Cordless Tools: Obviously, cordless tools are a great convenience. I have drills and impact drivers, but I think that's about it. Most of my work is done in my garage, so electricity...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Obviously, cordless tools are a great convenience. I have drills and impact drivers, but I think that's about it. Most of my work is done in my garage, so electricity is available. It can be a nuisance getting to the outlet and connecting an extension cord, if necessary. I have a multi-outlet cord hanging from the ceiling, and that's very handy.

Most of my cordless tools are DeWalt 20v, but I also have a couple of other brands. If I had no cordless tools at all, I would stick to one brand and one voltage. The batteries are expensive, and buying a supply of different brands would be an unnecessary expense. There are battery adapters, so you can use a Makita battery on a DeWalt, and vice versa, but that's an additional expense and something else to store.

I looked online for cordless tools, but when I saw the price and my lack of real need, I decided to stick with what I have. If I were in a situation where I often had to work without access to electricity, it would be a different story.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

I agree with you, Jerry.
Pat

WJB Loc: Salisbury, MD

I do love my cordless drill!

02Nomad Loc: Catonsville, MD

Jerry, when my DeWalt cordless drill bit the dust, I went looking for a replacement. After a lot of research, I settled on Ridgid brand. They are 18 volt tools and there are different amp-hour levels (which fit all of their cordless tools), but what sold me was the fact that once you register the tool with them, the batteries are warranted for life!

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

Right now I just have cordless drills, hammer and regular. The Porter Cable lives in my shed I recently got a Popoman regular drill and a Cacoop hammer drill. thru Amazon. Both for the price of the Porter Cable. They each take different batteries but aren't that expensive. Both seem to be well made and perform very well at home. If I needed them for work I don't know. Right now they are the only cordless tools I have although there are others available with these companies.

Julian Loc: Sarasota, FL

It is difficult to stick to only one type of battery for all tools unless to you want to stay with old and obsolete equipment. New and more powerful tools are constantly being designed and available in the market, which require better and more reliable batteries.

tcthome Loc: NJ

02Nomad wrote:

Jerry, when my DeWalt cordless drill bit the dust, I went looking for a replacement. After a lot of research, I settled on Ridgid brand. They are 18 volt tools and there are different amp-hour levels (which fit all of their cordless tools), but what sold me was the fact that once you register the tool with them, the batteries are warranted for life!

The Dewalt brand is alright. They wouldn't be my first choice for professional industrial indoor/outdoor work; I seen some of their more expensive products fail barely making it out of warranty. No experience with Rigid cordless. I like the Milwaukie brand. They can take a beating. I am going to purchase a 20v 3/8" drill/driver this week for some projects I have around home.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

I have three batteries three chargers and three tools. Hardly use them but charge them each year....

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

My strategy lately is to buy 2 batteries for the tool, when the batteries need replacing so does the tool, new and better keep coming, planned obsolescence IMHO!

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

I have pretty much the same except for an EGO battery electric chain saw. It uses a 56 volt battery that also runs their weed whacker, leaf blower and lawn mower so I only had to buy a single (expensive) battery. The chain saw cuts effortlessly and runs for hours on a charge. I always had trouble with my old Homelite that pretty much needed the carburetor to be removed, cleaned and adjusted each time I tried to start it since I ran it only once a year or less. No gas/oil mess with the battery saw and once the battery's charged, it runs the first time I pull the trigger, regardless of how long it sat on the shelf. My friend has the same setup with a Ryobi 90 volt battery. Electrics have come a long way since the old NiCad battery days.

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

jerryc41 wrote:

Obviously, cordless tools are a great convenience.... (show quote)

One summer in my son’s college years, he took a job installing above ground tools. He told me he needed a cordless drill /driver. I went out to buy him one at Sears. Found out that the “craftsman” drill was much more money, but exactly the same as the drill Home Depot sold as a Ryobi. I bought him a Ryobi. It really worked well and held up that summer.. Amazed me. Me the tool snob. When I bought tools, I. Went for Makita, at least. As someone mentioned earlier, ya wanna stay with one battery/charger system. I now own practically every cordless tool with the Ryobi name on it. Oh I guess I don’t have a cordless caulking gun. The point is they are very good tools, and a lot less money than the ones normally BRAGGED about. Haven’t worn one out yet, batteries get old and weaken, like myself(74) these days.

llamb Loc: Northeast Ohio

I have and use a corded Thor electric drill that my dad bought in the '40's. He was a tinner and it was his only power tool. Around 1969 I bought a Craftsman Commercial corded 3/8" drill that has served me well. Those two will outlast me.

~Lee

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Julian wrote:

It is difficult to stick to only one type of battery for all tools unless to you want to stay with old and obsolete equipment. New and more powerful tools are constantly being designed and available in the market, which require better and more reliable batteries.

From what I've seen online, old DeWalt tools can use the new batteries.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

llamb wrote:

I have and use a corded Thor electric drill that my dad bought in the '40's. He was a tinner and it was his only power tool. Around 1969 I bought a Craftsman Commercial corded 3/8" drill that has served me well. Those two will outlast me.

~Lee

My first drill, when I was a kid, was all metal. I wouldn't want to use metal electric tools now.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

digit-up wrote:

Oh I guess I don’t have a cordless caulking gun. The point is they are very good tools, and a lot less money than the ones normally BRAGGED about. Haven’t worn one out yet, batteries get old and weaken, like myself(74) these days.

I was surprised to see cordless pop rivet guns available.