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Posted: 10/3/2010 5:50:39 PM EST
I'm wanting to get some more battery powered tools.  I do like the idea of one battery for multiple tools.  I have a Black and Decker cordless drill and I've been very happy with it.  It's been worked hard and the battery still works well.  However, I'm thinking that it's time to get a higher quality set of cordless tools.  

So, is the Porter Cable line worth a crap any more?  I noticed that they were made in China.  I'm not opposed to made in China because so much stuff is made in China.  Porter Cable used to be pretty good but I'm worried that they have dropped the quality but relying on the name.
Link Posted: 10/4/2010 9:59:23 AM EST
[#1]
I got a Porter Cable drill/circular saw combo for fathers day.  I used both building a fence and a deck.  Way more torque and longer lasting than the Skill and B&D cordless drill/saw that I have.   So far I'm satisfied.
Link Posted: 10/5/2010 7:06:55 PM EST
[#2]
Porter Cable is yet another manufacture relying on the reputation of it's name, but can no longer be considered "Pro" quality simply based on the name brand.   Porter Cable is targeting the average DIY home repair market and a good way to tell if it's a lower quality tool than you would traditionally expect from Porter Cable is to first consider the price and second, if the part number begins with "PC".

Link Posted: 10/6/2010 1:59:47 AM EST
[#3]
Quoted:
Porter Cable is yet another manufacture relying on the reputation of it's name, but can no longer be considered "Pro" quality simply based on the name brand.   Porter Cable is targeting the average DIY home repair market and a good way to tell if it's a lower quality tool than you would traditionally expect from Porter Cable is to first consider the price and second, if the part number begins with "PC".





Thanks.  That was what I was afraid of.

Looks like I'll be exploring the Ridgid line of tools.
Link Posted: 10/7/2010 1:31:14 AM EST
[#4]
I use them everyday for work.  They have been great for me, I even have the inpact(spelling).  Which is also good to have.
Link Posted: 10/26/2010 2:10:17 PM EST
[#5]
Ive used a 5 or 6 piece set of PC 18V Lithium ion tools, they worked well for hobby stuff or small stuff but wouldnt consider them for heavy or sustained use.  In my experience if you buy the tools individually they are of a higher quality than the ones that come in sets, different models same battery, but that get expensive pretty damn quick.  Just my $.02, hope it helps.
Link Posted: 10/26/2010 3:08:39 PM EST
[#6]
HD in my area started a promotion this week. They have a Makita 18v Li-ion set w/ drill, impact driver, reciprocater, flash light (lame), 2 bateries (I think), and 1 charger for $449.
But wait, there's more...act now and we'll throw in the 6 1/2" circular saw, FREE!!!


Link Posted: 10/26/2010 4:47:54 PM EST
[#7]
I bought a Ridgid impact driver.  Seems pretty well made.  Wish it wasn't made in China but oh well.  I signed up for the Lifetime warranty.  Next thing I'll be getting is the drill.  I actually have a Black and Decker cordless drill and actually, I've been pretty happy with it.  Very powerful, battery lasts a long time (NiCad), and well made.  I probably won't buy the Ridgid cordless until I kill my Black and Decker.  

I'm also going to be in the market for a new circular saw soon and I'm probably going to be looking at the Ridgid line for that as well.
Link Posted: 10/26/2010 4:54:11 PM EST
[#8]
Nothing but good things to say about porter cable cordless drills.
Link Posted: 10/26/2010 6:33:01 PM EST
[#9]
Quoted:
Nothing but good things to say about porter cable cordless drills.


You talkin' about old ones, or the new ones??
I could say a few good things about the old ones, but I don't work with anyone that has the new ones...
Link Posted: 10/26/2010 6:37:23 PM EST
[#10]
Look into Hilti, few friends in drywall/construction and they use them and love them.  They run the piss out of them and have nothing bad to say.  I believe they pretty much have an unlimited two year warrenty.  Theyre sales rep told them to throw em off a lift and get a new one right before the two year mark.
Link Posted: 10/27/2010 4:15:08 AM EST
[#11]
I picked these bad boys up a few days ago and have been using them almost everyday since and I have to say they are awesome....

