Does anyone value corded power tools anymore

[theoldwizard1]

The only 4 I use anymore are:

1. Table saw
2. Mitre saw
3. Worm drive saw
4. Pancake compressor.

I don't really see those 4 power hungry tools really ever being cordless.

There are examples of cordless version of the first 3 available. The table saws are quite small, but they have their place on a job site. Same with miter saws although you has better have 3 or 4 spare batteries and a way to recharge them on site.

I was very surprised that Milwaukee did NOT come out with a worm gear drive saw in their last big announcement. They probably could not get reasonable power/battery life even with their new larger batteries. (The Makita worm gear drive saw uses 2 batteries.)

I have seen many roofing contractor use gasoline engine powered compressors because they know most homes would nit have a outlet that could truly give them 15A of power.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

They make cordless compressors too.
https://www.dewalt.com/products/gea...MIjuu8jKrU3gIVCwtpCh0HAQbsEAAYASAAEgLiCfD_BwE

 

[PugetDude]

Mixing mortar
Drilling thick steel
Grinding (my) welds
Extensive sanding.

I'll take corded over cordless for any of these applications.

 

[Alpine4x4]

I'm surprised at all the comments about dead batteries...did your cordless tool not come with a charger? I have one battery on the charger at all times and the remainder charged and in the box ready to go. When one dies, on the charger it goes and the fresh one replaces it. They definitely die during long jobs, but thats why I have more than one. Cordless has to be a commitment.

That being said, I dont think I'll ever replace a circular saw with a cordless version. Some tools it just doesnt make sense.

 

[thooks]

Many of you need to crawl out of the cave.

The cordless tools you bought/used in the 1990's and early 2000's are a distant memory of poor performance, poor quality, poor durability and horribly financed design and production.


The new stuff, even from Ryobi, is great. The scale is still there - Ryobi is servicable for a long period to the homeowner and a short period to the construction worker who can't not buy that 18 pack on a daily basis leaving him with no money for good tools.

I bought a 4-piece Ridgid Brushless 18V kit with 4.0a/hr batteries last year. Hammer drill, impact driver, 7-1/4" blade right circ saw and grinder.

I've used every single tool under stress and I'm happy with the performance and battery life. Not only battery life but time it takes to fully recharge.

It takes about 35-40 minutes to go from very low to fully charged....and that will last long enough for you to take a break, lunch, whatever. If you're using these new Li-On 4+ a/hr battery-powered tools to make a living, you need to buy a couple spares of batteries anyway.

I don't have one nor have I used a sliding compound miter saw from Makita or others or any other 18-36v tools from Milwaukee, Dewalt or Makita, but I have seen them in action by folks I trust and they are sharp. Nobody complains about battery life, nobody complains about performance, etc.

It is clear many of you don't venture too far past a receptacle to plug your 15' extension cord into, so you don't understand the beauty of the modern cordless tools. These new tools are better, faster, more powerful and do a much better job of the old versions. They are, in many cases, just as good or better than the corded models.

There's nothing weird about my Ridgid Cordless Circ saw. It looks like a corded saw, but there's no cord. It works just like one, too. But I can carry it around a site/building/400' away from where I was at 3 minutes ago and it will cut. Same with the hammer drill.

I've used the 4-1/2" angle grinder for 2+ hours on a single battery charge.

Are you telling me that you can't bother with another battery charging during those two hours to keep a cord away from your work?

You can have a single Honda EU2000i generator going, charging 10+ batteries at one time, with 6 skilled craftsmen using battery-powered tools, no cords, etc. It's also clear that many of you don't work in heavy industrial/commercial job sites where there are pretty strict requirements for extension cord usage.

 

[finn]

I was a holdout, but with the acquisition of a brushless, cordless Dewalt circular saw, SDS hammer drill, and, most recently, flexvolt grinder, to supplement my other cordless tools, I’m over the edge and will likely never purchase another corded tool in my remaining lifetime.

