I've searched and looked through the DIY forum and do not see a thread that answers this, so....

Every online "review" and head-to-head" that I read leaves me wondering if they are sponsored by one or the other manufacturer.  

I rehab old houses.  Old houses here are oak and poplar mostly. 70-180 years old.  The buildings in my region don't go much older than that, unless they're the remnants of log cabins.

This is different from new construction.  Old houses eat tools.  Builders who deal with only yellow pine do not understand what happens to a tool when it faces 150-year-old oak.

Even before I was doing other peoples' houses, because I had good mentors, I was aware that my tools (especially if they were cutting tools) could not be cheap (my house is 170 years old). So I buy the best cutting tools I can afford.

But that's corded.  Time to change.

I don't have any significant investment in a cordless system, and the time has come that I must buy into a system, instead of just picking and choosing particular tools (which I do with corded tools, based on what's the best for me.)

So....

I've looked hard at the Milwaukee FUEL and the Dewalt 20v Max and 60v Max.  I include both the 20 and 60v Dewalt in my consideration of the systems because there are a number of those 20v tools which will  run on the big battery but honestly don't need the 60v punch. That increases the options.

I don't see much price difference between the FUEL and the 60v Dewalt. HOWEVER, the 20v Max from Dewalt, which can take the 60v Flexvolt batteries, increases the line a lot.  I wonder if I'm missing something from Milwaukee in this regard?

Framing saws need power.  Drills and angle drills need power, for me, because of the wood they're going through.  Reciprocating saws...I'm in the "I'll believe it when I see it" camp, but maybe the big batteries can power through the wood and nails in these old houses. I don't know.  Brushless motors and big batteries seem to be game changers from everything I'm reading.

Normally, with a corded tool, I would fondle the thing, see which one was lighter and felt good in the hand. Which one was more friendly to a small person (I'm 5' tall, 120 lbs, and female.)  I don't really have that option because these tools (with batteries) are not on the shelves at the stores I'm shopping.

Do any of you have experience that would help me choose?

I'm truly on the fence and would love to know what you have seen and what you think of these two systems.

FYI, if it matters, I'm in Southern Kentucky, which may sound like a warm climate, but we go from 105 degrees in midsummer to 20 below in the winter.  I'm sometimes working in unheated spaces, which can matter for batteries.

This is a lot of money for me, and a commitment to a system. So....

Thanks VERY MUCH in advance for any experience and information you can offer.

~~Kitties

ETA:  I've seen Ryobi and Makita, and Ridgid tools bog down repeatedly on my job sites, cuz a few of my subs have brought those in.  Awesome tools, but not for this environment, so I'm not considering those.

That's a very good question.

The cost of the tools plus batteries for the new systems make it advantageous to buy into a system.  The "kits" that are offered by both systems (more for Dewalt, honestly) are an incentive.

I can get several tools and batteries for half the price of buying tools, batteries and charger individually.

I admit that for every tool I've had to buy in the last 18 months (corded) I've looked at the options and ended up with Milwaukee.  They just kick butt.

Still...with the cordless systems, Dewalt seems to be breaking down doors to do things right.

So I'm trying to not be prejudiced toward a color.  

Seriously if I can get more tools for the money, and equal performance, I figure I'm dumb to not ask.

The Milwaukee Fuel reciprocating saw will do what you want it to do, but it's not light. While I haven't compared the weights, I would say it feels as heavy, if not heavier then my corded Milwaukee saw.

If you're really doing that much cutting, maybe a cordless chainsaw is what you need.

Good advice.  For basic demo, framing and trim, they both have adequate lineups from what I can tell.  I should have said, I won't be going cordless with table saws.  My old corded ones do me fine and when I buy new, I'll still probably go corded, at least for now.  I don't work on the kind of site that has NO power, usually, so I don't need a cordless table saw.    I have spatterings of red and yellow in my corded tools, but going wtih one of the big new battery systems, I don't want to buy into both unless I absolutely have to.  As a small business, I don't have the money or the space to haul as much as many of you do, I'm sure.  So trying to pick carefully and hopefully love what I buy.

It does matter, and that's good information.  Thanks for the comment.  Of course, none of the "tool showdown" type tests or reviews have people cutting anything old, but from what I've seen, both of the big systems have much more impressive power than anything previously produced, so we will see.

I'm sorry to hear the cordless is as heavy as the corded tool (which I own and love, in red) and truthfully, the reciprocating saw will get the most, and the hardest workout of any of the tools  (well, maybe not harder than the drill and driver) because of the demo component, which often lasts for days.

And if a chainsaw came with that long, thin, flexible demo blade, and if those blades came in packs I could go through like water, I'd buy one!

Thank you!  That's good to hear.

That's good news about the chargers.  Were you in consistent temperatures when you were working?  And did you notice any difference in the charge times or run times with the batteries if it was colder or hotter?

Absolutely on the blades.  And you know, I used to love certain brands of blades, and they seem to have gone in the tank with quality over the past few years.  With all the tout, I kind of expected more from the Diablo blades on my reciprocating saw (they do great on my circular saw so far) but I got no more out of them than most of the other brands I'm used to.    Maybe I'm not using the right ones.

