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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
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    Adelaide
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    Default Cordless power tools ( from 2018 )

    A little while back I bought an Xchange cordless angle grinder for $49, cheap as chips! I already have a circular saw, LED, Drill and impact driver in the Xchange brand, all brushed bar the drill, all have been super cheap and all work well, very well. The grinder has soft start, a reasonably easy to use switch and plenty of power. If I had to pick something in the Xchange range it would probably be battery life, batteries seem to go flat fairly quickly.and also the drills chuck, which despite being all steel and feeling and looking 'quality' has a great propensity to come undone., All in all, all the Xchange tools I have, for the money, are extremely good value, being robust, well made and have good warranty length.

    Now we all know that cheap tools are rubbish, and only rubbish people buy them, right? Well, I haven't stuck strictly to cheap cordless tools, I have also a small suite of Milwaukee: M18 hammer drill, M12 drill driver, Hackzall, jig saw and an M12 rotary tool. Again, all have been great, but of course at a price nearly four times that of the Xchange tools, so how do they compare? An unfair comparison right? based on price!

    Hang on, not really unfair at all! Despite being almost 1/4 of the price of the Milwaukee, the Xchange range are incredibly good value and are very usable tools. Ok, ok, not in the same league as the Milwaukee, but nor is the price or the intended user the range is aimed at.

    My go to drill is the M12, this is a great drill with loads of power, great ergonomics and light in weight. Its big brother the M18 hammer is a machine, I swear it could launch a rocket into space. And, if one isn't mindful, could rip your shoulder out of it's socket should circumstances be favourable. One has to be careful when using this beast.

    So if I had to pick on the Milwaukee for something, it would be the lack of a side handle for the hammer drill , or availability of, for such a powerful drill. the rotary tool is also a very battery demanding tool, going through batteries like me through ice cream! That's it! Milwaukee quality mirrors their price. Incidentally, before you object, there is a side handle available, but none that will fit my particular model. Milwaukee have a number of M18 drills, all with different specs, even one that can be set on your Iphone!

    I suppose the beauty of the Xchange range is the variety of tools available and one can have a complete suite for just a few hundred bucks.

    If I had a choice, one or the other, Milwaukee would win hands down of course. Of course my pocket would also have an obvious choice.

    For a reasonable outlay, one could have a good suite of Xchange tools for dollars numbering the hundreds. Milwaukee, on the other hand, not so much, not nearly so much.

    Longevity, obvious a glaring negative you say??? Not really, Ozito offer excellent warranties, in line with most quality tools, including batteries. Some of my Xchange tools were bought around the same time as the Milwaukees - both have been trouble free, and despite both now being out of warranty, they both continue to work well and be trouble free.

    I'm sure in the future, brushless will gradually take over and, perhaps, we may even be heading towards throw away tools when the battery is depleted.

    I'm sure, those among you who demand high quality, high cost, cordless animals will scoff and offer a plethora of examples of Xchange/Ozito failures, I can nyumber a few among my pre- Xchange tools, but then again I can number failures of quality tools among my collections, Makita figuring prominently.

    So take this offering for what it's worth, remembering the intended use and cost factored in. I'm very pleased with both my Milwaukees and my Xchange tools, both offer good value when factoring in cost, use, ergonomics, power, quality of build. Indeed the Xchange seems, in some ways, to borrow from Milwaukee design.

    Before you write the brushless Xchange off as a cheap, gutless tool, next time you're in Bunnings clamp the chuck with your hand and pull the trigger - you may be surprised!

    Technology is evolving very rapidly with regard to cordless tools, one day, even Milwaukee may be affordable???

    Best regards:

    Thomas Ozito Milwaukee.
    Last edited by Grahame Collins; 25th Mar 2020 at 01:45 PM. Reason: Spelling error

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
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    Melbourne
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    35
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    Default

    I also had ruled cordless angle grinders off completely after a bad experience but a friend lent me one and they are actually extremely handy. Shred batteries but are so useful.

