Cordless vs corded or air hand tools

[J-BELL]

I agree that cordless hand tools are great. I even have 2. One is a cheap HF that I throw away when the battery fails and the other is one I converted to using a cord and alligator clips the run from the truck battery when camping if I need a drill. If you use your tools often then battery tools are handy, fast, and obviously will work well for you. You will have to replace batteries as needed at a great cost.
However, if your like me and don’t use your tools on a daily or at least often basis I don’t see the advantage. As you can see I have acquired quite a collection of corded and air tools. I may not use some of them once a year. Some of them are so powerful ( Hitachi 9 “ grinder and an ancient B&D 1/2 inch drill) that I doubt a cordless tool would match them. All of them work well, never need charging or a new battery, and never run out of battery before the job is finished.

 

[The Cobbler]

there's virtually weekly discussions on battery vs corded vs pneumatic in one form or another on here .everyone has their opinions, and each one is strong in their reasons/argument
I agree with your analogy

 

[johnny_boy02]

I prefer corded angle grinders, battery powered ratchets and air powered impacts. Lucky for me I can have everything I like, it’s really a great time to be a tool junkie.

 

[MushCreek]

I use cordless for most jobs. My oldest batteries are over ten years old and still going. I have 7 batteries, so with a little discipline about keeping them charged, I never run out. They seem to hold a charge for months sitting on the shelf. With 9 acres, it's much handier to use cordless tools all over the property.

I use corded tools for long, energy-intensive jobs like a belt sander or grinder. My air tools pretty much never get used, as I don't keep my compressor full all of the time. Its too much hassle to wait for the compressor to fill up, and drag out the air hoses. The exception is nail guns. I have several, and a small portable compressor to run them.

 

[crewchief888]

my choice of powertool depends on what i'm doing.
i use battery, or corded around the house,
cordless or air at work. im a field mechanic at a cost eq dealer.

 

[theoldwizard1]

My M12 batteries recharge pretty fast and self-discharge slow. I have some good quality corded tools from the 80s (Craftsman Industrial) that I will never give up.

If you are a professional mechanic, the on!y reason to keep pneumatic tools is that they can be rebuilt while most cordless, regardless of brand, just wear out and must be replaced. I would like to hear what professional carpenters think of cordless saws. Sure, they need 1 or 2 spare batteries but not having to drag a cord around sounds good to me !

 

[VolvoRyan]

Kinda agree... but I changed shocks and struts and four coil springs (and ran a spring compressor) with one 2aH battery in my little M12 stubby impact.

-Ryan

 

[MushCreek]

Not a pro, but I built my entire house using mostly cordless tools. The little cordless circular saw is a Godsend up on the roof. It works fine with a sharp blade. Heavy framing I use a miter saw anyway. 1/4" drivers seem to be the industry standard now. If you watch shows like This Old House, they use them all over the place.

 

[Badgerstate]

I agree that cordless hand tools are great. I even have 2. One is a cheap HF that I throw away when the battery fails and the other is one I converted to using a cord and alligator clips the run from the truck battery when camping if I need a drill. If you use your tools often then battery tools are handy, fast, and obviously will work well for you. You will have to replace batteries as needed at a great cost.
However, if your like me and don’t use your tools on a daily or at least often basis I don’t see the advantage. As you can see I have acquired quite a collection of corded and air tools. I may not use some of them once a year. Some of them are so powerful ( Hitachi 9 “ grinder and an ancient B&D 1/2 inch drill) that I doubt a cordless tool would match them. All of them work well, never need charging or a new battery, and never run out of battery before the job is finished.

Corded is typically the cheapest route, although you are then dependent on being near an outlet. Battery is great but typically has less power and you have the cost of replacing batteries. Pneumatic is great but you have the cost of needing a large air compressor.
I personally prefer cordless, just for the convenience and not having to drag an extension cord around. My stuff is mostly Craftsman: impact driver, grinder, drill/driver, random orbit sander and oscilating tool. I love the convenience and that all of my tools run on the same battery. Ive also got a Ryobi impact driver and random orbit sander that I only really keep around because I still have a bunch of Ryobi batteries.
I dont find the cost of batteries to be that signifigant because all you really need is 2 batteries, which arent all that expensive. You could have 2 4ah batteries that would run all of your tools all day long.

 

[Rinspeed]

I probably have six battery operated tools but unlike some I never thought a cord or airline was ever much of a burden. I will never give up my Aircat 1150 or IR die grinder no matter what comes along. I have quality corded and pneumatic tools that are 10-15 or more years old. I've thrown several battery tools in the dumpster in the last ten years because they are disposable.

 

[BikeRider]

When you do most of your work on cars parked on the street and live in an upstairs apartment like me and don't own or have anyway to operate a compressor or corded tools then cordless is the only way to go. But my guess is that even if I had a garage I'd still prefer cordless, because there's no tether, and cordless technology has nearly caught up with if not passed corded and air for most uses from what I understand.

Plus, M12 tools are just plain cool.

