What is the Best Power Tool Brand? (Based on 50 Years of Experience)
Hear from a 2nd generation woodworker with 50+ years of experience as he speaks out on which are the best power tool brands. Learn what makes a brand good and which tools need to be bought from a reputable brand. Share your thoughts on which power tool brand is best for you in the comments below! #PowerToolBrands #ToolTalk #woodworkingtools
For a full list and discussion of the best brands on the market today, read our article: https://www.sawinery.net/best-power-tool-brand/
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00:01 Introduction
01:02 How to Find Out (Online reviews & Head-to-Head Testing)
02:05 “Best” is Relative
03:14 How Often Will You Use the Tool?
04:15 Best ≠ Most Trusted, Most Popular or Highest Rated
06:05 Is Craftsman a Good Brand
06:37 You Get What You Pay For
08:16 Tools You Would Need Good Brands For
09:41 More Features = Higher Cost
11:06 Best Powertool Brands (Festool, Milwaukee, Ryobi)
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I see Milwaukee, DeWalt and Makita as the top-line pro tools. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, each nudging the others off the "top spot" in one category or another, but all three hovering around the top spot.
My personal preference is DeWalt. I can’t give a reason, I’ve used them all, they are all great, I just like DeWalt most.
You cannot get the best of all tools sticking to one brand only.
Example I own almost every major tool brand and I wouldn’t say I’d pick one for all tools. Hikoki/metabo HPT is my biggest collection of tools. they are great especially the 36v gear and their nailers are amazing. Bosch 3×360 laser kills all other lasers in its class with the rm3 base. Milwaukee tyre inflatior and stapler are small yet powerful
AEG makes some pretty good stuff, little hit and miss of a brand
Makita XGT line up is good, LXT not so much.
Festool kapex 120EB is hands down best saw I’ve owned. Have a Bosch cordless for smaller works it’s decent not a kapex but still good for general works.
Dewalt, framing square is all I own 😅
Paslode, hard pass on those misfires, metabo HPT/Hikoki any day
Makita has the best battery technology and great reliabiliry. Flex tools with stacked lithium batteries are awesome. Dewalt makes great tools but their batteries tend to fail. Milwaukee makes great tools but their tools fail at a higher rate than all my other brands.
My favorites are:
Milwaukee 12v fuel hammer drill
Milwaukee 12v 3 inch grinder
Flex 24v rear handle circular saw
Makita 18v 6 1/2 " left hand circular saw
Makita 18v 3 1/4 " power planer
Bosch 12v 2" compact power planer
Bosch 12v drill with 5 heads for installs
Bosch or Flex compact blower
Bosch 18v 6 1/2 " rear handle circular saw
(Try this one if you have trouble cutting a straight line, $99 at Lowes)
Dewalt/Makita/ or Flex high torque hammer drill, 1200 in/lbs or above
3/8 " plywood saw guides in 96", 54", and 42" lengths to break down plywood or to replace a table saw on the jobsite.
Makita 36v or 40v earth auger for post holes (these work like a dream), buy a 2"auger and a 6"auger.
I too have been building things for 50+ years. When I was young, the Sears Craftsman brand was good quality and better value. Today, my main saws, router, compressor, etc are Craftsman (Ryobi) with a mix of brands in other tools. I take time to tune up and take care of (clean, lube, tighten..) my tools and I find they last for years and years.
A year or so ago I added up all of the reviews on hand power tools from the Project Farm YouTube channel.
On average the Milwaukee tools were the most powerful/reliable with the second best batteries, and DeWalt was the second most powerful/reliable with the best batteries.
This was assuming you want to stick to a single brand because of battery compatibility. Some tools from other brands occasionally outperformed these two.
Coincidentally, a few months ago, I was working with a regional building (not a tire worker) technician for the Discount Tire chain. I asked him what he thought about the best power tools. He said that Discount had replaced almost all of their pneumatic tools with Milwaukee after doing studies on the long-term cost differences of different electric tools in comparison.
But his technician vehicle was filled with Dewalt tools. He said that their cost-study on that use case had come up with a different conclusion. Milwaukee was best for tools that are used for hours a day and have access to replacement batteries. Dewalt was more cost-effective for filling a truck with tools that might not get used every week and did not have reliable battery rotation.
