Best Power Tool Brands for DIYERS & Weekend Warriors

[@citylockapolytechnikeyllcc7936]

"OH NO, BUT IT'S NOT BRUSHLESS..... I am 60 years old, used many a tool since a kid.... never replaced a brush in my life... Am bald now... no hairbrush anymore, either!

[@denoftools]

Yeah, when these kids whine about stuff like that my first thought is always "I wonder how we managed to fix anything for the past 100 years without brushless tools".

[@Vreguleift]

@@denoftools It must've been hard. Luckily I just paid $200 for my brushless screwdriver. Hoping to drop another $375 on some brushless pliers next week.

[@jusrobington]

It's all just marketing junk.

[@lorenfok1097]

If the price difference is not that great I will pick brushless. Kobalt 24v is all brushless line up and their price is almost same as brushed tools. Just got a drill driver/impact set for $129. I slap a $20 off coupon I get a brushless drill/impact driver for $109. That's a steal compared to Ryobi

[@MikeBrown-ii3pt]

You gave me a chuckle! I'm 52 and still have a full head of hair. The only brushes of my own that I HAVE replaced is my hair brush! I did have to replace the carbon brushes in my moms Kitchenaid stand mixer about 20 years ago. It was probably 30 years old then. Today, it's still going strong, my wife uses it several times each week! I do have a brushless DeWalt 1/4" impact driver but, it's the ONLY yellow/black tool in my shop. The only reason it's there is because a friend traded it to me for a quick fix on a brake line. Believe it or not, I prefer my Porter-Cable stuff...yes, I know that both are Stanley Black n Decker brands. I also know that DeWalt is supposed to be higher quality than P-C. I like what I like.

[@izziereal2010]

I am a homeowner for less than 2 years. I was deciding between Ryobi and Rigid. My brother in law bought Rigid for intermediate to advance work. When there was a sale on Ryobi's impact driver 3 speed with two 3ah HP batteries for $86, I jumped in with Ryobi and couldn't be happier. I have been adding Ryobi tools like the hammer drill showed in the video, Grinder, recep. saw, circular saw, Impact wrench 1/2 inch, and they perform fantastic for a DIY/weekend warrior.

[@MikeBrown-ii3pt]

My son just bought his first home in November 2019. A few weeks ago, he was asking me about weed eaters, thinking that he should buy a gas powered unit. ALL of my outdoor equipment is gas but, my wife and I also have 10 acres that we take care of. Son, on the other hand, has 1/2 acre at most so, I recommended that he consider a cordless unit. He ended up buying the 18v Ryobi One+ trimmer. Even though I'm partial to my Porter Cable cordless stuff, they don't make outdoor equipment that I know of. When he told me that he went with the Ryobi, I told him that it was probably the best choice he could've made because of all the other tools that use the same battery system. As always seems to be the way though, no sooner that he got the battery charged, the skies opened up and it rained for 4 straight days! The poor kid couldn't even play with his shiny new toy for a week!

[@bradleyyounger8499]

Years ago I bought the milwaukee m12 drill and impact for work after I broke my collar bone because it was hard for me to hold the 18 over head for long. I have never looked back. Tons of power. More than a lot of 18 volt systems and they are extremely light and compact

[@jimbryant2157]

I had DeWalt cordless tools for years until all the batteries stopped charging. When pricing batteries, the DeWalt batteries for my old tools (NiCad) were more expensive than a Ryobi equivalent (which included both the tool and the Lithium battery). I switched to Ryobi and have been very pleased with their quality for my DIY projects.

[@jpecci1262]

Getting to the same place. My DeWalt tools themselves are awesome, but the batteries and chargers are awful. It makes the performance unreliable.

[@akpane3]

My first drill was a Ryobi brushless drill that fell off someone's truck at HD. I turned it in and the manager said if no one comes back and claims it within a month, I could come back and get it. A month later I went back and no one had come back for so I became the new owner of an awesome tool. Ever since then, I haven't looked back. Ryobi has been my tools of choice. I now have over 50+ Ryobi tools and counting!

[@lbrown8167]

As a harbor freight employee for a few year and a DIYer for longer I believe, the Bauer line can hold its own as far as power as durability with the porter-cable, ryobi, etc. I own a few Bauer and Ryobi tools. If your looking to buy a bundle you can get a better deal w/ those ryobi pack and you should. The Bauer line is nice b/c of the single tool prices, coupons, and open box deals. DO NOT buy the more expensive Hercules power tools from hft. We use them in the store and they seem fundamentally the same and have less tool options. Unless you’re using a Bauer 4+ days a week, the extended warranty isn’t needed, they’ll last.

