Cordlees Tools Overrated?

[Kenskip1]

Cordless Tools Overrated?

I was watching a video of a man doing work on a car on the rear suspension.His primary tools are air powered. Granted this was inside a service garage however, the hose did not impede his performance one bit.
Granted the air tools have their limitations but the consistency of their performance cannot be disputed compared to their battery operated counterparts.Myself I have an old BD 1/2 drive impact along with a BD 3/8 air ratchet. The amount of work I have done with them is beyond description.
The air drill is more streamlined than many battery operated models.
And yes I am guilty as charged as I own 2 !/2 drive impacts 2 3/8 impacts. True air tool hoses can get in the way but the consistency compared to a battery powered tool is hardly worth mentioning. I will mention that my compressor is a 30 gallon Hausefeld Campbell.This is just something that I feel I should mention, Ken

 

[devoncoolman]

Cordless has its place. I use cordless tools alot under the hood and inside the car. Suspension work and majority of heavy under car work i use air tools. Sometimes cordless tools can be over rated.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

If I was a flat rate tech you can bet your *** I would be using cordless tools! Being that I work at home on my own ****, I don't own a single one.

 

[bonneyman]

In my line of work cordless is unnecessary. I used to use the Makita 9.6v with the stick battery, simply because the handle was narrow enough to get in between ducts to screw them to the unit. But then the batteries changed, and didn't hold charge long or would run down fast. Also, every maker got on the "more power" kick, with increasing volts every time you turned around. Those big battery bulges on the bottom of the handles just got in the way.

I've gone back to corded drills and ext cords and widow makers. I plug into the power disconnect of the AC unit and have all the power I need. And I almost always adapt drills and add 12 foot cords onto them so you've got some maneuvering room.

I've seen some vids where guys took old cordless drills and convert them to the new Lipo batteries, but I'm skeptical of the safety and longevity. JMHO

 

[Kenskip1]

Well from the replies I will say that my assumption was on the right track.Thanks for the replies, Ken

 

[jim1987]

When I have my own shop, I won't own a single air tool. And I'll have a small air compressor soley for the purpose of airing up tires. Air hose is always in the way, bunches on its self, impossible to roll over on a creeper, and an air tank takes up way too much space IMO; even vertical. They're noisy and just down right a pita to me. Granted I love my 231c, but when it ever dies, a cordless impact will be in my box. Something I can use the battery in a drill as well.

 

[pablo94sc]

I love having a compressor in my garage and the tools that came in the package deal with it are still going strong, but if I had more money I'd have either corded or cordless tools for the vast majority of the tasks I currently use air tools for. No oiling, making sure the tank and various separators are drained, winding up and storing the hose, and no loud motor kicking on when you least expect and you're head is somewhere most likely to hit something from being startled.

 

[stikman56]

I wouldn't say they're overrated at all. I have air too, I use what works for the task at hand. Cordless is much more handy in the places they can be used.

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

Cordless is amazing and convenient for what it can be used for. Air still has it's place too

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

When I have my own shop, I won't own a single air tool. And I'll have a small air compressor soley for the purpose of airing up tires. Air hose is always in the way, bunches on its self, impossible to roll over on a creeper, and an air tank takes up way too much space IMO; even vertical. They're noisy and just down right a pita to me. Granted I love my 231c, but when it ever dies, a cordless impact will be in my box. Something I can use the battery in a drill as well.

Sounds like you have a ****** compressor if it's loud. In my opinion, it's nice being able to switch from tool to tool without having to worry about batteries. My compressor is 100% duty cycle, so I rarely out run it. I've yet to see a die grinder, blow nozzle, or sander that works worth a damn on batteries. Also, my air tools require one shot of oil after use and they can sit for months or years between uses. If you try that with a battery powered tool you will be disappointed to find out your batteries are shot and you need to buy new ones.......if they are still being made.

 

[67King]

DIYer. They are hardly over-rated. I have an 80 gallon, 2 stage compressor. I rarely use it now that I have some cordless tools. I no longer use my air ratchet, oscillating tool, drill, or recip saw......haven't had my big impact long enough to know how that'll be affected. I still use the nibbler, ziz wheel, and pneumatic hammer, but overall the air is used nowhere nearly as often as it had been. It isn't just that the hose is in the way, it also is dirty since it drags across the floor (I'm sure epoxy floors would help.....one day). I also don't have the creeper get hung up on the hose.

