Power tools peaked

[finn]

Okay, I can see the anti corded tools point of view, but I just cannot justify the expense of converting everything to cordless. I don’t make a living in the trades...if I had disposable income, maybe. I don’t know. Does the cordless sawzall have orbital action,enough endurance to use mercilessly all day long and counterbalance? I have an 18 volt Dewalt sawzall that’s nothing to write home about...

Does the hammer drill have a soft start feature? Jig saws with orbital action? A barrel grip version?

Is there a cordless angle drill that can drive a 2&9/16 self feed bit all day long?

I just cannot justify a $300-500 investment in a cordless tool when it’s corded counterpart is 1/2- 1/3 the cost. If I made a living with them, maybe I could.

At some point you have to realize that maybe you have aged out of the target market for power tools.

You already have tools that will last a lifetime, albeit corded models. New people are aging into the demographic of power tool buyers every day, and a huge majority of them see the advantages of cordless tools.

Which group of tool users is a reasonable tool manufacturer going to cater to? Those starting from scratch or those fading from the market?

Sort of the Buick syndrome.

 

[reader2580]

My Makita 18 volt drill has more torque than my Dewalt corded 3/8” drill. I can’t recall the last time I used the Dewalt.

The two tools that are better with a cord are reciprocating saw and grinder. They both eat batteries.

 

[finn]

My Makita 18 volt drill has more torque than my Dewalt corded 3/8” drill. I can’t recall the last time I used the Dewalt.

The two tools that are better with a cord are reciprocating saw and grinder. They both eat batteries.

The Dewalt flexvolt grinder is the exception. Don’t know if they make a flexvolt reciprocating saw, though, but most of my reciprocating saw work is relatively short duration, so battery would be acceptable if my corded saws ever succumb to old age.

 

[dutchgray]

There is not a lot of development in the general corded tool market, specialist tools there is still a bit more. For me cordless tools are wonderful but I will never be without several corded angle grinders, circular saw and an angle drill for drilling joists, I have yet to use a cordless grinder that was any good for heavy long duration work, cordless circular saws are fine but on the ground I prefer the power of a corded and I don't use the angle drill enough to justify the high cost of a cordless one. More workshop oriented tools like routers, planers, sanders I see no point to change to cordless.
Corded tools will still be improved over time, just not at the rate seen in the past.

 

[Ign]

With the advent of Li-Ion batteries this argument ended. Milwaukee's Fuel Super Sawzall has MORE power and faster speed than the corded version. I believe there is a YouTube video demonstrating this from last years Milwaukee event.

Sadly Milwaukee has somewhat discredited themselves in their alleged head-to-head comparisons, specifically with the chainsaw where the Stihl gas "competitor" clearly had a trashed chain (IMO)

I'm not saying the Sawzall thing isn't legit, but I wouldn't trust anyone affiliated with Milwaukee or TTI to do a fair comparison.

I also don't understand why they keep trying to improve the Sawzall, does one really NEED more power than the corded versions that are already out there? I mean if I blade jams up it'll overpower ANY user, no matter how big that person is, so what's the point?

I've got the old V28 and it's MORE than enough. Cordless reciprocating technology has been on par for a decade or more - it would seem reciprocating just doesn't need a ton of amp draw or voltage to work well.

 

[johninct]

If it drew any more amps, you wouldn't be able to plug it into a standard 120vac receptacle.

Also, you may need a 10 gauge extension cord too. I have the Milwaukee 15 amp Sawzal and I think it is even too powerful.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Lol.. nobody WANTS a cord attached to the tool.

Battery powered tools have come a long way, and are great if you're using them regularly. On the other had if I have a tool I use infrequently, I'd rather have a corded version - I won't have to worry about the battery having gone dead in the meantime.

 

[tarbellb]

They will become-

_ safer
_ smaller/lighter
_ cheaper
_ more features

And when (not if) battery chemistry advances they will better than corded tools.

So no, not peaked. Not even close.

 

[PugetDude]

Wait until Elon Musk... sees a power tool as a shiny object.