Milwaukee is what I use at work, use them everyday without any issues. Milwaukee tools have a 5 year warranty on the tool and 3 years on the batteries. Now at home I have Makita 18v stuff, mainly because I found a spectacular deal on a 1/4 inch impact driver on the clearance shelf, so since I had one I decided to keep the at home tools all the same. I can handle having multiple brands with multiple chargers.

That's what I use here at the house... Not the new red ones, the old C3 line from when Sears was still around.

At first I wasn't too impressed. The NiCad batteries weren't good. I stepped up to the LI batteries a few years before Sears went belly-up... Total game changer. And I can still get the batteries aftermarket but I haven't needed to yet.

Not sure I would want to use them to make a living, they're a bit heavy and bulky. But they're more than adequate for home projects.

Mike

This is the answer.

I prefer makita although I haven't tried milwaukee battery tools.

Underground we have o have our electric tools tested by MSHA.(M ine S afety H ealth A dministration) They have to be tested and stamped before allowed underground so no sparks or shorts around the gas and explosions. Milwaukee are the only ones MSHA allows underground which also tells me they never short out and they seem to last forever and I Promise you that ANY Tool Underground takes a beating and Milwaukee seems to never let us down.

I have the better grade 20 volt Dewalt set this is the first year using it, so far the batteries last way longer then I thought they would I’ll see how long they hold up.

I have mostly Rigid stuff purchased through Home depot or home depot online so that I have the warranty on the batteries and tools , they have a lot of the very similar tools to Milwaukee. for just sheer number of tools and the many specialties they go into Milwaukee m18 the same charger actually charges the m12 also.

when my son started buying tools he went M18 impact because he was working in a auto shop at the time and Milwaukee has a lot of very good auto tools

If I was starting over and making my living with them M18 and M12 would be all I would be buying.

check out the torque test channel on youtube they do really good head to head testing of different impacts

not sure if boat stuff would be a place for High torque impacts but that sub compact that produces 225 foot pounds is very useful when working on cars

Not all DeWalt batteries are the same. Check the mAmp ratings. I have an old 18V circular saw that was almost useless until I purchased a higher mAamp DeWalt battery. Makes a big difference. The blade is faster and last much longer.

I think I am going to go the Milwaukee route. I have some corded tools of that brand Drills, sawmill, band saw and a couple of cordless V12 tools ...drill and small impact driver. I love that little impact and it is always in my tool bag. they have a good selection of Milwaukee tools at the local ACE hardware store and the folks there are pretty friendly. So I am guessing that they would be helpful in the event that I need spares or warranty issues etc. Price wise there is not much in it between Milwaukee and Makita. To be honest, it is a brand that I did not even think of when I started this thread, even though I have some of their stuff and it has been trouble free thus far and that swasall for example is not having an easy life with me and the drill gets to go out of its case when nothing else will do. ( big holes in thick metal )
So thank you good folks for a shove in an for me unplanned direction. I'll be off to the hardware store tomorrow to get me a angle grinder, a couple of batteries and a charger in red.

watch the deals they tend to have buy 2 batteries get a choice of 1 of 4 tools.
also watch ACE online and make sure you have Ace rewards setup , you often get coupons for 25 dollars off a 150 dollar purchase or 5 off a 35 dollar purchase or some percent 10-15% and when you spend X amount of money you get 5 dollar coupons same as cash at the ace counter.

if you order online and have sent to the store for pickup it opens up your available product options at times it may just be that my ACE is very small and doesn't stock a lot of high end tools.I have been to some big ace stores that have impressive tool displays.
sometimes they tell me the deal is better to order online and just come pick it up than have them order it.

I just bought a Milwaukee M18 Fuel 1/2 in Hammer Drill/Drill driver. Not sure what parts are made where but the battery is a list of places outside US including China.





I have DeWalt 18 volt drill, sawsall and impact. I don't use them only for home use and I'm on my 4th set of batteries last new in 2017. Batteries bought 2015 won't take charge no more so wondering about the 2017s.
I have several corded Milwaukee tools I have had for years now.
I decided to get this Milwaukee 1/2 inch battery drill because my son has all Milwaukee. So if need be can swap batteries around and he will end up with it when Im pushing up daisies.
I shopped around for the best price on this drill. Different vendors different prices got watch for the special. Then just model number so pricing apples to apples.

Mac

I'll keep an eye out for those deals as well then Pete. Knowing me, I'll probably end up buying more than just the one tool that I need right now. But spending money on good tools is never wasted in my book.

Had real good luck with the older craftsman tool line and they are sold through our local Lowes now. I have some that are over 15 years old and still going strong. My youngest son swears by Milwaukee tools and I know he isn't gentle with them.

your choosing a battery platform is a better way to put tool choice now

with Rigid they like to offer a flashlight with tool as their black Friday type deals not sure what Milwaukee does

you would think maybe you could have to many flash lights but I am not sure you can

my most recent Rigid is the inflator and it came with a 2ah battery and flashlight black Friday deal HD online for $99 a battery is $99 is you buy one so it is almost like buy the battery get the tool for free
if you buy batteries in multiples they come down to around 35 and amp hour
the bare tool was 69 or 99 with a battery and the deal was 99 with battery and flashlight

if you would have asked me 5 years ago about a battery powered inflator I would have said I have the compressor I can just fire that up
but is this every handy for trailers , bike tires , wheel barrows things that are not an easy hose reach from the garage , not having to fire up the compressor when cold , also I don't squat as well as I used to so bend down attach and start and it auto shuts off at the dialed in psi

After having had a look at the suggestions here I cut it down to two. Makita and Milwaukee. I have some corded tools from both and like them. The local tractor supply store has Makita and the local ACE has Milwaukee. The Ace store has a way bigger selection of different Milwaukee tools than the TSC has Makita. So if I need something , the chances that the local ACE has it in stock are just better. The electrical numbers game comes out as a wash with both delivering very similar performance in their brushless line of tools. Milwaukee has a 5 year warranty opposed to Makitas 3 years. The majority of folks on this thread went for Milwaukee. So that is how I came to my conclusion. And I'll go shopping tomorrow. As I said, I'll probably come home with more than just one angle grinder / batteries and charger

Been using ryobis for a couple of years. But I use them around the house. On the blower and drill. So far they are doing good.

Career carpenter/builder also used them working on cell towers. I use Milwaukee day in and day out. I do have random other tools like dewalt chop saw/table saw and Hiatachi nailers from 23ga to framers with some other random stuff, but if it has a battery its Milwaukee. Don't get ryobi or porter cable. Its junk and have seen if first hand multiple times. Pay for what you get. Milwaukee has lots of tools and its a big investment, but it will last you a long time.

Me too 4 sets and 18 years

The admiral had a semi complete set of ryobi batterie tools. The batteries were not worth a darn. I got so frustrated with the stuff that i put it next to the boat and went out then and got the De Walt stuff to replace it.

When you buy your Milwaukee tools get the ones that say fuel on them.