From DIY projects to unexpected repairs, homeowners everywhere rely on their cordless tools to have the power to get the job done. Which ones are the most useful, you're asking? The answer to that question can be pretty subjective, but in most cases, you can gauge this in the general sense. In other words, there are 'staple' tools, meaning a commonality of cordless power tools used among people who have owned and maintained their properties for years.
Why Cordless?
Cordless tools are among some of the most game-changing innovations to ever hit the power tool scene, and they just keep getting better. Not to mention the versatility of having various tools that can fit the same battery. Now we've had most major tool manufacturers like Ryobi, Milwaukee, Kobalt, etc. branching out into yard equipment that fit the same batteries as some of their power tools, and I honestly can't think of a more convenient all-in-one solution for a homeowner. DEWALT is even taking this a step further by announcing the new two-way charger for their XR platform batteries that will be used with type-C cables! You can read more about that here.
Plus the safety factor. If the power goes out, you won't have to worry about not being able to use your tools, plus most combo sets come with a nice work light. Double points if you have a generator to keep your charger plugged in and your batteries charged up so that you can keep going and draw less power than similar corded tools.
Combo Kits
Combo kits allow you to add tools to an existing platform. Say you have a kit that comes with three tools and two compatible batteries. Now you could buy another useful bare tool like a tire inflator for that platform at a lower price because you already have a couple of batteries that fit.
Manufacturers offer many different variations of kits as well, so finding one to fit your needs should be relatively simple. There are kits that come with drills, impact drivers, circular saws, work lights, multitools, reciprocating saws, rotary hammers, blowers, the list goes on. The point is that there are so many different options for kits, that you're almost sure to find one that can fit your needs.
My first kit was a three-piece 12v Black & Decker Versa Pack set. The size of the drill alone dwarfed most cordless tools today not to mention the rest of the set, and did I mention that it required the use of not one, but two batteries!? Man am I glad times have changed. Now we have twice the power at half the size which means combo kits have become super easy to store. Most today even come with their own bags or cases which makes moving them around pretty simple as well.
Likely the biggest and most important reason for buying a combo is cost. Buying the tools as a kit is much more cost-effective than buying each individual tool with a battery. They're usually priced a little lower than it would cost to buy all bare tools included in the kit but can still include a battery or two, plus a charger.
Essential Tools
There's a lot of room for debate in this area because at the end of the day, choosing your ideal combo kit is going to come down to what your needs are. So with regard to that, I'm going to be pretty general in my recommendations. I'll only recommend tools that I believe are best suited for your average homeowner, as well as some cordless tools that I've personally found pretty handy over the years;
- Drill- No doubt one of the more diverse cordless tools you can own. You can use it you drill holes, adjust the torque to set screws, you could even put a nylon or wire brush on the end the use it as a super deep cleaning brush for stain and oxidation removal. Some stores sell polishing wheels and sponge ends for drills as well. There are seriously so many uses for these. Every homeowner should certainly own one.
- Impact Driver- The magic of the impact driver becomes real after using it for long periods of time. When the impact driver meets resistance, it will impact; making it much easier to set a bolt or screw with considerably less effort. So if you're one of the many using your drill for setting screws, please stop, and switch to an impact driver. Your wrist will thank you.
- Multitool- These vibrating multitools haven't been around for very long, which is surprising given how popular they are. For good reason too, you can use these for a whole host of different applications, from cutting protruding nails and screws flush, sanding hard-to-reach areas, to power scraping. It's an absolute must if you value a handy tool.
- Work Light- Out of every tool in all of my kits, these are by far my most used. I use them because of how portable and bright they are. I don't think I need to go over the use cases for a bright-cordless light, but if you eventually get one, you'll wonder why you ever went without it.
- Reciprocating Saw- Not too many people realize how many attachments there are for recip. saws. Sure you can use it to cut through a wide range of materials with relative ease, and it works great for that. I'm talking about attachments that don't require any kind of modification to your tool at all, they just fit right into the same slot that the blade would slip into. Some examples of these include wire brushes, nylon brushes, scrapers, files, etc. One thing is for sure, these things are way more versatile than they get credit for.
