How To Choose A Power Tool Brand

[@hugov392]

For me (as a hobbyist), another key reason for corded tools over cordless is longevity. For tools that I use infrequently and don't expect to do enough work with them to wear them out, corded has the advantage that they'll still work decades from now, whereas batteries compatible with current tools are IMO unlikely to still be available that far into the future. Another aspect is corded lets you pick the best tool from any brand, rather than being biased towards the battery platform you already have.

[@neilf4128]

I agree 100% I still have many of my beginner tools from the 90's, and I don't have to worry about getting hold of any batteries, because they are corded. As long as I can still plug into a 110v socket in the future.

[@FearsomeWarrior]

I use the big and small corded drills I have for Christmas when I was little. They are around 30 years old and wok perfectly. People think they have a warrantee on brushless tools but when you bring them in they go straight in the trash because they’re not serviceable. They don’t replace them. That was the lifetime of the brushless tool and it’s over.

[@robertbamford8266]

I’d add “where am I going to use it?” as a buying criterion. Considering all the places I drag my drill and impact driver (inside and outside the house) cordless is a huge convenience.

[@joehart3826]

That's where hikoki 36v is the best, run it corded or battery.

[@toria-j]

@@robertbamford8266 yeah, for me: drills & drivers need to be cordless, most saws probably not. Though, I have smugly trotted down the road with my Ryobi reciprocating saw to clear away fallen branches.

[@jayt9882]

One point am not sure if anyone else has made yet... when buying second hand from any of those places Keith mentions, please do make as sure as you can that they're not knocked off. Roger Bisby's talked about works van tool thefts, and the thousands of bits of kit showing up on ebay/car boot sales etc.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

In this video I talk through what I believe are the four "levels" of power tool brands based on price. This is based on my opinion and experiences - if you disagree with anything please do let me know in the comments, I'm keen to hear your thoughts. I also discuss corded vs cordless, brushed vs brushless and how to choose a tool brand to invest in. 0:00 Intro 0:11 Cheap Brands 1:29 Prosumer Brands 2:29 Trade Grade Brands 4:33 Premium Brands 5:36 Cordless Or Corded? 7:12 How To Choose A Tool Brand 7:40 Brushless or Brushed Motors? 8:10 Do You Really Get What You Pay For? 8:43 Secondhand Market 9:00 Sponsored Message 9:30 What I Use 10:29 Outro Recommended Tool Performance Comparison Videos Oz Tool Talk kzbin.info Tools & Stuff kzbin.infovideos My Mirka Sander Fault (Vlog) kzbin.info/www/bejne/jX-zdZJsYqyXo9k 🔨 MY TOOLS 🔨 For links to the tools I use, plus some of my favourite consumables, finishes and more see links below. As an Amazon Associate I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases: UK affiliate store: www.amazon.co.uk/shop/ragnbonebrown US affiliate store: www.amazon.com/shop/ragnbonebrown 🤝 HELP SUPPORT THE CHANNEL 🤝 Support with KZbin channel membership: kzbin.info/door/VyE_6jEtVZGmYGXtUOL5FQjoin Support with Patreon: www.patreon.com/ragnbonebrown Support with PayPal paypal.me/ragnbonebrown Shop With Amazon using my affiliate link: geni.us/iWD3K 💰 SHOP 💰 Etsy: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KeithBrownMaker teespring.com/stores/rag-n-bone-brown-merch 🎧 WORKSHOP BANTER PODCAST 🎧 kzbin.info Also available on Spotify, Apple, Google and most other podcast platforms 🔗 LINKS: 🔗 Website: www.ragnbonebrown.com Facebook: facebook.com/ragnbonebrown Instagram: @ragnbonebrown Twitter: twitter.com/ragnbonebrown Email: [e-mail] Second KZbin Channel (non woodwork videos): kzbin.info

[@beaverbuilds3984]

There is a Milwaukee track saw. Belts and Boxes on KZbin did a review on it a couple weeks ago. It's made in Canada and has lego pieces. Go check it out.

[@richardkeith2778]

I still use my Bosch Router and Jigsaw that I bought over 25 years ago, so that coloured my judgement and I have Bosch blue for all the important stuff. I supplement this with Ryobi for occassional use tools , and a Badaptor to utilise Bosch batteries throughout, I have a combined extraction hose / Neutrik plug/socket, so I intend to stick with corded if dust extraction is required. I particularly like the Bosch 12V system as the tools are light and very well balanced.

[@joehart3826]

Bosch 12v, probably the best 12v line up...

[@JohnJones-oy3md]

For my normal DIY non-pro use, I'm a big fan of Ryobi 18v cordless tools. Their brushless tools have especially impressed me. I used to try to stick to corded tools, fearing an eventual lack of batteries (remember NiCads)? But these days battery life is much better, there are no shortage of aftermarket batteries, and as a last resort, it's relatively simple to swap out new cells in old packs if absolutely needed.

[@allthegearuk]

You may know but Ryobi have promised never to change the battery interface so all new tools will be backwards compatible. When with nicad.

[@DavidLee-cw6ci]

​@@allthegearukthis is good and bad. I bought into the platform for this reason, but you do look in envy when you see more streamlined batteries other tools have nowadays.

[@gazgough9264]

personally i love the worx tools. specifically the cordless garden range. ive been using mine every day for around 3 years now (garden maintenance business) id definitely say the 20v series (brushless) at least is good quality. my cheaper tools (diy/woodwork) the lumberjack sanders i have are pretty decent for the price and have taken some abuse! Great insight as always!

