The Tradesman’s Best Friend-cordless Power Tools

Modern advances in the efficiency of energy storage have made it possible for cordless tools to have more power, to last longer, and be better balanced. The freedom of a cordless drill and a cordless circular saw greatly improve productivity and are just plain easier to handle. Here are some tips for selecting cordless power tools that fit your needs.

Brand names versus price

The look of many cordless tools as a judgment of quality is just inaccurate. What the layperson commonly doesn’t realize is that there are only four major manufacturers of the motors and bearings that go inside almost every brand.  People often talk to tradesmen and hobbyists and learn what brands to avoid, but they seldom learn why. We all seem to know that Black and Decker brand is not of the quality it used to be. Here is the surprise. The same motor, bearings and switches that go into Black and Decker also go into DeWalt and Porter Cable brands that sell at high-end prices but are no better. The best motors today are going into Hitachi, Makita, Ryobi and Roto-Zip brands. These brands have great torque for their size. This is due to how many wires are creating magnetic fields. The bearings in these brands are of higher quality because they are of harder steel, lubricated with heat resistant grease and sealed to keep out abrasives. Despite these facts they are of slightly lower prices.

Tool use frequency and applications

How often a tool is going to be used and how severe the use will be should also add into how much you spend on that tool. For instance there is no use in purchasing the most expensive 18 volt cordless drill if you intend to use it only once or twice a year. Take into consideration how much use you will actually get from the tool. Resale of power tools is not something that needs considered. Even the best power tools don’t hold value.  Consumers suffer from all the confusion caused by so many of the same internal parts going into different brands; so much that persons buy based on their favorite brand, not on the quality of the tool.  Do your homework to make sure you don’t fall into this trap.  If you do suspect you will want to resell the tool, buy the brand that is the most popular because regardless of its quality, it will be easier to sell and will bring a higher price.