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I went into this video already knowing what brushless and brush tools meant. But when you took the drill apart and used the names of the parts that’s what I didn’t know. Awesome job, learned a good deal from this.
...but he also failed to disassemble the brushless version and tell you what it's made of and why it is 30% more expensive when they are cheaper to make. If you are going to make claims like that you should back them up.
@@TheHonestCarpenter I've never had brushes go on me I've found the motor dies first that's with Makita 4 inch hole saw on double plaster board smashes the crap out of them
Upgraded from an older 18v kit. ruclips.net/user/postUgkxW1vOBRCMrgTCDEijzpVzDWsgI-Jm2iQv I independently chose the drill and impact tool, before I came across the kit.I like the 3 speed impact gun. It seems more powerful than my older one, and it can be set to be really gentle. The drill is more appropriately sized for my use. I used to have a hammer drill, but I did not like that it was so big and it was not a great hammer drill. I rather have a smaller drill like this, and then get a corded hammer drill for the odd case I need that.
Worked 50 years as an electrician and never once saw a brushless motor on conyeyors pumps fans etc. All were plain jane 3 phase motors controlled by a VFD. saw & worked on some stepper motors. Brushless is definitely the way to go for professional trades people. Brushes last a very long time. Inherited my dads 1/2" Skil drill that I drilled thousands of holes with. Finally had to replace the brushes when the drill was 30 years old. Worked 16 years at a news paper and all of the 60 HP brushed DC motors for 24 units never had brushes replaced. One great thing is they had a duct blowing cool air in motors to keep them from getting too hot. Told in a motor class that some DC motor brushes are infused with other materials besides graphite to prolong brush life. In electric shop we had different thicknesses of graphite sheets in order to make brushes.
How did you enjoy your career? I work in an office all week in a job that's okay but I don't find rewarding or challenging. I've been thinking of career change. I love working with tools and fixing things in my spare time, I think of an appliance/car/whatever that has stopped working as a puzzle to be solved and solving it and making it work again is rewarding and enjoyable. Becoming an electrician is something I've been seriously considering for a while now. Would you recommend it as a career?
I wish they would make drill presses with 3 phase and vfd's (that do not cost $1200+ !!! They're far less expensive in Europe. Like the Bosch PBD-40. ) Having 1 arm/legalese using standard drill presses a nightmare. Try changing speed on a belt drive drill press with 1 arm. Ughhh.
@@KiwiPokerPlayer I’m a wireless internet tech way out in the country. Using portable power tools and solving weird puzzles/coming up with interesting solutions is 90% of the job. We install up to 50 ft. Tall telescoping poles on client’s houses so you can imagine some of the various issues we run in to. I’m on break right now. I’m mounting a pole to the back of a shed via two w brackets. Unfortunately there are no studs running accross the walls, only down. So I had to put a cut 2x4 attached to three studs on the sides and middle of the board. Then I mounted the w bracket to that. Then I realized I was going to have to do the same for the bottom w bracket even though it was going into the bottom framing stud. Because it would not stick out far enough to be even with the other W bracket. So I had to add spacers behind the part of the bracket that mounts to the wall to get it to stick out at an even distance to the other bracket.
Brushless motors are 3 phase induction motors. They are driven by a control unit that uses DC current, which it converts into a 3 phase signal to drive the motor. That is why they are known as BLDC motors. It is a bit of a misnomer, as the motor itself does not work on DC. So, you have actually seen Brushless motors, it just was not labelled as that.
Another good video Ethan. I manage a very large facilities department and we have an awful lot of cordless tools in our shop, mostly Dewalts. Most are still old school ones with brushes, which we replace as needed. My guys tend to like the newer brushless ones because, if nothing else, they’re lighter. I must say though, when I see power tools that are WiFi enabled, Bluetooth, have micro chips and little circuit boards I get nervous about their long term reliability….especially since these things get dropped, banged around, and subjected to a lot of use/abuse.
i have a modular multi tool thats based on heat, and can run plastic through as its main function is a 3D pen but i used it mostly as a portable soldering iron as it really is that convenient if im wiring stuff. its quicker to get going with the buttons but the bluetooh functions do offer some extras. However i rarely use the function and i would not wish connectivity and apps for power tools not just because of abuse but they unnecessarily make the tool more expensive. I've had a brushed black and decker and i regret it. It was an entry level tool though but for the same price i bought a brushless local brand and it immediately does a lot better. I used various attachments so i had used the black and decker regularly and it wore out. Its not a brand that produces quality things. cordless drills have many many uses that are simply awesome via attachments and despite the local brand the drill is decent and costs the same as the brushed black and decker but even comes with hammer mode too. I want my tools to last a life time and not using them regularly isnt worth it either as many tools have multiple uses that is really worth keeping around but us in the 3rd world cant afford your american and german tools. Not even bosch makes quality anymore.
This is a fantastic description. I’ve owned these tools for years and I’ve never actually understood the difference between the classic brushed tool and the brushless. And yeah switching up brushes it’s pretty easy to do. I used to do it all the time on my Milwaukee drills and my Milwaukee saws all’s. Thanks for the great description
I am a professional handyman, and a Makita driver is one of my main, daily tools. A couple of months ago gave my old Makita driver to my brother, who only needs it once in a while for home use, and bought a new, brushless one. Wow! It's smaller, much more powerful, and I only need to recharge once a week instead of once a day. That makes a BIG difference in my line of work. Love it!
I'm an electrician, and I do have a Makita impact driver and hammer drill for drilling into masonry...both brushless...and its insane how much torque you get. The impact driver I just used the other day to mount 10 disconnects side by side and it worked amazing. It's pretty impressive how such a small impact driver like the one I have can work, and with the brushless technology its much much lighter in the hands too. Great invention.
Female DIYer here, and I’m just starting to use power tools. Currently shopping around and kept seeing the term brushless and had absolutely no idea what that meant. Thank you so much for your explanation. While I know I would appreciate the lighter weight tools, I’m thinking brushless might be a bit cost prohibitive for me. But next time I go shopping at least I’ll know what that means and can now make an informed decision. ❤
Thank you, Deb! If it helps, im also offering an online course called POWER TOOLS EXPLAINED over at my website, thehonestcarpenter.com. It teaches you how to use the 20 most important power tools for DIYers! 🙂
one thing not well known, there are cleaning attachments for cordless drills, its worth going for brushless to use them daily for various task. i learnt it the hard way doing it on a brushed drill.
Also to expand on the sparks in brushed tools- this is EXTREMELY common in NEW tools, particularly larger hand tools like routers and will go away over time. I had a router that sparked and smelled badly for the first ~10 uses and it went away. Same issue with a sawsall for about 4 uses
As a professional deck builder, I found a difference in brushless vs brushed impact screw drivers, for finer more control work I find that the response on the brushed Makita is better than the brushless , and there is a better response from quick half triggers.
@@cal5566 then use impact grade driver and bits DEWALT makes a titanium core impact ready drill bit set, and your drivers should be impact ready, and for screw use SaberDrive or DeckPlus T25 Torx bit screws for any and everything from now on, don’t buy the bs Phillips head screws, again use deck screws with a torx/star head
Same, last year Home Depot had some crazy sales on Flexvolt because Dewalt was coming with Flexvolt Advantage. So I changed my corded circular saw, corded sawzall, for Flexvolt for a fraction of their cost on top of getting 3 9.0ah Flexvolt batteries. Flexvolt has some crazy power and is pretty much unstoppable, I love them.
@@TheHonestCarpenter Not sure if you're in the US. But if you do, all you got to do (at least with Dewalt) is check Home Depot every holiday (Veteran's Day, 4th of July, summer sale...). They constantly have Dewalt for a real discount price on holidays. That's mostly the reason I'm on Dewalt's bandwagon rather than Milwaukee since Milwaukee rarely has good deals in comparison with Dewalt.
I bought my first brushless dewalt power drill 3 years ago, I was hesitant to buy it because of the cost but was frustrated with my old cordless drill. I instantly fell in love, this thing has some torque and the battery life is amazing.
Thanks! I work part-time in a tool shop and until now I've been answering the inevitable question 'what does brushless mean' with: less moving parts. So this will help explain things a little better.
