[Pinecity]

With those of you that have used both the dewalt flexvolt right angle and the milwaukee hole hawg. Which was superior and why?

 

[Mike in Canada]

My favorite plastic anchor is the toggler Alligator. The A8/AF8 size will work with with #8 through #14 or 1/4", that's the perfect range for me. The A8/AF8 take a 5/16" pilot hole.

ALLIGATOR®-Solid-Wall-Anchors.pdf (toggler.com)

Those are way more high-tech than what I use. I use this kind of thing:
<https://hw.menardc.com/main/items/media/MIDWE069/ProductLarge/04300_updated.jpg>

1/4" hole and a smack with the plastic dead-blow and they're good to go for #8 and #12. And CHEAP.

 

[Mike in Canada]

You're right the weed eater is outstanding. I have a 2 yr. old Stihl weed eater the M18 does a better job. I quit using the Stihl.

The M18 tire inflator is also excellent. Turn it on, set the pressure like 32 psi, it quickly inflates the tire to 34 psi, bleeds off 2 lbs and stops. Max is 150 psi. You don't need an air gauge.
I added this adapter to it.

The inflator would be convenient. I have the M18 air compressor, so I use that, but I have to check the pressure manually and it's a pain, but I haven't been annoyed enough to buy the inflator.

 

[micromind]

Working quite a bit with both over the years, I'd say Milwaukee holds a slight edge. Both are pretty good though.

I can't say anything about the newer stuff, my newest one is around 10 years old.

I will say that my 1956 Dewalt 9" radial arm saw can't be beat. I haven't adjusted it in years and it'll still cut within a few thousandths.......

 

[catsparky1]

I used to love Milwaukee but the drills kept breaking . Then triggers on saw started to fail . They make lots of tools and m-12 surge is a beast . Now all of my drills and saws are Mikita . I like Milwaukees lighting and a few other things but Mikita it is for now . Dewalt just don't cut it for me but the multi tool has a trigger you can feather and that's nice and my 12 inch compound miter saw has been awesome .

The Milwaukee 18 volt compressor is very handy as well and the 18 volt nailers are alright . Another thing with Milwaukee drills is the garbage chuck . Everyone we own has an after market chuck and when they break that chuck goes to the next drill .

 

[Sberry]

The quality of most stuff has improved while the cost has dropped. The hi end has went up but if you told me in 92 when I got a 9.6 that cost 150 then that in 20 yrs would have a 50$ drill that worked better I would have said bs. How much did a Klein cost 20 yrs ago and now I use a HF screwdriver cost 1.50 and like it better. Can buy a world class excellent wrench for 2 or 3$ and it took 8 or 10 in 1980 to get the same thing. Even a Sears super and sale sets cost more back in the day. We now use some 1.50 wrenches, a 3/8 we beat with a 20oz nail hammer on a stuck bleeder and still works great enough to keep it in the road set.
The generic has improved so much they actually slap brand labels and extra warranties on it, raise the price and sell it at a different store. Electric grinders,, dam, we bought 100$ ones in the 90's and now use a 30$ BD we like as good or better and it outlast those and the Yellow 2 to 1.

 

[Sberry]

I bought leading edge when it was the only choice, at the time nothing would compete with the 28V but they wore out too. Same for the Klein. Now we got tools that were discount and still in ruff service decades later.

 

[joekubichek]

I love my Milwaukee tools and will not buy another brand. Their warranty is second to none. They also have the most options when choosing or finding a tool to buy. I had their V18 line ten years ago and it was garbage. I then moved to their M18 line and it is awesome. Batteries last a long time. However I would recommend buying the 5.0AH or larger batteries, as the small 2.0AH drain fast. The more AH of battery you buy, the faster your tool will run. I found this out running my rotary hammer with a 5.0 and then a 12.0 battery. It actually made a difference. Great tools, you cant go wrong.

 

[Mike in Canada]

I love my Milwaukee tools and will not buy another brand. Their warranty is second to none. They also have the most options when choosing or finding a tool to buy. I had their V18 line ten years ago and it was garbage. I then moved to their M18 line and it is awesome. Batteries last a long time. However I would recommend buying the 5.0AH or larger batteries, as the small 2.0AH drain fast. The more AH of battery you buy, the faster your tool will run. I found this out running my rotary hammer with a 5.0 and then a 12.0 battery. It actually made a difference. Great tools, you cant go wrong.

As an aside, I was using my M12 surge to pull out some screws from a forming drum last week (7000 screws, actually... took me half a day) and I was using the little batteries because every ounce counts when you are holding up your driver for hours at a time. Anyway, I put on a battery and it ran out really fast. I looked at it and it was an original M12 battery that pre-dates the "RedLithium" stuff. There was no rating on the 'face' of it, but if you looked it in the fine print it was 14 watt-hours. I assumed it was 2 amp-hours like the RedLithium ones, but no. 14 instead of 24. Does not last long when running non-stop. The RedLithium ones charge faster than they drain.

 

[kb1jb1]

Buy whatever is on sale or clearance. Stick with two or maybe three name brands so you don't need an assortment of batteries. The high priced stuff gets stolen, or broken just like the lesser priced ones. I have both Rigid and Makita bought on clearance at The big orange store. Nothing like buying high priced stuff only to have the sale priced stuff hold up better.

 

[Mike in Canada]

Buy whatever is on sale or clearance. Stick with two or maybe three name brands so you don't need an assortment of batteries. The high priced stuff gets stolen, or broken just like the lesser priced ones. I have both Rigid and Makita bought on clearance at The big orange store. Nothing like buying high priced stuff only to have the sale priced stuff hold up better.

