For regular household, noncommercial use, how do you guys rank the various power tools in terms of quality and durability: DeWalt, Craftsman, Makita, Milwaukee, etc?

I was considering a purchase at Sears and couldn't decide on Craftsman versus DeWalt.

There was a thread before about this. I believe Dewalt and Milwuakee had a lot of positive comments. I've had both and are very dependable. The Milwuakee batteries are about ptered-out after 8 years.

I have all of the brands you listed. I usually try to buy tools on the higher end...best tool I can afford at the time. I have several power tools that I have owned 15+ years and still use all the time. I don't think you will go wrong if you don't buy cheap. I usually ask the sales people about returns and warranty work. Also do a little goggling when I have narrowed my choice down to 2-3.

Dewalt and Milwaukee are great tools, but in my opinion 75% of the cost is for the tool and 25% or maybe more is paying for their name recognition. I use angle drills for power sanding on my wood turning, the Milwaukee at $100 will last about 2 years, before I had to have t fixed. I get the HF for $20 on sale and they last about the same amount of time.

Ive had my Makita skill saw for about 10 yrs. Used it heavily the first 3-4 yrs then it became my around the house saw and it is still going strong.

Milwaukee. First choice

DeWalt. Second choice

Makita. Third choice

I own and use them all.

Hard to go wrong with Milwaukee, Rigid, DeWalt or Makita

+1

I'm using the dewalt 20v in the shop. Man they are light and powerful. Got my wife a set of the Milwaukee M12's for in the house. Those little tools impressed the heck out if me.

Forgot to add that I replaced a set of ridgids with the dewalts. I'll never own another set of ridgid tools.

Check into Porter Cable tools also, I use a dewalt miter saw but that's what I'm use to using.

If you buy Rigid and submit the warranty paperwork most of them have a lifetime warranty, that includes batteries on cordless tools. That is a hard guarantee to beat. I am an industrial contractor and we use and abuse tools. Craftsmen grinders last better than any. Makita gear trains fail in their grinders. I don't use wood working tools much so i can't speak to their longevity.

I've had great luck with hitachi. It's all I buy anymore.

I would stay away from craftsman, the ones I had were great for the first year or so but then the batteries all crapped out. It was cheaper to buy another set then new batteries.

Yep. I own four Hitachi 18v units. I also like DeWalt. With any tool, Lithium batteries are cheaper in the long run. Consumer Reports says that Lithium is 4x more expensive than NiCad, on average, but lasts 8x longer.

I've found that most cordless tools are about the same except for their batteries. Replacement batteries can cost as much as new tools.

I'm happy with the ryobi drill and impact I bought.

Dewalt and Makita are by far the top two names in cordless power tools with professionals who use them on a daily basis. A walk thru any commercial jobsite will confirm this.

Rigid and Milwaukee will be a close second.

Ryobi will be seen, but the guys who try use them daily will catch hell from their peers, and they'll eventually see the value in the top name products.

The downside of any of them for a homeowner (limited use) is the batteries. If not cycled (charged and discharged) regularly, none of the batteries will see their full life potential. Lithium batteries have brought the cordless market a long way, but any battery will suffer if not regularly used and charged.

For a weekend warrior, the "lesser" brands will work fine, for the most part. In those few and far between times when you'll need a serious power tool, you'll regret not having bought the 'better' brands though.

It's really a judgement call. And a realization that, to some extent, you do get what you pay for. A look thru my power tool collection and you'll swear I'm sponsored by Dewalt. Are the any better than anything else? I won't say that. But I will say...I've never seen any brand that is faster, lighter, stronger, or more durable. A couple that are very close, or even the same, yes. But none that are notably better in any way.

Makita or DeWalt for heavy duty every day use.

I have Ryobi for a couple of odd ball tools, angle hammer, impact wrench, and my son and I both have a screw gun (mine stays at camp), and they work well too. Not as durable as Makita's though.

DeWalt is junk these days. Ridgids warranty is awesome.

Anything Codless = Dewalt
Miter, Portable Tablesaw, Skilwaw etc... = Dewalt

Beyond that, I could go either way as far as Dewalt vs Milwaukee

I've got a few old delta's as well and they run like a champ, but I don't like the new stuff

Hitachi makes one bad little circular saw. I'd put it p against any Dewalt 7-1/4" any day. Otherwise, I like different features of different brands of different tools. Pay a little more than you are willing, you'll usually end up with a tool that will last ya

OK, I'll admit that when it comes to power tools that are not used very often, I opt for tools from Harbor Freight. I just don't see the logic in paying a lot for something that might get used a few times every year at best.

Don't overlook garage sales for a good place to pick up tools at a fraction of what they cost in the stores.