What Power Tools Should I Buy?

Hugh G Rection on 27/03/2022 - 08:39
Last edited 29/03/2022 - 08:03

I'm planning on starting a power tool set that will grow in the future (fan, vacuum, lawnmower, kettle, radio, etc…). i'm not a tradie, so i don't need the super duper serious stuff.

WHO MAKES THE BEST CORDLESS TOOLS?

Makita – 45 Votes
Milwaukee – 32
DeWalt – 31
Ridgid – 12
Hilti – 11

link to article
https://www.protoolreviews.com/who-makes-the-best-tools/

did a little google search and found out that Makita is the best. I guess that would make sense since they have been in the business for over 100 years and a Japanese company that make amazing electronics.

what is everyone using and recommend to get?

Poll Options

  • 125
    Makita
  • 56
    Milwaukee
  • 33
    DeWalt
  • 5
    HiKoki
  • 21
    Bosch
  • 5
    Festool
  • 63
    Other
Home & Garden Power Tool

Comments

  • Warehouse on 27/03/2022 - 23:28

    If its just for yourself, does it all have to be new? I've had some great finds and deals over the years from fb marketplace… I'm talking about complete sets and batteries for a couple hundred… Makita is what I have the most of currently…

  • 82norm on 28/03/2022 - 08:47

    After market battery adapters are coming out so you can go from Dewalt to Milwaukee etc. it will be a game changer as some brands perform better (ergonomically, power, feel, run time, quality than others). This will be a godsend so you’re not locked down to a single brand. For tool you use often (impact drill/driver, go for high end), but ones used once in a blue moon (router), you’ll get away with a Ozito. ( not bagging Oziti, have a corded delta sander and hasn’t let me down yet).

  • Hangryuman on 28/03/2022 - 08:59

    'starting a power tool set that will grow in the future (fan, vacuum, lawnmower, kettle, radio, etc…)'

    uh - fan, vacuum, kettle, radio as power tools ? oh…kay……

    I've had Bosch wired drills for decades but since I picked up a cheapo power screwdriver which also works perfectly fine as a drill (I found I don't need a hammer drill for concrete/brick) I've rarely used the cable versions.

    I'm using this one - halfway through building a set of shelves - https://photos.app.goo.gl/kGZ2z8s9dMpMz2PC8

    and turning it over - lo - it turns out to be from IKEA ! - https://photos.app.goo.gl/SCUuP6Buvwawyzj47

    looks like $69 here for 14.4V model - https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/fixa-screwdriver-drill-li-ion-6…

    I'd choose the higher voltage for the price as I suspect the lower voltage ones won't have the power I want.

  • jellykingdom on 28/03/2022 - 09:36
    +2

    I have Ryobi One but to be honest you can get a great deal on Dewalt if you buy a whole pack when its on sale

  • NigelTufnel on 28/03/2022 - 09:50
    +1

    i'm not a tradie, so i don't need the super duper serious stuff

    Includes Festool in polls, but not Ryobi and Ozito.
    FWIW, most of my tools (garden and other) are Ozito and I've never had an issues. I think they're fantastic for the money, but go for 2x18V versions if you have the choice.

  • Bren20 on 28/03/2022 - 10:16

    Buy corded tools
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/11632772/redir

  • Zondor on 28/03/2022 - 10:57
    +1

    I've had good experiences with my Ozito stuff over the years.

  • dufflover on 28/03/2022 - 11:56
    +1

    You don't list a single actual use, not even the stock standard home maintenance, hanging pictures or putting up shelves line.

    And then end up listing general appliances everyone buys to sit plugged in at home usually.

    A hammer drill alone takes care of most typical home jobs. You don't sound like planning to cut lumber if you're thinking first of a kettle or a radio lol

    • Hangryuman on 29/03/2022 - 13:58

      'don't sound like planning to cut lumber if you're thinking first of a kettle or a radio lol'

      if OP reckons a kettle and radio are power tools, perhaps OP IS a power tool … ?

  • t_c on 28/03/2022 - 12:22

    If you use said tools to create some wooden trinkets that you offer for sale on eBay, would the tools become tax deductible?

    Not to mention storage for tools, some nice bespoke work benches.

    • Euphemistic on 28/03/2022 - 15:10

      Probably Only if you declare your income from said trinkets and have it taxed.

