Milwaukee has One-Key, Dewalt has Tool Connect, and Bosch has Connected-Ready.
The highest-tier 18V and 20V Max brushless cordless power tools from these brands have Bluetooth connectivity either built-it or available as an option, allowing for users to customize their tools from their smartphones.
Advertisement
Features go beyond tool customizations and allow for inventory management, (limited) tracking, and even task completion reporting for some of the more sophisticated tools.
Some have unique functionality, such as worklight scheduling, crimp reporting, adjustable anti-kickback controls, and even torque adjustment.
Milwaukee and Dewalt have special One-Key and Tool Connect tools, and Bosch has built many of their latest generation of tools to be Connected-Ready, with a separate optional module required to tap into the advanced features.
Advertisement
What this means is that with Bosch, you can choose to upgrade your tool at any time. We’ve talked about their new impact driver, 2-in-1 hybrid impact tool, and new drills so far. Everyone gets the same base tool. With Milwaukee and Dewalt, you need to make up your mind at the time of purchase.
In theory, I like the idea of connected or connectable tools. Customizations can help you mold a tool’s features and specs to your needs and preferences.
Consider Milwaukee’s One-Key cordless drill. You can adjust the torque levels and even the max speeds for both high and low ranges. That can be useful.
The thing to remember is that these are solutions to user needs, wants, or frustrations.
Not all brands are jumping on the Bluetooth-connected tool and app bandwagon.
Makita’s latest and greatest (and superb) brushless impact driver features 4 special modes and 4 speed/torque modes.
The new Ridgid brushless impact driver has 3 special modes, some with dual functionality, and 3 speed modes.
Some Hitachi brushless tools have special built-in features, such as their cordless band saw that has an automatic mode that lowers blade speed, noise, and power consumption when it’s not actively cutting. Their brushless angle grinder has a similar function.
With these and other latest-generation brushless cordless power tools, there’s so much more that brands can do that were never possible with brushed motor tools.
Simpler tools are also still available, such as single-speed impact drivers.
A brand rep brought up a good point. If you’re on a commercial jobsite, are you going to whip out your smartphone to start changing settings before syncing them to your tool? Probably not.
Here’s What We Would Like to Know
Are you a fan of connected tools? Or might you be happier with built-in features and functionality? Neither?
There are of course pros and cons to both approaches.
It has been four years since Milwaukee first launched their One-Key platform, and in that time they and other brands have brought a number of connected tools to market. Have you bought any such tools yet from Milwaukee, Dewalt, or Bosch?
Brands have experimented with connected tools outside of cordless power tools as well – do you remember Ryobi Phone Works or General Tools’ ToolSmart tools – but the trends aren’t as clear and separate as with cordless power tools.
How likely are you to buy connected, customizable, or simply advanced-featured cordless power tools?
Flotsam
That last comment for me is pretty telling. Is a worker on a jobsite crew going to tweak the performance of his tool using a smart phone?
That crew leader may be more interested in seeing that tools don’t walk away first.
My understanding that the bluetooth connectivity in the new Ridgid Octane tools was between the battery and tool to communicate tool loading and battery needs. That a bit different than user customization.
alex
I believe you can preset your tools mode instead of having to tweak the tool each time. For instance, you can tweak the mode 1 on your drill and just switch to mode 1 whenever you need these settings.
AJ
That’s how my Milwaukee works. It’s not hard and let’s say you need a 2 different size bolts torqued (but not to 100%) precision for a large job, you can set this up so it’s just a selection (beforehand of course)
David
I would think that the connected tools offer far more value to the contractor than a homeowner. The contractor expects a limited life from their tools, replacing them every few years. The homeowner is not going to want to replace the tools in five years when the functionality is not compatible with the latest phones.
Derek
As a homeowner and hobbyist woodworker, I also have zero desire to be on my phone while I’m doing something outside of maybe playing music.
Robert
Bluetooth to me is a joke on most tools, except when it comes to two tools, that work in tandem, being able to sync (miter saw/dust extractor).
