As the title asks, are you still buying corded power tools?
What kinds? Which brands?
Or have you fully converted over to all cordless power tools?
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Cordless power tools have come a very long way over the years, to the point where corded tool development seems to have all but stopped.
There are still good reasons to buy AC-powered tools. Corded dust extractors, for example, eliminate concerns about runtime.
Cordless air compressors are compact and portable, but there are no options yet for larger models with higher capacity air tanks that can support multiple simultaneous users.
Similarly, there are cordless table saws, but not many larger-sized models with 10″ blades.
Going with a corded tool means one doesn’t have to worry about managing batteries – especially outside of any cordless systems they have already invested in.
But oh boy are power cords annoying.
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Brands talk about how many of their cordless power tools deliver corded-like power or performance. Most of the time now, cordless tools don’t skip any beats, and in some cases best AC tool performance.
Corded tools can be far less expensive. Metabo HPT has a popular angle grinder that’s $39 at Amazon right now, and a 10″ miter saw that’s $119 at Amazon. Cordless versions of these types of tools cost considerably more since you also have to buy the power source and a charger.
Cordless tools have advantages aside from the freedom of working without a cord to trip you up. You’d be hard-pressed to find a corded drill or hammer drill with an adjustable torque clutch, a feature that is built into nearly every cordless model these days.
Cordless has become king, but there are still reasons to buy and use corded tools.
I’m interested in hearing about the corded tools you guys might still be using, and the types you might still buy today.
The last time we talked about this was a good 8 years ago – When is the Last Time You Bought a Corded Power Tool? Cordless? (2015).
I still use certain corded power tools, but I can’t recall the last time I bought a new one, or was even interested in buying a new one.
Eric
Absolutely still buying corded. Grinders, sawzalls, SDS-Max rotary hammers, and many others. Still many places unlimited power trumps convenience
Elton
Just bought a corded Ryobi handcraft tool. More powerful than my old Dremal which is now given to my daughter.
Jerry
Same here. With corded tools there is no need to stick to a battery platform so you can get the one that best suits my needs and budget. I have a 15A Milwaukee Super Magnum angle grinder and would be scared to ask what it would cost to get a cordless tool of equal performance. Ditto my Bosch Bulldog Extreme SDS drill. Have no worries about needing extra batteries on a big project.
I might add economics mean as much as performance here, as I gave right at $100 for each of the aforementioned tools by watching sales and discounts. I can’t buy a single FlexVolt battery for that price. Since these are shop tools anyway, and plug into a cord reel, not being cordless is no big deal.
Tom Campbell
I am with you hoss. Cordless has come a long way but still no substitute at times for a corded tool.
Albert
I still buy corded shop vacs. I have three Milwaukee M18/M12 vacs and dislike all of them (not enough suction or run time and no disposable bag).
Jim Felt
Absolutely!
Michael F
Completely agree here.
fred
I also agree. I throw one of my old Fein dust extractors (looks like a Dalek) in the truck when on the go. I can’t say that I’ve compared it to many of the new cordless vacs – but I saw a pricey Festool cordless in action at a niece’s place and it did not hold a candle to my old Fein. The Festool was out-of-charge in what seemed like a flash on 2 batteries.
Jason T.
I like both corded and cordless and use both. It really depends on what I’m working on. I don’t like hassle and both extension cords and battery chargers can be a hassle. I do like that corded tools are typically less expensive than their cordless models. One thing I don’t like about cordless is that no matter how hard I try to standardize I always find that I am going to have several different brands with different types of batteries with their own different chargers. What I would like to see is some sort of universal charging that could work off of USB-C or a similar standard connector that works across all brands. I’m thinking similar to batteries from Streamlight and Olight where you can plug directly into the battery via USB-C. Only have it to where it works with these big battery packs that most cordless tools utilize. One charger, works with all the batteries from different manufacturers.
Adam
I agree with you trying to standardise tool brands, I’m exactly the same, I have several different brands of cordless tools.
Barry
Corded, corded, corded. I’ve bought and trashed a half dozen cordless tools, yet I’m still using the same corded tools that I’ve had for 25 years.
I tried high-end cordless drills, side grinders and circular saws when I spent years working on residential boat docks. Cutting ipe lumber and working steel all day isn’t a job for batteries. I replaced them with corded and installed an inverter in my workboat. The extra couple minutes with a cord far outweighed the lost days with underpowered cordless tools.
Franco Calcagni
I think Jason T. may have hit on something.
On a charger that works with all MFR batteries, instead, going forward, all batteries just have a USB-C slot, eliminate the charger all together and whatever battery you have would work on it.
I realize this would need some engineering as USB-C would not be as rapid as some of today’s chargers, they would not have cooling fans, and so on. The tech keeps advancing, maybe they could build the cooling system into the battery, which would help as the tool is being worked hard, the battery has onboard cooling.
Of course a universal battery, something like the European CAS alliance would be great. But getting all the MFR’s onboard is not going to happen.
Eliminating all the different chargers is more than half the battle, even if you still need each MFR’s battery for their tool.
One can dream?
John
The USB-C spec now supports up to 240w, which is enough to charge a tool battery pretty quickly. It would still be a compromise to put the charging circuitry in the battery but it would be a big improvement.
Tiny
Casual user and yes, still buy corded. Cheaper, lighter and no ‘infrastructure’ decisions. Everything used in my own home so never an issue finding a plug socket within reach. Appreciate that trades and heavy users might have a different view, but from a casual user perspective I don’t really much benefit in dropping the cord for a battery pack.
