I’ve been tasked with putting together a beginner tool kit for my uncle-in-law’s stepson, who just got married and moved into their first apartment.
More specifically, I was asked if I have any extra tools laying around. I usually do, but not right now. So, it’s time to do some shopping.
First up, this should be easy – they’ll need a cordless drill. Or at least I thought it’d be easy.
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$99 is a fair price point.
We don’t know where the couple will be in the future. In an apartment or town house, space might be limited.
Is an impact driver needed? I don’t think so. For casual DIY tasks, furniture assembly, hanging shelves, cabinets, etc, a drill is fine.
There aren’t a lot of 12V-class promos right now, and so I decided to stick with 18V and 20V Max.
I might be able to find Milwaukee M12 or Bosch 12V Max promos if I wait, but both brands’ better offerings are over $100.
I also considered a Craftsman 20V Max combo for $139, but I’m firmly doubtful that an impact driver will be useful for someone moving into a rental and using tools for the first time.
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While a cordless drill should be enough, the choice of cordless system should also allow for expansion – should they need more tools in the near future.
At the time of this posting, Milwaukee’s M18 compact brushless impact driver is bundled with a standard charger, 2Ah battery, and kit bag for $99.
This Dewalt 20V Max Atomic series brushless drill is also bundled with a charger, 2Ah battery, and kit bag for $99.
So… which do I go with?
Dewalt offers more affordable expansion for DIYers. Let’s say the couple gets into refinishing furniture. There are usually promos on Dewalt’s cordless sander and brushless oscillating multi-tool.
Milwaukee’s drill strikes me as being a better tool. I have long-regarded Milwaukee’s compact brushless drills and impact drivers to be better than Dewalt’s 20V Max Atomic series drills and drivers.
But that changed with the most recent update. In addition to improving the tools, Dewalt nixed the 2x 1.3Ah batteries and replaced them with a 2Ah battery.
Both tools have comfortable handles.
If I’m buying just a cordless drill for a beginner 20-something young adult moving out of their parents’ house, I’d sooner spend $99 on the Milwaukee kit than on the Dewalt kit. Maybe.
I can’t shake the feeling that the Dewalt kit is the better buy for this particular user and usage scenario.
OR…
If we’re talking about just a cordless drill, I’d go for this Metabo HPT 18V compact brushless drill kit.
It outperforms both Dewalt and Milwaukee options with respect to speed, and beats Milwaukee on torque specs. I’m fairly confident it beats the Dewalt Atomic as well.
And, it comes with 2x 2Ah batteries.
The Metabo HPT drill kit is also $99, and for $30 more there’s a bundle with a brushless impact driver added in.
While the $129 combo kit isn’t as good as the one I bought a few years ago with a Triple Hammer impact, it’s also not a bare bones model.
Without a doubt, the Metabo HPT cordless drill kit is the better deal at the same $99 price.
My second cordless drill was a Hitachi 18V, and it was fantastic. I started ToolGuyd not too long after that.
It’s hard to say which cordless power tool brand I would have bought into if not for ToolGuyd, but I’m not sure it would have been Metabo HPT.
Oh, I’ll happily and confidently buy more HPT tools today, but would I choose it as my one and only system?
When I started this post, I was settled on Dewalt vs. Milwaukee. But do I go with Metabo HPT and get them the best drill for the money?
Before you suggest it, I also considered DIY brands such as Craftsman, Ryobi, and Skil.
This is a tough one. There’s no wrong answer, I’m just hoping that the recipient can stretch the value of the drill kit should they need additional tools in the future.
I know that I can’t go wrong either way, but I overthink things.
While still a bit stuck, I’m about ready to make a decision.
I’m leaning towards considering Milwaukee M18 as the platform choice, Metabo HPT as the “just worry about the drill” choice, and Dewalt as the best choice for this particular user.
With a maximum budget of $99, which drill would you buy for a first-time tool user. Would you opt for any of these choices, or go in a different direction entirely?
They’ll need a drill bit set too, including larger sizes for drywall anchors.
Easiest decision ever – I went with 2 Dewalt DWA1184 14pc set drill bit sets. Why 2? One for them, and one for me, as my shelf and cabinet-hanging kit needs some replacement larger-size bits.
These sets are $9.98 each. They’re good drill bits at a fantastic price. I use them for things like shelves, garden projects, and similar, and save my better (and pricier) drill bits for more precise drilling tasks.
Nathan
I’d agree only red or yellow for the drill choice. I wouldn’t look at blue green grey or teal
Being torn. I bought yellow years ago and like you said a little bit cheaper entry dollar for other tools and more bare offerings
Drill bits. Why not get that 21 PC DeWalt set for a bit more?
Stuart
This one? https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-21-Pack-Black-Oxide-Twist/dp/B079VJMH6T/?tag=toolguyd-20
It’s double the price.
I have a Dewalt 29pc index that I really like, and industrial-grade drill bits for when holes need to be precise.
A renter is going to use just a couple of drill bits; the 14pc set at $10 seems perfect to start out with.
I’m on the fence about screwdriver bits as well. So far the top choice is this Milwaukee 74pc Shockwave bit set at Home Depot for $20. It has Phillips, slotted, Torx, Hex (SAE), and Square. If I add a screwdriver handle, that covers manual and power fastening tasks.
It’s more than they need, but I’m not finding good values for less than that. If I’m spending $15 for a fraction of the bits, I might as well spend $5 more.
Matthew
For a first time on their own person that bit set is perfect because it includes the hex bits… I can’t stress enough how much time having a hex bit in a cordless driver saves with putting together furniture these days.
For the drill the thing that pushed me over the line to go yellow over red years ago was I could get the yellow tools at every store and the red at HD or some handful of professional supply houses. The red tools are more widely available these days so if I had to start over I would probably spend a lot of time holding tools to see which felt better overall.
