Ryobi launched their line of USB Lithium cordless power tools in accessories in January 2022, and has expanded the line a couple of times since then.

Ryobi USB Lithium tools are powered by a 4V max rechargeable Li-ion battery that features built-in USB-C charging. A 3-port charging station is also available.

The tools are compact and relatively affordable. Perhaps more important than that, they are convenient.

Ryobi recently added two more tools to the lineup – a high-CRI LED worklight, and a “desktop vacuum.”

With these two additions, that brings the total number of tools and solutions to 18 products, by my count, not including the different batteries or charging station.

I find it especially interesting that there’s not much competition in this space, and no signs of any competing brand throwing much resistance into Ryobi’s path.

The lineup launched with just 4 tools and 1 size of battery.

Just a few months ago, there were 9 tools, 2 batteries, and the 3-port charger.

Now, they’re at 18 tools, 3 batteries, and the charger.

What kinds of USB Lithium tools do you want to see Ryobi come out with next?

Here’s the list of everything that has been launched or announced to date:

Ryobi USB Lithium Tools

Power Cutter (FVC51K)
Screwdriver (FVD50K)
Clamp Fan (FVF51K)
Power Scrubber (FVG51K)
Power Carver (FVH51K)
Glue Pen (FVH56K)
Soldering Pen (FVH61K)
Foam Cutter (FVH64K)
Desktop Vacuum (FVH67K)
High Pressure Inflator (FVIF51K)
Rotary Tool (FVM51K)
Compact LED Flashlight (FVL51K)
LED Flip Light (FVL52K)
LED Pivoting Laser Flashlight (FVL54K)
LED Magnifying Light (FVL55K)
LED Inspection Light (FVL56K)
1/4 Ratchet (FVRC50K)
3/8″ Ratchet (FVRC51K)

Ryobi USB Lithium Batteries and Chargers

2Ah Rechargeable Battery (FVB01)
2Ah Rechargeable Battery with Mobile Device Charging Capability (FVB02)
3Ah Lithium Rechargeable Battery with Mobile Device Charging Capability (FVB03)
3-Port Charger (FVCH01)

Read More:

Related Posts:

New Ryobi USB Lithium Cordless Power Tools Ryobi Expands USB Lithium with 3-Port Battery Charger, Flashlight, Worklight New Ryobi USB Lithium Cordless Foam Cutter

Festool finally announced USA retail pricing for their new 18V X2 (36V) cordless table saw, and it’s cheaper than I had expected!

The complete Festool cordless table saw tool kit (CSC SYS 50 EBI-Set) will be priced at $1999, which is by no means inexpensive. The kit with batteries, but not the rolling stand, will be $1798.

I’m surprised – here’s why:

6 months ago, Festool USA announced the saw at a social media influencer event and via a rather uninformative livestream. As there was no press release or media kit, I turned to Festool’s European product pages for details.

At the time, the cordless Festool table saw kit was $2185 (converted from GBP) in the UK, and $2164 in the EU (converted from Euros). The saw kit set – with the rolling stand – was $2548 in the UK (converted from GBP) and $2511 in Europe (converted from Euros).

At the time of this posting, the kit is priced at $2338, and the kit with rolling stand is $2726 (both converted from Euros) in Europe. These prices exclude tax.

Even the bare tool configuration is currently $1978 in Europe (converted from Euros, excluding VAT).

All of the Festool tools and accessories I have ever looked at cost either just a little more to buy in the USA than in Europe, or considerably more.

Given those prices, it seemed fair to think that the USA price would also be over $2000.

Festool USA just sent out a summarizing press release – about an hour and a half after their consumer newsletter hit my inbox, and also after I received preorder notifications from a retailer. (Note to marketing professionals: “better late than never” doesn’t apply to press releases, especially when they follow social media influencers’ hands-on coverage by 6 months.)

The press release had “starting at” pricing of $1499, and I found kit and set pricing elsewhere.

$1999 is indeed less than the $2000 price I predicted, at least until Festool’s next price increase. This is for the complete tool set kit, with the table saw, 2 batteries, charger, tool boxes, and portable work stand.

The most basic tool-only option is $1499, and the kit with batteries and charger is $1798.

The new Festool cordless saw has an 11″ rip capacity, max cutting depth of 1-7/8″ at 90°, and 1-11/32″ at 45°. (This means that the saw can cut through 2x material at 90°, but not at 45°.)

The saw is said to weigh 45 lbs without batteries.

As per the online user manual, you must use Festool 18V batteries greater than or equal to 4Ah. This seems reasonable to me.

With some digging through the online user manual, the blade size is the same as for the European model – 168mm, or 6-5/8″, with a 20mm arbor hole. This means that users will likely have to rely on Festool for replacement blades – at least unless or until third party options become readily available.

It seems that Festool USA is being very aggressive with the pricing, presumably to help drive sales and adoption. Maybe they see this as the type of tool to bring contractors and professional tool users over to their 18V cordless power tool system.

It’s unclear how long this pricing will last. Is this introductory pricing? Or will they stay at this level for a while?

I hope this sets a precedent, but doubt that it will.

Personally, I think the portable stand will be necessary, given the saw’s small table size. Other brands’ portable table saws offer much greater ripping capacity, along with greater table support for crosscuts. You shouldn’t use the rip fence for crosscuts, but most models have fold-down supports that prevent the weight of a long board from applying pressure across the blade.

What do you think of the pricing? Would you pay $1798 for the kit, or $1999 for the kit with rolling support stand?

Related Posts:

3 New Craftsman Benchtop Power Tools at Lowe’s Festool’s Latest Innovation is a Lefty-Friendly Cordless Drill New Festool KSC 60 Cordless Miter Saw

Milwaukee Tool recently showed off their new M18 FORGE battery technology, and it’s going to be a game-changer.

We had been expecting to see new Milwaukee M18 batteries with Li-ion pouch cells. And, that’s exactly what we have, with this new XC 6Ah battery. But, that’s not what Forge is about – Milwaukee Forge is bigger than that.

In Milwaukee’s words, REDLITHIUM FORGE increases the capabilities of the M18 and MX FUEL systems, providing the most power, the fastest charging, and the longest life without sacrificing compatibility.

Milwaukee’s M18 Forge XC 6Ah Battery

Milwaukee’s first M18 RedLithium Forge battery will be an XC 6Ah battery, featuring upgrades all-around.

To start off, the Forge XC 6Ah has upgraded plastic construction that is resistant to common oils, greases, and solvents.

The built-in charge level fuel gauge is all-new, not only for improved durability but easier visibility in sunlight.

The M18 Forge battery also has a new ingress coating that provides increased protection against the weather and jobsite conditions. Weep holes at the bottom give water a place to drain out of.

A similar ingress coating has been applied to the also-new MX Fuel Forge battery packs.

The XC 6Ah battery will feature pouch-style Li-ion battery cells.

You will not see this emphasized – or even mentioned in most product or sales pages – because Forge will encompass multiple battery technologies.

An upcoming Forge 12Ah battery pack, which was only touched upon, will feature tabless cylindrical cells – similar to the ones used in Milwaukee’s next-generation MX Fuel batteries.

Why this is a Major Turning Point

In the past 15 years or so, there have been just two major generational upgrades with respect to cordless power tool batteries.

First, brands shifted over from NiCad and NiMH to Lithium-ion. Improvements followed, such as in charge capacity and tolerance to cold temperatures.

For several years, tool brands introduced higher capacity batteries until a practical limit was reached with 18V 5Ah batteries. Some brands do offer 6Ah batteries built with the same technologies, but with diminished benefits.

In 2015, Milwaukee announced a new M18 High Demand battery with 50% higher cell count. Until then, most cordless power tools had 5 or 10 Li-ion cells. With the M18 HD 9Ah battery, Milwaukee went to 15 cells.

In 2018, Milwaukee launched their High Output line of batteries.

Milwaukee’s M18 High Output batteries were built using larger Li-ion cells that delivered more power and higher charge capacities. This led to a new generation of higher powered tools that users could operate for longer.

While the M18 HD batteries bumped things up a step, the HO batteries took things to new levels.

FORGE is going to do that again.

What happened every time Milwaukee introduced new battery technologies? New and higher powered and more demanding cordless power tools followed. You can be sure the same will be true here.

Other cordless power tool makers have also introduced new battery technologies, and I’m sure they’re not done yet. Competition is sure to drive innovation across the industry.

What does Milwaukee M18 Forge Mean for You?

With this new Forge XC 6Ah battery, you get:

• High Output 12Ah Power in a Smaller Size
• 15 minute charge to 80% with the new SuperCharger
• Longest life compared to earlier battery technologies

The new XC 6Ah battery – with its pouch-cell Li-ion battery technology – is 30% smaller and 40% lighter than the High Output HD 12Ah battery.

With High Output 12Ah-equivalent power delivery, this means that you can use the new M18 Forge XC 6Ah battery in more demanding tools with less arm fatigue – and without worrying about a potential drop in performance or the tool bogging down.

With new dual-port SuperCharger the Forge 6Ah battery can recharge to 80% in just 15 minutes (when charged at room temperature), and 100% in 25 minutes.

Milwaukee says that the new Forge 6Ah battery delivers “the longest life of any battery on the M18 system” while maintaining full system compatibility.

How Forge Compares

Milwaukee’s M18 batteries all fit into one of three categories – RedLithium, RedLithium High Output, and RedLithium Forge.

As mentioned, the Forge family batteries will deliver the most power, fastest charging, and longest life.

Milwaukee is also describing their batteries according to a new Power Scale:

• PWR 1
• PWR 2 (XC 5Ah)
• PWR 3 (XC 6Ah)
• PWR 4 (HD 12Ah, Forge XC 6Ah)

Power 1 likely includes compact batteries, like the CP 2.0 battery. Power 2 includes the XC 5Ah, and from what has said in the past, the compact HO batteries, such as the CP 3Ah and 4Ah batteries. Power 3 includes the HO XC batteries, such as 6Ah and 8Ah, and the now-discontinued HD 9Ah battery. Power 4 includes the HD HO 12Ah battery and the new Forge XC 6Ah.

This seems like a simplified way to categorize all of Milwaukee’s M18 batteries. I wonder if a similar system will be used to categorize their tools as well, so that users can always know which tools and ideally paired with different batteries.

It’s worth reminding readers that all Milwaukee M18 batteries fit all M18 cordless power tools.

I have used lower power and capacity batteries on heavier duty tools, and they’ll work for many tasks, but differences will become apparent during demanding tasks. Similarly, the highest capacity battery – the HO 12Ah – is not an ideal fit for more compact tools, with respect to size, weight, and balance.

That’s one of the reasons the new Forge XC 6Ah battery is so exciting – it delivers 12Ah power, but in a smaller and lighter package. It won’t match the runtime of the 12Ah battery, of course, but there are a lot of times when size and weight are higher priorities.

And with the new faster charging speed, you can back to work rather speedily.

Questions?

This is not first time that we have seen improvements in power deliver and features without an increase in charge capacity. Similar happened when compact High Output 3Ah and 4Ah batteries matched the power delivery and charge capacities of older 3Ah and 4Ah batteries.

We’ve only touched the surface here. I made it a point to learn as much as I could about the the Forge tech. While this post focuses on the M18 battery advancements, Forge tech will be coming to the MX Fuel line as well.

Let me know if you have any questions, and I will try my best to answer them.

Related Posts:

New Milwaukee M18 Resistant Battery Next-Gen Dewalt POWERSTACK Cordless Power Tool Battery New Massive Makita XGT 8Ah Battery

In a surprising move, the Makita XGT cordless microwave launched in the USA and is available now.

Makita’s cordless microwave, model MW001GZ, has an 2.1 gallon (0.28 cubic foot) capacity, 1.5 cubic foot exterior volume, and 2 power output levels – 350W and 500W.

It has a dual port battery bay, but only requires one battery to operate. The battery hand-off is sequential, meaning that the microwave will run on one battery and automatically switch to the other one when the first is depleted.

Features include an LED light, rotary control knob for setting heating time, and battery fuel gauge. There’s also a USB port (Type A, 2.4A max output) for charging electronic devices.

According to the user manual, the 500W setting is a “temporary boost function,” with the microwave switching down to 350W after about 8 minutes.

Runtime for 2x 2.5Ah batteries (18V 5Ah equivalent) is estimated to be 8 minutes at 500W or 14 minutes at 350W, and for 2x 4.0Ah batteries (18V 8Ah equivalent), it’s 15 minutes at 500W or 21 minutes at 350W.