[@bfhammer]

Totally agree, the Menards Masterforce tools look like Kobalt tools with a green paint job. I had unfortunately invested in Black and Decker VersaPak after buying my home 28 years ago. That decision went sour about 15 years ago. I then tried to reboot with Hercules, but the new tools took forever to trickle out. I'm building a Masterforce collection now. Menards 20V system has been pretty consistent with battery support and compatibility. That rebate system just encourages buying the next tool with the store credit from the last tool purchase.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

What a pirate says when they get kicked in the nuts 😳 Menards 💯😅😅

[@rimfire2642]

Menard's rebates are solid. I've been using their rebates for years, and have got 100% of them. Keep in mind, they are also a VOUCHER and not a cashable check. Also, you cannot get cash back or change on a purchase, if you had a $10 rebate and your bill was $5, and paid with the rebate you would lose the remainder. However, you can also compound them. IE, you spend $50 of rebates, the rebate on that purchase includes anything you paid for with the rebate voucher.

[@dezfan]

As a DIY weekend warrior, Ryobi is my tool line of choice. Have no issues with them. 👍🏼

[@jewittm]

Same… except the damn color

[@dezfan]

@@jewittm I like the yellowish green.🤣

[@orbitalair2103]

Hi Bear ! That little ryobi charger base has 2 slots for screw mounting. Set 2 screws, slide it in place, and viola, the charger stays put.

[@matty_w]

I'm with you on the mail-in rebate thing... Toshiba stiffed me (twice--even after following instructions from their Customer Service Dept to the "letter"!) on a $50 rebate from a notebook computer purchase I made several years ago and as result, I will never buy from them ever again... ever.

[@MichaelRusso]

I vouch for B&D tools. Not that they are the best but they get the job done.. I have dropped the drills off my 8 ft ladder multiple times, no problem. The same batteries work with my garden tools too. The garden tools work great and take abuse. Built a deck. Built railings. Built a shed. Built a porch. Done remodels in my home. I am hard on my tools . They still work fine. I have the matrix but don't bother with all the attachments. The hammer drill attachment is all you need with the standard drill chuck.

[@samcostanza]

I'm an RC car tech, and use the DeWalt 12V ¼" driver. I've never stripped a screw with it. My co-worker who uses Milwaukee has stripped a few. I just find the DeWalt better suited to wrenching on plastic. The clutch breaks at the perfect point, when set at 1. Just my 23¢ (adjusted for inflation).

[@breslaj4]

I agree with the Ryobi thought process of battery comparability. I recently purchased a second home and needed a blower and trimmer and naturally Ryobi made sense since I already have batteries for it.

[@rimfire2642]

I would stay away from brushed tools at this point in time. A few years ago I bought one of the Ryobi brushed tool kids with 4 or 5 brushed tools. My first use I could smell the motor windings getting hot, IIRC it was around $260 for the kit and this was probably around 2015 (the tools were white and green if that helps). I returned that and even the service person said they could also smell it. I then started looking at something better, and decided on a Makita LXT kit which was $270 with the LXT hammer drill and impact driver, 2 5.0 batteries and charger. And I have to say, while I got less tools these tools are STILL running like brand new even probably 8 years later.

[@TheRosswise]

Got a set of Ryobi tools about a decade ago. They were really cheap and have never let me down. I would definitely recommend.

[@justinsgarage1125]

Kobalt might be prosumer level, but it’s still at the top end of the DIYer range price-wise. The batteries are cheap and you can usually find the tools at really great prices. I mean a 24v 2ah battery recently went from $25 to $30 but that’s still less than HALF the cost of a Milwaukee 12v 2ah battery at a hefty $64. $30 is even cheaper than the Bauer batteries(cost per amp hour). You also get a whopping 5 year warranty on the tools. Just something to consider. Of course, if you have very little in the way of money, you gotta do what you gotta do

[@rodw]

Thanks again Jeff, Very nicely done sir !!! You showed a lot more brands than I thought of. I have to say that the few cordless tools I do have (Ryobi) combo kit from Christmas 2018 and a Atomic drill and impact driver that I won on COPTOOL last year. Both brands have gotten the job done. No doubt the ATOMIC is much better. As a true DIYer and being on a fixed income, price per tool is a leading factor for me. I agree with you on the WORX line, I don't own any they seem gimicky but they get the job done. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and videos, Rodney

[@Scottsgarage166]

When I bought my home 5 years ago, my old man bought me some of those entry level dewalt kits around Christmas. They still work but the batteries were junk, but now as I work on pipelines I invested in Milwaukee fuel everything for my work truck. And they are amazing. But... I did find a few Bauer tools on the open box shelf. That being said, I snagged them out of curiosity. And I have not been disappointed. My gf loves them. She even grabbed the weed eater and I’ll say thats a heck of a good tool. Not going to compare them to my fuels. But I will compare them to my low end dewalts and the batteries are way cheaper. That’s all, good video bear!