SOOOO helpful. I was never too concerned about old school brush tools, as I'm a low use semi-pro. (and I'm familliar with the function as I grew up with slot-cars, dismantling them and sparking 'em up!) This does clarify the tool labeling and the crazy [valid] pricing game on the store shelves. Thanks to this tutorial, my future purchases will likely shift to brushless as I upgrade my (already still in great condition) power tools. Thanks Ethan!!👍
Respect how you broke this down for us! Love the fact that you didn't just explain but you took the tool apart so we could see! 👏🏽 I said hell yeah!! 😂 This is exactly the information I needed to understand these tools!! 🥲
You're welcome, livemusic! I actually had to do some research to round out my understanding here as well--and I had never actually taken a brush tool apart. It was fun to make!
I've used Bosch, Dewalt, Makita, Hilti and Milwaukee power tools. Ah yes, Ryobi and Dremel as well. Tools hardlly ever fails. Failures were almost always on me... ....and yet I still find gear talk wickedly fun!
One area I think is fair to touch on is safety. Brushless drills have much higher torque at low RPM, making it so that you don't need to hit the tigger as hard to drill through tough materials. In most cases, the drill will apply more torque and drill past any kinks without the drill suddenly stopping the way brushed motors would. Brushless drills bring a lot more control at low RPM, and lowers our dependency to floor the trigger just to get more power from the drill to work through kinks. To me that's a safety feature worth the investment.
Years ago I decided to go with Dewalt. After numerous DIY renos and deck projects I now have the Dewalt 20 amp Brushless drill/driver, in fact I just bought a second one. The 2 amp batteries go a long time and have the power. I have some 3 and 4 amp batteries for other tools (7 1/4 inch skill saw and the reciprocating saw) and all are interchangeable. I don't care for the impact driver because of the ratcheting noise but it works great.
I've been doing maintenance for over 20 years, still learning new things. My old 12 volt Milwaukee been sparking and smelling for years, i just thought it was on its way out, guess I check brushes, thanks👍👍
Appreciate the breakdown and insight. I prefer brushless for sure. But, if there is an incredible deal on brushed tools I don't mind buying them as well. God bless you and yours 🙂✌️♥️
Glad I watched the video. I need tools that will last longer without problems, and not kill batteries faster. I already knew what brushes and commutators were from working on the motors of Aurora HO scale slot cars in the 60's when I was a kid. We bought parts kits from time to time to replace those that were worn out.
For impact drivers and drills I've been fine with my brushed tools but the high drain tools like sanders, angle grinders, wet/dry vacuum, and others its worth the extra cash.
Great vid :) another tip is that brushes usually have a wear line on them, when they wear down to the line replace them (usually pretty easy, I’m with the makita platform and you just unscrew the caps).
This is one of the best explanations of the pros and cons of brushless tools that is out there. Anyone considering a brushless tools should view this video. Thanks, Rick DIY
Tip - If you are ditching an old motorized tool, take it apart and save the magnets. I saved the magnets from my model airplane motors and use them for cabinets and doors and hidden covers.
I purchased a brushless Dewalt drill/driver set on sale and gave my son the Maximum set I had. As a DIY person the first major difference was the low speed throttle control with brushless. I liked that immediately. Battery life and other advantages I just have not had enough experience to comment.
Good video H.C., I liked the specific explanation of the motors. I own all Dewalt and I only buy brushless. I'm in the field and knew brushless was better through experience, but it was good to see the breakdown of why it's better.
This is the lesson that everybody needs to learn and pay attention to. When it comes to Brushed motor power tools you people gotta do some research on the specific tool's maintenance, not all Brush motor power tools are worth of keeping it especially the cordless brushed motor power tools. And I found that on some other Brand like Bosch, Craftsman, Ryobi, Skil, Porter Cable and Stanley all of these Tool Brand that I mentioned they have cordless brush tools that where the carbon brush is completely worn out you're gonna have to replace the Entire Brush Motor and Pinion gear assembly which is they worth $25 and higher a piece to replace it. However some other brand like DeWalt, Makita and Milwaukee they got Cordless Brush Tools that are SERVICEABLE and Easy to Maintain you can find the carbon brush assembly and other parts online so cheap and affordable that the motor does not needed to be replaced but just only the brush itself they only cost $3 to $7 a pair to replace it and it's so easy to service DIY it. Some other tool brand offers lifetime service warranty like Ridgid. On cheap and budget side like Harbor freight tools Bauer and Hercules they don't have carbon brush parts selling in the big Powertool parts retailer online so when your harbor freight tools gets worn out you're gonna have to toss them in the garbage or send it back to the store to get it fixed. That's why I've been telling to all of my friends and relatives do your research first! If you can't find parts on that specific tool brand and model that you're planning to purchase and can't do the maintenance in the long term then might as well go for something else that are maintenance Free Brushless Motor Power tools.
Good explanation and helped me. I have DeWalt brushless only because a master craftsman friend of mine recommended them to me. I'm glad I bought them because they work great for this DIY'er. I do have a question. Is brushless the same quality for different companies? For example Dewalt and Harbor Freight (do they even have brushless), are they comparable?
That’s a very good question, Larry! The truth is, I don’t know for Harbor Freight. If they exist, I just haven’t tried them. But I’ll say that some big companies can let you down sometimes on specific tools. And some smaller/cheaper companies can knock it out of the park (my dissected Chicago electric, for instance, is an immortal beast). That’s why I tend to put a lot of stock in heavily reviewed goods. And sometimes it doesn’t hurt to buy a super cheap tool just to find out 🙂
@@TheHonestCarpenter BTW, I'm not putting down HF. I love their work gloves, I have a corded grinder I use to sharpen my riding mower blades and many other of the less expensive tools. I LOVE their wooden workbench that I've had for about 10 years! I also use the reviews anytime I'm buying something a little pricey. Thanks for the reply.
Harbor Freight tools range from extremely good buys to dumpster fill, I have many HF corded tools some get heavy use. There new line of “best” cordless tools look good, and was recommend by others. I was considering buying them ($100+ less) but went with Milwaukee for long term use and abuse, I’ve had to replace to many obsolete cordless tool lines hoping this is the last one.
@@TheHonestCarpenter Amen! I have the same Chicago Electric hammer drill and it is awesome! Lots of power, very durable and I think I paid $25 for it. Great video. I have both brushed and brushless tools from DeWalt and am much happier with the brushless, primarily due to the extra power. IMO, brushless are worth the extra money, which, in terms of the overall cost of tool + battery is not really that much.
I'm a licensed electrical worker in Minnesota for 30+ years. I have both types of Dewalts. I use the battery adapter on my old 18v drill. Is there a difference in quality/robust construction between them...hammer function, trigger buttons? Weight, size and balance is obviously won by the newer brushless drill. Another way to explain is brushless is "solid state technology" for us old timers.
@@TheHonestCarpenter I want to say thanks for the Restore recommendation. Picked up a 6’ office desk for $15. Sanding and painting it today, to match my metal cabinet.
Dwalt when the sale drops for the combos. After my last drill I bought from dwalt. I will never buy anything else. I still haven’t charged a battery and I purchased back in may 6 months ago and I use it quite often.
Milwaukee and DeWalt all I ever used. But when Milwaukee dropped its 12 volt series, changed my life, now the 20v DeWalt seems smaller than my 12v, amazing.
I remember my dad's electric drill as a kid. It was his father's before him. I would turn out the lights in the garage and thought it was cool to see the sparks through the cooling vents. The more I squeezed the trigger, the bigger/more sparks I could see. At 49, TIL the brushes were worn out and needed to be changed lol.
I was in the local Ace Hardware the other day and asked the owners wife (yes, little local family run hardware store) what was the difference between brush and brushless motors were. She could only state the obvious but really didn't know either. I really appreciate your video to explain. As a casual user, I can confidently decide whether I want to spend the extra money for my own tools, but more importantly, when I'm buying gifts for my power users, I'll know why the brushless tools are more appreciated
I've never had to replace brushes on a drill. I've taken tools apart for other repairs and the brushes always were almost perfect. I'd clean the commutator, but that's about it. Maybe it's because I use corded tools, which never get used on low voltage. When batteries run down, CORDLESS tools draw more current to make up for the lower voltage which causes the tool to heat, including the brush to commutator connection. When the tool runs slow or stops, current goes up and the weakest point in the circuit is the first part what gets damaged. The brush to commutator connection is the weakest point in a brushed motor. Brush-less motors don't have the same weak spot in the circuit. I'd imagine the motor windings are the weakest spot, but they are a stronger connection than a brush connection, therefore the motors last longer. But the circuit boards brush-less may not fare so well. The best way to take care of both the battery and brushes is to only use the tool with a fully charged battery.