I bought the Bluetooth M18 1/2″ impact wrench and it was a terrible experience. The app would drain my phone in about 5 hours, the settings would reset themselves randomly, and in general it just wasted my time.
One thing though, is that when new technology comes out, it is simply the stepping stone to the technology reaching it’s full potential.
I’ll wait another 5 years to try another Bluetooth tool, maybe by then it will have a smartphone built into it, be tethered to a satellite, and be truly trackable.
Steven
Oooh, interconnecting vac to mitre. This Is a seriously good idea.
There are wired options but bluetooth connectivity to sync up..very cool
I have no desire to buy a one key tool or bluetooth adjustable tool. I would say a very very very small percentage of contractors use or even care to alter tool parameters. Factory presets work fine.
Rene
Foot pedal to turn on the vacuum when you use a mitre or table saw. Cost is about $30 and I would hazard that it’s far more reliable than a bluetooth connection.
Nikolay
What if the Bluetooth connection was 99.9% reliable, woudn’t you prefer Bluetooth instead of having foot pedal, which comes with cables? Although Bluetooth would cost a bit more than $30.
Adam
Festool has this as option on some of their vacuums. The vac gets a Bluetooth module, and there’s a remote that can clip to the end of the hose if needed.
Nikolay
Having tested this system, I have am impression that the Festool Bluetooth solution works really well! One think is missing though – ” Automatic Start/Stop” when the Festool vacuum is used with non-Festool power tools.
Tim D.
As a regular user of bluetooth, I think it stinks. It works just well enough for audio usually, but even that is bad at times. As connectivity for configuration, it’s far too unreliable and I’ve had way too many sync issues with devices.
I don’t use drills/power tools in my profession, but if I did, the last thing I’d want is to be sitting on a job site mad because my tools won’t sync to my phone and I’m trying to troubleshoot it instead of getting the job done.
I also see not having the most recent app being an issue. You open your phone to change settings, but it tells you the app is too out of date to use it. You must download the latest one to get working again. This is totally dependent upon the app developer, but most of the apps I use these days do exactly this.
Again, I’m not a pro, but I honestly don’t see the need to modify the speeds/configuration all that often. This to me seems like a set once, or twice and never use it again kind of thing.
The additional cost, failure points, and potential frustration are simply not worth it.
P.S. – Bluetooth tracking like the tile for your keys is pretty terrible. I assume Milwaukee’s ticks work just like that. No thanks!
Mike
Totally agree – BT is too unreliable and frustrating – I’d never buy a tool in which BT was a critical component. Maybe it could have some limited value for fleet management – it will be a good sign when Hilti adds BT.
Steve the Gullible
Nope
Casey
Personally I think bluetooth is best for contractors and anyone supplying others with tools. As the primary user of my tools for most part, I’d rather have access to more features. Even if I rarely use the extras. I have two bluetooth tools and past the initial novelty, I’ve never bothered with it.
David A.
To me, bluetooth connectivity on tools is almost entirely a marketing gimmick, I don’t see the value in it at all- with a couple exceptions; 1) tool location tracking could be useful in certain situations. 2) tools that work in tandem. I would much rather be able to adjust speed/torque settings with physical controls on the tool itself (which drills/drivers have had for decades). The last thing I want to do when I’m on a job, especially if it’s a dirty, dusty environment and I’m wearing gloves and other PPE, is have to stop what I’m working on, peel off my gloves, dig my phone out of my pocket, and fiddle with yet another frustrating app just to adjust my tool’s torque limit. I am extremely skeptical that bluetooth can save anybody any significant time or money on the job. Honestly, I think it’s a feature that manufacturers are adding just as an excuse to increase prices. No professional is out there saying, “Adjusting the settings on my tool manually takes too long and wears my fingers out, it would be great if I could do that on my phone!” I’m much more likely to buy tools from a manufacturer that respects its customers enough to avoid shoving needless innovation in their faces every year, case-in-point, I’m slowly transitioning from Milwaukee to Makita.
