In the early 1970's someone gave my parents a small cord less hand held edge trimmer, it was good for maybe 5 minutes tops. I'm genuinely impressed by how long the current batteries last. I use them daily at work (precast concrete construction) and depending on the individual battery they will last a couple of hours. Sure beats extension cords.
Consumer Report
- Thread starter uncle jimbo
- Start date
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
You are a very lucky man, Ian. Between the time I was old enough to help on the farm till I was 48 I was a hod carrier, soldier, firefighter and medic. When I left the department I had a grip strength of 205 in the right hand and 195 in the left. But today, it is all I can do to put a button into a button hole. Reload on a single stage press to help keep the dexterity up in my hands, as the PT suggested. There are even special exercises for flexing the index finger of the shooting hand so the finger will move separately from the other three.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Fiver, 175 was the minimum on your annual PT test. Swinging axes, sledges and raising 50 foot ladders with a 1/2 halyard makes for grip strength. Plus they tested you bare handed but you worked with thick fire resistant gloves. It was just one of the trainable things you had to do, like doing a hundred leg presses at 150 pounds over your body weight (climbing ladder with hose simulation). Every 24 hour shift had an hour of physical training and they meant for you to use it. That is why in those days firefighters had custom made dress uniforms, because styles were slimmer cut.
p.s. I'm about there with you fiver. Not a single guy of my generation who lived to be 70 hasn't had a least two joint replacements and/or walk with a cane.
p.s. I'm about there with you fiver. Not a single guy of my generation who lived to be 70 hasn't had a least two joint replacements and/or walk with a cane.
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
The batteries and the torque/power are vastly improved. But when you use them side by side you see the difference. Dewalt is several levels above Porter Cable, which is several levels above the Walmart level Skil, Craftsman, Wen, etc. Milwaukee seems a couple levels above Dewalt and Makita a couple, maybe 3-4 above Milwaukee. What surprises me is the better stuff from Harbor Freight. The few I've used are up there in the Dewalt area!
Batteries are hit and miss for me. Some brands just have way better batteries. I have a couple of 7.6v Makita batteries that must be 25 years old. They still hold a fair charge and provide good power. OTOH, I've had PC batts that didn't make it 6 months. The after market batteries you can get are more of the same.
Our first cordless tool was a grass trimmer, to take the place of the scissors type. It was A Skil 9 volt IIRC and was good for no more than maybe 5-6 minutes. Then it had to charge over night. Not the worlds most popular tool at my house.
Batteries are hit and miss for me. Some brands just have way better batteries. I have a couple of 7.6v Makita batteries that must be 25 years old. They still hold a fair charge and provide good power. OTOH, I've had PC batts that didn't make it 6 months. The after market batteries you can get are more of the same.
Our first cordless tool was a grass trimmer, to take the place of the scissors type. It was A Skil 9 volt IIRC and was good for no more than maybe 5-6 minutes. Then it had to charge over night. Not the worlds most popular tool at my house.
Glaciers
Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
I picked up a Honda 828 Snowblower the first year they came out, (30 years ago?), absolutely great great tool. This is a hydro-static drive with tracks, that's the only way to go. I have 1/8 mile driveway that at times I need to clear out when the plow guy can't seem to make it out for a couple of days, and I will use the blower to walk through the snow berm to widen out the drive when the plow truck (pickup truck) can't move them back anymore. Well I sold the 828 and bought a new Honda 1332 this fall, awesome machine. Clearing around the house and up to the shop, plus parking areas I had a couple of areas that I had not touched since we got our first snow late October. Snow was about 18" deep. The new blower walked right through it throwing snow 40 to 60 feet. 12% wider, with about 35% more power, this machine is a beast. It handles better then the 828 as it has steering clutches. Having a blower that clears a path the size of a 2-8 door is just great. I'd say awesome but at my age don't want to were that word out, but that's the word.
Most every power tool/equipment I buy, if it can be had with a Honda motor I will always pay the difference.
