Cordless power tools

ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.


boatwrench

boatwrench

Well-Known Member
Currently have 19.2V Craftsman set of cordless power tools. Recently one of my battery chargers gave up, the current five batteries I have don't hold a charge very long, and I rebuilt them just prior to covid. I mostly use the drills but miss the handiness of the small circular saw. It may be time to move on from these 20 year old tools

A local (4 store chain) is having a tool sale. Milwaukee, DeWalt, Makita, Skil, all on sale. The Skil selection is very limited but the other brands the tools on sale is expansive. Walking around my neighborhood it seems that Dewalt and Makita are the most popular. I just thought I would throw tis out there for opinions. I hope this doesn't become a GM vs Ford or EMD vs GE or Fairbanks debate. Why do you have the tools you have?

Thanks
 
I had those 19.2V Craftsman - 5 or 6 of them. Sooner or later all of the batteries died. Motor's still work good so that is kinda a bust. The other problem with those is that they are heavy. Welp, was somewhere and there was a 'set' of Craftsman normal and hammer drill of the 20V ( newer ) ones with 3 batteries for $120. Ya, got two. Battery life on the new ones is amazing. I can screw 2 1/2" torks for a couple days without charging. In fact, they go much longer than that, have one out in the train cave I have not charged since spring. Still working although not used as much as the ones in the house. I can not bring myself to buy a battery powered saw. Have a 7 1/2 in Skill that is my go to. Ya, 100 ft extension cord too.

Have a friend with the Makita brand and he is not happy at all with them. Seems that the batteries do not hold up well and he ends up waiting for the charger. Don't know about the others.

Later
 
I use Ryobi because I live near a Home Depot and they seem to come out with a new tool every month. As for what I was told about the various batteries - A "Batteries Plus" store told me Dewalt and Ryobi make the best batteries.
 


I use Ryobi battery tools, the One+ version. They do make other types/sizes, but that branch seems to be the "universal" type. The last purchase I made was for a battery. I was set to buy one battery for $47, then saw a two-pack on sale for the same price, with a higher amp-hour rating with an included charger, so I got that. When I got home, I found a coupon in the package for another two for free, just go back to the store and give them the coupon. They do have those sales and promotions regularly. The tools are good, I've only ever had one fail, and it was a nail gun, after much use.
 
I’m a big Dewalt fan, never had any issues and they have a great selection. Oddly tho they don’t do a belt sander.
I could be wrong but I believe Dewalt is owned by B&D but is the better brand. (?)
However if I were to start over I might choose Milwaukee, more money but more robust.
(oh, and I like Ford and EMD) 😆
 
Home tools are DeWalt as they’ve let me down once after 15 years of use. But that was 15 years after I got the drill secondhand. It already had 10 years of heavy use before I got it. My battery powered work tools are Milwaukee. Bought those off the tool truck that shows up at work every Friday. Whenever there’s a problem, they replace it. More expensive than getting tools at Harbor Freight but they replace the tools no questions asked. I’ve found out the hard way that the newer batteries do not like being dropped from any height. Lost a DeWalt battery due to a 2 foot drop into my toolbox. Fell off the top onto a open drawer of wrenches. Won’t take a charge anymore.
 
For any power tool that I use frequently, lithium battery-powered is the way to go. Lots of power and each charge lasts quite a while. Plus quite convenient to take anywhere. I still have old, Ni-Cad battery-powered cordless tools laying around that are no good any more. The batteries are all shot, and won't take a charge anymore.

For power tools with infrequent use, I much prefer corded. Plugged into 110 volts, you ALWAYS have full power for as long as you want. You never have the expense and inconvenience of batteries and chargers going bad, or years later be unable to find new battery packs or chargers. And seems like they're cheaper to purchase these days than the cordless varieties. The only downside being the locations of your outlets and the lengths of your extension cords.

Since I have never made a living with power tools, I don't necessarily need top name brands. Anything available from Harbor Freight Tools or Menard's and other box stores is generally fine with me. As my tools are just for home and hobby use, I have no need to spend big bucks on top brand names. But, as everyone knows, you have to be careful when buying cheaper tools, as some are not worth the lower prices. Sometimes it's a crap shoot. I've wasted money on "iffy" tools before and have them break in short order, but most of the time I've done okay with my purchases.

Of course, that's pretty much my preferences. Other folk's needs and preferences may vary. :)👍
 


I have had the same Makita dual impact driver set and drill for 11 years now. They both perform flawlessly. I have only purchased a second set of the larger batteries when they came on sale locally. All four original batteries take and hold charges for at least three months.
 
Mixed Freight said:
For power tools with infrequent use, I much prefer corded.
Click to expand...
All my tools are used infrequently. I also prefer old fashioned corded power tools.
Mixed Freight said:
I don't necessarily need top name brands.
Click to expand...
I buy Craftsmen if the price is within 25% or close. Otherwise, I buy any brand name I recognize that is on sale.

