Is there a perfect cordless (Festool and ...) combination

[Kev]

The recent Impact Driver thread got me thinking ...

Obviously Festool doesn't go anywhere near a comprehensive range of cordless tools, but it does have several very good ones!!

Minimising the range of batteries, chargers, accessories, etc is a major benefit for tools that don't simply plug in to a power point. It's an even bigger deal of you're mobile (I'm not). Plus there's the complication of what happens when all your batteries start to degrade.

Just assume for a moment that you are a person that truly values several significant cordless Festools. Is there just one other cordless tool brand that you could add to your tool stable that would give you EVERYTHING you could need? ... which brand is that?

I tried to anchor on Festool & Metabo, but Senco, Dremel, Dyson, Stihl, Bosch, etc all kinda leaked in and I'll either invest in a small compressor (as my primary is too big to move about) or I may go Dewalt or other for a framing nailer.

What's the Holy Grail for cordless? [huh] [blink]

To think I was also looking at the Makita oil pulse driver too [embarassed]

 

[Mort]

If I were to do it over again I'd go with DeWalt 20v. I went with Milwaukee mostly because of their Fuel 1/2" impact, but DeWalt now has one with similar specs. Plus, they've got a lot broader line whereas Milwaukee specializes in plumbing and electrical tools. They're branching out, but slowly.

DeWalt's 12v line is pretty limited but different manufacturers for different voltages isn't that big of a deal since you need different batteries anyway.

 

[ear3]

For me it's Milwaukee 18V and 12V (same charger).  I invested in the Milwaukee Fuel drills prior to getting Festool drills, so I already had the battery platform in place.  But the standout items in the Milwaukee cordless line for me are the Angle Grinder (much better than the Dewalt cordless AG), the 18V hackzall, and the LED lamps.  In addition, I have the 12V caulk gun, which was sort of a luxury purchase when I made it, but has come in handy a few times when doing wall paneling for art installations.

EDIT: I should add that the Milwaukee jobsite/battery charger I have is excellent as well, better sound than the Makita or Dewalt in my experience.

 

[rst]

I'm with Ed regarding the versatility of the Milwaukee cordless line.  I use the 18V grinder, hammer drill, impact drivers (I have the new angle headed and it is great for tight spots), flood lights (2000 and 4000 lumen), and metal cutting saw.  I also have a bunch of the 12V tools, drills, impacts, hammer drill, angle drill, recip, dremel type grinder, and oscillating.  I am never under or over tooled for the task at hand, some jobs the 18V are just too much or too big..  The cordless HCK saw will probably be my first foray into the Festool cordless line.

 

[DB10]

  I don't like being tied down to one manufacturer for my cordless needs, I like to be able to chose the best tool that suits my needs so that's meant I'm going to end up with a few different chargers and batteries, but so be it, it's no big deal. This is where I'm at with my cordless tools.
Festool for drills, Track saw, jigsaw, lights
Dewalt for Rough Carpentry, Framing & Finish nailers, Multitool
Metabo for Grinders, Miter saw, lights, Fan
Makita, my original 18v platform, slowly being replaced by brands above but still have some excellent 18v tools,  Sander, Radio, Planner, Recip Saw, Circular saw.
As far as 12v goes, started off with Bosch about eight or nine years ago but switched over to Milwaukee for all my 12v needs as they have the most useful line up for me.

 

[blaszcsj]

I have Dewalt 20v and love them. I also like the Milwaukee. Main reason for continued investment in the line up because it is so broad.  I have the 2 brushless impacts, hammer drill, sawzaw, 1/2 inch impact, and framing nailer(it is spectacular). I am looking at the cxs and hkc for cordless.