Link Posted: 10/27/2010 4:25:32 AM EST
[#12]
Quoted:
I picked these bad boys up a few days ago and have been using them almost everyday since and I have to say they are awesome....

http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq74/mattal21/IMG_20101023_204700.jpg


I have that same set.  I use it ALL the time on every project I do.  I have nothing but good things to say about DeWalt cordless tools.
Link Posted: 10/27/2010 8:28:10 AM EST
[#13]
A 14.4V I purchased around 2000 or 2001.

It needs new batteries now but still runs awesome with tons of torque.

Quoted:
Quoted:
Nothing but good things to say about porter cable cordless drills.


You talkin' about old ones, or the new ones??
I could say a few good things about the old ones, but I don't work with anyone that has the new ones...


Link Posted: 10/27/2010 2:18:28 PM EST
[#14]
Quoted:
I bought a Ridgid impact driver.  Seems pretty well made.  Wish it wasn't made in China but oh well.  I signed up for the Lifetime warranty.  Next thing I'll be getting is the drill.  I actually have a Black and Decker cordless drill and actually, I've been pretty happy with it.  Very powerful, battery lasts a long time (NiCad), and well made.  I probably won't buy the Ridgid cordless until I kill my Black and Decker.  

I'm also going to be in the market for a new circular saw soon and I'm probably going to be looking at the Ridgid line for that as well.


I've never been too impressed with Rigid power tools.  If you are talking about getting a corded circular saw look at a Bosch.
Link Posted: 10/27/2010 3:21:05 PM EST
[#15]
Quoted:
Quoted:
I bought a Ridgid impact driver.  Seems pretty well made.  Wish it wasn't made in China but oh well.  I signed up for the Lifetime warranty.  Next thing I'll be getting is the drill.  I actually have a Black and Decker cordless drill and actually, I've been pretty happy with it.  Very powerful, battery lasts a long time (NiCad), and well made.  I probably won't buy the Ridgid cordless until I kill my Black and Decker.  

I'm also going to be in the market for a new circular saw soon and I'm probably going to be looking at the Ridgid line for that as well.


I've never been too impressed with Rigid power tools.  If you are talking about getting a corded circular saw look at a Bosch.




Most of the info I've read on Ridgid is very positive and the lifetime warranty on their batteries is pretty cool.  I guess I'll see.

Awhile back there was a discussion here about the best cordless tools.  Ridgid got very high recommendations around here.
Link Posted: 10/28/2010 7:12:01 AM EST
[#16]
Quoted:
Quoted:
I bought a Ridgid impact driver.  Seems pretty well made.  Wish it wasn't made in China but oh well.  I signed up for the Lifetime warranty.  Next thing I'll be getting is the drill.  I actually have a Black and Decker cordless drill and actually, I've been pretty happy with it.  Very powerful, battery lasts a long time (NiCad), and well made.  I probably won't buy the Ridgid cordless until I kill my Black and Decker.  

I'm also going to be in the market for a new circular saw soon and I'm probably going to be looking at the Ridgid line for that as well.


I've never been too impressed with Rigid power tools.  If you are talking about getting a corded circular saw look at a Bosch.


No way, Makita makes the best circular saws.

Actually, I've never used the Bosch so I can't say. I do like that hook, though. The ones I own are a DeWalt, Hilti and a couple different forms of Makita (and an ancient metal cased Skill from grandpa's tool box).
I've used others, but they just haven't left much of an impression on me. I just dig the Makita's ergonomics, view lines, chip control and weight distribution. My Hilti is more powerful at almost the exact same weight, but it also has a motor that extends a bit further past the sled. I've bumped it on stuff when I'm cutting in awkward positions and I think that causes it to be a bit out of balance. The minimal vibration during start up makes its table seem almost slippery when sitting on a board getting ready to start a cut. It's not all that big of a deal, but having choices has formed my opinion.
Link Posted: 10/28/2010 12:10:52 PM EST
[#17]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I bought a Ridgid impact driver.  Seems pretty well made.  Wish it wasn't made in China but oh well.  I signed up for the Lifetime warranty.  Next thing I'll be getting is the drill.  I actually have a Black and Decker cordless drill and actually, I've been pretty happy with it.  Very powerful, battery lasts a long time (NiCad), and well made.  I probably won't buy the Ridgid cordless until I kill my Black and Decker.  

I'm also going to be in the market for a new circular saw soon and I'm probably going to be looking at the Ridgid line for that as well.


I've never been too impressed with Rigid power tools.  If you are talking about getting a corded circular saw look at a Bosch.


No way, Makita makes the best circular saws.

