand and only have 3 tools, a drill, orbital sander and a wet and dry vac. All excellent,  sturdy and obviously interchangeable batteries. Last time I looked at a catalogue they produce over 100 tools.

 

[mrsmelly]

De walt.

[frahkn]

2 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:

De walt.

And me.

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

1 hour ago, frahkn said:

And me.

And me 👍

 

I’ve only a drill which is now over 10 year old and a multi tool that I bought this year,

 

I also bought a second bigger battery

 

the decider for me years ago was the availability of a 12V charger which I run off the load terminals on me solar controller. 
 

I’m looking to buy one of their 12v wet and dry vacs next and possibly an angle grinder (for small quick jobs). 
 

Tools are about a £100 each (give or take) without a battery,

good value I reckon. 

[Hudds Lad]

6 minutes ago, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:

and possibly an angle grinder (for small quick jobs).

padlocks, lock chains, that sort of thing?  

 

I got one earlier in the year to tidy the side steps on the battle bus before it's MOT, worked a treat. Have only hired when needed in the past so no great experience of 'em.

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

1 minute ago, Hudds Lad said:

padlocks, lock chains, that sort of thing?  

yeah 🤣🤣

 

 

at moment I have a couple of 240v grinders but have to put off using them til I’m in dry dock or other places where I can run an extension cable

 

(thinking about it: I reckon my multi tool with new blade would get though a weak chain, I’ll let you know how I get on 😎)

 

 

[matty40s]

We use both 12 and 18v Makita tools along with a large selection of Ryobi. Makita seem better on the drill/saw side, Ryobi better with the gardening side. We also have 18v  Hitachi/Hikoki angle grinders and drills...and a radio boom box powered by the same battery.

[jonathanA]

I would avoid ryobi as its just poor quality IMO. 

A few years ago I went down the bosch 18v professional range which is very good.

 

No 1 son is a professional carpenter/kitchen fitter and he always uses milwaukee. Having compared my bosch combi drill/driver with his, I was surprised how much more powerful his was -  I nearly broke my wrist with the torque on his.... 

The range of tools would also sway me to milwaukee if I was starting again, closely followed by Dewalt for the range and the clever option to use 18v batts /tools and 54v tools. 

[Rob-M]

We have a Makita 18v portable fan that we use on the boat but purchased 3rd party compatible batteries as we got 2 batteries and a mains charger significantly cheaper.

[bizzard]

I use an old 1950's Limit fan on the boat bought it for a fiver 40 years ago, brushless, fantastic.

[SteveLevis]

Dewalt for me....

[Llamedos]

I use Ryobi with no issues. Some good offers at the moment on starter packs too. 
 

They also make stuff other than tools that fit the same batteries we’ve just bought a vacuum cleaner of all things!

[TunnelTiger]

10 hours ago, Rob-M said:

We have a Makita 18v portable fan that we use on the boat but purchased 3rd party compatible batteries as we got 2 batteries and a mains charger significantly cheaper.

 

We've all read about battery fires. I'd be very careful buying cheap unbranded batteries. In fact, I wouldn't.

[Tonka]

44 minutes ago, TunnelTiger said:

 

We've all read about battery fires. I'd be very careful buying cheap unbranded batteries. In fact, I wouldn't.

I was wondering whether to do that for our Makita tools

[Rob-M]

51 minutes ago, TunnelTiger said:

 

We've all read about battery fires. I'd be very careful buying cheap unbranded batteries. In fact, I wouldn't.

We don't leave them on charge unattended and so far have had no issues having had them for a couple of years.

[bizzard]

I've found especially with some of the cheaper tool batteries is not to leave them for a long time so they discharge completely, they might not recover even trying to kick start them from another battery of the same. Give em a charge up every few weeks if not in use

[nb Innisfree]

I use Dewalt, had drill for years and it's been abused but refuses to die, (same for me!) some Ryobi and unbranded stuff on converters so I can use Dewalt batts. 

Edited December 3 by nb Innisfree

[stagedamager]

ultimately you need to put the sorting hat on and let it decide which house you go in to..... or.....

Makita..... 

[magnetman]

I have Makita. I particularly like the 18v chainsaw offerings as they are much better than one would expect from a single battery. And it's good they don't take the piss by calling then 20v(max).

 

Also there are sino copy Katsu branded things which take the same batteries. The grinder is quite good for light duty use.

 

I have a 12v charger for 18v Makita batteries which still has not caught fire.