Clark
A simple tracking device with an optional key fob the tool would be married with to deter theft would be the most ” connected” I would have. Most folks using these tools should have the abilities required to do the job well without the need to program the tool.
Noah
No thanks. Half the time my Bluetooth headphones won’t work.
ToolGuyDan
People haven’t mentioned the primary reason these got added: firmware updates. Brushless motors, runaway drill limiters, and other similar advancements require nontrivial tech. Nontrivial tech requires code. Before, if you were DeWalt, you had to be certain the code was good before starting production, because the alternative was disassembling and re-flashing a few thousand devices at a minimum, if not an outright recall. Now, you can not only get into production before the code is ready, you can even ship before the code is *perfect*: as long as it works for basic uses, you won’t get many returns, and for the rest, you just ask the customer to run the app to update the tool.
All of this enables faster iteration on the manufacturer’s part. Is it BS? I mean, sure. But it gets tools in our hands a month or two sooner, and as a side effect they have a couple extra configurable features, so is it really so bad?
Look for the next generation to feature BTLE (or LE-optimized plain BT if the targeted mainline BT spec incorporates low-energy) connectivity. I’d also expect at least one manufacturer to add BT-configurable WiFi, where the tool itself or an inventory management system onsite throws an alarm if the tool goes out of WiFi range. Coat a jobsite in signal, and you instantly know when a tool is either out of battery or walking away, and if you have enough GPS-enabled routers, you can even triangulate the exact spot it last touched the circle.
On the other side, inter-tool connectivity is going to be big. Nextgen saws for example will feature hand detection; the dust collector will start up when you first touch the handle, even before you’ve pulled the trigger. You’ll carry a small item on you (maybe a flashlight) that’s configured for the PAN, and it’ll do things like turn on work lights as you enter a space. Even PPE will get in on the game: not wearing a hardhat? If you or your company has configured it so, don’t expect that impact driver to work.
David A.
I’m not against technology or improvements, but there’s a limit, and any company that’s wasting money on wifi or bluetooth connected hardhats should be put out of business.
ToolGuyDan
I bought a WiFi-connected thermostat when that seemed insane. Less than two years later, the Nest showed up and suddenly it was perfectly normal, and pretty much required on new homes.
You can’t hit a moving target unless you lead it a bit. When you see the insurance discounts you get for being able to say with 100% certainty no power equipment gets operated on your site without PPE, you’ll change your mind on WiFi hardhats.
David A.
I totally understand what you’re getting at, but at this point the hassle and expense of setting up wifi networks on jobsites would far outweigh the benefits. In addition tools and PPE with sensors to ensure PPE compliance would be unreliable, troublesome, and prohibitively expensive at best. Nevermind the people who will rebel against such nanny-state encroachment and perceived invasion of privacy. The technology might get there one day, and costs may drop to a reasonable point, but if you think tradesmen are going to enthusiastically embrace big brother being integrated into their tools and PPE, I think you’re at least a little bit crazy.
Ken
Sorry, but no. With the NEST along with other Bluetooth or wifi enabled tools, I absolutely do not want any of the details of my life to be given freely to anyone when the device(s) call home.
Tim D.
“All of this enables faster iteration on the manufacturer’s part. Is it BS? I mean, sure. But it gets tools in our hands a month or two sooner, and as a side effect they have a couple extra configurable features, so is it really so bad?”
I see this as a bad thing, and definitely not an improvement.
This mentality has resulted in sloppier software, videos games, and even automotive entertainment/radio system releases. Most of the time these “fixes” are half butt or get ignored because its time to shift resources to programming the next iteration.
Who wants a tool in their hand faster if it’s junk that frustrates you until they fix it? I want my money to go towards fully baked products.
Ken
Any brand that turns me into a guinnea pig for their incomplete microcode to rush a product to market earns a lifetime banning in my book for wasting my time.