The microwave can fit up to 2 of Makita’s BL4080F (8Ah) batteries. It’s also compatible with their PDC1200 backpack power supply.

Price: $929 (tool-only)

Since the microwave is built with a dual battery port, maybe Makita can also build an 18V X2 model.

Learn More:

Related Posts:

More Details About Makita XGT 40V Max Cordless Power Tool System, and an 18V LXT Charging Adapter New Makita XGT Cordless Router – 35% Faster than 18V Makita Finally Launched an XGT Jig Saw – But Not in the USA

Milwaukee’s Pipeline 2023 media event is now over.

It will take me some time to sort things out and provide more details about everything that I saw and learned.

Readers had some great questions, and I wanted to briefly answer as many of them as possible.

What can you tell us about the FORGE battery line?

Forge will be the higher performance tier of Milwaukee cordless power tool batteries.

Technologies will be mixed. For instance, yes, the new M18 Forge XC 6Ah battery will be built with pouch cells, while the MX Fuel Forge batteries and the M18 Forge 12Ah battery (slated for the later half of 2024 if I recall correctly) will be engineered with next-gen tab-less cylindrical cells.

The tab-less battery tech is new to me, but seems promising.

Not only that, the endurance level of Forge batteries are taken to the next-level, such as with rapid cooldown capabilities via the new Super Charger.

It’s going to take me time to ensure I have the details correct, and I’m happy to field more questions in the meantime.

“Tabless” batteries? Seems like Milwaukee took a very incremental approach to providing higher output M18 batteries.

Not really. As I understand it, tab-less is a better solution here.

Pouch cells are an option, but the tab-less cylindrical cells in the higher capacity upcoming Forge batteries deliver performance, endurance, and thermal dissipation that batter match users’ demands.

There are engineering and user experience reasons why the 12Ah Forge battery is built with these new cells over Li-ion pouch cells.

Are the FORGE batteries their version of pouch cells?

Forge will not be tied to any specific Li-ion battery cell technology.

The new Milwaukee M18 Forge 6Ah battery is said to deliver the same power level as their current High Demand High Output (HD HO) 12Ah battery.

Can the brushless rotary tool pretty much use anything made for a dremel?

Yep! I’m told there is full collet and accessory compatibility.

Will the updated/new mechanics tools be made in the USA?

No. But… nearly everything is on the table right now.

I spoke with a few decision-makers to see what is and is not on the table right now.

USA-made mechanics tools are not something Milwaukee is actively developing right now – at least that’s the story and I believe it – but they are not done exploring options.

That power bank is technically a packout base, isn’t it?

* Witty response *

I liked the Packout integration – it made sense.

Any updates on launch timing and estimated runtime with whatever batteries they tested it with would be greatly appreciated, especially if it’s available for say both a table saw and a standard refrigerator.

I have a press kit in my inbox, and interview Q&A on video. Most of the products we saw today are slated for release before the end of the year.

Whereas Milwaukee’s power tool batteries are engineered with power cells, the Roll-On is engineered with energy cells, similar to what’s being used in the EV industry.

There are 2 duplex receptacles, each with 2 outlets for 4 total.

The unit can deliver sustained power of 3600W, and higher peak power. So that’s 2x 15A simultaneous load at 120V.

What is “Nitrus” carbide?

High longevity carbide saw blade teeth.

Hope you can ask why they don’t offer a wheeled packout drawer base like ridgid just announced.

Oh, I did. Short answer: they’re working on it.

The M12 Fuel Insider Extended Reach Box Ratchet has piqued my interest. Is it like a powered pass through ratchet?

Yes.

I want to be part of the power bank Seed program. Can it take any mix of batteries

It has a built-in battery that *will* be replaceable via service center.

So, the new Packout is a 4 drawer system? Still only one set of dividers included?

Each Milwaukee Packout drawer tool box will now ship with a full set of dividers for every drawer.

Any More Questions?

Please keep them coming!

See Also:

Related Posts:

There’s a Simple Reason Why Retailers are Sold out of Certain Milwaukee M18 Cordless Shears What Happens to Milwaukee’s M12 Cordless Power Tool Lineup as 18V Tools get Smaller? What’s the Point of a Dual-Trigger Cordless Band Saw?

Milwaukee announced a new M18 Fuel cordless router, 2838-20, which they describe as “a complete replacement for a corded mid-sized router.”

The router delivers 2.25 peak horsepower, with Milwaukee also emphasizing its control, comfort, and runtime.

There are two bases available for use with the router motor – a fixed base, and a plunge base.

The router motor features a variable speed dial, from 12,000 to 25,000 RPM, and over two inches of travel with both macro and micro-adjust knobs. It also has a dual LED worklight.

A guide rail adapter is available separately, 48-11-2838.

Key Specs

• Collet Sizes: 1/4″, 1/2″
• Weighs 8.8lbs (tool-only)
• 10.9″ length x 10.5 height (tool-only)
• 12,000 – 25,000 RPM
• Variable speed
• Spindle lock
• Dual LED light
• Dust collection shroud

With respect to runtime, Milwaukee says that the mid-sized router provides best-in-class run-time with up to 225 linear feet per charge, when routing 5/8” roundovers in pine.

The kit, 2838-21, comes with the router motor, plunge base, fixed base, 1/4″ and 1/2″ collets, XC 6Ah battery, rapid charger, tool bag, dust shroud, edge guide, collet wrenches, template base.

A bare tool is also available, 2838-20, bundled with the fixed base.

Price: $349 tool-only, $599 for the kit
ETA: September 2023

Discussion

There are very few cordless mid-size routers on the market. You can get a lot done with a compact 1/4″ trim router, but there are a lot of times and tasks where a 1/2″ router is more suitable, whether for its power, typically wider base, or router bit compatibility.

I have warmed up to trim routers over the years, not so much because of their size, but because of the convenience modern cordless versions offer.

With the new M18 Fuel cordless router, it seems that tool users don’t have to choose between power and cordless convenience. I am extremely eager to see if Milwaukee’s new mid-size router can truly serve as a corded replacement.

Related Posts:

New Metabo HPT 18V Cordless Trim Router New Makita XGT Cordless Router – 35% Faster than 18V New Milwaukee M18 Fuel 12″ Brushless Miter Saw with One-Key

Here’s a first look at the new Dewalt FlexVolt cordless snow blower!

The first-ever Dewalt cordless snow blower, DCSNP2142, features a brushless motor, single stage auger design, and 21″ snow-clearing width.

It’s got a 7-inch steel auger, for chopping through heavy wet snow, dual LED headlights, an electric 2-way chute control, push button start, ECO mode for prolonged battery life, boost mode for quicker driveway cleanings, 9-inch wheels, and a quick-fold handle for convenient storage.

The electric chute control paddles are located at the operator’s fingertips.

The 3 power modes – max, standard, eco – gives users the flexibility to choose between maximum clearing power, longer battery life, or balanced performance.

At the max power setting, the snow blower can throw snow up to 40 feet, with the distance measured along the snow discharge arc.

Dewalt says that the new FlexVolt snow blower can clear up to 16 parking spaces (9′ x 18′ average with 3-5″ snow depth) on a single battery charge with 2x DCB612 (12Ah) batteries.

As usual, runtime and snow throwing distance can vary depending on environmental conditions.

The kit comes with (2) 4Ah (20V Max 12Ah equivalent) batteries, and (2) DCB1104 single-port chargers.

Price: $999 + $99 shipping
ETA: September 2023

Discussion

The cordless snow blower requires (2) batteries to operate, which is standard for most competitive cordless snow blowers currently on the market.

Dewalt equipped the cordless snow blower with premium features I haven’t seen in competing models in the same sub-$1000 price range.

The electric 2-way chute control feature in particular sounds interesting and potentially convenient. Having 3 power modes, with an eco mode, turbo mode (max), and balanced standard setting gives users the best of all worlds. I like the idea of this option.

The snow blower/thrower looks to have a very compact footprint, which makes it appeal to me even more.

This is a very exciting development, at least in my opinion.

It’s looking like Dewalt might beat both Makita and Milwaukee Tool to market in the cordless snow blower race. We know that Milwaukee has been working on one, and Makita tends to be highly focused on cordless outdoor power tools.

I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised, as Stanley Black & Decker, Dewalt’s parent company, owns a growing portfolio of outdoor power tool brands, such as Cub Cadet and Troy-Built.

The two-way electric chute controls and three power modes definitely have my attention.

Related Posts:

Teaser: New Dewalt FlexVolt Modular Cordless Outdoor Power Tool System New Dewalt 20V Cordless Mowers, Powered by Dual 10Ah Batteries Dewalt Launched a Compact Cordless Pruning Chainsaw

It looks like Makita has a new 18V cordless power tool battery charger, model DC18WC.

Makita is bundling this new DC18WC charger as part of their new 18V cordless hammer drill and impact driver combo kit, model XT296ST.

I’m not familiar with this charger, and so I tried to dig up some info.

Makita does not seem to mention the new charger in their product pages or advertisements, but the model number is clearly visible in images of the new combo kit

Before we talk about the new charger, let’s take a quick look at Makita’s usual 18V chargers. Shown here is Makita’s 18V rapid charger, model DC18RC.

The DC18RC is advertised as being able to recharge Makita’s 18V 5Ah battery in 45 minutes.

Next is the DC18SD, which is considered to be Makita’s “standard” charger. This charger is often included in Makita’s more value-oriented tool kits and combo kits.

For example, Makita’s value-priced 18V drill kit, which retails for $99 at the time of this posting (available at Amazon), comes with a 3Ah battery and the DC18SD charger.

The DC18SD can recharge a 5Ah battery in 110 minutes.

Makita USA doesn’t have a product page for this charger on their website (at least not that I could find), but its charging times can be found in their user manual.

Here is what Makita says on their product page and in marketing copy for their new XT296ST cordless power tool kit:

Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Batteries have the fastest charge times in their categories, so they spend more time working and less time sitting on the charger.

They also say:

The Kit includes two fast-charging 18V LXT 5.0Ah batteries

With that in mind, I thought that this was a new and more compact rapid charger. It’s not, or at least it doesn’t appear to be.

It wasn’t easy to find specs or charging times for this new Makita DC18WC charger.

I found one listing on Amazon UK, where it is described as an economy and compact charger. In the product details, it says that it takes 135 minutes to charge a 5Ah battery.

Amazon listings don’t always have accurate specs, so I looked around a bit more.

I found a user manual for the DC18WC charger online – but not on Makita’s website – and found this chart. I cropped out the 14.4V charging times.

According to this, the charger does appear to take 135 minutes to fully charge a 5Ah battery.

If this is accurate, here are the 5Ah battery charging times for the three models:

• DC18RC: 45 minutes (0.75 hour)
• DC18SD: 110 minutes (1.83 hours)
• DC18WC: 135 minutes (2.25 hours)

What’s the point of Makita advertising that their new tool kit comes with fast-charging batteries, if they aren’t disclosing that each battery takes 2 hours and 15 minutes to recharge with the included charger?

We don’t always see eye to eye, but Makita USA’s communication manager made a good point. This is what they once told me in an email conversation, with the emphasis my own:

Based on what we see and hear on jobsites across America, a power tool battery that won’t charge in the time of a typical lunch break is not acceptable, even if it does deliver longer run time. The most expensive asset on a jobsite is labor, and that’s why Makita batteries are engineered to spend more time working and less time sitting on the charger.

If the retail listing and online manual I found for the DC18WC are accurate – and they do look to be – is 135 minutes an acceptable amount of time for a battery to be sitting on a charger?

According to the specs I found, it takes the DC18WC charger 2 hours and 15 minutes to charge just one of the 18V 5Ah batteries in this kit. The rapid charger can charge three of the same batteries in this time.

International versions of the 2pc combo kit are bundled with a rapid charger. So why is Makita USA bundling their kit with this new slower charger?

Even if Makita didn’t bundle the new XT296ST kit with their typical rapid charger, why not at least the “standard” DC18SD charger that is often included with the brand’s seasonal promotionally-priced 18V power tool kits and combo kits?

135 minutes to recharge a 5Ah battery? “A power tool battery that won’t charge in the time of a typical lunch break is not acceptable.”

Makita’s fast battery charging speeds have always been a big selling point. I can understand a slower charger being included with $99 drill and impact driver kits, or 5 and 6 piece combo kits that are promotionally priced at $299.

New isn’t always better.

I hope this doesn’t become a trend.

Makita USA raised their prices (except for certain SKUs) in April 2022, October 2022, and again in May 2023. If the new charger is a cost-cutting measure, I’d rather see another price increase.

