Cordless Tools Guide

-- Battery Size --
For cordless tools, power is measured by battery voltage: the bigger the voltage, the more power and torque the tool has available. While having more torque and power sounds to be a good thing, it comes at a price. With higher voltage cordless tools, along with the additional power, comes additional cost and additional tool weight.

Here is a typical comparison to illustrate the point. A 9.6 Volt cordless will usually weigh approximately 3-1/2 pounds and cost anywhere from $35 - $150. By comparison, the typical 19.2 Volt cordless drill can weigh nearly 10 pounds and cost somewhere in the range of $125 - $300. If the increased torque of a 19.2 Volt cordless drill is really needed, then the added cost will be money well spent. But if you are using your cordless drill to once in a while drive screws in your home, a 19.2 Volt drill will be harder to use (because of the higher weight), and harder to stomach purchasing (because of the increased cost). If the additional power is not actually needed, a cheaper, light-weight cordless drill is likely to suit your needs better.

-- Number of Batteries --
Another issue to take into consideration when buying a cordless tool is the number of batteries that come included with the tool. If you plan to use your tool often or for extended periods of time, you will want to make sure that you have two batteries. It is really frustrating when your batteries dies in the middle of a project and you have to wait an hour or two for the battery to charge before you can continue working. When you are comparing tools, check that it comes with two batteries. If it does not, find out the cost of an additional battery and add that in when you are comparing costs between tools.

-- Battery Type --
Two types of batteries are commonly for sale for cordless tools: Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) and Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH). Whatever tool you decide to get, do not purchase a cordless tool that uses NiMH batteries. While tools with NiMH batteries are often cheaper, they are cheaper for a reason. NiMH batteries suffer from memory problems (they need to be fully discharged prior to being recharged or they lose battery capacity), they do not last for as many charge cycles (the batteries die quicker), and the batteries are less power than Li-Ion batteries of the same voltage.

-- Battery and Tool Storage --
Even when your cordless tool is off, it will still use a small amount of energy from the battery. While the amount of power being drawn is small, it can add up a lot over the course of days, or weeks. To keep this from happening when you are not using your cordless tools, be sure to remove the battery; this will help ensure that it is charged when you go to use it. Do not store your battery in the charger. While there are some chargers that claim to be "smart" about this, but in general storing your cordless tool batteries in the charger will lead to them dying sooner than if you do not. When storing cordless tool batteries avoid cold and/or heat. Cold weather will not harm your battery long-term, but it will decrease the amount of available power when the battery is being used. High heat can permanently ruin the batteries of your cordless tools. Avoid high heat, and do not charge your batteries in an area that is extremely hot, this can permanently ruin the battery.

--Charging Your Batteries--
Some cordless tools now come with advanced chargers which allow the battery to be charged in a very short period of time; often in about 15 minutes. Other cordless tools come with chargers that can take up to 3 hours to charge a battery. If you require a quick-charging battery for your tool, look into the charging options that are available prior to getting a cordless tool.

-- Pick a Brand --
One way to avoid problems with battery availability is to decide on a brand and a battery size and stay with it. If you always get the same brand of tool with the same battery size when buying saws, drills, screwdrivers, lights, etc, you'll be able to share batteries and chargers across all of your tools. This will greatly increase the number of available batteries and it guarantees that you will never be left without a charged battery.

The author has been working as a carpenter for more years than he would care to admit. You can see his cordless tool rankings at www.cordless-reviews.com.

Title:
Cordless Tools Guide
Article Distribution and Free Web Content by www.reprint-content.com

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated