Cordless Tools Reviews

Overall I am very happy with this saw. I bought it to replace a $50 Skil that I purchased years ago. The Skil still worked fairly well and survived some good abuse, but wasn't a real powerhouse. I've used this Milwaukee several times already and here is what I've noticed:

Pros:
+ Nice power
+ Very nice and easy adjustments for depth and bevel: This uses levers vs. a butterfly nut on my old Skil.
+ Tilt lock is a nice feature. Though many people who have this saw never use it, I have actually used it a couple of times: different adjustments when cutting lumber vs. when trimming doors.
+ Guide visibility is excellent.
+ Base is about 1/8" thick solid aluminum, nice and flat, and solid feeling.

Cons:
- The base is flat all around. My old skill, for example, had a lip on the back and front side. If you're stuck using a somewhat flat, and inadequately clamped guide (like a straight thin piece of plywood that you trust), that may slightly lift in the middle, you run the risk of the base plate riding under your guide. As a result, at some point I may modify the base by screwing on an additional 1/8" lip on the inside top.
- Case: Very minor complaint: it would be nice if it included some blade storage. I have some extra blades, including a cheap plywood blade and an expensive finishing blade. I would love to be able to store them in the case with the saw.

Overall, I have no regrets and recommend this saw. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 in part because of the base plate, but also because I can't recommend it above all other circular saws. Both the Journal of Light Construction and Fine Homebuilding had circular saw reviews. This particular saw, a specific Bosch, and a specific Porter Cable, were in the top three for both reviews. Though in the top three of both, This Milwaukee made it into the top 2 favorites/recommended in one article but not the other. Before purchasing this saw, I would recommend finding and reading those articles to decide which of the three would better meet your needs or preferences.

OK the fact is I havnt even used the saw yet. I own 3 other Milwaukee tools and feel they are the best. One reason I buy one tool or product over another is where the tool is made. I have bought Milwaukee and Porter Cable and have been happy with both. My problem is the saw is not made in the U.S. per the technical data page. That doesnt mean its not the best saw on the market. The feel of the tool is of high quality, I plugged it in and ran it up and tested the brake which functioned perfectly. I am pleased with the service I recieved from Amazon. The tool arrived in only a few days in perfect condition. I was however, disapointed it was not made in the U.S.This causes me to wonder about long term quality. I have a milwaukee angle grinder (made in U.S.) which has been abused for years and works flawlessly. In another buisness fabricating in metal we had a Milwaukee Magnum Hole Shooter drill (made in U.S.) which was the best power tool I ever used. My ex partner still uses it to this day. and it will still break your wrist if you dont treat it with respect.I gladly pay more for products made in the U.S., and often do not shop other brands. If Milwaukee is going to manufacture tools outside the U.S I will be more open to shopping other brands. Americans without jobs dont buy tools. I will write another review after using the saw for a while. I must admit it looks like all I expected and I'm sure its a great saw.......OK I've used the saw for a few weeks now...I'm loving it so far...feels great in the hand,good sight to blade, not too much dust in the eyes...the only complaint I can think of so far is the plastic blade guard...I find myself placing the saw down gently for fear of breaking it. Probably irrational but I think about it every time I put the saw down. Time will tell but so far I'm thrilled. M.R.

This is the very best saw on the market today. Durable, powerfull, and very well balanced with incredible line of site with outstanding bevel adjustment mechanism !

This advertiser is repersenting this tool has the most torque of any cordless impact wrench 240 ft lbs of torque.Dewalt has 300 Ft lbs of lbs on its DW059 cordless impact wrench.I'm not saying which impact wrench is superior just that it has more torque.Maybe seller made a mistake,but truth in advertising is important and the public should be aware.

So far I am more than satisfied. I have been using it as a track wrench for changing wheels/tires from street to race and back again at auto x events. One battery can do at least two cars easily and maybe more. I have not tried reaching max torque. I have used a torque stick for 65 ft/lb and have reached that with no problem by holding a few seconds. Tool is heavy but it sure beats the alternative.

I work at a tractor dealership and bought the impact/drill 18v combo. WOW. The MAC and Craftsman air impacts barely get used anymore because of this beast. This thing loosens rusted 5/8" blade spindle bolts with ease and lasts up to an hour on one battery with moderate use. As another review mentioned, it doesn't kick up dust like air impacts which is really nice on farm machinery. IT IS HEAVY, but it is more balanced than an air gun which I think makes it more comfortable in the long run.

Obviously the huge advantage is no cords so it is extrememly nice on a service calls and fixing flat tires in remote storage buildings without an air compressor.

Highly recommended, along with the 18v Milwaukee drill.

I've had mine for several years, and the battery just gave out. It was even stored in the garage throughout our frigid New England winters, kept fully charged. This unit has worked well to kept weeds and grasses trimmed on our 1/4 acre parcel. It's nice to just pick it up, hit the switch, and go.