[@christopherinteriors6521]

One thing that you could have added ( I know it is easy to miss stuff as I miss loads in my own videos) is that brands from many years ago are not the same as today. For example, something by Ryobi or B&D from 40 years ago is a different class to what it is today. A 1970s Black and Decker workmate would be in a different class to say a Black and Decker drill found in the cheap shops in 2022. Diving deep into tool companies, takeovers, mergers, importing from China etc would require a whole separate video 😂

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Very true

[@neilf4128]

Hi Keith, Thank you for your perspective. If I may, I tend to take such good care of my tools, they seem to have lasted me decades. It has been my experience that my batteries eventually just don't hold the charge they once did. When I tried to purchase new batteries, I was overwhelmed with sticker shock. The batteries cost nearly as much as my tool did when it was new, sometimes, they cost even more then my tool. But I still have my Black and Decker, corded hand drill from 1989, my Craftsman circular saw from 1996, and my Porter Cable router from 1987. All corded, powerful, reliable, and built to last. But I had to let go of many of my battery powered tools over the years because replacement batteries are way too expensive. Anyway, it is only my thoughts, not that you asked. Thanks for always providing reasonable perspectives.

[@watcherofwatchers]

When looking at battery platforms, I would recommend not locking yourself into just one brand if possible. Many of these companies offer some tools that others don't, and it can be quite restrictive if you're tethered to one brand's battery platform. I was exclusively in the Dewalt ecosystem for a few years, and I found that there were quite a few tools I couldn't get. It was actually frustrating. I broke down and bought a Milwaukee tool, and it was liberating! Now that I have a choice, I can choose between what is available, how those tools are reviewed, what's actually in stock in these end times, etc. I love having two platforms!

[@FranciscoDuarte]

Most of my Power tools are DeWalt, but depending on the task required I purchase the most qualified brand for the job, not to mention specialized tasks (Festool Domino for ex.) So I have a mix of DeWalt, Makita, Porter cable and Festool machines in my shop. It is true that once you are married to a battery platform it is really hard (and expensive) to venture out onto other brands.

[@jackh842]

A warning for Irish Makita users: I own 1000s of Euro worth of Makita tools alone, and I do love Makita - the tools are good quality and as a carpenter and builder, the line up is ideal for me (I do have a decent bit of Milwaukee, Hikoki/Metabo HPT and some Bosch Blue to supplement). The major issue is that the Makita service support in ROI (part of Makita UK's jurisdiction) is terrible. I've had a warrantied track saw in for repair for 8 weeks now, and apparently still no sign of the parts coming over from the UK to the Irish service centre. As someone who relies on their tools to make a living, this is a catastrophe, but also extremely disappointing given my avid support for Makita as a brand. I've been talking to the admin side of Makita UK for weeks now, but while they acknowledge the very poor support for Irish customers at present, they seem unable to do much about it in the short term, and haven't made efforts to provide a courtesy or replacement tool. Again, I love Makita, and I'll probably (perhaps foolishly) stick with them despite this debacle, but it's worth bearing in mind for Irish tradespeople, particularly given Keith's generally accurate comment in the video about how the trade grade brands will stand over and repair their warrantied tools!

[@HH-pb5sc]

No way you can head across the boarder and sort it in the North?

[@stevechurm6575]

Hi Keith, I have worked for Makita manufacturing for years and all of our range come with a 3 year warranty plus our LXT 18v models are all professional quality and as for brushed or brushless the only difference is the battery life. Still a good video never the less.

[@AdamFahn]

I'm a fan of my Worx drill as a hobbyist. I use it infrequently and it does the job around home and on small jobs. I use the same batteries for my jet wash and grass trimmer. I've also got the mini circular saw and I've just ordered a bigger one. I may have a different opinion if I used it all day every day.

[@robjworkshop5692]

With you on the Ryobi belt sander - mine seized the bearing after less than 2 years medium duty weekend use. Managed to source another one online, lasted about a month before the motor burnt out! Planned Obsolescence - we've got Henry Ford to thank for that! Only use Bosch, Triton, Metabo, Trend now - no problems, touch wood :) Oh, and Husqvarna for the BIG saw!

[@C4sp3r123]

Hilti for me, I don't have the time for poor performance, no other make seems to be able to handle the bank's walls. Battery power really unlocked a new market for me when it first came out, the battery angle grinders are a lot easier than the old bolt croppers to get through padlocks 😜

[@samrix5793]

Nothing quite like a dd350 to get the job done!

[@andrewtye4771]

Hahaha love it

[@christopherinteriors6521]

Thanks for the tip, I wondered why my Lidl hammer drill was struggling on the vault walls 😂

[@C4sp3r123]

@@christopherinteriors6521 I tried that make but when I took it back to the shop to complain it just wasn't up to the job they looked at me funny ;-)

[@jeroen2082]

As a woodworker Hilti means nothing to me.

[@mark_loveless]

Enjoyed the video! Truthfully I've probably placed more emphasis on the "one brand of battery" element than I expected, and battery performance became a huge deciding factor for me. Before a temperature-controlled shop, I had better battery performance with Milwaukee cordless tools, and never had a tool failure for that brand (can't say the same for any others). So my whole battery issue drove my decision to focus on one particular brand.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Cheers Mark. Glad to hear your tools are treating you well! 👍

[@doyoulikejazz9516]

I remember my parents buying some cheap and pretty big "Schlagbohrer" (I guess "hammer drill" is the right translation) from Aldi or Lidl literally 18-20 years ago. Big, heavy, unpractical, with only a few drill bits in the light, flimsy plastic case it came with. Has been our number 1 tool because we basically put everything on the wall and drill holes in everything for cable management and stuff. that thing cost like 30 bucks and still works like a champ. an other thing they got is an Einhell impact drill from a discount program with a german/european supermarket line (Kaufmarkt) some years back. that thing has seen trenches I tell you. has been used inside and outside in rain/snow/mud, has put together countless furniture, posts (garden) and had a side job as a replacement hammer. guess we were pretty lucky with cheap stuff up until now haha.

