Corded Tools (2024 Discussion)

[oldschoolcraft]

What tools, if any, make sense to have corded versions of in 2024 instead of cordless versions? I think this is worth revisiting every few years as technology changes. Eventually, I believe it will almost never make sense to have any corded tools.

It's my understanding that AC power in the USA is capped to 110V / 15 to 20 amps. Whereas battery technology can keep advancing and will be able to deliver more power to the tool than is possible from AC power. Also while it might be possible to increase capacitor technology so the tool can **** up the same 110V/15A and pump it out in more bursts, the market for corded tools is diminishing so there's less market forces to drive research in that field.

For me, I currently have the following tools in corded:

• Angle Grinder
• Rotary Hammer SDS Plus
• Foredom Rotary Tool
• Reciprocating Saw

The Foredom tool is almost worth excluding from the list because it's more of a "Workshop Power Tool" like a Table saw and we will hopefully never have to discuss or whether we should use corded or cordless table saws.

The rest are tools I rarely use, and for my cordless, I have currently standardized on the M12 battery platform. These are tools that dont work too well on M12. I am thinking of adding in M18, which as a home gamer might be overkill. I do think a current generation fuel M18 sawzall has more power than my 10 year old corded sawzall.

The main reason I went with these tools in corded when I bought them between 5 and 10 years ago, is that because I use them so rarely, I was worried they'd become useless when the battery designed changed. I remember back in the 90s and early 2000s, if you had a tool that used a certain battery, a few years later, that might be it for that style of battery and you need new tools.

But where we are now, I am going to guess that M12 and M18 tools with have batteries supporting them available for 20+ years. They're running industry standard cells 18650s and 21700s. If Milwaukee changes their battery shapes and doesnt make them backwards compatible with today's tools, then someone is going to be making retrofit kits, either adapters to use new batteries in old tools or easy ways to put in new cells to old batteries.

I just can't imagine milwaukee ever changing M12 and M18 batteries. There's so many tools on the market now, if they changed today, there would be riots. And if they wait 10 years, there will be even more legacy tools on the market. I think they just keep them the same and come out with backwards compatible batteries with "high output" or other improvements that new tools can take advantage of, but legacy tools can use too, just not to the same benefit of the new tools.

Imagine new battery tech improves and Milwaukee releases the M18 Ultra battery. You can use it in legacy tools just fine, and will even get more run time with the old tools. But the new tools will be 50% more powerful, and will require the M18 Ultras. The new tools will be so good that many people will want to change, and the backwards compatible battery means old users aren't pissed off.

Went off on a tangent there, but at this point, I no longer think M12/M18 will go away in my lifetime, and switching to full battery operated tools seems reasonable even for casual use tools. Unless the tool becomes a "home workshop tool" like an angle grinder you have plugged in to one spot on your bench.

What are your thoughts? What's the use case for corded tools in 2024 and will you ever shift to battery only?

 

[f121]

My list of ‘definitely staying corded for the foreseeable future’:

- Sander
- 1/2” router
- Track saw

Plus my table saw and chop saw, because I have no requirement to use these away from power.

From your list:
- 18v angle grinders are really good, for any quick cuts I usually reach for the cordless
- a 18v sds is more than powerful enough for most drilling, I only keep the corded one for drilling cores (waste pipes) and chiseling concrete. The 18v one gets used weekly.

 

[PlanB]

I can see the old corded tools I have out living my newer cordless tools. (I've gone dewalt but feel this would be the case for any of the colours.) And not just because the corded tools get less use, they just seem "heavier duty" and more built to last.

I am looking at getting an oscillating multiple tool and seriously thinking corded. It won't see much use but would get a serious/long work out when called upon. I feel the corded OMT would be a buy it for life purchase. Any thoughts?

 

[Robinson1]

Heavy grinding and cutting, sanding for extended periods and dedicated cut stations are all places for corded tools.

Some applications it just makes more sense to use corded. Why have $1000 + investment in batteries for a high drain tool in a shop setting where electric is convenient?

