Power tool recs?

[snowaddict91]

My Ryobi stuff has been more than adequate for my homeowner/DIY use, but they certainly aren't top tier. With that said, prices are really reasonable, and that means I can justify buying a tool that I need for one project, even if it may get used very rarely down the road.

Some of the tools are great, some not so much. The circular saw is a battery hog and kind of sucks, but I'd rather have a corded for big jobs anyways.

We just got a corded Ryobi sliding miter saw though and it is a great tool IMO. The shadow/LED line is pretty nifty.

[John_B]

Dont worry Joey it was a 3 pack of tools with a drill, impact driver and 3/8 impact wrench. I'm just doing the usual of TGR and buying something and then seeking out information afterwards to validate my purchase.

Thanks Foggy, I kinda figured that's what I'm in for, especially with the price I paid vs dewalt.

[El Chupacabra]

This time of year, wait and watch the black Friday sales for tool deals.

[adrenalated]

If you want better quality but better budget- Reconditioned Milwaukee are out there: https://www.cpomilwaukee.com/reconditioned_products

I've bought several reconditioned red ones from this site and most of the time I can't tell the difference between them and a brand new tool.

[Foggy_Goggles]

I've bought several reconditioned red ones from this site and most of the time I can't tell the difference between them and a brand new tool.

I've had a few tool experts tell me that recon's are better than new. Basically, I skilled professional [cough] in the USA opens them up and fixed everything China fucked up. Bosch used to have a service center in Denver staffed by guys in white lab coat that shook your hand and wanted to chew your ear of about tools. It's gone now.

[nickwm21]

For home use: If it plugs into the wall, I go cheaper. Ryobi, Kolbalt, porter-cable, skil, etc... Just throw away the blades/bits that come in the box and buy nice stuff. There is no reason to buy a Bosch, Milwaukee, dewalt, makita, etc... if you only use it a few times a year. Sure that $600 dewalt laser guided sliding compound mitre saw is dope.... but that $120 ryobi with a nice $20 blade will hit the same angles and cut lumber/trim the same.

For commercial use I still sometimes buy lower end stuff for corded tools... especially if it’s a one time task, or it has a high chance of being stolen or trashed. The order will show up with some low end tool and my carpenters will grumble “why didn’t you get the _________” then they do that one task, the tool works, it gets thrown in the back of conex and not seen again until we demob. Then magically whichever Carpenter was grumbling the most wants to take it home.....

For battery stuff - I’ve posted in this thread (or others) before: Just choose your favorite color: yellow/turquoise/red, look for deals, look for bundles, look at battery prices because the bare tool prices are pretty similar. Corporately we buy yellow because we get good deals through one of our main suppliers. Personally I own turquoise because I got a deal on a combo pack years ago.


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[stealurface831]

op, are you on single or three phase power? that is an important thing to get down if you plan on purchasing some older, larger shop tools. a vfd is pretty damn expensive.

[DJSapp]

Actual contractor here.

Red, Yellow or Teal (blue is Bosch and meh). Pretty much the superintendent's choice, and I've had them all on the jobsite. No appreciable difference in tool life running them hard, they last until they disappear from the toolbox. Stick to one battery system. The red ones do have some drills now that are a slow spin up which is nice for driving screws so you don't walk off the mark or the head.

Get a 1/4" impact driver. If you've never used an impact driver with torx head self drilling screws, you haven't lived. The screws cost more but my god it makes screwing into wood stupid easy. 100% torque delivery, no pilot holes, no slipping, no stripping the head. Yes the screws cost a dollar more. I swear by that combo now.

Corded tools? Mag worm drive skill saw, no substitute. Even with the gigantic battery packs I'm not convinced the battery tech is there yet for cordless circular saws. Batteries are crazy expensive too. The guy that framed my addition loved his though. Wait a bit longer for the tech here.

I do need a drill press and table saw.

[fleaches]

Single, and I'm a long ways from being able to make a proper shop. Right now I want to be able to make a wooden waxing bench and a kayak stand, so nothing too fancy.

Above advice is probably what I need--many tools will be corded and these are occasional home projects so I'm not going to abuse them like a pro. I'll start with the simple stuff I need, but for bigger purchases and battery powered stuff it sounds like it pays to invest a bit. I'll probably pick up a red drill from the discount site and start with that.

I'll keep an eye out on CL for an older drill press, that's something I'd like to have but is not so urgent.