[@zihotki]

Parkside Professional definitely belongs to the Prosumer category. Worx is as well a premium Chinese brand, it also belongs to the Prosumer category. The reason for that is that it's a brand from a manufacturer, who produces tools for Grizzly and many others (probably even for Ryobi). And for batteries, Parkside batteries could be easily adjusted to almost any tool using a simple adapter or a 3-printed top plate.

[@DIYCroft]

100% agree with the cordless/corded points. I'm on a completely cordless platform apart from my mitre saw and drill press. After having the mitre saw out today for some skirtings, I'll definitely be swapping it out for a cordless alternative. I forget sometimes how handy it is not having to run extensions to where I'm working especially when it's for less than 10 cuts

[@joehart3826]

Go hikoki 36v, then you have both corded and cordless options.

[@ramblingman8992]

One of my workplaces decided to trial cordless drills. They purchased 1 of each of the following brands. Worx, Hitachi, DeWalt, Bosch and Panasonic. After 2 years, the only 2 still working were the Panasonic and the Worx. Another firm used Makita and also had 1 old Bosch impact driver. The newer Makita drills seemed to have a lifespan of just over 12 months judging by the large pile of dead ones in the office. At the end of the day, it is down to how a tool is used as to how long it lasts. I would disagree with the 'stick to one brand' argument as these days you can pick up battery adapters to allow you to use different batteries on different tools.

[@ClaireRousseau]

After buying a few cheapest-of-the-cheap tools and having them break or just be really loud / uncomfortable, I decided to invest in a more reputable brand. I went with Makita, since it was well regarded. I've had good experiences with their customer service - I sent my sander in after it stopped working, and they fixed it for free and sent it back, even though the fault came from my mistake when changing the hook & loop pad. I have a silverline 1/2" plunge router I like, although it's not that ergonomic or user-friendly sometimes, and it needs to be hacked to go in a router table - but it was maybe 60 quid? and I can stuff with it I would otherwise need a table saw for.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Glad to hear they stand by their products 👍

[@ClaireRousseau]

@@RagnBoneBrown Absolutely! I felt like a right muppet but we all have to learn at some point or another.

[@paultay23]

Great honest advice Keith...Makita is my chosen brand now I have decided to go cordless... Except for my two existing 12volt Dewalt drill and impact driver. Cheers Paul

[@mumihp]

I am a hobbies female diyer. I only buy Blue bosch or ryobi tools, mainly on sale like black Friday. I been buying for years, hoping to set up my own workshop once I get my own place. I stick with those brands as the tools were affordable and were always on sale, all my tools are cordless hence buying on sale. However if I was in trade then I would be looking into makita, milwakee ect. Getting blue bosch tools maybe overkill for me but I been buying for years and made some great savings. I would advise to research the brand, what tools they have and look on black Friday or sale to get your tools.

[@its_marc]

Good advice. I was lucky and stumbled into woodworking as hitachi tools were rebranding and being sold off cheap so got some great bargains, bought hikoki since and no issues. Got a few parkside and ferrex cheapies too.

[@eduardvaniersel7535]

I really like Festool, some of their tools for me unrivaled when it comes to ergonomics. I use the CXS drill driver, ETS 125 sander and the domino. Having said that, Festool doesn't have a convenient battery platform, a lot of tools require their own specific battery. So for most of my cordless tool I use Bosch professional.

[@samrix5793]

Yeah I have disposable income so tend to festool then dewalt for 18v and Bosch for 12v

[@christopher36091]

Another good video, Keith. One aspect I would consider when buying a brand is the opportunity for sale prices and availability. With Ryobi, for instance, it is a house brand for Home Depot in North America. Milwaukee brand is available from many outlets so availability is high, and there are many opportunities to buy at sale prices.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Very good point! I tend to buy everything online these days but that's mainly because I live in the middle of nowhere ! 👍

[@tellthemborissentyou]

My father built a 28 foot long sail boat in his back yard and used his power tools every day and all day on weekends. He burnt out plenty of power tools (all corded) and he found some difficult to hold and use. He settled on Bosch as giving good service and being ergonomic. The boat was launched in 1990 so while his findings are out of date I have stuck mainly with Bosch since for my projects except for a Makita router which is ok, a Skil belt sander which is awful and a Ryobi mitre saw which I have been hoping would die for 10 years now so I can get something better, but it keeps going. If I was starting from scratch for cordless I would buy Makita, but I am in the Bosch system now.

[@raminybhatti5740]

Not being a tradesmen or a professional, I tend to go with the specific tool that offers a decent compromise between reliability and cost effectiveness at the time of purchase. I've got a Bosch SDS, a Makita router, a Chinese electric planer, a Bosch combi, and a Silverline multitool. They're serving me very well precisely because I'm not hammering them everyday! 😂

[@laurentdumas3198]

Hi Keith, excellent video, I agree with you on almost all the content. Here are some remarks : - cordless tool are an excellent way manufacturers use to buy always their brand, with corded tools it's much more easy to pick the best value for money tool as you're not tied to the brand. And cordless is pointless when you need dust extraction in a workshop.... On top of that, I fear that, after some years the specific batteries for the tool becomes unavailable and therefore the tool unusable - I was surprised that you rated Ryobi a mid level brand as for me it's the equivalent in TTI group of the Black&Decker brand in the Stanley B&D Group. The intermediate brand in TTI group would be AEG, and Milwaukee beeing for TTI Group what Dewalt is for Stanley B&D group or Bosch blue for Bosch Group. - What about Triton brand ? I mean from an Hobbyist perspective... Sure this brand is not playing in the same yard as Dewalt, Makita, Milwaukee or Bosch Blue. But it seems they have some interesting tools such as the routers, or their new TCM S254 mitre saw that looks a cheap or entry level derivative to the 254 mm Hikoki mitre saw ( it seems to share parts but it's only corded and has a brushed motor when Hikoki has a brushless motor ) Triton generates passionate discussions and long threads on DIY forums here in France...

