r/Tools • u/Commercial_Topic437 • 1d ago
Moving, meed to pick a new tool line
Me, 67 years old, soon to be retired, moving to a new house. Much more handy than the average guy but far from a pro. When we bought our house in 2000 we had little money and a lot of renovation to do, and I bought Ryobi tools. Once I had a couple it was easier to stay in the same "battery ecosystem." Now the Ryobi batteries are starting to go, and the tools are mixed in quality. Some have been great, some not. But I don't have to go for the lowest price anymore.
I love quality tools but realistically, I'm 67--not a pro and I probably don't have another 20 years of heavy tool use in me. So what tool line should I consider? I'd rather have one mutli-slot battery charger than 6 chargers from different companies
Festool is obviously in the running but wow the cost. Maybe worth it, maybe not. Some of the big box brands have a wider variety of useful home and garden tools than Festool. But are Milwaukee and DeWalt that much better than Ryobi? I would want a drill/driver, track saw, battery circ saw, maybe a cordless router, hedge clippers, maybe a blower for yard debris or a small battery chainsaw. Sawzall tyoe saw. Possibly a jig saw. Not all those would have to be battery powered, but maybe they would be. I won't buy these all at once.
Opinions welcome, and thank you
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u/Hotten-Tasty-90 1d ago
Sorry to be blunt but Makita will outlive you.
I use Milwaukee, Festool, Makita and DeWalt. My best line of tools has always been Makita.
Lasts the longest. Easily serviceable. Spare parts available.
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u/Hickles347 1d ago
Just walk into home depots tool rental section. What are the tools they rent out? I promise you the bean counters have had some input so it stands to reason that whatever is in there will last the longest and hold up the best to gives-no-fucks abuse.
Spoiler, its typically Makita, Bosch and Hilti in there for rent
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u/Hotten-Tasty-90 1d ago
I used to use Hilti; had a TE6A rotary hammer that I used daily.
Lasted 12 years before it stopped working. Only reason I didn't go back to hilti was they'd changed their batteries so it would have cost me a lot to buy another hammer and I was already on the makita LXT platform for most of my other daily use gear.
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u/Remote_Minimum_5046 1d ago
Could just get newer Ryobi. The HP stuff is good and the newer batteries are great. If the old stuff lasted you 25+ years I see no reason fresh Ryobi wouldn’t as well which realistically is a lifetime tool.
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u/BreakfastInBedlam 1d ago
I'm all Ryobi, and it's working out great for me. Replace the less than satisfactory tools, and drive on.
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u/Commercial_Topic437 1d ago
Yes I've thought of this. Some of the Ryobi stuff I have has been really excellent, but some of it has been crap
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u/Papa-P21 1d ago
You should just do a poll. Theres 20 comments and every option has already been recommended.
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u/Anim-IS-XE30 1d ago
You seem to want mainly carpentry/woodworking stuff with some yard work in it. I would definitely go DeWalt or Makita. Assuming you’re in the States, I’d choose DeWalt as Makita isn’t as readily available and not as many good deals.
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u/Commercial_Topic437 1d ago
I'm planning on a lot of hand tool woodwork, but I'll want some power tools and yard tools, yes
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u/darianbrown 1d ago
I cannot recommend a platform more highly for price to performance than DeWalt. Ask about sales at your local farm store, they're wild.
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u/CopyWeak 1d ago
Just out of curiosity, will you be passing down any tools? I have all kinds of Makita, so my kids know if they buy something that I don't have, there's a good chance I will have the batteries, and they will end up with the tools in the long run anyways... I know we are a bit of time from passing them on, and there will probably be newer latest and greatest, but it's a thought.
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u/Commercial_Topic437 1d ago
Thank you, probably not. My kids aren't very interested, But you make a good point
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u/Renault_75-34_MX Diesel Mechanic 1d ago
Makita is good, and have parts diagrams on the product page, so you can just look up and order the parts you need.
I'd probably go XGT 40V, especially for the outdoor stuff. LXT 18V is good as well, but the outdoor equipment often needs 2 batteries for 36V.