Speaking of a bigger purchase, contractor table saw? What's a decent midrange option? Sawstop would be nice but it's like 3x the price of everything else.

Thanks again for all the advice!

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[El Chupacabra]

Re: table saw - saw this on Slickdeals, might be of interest:

https://slickdeals.net/f/14505116-32...?src=frontpage

[snoqpass]

Green and black

[snoqpass]

[EWG]

Actual contractor here.

Red, Yellow or Teal (blue is Bosch and meh). Pretty much the superintendent's choice, and I've had them all on the jobsite. No appreciable difference in tool life running them hard, they last until they disappear from the toolbox. Stick to one battery system. The red ones do have some drills now that are a slow spin up which is nice for driving screws so you don't walk off the mark or the head.

Get a 1/4" impact driver. If you've never used an impact driver with torx head self drilling screws, you haven't lived. The screws cost more but my god it makes screwing into wood stupid easy. 100% torque delivery, no pilot holes, no slipping, no stripping the head. Yes the screws cost a dollar more. I swear by that combo now.

Corded tools? Mag worm drive skill saw, no substitute. Even with the gigantic battery packs I'm not convinced the battery tech is there yet for cordless circular saws. Batteries are crazy expensive too. The guy that framed my addition loved his though. Wait a bit longer for the tech here.

I do need a drill press and table saw.

As an ex-framer and currently in the business I co-sign everything here. With the possible exception of the fact that I'm convinced (and it's probably just me) that yellow isn't as good after I trashed a bunch of that.

But x1,000 on torx screws. Love that shit.

[snowaddict91]

Single, and I'm a long ways from being able to make a proper shop. Right now I want to be able to make a wooden waxing bench and a kayak stand, so nothing too fancy.

Above advice is probably what I need--many tools will be corded and these are occasional home projects so I'm not going to abuse them like a pro. I'll start with the simple stuff I need, but for bigger purchases and battery powered stuff it sounds like it pays to invest a bit. I'll probably pick up a red drill from the discount site and start with that.

I'll keep an eye out on CL for an older drill press, that's something I'd like to have but is not so urgent.

Speaking of a bigger purchase, contractor table saw? What's a decent midrange option? Sawstop would be nice but it's like 3x the price of everything else.

Thanks again for all the advice!

Sent from my Pixel XL using TGR Forums mobile app

Another pro tip- if you have a neighbor with a full wood shop of industrial grade tools who also happens to be a crusty ski bum like you, don't move like I did.

[Timberridge]

If I had to build a new woodshop from scratch, the very first thing I would spend money on is a nice table saw. Skip the miter saw, as what you can do on a miter you can do on a table saw with an adjustable fence.

Hardwood or even good softwood lumber at a lumber store is $$$$. If you're doing a couple smaller projects a year no biggie but if you're gonna start making more shit get a planer/shaper next. You can take old, reclaimed pieces of wood and make them sparkle. It's one tool that pays for itself many times over. I have a friend who paid $500 to a farmer to scrounge old barnwood on a collapsing barn and probably turned it into $2000 worth of oak and maple boards he used on wine cellar project.

I'm not sure what the fascination is for drill presses for woodwork. If you're running a home machine shop, sure.

[climberevan]

Another real contractor here. I'll add that the knockoff batteries from Amz or eBay have worked well for me. I don't think the 6ah ones are really 6ah, but they last long enough and cost less than half of the genuine batteries. I've had Makita for the 18v lithium since it came out in like 2006, and have been very happy with it. I've worn out a few drills, impacts, and circ saws, but the life is more than acceptable. If you can swing the cost difference, the brushless versions are way better.

I have Milwaukee 12V tools and they are also good. The Fuel ones (brushless, burlier) are significantly better than the regular ones. The Fuel impact driver with the larger battery is enough to screw off a small deck with 3" screws.

I have a Powermatic table saw that is a real pleasure, and far, far better than the "contractor" saws I've used. But $4k and a huge stationary tool are prob not for everyone.

Festool makes great tools, and the track saw is superior to the Makita (I have a TS55, one of my carpenters has the Mak), but I can't justify the price differential for most of them.

For oscillating multitools, Fein is still the nicest. Everyone should own one.

When torx screws came out the industry should have been prohibited from making any other head types. Do yourself a favor and splurge for some GRKs.

For occasional homeowner use, I suspect the Ryobi would be adequate, and you can spend the savings on clamps.

[Timberridge]

For oscillating multitools, Fein is still the nicest. Everyone should own one.

