I'm looking to pick up a cordless grinder, cutoff tool, and a portable wet/dry vacuum, but I don't use these tools often enough to justify the prices Dewalt charges. I was considering the Bauer brand from Harbor Freight and using battery adapters to power them with my Dewalt batteries. Are there any other good, budget-friendly options out there with low battery protection? Thanks!
3 Answers
I'd recommend waiting for a sale; Memorial Day and Father’s Day sales are just around the corner. Never pay full price for tools if you can help it! Plus, think about your time too—not having a tool when you need it can be a hassle. Just be cautious with third-party battery adapters since they can lead to battery fires if they don’t have good voltage protection.
If you're looking for cheaper alternatives, Harbor Freight is a solid choice! Their Hercules line is surprisingly decent for the price, around 1/3 to 1/2 of Dewalt's prices. Also, check out their Bauer vacs; mine worked great until I made the rookie mistake of using it without a filter while sucking up wet drywall dust! Alternatively, Rigid shop vacs from Home Depot are excellent too. I have one for dust collection, and it cost around $80 for the larger model. Just keep an eye out for sales!
Check out Melif on Amazon; they sell a shop vac that works with Dewalt batteries. I’ve had mine for about three years without issues, and it only cost me around $60!