      • t_c on 28/03/2022 - 23:13

        And if that ebay income is very low due to it being a new startup, could the deductions then apply to the entitys other business income, bringing down ones total tax burden?

        • derrida derider on 29/03/2022 - 09:02

          Almost certainly not. Otherwise no one would be paying any tax - I'd be starting an unverifiable loss making business before you could blink if so.

          • t_c on 29/03/2022 - 21:04

            @derrida derider: Every sale on eBay is verifiable, surely no one can blame the individual for difficult trading conditions, slim margins, high fees and poor supplier support toward small business.

    • gdogdiggity on 28/03/2022 - 23:11

      Got to meet certain income threshold, i think it's about 10k-ish, plus meet some other criteria, all on ATO website.

    • Sonnyjimbo on 30/03/2022 - 11:22

      2 separate issues - first is hobby vs business, second is business losses (only deductible against future profits so can't apply to say your wages etc for extra refund on PAYG withholding tax. To be honest the newer small business loss rules were likely part of the strategy to reduce the number of wage-earners claiming extra refunds for backyard hobbies. Used to be a big problem for the ATO ;-)

  • Lucille Bluth on 28/03/2022 - 12:56

    I'm planning on starting a power tool set that will grow in the future (fan, vacuum, lawnmower, kettle, radio, etc…).

    What relevance are these to power tools?

    • iDroid on 29/03/2022 - 19:37

      Part of the same battery family.

  • DannyBishop on 28/03/2022 - 13:18

    I chose Makita as a platform for the range of options, especially in power garden tools. But they're part way through a transition from 18v to 40v right now, so be careful if you do head that way.

    I've got to ad that I've rarely seen a bad review of a DeWalt tool on Project Farm: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2rzsm1Qi6N1X-wuOg_p0Ng

  • gimme on 28/03/2022 - 13:37
    +1

    You don't need the best tool, you just need a brand/model that's fit for purpose. Figure out what the purpose is first. Time and again people fall in this trap by asking a question on the internet and folk providing advice with very little context.

  • grr1701 on 28/03/2022 - 13:48
    +1

    I bought Makita for drills etc with interchangeable lithium batteries for longevity (I’ve had Black & Decker and Bosch in the past but they had nickel metal hydride batteries that didn’t last the distance).
    For gardening, I went with an electric Ego mower and blower. Brilliant products. If I could just kill my Honda whipper snipper, I’d replace it with an Ego whipper snipper, too. (But the Honda is almost indestructible; but it’s petrol, dammit!)

  • OwMeKnees on 28/03/2022 - 14:15

    Go for the ryobi one+ stuff, I have heaps. If you wear that out, then upgrade to better, I like Dewalt for that. I have their circular saw and a sander

  • bathuu on 28/03/2022 - 14:43
    +1

    Ryobi - 6 years REPLACEMENT warranty when registered
    Ozito - 5 years REPLACEMENT warranty
    Makita, Aeg, Bosch, Dewalt - All has REPAIR warranty. Which means anything goes wrong with your tool it will be sent for repair, you wont get a new one.

    • seabombs on 28/03/2022 - 15:04
      -2

      A replacement warranty may indicate the tool is poor quality to begin with, i.e. so cheaply made it's not worth repairing. That the other brands would repair the tools might indicate they are made of higher quality materials that are worth keeping.

      Just a thought.

      • Euphemistic on 28/03/2022 - 15:12
        +1

        Agree replacement warranty is for throw away items. Repair warranty also means parts are available.

        I had a perfectly good Ryobi planer that broke a drive belt out of warranty. No replacement belt available so it’s a paper weight now.

        • bathuu on 28/03/2022 - 16:38

          but you gotta remember most of these big brands do "quality" tools only offer 3 years warranty though. Once your tool is out of warranty and breaks down you are up for another "quality" tool for mega bucks.

          • Euphemistic on 28/03/2022 - 16:45

            @bathuu: Yes, and they are built well and don’t break often. Even the cheap ones last long enough. Normally if they are going to break, it’s within the warranty period otherwise they keep going until the batteries fade.

  • pformag on 28/03/2022 - 15:00

    Couldn't have done much research. Ryobi is best bang for buck. If budget is no issue Milwaukee is the top and probably has the biggest range.

