Chinese Power Tools

I've bought batteries from Lidl.  On still, quiet nights the scars still show.  First one has to pass an examination by the check out to prove you REALLY do need one.  Then sign a release form in blood.  Your bank is sent a request to show sufficient funds are available. Money is exchanged.  Only then a large security man is despatched to a strong room to sign one out.  This is delivered on a green satin cushion. 

Those of us who use these things for a living, rarely use corded tools anymore.............just too much of a faff! running leads and having to keep the leads suspended up off the ground as per site safety regs (Leads laying on the ground will bring the safety Nazis out, droning on about trip hazards and electrocution risk due to potential damage to the lead)
Some time thing like magnetic drills, soldering irons, compressors, bearing heaters, welders or large grinders leave us with no choice. BUT the battery tools are so good these days.
We get over the battery charge issue by having a shit load of batteries at hand!
Even with the large angle grinders 9" are banned on most sites so 7" is as big as we can use and we rarely use them anyway as the battery 5" are so good for most jobs.
In the work shop you might see corded grinders at the fabrication bench, but not elsewhere anymore.

The el cheapo Chinese stuff can be OK for weekend warrior use (more than half of the so called "pro" brands with American sounding names and some of the Japanese sounding brands are coming out of China anyway!
The difference is in things like the balance of the tool, it will be more comfortable to hold and use for long periods, the smoothness of the variable speed control of the trigger and the overall quality of the tool.
In serious pro use the stuff like Hilti and Bosch Pro  (Boshe have 2 levels of tool the blue ones are good the green ones are handyman rubbish) just last for ever, where as the smoke eventually gets out of the Dewalt and Millwarkee stuff...........you get what you pay for.
most of you lot will be fine with the better Chinese stuff as you will never use it enough to notice the difference or to get the smoke out of it!
 

More stuff than anyone knows comes from China, some good some bad!! I'm happy with the Chinese made corded torque wrench that I have, and as it only cost £60 which equates to £5 per month is less that two coffees! So if it only lasts 12 months I'll just buy another.

I am firmly in the Ryobi camp, been using them so long that I am on my third angle grinder (they do get serious abuse cutting floor tiles and cutting up cars) and about to replace my second drill.

I have a torque wrench which has refurbished a pair of TF subframes but failed me on the O/S engine mount bolts, they now do a more powerful one. 
Other than that I have saws and pumps and jig saws and pumps and chain saws and hedge trimmers and loads of batteries and chargers and stuff, even a jet wash, I'm waiting for their jump starter pack to be on offer at under £100.

talkingcars wrote:

I am firmly in the Ryobi camp, been using them so long that I am on my third angle grinder (they do get serious abuse cutting floor tiles and cutting up cars) and about to replace my second drill.

I have a torque wrench which has refurbished a pair of TF subframes but failed me on the O/S engine mount bolts, they now do a more powerful one. 
Other than that I have saws and pumps and jig saws and pumps and chain saws and hedge trimmers and loads of batteries and chargers and stuff, even a jet wash, I'm waiting for their jump starter pack to be on offer at under £100.
 

I like Ryobi too although most of my tools are  Bosch , I got a Ryobi drill several years ago with twin battery pack when i was  changing the car park at my brother pub into decking, seating and outdoor bin storage, I also helped set up the yearly music festival with it including fitting 200 graffiti boards and it`s still going strong .