Have owned and used our Ryobi 150R cordless trimmer for over 4 years and other than adding new string it has worked flawlessly. This is a truely outstanding product.

I bought the Ryobi 150r in 1995 and I love it. It has worked great for the past 9 years. I use it weekly. I have never run out of battery power during a job. I have a medium size yard, so I'm not sure how it would do on a large yard. The original battery lasted 5yrs; my second battery lasted 4yrs. Bought the battery at Billiou's (1-877-245-5468) www.billious.com for $26.35 plus $6.50 shipping. Also found it at M and D Mowers (www.m-and-d.com) for $28.49 plus $5.95 shipping. Battery part number is MTD-791-181624

I'm not the most handy person around, but I decided to build a playground border consisting of two stacked 4x4s. I needed a drill that could drill through two 4x4s to create holes for the spikes.

The big orange box store said to stay away from cordless drills. I was told they do not have the power of a corded drill. After reading the specs of the Makita 18-Volt Cordless drill and understanding the reputation of Makita tools, I ordered the drill.

After a few hours, I had my swing set border complete. I was able to drill through two stacked 4x4s without problem. The spare battery was great. When one battery was running low, I put it in the chrager and used the second battery.

The convenience of the cordless model will allow me to use the drill all aorund the house. When I need a screwdriver, I can pick the drill up and go right to work. No need to worry about an extension cord just change the bit.

The drill comes with two batteries, battery charger, a carrying case and a few bits. I'd recommend purchasing the Makita UltraLoc kit so you have screwdriver attachments. The total cost less the Amazon discount and Makita (...)rebate was (...). Comparable drills are selling for (...)or more. Overall a great value for a product that completes the job. Highly recommended.

When I first saw the 18-volt powerhouse Makita 6347DWDE drill at this price (only $125 after a $50 manufacturer's rebate and another $25 off promotion from Amazon) I thought it was too good to be true and quite possibly a mistake. I had to read the description and the fine print a few times before making my order.

After owning this drill for six weeks and using it on a couple of projects, I couldn't be happier. The battery pack has proved more than adequate in delivering plenty of power over an extended time period and and it's great to have the backup available just in case. Charging is fast and easy, too.

Despite the size of this drill, it is surprisingly light and well-balanced, comfortable to use even at odd angles and at arms length. You absolutely can't go wrong here.

The benefits of owning quality power tools go without saying. And Makita is a name you can trust. This is not a toy ... it is the real deal. Don't settle for good when you can have the very best. It's definitely worth a few extra $$$.

Note: Take a look at the Makita 784874-A 15-Piece UltraLoc Set as a great accessory for this drill.

I dont know about this drill/driver in particular but just wanted to add my views here for those of you who arent real familiar with this brand. I used to be in apartment maintenance using it to fasten down underlayment... door, window, trim and moulding work, masonary and metal drilling as well as doing numerous household and hobby projects. I have been using my Makita cordless for over 17 years and it still is working like a champ! Have kept it in an unheated garage or truck/van in sometimes near zero degree weather here in Michigan and even this didnt kill the batteries.The original batteries and charger still work although the batteries dont hold a charge like they used to. The quality of the batteries themselves are amazing to me. I just purchased an 18 volt drill simply because I couldnt pass up the deal and wanted to jump on the big high voltage bandwagon. (For me 18 volt is big!). The battery life and power didnt impress me on my new purchase. (I wont mention the name because I havent had it long enough for a fair review). I also have a small cordless Makita reciprocating saw I also am a big fan of. My Dad has a cordless trim saw and we love it as well. I have Dewalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, Craftsman Stanley and other corded and cordless tools and I am not saying which is best or better because it all depends. Its hard to say what the quality of Makitas tools are today as compared to when I made my purchases but I would definately buy another Makita anything if the price was right. I have used my drill more in the last 17 years than most will in a lifetime. Driving screws until it would stall year in and year out and it never wore out, never needed brushes. Now... if you are a professional drywaller or window/door installer and are constantly driving screws untill the clutch slips then you will probably wear out the clutch/torque adjust in a year to a few years but that is my speculation. I have seen contractors using them for just such work. My point is... dont be afraid to try Makita. If mine was dead and I was shopping for a new cordless, it would be a Makita. If I didnt buy Makita it wouldnt be because I was worried about the power or quality but only the deal I was getting. Some of the other manufacturers I mentioned have decent tools as well but Makita can hold its own against all of them and then some against some of them. Bearing all this in mind.... if I saw that they were being made in China then I would have some serious reservations... otherwise.... go for it.

The problem with this is a year later, the battery can't hold a good charge for more than 2 - 3 minutes. The sponge has to be replaced every few months. (About [money amount] off auction sites).

