7 Tool Brands That SCAM You on Price – and 3 That Are Worth Every Penny

A $45 Amazon drill says “21 volts.” A Milwaukee that costs three times as much says 18. Inside, they have the same five battery cells. That’s not a one-off. It runs through the whole tool aisle. Today we take apart 10 tool brands. In my view, 7 of them charge you for the name instead of what’s inside. 3 are worth every dollar. Every brand gets proof you can check yourself: a warranty card, a battery spec, a corporate filing or a simple calculation. In this video you’ll learn: ✔ why “21V” and “20V MAX” are really 18 volts ✔ which store sells a 5-year tool and a 90-day tool a few feet apart ✔ what you actually pay for with Festool, and why most homeowners never use it ✔ the Makita battery trap behind a bigger number ✔ who really owns Craftsman now, and who still gets paid for the name ✔ what “Made in the USA with Global Materials” really means ✔ which tool-truck brand belongs to the same company as DeWalt ✔ the one brand that replaces your batteries for free, for life ✔ 3 questions to check any brand in 5 minutes Sources: Festool USA: Warranty all-inclusive terms Makita XGT / 18V LXT compatibility (ToolGuyd) Stanley Black & Decker purchase of Craftsman from Sears, 2017 DeWalt: “Made in the USA with Global Materials” definition (dewalt.com) Mac Tools: “part of Stanley Black & Decker” (mactools.com) Ryobi ONE+: launched 1996, 225+ compatible products by 2021 Ridgid Lifetime Service Agreement (register within 90 days) Hercules 5-year warranty on 20V brushless tools Prices and warranty terms as of October 2026 Nobody paid for this video. Not Harbor Freight, DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita or Home Depot. Rankings are my opinion, based on the evidence shown. The logo is printed on the outside. The truth is printed on the sticker underneath. Which of these 10 is hanging on your wall? Tell me in the comments. #PowerTools #ToolBrands #DeWalt #Ridgid #HarborFreight