re: Does the OB have a preferred brand of power tools they recommend?

If you're not a contractor, there is no need to splurge for Milwaukee or Dewalt. Those are made for you to hammer the shite out of them on a daily basis.

I have a table saw and an impact driver from Ryobi that I really enjoy. Perfectly capable for anything around the house. They also have a standard battery that can be used for all of their products (which is an extensive line). If this is a request for tools that you'll have in case you need them, not tools that you'll use on a daily basis, Ryobi is an excellent value.

But if money isn't an issue, Milwaukee is great. I have a lot of Milwaukee tools (and a Dewalt miter saw), and I love them, but I'll admit - I bought them because someone told me to, not because I needed that brand