jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I have several cheap, generic cordless tools that came with batteries. Just out of curiosity, I looked for replacement batteries - no luck, but not surprising. On the other hand, these tools with batteries cost me less than a brand name battery alone, so that's okay. These are minor tools - drill and screwdriver - that I keep in the house for small jobs.

I gave in and bought a small cordless Ryobi shop vac. Amazon has it for $115, but Home Depot is selling it for $99. By adding a cordless shop light to the order, I got $50 off the whole order. My old LED shop light died, so this is perfect timing. With the batteries I have now, I was limited to DeWalt or Ryobi. The Ryobi tested very well (Project Farm), and the price was a major consideration.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...I still work small jobs. Had Makita for years, got ripped-off, went to Rigid (the HD brand and solid), got ripped off, went to Ryobi (after making fun of my electrician for years...heh) and haven't looked back. Not every tool works the way I like, but they are solid and the *system* is flawless. They come out with new versions all the time, so they're looking to improve. I want to start a campaign: the Anti 99 Group...it's just so stupid. So, my challenge, next time you relay the price of something that has a "99" in it, just round up. ;0)

k2edm Loc: FN32AD

not fer nothing BUT: over the years after spending money for battery powered tools I have decided that having one is just not worth it, it is easier to run a 110 line than it is to screw around (and pay for more) batterys, also how many time did you want to do something but could not because the damn batterys were dead? I have NO battery powered tools.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I know what you mean, but I still compare prices by the dollars. A friend used to say gas prices rounded up. I'd say gas cost $2.59, and she'd say it was really $2.60. Of course it's really $2.60, but when comparing from one station to another, people use the big numbers. As it turned out, this Ryobi was $99.00, but it could just as well have been $99.99. Still, comparing it to the DeWalt at $149.00, all I looked at was the dollars. There are two no-name sites selling the DeWalt for $104.30. Free shipping and no tax. Are they kidding?! I wouldn't even bother to look at those sites.

djlouden Loc: Ocala, Florida

I have a slew of Ryobi cordless tools and have been pleased with the results. I'm not a tradesman so cant speak to the longevity of them in day to day use. Recently I purchased some of the 40V yard tools for doing the odd job the lawn man doesn't do or missed. About the time the battery runs down on the hedge trimmer I'm ready to escape the Florida heat anyway. I did find an after market 40V battery that seems to work well too on Amazon (Kunlun).

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The only cordless tools that have stopped working for me are the cheap ones - like $20 - $30 - when the batteries died, but I got a lot of use out of them. Using them, and working the batteries, is the key to longevity of any battery.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Today, I had to drive ~ 500 3” deck screws into the 2x6 treated planks for the floor of a screen porch I’m building. I thought it might be a bit tough on my 18V Porter Cable cordless drill, so I dragged out my trusty DeWalt 1/2 corded drill which hadn’t been used since I bought the cordless. About half a dozen screws later, I put it down and picked up the cordless - half the weight and much better speed control. Took about 2-1/2 hours including beer breaks (it’s hot out there) and 2 batteries with charge left over in the 2nd, and the drill is barely warm. ‘Nuff said.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

We have Makita price fixing here in NZ. Almost impossible to get a Makita product cheaper. Most other brands have something similar. In NZ Makita does have a good name for longevity and quality and so far I have seen nothing that would make me think otherwise. There is no excuse what-so-ever for not having a charged battery when you need it. I so far have 4 batteries. When one is flat and charged it goes in at the end of the row and the battery at the other end goes out first. That way all batteries get cycled the same. One thing with Makita you need to watch for is which recharger you are using. The standard one with most kits is a slow charger. If you buy a premium tool it comes with a fast charger. I have never reached a point where a job couldn't continue because of the lack of a charged battery.
You all realise of course that power tool batteries are the equivalent of printer ink cartridges. The tool (printer) are cheap because they make their money on the batteries.
And having nothing to do with batteries a long time ago B&D tools were at the el-cheapo end of the market. Somebody told me (or I read it somewhere) that Ryobi was the German equivalent of B&D so I have never touched, or considered, buying one.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

I have never been shocked by a battery powered tool, have had the shit knocked out of me with corded tools a couple of times, both times the tools were damp. don't happen with soaking wet battery tools even standing ankle deep in water,but for this I prefer air powered tools.

medphotog Loc: Witness protection land

Yay for the beer breaks! It was H.O.T yesterday. It's supposed to be as bad/worse today. Not telling ya what to do, but I'd take a couple of beers and QC your deck work from a shady spot (or an inside window if it gets *that* bad).

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I put numbers on my batteries so they get rotated in use. From what I've heard, B&D, since it was absorbed by the larger company, is no longer as good as it used to be. That's what happens when big takes over small.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I use mostly battery powered tools. I have spare batteries so picking up a tool with a dead battery is no problem. I just swap it for a spare and put the dead one on the charger. In fact, when I pick up a tool to do something I usually just pick up a spare battery with it so I don't have to come back to swap it out.

There are lots of times on the farm when I needed a tool and I was 1000 ft away from a power outlet. Battery tools are essential. Either that, or carry a generator around with me.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Check at a Batteries+ store if you need replacement batteries. I took my Dustbuster in to see if they had a battery pack for it, since mine would not hold a charge. They built a pack of rechargeable batteries that fits and is far more powerful than the originals ever were.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I tried taking an old Dustbuster apart to replace the batteries - not worth the trouble. I bought a nice new one.

k2edm Loc: FN32AD

dont want to beat this to death, but if you look at the cost of battery vs line cord, you may decide to bother running the line cord.