I’d rather wait and/or pay more for something properly engineered.
While not ever manufacture would ship something incomplete and expect software fixes later, I worry enough will that it may cast a spector of doubt over the entire industry in consumers minds, whether the technology is worthwhile or not.
Also no way I would ever invest in a tool that requires me to pull out a $1000 smartphone in the middle of a messy project just to make it work right…
My $0.02
Brian A
I have about 6 Milwaukee One Key tools. I hardly ever use it though I like the idea of it. My problem is Milwaukee has too many versions of the tools; brushed, brushless, fuel and fuel one key. It would be better if just every tool was one key, at least the fuel tools. I sold my one key sawzall which has some nice customization of all the tools, to upgrade to the new fuel super sawzall which a one key version doesnt exist.
I agree the app is battery draining and a data hog even when its not in use, so its usually disabled on my phone.
DC
No thanks, I’ll pass on Bluetooth connectivity. If I wanted to control RPM than I just toggle the trigger.
Raoul
It seems all these gimmicks are to make up for the one downfall of brushless, the variable speed trigger. You used to be able to make the old brushed tools do whatever you wanted with the finesse of trigger. Brushless variable speed triggers are nat really variable, they offer many distinct speeds. Analog vs digital.
TonyT
That’s an issue with how the brushless speed control is implemented (feedback, controller and trigger), not inherent to the technology.
Mike
Don’t need it don’t even need the multiple speed selection on my impact use on high and only high
Carl Sampson
I would rather have the purchase cost of the tool reduced by the amount of money related to R&D and additional components that would not be spent by not trying to add these unneeded features.
Jim Premo
“Get off that darn phone and get to work”. “I’m not playing on my phone, I’m communicating with my tools on the clock”. BT connectivity is complete nonsense in anything other than a radio. And we are going to charge a premium to be able to BT connect to your battery.
Reminds me of an old saying. If you can’t dazzle them with footwork, baffle them with bullshit.
The What?
Clark hit the nail on the head with what should be done with connectivity and the skill set of the people that use the tools. Power tools and apps don’t belong together and what they are doing is completely unnecessary and serves no purpose. Tools didn’t need it before the technology was there so why do tools need it now? And all of my batteries work just fine without needing to be connected. Just because the technology works for phones, tablets and computers does not mean that it should be incorporated into a power tool in a way that doesn’t benefit battery life or increase the power of the tool which is what matters most. But even the tracking technology has limited use because it has to be within proximity in order to work. And there wouldn’t be a need for tracking if people learned to keep up with their own shit. I do it because I don’t want to have to spend the money replacing something I worked hard to get and I’ll be damned if someone takes it from me or I just forget about it.
Jamie
I’d bet that almost no pros will never use the Bluetooth features using the app. It’s too much work and not necessary.
To me it really seems like a feature they’re hoping the DIY tech geek crowd will pay more for.
The ridiculing at the jobsite would never end if I was caught adjusting one of my tools with the phone app.
John
BT connectivity with tools, the added R&D, the added cost, the waste of resources, the lack of need or use in the practical world seems to mimic the car industry. So much crap in cars these days and you don’t have a choice to avoid much of it. More unnecessary stupid stuff to break or stop working and much from software glitches. Mechanical things last a damn long time and are easy to repair or replace. Computer related hardware has a much shorter lifespan and very quick obsolescence. Keep tools practical! Adjustment buttons on an impact are quite useful. Adjustments from your phone is just plain stupid. The only worthwhile BT feature that we need is auto-starting a vac. I just use $10 remotes taped to hoses on all 4 of my vacs and similar remote method on my larger dust collector.
Nikolay
John, what kind of remotes do you use?
Chris
I think it’s a good system for contractors to keep track of company tools. For the homeowner, not wort it. (Unless you find it on sale cheaper than the non Bluetooth model!)
It also seems handy having all the complex settings on your phone, rather than having a really bulky tool to House all the electronics. But on the other hand, if your phone dies, you’re SOL.
