I Tested $12,000 of Tools to find the Best Tool Brand

I've spent the last few weeks putting the biggest tool brands in Australia Head to Head with each other, to find out which brand makes the best power tool.
In this video I am testing Milwaukee, Dewalt, Makita, AEG, Hikoki and Bosch to see which brand is the best value for money.
This video is a continuation on my unboxing video, in that first video we had a look at what tools we got, and the value of each kit.
In this video we put those tools to work.

[@Seqhael]

Your neighbours must love you 🤣

[@Gasssan]

🤣🤣🤣

[@ToolsNGames]

😂😂

[@FredTS]

Ha ha ha ha! First thing I thought too. 😂

[@DaveDoesCarpentry]

Id love to know what they thought I was building 😅 hearing a screw go in and out a few hundred times

[@ToolsNGames]

@@DaveDoesCarpentry small house

[@tylobedo]

For any other American viewers: Hikoki = Metabo HPT (Lowes & Amazon) AEG = Rigid (Home Depot)

[@TBird89]

Don’t confuse the Americans mate…they don’t know where Hawai’i is let alone changing names on tools. Anyway the Yanks would be pissed because the handyman tool brand Milwaukee didn’t win !!!!

[@danielp3345]

Weird we have Metabo as another battery tool system in Australia besides Hikoki (which was previously sold as hitatchi here)

[@proudbacteria1373]

@@danielp3345 I guess that Metabo and Metabo HPT are different brands which just owned by the same group. Metabo is German based company while Metabo HPT ( Hitachi Power Tools) is Hikoki.

[@Lyonscarpentry]

@@proudbacteria1373Hikoki was brought out by German giants Metabo awhile ago, hence the name change from hitchi tools to hikoki

[@tylobedo]

@@danielp3345 they used to be called hitachi here as well! Prior to hitachi selling off their “Koki” tool division they purchased the German tool company Metabo. They actually rebanded to Metabo HPT (“Hitachi Power Tools”). What’s great is an American company actually owns Hikoki, so they’re Japanese tools owned by an American company sold under a German name in the United States 🙃😂. The actual German Metabo is sold here as well and the two system are not compatible so it’s quiet confusing.

[@DaveDoesCarpentry]

I want to make a disclaimer that with a lot of these tests, there are multiple variables that could influence the results. If I was to repeat all these tests, there could be slightly difference results. I also want to correct what I said at the begging of the video. I didn’t buy the 10 piece AEG kit, that was gifted to me by AEG for a previous video I made.

[@dylb8801]

We just appreciate this video and effort you went to. Massive step!

[@AverageEDC]

A lot of work went into this, well done 👍

[@DaveDoesCarpentry]

Cheers mate, thanks for watching!

[@cameronbenn620]

Agreed, easily the most detailed and thorough tool comparison I’ve seen on KZbin🙌🏼🤙🏼

[@V8Baydos]

Mate ya don’t get enough credit for counting those cuts on the battery test Thanks legend

[@barttrahan7037]

Your comment on working with more of the hikoki tools just earned you a subscribe

[@ashdell4493]

Love my Hikoki tools hardly anyone has them so it’s always good at pack up time.

[@JanTanda]

Love a good Aussie channel doing well! Keep up the vids! Love these videos, well made edited nicely.. indepth.. only can get better from here... Great work. Like your diy vids too that's how I found you initially

[@camoz123]

Hikoki is pretty underrated compared to the bigger brands. They lack in how many tools you can get outside of Japan. My cousin liked my hikoki tools but he preferred the range offerings of Milwaukee the best so went with them instead. I know hikoki are trying to bring more tool variety to country’s outside of Japan but they have to get past the huge monopoly the big 3 have (Milwaukee, makita & dewalt).

[@chippertech8340]

Great video mate. I got 18v hikoki when I started my apprenticeship two years ago and still going strong while workmates have had multiple Milwaukee tools fail and be replaced repeatedly. I was super keen on the AEG limited edition but you have given me something to think about now 😂 keep up the great work

[@amp-t]

Amazing video! wish i had been able to see this before buying my first batch of power tools! thanks so much, keep up the great work 🙏🏼👍

[@simonbailey9554]

I throughly enjoyed this and appreciated the effort you’ve put in

[@TBird89]

What impressed me the most was the display set up in the background just using a couple of ladders. 👍🤘🏻also you know what else impressed me … you had the sun come out in Victoria 😂 …… FM …

[@amirrahim814]

I watched this from start to finish.. awesome video and informative 👍🏻👍🏻

[@baseballdude8491]

Triple hammer has always been the impact king for real work settings

[@philwort1873]

Great video. Super effort testing all of those tools and quite fair testing really. Many of those tools would benefit from higher capacity batteries and there are better tools from each company but it was fair as you tested the kits as they came for the most.