I suppose this helps explain why the drill-only kit is priced at $359 – with a rapid charger – and this 2pc kit is priced lower at $339.

See Also: Funky Retail Price Math – Makita 18V Cordless Drill Edition

Related Posts:

More Details About Makita XGT 40V Max Cordless Power Tool System, and an 18V LXT Charging Adapter New Bosch 6-Port Charger Became 10X More Exciting New Dewalt 20V Max USB-C Power Source AND Charger!

It’s time for another round of example of funky retail price math, this time featuring the new Makita 18V cordless hammer drill.

I recently posted about the drill’s seemingly inflated torque claims, but here we’re just talking about tool pricing.

The new Makita XPH16T 18V cordless hammer drill kit seems a bit pricey at $359.

This kit comes with the drill/driver, 2x 5Ah batteries, and a tool bag.

The screenshot is from Tool Nut. Acme Tools has the same price, and I saw the same at other authorized dealers.

The new hammer drill is also bundled in a 2pc cordless combo kit. This XT296ST kit comes with the same XPH16 hammer drill, an XDT14 impact driver, 2x 5Ah batteries, charger, and tool bag.

The XDT14 launched at least 5 years ago – I referenced it in a 2018 post – and I found mentions of it in emails dating back to 2016.

It’s a bit strange for a brand new hammer drill to be paired with an older impact driver like this one.

The price for this 2pc combo kit is $339. Again, the same price is found at multiple authorized Makita tool dealers.

The drill kit is $359. Add in an impact driver and… the price goes down by $20?

At these retail prices, they’re basically paying you $20 to take the impact driver. Even if you don’t need it, $339 is lower than $359.

I’m not saying that this is a good price – $339 still seem high for what you’re getting.

At the time of this posting, Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel hammer drill and impact driver combo kit is $379 at Home Depot, plus you get a bonus battery. Both tools greatly outclass the ones in this Makita combo kit. Earlier this week, the Milwaukee combo kit was $349 for the two tools, 2x 5Ah batteries, charger, tool case, and a bonus battery.

$339 seems like a lot for a kit with a compact hammer drill and several year old impact driver.

Is the drill-only kit priced at $359 to make this combo kit seem like a great price at $339?

Actually, that makes sense. I wanted to try the Makita XGT cordless impact driver, and the way things worked out, I saved a lot of money by getting the combo kit with the hammer drill rather than just the impact driver in a kit, plus I got an extra bonus battery too. That was a few months ago, before the last price increase.

Maybe these kits will be discounted in a couple of months for the winter holiday shopping season, but it’s too soon to tell.

Purchase Links

Buy the Drill Kit at Tool Nut
Buy the Drill Kit at Acme Tools
Buy the Drill Kit at Amazon

Buy the Combo Kit at Tool Nut
Buy the Combo Kit at Acme Tools
Buy the Combo Kit at Amazon

Related Posts:

New Makita Heated Blanket?! New Makita 18V SubCompact Drill and Impact Driver Kit, but is it an Upgrade? New Makita Tool Announcements – Spring 2022

Makita USA launched a new 18V cordless hammer drill, model XPH16, and its lack of a side handle led me to question its advertised torque claims.

Makita says their new 18V LXT cordless drill delivers “a full 970 in-lbs max torque.”

The company also says that the XPH16 hammer drill delivers “up to 70% more power than the previous model.”

If this new 18V cordless delivers close to a thousand inch pounds of maximum torque, where’s the auxiliary side handle? This seemingly simple question has significant implications.

Looking into the matter revealed unexplained discrepancies in Makita’s advertised torque specs.

Basically, it seems that the drill doesn’t come with a side handle because it doesn’t deliver anywhere close to 970 in-lbs of fastening torque.

Why a Missing Side Handle Raised Doubt

Any cordless drill with a torque-to-handle-length ratio above a certain value must ship with a longer side handle in order to meet UL safety guidelines. Lower-torque drills don’t require a side handle.

The new Makita XPH16 18V hammer drill doesn’t ship with a side handle.

See Also: Why High-Torque Cordless Drills Come with a Side Handle

I reviewed a Ridgid 18V cordless drill (model R86116) a few years ago, and it was advertised as delivering 750 in-lbs of max torque.

If that 18V drill, with its 750 in-lbs max torque claims, shipped with a side handle, why doesn’t this new Makita drill come with one?

How can this new Makita drill deliver close to 1000 in-lbs of max torque and not ship with a side handle?

Possible Explanations

Does it have an extended-length handle such that a longer side handle isn’t needed?

This is the Makita XGT compact cordless drill, with a 585 in-lb max torque rating. Most of Makita’s 18V and 18V-form factor XGT cordless drills and hammer drills have similar handle grip proportions.

Here is the new XPH16 hammer drill, which is advertised as delivering 970 in-lbs max torque. Its handle grip does not look to be noticeably longer – it looks like a typical Makita cordless drill.

Did UL change their safety guidelines? I could not find any evidence of this. Even if there was a change, safety guidelines are usually expanded over time, and not relaxed.

Is Makita finally bring anti-kickback safety mechanisms to the 18V LXT line? No, it seems they’re still keeping that feature exclusive to the premium XGT model drill. Would it have made a difference?

As the drill doesn’t ship with a side handle, and I can’t think of a reasonable explanation as to why, we need to take a closer look at Makita’s torque specs.

Understanding Max Torque Specifications

When you see the phrase maximum torque in a cordless drill’s marketing materials, the value typically refers to the tool’s maximum hard-joint tightening torque. Until now, I had long-considered this to be a universal rule.

Clicking or tapping the button below will expand a section on this page with additional background information. You can skip it to save time, and come back if you have any questions.

Examining Makita’s Torque Specs

Let’s take a look at the torque specs for a couple of Makita cordless drills and hammer drills. These specs were sourced from Makita Australia’s product pages for drills with identical designs, features, and max torque values as models marketed in the USA under different model numbers.

Makita 18V SubCompact Drill Torque Specs

Makita’s 18V SubCompact cordless drill delivers 40 Nm max lock torque, 40 Nm max hard torque, and 25 Nm max soft torque.

Nm refers to Newton meters, a metric system measure of torque. 1 Nm is equal to around 8.85 inch-pounds. Lock torque seems to be akin to “stall” torque, which usually isn’t used to describe cordless drill performance.

The US model is advertised as delivering 350 in-lbs/40 Nm max torque.

Makita 18V Hammer Drill Torque Specs (Previous Model)

Makita’s 18V brushless compact hammer drill delivers a maximum lock torque of 60 Nm (~531 in-lbs) and maximum hard tightening torque of 54 Nm (~478 in-lbs).

There’s a small unexpected discrepancy here, where the advertised max torque is 11.1% higher than the drill’s max tightening torque.

The USA model, XPH12, is advertised as delivering 530 in-lbs max torque, or 60 Nm. Makita USA does not reference the drill’s maximum fastening torque in any product brochures or specs tables.

This is the “previous model” drill that Makita compares the new one to, with their “up to 70% more power” claims.

Makita 18V High Torque Hammer Drill Torque Specs

For Makita’s flagship 18V LXT brushless drill, the max lock torque is listed as 125 Nm, and the max hard joint tightening torque is 130 Nm.

The drill is advertised as delivering 141 Nm of peak torque, or 1248 in-lbs. This value is 8.46% higher than the drill’s max fastening torque.

Makita USA advertises this model as delivering 1250 in-lbs max torque, which corresponds to the 141 Nm peak torque value.

It’s unclear why there are 3 different values. The max tightening torque is 130 Nm, the max lock torque is 125 Nm, and the peak torque is 141 Nm?

Makita new Zealand’s product spec sheet lists the 18V hammer drill as delivering 125 Nm max fastening torque, and 141 Nm peak torque. Makita UK lists the same hammer drill as delivering 130 Nm max hard fastening torque, the same as given in Makita AUS’s spec sheet.

I use the higher of the two values, 130 Nm, in the chart below, as the maximum tightening torque.

Makita XGT High Torque Drill Torque Specs

Makita’s higher performance XGT 36V/40V Max cordless hammer drill is advertised as delivering 125 Nm max lock torque, 141 Nm max peak torque, 140 Nm max hard torque, and 68 Nm max soft torque.

Here in the USA, the XGT cordless drill is advertised as delivering 1250 in-lbs torque, which correlates to the 141 Nm peak torque value.

The peak torque value is 0.714% higher than the max tightening torque – that’s very close agreement.

A discrepancy was made apparent.

Makita’s 18V and XGT flagship cordless hammer drills are both advertised as delivering 141 Nm of peak torque. However, the XGT model is said to deliver 140 Nm max tightening torque while the 18V drill delivers 125 or 130 Nm max tightening torque (depending on the publication source).

Read More: Makita 18V and XGT Cordless Drills Do NOT Have the Same Torque

Looking at Makita Canada’s listings, the equivalent XGT hammer drill is advertised as delivering 1240 in-lbs (140 Nm) max torque, and the equivalent 18V hammer drill is advertised as delivering 1150 in-lbs (130 Nm) max torque. There, neither drill is advertised according to the 1250 in-lbs (141 Nm) peak torque values that Makita USA advertises for both drills.

This is confusing. So do the 18V and XGT cordless drills deliver the same max torque, or not? Makita USA’s torque claims would suggest yes, but the spec tables in other regions suggest no.

Makita 18V Hammer Drill Torque Specs (New Model)

For the new international model drill that’s equivalent to the Makita USA model XPH16 drill, Makita advertises 110 Nm peak torque, 73 Nm max hard-joint tightening torque, and 40 Nm max soft-joint tightening torque.

110 Nm converts to 973.6 in-lbs, and 73 Nm converts to around 646 in-lbs. That’s a significant difference.

Makita UK lists the same specs – 73 Nm and 40 Nm max hard and soft joint fastening torque, respectively.

The USA model is only advertised by its 970 in-lbs (110 Nm) max torque value.

Going by these figures, Makita advertises their new cordless hammer drill as delivering “a full 970 in-lbs max torque” but it seems it can only deliver up to 646 in-lbs of max tightening torque.

It seems that this is why the drill doesn’t ship with an auxiliary side handle, because it doesn’t deliver “a full 970 in-lbs” of max fastening torque.

If the maximum fastening torque is 73 Nm, or around 646 in-lbs, how can it be advertised as delivering 970 in-lbs of max torque?

If I’m understanding all of this correctly, it would mean that, with this new 18V cordless drill, Makita’s advertised “max torque” spec of 970 in-lbs is around 50.7% higher than its maximum fastening torque value.

It had been my understanding that cordless drill torque values correlate to their maximum fastening or tightening torque. It is highly surprising that Makita would deviate from this.

Some of Makita’s other cordless drills also have advertised max torque values that are higher than their max fastening torque specs, but with far smaller differences.

Torque Comparison Charts

This chart shows the differences between max tightening and advertised max torque specs for the models of Makita cordless drills and hammer drills discussed above.

For the newest model cordless drill, there is a massive step between its max tightening torque, and the max torque Makita USA is advertising for it.

Between Makita’s latest and previous 18V brushless hammer drills, the difference between their max fastening torques of ~646 in-lbs (73 Nm) and ~478 in-lbs (54 Nm) is around 35%. The difference between their “max torque” values of 970 in-lbs (110 Nm) and 530 in-lbs (60 Nm) is around 83%.

It’s worth mentioning that the max low speed for the new model is 10% higher than for the previous model (550 vs 500 RPM), but the max high speed is 10% lower (1800 vs 2000 RPM).

The difference between Makita’s 18V and XGT cordless drill torque specs is also curious. The advertised “max torque” value are the same, but the 18V model has a lower max fastening torque.

I posted about this separately, here: Makita 18V and XGT Cordless Drills Do NOT Have the Same Torque.

Why is this a Big Deal?

Let’s say you’re shopping for cordless drills. One brand advertises their drill as delivering 970 in-lbs max torque, but it delivers ~646 in-lbs max fastening torque.

A competing brand advertises their product as delivering 850 in-lbs max torque, and this is based on its measured max fastening torque, which is what I would expect.

Which drill is more capable or potentially more powerful? If you go by what it says on the box, the 970 in-lbs has the higher torque spec. But if you go by max fastening torque, the 850 in-lbs model would outperform the 970 in-lbs model.

How can tool buyers be expected to make informed decisions if one brand highlights their “max peak torque” while another uses an an opaque max fastening torque?

This doesn’t just affect competitive comparisons.

Makita’s 18V SubCompact drill is advertised as delivering 350 in-lbs max torque. For that model, the max fastening torque and max lock torque are the same.