[@BernardBethea6339]

Sound like your another fool for big box brand names

[@mattfoster5934]

I have the Bosch 12 volt drivers I love them they have plenty of power and very light to work with all day

[@georgeindelicato5664]

I have my old sears corded craftsman but have purchased several new craftsman powertools v20 line. Great things to say about them.

[@ecoRfan]

Recently bought some V20 tools as Christmas gifts. It features a number of homeowner-friendly tools and is a good platform for that.

[@truegeechie]

I started with Porter Cable, but when Lowes started pushing Craftsman, I am now getting into the Kobalt line.

[@adamwanderscheid8559]

I invested in Bauer..love them a lot but wish they had more tools available.

[@jamesfair9751]

Do you have their palm sander. I was curious about how good it is and if they have a grinder I’m not sure.

[@James-id5xq]

@@jamesfair9751 I have used the bauer sander for about 8 hours. Great for the price. The plastic dust tray is annoying, much prefer a bag

[@lbrown8167]

They’re slowly coming out with more, kind of expected from a new-er in house brand. A few tools every 4-6 months arriving on the west coast first. I’m interested in seeing how good the outdoor tools are.

[@willwatson3614]

FYI, I've had good luck with no issues/lost rebates from Menards. Slow processing, but they always come.

[@george200099]

Menards just changed to a single rebate form for everything. Rebates used to be "lost" and never delivered when they sent the rebate total on the back side of the postcard they sent.... so guess what??? Since they have gone to sealed postcards, they arrive well. So they have a pretty good and easy system. But, Remember that the richest person in the state of Wisconsin is John Menard.

[@halfpac5]

I've never had a problem with rebates at menards. I just did a supplies order for a garage and took advantage of the 11% back..... enough to spend for a bathroom remodel next

[@scottgudeman9270]

yup, me too i've never had one not arrive assuming i remembered to send it which is the one downside.

[@bfhammer]

And you can buy a tool, then use the rebate toward the next tool. Wash, rinse, repeat.

[@colinklang]

That's great to hear. I hated stopping by the kiosk and tracking down all the rebate forms

[@LuciusoftheVorenii]

I second the M12 line. I’m not a pro or contractor but I do use my M12 tools quite often and they do all I need them to

[@macxpert3588]

I live in Australia so we can't get most of these other than Black & Decker and Ryobi in the home owner range. We can get some store home brands that are junk and only work until the battery dies. I have had good luck with the 18v Black & Decker tools over the years and I can always get batteries for them (even my old tools). With Ryobi you can get the plus 1 batteries but anything older than that is a problem.

[@656hookemhorns]

Ryobi because any tool they have made can use today's battery. Plus they are just well built and priced.

[@paulmills6189]

I've picked up a bunch of old blue Ryobi tools used that work great with the new batteries. For that reason alone I recommend them. Batteries will fail a diyer before the tool and having backwards compatibility is important.

[@chipb1193]

The Milwaukee 12v system allows you to use the gem of the lineup - The ratchet! That said the Ryobi system is hard to beat, especially with the battery situation and number of tools. One of the best reviews you’ve done yet!

[@alecbosse6425]

I threw in with Ryobi a few years ago because of the cost savings and Battery commitment. In many cases, one can get a tool with battery for less than the cost of a bare tool with other brands. Previously I had DeWalt and transition from their 18 volt to their 20 volt Max. I found that the quality wasn't worth the high price point to continue with them. I ended up giving them all away after being so impressed with Ryobi.

[@PunchUp01]

Thank you for talking about Worx brand. I've been looking at their Jawsaw and have been hesitating because I don't just want 1 tool per battery platform.

