Cordless tools

Theres been a lot of interest in a topic about batteries for cordless tools. There are many opinions on type and quality of tool and battery combinations. I thought I would throw this in...this is just my experience and my opinion that carries no greater weight than anyone else's.
I have worked for two contractors, the first chose Black and Decker tools, the second DeWalt. I thought enough of DeWalt that I have purchased several. I have owned other cordless tools in the past . This is what I see. Batteries need to be used and they need to be charged up before any kind of storage. Tools that are not used in several months will be far more likely to have battery related problems and if they have been stored without fully charging them they will be problematic as well. Our DeWalts on the job site were used daily and the batteries were put on the chargers at the start of the day while we used up the batteries that were charged the night before. In three years I can't recall one battery failing us or a tool failure. I think that all of the other cordless tools on the market are just as good and have just as many virtues. Taking good care of batteries,making sure the contacts to the charger and tool are clean..all important. If your cordless tool is only used for a purpose her and there and has no continual or daily use I think thats a factor in your battery life. Once again, this is just an opinion..no more important thatn any one else's!

My general opinion if you want to get things done grab the 120 volt tools and an extension cord. I have cordless tools but most of my batts are dead. Things like hammer drills I use 120 volts.

My experience with battery powered tools parallels yours. I got into 18V Dewalt tools about 4 years ago and have yet to experience my first bad battery and am currently rotating 4 of them. I put them on a charger when done, take them off when I need one. I have the later "smart" chargers.

My first cordless tool was for farm use out in a hayfield where broken sections were easy to change with my cordless, flat tires when haying etc. so cordless tools have their place.In the construction business nothing beat cordless tools when working high on ladders and in places where running an extension cord was impractical or impossible. Lots of our jobs started on buildings that were under construction and didn't have a service yet. Our crew would never use plug in tools if a charged up cordless was available. To each his own but on job sites everybody uses cordless..plumbers,electricians,drywallers all use cordless.

I totally agree with all you said, I use my tools daily.

I think it's funny that some people want to hard wire a back up generator to the house, yet some want to trip over extension cord.

I also think it's funny that some people think dewalt cordless tools are junk, yet they don't have cordless tools.

I just built a deck. Shot in8 pounds of3 inch deck screws with 1/4 inch impact. Not sure how you could do that with corded tools.

I've had Dewalt for 18 years and tools hold up. Can't say the same for batteries life.
George

I was getting pretty fed up with batteries not lasting until they came out with lithium batteries for my tools. I'm not any sort of professional just have a little farm, and the Ryobi OnePlus system works well for me at an affordable price. I've yet to run down the bigger battery to where I had to switch in the middle of a job. I use the "smart" chargers too.

Cordless tools have their place.
You want to cut a 1/2" piece of plywood to cover a broken window? Grab a cordless circular saw and then screw it in with a cordless screw gun.
Are you going to cut through 3 layers of linoleum and underlayment - right through all the old nails and staples - to get down to the sub floor so you can tile a kitchen? Don't bother with batteries get a corded circular saw and a couple carbide blades which are cheap.
Are you going to cut apart an old deck so you can get rid of it and build a new one? Are you going to saw out all of the old 1 1/2" and 2" black pipe so the boiler men can install a new heating system? Don't even bother with a battery job. Get a Super Sawzall? and give your customer their money's worth.
Are you going to use a 4 1/4" hole saw to drill through a rim joist, sheathing and siding to install a bath vent? Forget the battery drill and get a Hole Hog? 1/2" right angle drill. Going to drill 20 1/2" holes in concrete? Get a Hilti.
Got 30 studs to cut to length for a wall?
What kind of portable tool will do that efficiently?
Got a 4" cast iron main sanitary drain you need to tap into? Don't bring a cordless angle grinder.
Are you going to open the concrete in a basement so you can tap into the 4" sanitary? Bring a real tool.
Working for other people is all about doing good quality work efficiently.
By the time a guy gets his weak sister tools out of their handy dandy carrying case, fusses with batteries and does something I can have 100' of 10 GA extension cord strung out and have the job half done.

When I was building my house, the Makita cordless tools got used every weekend. And never had a battery issue. Now, I might go months between uses and the batteries are kind of dicey whether they'll work or not. If you use them, they last; sit on the shelf, not so much.

I have had great luck with the DeWalt batteries. I have six tools and only two batteries. That way I am using thye batteries more often.

