Thinking about streamlining my tools.

[bucket]

I've got the brushless DeWalt 20v sawzall, it came with a big, 8ah battery. Battery life is more than adequate to handle something that needs to be done away from a power source.

It is so much more versatile than my old Craftsman corded sawzall. More power, smoother operation, more compact, plus 4 different blade angles. The old Craftsman hasn't left it's bag in years.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Cool, DoubleDingo. Is it a cordless. If so, what voltage?

The ONLY problem I've had with my cordless being used on saws (circular or reciprocating) is, run time. Power doesn't seem an issue.

This is the one I bought... Edit: I don't know if the link color issue has been resolved, so I changed the color before posting like I always have

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-20-Volt-MAX-7-1-4-in-Cordless-Circular-Saw-Tool-Only-DCS590B/329527893

 

[DoubleDingo]

This is the one I bought... Edit: I don't know if the link color issue has been resolved, so I changed the color before posting like I always have

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-20-Volt-MAX-7-1-4-in-Cordless-Circular-Saw-Tool-Only-DCS590B/329527893

As @bucket mentioned, plenty of power, granted his is sawzall and this is circular. I haven't put it through it paces yet, but what I've needed it for thus far, it performed greatly. I have a nice craftsman worm gear circular saw and planned on using that, but it was raining like crazy, foggy, wet day-in and day-out, and I didn't want to be linked to an electrical outlet, or be stepping an electrified puddle. This dewalt is a great alternative to the craftsman, and when I do the projects we have planned, both will be utilized.

 

[bigcountry78]

I’ve decided to keep going with kobalt. They offer a 24v handheld spotlight, but must be redesigning or discontinuing it because all the local Lowe’s are out of stock. They’re $90 new, light only. Well, today I found one listed on marketplace for $50, like new with a 4Ah battery and charger. And for another $20 he threw in a like new 2Ah battery. I picked it up, and then decided to go get the XTR circular saw that’s one sale for $99, down from $179. So I now have the sawzall, drill, 1/4” driver, 1/2” impact, spotlight and circular saw. I have 2, 2Ah batteries and 5, 4Ah batteries. I have a dewalt kit with oscillating tool and drill, otherwise I’d get the kobalt version. But I actually really like the ergonomics of the dewalt oscillator, so I’ll keep it. I’m going to give all my metabo stuff to my son. Like I said, I need the grinder, and I may grab a 3/8’s impact as well, but that’ll probably round out my tool needs for a while.

 

[78C10BigTen]

I’ve decided to keep going with kobalt. They offer a 24v handheld spotlight, but must be redesigning or discontinuing it because all the local Lowe’s are out of stock. They’re $90 new, light only. Well, today I found one listed on marketplace for $50, like new with a 4Ah battery and charger. And for another $20 he threw in a like new 2Ah battery. I picked it up, and then decided to go get the XTR circular saw that’s one sale for $99, down from $179. So I now have the sawzall, drill, 1/4” driver, 1/2” impact, spotlight and circular saw. I have 2, 2Ah batteries and 5, 4Ah batteries. I have a dewalt kit with oscillating tool and drill, otherwise I’d get the kobalt version. But I actually really like the ergonomics of the dewalt oscillator, so I’ll keep it. I’m going to give all my metabo stuff to my son. Like I said, I need the grinder, and I may grab a 3/8’s impact as well, but that’ll probably round out my tool needs for a while.

I got my 1/2" 24v kobalt impact new on sale from lowes when they were switching to craftsman. I paid about $120 for the tool and battery with the bag and charger. Best thing ive bought, takes a beaten and im super glad i have it. I since acquired the 24v 1/4" impact driver, the 24v drill 40v chain saw and 40v push mower and all have worked great. Btw not all are new but work great.

 

[bigcountry78]

I got my 1/2" 24v kobalt impact new on sale from lowes when they were switching to craftsman. I paid about $120 for the tool and battery with the bag and charger. Best thing ive bought, takes a beaten and im super glad i have it. I since acquired the 24v 1/4" impact driver, the 24v drill 40v chain saw and 40v push mower and all have worked great. Btw not all are new but work great

I forgot to mention that I have the 40v weedeater and blower, that are a few years old and still get everything I need done. Last year I added the 40v 14” chainsaw and have been extremely happy with its performance. Go ahead and call me a kobalt fan boy lol.