For the most part, my corded tools, drills, drivers, saws, grinders, etc. are dormant. I cringe every time I use one and have to drag out an extension cord.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I'm surprised at all the comments about dead batteries...did your cordless tool not come with a charger? I have one battery on the charger at all times and the remainder charged and in the box ready to go. When one dies, on the charger it goes and the fresh one replaces it. They definitely die during long jobs, but thats why I have more than one. Cordless has to be a commitment..

My cordless drills have always come with a charger and two batteries. It's still nothing to be able to run the battery out of juice while the other is still charging. My newer 18v does charge much faster than my older 14.4 v. Still not near fast enough or near enough run time on some jobs.

 

[brownbagg]

i got one of those cordless, malitta drills, the big blue one with the long handle from the 80. It has never been used, from day one, with two dead batteries

 

[thooks]

i got one of those cordless, malitta drills, the big blue one with the long handle from the 80. It has never been used, from day one, with two dead batteries

This is 2018.

 

[oldwino]

I love the convenience of cordless but sometimes they just don't do the job. Still grab the Skil 77, corded grinders, hole hawgs, and recip saw for heavy use (love the cordless for smaller jobs thou)

 

[Mr Ratchet]

Many of you need to crawl out of the cave.

The cordless tools you bought/used in the 1990's and early 2000's are a distant memory of poor performance, poor quality, poor durability and horribly financed design and production.

I've used every single tool under stress and I'm happy with the performance and battery life. Not only battery life but time it takes to fully recharge.

It takes about 35-40 minutes to go from very low to fully charged....and that will last long enough for you to take a break, lunch, whatever. If you're using these new Li-On 4+ a/hr battery-powered tools to make a living, you need to buy a couple spares of batteries anyway.

It is clear many of you don't venture too far past a receptacle to plug your 15' extension cord into, so you don't understand the beauty of the modern cordless tools. These new tools are better, faster, more powerful and do a much better job of the old versions. They are, in many cases, just as good or better than the corded models.

My two year old 18V is far superior to my last 14.4V drill. My 18V is not in the same universe as my corded hole shooter in terms of power and run time. What one finds acceptable for performance may not be for the next guy. I don't care to wait around for batteries to charge while waiting to finish a job.

 

[Alpine4x4]

My cordless drills have always come with a charger and two batteries. It's still nothing to be able to run the battery out of juice while the other is still charging. My newer 18v does charge much faster than my older 14.4 v. Still not near fast enough or near enough run time on some jobs.

Thats akin to saying you cant do a job because you dont have enough extension cord to reach it. If your environment is demanding enough to require more than two batteries you need to commit to more than two or stick with corded. Sometimes it's not feasible to use cordless, but not being prepared for the job isnt the cordless tools fault.

 

[WWheeler]

My cordless drills have always come with a charger and two batteries. It's still nothing to be able to run the battery out of juice while the other is still charging. My newer 18v does charge much faster than my older 14.4 v. Still not near fast enough or near enough run time on some jobs.

What? Something is wrong with this. None of my cordless tools can kill even the smallest 1.5Ah battery faster than another can charge no matter how hard I'm pushing it. Not even my ~15 year old NiCads can run out a batt before I'm done charging another.

That said, if I'm doing a med/large job where there's an outlet handy, I will definitely use corded tools over cordless. Each has their place.

 

[McFarmer]

Older local electrician sold out. Man I kick myself for not buying all his Milwaukee corded tools for about $5 each. Two tables full.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

What? Something is wrong with this. None of my cordless tools can kill even the smallest 1.5Ah battery faster than another can charge no matter how hard I'm pushing it. Not even my ~15 year old NiCads can run out a batt before I'm done charging another.

Read this part again.

Mr Ratchet wrote: What one finds acceptable for performance may not be for the next guy.

