I’m looking to start building some of my own furniture. Nothing serious, just tv stands and shelving and stuff. I own some Milwaukee impacts for automotive use So I am invested in the brand\series, but after doing some research methinks the m-12 line would probably be fine for what I’m going to be doing. I figured I’d throw this out to the experts and see what you say...
What volt cordless for basic woodworking?
- Thread starter Lodi781
- Start date
sparky 1971
Well-known member
I have an extensive collection of both M12 and M18. The M12 would serve you but for mostly in the shop use, I would personally go with the M18 if only going with one lineup. A little more power and run time. You won't be lugging anything around with you so the extra weight won't really matter. I use mostly M12 on jobsites, but it's because I have to carry the tools around with me all day. There are times I have to make a big cut or run in larger sized lag screws and the M18 artillery comes out.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
For light wood working, M12 is adequate, but make sure they are the Fuel brushless models (most are). Good quality blades make all the difference.
The M12 1.5Ah batteries are a joke. 2.0Ah minimum, 3.0Ah better.
Still no M12 router.
Some day you will get a table saw. Go corded.
The M12 1.5Ah batteries are a joke. 2.0Ah minimum, 3.0Ah better.
Still no M12 router.
Some day you will get a table saw. Go corded.
I love the brushless majors 18v line up, which is similar in size and weight to the Milwaukee m12, for furniture building, assembly, around the house stuff. I take no joy in the extra weight or bulk, and I don’t need the run time, since I’m not framing a house. 2 cents.
ez-duzit
Well-known member
You don't need cordless for building furniture. Buy corded.
What tools do you plan on buying and what type of things do you plan on building?
Generally what I have seen is that Bosch makes great corded wood working tools if you are willing to pay for their nicer stuff (ie JS572 jigsaw is one of the best, but spendy).
You need to make sure you've got the basics with tools. What type of wood will you be using, what treatment does it need (planing, joining?), how are you going to cut it, how will you sand it, and how will you assemble it? Once you can answer those questions, you can start to build up your collection.
Generally what I have seen is that Bosch makes great corded wood working tools if you are willing to pay for their nicer stuff (ie JS572 jigsaw is one of the best, but spendy).
You need to make sure you've got the basics with tools. What type of wood will you be using, what treatment does it need (planing, joining?), how are you going to cut it, how will you sand it, and how will you assemble it? Once you can answer those questions, you can start to build up your collection.
I was looking specifically for a drill\driver set. I did notice that the m-18 compact cordless was not much bigger than the m-12, I just didn’t want to waste money if they weren’t needed. Right now I’m building a TV stand, and some basic shelving\cabinets for my TV room.
I do have an old jigsaw, Bosch I think that is corded, and my circular saw is corded as well. I’m just getting into this stuff so as I needed things I thought cordless was the way to go. I could be way off. Just seemed easier.
I do have an old jigsaw, Bosch I think that is corded, and my circular saw is corded as well. I’m just getting into this stuff so as I needed things I thought cordless was the way to go. I could be way off. Just seemed easier.
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acer66
Well-known member
I am very happy with my Bosch 12v’s, their 12v router is really nice.
Bosch is more focused on wood working anyway.
I second that brushless is the way to go and the 2amp and up battery notion.
Bosch is more focused on wood working anyway.
I second that brushless is the way to go and the 2amp and up battery notion.
Just a bit of advice when creating threads and looking for tools. State exactly what you are looking for and what you plan to use it on. You will get a lot more useful info and waste a lot less time asking direct questions.
There are thousands of woodworking tools, and idk that a drill/driver set is specific to wood working!
This.
Take the money you save and buy more of them. Go on ebay and buy very lightly used. Or local auctions.
Buy the router new, don’t get a big fricken one. Bosch has one with two bases, others probably do also.
LeeG
Well-known member
I used to use a Festool CSX for 95% of all my woodworking. Now I use the M12 Installaion driver mostly. I use pocket holes for most of my shop grade stuff and the various heads on this driver allow easy access.
View media item 97607
All of my cutting and shaping tools (Routers, saws, and Sanders) are corded.
View media item 97607
All of my cutting and shaping tools (Routers, saws, and Sanders) are corded.
seber
Well-known member
I have a good selection of M18 tools, but for woodworking in the shop they stay in their cases. Shop woodworking is done with corded tools. Higher rpm and greater power make for better finish and faster results.
ddawg16
Well-known member
For the money, I don't think you can beat Ryobi's 18 volt stuff.
I have 6 batteries....about 10 cordless tools....and my mower, leaf blower and trimmer use the same batteries.
Did the yard yesterday....no gas...no extension cords....
Be aware, you can only do so much wood working with hand power tools. I would also toss in a med size table saw and sliding compound miter saw. Once you get them, you will wonder how you got by without them.
I have 6 batteries....about 10 cordless tools....and my mower, leaf blower and trimmer use the same batteries.
Did the yard yesterday....no gas...no extension cords....
Be aware, you can only do so much wood working with hand power tools. I would also toss in a med size table saw and sliding compound miter saw. Once you get them, you will wonder how you got by without them.
Shiftless
Well-known member
I’ve used my M12 Fuel drill and impact driver to build lots of shelving units and simple cabinets. Plenty of power for that kind of stuff. I like the lighter weight and smaller size of the M12 for maneuverability compared the the M18.
