can you fly with power tools manufacturers

Power tools and all tools longer than 7 inches (measured from end to end when assembled) are prohibited in carry-on baggage; these items must be packed in your checked bags.

Having traveled with thirty or so cordless drills and tens of other tools recently, I decided to look a bit closer into what the rules are when it comes to flying with power tools, hand tools, bolts, nuts, and other hardware.

If you are looking for a quick answer, here you go: in vast majority of cases, you can travel with your tools and hardware. Depending on the tool, you might be able to carry it on, however, I recommend checking all of them in to avoid any potential issues at security. The only exception to that are batteries from your cordless tools which need to be carried on.

While this article is based on FAA and TSA rules for traveling with tools and batteries, they can serve as a rough guideline for your other travels as well. In either case, though, if you are not sure whether or not you can travel with a certain tool or piece of hardware, make sure to get in touch with the local authority as well as your airline.

The general rule when it comes to flying with power tools – whether corded, battery-powered, or engine-powered – is that all of them need to be in your checked in luggage and are prohibited in your carry on.

Battery-powered tools such as cordless drills and saws can technically travel in checked in luggage with their batteries attached, but they have to be prevented from shorting and from accidentally activating.

As such, when it comes to battery-powered tools, I recommend you to remove their batteries and put them in yourcarry on luggage – only putting the tool itself in your checked in luggage.

While most power tool batteries should be within that limit, if you are unsure – and if there is no Whcapacity mentioned on the battery – you can calculate it as follows:

Engine-powered tools such as chainsaws, trimmers and generators are prohibited from both carry on and checked in luggage if there is any fuel left in them – even in the form of residual vapors.

Just like the drills themselves, you cannot carry drill bits in your hand luggage. And, given that sharp objects are prohibited from carry on luggage in general, things such as power saw blades should be packed in your checked luggage as well.

On the other hand, given that – as you will see below – tools under 7-inches long are allowed, in theory you should be able to carry on Phillips and socket bits. However, I would still pack everything in checked luggage to avoid any potential delays at the security check since the final decision rests on the security screening officer.

However, given that there is also the general rule of not being able to carry on sharp items and the fact that the security screening officer makes the final decision about whether or not you can carry something on, I recommend you to put all tools in your checked in luggage.

If you, for one reason or another, you insist on taking your tools into the cabin, here’s a list of some of the tools that are technically allowed in the cabin based on TSA’s website as long as they are under 7 inches long:Multi-tool without blades

As you can see above, in most cases, you will have to check your tools and hardware in. The notable exception being hand tools shorter than 7 inches and scissors with blades shorter than 4 inches.

One last tip: if for some reason you decide to carry on tools, make sure that you arrive at the airport early enough to have enough time to go back from the security check to the check-in counters in case the security staff determines that you must check the tools in.

You can pack almost all tools in checked bags. If you are bringing power tools any spare or loose lithium-ion batteries cannot be packed in checked baggage and much be packed in carry-on bags.

Gas powered tools can be packed in checked bags too. However, if they contain any residue or vapors of gas/oil, they would be considered a hazardous material & prohibited from being transported on the airplane. Even brand new tools can have residues because they are tested before sale. Check with your airline about bringing any gas powered tool in hold luggage.

You cannot bring power tools in carry-on luggage. Fans of the horror movie genre will understand why. Power tools can be used as weapons and that’s why they are not allowed in carry-on bags.

Regular hand tools must be shorter than 7 inches. This is because longer heavier tools could be used to knock someone over the head. Hammers or knives of any size are not allowed in hand luggage.

Finding pocket TSA approved tools that will get through airline security can be a little tricky. We figured we’d try to bring some clarity to the issue of airplane safe tools. Following are some items you can (as of this writing) bring with you when flying within the United States. Since there are some speculation and claims about what is approved and what is not; we figured the best way to find out what you can fly with is to simply try it for ourselves. After checking the TSA website, it is pretty clear what is prohibited. Using that as our baseline, we went about looking for some pocket-size tools that had items we could use and did not include any of the banned items.

Editors note:This article is not intended to endorse or encourage illegal behavior by bringing banned items on commercial airline flights. The purpose of this article is to shed some light on what could be deemed as ‘approved’ pocket tools to take on flights with you. Travel with any pocket tool at your own risk. And always remember that regardless of what the TSA rules say, an actual TSA agent has the right to overrule just about anything, even if it’s a product you’ve brought onto a plane previously or something that is not necessarily banned according to official policies.

There are many of us that always carry some kind of pocket knife or another useful compact tool so that we can be like adult boy scouts when the need arises. To be without our knife or other tool leaves us feeling lost when situations arise that require a quick slice or something opened – at least that’s how I feel. When it comes to traveling for a short trip by air, we often do not check our baggage which means that we have to leave our knives and tools at home. This past summer I got tired of not being prepared and figured I would search out and find some sort of pocket tools that we could fly with.