[@xRevva]

I use masterforce daily, as a professional carpenter, and i cant complain. The 7 1/4 cordless circ saw kicks ass! Cuts through PSL, LSL, LVL, and anything ive thrown it up against with no problem

[@xRevva]

Update: the saw has broke. I was using it to cut out 2x6 notches in 2x material and it randomly stopped. The manual says the motor is overheated and to let it cool. I let it cool for 3 days to no avail. On the bright side though, i was able to return it for a full refund

[@ChevyRedneckGFX]

@@xRevva Menards is a pretty cool store

[@shorttermhobbyist]

i use the mil 12v on my service truck. ive ran a million screws doing hvac work. the chucks are weak but ive never felt like it was short on power. im about 2 years into my driver and its finally showing its age.

[@audiosmackdown]

Still rocking Craftsman 19 volt. Big, clunky, still strong after a dozen years. I would love to switch, but the things just dont quit

[@jo9732]

And I think they even make aftermarket lithium ion batteries that fit the old craftsman style. If you look on Amazon you might find them. I’m sure they’re not the greatest but they will increase the longevity of the tools if you’re into that.

[@dudemcmann6936]

I'll tell you what. I bought a DeWalt weed whacker and two 5 A-hr. batteries last year and ended up using my cheap-o Black & Decker corded whacker more often than the Dewalt because the Dewalt burned through batteries so fast and they overheated pretty easily, so they're took FOREVER to recharge. I got an Ego this summer which is doing better so far than the DeWalt and am giving the old B&D a rest.

[@MXvsATV144]

I found out from doing research, most tools built today will work fine for the average joe…. But if you plan on someday doing big projects to where you need to use a tool nonstop for an hour or more, spend the money for more mid level or just under professional tools…. Basically just pick what color you like, whatever is most readily available near you and throughout the country or state your in.. and make sure whatever brand you choose has all the accessories you want or may need. Ryobi like mentioned has a huge product line of tools and they are available everywhere…. Meaning you don’t have to search far away for a store or only buy online to get them… this is why people love Dewalt and Milwaukee because nearly all hardware, farm, tractor supply stores or home improvement stores have those 2 brands.. I wanted to be different than many and might pay for it down the road, I chose Metabo tools because I love black and green, they are built well and are made to last a long time, but the batteries seem to cost more than others, stores don’t carry every single option they have and so you need to buy online for a lot of of their tools. Then you get into the issue of which Metabo tools to get, they have Chinese built and then darker green models built to slightly better standards and performance…. Which also comes at a greater cost.

[@MikeBrown-ii3pt]

My son, a new homeowner, bought the Ryobi 18v cordless trimmer a few weeks ago. No sooner than he got the battery charged, the skies opened up and it rained for 4 days straight! The only thing he could do was look at his shiny new toy longingly. Once the rain stopped, he put that machine through its paces! He loves it!

[@timothyvolkers5343]

Several years ago I was at Lowe's and they had a Kobalt 3 piece tool set with two batteries and a very well organized laid out carrying bag on clearance I bought the very last one it was even the display set. But the set is a 12 volt cordless tool set. The 3 tools are a drill/driver, impact driver and a jig saw that folds out to become a Recip saw, just like the Worx that can be seen in this video. I do a lot of homeowner DIY and Quality Hobby Woodworking and I use my 12volt Kobalt tools for most of my cordless tool use and I love my 12volt set so I understand why so many people enjoy and use the 12volt tools.

[@TrippsMedia]

Man, I miss the old Craftsman.

[@citylockapolytechnikeyllcc7936]

My last Craftsman Cordless hammer-driver-drills were made by Ryobi.... whole different company

[@paulmills6189]

@mark smith old Eddy Lambert destroyed things pretty quick. Newer Sears craftsman were pretty lousy.

[@silentpoet75]

I even have some dunlap stuff, a bench grinder. I think it dates back till about the early 40s. Still works ok.

[@cheapskateaquatics7103]

Same, that was the only brand my dad would buy

[@drew-rb7fu]

The skil 12 volt brushless drill, impact, light, multi tool, Bluetooth speaker, two batteries and fast charger.160.00 .. awesome tools at an unbelievable price

[@i1bike]

When i see those US prices, my tears start to shed. I live in croatia, and i can asure you, americans should be happy for their prices. U have ryobi combo with 5 tools, flashlight, 2 batteries and a charger for 300 dollars. HERE, u can buy ryobi angle gringer with battery and a charger for 300 dollars. And i dont even wanna mention how much that mikwaukee combo with drill and driver costs here hahahaha

[@DragonBuilds]

Black and Decker is NOT for DIYers or weekend warriors. It is just for very light duty household use like furniture assembly. When I first started out buying tools I bought them and they broke after a few light uses. I switched to Milwaukee M18 and Makita corded. Never looked back. Such better quality, power and ergonomics.

