Thread: Cordless power tool kits - help please

No comments on brands, I assume you have done your homework.

I purchased a Dewalt kit from the US (via ebay), saved $1000, arrived the same week. Provided you purchase quality gear where the warranty risk is less I would recommend buying from the US. The amount you save covers any warranty risk anyway. Australians get ripped off, I'm willing to pay 10-20% more than US price (after conversion) but not 100-150% more.

my 2c,
Frank

IMHO it depends what accessories you want.
Dewalt has an excellent cordless nailgun, angle grinder + is good quality.
Makita has an angle grinder + saw+ Hitachi I dont think so.
The batteries are all good provided you look after them ie charge properly + not exposed to xs heat eg back of ute under cover in summer.

Thanks guys,

I am thinking the same way on the US issue - if I can buy two sets I must be better off (for quality gear). How do you like the DeWalt stuff?

In terms of the parts in the Hitachi kit - it is pretty broad:

Rotary hammer
Impact drill
Impact screwdriver
Grinder
Circular saw
Jigsaw
Recipro saw
Blower vac????
lantern
torch
4 batteries

I think Hitachi has the best cordless circular saws at the moment, although I am invested in the Makita 18v lithium system. Have their cordless circular saw (pretty good), impact driver (excellent), 18v drill/driver (excellent) and fluoro light (not bad). Also had the Makita cordless grinder which was great but chewed batteries fast... Sold it to another forum member here reluctantly for needed $ but will be buying another to replace it soon.

I think the Hitachi gear would be equally as good. Milwaukee would be alright but probably expensive. DeWalt... dunno never used their cordless stuff.

In addition I reviewed cordless circular saws in a recent issue of Wood Review mag (Hitachi, Makita, Metabo and Milwaukee). All were 18v except the Milwaukee which was 24v. The Milwaukee was nice, but pricey... the Metabo was a bit of a dog to use, the Makita and Hitachi fairly equal. My fave weas the Hitachi because it seemed to cut a bit smoother than the Makita, plus it made about 15-20% more cuts on a single battery compared to the Makita, so it was my favorite of the bunch.

My dewalt is the older NiCad system, my corded recip and circular saws never get used now and the corded drills only when there are more than me working on a job.
I have found that when using saws, two batteries in not enough. But you also need more chargers with extra batteries, no good having 4 batteries and only being able to charge one at a time. I find that two batteries is more than enough for the drill (actually mainly used for tekking).

Don't underestimate the usefulness of the torch, mainly used for shining around the worksite when you have finished; looking for the rest of your tools. (also great for fishing).

no regrets going dewalt for me, but I haven't used the other brands like Dean has.

frank

I have a Hitachi cordless c/saw & find it excellent. Recently I had to trim 2 solid front doors , no problems, also trimmed 2 chipboard desktops [ 2 metres long x 40 mm thick ] with laminex on it , no problems. I also have the cordless angle grinder which is great for cutting stuff on the tail gate of the ute if no bench is available.
Cheers Planepig.

John, in regard to your question. re. the relative power of cordless tools, there are both positives & negatives.

Saws up to about 18v. tend to be effective as "trimsaws", meaning that they're fine for sheet work in ply, mdf, and lighter grades of chipboard or for messing about with softwood.

But for framing work, forget it. They cut hardwood readily, however it places great strain on the power reserves of the battery.
According to tests conducted in the USA, the best cordless saws for framing are the Hilti 36v. by a country mile, followed by the Bosch 36v. The rest weren't recommended at all for heavy work.

I currently use a Metabo 18v Lithium. Like the Makita I had previously it tends to drain the battery too readily. As I can't afford a Hilti, I've a Bosch 36v. on order. My pet hate is that the motors are invariably on the "wrong side". Why, I don't know. It just makes them seem unwieldy, heavier than they should be and downright awkward to use (and potentially unsafe).

In regard to Rotary Hammers, most aren't really up to the task. They're useful for 8-10mm. frame anchors, but are a very poor alternative to corded hammers above this.

I've used 18v. Metabo and Makita hammers, but by far the best is the Bosch 36v. hammer. It's as powerful and fast at drilling as my 1000w Metabo hammer. It has a quickchange chuck for drilling like the Metabo, and is the only hammer I know of that also chisels.

Many other cordless tools offered in kits are little better than toys. A cordless grinder that hasn't the guts to either grind or cut effectively? Use a genny and get the job done in a fraction of the time WITHOUT all the swearing and frustration.

But do you really need cordless tools? A good quality corded saw runs rings around any cordless equivalent. The cordless tools are (a) expensive to buy and supply with batteries, (b) generally don't perform as well, and (c) are heavier than similar performing corded equivalents.

Cordless drills are amazing, but think carefully about your needs and uses before spending a grand or more on the add-on purchases in these tool kits.

I tried a mates 18 volt dewalt cordless circular saw to trim the tops on some treated pipe fence pickets last year. Gave up after three pickets and decided that circular saws should have a cord hanging out of the back of them.

Love my cordless Makita drill, wish it was lithium iron. If money was not an option I would buy Hilti, they are amazingly light and powerful but not sure they do anything except drills and impact drivers.

Originally Posted by Burnsy

I tried a mates 18 volt dewalt cordless circular saw to trim the tops on some treated pipe fence pickets last year. Gave up after three pickets and decided that circular saws should have a cord hanging out of the back of them.

Love my cordless Makita drill, wish it was lithium iron. If money was not an option I would buy Hilti, they are amazingly light and powerful but not sure they do anything except drills and impact drivers.

Hilti do quite an extensive range of quality tools. Saws (jigsaws, circular cordless & corded & recipro), sanders, cordless drills, hammers, chippers, sds & sds max combihammers, diamond core and impact drivers, construction lasers & detectors, powder and air fasteners, diamond grinders, cutters, saws and slitters and dust extractors.

All top quality and priced to match.

Originally Posted by JohnLyn

The best price I have seen for the 10 piece Hitachi 18v Lithium Ion kit is $2198 but I can get a similar thing from the US for half the price if I am happy with no warranty and using stepdown chargers. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Update - make that $2049 (haven't tried to negotiate with anyone yet - jsut advertised prices).

Sounds like a great deal, John; I like Hitachi stuff and mine have always performed and lasted well.

Have you got an estimate on freight costs yet? As the value is over $800 Customs will probably charge you 10% GST, do not know if there is any other Customs duty on electrical tools - probably not as none are made in Aus. Buying a 240 volt battery charger in Aus should not cost $1,000.

Cheers

Graeme

The $2049 was from Sydney Tools (a full Aussie Kit - no need for transformers and full Aussie warranty).