  3. #3
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Perth
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    Default

    I have a highly mobile angle grinder - it's a corded grinder and a Honda genset.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    18

    Default

    I should ad, the M18 angle grinder is superb to use. My three corded angle grinders were pretty much retired when I bought the Xchange, now I have an M18 as well, they may well find their way on to Gumtree.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2011
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    Murray Bridge S Aust.
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    Where I help out, we have 2 sets of cordless Dewalt grinders, drivers and drills, didn't particularly like them initially, but they like a woman, grow on you.
    Biggest problem is that in the evening, someone forgets to charge the batteries.
    I now have a Milwaulkee 18V cordless drill and driver, plus some other cordless drills, a bosch and a no name branded drill.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
    Location
    Adelaide
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    18

    Default

    I should ad my Bosch IXO. These cop a bit of criticism for not having adjustable torque. Bosch make various attachments for the IXO, ever a pepper grinder thingy, I don't have that but I do have the adjustable torque head and right angle head. Hardly ever used the torque head but the right angle head is brilliant, lets you get in to tight spots.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
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    lillimur
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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW9tlkdt5ns
    Milwaukee seem to be quite powerfull
    John

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
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    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
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    72
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    I went the Ryobi route with their 18V range.... I was given a 2-speed drill for Christmas maybe 6 years ago, and have since added a 1/2" rattle gun, an angle grinder, a reciprocating saw, a brushless drill (the beast - it breaks 1/2" drills if you jam them!), and most recently a brushless 10" (250mm) chainsaw.
    The key for heavier duty tools are the batteries. I now have 4 x 5Ahr batteries, and they last extremely well.
    The chainsaw is an eye-opener: I will happlily cut the full depth of the bar - and I've cut off a 500mm diameter ironbark log to test it. No hesitation! When I get firewood, I take it with me and cut up all the branches less than 250mm diameter to size and only use a petrol chainsaw for bigger stuff.
    Amazing tools since high output current lithium batteries became commodity.
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
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    Revesby - Sydney Australia
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    Refreshing this old thread because I am having trouble deciding which cordless range to buy into. I mainly need the trio of drill, 1/4" impact driver & grinder, although 1/2" impact might also be handy.


    So far, I have only inherited old rubbishy cordless drills (GMC 12v nicad, GMC 14v nicad, old Ozito 18V which replaced the first one I wore out). I have thought about putting old laptop LiIon batteries in the GMCs, but probably shouldn't waste the time. Basically, upgrading to any drill with a mechanical 2speed gearbox would be 300% better!


    • Have borrowed/used AEG (brushed drill, driver & grinder) and been happy,
      except that they seem a Bunnings only thing (unless I import Ridgid from the USA?).
    • Used borrowed Ozito Xchange a few times. Like the small size, but worry about longevity.
    • Makita tools seem OK. Hate their chargers (have repaired a few that tradies have killed by dropping them). Like the advanced settings on their top of range impact drivers - tek screw, wood screw and nut unscrewing functions!
    • Went to Bunnings a few times, and the Bosch blue salesman was there. Some amazing features on their angle grinders, and the combined 1/4" 1/2" impact is cool.
    • Ryobi One+ and DeWalt leave me a bit cold.
    • Someone else recommended Milwaukee. I have only used an M12 impact.



    To try and decide what to buy, I have created a few comparison tables. First, the batteries:

    18V Battery type W'ty 1.5Ah 2Ah 2.5Ah 3Ah 4Ah 5Ah 6Ah 8Ah 9Ah 12Ah prices from Batt. gauge
    AEG Pro or FORCE 3 yr $99 $129 $159 $189 $209 Bunnings Yes
    Bosch GBA $119 $139 ($199 w charger) $149 $179 Bunnings & TotalTools Yes
    Bosch Procore 6 yr $158 $219 $269 TotalTools Yes
    Makita $79 $99 $119 $139 $169 TotalTools 3Ah & larger
    Milwaukee $90 $92 $118 $139 $160 $186 $219 $230 TotalTools
    Ozito $35 $69 $99 Bunnings
    Ryobi One $74 $149 $169 $199 Bunnings

    (Ozito by far the cheapest, assuming their ratings aren't lying). Next, tools:

    18V Tool type W'ty Impact Driver Drill Hammer Drill Angle Grinder Circular Saw Multitool Planer Router Comments
    AEG 6 yr 125mm 9000rpm 165mm, 54 deep Tool-free blade change, changeable heads 82mm wide All metal chucks
    AEG brushless oil pulse,
    or 3 speed
    Some with metal gears 125mm 11000rpm,
    or 180/230mm (2batt)
    184mm, 3800rpm 60mm deep
    or 5600rpm 68 deep
    Also 82mm wide
    AEG FUSION 6 modes
    (BSS1886-0)
    Metal gears,
    carbide chuck inserts
    125mm 11000rpm
    Bosch blue 6 yr 2 gears 125mm 136mm metal 50 deep.
    165mm, 57 deep
    Bosch
    brushless
    3 power modes
    Metal gears,
    anti-kickback
    125mm, 9000rpm,
    anti kickback & drop
    Some only 2 year warranty 82mm wide,
    1.6 deep. Grooved
    Optional Bluetooth
    Makita
    (LXT?)
    3 yr normal or 90° normal or 90° 10mm 115mm 10000rpm 136mm metal 50 deep electric brake.
    165mm 57 deep
    Makita brushless up to 6 modes
    (DTD170Z),
    oil pulse models
    125mm 8500rpm
    or 180mm twin batt.
    Electric brake, anti kickback
    165mm 5000rpm electric brake,
    right or left hand, twin batt. version

    I haven't bothered with DeWalt/MilWaukee/Ozito. If anyone wants me to, I will add/maintain this table.