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Cheers. There are a lot of grey areas, AEG being one of them as they make some high end gear as well as prosumer level stuff. Triton isn't really prominent here in the UK, they don't have a full range of tools available here, we just get the odd machine. Also I wouldn't know where to place them, having not had any experience with their tools

[@danielshield3758]

I’m just a hobbyist who does work here and there so I went with dewalt as there is the dewalt/ stanley-black and decker outlet here in the north east near where I live where they repair dewalt tools and sell them on cheaper. The tools are reconditioned but they are basically brand new and I’ve been using and abusing my full dewalt brushless range for over a year and they still work great.

[@paulprescott7913]

I find this subject fascinating, while i work in the trade im office based. Most of our blokes use Milwaukee and a few Makita. As a enthusiastic diyer, my choice has been Makita and i expand the collection as i need to (which keeps the wife happy) im very happy with them and serve me well. My rational with Makita was that they have been doing cordles tools since the mid 80s so have the depth of experience. Makita have factories all over the world and they have to compete to build tools for the Japanese owners. So some of these are made in China and rather nicely some are made in the UK in Telford. I think my plane and multitool are UK made. I would expect that most of the brands you have mentioned will have a high made in China percentage, i have not done enough research to say exactly how many. I do own corded Makita tools which have also served me well, my mitre saw been my favourite as i cant cut a straight line to save my life. My mantra is buy the best quality that one can afford, and if its British made thats even better.

[@chamferreyes6747]

28 years ago I started building stair cases and after 2020 I started going cordless and boy it was awesome at first but then all the tools started to die off one by one and don’t get me started on the cordless saws. Needless to say I’m back to corded tools that I purchased 28 years ago still working perfectly

[@bread-gz3rl]

If you've used any of the ryobi HP tools (which probably aren't available in Europe for another decade) with HP batteries I'd say they're a step up

[@yossiyaari3760]

A technician in one of the tool groups I'm in pointed out the repairing brushless tools is more expensive. they tend to have a single "block" internally, that needs to be replaced in case of failure, as opposed to several serviceable parts in brushed tools.

[@BrainFizz]

The only corded tools I use now are the Festool track saw and a range of their sanders all running of the midi extractir.. I’m on the hikoki platform and have been for 4 years, previouslty being corded on the Festool system. I don’t think I could work without the cordless tools now, as generally I’m setting up a mobile workshop from the back of the van in the street or on the driveway. And with such a good range, non of the other brands are able to accommodate on a single battery…. Not to mention the fact they have a mains adapter so all the tools can operate on mains power too?

[@ben_the_cat_guy]

Personally I use mostly erbauer (the new range), a few odd 12v dewalt tools and a green bosh cordless drill. All of them have worked well for me.

[@Quaker521]

I generally work on 'buy the best' that you can afford (for most things) and that works for me. I decided to go down the DeWalt route and stick with them in order to cross use batteries. That said I've had cheaper tools in the past and they've served their purpose.

[@Quaker521]

@@Macron87 Touché! 🤔

[@karenisaacson7862]

The very first power tool I ever bought was a Makita palm sander, back when they just started to sell their tools to consumers, which is why it has a red case and not a blue one. Works like a champ. My fave drill's a Makita, too. I believe you should buy good tools no matter how often you think you'll use them because quality lasts.

[@dougsaunders8109]

Really fair review Keith. Spares at lower level are rare or impossible. I have gone from Erbauer or lower 20 years ago to the odd Festool tool. On power cords, your comments very fair again. I have put an anti drag sleeve on my dust extractor hose and run a power cord up the inside. I went Festool with the power cord as you can buy the tool end connector and I have changed my sander and track saw to fit the Festool connector power lead. This works very well. 100% agree stick to a battery platform. Me DeWalt 18v / 54v platform as it is the same platform

[@federicom2801]

Premium brands have a big difference compared to the other brands: they do innovate and usually they create game-changing products. Festool invented the track-saw, the domino and own the saw stop and the origin tech. Hilti makes robots. Premium tools have more efficient and calibrated motors for less vibrations (especially Mafell) and more concentric rotation. In regards of the comparison videos I think are just pseudo-scientific entertainment. To really test if a tool is better than another one you wuold need test thousands of both putting in the equivalent of years of usage to really have some data to work with.

[@federicom2801]

@@Macron87 those are 100 years old inventions. Regular brands have stopped innovating already 30 years ago when they steered to the "reducing cost" way. Now days innovations are mostly made by premium brands while other brands will wait for the licences to expire. Track saw and domino are an industry standard in woodworking and robot driven tools will become the industry standard in the next 20 years.

[@tom314]

I went for the Makita brand due to the 2x18V system and the garden tools. When I settled on the platform nearly 4 years ago, the 2x18V system was much cheaper (although not quite as good) as others 40V system and they had a large range of high quality tools for both the workshop and garden. For the garden tools, I didn't want the hassle of petrol, corded were a non starter and normal 18V tools wouldn't have enough power. I've been really happy with the makita tools (except the brush cutter, it's too delicate for cutting anything heavy) as with everything there's a few niggles but generally they're great.

[@AntoniaLister]

The face punch analogy. Fantastic :D

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

Cords and dust extraction- I fit power sockets to all my corded tools, and use AirLock hose ends. Quarter turn on each and I am good to go. And my dust extractor then knows which hose needs vac, so not only turns on but opens the correct gate (NOT available on bluetooth!).