- Circular Saw- Got some boards to cut? Maybe you live in an area that experiences hurricanes every now and then? A circular saw is by far your best solution for cutting plywood on the fly. Don't take my word for it, just look at the pros.
- Mini Blower- These are really nice when the power of a bigger full-sized blower would be too much or just isn't required. I use mine to blow out the garage, back of the truck, porch, under patio furniture. Heck, you could even dry off your car with one- although I can't guarantee a streak-free shine.
- Impact Wrench- Not to be confused with the impact driver, the impact wrench typically delivers more torque in the lefty-loosey direction for making quick work of those pesky lug nuts. They feature an anvil at the front that's available in 1/4", 3/8", and 3/4" drive, made to accept impact-rated sockets. Certainly a useful addition to any weekend mechanics tool collection.
- Jigsaw- Although not my most frequently used tool, I'm always very glad that I have it when I need it. These are an absolute must for any hobby woodworker, as they are priceless when used for cutting intricate shapes.
- Trimmer / Weedeater- If you have a lawn then these are a Godsend. No more mixing gas with oil, cutting your good extension cord into pieces or driving the neighbors mad with engine noise. The only real maintenance here is to replace the string when it runs out, but most newer models make that a task not even worth mentioning.
- Chainsaw- For some of the same reasons mentioned above, a cordless chainsaw is very nice to have. There was a time when they weren't really worth a hoot in regards to power and run-time, but now things are a bit different and we've been seeing some pretty big leaps in performance all around. This is one of those tools that might not serve everyone, but if you live in a wooded area, or even have some tree branches that need a good trimming, you'll likely be glad that you have one eventually. These are sold in all shapes and sizes, from full-sized, handheld, to ones mounted on the end of poles!
- Power Ratchet- Or as I like to call it, "elbow saver". They aren't made to break loose or torque bolts, they're made to alleviate the repetitive strain of using a manual ratchet wrench. You can use the power ratchet to fasten a bolt down a little more than hand tight, then tighten the rest of the way with a ratchet or torque wrench manually. That's why you'll notice that most aren't rated past around 60 ft-lbs of torque for both loosening and tightening. Still real nice to have if you find yourself using your ratchets a lot.
- Tire Inflator- Never underestimate the utility of a cordless tire inflator. These make life so much easier if your tires get low. Mine has a feature where you can set a particular pressure and the pump will stop when reaching it. Great for people who love convenience.
- Jobsite Fan- Sometimes you get stuck doing things in the heat. Maybe a garage sale, yard work, broken AC, power outage? Cordless functionality to the rescue! The coolest thing is that some manufacturers make them with water reservoirs so they mist you as well!
- Sander- These come in a few different variations: orbital, random orbital, belt, and corner/ detail sanders. I would recommend a detail sander, as it is the most versatile out of the three for the average homeowner's use cases. However, if you need something that really removes some material quickly, then my suggestion would be the belt sander.
- Heat gun- Cordless heat guns are now a thing believe it or not. Pretty handy if you're doing something that requires the use of drying or melting something quickly, such as paint, wax removal, ice on AC coils, shrink wrap. Cordless ones are just a bonus.
- Soldering Iron- Yes, they make these cordless too. Anyone that's ever used a soldering iron knows exactly why a cordless soldering iron could be useful. Certainly not for everyone, but there are people out there that use them heavily. Some of the cordless ones even have heads that articulate for ease of use.
- Glue Gun- Cordless glue guns could be useful if you do a lot of crafts, or just simply want something at hand that could aid you in woodworking a bit. I've found a glue gun to be a handy addition to my woodworking tools. It's been about a year and a half now and I haven't looked back since.
- Rotary tool- My cordless rotary tool has seen some serious use over the years. Whether it's detail sanding, polishing, or cutting something small, it always seems to have me covered. The ridiculous amounts of attachments are sure to help you in virtually any project that involves carving or cutting fine detail. Plus it's cordless, so you don't have to worry about an annoying power cord getting in your way.
- Grinder- And last but certainly not least is a grinder. Even ones with cords are pretty handy but take the cord away and you've got something even better. As a homeowner, it may be kind of hard to understand why these can be so useful around the home. They can be used for cutting, grinding, sanding, power brushing and even polishing.