 

[JoJoSnap]

In my case I use cordless mostly for small gun application tasks- Impact Wrench to work on and under the cars; Impact driver/cordless mitre saw to do decking/flooring. Only corded I would use are hammer drilling and wet tile cutting work. Air compressor for sanding and auto restoration.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[WWheeler]

Read this part again.

Mr Ratchet wrote: What one finds acceptable for performance may not be for the next guy.

That has nothing to do with what I took issue with. You wrote "It's still nothing to be able to run the battery out of juice while the other is still charging."

I've never had that happen. I couldn't begin to count how many times I took just 2 batts to a job and it was plenty.

Just one example, we've used my drills to put in decks and fences (and more) drilling and putting lag screws with an impact in pressure treated wood one screw after another non-stop, and couldn't even come close killing a battery before the other is done charging. Not even with a more than 15 yr old NiCad battery much less the newer Li-Ions.

I'm just curious. What platform are you using? How long does it take you to charge a battery?

 

[Mr Ratchet]

That has nothing to do with what I took issue with. You wrote "It's still nothing to be able to run the battery out of juice while the other is still charging."

I've never had that happen.

Just one example, we've used my drills to put in decks and fences (and more) drilling and putting lag screws with an impact in pressure treated wood one screw after another non-stop, and couldn't even come close killing a battery before the other is done charging. Not even with a more than 15 yr old NiCad battery much less the newer Li-Ions. How long does it take you to charge a battery?

It has everything to do with it. Just because YOU or someone else does not run out your battery while the other one is charging, does not mean everyone else is the same. I've done it enough with my Milwaukee 18V drill to know not to use it on certain jobs.

 

[WWheeler]

It has everything to do with it. Just because YOU or someone else does not run out your battery while the other one is charging, does not mean everyone else is the same. I've done it enough with my Milwaukee 18V drill to know not to use it on certain jobs.

My point is that I would probably agree with you if I EVER ran out the battery before another was done charging. I most likely would not find that acceptable. It's just never happened to us before, and we've tried pretty hard to test it many many times. I honestly didn't think any decent cordless brand tools would ever have such an issue, especially not team yellow or team red.

 

[General Geoff]

My point is that I would probably agree with you if I EVER ran out the battery before another was done charging. I most likely would not find that acceptable. It's just never happened to us before, and we've tried pretty hard to test it many many times. I honestly didn't think any decent cordless brand tools would ever have such an issue, especially not team yellow or team red.

Depends on the tool you're using. A battery operated reciprocating or circular saw will drain a big 4ah battery in 20-30 minutes of continuous, hard use, and take a couple hours minimum to recharge it. It's happened to me with a brand new, out of the box makita recip saw I got last year (and brand new 4ah battery). Saws are very power hungry under heavy load.

A cordless angle grinder can drain a 4aH battery in 10 minutes.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

My point is that I would probably agree with you if I EVER ran out the battery before another was done charging. I most likely would not find that acceptable. It's just never happened to us before, and we've tried pretty hard to test it many many times. I honestly didn't think any decent cordless brand tools would ever have such an issue, especially not team yellow or team red.

OK, I've done it far more than once with several brands of cordless drills. I know I'm not the only other one. For me, cordless has a long way to go. I'll always have a cordless drill for those quick/lighter jobs or when there is no easy power to reach.

Again it comes down to my earlier comment.

Mr Ratchet wrote: What one finds acceptable for performance may not be for the next guy.

 

[Robinson1]

I'm a general contractor. Did a bath demo yesterday. Every tool I pulled off the trailer was corded except for a impact to take apart a cabinet.

Today I'm starting to reframe a shower and lay concrete board. I've got a mix of both corded and cordless.

Both tools have their place depends on the work.

If I've got more than 5 minutes of sawzall work I'm pulling cords. More than 5 cuts with a grinder I'm pulling cords. More than two batteries worth of work for a circular saw I'm pulling cords.