[@hawksworthproduction4308]

Been on the einhell 18volt platform for a good few years now honestly cannot fault them the range has grown massively in the last year or so aswell

[@MrGoogly37]

I'd put Erbaur and Stanley in the throw away category, they're more expensive but ones I've used have generally been rubbish while I'd move Einhell up to the pro-sumer level, I've burnt out a few, through serious abuse, but parts are readily available through their website

[@MCsCreations]

Excellent tips, Keith! Thanks a bunch! 😃 I've got a few tools from Ryobi, never had an issue, BUT... Mine are all corded. 😬 Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@garykilvington6674]

For me as a professional kitchen fitter and carpenter Festool is my number one everything from my Kapex to my track saw combi drills and impacts even down to my Mft and Radio in fact the only tools I have by other suppliers is I have a Makita Sds and a dewalt table saw also majority of my tools are corded another plus for the Festool system

[@BischBaschBosch]

Really is a "pick em" once you get to trade tools and above in my view. They're frankly all excellent these days. The premium brands you listed (Hilti, Festool and Mafell) are kind of new to to the general tool market. They were specialists. Hilti was always the heavy construction brand, specialising in 110v hammer drills, breakers and cutters - aimed at corporate construction level with their fleet service etc. Mafell likewise were for heavy carpentry - joist, beam and heavy timber framing. You could add Fein here too for premium machines for processing steel on site. Festool do have a more varied history I suppose but generally specialising in finish carpentry. All these brands now have much more general ranges like your Makita and Dewalt but have kept their specialist tool price banding. In fairness, they do tend to pay more attention to the details for the extra bucks though.

[@AdrianColes]

You missed out Project Farm for testing tools

[@hansdegroot8549]

Great video. Thanks for sharing. I'm still mostly using corded tools. With cordless tools you have to stick to one brand + power range (12V/18V/20V) when you don't want to have 20 batteries and 15 chargers. With corded tools you can choose whatever brand you want, according price/quality/power/special features or whatever else you might find important at the moment of purchase. With a 40m long extension cord I don't feel very limited.

[@stevereed5776]

Interesting video. No mention of Trend? I have a mix of tools as including Festool, Dewalt and Trend because as you say, each do a specific job very well. I’m only a hobbyist DIYer but I do believe in buy once, cry once. Keep up the great videos

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Trend are a tricky one as their new range of tools is yet to be tried and tested and I've heard a lot of people have found faults and problems with them and had to send them back!.. Their newer range of cordless tools and their cheaper routers I think fit in prosumer (the trend plunge router I have is definitely not trade grade in my opinion), but they have some nice routers too which are more expensive and trade grade....

[@monkeyboysworkshop]

Loved this one mate, even more so the comparison between tools and your favourite bag of frozen peas 😜 And the slimy in the middle, brilliant 😂👊🏻

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thanks mate!

[@grahamalexander7230]

Hi Keith, Great break down, just a little correction though Hikoki / metabo HPT I agree are prosumer quality however Metabo still market a premium quality brand of tools marketed purely as "Metabo" which align very much in the professional field, Indeed Metabo themselves are keen to point out this difference.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Hi Graham, I actually put HiKOKI/Metabo HPT in trade grade, not prosumer. Metabo HPT is just the US name used for HiKOKI tools. Metabo tools are a completely separate line of tools and the batteries are not compatible with HiKOKI/Metabo HPT.

[@grahamalexander7230]

@@RagnBoneBrown Hi Keith, sorry my mistake ( must be the beer and sun yesterday ) I have quite the collection of Metabo gear none of the Hickok I gear, and I have to say they are brilliant except for no other company making stuff like tracksaw attachments or the like. That’s CAS batteries esp the HdLi versions are really good with outstanding life of charge etc. Graham

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thanks Graham, sounds like they're serving you well. I've not had any experience with Metabo as yet but I've seen Robin Clevett using them and he thought highly of them too 👍

[@animationcreations42]

I've never had an issue with any of my Parkside Cordless tools. Granted, I'm not a 'professional', but in building a timber framed extension and porch, my impact driver has done many thousands of screws without sweating. As has my Parkside' Professional' Brushless SDS, 12 and 20V drills, and many other tools. The only parkside tool I've had an issue with was my corded sander, but that's probably due to me sanding plaster with it, but Lidl replaced it under warranty regardless! I'd personally stay clear of used DeWalt and Makita tools on the likes of Marketplace and Gumtree, they're probably either stolen, or at the end of life. Why would a professional sell them on unless they've replaced them? I was after a cordless Jigsaw a few weeks back, i narrowed it down to either the Ferrex 20V or a used DeWalt for the same money (I already have batteries), I ended up just going to Aldi because I prefer the piece of mind of having the 3 year warranty

[@josephtwilley7187]

I recently switched to Ryobi from Craftsman because of the battery platform. Woodworking for me is a hobby and I am very happy with the Ryobi hand tools.

[@bread-gz3rl]

Have you tried any of the HP tools?

[@Rollie80]

You still need to do the comparison between the 12 and 18 volt. Where you think they fit into the work flow. I do construction and find that the 12 volts are a joke. Even the skill saw. If you are doing flooring, it is perfect. Can't cut a wet 2x4 to save its life tho

[@markpapp8784]

Nice video. I have no brand affiliation, but notice that it’s easy to get tied into a battery-based platform based on a manufacturer’s tool equivalent of a killer app. This is why I have some Bosch Blue 18v kit (the drill with the lightweight SDS attachment sold me; the right angle and offset attachments are handy too). Having a drill that can drive and occasionally SDS impact is so useful. The 12V “killer app” was the Deciled work light and lightweight drill-driver, perfect for much of what I do at work (working in the backs of 19” equipment racks.) I bought the Deciled after seeing somebody else use one, and since then several others have seen mine and copied me! Your advice to find the manufacturer which has all the tools in its range that you think you’ll need would be sound if there were such a thing. It’s frustrating that each seems to miss out on something really useful. Re. the cheapest tools range: I’ve bought two Parkside tools - a corded sander and a battery rotary tool. Each failed almost immediately, so never again. For what it’s worth, I find Lidl’s spanners, clamps and ratchets excellent. Finally: “Let's face it, woodworking is an extremely expensive hobby.” You’re having a laugh; you’ve never raced motorcycles, have you? Woodworking is faaaaaaaaar cheaper and I’m no longer permanently broke. Just often.