This info isn’t exactly science, but I thought it was interesting that a separate YouTube channel, and a cost study done by a large chain, came up with basically similar data to what this guy is saying.
What about FLEX tools?
Unfortunately Milwaukee now are built to fail! Cheap on the inside and you can’t buy separate parts,if a switch go you need to buy a motor switch and controller, uneconomical. Makita sell most parts individually ,I’ve got makita from the late 80s still going strong with heavy use,I’ve got some Milwaukee but the quality is not the same as Makita!
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The best tools for me all have cords. I can replace the cords several times (including labour) than the cost of just one fried battery. I use power tools all the time and put them through the wringer. I would rather string out a cord even when I was in construction than having to haul a charger, extra batteries and I can use it with all my tools. I have had the same 3/8 drill for most jobs for 25 years (replaced the brushes twice way cheaper than a new battery). Cheers.
10-15-2024 – extremely excellent analysis of the whole question. I appreciate your overview on quality in everything. I hate to spoil your perfect stats of 444 likes ( I’m the 445th), and the nice round 100 comments, (I’m the 101st), but I am compelled to doff my hat to your presentation. thank you, sir.
Thank you. Very helpful
power tools i go with Bosch. they fit my hand better than the rest. Makita is a close 2nd. if you are using a tool all day fit in the hand makes a lot of difference.
for hand tools Tekton just wins. from being a US company with US made tools ( they have been getting out of China for a while though they do make some stuff in Taiwan ) . the warranty is great. just send a photo of broken tool and the new one is shipped out to you. i have tool truck stuff and Tekton. i have had more trouble with the tool truck stuff breaking .
i work on boilers and chillers so my job could be called abuse by many. steam galling of bolts is a thing.
nice video
I have Craftsman ratchets, sockets and wrenches which I bought in the 80’s. Hands down the best I could afford back then. Would I buy Craftsman tools today? Nope! Craftsman is NOT the same company it once was. None of those 80’s Craftsman tools have given me any problems. The 1/2" Craftsman ratchet would be forgiven many times over if it had failed considering the number of times it was doing the job of a breaker bar with a four foot pipe on it for extra torque.
I do have a slight disagreement on one of your views 3:55, if you buy an expensive tool that you know you’ll be using in the future, you can’t possibly consider it as a one time write off for the job you’re on currently. Most governments won’t let you write it off that way and in real life it’s not even realistic to think that way. If you did, you’d have to charge way less to justify working with no tool costs after the first job.
Festool is like the Rolls Royce of tools…I can’t afford them but I had the chance to use some at the School of Visual Arts in NYC and they spoiled me forever. 😅 But I have to say, I do agree with you about Ryobi, and I like that my yard tools can interchange with my power tools – I’m honestly surprised how long my drills have lasted. But the batteries don’t! I have a Milwaukee drill too, and it’s excellent.
One bit of advice I would give to women woodworkers or people with smaller hands – buy your tools in person. The fact is, a lot of tools aren’t made for us, and if you can’t comfortably hold the tool it doesn’t matter how GOOD it is, you won’t be able to effectively and safely use it.
about "You get what you pay for": I prefer "You don’t get what you don’t pay for". Just because something’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s better
thank you so much! excellent video with great points to consider about not only the power tool but also the use to those power tools on your workshop or site of work and details about the components of those tools… great video!
As long as you continue doing videos that aren’t influenced by an unrelenting desire to stay relevant, you always will be. Goodluck!
this video is one i was thinking about making. but since you beat me to the punch, i’ll give my two cents worth:
on most of your points i have to concur. over the years i have owned just about every major brand of tool on the market and have worked with a plethora of lesser known brands as well.