[@oldguy2082]

I have two tools in the Lowes Kobalt 24v system as tools carried in the truck (for work I have Milwaukee older top of line Fuel ) and the Kobalt tools work better than expected; however, the drill driver has a problem and trying to get thru to customer service to return the tool for repair under warranty is impossible. I have tried for three weeks straight to get thru on the phone and all I get is a message that they busy and to call back later, then they hang up. Their tools might be better than expected, but if you can't get service for it, what good is the warranty!

[@ecoRfan]

They all have their ups and downs but a lot depends on what stores are nearest to someone. For me the closest by is Lowe’s. So I have gone with Craftsman for the time being. For others it’s Home Depot and for others it’s Walmart. Either way, I hope more brands can continue to expand especially as home improvement is an “in” thing.

[@BoRerunn]

I recently returned my SKIL 3 tool system. The body of the drill started to fall apart and the chuck would loosen up with hard pressure

[@Normal1855]

I used Ryobi to redo our bathroom, our decks, and all our wood projects.

[@joshuasteele4498]

Nice list! Covered a lot of options. Everyone shopping should be able to find an option on this list. Nice call on the M12 series suggestion at the end. The size, price and quality make that a really sound consideration. For my own, I like the mixed mode of having some cordless and corded equipment. Really prefer the corded for saws and grinders that draw really hard. Nice to have those corded options for when the batteries are running thin (or just didn’t get charged up).

[@bret_Lambky]

I have the Craftsman set of drill and driver. It actually works great! However I don’t use it to the extent I use to. My Dewalt has been used and abused and still works good! The battery has about lived its life!

[@EverettDiego]

As a weekend warrior, let me say GOD bless the Bear for making this video. I've LITERALLY inherited the Ryobi tool platform from my dad upon his passing. While I love my Ryobi tools, I'm really interested in either Ryobi VS Bauer head to head videos, and/or Ryobi VS Hercules head to head videos. Dollar for dollar, does the consumer get a noticeable increase in Performance & Power buying Hercules over Ryobi? (Building my wife a Solar Powered "She-Shed" this summer.)

[@denoftools]

If you already have Ryobi I'd stick with it. The mid level ryobi stuff is on par with the Bauer stuff. Bauer has better chargers and I like the batteries better but it's not enough to switch if you are already in that lineup.

[@lbrown8167]

I think if you’re going to pay the Hercules price tag you’re money is better spent on Ryobi or one of the Lowe’s brands

[@kingsteegg]

Ryobi OPE is pretty awesome. I have a 4 year old string trimmer from them. My buddy picked up that 6 piece Ryobi tool kit at a local discount chain store, Marden's He paid $199. They're slogan is, I shoulda bought it when I saw'd it, at Marden's!!!

[@oldguysrock2170]

My Porter Gable drill and driver are very good. Even with the standard battery. The Porter Gable circular saw has a couple of issues, but I use it a lot for small cutting jobs. The saw burns through battery juice fast and the red handle that raises and lowers the blade height does not stay tight. The driver is my beast. Built three decks and some handicap ramps and it handle 5” deck screws and the 7” T-30 post screws with ease.

[@massacmongo995]

One of the hardest things to do is to be truthful to yourself and buy what you NEED not what you want . When I worked as a Mechanic at a Power Plant I routinely used Milwaukee Pro 18v impacts costing $500 that were tough and put out several hundred ft/lbs of torque . i bought the Ryobi system for home use,,,,, it's all i NEED and I can spend the money I saved on other tools

[@tedbownas2748]

I ran Ryobi tools for years; still have some, although I've moved over to Makita the last year or so. There were some features on the Ryobi tools that I miss, notably the double bit holders on the old drill and impact driver. I love the Makita line, but I sure miss the oddball little conveniences on those cheapo Ryobi tools.

[@sportshots5799]

I have used Ryobi for years. Started with 14.4 line combo kits. When the 18 combo's came out I jumped with both feet into the line. The BOGO and free tool promo started I stocked up. I'm not sure how many tools I have, it covers everything we have needed.

[@baron24601]

I started with the Hitachi line, then added Ryobi. If I had to do it over again I'd go with the brushless Ryobi stuff. Unless I had money, then m12 fuel all the way!