[@morganazzopardi2187]

Ty for the time and work u done. Awesome camera work and editing. Cant believe hikoki came first

[@caitlin6543]

Aeg seems good value these days, I remember them being garbage. Awesome video mate was very excited for it!

[@mixedmartialmayhem7703]

Told you lads Hikoki was weapon! Doesn’t stop at just these tools either they smash with all their gear bar the first gen multi tool it’s not the best and loud as heck but does still go alright, I haven’t tried out their second gen multi yet. Well done Dave, cheers as always mate love your work! 👊🏼🍻

[@barttrahan7037]

The second gen is awesome and in the USA it's only $120

[@MCHorner]

Good test and people are missing the point. You purchased and tested the comparable package deals against one another. That’s how most of us get into a product line. I own every product line you tested and have favorite tools spread across all of the manufactures. You did a great job showing people what the quality you can get for a specific amount of money as well as the deals and incentives offered by tool manufactures when you purchase kits. Thanks for the effort. Now a subscriber.

[@sw86241996]

That's take a lot of effort test. Thanks for sharing

[@mafei1517]

Hy awesome test! Fiy Bosch has new pro-core batteries, they last longer and have more output. It is made to perform well with the brushless tools. Would have changed the whole testing and they might outperformed some other tools. I don’t really know why Bosch tool are sold with the old batteries in Australia. In Germany they only come with the new pro core batteries. If you are up for it you could get one of them and try some of the tools again. I am sure that the saw will perform much better

[@rhycespeller3046]

Wow great comprehensive video!

[@dustinkrebs8229]

Let's go Hikoki! 👏👏👏👏👏 I use Metabo HPT and love all their tools 💯

[@karremania]

That is some SERIOUS work you done there, and love the detail on the handling on the tracksaws. Its kinda nice but same time annoying to see there is no 'one that rules em all', they each have their pro and cons, their ups and downs, specialy the tracksaw seems to be very focused on what type to actualy doing. Im still at the 18VAlliance Bosch tools, initialy i though of just upgrading into the Profession (aka blue), but seeing all those adapters now for several batteries, i serious love the black color of AEG.

[@jackchapman5822]

Awesome video mate !

[@itsthedr5399]

Great video mate, had Milwaukee for years and looking at making a switch. Never considered AEG stuff, but after seeing this might be giving it a crack especially at the price. Gained a subscriber 👍

[@scottanthony1892]

Saw test was brilliant. Combining battery and ease of use is great to know

[@andrewsmith3362]

How can you compare the single hand skin recip saw to the 2 hand use saws. No wonder Milwaukee and Dewalt lost that

[@ChristianJames559]

Exactly

[@Cleffry]

The comparison is based on a similar sized kit each brand has provided for around the same price point, not the exact same tools are in each kit

[@mattyk82]

He's just using what came in the kits, I agree the larger size milwaukee recip saw dominates makita at least, having used both extensivley

[@AntoOlah]

Good showcase of tests.

[@S54B32M3]

Fantastic vid, and right in time for my planned pruchase for one of these kits as im tired of breaking my current consumer DIY level tools (Im no tradie). The AEG seems to be the best value, and faily hardy (like yourself i like the feel of the framing nailer as well). Love the channel.

[@adambentley4850]

Today I've by chance come across this video, your chanel & I liked it very much! On top of the useful content about the tools and their comparison, I enjoy your australian pronunciation and can improve my English)! All in all thank you for your job about this particular video! I can imagine how tired you were after that I'm subscribing... Great wishes from Stuttgart, Germany

[@lockyj733]

The battery test between all brand tools was the eye opener for me milwaukee 5amp being the most expensive 5amp of the rest was by far the worst and comparing it to AEG one which was so much better being owned by the same company and costs less was a shock

[@newmill2191]

As a hikoki fan boy i love the video

[@canelo4079]

I was so proud of using my whole set of Makita tools, but now I have some doubts about them.

[@Ffoo_ffighter]

They last forever and never break, best ergo. gen4 m18 impact should be recalled. You dont need all this new tech.

[@dodgysquirel]

Another person that doesnt know how to use a reciprocating saw looked like couple of those are orbital and cant city fast backwards. Pretty sure the hikoki and bosch. Orbital ones are streets ahead of normal ones.