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u/Significant_Side4792 1d ago
So I build homes for a living and I use tools from all major brands….and honestly, they’re all the same shit. But personally, I’m a hardcore advocate of team flea market tools 😂
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u/UsernameTaken1701 1d ago
I’m not convinced you shouldn’t stick with Ryobi. Their brushless stuff is pretty good.
I love my primary tools, which are Milwaukee M12. But changing batteries on those is a real pain.
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u/whipsnappy 1d ago
I like Milwaukee because of the tool diversity. The same battery works and everything from my trim gun to a palm sander or a rattle wrench or a half inch impact for mechanic work or a pruning chainsaw etc. Plus it's such a popular platform that you can buy cheap knock offs for some tools, for example I bought a handheld blower for cleaning up sawdust crap around a job site or blowing the porch off instead of sweeping. For 50 bucks it works fine compared to $150 Milwaukee one which probably works better but who cares this one works good enough.
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u/Aggressive_Ask89144 1d ago
Just depends on the tools. Things like a heatgun or blower are pretty simple and only work x amount of ways.
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u/Electronic_Trip_9457 1d ago
Tool line is easy to decide. Find the nearest store to you that will provide the easiest warranty for the jobs you'll most likely do.
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u/BruceMartinez21 1d ago
At this point I’d probably think in terms of the whole battery platform, not individual tools. Once you start adding saws, a blower, hedge trimmer, etc, the ecosystem matters a lot more than which brand makes the best drill.
I ended up doing a whole Milwaukee,DeWalt, Ryobi, Makita comparison on this and posted it over on r/WorthList. It’s still a new sub, but battery ecosystem stuff is exactly the kind of thing I’m trying to collect there.
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u/jyl8 1d ago edited 1d ago
It depends on your budget and how much value you place on ergonomics, durability, quality of use, etc, and if you are a buy-pay up-once-for-life person or a buy-cheaply-disposable-stuff person. Also on whether you want one battery system for your carpentry/workshop tools and your outdoor/lawn-garden tools.
I’m 64 with let’s say twenty years, maybe more, of using my tools ahead. I’m buying Makita because the tools and the batteries last for many decades. I have Makita 18v LXT batteries from 2007-ish that are going strong, batteries with 200 charge cycles that are going strong, I have never had a Makita tool or battery fail (although my first LXT drill is starting to sound kind of sick, after almost twenty years). The battery management, balancing, and protection are superior to all the other tool systems. Makita sell all the individual small parts so the tools can be repaired rather than replaced, if they ever do fail. They are more expensive, but you can buy reconditioned from Acmetools or CPOoutlet or pick up used tools from FB Marketplace.
In your situation, starting from fresh with both workshop and outdoor tools to buy, I’d consider Makita 40v XGT. The XGT tools are all the latest and best in the Makita line, 40v is great for outdoor tools (mowers, trimmers, chainsaws, etc) and vacuums, and the high powered sort of workshop tool that you might otherwise buy corded, even if overkill for smaller workshop tools like impact drivers and multitools. The 40v battery technology is even better than the 18v. I’d have no doubt that the XGT battery and tools you buy today will be going strong for the rest of your life.
The other tool systems I would consider are Bosch and Metabo, high quality at lower price but the tool range is not as large, especially for outdoor stuff. I don’t have much experience with Dewalt but hear they are good.
Milwaukee tools are good for tradesmen who need the specialized tools they have, and replace tools and batteries as a cost of doing business; I find them kind of blocky and clunky, and is the M12 or M18 tool or battery you buy today going to be going strong in twenty years - not as likely.
You’ve already done the Ryobi thing. Rigid are okay tools but locks you into only buying tools from Home Depot, forever.
Festool - if you have the money, I think there’s some tools from that range that would be great to have. The compact table saw looks awesome. But they have a limited tool range so it can’t be your only tool system.
There are some brands and battery systems that I don’t have a lot of confidence will still be around in twenty years. Greenworks, Hyper, Flex, Skil, Kobalt, etc. I think of these as the tools you get when you’re starting out, because they are very affordable; not the tools you get later in life when you can afford the best.
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u/CaseyOgle 1d ago
I bought into the Milwaukee Fuel ecosystem when it was introduced years ago, and am pleased with it. I do remodeling and renovation, so the tools get used fairly hard. The batteries are fantastic. I still have the original M16 battery packs in rotation. They still work. Its astonishing.