[@jon27d]

There's a lot to be said for buying a 12v system for the average home owner - particularly for a drill/driver plus a work light. I do a ton of DIY carpentry and mechanical work and count it a good day when I've been using power tools. I purchased a 12v bosch drill/impact/light set a few years back and have only once wished I had an18v impact since then. I've gradually been building an 18v Ryobi set with things like a jigsaw, string trimmer, and tire inflator. I even got an 18vRyobi impact for a year ago but i still find my go to being the Bosch 95% of the time.

[@2LabsGarage]

a few years ago I wanted a cordless sawzall that came with a battery and charger, I went with Hychika and I dont regret it al all. I have since added several other Hychika tools and been happy. I wish they had a 6 1/2 skilsaw or a 7 1/4 either way these tools are excellent for the price. I have been really impressed with workpro too

[@mothman-jz8ug]

If - and only IF - you are in an urban area where places like Home Despot thrive, a Ryobi might be a good choice. However for those of us out in flyover country, I would lean strongly toward Milwaukee or Dewalt. Reason? Availability of things like extra batteries and additional tools using same batteries, etc. (Having used both the Yellow and the red in an industrial setting for several years, not one person in the shop minded the changeover from the yellow we had used and been satisfied with, we discovered that for 8 to 10 hours per day, five days a week the red brand was a step up.)

[@sfx1999]

I wish they would standardize tool batteries so I didn't have to get locked into a tool line that could be discontinued. It's just really annoying that so many of the tools produced by the same company can't interchange batteries. I ended up going with Skil's 12V tools. They seem well built. I hope that if Kobalt ever introduces a 12V line they keep the batteries compatible. It's too bad Skil and Kobalt don't share the 24V battery.

[@kilroysadventures2556]

They make battery adapters for a few different brands. Dewalt to Milwaukke and vice versa.

[@jo9732]

How are those skil 12V holding up? I had the box in the cart at Lowe’s today and then got cold feet because didn’t read any reviews about them.

[@sfx1999]

@@jo9732 they still work but I don't use them that often.

[@trappleye]

I used to have the Craftsman 19.2 until that battery platform died. I recently upgraded to Bosch, and I couldn't be happier.

[@honeygirlsapiary]

I still have the Craftsman 19.2 but watched this vid to decide what is next for me.

[@74JB]

The Ryobi HP line is fantastic *chef’s kiss

[@george200099]

The Black & Decker Matrix is a great thing to have. Tool heads are only about $30 each. Best Attachments: Mini circular saw, multi tool, and mini router are great. Honorable Mention: Drill attachment (the standard drill is low speed only.) and sander are okay, but not outstanding. Pick one up if you still are able to.

[@contax50mm]

Each company has different strengths. as a DIYer you dont need to worry about being locked to a battery platform. Find what works best and get em! Personally I like makita impacts, milwaukee drills. Kobalt jigsaw and OMT and 80v OPE. I have craftsman v60 OPE. The rest is corded.

[@iofs3338]

If you need to use a corded tool out where you have no outlet I have found that the harbor freight tailgator generator works nicely. $80 generator is cheaper than some pro grade cordless batteries

[@bigemckracken8130]

I have the Milwaukee 12 volt combo and I do everything with it, the best for the DIYer

[@stevenheinje181]

i went ryobi, a key is our HD is a go to store and has had better lumber to. Im a paint expert and for value Behr is great. So i pick up tools with projects. To quote Car Talk “never forget every project is an opportunity to buy a new tool.” i live by that and so Ryobi, Behr, HD works, and you can even bring home a flowering plant. i do add corded tools for my table saw and miter. Ryobi batteries are something you need to understand are iffy, dont buy lower end.

[@dug117]

I’m all in on Kobalt and couldn’t be happier with their performance. I hope they keep expanding the line. Having said that, a coworker who is a single mom and buying her first house asked me to help her pick some tools. Given her financial situation I recommended the Hart tools as they have a good selection and if it breaks it’s cheap enough to replace. Her concern was upfront costs.

[@az-chris1136]

I'm mostly into the DeWalt 20V system and really like the power of the new flexvolt tools . . . that said, I also have one foot in the Makita 12V system for the onsie, twosie type tasks where a light weight tool for a quick task is just the right ticket. Milwaukee has a few unique tools that have my attention (the long neck ratchet for one) but not worth making the investment in a new battery system . . . yet.

