Cordless tools, how far they have come.....

[chevy_man]

That's good news. I'll have to check these out. I have a Milwaukee 1/2" Fuel Brushless 1400 foot pound impact I bought to use at my old job where it came in very handy breaking bolts loose on fixtures that hadn't been loosened in a long time.

At my current job, it's overkill, but way handier still than my Ingersoll air impact.

The reason for all that is I have older Craftsman 3/8" and 1/2" drive cordless impacts that a buddy of mine gave me, but the batteries have since taken a shit. Replacement batteries are hard to find, and I've often wondered if there wasn't some kind of adapter that could be used to work with those old tools and my better batteries.

This reminded me my Dad has a 19.2v Craftsman that needed batteries.

Battery Adapter for Craftsman C3 19.2 Volt Lithium Cordless Tool, Convert for DeWalt 20V &for Milwaukee 18V M18 Lithium Battery to Craftsman 19.2V Ni-MH Lithium Battery Converter, w/ USB Charge Port https://a.co/d/itr6jfp


The batteries themselves are available also, but still the old ni-cad that wear out quick.

Replacement Battery for Craftsman 19.2V Battery DieHard C3 Compatible with Craftsman 19.2 Volt Battery 315.115410 315.11485 130279005 1323903 120235021 11375 11376 Cordless Drills 2 Packs 3.6Ah https://a.co/d/7wtg0oK

 

[Aftermath]

I've owned and worn out a few of the brands.
My first was a Panasonic. I think they were the very first. Early 80's.
Makita, DeWalt in 3 different battery voltages, Milwaukee and now Bosch.
I'm on the second Bosch. I have lots of other Bosch tools and have become a bit of a fanboy.
What I see as the primary difference is the battery technology. Of course, now there are the brushless motors and that seems to be a step up, too.
However, I have some seriously old corded tools that still work just fine. If not for the convenience and the occasion where there is not a current bush, I'd not spend money on the cordless stuff.

 

[theLBC]

i remember seeing some ytube vids from a guy that dissects them (takes them apart) to see the differences in craftsmanship and quality of the components, comparing models made in different places (china vs taiwan for example). pretty interesting at the time.

 

[chevy_man]

i remember seeing some ytube vids from a guy that dissects them (takes them apart) to see the differences in craftsmanship and quality of the components, comparing models made in different places (china vs taiwan for example). pretty interesting at the time.

 

[Shoreglide]

I have more than a few Milwaukee cordless tools, t the point people ask if I ever worked for them when I open my truck
There are a couple items that I have from HF though. Here’s my latest-

Yes-cordless bandsaw, battery and charger under $80 including sales tax!
I have several of the larger batteries for my little evac pump, so life is good.
Of course Milwaukee recently introduced their own larger capacity evac pump, but that can wait until they sell the bare tool.

 

[mtrmn]

I broke a 3/4 drive ratchet with a 6' cheater pipe trying to break loose a bush hog blade bolt. I put the job off for a couple months and in the meantime I bought a Milwaukee M18 high torque 1/2 impact. I broke it loose with that after very little hammering. It's a beast-but extremely "harsh" on my old arms/hands if it has to hammer on something for very long.

 

[myronman3]

I broke a 3/4 drive ratchet with a 6' cheater pipe trying to break loose a bush hog blade bolt. I put the job off for a couple months and in the meantime I bought a Milwaukee M18 high torque 1/2 impact. I broke it loose with that after very little hammering. It's a beast-but extremely "harsh" on my old arms/hands if it has to hammer on something for very long.

i had to replace the bearings in a swisher brush hog. had the biggest fucking breaker bar i have on the socket, and was straining with all i had. the lightbulb clicked, and i went and got my 3/8 drive impact wrench and a 1/2 drive adapter. setting 1, didnt work. threw it to setting 4, and it popped it off instantly. forgot to drop it back down to 1, and when i put the bolts back in on the belt guard, snapped it off in a blink.

with great power comes great responsibilty. lol

 

[davsco]

loving the dewalt 20v series. got a tree limb saw, weedeater and shrub trimmer and of course a drill and impact driver. never going back to gas powered stuff for lawn and garden around the house. just drilled six holes into concrete walls to mount a new wellwater filtration system, with a battery that hasn't been used or charged in a year, and zero issues, plenty of power.

 

[Kadams1563]

Well I have since gotten the Milwaukee Gen 2 M12 stubby 3/8” impact and the mid torque M18 1/2” impact.

These power tools are serious. Especially the little stubby. Pull lug nuts off my trucks without much issue.

Almost dissembled and entire top half of a hemi V8 with it among other things.

The mid torque pulls crank bolts and suspension parts well.

My old dewalt 1/2” impact that I used to use for serious work has completely been replaced with a much smaller tool.

Have also since picked up the EGO 765 air blower. It’s damn good as well.