BigTimeTommy
Certain tools that I don’t use daily and almost always use in a shop at a bench. Sanders, miter saws, table saws etc.
Frank D
For high draw + long use time and/or rather stationary tools, or maybe something that does not have an immediate equivalent in cordless and likely doesn’t need to be cordless: corded it is. I see no point in having cordless tools that run 5-10 min and chew through 1 or 2 batteries. And the price point of the big Ah batteries and serious tools is cost prohibitive, where you can buy a name brand corded tool for the cost of one or two batteries.
Rx9
High draw, long run time and stationary applications are absolutely better corded.
The whole point of cordless is avoiding the frustration of being tethered to a cord. For applications like the above, swapping batteries periodically would be a much greater frustration.
Adam
I prefer a corded miter saw, I prefer a corded circular saw especially if I’m doing a lot of heavy work cutting rafters etc, a corded router and a corded jigsaw.
Dwain
Tools that travel a fair distance while cutting/running are ideal to have no cord, as the cord can easily get caught.
trim routers, planers and circular saw are excellent to be cordless.
MM
I completely agree. It drives me nuts when the power cord hangs up on the edge of a 4×8 sheet when making a long cut. That’s one of the main reasons why I replaced the factory power cords on most of my corded tools with 25 foot of SO cord instead, that way the plug is far enough away from the work area it doesn’t hang up on anything. Cordless is better still.
Last weekend I was working on a furniture project. I had to rout a slot near the edge of a board for a long, thing, floating tenon or spline. It was also at a strange angle. I had to clamp up a jig to hold the work board on edge and also an extra guide board at the correct angle so I had a good stable surface to run the router along. This involved many clamps to secure the work, the support, etc, to my bench. Even though the cut was only about 30″ long it was a major hassle to keep the cord free from all those clamps while making the cut. Now I’m on the lookout for a cordless router.
It’s safer since you don’t have to worry about accidentally damaging the cord with the tool or exposing the cord to hot/sharp work surfaces.
And if you want to make heavy cuts with a circ saw there are several models on the market today which have substantially more power than corded.
Robert
Just bought a Shaper Origin. It is corded. Corded or cordless didn’t factor in the decision either way. Even though it is only offered in cordless, I would have not bought a theoretical cordless model that is more expensive because I will still be tethered to a dust collection hose. Same thoughts for other high sawdust producers. But I gave my vintage corded craftsman drill because of the opposite. I like pick up and go lithium ion powered drills.
Mikey C.
I run a sign fabrication shop, we do corded where it makes sense. We have both flavors of angle grinders – sometimes you’re fixing one something and others you’re cleaning up 500 corners. We haven’t invested in Festool’s batteries, so any new Festool gizmo is corded around here. Nearly everything else will visit an install site at some point, so it’s all battery.
Eduardo
Any tool that I use with my dust extractor I generally opt for corded. Sanders, track saw etc. Figure if I’m being tethered by a hose, cordless doesn’t matter and prefer to opt for unlimited run time, trigger start on dust collector and simplicity.
HTG
Yep. That’s my approach, pretty much exactly. You hit the nail on the head, but possibly with a cordless hammer!
MichaelT
I am still 100% corded for stationary tools except my 12″ miter; it’s a Dewalt 790 because there was a better deal at the time than the corded 780, but I run it on a power adapter so does that count? Handheld (drills, saws, trim routers etc.) are cordless. What about air tools? Are those “corded”? I haven’t gone battery powered on any nailers or automotive tools.
Andy
Most of my tools are battery operated, but I still consider corded options if it makes sense for my application.
I bought a corded shop vac, miter and table saw within the last year or so. None will get daily use on a job site, just around my house. All of these tools are available from Milwaukee on the same battery system that I already have, but none of the cordless options offer the right combo of price / features that I was looking for. Cordless would’ve solved a few headaches for me, but nothing insurmountable at this time.
Brian
Like a lot of the other casual users here, O go coded for large stationary tools and cordless for handheld tools. I just bought a thickness planner and table saw, both coded.
fred
The last corded power tool that I bought for myself was a Lamello Zeta P2 joining machine – bought in 2021 to build a few sets of knockdown furniture. In 2022, I also bought a SWIX TA3012-110 EVO Pro Edge Tuner as a gift for a skiing enthusiast in my family plus Makita 9403 and 9301 belt sanders as a gift for a nephew. That compares to the over 40 cordless tools I bought (mostly as gifts) over the last 3 years.
Bobcat
Grinders and table saw batteries just don’t last long enough with those tools
Steven+B
Corded is easier for dust collection with a relay switch. I bought a corded drill specifically to add dust collection to a pocket jig setup, for example. I have most of my tools set so that when I turn them on, a vacuum or dust collector is triggered automatically.
That’s why I was surprised people wanted a cordless biscuit joiner or random orbit sander. My setup at home is that I have 5 inexpensive random orbit sander, each with a different grit of paper. They’re all plugged into a splitter on a relay switch so when I change grits, I just swap the vacuum hose, turn on the sander, and the vacuum automatically turns off and on. Having a shop-vac + cyclone setup means my woodworking space is much cleaner and cords are just far more convenient…not to mention I can work all day. For some tools, they eat up battery so quickly, I’d need like $1000 of batteries so I could hot-swap them. It ends up taking up more time than it’s worth.