Farkleberry
I would get the $130 Metabo HPT set. You obviously can’t beat the value. If they want to get some more basic carpentry type tools, the value is there as well, and the tools tend to be quite lightweight while still having plenty of power. They’ve finally released what is hopefully a decent multi tool as well. They obviously don’t have the range of red or yellow, but they only lack specialty tools and OPE.
An impact driver, though loud, is especially helpful for DIYers and beginners. The bits are faster and easier to take in and out, and the impacting action makes it much easier to avoid stripping out Phillips heads and questionable softer head screws often supplied with home goods. It can be bit tricky to feather the trigger while pushing hard with a drill to avoid stripping heads.
They will also need a driver bit index: Milwaukee, Dewalt, Bosch, etc. have been fine.
Lowes carries a pitiful selection of Metabo HPT, but I end up buying most tools, etc. online anyway. There is something to be said for being able to try before buying something that interfaces with your body, but I’ve found HPT to be at least as ergonomic as red and yellow. If you don’t mind people picking out your groceries, I don’t know that a brick and mortar tool buying experience is important (or convenient).
Farkleberry
When drilling pilot holes, and non self tapping screws up to about #12, leaving the drill bit in drill driver and leaving driver bit in impact driver is much more convenient than switching back and forth.
If not using pilot holes (self tapping), an impact driver is superior (for #12 and below). The impact function helps drive any type of screw easier, with less chance of breakage or stripping.
Michael
all comes down to finding the best deals..
just bought this
BOSCH GXL12V-270B22 12V Max 2-Tool Combo Kit with Chameleon for $149.00 on sale now $220+
same with my HTP cordless nailer. Great tools across the board regardless of brand but get the best deals when possible makes almost no sense to buy single tools these days when kits and packages can be found all the time.
Same with bits.. never pay full price. bogo sets etc..
ToolGuyDan
I might also give Kobalt a serious look; it seems to deliver pretty consistent value-for-money across the entire tool range.
The drill bits are a great throw-in, though I have a mild obsession with the “pilot point” variant and would probably get that, instead.
Two others things I’d consider including: some good wall anchors (Snapskru or SnapToggle are the only ones I trust), and a cheap-o universal 1/4″ bit and nut driver assortment that’ll cover all their one-off needs, like Security Torx or whatever.
Gene
I also have several cordless Kobalt tools, which I’m totally pleased with. The 24v batteries charge quickly enough and last a good amount of time. I haven’t seen any good reason to switch away from them other than they are Lowes house brand and only available there. I do plan on adding more of their tools as needed.
fred
Strange that in the proximity to Father’s Day there are so few M12 deals. This one for $119 looks OK – and does add an impact driver (probably not really needed for your recipients use case)
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M12-12V-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Drill-Driver-Impact-Driver-Combo-Kit-with-Two-1-5Ah-Batteries-Charger-and-Bag-2-Tool-2494-22/203111686
Stuart
I saw that, but the value isn’t there; that kit is usually promo priced at $99, and I feel the extra $20 can be better spent elsewhere.
Robert
I’ve been very underwhelmed by Father’s Day sales so far.
MM
Agreed. I’ve been looking around for a deals on both Milwaukee and Dewalt and I haven’t seen anything really interesting.
es
Last week had that milwaukee trim router deal from max tool . It’s sold out right now unfortunately.
https://www.maxtool.com/products/milwaukee-2723-20sk-m18-fuel-18v-router-w-2-5ah-batteries-and-charger
I thought that was a pretty good deal. I wavered and its gone.
DB2FISH
I’m a biased yellow guy and deeply invested in it. Chose yellow years ago because of the selection and price at the time. Either yellow or red would be a great choice if there is any glimmer of handyman in the recipient. Tough decision but if you are possibly going to be part of future gift giving…what would you be more comfortable investing in?
As far as the 12 Step Program….as long as it doesn’t effect the health and happiness of yourself or others around you. Do what makes you happy. I’m also a yellow person and keep some sawdust on hand so when I go to sneak that new purchase out of the trunk when others are sleeping, I can make it look like its been around awhile… just making sure my health isn’t effected. 😉
Maybe if Stuart didn’t do such a great job bringing awareness to our inbox, we would continue through life without a clue of what we are missing.
Good luck and thanks for the continuous feed of info. I look forward to the emails!
JR Ramos
Maybe just as well. Wait for one of the deals that includes one or two of the HO 6Ah batteries instead. For that tool, unless it’s always just really brief cuts, go for the better batteries because this one can really suck them dry. It’s a fantastic router with really impressive power and decent run time, but it asks a lot of the battery. The plunge base is well worth getting also (lot of negative reviews on that with broken clamps but if that was a part defect it must have been fixed, or it may have been hamfisted users).
KMR
Home Depot / Ridgid’s current $99 18V Drill special includes 2x 2.0Ah batteries and for $129 you get the same bundle with an impact driver. I think getting two batteries in a entry level starter kit is a pretty good deal, because it instantly allows the new owner to think about a second tool addition, perhaps something like a cordless inflator (which is one of my most used cordless tools at home).
Ridgid is usually my go-to recommendation for DIYers who are just starting off and don’t have anything. They’re durable tools with a lifetime service agreement that covers the batteries, which for DIY use is very likely to be the part that needs to be warrantied years down the road. The Ridgid 18V range is broad enough to cover most bases and it’s priced below Milwaukee / DeWalt, while still being mostly comparable in quality / performance / feature set on equivalent tools. Ridgid is also not going to get you laughed at like some other brands.
MFC
“So, it’s time to do some shipping.”
Pun, or mis-spell? Works either way I suppose. 😉
I don’t personally know if either of those drills have major flaws as reported by the end users, but I’d go yellow because it’s in Lowes, Tractor supply (Texas hardware store) and HD, whereas Milwaukee is only HD around me.