[@2greenify]

This video is two levels higher than any other video on this topic.

[@Thesidingsworkshop]

Nice video, as you know iam a Bosch man, not just because iam associated with them, but I've used bosch for over 20 years, I've a 15 year old bosch 24 v sds that has been used daily on sites, I've dropped it off a 3 tear scaffold and still kept going. The new biturbo range is very impressive, I have a utilities and woodworking business, and these tools have been a game changer. Tge procore batteries coupled with the biturbo tools are really fantastic.

[@BigTubz]

After watching many AvE teardowns, most tools today are rubbish, especially the 'pro' tools you list. As he's not sponsored, his review's are credible in my opinion. With a bit of research, the vast majority of tool brands are owned by about 3-4 parent companies. The difference in most cheaper and expensive tools is marketing budgets.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Love AvE's channel

[@BigTubz]

I know I'll sound like an old fart here but "they just don't make things as good as they used to" Planned obsolescence should be a criminal offence. Side note, I was in the 'why bother with cordless if you're hooked up to extraction' camp, but your argument makes sense.

[@christophershipman2843]

Rather than have everyone complain about the waste of prior generations, and the current situation in the world, how about we start manufacturing our own stuff again. Both in the United States and Europe, Germany, Ireland, Australia etc. rather than relying on the cheap garbage being mass produced in China. All that is being made in China is bound for the landfill and every time we have to replace any of our tools, toys, household items, appliances, vehicles etc, it adds to our carbon footprint and our societies massive amounts of waste. If we have society put more emphasis on quality and the longevity of our products we can greatly reduce the reliance on Chinese manufacturing (and all third world, child and slave labor), and reduce the impact of stripping our world of resources at the current unsustainable rate. The market would help the world economy and reduce the fuel consumption associated with manufacturing and shipping worldwide. Not only would it take power away from the Chinese\communist machine, it would serve to protect each of our countries national security. Make us all less susceptible to the next Wuhan\Fauci escape bug. And it would take care of a lot of people who are making a living off the back of the working class by providing jobs for all those unemployment as a career types. If they are going to be paid regardless then I say let's put them all to work (if they are capable of any mobility at all) cleaning up the litter left behind by trash that is everywhere. Shouldn't be hard to find work for them to do that will help us all out rather than just sitting around doing what they want while we all pay their way.

[@mattmueller3685]

It's funny, i am VERY similar in my tool line as you. I started out my first tool with a Milwaukee brushed M12 drill, but from that point forward i just kinda without particular reason started buying more into the Milwaukee ecosystem which turned out to be great for me. I'm almost entirely Milwaukee including my table saw which i use due to space requirements, but the few exceptions are my Festool Domino, Festool Midi dust Extractor, Mirka Deros sander, Surebonder Hot Glue gun (Ryobi clone) with a milwaukee battery adapter, and once it's off back order the Festool TSC 55 K plunge saw (I just got sooooo tired of waiting for Milwaukee's to come out that i just bit the bullet and placed a back order for the festool). I have never once regretted my decision on any of my tools, and love to find that you seem to have taken a similar path.

[@camperbuildsolutions1691]

Hi Keith. Milwaukee have just announced a track/plunge saw on their Milwaukee Pipeline video, I don't know a cost but hopefully they will send you one to use and review :)

[@RagnBoneBrown]

I do hope it's true, but it's not the first time I've heard that! 👍

[@laurentdumas3198]

@@RagnBoneBrown Surprisingly, TTI group announced a track saw in their entry level Ryobi range with some nice features ( brushless, riving knife ) that you wouldn't expect at that level. I am not aware of a similar announce in TTI's professional range Milwaukee but it may come if they add more features or built quality to what they already do at Ryobi.

[@toria-j]

I went Ryobi: Drill driver - solid. Does the job. I've battered it and it still goes well, though appreciates a bigger battery. Recip saw - brilliant, so easy to use and cuts cleaner than most. I have a multipack of Saxton blades to use with them though - I snapped one of the Ryobi blades on first use. Hand vacuum - almost useless. Really poor suck & the nozzles don't fit many small spaces. Circ saw (165?) - I read the reviews & went a step up from the basic model. It's decent, cuts square but easily wanders. The latter is probably user error though. Impact driver - light, easy to change bits, but I often wish I had bought another drill driver instead. It needs a torque setting. Light (flip up) - it lights things and seems to last well enough... Strimmer/trimmer - brilliant. Really light & does the job well. Much admired by various passers by and friends. Batteries last ages. Mower (33cm?) - underpowered for anything other than a perfect lawn. Shrubber/pruner - useless. Traps what you're trying to cut between the blades, despite tightening - they seem too flexible/blunt to cut. I have a sander too, but not used it yet. I also have a corded Erbauer Multitool which has a tremendously useful plunge blade that I use often in preference to any other sawing tool, though I do sometimes wish I had bought the Ryobi cordless. Oh, and a mitre saw which does a job well enough.