For most tools, cordless is similar to camping…if you’re in the woods, you’ll settle for some creative way to make coffee or serve dinner. If you were in your kitchen, you’d just use a normal conventional coffee maker, plates, etc. Similarly, if I am near electricity, why wouldn’t I just plug in the miter saw? If I am indoors, it allows a vac hookup. If I am outdoors, I don’t have to deal with constant battery changes for a long project. I also can’t imagine the cordless table saws lasting for many cuts.
Finally, there’s weight. A good battery is heavy. I can lug a LOT of heavy duty extension cords at the same weight as a few batteries. A battery weighs down a random orbit sander quite a bit and can cause uneven pressure and marks if you’re not careful.
If you have to climb a ladder or don’t need much power, cordless is definitely superior. For most other purposes, if I am near an outlet, I generally prefer corded.
Jared
It was interesting to think about because my initial reaction was: “Of course I have corded tools!” But when I consider when I last BOUGHT a corded tool… it’s not so recent.
Corded tools I own and use regularly include shop vacs, angle grinders, a welder, a mitre saw, a belt and orbital sander, router, couple lathes, drill press, bench grinders and belt grinders. That’s actually the last one I bought – a 2×48 belt grinder (making the list helped me figure it out). That wasn’t more than a year ago, so I guess I am still buying tools with cords.
On the other hand, I rarely even consider a corded tool if there’s a cordless alternative. I doubt I would buy a corded angle grinder now, even though I use them regularly. Would I buy a shop vac with a cord? hmm…
Certainly I’d buy a corded tool if it’s the only option or for big stationary stuff where a cordless version would be unreasonably expensive and minimally useful. Everything else though? Probably going to buy cordless even though it’s more money.
Come to think of it, I was debating whether to get a polesaw recently. It’s something I’d use once or twice a year and corded versions are MUCH cheaper – and yet I dismissed that option out of hand. Who wants to drag a cord around the yard?
fred
That was my take too on Stuart’s question. What I use in my shop is still mostly powered via cord or air hose. What I take when working remotely is increasingly more battery-powered rather than corded or pneumatic. When I bring out a corded or pneumatic tool to a relative’s house – it is usually because I don’t own a battery powered equivalent or one does not yet exist. What I talked about above – is that what I’ve been buying in recent years is pretty selective and few and far between for my own needs, But, what’s been on gift lists for my younger family members has been almost exclusively been cordless tools.
carl
It really depends on the tool. Table saw, miter, planer, jointer, oscillating bench sander, drill press… any sort of tool that sorta lives in one place in my workshop is corded. I also have a corded dust collector and shopvacs.
For less stationary tools I’ve got a corded dual mode random orbital sander, circular saw, belt sander, and jigsaw. For those, I also have cordless for all but the belt sander. The corded ones tend to be higher end/higher powered models, and tools that I’m almost always going to be using with dust collection anyway (with the exception of the beefy worm drive saw).
I don’t see myself only buying cordless any time soon. For equipment I’m always going to want to use with dust collection, I can just run the power alongside the dust hose so losing the battery doesn’t gain me much.
John
I purchased a Bauer 7.5 amp 1/2″ corded hammer drill to use with a 4-1/4″ hole saw on 7/8″ OSB subfloor. Our wobbly powder room toilet turned into a much larger project and my cordless Craftsman C3 drill wasn’t up to the task. It was continuously seizing up, which made for some pretty dangerous kickback. The big, corded drill won’t be my go-to for most projects, but it’s nice to have extra power and side-handle for safety when needed. We’re thinking about building a deck and the big drill would be good for driving lag bolts too.
Drew McDaniel
Homeowner here. I am probably going to buy a corded power washer, maybe as soon as this fall if I can find one on seasonal clearance. I bought a Ryobi brushless power cleaner and a couple of accessories. It’s just ok for washing the cars and hosing off the sidewalk and driveway, but I am going to need something stronger for the siding. I’m not invested in the Ryobi 40v system and gave my EGO OPE downsized into a 55+ development with most outside maintenance included) to my nephew, so not looking for a new battery platform to get a cordless one. A gas power washer is not practical since I can’t store it safely.
Still have a Craftsman 16 Gal Wet/Dry Vac that I am not getting rid of, since it also has a built in pump which came in handy a couple of months ago. I use the Ryobi 18v 3 Gal vac 95% of the time. I also have a monster of a Skil hammer/drill that is corded that I am not getting rid of that has unbelievable power that was my father’s. The only other two corded tools are lights similar to a snake light. I can also use both as an extension cord since they have an outlet on them.
Other than that, most of my stuff is Ryobi 18V and the old Craftsman Nextec 12V that I really like, but am nursing the old batteries. If I replace the Nextec, it would be either the Skil or Milwaukee 12v.
Steve
I bought the new Milwaukee corded vacuum – you can also get it with one or two batteries, but I got the corded model as I wanted to be able to remotely turn it on/off. My tile saw is corded and I’d buy a cordless model in a heartbeat if Milwaukee made one. Everything else is cordless and I don’t plan on ever going back to cords.