Thank you so much for your content. I just bought a new house and am moving my business into a new commercial space with a lot of DIY work ahead of me. You do such a wonderful job explaining your content and it's a relief to have a trustworthy source of it. Keep up the great work!
As a part time DYIer, I prefer corded tools. Over the years I have tried various battery power tools but I don't used them enough to have good battery life or they have different battery packs (the exception is my drill which I can use weekly). It seems with the explanation that I am better off in buying tools with brushes to save money for how I use them. Thanks. Some day they will make a battery system that works on all tools from drills to lawn mowers and won't change them every 10 years. When that happens, that will require a large capital outlay to get all the same brand of tools. I already have plenty of outlets in my house.
@ Dwayne 73, I am on the same page, I just have corded tools, just a guy who just use his tools on the weekends @ home, had a few cordless tools, when they hit the market and the battery technology was not what it Is today, but I just stick with my corded tools.If I was a contractor, cordless would be the way to go.
I am a 3rd year electrical apprentice and I noticed the price difference between brushless tools specifically for dewalt power tools...I asked several co workers what the difference was and I was extremely surprised how nobody knew at all... I appreciate you explaining it on the video.
Thanks, Tony! I’m really glad this helps clear it up. I’d say these brands haven’t done a good job educating the public, but really it’s just a tricky thing to explain in a short amount of time.
So now I know why my dad's plug in drill used to light up like a Christmas tree inside when I'd be doing projects with him as a kid in the 80s. Needless to say I think that thing was shot. lol
VERY well explained. You have saved me a costly mistake. My old hand me down drill must be replaced. Your vid helped me understand what I need for my use. 👍
It’s more durable with a better battery life… most pros like them but a lot of complaints about the weight and the nuisance of having to remove and reload the battery… you pray you don’t get any liquid or debri in the pinch points of the battery slots, or you going to be frustrated and end up throwing that tool against a wall… my plumber neighbor of mine just sold most of his miluakee because of this problem. He has a semi arthritis condition and miluakee tools are not for those that are not as strong, or patient, and in a lot of cases those who works with the tools all day, it can become encumbering. Those miluakee drills have pure metal chucks…. That puts a lot of weight… if you use that all day you’re going to end up getting tired or hurt…
@@ddjohnson9717 Ryobi is in essence the cheaper low performance tools of Milwaukee, they are the same company. I used to have Ryobi and changed to Makita - only regret i didnt do it sooner.
Thank you this was a good condensation of what many have said. I an involved in maintaining large commercial buildings and went brushless Milwaukee hammer drill and impact driver for the added power and run time(+ large selection of other tools). Yes, the cost was about 30% more. I’m on my 7th cordless system sense the late 70’s, FYI some of my lower use corded tools still and I still prefer corded tools for high demand tools ie circular saws.
Same here on the corded tools, Monte! I’m yet to have a cordless circ saw, though I may try one soon. And good to hear about the Milwaukee-they’re expensive, but extremely high quality.
I always said the same thing. I've bought 2 or 3 cordless skilsaws over the years. 20v Dewalt, 20v Milwaukee etc. But I never was impressed at all. Especially when it came to ripping plywood and such. I pour concrete, I take very good care of my tools, my dad was a carpenter, he was a house builder, and that's one of the many things he instilled in me. But form work is a lot harder on your saws than building houses. You're gonna be in a hurry and have to cut boards with concrete on them at times, and such as that. I'm a Dewalt man when it comes to cordless tools, but a Makita is the best corded skilsaw money can buy in my opinion. But a buddy of mine told me I needed to try a Dewalt 60v, he said it's a good as a corded saw. If it was most people I'd just have said ok, and never thought about it again. But this fellar is an old school craftsman, so I had to listen. He offered to let me use his, but I don't like to barrow tools, so I bought one. Best tool purchase I've ever made! They make a few different variants, you can get a worm drive or blade forward, however you want to say it. I believe it depends on where you come from, I've always heard them called worm drive, but some of my buddies from up north and out west say blade forward. I prefer a regular or blade to the side.They have a low end model, and a more powerful model of each. Well I shouldn't say low end, it's just not as powerful, but it's lighter. Right now the weight doesn't bother me enough for the loss of power, that might change later on down the road though lol. I might be wrong but I believe the models are, 575 and 576 for the lighter models, 575 being blade to the side, and 576 being blade to the front. Then the more powerful models are 578 for the motor to the side, and 579 for the worm drive model. I know I'm rambling but I just thought I could save y'all the time of doing all the research I did. I went to order mine and seen there we're different models, so I read everything I could find on them. I went with the 578, it came with the 9ah battery, you can get a 6ah and 12ah also. It's on the heavy side with the 9ah, and even heavier with the 12ah. But I'm telling y'all it's an awesome tool! . My friend was right, it's as good as any corded saw I've ever used. I may end up getting one of the worm drives to try out, I've never owed a worm drive saw, but I've heard they're quite a bit more powerful. Sorry for the long comment y'all.
I’m a construction guys since 1985, I’ve been a licensed B contractor in the state of Cali since 1999, I have a pile of broken Milwaukee tools in my knack box, I have very few if any Dewalt tools that have ever broken, they just wear down till I replace them, I just bought a new premium kit for about $900, the 20v drill and impact drill I bought on 2010 are still going, the impact is going strong, I beat the living crap out of these tools on a daily basis and I’m a loyal dewalt guy because they never let me down
Here is a useless fact. Plain jane DC brushed drills without any speed control can operate on AC or DC voltages due to they are a univetsal motor. They only motor that can produce 2 to 3 times the speed of a 2 pole AC motor running on 60 Hertz. That & $2 will get you a coffee at McDonalds.
Thanks. Good explanation. Should my current drills expire, I'll look for brushless. However, my corded 1978 Craftsman 3/8" (brush) drill has seen me through multiple solar water heater installs, remodels, and building a 2200 sq ft. garage. Doesn't seem like it's showing any appreciable signs of wear, either. I've been conscious of the likelihood of brush wear for ~25 years, but am not seeing any sign. Maybe it's an example of "they don't make 'em like they used to."
Thank you for the detailed difference between the two technologies. It's something I've thought about for ages, l think I'll go down the De Walt drill/impact combination. At present I'm using Makita drill brushed combination. Thanks Again Ethan, From West Norfolk, UK. 🇬🇧
I am looking to buy an impact driver for the first time. I do small woodworking DIY assembly project with oak and have needed a higher torque in some applications. Your explanation of brushless technology convinced me to get a brushless driver. Thanks for the concise explanation.
Great description. As a DIY-we I’ve had a lot of trouble in the past trying to get brushless De Walt tools from Home Depot in the combo kits. Especially now that’s Dewalt has an Atomic line. HD likes to mix and match their combo kits and has sometimes labeled a “brushless kit” while throwing in a brushed tool.
I was in Lowes yesterday and couldn’t tell from the picture on the combo sign and asked an employee and he told me it was mixed. Makes me wonder if DeWalt controls this at retail stores.
Thank you for doing this video. I was unsure about both, all I was aware of was brushes 'burn out' but that depends on the usage, so this had explained it better for me.
I'm a DIYer and I'm noticing more older, brushed Dewalt cordless tools at garage sales... perhaps as people are trading up to brushless. As for me, the brushed tools still work fine and I'm adding to my cordless tool collection at a lower price!! Nice explanation video. Still wish you had chosen to move to Colorado!! Thanks.
Hi Honest Carpenter, I am new to your channel, and I absolutely love the way you present and convey your knowledge. I am not a carpenter, just a marine engineer but your channel provided me so much new info on tools that I often use. Thanks a lot and keep it up!
Another point worth making about brushed vs. brushless motors is that they are much more likely to maintain high torque outputs at low speeds: Brushed motors turn slowly by having less energy going into the armature windings (and the fixed magnet windings for that matter) - the result is that the electromagnetic field turning the rotor is weaker, therefore it turns slower and outputs less torque - you can easily stop a slow turning brushed motor by hand for example. Brushless motors meanwhile go slower by switching power between stator pairs less quickly - the actual power going through of the stators remains high however, thereby meaning the em field is just as strong throughout the speed range, and by extension, the potential torque output is just as high throughout the speed range.