Most manufactures are hesitant to claim that their product is airline or TSA safe, so after scanning the TSA website and going through their prohibited and permitted items, we observed that if it is in question, it probably is prohibited. You can check out the list here for yourself. Below are some notable items we thought of interest—specifically in the area of household tools:

Given this short list of permitted items, we started to look around at our options. We figured it would be good to start small. There are a number of key chain size multi-tools but most of them include knives or blades. A knife of any size immediately disqualifies the tool for air travel… even though my ballpoint pen could do more damage than many of the 2″ blades I’ve seen. Two mini multi-tools that caught our attention were the Swiss+Tech Micro-Tech 6-in-1 and the IDL Tools T7 MultiTool. Both seemed to meet our needs.

To test out if these two airplane safe tools were commercial airline safe, we took both of them with us on several multi-day trips. These involved multiple airports and numerous TSA screening positions. One even went on an international flight. Determined that we would not do our testing stealthily by trying to conceal these tools in our carry-on luggage, we simply carried them in our laptop bag and even in our pockets.

As far as actually using these tools. They came in very handy for tightening a few nuts, clipping wire zip ties and even for a few small adjustments we needed to make on a piece of audio equipment. Both tools are adequately sturdy and can be functional in a pinch. It is a safe bet that you can find a small-sized multi-tool that is safe to fly with. Make sure that it does not include any blades and, just in case it does get confiscated, keep the good, expensive stuff for when you are home and on the ground.

Recalled batteries and devices - Lithium batteries recalled by the manufacturer/vendor must not be carried aboard aircraft or packed in baggage. Battery-powered devices recalled because of lithium battery safety concerns also should not be carried aboard aircraft or packed in baggage unless the device or its battery has been replaced, repaired or otherwise made safe per manufacturer/vendor instructions. The FAA and your airline may offer further public guidance on individual recalled products. Product recall information is available at http://www.cpsc.gov/recalls. Learn more.

Any common object that could be used as a weapon should be packed in your checked bag. This includes anything sharp, baseball bats, canoe paddles, hiking poles, hockey sticks, power tools, and hand tools over 7 inches end-to-end fully assembled.

Safety clips or retainers shall be securely installed and maintained on pneumatic impact (percussion) tools to prevent attachments from being accidentally expelled.

All fuel powered tools shall be stopped while being refueled, serviced, or maintained, and fuel shall be transported, handled, and stored in accordance with Subpart F of this part.

When fuel powered tools are used in enclosed spaces, the applicable requirements for concentrations of toxic gases and use of personal protective equipment, as outlined in Subparts D and E of this part, shall apply.

The fluid used in hydraulic powered tools shall be fire-resistant fluids approved under Schedule 30 of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, Department of the Interior, and shall retain its operating characteristics at the most extreme temperatures to which it will be exposed.

Tools shall not be loaded until just prior to the intended firing time. Neither loaded nor empty tools are to be pointed at any employees. Hands shall be kept clear of the open barrel end.

Powder-actuated tools used by employees shall meet all other applicable requirements of American National Standards Institute, A10.3-1970, Safety Requirements for Explosive-Actuated Fastening Tools.

Only one difference is it four companies on 48% of the marketplace and Black and Decker owns Stanley DeWalt Craftsman and a half a dozen other companies so therefore they are all basically based upon the same designs and parts Black & Decker owns Lennox Craftsman Irwin tools DeWalt and crib master so what the hell is the difference they’re all Black and Decker

There store brand has never been makita try better try the orange colored rigid Makita tools will hold there own with DeWalt and Milwaukee all day long and if you get in the 40v platform there is no comparison though it is marketed more to the heavy tech mechanic with the torque ranges of impacts and the size combination of grinders

I am a professional ,I have been in the construction industry since july of 1983, I have built countless homes,high rides and everything you can name , and I must say you are wrong . I use a makita saw every day it the no.one selling saw in the world ,along with the complete line of makita tools they are one of the top brands but just so you know the other brand most used is dealt, which used to be sold under black and decker professional, but they changed their name ,but as,apro I dont care who makes the tools long as it performs the way it should I have countless nail guns but surprisingly the guns my employees reach for most is a 99 dollar harbor freight the senco,and Hitachi spend most of their day in my trailer,proof that quilty tools are some times manufactured by the store brand

A professional can use any of these power tools and absolutely do the same quality work . Most of us didn’t start out with the best tools ., Of course I love my equipment and I’m not stuck in one particular brand because they all have their star player …Don’t buy into the hype ….

What difference does it make who DeWalt is owned by? Are you saying they don’t make quality tools? Do you slam Lexus because they’re made by Toyota? Sorry but that’s a really dumb criticism.