Come to think of it, I have a corded concrete mixer and 42″ industrial fan, but I know of no cordless solutions for these items. I use my tools all but about 10 days a year…
William Adams
The thing which I don’t get is why it has to be a choice — ages ago, I bought a GRiDcase III Plus laptop — it had a power supply which was the same size/shape as a battery — one could:
– run the laptop on the battery when mobile
– plug the power supply into the battery of the laptop so as to charge it and power the laptop when stationary
– slot the power supply into the compartment in lieu of the battery when setting it up on a desk for long-term usage
I’d really like to see a nice option for say the Makita 18v Trim Router so that it could be powered from a cord so that it could be run for long jobs on a CNC w/o worrying about the battery life.
Champs
Even without the battery and charger, it seems like we pay significantly more for bare cordless tools than their brethren that with cords and a DC transformer.
These days, my corded drill is on paint mixing duty. Any of the other tools plugged into an outlet (or compressor, now that I think about it) are items that don’t need financial or feature compromises for portability.
eddie sky
I found a Dewalt orbital sander for $40… corded. Dewalt cordless was $170 w/o battery.
Sometimes cordless isn’t always worth it, unless you require to work where no power is available.
I am getting a bandsaw, but then, that is 240V… never will see a cordless version.. 🙂
Wayne R.
Some years ago I had a piece of field equipment that was battery powered. It had a bunch of pieces that all worked together but separately, and all fit into a single case.
The key with this thing was that it took external 12VDC power – external, as in the cable connected to the outside of the case, charging the whole kit inside during transport. It was always ready to go, and without any effort beyond connecting that one cable, one end hardwired into the truck, the other easily plugged into the case. Simple forward-thinking there.
I’d be much more inclined to use more battery powered equipment if charging didn’t always require finding shelf space, opening the “kit” up, and running a shorty cord to a receptacle. More such equipment should be similarly set up as the above. We’re way too accepting of such closed-box limitations.
Bubba
Corded as much as possible, because:
– can buy the best tool regardless of brand
– corded tools will still work 10, 20, 30 years later
– much less expensive
– run them as hard and as long as you need with no recharging
The exceptions are generally things that make installations more convenient, like a small cordless drill and impact driver. Chainsaws.
Jared
I concede your last two points, but for the first two might I counter with:
– can buy the best tool regardless of brand
Except that these days arguably the “best” tools ARE cordless. We’ve got battery-powered tools that use more power than a wall outlet can provide.
– corded tools will still work 10, 20, 30 years later
10 year old cordless tools? That’s not a challenge. I have several that old that work fine. 20 and 30? Fair enough if you mean that you would have to replace the batteries (but tools of that vintage typically aren’t competitive anymore anyway).
Michael F
I have a zero cord policy on all new tools, even ones that I will only use in my “shop” (garage). Why? I only have a single GFCI 15A circuit in my garage with 3 outlets and it trips constantly from almost anything. It’s much easier for me to work on a temporary or rolling table in the middle of the garage if everything is cordless. The one exception is that I still run corded vacs. My miter saw is still corded as well but that will change as soon as I upgrade.
Derek
Yes. I have two young kids and don’t get to spend as much time as I’d like woodworking. I’m sure when they’re teenagers and older I’ll have more time and my corded router will still be working in 10 years.
Woodworking tools are almost all corded, except for a 20v jigsaw to break lumber down at a lumber yard. Will be upgrading my miter saw and keeping a corded one. Table saw, bandsaw, sanders, routers, vacuums, air compressor, planer, jointer, grinder, etc. are all corded and will stay that way.
Cordless tools were all bought for a specific project. They include drill, impact driver, jigsaw, impact wrench. I recent got a cordless multi-tool and leaf blower but will keep the corded backups just in case.
Bonnie
Yep. Anything that I’m going to be using primarily in the shop I’ll look at corded first. Especially things that also need dust collection, so tracksaw, sander, router, all happily corded. I have been slightly interested in a cordless trim router for odd jobs, but it’d be secondary to the corded one.
It helps that I installed retractable cord reals in the ceiling, so I don’t have to faff about with tripping over extension cords.
Adam
Since 2019 I have been replacing all my cordless and I am solely on the dewalt platform now 18/20 & 54/60. This year is the first year since that I am not purchasing a cordless product. In fact I so far plan only buying a replacement m-class corded vac for the reasons others as said. Next year I plan to replace my Fien multi-tool, have had it since 2009. I have tried other tradesmens cordless versions from dewalt, makita and milwaukee etc over the last few years and found the control, vibration and noise to be below my corded model. After speaking to those that have replaced their corded film with a cordless model, I am more than happy to go for the corded model again.
The only other tool I must replace in the very near future is my Makita 8406 dry diamond core drill; these things are ubiquitous here in Britain. I will be most likely replacing this with the corded 2 speed 8406C model. These things are bomb proof and have had mine since 2005.
Of all my tools up for replacement I really wish the latter was cordless. I think Makita should have released this on their 40v xg platform and will lose Needless market share when someone sure does. Not sure if these models are sold/much used in States.
NoDak Farming
I’ve just recently been contemplating the corded versus cordless issue. I have a good name brand, 36 volt, cordless 1/2 drill. But for a large job coming up, I’ll be boring several holes through thick material, and undoubtedly will be using a very aged old 1/2 corded drill. Lots of weight to it, with a slow turn speed, and two perfectly placed large handles. No battery run down issues either.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, regarding weight, are right angle grinders. The last thing I want is more weight. Especially in the form of a battery hanging off the back end. With the new corded grinders becoming more and more sleek/lightweight, I’d be hard pressed to have a battery grinder in my hands for 45 minutes or longer. And the corded grinders being made these days have the same safety and convenience features as cordless.