I have a DeWalt 1/4" drive hex impact from 2014, 8 years old, 2 ah batteries, batteries are still like new, gotten water in the unit on a few occasions and still working perfectly today.
Very nice video, made me understand that not all the time when you see a bundle it means you are getting the best tools in the line up of that brand, is someting we have to keep in mind if you wanna spend more for something that will last longer.
I'm an 81 year old gal DIYer with arthritis. I abandoned most of my old Ryobi stuff because the batteries not only don't hold a charge any more, but I can't get a good grip on them to remove them from the tools. I found some great deals with Kobalt and now have a good selection of their brushless tools, including a circular saw and recip. I first got them because the batteries were so nice and easy to remove. I love your reviews, but would really appreciate it if Kobalt were included.
This was an excellent video. I knew the difference between brushless and not, but I’d didn’t know about the way it worked. No idea it was that more efficient, had more torque and used less power. Always enjoy your channel. 👍👍
first power tool I bought was a brushless Milwaukee drill that I still use today. Since then I bought an 8 (?) tool combo kit from Home Depot, but they aren't brushless, but still work very well. Slowly replacing the tools in that combo kit with a brushless counterpart. But I also own more brushless - the packout vacuum, the handheld router, and now the d handle jig saw. Man, Milwaukee ain't cheap but I love their products.
Thanks for explaining. Very informational, especially on the spark and smell of the tool, because I just brought new batteries for my craftsman tools that I’ve had since 2005 and when I tested the drill I saw sparks and then the smell. When I was just using the old battery, that didn’t hold the charge long, this didn’t happen.
Brushed DC motors used in most AC powered handheld motors I have ever seen are speed controlled from the power line by phase angle controllers, limiting low speed torque. PWM techniques are much better, as they use square wave based duty cycle adjustment, which preserves low speed torque. The speed control components used in brushless require that the controller senses the position change of the rotor, which also provides a convenient source of feedback on the torque demand, and allows closed-loop control of speed. If you are running a motor full-tilt, the differences aren't significant between brushed and brushless, but a low speeds, it matters a lot. I find most of the differentiation of manufacturers are little things, like a drill light staying on briefly after trigger release. That is a great idea. You never see anything like that on a wall-powered drill. Big fan of Makita and Ryobi. Excellent explanation of the basics in this video.
I enjoyed your explanation, I was previously unaware of exactly what the brushes were, I also appreciated your explanation of the smell and extra sparking you get with tools wearing out, through experience knew a correlation existed, but now have a explanation. As a master plumber in colorado I found it hilarious and accurate that Milwaukee is my favorite brand and the favorite of many plumbers and electricians I have worked with professionally.
Thanks Darrell! If I had a dollar for every plumber who looked in my work van and said “You need to get rid of those yellow tools and get some red ones,” I’d be a richer man 😂 Happy to hear from Colorado!
I've been pro most of my adult life. 30yr. Union Carpenter. I must admit, I really didn't know what brushless was. ( Other than brushless). I had not enough information,other than advertising) , to base a better than/worse than judgement. Good stuff. Now I know. Thanks. Now I have this feeling I need to get more tools....ASAP
Makita have a fantastic full range of brushless tools. Not much more expensive than the brushed version. The lithium batteries a quite expensive but thats a cost you face, brushless or not! Great video, have always wondered the different between the two!
I've seen electricians know less about brushes and armature than what you exlpained here. Nice job. (Maybe one addendum here: by working the way you explained, electonics in a brushless tool effectively turn it into an AC motor.)
Wrong, its not like an AC motor, BL-DC still require permanent magnets and AC does not. Also, AC motors run at the speed of the powergrid frequency, big/heavy and complicated circuits are needed to operate variable speed 3-phase AC motors.
@@pflaffik you are only talking about induction AC motors which are a separate category within AC. Brushless DC motors are supplied by an inverter that effectively creates AC and this is what the armature is running on, making BLDC effectively a variable frequency AC motor.
Thank you for the intelligent coverage of the topic of brushed vs brushless, the what, why, how and the justification. Great info and this type of info can only come from someone that knows what they are taking about.
I was at a big box store today and asked what brushless meant and why it was more and what the difference was. Dude didn't know so this video is a big help for me!
Thank you for this informative video. Now I understand what’s the difference between “brush” and “brushless” motor. Keep up the honest and excellent work bro! 😎👍
It all was built like the Johnny Cash Cadillac, One piece at a time. One engineer did not figure it all out. He learned from others and made just a small improvement. Small improvements over the years is why we have today's technology. It all started with the wheel. Even with my smart azz reply, I do agree, it is amazing.
Outstanding video. I mainly use Bosch tools. But some of their tools don't last. I'm now slowly replacing them with Milwaukee Fuel line. Better deal for the buck. Their M12v line is outstanding.
I am very impressed with your Content! Thank you so much! This helped me alot. Now I am a Craftsman tool guy. Yeah Yeah I know B&D/Stanley own it, but I still enjoy the brand. This helped me buy my new impact and drill combo set, and skilsaw. Thank you and keep posting these noob videos! I am learning so much from you. I just tackled a few DIY projects today by fixing my doggy door with 2x4 studs, and fixed a stripped out door strike plate. Thank you again!
DIYer: I prefer brushless. I have the Milwaukee M18 cordless drill / driver kit and love it. Have an older corded Milwaukee drill and a neighbor who has his own remodeling company pointed out my model is best because it doesn't have plastic gears. Question: do the new and "improved" brushless tools (Milwaukee, Dewalt, Craftsman, Makita, etc.) come with plastic gears and is that a weakness? Enjoy and subscribe to your series. Excellent!
For me I think the brushless is best for tight spaces. I primarily use the DeWalt impact for my automotive work. The smaller size of the brushless makes a huge difference when working in an engine bay!
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I went into this video already knowing what brushless and brush tools meant. But when you took the drill apart and used the names of the parts that’s what I didn’t know. Awesome job, learned a good deal from this.
...but he also failed to disassemble the brushless version and tell you what it's made of and why it is 30% more expensive when they are cheaper to make. If you are going to make claims like that you should back them up.
With a brushless tool you get longer battery life as power is not spent overcoming the resistance of the brushes.
@@normferguson2769 Hmm. That's a good explanation, Norm.
You explained something I've been avoiding thinking about. Thx,
No problem, Rick! That's what I'm here for 😆
😂
Exactly this. My drill died after nearly a decade of use and I was shopping around 2 days ago wondering what the difference was
@@TheHonestCarpenter I've never had brushes go on me I've found the motor dies first that's with Makita 4 inch hole saw on double plaster board smashes the crap out of them
Upgraded from an older 18v kit. ruclips.net/user/postUgkxW1vOBRCMrgTCDEijzpVzDWsgI-Jm2iQv I independently chose the drill and impact tool, before I came across the kit.I like the 3 speed impact gun. It seems more powerful than my older one, and it can be set to be really gentle. The drill is more appropriately sized for my use. I used to have a hammer drill, but I did not like that it was so big and it was not a great hammer drill. I rather have a smaller drill like this, and then get a corded hammer drill for the odd case I need that.
Worked 50 years as an electrician and never once saw a brushless motor on conyeyors pumps fans etc. All were plain jane 3 phase motors controlled by a VFD. saw & worked on some stepper motors. Brushless is definitely the way to go for professional trades people. Brushes last a very long time. Inherited my dads 1/2" Skil drill that I drilled thousands of holes with. Finally had to replace the brushes when the drill was 30 years old. Worked 16 years at a news paper and all of the 60 HP brushed DC motors for 24 units never had brushes replaced. One great thing is they had a duct blowing cool air in motors to keep them from getting too hot. Told in a motor class that some DC motor brushes are infused with other materials besides graphite to prolong brush life. In electric shop we had different thicknesses of graphite sheets in order to make brushes.
How did you enjoy your career? I work in an office all week in a job that's okay but I don't find rewarding or challenging. I've been thinking of career change. I love working with tools and fixing things in my spare time, I think of an appliance/car/whatever that has stopped working as a puzzle to be solved and solving it and making it work again is rewarding and enjoyable. Becoming an electrician is something I've been seriously considering for a while now. Would you recommend it as a career?
I wish they would make drill presses with 3 phase and vfd's (that do not cost $1200+ !!! They're far less expensive in Europe. Like the Bosch PBD-40. )
Having 1 arm/legalese using standard drill presses a nightmare. Try changing speed on a belt drive drill press with 1 arm. Ughhh.