I think it’s also cool that you can get feedback from the tool so you know your crimps are meeting code specifications. Again these are really contractor tools with no real use for a DIYer.
Jim Felt
This entire thread reminds my of the uproar over the first Motorola bricks appearing in the mid 1980’s.
Everyone then too had an opinion but they were so expensive ($3K on introduction) they were basically out of common range of use.
While BT itself now is 20 years old and ubiquitous but for tools I too think it’s still pretty close to silly at this point in time.
Maybe if it was BT or better WiFi enablement in a Foxconn mega assembly line setting it might get traction in a particular field. “Shift 3 automated hand tool Settings actuated”…
But otherwise naw. Not here. Not yet.
But there’s always the “early adopters” otherwise there’d be no open market test research.
Corey Moore
I started with 4 bt batteries of DeWalts, shortly after they came out- 2 high cap (4ah) and two slims. Presently I have one of the slims left, and the only reason I pick it above another battery, I because it’s height perfectly matches the 20v personal mag/clip light. The app was functional, seemed cool, had some ideas how i was gonna use em, never actually panned out to be beneficial enough in any capacity to change how I work day to day and actually utilize the options. That extra half inch though, sits perfectly flush with the light magnet, without pushing it away from the surface, or underhanging and causing it to spin lol favorite 2ah I own, for no other reason than that.
Michael Veach
Invention has become the mother of necessity.
glenn
Although it may suit some, I have zero desire or need for any for any form of connectivity in tools and as such will never purchase a tool with it or add it as an option.
To me its a useless feature that only leads to higher pricing, but as I said, it may suit some so I have no issue with it being available.
Eric McCormick
Personally I could care less about my tools having Bluetooth. I want my tools to be accurate, dependable, and rugged.
Rogun
I have a smart home and love network devices that make my life easier: but I can’t imagine ever wanting power tools with bluetooth. It sounds like one more thing to go wrong with the tool and why would I want an unnecessary feature that shortens the time I can use it? In all honesty, it seems like a bad joke.
Rene
Instead of wasting resources answering a question that was never asked, why not make tools in North America again? If I have to choose between a Milwaukee drill with bluetooth made in China, or a Milwaukee drill without bluetooth made in …. Milwaukee, I’d chose the latter each and every time. And admittedly, I use bluetooth headphones almost all day every day while working. Customers may not like my music, this way they don’t have to hear it. And I don’t like the noise from saws/drills/vacuums/etc so noise cancelling is great.
skfarmer
ummmmm………no. the last thing i want to do is fiddle with my phone will using a power tool. put the controls on the tool!
the only place i can see it is on a jobsite so you can turn your tools off and on at or for a specified time. even them i really doubt it is worth the extra cost and hassle.
SurvivalSpec
The usefulness of connectivity on the batteries far outweighs the tools. I use Milwaukee One Key and Ridgid Octane and the Ridgid Octane connect makes better use of Bluetooth. I can easily locate my batteries and determine how much charge is left. All batteries should have Bluetooth connectivity but not all tools. As far as tweaking tools via Bluetooth, it’s just easier done via button on the actual tool rather than using an app.
Chris
Memorial Day tool deal alert!!
20% off Capri tools order. Valid site-wide with coupon code memday20 applied on the cart page.
Minimum $50 order.
Altan
My concern is that they push this Bluetooth tools too much for some special reasons and soon everything will be Bluetooth tools and batteries and they will have a controlling system over your tools and batteries, they can make some law for warranty that if you charge a specific battery for 1000 times (for example) that battery is out of warranty even though three years warranty period is not finished, at the end Bluetooth tools and batteries get connected to the mobile Bluetooth and all mobiles have internet (almost). I think we should not let this happen. Why do all mobile phones start to not work properly as soon as the warranty is finished?! This will be the same issue with tools soon.
RC Ward
Blue tooth is for phones to work in a car and that is about it. Music sucks over bluetooth and for a tool ? Please. If they don’t raise the price of the tool one cent then go for it. If they raise the price forget it.
altan
I don’t want Bluetooth in tools even if they drop the price.
Axeman
What do you think would be the result if Ford allowed their owners to adjust their engine management system? A small minority of people would benefit from the system, but most others wouldn’t.
After having my Makita cordless power tools stolen several years ago, I spent $500 to buy the Milwaukee One-Key Hammer drill and Impact driver. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVED my Makita Drill and Impact, but with Milwaukee’s One-Key products, they offered an irresistible feature, the ability to remotely track and permanently disable the tool if stolen. That is by far, the best feature about Milwaukee’s One-Key.
However, I’m not a fan of using One-Key to adjust the torque and rpm level settings. I’ve given up, after unsuccessfully spending several hours trying to learn how to adjust the settings to get them to perform like Makita. I’ve already decided that Makita’s XDT16 Impact is just too good to pass up. So my Milwaukee Impact will join my reserve of cordless power tools
Altan
I agree with you that it has some good results, but my idea is instead of spending money for this technology we better spend this money for a safer neighbourhood and society.
Micheal
I am not tracking anything on a phone. Give me WiFi and an App on my Laptop when I would get excited. Added, this should not be an extra charge. It a new feature for them to compete against each other, not to make added money off me.
Allen
In it’s current form this is a terrible idea. I get the impression that tool manufacturers are getting a bit gimmicky with their products much like phone manufacturers are.
Bluetooth is terrible and it pretty much always has been. It’s a cool technology when it works but with limited range and compatibility issues it’s not a matter of if but when you start having issues.
Anything having an app is going to cause issues as well. Sometimes updates break things as much as they fix them and that can even be in the same update.
People need to put their phones down and not pick them up when they’re working. There’s too many distractions on the phone to disrupt a person. If you need something to track this and that then you’re hiring the wrong people. The last thing contractors or anyone needs is something else to troubleshoot.
Diplomatic Immunity
You forgot that Makita does have bluetooth on their tracksaw and some shop vacs to sync up with one another. I thought BT would be good for letting someone know where a tool was (if it could work like an anti-theft device) and for specific settings that were used often.
But a commenter brought up a good point about the apps. What if the app sucks and does drain your phones battery or if the app is unstable overall? Then you’re out of this so called “feature” that you paid money for.
These tools would really only be as good as their apps are if it’s something that even interests you.
Stuart
I don’t really count that, because it’s just a wireless remote control solution. Festool’s vacs have something similar, but more flexible in my opinion since theirs can be used with other brands’ dust-creating tools.
Apps *shouldn’t* be draining smartphone batteries. I don’t know about iPhones, but Android has a battery monitoring feature that lets you see what’s using up battery life. If the app drains too much, you can close it out. In doing so you lose on the tracking capability, but can always launch it again for brief periods when you need to sync new customizations to a phone.
You *should* be able test drives apps before buying a tool, or in the case of specific tools you might be able to find screenshots of the customization screens.
Altan
If a tool is going to be connected to a vac. why they don’t make a special hose with an integrated wire in to transfer data from the vac to the tool, some Miele Vacs have that option.
Nikolay
They don’t go for a wire, because any radio solutoin, including BT, is cheaper. A wire comes with mechanical problems, electrostatic, etc. In addition, a hose doesn’t serve more tham a few weeks on a construction site.
The What?