[@engineer_alv]

True. It would have also been great if he had put these stacks of pinewood vertically to get a more natural grip and control of the tools

[@dme6991]

Nice job mate. No premium tools hilti festool ? Have been long time user of hilti tools and love them but I have my eye on the new festool drill set looks pretty impressive

[@magnusa24]

Excellent video! Obviously you know that all the brands have different models for each tool in different price and power categories, just wanted to point it out. A prime example is the dewalt drill being a compact cheap model, whereas the milwaukee is their top of the line that comes with a side handle.

[@tombuchanan3508]

This is elite 🔥

[@danielp3345]

The amount of people that didn't watch the last video saying the tests are unfair is pretty amazing. Dudes testing kits, he didn't buy individual tools 😅 Anyway good to see a fellow Aussie testing the tools instead of another of the countless guys from usa in their shed that don't appear to use tools to earn money. Hard to get a baseline of how tools perform watching them do weird shit that no one does.

[@reformedlibertarian9135]

Hikoki for life ❤ it's metabo in the US

[@jakepinkerton9765]

Is there a reason you hold your angle grinder backwards when you’re cutting ? Did it for most of them besides the AEG and Milwaukee

[@robbie154]

Which brand/s would you say had the lowest sound and least vibration felt in hands?

[@Alphamax92]

Davedoescarpentry as an apprentice needing to buy a framing nail gun. What would you go for? I have milwalkee tools so far but that nail gun just doest sit right with me and hard to hand on youre belt? Would you go a second hand paslode or you reckon the AEG is worth getting? Cheers.

[@MCHorner]

I have the AEG, Dewalt, Milwaukee and Metabo nail guns. My favorite is the Metabo for speed and quality but it is a bit bulky. The AEG is my second choice. The Milwaukee is poorly balanced and the Dewalt is slow with old technology.

[@nfi2nfi2]

The reason is the heat is annealing the metal slightly for the grinder test

[@EYEofRAanotherFALSEgOD]

Thanks legend about to by some new tools and this helps alot, ps i bet ur neighbours loved this test hahahaha soryyyyy

[@Tyro207]

When you tighten the chuck, take it back one click.. that’ll lock In the drill bit. Appreciate the time you’ve put in to make this video.

[@ps123123]

Big ol' myth, been around forever. Rohm and Jacobs both say this is NOT a feature of theirs or any chucks on the commercial power tool market. turning it back begins to disengage the ratchet.

[@joelockenden8296]

Can you please use the top of the range Makita impact like the other brands

[@michaellane999]

I get that the test is supposed to be fair in that you use the same value from each brand but the bottom of the range makita gear isnt great. I have a TD173 from Japan, Makita's top tier stuff is fantastic.

[@13staylor13]

He’s using what comes in the kits that are selling for $1999

[@drunkntigr]

@@michaellane999 I concur. Have the 172 cause that's all we can get in Australia with warranty and it is sublime.

[@ssiven]

Grease in the grinder head warming uo affects the first cut, I believe the battery warming up may also be a factor

[@RobK0304]

Not many tools review Bosch and AEG, so I like the inclusion! (I'm still a big Makita guy)

[@theSaltyCarpenter]

Hikoki, Metabo here in the States... most underated tool brand. Lovem

[@mannyayala8313]

The hikoki skill saw is a beast. Hikoki knock it out the park.

[@fragglerock5696]

Awesome!

[@peterryan7340]

Just found your channel. Keep up the great vids! 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@DanTuber]

Would you choose speed if the tool was the heaviest?

[@DomBau22]

Maybe try a bigger Bosch battery, because the drill and co only have the max power on 4.5 amp batterys

[@barttrahan7037]

36 volt is where it's at

[@mikebroadhead]

Hi Dave! Could you put a List of everything used in video description for affiliate money making opportunities. I’m looking to buy your ear defenders used in this video as you’re clearly testing them for this video. 😂

[@planespeaking]

Bosch's starter kit is really old kit. The impact and the drill driver are brushed and only the circular saw is brush less. The circular saw is good but you're right to saw it lacks torque. Bosch has just bought out another impact to catch up with its competitors. Milwaukee has really tried to improve their design and tool quality lately. One to watch. Hikoki quality is also good but they only seem to sell their whole range in Japan. Makita is a good all rounder and I would probably go with them if I was starting again in the UK due to the range but it would be xgt not 18V . A good review, thanks.