[@victorbailey6233]

I have a Ryobi drill that's 11 yrs old and still use it all the time and the impact driver use it in place of my impact wrench that are air powered

[@lordrichard8184]

I love ryobi. I used the new brushless tools along side my old blue tools to completely gut and renovate the entire 2nd floor on our house. I recommended the $300 ryobi kit to my father in law. He loves it too. The only thing is the charger that it comes with. I wish it had a plain plug head on it instead of that stupid box. You could plug 2 older ryobi chargers into an outlet. But with that new charger that has the box. You can only get 1 in. Ryobi needs to go back to that older style. Also black and decker was king till ryobi dethroned it. Then hyper tough killed black and decker. If you look at the hyper tough stats there all equal to or better then black and decker. Plus hyper tough just released a hammer drill. Which is what they were lacking and blows any black and decker drill out of the water. And it’s pretty close in price. I got lucky and bought into hyper tough when a Walmart was shutting down. So it was all 1/2 off. I’ve been using the hyper tough stuff in my garage. Cause my ryobi stuff travels and I don’t always have it in the garage when I need it. But hyper tough is really a glorified 12v line. I have a dewalt 12v brushless drill. It’s pretty good. Keeps up with the 18v stuff. Just doesn’t run as long. Definitely a good option for a diyer

[@powderriver2424]

I like Ryobi just as you said about the battery you can buy some old used blue cordless tools off of craigslist or a garage sale or second store then buy the good batteries and you can get away cheap great for folks with not a lot of money.

[@jerryvelasco1474]

The masterforce that I got 5 years ago still working hard with 2 battery that came with the kit. Under 200$ 20volt. Though back then it was offered with a steel chuck, now it's a cheap plastic.

[@WraithCustomsFirearms]

The black & decker matrix is identical to the craftsman bolt-on line. The pop-n-swap power heads are Interchangeable. I got everything from the drill to the multi tool to an inflator head for the bolt-on set, but has a black & decker drill base and they all work. Definitely prefer my Ridgid tools though.

[@jimnaz5267]

what a out rigid. i got a 18 v impact driver and drill, two batteries, two chargers work great. i am a DIY weekend guy. got them at home depot before christmas for under one hundred bucks. have used extensively and have had zero problems,

[@matthewhaataja9850]

Ryobi has a hydraulic impulse driver. They changed my life. I love my rigid and milwaukee 18volt impulse drivers. I also run milwaukee and rigid 12volt lines. Milwaukee is the only tool line with a hydraulic impulse in 12volt line that I know of.

[@brianl336]

I bought the Hart drill/driver combo. They are right about the same as all the others. They have a nice lineup already and are adding more. So it all came down to color scheme for me. I have no shame and they work great! They match my blue 44" General box and I keep my tools clean so white didn't scare me.

[@free2chasehappy]

I am of the buy once cry once school of thought, so I would get the best that I can afford. But I am also resources thanks for many people, that I can get the most out of my tools without the need to purchase a bunch.

[@k2irving]

I went through 3 cordless Bauer Brad nailer & fi ally returned everything 😮‍💨

[@grbggaming6885]

You guys know you can buy 6 Ah batteries for pretty much any cordless tool on Amazon for way cheaper than a 1.5 Ah. You can also buy adapters to convert your already owned batteries to use on other platforms

[@presidentelecttaterpuddin1626]

The impact drivers Kobalt was selling 4 years ago are amazing. All the power you would need for carpentry, extremely durable molding on the battery and drill.

[@lazerbeam3928]

Many years ago, I purchased a Ryobi right angle drill (blue colored one) with NiCad battery. Subsequently, I picked up a cordless planer and caulk gun (both blue NiCad models). To this day they still work and even the NiCad batteries will take a charge and hold it. Over the years I’ve transitioned to Ryobi yellow/green tools with Lithium batteries. These batteries work even in my old blue tools (and vice versa). I’ve picked up a couple of brushless Ryobi tools along the way. Even the batteries that communicate with the brushless tools work across the entire line of tools that I have. I especially love my Ryobi cordless grease gun. But is Ryobi for everyone? Well the only real downsides to their tools in general is, the battery is a little hard to remove from the tool (especially if one has arthritis), and the tools tend to be more bulky and heavier than the more svelte Milwaukee, Rigid & DeWalt. On the other hand, the bulkiness (thicker plastic?) seems to make them physically robust. I haven’t broken one yet. Coupled with a three-year guarantee, great prices (especially when on special), a huge selection of tools, and a stead fast commitment to the battery form factor make it a hard not to choose them for DIY projects. As a side note, about three years ago while on a trip to my daughter’s winery in Ohio, I need to make a quick repair of folding closet door. My son-in-law was out of town I couldn’t find his tools. I went to Walmart and picked up one of those 20V B&D power head drills (not the kit which was not out back then). Although the battery is only 1.5 Ah, the drill is quite light weight and powerful. The downside is that its not really a variable speed. The trigger travel is quite small and its basically all or nothing.