Drill almost always cordless. The only time I pull a corded drill out is for really large diameter bits, large hole saws and mixing thinset.

I built a 20x20 deck a couple years ago using a dewalt 20v 6 1/2 circular saw as my main saw. Wasn't bad at all but I had 6 dead batteries at the end of every day.

 

[WWheeler]

Depends on the tool you're using. A battery operated reciprocating or circular saw will drain a big 4ah battery in 20-30 minutes of continuous, hard use, and take a couple hours minimum to recharge it. It's happened to me with a brand new, out of the box makita recip saw I got last year (and brand new 4ah battery). Saws are very power hungry under heavy load.

A cordless angle grinder can drain a 4aH battery in 10 minutes.

I've got cordless 7-1/4 saw and angle grinder and have used them a good bit, but not on any job yet where I ran them continuously long enough to see if I could run out a batt before another charges.

I can say I've run my grinder on/off for the better part of a day cutting up a bunch of large equipment shipping frames made of 1" & 1-1/2" square tube to salvage two 16' trailer loads of metal before our company scrapped it all instead and got that job done on a single 5Ah battery. Never even needed to break out the spare. Went though many HF cutoff wheels though. Those things are junk but they got it done.

 

[mobiledynamics]

I've got like 40 M18 batteries and about 8 M12.

The corded tools that remain is a SDS +, SDS Max, and mainly wood/specialty tools .
If I had to gauge it, I would say 75% has all gone cordless, with the rest on corded mainly as the BAR on the corded ones I have - there is not a cordless equivalent -, Hilti 7C, Hilti 60 ATC, Kapex Miter, etc, etc. " I've got the M18 1 1/8 with vacumn" It's nice, but not as smoooooth as the 7C

Cords are dead. Everyone is innovating on cordless. Eventually the speciality tools will get there.....the only drawback is battery systems and what you are into .

 

[tonyciambrone]

Stuff that will probably take 3+ more years for me to want the cordless version of


Sawzall (And yes I have used the Fuel before)
Miter Saw
Circular saw (and yes I have used the fuel before)
Table Saw
Palm Sander
Belt Sander
Random Orbit Sander
Angle Grinder
1/2" drill in some scenarios
Jigsaw
Welder
Shopvac
Nailers (hollow pvc corded type)
Heat gun

Everything else brushless, cordless please.

 

[jd_1138]

Corded tools are awesome -- no battery worries, cheaper, more powerful. I bought a mint Makita corded recip saw for $40 off of OfferUp. If it were cordless, it would've gone for way more. It's a 12 amp model -- a beast.

My circular saws are also corded (Rockwell compact one and a Craftsman). I love my cordless Makita drills though, but if I had to make do with corded I could do so I guess. But cordless is nice. If someone's a serious DIYer or a Pro, having both cordless and corded is the way to go.

 

[MushCreek]

With 7 acres to take care of, I use my cordless SawZall all the time. I have 5 M18 batteries, and never ran out while I was building my house. I wound up using the cordless tools 90% of the time, as dragging cords all over a construction site gets old. I recently bought a new M18 drill/driver, and it has enough torque to be dangerous. It comes with a side handle for a reason.

 

[danielbuck]

I consider my lathe a corded power tool.

I love battery tools, toss them in the truck/jeep and good to go. work anywhere

 

[n8n]

I always prefer corded tools because if they are used infrequently, when I really do need to use them they won't be charged up, and then I'll have to replace the batteries because of the "abuse" of infrequent use.

 

[PugetDude]

Wonder if anyone has ever done an analysis of initial tool cost and cost per KwH to operate for Corded and battery cost/cost to charge/battery lifecycle cost for Cordless to determine true operating cost?

Might be eye-opening...

 

[metaldad]

corded.
enuff said

 

[n8n]

Wonder if anyone has ever done an analysis of initial tool cost and cost per KwH to operate for Corded and battery cost/cost to charge/battery lifecycle cost for Cordless to determine true operating cost?