[@engineer_alv]

I have a few Bosch tools and can tell you all those are brushless except for the blower. But as you mentioned some of those were old like the impact driver and that's also the entry level angle grinder. The drill is very capable, 2nd only to the BiTurbo one but all other brands except DeWalt were using their top of the line drills. That circ saw is from last year but mid tier and the recip saw is their newest, the rest are 2yrs or older. But the issue here is from Bosch trying to fit more value than performance in a kit.

[@planespeaking]

Biturbo equals brushless. I have that impact driver too. I thought it was brushed. 🤷 Anyway basically what I'm saying is that many of these Bosch tools are a generation or two old now.

[@engineer_alv]

@@planespeaking yeah, mixing a top of the line recip saw with their 2nd best drill, mid tier circ saw and 3 other entry level tools is quite confusing. I guess the more research we do as consumers, the better

[@harryb2775]

Where is the 40v makita 18v is out dated now, awesome work can appreciate all the effort into the video.

[@AlexKall]

They make new tools for both battery lines.

[@engineer_alv]

As far as I can tell Makita is still marketing LXT tools and handily outselling XGT and their eye watering prices

[@mukoshh]

Also curious mate, where would Metabo have held up compared to these you think?

[@WhosLeadingYou]

Should have used a screw tip auger bit for the drill test so tis up to the power of the drill to pull the bit through.

[@mukoshh]

40:10 what happened with the timer? Jumped from 20 to 27? Also mate, this video is incredible. You answered questions that probably everyone is asking.

[@DaveDoesCarpentry]

I rechecked the unedited version and I messed that up. I made a mistake there and makita did get 20 seconds. I’ll need to properly check, but I think that would change makita and Boschs overall ranking to be even. I will go through all the tests and recheck every result, I’m sorry for getting that wrong.

[@mukoshh]

@@DaveDoesCarpentry no complaints here mate. You’ve done an awesome effort. Just figured id point it out in case I missed something :) Really wish though makita in general would step up their game a bit, feel like they’ve fallen from their spot a bit (aside from their prices…) I’ve got the 10 piece AEG myself earlier this year (though I totally missed out on the tax bonuses!) and couldn’t be happier. Cheers

[@darcyhole6718]

I would love to see a DEWALT 54v a Mikita 40v and a hikoti 36v go head to head

[@FredTS]

It seems like a lot of Milwaukee fans have commented here. 😂 I think people missed the whole premise that they are all tools within a $2000 combo kit.

[@cristoferomezzatesta2992]

Great comparison Dave. I don’t know where you find the time to do these. I see you ordered the tests on the leaderboard so the Milwaukee fanboys got excited early on.

[@JB-ez2jz]

If you guys had the newest “pouch cell” batteries for the Dewalt and Milwaukee all of these tests would be blow-outs for Red and Yellow! The pouches are incredible and that’s coming from a Ridgid guy who’s deviated TTI hasn’t done them for orange yet!😢

[@coolgamer4607]

I know everyone has their favorites on tool brands but in my opinion DeWalt and Milwaukee are the kings of tools. I personally prefer DeWalt that’s just because that’s the brand I’ve grown up with until recently granted I’m about to turn 15. You guys should let me know what brand you prefer and why I’m curious

[@The-Mitchy-life]

A lot of money went into this video

[@ryu-ken]

Hikoki/Metabo is underrated

[@JB-ez2jz]

Is Hikoki’s impact the triple hammer?

[@dragon_military_man5]

Hay dave how is being and working as a carpenter in winter and then summer

[@bread-gz3rl]

Would've got dewalts DCD800 or DCD999 for a fair comparison on the drills, although every brand always does stupid shit with thier combo kits

[@moose3357]

Fair play that's a fkn review and a half 👏

[@1kontrabida]

This test is for the most part is about the battery duty cycle.

[@MrAidanfleming]

Lol, top of the range Milwaukee. Bottom of the range Makita, also the Hikoki, should be the triple hammer one

[@jwanilpatel3223]

The triple hammer is designed for speed not for high torque impact ..... It would have done slower in the test

[@13staylor13]

He’s just using what the manufacturers put in their $1999 ish kits. His previous video shows this when he unboxes the tools (except the makita saw - which wasn’t supplied in the kit)

[@engineer_alv]

Well, Hikoki had the advantage of being the only 36V lineup and it shows as it came on top. Not sure what ypur complain is if this is what MFRs chose to put in their large tool kits. Bosch could've also offered a BiTurbo kit but there is none in his market (or not for the same price)

[@chrisvardanega829]

You used a longer impact bit then all the others for the hikoki test which gives it less torque than the others… mate seems like this video is heavily biased and you should be adding a disclaimer at the start of it saying you are sponsored by AEG

[@onikwa]

Can't believe you didn't go in orbital mode on the hikoki. You switched to it on the Bosch. And also having the blade the normal way on saws with orbital mode. I know for a fact you would have shaved off a ton of time if you did that.