Sometimes its easier to pull a cord than it is to swap batteries constantly.

 

[Robinson1]

I can see the old corded tools I have out living my newer cordless tools. (I've gone dewalt but feel this would be the case for any of the colours.) And not just because the corded tools get less use, they just seem "heavier duty" and more built to last.

I am looking at getting an oscillating multiple tool and seriously thinking corded. It won't see much use but would get a serious/long work out when called upon. I feel the corded OMT would be a buy it for life purchase. Any thoughts?

I wore out two corded multi tools before I switched to the dewalt 20v version. I’ve worn out one dewalt 20v multitool since making the switch and current tool is showing its age. It all depends on how much you use them. They are fairly low draw tools and often possible to work an entire day on a single 5 amp battery. Again all depends on what you are doing with it. For me four years seems to be the useful life span

 

[Wamsutta]

I generally do not like cordless tools. I can see myself getting a cordless drill and a cordless impact wrench someday, but that's it.

 

[Meursault74]

Eventually, I believe it will almost never make sense to have any corded tools.

to who? I have no cordless power tools. I only work around my home, yard, and garage. Plenty of places to plug in. I work alone, no one else is going to trip over my cords. I had a cordless drill years ago. Stopped holding a charge, then it became a paperweight. Borrowed a cordless circular saw once, weak and had to keep recharging the battery which slowed me down. I don't need that hassle. For my personal use battery operated tools are not appealing.

My power tools should last decades and not cease to function because of a battery problem.

I have a corded hedge trimmer from the 80's. Still works fine. 20 year old corded drill still going too.

I even have a corded lawn mower, string trimmer, and blower. Yes, I have to deal with the cord, but I'd rather deal with that than batteries.

The last power tool I bought was this year. Corded oscillating multi tool. I didn't even consider a cordless one. Just used it today for the first time. Finally felt like doing the task I bought if for. Didn't know I'd feel like it 'till this morning. What if was cordless and I hadn't charged up the battery? The mood passes and the task remains unfinished.

 

[neophyte]

Milwaukee has discontinued battery systems multiple times since they started making cordless tools, and I only remember adapters being offered for one of the battery systems to make the new battery system backwards compatible with the old tools.
Maybe I’m mistaken about only making adapters for one change of system, but there have been plenty of dead ends in Milwaukee’s battery platforms, even when the battery systems were being made for a decent range of Milwaukee cordless tools, and used by a number of other specialty power tool manufacturers who needed a battery system, and who either did not make their own low voltage (18v, 12v, etc.) motors and battery systems, or who didn’t make their own motors at all.
Most of these other power tool manufacturers who used the Milwaukee (technically Milwaukee/AEG/Atlas Copco system) batteries were manufacturing specialty tools that cost significantly more than any, or at least most, Milwaukee tools, and which in some cases easily cost $2,000 or more per tool.

You can still get the older 18v etc. Milwaukee style batteries in a generic copied form, but usually not made as well.

Other manufacturers who needed to borrow battery systems had the same issue with battery systems from Bosch and Metabo, and probably other manufacturers, who came up with various battery systems or voltages that were sh!t canned.

Maybe the current Bosch and Metabo cross brand battery systems that have at least a couple dozen brands each signed up to each will last better, but I’m still a bit wary.

Plenty of power tool brands gave come up with tools and batteries in various voltages that have then been discontinued.
12v tool systems have been discontinued by various manufacturers, including Festool and I gorget who else, because the voltage was liw enough that the amperage had to be cranked high, resulting in the need for heavier copper wiring and components for ample power.
24v systems gave been discontinued by manufacturers such as Bosch and Milwaukee, probably because the batteries were annoyingly large, and still didn’t offer enough of a consistent power bump or run time.

Festool gas also consistently made weird battery shapes to improve ergonomics, and then discontinued those weird batteries.