@@KiwiPokerPlayer I’m a wireless internet tech way out in the country. Using portable power tools and solving weird puzzles/coming up with interesting solutions is 90% of the job. We install up to 50 ft. Tall telescoping poles on client’s houses so you can imagine some of the various issues we run in to.
I’m on break right now. I’m mounting a pole to the back of a shed via two w brackets. Unfortunately there are no studs running accross the walls, only down. So I had to put a cut 2x4 attached to three studs on the sides and middle of the board. Then I mounted the w bracket to that. Then I realized I was going to have to do the same for the bottom w bracket even though it was going into the bottom framing stud. Because it would not stick out far enough to be even with the other W bracket. So I had to add spacers behind the part of the bracket that mounts to the wall to get it to stick out at an even distance to the other bracket.
Brushless motors are 3 phase induction motors. They are driven by a control unit that uses DC current, which it converts into a 3 phase signal to drive the motor. That is why they are known as BLDC motors. It is a bit of a misnomer, as the motor itself does not work on DC. So, you have actually seen Brushless motors, it just was not labelled as that.
Another good video Ethan. I manage a very large facilities department and we have an awful lot of cordless tools in our shop, mostly Dewalts. Most are still old school ones with brushes, which we replace as needed. My guys tend to like the newer brushless ones because, if nothing else, they’re lighter.
I must say though, when I see power tools that are WiFi enabled, Bluetooth, have micro chips and little circuit boards I get nervous about their long term reliability….especially since these things get dropped, banged around, and subjected to a lot of use/abuse.
i have a modular multi tool thats based on heat, and can run plastic through as its main function is a 3D pen but i used it mostly as a portable soldering iron as it really is that convenient if im wiring stuff. its quicker to get going with the buttons but the bluetooh functions do offer some extras. However i rarely use the function and i would not wish connectivity and apps for power tools not just because of abuse but they unnecessarily make the tool more expensive.
I've had a brushed black and decker and i regret it. It was an entry level tool though but for the same price i bought a brushless local brand and it immediately does a lot better. I used various attachments so i had used the black and decker regularly and it wore out. Its not a brand that produces quality things. cordless drills have many many uses that are simply awesome via attachments and despite the local brand the drill is decent and costs the same as the brushed black and decker but even comes with hammer mode too. I want my tools to last a life time and not using them regularly isnt worth it either as many tools have multiple uses that is really worth keeping around but us in the 3rd world cant afford your american and german tools. Not even bosch makes quality anymore.
This is a fantastic description. I’ve owned these tools for years and I’ve never actually understood the difference between the classic brushed tool and the brushless. And yeah switching up brushes it’s pretty easy to do. I used to do it all the time on my Milwaukee drills and my Milwaukee saws all’s. Thanks for the great description
I am a professional handyman, and a Makita driver is one of my main, daily tools. A couple of months ago gave my old Makita driver to my brother, who only needs it once in a while for home use, and bought a new, brushless one. Wow! It's smaller, much more powerful, and I only need to recharge once a week instead of once a day. That makes a BIG difference in my line of work.
Love it!
I'm an electrician, and I do have a Makita impact driver and hammer drill for drilling into masonry...both brushless...and its insane how much torque you get. The impact driver I just used the other day to mount 10 disconnects side by side and it worked amazing. It's pretty impressive how such a small impact driver like the one I have can work, and with the brushless technology its much much lighter in the hands too. Great invention.
Female DIYer here, and I’m just starting to use power tools. Currently shopping around and kept seeing the term brushless and had absolutely no idea what that meant. Thank you so much for your explanation. While I know I would appreciate the lighter weight tools, I’m thinking brushless might be a bit cost prohibitive for me. But next time I go shopping at least I’ll know what that means and can now make an informed decision. ❤
Thank you, Deb! If it helps, im also offering an online course called POWER TOOLS EXPLAINED over at my website, thehonestcarpenter.com.
It teaches you how to use the 20 most important power tools for DIYers! 🙂
one thing not well known, there are cleaning attachments for cordless drills, its worth going for brushless to use them daily for various task. i learnt it the hard way doing it on a brushed drill.
Also to expand on the sparks in brushed tools- this is EXTREMELY common in NEW tools, particularly larger hand tools like routers and will go away over time. I had a router that sparked and smelled badly for the first ~10 uses and it went away. Same issue with a sawsall for about 4 uses
That is due to the brush making better contact with the commutator as it contours to its shape. After a bit of wear.
As a professional deck builder, I found a difference in brushless vs brushed impact screw drivers, for finer more control work I find that the response on the brushed Makita is better than the brushless , and there is a better response from quick half triggers.
Agreed, I like my brushless tools but it's very easy to snap drill bits, strip screws etc.
@@cal5566 then use impact grade driver and bits DEWALT makes a titanium core impact ready drill bit set, and your drivers should be impact ready, and for screw use SaberDrive or DeckPlus T25 Torx bit screws for any and everything from now on, don’t buy the bs Phillips head screws, again use deck screws with a torx/star head
I've bought all my brushless Dewalt tools for the same price as brushed tools by finding them on sale.
Teach me how to do that, Ramit! 😅
Same, last year Home Depot had some crazy sales on Flexvolt because Dewalt was coming with Flexvolt Advantage. So I changed my corded circular saw, corded sawzall, for Flexvolt for a fraction of their cost on top of getting 3 9.0ah Flexvolt batteries. Flexvolt has some crazy power and is pretty much unstoppable, I love them.
@@TheHonestCarpenter Not sure if you're in the US. But if you do, all you got to do (at least with Dewalt) is check Home Depot every holiday (Veteran's Day, 4th of July, summer sale...). They constantly have Dewalt for a real discount price on holidays. That's mostly the reason I'm on Dewalt's bandwagon rather than Milwaukee since Milwaukee rarely has good deals in comparison with Dewalt.
I bought all my brushed Dewalt tools for less than your discounted brushless tools by buying them on special...
Which means bias in your comparison :)
Find both on sale and then compare prices :)
I bought my first brushless dewalt power drill 3 years ago, I was hesitant to buy it because of the cost but was frustrated with my old cordless drill. I instantly fell in love, this thing has some torque and the battery life is amazing.
Thanks! I work part-time in a tool shop and until now I've been answering the inevitable question 'what does brushless mean' with: less moving parts. So this will help explain things a little better.
SOOOO helpful. I was never too concerned about old school brush tools, as I'm a low use semi-pro. (and I'm familliar with the function as I grew up with slot-cars, dismantling them and sparking 'em up!)
This does clarify the tool labeling and the crazy [valid] pricing game on the store shelves. Thanks to this tutorial, my future purchases will likely shift to brushless as I upgrade my (already still in great condition) power tools. Thanks Ethan!!👍
Respect how you broke this down for us! Love the fact that you didn't just explain but you took the tool apart so we could see! 👏🏽 I said hell yeah!! 😂 This is exactly the information I needed to understand these tools!! 🥲
Thanks for clarifying something I’ve been wondering about but hadn’t bothered to dig into, other than thinking that brushless was better
You're welcome, livemusic! I actually had to do some research to round out my understanding here as well--and I had never actually taken a brush tool apart. It was fun to make!
I've used Bosch, Dewalt, Makita, Hilti and Milwaukee power tools. Ah yes, Ryobi and Dremel as well.
Tools hardlly ever fails. Failures were almost always on me...
....and yet I still find gear talk wickedly fun!
One area I think is fair to touch on is safety. Brushless drills have much higher torque at low RPM, making it so that you don't need to hit the tigger as hard to drill through tough materials. In most cases, the drill will apply more torque and drill past any kinks without the drill suddenly stopping the way brushed motors would.
Brushless drills bring a lot more control at low RPM, and lowers our dependency to floor the trigger just to get more power from the drill to work through kinks. To me that's a safety feature worth the investment.
Years ago I decided to go with Dewalt. After numerous DIY renos and deck projects I now have the Dewalt 20 amp Brushless drill/driver, in fact I just bought a second one. The 2 amp batteries go a long time and have the power. I have some 3 and 4 amp batteries for other tools (7 1/4 inch skill saw and the reciprocating saw) and all are interchangeable. I don't care for the impact driver because of the ratcheting noise but it works great.
All Makita brushless stuff is labeled "BL" on the tool. Alot of them also have the word brushless on them.