Brands
As a consumer, it's pretty obvious that there's a marked difference in quality between some brands. Below I'm going to list some tool brands that manufacture cordless power tools that are pretty well suited for a homeowner. You'll likely recognize most of these brands, but they are prominent for a reason. The biggest reasons are the size to power ratio, run time, and the number of additional tools that can fit the same battery platform:
- Ryobi- Sold by The Home Depot, this brand is known for the sheer size of its selection of cordless tools at a reasonable price. Their tools range from job site tools, power cleaning, and they even have a full selection of cordless yard equipment. Some professionals trust these tools on the job and absolutely swear by them. Whatever the use case, the value is certainly there.
- Milwaukee- Yet another brand that's known for the size of its cordless tool selection, Milwaukee Tools has been leading the charge (no pun intended) with power-to-weight ratio in cordless tools for some time now. I'm particularly a big fan of the 12v lithium line as I have a driver that's far superior to anything of similar size that I've tried out. There's so much good to say about this brand and although the 18v platform is amazing, it's the amount of potential power at hand that likely wouldn't be used to its full potential by the average homeowner. I would, however, recommend the 12v line as the tools are smaller, plenty powerful, and priced a bit lower with plenty of options for additional tools.
- Kobalt- I've been a huge fan of Kobalt's 24-volt max line of power tools for about as long as they've been out. They offer a full line of cordless tools that cover a whole gamut of different use cases. I personally own their hammer drill, impact driver, circular saw, recip saw, die grinder, tire inflator, work light, shop vac, and mini blower- all cordless; and I have to say that I'm very impressed by all of them. The entire Kobalt 24v line is brushless, making the tools a dream to handle, as well as making them slightly quieter than brushed tools. The batteries are priced pretty reasonably as well. These tools are pretty dang powerful and certainly don't lack weight, so they may not be a good choice for someone who needs cordless tools for strictly maintenance purposes. But if you need power and plenty of options at a reasonable price, these are worth looking at.
- Worx- Worx is a brand dedicated to making tools and other equipment, designed specifically for your average homeowner. They make just about everything from travel-sized cordless crafting tools such as power shears, and soldering irons; to a full selection of yard equipment in both corded and cordless varieties.
- Bauer- Possibly one of the lesser-known brands on the list. This brand is sold exclusively at Harbor Freight and is very homeowner-friendly. These tools have pretty decent power with an ever-growing cordless platform that's definitely worth taking a look at. The price is considerably lower than most other similar power tools of their kind as well.
- Hercules- Another line of tools exclusive to Harbor Freight is Hercules. This particular brand features cordless tools in both 18v and 12v platforms. The 12v tools are similar in size to other more well know brands, but come just short of the same kind of power. Which still says a lot about a budget pro power tool. It's also worth mentioning that Harbor Freight has been slowly introducing brushless tools to their Hercules lineup. Making these a seemingly premium selection for a homeowner.
- DEWALT- A subsidiary of Stanley Tools, DEWALT has been a favorite among pros for a very long time. Known for their unstoppable cordless hammer drills from back in the day, they've recently introduced a new 12v line to their tools and the size has been shrinking exponentially since. If you're trying to be conscious of space and don't want cordless tools that will take up a whole lot of room but can still deliver superior power, then definitely consider DEWALT's Atomic 12v platform, it'll blow your mind.
- Skil- The actual creators of the worm drive saw make some pretty decent cordless power tools. In the past, they were nothing special but with their newer Power Core 12 line, it seems that's all changing. Although not featuring any yard equipment (at least not yet?), all of the batteries in this platform have USB ports built-in so you can charge other devices if you're in a bind. So you'll still have some utility to the batteries themselves. Plus the decent line of additional cordless power tools you have to choose from at a very reasonable price.
- Black & Decker- Black & Decker has been manufacturing quality homeowner-grade tools for a very long time. They have a full line of cordless tools and even lawn equipment that's perfect for homeowners on more of a budget. I personally own a 40v string trimmer and I absolutely love it. You can find Black & Decker at virtually any hardware store that sells cordless tools in the US.