But I use a corded Skillsaw, sliding mitre saw, router, palm sander, belt sander and jigsaw and of course a corded table saw.
But I use a corded Skillsaw, sliding mitre saw, router, palm sander, belt sander and jigsaw and of course a corded table saw.
I agree with Lee - I like the M12 installation set so much I ended up buying2 of them. Keep in mind, when you buy a cordless tool, you are really buying into a battery platform because it is doubtful your going to have just one tool. IMO the M12 inflator is well worth the money and I recently bought the M12 Surge which is another excellent tool for woodworking. It is a hydraulic driver and the bare tool occasionally goes on sale for around $120
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manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I hear folks say this regularly. As someone who has built cabinets, houses, furniture and done hundreds of other DIY projects, I can't agree with this advise.
Just not having to fight with cords make the cordless tools worth every penny. In woodworking you may need serval tools out at once, not fighting cords or tripping over them makes the process so much nicer.
Add to this the fact that you can't buy corded versions of many cordless tools and the argument get's even weaker. Take M12 Installation tool for instance or one of the Surge impacts - no corded equivalent. My M18 Surge impact will drive 6" long construction screws with ease - try to find one of those with a cord.
Shiftless
Well-known member
M.W.T. said “ My M18 Surge impact will drive 6" long construction screws with ease - try to find one of those with a cord.”
I have used my corded Milwaukee 1/2 Drive Hole shooter for big hex drive screws. Worked great as long as you have a receptacle within a hundred feet or so. And it’s less noisy.
I have used my corded Milwaukee 1/2 Drive Hole shooter for big hex drive screws. Worked great as long as you have a receptacle within a hundred feet or so. And it’s less noisy.
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
And it's 4 times as big, 2 times as heavy as the M18 Surge and will likely break your wrist if the screw you are driving hangs up.
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Oh, to answer the OP question, I'd stick with the M12 platform for furniture, unless you are thinking of a cordless router, they are only available in M18.
CGarage
Well-known member
Bosch M12 line is really nice. I have a drill/impact driver set I bought from Lowe’s not too long ago. Very impressive power and torque off that drill! No issues going through 19mm aka 3/4” Baltic Birch ply.
You can go with the Makita sub-compact 18v series of drills/drivers. What's good is that you have a selection of light(er) weight 1.5ah, 2.0aH batteries. The sub-compact series are the same size class as the 12V series of other brands. Since it's brushless, the torque is excellent for its size. You'll also have the batteries/charger kit and can step up to the 5.0aH or 6.0aH batteries if needed and then you also have the entire selection of 18v Makita tools to choose from in the future.
JiminAZ
Well-known member
In my woodworking experience (building furniture, etc.) I care alot about things being square and true.
Most frequently used: drill press, sliding compound miter saw, a joiner, a table saw, router (both freehand and in a table), thickness planer, biscuit joiner, and a handful of hand tools (planes, drivers, etc). All have cords.
The cordless screwdriver/drill gets used from time to time. Same for the cordless circular saw and honestly that's about it. If I didn't already have a great older Bosch jig saw I might consider a cordless one.
Guess I'm trying to say that cordless is likely not going to constitute much of your toolset for woodworking. Just stick with your existing M18 stuff.
Most frequently used: drill press, sliding compound miter saw, a joiner, a table saw, router (both freehand and in a table), thickness planer, biscuit joiner, and a handful of hand tools (planes, drivers, etc). All have cords.
The cordless screwdriver/drill gets used from time to time. Same for the cordless circular saw and honestly that's about it. If I didn't already have a great older Bosch jig saw I might consider a cordless one.
Guess I'm trying to say that cordless is likely not going to constitute much of your toolset for woodworking. Just stick with your existing M18 stuff.
jeepinerdeep
Well-known member
I do all my cordless woodworking with M12, except the trim router. Pretty rare that I have to get out a corded worm drive, router or sawsall anymore. The M12 drills and drivers are perfect size/weight/performance for most anything other than actual construction work.
Thanks Everyone! I am thinking of a router in the future. I have M-18 impacts for my car, so the batteries on that end I’m good with. I was more worried about buying too much tool for what I was going to be using it for 90% Of the time. That’s why I was curious about the m-12 line. I do see that they have a compact m-18 line of drill\driver so maybe since I have the batteries already, that may be a better way to go. But Thank you for the advice. It is greatly appreciated.
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Stick with the M18 stuff, its excellent. Yes the M12 FUEL can be a better fit for legit woodworking, enough power, lighter weight, compact size.
But M18 will do everything you need no problem, the weight and size will likely not be a big enough factor to buy into a new battery platform.
But M18 will do everything you need no problem, the weight and size will likely not be a big enough factor to buy into a new battery platform.
acer66
Well-known member
This, the last corded tool I bought was a drywall gun and going up the first ladder dragging a cord around I almost instantly thought wth was I thinking?
ez-duzit
Well-known member
Yeah, you better stick with cordless if you are having so much trouble with cords.
Shiftless
Well-known member
And it's 4 times as big, 2 times as heavy as the M18 Surge and will likely break your wrist if the screw you are driving hangs up.
That is certainly true. You left out the part where it throws you off of a ladder.
That happened to a relative of mine.
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