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I got into Makita when Lithium batteries were new and Makita was the first to individually monitor each cell voltage on the charger and individually bring each cell to maximum charge.
If I was getting in today I’d probably go Milwaukee just because of the larger range of tools available
Makita is generally really good,but expensive. I try to buy that for work,if I am not paying,and usually Ryobi or Dewalt for myself.
Somewhat off topic but I will always big-up Milwaukee INKZALL markers. Good for all the normal stuff you need to permanently write on, but discovered while making plastic conduit that they’ll write on 400+ degree plastic coming right out of the extruder.
Essential for “this end up” markings to help figure out where the die needed to be moved to even out wall thickness.
If you buy a major big box brand that isn’t Makita, You are more than likely buying a Black and Decker rebadged with a price point marketing strategy. Bargain shopper, have a Ryobi, looking for a solid no nonsense drill, try a Dewalt, weekend warrior looking to floss or a Pro, we have a Milwaukee for you! The ninja conglomeration of tool companies has been stunning to watch
Makita as that was the first battery powered too I was gifted. Stayed with the brand.
There was a change in battery design a few years ago where the new batteries would not slot in properly into older tools. There is a mod to remove the offending rib to allow it to fit. Assuming you don’t care or are out of warranty.
Well, the best brand is … flea market:
https://imgur.com/a/eItNpl5
I usually buy things that I have seen/tried somewhere and impressed me in some way.
If anything I avoid ryobi, even tho the color is amazing, the internals are quite ok, but the case is kinda shit… and generally you know if i grab it in my hand and squeaks like children’s toys, then its a no no.
I am not particularly loyal, but I got an inexpensive 20v set of Black & Decker tools (weed eater, sawzall, drill, chainsaw, circular saw) because I didn’t have much money and…they have lasted incredibly well. I tend to not be too hard on tools by comparison, but we’re well into my 2nd decade of use.
Dewalt on the 20v stuff (stuck with it) and I adore the milwaukee M12 stuff. I really like the 20v dewalt stuff, they just need to get a lil more competitive with milwaukee. The m12 stuff I have is untouchable by anyone else though. The cordless ratchet is a game changer, and the cordless die grinder is amazing.
Similar, I like the M12, I have a lot of tools in it, but bought a 20V DeWalt hammer/drill, because I needed it and momentum took over so now I have the router, sander, 1/4 and 1/2 impacts..
I wouldn’t say I’m loyal, so much as locked in to a battery ecosystem. I decided to go with Dewalt a few years back, entirely because of their Flexvolt line that has 60v tools that can also run on their 20v batteries. The batteries also have a switch internally to run at 20v when put in 20v tools. The 60v circular saw performs better than my old cheap wired one, so I was pretty much bought in from there. The 60v angle grinders are fantastic. That said, if I get corded tools or hand tools, I don’t feel any reason to stick with this single brand.
Loyal? no.
stuck, yes.
Ryobi cost was right when I was getting cordless tools, and now I’m stuck.
The cheapest. So usually Chicago Tools from Harbor Freight. I buy corded stuff. So far I’ve found them to suit my needs as well as the corded Craftsman stuff I had before without the random electrical shocks.
Ryobi, since I bought some back when they were blue and nicd and I was a poor 20-something. Since the batteries are backwards compatible, I still use all those old tools, along with new ones I’ve slowly added as needed over the years, and they all run off the newer lithium batteries I added into the mix (and have since totally taken over the mix). I’ve also built 12v power supplies to run stuff like my 12v fridge off a couple lithium ryobi batteries for 4 or 5 hours at a time, so, at this point I’m pretty locked in to the world of that battery form factor.
For things like impact wrenches, impact drivers, drill/drivers, saws, etc., all of my stuff is now Milwaukee Fuel (M12 & M18). I’ve owned & used plenty of DeWalt tools over the years and for the most part I find Milwaukee tools to be better constructed. There are exceptions though. I nearly always wait for sales with deep discounts. Makita would be my second choice if I wasn’t invested in Milwaukee.
Makita for my plug in stuff: chop saw, table saw, yes I have a corded drill around. Milwaukee for battery power tools: drill, impact drivers big and small, a nifty light and a 3/8″ ratchet – probably my most used tool. Ego for yard stuff.
I’m an old guy, so my hand tools are all Craftsman stuff. Some of them I’ve had since I was 17 – 50 years ago. I have a 36mm that my dad and I used to rebuild a VW bug motor in 1977 and every time I haul it out, I think about it.
Makita power tools because way back when I started making enough money to afford something other than Harbor Freight grade stuff, Makita was in many ways better than Red and Yellow. I’d consider Yellow to supplement certain tools that Makita doesn’t make. Red is just too expensive for my needs.