I get what you are saying, and I see how that can be the right answer for many or maybe even most people. I, for one, enjoy having certain specialty tools, and if having a particular tool makes a job less crappy to do because I'm happy that I have 'the right tool for the job' then it was money well spent.

 

[paulengr]

What is comes down to for me is:
1. The tools are practically free. As in the 6 Ah batteries run around $100+. During "big sales" you can often buy a battery and a tool for about the price of the battery. That's from either one. Since my entire investment is in batteries, the last thing I need to own is batteries from multiple companies. It's like keeping AA and AAA around.
2. Look at the tool lineup. Everyone has a drill, drill/driver, saw, fancy lights, impact guns, and "Sawzall". Look beyond those and you'll see a trend. Hands down Dewalt has a ton of specialty tools for carpenters. Milwaukee supports their plumbers and electricians. So if you ever intend on buying some of those high end tools, the last thing you want to do is buy a specialized battery to go with it. It's like the Gator ECCX crimper we have...wonderful tool but we have to maintain Makita stick batteries for it and it's the only tool that uses them.

 

[kb1jb1]

What is comes down to for me is:
1. The tools are practically free. As in the 6 Ah batteries run around $100+. During "big sales" you can often buy a battery and a tool for about the price of the battery. That's from either one. Since my entire investment is in batteries, the last thing I need to own is batteries from multiple companies. It's like keeping AA and AAA around.
2. Look at the tool lineup. Everyone has a drill, drill/driver, saw, fancy lights, impact guns, and "Sawzall". Look beyond those and you'll see a trend. Hands down Dewalt has a ton of specialty tools for carpenters. Milwaukee supports their plumbers and electricians. So if you ever intend on buying some of those high end tools, the last thing you want to do is buy a specialized battery to go with it. It's like the Gator ECCX crimper we have...wonderful tool but we have to maintain Makita stick batteries for it and it's the only tool that uses them.

Well put.

 

[macmikeman]

The weed eater sucks. This is after I gave it such a glowing review. Then the shaft broke. It is almost like a cheap plastic but it is actually the thinnest wall aluminum I have ever come across in my life. Amazingly crappy .
I took it back . The Dewalt weed whacker has an actual steel shaft. Even Ryobi's weed whacker is built with a better shaft frame. Milwaukee should be very ashamed of themselves . It's just rubbish.

 

[99cents]

This is a Chevy vs. Ford discussion. Of course, there are those of us who like to drive a Porsche. 😊

 

[MechanicalDVR]

Two most used cordless tools I own:

Followed by:

Used less since I got the install tool:

I have a bunch of the M18 stuff but rarely use more than the angle grinder and vacuum.

 

[99cents]

Two most used cordless tools I own:

View attachment 180584

Followed by:

View attachment 180585

Used less since I got the install tool:

View attachment 180586

I have a bunch of the M18 stuff but rarely use more than the angle grinder and vacuum.

I use an M12 impact all the time and, for its size, it’s amazing. Sometimes I have to match the fastener with the driver. For example, an 18V driver has a better chance with a crummy, dull, low quality Tek screw while the M12 struggles. As long as it’s a good, sharp Tek screw, the M12 is great (fastener quality is such a crap shoot nowadays).

 

[Mike in Canada]

Two most used cordless tools I own:



I have a bunch of the M18 stuff but rarely use more than the angle grinder and vacuum.

I have all of those tools, and it's just as well that you don't need to use the right-angle drill any more, because I don't think the webbing of my thumb will ever be the same again after catching it in that thing half a dozen times. You would think that once would be enough, but noooooo.... I would forget, and catch it in there again. It is shockingly unpleasant.
A friend of mine bought the 18V version some years ago, and I warned him repeatedly that it is a thumb-webbing-eater, and he kind of said 'yeah, yeah...' but he was much less dismissive the next time I spoke to him. He had been made a believer.
Great drill, with a VERY nice torque sensing system (I think it's the same system as in the M4 screwdriver) but it comes at a cost.
I don't think your M12 impact is a Surge. You should try one. Quieter, and far less abusive to your hand. They are lovely. The absolute cat's hind-end for teck screws.

 

[SWDweller]

All of my cordless stuff is Dewalt 20 v. The two I use the most are the impacts,
DCF787B, DCF892B,



I bought a 2 speed RT angle Hole Hawg some 30 years ago and the ship augers (1 1/8") to go with it .
Bits have changed not the drill. You need 12 gauge cord for the drill to become a destroyer of wood.
I know of 2 arms the drill has broken, both of the idiots using it locked the trigger. Both became temporary employees. I also have a Milwaukee 120v sawzall and deep band saw both are at least 20 years old and work just fine.
Also started with the 9.6v Makita and loved them. Stupidly I jumped ship for a B&D 12v drill for installing earth quake clips on lay in fixtures. The B&D was lighter and did drill a bit better, Makita batteries lasted longer. Oh well.
I look at the products available and then pick a model number then research that against the competition.

 

[five.five-six]

The Milwaukee hole hawg (corded) is king of the hill. My M18 drill will turn any bit I have ever put in it and impressively but there’s nothing to hold on to. It can pin your hand or get away from you. The hole hawg has girth and mass. If you hit a nail or knot or something that weight gives you a moment to react, it also may be enough inertia to push the bit right right through whatever you hit. I’ve used one a lot in my first 20 years so climbing a ladder with one on my shoulder is 2nd nature to me. It’s just so convenient to not drag a cord around that I rarely get it out anymore but when I do, it fits like an old set of boots that broke in just right.