 

[CountKrunk]

My favorite screwing impact is a little Hercules (harbor freight) i bought in 2018. The little 3.5 amp hour battery lasts forever when it's just sitting. I hardly ever charge the thing and i use it to drive screws every couple of weeks. Did an entire firewood shed on one charge.

 

[CountKrunk]

I forgot to mention that I have the 40v weedeater and blower, that are a few years old and still get everything I need done. Last year I added the 40v 14” chainsaw and have been extremely happy with its performance. Go ahead and call me a kobalt fan boy lol.

I have the ryobi 40v system and it's such an upgrade over gas for me.

I'm in the sticks now so i have a real deal stihl chainsaw. Had a wittle electric one when i lived in the city haha.

 

[78C10BigTen]

I forgot to mention that I have the 40v weedeater and blower, that are a few years old and still get everything I need done. Last year I added the 40v 14” chainsaw and have been extremely happy with its performance. Go ahead and call me a kobalt fan boy lol.

I have a wierdo off brand 24v battery blower my gf got me from her job for VERY cheap that came with everything, including 2 batterys and it works GREAT!!!

 

[bucket]

I forgot to mention that I have the 40v weedeater and blower, that are a few years old and still get everything I need done. Last year I added the 40v 14” chainsaw and have been extremely happy with its performance. Go ahead and call me a kobalt fan boy lol.

You Kobalt fan boy!!!

Lol. Ain't nothing wrong with picking a brand and running with it. It's much easier when all your batteries, chargers and tools interchange.

 

[Ricko1966]

Same battery platform is a huge bonus in the long run. Used to be if I wanted a tool,I picked what I liked or what was the best deal,what was on sale and didn't think about down the road needing to buy ,snap on,kobalt,dewalt,Milwaukee rigid,black and decker,Craftsman,ryobi replacement batteries. After that mistake I am slowly changing everything out to Ryobi.

 

[bigcountry78]

That’s exactly what prompted all of this. 3 christmases, 3 different power tool sets. My father in law gives great gifts, he just can’t remember what he bought from year to year lol.

 

[CountKrunk]

I'm dewalt, bauer, Hercules. No more! My ryobi doesnt count its for the weed eater etc.

 

[Frankenchevy]

No one has said it, so I’ll say it…Makita.

When I was in this very position trying to decide which way to go, I stopped at a tool repair shop and asked what they see the least of. They said, “Hands down, Makita.”

I asked if that was relative to the number of people who buy Makita vs other brands and they seemed to agree that it was still proportionately much lower.

That said, I do get some tools that are outliers to that rule. I like the price and function of the Atlas yard tools from HF. I’ve been running the $60 pole saw hard for a few years and it’s never skipped a beat. I also like the 80v blower. I still have yet to try their electric chainsaw, as my Makita 16” saw is fantastic. It gets used quite a bit more often when doing brush clearing and limbing because I do a lot of cut then walk to the chipper to keep a clear work area on slopes.

Makita also runs promos through certain retailers where they match batteries on purchases. For instance, I bought their hypoid saw kit with two 5ah batteries and two battery charger and they matched another two 5ah batteries for free. So for around $300 I got the tool I wanted, a two battery charger and four 5ah batteries.

Update:

My expensive Atlas battery will not take a charge. It’s like new and has only been used in a blower to blow out the shop. Just flashes red on the charger.

As cheap and tempting as the Atlas tools are, the batteries are just as expensive as my Makita batteries. I’ve never had a Makita battery or tool fail and I have some that have been ridden hard and put up wet for 15+ years.

So, don’t be like me. Avoid Atlas at Harbor Freight. There are many 1-star reviews with the exact same issue.

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[bigcountry78]

That does suck. Another advantage kobalt has is their batteries are considerably cheaper than other brands. I did go grab the 24v grinder bundle, it came with the grinder, extra handle with the little wrench holder built into it, a canvas bag, 5 grinder wheels and a cutoff wheel for $140. I was going to say that my tool collection was complete, but I just tried to trim my hedges with the chainsaw and it just wasn’t ideal. It worked, after I took the bar off a half dozen times to clean sticks and junk out of the case. I’ll be adding the hedge trimmers before next year.

Oh, and my wife and I have discussed moving our pool fence poles into the concrete instead of beside it. There are brackets available to mount the poles on to the concrete. So, that means I definitely need to invest in the SDS hammer drill that kobalt offers……