The deals tend to be better for batteries and tools and DeWalt tools have lasted longer for me over their Milwaukee counterparts. Not all of them, but enough for me to have moved over to DeWalt almost completely over the years. I know others have the opposite experience, so I don’t think you can go wrong. Red around here does have a bigger fan base, so he might get “cool” points for having a Milwaukee drill.
Stuart
Whoops – thanks!
Maybe a Freudian slip? I was debating whether to buy and hold or to order it to be sent to the uncle-in-law’s house.
Michael
Same here. Team yellow seems to have better deals. Both brands have enough quality and range to satisfy the needs of almost everyone.
Andy
Curious why the Ryobi $99 deal you shared earlier isn’t in the running. I have red tools, many friends with yellow, and my dad has Ryobi. All are reasonably well made and capable of performing any task the average homeowner / DIYer would tackle.
From my perspective, for someone just getting started around the home, the lower cost of adding other tools outweighs any minor improvements that red or yellow offer.
Rog
I agree. For young renters/homeowners Ryobi is more than enough and all their additional purchases will be reasonably priced. Milwaukee and Dewalt are overkill for this scenario
Jason M
I have mostly Milwaukee, except OPE.
If I had to start from scratch I’d go all in on Ryobi or Craftsman (probably Ryobi because of HD proximity)
MM
In my opinion Ryobi is a great idea. Their tools are more than good enough for around-the-house and DIY sorts of tasks, and the platform is also very practical: they have a lot of craft tools and they have OPE as well.
As for the others? Metabo HPT is a solid brand and that looks like a great drill but I don’t think the average homeowner-DIYer would get a lot out of that brand. Buying into a larger system makes more sense to me. Milwaukee and Dewalt are both great, I would choose either of those over Metabo HPT simply because there are more tools on the platform and more places to buy them.
Stuart
For one, there’s no drill driver included in the $99 promo.
The Ryobi 18V HP brushless drill-alone kit is $129, and the combo $159.
Why pay $129 for Ryobi compact brushless when Dewalt and Milwaukee have $99 options?
Ryobi has a $79 kit, but it’s not brushless and I wouldn’t buy it. If the goal was to save money, Skil has a brushless 12V kit for $69 and a brushed 20V kit for $50.
This isn’t their house, it’s a rental. Maintenance and repair needs should all be taken care of by the landlord. It might be years before they buy more tools – if at all.
Joe H
I highly doubt they would even need a brushless drill vs a brushed drill and Ryobi has so many deals around the holidays if they even wanted to consider upgrading to a brushless one in a later date it wouldn’t be a big deal to find a sale or throw one into a bundle. Ryobi’s broad line of tools that cater to diy needs and other useful tools that the pro brands don’t even offer that would be useful for around the house/apartment type stuff would probably make them consider buying more tools in the future. If one of them was highly considering going into a trade that uses cordless tools extensively then I’d look at red or yellow otherwise Ryobi is just so much more appealing for a diyer that it makes the most sense one a whole.
Matt
The answer to your question is ‘yes’. All of your logic is sound and reasonable. However, the recipient will 50/50 not even remember they already bought into a battery system next time they need a tool, and will likely buy whichever brand seems best to them for what they need at that time. So just get them whichever package you think would be best. Or flip a coin cause they’ll all work. If you think they’ll listen and remember to brand, you’re right yellow. But they may still end up with green later anyway
IndianaJonesy (Matt J.)
I agree…Ryobi should be the frontrunner here unless this person has an expressed interest in serious DIYing or woodworking. The two battery and charger deal with the free drill is solid and while the drill is a little more bulky and a little less refined, having hammer functionality is arguably more versatile for someone who needs a starter set.
The cost to grow the platform for a young renter with no tools is so much less with Ryobi. Yes, Dewalt and Milwaukee drills will be nicer, but down the road expanding that lineup may be cost-prohibitive where Ryobi would enable them to pick up a bare tool affordably (and in this case have a second battery to power it). And, if you have access to a Direct Tool Outlet it’s even better with the access to repro/reman/blemished tools at discount (and some of the weird stuff that HD doesn’t stock in store readily available). This is the sole reason I have Ryobi – they are not my only tools, but for niche stuff that I don’t do as often I can justify the cost on a tool vs. trying to do it with manual tools or having to borrow a tool. They’re not always the best, but they have all served me well and been good enough. That’s huge for a beginner. If they catch the itch, they’ll upgrade as they can afford to and when they have enough experience/workload to justify it.
jake
I agree with your instinct to choose between the Dewalt and M18 brushed compact drill kits for $99 and would likely select the M18. Both do look good and are part of solid platforms; either should be fine.
As fred suggests, the lack of current M12 deals is a but surprising.
David+A.
Bought a Ridgid with 2 batteries 15+ years ago. Chuck and 2 batteries replaced under warranty. Still going strong. For my primary set up, got a Red kit from Acme. Got bits and drills from whoever was on sale.
Al
A single Ryobi tool is semi-disposable. Meaning that once you’ve used it and want something better, you can give it away or recycle it without feeling the pang of lost money.
I had a drywall crew run out to buy a Ryobi jigsaw just for a custom job they were doing for me. They expected the tool to die a heroic death on this one job. Or, if it survived, they were going to give it to a novice who could use it.
Spending 50 bucks more on some decent pliers or/and wrenches might be better then putting it in a drill where the recipient might never notice the difference.
Heck, I went 5 years on a hand-me-down 9.6V Makita drill installing cable and equipment racks. I also carried 2 adjustable wrenches (secondhand) and lineman’s pliers to avoid climbing down a ladder to fetch the exact right tool.
They also doubled as adjustable hammer and lineman’s hammer.
Jared
Ryobi still has many cheap, less robust tool options in their portfolio, but I don’t think it’s fair to say everything lime green is “semi-disposable” anymore.
The Ryobi HP line is a notable step up. I think the idea was to have Ryobi tools that can compete with pro brands, plus the cheap innovative options, all in one battery platform.
