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I noticed at the most recent Milwaukee power tools event that they’re really going all in on specialist tools. This is a strong signal that they’re going to con

I noticed at the most recent Milwaukee power tools event that they’re really going all in on specialist tools. This is a strong signal that they’re going to continue to cream the competition because irrational or not, people end up preferring a single battery platform, it’s not guaranteed they’ll stick to one brand for future power tool purchases but it’s extremely sticky. The Milwaukee battery power tool ecosystem started off being better than the competition by having better battery technology on the market sooner. Now they’re going all in on diversification of specialist tools. Should i buy a dewalt or makita or bosch battery power tool knowing that i can add other common tools in future or should i go Milwaukee and enjoy better battery choices, and a far far wider selection of power tools for future purchases? If i hadn’t started out with team blue, I’d be buying team red. I might switch when i need to replace batteries next.

stacktrust 4y ago
Are there adapters to migrate between some battery platforms?
- londons_explore 4y ago
  DRM is coming to batteries to prevent such adaptors.
- sbierwagen 4y ago
  Yes. But for certain vendors and voltages it can make the tool much more bulky: the Milwaukee 12v is cylindrical and inserts into the grip while Dewalt 12 is rectangular, etc.
  - GuB-42 4y ago
    Not only that but is would add an extra failure point. Hand tools are made for rough use, and I certainly wouldn't want a flimsy adapter between my tool and battery. And I am just a home gamer. I can't imagine a pro whose living depends on reliable tools rely on hacks like these. These guys buy absurdly expensive Hilti tools because this is a brand they can count on, they can spend a couple hundred bucks on a pair of proper batteries.
- einr 4y ago
  For 18V tools, Makita seems to be the safest bet since they have used the same battery standard since 2005. There are adapters for Makita batteries to every other brand readily available on eBay/AliExpress etc.
bradly 4y ago
> I noticed at the most recent Milwaukee power tools event that they’re really going all in on specialist tools. I hope this means a Domino and proper track saw competitor in the works.
- rvbissell 4y ago
  Milwaukee 18v track saw: https://www.protoolreviews.com/milwaukee-m18-fuel-cordless-plunge-cut-track-saw-review/ https://www.protoolreviews.com/milwaukee-m18-fuel-cordless-p...
- zihotki 4y ago
  Domino is patented at the moment. But the patent expires very soon, in 2024 or so since the first domino jointer appeared in 2004. Soon after that similar devices should appear from many manufacturers, even China brands could join the fun.
bluGill 4y ago
Dewalt seems to have at least as good a catalog of battery powered stuff. Things change all the time, a few years ago I settled on dewalt because I needed a chainsaw and Milwaukee didn't have one: now they do, but too late as i'm invested in dewalt batteries.
- hinkley 4y ago
  The usual advice is to figure out which tool you need the most, and pick the brand that has one of the best, then buy other devices in that line as you need them, to reuse the batteries and chargers. For me it was drills, and maybe circular saws, and Milwaukee was top on the former and top three on the latter at the time, so that’s what I went with. If I’d been more into saws or hand routers, I might have gone with Makita. Mind you, this was around when their second or third generation M18 line came out, which was quite a bit better than the other things on offer. Today that has likely all shifted around two or three times.
  - bluGill 4y ago
    Dewalt and Milwaukee both make great tools. You won't go wrong choosing either, so long as they make the tool you need at all. I don't think you will regret Makita either, but their catalog doesn't seem as deep. Go to one of the cheaper bands (which they probably own) and you may regret it.
linsomniac 4y ago
7 years ago when I moved into my new house, I ended up getting the Porter Cable kit. Previously I had gotten DeWalt and felt like I had under utilized them. So I stepped down to the P-C. And honestly I've been super happy with them, despite having used them much more than I expected (DIYing a lot, in to the studs bathroom remodel now). One nice thing about them is I was able to get some refurb drills off ebay for $20 each, nice to have a couple spares, chuck up two bits or the like. I did destroy one clutch by mixing mortar though. Fairly limited tool selection though. I think I have almost all of them, maybe a dozen. I'm thinking of starting to switch to a new brand, just to get more tool selection. I love the Milwaukee, but I'm not sure I can justify the price for DIY use. So I'm thinking about the Ryobi One+. Lots of tools there...
shaftway 4y ago
Why is it irrational to prefer a single battery platform? I try to keep all my tools Milwaukee because I know I have batteries for them, the tool-only package is cheaper, and I don't have to find the right charger. I got a few tools that I needed before there was a Milwaukee version and now I'm slowly swapping them for the Milwaukee version. The latest was a Metabo pin nailer. The Metabo one is slow (it needs to build up some compression when you try to fire the nail), it breaks the nail strips, it jams about every 30th nail requiring disassembly, and the anti-dry fire mechanism kicks in with ~15 nails left. The Milwaukee version is better in almost every single way (the only exception is that Metabo's safety ensures the tip is pressed against something; Milwaukee has a dual trigger safety).
- CraigJPerry 4y ago
  >> Why is it irrational to prefer a single battery platform? Cost and accessory compatability. Here's a real world example: if your 18v tools are Bosch and you want to add a track saw to your arsenal, then the Bosch track saw is excellent (it's made by Mafell) and it has the best rail system - specifically the joiners are more reliable than the Festool/Makita/others style. It'd seem a no-brainer to buy the bosch 18v track saw then? Rationally, the Festool track saw is the better purchase: it's cheaper (even allowing for purchasing 2 festool batteries + a dual charger), it has a deeper straight and bevel cut depth, and Festool tracks are a defacto standard for track accessories - accessories that would not be available to you on Bosch/Mafell style tracks.