Still, it's handy.. But it only holds less than a dixie cup full of liquid. If you try to suck to much then it overflows and causes a bigger mess.

A good buy.

Good vacuum but you cannot buy replacement filters anywhere! Update 2/05 vac died. only lasted a year.....

This hand vac has quite good power, though a short duration of usage time. It is also very loud.

For about a year and a half, long enough for the warranty to expire, this was an outstanding flashlight. It has a very bright light and was steady and positional. After a year and a half, the head stopped pivoting and the switch began to only work after much jiggling and fiddling. I expected better from a Dewalt product.

For someone who already has the 14.4 volt tools, this make the most sense. High intensity beam, and very durable. I have owned several C or D cell flashlights over 20 years, but they all seem to die right when you need them most. This is well worth the cost and could possibly be the last flashlight I need to own

I bought this flashlight for use around the house and for camping. Since I already have a 14.4 DeWalt drill, it was an easy decision to pick up this high quality accessory. So far I have found this flash light to be very good quality: the beam is bright, the head is adjustable, and it stays put while standing alone on its base (the battery pack). Based on all of this I recommemd this as a fair deal on a quality product.

I'm a home woodworker and needed a little more power than the 9.6v and 12v cordless drills I've owned for years. But I didn't need overkill, either. This DeWalt 14.4v has done an admirable job. True, some other brands may have more torque, but they weigh a ton. This drill won't break your arm if you're installing overhead panels or braces at arm's length at the top of a ladder. All in all, I can't find much wrong with it. the only reason I didn't give it five stars is that DeWalt will probably go to its XRP design in the near future and this one may not be available for long. But an XRP will run you at least $50 more. If you need reasonable power at reasonable weight, this drill will do the job.

The wife told me to build a dog house, and of course, I needed more tools (!) for the job :). I worshiped the ground she let me grovel on. So, I got down on my knobby knees and asked her if I could buy a new drill. She decreed that it should be so. Yes!!! And she didn't ask how much it would cost!

Went into Lowes in Manassas, bravely approached the tool man and he asked me what I was looking for. "I want the best cordelss drill that money can buy." With eyes misty from a combination of tool lust and jealously, he brought me over to the DeWalt 14.4 and described a sales training video they'd shown of a guy making Swiss cheese of a 2x4 with a 1" hole saw -- in the Sahara Desert -- for hours. There might have been some pre-erotic fumbling on his part as he stroked the fresh plastic and the metal case.

But I walked out of there that day with that drill and an extra battery. This was in 1994 or 95, I think. Two days ago one of those first two batteries finally became unchargable 10 or 11 years down the road. I've used it to build airplane fuselages, work benches, cut holes in wood, steel, aluminum and masonry; for grinding various parts with barbed bits -- allways confident that it would work on any material I needed to modify.

This drill has great clutch sensativity, and excellent torque on demand. It's wonderfully balanced in my hand. While it's massive, it's not awkward. This may sound sad and a bit silly, but that drill has become a part of me, my identity, and the way I look at problems it might help me solve. I'm proud I own it, can't see getting rid of it, will probably keep it in a place of honor when it can drill no more. Ergonomics: 9.5. Durability: 10 Eye candy score: 6-7 (this love comes from familiarity more than initial lust). It looks better now spattered in epoxy resins and paint, and banged up a bit, than when it was new. Mine only has 1-6 and "drill" on the torque setting so it might be an older version of this model.

I bought this drill 3 years ago, and have been using it fairly regularly since. I've never found myself wanting more power, the balance is great, and it just keeps going. My batteries only last a little less than when new! Great drill.

Being a home remodler I own both Millwaukee and Dewalt cordless drills and saws. I have experianced the problem of removing the battery packs from my Millwaukee tools that other people have refered to, but I was able to overcome the problem with some silicone spray. My biggest problem is that I spent the money for the Milwaukee 18 volt combo pack thinking I was buying a "HEAVY DUTY" product, only to find out that the battery life of my 14.4 volt Dewalt set runs circles around BIG RED.

Bought this kit for building my own house. I'm not dissatisfied with product performance, but a bit disappointed by the lack of ovewrall quality based on other Milwaukee tools I've owned and worked with.

My guess is that Milwauke will implement some improvements in each of component over the next year or so based on customer feedback.

I strongly agree with another buyers frustration with removing the battery packs from the tools. After the first few uses, the batteries can become virtually impossible to remove without beating them against something. Really poor design.

As others have mentioned, the quality of saw cuts from the circular saw are just "ok", but can't hold a candle to my corded Skil saw.

Sawzall has been great, very powerful. Hachet design is smart idea. (I love it, with the exception of the battery removal problem).

Drill/screwgun is built well. However, while screwing down my floor deck I found too much variability in the screw torque setting. I buried some screws while others had a raised head. It got a little frustrating, but not to the point of giving up, it just required that I back off a little on the trigger while finishing each screw.