I strongly suspect this came about when SBD was showing off the roadmap for Craftsman and it suggested Craftsman would span the range from homeowner grade to pro. That never really came to fruition (though there are different grades of Craftsman), but I think Ryobi saw that and realized they could do it first.
Nick
What stores are better in their region, Orange or Blue? I’d go with Ryobi or Kobalt, depending, as it will be the most useful for a new DIYer for the price. You are thinking about best tool for an enthusiast, but unless you really think he is a future handyman, think like “what brand would be cheap and available when they need to go buy another tool”
Stuart
My uncle-in-law is near a fantastic Lowe’s and dumpy Home Depot.
In-stock availability can vary wildly depending on the tool. Many times it’s easier and faster to buy online than to track down a store that has a particular tool in stock.
Josh R
I’d go with Ryobi for a starter kit. Most of their tools wind up being “good enough”, and they offer such a wide range of odd and useful tools that I wound up buying into their batteries to supplement my Bosch 18v.
Your average apartment dweller may not need an impact driver but they’d probably get some use out of a tire inflator, and maybe a hot glue gun.
Rob
I reject the premise . So what the 12V systems aren’t on sale. And why pass up the opportunity to educate the young couple? Take them to the store so they can hold and see the different brands. Explain the good points and bad points of starting down the path of any particular brand.
Alexk
The Ryobi. Unless you can talk to the couple and find out their interest in diy and plans for the future.
If I was starting out, the drill with a couple of batteries, a flashlight and/or lantern and tire inflator. Even though I have many m12/m18 tools, I keep a Ryobi inflator in my car. Can’t rationalize $180 for the m18 inflator. And I just used my 8-9 year old faded lime green string trimmer. Lightweight and works fine, though not like the EGO, which is a weed eating monster.
Off topic- is there a 12 step program for tool addiction? I’ve spent the last couple of weeks fighting my urge to get the m18 10” miter and tablesaw.
I love the 71/4 Dewalt miter, but my batteries are red and green. Don’t think the Ryobi saws are rugged enough for my use.
MM
Ryobi trimmers are great. I have family who bought the smallest model, 10″, about 6-7 years ago now. I did not have high expectations: not only am I a bit of a snob when it comes to trimmers, but I also thought it was silly to pick such a small model when they live on a large property and do a lot of gardening. But, that’s the model they wanted due to the low weight. I’ve been very impressed though, I thought it wouldn’t even last a single season but they use that little trimmer hard and it’s still going strong. If they can handle my garden nut relative maintaining 3 acres then you bet they will handle the average yard.
I’m not sure I can help with the 12-step program, but I often find myself drooling over potential tool purchases. I try and take a step back and think about what that new tool might let me do that I couldn’t do before, and just how important that new thing might be. If I’m struggling to think of many applications or the benefits just aren’t very important then that helps me realize it’s a poor purchase decision, and once that realization ‘clicks’ mentally the urge/interest tends to disappear. On the other hand if I can think of legitimate uses for the tool and it conveys significant benefits like significant time savings, improved precision, improved safety, etc, then I go buy the tool because then it makes logical sense to do so.
One other ‘benefit’ that I didn’t mention there but I think is very important is inspiration. Most tools are boring, they are merely steps along the way to completing a job. But some tools really inspire the tool nerd and get the creative juices flowing, and that has a great deal of value in my opinion.
For example: I have a 3/4in Kobalt wood chisel in my general-use tool bag. It’s not a bad chisel, in fact it’s withstood a lot of abuse over the years and is probably a lot better tool than I give it credit for. While perfectly adequate for basic carpentry tasks like mortising hinges and strike plates it’s also not exciting in the slightest. It’s about as fun as a broom. I also have a Japanese paring chisel–handmade by a master blacksmith–kept with my nice woodworking tools. That one sparks joy as Marie Kondo would say. When I pick it up I can’t help but admire the craftsmanship and the care which went into making it. The Kaneyoshi is a pleasure to use, which in turn inspires me to think about what project I’m going to use it for next, and it also makes me want to do the work to a higher standard. In my opinion that sort of inspiration is precious.
So if you find yourself lining up projects you want to accomplish with those saws and the process is giving you ideas and inspiration for new projects, better projects, etc, they may not be a bad purchase after all.
MT
I know it runs over the $99 budget, but Milwaukee, DeWalt, and Bosch all make their own version of an installation tool with swappable heads that would probably better suit the newlyweds.
Heck, all the big names make cordless screwdrivers that sell for under 100 bucks. There’s just not a lot of drilling to be done in an apartment, but plenty of furniture and other assembly.
Stuart
I considered that too, and wondered if the Hyper Tough would make sense here – https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/walmart-hyper-tough-multi-head-drill-driver/%3C/a%3E .
The other brands’ pricing ($150 and up) is more than I’m interested in spending for a tool that might not be used much – if at all.
For the same price, I could budget for an 18V cordless drill and 4V screwdriver that’s suited to IKEA assembly and similar.
Ken
I think the HyperTough multi-head driver for $35 is a good idea if the recipient is not already a DIYer. I think the small size and versatility are better suited for a person putting together flat pack furniture or other apartment tasks. I think the design also has a lot of novelty for someone not very familiar with tools. The availability of other very inexpensive 12V HyperTough tools is another benefit for a non-toolhead. This is the route I would go.
For the more DIY-inclined, the Bosch brushless flexiclick is available with a bonus multi-tool from Amazon for $149. Amazon item number B09VWMBN4V (note that you must select Amazon as the reseller, not the default reseller for $225).
Stuart
I checked that and saw the $225 price right away.
Looking at the hidden listings, you’re right – Amazon still has it for $149, although with a June 26 to July 3 ETA.
Maybe they’re waiting on replenishment stock for Prime Day.
MT
Yeah, that set, maybe along with a spare battery (depending on price), looks like a good starting place for young newlyweds in an apartment.
Andrew
Craftsman. May never use the drill but will likely use their weed eater, blower, vacuum, among others which are high performing at a much better price point. Battery platform starter for a homeowner that doesnt use tools.