Yes, i agree that Festool is by far the best power tool maker bar none. the cabinet shop i worked in many years ago had a lot of tools from festool and i absolutely fell in love with their stuff. the end results, especially their finishing tools was always spectacular. i made a cutting board from red beech for my in-laws in Belarus and they all thought the thing was plastic because of the way the olive oil finish made the grain look.
while i agree to some degree about milwaukee tools, i have a really hard time warming up to them. they used to be top notch back in the 60’s and 70’s, simple, robust and relatively easy to use, but when they moved to china their first runs were absolute junk. they were worse than black&decker.
like you said so well, it greatly depends on what you’re going to be doing with the tool. while i would love to have the festool domino line, i can’t justify spending 1500eur for something i use maybe once a year. so i ended up buying a biscuit joiner from apex for 39eur.. so yes, a cheapie can fill a gap if it’s not something mission critical.
now part of the reason name brand tools cost a bit more in general is the R&D the goes into the tools. the german brands sink insane amounts of money perfecting their stuff which is why they are higher priced even though some of their tools are made in china. i have to add here that their QC is generally pretty good. i used to have a random orbital palm sander and jigsaw from bosch that was made in china and it was some pretty decent kit.
recently i have been buying cordless tools from Fein as the performance, price and durability coupled with their warranty has been really good. Fein unfortunately isn’t widely distributed in the US so their stuff is a little harder to come by for most folks.
one point i would like to make and can’t emphasize enough is this: the power tool you buy is merely the driving implement. the quality of tooling (blades, router bits, sand paper etc) is where most people go awry. don’t skimp on blades and such. you’re not gonna get a $5 cut from a 10cent blade
I have a blend of your advice. I indulge in 40V Max Makita for top tools, and 18V & 36V Hikoki medium use tools, but enjoy the bargain for less critical Ryobi tools.
This is one of those questions that has so many variables. At the end of the day, you use what you like. Most brands these days across the board are pretty good. If you’re someone that wants a new model in 3-4 years then maybe higher end brands ain’t your choice, unless money isn’t an issue. Also if you ain’t in the trades beating on them 24/7, then realistically any brand will
far exceed your needs. I personally use Hilti/Milwaukee for HVAC/Plumbing
I have grown up with DeWalt as my base tool. every 3 or 4 years somebody gets a free tool. I have 25 years of tools floating around and can’t believe it when I see them still running strong . My point is to pick the right tool for the job. Go a size bigger if you want it to last longer.
12:25.. not more than FLEX.. FLEX routinely beats Milwaukee power…
Thanks for your video. I have spent my life in administration. I decided to get my husband some cordless power tools as he does not have any of these newer, rechargeable battery tools. I know he won’t use them every month even- but I wanted something that will last and work well when he needs them when I don’t really have a clue. At least I have some things to look for. THANKS SO MUCH 🙂
Rigid ? Lifetime warranty on tool and battery. That has to count for something . Seems like the other brands are 2 to 5 year warranty. From what I have researched Rigid seems to be liked in the sense they fix or replace the tool or battery. Turn around time seems to have improved to like 18 days. Line seems to be expanding filling gaps. So for me 64 eventually fixed income a lifetime warranty on everything sounds like long term security in practicing what I love . Love your videos. ❤
This guy absolutely nailed it. Pun! But seriously. I have had great experience with DeWalt, but Milwaukee is fantastic. So powerful. But now I’m searching for the best in the world.
Porter-Cable before Stanley Black & Decker.
People sure have low standards these days. Milwaukee a good brand? Then again its subjective.
Somewhere in the middle of video I got a feeling that there won’t be any particular recommendations at all. Because everyone has different needs, expectations and budget. But I was pleasantly surprised.
Thank you for an unbiased assessment. Too many craft YouTubers devolve into brand-sponsored infotainment.
Thanks for the video. Do you have any thoughts on the new Craftsman RP line? They don’t have a ton of buzz but it seems like they could be a good Ryobi alternative. Just curious about your thoughts?
Personally, I think Milwaukee is overpriced. Yes, they have a large library of tools, but they don’t…specialize…? What I mean is, I go and look at videos from around the world, and the one brand that is universally respected in that they are workhorses over, yes, decades, seems to be Makita. Three years ago I wanted to expand further than Ridgid (Part of the Milwaukee parent company), and I chose Bosch because of their refinement, ergonomics and innovation. But if I were truly a true pro, I would have chosen Makita. They are workhorses, there when it counts. Yes, Milwaukee are good, and getting better, no doubt, but I think they spent too much on flash over substance. Makita hardly advertises, and given that they have a bigger line than even Ryobi, I think they are…the "best".