I also agree with Derek on the longevity issue. There’s a lot that can be said for a rarely used tool, that can be boxed up, and then used again as instantly as it can be plugged into a wall someday. Or, in the case of our operation anyways, could be plugged into a Honda generator that still starts on the first pull. Which is still a valid option for those somewhat rare and remote jobs around here.
Long story short… Keeping some older corded tools. Buying new, updated corded tools (grinders). And of course, continuing to buy more cordless tools.
Nathan
Stationary tools will be corded for me. I see no reason for a cordless mitre or table saw etc. I have a hard time with a cordless sander I’m just going to plug in a vac hose
I forget the last I bought but I’m looking to a new router. Triton device
One thing I’d like to see more of is powerful efficient motors and control for corded tools. So e newer angle grinders for example use brushless motors with more torque and kickback control
Steve L
just bought an EcoFlow Delta Pro power station. It is a 100lb battery with 110 volt, 3,600 watt output at 20 amps, USB-A, and USB-C ports. Have a deck project ahead not close to electricity and a lot of fence to power wash and stain. Will be able to run my corded mitre saw, track saw, sanders, power washer, and paint sprayer. Mitre saw’s surge pushed me to this unit, now I have portability for any tool where an extension cord is not feasible.
Mark M.
It’s certainly not either/or for me, but corded angle grinders, SDS hammer drills, heat guns, and 1/2″ chuck drill motors for mixing and such won’t ever be thrown away. I’ve got cordless versions of all of those but corded still very much has a place. The cool thing is that corded has fallen out of fashion a bit it seems like there are great deals to be had, particularly with angle grinders. To the point where I keep several set up with cut-off discs, grinding discs, flap discs, etc., just to make it easy to grab and go.
Marc-n-Moose
I’ve bought a couple of name brand cordless tools, drill & grinder & used them just seldom enough over a 2 year period, that those expensive batteries died, right when I needed them. Never will buy cordless again.
Unless it’s a hand tool.
Scott K
I bought a corded miter a couple of years ago. I only plan to use this in my garage or outside on my driveway, so the cord isn’t inconvenient and price was very important. I also just bought a corded electric pressure washer. The pressure washer debate, to me, is really between corded and gas as most cordless models aren’t competitive. I didn’t want another gas tool to maintain. I have an old corded Bosch sander that works great, but would be nice to have cordless. I also have an older corded jigsaw that isn’t so great and I would like to upgrade to a cordless version at some point.
I bought these corded because I didn’t expect them to see a ton of use and didn’t think they’d be used in ways that the cord would be a hassle. The cord on my sander has been more annoying than on my jigsaw.
Neighbor Joe
You betcha. Saving money buying corded tools just as good as battery powered. My tool shed does not mind.
bg100
Table saw is still corded for me. As soon as yellow puts out a 10″ 60v table saw I’ll ditch the Hitachi saw and nix one of the two last tools that require a generator.
I run a solar powered tool trailer on site, and the Air compressor and table saw are the only things I can’t run on solar. Table saw can do very limited cuts. I don’t know if this battery generation will ever be able to run a 25 gal compressor for two framers, but the next gen battery tech looks promising.
Everything else I run is cordless. DWS790 chop saw, cordless trim nailers and framing nailer (again, light duty gun,) cordless heavy duty drill for mixing, 60v Graco paint sprayer…
AlexK
Would love to hear more about the solar work trailer. Is it just to power the batteries or do you run some corded tools off it?
Franco Calcagni
In theory, I tell myself that if I have a worktable or station to do a particular work, corded works fine. The reality is that I do things wherever works best at that time.
So it is pretty rare I look at corded tools.
That I can remember in the past 2 years, a Senco screw gun
https://www.senco.com/senco-tool/ds440ac/
A battery model, both by Senco and Makita, did not have as many screw lengths and notably more expensive. The battery option of anything is never cheap, but on this day, this corded Senco worked for me.
The other was a Bosch GET75-6N – Electric Orbital Sander. first off, Bosch is one of the few brands I do not have cordless. Then, I don’t think they did at the time, or even now (?), a similar sander cordless.
There will always be items that in the near future have to be corded…an 80 gallon compressor, a Lincoln 210MP, my milling machine, jointer, planer and other stationary machines.
I am pretty sure the day will come that battery cordless of these items will exist, but not for a while.
Jronman
There are a few tools that I have corded that don’t have an adequate cordless counterpart yet. The corded tools I use are my old craftsman 3hp ish plunge router, ct48, of1400, and rotex 150. None have an adequate cordless option yet.
Matt
Two sides of the spectrum. Low anticipated use (for me) tools that I need for a specific thing will be corded because they’re cheaper. Best part of these is if I find I really like the tool and use it a lot, it’s easy to upgrade without feeling like I wasted money. Then high power tools (both a miter and table saw in the last 5 years, wet/dry vac, and dust extractor soon probably).
William
I’m just a hobbyist/DIYer, so I will buy corded tools, especially if the tool can be attached to a dust collector. Also, I’m fine with saving some money, so I generally buy air nailer instead of cordless. I’ve got corded table saw and miter saw. Outside of drill, driver, circ saw and a few other odds and ends, I don’t see a reason to go cordless.
xu lu
My power bench tools are usually plug in supplemented with cordless. Vacs are also plug in as the cordless tech and run times are inadequate for purpose. Cords remain a huge safety hazard so almost everything else is cordless for me. Plug in is generally more powerful and less expensive though. Havent purchased a non bench plug in tool in over a decade and doubt i will.