You are right, some tools need to be corded. I have every corded tools as I have have cordless, except for small impact, grease gun, caulking gun. You will have to pry my cordless tools from my cold dead hands.

Just finished up making a board walk. Only used one corded, and five Cordless.

I have a total of ten batteries. No need to change batteries when I grab another tool.

I would hate to think of dragging five extension cords around.

Use what works best for you. Cordless works best for me especially setting deck screws. What do you use to drive screws?

I have Dewalt 18V tools: drill, sawzall, circular saw; and an impact wrench which is darn handy in some of the remote job sites I have to be on. Use it on fist grips for 1-1/8 Wire ropes. Still have to final tighten by hand but it really speeds things up.

I haven't lost a battery yet.

I have built 12 or so wheelchair ramps in the last few years as a volunteer for a local agency. I can build up to 30 feet of ramp and two platforms in a day, any more and I need part of another day. I drive the screws with a DeWalt Quik Drive (I think that is how they spell it) corded screwdriver. It runs at 2500 RPM and will drive a 2.5" deck screw in less than a second. It takes a little getting used to and the cord is a pain but I like it better than any cordless driver I have used when working with other people. I got it for $10 at an auction a few years ago and now it is my favorite. I don't have cordless tools anymore because I didn't like having to buy batteries. I'm just an old fashioned cheapskate, I guess.
Zach

What is the model number?

DW275QD. Like the one in the link except without the case and accessories. I just have the power unit. It has a clutch so it will only turn the bit if you are pushing pretty hard on the screw. Also, I was wrong. It runs 0-3500 RPM. I'm sure I have driven between 100 and 200 pounds of screws with it over the last few years; deck, drywall and roofing and it has never let me down.
Zach
on eBay

Those work great for drywalling, but not cordless. I have a old Milwaukee screw shooter.

1/4 inch impact driver. Wouldnt go back to a drill.

(quoted from post at 12:38:10 04/26/16) 1/4 inch impact driver. Wouldnt go back to a drill.

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es the 1/4" impact driver like the one, Geo-TH,In, has sitting on the chop saw in his picture is the only way to fly.. but as others have said the more you use them the longer/ better the batteries seem to last.

The only experience with a cordless tool is a Dewalt Nicd 18v drill. It comes with two drills and I never take a battery off the drill and charge it and put it back on, I always put the other battery on each time a battery is changed so both batteries are regularly charged. Still after about four years the batteries when kaput so I bought new replacement batteries. The replacement batteries weren't near the same quality as the original batteries. With the original batteries I used to work all day on the charge of one battery where now I have to be sure I have both batteries and the charger with me. In a day now I end up changing the battery, charging it and end up having to change back to the original battery before the day is over.

I would send a kid to get a drill and cord and he would come back with cordless start a tenth of a hole and the battery would die.

They're great for deck screws too, but they do indeed need a cord.
Zach

I like to use T25 screw heads, seems to grip and bit last longer. My screw shooter liked to mess with phillips heads.

Yes, I like the T25s best too. I got some once that were T20 instead and they were fine too but I had to get a different tip for them when I realized what was happening.
Zach

(quoted from post at 13:50:43 04/25/16) I

I just built a deck. Shot in8 pounds of3 inch deck screws with 1/4 inch impact. Not sure how you could do that with corded tools.

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You get a corded power screw driver. Not a 3/8" drill, a screw driver.

I have used at least 3 brands of cordless circular saws and have yet to find one that will cut 1/2" plywood. 1/4", yes, but 1/2" or more is a stop and go affair that results in nothing but frustration.

Show me a cordless saw that will cut wet PT 6x6 like a worm drive Skilsaw and then we have something to brag on!

I got a DeWalt 18v set about 15 years ago, recip. saw, jigsaw, circular, hammer drill, light. Had no trouble except for the clutch on the hammer drill. Batteries last me 3-4 years or so, usually I find a good sale on a combo with two batteries and another tool for less than the cost of two batteries alone. They don't get tons of use, but I do use them often, along with corded.

Corded isn't very practical in some situations, can't get it everywhere, and hauling a generator around isn't handy either. I got the set when I put on a metal roof by myself on a vacant house about 1/4 mile from the main house (I have 2 vacant houses on this property plus a few storage/shop/misc. buildings, not everything is wired up). Fairly steep roof, holding on, plus holding long sheets of metal in place wouldn't have worked very good with a cord. I reversed the blade on the circular saw to cut the metal (not right I suppose, but it worked fine). Cordless circular cuts through anything I've wanted. No major complaints I guess.