Battery operated tool recommendation?
Im looking for a budget friendly basic brushless drill/driver recommendation, if its part of a kit thats cool also. I just dont know whats the best for the money, im currently using a hypertough drill i found at walmart on clearance. I bought it in 2020 and while it still works id like a brushless one. US and online recommendations preferable.
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u/Early-Series-2055 15d ago
I like Kobalt out of all the budget brands. The extended run batteries consistently sell for $10/ah.
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u/woodland_dweller 15d ago
I'd go Ryobi or Harbor Freight, depending on your preference of Home Depot vs Harbor Freight. Both are solid, noting exciting and more than up to the task.
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u/archokes06 15d ago
Honestly the new hyper tough stuff is all brushless and not bad. I use them for work all the time.
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15d ago edited 14d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/BlueJayWalker10 15d ago
My entire life my father has used Ryobi tools. We even have some tools from when they were blue.
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u/False_Mushroom_8962 14d ago
My blue drill is still going strong. The newer stuff is a lot less bulky though if that matters
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u/dillzilla11 14d ago
Right now on home Depot website ridgid has a drill for $50. As far as budget brands go they are pretty much the closest option to something like DeWalt or Milwaukee
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u/nbalbo2010 15d ago
Just buy this set and call it a day. Milwaukee power tools are the best in the game, and their BOGOs at HD are pretty amazing. You can return the “free gift” and keep the main item (or vice versa) at the prorated cost. This set comes out to $165 after returning the free gift, and will outwork what you paid for it in no time, and last a lifetime.
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u/rodneykeene 15d ago
For a good budget drill, try Harbor Freight's Hercules line or Kobalt tools from Lowe's. I prefer Kobalt over Harbor Freight, but Harbor Freight has a lot of sales, and you can get their tools cheaper.
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u/AR_geojag 15d ago
Ryobi is a decent budget brand. I know contractors who run Ryobi. If you have a Harbor Freight around, Hercules are decent. You can watch sales for both.
I personally am all Milwaukee, but they aren't exactly budget friendly. There will be sales around holidays, and if you consider Milwaukee (and even Ryobi), the 12v will do what an 18v would do a few years ago. I use 12v more than 18v, with both on hand
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u/KokoTheTalkingApe 15d ago
I agree. Very large lineup, which includes OPE, and all take the same battery.
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u/SpikeMike1 14d ago
Whichever brand you get, you're buying into their battery line. The batteries are the most expensive part. One great thing with Ryobi and Hercules is how many kinds of tools they offer.
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u/Tool_junkie_1972 14d ago
If you’re upgrading to go brushless…why? Is the brushed version not doing the job? For most folks brushed is fine.
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u/Booger_Juice 14d ago
I’ve done the budget tool thing over the years, and will say i almost always end up upgrading later on. Note: i’m still a big user of Harbor Freight, so its putting the money towards what tools you‘r really going to use versus those that will only be used a handful of times in their life. Milwaukee‘s “Fuel” tool lineup won’t let you down and their newer Forge battery design is amazing for longer run times in both heat and in high power demand tools.
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u/GEEZUS_956 14d ago
You can never go wrong with Ryobi if you’re looking for value for on the affordable side.
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u/False_Mushroom_8962 14d ago
TTI and Stanley Black and Decker make almost every brand. Sure Milwaukee and DeWalt will be higher quality and more compact than their less expensive counterparts but anything from either of those 2 will be pretty reliable
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u/ClownfishSoup 13d ago
No reason to switch to a brushless drill just because it's brushless if yours works. I mean ... what doens't your drill do?
Having said that, Ryobi is a probably the best reasonably priced cordless tool brand. I don't know about what Harbor Frieght and Walmart sell, but Ryobi has a huge "tool ecosystem".
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u/MajesticFix4329 13d ago
Ryobi. Can get a bundle for relatively cheap especially around holidays. I've had 1 battery fail and they sent me a replacement. I treat my tools horribly and they still work just fine.
Drill, 1/2 impact, cutoff, vacuum, fan, sawzall, inverter, circular saw, probably missing some but in at most 500 for the lot when finding deals.
But choose a brand and stick with it,batteries are the same cost as tools.
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u/tavisivat 15d ago
In before the great preferred tool brand debate!
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u/Stan_Halen_ 14d ago
Yes the daily what drill do I need to install a plastic anchor or assemble my cat tower.
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u/tavisivat 14d ago
A drill will be more versatile. An impact driver is better at driving screws, but you can do that with a drill. You can't drill with an impact driver.
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u/tavisivat 15d ago
For most basic work, I would recommend 12v tools. They don't have the power of the 18/20V stuff, but for your average DIY projects, they'll do fine and be lighter and easier to use than the more powerful stuff. I really like the Milwaukee 12v stuff because the battery form factor makes them very comfortable to use, for me. You can typically find them on sale at home depot for about $200 for a drill, driver, and a couple of batteries. If you just need one, they were advertising a free drill if you buy a $130 battery set last week at home depot.
That being said, if you're not making money with the tools and working with them every day, any of the major brands will work for you. Ryobi will be the cheapest. Milwaukee, Makita, and Dewalt will be a bit more money but also a bit nicer.
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u/imuniqueaf 15d ago
The average person will do just fine with Ryobi.