Meanwhile, 120v tools will keep working on the current power system, and any change to the power system will likely not severely affect the tools, or adapters will readily be made on the free market, because of the ubiquity of 120v items in North America.
Philadelphia actually used a “Two Phase” power system at one point, and the Philadelphia Electric Company can still supply Two Phase power to customers who need it, despite the Two Phase power system probably being considered “obsolete” for 100+ years.

Two-phase electric power - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Milwaukee and plenty of other Cordless tool manufacturers meanwhile can’t or won’t supply batteries for Cordless tools that are 20 years old or less.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

to who? I have no cordless power tools. I only work around my home, yard, and garage. Plenty of places to plug in. I work alone, no one else is going to trip over my cords. I had a cordless drill years ago. Stopped holding a charge, then it became a paperweight. Borrowed a cordless circular saw once, weak and had to keep recharging the battery which slowed me down. I don't need that hassle. For my personal use battery operated tools are not appealing.

My power tools should last decades and not cease to function because of a battery problem.

I said "eventually" it won't make sense for anyone to own corded power tools (outside of workshop tools) because battery tech will get so good that it will be silly to have corded tools. It's going to be possible to get a lot more power from a battery than from a 110V 15A AC wall plug. I don't envision the infrastructure changing to increase amperage and voltage from AC power. But batteries will get denser and more powerful over time.

Maybe not for 50 years, but eventually, an AC corded tool will be 10% of the power of a battery tool by virtue of the limitation of AC power. And batteries will last longer and longer as time goes on.

Won't be in most of our lifetimes, but at some point, corded tools won't make any sense except for niche cases and for stationary tools.

I'm guessing that people had similar discussions around 100 years ago (or whenever it was) when electrical drills came into prominence. At first, only turn of the century hipsters had corded electrical drills. I'm sure they were glitchy, the AC power would go down all the time in the grid, And a lot of people said "I'm never giving up my hand-powered drill"

And as time went on, more and more went to corded power drills, but still had hand drills for niche situations. Maybe they're only drilling a few holes per year, doesnt make sense to spend the money on a power drill and have to store it, and they kept improving so why buy one that would be obsolete in a few years when the hand drill works fine.

And then eventually, now 100 years later, some people still have hand eggbeater drills, for very niche situations like some delicate gunsmithing.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Milwaukee has discontinued battery systems multiple times since they started making cordless tools, and I only remember adapters being offered for one of the battery systems to make the new battery system backwards compatible with the old tools.

How long ago was that? I remember in the 90s and early 2000s, it seemed like every few years, there was new battery formats coming out. I did a search and it appears M18 came out in 2012, so 12 years ago.

I think that back in the 90s and 2000s, Milwaukee had low market share. Now I think they have a dominant majority market share. There's so many brands of power tools these days but Milwaukee has to have 20% of the market share? Maybe some website estimates this. Compared to smaller things like Harbor Freight Hercules might have well under 1% market share of all cordless tools?

Which is to say if there's so many of these tools floating around, some backwards compatibility will exist for a long time. At least my speculation and hope!

I think there'd be massive discontent if Milwaukee said tomorrow "we're ending M18 battery lines, it's been a wonderful 12 years but it's time to move on"

 

[neophyte]

How long ago was that? I remember in the 90s and early 2000s, it seemed like every few years, there was new battery formats coming out. I did a search and it appears M18 came out in 2012, so 12 years ago.

I think that back in the 90s and 2000s, Milwaukee had low market share. Now I think they have a dominant majority market share. There's so many brands of power tools these days but Milwaukee has to have 20% of the market share? Maybe some website estimates this. Compared to smaller things like Harbor Freight Hercules might have well under 1% market share of all cordless tools?

Which is to say if there's so many of these tools floating around, some backwards compatibility will exist for a long time. At least my speculation and hope!