Michael F
I’d go with the Metabo HPT or the Ryobi for the simple fact that their next tools in the system (be it a sander, multi tool, saw, etc.) will be much cheaper in green or lime than red or yellow – even without discounts.
Steven B
All tools are fine. The cheapest HF tool works fine and from my experience fails about as often as a high end DeWalt or Milwaukee under homeowner scenarios.
I love DeWalt. I love my atomic drill, but it’s an emotional response. For my projects, precision is important, so being smaller helps a lot vs my 20yo craftsman it replaced.
However, if I didn’t do hobby woodworking, the crappiest no-name brand from Target or HF would suit me just fine. For most home owners, their drill sits in a corner in a closet or basement or garage and gets pulled out maybe 4x a year. The majority of bits and pristine and unused. Their screwdriver bits are in perfect shape, except that one #2 Philips bit that has a tiny amount of wear.
DeWalt is great. I love them more than any other brand, but unless you need that form factor, I can’t give you an objective reason to buy them over a cheaper “good enough” drill.
That said, if the person you’re shopping for is generally handy, $100 is a good price, so why not? Packout is objectively better than the competition, but I’ve honestly never been that impressed with Milwaukee’s power tools. They’re good, but I typically find DeWalt’s power tools to be slightly better and a tiny bit cheaper.
Sally
I bought the Craftsman 20V Max combo a few years ago for my condo. I found it useful and have used both drills a lot for misc things around the house. That said, I got a few free dewalt tools and batteries from other people. And now I’m debating on if I want to consolidate to one battery platform but paying more for some newer drills.
Brad
If I’m buying a gift set I could care less about promo’s or a arbitrary price point.
I’d by the HD “M12 12V Lithium-Ion Cordless Drill Driver/Impact Driver Combo Kit with Two 1.5Ah Batteries, Charger and Bag (2-Tool)” set along with your $10 Dewalt bit set and call it a day.
I’ve refreshed out of my Craftsman into Dewalt’s 20v gear for heavy work but do you know what I pick up 99% of the time for general home use? The M12 drill, the only big red item I own, go figure. It has more than enough power in a slimline tool for nearly all home applications.
Stuart
I’m not just buying a drill kit.
When considering they have ZERO tools, putting together a basic kit involves a lot of choices where the cost can easily spiral out of control.
Doug N
I’d choose the HPT drill, or drill and impact combo. Based on quality, price, and the large number of affordable woodworking tools on the HPT platform.
dale Clark
For young homeowners who are not woodworkers, etc, I’d go Ryobi. Plenty of tools and other items (lawn tools, fans, lights, etc) that the owners may want to add as they go.
Jared
The fact that you’re struggling with the decision makes perfect sense to me. Red and Yellow are so competitive with each other that there’s no obvious distinction.
If you think Dewalt would be a better choice for this particular user, that’s also where I’d lean – but it’s so close you could toss a coin.
Even though I’m a Ryobi fan, think Kobalt has good value, believe Craftsman is a competitive option and also see the Metabo HPT as the best tool, I’d still stick with Dewalt or Milwaukee when gifting something like this.
Part of it is those brands’ perceived value and the breadth of their offerings. Your gift recipient won’t regret investing in either platform. Even if something like a Ryobi HP drill/driver is totally competitive and part of an even broader ecosystem, there’s still a perception that Ryobi is the “value” option whereas Dewalt or Milwaukee are the market leaders.
E.g. you might know the Metabo drill to be the “best” or Ryobi to be competitive and have a lot of innovative ideas, but a person with less tool knowledge is still likely to “know” that Dewalt or Milwaukee are great tools.
Robert
Stuart, just start a bridal registry on Toolguyd. Red and Yellow fans boys get to tangibly vote on which is the better brand by gifting a tool, not limited to entry level drills, on the registry. Provide a weekly update to keep the rabid ones motivated to top the other color.
Matt
“I can’t shake the feeling that the Dewalt kit is the better buy for this particular user and usage scenario.”
You can’t shake that feeling because it’s correct. As someone who’s invested HEAVILY in both Milwaukee M18 and Dewalt 20V, I can confidently say that Dewalt will have more affordable and applicable tools for the beginner/DIYer. More deals, cheaper batteries, etc.
Lyle
There was another comment that talked about proximity of the user to stores that carry the brand. They make a good point since not all tool brands are available in all stores. When I started out, I had a Makita 9.6V drill that I bought at Costco. Later I moved and didn’t take any tools with me and bought a really cheap Ryobi drill. Now I’m all Dewalt. I think the brand of the starter drill isn’t as important. To me, if they were in close proximity to. had, then I’d probably recommend Ryobi or Ridgid. The lifetime tool warranty on Ridgid should make them a strong contender for a first time homeowner. If the tool doesn’t get used that much then they don’t need to worry about the batteries getting stale and dying. If the tool breaks they can get it easily replaced. Ridgid offers a decent range of tools and batteries if their needs grow and they don’t graduate up to a more professional brand. Maybe there were no good deals for a Ridgid drill at the moment, but that’s where my vote would go if they live decently close to a HD. Otherwise the comment about Dewalt because of their wider availability also makes sense and I love Dewalt tools.
Jason
I think you’re too close to the tools, as it were, in this case, and you’re overthinking this.
A new user will be best served by familiarity/recognizability, availability and selection.
Milwaukee is really geared towards pros and has a higher price point, plus lots of features a renter (or even homeowner) simply doesn’t need. Where do they get more Milwaukee? They’re around, but not everywhere. Then there’s future purchases; how much spare income will the user have to spend on new high end tools?
Metabo is very limited in selection and availability, not to mention it’s not terribly recognizable. Right out for a new user.
DeWalt is ubiquitous as a tool brand and can be found almost anywhere. They’re solid tools with a good price point and expansion to new tools is dead easy. They’re perfect for new users and pros alike.