Milwaukee, DeWalt and Ridgid are all top quality cordless power tools. Heck, even Ryobi are decent tools for home owners and DIY level guys. I’m not sure what tools you are referring to when you say they are like toilet paper soaked in Kool-aid.

What are you talking about?? First there are no Home Depot branded tools. Second, even ones sold “exclusively” at Home Depot are still not “Home Depot Tools” like Ryobi but this brand is the only one I can think you are try to bash. The rest are unquestionably good tools. Ryobi is part of the same company that owns other high quality tool manufacturers and share some of the same technologies. I’ve had the same Ryobi power tools that I purchased in the early 2000’s and have some other random less used Ryobi power tools, just because I have the batteries and they are not daily commercials work tools. My work tools are all Milwaukee, RIDGID and DeWalt. I have some Husky tool bags and cases and some hand tools. All take daily abuse and use and no issues.

The big box stores do a good rental business. The as a service thing is close to existing on that front now. It was funny, I was building something for a guy and had my chop saw, compressor, nail gun, generator as well as a slew of hand power tools and good ol mechanical hand tools at his site. We were at one of the big box places picking up wood. He had commented a couple of times about how expensive I was. I took him into the rental room, and showed him what the per day rental costs were and it would have only cost him about $50 more a day to rent the big stuff I provided and he DIYed it. The look on his face when he saw that was priceless,

The only tools I have been buying have been Ridgid at HD. If you follow the process and register all the pieces on line within the allotted amount of time post purchase, the tool and the batteries are covered by a lifetime warrantee. In a few years the owners of other brands will be faced with that buy a new tool and battery for $15 more than a new battery or buy a new battery for $15 less than a new tool and battery, while I can just swing by HD and get a replacement for free.

I have had two different instances where I “applied to register” (because you aren’t registered until Ridgid SAYS your are, and even then…) and Ridgid has said, “Registration? We don’t have a registration for this tool” or tools. First time, they said “No registration, please send proof of purchase to us”. When I sent a copy of the HD purchase receipt, they said, “Oh, this tool was registered four times”. Right.

The second time was for the first two Ridgid tools that I had purchased years ago (and registered). Ridgid said, “We have no record of these tools being registered”, i.e. – they won’t warrant the tools, period.

The lifetime warranty is why I have a sack full of RIDGID tools, I find them to be more than adequate and haven’t had any issues with them. I use the 1/2″ drive impact all the time and it still surprises me occasionally when I put it in something I just know it’s not going to have the needed torque to remove and it just buzzes it right off. Such as axel nuts which have never been removed

That’s a fantastic business model, from my perspective. As long as I stick with the same brand, I can make a one-time purchase for expensive batteries and have access to a huge selection of relatively cheap tools? I’m in. Great for customers, great for the brand, as it locks in those customers.

Hmm, except tool batteries are consumable (even rechargeables eventually die) so your one-time purchase is repeat. I’ll take mains powered tools where possible, a copper cable should be cheap compared to a battery pack.

My selling point was being able to leave the tools in a shed and the batteries in the mud room with climate control. Also they’re usually just 18650s if anyone needs to put those idle hands to use in the devil’s right-to-repair workshop.

You forget that one brand can use 4-6 different battery standards for their tools, each one compatible only with some tools. It’s the DSLR lens mount business model, where Canon, Nikon and some others used to have 4-6 different lens mounts (each) for different camera series…

I am more than happy to use a heavy duty cable to connect these $29 power tools to an external high current DC supply. Pesky neighbors wouldn’t want to borrow these tools. :P

If anyone has a better idea, please go forward and let someone know. If you saw the amount of power tools, etc that go running out the door on a weekly basis, and it was YOUR business, you’d try anything you had to, considering no one is allowed to try and stop them for fear of getting fired. The thieves know it, so they get away with it. It’s frustrating to all that would simply like to kick their ass before they hit the door, but yet… There are literally parents using their children as shields to run out and jump into a getaway car! It’s insanity! And if the prices go up, you can start hunting down the thieves and thank them for it. And yes, the cameras do work, and they help to ID thieves, but then police don’t have time to go after every petty thief that has already dumped the stuff at a pawn shop or in someone else’s garage..it’s a domino effect that needs to be stopped…Anyone got any ideas that aren’t full of sarcasm and bashing of what they do try? Can’t say it won’t be a pain in the ass, or that it will work, and thieves will probably find a way around that too.. but what will make it stop?! Pretty sure third world treatment of steal something, lose a hand, wouldn’t go over too well, but….

Get money from customers first – maybe online – then deliver the tools to them at their home the next day. With the money you save not running a store, you could sell the tools cheaper and throw in free delivery.