I think there'd be massive discontent if Milwaukee said tomorrow "we're ending M18 battery lines, it's been a wonderful 12 years but it's time to move on"

Milwaukee was one of the major battery tool brands even back in the NiCd days.
I’m not sure when Milwaukee came out with their first battery powered tools, but the first ones I’m familiar with were basically drills and screw guns that were similar to their corded models, probably even sharing the same gearcase and front end, with a different 12v motor and motor housing, that was made to accept a 12v battery, that inserted into the drill handle similar to a number of other older cordless tools like Makita and Dewalt.
The batteries had a wide base and were made in Mexico.
The next tool models had a slide on battery system, which I think was available in 12v and 18v models, and Milwaukee actually made and sold an adapter that allowed the use of the new slide on batteries on the older 12v tools.
This battery system lasted a while.
There were other tools added, such as a reciprocating saw that gad a special ultra large battery, because battery cells were still NiCd, and only 1 or 1.2 amp hour capacity.
Milwaukee eventually started having their batteries made in Japan with 2.4 amp hour capacity cells, and that battery system was used by a bunch of other specialty tool manufacturers in Europe, since Milwaukee and AEG tools of Germany were both part of the same tool group at this point.
There were also 14.4v Milwaukee tools.
In Europe, the batteries were from a different supplier, and used 2 amp hour cells, with 3 amp hour NiMH cell batteries also being offered, along with 15 minute ultra rapid battery chargers.
After this Milwaukee introduced their 24v battery system, using lithium cells, which they eventually discontinued.
There was also the first 18v lithium system from Milwaukee, which also wound up as a dead end.
The Milwaukee 14.4v system was discontinued.
The small 2.4v Milwaukee screwdrivers (made in Japan by Panasonic) were another eventual dead product.

All of the above has also happened with battery systems from Bosch, and Metabo, and other manufacturers.
Fein and Festool where both sort of weird in that they basically used to make a new battery system for each major revision of a tool, and never really tried to make a universal battery system.
This is weird for Festool, because Festool is usually touted as some “modular” tool brand.
Fein used to just make tool specific battery designs that at most used the same chargers, but with completely different batteries for different tools.
Now Fein is joining “AMPshare”.

 

[f121]

I am looking at getting an oscillating multiple tool and seriously thinking corded. It won't see much use but would get a serious/long work out when called upon. I feel the corded OMT would be a buy it for life purchase. Any thoughts?

I’ve got corded and cordless multi’s. The only time I use the corded one is as a detail sander when stripping doors or furniture. For cutting, the cordless is quicker to grab and go, and the batteries last ages on it.

 

[MushCreek]

For hand-held tools, I use corded tools for anything that will be use for a long period, such as sanders and grinders. I've spent hours running a sander. I like my M18 circular saw, Sawzall, drivers, impacts, and drills. Those all get used for short bursts. I'm not sure what the maximum battery power density will be in the future, but I doubt they will store enough energy for hours of use.

 

[mlyonsdc]

Heat Gun I only have corded, cordless are not worth it
Angle grinder I have both but the corded one is the go to for big jobs and cutting
Small shop vac I would keep corded, I considered the cordless but can't see it keeping up.
All my die grinders are corded or pneumatic. I may try a cordless one at some point my guess is they will be like the angle grinders good for smaller more remote jobs but anything you will run for a while will fall short.
All my sanders are pneumatic or corded, damn Quincy air compressor works hard to keep up with a DA I can't see a battery one working to well.

I use Makita 18v LXT and Milwaukee M12 for cordless tools.

 

[Hakeem]

I have cordless and corded variants of most of my power tools. I prefer corded but it’s not always possible or convenient, so cordless it is. Otherwise the batteries are just another thing to think about … “hmm the saws bogging down, am I pushing it too hard or is the battery dying?” With corded, you just pull the trigger and get maximum power every time.

One big advantage of cordless is not having to worry about tripping the breaker for the one 15a circuit the homeowner lets you use.

 

[mike93lx]

Track saw

I had thought this for a long time, saying that if I have the hose connected anyway, what problem is a cord?