Good Tools
Many 230v tools in use and I would buy a new/used one if needed. 2x 125mm + 2x 230mm angle grinder, drill 3-gear reduction, 1000w max 500rpm, 1xhigh speed small pistol grip 3000rpm, nibbler, die-grinder, proxxon, polisher, miter saw, 1xmixer, 2kg rotary hammer bosch, vac, heat gun… + 7 cordless tools, 18V the most important ones that are needed.
The last purchase was a 230mm new makita angle grinder 90€, Made in Romania (assembed in Romania) 2yrs ago. All the necessary tools have been acquired and most of them will last me the rest of my life.
Jason C
I tend to look at the better value. A lot of the time for most tools like drills and impact drivers, the convenience of having a battery outweighs the price difference. A corded tool I have is a planer. I don’t use the planer enough to justify spending a lot more for one that is battery powered. So, it’s not just about the power difference that can be seen between the corded vs cordless but more about if it makes sense to shell out more money for something seldomly used.
Rob L.
Vacuums, heat guns, and large stationary items – my 12in miter saw, drill press, planer, etc. I’ve learned from too many Eagle Projects that having a corded backup set of at least one drill, angle grinder, and sander can really save the day. Also learned from those same projects that cords on a job site are annoying at best, so I try to keep up with batteries!
Ben
Like many other home gamers here, I go corded for stationary/setup tools in the garage (shop vac, miter saw, table saw), but anything handheld without a ton of runtime (drill, impact driver, trim router, jig saw, circ saw) I prefer cordless, especially if it won’t be used with the shop vac. I just don’t have a ton of high-demand projects that need a ton of power or runtime, cordless is so convenient, and being a clumsy knucklehead who’s tripped over and cut through power cords and extension cords plenty of times, I’d prefer to minimize the chances of hurting myself in a stupid cord-related accident.
Josh
I still use corded from time to time. My most used tools are cordless and everything else is corded or pneumatic. I also don’t throw tools away so I have some that have been replaced and don’t get used
Greg
I use Grinders,Shop-Vac,Bosch SDS Chipper,Miter Saw,Table Saw,and compressor corded
harrison
I still see use for corded 10” table saws, SDS Max rotary hammers, concrete mixers, dust extractors/vacuums, etc on the job site. Classic 15A tools that are run continuously make a lot sense corded. Or if you only use those tools occasionally, like our deep cut bandsaw, or wet tile saw.
Angle grinders go either way- for 8hr days of production finishing in a metal fabrication setting, corded is probably the way to go. For me, they are more of a convenience thing- cutting something quick on the job site, or helping a friend harvest auto parts from the scrap yard. I’d prefer cordless, especially now that Dewalt, Makita and Hitachi are selling models that exceed 2000w.
We continue to use a corded 12” Dewalt sliding miter saw, (which is simply too dependable and satisfactory to replace anytime soon) but should it fail, it will be replaced with cordless. Or we’ll supplement it with a smaller 8” Makita XGT, and it’ll last forever, and we’ll have the best of both worlds. I can’t see touching a corded circular saw, or any other handheld saw where performance and ergonomics matter, ever again- Unless it’s a Mafell beam saw, chain mortiser or something super niche and $$$ like that.
On that theme, wood working tools like the Domino and biscuit jointers make sense corded, as well as most sanders. The new ergonomic Bosch 12 & 18V are the only cordless orbital sanders in remotely the same league as pneumatic, a Mirka Deros or the Festool ETS EC, so we’ll see how that goes. Once you’ve become accustomed to a Mirka, you won’t tolerate a cheap cordless sander from any of the mainstream brands.
Obviously all stationary workshop machinery, single and three phase will be corded forever.
Paul Courtney Steer
80% of my handtools are battery
Powered…in my situation where I live in Ethiopia with power cuts every day
They have been a real lifesaver
…..until u run out of juice and need to recharge ….otherwise..
Corded handtools in the shop..like sanders .which is the tool I spend the most time using
seems pointless to go cordless..thought brushless motors are more efficient i have no problems on most days fullfilling work requirements with batteries
Brian
When are they gonna come out with a cordless garden hose? When they can pull that off, I’m in.
James
Haha thanks for the chuckle
Big Richard
Cordless power cleaners can siphon from any water source. No garden hose or hose bib needed. I’m sure you are being facetious, but honestly it is kind of a thing.
Ct451
I think they are called watering cans……
Rman
I built my home in 2015 in a rural area
Setting up a power pole the utility charge was $400 plus all the electrical parts and 4 weeks out
We used a gas generator for heavy draw tools
Then I got an email that Milwaukee has a m18 hole hog drill I jumped on it right away although batteries were only 3AH I did drill out all the electric wiring on 4 batteries. That was the start of going cordless for all my power tools
Still need extension cords for table saw but no longer tripping or coiling a cord
One big shock today is the prices of high ah batteries. A m18 12AH is close to $300
Brian Whitton
“One big shock today is the prices of high ah batteries. A m18 12AH is close to $300”
That’s why you gotta get on slickdeals (this is not an ad 🙂 )
Lee Hopkins
Still using Chop Saw, 7 1/4 Circular saw.
Have tried multiple 7 1/4 Saws but none seem to have the power to cut hard woods, and drain too fast.