[@paulbanks8583]

Good video Keith 👍 I must say that I've got a pick mix of different brands and always have. I tend to go with the one that offers me what I need for the job. It does mean I have multiple chargers but hey pay your money take your choice. If I had to go out and replace my tools then yes I probably would go with one brand and if the odd tool was not available then just buy that like the domino. Anyway that's enough waffle from me.

[@Patmac74]

So far I have been using parkside 20v or draper firestorm modified to take the parkside 20v battery and have served me pretty well, I'm considering switching to erbauer in the effort to achieve a single battery system. I can't really justify dewalt or milwaukee.

[@adwol48]

as an average diy'er I use a few ryobi tools but I also have a range of tools from both parkside and ferrex I think the main reason for this has to be the price of both the tools and batteries if an impact driver dies I know that when they have them in stock it will only cost me 20 quid to replace it, I do have quite few tools doubled up simply for the reason my father will often help with projects and having one tool for each of us does make the job go so much faster, i.e when I had to lay 20m2 of chipboard flooring.

[@orbepa]

Nothing to do with this video, but I was just having proper annoyance and getting some oak boards across my band saw, then I remembered is bought some of your wax a while back. A coat of that applied with 0000 steel wool and they practically flew through the blade. Nice one Keith

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Cheers! Yeah it works well on metal 👍

[@Psychlist1972]

IMO, the only reason to buy just a single brand is due to anything that is interchangeable, specifically batteries and major accessories. For example, I use Milwaukee M18 and Festool for battery power tools. Neither brand has everything I use, so had to split between them, especially for cordless nailers. For corded portable power tools that need dust collection, I tend to go Festool because plug and dust port are standard making it simple for me to use and to store. For garden tools, we use EGO power because they're good and the batteries are all supported across the mower/blower/chainshow/etc. For the big stationary tools, I've found that keeping them in the family helps as well. For example, the extension tables and t-slot accessories for my Felder saw all work with the Felder shaper, but not with other stationary tools I have. I have a Hammer jointer/planer and it takes completely different extension tables. When you consider that those tables and accessories can cost hundreds of dollars, and take up shop space, being able to move them around from machine to machine can be good savings all around. I'm retrofitting some extension table brackets on to my old minimax band saw to try to use the felder tables, again to cut down on how much stuff I have taking up shop space. On the tether: my Festool extraction hose has the power cord in the same sleeve as the hose itself.

[@Saladzingers]

I try and buy the best quality I can afford when it comes to the “use it all the time” stuff. My DeWalt drill (batteries!) finally gave up after years of abuse and I had no qualms about driving straight out and buying the latest version. But for hobbyists, plenty of tools are niche/rarely used and I’m happy to go cheap and cheerful. Although it’s a mixed bag, I’ve had a lot of success with Parkside stuff (belt sander, SDS drill, multi-tool, reciprocating saw, angle grinder, 12v drill/driver, impact driver…!) - no way I could afford all of this in more expensive brands. Plus, a 3 year warranty on something that usually costs £50 or less - really can’t complain!

[@hebierob]

Great video! Always appreciate your honesty and unbiased opinion! Thank you Keith!

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Thank you Henry

[@Hand-i-Craft]

Enjoyed this Keith. One thing I'd add between trade and premium is premium hold their value much better. I think the likes of Festool and Mafell follow the 'Apple' kind of pricing in that the prices increase by a certain percentage each year, therefore second hand values remain high. Plus with the current lack of availability in a lot of the power tool works, folk are getting top dollar for their second hand products. If you decided your Domino was no longer for you then you would probably be able to sell it for more than what you paid for it. I don't think in the trade category they hold their value anywhere near as much, but I could be well of the mark 🤷‍♂️

[@RagnBoneBrown]

That's a really good point, cheers Leo. You're probably right although I remember selling my DeWalt DW745 on eBay for more than I paid for it new - absolutely crazy! And yes, I'm sure if I sold the DF500 I'd make money on it too... Similar things going on in the world of vehicles as well - with secondhand prices up by around 50% but that's more a sign of the times, and hopefully temporary!

[@slaizen]

love the attitude, im sure u a awesome dude to hang out with

[@SineadMoncrieff]

Great advice Mr Brown 😊

[@Brian18741]

Good video Keith. I've been using DeWalt for years but over the last 2 years I've noticed more and more issues with them. They definitely seem to be going downhill. Both my drills died the other day, on site, in front of the client while hanging a gate I made them. I had to borrow their Workzone drill to finish the job, embarrassing!

[@stevoc9930]

DeWalt are definitely not what they used to be. Milwaukee performance wise seem to be the best but as a Milwaukee user myself I will say the trade off is that they don't last that long. I've been slowly phasing back to Bosch as their tools are built to last.

[@-Benedict]

To be honest Keith, I would personally never advise anyone to buy second hand power tools, under any circumstances. If they fail after ten minutes, there's nothing you can do about it, because you have no warranty access, so you've just thrown your money down the drain. Plus, there's a staggeringly high probability that they've been stolen from some poor sod's van. It's just asking for trouble.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

Good points, but there are plenty of genuine secondhand tools offered on the market, I know tool theft is a huge problem but they're not all stolen. And for those on a tight budget, it's a good way of getting more quality for less money if you are ok with taking a risk

[@paulprescott7913]

That's always my fear on buying second hand tools.

[@boneheadworkshop8126]

My '10 cents' worth would include blades and bits as stand alone items. I put a really good quality Saxton blade in my super-cheap £25 circular saw and the difference is night and day.

[@joehart3826]

Absolutely

[@jmwoodcraft7842]

You looked genuinely happy with the beans 😂

[@jigsey.]

I've few DeWalt...but mostly parkside and einhell

[@Damianweibler]

Good video, where does Ozito sit on this list? Prosumer or lower?