After using it more and more, I find I don't connect dust collection more often than I do, and the cord pisses me off every single time I use the saw, regardless of having a hose connected or not. The next time I have a big project that the track saw will be a part of, I'm going cordless

 

[liliysdad]

Heat Gun I only have corded, cordless are not worth it

My Dewalt cordless heat gun is one of the best, most used tools I have ever purchased.


I have a few angle grinders left that are corded. I think that's it. Everything else is either cordless or air, and the air is getting less and less.

 

[mike93lx]

My Dewalt cordless heat gun is one of the best, most used tools I have ever purchased.


I have a few angle grinders left that are corded. I think that's it. Everything else is either cordless or air, and the air is getting less and less.

The Dewalt is definitely the stand out for cordless heatguns

 

[seber]

Cords make sense for tools that use a lot of power like skilsaws and tools that work for long periods like angle grinders. But some tools I have both depending on the task. Laying a deck is a place for a corded driver. A quick trim calls for a battery die grinder.

 

[AEAdam]

I’m converting a barn into a house. It’s been years. I started the project with only a corded Bosch chop saw. Everything I’ve bought since starting has been battery powered. I would gladly buy a battery chop saw. It’s not a tool I use continuously. I have no stationary power tools.

I would not recommend corded tools by default in 2024. So the question should be, “For portable power tools, where corded and cordless versions are available, when should the corded models be chosen and why?”

• router? I have a new full sized router, but I only use it in a router table set up. I have the Bosch colt. But pretty sure there is a cordless model and I probably should have bought that.
• concrete hammer drill?
• shop vac?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Only because I have never seen battery powered one.

1/2" drill with TRIPLE gear reduction. Bought one years ago. I will keep it forever !

 

[f121]

The Dewalt is definitely the stand out for cordless heatguns

I’ve been quite disappointed with mine.

 

[GaryM909]

I made a big mistake lending my son a corded circular saw and then telling him to keep it. My Makita one works pretty good for what I need but I absolutely hate it when the battery dies halfway through trying to make a nice clean cut through plywood.

 

[bwringer]

The Milwaukee, DeWalt, Ryobi, and Makita battery form factors are not going anywhere.

Yes, in the past some brands changed battery formats like underwear, but these brands (and several others) have come to understand the benefits of broad backwards compatibility. (We'll leave aside for now the issue of making batteries that are deliberately incompatible between brands, and the fact that one company, TTI, makes almost everything.)

That said, Milwaukee and DeWalt are really starting to screw this up with lots of confusing extensions and variations in their battery lineup.

I don't think we'll see much of this change until the next Great Leap Forward in battery tech happens. If energy density is doubled, for example. That will change the world in many other, more significant ways, but it would eventually trickle down to another wave of change in cordless tool batteries, and make some high-energy-usage tools like sanders a lot more practical.

And maybe there aren't any more battery tech "leaps" out there hiding in the physics and chemistry, just incremental improvements. Hard to say, but there are an awful lot of very smart and extremely well-funded people out there working on energy storage in general.


As to current technology... let's just say that you can tell from this thread that some folks have not yet used the latest and greatest cordless tools. A good cordless circular saw, for example, is an absolute game-changer, but most were not really all that "good" until pretty recently.

 

[mopar66]

I have M12, M18, and some Dewalt 20v cordless tools. For corded tools I have a buffer, heat gun, grinder, dremel, circular saw. I actually use pneumatic tools more than I use corded tools. Mostly my die grinder and nail guns.

 

[liliysdad]

I’ve been quite disappointed with mine.

How so?

Mine has been an absolute game changer for heat shrink, adhesive lined connectors, and solder seal connectors. That gadget makes automotive wiring so, so much more convenient.

 

[f121]

How so?

Mine has been an absolute game changer for heat shrink, adhesive lined connectors, and solder seal connectors. That gadget makes automotive wiring so, so much more convenient.

Much lower powered than the 240v dewalt hot air gun that I’ve been using for years. It’s great not having a cord, but it’s noticeably slower for heat shrink.

