re: Cordless Drill Set Recommendations needed.

makita

That Milwaukee 12v line of products is awesome. Start with the drill driver combo and go from there. Milwaukee even made a caulking gun for that line.

If he's a wood worker I would imaigne he already has some battery operated tools. Maybe you can find out what system he already invested in?

I own a combination of 20V Dewalt and 18V Ryobi One+

Really like both systems. Dewalt's impact driver has a lot more torque than my Ryobi. Drills are honestly a tossup. Some features I like on the dewalt like how the trigger feels and the LED system. Ryobi has a bit holder and a little magnetic tray that is extremely handy.

Main thing I like about the Ryobi is they have a fantastic system of just about any type of tool imaginable. I have a leaf blower, weed eater, hand vac, small skill saw, reciprocating saw, palm sander, work light, angle grinder, and BT radio to go along with my impact driver and 1/2" hammer drill. You can get great deals on batteries and sets and single tools. As much as I like the system it's not the one I would want to get as a gift

Dewalt quality and performance speaks for itself.

The drill I use almost exclusively 90% of the time is a micro drill by Hitachi with a 1/4" quick change chuck I picked up on a whim because it was on Clearance at Lowes dirt cheap. I absolutely love the small compact size and it works great for 98% of the stuff you need a drill for around the house. Driving in screws, drilling an occasional hole, etc. Only time I whip out the big boys is if I need a hammer drill, driving lag screws, or working all day where the bigger battery and bigger motor are needed. If you start driving in hundreds of deck screws those little motors start to get hot. I'm waiting on it to die so I have an excuse to get the M12.

I think he he doesn't already have one of the 12V systems that would be a great gift. I don't think most people realize how much easier it is to work with those little drivers and how great they work for most of the stuff you need a drill for. You will probably find like myself you rarely pull out the big buys unless you have a big job to do.

Few word on tools

Be careful when comparing even the same brand online and in person. Just one letter different in the model number ----x----- verus -----z----- can be the difference in a 13amp to a 15amp saw for instance. Same with drills and all tools. That good deal at the big box store may be a special order with different components. Been there and done that one before.

See lot's of praise here for the Dewalts and the Milwaukee's. And they make good tools; however when it comes to cordless drills Makita is tops in my book. Have bought couple dozens of the things over the years and on the low end very occasional use the Hatachi will do you fine. But if cost is near the same why by a Dewalt that'll not last in the long run. They're also rather clunky (not ergonomic) - especially the 20AMP (go figure) - damn it's not a cordless saw. Over the years I've worn out Ryobi's, Bosches, Milwaukee's, Dewalts, Hitachi, Skill, and Black-n-Decker drills... the one I haven't (yet - it will come) is the Makita's they just/simply make a vbery good cordless drill. In truth I do have one that's gets a little hot, but it was dropped about twenty feet a couple times on a tall deck project.

For the money (in my experience) If you want a chop saw get the sliding compound 12" Dewalt. If you want jigsaw go with a Bosch. If you want a reciprocating saw get a Milwaukee. Big 4" belt sander either a Bosch or Milwaukee. Corded drill hard to not get a Milwaukee, big Bosch, or even maybe a Dewalt if a deal... but if you want a cordless drill get a Mikita 18v Lithium 3.0 and up it to 4.0 at battery replacement time.

Whatever you get - the combo pack gives you a fast charger, a drill, a impact driver, and most important two batteries. The impact will quickly become your go to tool for screwing. Because it doesn't simply spin around like a drill, but incrementally so that you don't strip out the heads of screws near as bad, and pays big dividends when unscrewing. The impact is also smaller, lighter, and more powerful than a comparable drill - you just don't want to really drill with one.

just my $.02 - but I've spent a lot of them pennies on drills over last 20 years

ETA: to add more

As someone mentioned, the dewalt 12v driver and drill are great for little things around the house. they are extremely light, compact and easy to use.

For heavy duty driving I have a Milwaukee m18 fuel that I love

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But if cost is near the same why by a Dewalt that'll not last in the long run. They're also rather clunky (not ergonomic) - especially the 20AMP (go figure) - damn it's not a cordless saw. Over the years I've worn out Ryobi's, Bosches, Milwaukee's, Dewalts, Hitachi, Skill, and Black-n-Decker drills... the one I haven't (yet - it will come) is the Makita's they just/simply make a vbery good cordless drill. In truth I do have one that's gets a little hot, but it was dropped about twenty feet a couple times on a tall deck project.

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Makita makes some good tools but their cordless stuff is no better or worse than Milwaukee or DeWalt. Sorry, I've worn out a Makita 18V Lithium cordless drill and impact driver set and unlike the others the Makita impact mechanism has a plastic support for the planetary set and forget rebuilding it once it fails. Best miter saw is the non-sliding Dewalt dual-bevel 12" saw. No sliding saw will make precision cuts like it and when the back fence is off it can handle a 2x10 flat. Hitachi makes a better belt sander than the rest now unless you can find an older Porter Cable, Rigid and Bosch are just too heavy and the platens too flimsy to keep them from gouging. DeWalt's 60V FlexVolt batteries are awesome for the 20V tools, I bought one recently for my 1/2" impact and recip saw and the runtime is incredible even against the 4.0 Ah batteries I have. Cut through the ends of 8 steel and cast iron 3" pipes and the carbide blades quit before the battery even lost half its charge. My 3.0Ah non-XR 20V batteries would go into protection mode and cut power almost right away and were useless for that job.

Black and Decker
Dewalt

Llike someone said - it's a Ford-Chevy-Dodge type discussion.

For starters: in reference to the tool list, I said for me, so others could weigh my recommendation with their own experience.. This was not a definitive buy these tools and only to show I had used a bunch. And really not considering the needs of a pipe fitter would be the same as a wood worker. If that was the case I'd possibly gone with a Metabo side grinder for your consideration. as I would a Rubi or Imer for a tile/stone guy to weight my considerations.

And BTW you don't use the sliding component on a saw except when needing it. It's an option for those needing more than the bare minimum. And when required it makes a much more precise cut than flipping the board around (or raising the board to elongate the cut - not recommenced). If only I had to cut a 2x10 then perhaps I'd agree; however some of us have greater needs than others. And maybe a new Hiatchi belt sander is an improvement (haven't seen one) because my decade old heavy Bosch and Milwaukee sanders have been exceedingly durable... and not really the jest of the conversation (see 1st bolded statement)

As for plastic in the impact driver - you may have me there. I'm on my fourth pair (all still in use) and have only been using the Makita 18v series since 2005 (when they 1st came out) and never had to repair a impact... and only replaced brushes on a couple drills. That's like the life of 2 or 3 Dewalt cordless drills. Maybe it's because I'll use a corded drill for big tasks or demanding projects. And to mention 20v-60v batteries in a cordless drill conversation is like using a dump trunk to go to drive end or 3/4 drive wrench when a 1/4" would do. It just doesn't make sense for a home owner or average wood worker, except maybe for use in something like cordless skill or reciprocating saw. For me they are are simply way to heavy and bulky to really do finish work or use all day long.

Not that don't do quality work or might find the deWalt satisfactory or find Fords <|> Chevy's.

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Just pick the color and price you can afford and be happy. They are all great. Make sure that the batteries are lithium ion though.

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This is great advice. Don't overthink or overspend....