cheap hitachi power tools brands

Hitachi used to make some of the best-pro-quality framing tools out there; their 13V circular saws were second to none, and you’d see a lot of contracting teams using Hitachi nailers and miter saws on the job site.

Nowadays, in the past six or eight years it seems that the brand has fallen off a bit, with Milwaukee especially seeing a rise in popularity. In terms of the absolute best-performing tools out there, Hitachi isn’t really regarded anymore as being cream of the crop (then again, neither is DeWalt).

In our head-to-head comparisons, we’ll primarily look at each company’s line of cordless tools; drills, impact drivers, circular saws and reciprocating saws, and come to an overall conclusion on which one we think comes out on top.

The price represents a pretty nice value, and the tools perform decently enough. Again, though, it’s tough to say how they’ll work for you - it all depends on your needs and expectations.

In our opinion, we’d say for standard, relatively light work, or for an entry-level set, it’s a good option. For heavier jobs, though (framing, deck building), they fall short. The circular saw is underpowered and eats up battery with the voraciousness of a bear in spring, and the drill is insufficient for all but the most standard use.

Hitachi Power Tools will be known as Metabo HPT from starting October 17th, 2018 as the company transitions away from the rest of the Hitachi group. Back in 2017, Hitachi bought out Metabo to bring the German manufacturer on board. Shortly after, investment firm KKR purchased the power tool division of Hitachi.

In a nutshell, Metabo HPT is just a different name and nothing else. The tools are the same, the warranty is the same, the batteries are the same. Batteries like the Hitachi MultiVolt will work in Metabo HPT MultiVolt tools. Hitachi 18V batteries will work in Metabo HPT 18V tools and vice versa. It really is just a change in name and nothing else. You’ll see the same packaging and color scheme to go along with the name.

When KKR bought Hitachi, we wondered if a name change would be coming. Licensing a known name following a purchase like this can be cost prohibitive. And it is. With somewhere around $500 million in sales expected for 2018, Metabo HPT doesn’t have the same kind of presence as Makita, TTI (Milwaukee, Ridgid, Ryobi, etc), or Stanley Black & Decker (DeWalt, Stanley, Proto, MAC Tools, etc.).

At least not yet. Breaking away from the Hitachi group actually affords the company freedom in tool development and marketing they haven’t had before. We saw it with the Triple Hammer impact driver that clearly marked a change in Hitachi’s cordless performance. Each tool since then seems to have a marked improvement over the last generation. Expect that trend to continue as Hitachi looks toward innovation that packs more power in smaller packages like their AC Brushless rotary hammer lineup.

One other change you’ll notice is the brand’s tagline. “Inspire the Next” will move from a sort of vague philosophical statement to “Durability First” as they focus on what their tools aim to be.

To sum up the entire rebranding quickly, it’s a matter of new name, more freedom to innovate, the same tools, cordless compatibility, and warranty. There’s nothing to be afraid of whether you’re a current Hitachi or future Metabo HPT user.

Today’s market is saturated with cordless tool brands, with a seemingly endless number of innovations in recent years, including power tools that many thought would never be practical without a cord. From well-known household brands like Black & Decker (B&D) to established professional brands such as Milwaukee, and even ultra-premium but lesser known brands like Festool, cordless tools are a common sight online and in stores and have rapidly overtaken their corded counterparts in popularity.

Brands such as Ryobi, DeWalt, and Milwaukee all offer a large variety of tools, many of which are specifically designed for certain tasks (and thus are not essential to many DIY’ers). This is where future projects should be considered, though. While a drill or impact would work for hanging drywall, a specialty tool such as a screw gun would make the job much more efficient, especially if coupled with a collated screw adapter. A hammer drill may work to drill into brick for a couple of downspouts, but a rotary hammer would be much more capable for repeated drilling into concrete for a larger project, and could even handle light demolition work). Similarly, consider the demands that will be placed on your tools. Nearly any drill will work for the homeowner that uses it once or twice a month, but ergonomics, power, and battery life should be considered if a drill will see a lot of use. A 12V platform will be perfect for projects which are small in scope, but less than ideal for demanding jobs, while an 18V platform will handle most projects but could prove unwieldy and cumbersome to use for small tasks such as furniture assembly. Some companies produce chargers and accessories that work with both 12V and 18V class batteries, enticing some tool buyers to buy into both systems.