Dewalt battery powered circular saw drains a full battery in 10 minutes. Garbage
My first tools were DeWalt, but as I got older I saw that Milwaukee has a bit more power and durability. But I still have both. It’s ok to try other brands.
Great video, buying the right tool makes all the difference. Each brand has great tools. No brand has all the best tools. Don’t be afraid to use 3 Brands. Buy them on sale, when you get a free battery, or better yet on clearance. If you buy the best, you will rarely be disappointed. If cost is crucial stay on one platform. If you are a professional, multiple platforms will get you the best tool. Dewalt makes the best recipsaw, Flex makes the best rear handle circular saw, makita makes the best cordless planer, milwaukee makes the best compact hammer drill, bosch makes an awesome 2" compact power planer. Buy what fits your hand. Flex has a 24v 6 1/2 inch belt driven circular saw that you can see the cutline from either side and is whisper quiet! Good luck guys.
I hate Milwaukee. I just want a good drill for every days use in my welding shop. Work supplies Dewalt but the batteries don’t last. I want Milwaukee’s fuel brushless drill with the metal chuck but I’m unwilling to buy a combo kit because I have no use for the other tool/s included. The "tool only" model is way too expensive because I then have to buy a battery and charger separately.
Makita or nothin
I bought a cheap Titan SDS drill at least 10 years ago, I have absolutely hammered it, and it still works perfectly! 10 years of breaking concrete for £49, I call that a winner!
Makita. The answer is Makita…
Find out who the parent company is and where they are made. You might think you have something special and find out it’s Stanley or Black and Decker. Craftsman is a usedtacould brand. Now, meh. If a tool serves you right for the job, there ya go. A proper tool makes a big difference in the long run.
As a kid growing up, I remember my dad having Ryobi power tools, though he often talked about wanting a DeWalt this or DeWalt that. 25+ years later, still working as a handyman, he now owns multiple DeWalt tools, but he STILL has many Ryobi ones as well. I feel like he also understands the importance of value out of a tool over just its raw performance or features. I understand that Ryobi tools are just fine as home DIY/project tools, and there’s really no need to go beyond that. The only difference I do remember is the color schemes Ryobi had 25 years ago versus now.
When a company always replace your tools and not fix them, you know its a DIY brand that sells powerful, but disposable tools, but use their fame back when they werent owned by Chinese and actually made proper tools.
I wont use their name, cause Americans love them.
Deep respect, great break down
I have a brushed makita drill from the seventies, still works and is used to this day, never changed the brushes ever.
Best as in, what bearings are used, what quality plastic compound and moulding is used, what quality is the armature and what is the tolerance / balance / electrical design of it and what is its longevity. What is the electrical design of the motor and what cooling performance is built into it. Are parts readily available… THIS mean best. No good having a tool that outperforms everything else when conditions are perfect, or for 5 minutes before self destructing, or until a minor issue makes it not feasible to fix it when comparing with another tool that rarely needs repairs….
I don’t like Craftsman: I had a chainsaw that overheated and died, and a 2-yr-old air compressor that failed
Milwaukee , ridgid and Ryobi are under the same parent company .
Unfortunately they decide to starve out ridgid reducing the number of ridgid tools .
Ryobi however has expanded their tool library with lots of nifty and good tool .
5 years ago Ridgid discontinued the 12V fuego impact driver line .
I bought 5 of them . Because they are small enough , light enough for project and repair for my 23 rentals properties . And wood work.
During the covid . Those ridgid 12v impact driver finished 3 basement .
The brush on the motor is not replaceable and I fully expect them to die one at a time in the next several years .
After that I would have to get Milwaukee 12v compact impact driver .
For 20v impact driver I recently bought a DW860 dewalt 1/4 hex impact driver that is rated 200 foot pound .
That thing is a beast
For my job as a life safety service man. I’ll take makita over all of those.
That is a great lesson , That for sharing. I had dewalt , and moved to milwaukee.
Dewalt mill and ryo are the three I’ve given the same unprofessional opinion about. I heard from another wood worker that if you’re doing precise work you don’t need a tool with so much power you need it to be reliable and ryo seems to be that.