Cordless Tools: Figuring Out Today's Cordless Tools

Try carrying a circular saw up a ladder, and the shortcomings of a power tool with a cord quickly become obvious: the cord is easy to trip over, and more than one has ended up mangled by the tool to which it's attached. Electric shocks can be a problem, especially when working near water or in the rain.

No surprise, then, that manufacturers have long pursued the idea of cordless tools with all the ardor of a quest for the Holy Grail. The key lies not so much in designing the tools themselves after all, a circular saw is a circular saw but in designing batteries that can deliver the power needed to operate them.

Power Revolution

The earliest battery packs had about enough power to run a flashlight, and required about 24 hours to fully charge. There's been a revolution in battery power and with it an explosion in the types of cordless tools now available. Not only are the battery packs more powerful, but they can be recharged far more quickly in some cases, in as little as 15 minutes.

Mobility

Manufacturers have been steadily reinventing their power tools as cordless models. Already, there are cordless circular saws, reciprocating saws, planers, and even chain saws. While none can yet match the continuous power of traditional power tools, the new cordless tools can get most jobs done efficiently minus the irritating cords.