I’d go DeWalt without a second thought.
For the driver bits, that Milwaukee set is nice, but how many of those bits will an apartment dweller actually use in a drill driver? Maybe a ¼? A ⅓? I’d add a multi-tip screwdriver (or suggest it to another person so you don’t completely blow your budget) to make the bits more useable. Slotted driver bits in a drill are hard enough for an experienced user, but for a new user? Nope.
Ryan
I don’t how you could go wrong with either the Dewalt or Milwaukee for a gift. Large tools systems with easy availability and will be around for the foreseeable future
I have the similar 12v dewalt xtreme drill and love it. It is my daily drill doing 90% of what i need to do hardly ever having to use my larger/heavier 20v.
I haven’t used 18v milwaukee but i do have multiple m12 tools. The m12 batteries are awful so I would easily choose Dewalt.
Ryobi has a lot of tools in their system but as a gift for someone you actually like, no.
As for hitachi/metabo, a non tool person would probably never of heard of it. They would think why get me this off brand. I surprised they are still around.
Mark M.
I’d go Dewalt or Ryobi, and I say that as someone who has zero Ryobi tools among a sea of red, yellow and orange tools and batteries. Ryobi seems affordable and capable for the average homeowner. If it’s between red and yellow, def yellow. I’ll also throw out that the Dewalt 12v Xtreme is surprisingly capable and I reach for mine more than bigger tools.
PW
I’d do none of these. Unless this person is a pro (in which case they’d already have a drill?) these are all overkill. Hell, they probably don’t even need a brushless drill.
A DIYer rarely uses their drill. It will spend 99.9% of it’s life unused in a cloaet. They’ll use it to make some holes in drywall, maybe screw a few things together. What they need is the ability to easily expand in the future. At some point they’ll move to a place that needs fixing, or take on a bookshelf project. Then they’ll want another tool, and will be very price sensitive.
They’ll probably want a circular saw, maybe an impact driver or a light. They’re not going to want to pay the $100-150 a pop Dewaukee wants for those things. And it’ll be irritating to have multiple platforms.
I say go with SBD Craftsman. The price is right, and the quality is fine. And it’s not a store brand, so no matter how much Lowe’s screws up, it’ll still be around in the future.
Ryobi is another option, although I dislike locking people into a particular store – who knows if this person shops at HD. That can vary a lot by person or area.
MM
I totally agree that picking a tool line that is expansion-friendly is important, but I’m curious why you’d say a DIYer would rarely use a drill; in my opinion they are one of the most fundamental tools a beginner can have. You can use them to drill holes, drive screws, use sanding discs and drums, do all sorts of cleaning with brushes and scrub pads, mix things, etc. They’re even handy for gardening with a “bulb auger”. Sure they’re not as good at sanding as a dedicated sander, not as good at driving screws as an impact driver, etc, but the fact you can do so much with one inexpensive tool makes them all the more useful, especially to a beginner. I’m having a hard time thinking of a power tool which would be more useful to a new homeowner.
PW
Something that’s rarely used can still be useful. But almost all DIYers are going to use _any_ tool rarely.
A pro brand tool is supposed to be built to be used 8+ hours a day, every day for years. A DIYer is never going to do that.
That’s why part of why so many homeowners love low end Ryobi tools – they might not hold up to brutal abuse on a job site, but they don’t have to!
MM
Gotcha, I understand where you’re coming from now, and I completely agree. I misunderstood and thought you were suggesting that other tools would be more useful to a beginner than a drill.
Bill
There are some father’s day deals going on. Personally, I would not buy a low cost top of the line tool for a beginner unless you knew they were going into the business. In fact, even if you did know, that would be a decision best left to them. I would stick with entry level stuff, Ryobi, Kobalt, Craftsman. Easy to get and easy to buy more without as much pain in the wallet. 🙂
eddiesky
Dewalt. They’ll thank you for it.
(because the direction button the Milwaukee is way back from obvious thumb).
I would get the Atomic line because Drill kit is $99 ACE hardware now.
JR Ramos
It’s a shame that there aren’t decent deals right now on the M12 Fuel drills. If I were starting out as a kid again or buying for one like this (in fact, for myself now) and wanted a basic do-all handy drill, it would hands down be the M12 Fuel Hammerdrill. It’ll do almost anything any average homeowner/diy person wants.
The hammer function is fantastic for simple small anchors or tapcons for brick or cinderblock. The power is enough but it’s not so much power that a new user might get hurt if they are using the tool without skil/attention/preparation. The M12 will handle 2-1/8″ hole saws ok if they ever do a door lock. Compact and lightweight for cramped spaces like cabinets, under sinks, etc.
Of the ones you picked, I’d say the DeWalt just because they have some tools in the platform that will use the included battery more effectively than anything in M18 except lights maybe. If he ever wants to invest in more tools, that is.
I’d really give a look at the Ridgid 18V kit for the same price…that drill is a little hoss and I think it bested the others in TTCs tests on the smaller batteries and really opened up with the larger batteries.
I would not even consider any stated RPM differences here. There is zero meaningful difference between them. But taking it into consideration, I would opt for the one that had a lower low-gear high (450 vs 500 here). Low is where you want to be most of the time anyway, and low is where beginners should probably stay until they learn how to use tools and bits correctly, and that measly 50rpm difference has more value on the low range than a couple hundred extra on the high range (and really unless you’re sanding or grinding, the high range highs aren’t all that useful anyway for good work and bit life).
That 74pc Milwaukee bit case for $20 is a great bargain. Lots of repetition but should cover most of what he’d run in to except metric hex bits, and there’s plenty of extra space to toss in extra debris. Rows can be removed or rearranged, so if he wanted to get some of the hex drill bits he could poke those in there and have a single relatively complete accessory case. I’m really not a fan of those DeWalt twist bits but they’re ok for general knock around bits and cheap enough to replace when they chip or split or dull out prematurely…really is a great value on them (if they still have the plain black steam treated version of this, those bits were actually better than the black-and-gold).
