Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

The December 2004 Consumer Reports has a report titled: Cordless Kits: More 
Tools for Less. It's about 18v drill/circular saw/reciprocating 
saw/flashlight kits ranging in price from $190 to $520. Here's an excerpt 
pertinent to our discussion:

"Beefier batteries with larger-capacity cells are the major reason why 
cordless kits with the most capable, longest-running tools also tend to 
cost and weigh the most. But as with most products, you'll find some 
notable exceptions.
"Nickle-metal-hydride batteries, rather than conventional nickel-cadmium 
cells, explain why the tools in the Makita kit [$480] are among the 
lightest in weight and were the longest by far on run time per charge. At 
the other end of the price spectrum, solid performance and endurance for 
less than  $200 make the Ryobi, a CR Best Buy, a standout compared with the 
similarly priced Craftsman and Skil.
"Warranties are yet another exception to the higher-price, 
higher-performance hierarchy. Except for the Milwaukee, Ridgid, Ryobi, and 
Skil, even the priciest of these cordless tool kits are warranted for just 
one year."