There really is no turning back once you have some half decent cordless tools.

 

[Notorious BRT]

Cordless is the future for everything except perhaps heavy equipment/road tractor work. I'm moving toward cordless right now. I would love to get the big air compressor off the back of my truck and have a cordless impact and a small compressor for tire inflation.

 

[MushCreek]

Air tools don't work too good at the U-Pull-It yard, although I did see a guy lug a scuba tank out there to use an impact.

I used almost all cordless tools to build my house, but that's kind of apples and oranges. In the shop, you need air, and if you have it, might as well use it. Since I already have a bunch of expensive batteries, I might pick up a cordless impact. Air tools are noisy, regardless of how quiet the compressor is.

 

[trackwelder]

I wouldn't say they are overrated. Cordless has there place, but I don't see them replacing all my air tools in my lifetime. Tools like a air hammer, die grinder, Da sanders,needle scaler will be to replace with a cordless version.

 

[Dust Devil]

Cordless is amazing and convenient for what it can be used for. Air still has it's place too

 

[whitetrash1]

I would just call it personal preference. Drag racing teams have been cordless for years, nascar still uses air. It can go back and forth like this forever

 

[jim1987]

Sounds like you have a ****** compressor if it's loud. In my opinion, it's nice being able to switch from tool to tool without having to worry about batteries. My compressor is 100% duty cycle, so I rarely out run it. I've yet to see a die grinder, blow nozzle, or sander that works worth a damn on batteries. Also, my air tools require one shot of oil after use and they can sit for months or years between uses. If you try that with a battery powered tool you will be disappointed to find out your batteries are shot and you need to buy new ones.......if they are still being made.

I didn't say loud. I said noisy. Our cman compressor is pretty quiet. But, still noisy. Any compressor will be unless its in a remote location or has sound deadening around it.

 

[mobiledynamics]

In the construction world, cordless IMO makes a huge difference.
No power on site. And or no *asking* to plug in , of you are in a furnished customers home, etc.

I use to be of the ~corded~ mindset. After seeing some tools, this is what I bought to be as my primary with my corded supplementals listed---excluding the cordless drill, drivers, etc

M18 Fuel Sawzall --- Hilti WSR Reciprocating
M18 7 1/2 Circular --- Makita Hynoid
M18 1 1/8" SDS --- Hilti TEC7

I will always keep the corded...but the cordless will be the primaries

 

[BK13]

Re: Cordless Tools Overrated?

I don't understand the consistency issue. My M12 and M18 stuff works the same until the battery dies and I slap on a replacement, no change in performance that I can tell...


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[Wrenchinfool]

They both serve a purpose

 

[acer66]

In the construction world, cordless IMO makes a huge difference.
No power on site. And or no *asking* to plug in , of you are in a furnished customers home, etc.

I use to be of the ~corded~ mindset. After seeing some tools, this is what I bought to be as my primary with my corded supplementals listed---excluding the cordless drill, drivers, etc

M18 Fuel Sawzall --- Hilti WSR Reciprocating
M18 7 1/2 Circular --- Makita Hynoid
M18 1 1/8" SDS --- Hilti TEC7

I will always keep the corded...but the cordless will be the primaries

Same here, I got so use to cordless but had to do a drywall job and just bought a corded drywall gun on the fly and the cord always seemed to find its way into my way.

 

[cianh91]

in a workshop id rather air for certain jobs but as i work in the middle of nowhere without power a lot my cordless impact guns a lifesaver even when im on jobs with power doing steel work cordless is the only job as you could be 11 or 12 metres up

 

[Trey T]

I'm a huge advocate for cordless tool, specifically Milwaukee M12 and M18, but I only own two M18 tools (1/4" hex impact FUEL and drill). However, I own all sorts of air tools for mechanic and body work.

Cordless tool technology has not yet matured simply due to battery technology. However, it's being widely use in the professional environment, so cordless tools are in great demand everywhere.

I believe cordless will be the future tools and will replace majority of air hand tools.

 

[firebox40dash5]

Re: Cordless Tools Overrated?

I don't understand the consistency issue. My M12 and M18 stuff works the same until the battery dies and I slap on a replacement, no change in performance that I can tell...