I wish Gearwrench hadn’t discontinued that nifty little mini ratcheting bit/socket kit because I’d give that to everyone I know and it’s a fantastic thing to have around along with the basic drill/accessories. Kobalt has one that’s similar enough and about the same quality. That Milwaukee stubby ratcheting multi-bit driver has been on sale for $13 for awhile…also worth adding for a beginner’s bag.
Joellikestools
I have been tempted by the non hammer drill fuel. The clutch is beefy and the form is nice and small.
JR Ramos
They’re really capable little drills. I didn’t buy the gen 3 because the gen 2 ones I have look like they are never going to die and they have handled a surprising amount of heat and abuse. They do fine with any battery but the newer HO 5Ah really makes it shine and so far those don’t seem to suffer the random early deaths from cell imbalance that the XC 4 and 6 batteries do. I’ve got 18V fuel and a Bosch but the little M12 fuel sees 90% of the duties.
G
Apartment dwelling and (currently) non-tool using couple? Craigslist. Start them out used, maybe upgrade at a later date depending on their needs and developing skills. Just checked my local CL and there are any number of solid cordless options in the low $ range.
Michael
We’re heavily invested in the Dewalt 20v universe. However, I also have a Dewalt 12v 5-in-1 Drill Driver combo (and no other 12v devices) which I use practically every day. It’s lightweight, fast, adaptable and takes up very little space. It’s great for quick pilot holes, Ikea furniture assembly or electrical outlets. I’d give it as a starter gift in a heartbeat. It will be useful as a stand alone tool for years and the receiver isn’t committed to a 18-20v system yet. IMHO, the difference of $20-$50 in value is nothing compared to what they will get out of it…. and it leaves them free to choose the yellow or red (or whatever) for themselves when they are ready.
JoeM
This would be the time I would bow out of being the one to make the purchasing. DIY/First Timer situations make me extremely nervous, if I don’t know their competency level, or to a greater extent the actual recipients. Likely a leftover remnant of my computer tech days, I am very hesitant to simply hand-over something I’ve judged to be well within their skill to operate safely, and smartly.
That’s not to say a Drill is a difficult thing to operate, nor is there any inherent Built-In instinctive knowledge of the tool. However, it is my experience that, if you are known to be the one who picked it out, you are forever tagged as the person to ask for help when something goes wrong. By the time you’ve… “Corrected”… For the unknowns regarding their needs, you will have spent twice the amount difference between the one you gave them and the one you use yourself. Effectively negating you limiting your budget to “Starter” levels in the first place. You will be called, you will have travelled to them, and you will have done the work for them on your own time and expense. How much? As I said, twice the amount difference between the one you bought, and the one you own. If you own a $180 version of the one you bought them, and you spent just $99 on theirs, when you add up all the gas and transport funds, plus the time they’ve taken out of your personal income or earnings in repairing what they’ve broken, you will have added another $182 on top of that $99 drill you suggested or bought for them. In the end, you’re spending $281 on a $99 gift.
The old saying goes “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” If you haven’t had direct contact, witnessing and even teaching, with the recipient of such gifts, don’t get involved. Bow out of such gifts. The costs for going cheap far outweigh the benefits of blind kindness. There are far better things you could buy for a new household, but when you add it all up, cheap is anything but what it comes to.
Stuart
Don’t worry, I’m sure it comes with a user manual.
JoeM
Yes, but does it cover Studs, Anchors, and settings for use as a Screwdriver when assembling IKEA (or similarly flat packed furniture) products? The things we all only know because of our experience with the tool professionally.
I’m not saying every DIY/First Timer is going to fail. It’s solely down to how distant you are from the recipient. You’re making a judgement call on the behalf of someone whose needs are literally just a guess at their skill level. If you haven’t met and/or taught them some of the skills they need, it’s just a personal preference that I’d bow out of such a gift. You could compensate by expanding the budget to include some basic bullet levels, a stud finder, a bulk pack of fasteners and bits beyond drilling… It would still come down to handing it all over, and hoping they don’t need you to hold their hand through the entirety of their assembly and decoration needs. By the time you’ve done that, you might as well have done all the work yourself, and not bought them anything.
So, I would only be in on such gifts if I truly knew the recipient, and knew their skill level well enough to know which kit best suited them. Yeah, maybe they’re just too young right now to have afforded it themselves, and that would be okay. The problem is all the unknowns and assumptions about their capacity to use tools at all. A lot of young people aren’t choosing trades, and don’t have the slightest interest in any sort of tool use. Does that gift really come into use, knowing there’s a possibility that the recipient is one of those people who, as was often said of my Father, and Grandfather before him… “Didn’t know which end of a Screwdriver to Hold.” I learned my tool use from my Mother, and my Brother. Much of the rest I taught myself, or learned from someone in the field. If I had to risk buying for someone that Might be like my Dad? I know, and have lived, the consequences of that. So… I would bow out. Even if it’s just long enough to have met and assessed their skill levels with tools, to better inform the purchase.
IndianaJonesy (Matt J.)
Not sure what specific charger this is, but my brother-in-law has a Dewalt starter set and it’s awful. The 2ah batteries empty quick and take hours to fill. Was out visiting and helping him build a chicken coop and was positively dying with only 3 2ah batteries and 1 charger. The fact that Dewalt even offers slow charging in 2024 is crazy to me. I’d vote Milwaukee over Dewalt only if optimistically hoping that it’s a better starting point for this reason.
That said, if I were the buyer or the receiver, Ryobi all day (see my other comment).
