Tuesday, October 27, 2009

CORDLESS BATTERY POWERED DRILL

Cordless battery powered drills are very popular with many trades people. They have the power and torque of corded drills, they just don't have the endurance since they are run on batteries. These drills are more convenient because you don't have to drag a extension cord around with you while your working.


With lithium batteries being used on most brands of cordless battery powered drills power is not a problem. They are powerful enough to be dangerous if you take them for granted and become careless. Check and see if the brand you are purchasing comes with an extra battery because you will defiantly want to have two or more.

A cordless battery powered drill has many different uses. It is good for drilling holes for screws, for use as a powerful screwdriver, to mix paint, and you can attach hole saws to them to cut holes for whatever project your working on. Look for drills with at least a 18v battery, this will give you plenty of power for any job you need to do. Make sure the drill has multiple speeds. Some surfaces you encounter with your hole saws might need to be drilled at a slower speed to penetrate the surface. Also make sure it has a reverse direction switch, this will let the drill go in a reverse motion.

In my experiences cordless battery powered drills have been an excellent tool to own. I have used many different brands and they are all very close to each other in how they perform. Many drills come in kits with cordless battery powered circular saws and a cordless battery powered sawzall. Just make sure you have at least a 18v powered battery and you won't have any problems.

CORDLESS BATTERY POWERED CIRCULAR SAW

A cordless battery powered circular saw is one tool that I will always keep in my possession. When they first came out a lot of experts were skeptical about how much power they would have. Well they aren't as powerful as a corded circular saw but they run a close second.

Cordless battery powered circular saws are designed to handle 2x stock. All the saws come with carbide tipped blades. This is because you need a sharper, better cutting blade with this tool because you wouldn't have the reserve power to force the blade through your cut if the blade was dull.
Most manufacturers sell these saws in kits with other cordless battery powered tools, usally a cordless battery powered drill. Skill is one manufacturer who does not sell this tool by itself. So check around and see if anybody does sell it by itself and also check if it comes with a extra battery. I recommend getting a extra battery so that while you are working you can have a battery ready for when the battery in the saw starts to lose power. Most of these batteries recharge themselves in about a half hour.
Safety is not a big concern because this tool is lightweight and easy to handle. Just be careful to always remember that when the battery is in it's just like having a corded tool plugged in.
On a scale of 1 to 10 on the importance of having this tool in your shop, I give it a 10. This tool is great for many projects and so easy to handle it is a must have tool for everybody.

CORDLESS BATTERY POWERED BAND SAW

A cordless battery powered band saw is a tool I never would have thought would be capable of having enough power to get the job done. Well I was wrong. This tool is light weight, very durable and more then capable of handling what it's corded cousin can.

There are multiple uses for a cordless battery powered band saw. I am in the Chicago local 281 sprinkler fitters union. We use this tool for many different types of projects. We cut our all threaded rod with this tool, and it cuts through it like butter. It is also nice to cut existing pipe out and not have to drag an extension cord around. I've seen electricians cut conduit with ease and plumbers cut their plastic and cooper pipe with this tool.

Around the house this tool is great for remodel projects. You can cut wood or metal with no problem, although for plywood I would use a cordless battery powered circular saw.

Being light weight and easy to handle, safety is not an issue. You should set up a vice and make your cuts on that. I usually just hold on to whatever it is I am cutting and use band saw that way. I do not recommend this. I have been in the trades for over 20 years and have experience with this tool. I just wanted to let you know how easy it is to handle.

There are many different makes and models of cordless battery powered band saws. You can purchase ones that come with a 18v battery or ones that come with a 24v battery. The blades are very easy to change and upkeep is a breeze.

On a scale from 1 to 10 I would say that having a cordless battery powered band saw in your shop is about 7. Look online and in tool forums to get information on the type your looking for.