    • 82norm on 31/03/2022 - 10:35

      Not sure about biggest range, Dewalt, Makita, Bosch would be comparable.
      Have both DeWalt and Milwaukee and both have strength and weaknesses.
      Have Metabo, Bosch, AEG (made in Germany)…. All good stuff.

      • Euphemistic on 31/03/2022 - 10:42

        Having the biggest range isn’t really necessary for average Joe anyway. They pretty much all do the same range of tools suited for DIY and basics. They’ll all have basic drill, saws etc. It’s when you get into specialist stuff like re-bar ties or plumbing fitting crimpers that you need to carefully consider. For home use checking if the have gardening gear is important.

  • LFO on 28/03/2022 - 15:02

    what is everyone using and recommend to get?

    One nasty issue that is developing refers to the same brand now having different batteries
    Although this only applies to cordless it is a bit unsettling.

    Ryobi has now 18 and 36V batteries and different tools and accessories to suit.
    From memory Hitachi(?) has done similar.
    Even I recall Milwaukee having the newest batteries replacing older ones.

    Others have done similar as new technology/chemistry makes their "old" batteries obsolete.
    It is as you cannot plan too far ahead when buying cordless tools for a particular battery system.

    Food for thought.

    • Euphemistic on 28/03/2022 - 15:17

      The Ryobi gear is pretty much all still 18v except their more powerful 36v garden range. They still have 18v gear in the garden range as well.

      Makita is changing their battery system and it won’t be backward compatible.

    • NigelTufnel on 28/03/2022 - 16:35
      +1

      This is one reason I've always preferred Ozito over Ryobi. Ozito just use 2x18V batteries for their 36V range, so I can run the same batteries in my Mower/blower as I do in my drill/sander.
      Ryobi have a completely different battery range that you need to buy into.

  • mdavant on 28/03/2022 - 15:55

    Ah I remember the days when all you needed was a bread and butter knife and duct tape.

    Not it is all about power tools and Fortnite.

  • BeamMeUp on 28/03/2022 - 18:00

    I have ryobi mitre saw, next time I would buy Makita. Also for a decent hammer drill get corded. I have a 30yo Kanga Wolf. It’s a beast.

    • Euphemistic on 28/03/2022 - 21:32

      I’ve also got a really good hammer drill, and I’ve used it once since getting a cordless hammer drill. Regular hammer drill is pretty good, the cordless SDS hammer drill is great (and it’s an old blue Ryobi one)

    • derrida derider on 29/03/2022 - 09:10

      For a homeowner rather than a tradie it entirely depends whether the home is brick or not.

      IME (considerable) the ordinary cordless hammer drills really struggle with brick. But rotary SDS drills, cordless or corded, eat the stuff like butter.

      • apsilon on 29/03/2022 - 09:50

        I've never had trouble with a regular hammer drill for residential brick and concrete up to 12mm. I'm really surprised Ryobi offer an SDS option given they don't warrant trade use in Aust (apparently they do in the US?) and I really doubt there's many DIY home users that need the SDS.

  • bluntman03 on 28/03/2022 - 18:16

    I have a mix of Milwaukee and Ryobi tools. I also happen to sell power tools for a living and would recommend as follows:
    Milwaukee - by far the best. pro/tradesman quality tools backed up by no fuss easy repairs/replacements.
    Makita - prosumer. not quite the quality of Milwaukee but usually come with a cheaper price tag and if you're buying a large kit (6 piece plus) it's hard to argue with the value.
    Dewalt - consumer grade at best. by far the worst offender with out of box failures and warranty claims.
    If you want great value and quality I'd have a look at Ryobi HP range of tools. The HP range are last generation Milwaukee products. Whilst you miss out on some more recent features of the Milwaukee products you get tried and tested quality products with the great warranty that Bunnings gives with Ryobi products.

  • 1667774387 on 28/03/2022 - 18:23

    Ryobi is good for around the house and have the largest range of different tool types available for 18v range. For 36v tools like mower I use Stihl AK series which I am pretty happy with so far

  • morebunnings on 28/03/2022 - 18:31

    I'm pretty impressed with the ozito brushless drill and whiper snipper I recently got to replace my ryobi ones (ryobi drill and batteries died after 7 years, so replaced them all with ozito as it was quite a bit cheaper). The ozito blower is pretty gutless compared to my old ryobi though. Can't comment on how long it'll last though as I've only had it about 6 months.