Might be eye-opening...

Charging batteries is almost free, really. You can make a good case for cordless tools if they are used regularly, one or more times a week. That's just not me in my current life though.

 

[77thor]

I haven't used a 'corded' tool in years... and probably never will again.

 

[winlinmac]

What's wrong with a cordless miter or table saw?

 

[manwithtools]

Stuff that will probably take 3+ more years for me to want the cordless version of


Sawzall (And yes I have used the Fuel before)
Miter Saw
Circular saw (and yes I have used the fuel before)
Table Saw
Palm Sander
Belt Sander
Random Orbit Sander
Angle Grinder
1/2" drill in some scenarios
Jigsaw
Welder
Shopvac
Nailers (hollow pvc corded type)
Heat gun

Everything else brushless, cordless please.

You would be surprised, but we are now using cordless heat guns as much as the corded ones in an electrical panel shop that uses them all day long. No extension cords to trip over or cords to arrange on a bench.

Jigsaws? How much are you using one that would out last a battery? If you are, you maybe should be using another tool.

Shopvac, again - how long are you running one that would outlast a cordless one? We love them, because no extension cord to trip over. Smaller, lighter, easier to empty. Fit into small places.

Sawzall, We are all about cordless.

Miter saw the same. It's very short run time to make the cuts typically. Quick and easy to carry to the next room.

Circular saw, if you are not ripping all day, they are fine.

Once you have enough battery tools, it's almost impossible to run out of batteries if you are charging as your using. Unless you have a crew of ten using the tools, there is generally a battery available. If you have a bigger crew, buy more tools and batteries.

Until you have one of everything and use them daily, it's hard to appreciate how versatile they can be.

There are applications where they do not belong, but it's getting to be fewer and fewer.

 

[jd_1138]

Wonder if anyone has ever done an analysis of initial tool cost and cost per KwH to operate for Corded and battery cost/cost to charge/battery lifecycle cost for Cordless to determine true operating cost?

Might be eye-opening...

Probably be about the same in price, because the average user only needs 2 or 3 batteries and one charger. So once they get a couple of tools with batteries, they can then buy bare tools for super cheap.

Each has their advantages and disadvantages.

 

[PartsGuy]

Originally Posted by brownbagg
i got one of those cordless, malitta drills, the big blue one with the long handle from the 80. It has never been used, from day one, with two dead batteries

I have one of those too, it's a 9.6V right angle drill with the long stick batteries.
It's one of the few tools I didn't upgrade to DeWalt 20V recently, because the batteries still charge and that thing is a friggin BEAST! I've got a pair of the regular 12V drills and a small (3.5" ????) trim saw that run the old red or black "pod" batteries, but they just sit in the drawer under the bench now. The trim saw kicks ****, but the battery contacts won't stay tight anymore. Always have to give it a thump to make contact, but its still a sweet lil' saw!
In a pinch, I've also used the 9.6V sticks in my 12V saw....

 

[jeffmoss26]

I used a corded drill a month or so ago at work, installing continuous hinges on a steel door. At home I use my cordless drill all the time. My Skilsaw has a cord, I use it maybe 2 times a year lol

 

[Jbullfrog]

I am waiting for my corded Makita 3/8" belt sander as I type this. I have an air belt sander and love it for prepping tight places for weld and working where a grinder doesn't fit. I don't like having to load both my Miller Trailblazer and compressor when welding in the field. I have an old electric corded impact that gets used on projects where air isn't available and batteries aren't practical.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I watch Youtube videos by RR Buildings, a construction firm that builds pole sheds and garages. They use a ton of cordless tools, including a couple table saws which I had never seen before, and I've been impressed with their performance.

Many of you need to crawl out of the cave.

There's no need to start with inflammatory comments. Cordless tools certainly have their place, but it doesn't make us who don't have them lesser than you.