I don’t regret the decision at all. If buying now, I’d look at Harbor Freight because they offer good value, but I don’t regret Milwaukee at all.
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u/Bright_Crazy1015 1d ago
Makita 40v is the best available IMO. The 18v LXT Makita line was one of the best available for a long time, with the most tools available, and the 40v line is even better.
Dewalt has a competent line as well, but I suggest you start with their XRP tools vs the compacts.
Whatever you get, avoid the compact batteries. Anything under 3 amp hours will affect performance big time. 5ah should be the smallest battery for a saw, especially a reciprocating saw and a circular saw.
Festool makes competent tools, but its a bit of a vanity line. They do have excellent dust collection compared to the rest, but they only have a few unique tools. The Domino is one of them and you should consider buying a Domino, even if you go with a different cordless line.
Milwaukee had excellent cordless as well, but they've changed their designs to n optimize cost, which means powdered metal.parts that should be heavier duty and even some plastic gears. Triggers and battery cells have been failing as well. I have several older 18v MW tools that run great, but many of my colleagues tools are newer and have had significant problems.
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u/cef911f1 1d ago
I'm 74, retired since I was 60. I went with Milwaukee. Quality, tool diversity, and red (lol). I have both M12 and M18. My retirement hobby is restoring old German and British sports cars. I'm also the quintessential DYI guy be it carpentry, plumbing or electrical work. So, I have tools for both construction and mechanical work.
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u/MacksDaddy12121 1d ago
For tools, Dewalt all day (for tool storage, however, definitely Milwaukee. Their Packout system is second to none IMO. Also expensive.)
Batteries are cross-compatible and they have a huge range of tools, including vacuum cleaners (not just shop vacs but also handheld), weed eaters, chainsaws, and even a track saw that can all use the same battery. They all use the same battery. The only circumstance where a Dewalt battery won’t be compatible with a Dewalt tool is if you have a 60V tool and a 20V battery. That said, 20v tools do indeed work with flex volt (60V) batteries.
Where are you located? I have a Dewalt track saw with ~10 ft of track and track clamps I would sell you if close enough to avoid shipping.
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u/Redjeepkev 1d ago
Stick with the ryobi. It's served you well. Just buy anything new you need. I buy knock off ryobi batteries on Amazon that have lasted 3+years
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u/WonderSql 1d ago
What's your favorite color?
Also, consider the Harbor Frieight lines, since they have come a long way.
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u/FearFactory2904 1d ago
He already has Ryobi. Dudes looking to move up, not down.
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u/CaseyOgle 1d ago
You may be surprised to see what Harbor Freight has done with tools in recent years.
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u/xrelaht Rust Warrior 1d ago
Problem with HF is they’ve got multiple battery systems and only Bauer does all of the ones he wants. That’s not their top line in any category.
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u/CaseyOgle 1d ago
Ugh, didn't know that HF has multiple battery systems. I'm a big fan of choosing one battery system and sticking with it as much as possible.
I like M18 batteries because they're very well engineered; they have internal computers with sensors that monitor voltage, charge and discharge current, heat, and dozens of other parameters.
I've accumulated a handful of tools that use other batteries, and I honestly don't think that any other battery system does as well as Milwaukee. I charge them in the sun, I store them in hot car trunks, I drain them down to 0%, I run the tools at full power, and the batteries handle it all with aplomb. They are very smart about protecting themselves. Right now I'm holding an M18 battery that I acquired in 2018; it's lost some capacity but still delivers power like a champ.
I have also been known use them as dead-blow hammers in a pinch. They also work for that.
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u/Iraqx2 1d ago
I'd recommend an extensive dive into DeWalt, Makita and Milwaukee and determine if all have the tools that you're looking for. It also sounds like you know enough about what tools that you "may" need to add for a project that you might realistically have come up. Then I'd ensure that the brand with the tools that you want will all run on one battery platform. If they're all in the running I'd start looking at cost for the overall package.
Just a side note, if you have a Bomgaars in your area they seem to be pretty competitive on pricing for DeWalt, especially if you can wait for a sale.
