Iggy the Trained Shop Monkey is swinging from the rafters this week – appreciating the dexterity of his tail. While hanging from the lumber rack, he got an idea for this week’s entry and it involves a tool with a tail!
The top five reasons why you should still own a corded drill even though cordless models are so good:
- You never have to wait for batteries to recharge. Unless you plan on woodworking in some out-of-the-way location or during a blackout, there’s always plenty of power available to you.
- Corded drills typically spin at much higher rates that cordless models. Higher speed is a good thing for drilling pocket screws, doweling, mortising and other shop tasks.
- You can use the cord as part of an elaborate booby trap should someone try to break into your shop after hours.
- High quality corded drills sell for much less than high quality cordless models. That leaves you more money to spend on a kick-butt set of forstner bits.
- Corded models can be lighter than cordless NiCad powered drills. After drilling all day, your shoulders and arms will thank you.
I have a couple nice corded drills for a few of the reasons you mentioned. My cordless is fine if I’m just doing a couple things, but if I plan to do a bunch of hand drilling, I break out the corded tool.
I have one behemoth corded model that I don’t use too often, but when the job requires TORQUE, it delivers.
(I’m talking “change the earth’s rotation” kind of torque)! lol
And one ancient one that was my father’s which I intend to hand down to my sons.
The other four are cordless and get used mercilessly.
I have two cordless drills and one corded, and honestly the corded is the one I grab 90% of the time. I don’t have to worry about the battery charge (plus I don’t like leaving batteries plugged in 24/7) plus it almost always seems like the corded is able to do the job faster than the cordless ones. About the only time I grab the cordless is when I’m not going to be near a power outlet, and even then I’ve had cases where I thought the work was worth running an extension cord.