Power Tools

[tommyatkins]

I am looking at purchasing some power tools in the near future, and I know many of the members of the board have had a great deal of experience with a large number of tools. Also Head-Fi seems to attract people who know the best products and why they are the best. (not that we always NEED the best...

)

I'm not sure where to start. My father had a number of DeWalt, Bosch, Saber, Skil and even Craftsman power tools, so I am somewhat familiar with some tools of particular brands. While home for the holidays, I had the opportunity to use my friend's father's shop for a few projects.

Jigsaw/Scroll saw - Bosch (Almost guaranteed. One of the few tools I've used many versions of over the year. Bosch's jigsaw is superb.)
Recprocating saw - DeWalt? Bosch? Porter-Cable?
Cordless Drill - DeWalt? Makita? I really have no idea.
Circular Saw - Bosch? Skil?
Miter Saw- Delta?, Bosch?, Makita?
Router - Porter Cable
Pad Sander - Porter Cable or Bosch
Bench Grinder - Delta? Porter Cable?

Drill bits? Any recommendations here?
I also plan on getting a shop-vac of sorts, but not particularly concerned about brand on this one.

I don't need all of these at the moment, but when I do have a good excuse (hell, just a weak excuse

) I'd like to get a quality tool. I'm a student so my living situation is flexable, so I'm only looking at handheld power tools, no table saw etc.

I'd really like a cordless recprocating and circular saw (in that order of preference to be cordless), but I won't be able to afford either of those. However, I do think a cordless drill is the only way to go (I'm not attacking concrete or thick metal plates).

So, I guess my question is what brands do you prefer for the listed (or any) types of tools?

Nothing Black and Decker. Never.

On another note:
In my search for online help, I came across this handy site for Woodworking Tips. I knew of many but there were plenty I hadn't seen before. Fun to peruse.

 

[Old Pa]

Everyboy's got their preferences; I read and talked to guys in the trades before I got mine.

Reciprocating saw - Milwaukee is the standard, mine's Porter Cable

Cordless Drill - DeWalt 14.4; powerful and well-balanced

Circular Saw - Porter Cable (left handed

)

Router - Porter Cable with plunge base

Orbital Sander - the little Porter Cable and Skil

Bench Grinder - Delta 6"

Belt Sander - Porter Cable

1/2" Hammer Drill - Milwaukee

Radial Arm Saw - 12" Delta

Also: angle grinder, power plane, jig saw, corder 3/8" drill, etc., etc., etc.

My experience has been that while nothing succeeds in power tools like power (read: motor amperage), weight and balance are also important

 

[GWN]

Nothing wrong with any of the brands you mention. I own tools from Porter Cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt, Delta and Makita. It is hard to recommend specific tools. I find tools are very personal. They all have different ergonomics, features that may or may not be important to you, feel, weight. When comparing top brands, most of the time it boils down to personal preference. My only recommendation is that for tools you will use often buy the best you can afford. Nothing worst than a cheap tool.

 

[john_jcb]

Quote:

Originally posted by Old Pa Circular Saw - Porter Cable (left handed )

I need one of those. All these years with a right handed one. I remember when I worked construction and I used a worm drive saw. Was the most awkward thing ever. Thanks

 

[Ari]

Hey tommyatkins !!

I tend to go Bosch and Makita first.

Best

Ari

 

[Tuberoller]

Cordless Sawz-All - Milwaukee,this is the coolest tool ever. Until you have cut the entire doghouse off a Chevy suburban at a salvage yard,you just don't know how awesome these are.

24 Volt Cordless drill- Makita,there are still some of the 'made in japan" models sitting new at dealers and they work great. I could'nt live without mine.

I have contract deal with Dewalt (and our local tool dealer)for all the tools I use in the business but I'm not crazy about them. We have about 50 cordless drills,15 cordless impact drivers,20 cordless hand saws and about a dozen various table and rip saws and I gotta say that at any given time, 10-15% of these tools are down. Keep in mind that we do mostly maintenence work and these tools don't get used nearly as much as most businesses would use them.

 

[TrevorNetwork]

DEWALT IS CRAP. Nothing but MILWAUKEE and PORTER CABLE goodness

 

[Gariver]

I like Makita and Bosch (in that order)! However, you must look at the individual tool and compare it to others. I mean, you can't be a brand slave.

 

[Ari]

Quote:

Originally posted by Gariver I like Makita and Bosch (in that order)! However, you must look at the individual tool and compare it to others. I mean, you can't be a brand slave.

Ditto. In that order too.

Ari

 

[Old Pa]

Dewalt, by the way, is licensed to Black & Decker and represents their "pro" line.

There remains some merit in knowing which company originated each specialty power tool (as Milwaukee originated the reciprocating saw and the hammer drill) and then going with the original.

john-jcb: Just as you probably do, I can run the right-handed stuff out of necessity. Sometimes the "normal" stuff is even a preference out of familiarity. But in some things, like golf clubs, bolt rifles, and circular saws, left-handed means all the difference in the world.

Motor power/strength/amperage remains the most important factor in power tools.

 

[Gariver]

Black and Decker invented the drill! That's quite an invention! It started the power tool revolution.

The most recent power tool invention is the biscuit joiner. Lamello of Switzerland was 1st in this category.

 

[Edwood]

Uh, you do realize that Black and Decker owns Dewalt. They are the same company. Black and Decker has/had a "Quantum Line" that was essentially a rebadged Dewalt line.

Anywho, I love their cordless drills. Powerful and rock solid. I guess if you go by specialty, I think Milwaukee started off with power drills, so their drills are excellent. They are almost synonomous with "Sawzall" reciprocating saws. It's their brand name that is in danger of becoming generic like Kleenex.

-Ed

 

[john_jcb]

Quote:

Originally posted by Old Pa john-jcb: Just as you probably do, I can run the right-handed stuff out of necessity. Sometimes the "normal" stuff is even a preference out of familiarity. But in some things, like golf clubs, bolt rifles, and circular saws, left-handed means all the difference in the world.

Golf like hockey I do right handed as I think you have more power as your left arm does all the work.

My Dad mad me learn to shoot our rifles right handed and it is now second nature. He was not about to buy any rifle he could not use. Handguns are a different matter though. I could never shoot them as well right handed. My little treat is scissors and I have a couple of really nice left handed ones.

 

[davei]

I don't like tools made in China (for a number of reasons) so I prefer Milwaukee... however like most companies they're outsourcing more and more these days. They're a bit behind the curve though, I was looking for a mitre saw recently and they don't make a dual compound sliding model (and their single compound flagship model is about as expensive as other companies' dual compound.) I ended up going with a Hitachi.

 

[IMEP]

Panasonic cordless drills are the best I've used, but they are pricey. What's neat is they have electronic feedback. As the load on the drill increases, it automatically applies more power without increasing the drill speed or making the operator have to pull the trigger further to keep the drill from stalling. If you haven't tried one, it's pretty cool. The only other cordless drill I know of that has this feature is Hitachi (Hitachi drills are actually lower quality drills made by Panasonic). A lot of contractors use Panasonics. Most people don't realize Panasonic is in the electric tool business.

....and no, I don't work for Panasonic, I just did a lot of research before buying mine!