So does this new model deliver 2.77X the torque compared the SubCompact model, or 1.85X the torque?

Does the new drill deliver 83% greater torque than Makita’s previous model, or 35% greater torque?

What happens if competing brands loses sales to Makita over this? Will some of them start advertising based on metrics other than maximum fastening torque? Are they doing it already and Makita is simply following other brands’ examples?

Why is there a less than 1% difference between the max fastening and advertised torques for Makita’s flagship XGT cordless drill, and a nearly 51% difference for this new 18V model?

Is this all because bigger numbers sell more tools? I wouldn’t think so, or at least I would hope not.

I sincerely hope that Makita can explain what’s going on here.

Makita USA has not answered any of our questions about the matter.

Related Posts:

New Makita XPH14 Cordless Hammer Drill, But You Should Wait New Makita 18V SubCompact Drill and Impact Driver Kit, but is it an Upgrade? Meet the New Makita XGT 40V Cordless Power Tool System

When I conducted a specs comparison between Makita’s XGT and 18V LXT cordless hammer drill and impact driver combo kit two years ago, I missed something.

In that post, I reported:

Both 18V and XGT drills are said to deliver the same 1,250 in-lbs of max torque.

This is true. Makita USA does advertise both the XPH14 18V hammer drill and GFD01 XGT hammer drill as delivering 1,250 in-lbs max torque.

I also wrote:

The 18V and XGT hammer drills have the same max torque

However, as I recently learned, this does not appear to be true.

It has come to my attention that the two drills deliver different max fastening torque specs.

Power tool brands typically advertise their cordless drills according to max fastening torque, or at least this has been my long-time understanding.

Makita, however, seems to be advertising these two drills using a different “peak torque” measurement.

Here are more detailed torque figures for Makita’s flagship model 18V LXT and XGT cordless hammer drills, according to international brochures and specs tables:

I have seen the 18V LXT model’s max fastening torque listed at a lower value of 125 Nm in some of Makita’s product pages, but for the sake of this post we’ll use the higher value of 130 Nm.

This chart compares the max tightening torque and advertised max torque for Makita’s highest torque 18V and XGT cordless hammer drills.

Maximum fastening torque is usually measured using battery-powered drills and rundown adapters that simulate different types of fastening joints.

How is this other “peak” torque metric determined, if not by maximum fastening torque?

Why are both drills advertised here as delivering 1,250 in-lbs of max torque when different values are advertised elsewhere?

Makita Canada, for example, advertises their 18V hammer drill as delivering 1,150 in-lbs (130 Nm) max torque, and their XGT hammer drill as delivering 1,240 in-lbs (140 Nm) max torque. This agrees with specs tables from other international regions where Makita lists these same maximum fastening torque values alongside “peak” torque values of 141 Nm, (1,250 in-lbs).

To sum things up, here in the USA, Makita advertises their flagship 18V and XGT hammer drills as delivering 1,250 in-lbs max torque. But when you look at the more detailed torque specs that Makita advertises in other markets for the equivalent international model drills, the 18V LXT model has a lower max fastening torque than the XGT model.

Advertised torque specs of 1,250 in-lbs for both models suggest comparable if not identical torque capabilities. But outside of Makita USA’s product literature, this is shown to not be true, as the maximum fastening torque values are different.

The XGT drill’s max fastening torque spec (140 Nm/1,240 in-lbs) is very close to its advertised peak torque value (141 Nm/1,250 in-lbs). However, the 18V LXT drill’s max fastening torque spec (130 Nm/1150 in-lbs) is quite a bit off from its advertised peak torque value (141 Nm/1,250 in-lbs).

Why?

Related Posts:

Comparing Bosch, Dewalt, Makita, Metabo HPT, Milwaukee Cordless Power Tool Systems Makita 18V LXT and 40V Max XGT Cordless Power Tool Systems are Not Compatible Makita Announced New Cordless Power Tools for 2023

Side handles are a safety feature commonly included with high-torque cordless drills and hammer drills, such as the Milwaukee M18 Fuel model shown here.

I’m sure you’ve seen that many cordless drills come with an auxiliary side handle, while compact and lower torque models don’t. Let’s talk about the reasons why.

When a high-powered cordless drill kicks back, such as if a large drill bit jams or binds in a hole, it can quickly counter-rotate with enough force to cause major injuries.

Some users have lost control of high-powered drills and twisted their wrists. Others have knocked themselves – or others – in the face. I remember reading about at least one incident where drill kickback caused a worker to fall.

Side handles can provide greatly improved control, and not just because gripping a cordless drill with two hands is better than with one; they are often longer than the drill handle and allow for users to more effectively resist kickback torque.

In the diagram above, you can see that the side handle length (b) is greater than that of the cordless drill’s main handle (a).

What a lot of tool users don’t realize is that side handles are usually included with high-powered drills in order to meet certain safety guidelines.

Often, cordless drills ship with a side handle attachment because they are required to.

I dug into UL’s drill handle length requirements a while back, when cordless power tool brands started launching increasingly powerful cordless drills.

Basically, any cordless drill with a torque-to-handle-length ratio above a certain value must come with a side handle of sufficient length in order to meet UL safety guidelines. This also implies that 18V form-factor cordless drills with low-enough torque capabilities don’t need to ship with a side handle.

To be clear, high-powered cordless drills don’t necessarily require an auxiliary side handle, but such handles help drills meet UL’s handle length requirement without the primary handle grip having to be extended.

Certain drills, such as the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hole Hawg right angle drill, have long enough primary handles to avoid the need for an extended length auxiliary side handle.

Professional tool brands seem to strictly adhere to handle length and side handle guidance, presumably because OSHA requires power tools to be listed or certified by UL or other nationally recognized testing laboratories (NRTL).

If you’re wondering why impact drivers don’t come with side handles, that’s because they deliver non-reactive torque. If an impact driver or wrench binds or jams during an operation, its body won’t counter-rotate and put your wrist and body at risk of injury. It might recoil just a little, but not with anything like the unconstrained motion of a typical cordless drill.

Anti-kickback features aren’t a substitute for long side handles, at least not yet. They help to stop kickback in its tracks, but do nothing to improve the control of a high torque drill in use.

Related Posts:

New Bosch Turbo and Diablo Step Drill Bits are Swiss-Made, Impact-Rated New Milwaukee M18 Fuel One-Key Cordless Drill and Impact Driver New Milwaukee M18 Compact Brushless Drills are Packed with Upgrades

Milwaukee is soon launching a new M18 Fuel cordless 16 gauge straight finish nailer, model 3020.

The new Milwaukee cordless finish nailer joins the brand’s M18 Fuel 15 gauge and 16 gauge angled finish nailers, which launched in early 2022.

Milwaukee says that they “redesigned the nailer from the ground up, giving carpenters and remodelers the power, performance, and runtime they need.”

This is not Milwaukee’s first cordless 16 Gauge straight finish nailer; the 2741 launched in 2016.

Advertised as having a zero ramp-up time, the new nailer is ready to drive nails without delay. There’s no delay between pulling the trigger and the nail firing, giving users “a pneumatic fire rate without the hassles of an air hose.”

As with Milwaukee’s other M18 Fuel cordless nailers, this one does not require any gas cartridges to operate, and no maintenance is required.

Features include a built-in nitrogen air spring mechanism, tool-free depth adjustment, sequential and bump-fire actuation modes, LED work light, tool-free jam clearing latch, dry fire lockout, reversible belt hook, and spare tip storage built into the magazine.

The nailer is compatible with all 16GA straight finish nails 1 – 2-1/2″ long.

• Drives 16GA straight finish nails
• 1-2.5″ nail capacity
• Brushless motor
• LED work light
• 110 nail magazine capacity
• 12.9″ L x 11.7″ x 5″ wide (tool-only)
• Weighs 6.2 lbs (tool-only)

Price: $329 (tool-only, 3020-20)
ETA: August 2023

Related Posts:

New Milwaukee M18 FUEL Finish Nailers (Gen 2) New Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless Air Compressor (2840-20)! New Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless Framing Nailers are Launching Soon

Which is the BEST cordless power tool brand? Dewalt? Milwaukee? Ryobi? This seems like a simple question, but the answer isn’t.

I last attempted to tackle this question in early 2021, and there have been enough developments and changes in the 2-1/2 years since then to justify an update.

Here is the question that started it all:

If you had to stick to one brand for most of your tools which would it be? Taking into consideration tool reliability, power, ergonomics, batteries and number of cordless tools.

Just one brand?! Dewalt. Wait, no – Milwaukee. Metabo HPT?

Most cordless power tool brands have their distinct innovations and selling points, and tool brands continuously and fiercely compete for a spot in your tool box.

Whether the question is about the best cordless power tool brand overall, or even which one brand I would stick with, the answer depends on the user.

Are you an electrician? Plumber? Carpenter? Deck builder? DIYer? Every user’s needs are different, and there’s really no singular best brand overall.

The real question to answer is this one – which is the best cordless tool brand for you?

Instead of simply answering the title question, I will offer my opinions on each particular tool brand to help you make your own determinations.

As always, readers’ opinions are extremely valuable. What would you say to anyone looking to buy into a cordless power tool system?

The brands below are listed in alphabetical order.

Table of Contents

Bosch
Craftsman
Dewalt
Festool
Flex
Hart
Hercules
Hilti
Kobalt
Makita
Metabo
Metabo HPT
Milwaukee
Porter Cable
Ridgid
Ryobi
Skil

Bosch

Benefits: Good performance and reliability.

Downsides: Historically, Bosch has not kept up with competitors in the USA, and some innovations are released here later than in Europe or not at all.

What I Said in 2021: Bosch makes some spectacular tools. Looking at the greater picture, their 12V and 18V platforms aren’t as compelling as competing platforms. While I was impressed with some of their past releases, there are fewer reasons to buy into either of Bosch’s cordless power tool systems today.

What’s Changed? Bosch recently launched AmpShare, where their 18V battery will soon power a range of tools from numerous partnered brands. They have been releasing new tools at a faster pace, and also seem to have abandoned the somewhat silly names given to certain tools, such as “the Freak.”

Bosch still has holes in their cordless lineup, but they’ve been filling some of the more glaring ones. I anticipate that AmpShare will greatly help with this.

Top ↑

Related Tool News: Bosch 12V Max Tools, Bosch 18V Tools

Craftsman

Benefits: Affordable price points for DIYers.

Downsides: Limited selection.

What I Said in 2021: Craftsman has been slow to expand their V20/20V Max cordless power tool lineup, but there are some interesting entries, such as a cordless air compressor.

What’s Changed? Craftsman has steadily been expanding their line of V20 cordless power tools, but still not at anywhere close to the pace of their top competitor. Their Brushless RP tools offer higher performance.

See More: Craftsman V20 Cordless Power Tool News

Top ↑

Dewalt

Benefits: Excellent tools, expansive selection, comfortable ergonomics, great reliability. Dewalt has been continually expanding their 20V Max cordless power tool lineup, as well as their FlexVolt lineup, and they have also been actively expanding their 12V Max Xtreme Subcompact line.

Downsides: Sorting through some of their core options can be a little confusing. For instance, you can now choose between 20V Max brushless, 20V Max Power Detect, FlexVolt 60V Max, and 20V Max FlexVolt advantage saws.

What I Said in 2021: Dewalt continues to have a lot of “firsts.” They’re no longer playing catch-up and are once again pushing boundaries.

Quite simply put, you cannot go wrong with Dewalt cordless power tools. Dewalt’s cordless platforms continue to have a lot of strengths, and few weaknesses.

If I had to choose a “Best Cordless Power Tool Brand Overall” winner, Dewalt would face off against Milwaukee in a battle too close to easily call.

What’s Changed? Dewalt has entered the automotive tool market with new ratchets, and recently launched new rivet tools. They’ve been filling noticeable holes. Dewalt’s PowerStack batteries provide numerous benefits over older technologies.

Notable Products: Power Detect and FlexVolt Advantage lines bridge the gap between 20V Max and FlexVolt 60V Max platforms. Even so, FlexVolt still provides a power benefit that most other 18V/20V Max systems struggle to match.

Related Tool News: Dewalt 12V Max, Dewalt 20V Max, Dewalt FlexVolt

Top ↑

Festool

Benefits: Unique tools, such as hybrid corded-cordless sanders, good quality, brand reputation.

Downsides: Very limited product selection, very high pricing.

What I Said in 2021: If you want a Festool power tool, and you want it to be cordless, you have some options. Festool made a push in 2020 to consolidate some of their cordless power tools into combo kits aimed at contractors and remodelers.