Surprisingly, the flashlight has gotten ton of use. I thought it would set in the bag, but with some long work days late in the autumn, it has been used virtually every day. It is bright and has a nice wide beam. The adjustable head and ability to stand up the unit and point it at the job is really nice. This light helps me find my way from the work site to the truck each night.

Like I said, overall, I'm satisfited, but I'd expect Milwaukee to fix the flaws in this first generation product. I'd wait for improvements if you can.

Update to my review (3/03) - Well, a few months more use and a couple more problems. My battery charger died. The LED light still came on indicating that the unit was powered, but the batteries wouldn't charge. Unfortunately I had go out a buy a replacement charger since I couldn't wait for a repair. The new charger is still working and now I have a spare.

Then the flashlight that I said I was so pleased with died! Again I really didn't want to wait for a warrenty repair so I took it apart (not much can go wrong with a flashlight, right?). I found a burned off copper trace on a printed circuit board inside the unit. I jumpered the trace with a wire and the unit is again working fine.

I've worked these tools pretty hard so I'll be generous and maintain my three star rating, but if any more goes wrong, I'll have to reconsider.

Being a remodeling contractor I usually give my tools quite a workout. As usual Milwaukee comes through again with a collection of fine tools at an affordable price. I've tried the "Big Yellow Ones" but they don't hold up like a "Milwaukee". I guess the only bad comment I can think of about the whole package is the sawzall seems to use up batteries pretty fast. I would recommend having at least 3 total if you plan to use the sawzall for extended periods. By the time one charges up the other is completely dead. The hand saw, drill and work light seem to operate forever on a battery. I would highly recommend this product if you do a lot of quick in and out jobs where you don't want to drag extension cords and tools around. The contractor bag works great keeping track of your tools and ease of transportation. I plan to buy a couple more of these packages for my crew.

Some friends and I, one of which works for PORTER CABLE, a couple of contractors and myself went to build a wheelchair ramp as a church project for an elderly couple. The guys laughed at me when I showed up with my Dewalt DW939 saw. About an hour into our work the power went out in their neighborhood. I handed my saw to the professional contractor that was doing all the cutting and he used it and said it cut smoother than his milwalkie 7 1\4" corded. We did the whole ramp and only had to replace the battery toward the end. Both of the contractors and the guy from Porter Cable all said that they were going to get one ASAP!! My DW939 saved the day!!!
My only complaint was fixed in the DC930 and that was the ergonomics of the handle. the DW939 is fine if you are cutting short distances but when cutting across a 4x8 sheet it is hard to hold your hand parallel to the cutting surface.

I have been cutting 2x8s and it does a great job. Especially nice is being able to cut thru the 2*8 at a 45 angel. The blade lock makes changing the blade easy.

The safety latch seems a bit awkward. One has to push the button in before pulling the trigger. For me, the button is in the wrong place and would be easier to push down rather than in. But this is a minor problem.

I haven't used the saw enough to stress test the battery

I bought this saw to cut down sheets of plywood before bringing them into the bsmt where there is a table saw. I've had no problem with the battery and love the freedom of throwing it into the back of a vehicle in case wood at the lumberyard is too long. It's weight makes it easy to handle and while I can see an extra battery might be nice, it's been a joy to use.

I do not recommend this drill. The battery failed within a year and the new 18 volt NiCad is failing again after about another year. I use it only occasionally so the comment regarding battery failure in this tool for DIY resonates.

Also, I don't think the tool lives up to its torque claims. Finally, the battery from day one has been difficult to remove. The side squeeze mechanism never worked properly.

I don't own this drill, but I do know why so many folks have had battery problems. The 18V batteries that Milwaukee includes with this drill are nickel cadmium. Nicads are known for having "memory" problems caused by recharging batteries before they are fully discharged. And here is a gem of a quote from the wikipedia - "NiCd batteries, when not used regularly, tend to develop dendrites (thin, conductive crystals), causing internal short circuits and premature battery failure, long before the 800-1000 charge/discharge cycles claimed by most vendors." Bam!

This means that if you are an occasional user (weekend warrior), you'd be better off with a different brand that uses Nickel metal-hydride batteries. They are less prone to the problems described above. The 18V drills made by Makita, Panasonic, and Bosch all use NiMh batteries. Dewalt 18V drills come with NiCd.

This Tool is incredible, I upgraded from the Makita 18 volt. It was like moving from a Model T to a Mercedes. The balance is correct and I am sure to find a situation that will utilize the reversing battery mount.
The chuck really locks the bit in place. The clutch seems to be calibrated the same as the Makita and I have yet to break a screw.
It seems slightly heavier than the Makita but the comfortable grip makes up for it
I can recommend this product to any serious wood worker or to anyone that uses a Battery powered drill frequently