  • Drakesy on 28/03/2022 - 19:43

    Milwaukee or Makita

    Have had Makita for years, Milwaukee is if you're using them regularly.
    Makita if less often.

  • addison666 on 28/03/2022 - 20:23

    Buy once cry once. Makita has big bundles with saw/drill/impact driver/batteries etc etc for decent prices from Total Tools and the like. Ryobi are good, but I'd say accept some wallet-pain now and just get Makita

  • PhatChedda on 28/03/2022 - 22:35

    AEG

  • burns13 on 29/03/2022 - 00:14

    I started with a great DeWalt deal and now I have a family of DeWalt tools. If you're a casual/ home/ DIY/ hobby. Don't be afraid of picking up second hand gear as long as it isn't too beaten around.

  • Chong on 29/03/2022 - 00:56

    Ryobi or Ozito for most cordless handheld stuff… pay attention to the battery series, not all batteries are cross compatible, even within the own brands, generally each brand has two lines (sometimes more)…

    For some thing if you don't need it cordless, just save the money and get corded e.g. mitre saw, better to take it and invest it.

    its always very tempting to pay another 50% more to get something "better", but really unless you are already at an artisan level, the biggest difference is not so much the tool (there are some exceptions, but it is true for most things, like cordless drills etc ), more power without the right skills/experience just means stuffing up.

    Ryobi is generally good due to warranty, just take a picture of the receipt and email it to yourself(or better yet get bunnings to sms to you, and you can simply email that to yourself or save it to the cloud). Generally as DIYer you might use it for a few projects then not see it again, outside of your cordless drills.

  • geosta on 29/03/2022 - 01:56

    I bought into the Aldi PowerX range and have found them to be great, the drill and driver have both been given a good flogging over about 7 years now (built a pergola, deck, arbor and a single car garage, both were powerful enough and still going strong).

    There is one major flaw - if you need a new tool (circular saw, grinder etc) you can't just go and buy one. You have to wait until they come out with them (once or maybe twice per year) and if you miss that window your SOOL.

    That said, there's plenty available cheap on Gumtree so if you don't mind second hand, then there is usually something available.

    Given it again I'd probably go with Ryobi - they have an excellent range and the price delta between the Aldi and the Ryobi isn't that much.

    For garden equipment though I'd recommend going up from the 18V systems and into the 36V or or higher. The 18V garden stuff is next to useless. I invested in the Ego+ range (mower, blower and multi-tool system (hedger, trimmer and edger)) and have found them to be excellent. Enough power to get through long buffalo grass and plenty of battery to do all my lawns, edges and trimming.

    • derrida derider on 29/03/2022 - 19:46
      -2

      Aldi and Ozito PowerX use the same batteries, so yuo can mix and match tools.

  • pogichinoy on 29/03/2022 - 05:00

    Ryobi for your needs.

    Milwaukee if you intend to build and repair things.

  • Euphemistic on 29/03/2022 - 06:00

    Another thing to watch for is that often the premium brands have a drill driver combo prices very close to Ryobi and ozito. You buy one thinking the price difference isn’t that much then find out too late that the rest of their tools are much more expensive.

    Ie the lure you in to their battery system with a good deal on a drill then you are committed

  • Slopshua on 29/03/2022 - 07:59
    +5

    LOL, as if theres no ryobi in that poll 🤣 never ceases to amaze me how many weekend warrior tradies look down on Ryobi gear. I've renovated an entire house with the stuff and it works great and they have by far the best range of tools

    • Soothsayer on 30/03/2022 - 11:14

      Yep, is starting a tool collection (and needs to be compatible with his kettle) yet Festool of all brands is included in the poll and not Ryobi or Ozito. I suppose if he has $10k to spare to start his home handyman kit then this makes sense?

      OP needs to figure out what he is really looking for (is it the best tools period, or the best for his situation) before asking Ozb.

  • MrThing on 29/03/2022 - 11:57
    +1

    I am all dewalt and only buy the top grade of their tools not the diy level

    The gear is excellent and they have 18v and 54v flexvolt for their bigger shit. And have a huge variety.

