Cordless tool brand to choose

MattF · Aug 19, 2023

dobbslc said:
Thanks Matt! So is the brushsless a bit lighter than the old one as I'm looking to save weight where I can? Shorter will be quite useful though.

@dobbslc. Surprisingly, according to the instruction manuals, the GSB12V-15, which is the one you'll have too(?), is 200g heavier than the GSR12V-30. Doesn't feel that much to me. The balance is definitely better on the 12V-30. Not as front heavy.

Apologies for the crap photo's.

dobbslc · Aug 20, 2023

That's a fair difference!
I've had a Milwaukee 12v brushless in my hand last week and that's definitely a fair bit lighter than my Bosch.

GRW · Aug 20, 2023

It's getting harder to get corded hand tools due to how hold & handy the battery stuff is..... but I still favour some corded tools. I don't get to use the tools enough to warrant battery kit, so feel I'm better off with corded 230v.

I have battery tools. A very old & now basically kaput De-Walt battery drill, and most recently (2-yrs maybe) 3 Erbaur tools (drill, impact screwdriver & 115mm grinder).
All have been good (though despite the 18v 5ah battery, the grinder doesn't last very long) - while the little impact driver is brilliant & it's been used a heck of a lot (getting into panels & connecting/disconnecting cable sets up to M14 as well as regular screwing type duties).

MattF · Aug 20, 2023

GRW said:
I don't get to use the tools enough to warrant battery kit, so feel I'm better off with corded 230v.

I don't use most of mine frequently, but the convenience factor is worth the price many times over. The mitre saw & table saw are two good examples. Workshop is too small to use them in there, hence why I use them in the flat, but when need will occasionally rise to use them outside, I don't have to string a stupidly long mains lead in order to be able to use them out of everyones way.

GRW · Aug 20, 2023

MattF said:
I don't use most of mine frequently, but the convenience factor is worth the price many times over. The mitre saw & table saw are two good examples. Workshop is too small to use them in there, hence why I use them in the flat, but when need will occasionally rise to use them outside, I don't have to string a stupdly long mains lead in order to be able to use them out of everyones way.

I'm fortunate in that I have a workshop (come bike shed) of just under 4m x 4m (with plenty of power points on 3 sides plus 2 more doubles on the roof joists) and a hardstanding/concrete yard space in front of it that's close to same size. I also have power points near the front of the house by the driveway.... So while cords can be a nuisance it's not too bad.

(There is a long percolated but as yet unstarted idea to put a "car port" shelter over the yard space in front of the workshop - which would make it much more usable in out somewhat wet climate)

MattF · Aug 20, 2023

GRW said:
I'm fortunate in that I have a workshop (come bike shed) of just under 4m x 4m (with plenty of power points on 3 sides plus 2 more doubles on the roof joists)

That's it, just rub it in.

Alot of my work I can do between the workshop & flat, but there are projects on my list which will likely end up with me oiking some gear up into the top garden. That's when the portability & lack of mains leads will be a god send.

GRW · Aug 20, 2023

MattF said:
That's it, just rub it in. Alot of my work I can do between the workshop & flat, but there are projects on my list which will likely end up with me oiking some gear up into the top garden. That's when the portability & lack of mains leads will be a god send.

Sorry

. I'm aware that I'm pretty fortunate with the space I do have even if not ideal (it took me a very long time to get it mind).

I also have the (with lots of work) the possibility of utilising the rough prefab concrete/asbestos roof building at my folks place in the future. Dirt floor, poor lighting & only 2 sockets.& full of junk... but it is about 10m x 6m with a 2.7m double-door access.
It'd cost a mint to put a floor etc in to make it vaguely half-decent though

Craig-SM · Aug 20, 2023

MattF said:
I don't use most of mine frequently, but the convenience factor is worth the price many times over. The mitre saw & table saw are two good examples. Workshop is too small to use them in there, hence why I use them in the flat, but when need will occasionally rise to use them outside, I don't have to string a stupidly long mains lead in order to be able to use them out of everyones way.

The convenience factor moves you to use cordless more often. A dozen screws to put in and it’s just as easy to get the cordless driver as a screwdriver and much quicker job. Only corded items I have now is a couple of grinders and pillar drill as they’re permanently on the work bench. Even the old vacuum sits in the corner collecting dust in favour of the cordless vac

northwest · Aug 20, 2023

GRW said:
It's getting harder to get corded hand tools due to how hold & handy the battery stuff is.

Given how powerful some of the battery kit is now, I don't see a future for mains lead stuff now. The ease and convenience of battery gear has moved forwards light years on from the old 10volt Makita stuff.

Pigeon_Droppings2 · Aug 20, 2023

Got bloomin skuppered....got back home to find a Bosch size box waiting for me

...ain't no hiding this one.

Nice bit of kit...nice and compact...heavier than I was expecting but a nice size overall. Really like the case I have to say.

MattF · Aug 20, 2023

Pigeon_Droppings2 said:
Got bloomin skuppered....got back home to find a Bosch size box waiting for me ...ain't no hiding this one.

That's what you get for trying to sneak one past the missus.

angellonewolf · Aug 20, 2023

boash small tool fetish on here at the moment im feeling left out

MattF · Aug 20, 2023

angellonewolf said:
boash small tool fetish on here at the moment im feeling left out

I'm in my element.

Richiew · Aug 20, 2023

Makes a nice change from Milwaukee love ins.

(I don't own a Bosch! ) :scared:

dobbslc · Aug 20, 2023

angellonewolf said:
boash small tool fetish on here at the moment im feeling left out

Come, Come my friend I'll show you things you've never seen before...

winchman · Aug 21, 2023

I started with Ryobi as I needed a cordless Jigsaw and drill and a trader I know was selling a second hand kit, its served me very well but I now have a couple of Milwaukee bits and I do see the difference especially the compactness of the 12v stuff.

Pigeon_Droppings2 · Aug 21, 2023

winchman said:
I started with Ryobi as I needed a cordless Jigsaw and drill

I also started with Ryobi probably 15 years ago...back then their stuff wasn't really that good and I eventually switched to Dewalt.

Craig-SM · Aug 21, 2023

Pigeon_Droppings2 said:
I also started with Ryobi probably 15 years ago...back then their stuff wasn't really that good and I eventually switched to Dewalt.

My first cordless tools were Ryobi too when it was NiCad batteries and the performance was poor compared to the current tools available. The trade off then was convenience of being cordless as you didn’t get the performance of cabled tools and bigger jobs ruled out cordless as the batteries wouldn’t last long enough and took ages to recharge.

Onoff · Aug 21, 2023

Here's a weird one, mate is a DeWalt fan boy. He had a bunch of the old 18V NIMH tools. Li-ion came along and he consigned the first old NIMH stuff to a draw.

A while later he bought "proper" converters to use new DeWalt Li-ion batteries on old DeWalt tools.

Result, the trigger switch burnt out on two drills.

Any thoughts?

MattF · Aug 21, 2023

Whilst on this subject, thought it may be useful to post a list of companies who I've personally found good for power tools. I may have missed some. In no particular order.

Cordless tool brand to choose

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Searching for the Holy Grail.........

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In the land of the unfinished project I am King!

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