    Oh, 12V. I was amazed that their drills are all 2gear'd!

    12V Tool type W'ty Impact Driver Drill Hammer Drill Angle Grinder Circular Saw Multitool Planer Router
    AEG 6 yr 10mm, 2 gears Tool-free blade change, changeable heads 82mm wide
    Bosch 6 yr 2 power modes 10mm, 2 gears 76mm 85mm,
    26.5 deep
    Starlock, brushless, constant speed 56mm wide,
    2mm deep
    6mm, 1/4”, 8mm, brushless
    Makita
    (CXT or Max)
    3 yr some with 2 gears Normal or 90° models 10mm, 2 gears 85mm,
    12.5 deep

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
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    Revesby - Sydney Australia
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    So, where does that leave me, other than more confused?


    1) I'm open to advice/opinion.
    e.g. Some salesmen say brushless is nearly 100% extra runtime. How true?


    2) New AEG set, or secondhand Bosch, are affordable in brushless.
    (new Bosch kits tend to have lots of big batteries, which push up the price a lot)


    3) If I wanted to be really cheap, Makita 18V. They have been around so long that the second-hand market has some good prices (hopefully not stolen). Plus, there are cheap Chinese clones of some tools. e.g. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Cordless...Z/264505923969


    4) My AEG-wielding friend also has a number of Ozito Xchange, for when the AEGs are too powerful & heavy!
    I think that says a lot about tools. No "one size fits all?"

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    South of Adelaide
    Posts
    1,225

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    I have had a makita 18v drill for about 6-7 years at home, i have given it bit of a flogging and it is still going strong.
    At work we have milwakee and it gets completely abused and has out lasted the other brands we have tried, and as i need new stuff at home i will be transitioning to them. they are a bit dearer so may be outside your budget.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
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    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
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    I bought Makita because when I worked at Holden's, they used them on the assembly line. I figure if it is good enough for buidling cars with...
    These days I continue with Makita because of the range - I can use the same battery in a line trimmer, impact driver, drill, blower, torch and so on. I'm even mulling over the battery lawn mower.

    I did have a Bosch battery drill once and while it was alright, I would not have rated it any better than Makita.

    Bear in mind too that cordless angle grinders are an occasional use tool that will flatten batteries really quickly for what seems like only a little grinding. If you can get a combo then it may be worth doing but I would not buy a new one on it's lonesome. Worth visiting the power tool websites. Makita have promotional deals all the time where you get a free something if you buy the right other bits. The other brands probably do something similar.

    Michael

  13. #13
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
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    We currently use DeWalt cordless tools, 1/2" impact 2 grinders, 2 drivers and 2 drills, no real dramas with them except one of the drills has a cracked case, when someone who we can't blame, tried to use a 1" drill bit in a 1/2" chucked battery drill.
    They cop a real hammering, batteries seem to last a reasonable amount of time on them.
    I run Milwaukee 18V 5 amp at home drill and driver, and run 12V 2 amp at work, on a pop rivet gun, 3/8" drive ratchet and soldering iron.
    The boss just got a quote on Milwaukee 12V stuff, so it looks like he must like my tools!!!
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Location
    Nagambie vic
    Posts
    22

    Default Cordless power tools..

    I have all Aeg tools and for my diy jobs it’s great. The brushless oil pulse impact driver is an animal with lots of grunt. I compared it to a standard Aeg impact driver in my local Bunnings drilling a 25mm spade bit into a piece of pine and it was much faster to drill. Aeg often do free batteries on redemption if you buy a new skin, I recently bought a cordless blower for about $230 and got a 6ah battery via redemption. We use 18v Milwaukee cordless at work on the farm I work at where it gets used and abused. Milwaukee tools seem to last longer between charges and have lots of power, you can lean on the 125mm angle grinder and it barely slows down at all. The 1/2” Rattle gun can do up trailer wheel nuts that are too tight to undo by hand, we often need a breaker bar to crack the nuts loose.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Newcastle
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    341

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    In very happy with my Bosch brushless drill and driver (can't remember model number, was to of the line at the time).

    Not sure I would buy into the Bosch system at the moment now that it's sold through Bunnings only.

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