 

[Rusted Nut]

If you’re doing continuous work; such as grinding, sanding, cutting - corded tool. Short duration work and portability - cordless.

 

[liliysdad]

Much lower powered than the 240v dewalt hot air gun that I’ve been using for years. It’s great not having a cord, but it’s noticeably slower for heat shrink.

It’s obviously going to be slower than a corded gun (?240v?). The convenience more than makes up for it, for me.

 

[cannuck]

I resisted cordless tools until 40 years ago when I was rebuilding home shop after a fire. I bought a 9V Makita 1/4" drill and used it to build a new red iron shop in dead of winter. That same drill and 2 batteries was used commercially for many more years while I replaced everything else with Makita corded. Have replaced those first NiCads IIRC twice, but seldom use that tool any more. Working with my former "day job" client, I got to watch dozens of branches struggle with value, reliability, supportability as cordless tools crept into the work world. Over time almost all drifted to red plastic, so I finally started about 10 years ago to do the same. No regrets, but I have only one battery side grinder as rotary saws and especially large grinders simply use too much energy to work with a 4.0 or 5.0 battery. Also, a lot of my old Makita sheet metal tools are simply not available in cordless except for some el cheapo stuff. Worth noting my wife's 18V Makita stuff that is used sparingly has lost one battery over same time my near daily use Milwaukee stuff is still on my original pair of batteries.

 

[stockerwithalocker]

How long ago was that? I remember in the 90s and early 2000s, it seemed like every few years, there was new battery formats coming out. I did a search and it appears M18 came out in 2012, so 12 years ago.

Around 06 or 07 milwaukee came out with the 28 volt line. The tools were in my opinion better built than the current m18 and the price reflected that. I invested in several tools and they were good tools. Unfortunately the m18 line took off and the 28 volt faded away.

 

[f121]

It’s obviously going to be slower than a corded gun (?240v?). The convenience more than makes up for it, for me.

I’m still on the fence about convenience vs performance. I’m still using it, but then I pick up the corded one and do the job in 1/4 the time. (I’m in the UK, so 240v corded tools are normal. Regular outlets will run 240v/13a).

 

[neophyte]

Around 06 or 07 milwaukee came out with the 28 volt line. The tools were in my opinion better built than the current m18 and the price reflected that. I invested in several tools and they were good tools. Unfortunately the m18 line took off and the 28 volt faded away.

This might have been what I was thinking of when I mentioned Milwaukee and 24v tools.
I recall the batteries seeming ridiculously large.

 

[Farmall450]

My list of ‘definitely staying corded for the foreseeable future’:

- Sander
- 1/2” router
- Track saw

Plus my table saw and chop saw, because I have no requirement to use these away from power.

From your list:
- 18v angle grinders are really good, for any quick cuts I usually reach for the cordless
- a 18v sds is more than powerful enough for most drilling, I only keep the corded one for drilling cores (waste pipes) and chiseling concrete. The 18v one gets used weekly.

I don't even know where my corded SDS is. You can drill enough holes to setup a run of racking in a commercial warehouse (probably 100') on a 5ah.

 

[Farmall450]

OP, any serious tools (generally stationary) can be ran with 240 V (20-50+ amp) service. Welders, big planers/sanders/jointers and the like.

 

[Farmall450]

OP, any serious tools (generally stationary) can be ran with 240 V (20-50+ amp) service. Welders, big planers/sanders/jointers and the like.

Obviously in an industrial setting 3 phase comes into play, but I think any homegamer can get 240V single phase.

 

[Meursault74]

I said "eventually" it won't make sense for anyone to own corded power tools (outside of workshop tools) because battery tech will get so good that it will be silly to have corded tools. It's going to be possible to get a lot more power from a battery than from a 110V 15A AC wall plug. I don't envision the infrastructure changing to increase amperage and voltage from AC power. But batteries will get denser and more powerful over time.