That’s the problem with the whole thing. It shouldn’t require an application for anyone to know how to use a power tool. And it’s insulting to our intelligence because they are implying that we need the assistance of wireless connectivity to know the difference between our ass and a hole in the ground. The premise has been the same since the invention of power tools and there is no purpose for technology like this because it doesn’t improve the power of the tools it doesn’t make the work your doing any easier and it doesn’t make the batteries last longer so you can get more work done. So why do I need to know where my battery is on my phone when I can keep up with it myself. And a great way to make sure you don’t lose your batteries to not let anyone use them and take them with you when you go to lunch. I do it. It hasn’t let me down yet. And if you’re one of those people that leave your tools on the job cuz you’re too lazy to load up at the end of the day, well it’s your own fault if your stuff gets stolen and you obviously don’t care about your tools. Why do I need to know how hot the battery is on my phone when all I have to do is touch it with my own hands? And why do I need my phone to tell me how much juice is left in the battery when all I have to do is press the button on the battery? These are all things that people are perfectly capable of doing on their own without having to connect their batteries to their phones and without the use of some app that gives people an excuse to not use their brains and exhibit stupidity and forgetfulness. You’re pretty useless if you need an application to think for you because you lack the ability to apply common sense and figure things out for yourself.
NZ Tom
Haven’t investigated the details of many of the adjustments available on BT app, but I would venture they are more aimed at the industrial side of things.
Panasonic have had programmable torque setting available for many years, and are big in assembly plants. Steel riggers could benefit from pre-setting torque limits, but it would need to be very accurate. Apart from those sort of uses: a gimmick. Tools vibrate and are subject to abject weather and shocks. The fewer circuit boards the better.
Jared
I’m not surprised Bluetooth isn’t highly sought-after, but I am surprised how overwhelming the criticism seems to be.
I wouldn’t go far out of my way to buy a tool that had it, but I would be pleased to have that feature. Setting torque and speed on an impact driver with a phone app for example, seems handy to me when the other options are: no adjustments, building a screen and/or extra buttons right into the tool or having to navigate past many more options than I will ever use to find the one or two I like.
I don’t quite grasp why this tech is so disliked. Seems to me the implementation is mostly: adjust the settings in the app, briefly link with your tool to transfer those settings… and you’re done. Pull up the app again maybe if you forget where your tool is and want to locate it.
From what I read here it seems like some people fear that if their phone dies or they forget it in the truck the tool will turn into a paperweight. If that’s the case, then I agree: Bluetooth sounds dumb.
Paul
First on the comments about phones and construction sites, let alone industrial. Unless the customer is paranoid or has security issues (such as prison jobs) phones are ubiquitous on job sites. We have work orders, schedules, calling and texting, clocks and alarms, manuals and instruction sheets. Then there’s documenting before and after photos, videos, even looking around corners, and check lists and electronic service tickets, and even credit card readers. They are everywhere and so useful that everybody has one unless nobody has one. It has taken the spot formerky occupied by the utility knife as the most common tool every contractor has in their pocket.
So far the cost of the tracking tools vastly exceeds the price/value where I can use it. It’s one thing on a $2500+ tool but where you get it is on a $200 tool. Hard to justify $30 tracking on a $100 or even $200 tool. Even if it was better priced, there is a fundamental issue though. So when I put the tool away and close the lid on my metal truck box, the tool can’t communicate. So I just practice the 5S approach…a place for everything, and everything in it’s place. Field service work is bad enough when it’s multiple job sites per day, every day, with constant unloading/setup/packing/loading. I need to be able to visually look at a tool bag and do inventory. That means stuff every bag and leave no open spot. If a spot is empty, find the missing tool. Mark all tools with a unique marking that makes it mine. Tool tracking would be awesome, if it worked. Better yet I could check who has X in the crew with the specialty tools.
I have four tools with wireless now. The hands free phone thing seems to be nothing but trouble. I don’t know how guys put up with it. The remote multimeter display/control is awesome when it works, but constantly stops working or acts erratic to the point I gave up. Let me just say I work on big stuff. It’s one thing to put an amp clamp on a 480 V line. It’s quite another on a 7200 V motor or putting it onto a live, energized bus bar. I do it all the time but Bluetooth has the potential to be considerably safer. I mean the idea is I can put the meter in a place where I shouldn’t put my fingers, then walk away and turn the power on. But if I have to mess with the meter, that doesn’t work.