stacktrust 4y ago

Are there adapters to migrate between some battery platforms?

londons_explore 4y ago
DRM is coming to batteries to prevent such adaptors.
sbierwagen 4y ago
Yes. But for certain vendors and voltages it can make the tool much more bulky: the Milwaukee 12v is cylindrical and inserts into the grip while Dewalt 12 is rectangular, etc.
- GuB-42 4y ago
  Not only that but is would add an extra failure point. Hand tools are made for rough use, and I certainly wouldn't want a flimsy adapter between my tool and battery. And I am just a home gamer. I can't imagine a pro whose living depends on reliable tools rely on hacks like these. These guys buy absurdly expensive Hilti tools because this is a brand they can count on, they can spend a couple hundred bucks on a pair of proper batteries.
einr 4y ago
For 18V tools, Makita seems to be the safest bet since they have used the same battery standard since 2005. There are adapters for Makita batteries to every other brand readily available on eBay/AliExpress etc.

bradly 4y ago

> I noticed at the most recent Milwaukee power tools event that they’re really going all in on specialist tools. I hope this means a Domino and proper track saw competitor in the works.

rvbissell 4y ago
Milwaukee 18v track saw: https://www.protoolreviews.com/milwaukee-m18-fuel-cordless-plunge-cut-track-saw-review/ https://www.protoolreviews.com/milwaukee-m18-fuel-cordless-p...
zihotki 4y ago
Domino is patented at the moment. But the patent expires very soon, in 2024 or so since the first domino jointer appeared in 2004. Soon after that similar devices should appear from many manufacturers, even China brands could join the fun.

bluGill 4y ago

Dewalt seems to have at least as good a catalog of battery powered stuff. Things change all the time, a few years ago I settled on dewalt because I needed a chainsaw and Milwaukee didn't have one: now they do, but too late as i'm invested in dewalt batteries.

hinkley 4y ago
The usual advice is to figure out which tool you need the most, and pick the brand that has one of the best, then buy other devices in that line as you need them, to reuse the batteries and chargers. For me it was drills, and maybe circular saws, and Milwaukee was top on the former and top three on the latter at the time, so that’s what I went with. If I’d been more into saws or hand routers, I might have gone with Makita. Mind you, this was around when their second or third generation M18 line came out, which was quite a bit better than the other things on offer. Today that has likely all shifted around two or three times.
- bluGill 4y ago
  Dewalt and Milwaukee both make great tools. You won't go wrong choosing either, so long as they make the tool you need at all. I don't think you will regret Makita either, but their catalog doesn't seem as deep. Go to one of the cheaper bands (which they probably own) and you may regret it.

linsomniac 4y ago

7 years ago when I moved into my new house, I ended up getting the Porter Cable kit. Previously I had gotten DeWalt and felt like I had under utilized them. So I stepped down to the P-C. And honestly I've been super happy with them, despite having used them much more than I expected (DIYing a lot, in to the studs bathroom remodel now). One nice thing about them is I was able to get some refurb drills off ebay for $20 each, nice to have a couple spares, chuck up two bits or the like. I did destroy one clutch by mixing mortar though. Fairly limited tool selection though. I think I have almost all of them, maybe a dozen. I'm thinking of starting to switch to a new brand, just to get more tool selection. I love the Milwaukee, but I'm not sure I can justify the price for DIY use. So I'm thinking about the Ryobi One+. Lots of tools there...

shaftway 4y ago

Why is it irrational to prefer a single battery platform? I try to keep all my tools Milwaukee because I know I have batteries for them, the tool-only package is cheaper, and I don't have to find the right charger. I got a few tools that I needed before there was a Milwaukee version and now I'm slowly swapping them for the Milwaukee version. The latest was a Metabo pin nailer. The Metabo one is slow (it needs to build up some compression when you try to fire the nail), it breaks the nail strips, it jams about every 30th nail requiring disassembly, and the anti-dry fire mechanism kicks in with ~15 nails left. The Milwaukee version is better in almost every single way (the only exception is that Metabo's safety ensures the tip is pressed against something; Milwaukee has a dual trigger safety).

CraigJPerry 4y ago
>> Why is it irrational to prefer a single battery platform? Cost and accessory compatability. Here's a real world example: if your 18v tools are Bosch and you want to add a track saw to your arsenal, then the Bosch track saw is excellent (it's made by Mafell) and it has the best rail system - specifically the joiners are more reliable than the Festool/Makita/others style. It'd seem a no-brainer to buy the bosch 18v track saw then? Rationally, the Festool track saw is the better purchase: it's cheaper (even allowing for purchasing 2 festool batteries + a dual charger), it has a deeper straight and bevel cut depth, and Festool tracks are a defacto standard for track accessories - accessories that would not be available to you on Bosch/Mafell style tracks.