Brand loyalty with power tools?

[mg1prg]

I think I probably already know from reading topics on here which manufacturers most of you go for when it comes to buying new tools, but I'm bored this afternoon so thought i'd start a new discussion!

Do you always stick to one make, or does it not always matter? I.e. i know some people will always go for value, or reliability above everything else. I have to admit, lately i've found myself liking the Hitachi tools as an example, but I'm intrigued what everyone else favours?

... am I the only one who likes their funky patterns on the machines?!

[Hitch]

Good choice, i like them too. Reliable, easy to source parts, comfortable, plenty of power....and a lot cheaper than some of the more overpriced yellow ones.

Looks nice too, a big stack of tools all the same colour

[owen]

i tend to stick with bosch, although i am rapidly going off them as my combi drill is playing up yet again

[tim'll fix it]

wont touch dewalt anymore

love my makitas

[ultimatehandyman]

I look at price first and try to get bargains.

I have the dewalt 5 pack 18 volt kit and so buying other dewalt 18v tools makes sense for me.

I have lots of Bosch blue as well, which are excellent.

There are some more expensive makes and some cheaper makes, the expensive ones are probably good, but some cheap makes are complete rubbish. My friend bought a cheap cordless drill, it takes 4 hours to charge and the chuck wobbles! He also has a cheap jigsaw that cannot cut straight lines

There are a few makes that I would consider buying, not in any order-

Bosch
Dewalt
Metabo
Hitachi
Makita
Festool

[skiking]

not really a brand man personally but I've recently bought a 2 piece Ryobi One+ kit from SFX that was on offer (it is again) and have recently won another piece to complement it (thanks UHM ) so, for me, it seems logical to stick to the One+ system and share the batteries around.

The kit is quite good, given it a bit of use over the last week or so but I'm only a DIYer and not a tradesman.

[handyman]

i look at makita first, and if not suitable, then bosch blue and hitachi. Will get dewalt for little used tools, as they are really cheap from ebay.

[big-all]

i have loads of tat throw away tools and when they break if i cant fix or adapt the i throw them away
they include a dremel type drill half sheet 1/3 sheet detail orbital palm sanders
several routers around the 30squid mark

as my secondary back up kit i have ryobi take 5 and one plus that are for all purposes are identical except the batteries are different
off the top of my head in 18v i have 4 hammer drills 1 impact driver 2 circ saws 2 jugsaws 2 fluro lamps 1recipsaw 1 compound mitre saw 1 dustbuster
i also have a table saw thats not often used now unless its left on site
a 4"belt sander and a 1/3 sheet sander
all there gear is solidly built and good value for money

i have several bits of clark stuff usualy bought on "vat free days "
including a combination table mitre saw a band saw bench sander and bench grinder

i have a green mains bosch hammer drill and jigsaw
i have a blue 24v bosh hammer drill and circ saw

i also have 18v dewalt jigsaw angle drill' angle grinder' hammer drill and recip saw
i have a dw712 mitre saw and a 742 flipsaw

i have other makes for my planer thicknesser morticer and a hitachi mv12router

so yes i am loyal to a good bargain

[leebwk]

I used to buy only Bosch (blue), Makita and Dewalt when i was on the tools and all 3 had there pro's and con's but i did buy a couple of sanders and also sliding compound saw by Erbauer, from screwfix admittedly it doesn't get daily use but i have found the make is more than adequate for diy use plus it has a 2 yr guarantee

[skiking]

I've just realised I've got a Ryobi mitre saw which I bought several yrs ago (cheap from BnQ) so, accidentally, I'm a Ryobi man.

[mg1prg]

that's all pretty interesting reading what you all think. I'm with Hitch on this one - just think hitachi stuff is great lately - and seems to be excellent value. I think you can always rely on the Japanese to make great products, then possibly the Germans?

[RF Lighting]

I have a fair bit of dewalt stuff and have had no problems with it. I killed one mains SDS drill after 4 - 5 years of hard trade useage, but that is not bad IMO

Also I have a bosch (blue) screw gun which is ace, but I can't find anywhere selling an additional second battery for it. It only takes 30 mins to charge, but it always goes flat at the worst possible moment

I had a bosch (blue) 24V SDS drill for a good long while, which was a real work horse. I now have a makita but I prefered the bosch.

Don't be fooled by bosch green stuff. No where near as good as the trade range

[ultimatehandyman]

The Bosch green is ok for the diyer and I once had a green bosch drill that lasted me 8 years

A good friend of mine bought a black & Decker 9 inch grinder from B&Q last year. I asked if he had used it and if he had the receipt, but he had lost the receipt. I told him to take it back and get a Bosch one, but he didn't and he tried cutting concrete flags with it, after three flags the grinder broke, major mechanical failure

He had to cut the rest of the flags using his 4 inch bosch grinder!

I find it strange that Black and Decker also make Dewalt tools, yet there is a world of difference between them!

[Hitch]

I guess its the same as the difference between Bosch blue/green, same maker, but aimed at two different markets.

[owen]

i don't think there is that much difference between bosch blue and green, the green is very good stuff for the money. there is a much bigger difference between B&D and dewalt.