    In saying that I swear by corded tools for things like recip, belt sander, grinder, circular saw (I have corded of each and wouldnt even consider battery)…plus they are usually cheaper whilst being far more powerful.

    • Euphemistic on 29/03/2022 - 13:45

      True that corded is better for the tools you’ve mentioned, but my usage tends not to be in a workshop. It’s all over the place and I’ll take the slight loss in power for the added convenience of not having to drag out an extension cord or find a nearby power point.

  • deneb on 29/03/2022 - 13:45
    +1

    Ozito for most and Ryobi for tools that aren't availabe in Ozito (esp those 36v lawn mowers).
    Really a no brainer to buy Ozito at half the price of Ryobi's price for simple tools like cordless hammer drill.

    • NigelTufnel on 29/03/2022 - 15:04

      Ryobi for tools that aren't availabe in Ozito (esp those 36v lawn mowers).

      What? Ozito have quite a few 36V mowers (some only sometimes available), plus other 36V garden tools.

    • Euphemistic on 29/03/2022 - 17:01

      Cordless hammer drill might be simple, but it’s also something you want decent power from. I haven’t tried brushless ozito, but the brushed versions I tried had a fair bit less power than Ryobi when used back to back a while ago. If you use it for driving screws it also need decent torque and control.

  • payless69 on 29/03/2022 - 14:38

    Not a tradie but likes Hilti! I rekon a good collection of Ingersoll Rand would complement the Lexus Ute….

    • MrThing on 30/03/2022 - 10:19

      Isnt hiltis purchase model one of rent and replace, kind of like a salary sacrifice car?

      • payless69 on 30/03/2022 - 11:05

        Hilti supplies the heavy construction industry, a class of its own. Since their work is mostly contract only it is quite normal to hire for a fixed time. Same with Ingersoll Rand, neither DIY or tradie but heavy stuff.

  • foxpants on 29/03/2022 - 17:18

    remember that building your collection of good tools is a marathon, not a sprint. I also like whoever's take it was that, you can buy a cheap tool first, and if you break it from using it so damn much, then buy a really nice one.

  • tap on 29/03/2022 - 18:46
    +1

    Stock up on ozito or aldi batteries then buy what tool you need when it's on sale using a battery adaptor.

  • CRS34 on 29/03/2022 - 19:40

    Have had decent experience with Makita.

    Whatever you do, dont buy any ebay batteries, they stop working real quick.

  • Kranbone on 30/03/2022 - 00:26

    When I bought my Ozito stuff it had the best warranty. Now I hear Ryobi has 6 years. Damn.

    I have been told with my Ozito you don't need the receipt as the production date is written on there but only Bunnings sells it, no where else.

    • Euphemistic on 30/03/2022 - 06:48

      Ryobi also has prod date marked on it. 6 year warranty is if you register it. My guess is you could possibly argue under ACCC warranty rules that you expect it to last 6 years, so may not need to register.

      • apsilon on 30/03/2022 - 07:10

        I recently had my first Ryobi fault on a tool that was ~4.5 years old so over the standard 4 year warranty so it needed to be registered. In my case it was registered but they never checked, just swapped it out for new. Not saying that'll always be the case but wouldn't be surprised.

  • living4music on 30/03/2022 - 12:23

    If you can buy Ryobi, why not just pay a little more and get Bosch Blue or Dewalt, trade quality, not expensive like Milwaukee, especially Bosch have 6 years warranty on both tool and batteries.

    • Euphemistic on 30/03/2022 - 13:16

      Why pay that little more when the cheaper version is perfectly suited to DIY

      • apsilon on 30/03/2022 - 13:18
        +1

        Brand bias/snobbery. It's rarely a little more either. Having several Bosche Blue tools, I intend to replace them with Ryobi as they die. The Ryobi versions generally now have higher specs for around half the price.

  • pao2x on 30/03/2022 - 13:32

    Ozito

  • eek on 30/03/2022 - 15:15

    Used to use all older brushed 18V Hitachi Koki stuff. Finally migrated over to Ozito bunnings brushless and slowly building up a collection. Can't fault it so far. Enjoy them being more lightweight than the Hitachi gear, and seems just as capable.

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