Dave
10” miter saw and I use frequently. Angle grinders corded, but only for grinding. I use cordless angle grinders for cutting. Shop vacs I have both corded and cordless. Each has its purpose. I have a corded Dremel but I haven’t used it for 6-7 years as I have cordless in both handheld and another with extension for more precision work. I have a couple of corded Drills with one being a Hitachi multi speed 3/8” chuck but I haven’t used it in a couple of years and also have a HD Milwaukee hammer drill corded that has sat in its case for at least 4-5 years. DA orbital polishers, I have corded and cordless. Glue guns corded and cordless but it’s been a couple of years since I used my corded. Summary 90% of the time I use cordless.
Mike
Intermediate DIYer.
Past year purchased corded Skill dual bevel sliding miter saw (great saw) and Skill router.
Corded tools I still use: DeWalt table saw, Ridgid vacs, Makita oscillating multi-tool (very smooth). Also used my Ridgid R7100 drill to drill holes in the roof when putting in vents for a bathroom fan and range hood. That drill is a beast (made in Germany)
Mike
Also, Hulk air compressor
Dave
Someone mentioned nailers. I have pneumatic and I can’t justify the cost of cordless for the small amount of projects I used them on. Pneumatic should be another part of the initial question although would it be classified, corded or cordless or neither?
Franco Calcagni
Me also, I have a bunch of pneumatic nailers and staplers. I also have one older (blue) Ryobi combination brad nailer and stapler. It works OK but when I need a nailer or stapler, it’s never for 1 or 2 nails, it’s more like a job. I see the Ryobi when I have a project and just skip it.
So I get the hose out and use the pneumatics.
MM
Agreed. I still have many pneumatic tools: die grinders, dual-action sander, air hammer, and so on. Cordless impact wrenches have largely replaced my pneumatics but I still use other air tools.
Derek
I have a Ryobi cordless nailer with a Dewalt to Ryobi battery adapter. I needed it to be cordless because of a project. I still have and use my pneumatic ones unless it’s only for a quick few nails.
If I had a big enough compressor, and a garage, I would have bought a pneumatic impact wrench.
Jack
Have almost exclusively switched over to cordless. I work in a mechanic shop and we use Milwaukee impacts and ratchets (among other things). For house/hobby projects, Dewalt cordless is what the majority of the stuff we run is. There is a few corded tools still laying around (i.e.. Dewalt angle grinder, among others) that may get used once in a blue moon but nothing significant. Cordless convenience trumps any power margin that corded may have in my case.
Bmak
Unless I’m in my shop, I try to go 100% cordless. OSHA requirements have gotten so difficult with corded tools that it’s easier to just go cordless and not have to deal with the hassle of having extension cords constantly checked and placing them higher than 7 feet.
Tom
Last corded tool I bought was an SDS. Didn’t even consider cordless.
Last one I really debated was oscillating tool (which I don’t use much, so wouldn’t have minded being corded). Sale on M12 Fuel sealed the deal, and as noted, it’s harder to find good corded options in some categories than it was a few years ago.
Still happy with plenty of corded tools and would replace with corded if they failed.
Redeye
The last tool purchases I made was because of brushless technological failures. More specifically it was because of components failing in the circuit boards. I never experienced operational failure when I was using mechanically powered brushed cordless tools. It wasn’t until circuit boards started powering tools that I started having problems. I’ve had two drills two blowers and one circular saw just quit on me. All brushless. All upper echelon tools. Damn near $700 in tools gone to shit because they couldn’t keep it simple. Corded tools don’t need further development. They’re made to be able to handle being ran hard. Cordless tools will never outperform corded tools. Even if you had a box truck full of batteries. Batteries can’t measure up to circuit breakers. Mains electrical power hands down far more superior than battery power. I use a combination of both corded and cordless tools. Every day Monday through Friday. The last tool that I bought for myself that I wanted was my cordless wire stapler which was whenever Dewalt released it a few years ago. Everything else I’ve bought after that was because of brushless technological failures. I don’t recall having a corded tool just outright fail to work while in use. And I’ve ran corded tools damn near to the brink of destruction before. Like chunks of motor shooting out the housing like fireworks with thick smoke. Stinking. But they held on. There’s obviously something to the simplicity of corded tools that should go into manufacturing cordless tools. All that fancy technology don’t account for shit if a tool fails to operate whenever it gets a little warm. They cost too much for that to happen. And there are some tools that have no business being dc powered. There’s some tools that have no business being ac powered. There’s some tools that should only be pneumatic. And there’s some tools that should only be gas powered. Just because they can get something to run off of a battery doesn’t mean it ought to be battery powered. Let alone manufactured. Especially if the suggested battery runs the tool for less time than it takes to charge the battery. That’s a waste of use. Rest assured corded tools aren’t going away any time soon. Corded tools run at optimum output at all times. Cordless tools do not.
Franco Calcagni
I have never heard of so many circuit board issues (I have heard of 1), like you have had. Either you are an exceptional coincidence, or you are doing something different to cause these issues.
Nathan
No they don’t
Brush wear lessens current throuhput adds heat. Worn commutators increase heat in the windings or arc losing voltage all of which lose efficiency and more importantly applied torque
Bogged down without feedback and control circuits old brushed tools will burn brush ends. Etc
So there are flaws there and sure some cordless tools weren’t made with all tradeoffs in mind in the early days
That said. I almost bought a corded hammer drill as I’ll use it very very rarely. Price says alot in that instance
Jared
This is a little tangential, but I was thinking that tools being cordless also sometimes changes how and when I use them.
