Cordless Tool Combo Kits

Kits combine several tools that share batteries

It's cost-effective to buy several cordless tools that use the same batteries and charger, and most kits include a drill or hammer drill. However, buying cordless combo kits usually involves some compromise when it comes to performance and/or weight. If you want a cordless circular saw, reviewers recommend kits with at least 18-volt batteries, but this may give you a cordless drill that's heavier than you really need.

The four-piece, 18-volt, Li-ion Ryobi P844 auto-shift tool kit (*Est. $300) is getting lots of attention and positive reviews. It includes a drill/driver, a reciprocating saw, a work light plus a 5.25-inch circular saw. Ryobi combo tool kits have always gotten high marks for occasional homeowner use, and the Li-ion tools are lighter than older 18-volt Ni-Cd models. Ryobi has manufactured a huge array of cordless 18-volt tools, and the newer, lighter and longer-lasting Li-ion batteries can be used with any of them.

Among budget Ni-Cd tool kits, the 19.2-volt Craftsman C3 kits get reasonably good reviews. For example, the Craftsman 11548 kit (*Est. $135) pairs a cordless drill with a right-angle drill -- handy for tight spaces. About 70 owners give the Craftsman 11548 kit top marks at Sears.com. The Craftsman 11542 (*Est. $100) just adds a work light to the drill/driver. The Craftsman 11550 kit (*Est. $100) is an even better buy since it combines a drill/driver with an impact driver -- good for big construction jobs like building a deck or shed. Or you can go all out with the 11-piece Craftsman 17189 kit (*Est. $580), which also gets high marks from owners.

For more frequent use, reviewers recommend sturdier 18-volt tool kits. DeWalt's XRP batteries provide longer runtime than earlier DeWalt 18 volts, and these tools earn high marks for reliability and sturdy build. They don't come cheap, though. For example, the DeWalt DC2PAKSA kit (*Est. $420) has just two tools: a hammer drill and circular saw.

For better performance with a circular saw, consider even higher voltage; the Milwaukee V28 (28-volt Li-ion) tool kits get good reviews. The four-piece Milwaukee 0928-29 V28 (*Est. $750) is expensive, but includes a hammer drill, circular saw, reciprocating saw and work light. These are the basic tools needed for most construction jobs, and the 6.5-inch circular saw is big enough to cut two-by-fours in a single pass -- something the cordless Ryobi circular saw can't do. The five-year warranty on Milwaukee tools is another plus; their heavy weight is the major drawback.

For lighter weight, reviewers recommend the less expensive 18-volt Li-ion Makita LXT kits. The four-piece Makita LXT406 kit (*Est. $470), for example, also contains the same four tools most essential for construction projects. The six-piece Makita LXT601 (*Est. $630) adds an impact driver and angle grinder, plus a wheeled bag to hold them all. Various other Makita Li-ion tool combinations are available.