Hell, I’m making LESS now than I was 15 years ago, despite having grown my skill set significantly. I once owned my own home, now the possibility of owning another is completely out of reach. Meanwhile dickheads like Jeff Bezos exploit workers so he can fly a dildo to the edge of space and give CNN talking heads $100 MILLION each for being tools of the 1%.

let me ask you, when the vast majority of this country is homeless and starving in the street, who is going to be left to be buying power tools, let alone anything else that corporate America sells? Corporate greed is driving America towards COLLAPSE! Spending is what drives our economy, and fewer and fewer Americans are able to participate because of this concentration of wealth. This negative feedback loop has only ONE possible outcome, and it’s disastrous for EVERYONE.

Slippery slope. If it’s easy to defeat it’s pointless. So it’ll end up being integrated into same chip as motor controller. Once the Borg have invaded your drill/saw/etc, it’s easy to take the next step, which is “oh yeah, device demands to phone home” every so often, or else device refuses to work! This way, if someone steals the tool from You after you buy it, We can find/brick it! Oh, this is for telemetry, so we can make our products better! So we can alert you when your tool is getting near needing replacement! You did want to replace every year didn’t you? Or every month? We totally won’t brick your tool in under a month. Welcome to tools “as a service”.

100%. Absolutely spot on. That’s the exact progression with most companies these days, which is why I refuse to use any of them. I’ll go back to hand tools before I use an Adobe model impact.

Power tools aren’t cars dingus. I suppose you’re also advocating for requiring a license and insurance to use that drill? See how your lame, fallacious analogy falls apart? With “logic” like yours, probably not.

You think that is where the profit comes from for tool companies? Industrial buyers spend more in a year than Joe 6 packs entire neighborhood will in a lifetime. I buy 10-15k in Milwaukee tools a year just for my location.

Exactly, what will make or break this will be people/companies who buy, use and abuse these tools for a living in mass, not one random dude who buys one tool that he uses a handful of times over the course of a few decades.

wait for people to forget about it when it’s actually in place in a year and the lack of transparency as to which tools require an activation. oh those lawsuits are going to be fun. sign me up for that class action suit

I worked for home depot for 9 years, I first heard this mentioned by a Milwaukee rep that they were showing it at the store manager meeting (a trade show the show what’s coming to the stores in the near future) I mentioned concerns about longevity because I would imagine it would have to be an electrical Reed switch or something that’s triggered magnetically I dropped my tools all the time how many drops will it take until that falsely deactivates. I also mentioned to him that I know that the margin that home Depot makes on those tools is less than 10%, who’s paying for the security device to protect home Depot the end user? If it eats up more profit margin than the loss that the company is experiencing in a hole then it defeats the purpose so if I was the guest the end user is going to see the price increase which then is just going to keep them from being competitive to the retailers that is not doing this stupid ass program. How he mentioned it he said that they had an internal meeting and this was home depot’s proposal but they’re not really on board of it either again circle back to longevity of the tool that’s their name on the tool it needs to last the same as if it was bought with or without the security device and that’s not likely to be the case.

If the tool stops working, or even if the battery dies, it won’t cause me any major problems. I own HD’s RIDGID tools. If the tool or the battery dies they have a lifetime warranty. I just take it in and get a replacement.

Yes, far larger market for the Ryobi (batteries) then the Milwaukee. Though the Milwaukee tools are worth more, they are only worth 1/2 price to someone already in their red eco-system and those people tend not be on-line looking for steals. Too busy at real jobs. imho, Far better to steal Ryobi batteries and chargers.

Ryobi has made their ONE+ 18 volt tools for 25 years and the Lithium Ion ONE+ batteries work in every ONE+ tool. They recently launched a more powerful 40 volt line, all of which use the same 40 volt batteries in several amp hour capacities. Very likely they’ll still be compatible 25 years from now.

Second thought was any solution simple enough for a minimum wage cashier to do perform and cheap enough not to drive the price of these tools up is going to have a work around up for sale on ebay within a few weeks.

One power transistor few resistors and a microcontroller cost almost nothing. how quickly replacement controllers will be on grey market? And given the tools – they are probably unified anyway.

To a degree, just put the power tools in a checkout counter of their own and if people ask, then say that shoplifters are a problem with these high value goods. Few people would question it to be fair.

It’s probably not about the tools but the labour. covid has screwed up the employment market and by making the tools intelligent home depot can put any unskilled worker behind the counter. personally i would make do with a fuse that is blown in a special procedure to enable operation, kind of like a reverse bricking feature, but no drm needed.