Corded power tools are almost all DeWalt. Not sure why, but I suspect it was because I wanted quality (no more Harbor Freight) and most of the corded are general construction types, which DeWalt had the advantage at. Still have a 1949 Skil ~5″ circular saw that works great on smaller, detailed work.
As for hand tools, vintage Craftsman. If I have to buy something newer, Tekton and Gearwrench have been good for what I need to do.
My cordless power tools are MasterForce, in 20 volt (the house brand at Menards). I don’t know who makes them, but they haven’t let me down. And I’m at Menards far more often than I should be, so it’s convenient! Hand tools and corded power tools are a mish-mash I’ve collected over the years. Craftsman (real Craftsman, from Sears), Harbor Freight, Ryobi, etc. Woodworking power tools are Delta. I do have a nice set of old Blackhawk sockets that I inherited from my father in law.
Ryobi guy here. I got on the electric tool bus very late and by then, my wife already had a collection of Ryobi tools and batteries for her gardening projects. My best friend uses DeWalt and I think DeWalt might be better, but I just couldn’t justify having two different types of battery. The Ryobi 18+ system is very nice. They sell everything from chainsaws to impact drivers too.
I got the “full set” for XMAS of Milwaukee cordless tools plus extra batteries. Totally worth the large investment. Having these tools has made my life just so much easier. I want one more flashlight, and the cordless 3/8″ ratchet. But, my base set is awesome. (Drill, 1/4″ hex impact, sawzawl, oscillating tool, circular saw, flashlight)
Almost all of my hand tools are Snapon
Most of them are at least ten years old or more ( some more than 40 years old). The newest Snapon dealer laughs and cringes when he sees me as he knows I probably won’t buy anything just looking to get stuff replaced.
The previous Snapon dealer refused to replace a couple of screwdriver handles as he called them “wear” items.
I contacted Snapon directly and customer service mailed me replacements without even sending the old ones back.Obviously customer service contacted him as he was upset I told them he refused to replace them.Hes no longer a dealer as I guess I wasn’t the only one upset with his service.
I have had several Snapon battery powered ratchets of varying sizes and they didnt seem to last as long for the money spent as they should .I tried Dewalt with a 3/8 battery powered ratchet.It worked good and lasted longer so as the Snapon broke / busted I made the switch to Dewalt plus the Dewalts are WAY cheaper.
Some of the one-off tools needed for a specific job are Harbor Freight or from some brand I couldn’t pronounce from Amazon.
Im getting older so now I look at some of my specialty tools and sadly think i’ll be real surprised if I ever will use them again.
Forgot to say all my air powered tools are Snapon also.
They have taken a beating over the years and take forever to wear out.
I think if I was starting out now as a nonprofessional or didn’t already have a shop plumbed for air I would just use a battery powered impact instead of air powered.
I bought into Dewalt 20 years ago and have been pretty much locked into that ecosystem ever since. I’ve lusted after Milwaukee, but I’ve got too much invested in Big Yellow now to change over. However, I have nothing but good things to say about them. I’ve used them hard, dropped them, left them out in the rain, and they always work.
Milwaukee M18 and some M12. A most impressive recent purchase has been the M18 cordless table saw. An absolute beast that cuts through everything with unexpected ease. Never imagined a cordless table saw could be many times stronger than my old Bosch corded saw.
I make a point of trying to buy murican so I have more Dewalt power tools than I really should have.
DeWalt: “Made in USA with global materials”
Eh. You find me something 100% US based and I’ll give it a shot.
(You like dags?)
Generally happy so far with Ryobi’s One+ system of 18V battery tools: good mix of workshop and garden (and domestic) all running off 1 battery format.
Battery life seems pretty good, I think the tool that kills the batteries quickest is the lawnmower, but that doesn’t really surprise me, the Combi drill seems to last forever.
The ryobi battery system really is good. Their one form factor fits everything, even old tools, and tool-adjacent devices like work lights and radios.
Got a great deal on a Metabo hpt kit at Lowe’s when I needed to replace everything after a garage fire. I haven’t pushed them hard but they seem to be well made, so I’ve filled out the set with a their compact impact wrench and a couple misc others. Generally happy.
Lost a bunch of 60s through 90s craftsman hand tools, some inherited from dad others gifts from him. 🙁
That said the Tekton hand tools i boight to replace them are quite nice.
The most important tool survived, though – the coal shovel my grandfather stole from the New York Central. I’ve told my kids it’s their birthright but they are going to have to share it.
I went DeWalt for the cordless stuff because that’s what we used at work and if that’s good enough to make robot’s that build planes, it’s good enough for me.
Otherwise, if it has no battery I don’t care much
Walmart hyper tough. Because I’ve bought enough dewalts, Milwaukee, and ryobis to know that they all last about as long as the hyper tough for my use case and are wayyyy cheaper. And there are adapters to run different brand batteries on hyper tough