[@ccadama]

@The Den of Tools. Great review of the lineups Red. Hope you and your family (as well as Jeff's) stay safe and well. Shine on!

[@why-i-buy-guy2578]

I like the 12v Skil brushless tools at Lowe's as a starter kit. It is $200, but was $100. Love the weight, power and extra batteries won't kill your wallet. Also, Amazon often pairs a charger, battery, drill, and awesome laser level or laser measuring tool for like $60. Sell the drill and charger and keep the tool and battery for free.

[@morganmendieta3738]

This is a very awesome video. I bought a home and decided to go with Menards Chicago electric tools and now they don't make the batteries. I can't fall for that. I am going to go with Ryobi from now on only because of the battery promise I hope they keep.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Worx always reminds me of as seen on TV

[@Mixwell1983]

The route I went was getting the older brushed ridgid gen4x for $99 and then some 3.0 and 4.0ah batteries off direct tools for $30 when they have em on sale.. Pretty affordable, I also have a bauer drill and a black n decker impact from walmart that I got before my Ridgid.

[@TheTruth-ge7fj]

I love that i have corded tools. I don't have to worry about batteries changes and such. The only thing i have is a drill that is battery driven.

[@SouthernEngineering]

I'm sold on the Kobalt line, great warranty (5 years) and the battery price is half that of the nearest competitor. I used to have a full line of Craftsman 19.2 but they aged out and the battery price is way too high. My Two Cents.

[@felixlallangas6983]

Their new xtr line is amazing, and you can get a 5 tool combo plus light for 400$. Their new line has been beating other pro brands in shootouts.

[@franklandgraff1190]

I am looking at Milwaukee 12v, still checking into the Skil line and leaning toward the Kobalt. Now you throw me a curve with Hart. This is almost as complicated as flat screen TV's.😁

[@contax50mm]

Go Kobalt

[@rickkern5785]

The power and light weight of the Milwaukee 12v are great. 30 minutes to recharge the battery is amazing.

[@robertwynn7686]

I have m12 line and I'm investing in the Bauer line for my 20volt system

[@jamesfair9751]

The m12 fuels will probably have more power than the Bauer 20 lol I’ve never used the Bauer but I do know the m12 are strong very strong.

[@hosocat1410]

Ive had a worx corded 16 inch chainsaw for 10 years. That thing is great, as long as what you want to cut is within cord length.

[@samcostanza]

Love Ryobi and DeWalt. I've never gotten a Milwaukee power tool, but I've had enough Black & Decker through the years, that I now HARD PASS on them.

[@Ormstown]

Good lineup! I would love to hear you about your northern neighbour's national store home brand... Canadian Tire's Mastercraft platform (Maximum platform for higher end stuff). I don't know if you can get your hands on them down south, but it would be interesting to hear you out! Keep it up bear!

[@raffaeledonofrio2729]

Power tools Ryobi with one exception. My corded circular saw SKILSAW only!

[@domosautomotive1929]

Grandfather's 12v system.....I have a Makita 9.6v NiCd 2 speed drill that is from early 80's that belonged to my grandfather. It needs a new battery but in its day it would drill thru just about anything.

[@ccllrr424]

Interesting review, I am getting ready to have a retirement house built and will be looking at getting a set of tools for the workshop. I have a bunch of old hand tools, but nothing really power related. Well I have a number of plug in types, but am looking at getting battery powered ones now. I don't know about what would be the best voltage to go with, but looking at something that will do the job and not go limp quickly. Also will make sure that I have a number of replacement batteries available to switch out. Also would like to get tools that I can use the same style battery for. Then I have multiple same battery for multiple tools.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Ryobi is dedicated to the torpedo style batteries with the wide 18 volt base

[@ajbrown7245]

I really like my Ridgid drill and impact driver.

[@rlgonzalez04]

Hercules brushless stuff or the Metabo HTP are solid prosumer stuff too

[@user-qc7me2hs5c]

I invested into ryobi for around the house stuff and built multiple fences and decks and railings they never failed me so far and I’m a Milwaukee guy like my dad he was very suprised cuz he said back in the day they always died on him and we are hard on our tools sometimes