Some stores have recently released new brands which are compared to established brands. While interesting and tempting to some, keep in mind that these brands are largely unproven as of yet and that they do not yet offer some of the tools that are available elsewhere. Depending on your location and the availability of retail establishments, you might also want to consider the brands that are locally available to you. For example, if you live in a town with a Home Depot and the nearest Lowe’s is 50 miles away, you might consider Ryobi over Kobalt, or Ridgid over Porter Cable. If Walmart is your only local option, the aforementioned Bostitch 18v tools may be the best value. DeWalt and Milwaukee are widely available in both big box and local hardware stores. All of this is factored into the value of a tool brand: a $99 tool gets expensive fast if you must drive 100 miles to get a replacement battery or add a bare tool. If you prefer shopping online, however, this point is invalidated.

One final thing to consider when it comes to cost is the time of the year, clearance pricing, and pure luck. Each year, holiday pricing becomes more and more common; while Black Friday deals used to be available only during that time, similar prices now may be found during “Spring Black Friday”, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Christmas/New Years, and other times throughout the year. One thing is certain, major tool retailers usually have a sale or Special Buy event going on at any given time. Clearance pricing requires a combination of timing and luck. Simply put, stores lack the shelf space to stock leftover merchandise, so the first quarter of the year is usually when unsold holiday specials usually make their way to the clearance rack. This is highly subject to sales volume and management policies in your area, though. Finally, pure luck may play a role in your choice of brands. Many big box stores periodically place no longer stocked, returned, or display tools on a clearance rack for as much as 75% off. Even if you decide you only need a drill, why buy a homeowner brand if you can get a pro brand for less? Without inside knowledge of the store, however, such sporadic clearance tables are virtually impossible to predict in my experience.

The overall value of a purchase includes more than the sum of its parts, however. A low price and outstanding bang for the buck in the way of additional tools or batteries are quickly forgotten if the brand does not stand behind its products, or if the system has been or will soon be replaced. Check the warranty and carefully scour reviews for known and recurring issues. Also try to stay abreast of news such as product releases and the age of the system. While many manufacturers support older systems by continuing to offer batteries and parts (and third-party manufacturers offer batteries of varying quality), you can quickly grow disillusioned with a brand if it ceases development of new tools after you commit to that system. A case in point here lies in the still-serviceable yet rapidly aging DeWalt 18v XRP line; it is still a very good system that sees heavy usage, just don’t expect to buy newly designed tools for it.

Low cost does not always equal value, so do careful research on any pending purchase by reading both consumer and professional reviews (Tools in Action is a great place to start!). Plan around your budget, but do not forego considering a few different brands before making a purchase.

Sometimes it simply boils down to what you want. Have a little disposable income and love red or yellow? Want to get a lot of neon green tools without paying an arm and a leg? Want to drill, route, and sand with some orange tools? DeWalt, Milwaukee, Ryobi, and Ridgid are all excellent choices with many fans who are both tradesmen and everyday homeowners. Simply want a platform that gives you the basics with a few yard tools thrown in? Maybe you’re more a fan of blue or conventional green? B&D, Kobalt, Bosch, Makita, or Hitachi might be more up your alley.

All of the brands mentioned here, along with some notable exceptions, are worth considering. Ultimately, it boils down to what you can afford and what appeals the most to you. Notice a recurring word here? You. What works for me, the carpenter down the street, or the plumber that fixes your sink may not be optimal for your budget, needs, or personal preferences. So get out there, do your homework, and enjoy your purchases. We aren’t here forever, and can’t take anything with us, so just start doing. Build, repair, invent, or improve something…and use those hard-earned tools.