Festool’s cordless platforms are limited, presumably because they are more of a finish and fine work brand. The brand is not focused on the broader needs of users involved in construction or the trades.

Additionally, Festool’s high pricing can make the tools inaccessible to many individual users.

What’s Changed? Festool has made some questionable design choices, such as launching a cordless dust collector vacuum that can only be used with smaller low capacity batteries. There’s also a new cordless reciprocating saw, which fills a hole in their cordless lineup, but doesn’t seem to be in the spirit of the brand’s core competency – fine finishing tools.

See More: Festool 18V Tool News

Top ↑

Flex

Benefits: Competitive performance (at least), next-gen Stacked Lithium batteries, numerous innovations and tools with distinct user benefits.

Downsides: As a relatively new brand, Flex is going to be playing catch-up for a few years, in terms of product selection and market share. Their 24V battery is going to be slightly larger than 18V batteries, but not without positive traits (such as in power delivery).

Overall: Flex has expanded their line of 24V Max brushless cordless power tools at a rapid pace. The brand recently launched new compact core tools, and a strong selection of specialty tools, such as a cordless router, sander, and band saws.

Flex aspires to be a major player in the professional cordless power tool industry, and so far it seems they’re doing everything right to get there.

Top ↑

Hart

What I Said in 2021: Hart is a Walmart-exclusive brand that offers entry-priced cordless power tools that are similar to Ryobi’s most basic offerings. If you’re shopping for the lowest cost cordless power tools on the market, I’d go with Hart (or any of these other brands) over the no-name stuff on Amazon and other online marketplaces.

What’s Changed? Hart doesn’t share product news, but it looks like they added a couple of new tools since I last checked. Hart still looks to be an entry-level cordless brand aimed at beginners or Walmart shoppers buying on impulse.

Top ↑

Hercules (Harbor Freight)

Benefits: Better cordless tools for Harbor Freight shoppers.

Downsides: Limited selection, young brand reputation, still Harbor Freight.

What I Said in 2021: Harbor Freight launched the Hercules cordless power tool platforms with name-brand competitors in sight. I purchased earlier samples, and while respectable, the tools lacked the fit and finish I would expect from true professional-grade cordless power tool brands.

Harbor Freight and their Hercules line have potential, but it seems they are still striving to make cheaper tools. With new brushless tools on the way, it’s possible they are trying to walk down a different path, at least as far as the Hercules lines are concerned.

Harbor Freight has the potential to disrupt the core cordless power tools market, but they still have to prove they can deliver quality.

What’s Changed? Harbor Freight has been steadily expanding their Hercules lineup of “professional” tools. The quality seems to have improved – from pretty good to almost great – and the tools now boast a 5 year limited warranty.

Harbor Freight has been bouncing between different marketing strategies, and with the latest changes they’ve been following examples set by major industry players.

The tools are not quite on even ground with those from the tool brands Harbor Freight claims Hercules compares to, but they are inching closer.

See More: Harbor Freight Hercules Tool News

Top ↑

Hilti

Benefits: Strong reputation, gimmick-free solutions.

Downsides: Limited retail availability, limited tool selection, high prices.

What I Said in 2021: Hilti tends to target commercial users, rather than individuals. They have a strong focus on masonry tools, but also some exceptionally capable tools for working with wood, metal, and other common construction and fabrication materials.

What’s Changed? Hilti launched Nuron, a new line of 22V cordless power tools. While not as comprehensive as competing professional tool brands’ lineups, Hilti quickly converted over dozens of tools from the outgoing tool system. There are still a lot of holes that need to be filled.

Hilti still needs to do a better job at appealing to individual tool users.

Top ↑

Kobalt

Benefits: Brushless motors, inexpensive pricing on spare/replacement batteries.

Downsides: Limited selection.

What I Said in 2021: Lowe’s Kobalt 24V max cordless power tool platform focuses on brushless-motor tools, and with reasonable and competitive pricing.

There’s not much compromise when it comes to performance, and the newer XTR tools take things to another level with respect to power and features.

What’s Changed? Kobalt launched all-new core cordless power tools. They seemed to have all but dropped the XTR performance line of tools, except during holiday shopping seasons when the combos make a quick reappearance.

Lowe’s never seems to have a clear direction in mind for their exclusive tool brand.

See More: Kobalt 24V Max Cordless Power Tools

Top ↑

Makita

Benefits: Broad 18V cordless power tool system.

Downsides: Makita has been slow to adapt to industry trends, and certain product categories are difficult to sort out with an excessive number of options. The 18V line hasn’t kept up with competing tool systems, and the new XGT line is very limited and expensive. Their revamped 12V Max cordless system has been stagnant.

What I Said in 2021: Some of Makita’s 18V LXT cordless tools are competitive, but the system has hit its limits. The new Makita XGT 40V Max platform is due to launch in the USA at some point, but the new system is not backwards compatible with their 18V cordless system.

What’s Changed? Makita has finally brought a couple of tools from the XGT line to the LXT line, but many premium features remain XGT exclusives, such as cordless drill anti-kickback tech.

Makita launched Outdoor Adventure in the USA, a new line of existing 18V tools but in an olive green color.

They have two main cordless systems – 18V LXT and 36V/40V Max XGT, and aren’t throwing their full weight behind either one.

Makita USA recently cut jobs company-wide, following their third price increase in just over a year.

Related Tool News: Makita 12V, Makita 18V, Makita 18V X2, Makita XGT 40V

Top ↑

Metabo

Benefits: Great quality, performance, and reliability, and a strong reputation. Metabo offers more specialty tools that cater to fabrication and metalworking industries.

Downsides: Limited selection, less market availability and visibility compared to other pro-grade brands,

What I Said in 2021: Metabo has a lot of great cordless power tools, and has been expanding steadily. Its 18V cordless platform is more expansive in Europe, but an increasing number of tools have launched in the USA as well.

Metabo has embarked on a mission towards enabling a truly cordless jobsite, and each year they move closer and closer to that goal.

What’s Changed? Metabo used to do their part in driving the industry forward, but lately it seems like they’ve been falling behind. Where’s the cordless table saw, dust collection systems, air compressor, or other tools needed for the “cordless jobsite” they talked so much about over the years?

Related Tool News: Metabo 18V, Metabo 12V

Top ↑

Metabo HPT (Formerly Hitachi Power Tools)

Benefits: Metabo HPT offers many excellent-quality 18V and MultiVolt cordless power tools, and occasionally innovates with unique offerings.

Downsides: Limited selection, Hitachi to Metabo HPT name-change has resulted in quite a bit of confusion. There’s added confusion between Metabo HPT and Metabo, as there is zero compatibility between the two brands’ cordless platforms.

What I Said in 2021: As a system, Metabo HPT offers a much smaller selection of cordless power tools than other brands. They have quite a few competitive and compelling tools, making the brand a potentially good choice if their strengths align with particular user needs and wants.

What’s Changed? Metabo HPT has been releasing new tools at a steady pace. Their MultiVolt cordless platform is excellent, and remains a very competitive choice. The brand needs greater market visibility; select tools are available at Lowe’s, but the retailer has done little to promote the brand or drive consumer awareness.

Notable Products: Metabo HPT’s 18V Triple Hammer impact driver remains a personal favorite.

Related Tool News: Metabo HPT, Hitachi Power Tools

Top ↑

Milwaukee

Benefits: Great quality, reliability, and performance. Fantastic M18 (18V/20V-class) cordless power tool system and unmatched M12 (12V-class) tool selection. Milwaukee Tool is a very active innovator.

Downsides: M12 tools have a stem-style battery that inserts into the hand grip, resulting in a chunkier grip than some other brands can accomplish with slide-style batteries.

What I Said in 2021: Milwaukee seeks to be a “solutions provider,” and they charge into new markets with a disruptive ferocity. Their philosophy for the M12 cordless system has been to provide user-friendly alternatives to hand tools, and their expanding M18 system offers all the core tools pros and demanding users might need, plus many trade-specific options.

Milwaukee Tool cordless power tools can carry premium pricing, but they regularly offer very aggressive promotions in the form of free tool or battery bonus bundles.

While not the market-leader in every category, Milwaukee is an easy recommendation. Quite simply put, you can’t go wrong with Milwaukee cordless power tools.

If I absolutely had to choose a “Best Cordless Power Tool Brand Overall” winner, Milwaukee would face off against Dewalt in a battle too close to easily call.

What’s Changed? Milwaukee has continued to innovate and push forward in recent years. I expect to see the brand shake up the entire industry once they launch – and heavily advertise – next-gen power tool batteries built with pouch-style Li-ion cells.

The MX Fuel line of cordless equipment redefined what can be powered with a cordless battery, and still holds untapped potential.

Notable Products: Milwaukee’s M12 Fuel and M18 Fuel brushless power tools are often considered the gold standard.

Related Tool News: Milwaukee M12, Milwaukee M18, Milwaukee MX Fuel

Top ↑

Porter Cable

Benefits: None.

Downsides: Limited selection, limited availability.

What I Said in 2021: Porter Cable was effectively pushed out of Lowe’s when Craftsman (also a Stanley Black & Decker brand) came along, and out of Walmart after TTI launched their exclusive Hart tool brand there.

Porter Cable announced a new partnership with Tractor Supply in late-2021. No new tools or developments have been announced since then.

The brand doesn’t appear to be investing any time, effort, or resources into their cordless platform.

What’s Changed? Nothing.

Top ↑

Ridgid

Benefits: Ridgid has a strong selection of core 18V cordless power tools, and some unique and innovative tools sprinkled in. The brand offers a good balance between performance and price.

The Limited Lifetime Service Agreement covers parts, service, and batteries – with some restrictions.

Downsides: Smaller selection of 18V tools compared to other brands, 12V system has been abandoned (although you can still buy replacement batteries or chargers).

What I Said in 2021: Ridgid is a good brand and they have continued to expand and enhance their 18V cordless power tool system over the years. Some of their tools offer innovations not found in other cordless systems, giving some users reason to choose Ridgid as their primary or secondary brand.

What’s Changed? Ridgid has continued to launch new 18V cordless power tools. They haven’t been as innovative as in recent years, but are still going strong. Ridgid’s 18V line continues to be exclusive to Home Depot.

See More: Ridgid 18V Cordless System Tool News

Top ↑

Ryobi

Benefits: Ryobi’s 18V One+ platform is huge, and satisfies a broad range of user needs, from beginner DIYer to value-minded pros.

Downsides: Ryobi’s commitment to DIYer users (a great thing) also means they haven’t updated their battery system to a slide-style form factor yet. Lower-priced tools have compromised features or performance.

What I Said in 2021: Ryobi is a very customer-centric brand that is well-liked and well-regarded among their many loyal DIYer users. Some pros will use certain Ryobi tools as well, especially for specialty tasks where a tool might not see frequent use.

What’s Changed? Ryobi has expanded their line of compact brushless 18V One+ HP tools, and added new home, hobby, and lifestyle tools, including from a new USB Lithium line of 4V-class tools and accessories.

Ryobi tools remains exclusive to Home Depot.

See More: Ryobi 18V One+ Tool News

Top ↑

Skil

Benefits: Skil’s new cordless power tool platforms offer very high bang for the buck – competitive performance and above-average features for what you pay.

Downsides: Limited selection.

What I Said in 2021: Under new ownership, Skil has refreshed their branding and launched all-new cordless power tool lineups. They’re definitely worth a chance for DIYers looking to get modern features at affordable pricing.

What’s Changed? Skil has launched more tools and updated their core 12V and 20V class offerings. They have also expanded their cordless outdoor power tool offerings. With respect to core offerings – drills, drivers, and saws – Skil tools in many cases outperform competing products while also being more affordable.

Skil is definitely worth paying attention to.

Related Tool News: Skil 12V Max, Skil 20V Max

Top ↑

Reader Recommendations

Which cordless power tool lineup(s) did you go with? What would you recommend to someone looking to buy into a new cordless power tool system?

Related Posts:

Best Milwaukee Cordless Drills & Comparisons (2023) Tool Brands: Who Owns What? A Guide to Corporate Affiliations How Cordless Power Tool Brands Started 2020

Retailers have begun posting “beat the price increase” notifications for SawStop table saws and accessories.

The SawStop price increases are said to go into effect on August 1st, 2023.

It has not yet been published which SawStop table saws or accessories will be increasing in price, or by how much.

One SawStop dealer shared a sampling of the price increase for example purposes, showing that two cabinet saw models will increase by around 2%, a dust collection accessory will increase by around 4.6%, and the SawStop brake cartridges (standard and dado) will increase by $4 each, reflecting increases of 4.2% and 3.5%, respectively.

