Big Boy Toys
I bought some new power tools today. You know, big boy toys. Nothing makes you feel more like a consumer whore than buying a set of power tools. That's why Home Depot has those bumpers stickers that say "Home Depot: My Toy Box." Duh.
Basically my Craftsman 12v cordless drill just wasn't cuttin it. It worked great as a screwdriver and for drilling lighter duty stuff like pilot holes. It also worked great with assembling and disassembling stuff when I moved. But the charge wore out fast when driving it hard even tho I just bought it, and it couldn't drill through 2x4's with a spade bit like I need for running electrical and plumbing. I had to use my Dad 35 year old drill which worked great but lacked little conveniences like variable speed, a keyless check and even reverse.
So I bought a big old 18v set made by Ryobi. Consumer reports ranked it as a best buy so it was a good excuse to get a reciprocating saw too. I keep finding myself in situations where I say to myself "If only I had a reciprocating saw..." They're pretty indispensable when it comes to demolition. Coincidentally, Consumer Reports ranked my Craftsman drill pretty poorly, and I'd have to agree.
So why did I buy some cheesy Japanese brand tools that look like Tonka toys? Well, because I only have one house. I'm not a professional so I didn't want to pay $500 for a set, or $200 for one drill. I'll let you know how it works out. The guy in line behind me said, "I got one of those for Christmas. You'll love it."