I'm addicted to tools, I caught the affliction at a very tender sage from my father who was also a full blown tool addict. I don't have a workshop, I have many workshops, one in every room according to my wife. Anyhow, electric vs air and corded electric vs battery. Few things are a bigger pain than a bunch of extension cords running all over the place. Ditto for air lines. So for ease of use and cord freedom, battery is great. But, they come with a price, they go dead - either when you first pick it up or halfway through the job. Secondly, from what I've seen, only expensive pro grade cordless tools generate the torque of corded or air tools.
Multiple batteries are good, keep one in the charger and another in the tool. Sears Craftsman brand sold nice drills complete with two batteries and charger for typically $60. The problem was the batteries would fail in a year or so and they had a replacement price of $90. So, being smarter than the average bear, I would buy another $60 special. Unfortunately on every iteration I ended up with a new tool with a battery different from any of it's ancestors and gradually built up an assortment of perfectly good tools and chargers and a box of "almost" dead batteries. I really pains me to throw out a perfectly working anything because the stupid battery died.
One day I took a bunch of the batteries apart and discovered battery packs made up of a bunch of rechargeable "C" size cells. Found a guy on eBay selling the cells for a buck each, so bought a bunch and resurrected my battery collection. This turned into work so I started shopping deals again.
What have I learned? First, $60 deals are usually crap. This includes Sears, Black and Decker, etc. Two exceptions being Ryobi and Ridgid (a Home Depot store brand). My Ryobi tools have been a pleasant surprise, they are well made and they do the job without crapping out even when abused. When they do die a replacement is not expensive.
Home Depot's house brand, Ridgid has some very nice tools, both cordless and corded.
Higher end tools made for job site use and abuse are much more expensive but will take a lot of abuse. I look at them once and awhile, but just can't justify the expense and extra toughness which I'll probably never need. If you are going to earn your living using a tool, spend the bucks sinc you can't earn a living running back and forth to the tool store.
One exception, Bosch. These tools are pricey, but they are beautifully made and tough as tough can get. I really like Bosch woodworking tools especially my 10" sliding compound miter chop saw. Cost me a grand, but man does it do a nice job.
Stay far, far away from tools made in China!
Please excuse my long rambling post, but I did warn you, I am a Tool Addict!
Multiple batteries are good, keep one in the charger and another in the tool. Sears Craftsman brand sold nice drills complete with two batteries and charger for typically $60. The problem was the batteries would fail in a year or so and they had a replacement price of $90. So, being smarter than the average bear, I would buy another $60 special. Unfortunately on every iteration I ended up with a new tool with a battery different from any of it's ancestors and gradually built up an assortment of perfectly good tools and chargers and a box of "almost" dead batteries. I really pains me to throw out a perfectly working anything because the stupid battery died.
One day I took a bunch of the batteries apart and discovered battery packs made up of a bunch of rechargeable "C" size cells. Found a guy on eBay selling the cells for a buck each, so bought a bunch and resurrected my battery collection. This turned into work so I started shopping deals again.
What have I learned? First, $60 deals are usually crap. This includes Sears, Black and Decker, etc. Two exceptions being Ryobi and Ridgid (a Home Depot store brand). My Ryobi tools have been a pleasant surprise, they are well made and they do the job without crapping out even when abused. When they do die a replacement is not expensive.
Home Depot's house brand, Ridgid has some very nice tools, both cordless and corded.
Higher end tools made for job site use and abuse are much more expensive but will take a lot of abuse. I look at them once and awhile, but just can't justify the expense and extra toughness which I'll probably never need. If you are going to earn your living using a tool, spend the bucks sinc you can't earn a living running back and forth to the tool store.
One exception, Bosch. These tools are pricey, but they are beautifully made and tough as tough can get. I really like Bosch woodworking tools especially my 10" sliding compound miter chop saw. Cost me a grand, but man does it do a nice job.
Stay far, far away from tools made in China!
Please excuse my long rambling post, but I did warn you, I am a Tool Addict!