Increases on SawStop table saws, attachments, and accessories could add up. If you were planning to make a big purchase, you might want to think about placing your order before the increases go into effect.

There’s no word as to whether the freight fees for portable and cabinet saws are also going up.

With the increases going into effect August 1st, the cut-off for ordering at current pricing will be July 31, 2023.

Related Posts:

New SawStop Jobsite Saw Pro Table Saw Features Multiple Upgrades New SawStop Compact Table Saw is Smaller and Lower Priced The Best SawStop Table Saw for You – Buying Guide

A reader recently asked if ToolGuyd can verify manufacturer’s cordless drill max torque specs.

I have considered this over the years, and it’s complicated. I’m thinking about it again, and brushed up on what this would require.

With cordless drills now delivering over 1000 in-lbs max torque, and impact wrenches delivering over 1000 ft-lbs max torque, specific equipment us needed.

Where Drill Torque Specs Come From

The Power Tool Institute – the industry group that most cordless power tool brands belong to – have guidelines as to how drill torque can be measured and advertised.

Their guidelines are very outdated, and nobody got back to me about whether they’ve updated their recommendations for drills that deliver above 1000 in-lbs max torque.

Anyway, there’s a set procedure that cordless power tool brands are presumed to follow for determining the max torque specs they put on a tool’s packaging. They’re voluntary guidelines, but I’d expect that all of the brands partnered in an industry group would adhere to them.

Max torque specs aren’t the most helpful metric in the world, but should be a consistent and a fair comparison point between different brands’ cordless drills and impact drivers.

Basic Torque Testers

Here’s a Gearwrench torque tester, available on Amazon. These are really meant for checking the calibration of torque wrenches and other such tools.

Some, like this one from AWS, are rated for use with continuous-drive tools – such as powered screwdrivers and possibly cordless drills – if used with a rundown adapter.

Rundown Adapters and Joint Simulators

Here’s a low-strength rundown adapter from Mountz.

Here’s a joint simulator rundown adapter from CDI.

Lower strength adapters tend to have springs, higher strength ones have stacks of belleville spring washers.

Here’s what belleville spring washers look like, courtesy of bellevillesprings.com. Compressing belleville washers requires a bit of force. Stack them up, and you can create a repeatable compressive load.

Joint simulators use stacks of these springs – sometimes in different configurations – to simulate real-world applications.

It’s not exactly the same, but offers a repeatable and somewhat controllable way to push a cordless drill to its maximum torque.

Types of Fastening Joints

There are two types of joints – hard joints and soft joints. Some joints are in between and have characteristics of both.

An example of a hard joint would be metal-to-metal fastening where a fraction of a turn takes a bolt from loose to tight. An example of a soft joint would be screwing wood to wood, where friction builds and the wood can compress. The resistive force builds as you turn tighten a fastener.

Some brands give their cordless drills both hard and soft joint max torque ratings. You’ll see that in European spec sheets, but rarely here in the USA. Here, we generally only see the highest rating of the two.

In theory, a rundown adapter or joint simulator can be used with any torque tester or transducer, but it seems like a better idea to use testers designed for use with such tools.

This limits things, but it’s not the only consideration.

Testing Ranges

What’s the testing range? For cordless drills, we would need capacities up to at least 1500 in-lbs. Modern cordless drills are rated up to 1400 in-lbs the last I checked, and it would be good to have some headroom.

But, the majority of cordless drills deliver less than 750 in-lbs of max torque.

As the torque testing range increases, so does the size of the transducer and its drive size or interface.

Is it the best idea to test a cordless drill rated to 400 in-lbs on a 2000 in-lbs tester?

If you can source or build an appropriately spec’ed and well-sized rundown adapter, it’s not a big deal. What you don’t want to do is have to add a stack of size adapters. The less you have between the tool and tester, aside for the rundown adapter or joint simulator, the better.

Most torque adapters are calibrated from 10% to the full value. What if we want to also test the torque clutch settings? A 2000 in-lbs transducer or tester might help us test a drill that is spec’ed to 1400 in-lbs max torque, but won’t provide accurate measurements below 200 in-lbs. For a 400 in-lb drill, we wouldn’t be able to test the torque across most of its adjustable clutch settings.

Torque Testing Accuracy

Accuracy is also an important consideration.

Some torque testers have accuracy values relative to indicated measurements. For such testers, a measurement of say 400 in-lbs max torque with 1% accuracy would actually be 400 ± 4 in-lbs.

Let’s say a different torque tester with 2000 in-lbs max testing limit is rated to 0.5% accuracy across the full scale. This would mean the 400 in-lbs measurement would be 400 ± 10 in-lbs. That ± 10 in-lbs component won’t change with the measurement.

So if you have two transducers, both with 2000 in-lbs max torque testing capabilities, one with ±1% accuracy relative to the measurement, and the other with ±0.5% accuracy relative to the full scale, there are different points in the range where one will yield more accurate measurements than the other.

What does ± mean for a value? Let’s say you have a measurement of 100 ± 5 in-lbs. This that the actual value could be between 95 and 105 in-lbs. There will also likely be an error due to the least significant digit, similar to how there’s an uncertainty when reading between markings in a ruler.

Impact Driver and Wrench Torque Testing

How do we test impact drivers or wrenches?

There are some models that can handle continuous rotation and impact action, but it would probably be best to go with something like the AWS IMP series of testers shown here. These have a very beefy torque transducer and rundown adapter, and a display that can work with other models of AWS torque testers.

These retail starting at $4K and according to the lead time I was given yesterday by a dealer, they’re backordered into at least early 2024. I asked AWS for lead times as well but haven’t heard back.

Selecting a Torque Tester

The CDI electronic torque tester that the Power Tool Institute specifies in their outdated torque measurement guidelines tops out at 1000 in-lbs. And it’s not rated for impact tools.

All of the impact-rated testers I’ve seen have full-scale accuracy values. Let’s say we test an impact driver on a tester designed to max out at 1000 ft-lbs, which still won’t accommodate brands’ top models. A 1% accuracy could then mean a measurement of say 1800 ± 120 in-lbs max torque.

1000 ft-lbs is 12,000 in-lbs. 1% full scale accuracy would then be 120 in-lbs.

Imada has a line of continuous and impact tool torque testers, as well as non-impact testers.

But… they have full scale accuracy, as opposed to measurement-relative. Their low-range model tops out at 440 in-lbs, their mid-range model tops out at 1740 in-lbs, and their higher-range model can measure up to 362 ft-lbs (4344 in-lbs) of torque.

The mid-range model should be able to handle most cordless drills, but with lower absolute value accuracy at the bottom end of the range, due to having a full scale accuracy rating. It also can’t test most 18V-class impact drivers, which exceed its torque testing limit. The higher range model can test impact drivers, but will lead to much lower accuracy when testing drills, especially lower powered ones.

If we have a drill that tests at 200 in-lbs, the accuracy on the high-range model would mean a measurement of 200 ± 22 in-lbs (due to ±0.5% accuracy based on the 4344 torque testing range), which is an unacceptably high uncertainty range in my opinion.

I should point out that Imada’s are among very few models that extend below the 10% of full range floor. In the case of the high-range model, it tests from 3 to 362 ft-lbs. Their mid-range model tests from 30 to 1740 in-lbs. Most other testers are not calibrated below 10% of the upper end of the range.

Why Not Use a Torque Adapter?

Why not just use something like this, an inexpensive torque adapter?

First, where’s the rundown adapter? Lots of YouTubers claim measurements, but without a joint simulator, those measurements can be wildly far-off and inaccurate. Second, they’re designed for use with manual torque wrenches. This one has an accuracy of ±2%.

What’s the rotational speed of a ratchet? What about a cordless drill?

Torque adapters are designed to be used in place of a torque wrench. They’re not designed for testing or calibrating the torque of manual or powered tools.

I have only ever seen one decent DIY/shop-made torque tester, and it appears to be well-calibrated for relative numbers.

Torque adapters are not an appropriate way to measure the max torque capabilities of cordless power tools.

Why is Any of this Important?

Let’s say you were to take out your cell phone and measure its length. What’s the value? How did you measure it?

Let’s say 10 other people have the same phone. What measurement did they get?

There are two types of data – qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative can be based on observations. Quantitative are based on measurements and numbers.

Would you measure the length of a phone in sugar cubes? Graham crackers? Not all sugar cubes and crackers are the same size.

Numbers need to be accurate and repeatable. This requires the proper tools and established techniques.

Repeatability has to be demonstrated.

What’s the point in taking measurements if the numbers aren’t reliable?

If a cordless drill is spec’ed at 600 in-lbs max torque, but tests at 400 in-lbs, are the specs inflated and bogus? That could be a big deal.

Or are the measurements inaccurate or otherwise flawed?

Maybe you can buy a torque adapter with 2% accuracy, lock one end in a vise, attach a drill, and get a reasonably close max torque measurement. Or it could be wildly off. Are the numbers trustworthy?

So What are the Options?

All that said, it seems that accurately checking the max torque specs of most 12V and 18V class cordless drills, and some 12V class and 18V class impact drivers can be done with one torque transducer. Modern brushless 18V class impact drivers will generally require a separate transducer. Mid-range and high-powered impact wrenches will require a heavy duty and appropriately-spec’ed setup.

It would take two setups for testing the max torque of most cordless drills, most impact drivers, cordless ratchets, and the least powerful compact impact wrenches. A third setup would be needed for the most powerful impact wrenches on the market. A fourth setup might be needed for greater accuracy when testing tools with lower max torque, such as 4V-class cordless drills, or the repeatability and torque stopping points of adjustable clutches.

The testing apparatus seems more important with reactionary tools, such as cordless drills, than impact drivers or wrenches. You can’t just hold the tool in-hand; drills under test should not be allowed to counter-rotate.

There are some multi-transducer testers, which shaves a little off the price by sharing a common display.

But there’s no escaping the need for multiple testing apparatus. There are 1/4″ hex to 1/2″ square drive adapters for testing lower powered impacts on mid-range transducers, but can we trust measurements if a stack of adapters are needed to adapt a 1/4″ hex impact driver to the 1″ drive (or larger) featured in higher torque range testers?

CDI’s electronic torque testers top out at 1000 in-lbs, or at least the product range that seems most suitable for testing cordless drills with a rundown adapter. They’re not rated for impact tools. It would run about $2400 plus the cost of adapters.

Joint simulators and rundown adapters are $400 to $700 depending on the brand, style, and size sometimes more. They’re available with different torque limits.

So to test say a tool spec’ed at 300 in-lbs, we’d want a rundown adapter of maybe 500 in-lbs. One that’s spec’ed to 1500 in-lbs might not allow for much rotation before the tool stalls.

Most tools are advertised with respect to their hard torque. Their soft torque is usually far lower, but provides a more useful comparative measure with respect to driving screws into wood and similar.

AWS’s smaller transducers are available in less and higher accurate varieties, and also display-less models. But they have a very long lead time.

The same brand’s impact transducers are very pricey and have ±1% full scale accuracy values, meaning that it would be hard to use just one to test the full range of 18V-class impact drivers and wrenches. These start at $4000, but don’t need additional rundown adapters. Not much information is available, but it looks like the rundown adapters are designed for hard joints. If they’re adjustable, it would be ideal to have a 250 ft lbs (3000 in-lb) transducer for testing impact drivers and a higher range for testing higher powered wrenches.

A 250 ft lbs model might suffice for impact drivers and compact impact wrenches. A 1000 ft lbs or higher model would be needed to test modern mid-size and higher-end models.

Impact wrench testers are pricey, but it’s not surprising; 1000 ft lbs exerts a lot of force for a transducer to hold up against.

It makes sense that a popular YouTube designed and built their own calibrated hydraulic ram-based tester.

Impact tools can quickly damage or degrade equipment not meant for the forces involved. It seems like a good way to ruin an expensive torque tester.

One brand says their torque specs are derived from 15 second test durations. 15 seconds of impact duration is going to require a heavy duty transducer and rundown adapter, and not just one that’s approved for impact testing. A quick calibration check wouldn’t be as hard on a torque tester, but doesn’t seem like the best way to test for max impact torque.

Narrowing Things Down

When looking into the different testing options now, I found a couple of more options previously unknown to me.

There’s no “do it all” test setup, however.

A torque tester that can handle all 12V and 18V-class cordless drills, cordless ratchets, and some impact drivers, plus 2 or 3 rundown adapters and joint simulators across the range, would be about $3500, maybe a little more depending on the brand or source of one of the adapters. Plus the cost of building a fixture around it. Computer cables and software are extra.