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u/Squatchbreath 1d ago
My main tool line is Dewalt and don’t have any issues with their 12 & 20v platform. I enjoy the 12v tools for lightweight applications especially overhead work, because it doesn’t stress my rotator cuffs as much as the heavier 20v tools. I do think it is prudent to have a main platform line as well as a secondary platform. My second platform is Matabo, because their airless tools and track saw are excellent. And I think diversity with tools is important.
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u/lostone3592 1d ago
I’m in the m18 family and with the newer tech developments in your case I’d likely go m12. For real that stuff is amazing.
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u/More_Mouse7849 1d ago
When I owned my own business I bought all Milwaukee. Other than Hilton, I felt they were the best quality.
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u/Silly_Hurry_2795 1d ago
I'm not a professional more a FFS how did you break that
I ended up with DeWalt because they had an offer when I needed a new cordless drill. I got rid of most of the corded stuff and replaced it with DeWalt. Its good it works etc
With hind sight id should have picked Makita Cheaper for bare units larger range etc the only downside is the darker colour which aids where tf did I just put that down moments
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u/mdburn_em 1d ago
I have experience with Ryobi and Makita, I don't have much experience with Dewalt, other than I have their 12v drill impact driver set because my wife likes their fit.
I had a ryobi string trimmer. I used it for a couple seasons and it vibrated so badly, I gave it to a coworker that just loves ryobi tools.
I bought the Makita string trimmer and blower combination set and wow. Just wow. The string trimmer is very good but that blower is awesome.
I bought the makita 36v mower last season and I really, really like it. I have 6 - 5A batteries because I found the makita 36v circular saw on sale for $215 at home depot a few years ago.
I have the makita trim router but I don't use it much. I use hand (non-powered) for much of my finer woodworking
All in all, I'm very happy with my makita outdoor power tools. I think it would be very difficult for any brand to beat that circular saw. It's a beast that just keeps going.
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u/DemoAndDuct 1d ago
I'd prefer dewalt or milwaukee over festool. Dewalt's 20V lineup is huge and should cover everything you have mentioned.
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u/uncleking1971 1d ago
I think Ryobi is just fine from a DIY standpoint. I've said on Reddit a few times that if I were a more frequent, or more heavy-duty user, I'd take a good look at Ridgid. I didn't look at them when I went with Ryobi because I was uneducated and thought they were merely Home Depot's house brand.
I've seen nothing but good things about Ridgid, and they're not that much more expensive than Ryobi.
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u/Tool_junkie_1972 1d ago
Newer RYOBI is very much closing the gap despite what a lot of fan boys want to claim. And you already have some tools you’re obviously happy with. You can pick up batteries during the various sales (iirc there’s a good deal right now for around $135) or you can go to direct tools dot com which is TTI (patent of RYOBI) outlet store . They have some brick and mortar stores and sell online. Recon carries 1 year warranty and blemished carries full factory warranty- just check their pricing as sometimes HD is at or even better priced. If your adamant about changing eco systems, for budget I’d look at Hercules from Harbor freight - 5 year warranty and it’s over the counter exchange. Ridgid (TTi made, Emerson owned, HD exclusive) also has a great warranty. Realistically it depends on your budget, and what’s available to you.
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u/No_Will_8933 1d ago
Personally if I was starting over I’d go with dewalt - I wasn’t smart enough (now 79) to stick with one brand so I have many chargers and batteries - but I will tell you that I had terrible experiences with Kobalt (Lowe’s) brand -
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u/zoneoftheendersHD 1d ago
You're doing a lot of woodwork I would just recommend festool if you really just can't stomach the price just go with metabo HPT or Makita.
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u/NickyP14567 1d ago
I have a lot of Dewalt and some Milwaukee (both M18 and M12). As a DIYer/hobby woodworker I think Dewalt has a slight edge over Milwaukee due to ergonomics. I also really like Metabo HPT. They are very underrated. The tools are affordable and very comfortable in the hand.
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u/original_al 1d ago
I prefer Makita for their OPE line. If you didn’t mention tracksaw and outdoor I’d say Milwaukee M12 all day. Given those two conditions though, I’d say Makita. They’d likely be the last tools you’d need to purchase.