Hello,
what are your preferences if it comes to the best power tools on the American market. Here are brands that are known for making high quality power tools (I can’t recall more brands), which ones are your favourites? And maybe you are able to arrange them by their reputation/quality.
GERMAN:
– AEG (currently part of Techtronic Industries, Hongkong)
– Bosch
– Fein
– Festool (makes all tools in Germany)
– Flex
– Hilti (actually it is headquartered in Liechtenstein)
– Metabo
JAPANESE:
– Hitachi
– Makita
– Ryobi (currently part of Techtronic Industries, Hongkong)
AMERICAN:
– Emerson (Ridgid)
– Stanley Black & Decker (Porter Cable, DeWalt)
– Milwaukee (currently part of Techtronic Industries, Hongkong)
There are also three American companies that make high-end tools but they specialize mostly in hand tools however they make power tools as well, these are: MAC Tools, Matco and Snap-on.
Replies
Greetings
For a carpenter, I don't think from personal experience (early 70's - ) that you can isolate your purchases to just one brand. While early on I could easily say Rockwell/porter cable or Milwaukee. But no longer. I have besides my original Rockwell circ. saws, drill motors, and belt sander, Milwaukee sawzall, drywall screw gun, added Hilti, Bosch, Festool, PC, and Fein.
Each too that is the best might come from a different manufacturer, and some may not even exist anymore.
I don't think you can lock on to any specific brand (unless you're famous and can do endorsements that are brand specific) and satisfy your need for the best tool for the job.
I have no Makita, Dewalt (except for a small compressor), Ryobi or Rigid.
But then again, I'm old and backward.
If you want the right answers, you need to ask the right questions.
NO ONE makes everything - let alone the BEST of everything. Your question is unfair to all the niche suppliers, the ones you find at particular supply houses.
Even with a 'common' tool, such as an angle grinder, there are slight differences that will lead one man to chose a certain model, while someone else will choose another.
There's a role for even 'pros' to use 'generic' tools. Admit it: the $40 tool on the truck beats the pants off the $400 one left at the supply house.
Finally, there's something to be said abour service and availability. While I might be able to make one heck of a case for Facom - lots of luck finding a dealer on this side of the Pyrenees!
OK, so the right question is: Which companies make HIGH-END power tools? Of course we can not call (for example) Craftsman power tools 'high-end'. I listed brands that are known for making very good and not cheap tools, however for instance Makita tools, even though they are rated highly, are twice as cheap as Festool or Fein tools. The term "high-end" stands for expansive and of high quality. I missed Protool and Mafell in the first post. IMHO only most of German tools can be called "high-end" because both Japanese and American power tools are much cheaper...
No one is best.
I have 2 or 3 of just about every tool. I used to go by brand but that is changed. An example is my multi tool. I have always regarded Dremel as a good brand. I bought their multi tool and it has died within 2 months. I intend to replace it with the Fein multi tool even though the Fein cost about 3 times what the Dremel did.
I believe, rightly or wrongly, that most manufactured tools are designed to self destruct so that suckers like me will come back and buy the latest and greatest.
Different makers make the best of one thing
I'm with everyone else. Each tool I own is there for a reason. It's the best I could get and I've learned to use them all well.
I only own one circular saw and it's a skil mag77. Call me what you will but I can do anything a sidewinder can do and more with this one saw.
Milwaukee still makes the best reciprocating saw. Their drills are pretty good too. I have the 18 volt LI impact/hammer drill and use it all the time. Also have the 1/2" corded hammer drill.
Porter Cable makes a respectable router kit with plunge and fixed base, 2 1/2 hp. I do a lot with it... Also have a PC random orbital sander. Recently picked up their 23 ga. pin gun. It's really nice on trim returns and little stuff.
Bosch jig saw and 4 x 24" belt sander, a true horse but can also be finessed.
Makita 10" sliding compound miter saw. Damn good saw...
Dewalt 10" table saw on a stand. The rack and pinion fence on this thing is outstanding...
so you see, it's a hodge podge of brands. I'm tool loyal, not brand loyal.
What the other guys said.
It's a moving target.... who makes the best tool today may not tomorrow. You've got to be prepared to do the research on the tool you need, when you need it.
Ya left out Chicago Electric <G>
FWIW, my best electric power tools are Sioux and >30 year old B&D, picked up at thrift stores or garage sales.
Not sure, but dont think Sioux makes elec tools anymore, just pneumatic for snapon. As for B&D, might as well be ,,,,
wow
ya know I have what is available to me ,and what can be easily serviced, when i bought my makita and dewalt mitre saws there was no festool dealer near ,so to me they are high end
when i bought my makita table saws there was no fancy portables like now days so to me high end
circ saw dewalt makes me money works everyday ,high end to me
compressors dewalt and (campbell hausfeld 14 years old still works great high end to me )
I could go on, but why go 4 hours out of your way to buy somthing for twice the cost ,you have to work twice as long to pay for it and servicing is a chore
so what i own makes me money and works all the time so high end to me, maybe junk to others but they over charge for their high end tools .
sorry I charge alot more cuz my tools cost alot more ,and they do the work and i just have to watch ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haha
I just buy good blades for my junk saws they seem to work
oh and I have a makita ls 1011 mitre saw still works like it was new .so this is very high end to me
I bought a new milwauke cordless drill does not work pos to me
you are what you eat