I've been doing maintenance for over 20 years, still learning new things. My old 12 volt Milwaukee been sparking and smelling for years, i just thought it was on its way out, guess I check brushes, thanks👍👍
Appreciate the breakdown and insight. I prefer brushless for sure. But, if there is an incredible deal on brushed tools I don't mind buying them as well. God bless you and yours 🙂✌️♥️
Glad I watched the video. I need tools that will last longer without problems, and not kill batteries faster. I already knew what brushes and commutators were from working on the motors of Aurora HO scale slot cars in the 60's when I was a kid. We bought parts kits from time to time to replace those that were worn out.
Used to go to a store with slot car race tracks set up. Lots of fun, but the burning brushes smelled awful.
For impact drivers and drills I've been fine with my brushed tools but the high drain tools like sanders, angle grinders, wet/dry vacuum, and others its worth the extra cash.
Great vid :) another tip is that brushes usually have a wear line on them, when they wear down to the line replace them (usually pretty easy, I’m with the makita platform and you just unscrew the caps).
Good call, primate! I didn’t know that-I’ll look for it next time! 😄
This is one of the best explanations of the pros and cons of brushless tools that is out there. Anyone considering a brushless tools should view this video. Thanks, Rick DIY
I’m always amazed at how well you explain things. You would have been a great teacher.
Tip - If you are ditching an old motorized tool, take it apart and save the magnets. I saved the magnets from my model airplane motors and use them for cabinets and doors and hidden covers.
I do like the runtime aspect of brushless tools. I upgraded to Dewalt last year. Smaller & more powerful, what's not to like?
I purchased a brushless Dewalt drill/driver set on sale and gave my son the Maximum set I had. As a DIY person the first major difference was the low speed throttle control with brushless. I liked that immediately. Battery life and other advantages I just have not had enough experience to comment.
Good video H.C., I liked the specific explanation of the motors. I own all Dewalt and I only buy brushless. I'm in the field and knew brushless was better through experience, but it was good to see the breakdown of why it's better.
This is the lesson that everybody needs to learn and pay attention to. When it comes to Brushed motor power tools you people gotta do some research on the specific tool's maintenance, not all Brush motor power tools are worth of keeping it especially the cordless brushed motor power tools. And I found that on some other Brand like Bosch, Craftsman, Ryobi, Skil, Porter Cable and Stanley all of these Tool Brand that I mentioned they have cordless brush tools that where the carbon brush is completely worn out you're gonna have to replace the Entire Brush Motor and Pinion gear assembly which is they worth $25 and higher a piece to replace it. However some other brand like DeWalt, Makita and Milwaukee they got Cordless Brush Tools that are SERVICEABLE and Easy to Maintain you can find the carbon brush assembly and other parts online so cheap and affordable that the motor does not needed to be replaced but just only the brush itself they only cost $3 to $7 a pair to replace it and it's so easy to service DIY it. Some other tool brand offers lifetime service warranty like Ridgid. On cheap and budget side like Harbor freight tools Bauer and Hercules they don't have carbon brush parts selling in the big Powertool parts retailer online so when your harbor freight tools gets worn out you're gonna have to toss them in the garbage or send it back to the store to get it fixed. That's why I've been telling to all of my friends and relatives do your research first! If you can't find parts on that specific tool brand and model that you're planning to purchase and can't do the maintenance in the long term then might as well go for something else that are maintenance Free Brushless Motor Power tools.
Good explanation and helped me. I have DeWalt brushless only because a master craftsman friend of mine recommended them to me. I'm glad I bought them because they work great for this DIY'er. I do have a question. Is brushless the same quality for different companies? For example Dewalt and Harbor Freight (do they even have brushless), are they comparable?
That’s a very good question, Larry! The truth is, I don’t know for Harbor Freight. If they exist, I just haven’t tried them. But I’ll say that some big companies can let you down sometimes on specific tools. And some smaller/cheaper companies can knock it out of the park (my dissected Chicago electric, for instance, is an immortal beast). That’s why I tend to put a lot of stock in heavily reviewed goods. And sometimes it doesn’t hurt to buy a super cheap tool just to find out 🙂
@@TheHonestCarpenter BTW, I'm not putting down HF. I love their work gloves, I have a corded grinder I use to sharpen my riding mower blades and many other of the less expensive tools. I LOVE their wooden workbench that I've had for about 10 years! I also use the reviews anytime I'm buying something a little pricey. Thanks for the reply.
Thank you for a great explanation and what to look for with my "brushed" tools.
Harbor Freight tools range from extremely good buys to dumpster fill, I have many HF corded tools some get heavy use. There new line of “best” cordless tools look good, and was recommend by others. I was considering buying them ($100+ less) but went with Milwaukee for long term use and abuse, I’ve had to replace to many obsolete cordless tool lines hoping this is the last one.
@@TheHonestCarpenter Amen! I have the same Chicago Electric hammer drill and it is awesome! Lots of power, very durable and I think I paid $25 for it.
Great video. I have both brushed and brushless tools from DeWalt and am much happier with the brushless, primarily due to the extra power. IMO, brushless are worth the extra money, which, in terms of the overall cost of tool + battery is not really that much.
I'm a licensed electrical worker in Minnesota for 30+ years. I have both types of Dewalts. I use the battery adapter on my old 18v drill. Is there a difference in quality/robust construction between them...hammer function, trigger buttons? Weight, size and balance is obviously won by the newer brushless drill. Another way to explain is brushless is "solid state technology" for us old timers.
Very informative Ethan! Thanks for sharing. I use my Dewalt casually, but like a lot guys unneeded tools are justifiable😉
Tools are to men what shoes are to women.
They never go out of style, Steven!
@@TheHonestCarpenter I want to say thanks for the Restore recommendation. Picked up a 6’ office desk for $15. Sanding and painting it today, to match my metal cabinet.
@@monkeygraborange you ain’t lying Brother.
Steven, what are "unneeded tools"?
This is the best explanation I’ve seen yet for the difference between brushed and brushless tools. Good job 👍
Great job explaining all this in layman’s terms!
Thanks, mburke!
I’m an ex-framer and now deliver/build furniture, & this is a beautiful explanation
I was literally wondering what the difference was this morning. Thanks for making this video!!
That's good timing, Christoper! Thanks for watching :)
You're very welcome! Thank you for educating us!!
I’ve recycled 3 Milwaukee 18v drills, Brushes and switches.Since 2012 I’m ready to try Fuel drill
Now! Great review ! Thanks
Hi guys, I´m in for the Milwaukee and I find the brushless tools more quiet and lighter in hand
The debate grows…🧐
In reality, Milwaukee is usually the heaviest brand. I like to think its due to very higher internals.
Dwalt when the sale drops for the combos. After my last drill I bought from dwalt. I will never buy anything else. I still haven’t charged a battery and I purchased back in may 6 months ago and I use it quite often.
Milwaukee and DeWalt all I ever used. But when Milwaukee dropped its 12 volt series, changed my life, now the 20v DeWalt seems smaller than my 12v, amazing.
@@biggerchris20 the battery’s last forever in the 20v max dwalt. Put that in your Christmas list
I remember my dad's electric drill as a kid. It was his father's before him. I would turn out the lights in the garage and thought it was cool to see the sparks through the cooling vents. The more I squeezed the trigger, the bigger/more sparks I could see. At 49, TIL the brushes were worn out and needed to be changed lol.
This was great! I learned something I didn’t know! THANK YOU!
Thanks, Thomas! 😄
I was in the local Ace Hardware the other day and asked the owners wife (yes, little local family run hardware store) what was the difference between brush and brushless motors were. She could only state the obvious but really didn't know either. I really appreciate your video to explain. As a casual user, I can confidently decide whether I want to spend the extra money for my own tools, but more importantly, when I'm buying gifts for my power users, I'll know why the brushless tools are more appreciated
I've never had to replace brushes on a drill. I've taken tools apart for other repairs and the brushes always were almost perfect. I'd clean the commutator, but that's about it. Maybe it's because I use corded tools, which never get used on low voltage.
When batteries run down, CORDLESS tools draw more current to make up for the lower voltage which causes the tool to heat, including the brush to commutator connection. When the tool runs slow or stops, current goes up and the weakest point in the circuit is the first part what gets damaged. The brush to commutator connection is the weakest point in a brushed motor.
Brush-less motors don't have the same weak spot in the circuit. I'd imagine the motor windings are the weakest spot, but they are a stronger connection than a brush connection, therefore the motors last longer. But the circuit boards brush-less may not fare so well.
