What's your preferred brand of power tool...?

[njskier]

Rigid's good all-purpose stuff- not contractor grade, but better than household.

Actually Rigid is contractor grade. They have made pipe fitting tools (wrenches, pipe threaders etc.) for many years. Ask any plumber or pipe fitter about ridgid and he'll have nothing but good things to say.

 

[Marc]

I can't complain about any of my Craftsman hand tools, they've held up fine for my use. I've never taken a caliper to them so I can't comment on their tolerances. :roll:

You don't have to have taken a caliper to them to comment on their tolerance, only if you've ever rounded over a bolt head or nut with them. I work with a lot of rusty fasteners around the farm as well, and it is noticeable, if you're paying attention.

 

[hardline]

Blades make a huge difference! I have pretty expensive Frued blade on my table saw. I almost choked when I purchased it a couple of years ago, but it cuts so clean I don't need to joint board edges after I rip them.

you must not use it that often i am lucky if i get two to three weeks out of a blade. i am however cutting hardwoods.

 

[ctenidae]

Actually Rigid is contractor grade. They have made pipe fitting tools (wrenches, pipe threaders etc.) for many years. Ask any plumber or pipe fitter about ridgid and he'll have nothing but good things to say.

No doubt, their plumbing stuff is great. Power tools are not contractor grade, at least the Home Depot versions aren't. Still, got nothing but good things to say about the Rigid tools I've used.

 

[MR. evil]

you must not use it that often i am lucky if i get two to three weeks out of a blade. i am however cutting hardwoods.

I do use them on Hardwoods, but they seem to last a good amount of time. I ussually have to get them re-sharpened 2 to 3 times a year. But I am also talking about a $100 plus blade.

Last year I did make a peice of furniture for a friend out of Lacewood (a very dense hardwood) and the stuff trashed all my blades and router bits.

 

[hardline]

I do use them on Hardwoods, but they seem to last a good amount of time. I ussually have to get them re-sharpened 2 to 3 times a year. But I am also talking about a $100 plus blade.

Last year I did make a peice of furniture for a friend out of Lacewood (a very dense hardwood) and the stuff trashed all my blades and router bits.

i have my blades/bits for finsh and some for rough work. i have a pretty big volume of work so i am building a pretty larg number of consoles.

 

[MR. evil]

i have my blades/bits for finsh and some for rough work. i have a pretty big volume of work so i am building a pretty larg number of consoles.

Well I am just a weekend warrior. I usually try to only use the good blades and bits when I have too. I have a couple of cheaper combo table saw blades that I use for rough cuts or just working on construction type work.

 

[mondeo]

My father taught me only to buy good tools. They may cost more but will last forever.

Same here. Living in an apartment, I don't have much need for good tools, but what I have are good/decent quality. 150 piece Craftsman set (or at least it was 6-7 years ago,) Kobalt torque wrench, Dewalt 14.4V cordless drill.

A job I worked at after my freshman year of college used the 14.4V Dewalt, and I fell in love (well, for a power tool.) Not too heavy, and perfect balance and ergonomics as well as great functionality.

 

[ccskier]

I worked for a builder for 5 years and my family is in the trades. I can still go back to my old boss or friends and get a trailer full of tools for just about anything I need. Check these out Festool, their stuff is unreal, very pricey, but worth the money if your job depends on it. Makita, Dewalt and Porter Cable are also good.

 

[Greg]

I have a mish-mash of stuff, mostly DeWalt and Craftman. Fine for the average home owner.

 

[bvibert]

Same here. Living in an apartment, I don't have much need for good tools, but what I have are good/decent quality. 150 piece Craftsman set (or at least it was 6-7 years ago,) Kobalt torque wrench, Dewalt 14.4V cordless drill.

A job I worked at after my freshman year of college used the 14.4V Dewalt, and I fell in love (well, for a power tool.) Not too heavy, and perfect balance and ergonomics as well as great functionality.

We have DeWalt cordless at work that I use occasionally. I've always been impressed with it. The feel, balance, and ruggedness all seem perfect to me. Some of my other co-workers have beat the thing up pretty good and it still works great.

 

[Mildcat]

I have mostly Dewalt. Part of the fun of starting a new project is needing to buy new tools for it.

 

[drjeff]

Dewalt tools are what occupies the highest percentage of stuff in/on my tool bench. Whenever some of my "post college/post dental school" Black and Dekker stuff that I first bought breaks, I find that Dewalt stuff tends to be their replacments. I really do like the battery life on their rechargeable packs too.

 

[Beetlenut]

I have mostly Dewalt. Part of the fun of starting a new project is needing to buy new tools for it.

That was always my theory too. Then you would have the right tool next time you had a project like that. But with cheap tools, the next time you'd go to use them on a project, you'd find yourself having to fix the tool first, before you can begin the project!

 

[Marc]

Used the Makita angle grinder again tonight. It was a joyful experience.

 

[Glenn]

DeWalt: Corded drill, cordless drill, compound miter saw
Porter Cable: Air compressor
Chicago Pneumatic: Air ratchet, impact wrench...die grinder is and Ingersoll/Rand as is the D/A sander
Stanley: Ratchet set, screw driver set
I've got a few generic air tools...grease gun, inflator...stuff like that.
I also have an assortment of Craftman wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers etc....

 

[hardline]

i have a big intall comming up and i have to use a bunch of 3/4 threaded rod so i have to drill for 1 1/4" anchors. i have tp ick up a new hammer drill that fits the sds max bits. i wish they made a press atachment for the drill for drilling it to cellings. nothing sucks more the drilling in the celling. actually i won't do it anymore but i feel bad for the guys.

 

[Mildcat]

Dewalt tools are what occupies the highest percentage of stuff in/on my tool bench. Whenever some of my "post college/post dental school" Black and Dekker stuff that I first bought breaks, I find that Dewalt stuff tends to be their replacments. I really do like the battery life on their rechargeable packs too.

I was told Black & Decker owns Dewalt. Don't know if it's true though.

 

[o3jeff]

I was told Black & Decker owns Dewalt. Don't know if it's true though.

I know years ago they did, not sure if they still do. B & D was the homeowner grade tool and Dewalt as the contractor grade.

 

[ctenidae]

I was told Black & Decker owns Dewalt. Don't know if it's true though.

B&D owns:
Dewalt
Porter Cable
Delta Machinery
Kwikset
Baldwin
Weiser Lock
Price Pfister
Emhart Teknologies
K2 Commercial Hardware