Corded vs cordless tools

[dr_clyde]

It's almost as if both exist for a reason.

Cordless tools are versatile, extremely handy, and better now than they've ever been. That said, they ARE limited on output and lifespan. Batteries will only take a charge so many times, and eventually, they quit.

I LOVE my cordless grinders, and I have some of the best. Metabo brushless with 8.0 AH batteries. They are great. But if I have any real amount of cutting or grinding to do, I plug in a corded grinder because the batteries just don't last long enough. And they deplete faster than they charge.

Same with a cordless reciprocating saw. We have one and use it often. But any amount of real demo or cutting and the corded Sawzall comes out of it's case.

Cordless impacts are a revolution. But if it is really stuck, I pull out an air hose and either the 1/2" or 3/4" impact.

We did a job drilling THOUSANDS of 1/8" holes for rivets and screws. Cordless drills and impacts were overheating and quitting. We ran the 3/8" air drill and it ran cool and fast.

I can't imagine having a cordless Hole Hawg last very long with a 8" hole saw.

Long story short, you need to buy what will work for you and the work you do. In most cases, that will be a mix of both, with some redundancy.

 

[liliysdad]

Cordless tools have all but made my corded and air stools obsolete. I can;t recall the last time I drug out my corded sawzall or drill, let alone an impact.

 

[mngundog]

No idea. A Milwaukee 12AH battery is $200. You'd realistically need 3 of them to run the tool continuously for an hour. That's $600 in batteries, +$200 tool + Chargers.

I picked a couple up a few days ago for $30 a piece (after gift card/rebate deal), the chargers were included.

 

[littlelebowski]

Yup. Absurd to spend $600 on 12ah batteries to get continuous use out of an angle grinder when a $150 tool with a $25 extension cord would do the same.

That’s a cherry picked, extreme case.

 

[Bessy]

I'll play.
I'm pretty sure I'm sitting here with 7 cordless tools across three platforms, and another 10 maybe in corded form. Each have their place, but I find myself asking more often whether I should invest in the cordless version of a corded tool, than I ever have asked myself if I need to buy a corded version.

Right now, I'd still buy a corded hammer drill and a full sized router, but I'd much rather replace my corded grinder, oscillating tool, trim router, rotary tool, and maybe a RO sander with cordless versions.

I'm not brand loyal (three cordless platforms right now) by any means, but I am definitely more invested in DeWalt right now over anything else. That won't stop me from jumping into red, orange, blue or green tools as the price, recommendations or other factors dictate.

 

[GaryM909]

I mostly use my corded tools in my garage and the cordless tools when away. I find it easier to grab a tool - plug it in and go. I have a couple retractable cord reels hanging from the ceiling in the garage. I absolutely hate it when my battery dies halfway through a project.
I have cordless Makita tools for my home use and cordless Dewalt grinders with 9AH batteries.
My corded tools are Milwaukee, Dewalt, and Makita