Joellikestools
Since reading Toolguyd I have started giving HPT as gifts. I think that is what I would go with. DeWalt and Milwaukee are expensive to expand into, and more complicated with their systems. Hpt is easy to get on Amazon and has good deals on the jigsaw, one hand recip, and impact frequently.
scott
Rigid all the way for me. Current deal, coupled with the LSA is the way to go.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-18V-Cordless-2-Tool-Combo-Kit-with-Drill-Driver-Impact-Driver-2-2-0-Ah-Batteries-and-Charger-R92721/324536628
$129 for 2-2AH bat and cordless drill and impact
Anton
I went with ridgid.
How do you beat that lifetime warrenty…?
Stuart
You need detailed purchase information to register the tools for the LSA. If you don’t follow the instructions to the letter, you’ll have problems down the road.
Also, from https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/ab/ab0c99d3-546d-49f2-8668-10b933386d1e.pdf :
scott
That applies to who registers it. The process for registering if bought in store at HD is really easy. It is all online now, just need the receipt, if it works. I have only had problems with Direct tool website or HD online. Also the battery replacement is the true deal, call one number step thru the questions, they UPS or Fedex you a new battery in 3 or 4 days. I have done that with batteries that were 15+ plus old, and even better since they don’t have 3AH you get 4AH, sweet.
bob
That’s also what I got for my son due to the lifetime warranty and HIGHLY encouraged him to FILL OUT THE WARRANTY!
Koko The Talking Ape
I’d suggest a few Pozidriv bits too, in case they ever need to assemble IKEA furniture.
The Metabo has better specs, but I’ve come to feel that having the strongest most powerful tool isn’t all that important. It just needs to be powerful ENOUGH. and for these young people, any of those will do.
Stuart
I’ve been thinking about adding this PZ #2 driver to the list – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H88GERY/?tag=toolguyd-20 .
I have one and it’s vital for IKEA furniture assembly.
bob
Add three dollars and buy them a 15 pc husky, much more useful. If they aren’t professionals or tool geeks, the Wera name will be lost on them. And they are just as likely to use it as a hammer if none is within reach.
Koko The Talking Ape
Does the Husky set have a PZ bit? None of the ones I’m looking at do.
Tom
A Leatherman or a Swiss Champ. That would probably be used more than a drill. Unless you made sure what you gave them had what is needed to assemble Ikea furniture. If Ikea furniture fits this couple. A good set of Allen wrenches would probably be used more. When I rented I still had to deal with towel bars. The advantage of Ryobi is the vacuum.
Scotty.
I would gift the HPT combo unless you know this fellow has an interest in tools.
Goodie
My heart says to get them the Metabo HPT drill because I love the platform and value they deliver in terms of battery prices, ergonomics, performance and value. As tools, they are awesome…. But, I think Ryobi is the brand to get here. The ability to use the 18v platform for addtional tools and OPE (hedge trimmer, string trimmer, even lawn mower) is awesome for a young couple. However, if the choice is between Red and Yellow, then I think Yellow for a new couple. The reason is that Yellow tools are absolutely everywhere. You can buy them at local hardware stores, at big box stores (every single one of them), just about anywhere. Red is increasing, but you usually have to look for an HD, an ACE hardware store or a supply house. They’re simply not as widely available. The yellow OPE is pretty good too. I run a mishmash of 40v Ryobi (OPE), Greenworks 80v(OPE), Dewalt, Bosch, and Metabo HPT. My heart’s with Metabo HPT and Bosch, but the others are very good at what they do.
jsbson
If your this stuck just go with the Hyper Tough multi-head. If he doesn’t have a drill already he’s probably not into tools.
Add some pozidrive bits to whatever set you get.
Farmer Tom
Perhaps this isn’t geographically or logistically easy to have happen but it sure sounds like you should invite the young man over to your shop. Have him try a few tools. Get a feel for what he’s thinking for use cases short and long term, how intuitive he is with tools, tell him the pros and cons of the systems, and then ask him his thoughts on what he likes best while telling him your thoughts on what would fit his situation and needs most.
I’m heavy in Dewalt and LOVE them. I’ve never regretted getting into that system but I also embrace that it is a system and intentionally maximize my value by exploiting the strengths Dewalt brings to the table in their system. I know people in other systems that feel the exact same about their brand and tools. They love them, have no regrets, and use the strengths of their system to maximize value to them.
Get him to get hands on for a couple hours with you and you both will know a lot more of what will fit his situation.
My 2 cents anyways.
Always love your content btw! Thank you for everything you do to make this website a reality for all of us.
Stuart
It’s a great idea, but not feasible anytime soon.
Thank you for the kinds words!!
Johnez
Is there any other interests that may affect later tool buying? This would affect my decision more than anything. If diy auto repair, I’d go with Milwaukee for their ratchet. If woodworking, I’d have to investigate since I left that industry about 15 years ago-however in rough furniture frame work where I bought my own tools Ryobi lasted me 7 years without failure. They are underestimated. If lawn work is in the cards, I’d in estimate weed eaters and hedge trimmers. Since they’re renters lot of this doesn’t apply, however they may be in a position to do any of these depending on a few factors.
Johnez
Dang I wish there was a way to edit, sorry for all the typos and autocorrect fails.
Josh
Flip a coin between dewalt and Milwaukee. I run dewalt myself because there cheaper and plenty good enough for a home user since pros use them.
bob
Dont over think it, Metabo (two batteries, just that simple). They are unlikely to care about the things you care about as a professional, the second battery will come in handy.
Vards Uzvards
My first 18V tool was Hitachi drill-driver. Admittedly, it was a less advanced model, but it was also some years ago. I don’t have any regrets, whatsoever. By now I got some more Hitachi / Metabo HPT tools (the latest addition – 18 Ga Brad nailer), but also quite a few Ryobi tools, and also some Bosch 12V Max. Your younger friends will get there, eventually, if / when they will feel a need for it.
Vards Uzvards
This one – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H4QZ17K/ – for $78 might be appropriate. Or, if you want to be the coolest uncle, add another hundred and get this set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BB16L421/
Matt
What was the verdict?
Stuart
Dewalt Atomic.
Matt
Thanks!