Third is a wireless boroscope. Unlike the others this is Wi-Fi. As in the camera is an AP. It works perfectly, reliably, every time. No complaints but it’s not Bluetooth. I just turn it on and connect with phone app then move it around and take video or pictures while I manipulate the camera with both hands. Much better than the old microscope types. Fourth is a wireless router. Just stick it in customers network stuff and jump into their industrial control with a lot less hassle with cords. Works very well.
Most potentially useful but currently FAIL is Bluetooth LE. This is a system where a tiny ultrasonic speaker broadcasts a short signal. It’s generally one way. The tool tracking, tool linking, and remote display stuff can work perfectly with this setup with zero effort and decent reliability. There is no pairing since it is low range and one way (broadcast). BUT the way this is actually used is they put a small battery powered speaker on a store display so that it bombards your phone with links to ads. Most people have turned it off because of retail store abuse.
Chris
I had the fuel brushless impact, hammerdrill, and sawzall with one-key.
I only bought them because they were clearanced at 75% off in home depot one day which made them cheaper than the non one-key models.
I would never pay full price for this feature, bluetooth is truly a gimmick riff with connectivity problems and (as someone else pointed out) relying on an app is a horrible idea. Case in point, i’ve had ios updates that cause me to not be able to use apps that i’ve paid for due to the app creator no longer supporting it.
On the flip side, I did find some features truly fantastic.
I was able to set my lowest speed on the impact to be just right for torquing receptacles and wall plates, or ramp up a steady speed for self tappers, and set my highest speed for instant power on wood studs.
The drill was setup for different drill bits by limiting speed on certain materials so people wouldn’t burn up my bits.
Same for the sawzall, It is nice to hand off a tool with a fresh blade for something like cast iron that is designed for slower cuts and the operator can pull the trigger to their heart’s content, but it only goes as fast as the recommended speed for that material and blade (it’s awesome).
In terms of customization, I would much rather have something like a micro sd card that could plug into the base of the tool behind the battery (so, it can’t be removed while there is power and cause potential corruption issues) and have a customizable program that is downloaded on my computer. It would also allow other people to potentially build their own software for true customization. It could also be ten years old and still work. Apps are the epitome of planned obsolescence.
John
personally, when it comes to precision driving, being able to precisely control how fast you want your impact driver to run helps.
I own the Dewalt 20v DCF888 and mainly use it for cabinet installation, although it is has way more power than I need I can tune to however I like.
1 – 1000 rpm, for door hinges and adjustments
2 – 1750 rpm, for driving 1 1/4 inch screws
3 – 2500 rpm, for driving 3 inch screws
4 – 3250 rpm(max default settings) for anything else that requires that much power
With these settings I never have to worry about stripping screws,camming out, or driving too deep. it always give me perfect control, no need for dimplers on drywall either..
Nathan
SO engineer in me I’m sort of torn. Ideally I don’t so much have a need for that level of adjustability in my cordless tools as I am now only a DIY’r.
but I want it for some situations. SO I like the concept and idea.
AND honestly I prefer not having extra buttons, lights and panels etc on my tool that can break – vs a wireless connection and I use the smart phone I already have. Or tablet or laptop whatever.
For tool theft I think it’s a good idea but I don’t personally need it.
Also BT is plenty reliable or it has been for me. I even tune and diagnose cars with it.
So the idea that I can setup 2 or 3 modes on a tool – on a device I own that will tell me more than a blinking light – and then use a custom setting. Is a good idea to me.
Of the systems I sort of want a bit of everyone’s. Ie I like the idea of the BT module being removable from the tool – incase it died. I just don’t like Bosch’s placement. WHile that’s debatable it has some merit that maybe for my 6 tools I only really need 2 BT modules. OK. and I don’t want the tool to not function without the BT module. Most of the systems tolerate that today. SO ideally I would like to see a onekey/tool connect system with a removable BT piece – that let’s me install the piece – custom the tool setting when I want to . OR run the tool as it’s basic use without it if I don’t need it.