The problem is that is is not where you keep the tools, unless you keep them locked up in the back room, where you only have to worry about employee pilferage. I read on one of the forms I am on that employees are specifically not allowed to even try to stop people from leaving with things in many stores. They are supposed to call the police and file a report an let the insurance deal with it. It is much more expensive to fight off a suite for having an employee get hurt or worse yet, hurt a paying or nonpaying customer. I also know first hand that about 90% of the time that things with the security tags that are supposed to be deactivated at the checkout are not. I no longer even slow down when I buy something and the alarm goes off. They ask me to stop, I just say no thank you and keep on going. I used to stop and I would get the manager and go to the cashier and make a big deal out of it but things never improved playing by the rules and trying to get them to improve. So now I just keep walking.

I would think that if they have an employee theft problem, CASH is a greater problem going missing than a bulky power tool in a box. They seem to have a handle on that.

Thieves are grabbing tools and running out of the store with them. Security can not detain them and by the time they get the police involved, it is too late.

You really think that people steal power tools because they’re poor!? Try it’s because they’re lazy and don’t want to work. You want to address the issues that cause theft? Great. I agree. Let’s address parents not teaching t heir kids morals and ethics and a sense of right and right. Let’s talk about children growing up with a sense of entitlement with no work towards earning that entitlement. Let’s address all of that and then we can START to get to the root cause of crime.

ICs are like medicine. The actual cost of production is very low. What you pay for is R&D and distribution costs. The cost of adding this “feature” is close to zero. They already have a microcontroller in most power tools, it’s just a matter of adding a tiny little bit of firmware to manage the lockout, and a way to communicate with the outside world which could be a simple serial port or optical (they often already have a white led for lighting, they could use it for TX, and add a phototransistor for RX, cost <$0.1)

I know there are some negative possibilities here, but I think they are approaching it from a different angle than people are expecting here. First of all, TTI builds Ryobi, Milwaukee, and Ridgid tools. Ridgid is Home Depot’s “House” brand. First to address battery expense and tool longevity concerns. Ridgid has a (basically) no questions asked lifetime warranty on their tools IF YOU REGISTER THEM IN THE FIRST 90 DAYS (otherwise it’s a 3 year warranty) a battery has a 1 year warranty. The trick is that any tool that comes with a battery covers the battery under the same warranty as the tool (except their vacuums which I found out thru sad experience). I have used the warranty once, they literally sent me two new batteries and let me keep the old ones.

Second, for the subscription model everyone is scared of. They will be doing this over Bluetooth. There are already Milwaukee tools that have the feature and all of my batteries are Bluetooth enabled. You can optionally pair them to an app and use it to see battery stats, lock the battery, and make the battery chirp if you can’t find it. I rarely use it, but I have to locate a battery a few times. Also useful to lock your batteries and make them useless to criminals.

I have 7 Bluetooth enabled batteries, 3 x 3Ah, 3 x 6Ah, and a 9Ah. I purchased them with tools, so all but the 9Ah is covered lifetime (the 9Ah came with the vacuum). I am not a professional, but I do use them a lot, and have had no trouble. I actually pulled some old chargers apart for the battery holder and contacts and installed them in some power wheels for my kids. The batteries will get replaced free when they die, so why not? Also, power wheels batteries are the real rip-off. I know some of you like to hate stuff for the sake of hating it, but at least for now I don’t see any mal intent here, and I have been VERY happy with my Ridgid tools. My oldest drill from them is about 8 years old and still going strong.

With registration tools AND batteries have lifetime warranty with HD house brand. They use Bluetooth for locating tools/batteries, as well as stats, and give you an option to lock your tools. If no app, tools work as normal unless you expressly locked them.

TBH, I was given a set of Ridgid tools when I was younger and just kept going with them. I continued because I liked the lifetime warranty on the batteries. I agree they are not the BEST tools, but they are no B&D garbage. I have never had a real issue and I don’t see a reason to plop large sums of cash for tool quality that will not realistically benefit me. That just seems stupid.

HDX is home depot’s house brand for simple tools and supplies. I have never seen an HDX power drill myself. Home Depot “Launched” the Ridgid line in 2003 and has exclusive rights to sell. From my research and talking to people home depot also services the lifetime warranty for the power tool line. This discussion is not about the Ryobi line, and I don’t care for their power tools (the battery design bugs me) so I have not done much research beyond knowing they are also produced by TTI. Do your (any?) research before you spout off bud.

The lifetime warranty for Ridgid tools is serviced by home depot. If you try to register the tool it will ask for the Home Depot receipt (there are a couple other options like if it was purchased at a Ridgid trade show or home depot website, but home Depot receipt is the primary option, you can not buy from an online outlet besides HD and get a warranty).

With this change to their tools, people will first have to stop at the register before leaving.. it’s ridiculous to burden customers with this requirement.

You’re a funny guy. I actually have a few. They take forever, even in softer wood, and look at driving screws, or drilling through metal or steel. Not going there. Should we also give our power saws away and onlynuse a hand saw to build your house and furniture? You think it takes a long time to build now, if we go back to 1940’s era tools and practices, we will never get out of the housing shortage.