Actually, I've never used the Bosch so I can't say. I do like that hook, though. The ones I own are a DeWalt, Hilti and a couple different forms of Makita (and an ancient metal cased Skill from grandpa's tool box).
I've used others, but they just haven't left much of an impression on me. I just dig the Makita's ergonomics, view lines, chip control and weight distribution. My Hilti is more powerful at almost the exact same weight, but it also has a motor that extends a bit further past the sled. I've bumped it on stuff when I'm cutting in awkward positions and I think that causes it to be a bit out of balance. The minimal vibration during start up makes its table seem almost slippery when sitting on a board getting ready to start a cut. It's not all that big of a deal, but having choices has formed my opinion.


Makita's circular saw is probably one of the only tools they make that I do not like and would not buy.  I have used several genrations of them before and never liked them, not the new ones either.  I have a couple of Bosch models with the quick connect cord and two generations fo Porter Cable.  I would take them over any other manufacturer and I have used every major manufacturer's offerings.


I think what it comes down to is personal preference.  While the Makita is a very high quality saw I just don't like using it.  The Bosch is also high quality and has been top rated by Fine Homebuilding many times.  Seeing the first review several years back is what prompted me to try one and I never looked back.
Link Posted: 10/28/2010 12:13:42 PM EST
[#18]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I bought a Ridgid impact driver.  Seems pretty well made.  Wish it wasn't made in China but oh well.  I signed up for the Lifetime warranty.  Next thing I'll be getting is the drill.  I actually have a Black and Decker cordless drill and actually, I've been pretty happy with it.  Very powerful, battery lasts a long time (NiCad), and well made.  I probably won't buy the Ridgid cordless until I kill my Black and Decker.  

I'm also going to be in the market for a new circular saw soon and I'm probably going to be looking at the Ridgid line for that as well.


I've never been too impressed with Rigid power tools.  If you are talking about getting a corded circular saw look at a Bosch.




Most of the info I've read on Ridgid is very positive and the lifetime warranty on their batteries is pretty cool.  I guess I'll see.

A while back there was a discussion here about the best cordless tools.  Ridgid got very high recommendations around here.


Many people who recommended them are homeowners.  A bunch of us here do this day in and day out.  The ONLY benifit of Rigid cordless tools is the lifetime battery waranty.  But I would rather use a tool that I like, that works better, has a better design and buy new batteries every few years than make due with a tool I don't like just to save on batteries.

Link Posted: 10/28/2010 5:19:32 PM EST
[#19]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I bought a Ridgid impact driver.  Seems pretty well made.  Wish it wasn't made in China but oh well.  I signed up for the Lifetime warranty.  Next thing I'll be getting is the drill.  I actually have a Black and Decker cordless drill and actually, I've been pretty happy with it.  Very powerful, battery lasts a long time (NiCad), and well made.  I probably won't buy the Ridgid cordless until I kill my Black and Decker.  

I'm also going to be in the market for a new circular saw soon and I'm probably going to be looking at the Ridgid line for that as well.


I've never been too impressed with Rigid power tools.  If you are talking about getting a corded circular saw look at a Bosch.




Most of the info I've read on Ridgid is very positive and the lifetime warranty on their batteries is pretty cool.  I guess I'll see.

A while back there was a discussion here about the best cordless tools.  Ridgid got very high recommendations around here.


Many people who recommended them are homeowners.  A bunch of us here do this day in and day out.  The ONLY benifit of Rigid cordless tools is the lifetime battery waranty.  But I would rather use a tool that I like, that works better, has a better design and buy new batteries every few years than make due with a tool I don't like just to save on batteries.





I guess I'll see.  I've used my B&D hard and while it can't be remotely considered to be a professional grade tool, I have abused it and it still runs well.   Was away from my tools for a year.  When I came back, the B&D battery still was fully charged sitting on the tool.  So, if the Ridgid works better than that, I'll be happy.  

I actually know a few people who use Ridgid professionally and they all like them and they last well.  Of course, in my area most of the builders use Dewalt.  So, I don't know too many professionals who use Ridgid.  But, the ones who do like them a lot.    

As mentioned above though, it probably comes down to personal preference for most of the better quality tools.  Then, just like AR15 brands, there are a few terrible ones and lots of good ones.  Everyone pretty much agrees that the terrible ones are terrible.  But, we certainly like to argue Colt vs Bushmaster.....Makita vs Ridgid.....or you name it!!

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