Power tools: I have been a builder, on a part time basis, most I've completed was 4 - 700 square foot cabins in a season. I started out with Makita 7.2 V drills, got the 9.6 Makita's in every form possible. Used the dickens out of them, way beyond reasonable usage. The Makita 18 v tools, all forms, great tools. The batteries on the 9.6's started giving up along with a few of the tools themselves. Started working for a solar electrical contractor and they used Milwaukee 18 volt tools. When my Makita 18 volt tools started to fail I went Milwaukee. I've had Milwaukee 18 volt tools now for 6 years and the original batteries are still going strong. I use the both the 18 v and the 12 v in impact drivers and drills. Also the skill saw, reciprocating saw, caulking gun in 18 v as well. I've slowed down (a lot) to lite remodels and currently rebuilding a 500 square foot cabin.
There's a lot of very good quality battery operated tools out there now, and battery operated tools are awesome. I don't miss dragging cords all over, and if you don't have a power source close............
I do own a Ryobi set, drill, skill saw, reciprocating saw and flash light. They work OK, but when considering what I paid for them, they work great! Perfect set to use in my motor home.
Most every power tool/equipment I buy, if it can be had with a Honda motor I will always pay the difference.
Power tools: I have been a builder, on a part time basis, most I've completed was 4 - 700 square foot cabins in a season. I started out with Makita 7.2 V drills, got the 9.6 Makita's in every form possible. Used the dickens out of them, way beyond reasonable usage. The Makita 18 v tools, all forms, great tools. The batteries on the 9.6's started giving up along with a few of the tools themselves. Started working for a solar electrical contractor and they used Milwaukee 18 volt tools. When my Makita 18 volt tools started to fail I went Milwaukee. I've had Milwaukee 18 volt tools now for 6 years and the original batteries are still going strong. I use the both the 18 v and the 12 v in impact drivers and drills. Also the skill saw, reciprocating saw, caulking gun in 18 v as well. I've slowed down (a lot) to lite remodels and currently rebuilding a 500 square foot cabin.
There's a lot of very good quality battery operated tools out there now, and battery operated tools are awesome. I don't miss dragging cords all over, and if you don't have a power source close............
I do own a Ryobi set, drill, skill saw, reciprocating saw and flash light. They work OK, but when considering what I paid for them, they work great! Perfect set to use in my motor home.
KeithB
Resident Half Fast Machinist
I've always had good luck with Milwaukee tools, although I think they are a little overpriced at times. The Milwaukee hammer drill I just bought is a real beast! I currently own three 18V cordless drills, one Bosch and two HF Bauer models. Happy with all three, we use them in the shop with nut drivers/sockets, carbide burrs and chamfering tools to debur parts while tending the CNC mill or lathe. (Yes we have air tools but the slower more controllable RPM often gives better results.) We have two batteries for each and always have one charging while we're using the other one.
Been lusting in my heart for a Milwaukee cordless 20V "Fuel" bandsaw. Don't really need it but it would be handy to have around. This is the one power hand tool you rarely if ever see on sale, corded or cordless. Drills, other saws, tools of many other types, but never bandsaws.
It was my understanding that most batteries lost power at cold temps. Maybe what they are using now doesn't, but I'd have to consider that for any cordless tool used outdoors in cold temps.
Been lusting in my heart for a Milwaukee cordless 20V "Fuel" bandsaw. Don't really need it but it would be handy to have around. This is the one power hand tool you rarely if ever see on sale, corded or cordless. Drills, other saws, tools of many other types, but never bandsaws.
It was my understanding that most batteries lost power at cold temps. Maybe what they are using now doesn't, but I'd have to consider that for any cordless tool used outdoors in cold temps.
Glaciers
Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
At the shop I worked at we did a fair amount of field work. We would use a cooler with a heat sink like a sealed gallon of hot tap water and the batteries with charger and any tools were not in use, were in there. I personally just avoid extended times outside in the cold. I don't like to work outside in the cold and tools break much easier in the cold.
