You've got them mixed up. DeWalt is Stanley Black & Decker, which also makes modern, non-Sears Craftsman tools, along with a bunch of others--Bostitch nailers, Irwin, whatever's left of the Porter-Cable line, and upscale stuff like MAC (uses DeWalt batteries, as it happens) or Proto.
Milwaukee is TTI, which owns Home Depot's exclusive Ryobi and Ridgid brands, along with Empire (measuring devices), Hart (Ryobi but for Wal-Mart), and AEG (Ridgid but for Europe).
The other "big" one worth mentioning is Chervon, who own Flex, Skil (aside: their 12V stuff is surprisingly good!), and make Lowe's Kobalt tools.
Pretty well summed up. It's an even hairier mess when you look at the details. For example, TTI licenses the Ryobi name from the Japanese Ryobi, and produces tools for Ridgid while not actually owning the brand.
The odd one out usually forgotten is Positec. They have a rather interesting history, and today make the Worx stuff...which honestly aren't bad tools.
I bought a Worx oscillating tool and have abused the hell out of it. Still very reliable. Good stuff.
I have since switched to all Milwaukee however. The battery tech smokes everyone else and the high prices are easily justified by quality and productivity.
The productivity, and subsequent quality of work, from the Fuel line are worth upgrading from down market stuff. If you do your own work (remodelling etc) there is no comparing to the bbq dad tools (or harbor freight).
The weed eater is stellar. The blower can be operated with two fingers (you can hold it with one finger). Damn thing tries to leave your hand though...lol
Smallest hammer drill, short work of any masonry (with decent bits). Done. Move on.
Circular saw lasts all day under heavy use (6 xc battery).
Impact driver...it is always out and ready. Used constantly. Driving tapcons, building decks, working on the truck, drywall. All effortless. Every screw and bolt driven perfectly without issue.
Oh yeah, the off-model and the multi-model tools are a rat's nest. I own a Delta 36-725T2 tablesaw, bought from Lowe's. Delta is now owned by Chang Type Industrial (who own the Delta name now). The same factory makes the Ridgid R4560 table saw, sold at Home Depot. The Delta Cruzer was one of the earliest zero-rear-clearance miter saws and there's a Ridgid one of those now, too.
I'm honestly kind of glad, it means there's more better tools getting into people's hands now, but the color is an assault upon the eyes. I could've bought an R4560 probably two months before my 36-725T2, but I do woodworking because I like it, and I don't like "ORANGE!" being shouted at me every time I open the garage door.
> Stanley Black & Decker, which also makes modern, non-Sears Craftsman tools
Stanley Black & Decker bought Craftsman several years back. Before the sale, Sears had contracted Stanley Black & Decker to make at least some of their Craftsman tools.
Craftsman was bought by Black & Decker from Sears in 2017, but Sears kept a limited license to produce their own products under that brand name which it sells in their stores (I believe TTI is the actual manufacturer of Sears Craftsman power tools).
Craftsman = "V20"
Sears Craftsman = "20V"
Different incompatible brands, it's a bit deceptive.
I...do not understand this take. Those names are their differentiating marks because most of them (not all, and TTI is more aggressive about this than most but their mark licensing is very long term) have existed forever and been aggregated together through different acquisitions.
SBD didn't invent DeWalt, they bought a company called DeWalt and expanded them to more tools.
What I mean is that corporation routinely operate on many different branding to segment the market, they might use the same parts or intentionally produce a lower quality product to not disrupt their higher margin, higher quality line.
I see so much effort spend on that kind of marketing (lying) and so little spend on improving the product, reducing the cost, increasing longevity, etc.
It’s everywhere, oven, fridge, tools, cars, etc.
At some point the confidence in the brand crumble and we just buy the cheapest chinese thing with a funny name.
Milwaukee is TTI, which owns Home Depot's exclusive Ryobi and Ridgid brands, along with Empire (measuring devices), Hart (Ryobi but for Wal-Mart), and AEG (Ridgid but for Europe).
The other "big" one worth mentioning is Chervon, who own Flex, Skil (aside: their 12V stuff is surprisingly good!), and make Lowe's Kobalt tools.