[@stiraf5257]

I like to use the consumer grade brands whenever I don't know how much I'll use that type of tool. If I'll use it often enough that it eventually gives up, I know that investing in a higher quality version of that tool is worth it for me. And if I use it so rarely that it doesn't break, I haven't spent unnecessarily much on a tool I don't even use much. This of course only applies to someone who doesn't has to rely on their tools.

[@terristroh3965]

Cool shirt! I just ordered one

[@mpip6370]

I bought an Erbauer cordless combi 2 years ago, gave up after 10 months of lightish use. Weirdly my black and decker set I managed to get very cheaply are currently onto thousands of 100mm screws and holes each

[@lightbreezy]

Great guide. The cheap brand in Australia is Ozito. They’ve come along way. As I’m an occasional DIYer, this is perfect for me. Never buy cheap baked beans in Australia! Heinz English Recipe only. Yes, there’s an Aussie and English recipe versions!

[@jamesmurkin7404]

For an occasional diyer that's fed up with cheap and cheerful tools giving up the ghost, or being flimsy and breaking. What are thoughts on the Excel range from tools4trade? Will they do the trick, or will they just disappoint me in the long run?

[@websurfer1585]

I have owned an aerbauer cordless hammer drill and impact driver set for about 7 years, and it's been excellent i struggle to see how one of the 'premium' brands could be any better?

[@RagnBoneBrown]

My erbauer impact driver died after 11 months use

[@baseballdude8491]

Milwaukee, Makita Hikoki(Metabo HPT) r also my mostly go to's-I have a few of some.ofmthe other colors but mostly only limited to a few tools the other 3 either don't make or ones where the other color might Dona better job or significantly better priced

[@SawDustMakerRJM]

I am surprised that Ridgid tools were not mentioned. I have used them for a long time with great results. They are considered a tradesmen tool. Do they not sell them in the UK?

[@Brando1667]

Ridged certainly are available here in the UK. I have many of their tools and very decent they are too👍

[@RagnBoneBrown]

In the UK Ridgid is AEG 👍 they're not particularly prominent here in the UK

[@rasmo243]

The biggest factor with buying cordless over corded is the price i like the cordless as it is much quieter than corded most of the time but if you are buying a tool with a battery it is usually double the price of a corded tool especially when you start looking at larger tools like mitre saws etc, but when you look at usa prices both types of tool are very similar in price, you can now buy battery convertors so you can buy most makes of tool and use the same battery for different makes.

[@Badgerworkshop]

Very interesting and I think your funniest video yet.

[@NickBR57]

Yeah, one reason I only watch your project videos and no longer watch anything about tools, usually, is the move I have seen to all your kit being Milwaukee - not the case when I first started watching you years ago. It was pretty obvious you had started accepting freebies so I narrowed my scope of watching. One reason I still watch Peter M is that he doesn't do that.

[@RagnBoneBrown]

I'm not sure where you're getting your information from as Peter very openly accepts a lot of free stuff (more than me in fact) - this is explained in his videos. If you meant sponsorships, then yes, you're correct, Peter doesn't do tool sponsorships and I do. But if I didn't, I would still be working a day job. I have no issue with you not watching my videos, just wanted to make you aware of the true situation. And if you are wishing me to be on the breadline, then I'd prefer it if you didn't watch my videos tbh. My channels purpose is not to sell Milwaukee tools, and I think I've made that quite clear. But the support I get from them allows me to make videos for people like you to consume for free

[@HewAndAwe]

When it came to the beans I was expecting a Blazing sadle 😃

[@garenne0169]

always honest and humble, like at the beginning. Thanks for this video which don't promess paradise with one particulary brand...because there's not !!!

[@Kris5344]

Another important aspect for cordless tools it backward compatibility for batteries. I use Ryobi in “dedicated diy” category and even their 20+ year old drill still works with newest lithium batteries… some other brands change battery connector every few years to make you buy new tools when batteries die.

[@BecomingProductions]

Worth a mention Einhell have 3 lines of tools. The TC range is their budget range and usually these are what you find in the high street stores. I get it, the casual shopper probably just wants cheap and cheerful and these tick the box. They are pretty poor quality and largely contribute to the reputation Einhell have for low quality tools. If you stick to their TE (enthusiast) or TP (professional) you'll find a world of difference though. Obviously they're not competing with the Festool's of the world but I do honestly believe Einhell are a lot better than they're given credit for, so long as you stick to the higher end range.

[@joe123452]

Anyone any thoughts on where Draper or VonHaus might fit in these categories please?

[@jeromephilipon750]

Discovering your videos and loving them. Thank you! Would you still have a Milwaukee code and where can it be used in the UK ? THANKS

[@scottbramley1778]

I had an Erbauer dremel type tool which only lasted 2 uses before it died, whereas the original Dremel it replaced lasted years.

[@michaelwillson6847]

Great video kieth misded this one. I yave einhell drill and driver and table saw must say there hreat German engineered but i mix that with makita aswell haven't had isdues 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍

[@andljoy]

What i do is if its something i will use now and again i go for a cheap china special but corded , if its something i will use all the time i am a makita fanboy so its easy :P. I did get a bushless impact from china , that thing is the shit , i love it . I stand by the fact that if you are getting a super cheap tool you usually get more for you $$$ with corded . I also have an early 80s black and decker drill/hammer , that thing could drill a hole through god and they still make brushes for it to this day.

[@c.a.g.1977]

3:39 had to reiwnd to actually listen to what you were saying here, Keith. Dunno, something distracted me! I am a big fan of the Makita brand. Maybbe because my dad (who was a pro carpenter) had some of their tools in his work van. Festool is very nice too, but I can't afford them (only after saving up some money for quie a while)

[@sammni]

No intention of being a tradesman I'll just work around the house and help people out. Ryobi is the sweet spot for me.