Sounds like the perfect opportunity for someone to start a business selling converted versions of the tools. Send the battery in, replace the locked guts with your own unlocked version, send back out.

I’m not convinced this isn’t a bluff until we know more about it. If they come up with a creative way to stop shoplifting, good on them. I just don’t see how they could easily implement this from manufacturing to POS. I’ve worked retail, I’ve repaired my own power tools. I doubt they’ll add any wireless technology, so that means physically doing something to unlock the tool at the POS. I could see adding Bluetooth chips to unlock something big like a miter saw, but that would be a lot of investment for a $79.99 drill or saw- usually left out in the open (versus behind a locked gate) and thus the low hanging fruit for theft.

Apparently some tools already have Bluetooth locks in them (e.g., https://onekeysupport.milwaukeetool.com/en/knowledge/ios-tool-lockout). I could see integration as easy as scanning the UPC, then scanning a serial number barcode (Nintendo has required this of their retailers since the mid-90s), then pushing a cryptographic activation code via BTLE once the transaction is done. Or they could use EPC/RFID to read the product type and serial number simultaneously. Or replace the UPC with a 2D barcode, etc.

I don’t know why they didn’t simply have the tools on display to look at and hold. Then the other tools in a cage and when I wanted to buy a tool, I could pick up a card, taken it to checkout, swipe and pay for it and have someone bring me the tool. Such a simple and easy system that has been working for countless other stores for decades.

Just in case somebody hasn’t pointed it out yet – the “shoplifting prevention” line is probably a smokescreen. What’s *really* going to happen is the tools will be sold by subscription, and you’ll need to pay a yearly fee to keep using them.

Came here to post this. Absolutely. I can totally see HD replacing their “lifetime warranty” on their Ridgid range of power tools with a subscription model where you no longer own the tool.

I suspect the percentage of tool users who are willing to open up and fix their own tools is pretty high. A subscription model is probably redundant. We already buy consumables: screws, bits, battery packs, and unnecessary accessories.

When I buy a Stihl piece of equipment it is registered at the store I buy it from immediately before I leave the store. A real time saver and great customer service. I’m glad HD is doing that too. I register all my Ridgid tools I buy and it would be a timesavers for me.

Or they say they don’t work. Some just have a battery shell held on with a fancy strap or bracket. I got some air tools off a display from a store that was changing things over to a new display. They insisted they didn’t work but I took them home, screwed in the quick connect fittings, hooked up the hose. Working tools.

I can see that happening for professional grade tools but that will never fly with regular Joe 6 pack who does diy projects at home. I’ll go back to Harbor Freight or buy knockoff tools from somewhere besides HD.

Bulk of retail theft, is the employees… The activation thing, is probably intended more of as a deterrent. Likely, there was already a trend with manufacturers to make smarter tools. Mostly like, the consumer will eventually have the same controls, and more of their purchase. Not always possible to keep your tools in a locked, secure cabinet. Not play toys, for yours, someone else’s kids. Or even just anybody, on a job site. I can see a GPS, or similar tool locator. Really surprised it hasn’t been a ‘thing’ for a while. Tools, get lost. misplaced, sometimes ‘walk’ around on their own… I don’t mind my brother using my tools, but he’s terrible about putting them back where he got them, doesn’t always mention he’s ‘borrowing’ something.

A cordless drill is the most essential power tool you’ll buy. It’s the one you’ll rely on for big projects, such as building a deck and remodeling a kitchen, and for smaller tasks, like installing fixtures and assembling furniture. You might even need your drill to service other tools.

Most cordless drills these days run on lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, which deliver more power and longer run times in a lighter package than before. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, Li-ion batteries have improved so much over the past decade that a newer drill might run 50 percent longer than a drill from seven years ago.

Improved motors and battery life has consistently elevated brand performance in CR’s ratings, which now include impact drivers. Impact drivers are extremely powerful, compact tools that drive screws more efficiently into wood, metal, and cement than traditional cordless drills, making them a popular choice for heavy duty jobs like building decks or home improvements.

Lithium cells and batteries power countless items that support everyday life from portable computers, cordless tools, mobile telephones, watches, to wheelchairs and motor vehicles. Our society has come to depend on lithium cells and batteries for an increasingly mobile lifestyle. Today"s lithium cells and batteries are more energy dense than ever, bringing a steadily growing number of higher-powered devices to market. With the increased energy density comes greater risk and the need to manage it. Shippers play an important role in reducing this risk and preventing incidents—including fires aboard aircraft or other transport vehicles.