Maybe not for 50 years, but eventually, an AC corded tool will be 10% of the power of a battery tool by virtue of the limitation of AC power. And batteries will last longer and longer as time goes on.

Won't be in most of our lifetimes, but at some point, corded tools won't make any sense except for niche cases and for stationary tools.

I'm guessing that people had similar discussions around 100 years ago (or whenever it was) when electrical drills came into prominence. At first, only turn of the century hipsters had corded electrical drills. I'm sure they were glitchy, the AC power would go down all the time in the grid, And a lot of people said "I'm never giving up my hand-powered drill"

And as time went on, more and more went to corded power drills, but still had hand drills for niche situations. Maybe they're only drilling a few holes per year, doesnt make sense to spend the money on a power drill and have to store it, and they kept improving so why buy one that would be obsolete in a few years when the hand drill works fine.

And then eventually, now 100 years later, some people still have hand eggbeater drills, for very niche situations like some delicate gunsmithing.

More powerful? My (corded) 7.25 inch circular saw and 4 inch angle grinder command a healthy respect from me. I'm not going to go look at their ratings, but let's say I take extra special caution when I fire those bad boys up. I wouldn't want them to be more powerful.

There's a reason this was a joke back in the day.

 

[dscheidt]

What tools, if any, make sense to have corded versions of in 2024 instead of cordless versions? I think this is worth revisiting every few years as technology changes. Eventually, I believe it will almost never make sense to have any corded tools.

It's my understanding that AC power in the USA is capped to 110V / 15 to 20 amps. Whereas battery technology can keep advancing and will be able to deliver more power to the tool than is possible from AC power. Also while it might be possible to increase capacitor technology so the tool can **** up the same 110V/15A and pump it out in more bursts, the market for corded tools is diminishing so there's less market forces to drive research in that field.

For me, I currently have the following tools in corded:

• Angle Grinder
• Rotary Hammer SDS Plus
• Foredom Rotary Tool
• Reciprocating Saw

The Foredom tool is almost worth excluding from the list because it's more of a "Workshop Power Tool" like a Table saw and we will hopefully never have to discuss or whether we should use corded or cordless table saws.

One of my high school buddies is a trim carpenter, working on high end houses. One of the GCs he works for banned everyone but his electrician from using extension cords, after another GC in his area had a worker electrocuted by another sub's extension cord. he was pissed about it at the time, but a month or three later, he'd gotten rid of all corded tools in all his crews. Nailers, miter saws, table saws, circular saws, vacuums, all battery powered. They of ourse use the heck of stuff, so even corded tools wear out on them.

On your list, I have not used my corded sawzall since I got the first gen m18 fuel. The newer one is nicer and more powerful, but the one I have has done a bunch of demo, and will work half a day on a battery in normal demo use. the m12 sds+ I have is great for holes for tap cons and stuff like that. I've drilled a lot 1/2 holes with it, and it's slower than the corded drill, but if you're only drilling a couple, it's still faster than dealing with an extension cord. Same for up a ladder, etc. I tried drilling a 1" hole with it (milwaukee claims 5/8 capacity...). It did it, but it was much faster to use the corded one.

 

[mike93lx]

One of my high school buddies is a trim carpenter, working on high end houses. One of the GCs he works for banned everyone but his electrician from using extension cords, after another GC in his area had a worker electrocuted by another sub's extension cord. he was pissed about it at the time, but a month or three later, he'd gotten rid of all corded tools in all his crews. Nailers, miter saws, table saws, circular saws, vacuums, all battery powered.

Plus it eliminates a huge trip hazard.

I'd say that was a good move

 

[Steve_P]

I’ve been quite disappointed with mine.

Interesting. I LOVE my DeWalt cordless heat gun and haven't used a corded one since buying it- at least a year ago. For sure it's not up for long use applications, but for a few pieces of heat shrink, etc, it works great IMO. Oh, I also have a really nice $$$ Makita digital 120V one, so I'm not comparing it to junk.