Wow, so far, this forum bleeds pretty red.  Not surprising, as Milwaukee started strong and has stayed strong, from what I can tell, through it's entire history.  Sounds like your Sawzalls are the actual Milwaukee ones as well.  You have the battery versions of those too?

Hey, a vote for yellow!

That framing saw is one of the tools I'm ogling.  I am on the fence about any battery grinder because they have always bogged down so quickly for people I hire who are using them (older versions. nobody has pulled out the Milwaukee or the FlexVolt), they always say, "do you have a corded grinder?"  And I do, as of two years ago.  I had never owned an angle grinder until I started trying to work with metal.  Now I own three because they're useful for so many things. . But, because of my size and the jobs that  they take on, I am often NOT the person using them (some things are just height and upper-body-muscle dependent, and that's not gonna change so I don't fight that. I just hand over the tool.) But when I do use them, the Dewalt grinder is by far the heavier of the three.    I picked up a cordless version (20v Max) in a store the other day, and it was as heavy as the corded tool.  I was kind of shocked.  Other people here are saying their Milwaukee cordless tools are as heavy as the corded versions, so it looks like that's gonna be across the board.

I had not seen the 110 power station but now I will have to go look at it and of course will want it.  

Good to hear from somebody who has been around both.

Interesting that Milwaukee is actually dropping some tools.  Wonder if they're going to introduce something new?

OK, I decided to check the stats on the tools.

The bare M18 Fuel Sawzall weighs 7.4 lbs
5.0 Ah Battery 1.7 lbs
Corded Milwaukee 13amp 8.8 lbs
Corded Milwaukee 15amp 9.8 lbs

Thanks for the tip, especially on the 20v batteries.

So far my latest reciprocating saw has not gotten hot, but I bought it to replace an older corded one that died in the middle of a bathroom demo, so it hasn't taken the brunt of many days running hard yet.    We will see.  I admit that I f***ing HATE the blade change mechanism on this Milwaukee saw.  Beast or not, that's a pita as often as I end up changing blades.

I think I wanna be you.

I have one sub who swears by Makita, but he also cusses at my old wood.  A lot.

Oh, look!  A topless hula dancer!

*runs away with saw*

I think you're probably dead-on correct.  On review sites there are always haters, no matter how good something is, which is why I asked here.  I figured I'd get less of that, and I have.  I appreciate the input, and the "I'll be smiling. I just got new tools" made me laugh, which I needed today. I just had to fire a plumber that I like a lot.  I'm not very good at this game, I think.  I get attached.

That's good to know.  I've used the tool service center in Nashville a few times for my big old Porter Cable tools (at one time PC  corded tools were the workhorses for a lot of pros around here, and I still have a good number of those tools) and my big Dewalt worm drive framing saw. (Dropped it off a roof  ten years ago and bent the arbor)  I was working a lot in Nashville back then, though, and now come to Louisville relatively often, so I'm glad to find out there's a service center up there.

Thanks!

Dang though. No love for any demo blade now. I can't believe how fast I go through them compared to when I first started working on old houses.

Thanks for the input.  That's a good endorsement.  I admit that I'm leaning toward yellow because of the number of tools that go between the 60v and 20v lines.    Still not decided though. I did get to heft the 60v framer.  Finally found one unboxed at Home Depot.  It's a fair bit lighter than my corded worm drive saw.

OH, I got you.  Misunderstood that.

Ah, Never mind. Sorry.  I read your question wrong.  Too tired to be doing this in the evenings.  I'm not absorbing details.

We don't have Costco, unfortunately.  Only SAM's, but if I go yellow I may end up driving to one based on Handydave's tip.

@mclark202

Is your angle drill Dewalt?

or what?

And what do you think of it?

I've been pestering the sh*t out of my plumber (who puts up with it very gracefully ) and I've got a serious jones for his Milwaukee angle drill.  But it's old, and he says the newer ones are not as good.  Don't know if that's the "anti-china" stuff talking, or age, or what.  But now I think I have to have an angle drill.

@postpostban

Thank you for this post.  Some questions in red.

Thank you.

Darnit.  Double tap.

Sorry everyone.

I should take this opportunity to say...I really appreciate everyone who has given advice.  Many of y'all have been working in trades for a lot longer than I ever will.  That experience means a lot, and I appreciate you taking time to help.

~~Kitties

No complication.

You hate your old Dewalt stuff?

Why?

Thank you!

I also used to be a Lenox blade fan.  Became one when we bought our own old house and I started this journey into loving the puzzle that is every old house, 20 years ago.  The ones I bought last fall (in a pack, no less, cuz that's all left on the shelf at the "close so use in emergencies" store) were crappier than the ones I get at Harbor Freight.  Made me sad.

ETA:  We have Fastenal here.  I will stop by.

Hmmm....a little lighter (I have the bigger saw) but not much.  Is the blade change just as much of a pita on the cordless?   I hate that round "must turn farther than I'm currently turning it to get the blade in" rubber mechanism that always seems to be buried too deep in the saw.  *I know...grumble grumble bitch bitch*