Two brands make heavy duty impact testers. One is limited to 180 ft-lbs (2160 in-lbs), the other has a wide range that goes well beyond the maximum torque that cordless 1/2″ impacts can deliver. These all start at $4000.

There’s a lighter duty impact tester that maxes out at around 362 ft-lbs.

Most of the lower-range torque testers I’ve seen are also around $2000 and up.

If a consumer wants to test numbers for themselves, why not use a $50 torque adapter with low accuracy. I’m not saying YOU need to go out and buy expensive testing equipment.

In order for ToolGuyd to publish numbers to satisfy the reader’s requests for independent torque testing, or in the pursuit of other torque-based insights, I must take every step to ensure the fidelity of the measurements.

For the data is to be trusted, the methods need to be sound and measurements need to be reproducible. The transducer needs to be designed for use with powered tools, and impact-rated if tested with impact tools.

Justifying the Investment

Give me two cordless drills, and I can quickly and inexpensively tell you which one can deliver a higher max torque. Qualitative testing is fairly easy.

Measurements that are accurate, repeatable, and as reproducible as possible, are not quick or inexpensive. Quantitative testing – the right way – is not easy.

Ideally, a one-tester-fits-all solution would be great, but that’s not happening. I’m also not spending what it would take to test tools across the entire practical torque spectrum.

There are some DIY or homebrew options, but I have enough projects. A turnkey solution that I could just use with high confidence would be nice. I’ll keep looking into it.

Will it be worth it? In my opinion, no, at least not just for the sake of measurements. A couple of thousands of dollars worth of equipment, just to verify technical specs that aren’t the most useful anyway? But if it’s something readers want to see, I can find other ways to use use the same equipment.

How repeatable are torque clutches? Can we test the differences in mechanical and electronic clutches in this regard? How might adjustable torque clutch characteristics change for different brands or models?

A cordless power tool brand recently updated their 12V-class impacts, and on top of the well-advertised updates, they changed how the trigger switch is tuned to control output speed. Rather than a mostly linear relationship between trigger switch travel and “percentage of total power,” the output is a lot flatter from 10 to 50% than with the previous model. They redesigned the trigger switch to give a lot more speed and torque control in the mid-range. This is something that would be very hard to show without measurement-based testing. That kind of data is interesting to me, especially because it’s not something tool brands will readily share.

Five plus years ago, tool brands were still racing to one-up each other with respect to torque and power. Now, we’re starting to see more differences “under the hood.”

If such data is to be collected with any reproducibility, misusing a consumer torque adapter with low accuracy is out of the question.

So that’s why I’m looking into this again. The reader request suggested there’s interest in measurements, and I am interested in comparing max torque against advertising claims and different brands’ models. And, there are even more things we can look at. Most of the equipment I’ve looked at so far, except for the impact-only ones, can also be used to check the calibration of manual torque wrenches and the like as well – within their measurement ranges – which would also be useful.

I’m not about to invest 10 grand or more in a suite of torque testers, but I can budget for a tester that might handle a majority of what I’m looking to do with cordless drills.

I can justify some investment in test equipment, just not as much as it would take to test every type of drill and impact tool 1/2″ driver and under – at least not all at once. A prudent approach would be to start with a torque tester that can test as broad a range of tools as possible, and to see how things go from there. When I run out of things to test, maybe then I can look at additional investments.

All of this is partially to clear my head, and mostly because a couple of regulars mentioned in the past that they liked seeing my behind-the-curtain thinking about things like this. Whatever setup I land on, a lot of what was discussed here will have went into the decision-making process.

Related Posts:

New Wiha “Terminator Blue” Screwdriver Bits at Lowe’s Don’t Buy Cheap Self-Centering Drill Bits at Inflated Pricing Greenworks’ “2X More Torque” Cordless Drill Marketing Claims

Dewalt recently launched newly upgraded FlexTorq impact-rated screwdriver bits, claiming longer bit life and improved fit.

The new Dewalt FlexTorq impact screwdriver bits are advertised as featuring a torsion zone that absorbs impact energy for up to 200X longer life compared to “standard Dewalt screwdriving bits.”

The FlexTorq Torx bits in T20, T25, T30, and T40 sizes feature redesigned tips that offer “from 2X up to 5X superior fit” compared to the previous generation.

The Phillips #2 screwdriver bits have also received an “overhauled” geometry, letting them drive “100% more screws per bit” compared to the previous generation FlexTorq bits.

To sum it up, the Torx bits from T20 to T40 have redesigned tip geometry for improved fit and fastener engagement, the new Phillips #2 bits have a new geometry that helps them last appreciably longer than the previous generation, and all of these have a FlexTorq zone that absorbs impact energy for up to 200X longer life compared to “standard” bits, which usually refers to non-impact bits.

The claims vary slightly depending on the bit. The 200X longer life claim, for example, applies specifically for the Phillips #2 bits.

The updated Torx T20 insert bits are simply said to deliver longer life.

The T20 insert bits are also advertised as delivering 3X superior fit, on average, compared to Dewalt’s previous generation FlexTorq bits.

I have had good experiences with Dewalt FlexTorq screwdrivers bits. In my experience, they’re plenty durable, reasonably affordable, and easily available in the sizes I need.

Better Torx fit engagement (where some brands have in my experience performed better) sounds good to me. Longer lasting Phillips #2 bits? Great!

It looks like the new bits are coming to Lowe’s.

Related Posts:

New Dewalt ToughCase+ Clear Power Tool Accessory Boxes Dewalt ELITE Series to Take on Diablo & Milwaukee Tool Power Tool Accessories New Dewalt and Craftsman Master Power Tool Accessory Sets

How have Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel cordless hammer drills changed over the years? Is the latest model a big upgrade? Let’s take a look.

In a recent post, I compared all of Milwaukee’s M12 and M18 cordless drills, or at least all of the current and upcoming models.

A reader gave me the idea of comparing just the M18 Fuel hammer drills, to potentially help anyone looking to upgrade from an older model.

In a comment, JR Ramos wrote:

I am generally upgrading from an older tool/broken-stolen tool which is usually a previous generation of some flavor. In this instance, if I want to use your charts, I can’t see anything about Fuel Gen 2 vs Gen 3 vs Gen 4 so I have to go snoop listed specs and reviews anyway.

That’s a good point. So, let’s compare all of the four generations of Milwaukee M18 Fuel cordless hammer drills.

Milwaukee also has cordless drill/driver models that share almost all of the same features and specs as the hammer drills. But, as the hammer drills are significantly more popular, that’s what we’ll focus on here, for simplicity. Most of the same features and specs carry over to the non-hammer model M18 Fuel drills, but not all, such as the lengths from the back of the motor to the front of the chuck.

In the last 11 years, Milwaukee has launched 4 generations of M18 Fuel hammer drills.

Milwaukee launched their first M18 Fuel hammer drill in 2012. This and the corresponding drill/driver were Milwaukee’s first M18 Fuel cordless power tools, and their first tools to be engineered with brushless motors.

Upgraded models launched every 3-4 years since then, each with generational improvements in either features, performance, size, or a combination of factors.

* The One-Key versions of these M18 Fuel hammer drills, models 2706 and 2806, offered customizable anti-kickback settings. The latest 2904 drill (and non-hammer 2903) is the first non-One-Key model to feature anti-kickback tech. The AutoStop feature is customizable in the latest model 2904 and 2906 (hammer) M18 Fuel drills with One-Key.

The AutoStop feature is designed to prevent over-rotation, such as when the drill binds up during an operation. When it senses a potential kickback event, the AutoStop tech turns off power to the motor to help protect the user.

Let’s start off by looking at the max torque and speeds. The latest generation M18 Fuel hammer drill, 2904, is Milwaukee’s most powerful and fastest to date.

Is it a significant upgrade? I think so.

As you might know, the lower speed range should be used for higher torque applications. The maximum (no-load) low speed setting has been reduced between 3rd and 4th generation drills, from 550 to 500 RPM, a difference of 10%. The maximum torque increased from 1200 to 1400 in-lbs, a difference of 16.7%. The maximum high speed has also increased from 2000 to 2100 RPM, a difference of 5%.

From my conversations with a Milwaukee product manager at last year’s media event, there are differences beyond what you can see in the technical specs. For the latest model, the tool’s endurance has been improved compared to previous models.

Basically, you can push it harder than you could with earlier models, without overheating the tool as easily or quickly. Can it still overheat? Probably, but I have not heard any complaints about this so far.

Here’s a look inside the latest generation M18 Fuel hammer drill (2904) and impact driver (2953).

Part of the greater endurance comes from improved thermal dissipation, with the internal heatsink over the electronics package having been completely redesigned.

The 4th generation model also has more ventilation holes around the motor housing. It seems logical that more airflow would mean greater cooling.

Additionally, Milwaukee went back to a mechanical clutch for the latest model. I have found cordless drills with adjustable mechanical clutches to provide more consistent and repeatable torque than those with electronic clutches, especially with smaller fasteners.

It’s okay to take a step backwards – I see this as an upgrade.

Milwaukee reduced the length of the M18 Fuel hammer drills for the first three generations, from 8.1 inches to 7.75 inches and then 6.9 inches.

While the 4th generation model isn’t any more compact than its direct predecessor, it does deliver higher torque and a faster top speed.

If you want a smaller or lighter drill, look at the new M18 compact brushless drills, or maybe the M12 line.

The 4th generation M18 Fuel hammer drill is a significant upgrade compared to 1st and 2nd generation models.

Compared to the 3rd generation model, the latest flagship drill can deliver more torque, higher maximum speed, has greater endurance, and in my opinion an improved chuck.

There are modest upgrades in what you can see in a list of technical specs, such as the max torque and high speed range, and significant differences in what you can’t – most notably the AutoStop anti-kickback tech, greater endurance, and return to a mechanical clutch.

I have tested all of the models, and really like the 4th generation hammer drill. I have mainly used it for drilling larger holes in wood, but have also it to drill in steel and packed soil, and drive fasteners. It delivers – in my opinion so far – a very polished user experience. I have zero complaints about its power, size, or comfort.

Milwaukee has upgraded their M18 Fuel hammer drill every 3 to 4 years since the first one launched in 2012. With that in mind, it might be late 2025 or maybe 2026 before we see the next iteration. Frankly, I can’t imagine what types of upgrades a 5th generation model could offer.

The 4th generation model, 2904, is as good as it gets.

Compared to the previous model, I think the newest Milwaukee M18 Fuel hammer drill is definitely a worthwhile upgrade. Hopefully I provided you with enough details to answer the question for yourself.

At the time of this posting, Home Depot has a very good deal bundle, where you get the hammer drill, 2x M18 Li-ion batteries, and a charger for $199 – the same price as for the tool-only option.

Related Posts:

Milwaukee M18 Cordless Drill/Driver Comparison Chart (2021) Best Milwaukee Cordless Drills & Comparisons (2023) New Milwaukee Cordless Power Tools for 2020 – Pipeline Rundown 1

Are you considering a new Milwaukee cordless drill? Hopefully we’ll make things clearer, and with as little fluff as possible.

While it is a bit easier to navigate Milwaukee’s selection of cordless drills than many other cordless power tool brands’, it can still be daunting for anyone who isn’t intimately familiar with all of the latest models.

Milwaukee has introduced 8 new models in the two years since I last wrote up a quick comparison, and so an update was due.

There are plenty of Milwaukee cordless drill buying guides out there, but I haven’t seen a single one that would actually help me if I were researching a purchase.

So, I’m approaching this post as if I were an end user looking to make sense of all of Milwaukee’s different cordless drill offerings for the first time.

After going over some comparisons and specs, I’ll offer my recommendations on the best Milwaukee cordless drills for different user requirements, or rather what I’d purchase for my own needs depending on what I’m looking for.

Please let me know if you feel there’s something missing that could help make this buying guide better, and also if you would like the same approach applied to different brands or types of tools.

Milwaukee Cordless Drill Torque and Speed Comparison Chart

Most tool users will start off their research by looking at a cordless drill’s maximum torque rating. The comparison chart above shows the maximum torque, and maximum no-load speeds.

All of Milwaukee’s M12 and M18 cordless drills have 2 speed settings – low and high – and I feel it’s important to see how torque and speed compare between various models.

How to Read the Graphs

In the graphs featured on this page, above and below, the vertical y-axis values on the left corresponds to the maximum torque values for Milwaukee’s different cordless drill models, and the values on the right correspond to the maximum speed range values.