Whether shipping a single battery, a palletized load of batteries, or a battery-powered device, the safety of the package, and those who handle it along its journey, depends on compliance with the HMR. Failure to comply with the applicable regulations may result in fines or even criminal prosecution. Refer to 49 CFR 173.185 and the resources below for detailed requirements related to shipments of lithium batteries, including those contained in electronic devices.

If you"re taking a flight, you can bring your laptop computer, cell phone, camera, tablet, or other lithium battery-powered devices! These personal electronics pose lower risk if certain conditions and limitations are followed, such as preventing inadvertent activation. Spare batteries, including baggage equipped with lithium batteries, can be packed in carry-on baggage if steps are taken to protect against short circuits.

Each year, manufacturers dazzle us with new tool innovations and battery technology. We want more run-time, more power, and more overall tool longevity. By and large, major tool manufacturers are delivering those things. Today, the best cordless drills far exceed the capabilities of corded tools. Professionals are beginning to regard their 18V tools as their primary option instead of just supplemental tools. Tool innovation continues to highlight the similar capabilities of 12-volt vs 18-volt. It’s remarkable to see, and the tools are exciting to use. But more power isn’t our only consideration. In the 12V vs 18V equation, we can quickly get to a point where we experience diminishing returns.

We get there not because of the power, but because of factors accompanying the power. After all, there’s no need to kill a fly with a sledgehammer. Here are some of the biggest considerations when comparing 12-volt vs 18-volt tools.

It’s obvious that 18-volt tools have more power than their 12-volt brethren. However, 12V vs 18V isn’t just about power. You simply may not need all that torque.

A professional carpenter or installer can likely use a 12-volt tool all day long without needing an 18V tool. Thanks to lithium-ion technology, today’s 12-volt drills and impact drivers perform a lot like yesterday’s 18-volt tools. Some even seem to fall somewhere in between the two categories.

However, what if you’re in production performing heavy-duty, high-stress tasks? Then an 18-volt platform might be better suited for the job. For many users, however, that 12-volt power tool gives you plenty of power for most of the work you might toss at it.

12-volt tools certainly hold an advantage with their lighter weight. If you oftenfind yourself in crawlspaces, attics, working overhead, or with your arms extended, 12V tools have the advantage…hands down. If the power level gives you what you need, you’ll want to consider the 12-volt platform.

Unless you drive a dump truck, space is probably limited. Your best shop tool box or truck bed toolbox is prime real estate. If your tools are smaller, you can carry a wider variety of tools for jobs you may encounter. You could carry a 12V impact driver, 12V drill, one-handed recip saw, and even a circular saw (and probably more) in a reasonably sized toolbox or backpack and be ready for just about anything. An 18V set would be considerably larger and heavier.

For most of us, there’s no getting around investing in an 18V tool and battery platform. The cost of entry isn’t nearly as high for 12V tools, however. Finding a good 12V system—even as a supplement—may help you work smarter.

That flips upside down, however, when you consider the fact that the widest variety of tools exists on the 18V platform. That actually makes the 12V platform the “luxury” option. While those smaller tools save on weight at the expense of power, they also don’t represent a platform that you can infinitely build upon. Rather, they deliver a more ergonomic solution for those of us who want to pay for that convenience.

So who are 12V tools for? In our opinion, these smaller tools target two types of consumers. First, they appeal to the DIYer who may not intend to buy anything other than a drill, impact driver, small saw, etc. They aren’t looking to build out a “tool connection”. The other user is the seasoned Pro who can afford to add some lightweight tools to their arsenal to save them weight when working overhead or simply performing tasks that don’t require a heavier, beefier tool.

We love the constant innovation and increased power coming out of the major tool manufacturers. We won’t stop wanting more because we simply expect more from our cordless tools. But there are some considerations to think about before heading right over and picking the box with the biggest numbers on it. A 12-volt platform is smaller, lighter, and cheaper. It comes with the ability to get into tight spaces and help alleviate fatigue during long periods of use.

Just remember—very few Pros can do everything on just a 12-volt platform. Most of us use 12V tools to supplement our 18V tools when the situation lets us choose ergonomics over power.

I’m sure you have some opinions about 12V vs 18V tools. If you’re a Pro and you have other cordless tool tips, add them in the comments below or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Ever wonder who owns Craftsman tools? How about Milwaukee, Mac Tools, or Skilsaw? It may surprise you to know that only a handful of power tool companies own your favorite tools. That’s right, most tool brands fall under a parent company that also controls additional power tool manufacturers and brands. We break it down for you…with charts!