The best way to take care of both the battery and brushes is to only use the tool with a fully charged battery.
Deep
Thank you so much for your content. I just bought a new house and am moving my business into a new commercial space with a lot of DIY work ahead of me. You do such a wonderful job explaining your content and it's a relief to have a trustworthy source of it. Keep up the great work!
As a part time DYIer, I prefer corded tools. Over the years I have tried various battery power tools but I don't used them enough to have good battery life or they have different battery packs (the exception is my drill which I can use weekly). It seems with the explanation that I am better off in buying tools with brushes to save money for how I use them. Thanks.
Some day they will make a battery system that works on all tools from drills to lawn mowers and won't change them every 10 years. When that happens, that will require a large capital outlay to get all the same brand of tools. I already have plenty of outlets in my house.
@ Dwayne 73, I am on the same page, I just have corded tools, just a guy who just use his tools on the weekends @ home, had a few cordless tools, when they hit the market and the battery technology was not what it Is today, but I just stick with my corded tools.If I was a contractor, cordless would be the way to go.
I am a 3rd year electrical apprentice and I noticed the price difference between brushless tools specifically for dewalt power tools...I asked several co workers what the difference was and I was extremely surprised how nobody knew at all... I appreciate you explaining it on the video.
Thanks, Tony! I’m really glad this helps clear it up. I’d say these brands haven’t done a good job educating the public, but really it’s just a tricky thing to explain in a short amount of time.
So now I know why my dad's plug in drill used to light up like a Christmas tree inside when I'd be doing projects with him as a kid in the 80s. Needless to say I think that thing was shot. lol
Always good to learn something new. As my dad used to say.. “A little knowledge will never weigh you down.”
Aw man, I was hoping you’d take apart a brushless drill too. 🙁
Oh, friend. There's a channel for that. 😂 Check out AvE. Beware of salty Canadian language.
VERY well explained. You have saved me a costly mistake. My old hand me down drill must be replaced. Your vid helped me understand what I need for my use. 👍
Milwaukee seems to be the driving force in cordless tools now. They have a tool for damn near everything.
It’s more durable with a better battery life… most pros like them but a lot of complaints about the weight and the nuisance of having to remove and reload the battery… you pray you don’t get any liquid or debri in the pinch points of the battery slots, or you going to be frustrated and end up throwing that tool against a wall… my plumber neighbor of mine just sold most of his miluakee because of this problem. He has a semi arthritis condition and miluakee tools are not for those that are not as strong, or patient, and in a lot of cases those who works with the tools all day, it can become encumbering. Those miluakee drills have pure metal chucks…. That puts a lot of weight… if you use that all day you’re going to end up getting tired or hurt…
dude have you seen Ryobi
@@ddjohnson9717 Ryobi is in essence the cheaper low performance tools of Milwaukee, they are the same company. I used to have Ryobi and changed to Makita - only regret i didnt do it sooner.
I still remember playing in my grandpa’s shop in the back yard. His drill would always spark up a storm. Good memories.
Thanks for explaining the difference. I'll stick with my Brush Tool until it breaks then maybe I'll go Brushless.🤔
Thank you this was a good condensation of what many have said.
I an involved in maintaining large commercial buildings and went brushless Milwaukee hammer drill and impact driver for the added power and run time(+ large selection of other tools). Yes, the cost was about 30% more. I’m on my 7th cordless system sense the late 70’s, FYI some of my lower use corded tools still and I still prefer corded tools for high demand tools ie circular saws.
Same here on the corded tools, Monte! I’m yet to have a cordless circ saw, though I may try one soon. And good to hear about the Milwaukee-they’re expensive, but extremely high quality.
I always said the same thing. I've bought 2 or 3 cordless skilsaws over the years. 20v Dewalt, 20v Milwaukee etc. But I never was impressed at all. Especially when it came to ripping plywood and such. I pour concrete, I take very good care of my tools, my dad was a carpenter, he was a house builder, and that's one of the many things he instilled in me. But form work is a lot harder on your saws than building houses. You're gonna be in a hurry and have to cut boards with concrete on them at times, and such as that. I'm a Dewalt man when it comes to cordless tools, but a Makita is the best corded skilsaw money can buy in my opinion. But a buddy of mine told me I needed to try a Dewalt 60v, he said it's a good as a corded saw. If it was most people I'd just have said ok, and never thought about it again. But this fellar is an old school craftsman, so I had to listen. He offered to let me use his, but I don't like to barrow tools, so I bought one. Best tool purchase I've ever made! They make a few different variants, you can get a worm drive or blade forward, however you want to say it. I believe it depends on where you come from, I've always heard them called worm drive, but some of my buddies from up north and out west say blade forward. I prefer a regular or blade to the side.They have a low end model, and a more powerful model of each. Well I shouldn't say low end, it's just not as powerful, but it's lighter. Right now the weight doesn't bother me enough for the loss of power, that might change later on down the road though lol. I might be wrong but I believe the models are, 575 and 576 for the lighter models, 575 being blade to the side, and 576 being blade to the front. Then the more powerful models are 578 for the motor to the side, and 579 for the worm drive model. I know I'm rambling but I just thought I could save y'all the time of doing all the research I did. I went to order mine and seen there we're different models, so I read everything I could find on them. I went with the 578, it came with the 9ah battery, you can get a 6ah and 12ah also. It's on the heavy side with the 9ah, and even heavier with the 12ah. But I'm telling y'all it's an awesome tool! . My friend was right, it's as good as any corded saw I've ever used. I may end up getting one of the worm drives to try out, I've never owed a worm drive saw, but I've heard they're quite a bit more powerful. Sorry for the long comment y'all.
The funniest part of this is that 90% of people have no idea what any of these things mean, but would die before they asked.
That’s what I’m here for, monkey! 😆
I’m a construction guys since 1985, I’ve been a licensed B contractor in the state of Cali since 1999, I have a pile of broken Milwaukee tools in my knack box, I have very few if any Dewalt tools that have ever broken, they just wear down till I replace them, I just bought a new premium kit for about $900, the 20v drill and impact drill I bought on 2010 are still going, the impact is going strong, I beat the living crap out of these tools on a daily basis and I’m a loyal dewalt guy because they never let me down
Here is a useless fact. Plain jane DC brushed drills without any speed control can operate on AC or DC voltages due to they are a univetsal motor. They only motor that can produce 2 to 3 times the speed of a 2 pole AC motor running on 60 Hertz. That & $2 will get you a coffee at McDonalds.
I love useless facts
Thanks. Good explanation. Should my current drills expire, I'll look for brushless. However, my corded 1978 Craftsman 3/8" (brush) drill has seen me through multiple solar water heater installs, remodels, and building a 2200 sq ft. garage. Doesn't seem like it's showing any appreciable signs of wear, either. I've been conscious of the likelihood of brush wear for ~25 years, but am not seeing any sign. Maybe it's an example of "they don't make 'em like they used to."
Milwaukee is hella expensive, no matter what.
aka TTI or Techtronic Industries who also makes Ryobi. I just buy the Ryobi stuff for the price and my light duty use.
Thank you for the detailed difference between the two technologies.
It's something I've thought about for ages, l think I'll go down the De Walt drill/impact combination.
At present I'm using Makita drill brushed combination.
Thanks Again Ethan,
From West Norfolk, UK. 🇬🇧
I am looking to buy an impact driver for the first time. I do small woodworking DIY assembly project with oak and have needed a higher torque in some applications. Your explanation of brushless technology convinced me to get a brushless driver. Thanks for the concise explanation.
This channel keeps getting better. Thanks for sharing the knowledge in a clear and understandable fashion for a lay people like me.
Great description. As a DIY-we I’ve had a lot of trouble in the past trying to get brushless De Walt tools from Home Depot in the combo kits. Especially now that’s Dewalt has an Atomic line. HD likes to mix and match their combo kits and has sometimes labeled a “brushless kit” while throwing in a brushed tool.
I was in Lowes yesterday and couldn’t tell from the picture on the combo sign and asked an employee and he told me it was mixed. Makes me wonder if DeWalt controls this at retail stores.
Thank you for doing this video. I was unsure about both, all I was aware of was brushes 'burn out' but that depends on the usage, so this had explained it better for me.