[@Dom_1130]

Anyone have any insight on which of these platforms would be best to get into if someone were starting their career, but wanted to steer clear of Chinese made/owned products as much as possible? I know Milwaukee and Ridgid(AEG) are out of the question, so im more curious of the others.

[@AlexKall]

Pretty sure they all have tools manufactured in China. Depends on the tool and price point. Some have manufacturing in Europe/Japan.

[@lebanesecarrot5028]

40:07 watch the time skip from 19 seconds to 27 seconds

[@christianchaps9500]

Bro dewalt cam actualy flip the tables if you add new impact driver and the flexvolt circular saw

[@georgebrown11boys]

one thing we've noticed at home is that Miwakee is better brand new and not good for long but Makita stay good for ages

[@davidackley4102]

Hey Dave. Where abouts in Australia do you live? You in qld?

[@charlieryan7952]

I get that this is a subjective question but how would you rate the ergonomics/comfort to use of these tools?

[@ryu-ken]

Yes it is subjective. I've own a lot of tools over the years and my favorites ergonomically is dewalt and metabo/hikoki

[@MCHorner]

The AEG feels good for a budget brand. Dewalt rarely screws up ergonomics across their platform. Dewalt is always my first choice when I have to use the tool for a long period or need multiple tools with the same battery platform. I like the feel of both Makita and Hikoki but they have a limited number of offerings compared to others.

[@ra4yu]

i like milwaukee tools but their circular saw is really weak, im not sure if they have a newer model but my impressions were the same as yours which makes them a hard sell for carpentry. I think the way hikoki works is some tools are 18v and some are 36v, you have to look at the skin to see but the battery works for both.

[@fragglerock5696]

Never liked Milwaukee anyway Lol.. pretty happy with the AEG result as i have their tools, Cheers!

[@jwanilpatel3223]

You are such a dummy ...they are made by the same company 🤣🤣

[@nrhoofcare7724]

Wish you did Makita 40v

[@jedhamilton2019]

You’re using the grinders in different directions

[@xXiiBet]

For Dewalt you need to try the flexvolt batteries man, they shit on the ones you have in this video.

[@mightyslimak]

you should use identical saw blades

[@dylb8801]

Milwaukee will be shitting it if they watch this!

[@wkrextiny0]

Not a fair test as some mid models vs top models.Just can't beat the power of 54v from DeWalt.

[@AlexKall]

It's a kit, you get what you get for a comparable price. So it is fair.

[@tomvanee-ui2tk]

Ur using different blades on the sawa

[@89vette89]

So metabo is the same as hikoki

[@douglasfreedom8943]

Tests like these are always a big eh - for example your first go on hikoki recip at 6 seconds was half way through - then the next test at 6 seconds it’s way further back.

[@drunkntigr]

That's a great intro shot. Tool porn.

[@harlanborders943]

In my experience you can get years of service from Bosh and Makita not the strongest fastest but reliable. Milwaukee is not very reliable or Rigid AEG . DeWalt seems to hold up decent my brother loves them.

[@2Fedde]

Like 11 🍻🍻🍻

[@kiwe3546]

Good work overall, but the reciprocating saw test is unfair to Milwaukee and DeWalt, since you’re testing their hackzalls against the other brands’ sawzalls. It’s also unfair to test 36v against 18v, just like it would be unfair to test 18v against 12v. Obviously 36v is going to come out on top. Just some constructive criticism. I haven’t finished the video yet, but it seems biased for a brand like Hikoki to win.

[@kiwe3546]

Project Farm is the gold standard for these comparison videos. He uses weights, tracks, etc., to remove variables, and comes up with the least biased results.

[@DaveDoesCarpentry]

This video continues on from the unboxing video I did. All these tools are from combo kits that are similar in price, so we are comparing the tools we get for the same price. Cheers for the feedback

[@kiwe3546]

@DaveDoesCarpentry I gotcha. I saw “best tool brand?” in the thumbnail, and thought it was going to be an even comparison. In an even comparison, Hikoki/Metabo and AEG/Ridgid would’ve been cheaper, but finished toward the middle or bottom. They’re all good brands though. Can’t really go wrong with any of them.

[@kenroyhenry3648]

Why didn’t you showed the battery life before each test like you did after…. There is no way Milwaukee could have placed second to last in screw driving test… I dnt believe that