Non Festool/Protool cordless tools - which brand?

[Kev]

Just a bit of related background ... today I decided to get a job out of the way that my better half has been niggling me to do - simply stapling some lattice to the fence outside the kitchen window (a minor cosmetic improvement). I'd been putting it off because I didn't have an appropriate stapler and it's not a tool I'd use a lot, but I decided to nip out and grab one and get the job out of the way. A minor complication was that my usual tool dealers are closed over the Christmas break ... I wanted to get something cordless and "useful" but the stores that were open only had crap ... so I ended up buying a cheap mains power Stanley stapler out of frustration. I could have got Makita or Bosch 18V tools, but although the skin prices were reasonable - the kit prices were silly.

The Stanley I got didn't do the job I wanted and ended I up resorting to bradding it with my Senco using 25mm brads - but that's another story! [embarassed]

Anyway, this got me thinking, I have numerous non Festool/Protool cordless tools (Hitachi, Dremel, Senco, etc) and some are getting a bit long in the tooth, so I'd really like to standardise on one "other" brand for battery compatibility. I was at one point thinking I'd like to get cordless Hilti Reciprocating and Circular saws - but I don't have burning needs and I'd like to see what Festool will do in that space. Metabo make some nice stuff, but the range isn't that wide. I'm convinced that nailers will probably always be out of the compatibility mix (I have a Senco Fusion finishing gun and will probably go for a Paslode for framing).

So the question ... has anyone managed to settle on one QUALITY brand for everything? Makita, Bosch (blue), Dewalt ... ?

Thinking cordless (/ I currently have) ...

Recipro Saw /nil
Circular Saw /old Hitachi
Vacuum - DC /Dyson Animal
Angle Grinder /nil
Framing Gun /nil
Bradder /Senco Fusion
Stapler /don't want to talk about it
Rotary Grinder /nil
Multitool /Dremel
Caulking Gun /nil
Gardening "stuff" /nil

...Plus lots of Festool and Protool.

Apart from the recipro saw and the caulking gun I also have mains and/or air versions of the above stuff - its just not always convenient or safe.

Thoughts?

 

[Mettes]

I have a collection of DeWalt 18v (stem battery) tools.  Choose that brand for the vast range of tools that are available.  I'm very much pleased with it.

- Drill/driver (x2) - not much to say, they work, maybe a little heavy

- impact driver (x2) - very nice to use

- 16G angled brad nailer - a revelation, it's heavy, but so portable, consistent depth of nails

- rotary laser - great piece of kit

- angled grinder Ø125mm - balance not perfect, drains batteries very quikly, but great for those small grinding tasks

- caulking gun - works very good, use it mainly for applying adhasives, but works well for caulking to

- SDS drill - ones you have a cordless SDS drill, you're never gonna want to be without one.  Ø6, Ø8 and Ø10mm holes in concrete are no problem, use a decent drill bit though

- vacuum large - nice for those quick cleanups when installing kitchens etc - drains batteries butt also has a mains cord

- vacuum small - to loud, has a very high pitched sound, don't use it much, only advantage over it's large brother is that it fit's into a toolbag

- car charger

- worklight charger - works very good, has a double charging station, and can also work from those two batteries

- mains charger (x2)

- radio charger - reception when charging is sometimes less than optimal, but a great addition none the less

defects so far:
- engine burned up on one of the impact drivers when I was driving Ø8×240mm screws without predrilling, ordered new engine and replaced.
- SDS drill anvil wore out, changed with a new one

I have about 10 batteries now a mix of Ni-CD, Ni-Mh an Li-ion, and some of them are starting to fail.  But the new 20v max line has still lot's of tools missing and all off my tools are going strong so I buy new batteries to replace those that don't hold a charge anymore.
My first tools are about 7 years old now, drill/driver and brad nailer, others where added over the years.  I'm thinking about a jigsaw, it's often just to cut small pieces and every time I need tot go and get my PS300, and search an extension lead, i'm thinking damn cordless would be handy.

So I can advice the DeWalt range.  At this moment I would go with the new 20v max line and hope that they bring out new tools fast.  Brad nailer and rotary laser is what I miss most in there current line up, but I think it's only a matter of time.  The old 18v range is still being supported and even new tools are being introduced but the slide batteries are much nicer, Li-ion, 4ah.  and chargers/radios compatible with there 12v range.

 

[ScotF]

I like Bosch and Hilti.  Both offer a nice range of tools and battery life has been very good on both.  Not sure how accessible Hilti is in Australia verses Bosch so something to consider.

Scot

 

[wrightwoodwork]

I've got the hilti 14v cordless it's one of the first generation with the lithium batteries but if the temp is too cold or hot it pretends to be flat for a few seconds and then is fine apart from that it works ok. The guy I work with has the 22v hilti plenty of power, but the weight is too heavy and too large I think personally. Then I have paslode nail guns which is pretty standard, the guy I work with got the hilti nail gun as a replacement but is no where near as good and not as well balanced and a touch heavier. Also the batteries keep failing after 2 or 3 months. When I change them I will properly get the new quad drill and either the new type paslode or dewalt nail guns

 

[RKA]

For cordless I've standardized on Makita and it hasn't let me down.  They also have a huge selection of cordless tools, so if I wanted something else in the stable, they are likely to offer it.  But I only buy a tool if the convenience of cordless use is a must.  Ultimately, I know the battery system will fail and get outdated before the tool ever dies.  Buying a tool in a cordless variety is a waste for me, because I know I'll be throwing out a perfectly good tool one day. 

For 12V I went with Bosch, wish I had gone with Milwaukee for the larger tool selection. 

I may break precedent and get 1-2 cordless Festool drills though.