Stanley Black & Decker (SBD) turned heads when it bought Craftsman Tools in 2017 after Sears closed 235 stores in 2015. The company owns many brands, however. Dating back to 1843 with a man named Frederick Stanley, the company quickly formed its roots. In 2010, it merged with another company that started in 1910—Black and Decker. As of 2017, the company maintains a $7.5 billion business in tools & storage alone. SBD brands include:

As it turns out, TTI owns Milwaukee Tool and a host of other power tool companies. It also licenses the RIDGID* and RYOBI names for cordless power tools (Emerson owns RIDGID). TTI stands for Techtronic Industries Company Limited (TTI Group). Founded in 1985 in Hong Kong, TTI sells tools all over the world and employs over 22,000 people. TTI is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and had worldwide annual sales of over US$6 billion in 2017. Their brands include:

Not anymore. In 2017, Chervon acquired Skil Power Tool Brands from Bosch. This added two big brands to their portfolio: Skilsaw and Skil. Chervon started its power tools business unit back in 1993, launching the EGO brand of cordless outdoor power equipment in 2013. In 2018, the company rebranded Skil (including the logo) and announced new 12V and 20V cordless power tools. Today, Chervon tools and products are sold by more than 30,000 stores in 65 countries. Chervon manufactures the following brands:

First off, Bosch Tools only represents part of the Bosch Group which includes Robert Bosch GmbH and over 350 subsidiaries across 60+ countries. In 2003 Robert Bosch GmbH combined its North American power tool and power tool accessory divisions into one organization, forming Robert Bosch Tool Corporation in North America. The company designs, manufactures, and sells power tools, rotary and oscillating tools, power tool accessories, laser and optical leveling devices, and range finding tools all over the globe. Bosch also manufactures the following tools:

Husqvarna Group manufactures chainsaws, trimmers, robotic lawn mowers, and ride-on lawnmowers. The Group also makes garden watering products as well as cutting equipment and diamond tools for the construction and stone industries. They have a presence in more than 100 countries and employ over 13,000 people in 40 countries. Husqvarna Group also owns the following tools:

JPW owns several large brands including Jet, Powermatic, and Wilton. The company has its headquarters in La Vergne, Tennessee but also has operations in Switzerland, Germany, Russia, France, Taiwan, and China. They sell products in 20 countries throughout the world. Their tool brands include:

Apex Tool Group has its headquarters in Sparks, Maryland, USA and employs more than 8,000 workers. They operate in more than 30 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Annual revenues exceed $1.4 billion on the sale of hand tools, power tools, and electronics tools for the industrial, automotive, aerospace, and construction/DIY markets. The following tool manufacturers belong to APEX Tool Group:

Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), Emerson controls power tool manufacturers and products in the industrial, commercial, and residential markets. While TTI licenses the RIDGID name for power tools, Emerson controls the following tools (among others):

Based in Wendlingen, Germany, TTS or Tooltechnic Systems owns Festool (electric and pneumatic tools), Tanos (not to be confused with the guy who destroyed half the universe), Narex, Sawstop, and now Shaper Tools. TTS is truly behind the scenes as it doesn’t really have appear to have its own website (at least not in the US) or an official logo. In bullet point format, its subsidiaries include:

Yamabiko Corporation started in 2008 and has three core business segments: outdoor power equipment, agricultural machinery, and industrial machinery. Based in Japan, Yamabiko is a global company with major markets in Japan and North America, and a growing presence in Europe and Asia. Tool brands include:

Founded over 100 years ago, ITW manufactures specialized industrial equipment, power tools, hand tools, and consumables. ITW operates in 57 countries with over 50,000 employees. They also have more than 17,000 granted and pending patents. ITW brands include:

Who makes Harbor Freight Power Tools remains a mystery—possibly because they may have switched suppliers in the past. Some have suggested LuTool, a company established in June 1999 supplies their power tools. LuTool has headquarters in Ningbo, China, and a North American office in Ontario, Canada. LuTool is owned by Gemay (Ningbo Gemay Industry Co Ltd) which also has its headquarters in Ningbo, China.

Not to be outdone, others have suggested Powerplus as the manufacturer behind the Drill Master, Warrior, Bauer, and Hercules lines of tools. Powerplus is a division of European company Varo with headquarters in Belgium.

Hilti and Makita are just Hilti and Makita. Hilti doesn’t have any subsidiary companies underneath them or a parent company over them. Makita, on the other hand, did acquire the Dolmar brand, bolstering its already-impressive line of outdoor power equipment tools. It’s pretty impressive the market share each of these companies enjoys!

We can’t leave out the popular house brands available at those big-box retailers and home improvement warehouses. Note that many (if not all) of the brands below represent ODM or OEM solutions. That means the tools get specified by the store but executed by another manufacturer. In other scenarios, tools are “offered” to a retailer and then manufactured in bulk upon acceptance of a buyer’s order.

While you may have thought you knew who owned all those power tool manufacturers, consolidation has changed the playing field. By far, Stanley Black & Decker demonstrates the largest buyout pattern. Companies like TTI, Apex Tool Group, ITW, and others also enjoy adding to their numbers.