Solid recommendation. I look for excuses to use mine. Don't mess with the other brands of oscillating tools. I'm thinking of ways to use it to cut the Thanksgiving turkey.

[DJSapp]

Minor thing to add: when you get an impact driver, get a set of impact driver specific bits and throw any other driver bit you own away. I've chipped out/blown up enough shitty bits in the impact driver and need to pass this lesson on.

Also, safety glasses when running the impact driver, always. Especially if you ignore the first piece of advice.

[EWG]

Solid recommendation. I look for excuses to use mine. Don't mess with the other brands of oscillating tools. I'm thinking of ways to use it to cut the Thanksgiving turkey.

Send pics.

[Foggy_Goggles]

Green and black

Ha...I was thinking to myself "there is some carpenter from the PNW who is all Festool, he gonna own this thread"....in my defense I am all about the Festool dust collection vacuum, and you probably got a bunch of Dewalt in those Systainers...which probably set nicely in a 4x4 Sprinter.

[EWG]

Ha...I was thinking to myself "there is some carpenter from the PNW who is all Festool, he gonna own this thread"....in my defense I am all about the Festool dust collection vacuum, and you probably got a bunch of Dewalt in those Systainers...which probably set nicely in a 4x4 Sprinter.

Well sure he’ll own this thread, cause if he’s all Festool he must’ve made enough bank to own anything he wants.

[Foggy_Goggles]

Well sure he’ll own this thread, cause if he’s all Festool he must’ve made enough bank to own anything he wants.

I dunno, I'm a tool guy. If there is one that makes my life easier, more efficient, higher quality, fun etc. I'm gonna own it. I tend not to respect tradesman that don't respect their tools or spend money on the right one for the application.

Its a big part of the problem with blue collar work in this country. The workers want to be respected but they don't even respect their craft. It has gotten so bad that many guys don't even know what a tight job looks like. Clean up...every day...really all the time. Act like every 1/16 maters...because it does. Strive to make every single thing you do look awesome. Be self critical and aware. Try for process improvement every time you do something..."how did I do it last time, did it work, was it efficient, what could be better".

Without fail, the dudes bitching are the ones working for bottom of the barrel generals wading around in their own 7/11 mess hacking is up with shitty tools, showing up late.

I work on houses that cost $1,000 a sq. ft. They better be awesome and that's on the contractors that build them.

[snoqpass]

I dunno, I'm a tool guy. If there is one that makes my life easier, more efficient, higher quality, fun etc. I'm gonna own it. I tend not to respect tradesman that don't respect their tools or spend money on the right one for the application.

Its a big part of the problem with blue collar work in this country. The workers want to be respected but they don't even respect their craft. It has gotten so bad that many guys don't even know what a tight job looks like. Clean up...every day...really all the time. Act like every 1/16 maters...because it does. Strive to make every single thing you do look awesome. Be self critical and aware. Try for process improvement every time you do something..."how did I do it last time, did it work, was it efficient, what could be better".

Without fail, the dudes bitching are the ones working for bottom of the barrel generals wading around in their own 7/11 mess hacking is up with shitty tools, showing up late.

I work on houses that cost $1,000 a sq. ft. They better be awesome and that's on the contractors that build them.

Dust collection is important for a lot of my jobs, minimizing the impact on someone’s home they are living in makes them happier not having to go in and out or up and down stairs all day to make a cut on a piece or trim saves time and money. I was lucky to work for a guy who had a bunch of Festool that I was able to use quite a bit before taking the leap the tracksaw was the first one to come home with me after seeing how well it cut the $350 pre finished zebra wood veneer plywood panels we were installing. I do have a DeWalt saw stand that the Kapex sits on but I’ve never owned any of their power tools I tried the DeWalt multi master one time because I didn’t have my Fein with me the difference in vibration was significant the same with the Festool sanders the vibration is way less than most other brands making it more comfortable to sand all day. A pimped out Euro van would be cool but I’m still working out of a Tacoma

[snoqpass]

Well sure he’ll own this thread, cause if he’s all Festool he must’ve made enough bank to own anything he wants.

I’m not buying $25k snowmobiles or quads and then buying a 12” Ridged miter saw and trying to do finish work like some of the people around here but if you’re just whacking off the ends of trim pieces and leaving the end grain exposed it probably works I’m more of putting a return on the end kind of guy

[Flounder]

If I was a pro I'd have a lot more festool boxes than I have now. Dust collection and accuracy ftw.