I'm a DIYer and I'm noticing more older, brushed Dewalt cordless tools at garage sales... perhaps as people are trading up to brushless. As for me, the brushed tools still work fine and I'm adding to my cordless tool collection at a lower price!! Nice explanation video. Still wish you had chosen to move to Colorado!! Thanks.
Love this video! Thank you for taking apart your traditional drill to show us the difference between brush and brushless tools
Ethan's explanation was great! I'm going to feel so smart and empowered walking down the tool aisle now!
Hi Honest Carpenter, I am new to your channel, and I absolutely love the way you present and convey your knowledge. I am not a carpenter, just a marine engineer but your channel provided me so much new info on tools that I often use. Thanks a lot and keep it up!
Another point worth making about brushed vs. brushless motors is that they are much more likely to maintain high torque outputs at low speeds: Brushed motors turn slowly by having less energy going into the armature windings (and the fixed magnet windings for that matter) - the result is that the electromagnetic field turning the rotor is weaker, therefore it turns slower and outputs less torque - you can easily stop a slow turning brushed motor by hand for example.
Brushless motors meanwhile go slower by switching power between stator pairs less quickly - the actual power going through of the stators remains high however, thereby meaning the em field is just as strong throughout the speed range, and by extension, the potential torque output is just as high throughout the speed range.
Brilliant Reply!
I have a DeWalt 1/4" drive hex impact from 2014, 8 years old, 2 ah batteries, batteries are still like new, gotten water in the unit on a few occasions and still working perfectly today.
Thanks for the detailed explanation and demo on brushless vs non brushless. I am currently building my brushless Dewalt kit for jobs around the house.
Very nice video, made me understand that not all the time when you see a bundle it means you are getting the best tools in the line up of that brand, is someting we have to keep in mind if you wanna spend more for something that will last longer.
I'm an 81 year old gal DIYer with arthritis. I abandoned most of my old Ryobi stuff because the batteries not only don't hold a charge any more, but I can't get a good grip on them to remove them from the tools. I found some great deals with Kobalt and now have a good selection of their brushless tools, including a circular saw and recip. I first got them because the batteries were so nice and easy to remove. I love your reviews, but would really appreciate it if Kobalt were included.
This was an excellent video. I knew the difference between brushless and not, but I’d didn’t know about the way it worked. No idea it was that more efficient, had more torque and used less power. Always enjoy your channel. 👍👍
Thank you, Bob! Making this one was eye-opening for me as well 🙂
@@TheHonestCarpenter : keep up the great work. We really need channels like this. Helps more than you know.
Important video. Anyone just getting interested in tools should watch this before purchasing anything.
first power tool I bought was a brushless Milwaukee drill that I still use today. Since then I bought an 8 (?) tool combo kit from Home Depot, but they aren't brushless, but still work very well. Slowly replacing the tools in that combo kit with a brushless counterpart. But I also own more brushless - the packout vacuum, the handheld router, and now the d handle jig saw. Man, Milwaukee ain't cheap but I love their products.
Thanks for explaining. Very informational, especially on the spark and smell of the tool, because I just brought new batteries for my craftsman tools that I’ve had since 2005 and when I tested the drill I saw sparks and then the smell. When I was just using the old battery, that didn’t hold the charge long, this didn’t happen.
As mentioned on an earlier comment, men will not ask for an explanation. Similar to not asking for directions when lost.
Excellent lesson, thank you!
You’re welcome, Louis 😆
Brushed DC motors used in most AC powered handheld motors I have ever seen are speed controlled from the power line by phase angle controllers, limiting low speed torque. PWM techniques are much better, as they use square wave based duty cycle adjustment, which preserves low speed torque. The speed control components used in brushless require that the controller senses the position change of the rotor, which also provides a convenient source of feedback on the torque demand, and allows closed-loop control of speed. If you are running a motor full-tilt, the differences aren't significant between brushed and brushless, but a low speeds, it matters a lot. I find most of the differentiation of manufacturers are little things, like a drill light staying on briefly after trigger release. That is a great idea. You never see anything like that on a wall-powered drill. Big fan of Makita and Ryobi. Excellent explanation of the basics in this video.
I enjoyed your explanation, I was previously unaware of exactly what the brushes were, I also appreciated your explanation of the smell and extra sparking you get with tools wearing out, through experience knew a correlation existed, but now have a explanation. As a master plumber in colorado I found it hilarious and accurate that Milwaukee is my favorite brand and the favorite of many plumbers and electricians I have worked with professionally.
Thanks Darrell! If I had a dollar for every plumber who looked in my work van and said “You need to get rid of those yellow tools and get some red ones,” I’d be a richer man 😂 Happy to hear from Colorado!
I've been pro most of my adult life. 30yr. Union Carpenter. I must admit, I really didn't know what brushless was. ( Other than brushless). I had not enough information,other than advertising) , to base a better than/worse than judgement.
Good stuff. Now I know. Thanks.
Now I have this feeling I need to get more tools....ASAP
Thanks Rob! This one took a loooot of research for me too. I used to just go with, “brushless is better” and left it at that 😆
This is exactly what I needed. Subscribed. Thank you!
I’d like a series on knowing what pros and cons each brand has.
Big props for opening the drill for the demo. Your a great teacher!
You’re welcome, Fadi! It’s fascinating to get a glimpse inside 😄
Thank you, I had to search for ages with different ways of writing the question to get the answer to the difference between brush & brushless
Makita have a fantastic full range of brushless tools.
Not much more expensive than the brushed version. The lithium batteries a quite expensive but thats a cost you face, brushless or not!
Great video, have always wondered the different between the two!
I've seen electricians know less about brushes and armature than what you exlpained here. Nice job.
(Maybe one addendum here: by working the way you explained, electonics in a brushless tool effectively turn it into an AC motor.)
Wrong, its not like an AC motor, BL-DC still require permanent magnets and AC does not. Also, AC motors run at the speed of the powergrid frequency, big/heavy and complicated circuits are needed to operate variable speed 3-phase AC motors.
@@pflaffik you are only talking about induction AC motors which are a separate category within AC. Brushless DC motors are supplied by an inverter that effectively creates AC and this is what the armature is running on, making BLDC effectively a variable frequency AC motor.
Thank you for the intelligent coverage of the topic of brushed vs brushless, the what, why, how and the justification. Great info and this type of info can only come from someone that knows what they are taking about.
I was at a big box store today and asked what brushless meant and why it was more and what the difference was. Dude didn't know so this video is a big help for me!
Thank you for this informative video. Now I understand what’s the difference between “brush” and “brushless” motor. Keep up the honest and excellent work bro! 😎👍
it always amazes me how any tool, or any machine is a engineering miracle. to think someone had to figure out how to make all that!
It all was built like the Johnny Cash Cadillac, One piece at a time.
One engineer did not figure it all out. He learned from others and made just a small improvement. Small improvements over the years is why we have today's technology. It all started with the wheel. Even with my smart azz reply, I do agree, it is amazing.
Outstanding video.
I mainly use Bosch tools. But some of their tools don't last. I'm now slowly replacing them with Milwaukee Fuel line. Better deal for the buck. Their M12v line is outstanding.
I am very impressed with your Content! Thank you so much! This helped me alot. Now I am a Craftsman tool guy. Yeah Yeah I know B&D/Stanley own it, but I still enjoy the brand. This helped me buy my new impact and drill combo set, and skilsaw. Thank you and keep posting these noob videos! I am learning so much from you. I just tackled a few DIY projects today by fixing my doggy door with 2x4 studs, and fixed a stripped out door strike plate. Thank you again!
Now I understand Brush vs Brushless! Thanks! I’ll see how long my brush Craftsman drill and driver last...
Thanks, Trent! My brushless tools have lasted forever 😆
This was exactly what I needed to know. The simple explanation cleared up any confusion.
Thank you. I thought I knew what brushless tool were. You just explained the reason they are what they are.
DIYer: I prefer brushless. I have the Milwaukee M18 cordless drill / driver kit and love it. Have an older corded Milwaukee drill and a neighbor who has his own remodeling company pointed out my model is best because it doesn't have plastic gears. Question: do the new and "improved" brushless tools (Milwaukee, Dewalt, Craftsman, Makita, etc.) come with plastic gears and is that a weakness? Enjoy and subscribe to your series. Excellent!
For me I think the brushless is best for tight spaces. I primarily use the DeWalt impact for my automotive work. The smaller size of the brushless makes a huge difference when working in an engine bay!