Ltake your pick

18 volt Dewalt combo kit for $100.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-18...235C/100647068

Here is an interesting info-graphic on tools and parent companies:

And here is the story - Four Companies Sell 48 Percent of Power Tools

Harbor Freight - made from the best Chinesium money can buy!

My last two purchases have been Hitachi, a compound miter saw and belt sander. No complaints.


At work we have a DeWALT battery drill and an impact driver that are super compact, light weight, and have 4 LEDs that point on the screw when you pull the trigger. Those things kick ass, but I have no idea how much they cost.

probably even fewer companies actually make the tools that these companies sell


CHANG TYPE Industrial Co., Ltd.

https://m.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-2-Tool...nr_dotd_teaser

Nice deal. Cooler looks decent too.

Currently have a cheapo corded string trimmer. Honestly , I never use it because I dread the cord.

Lawn is small and usage is mild to moderate at most.

Any recommendations on a decent cordless? I would like to be able to ALWAYS leave the battery onthe charger when not in use, as I hate dead batteries (hence buying a corded one initially). Is this OK to do?

Following because I would like a new cordless string trimmer.

I have gas and electric currently, but tired of the both of them.

A couple years ago I sprung for a Stihl. Pretty expensive, but man does that battery last. Every previous one I had it seemed would run out of juice with about 20 ft of edging left. They have different batteries for different run times.

I've recently gotten the Ego electric mower, blower and trimmer. They work great, I've actually started taking care of the lawns for my next door neighbors so the houses around me look good, plus they pay me so I'll get my money back. The batteries are interchangeable so I can take the 5aH battery that came with the mower and use it on the blower or trimmer. Though in my experience the 2.5ah battery that came with my blower can run the mower but it would get overloaded with tall grass.

I bought this variable speed oscillating tool when they had a tent sale ($25!) The blade that it came with is shit but the tool itself is badass for the money. I put a Dremel blade on it and was good to go. Highly recommend. Don't be temped to get the cheaper one that doesn't have variable speed. Variable speed is a needed feature.
https://www.harborfreight.com/variab...ool-63111.html

I've had a HF sawsall for over 5 years. It's been dropped off a roof, left outside in the rain, cut out tree roots burried in dirt and it still keeps kicking.

​​​​​​

while we're on the subject what's a good brand of wrenches, and sockets? It seems everything is made with Chinesium nowadays, respected brands like Craftsman and Snap-on now aren't what they used to be. Maybe Trump's trade war will fix this

This is why Trump won LOL

Mine is a Stihl cordless. However, instead of a battery pack it has a gas tank. I'd still recommend Stihl for anything over anything else.

HF stuff doesn't get the credit it deserves. A lot of my woodworking stuff (clamps in specific) come from HF and they work awesome for what they are and are FAR cheaper than the alternatives.

Kobalt, Husky, HF...etc. It doesn't really matter if you're just a garage mechanic who does this off and on a couple times a year. Most of the bigger names will do fine and come with lifetime warranty. All of my socket stuff is Craftsman and it's been just fine. If I'm adding stuff these days, I go with Kobalt or Husky.

So, is it OK to leave these batteries on the charger for long periods of time when not in use?

The vast majority (guessing all actually) of battery chargers these days will just switch to a trickle charge once the battery is full. Should be fine to leave on charger for extended periods of time.

I've had no problem with Husky. They have forever guarantee.

I still buy mostly Craftsman hand tools. And, afaik, they still come with a lifetime replacement warranty. Although, I do have a set of GearWrench ratcheting combo wrenches that I like a lot. They have a lifetime warranty as well.

i am switching over to Milwaukee brand tools... i just bought the battery powered ratchet which helped me on a recent maintenance work i just did on the camry... and i am impressed with how far along battery technology has come...

Thoughts on this 40v Ryobi string trimmer? $129 with 4.0ah battery and charger.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-40...0250/307663070

Sorry, reply but I have bought a decent amount of stuff from HF. I have used their jack stands and various other stuff (C-clamps, as mentioned) and they work. Originally thought their power tools were junk, but it depends I suppose. I've seen pics of their drill bits turned into spaghetti.

anyways, free bump

I did it!
I joined the RED team! THE 9.0Ah Battery kicks ass!!!

Great Job Milwaukee!!!!!!!

I picked up the 2nd gen Leaf blower because I got tired of raking oak leaves, every fuckin' day.

this thing kicks ass!!!!
My streets are lined with oak trees that for three months, the leaves and acorns fall.
some serious leave piles!!!

previously; my brother has always found old leaf blowers and lawn equipment in the trash...fix em up and use them.
recently; because of misuse....fuel going bad, clogging up the lines, accidentally using gasoline instead of oil mixture, etc. etc...

the lawn equipment just wouldnt work.

With how impressed i am with the leaf blower, I went ahead and got the string trimmer + edger attachment on Milwaukee's 2nd gen "quik-lok" power head, as they call it.

you can quickly switch out between attachments on the power head, via the quick lok system. that comes in tomorrow..


Since our lawn equipment hasnt worked for a while, the side of the house needs to be whacked and I can finally edge up the lawn pro style!

Now, I am fully invested into the eco system, that is Milwaukee, which I wouldnt mind picking up some of their power tools, like the impact gun, etc.





the 9.0Ah battery has enough power and can last long enough to blow mountains of piles of leaves and make the lawn look tidy!

Can't wait to edge the yard tomorrow!

How heavy is the 9Ah battery to lug around?

the battery powered blower is lighter than a gas powered blower.
bonus, intake fan is located to the rear instead of to the side, like a conventional blower...gone are the days where your pant leg gets sucked up and hinders pump

the plastic blower doesnt even register on a scale...
the battery is like 2lbs.

interesting to note; both Ryobi and milwaukee are owned by the same parent company; TTI

the one thing that pushed me towards the Milwaukee eco system...is just that...with the new 2nd gen quick lok power head, it's one tool with many attachments.. An edger, string trimmer,a pole saw,a hedge trimmer. A big plus is that the M18 battery easily switches over to any other of the existing m18 products.
one battery and charger for multiple tools!

but of course; this is my first foray into power tools...it would be hard to switch over if over the years have accumulated various brands.
if current tools are dying, make the switch to Red!

I missed the sale on that Ryobi 40v but I offered the store manager the sale price and he said ok. Woot.

For when you need to replace your battery...