E.g. I have a corded and a cordless random orbit sander. I like using my corded sander better – it’s smaller, lighter and just a nicer unit overall. However, I often grab the cordless sander for small jobs where I just wouldn’t bother using my corded sander.
Similarly I have 16ga air and cordless nailers. I hardly ever use the air nailer since I’m not often doing much nailing. By the time I could pump up the compressor and run the air hose, I’m usually already finished the job using my cordless nailer.
I also nail things I wouldn’t if I only had a pneumatic nailer, simply because the cordless unit is so fast and easy to use.
MM
I’ve noticed the same. A common one for me would be if I’m touching up paint on the outside of my house. Before I had a cordless sander I’d look at the wall, think about sanding away some minor defects before putting on that fresh coat of paint, and be discouraged by having to drag out the extension cord to run a corded sander. As a result I’d rarely bother or I’d do an admittedly inferior job using a scraper. But the cordless one is just so easy to grab, and presents no hassles with a cord on a ladder, that I use it a lot more.
As another example, I have a decorative wooden fence on my property that’s about a hundred yards long and it needs maintenance every year. Cordless tools (impact driver, circular saw, 15ga nailer, 7 1/4 miter saw) make maintaining the fence easy. If I didn’t have all those tools in a cordless format it would be a lot bigger hassle and I’d be much more likely to put it off whereas with them I can knock out fixing loose bits & replacing rotten boards in less than half a day.
Franco Calcagni
MM and Jared give classic examples of why cordless is so practical. So many small jobs where rather than grab the right tool & extension cord, you might find an alternative, which seems quicker, but not a great result.
Cordless is great for all these instances.
Joe H
I’m just diy and I mostly run corded tools with just a handful of cordless tool. Despite having a cordless drill and impact driver, I keep a corded drill at the workbench and an extra set of bits and accessories for it because it’s just convenient to have a corded drill that permanently stays at the workbench always ready to go and use. I don’t have to grab my drill or impact from my modular tool box system just to drill a few holes or run a few screws. Corded tools are cheap and it’s nice to have them by the bench or in the shop or as backups in case your cordless tools act up.
MFC
Cordless, only corded or I have both:
Corded and Cordless:
Shopvac
Bandsaw
Table-saw
Miter-saw
Mud Mixer
Lights
Jobsite Speaker
Grinders
Only Cordless:
Circular saws/Tracksaws
Drills/Impacts/Hole Saw
Recip Saws
Nail guns
Oscillating Saw
Fans
SDS Plus Drill
OPE (Chainsaw, Trimmer, Blower, lawnmower)
Hand Planer
Impact Wrenches
Plumbing Presses/Shears
Only Corded:
Finish Nailers (pneumatic)
SDS Max Drill
Mig Welder
Belt Sander
Biscuit Joiner
Stationary Planer
Drill Press
Wet Tile Saw
Kevin
The last corded tool we bought is a Hilti AIC air cleaner. Because not only are there no cordless option, but nothing has the run time and power for that. Same for large shop vacs and table saw. We do have a cordless table saw and a cordless dust extractor that totally have their place and get the job done.
The only corded tools we have is a compressor, but we have a cordless compressor from trim too.
Sometimes corded would work well or perhaps even better, but the convenience and quick setup or cordless tools always win on the field.
I would add that I think cordless power tools only make financial sense for pros because that convenience during setup is worth money.
Franco Calcagni
“I would add that I think cordless power tools only make financial sense for pros because that convenience during setup is worth money.”…financially for the pro, yes.
But for everyone else, it can be the difference of “Ah, I’ll do it later” versus just grabbing the tool and getting it done, saving time and getting more small jobs off of the to do list, and so on.
Even the happiness of a new cool tool.
Bob Adams
I build electrical control panels. I often drill several hundred machine screw size holes in a sub pan. I often drill 20 3/4” holes in a cabinet in a few minutes. I find cordless drills to heavy and short lived battery life for this. I use a corded Milwaukee . I use 18 volt cordless drill and impact for smaller Jobs at work. At home on the farm I use my 18 volt for almost everything except circular sawing.
Philip austin
As a pro finish carpenter, I basically set up an onsite shop for weeks of months at a time. I have no use for extreme cordless tools except for my two trusty DeWalt drills, an impact and a hammer drill. Oh, and my Ryobi leaf blower for clearing dust. Everything else is corded. Maybe I’m old school, but I see the younger guys investing a fortune in going 100% cordless, and see them spending half their time in battery management. Silly, if u ask me.
Kevin M Smith
No.
Adam
I bought a corded angle grinder in 2021 for a project where I had to grind all the old paint off my deck. I tried a cordless Dewalt grinder but it would burn through a 5ah battery in 10 – 15 minutes. I was outside for 8 hours at a time grinding, so corded was really the only option.
I also have a Worx corded leaf vacuum that I bought in 2020, although if Ego or Dewalt (my two brands) released a battery powered tool I’d switch in a heartbeat.
Barry S
I would LOVE to see a combination battery charger/eliminator.
A device that could charge your battery, yet could also plug into the tool to run the tool from AC. That way you could finish your job when the batteries are dead .
Thomas Campbell
Yea that would be great but it would cut down on tool sales. Dewalt does that with their battery powered miter saw. You can use an AC Adapter.