I used to be an industrial mechanic and I never had a power tool fail. Except for a Snap-on 1/2 drive pneumatic impact gun. Snap-on has a great warranty, but the best warranty is the one you never use. Luckily, I did not trade in my old Chicago Pneumatic impact gun. That Snap-on gun failed me several times. The old CP saved me every time! The old CP sounded and felt like it was going to come apart in my hand, but it always worked.

My Craftsmen Industrial 4-1/2" angle grinder is forty+ years old and has made me a fortune. It has turned a pale shade of red from the dust/rust from working at Beth Steel. I did a lot of welding for them as a contractor, and they paid good! It still works perfectly when I need it to sharpen my lawn mower blades.
 
I've recently recovered a Makita drill, which uses with their old--"double hotdog" handle-long batteries, and it's working fine. Easily 25 years old, and the batteries date at least 15 years back, but all three still take a long charge.

Rather'n diss some brands, I'll just offer one small piece of advice. IF the batteries are sourced from China, I recommend you keep them outside and away from any flammable objects...just in case they burst into flames. It's been known to happen with even best selling Chinese made CARS, so I'd err on the side of caution, myself.

This is a problem in cold months, I know, but I would rather have them burst due to freezing than have them cause a lot of heat, leading to a burnt down shed, barn or house. If you can keep them warm with some sort of a small heater, all well and good. Maybe a coffee cup warmer. Who knows. Try it.

Model aircraft guys who fly quick recharge-battery powered stuff will be aware of a "charging canister," typically something of the cast ceramic variety. Used in particular for fast recharging as as protection item, just in case something bursts.

It seems to me you could just cover your batteries with some sort of clay pot, or pots to prevent disaster in case of an explosion. Maybe let them sit on top of a couple of large paving stones. Home Depot also sells longer clay plant pots--maybe 2' to 3' long, which might even cover over long electric bike batteries. Those are usually long because they fit/clip-in along one of the frame tubes.

As for brands, I've had good luck with (old) Makita and Milwaukee. Not enough experience with De Walt, but I see nothing there I DON'T like, at least right now.

All THAT ^^^ said, I also favor corded when I can find a good outlet. Which leads me to a question of my own: Has anyone ever come across tools which have an adapter to let you switch between BOTH?
 
Last edited:
Bruette said:
All my tools are used infrequently. I also prefer old fashioned corded power tools.

I buy Craftsmen if the price is within 25% or close. Otherwise, I buy any brand name I recognize that is on sale.

I used to be an industrial mechanic and I never had a power tool fail. Except for a Snap-on 1/2 drive pneumatic impact gun. Snap-on has a great warranty, but the best warranty is the one you never use. Luckily, I did not trade in my old Chicago Pneumatic impact gun. That Snap-on gun failed me several times. The old CP saved me every time! The old CP sounded and felt like it was going to come apart in my hand, but it always worked.

My Craftsmen Industrial 4-1/2" angle grinder is forty+ years old and has made me a fortune. It has turned a pale shade of red from the dust/rust from working at Beth Steel. I did a lot of welding for them as a contractor, and they paid good! It still works perfectly when I need it to sharpen my lawn mower blades.
Click to expand...
If you worked at Beth Steel, you might know the answer to a still open question of mine: Where along the river were railroad cars (built by Bethlehem) actually built? I ask because the Rio Grande had something like 2,500 sourced there, from '64 up until the late seventies. But I just can't find the actual buildings/location.
 
Snowman said:
If you worked at Beth Steel, you might know the answer to a still open question of mine: Where along the river were railroad cars (built by Bethlehem) actually built? I ask because the Rio Grande had something like 2,500 sourced there, from '64 up until the late seventies. But I just can't find the actual buildings/location.
Click to expand...
Good question, but I don't know. I worked around the Blast Furnace mostly and for another contractor CJ Langenfelder. Beth Steel at Sparrows Point, MD was huge! I know where the Shipyard was, but I did not see where railroad cars were made. Could that have been another Beth Steel location?

Ask this question in the Coffee shop, I'd bet somebody will know.
 


Twinboystrains said:
That battery will be placed in the dumpster Monday morning as soon as I get to work! Thank you for the warning. Glad I didn’t try to disassemble it!
Click to expand...

If that's just a regular trash dumpster, please don't put it there. Take it to a place that accepts batteries for recycling/disposal. Where I live, my county has an e-waste center that accepts old electronics, batteries, and other stuff for free. Some stores such as Batteries Plus also accept old consumer batteries for recycling. This helps reduce the amount of toxic metals and chemicals in the normal trash stream.

I have a bin at home where I toss all my old batteries, everything from AAAs to power tool batteries, and about once a year I take it to the e-waste center and they take them all, no questions asked.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.




Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top