There's some difference. Not huge, but I could tell if my impact or grinder was sucking, and a fresh battery would perform better. Much improved over the half a bell of nicad tools.

I worked in a shop, and had and used both air and cordless. A lot of things like drills, grinders, etc. in that setting you're using for 5 minutes, or a minute here and there... so dragging out a cord (or even hose), swapping plugs when you swap tools, and all that **** was a PITA, and battery life wasn't a big deal. Hell, my cordless vac lasts maybe 10 minutes, but when you're just vacuuming broken glass out of a door, or crud from an intake manifold, or dirt off a floor, you can be done by the time you'd have had a corded one rolled over and plugged in.

 

[Super Sport]

Cordless tool technology has not yet matured simply due to battery technology. However, it's being widely use in the professional environment, so cordless tools are in great demand everywhere.

I believe cordless will be the future tools and will replace majority of air hand tools.

I'd have to agree with this. I spent a lot of money on a nice air compressor and good air tools, but almost always grab my cordless tools first. They're more convenient IMO, and nearly just as good. Battery technology has come a long way; modern lithium batteries are worlds better than ni-cd batteries from two decades ago. I don't think they're going to stop improving any time soon!

 

[catch2otwo]

The thing I do not like about cordless tools is that they are designed as a throwaway item. Batteries are not easily recycled. They are pretty much obsolete after a few years. I personally prefer an air tool just because most are able to be rebuilt and even when they truely done, the local scrapper is happy to melt it down.

Just from a recycling/sustainability standpoint I like older penumatic style tools over the new plastic cordless variety. Having said that, I do have an cordless drill that I use alot Pros and cons to both.

 

[firebox40dash5]

The thing I do not like about cordless tools is that they are designed as a throwaway item. Batteries are not easily recycled. They are pretty much obsolete after a few years. I personally prefer an air tool just because most are able to be rebuilt and even when they truely done, the local scrapper is happy to melt it down.

Just from a recycling/sustainability standpoint I like older penumatic style tools over the new plastic cordless variety. Having said that, I do have an cordless drill that I use alot Pros and cons to both.

Just about every Lowes & Home Depot I can remember (just to name a few) has had cordless tool battery recycling bins for like... at least a decade? Two maybe? How much easier do you want? Hell, you can buy cells and roll your own nicads using your old housings if you want... or even lithiums, barring computer chips getting in the way.

You know we can recycle plastic too, right?

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

i have both and will continue to have both, but i prefer cordless but sometimes i need a 3/4in impact or my little sand blaster so then it time to fire up the air compressor

 

[avairgen]

Re: Cordless Tools Overrated?

i went cordless and never looked back work on everything from 150' jlg lifts to building the new baby boys crib with my cordless tools. Once i finally find a great cordless die grinder and cut off tool i won't have any use for a air compressor besides blowing up the kids floaties

 

[jim1987]

The thing I do not like about cordless tools is that they are designed as a throwaway item. Batteries are not easily recycled. They are pretty much obsolete after a few years. I personally prefer an air tool just because most are able to be rebuilt and even when they truely done, the local scrapper is happy to melt it down.

Just from a recycling/sustainability standpoint I like older penumatic style tools over the new plastic cordless variety. Having said that, I do have an cordless drill that I use alot Pros and cons to both.

Why do you think there's a core charge on batteries you buy for fuel powered engines? They're recycled. 90% of a car battery is recyclable.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Re: Cordless Tools Overrated?

I wrote on another thread about a Paslode cordless nailer. I love not dragging an air Jose around the house attached to a little compressor. I will admit it's expensive to purchase and shoot nails. But dang I love it. It's my first cordless tool other than drills / drivers. Well, the SNAPON battery impact , but I guess convienence is like HP... How convenient do you want to be...

 

[67King]

Just from a recycling/sustainability standpoint I like older penumatic style tools over the new plastic cordless variety.

If environmental/conservation is a concern, then you should by all means reject pneumatic tools. Pneumatic systems are extremely inefficient. Like 15% efficient. Electric tools are nearly 100% efficient.

 

[Dubbydoo]

I run cordless dewalt 20volt line very impressed with the battery lift price is good and I use the 1/2 impact gun its rated at 400foot pounds on tq havent found a bolt it couldnt take off