 

[Renegade1LI]

The way we work it’s cordless till you need corded, it’s just efficient and no cords to get written up by safety. Almost impossible to run and use an extension cord or air hose and not have it be a potential safety issue. To set up corded tools in our Job sites you can have a maximum 50’ 12ga sj cord and that has to be plugged into a stand alone gfi and than you have to route the cord so no one can trip on it and still work with it. To set up with cordless the worker takes the tool, appropriate ppe and does the work, it’s way cheaper to have extra batteries. When you do public works safety is job one, at home, private shop you do what works best.

 

[J-BELL]

I understand there are various situations where cordless is better or required - work safety, remote work away from power….
I am retired and all my projects are done in my home shop where I have plenty of electricity and air. I’m not time constrained and prefer my corded and air tools but I certainly understand other conditions.

 

[mopar66]

For me as a serious DIYer for auto, home, machine repair, etc. I have a Corded Grinder, Circular saw (almost never use), heat gun, Dremel, shop vac, solder gun, air compressor, bench grinder. Pneumatic die grinder, mini buffer, hammer/chisel, mini belt sander, drill (almost never use), DA sander, nail guns. Everything else is cordless, probably 15+ tools.

 

[Rinspeed]

When you do most of your work on cars parked on the street and live in an upstairs apartment like me and don't own or have anyway to operate a compressor or corded tools then cordless is the only way to go. But my guess is that even if I had a garage I'd still prefer cordless, because there's no tether, and cordless technology has nearly caught up with if not passed corded and air for most uses from what I understand.

Plus, M12 tools are just plain cool.

Best of luck to you getting out of this shithole we call home.

 

[BikeRider]

Best of luck to you getting out of this shithole we call home.

What on earth are you smoking? Not everyone owns tens of thousands of dollars in tools and equipment and basically lives in their workshop. Spare me the attitude.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, the only correct answer is "It Depends" on what you have at your disposal, your location, and what your needs are.

 

[Gurp]

As a hobbyist repairing older vehicles and motorcycles, I agree with Nado above me.
It truly depends on a lot of factors. Location, budget , and how often you use them.
I have M18 1/4 impact hex. 3/8 impact, hackzall. M12 1/4 ratchet
i dont use many air tools in my mini shop most bc i just have a 20 gal compressor and its loud in my metal walled shop.
Corded is where i have the most. Cheaper.
1/2 Dewalt drill $5 bucks at a yard sale has paid for itself many times over.
Reciprocating saw from Rural king has been very helpful.
Circular saw, I just couldnt imagine paying the money to have enough batteries for a worthwhile project for one.


its all opinion and needs really though.

 

[Rinspeed]

What on earth are you smoking? Not everyone owns tens of thousands of dollars in tools and equipment and basically lives in their workshop. Spare me the attitude.

Ya, I was talking about NY in general goofy.

 

[dnschmidt]

This is a pointless argument. Use whatever works for you. Each member of the tool triad has it's place. There are no cordless or electric file boards, mud hogs or tiny air saws. My little S-P air impacting ratchet has no equivalent and is twice as powerful as my FUEL ratchets and one third the size with no kick back. I believe I have every cordless tool made, why?, Because I like tools. I have a houseful of corded routers, & stationary woodworking machinery. There is no cordless router that's going to enable you to make raised panel doors. I REPEAT THIS IS A POINTLESS ARGUMENT!!!

 

[lardy1]

Bought and paid for is a huge factor to a retiree that isn't generating income with their tools. The fact that someone worked with cords and air hoses under their feet was just the way things were. It wasn't considered inconvenient when the alternative was a hand tool.

We understand modern tools are often better tools. But I'm not discarding thousands of dollars worth of corded tools that I'm familiar with, comfortable with and not in debt for to buy the newer gadget.

I'm a bit of a woodworker/cabinetmaker. Certainly not the best. But I've worked with tools all my life. I'll be happy to compare the work I do with my obsolete tools to what you're doing with your modern cordless tools any day of the week. And that's a fact, Jack.

This topic is beat to death way too often.

 

[BikeRider]

Ya, I was talking about NY in general goofy.

It's not a bad place to live IMO. Pros and cons like anywhere else. Winter ***** though.

 

[Rinspeed]

It's not a bad place to live IMO. Pros and cons like anywhere else. Winter ***** though.

I own three properties and the taxes are killing me, also as you said the damn winters **** big time.

 

[Packard V8]

Bought and paid for is a huge factor to a retiree that isn't generating income with their tools. The fact that someone worked with cords and air hoses under their feet was just the way things were. It wasn't considered inconvenient when the alternative was a hand tool.

We understand modern tools are often better tools. But I'm not discarding thousands of dollars worth of corded tools that I'm familiar with, comfortable with and not in debt for to buy the newer gadget.

I'm a bit of a woodworker/cabinetmaker. Certainly not the best. But I've worked with tools all my life. I'll be happy to compare the work I do with my obsolete tools to what you're doing with your modern cordless tools any day of the week. And that's a fact, Jack.

This topic is beat to death way too often.

Agree, let's get back to discussing ball-bearing vs. friction slides.

jack vines

 

[Ton ton]

The power tools I bought recently are both corded and one was basically the same price as cordless. So I guess I am crazy. LOL.