If this is your first time seeing a two-axis chart, note that the scales are different. The vertical y-axis labels are also color-coded to help guide you.

Basically, compare red to red and blue to blue. The numbers for the torque specs are on the left, and speed specs on the right.

Model numbers and basic differentiating details are on the horizontal x-axis.

The First Two Decisions to Make

If you want the highest torque and performance possible, there’s one clear choice. If you’re looking for a cordless drill for light to mid duty use, that’s where you get a lot of overlapping options and tough decisions to make.

The first decision you need to make – or have already made – is whether you want an M18 cordless drill, or M12. The M18 drills are great choices for most users, and the M12 are great choices where tool size, weight, and cost are higher priorities over speed and power.

Milwaukee’s M18 cordless drills operate at 18V nominal voltage, and the M12 drills operate at 12V Max, or 10.8V nominal voltage, with the same being true for competing brands’ offerings.

Milwaukee M18 Cordless Drills

There are 7 models of M18 cordless drills, plus 2 more One-Key models (more on those below).

2606 – This brushed motor drill is most commonly available as part of high-value combo kits that are popular with DIYers, homeowners, and possibly tradespeople and pros on a very limited budget.

2607 – Although technically still available, the hammer drill version of the 2606 is increasingly rare to come across these days. I see no reason to discuss it further.

3601/3602 – Milwaukee recently announced these two new M18 compact brushless models, a drill/driver (3601) and hammer drill (3602).

As an aside, cordless drills and hammer drills are both considered drill/drivers, but it seems unnecessary to write out “drill/driver” or “hammer drill/driver” every time. A lot of tool users delegate fastening tasks to impact drivers, but the repeatability of a drill with adjustable torque clutch is still very hard to beat.

The 3601 looks to be replacing the 2801, which has been a highly well-regarded compact brushless drill in the years since it launched.

2902 – This hammer drill fills the gap between the compact brushless drills and M18 Fuel heavy duty models. With Milwaukee now having launched a compact brushless hammer drill, the 2902 seems almost unnecessary.

2903/2904 – These are Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel flagship models – their best drills with the latest tech and features. The hammer drill (2904) is more popular and featured in more sales, promotions, and combo kits.

The 2606 (and 2607 hammer drill) are older tech. As mentioned above, they’re included in high value combo kits, but they can be safely ignored. If you’re looking just to buy a cordless drill, you get much more with Milwaukee’s compact brushless drills, and often at lower prices too.

The outgoing M18 compact brushless drill (2801) is a strong performer and great value. It’s not shown here as it’s seemingly being replaced by the new 3601.

There’s a single battery promo kit version, model 2801-21P, that has been regularly discounted to $99 seasonally. Hopefully the same will be true for the new 3601 model.

As mentioned, the M18 Fuel drill (2903) and hammer drill (2904) are Milwaukee’s flagship models. These are Milwaukee’s best and highest-performing cordless drills. If you’re simply looking for Milwaukee’s best cordless drill – the 2904 is what you want.

I should add that the M18 Fuel drills have an AutoStop feature, an anti-kickback technology designed to help prevent twisting injuries that can happen when a drill binds or jams.

All of the weights are tool-only specs.

If you want to narrow things down quickly, I’d say look at the M18 compact brushless drill, model 3601 (or outgoing 2801 if you’re in a hurry), or the M18 Fuel brushless hammer drill, model 2904. I’d say that these two models will serve most users’ needs.

M18 Cordless Drills with One-Key

Milwaukee recently launched new One-Key versions of their M18 Fuel cordless drill and hammer drill.

The One-Key models, 2905 for the drill/driver and 2906 for the hammer drill, are nearly identical to the 2903 and 2904 drills, but with app-based customizations.

Most notably, the One-Key versions give you more control over the AutoStop anti-kickback tech, as well as customizable speed settings.

Milwaukee M12 Cordless Drills

2407 – Milwaukee’s M12 brushed motor drill is a bit long in the tooth, but still delivers solid performance. It’s a decent value-choice and is included in a couple of seasonal “special buy” kits and combo kits.

2408 – The brushed motor hammer drill isn’t widely available, but it’s still around.

3403/3404 – Milwaukee’s flagship M12 Fuel cordless drill (3403) and hammer drill (3404) are an improvement over the previous generation. They offer a great balance between power and size. The hammer drill is more widely available and included in more discounts and promos.

2505 – The M12 Fuel 4-in-1 drill/driver is a problem-solver that comes with different attachments for drilling holes and accessing fasteners in tight or awkward locations.

If you’re set on an M12 cordless drill, the choices are easy. The 2407 is still a decent budget pick, the M18 Fuel hammer drill (3404) is the performance pick – and often included in deal bundles and promos – and the 2505 is the “you’ll know if you need it” specialty option.

Best Milwaukee Cordless Drill for Power Users

Do you want the do-it-all cordless drill? Go for the Milwaukee M18 Fuel hammer drill, model 2904.

You might be thinking “but I don’t really need the hammer drill functionality.” I get it – I’m the same way; I prefer cordless drills to hammer drills where there’s a meaningful difference.

However, there’s not much difference here, and good reasons to look at the hammer drill over the non-hammer drill.

If the hammer drill is any longer, it’s by a rounding error, and it’s less than 1/10 of a pound heavier. There’s no obvious downside anymore.

The drill/driver (2903) is $10 less for the tool-only, and the same for the 2-battery kit. But, there are many more opportunities to score the hammer drill at a discount.

The 2pc combo kit with a hammer drill and impact driver is a popular way to get Milwaukee’s latest and greatest drilling and driving tech.

At the time of this posting, Home Depot has a promo bundle where you can get the tool-only M18 Fuel hammer drill with a bonus charger, 5Ah battery, and 2Ah battery. The tool-only drill/driver is regularly $189, and the tool-only hammer drill is $199. But here, you get the hammer drill, 2x batteries, and a charger, for $199.

Do you see what I mean about how the M18 Fuel hammer drill is worth looking at over the drill/driver, even if you don’t plan on drilling into masonry materials?

Best Milwaukee Cordless Drill Where Size Matters

Milwaukee did a great job with their latest M12 Fuel cordless hammer drill, model 3404.

It’s compact, powerful enough for most light to medium duty tasks, and comfortable to use (at least in my opinion). These are Milwaukee’s best M12 Fuel cordless drills to date.

As with the M18 Fuel drills, the M12 Fuel hammer drill (3404) is featured in more deals and promos than the non-hammer drill (3403). If you just want a cordless drill without hammer function, you can save $10.

Personally, I tend to favor compact 18V-class cordless drills over the M12 Fuel, as the nature of how M12 batteries attach to the drill makes the handle thicker. I feel that the ergonomics have gotten better with each revision, and it’s hard to argue with the small size and light weight of these drills.

The M12 Fuel hammer drill can be a good one-and-only compact drill, or a complement to a higher power 18V-class model.

Milwaukee makes it highly compelling for tool users to upgrade to the latest M12 Fuel hammer drill and brushless impact driver at the same time.

If you’re interested in the Milwaukee M12 Fuel hammer drill, you might want to consider the 2pc hammer drill and impact driver combo kit for just $20 more.

Best Milwaukee Cordless Drill for Most Casual Users

The new Milwaukee 3601 and 3602 M18 compact brushless drill and hammer drill are expected to launch in late summer 2023, and so I have not been able to test them yet.

However, they build upon the previous generations of Milwaukee’s M18 compact brushless drills – tools that I have been especially fond of over the years – and so I am very optimistic that they’ll perform at least on-par if not better.

The new models compare well against the last generation with respect to power and speed, and are more compact.

Here’s a quick comparison:

If you can wait, I think this will be the model for most casual users to get, as it offers a balance between power, size, and cost.

Best Value Milwaukee Cordless Drill

I fully expect for the new 3601 to also be the new best value pick.

Milwaukee’s cordless drill kits always feature 2 batteries, except for special promotional kits that are sold as seasonal special buys.

Shown here is the 3601-21P, which is the upcoming compact brushless drill kit with a 2Ah battery, charger, and tool bag.

There’s no guarantee it’ll be discounted to the same low price point as the previous generation model, but I’m hoping it will. (Home Depot is currently showing the promo kit at $99 but out of stock, all but confirming that my optimism won’t lead to disappointment.)

In the meantime, if you can’t wait, the 2801-21P promo kit is still a great bargain at $99.

Best Milwaukee Cordless Drill for Working in Tight Spots

Milwaukee’s M12 Fuel installation drill/driver is a convenient and versatile problem-solver.

With the drill chuck attached, it’s a fairly compact drill. (The length listed in the specs table above is for the tool-only.)

Or you can add a quick-change chuck, right angle adapter, or offset adapter to drill or drive around obstacles or in corners and tight spaces. The drill chuck can be attached to the right angle adapter as well.

As mentioned above, this is a “you’ll know if you need it” type of drill. If you’re on the fence, keep track of all the types of tasks and applications you’d use it for, and wait for the next deal bundle or sale.

It has an adjustable torque clutch, which makes it a convenience option for driving fasteners to repeatable depths.

I tend to use it more for driving fasteners than drilling holes, but your needs and habits might be different..

The design takes a little getting used to, but I think it’s worth it.

Some users don’t like the style or placement of the electronic direction control switch, but I have not found it to be a problem.

Where to Get the Best Deals

A lot of buying guides point to listings at Amazon and Walmart as places to buy Milwaukee drills and other cordless power tools, but neither are authorized dealers for the brand. Most 3rd party listings are from resellers who shop the same retail sales and deals you can.

Acme Tools, Home Depot, Ohio Power Tool, and Tool Nut are recommended sources for Milwaukee tools.

You can sometimes get great discounts on drill kits, but a lot of the time the best deals are on bundle or combo offerings.

I included some shopping tips in the post, such as how the hammer drill versions can be better buys than the non-hammer model drills. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Reader Recommendations?

I covered what I’d pick and why – I narrowed it down to the M12 and M18 Fuel hammer drills, the M18 compact brushless drill, and the M12 Fuel 4-in-1 installation drill/driver.

I put together the information I’d find helpful when shopping for a drill, and would appreciate any feedback.

Do you agree with these recommendations? What would you pick differently?

Related Posts:

Milwaukee M18 Cordless Drill/Driver Comparison Chart (2021) 5 Reasons You Need the Milwaukee M12 Surge Hydraulic Impact Driver New Milwaukee Cordless Power Tools for 2020 – Pipeline Rundown 1

Makita has finally launched an XGT cordless jig saw, model JV001G, which from the product specs looks to outperform their 18V model.

The new Makita XGT cordless jig saw features a brushless motor, barrel-style grip, variable speed dial, and 3 orbital settings.

At this time, only a barrel grip model has been announced, and there is no indication as to if or when a D-handle jig saw might be released.

Features & Specs

• 800 – 3500 SPM (strokes per minute)
• 26mm stroke length
• Bevels 45° left and right
• Soft start with disabling function
• Wider base plate for less wobbling
• Twin LED lights
• Tool-free blade clamp
• Weighs 1.91 kg (~4.21 lbs) tool-only
• 84 dB(A) noise level

Makita’s 18V brushless jig saw model (DJV181Z overseas, XVJ01Z in USA), is advertised as delivering up to 390W of continuous rating input. The new XGT model is said to deliver a continuous rating input of 700W. The18V model is slightly quieter with a 78 dB(A) noise rating.

Note: Makita lists the top speed as 3000 SPM in some places, and 3500 SPM in others. I would assume that 3500 SPM is correct, to match the max speed of the 18V model.

I would think this difference in power – 700W vs 390W – might deliver improved performance or faster application speeds under heavier loads, similar to what Makita advertises for their XGT cordless router compared to their 18V model.

Makita USA has failed to bring many XGT cordless power tools to the USA market in a timely manner – and sometimes at all. Because of that, there is uncertainty as to whether the XGT jig saw will launch in the USA, or when.

For example, Makita came out with an XGT cordless brad nailer more than 2 years ago, but it still isn’t available here in the USA.

Overseas, there’s also a new cordless power station and USB charger, cordless microwave, USB-C charger with LED light, and others.

Makita USA blacklisted ToolGuyd (again) without any explanation – seemingly after we reported on their numerous price hikes and recent company-wide layoffs – and so there’s no one to ask about potential USA availability.

Related Posts:

Makita XGT Cordless Track Saw (36V/40V Max) First Look New Dewalt Brushless Circular Saw (DCS565B) with 6-1/2″ Blade!? Ryobi Launches New 18V Cordless Sliding Miter Saw, PBT01B