Battery Operated vs Cords Everywhere

2510Paul

Well-known Member
I have commented on one of ACG's photo's and all the cords. Ya, I have the same issue and am always stepping and walking over cords.

On Successful Farming Tool segment they had a Farmer test and Milwaukee Battery Operated "skillsaw" (I know that is a brand but that is what I call them, kinda like Haybine. I think you all know what I mean.) for steel. It got a very good review from the Farmer. Althought rated for 1/4 inch max he said he cut 1/2 inch with it with good success.

So my question is, has anyone changed over:

Metal cutting "skillsaw",

Milwaukee Hand Held Band Saw,

4 and 1/2 inch grinders,

as well as the drill and impact drivers most of us have,

to battery operated tools in their shop.

How did that work. Could the batteries and chargers keep up with you?

Now if I could just figure out how to make my shop vac more handy.

Paul
 
99.9% of my power tools are powered by cord or hose. Bought my Dewalt drill 13yrs ago when I retired. Still running on the original batteries. The motor in the drill sparks a little when running. The batts probably will outlast the drill.
 
I've tried a few battery circular saws, they were limited in capacity and could not keep up. Never bought one. I would apply this to a metal saw also, too much torque required to be practical with a battery.

I have a Ryobi combo 1/2" drill/hammer drill. It will keep up as a drill, is very limited as a hammer drill. Shallow 1/4" in concrete is about it's capacity. The hand tighten chuck quickly got too loose to hold.

The Ryobi impact screw driver works very well.

The Ryobi sawsall will not keep up. Even with the big battery it is very limited run time. It does come in handy for going places you wouldn't want electricity, like cutting out leaking plumbing.

Ryobi rotozip works very well.

Ryobi oscillating saw works well, but overheats, shuts down with extended use.

Have not tried a 4" battery grinder, but suspect it would be very limited. That is a demanding job.

Have not tried a battery band saw, but should be ok for limited use.
 
Like Steve, the only tools I have that use batteries are drills and lights. Well, inherited a 40V chainsaw from Dad, but much prefer a gas saw.
 
Old style Milwaukee circular saw in wood is really handy. I wouldn't try to frame up a house with it but for general projects it is great.

4 1/2 grinder is handy for rebutting or running a zip disk, but isn't going to do any major metal removal.

That said the latest batteries have twice the capacity of the ones I have.
 
Milwaukee makes several different cordless circular saws. I just bought there 7 1/4 inch and its awesome. Cuts like a corded saw and you can take it any where. There cordless hammer drill works great too. I just drilled some holes the other day into concrete it didn't blink. The impact is the same. I love them and won't be using corded tools very often. I love the mobility!
 
I have a Milwaukee fuel 18v circular that works just as good crosscutting as any corded version except a worm drive and the batteries hold up very well. The sawzall, impact's, and drills hold their own or outperform most every corded tool I have. Haven't tried the grinder yet but it's on my list. I mainly use the 5.0 batteries but I have a couple of 9.0's as well.

BTW - Milwaukee makes a handy dandy shop vac as well. Works well but it isn't a fuel so it's hard on batteries! The better half say's it's too loud but she still grabs it to vacuum her car when I'm not looking.
 
Hello PAGlenn,

If you can take it apart and clean the comm and the brushes, it will last another 13 years, and draw less current. If you do take it apart give a shout. I have a little trick for the brushes, I'll post for you,

Guido.
 
Paul- just got Milwaukee drill/impact set with reciprocating saw. Had 250 in home depot gift cards and they were running a special gfor all 3 for 299. So far they are working great. The saw is pretty powerful, I've cut about 15 2x4's in one project and it wanted more. So far, so good. Plan to get the circular saw. I had one with my last drill set and it worked great for a few cuts here n there. Sure beat dragging out the corded saw for a few cuts... This is the 18v fuel system batts.

I do apt maintenance and cordless tools are a real plus. So mine will get a work out. But if I were say building a shed, I would break out the table saw for my cuts and use the batt tools for the fasteners etc.
 
i have several cord less tools. lots better than dragging a cord all over then finding out you are still 10 feet to short.
i bought a cordless (no not gas) chain saw i will be trying it when weather improves and i can get in field
 

I've never sen any battery powered tool that will equal a corded tool of the same quality and amperage. Cordless are handy and that's their whole appeal as far as I can see. They are far more expensive to run over their life time. Of course "life time" is relative since I have seen few cordless tools go 10 years while I have corded tools 60-75 years old here that work fine.
 
(quoted from post at 11:41:07 02/25/18) i have several cord less tools. lots better than dragging a cord all over then finding out you are still 10 feet to short.
i bought a cordless (no not gas) chain saw i will be trying it when weather improves and i can get in field

I have a 120 volt chain saw. I don't use a chain saw a whole lot, and find that the electric works as well as a gas one, just have to drag a cord out, and sometimes a generator.
I find that a lot easier than maintaining another gas engine.
I also have a 20 volt battery pole chain saw. It works vary nice for reaching out to trim trees, it does not cut as well as my 120 volt chain saw.

Dusty
 

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