Glaciers
Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
Just walked the 1332 Honda blower through a 30" high berm the plow truck saw fit to leave in front of my material piles. Snow over spilling the top of the scoop on the first go around. Slow going but the machine did not choke. Can you tell this is a new toy, sorry tool.
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Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
My garage where my tools are is unheated. If its -40 outside, it is inside the garage too. I think a charged battery is okay in those temps. Using a battery that cold, that's another things, just as with automobile batteries. Like I said, those 7.6 batteries are still going after 25 plus years in that environment.
My oldest son an I thought about going to the 20v stuff, but so far the 18v Makita, Dewalt and PC do the job, along with the 12v, 9.6v and 7.6v Makitas. Some of the smaller battery tools are irreplaceable with a modern equivalent. The little Makita 9.6 jab saw is a jewel! So I'll buy some aftermarket batteries as long as the tools hold out.
My oldest son an I thought about going to the 20v stuff, but so far the 18v Makita, Dewalt and PC do the job, along with the 12v, 9.6v and 7.6v Makitas. Some of the smaller battery tools are irreplaceable with a modern equivalent. The little Makita 9.6 jab saw is a jewel! So I'll buy some aftermarket batteries as long as the tools hold out.
KeithB
Resident Half Fast Machinist
A lot comes down to the way the tool is used. A tool report by a guy that shoots 3" deck screws all day for a job is going to read a lot different than one written by the guy that uses a cordless drill to shoot in a half dozen drywall screws in a wall patch job.
Cordless hedge trimmers have spared so many extension cords from amputation...
I'm just darned glad we have practical cordless tools of all types available now, something that builders of 50 years ago would have lusted in their hearts to have.
Cordless hedge trimmers have spared so many extension cords from amputation...
I'm just darned glad we have practical cordless tools of all types available now, something that builders of 50 years ago would have lusted in their hearts to have.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Well, they have to be better than the early ones. When I put an addition on the house in 1981, I bought the most expensive battery 1/4" drill Sears had. It would run about 10 minutes before it had to go back into the charger (but it would charge back up in 20 minutes). Of course I was drilling for wiring and wood, sheetrock screws hadn't been invented yet.
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
My big test of cordless drivers was 3- 18v 1/4" impacts driving 8" "Timberlock" screws in 4x4 treated timbers for a buck pen a couple years back. The Porter Cable had new after market batteries at the time and it was not really capable of driving a screw tight, especially if there was a knot nearby or in the way. The Dewalt was worlds better and would drive most of them good and tight, but the grip area of the case felt odd, like the 2 halves were moving some. Some screws It wouldn't drive all the way. The Makita was just outstanding and far superior to the Dewalt. Both the Makita and Dewalt were bought within a month of each other (Christmas/birthday gift from my oldest son) and both are certainly way ahead of the old standby 12v Makita I used for 20 years. The Milwaukee's I used on a job site were 18 v too IIRC. Nice, but those particular ones didn't have the power of the Makita I had. Might be they were older and that might have been the cause. I know everyone with Milwaukee raves about them.
ETA- walked by the Timberlock box, they are 8", so I corrected the figure above.
ETA- walked by the Timberlock box, they are 8", so I corrected the figure above.
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Ian
Notorious member
I've run the new Ryobi 1/4" imact driver (I call them "screw guns") alongside an equivalent DeWilt, both with the smallest amp-hour battery packs available, and have to agree with Bret that the deWilt had a lot more power. If Muskita will outrun a Dewilt, that is a seious tool. The Ryobi seemed to do better on battery charge life, felt a heck of a lot better in the hand, cost less than half, and weighed less.
JonB
Halcyon member
Back when I worked at jobsites, there were all kinds of different battery drills to try. I had a Bosch when I started, but when I compared it to others, I never liked the feel of the clutch as well as the chuck lock of that Bosch. They all got heavy use, and it seemed the Milwaukee's lasted longer before they broke down. So when my Nicad batteries on the Bosch gave out, I ordered a Milwaukee with the M18 fuel Lith Ion batteries, they just came out at that point. That drill and original batteries are still going strong, but I've retired from work, so it gets light duty now.