Over the last few decades, lithium-ion batteries have been getting steadily more affordable, more powerful, and generally more impressive. They’ve made possible a revolution in the automotive industry. But in the world of power tools, their impact has been just as palpable.
To be sure, traditional corded tools are still available – and they’re often cheaper than their rivals. But there are a few compelling reasons to prefer the cordless alternatives. Let’s assess some of them.
Convenience
The first advantage is arguably the most obvious. If you’re using batteries, then you don’t need to look around for a power outlet. You can simply pick up a fully-charged battery at the start of the working day, and get started. In some working environments, the availability of power might be very limited.
For example, you might have three or four tradespeople renovating an old house with few outlets. In this situation, a battery pack might help to ‘spread the load’, so that no-one is left waiting for their turn to use the socket.
In most cases, it’s a good idea to keep several batteries to hand – so that one of them can charge while the other is being used.
Safety
By using a cordless tool, you’re eliminating a notorious safety problem from your working life. Trailing cables are tripped over every day – and sometimes, the consequences of these falls can be serious. By eliminating the cable, you eliminate a portion of the risk.
Portability
There are some working environments where a wall outlet is unavailable. You might, for example, be chopping wood at the bottom of the garden – or out in the middle of a wilderness. This is where the natural portability of a battery pack can be incredibly useful. In some cases, the work can’t proceed without it!
Weight
An ongoing complaint about battery-powered tools is that they’re heavier. If you’re fastening thousands of screws every day with a cordless electrical screwdriver, then the constant weight on your arm might begin to be tiresome.
However, modern batteries are getting much more lightweight. In some cases, the difference in weight between a length of cable and a battery pack is close to negligible. Moreover, a little extra weight can add ballast, reducing vibration, and the strain on your arm. This can, over time, be a net benefit.
Power
Modern batteries are vastly more powerful than even those of just a few generations ago. In many cases, they deliver a level of power that’s effectively indistinguishable from the power you might draw from a wall socket. As such, one of the main complaints surrounding this technology might soon be a thing of the past – if it isn’t already!
