Does everyone just go based on favorite color or is there some magic im unaware of that I should consider?
For me personally, I’ve gone mostly with Ryobi for “use around the house” cordless tools because I’m strictly a weekend warrior, and having a wide range of affordable tools on the same battery is more important than having the best/strongest.
I do have a couple of Dewalt cordless tools (impact wrench, recip saw) where it’s important to have a bit more reliable grunt.
(I assume that’s what you mean by color anyway)
Thank you. Yes. Based on some of the comments, looks like the $99 Ryobi battery/tool combo at home depot seems like a good way to go.
If you aren’t in a rush the orange big box usually has good deals around black Friday on green, red, orange, blue, and yellow.
It depends on what you want. If you aren’t using them to eat and pay the mortgage I’d recommend green. Orange is just slightly better green. If you want something nicer that you can abuse go yellow. If you want to have the new hotness to show off get red. Blue has a ton of third party and knockoff stuff that works with it.
You do need to watch out with the black Friday deals, in general but power tools definitely do it as well.
Make sure the model number of the product on “sale” is the same as the model number of their regularly stocked tools. Sometimes they will bring in special models for sales which are build cheaper and lack specific functions than the regular ones they stock year round, and the model number will be FROTY345B instead of FROTY345A or something.
I’m here representing Makita. But in any case, most people go with one brand so you can swap batteries.
I went with Makita because I like how the grip feels on the drills, and I’ve used them for some long days.
Pink. Get pink tools.
Cuz it reduces the chance that people will steal them. Plus, they’re more difficult to lose!
I got a pink camo tape measure on the theory that 1. It’s on sale and 2. I’ll never lose it.
I’ve had that sucker for 5 years and never lost it. The only less losable tape measure I own is shaped like a large rubber duck.
Better watch out, because I might come steal your rad af tools.
Please show a photo if that rubber duck tape measure. 🙏
Here you go from my alt, since sdf.org is being sad about pictures at the moment.
Dewalt, Milwaukee, and makita generally work the same. I find dewalts to be a little more resistant to being dropped from heights. Most companies I’ve worked for tend to use Dewalt or Milwaukee, not sure why Makita gets the shaft.
People generally buy one set with batteries and then that’s what they always buy because batteries are so expensive for their personal tools.
Also if you’re looking at Rigid or Mastercraft or some other cheaper brand don’t do it for battery powered tools. Their plug in tools tend to be okay if you’re just using it for personal use but the batteries those companies produce are garbage and not worth the savings.
So Ryobi, Rigid, and Milwaukee are all made by TTI, and generally the differences are in design and availability of specialized tools and attachments. If you are just weekend warroring things any of those is likely fine unless you need/want specific tools. The batteries though are generally the same internally (usually a set of 18650 Li-ion cells).
I mean as a few examples, the installer for our kitchen cabinets used all rigid tools with no issues, Aging Wheels on YouTube uses Ryobi again with no problems, and Farm Craft typically uses DeWalt but with a few Milwaukee.
I use Milwaukee M18 tools mostly, though would like to get some M12 for the smaller sizes. All told though it’s much more worthwhile to look for a system you can afford, and go for higher quality in that brand (like brushless mothers over brushed). Don’t get so caught up on if it’s “a pro tool” since they’re all pretty much from the same factories.
I own a contracting company and we have one set of rigid battery powered tools. They do not hold a charge anywhere near as long as our dewalts at the same size, do not charge anywhere near as fast, and do not have the longevity of the dewalts. We’ve slowly been phasing them out. Could be that ours are duds but I’ve heard similar things from other people.
I think Makita tools have run slightly more expensive, at least in my experience. I also don’t see them in as many stores as Milwaukee or Dewalt.
Hand tools? Secondhand or Harbor Freight.
Corded? Whatever you can find secondhand. I haven’t looked into Harbor Freight power tools recently. Last I checked, the price isn’t competitive for these, but I might be wrong. Otherwise, I’ll either go Ryobi or find something I would like. (I have a DeWalt miter saw, since I wanted something more accurate.)
Cordless? Batteries make this a challenge. Buying separate batteries is expensive. It’s a lot more economical to buy batteries as a set with a tool. I’ve stuck with Ryobi. Got a big, cheap set with batteries and basic tools. Picked up a few more tools over the years. I figure if I need something higher quality, I’ll get it. I’m not a professional, so I don’t ask a whole lot from the tools. Never felt like I needed to upgrade.
Makita blue
Depends on how much you’re relying on the tools. In the US, casual use of Ryobi is a nice price vs. performance balance. If you’re relying on the tools to make a living, go with one of the better companies
I went with Dewalt because they had a good price on their power drill when I was looking, then picked up other tools in their line on sale so they can share batteries. I’d say look for whichever has a good price and/or is running a sale.
My dad got me some DeWalt shit for Christmas 15 years ago, I’m a DeWalt guy ever since
Mine are red because that’s what the most affordable options were.
Dark purple. It’s a dope color.
I went with green because they have used the same battery format for decades. The 18v is the same shape as the old 12v and apparently backwards compatible.
Milwaukee is by far the best.
I buy all my tools from Lidl/parkside. They are cheap and work well enough
