Battery operated tools

[tablesawtom]

I am on the Makita battery platform. I am very happy with all of the tools I have purchased on this platform. I also other brands and all require different chargers. But it would be nice to have just one battery fits all. I am also on the 12 volt t Bosch system Love the drills and impact drivers. I believe Milwaukee also has a 12 volt system. 

There are a lot of other great tool manufacturers and if you happen to be on a different battery platform great. I have nothing bad to say about any of them. 

Now this is just me personally and it has nothing to do with how you do it or what you think. I tend to get engrossed in a project and do not pay any attention to what happens around me. Take sanding for instance. Usually one goes from one grit size to finer grit size and then finer one. I am referencing  ROS sander. I prefer hook and loop and in the past I take one disc off and put a finer one on. As I said get engrossed and if I wish to go back to a courser grit, I find that grit that was on my bench has gotten on my disc rendering it impossible to put back on without a lot of tedious labor. So a new sanding disc is put on the sander. For me it is real easy to go through a lot of sanding discs and if you live 17 miles from the nearest stop light you don't just run to the nearest store and get some.  

My three main grits are 100, 120 and 150. NOTE: I didn't say I don't go higher at times. And I have found that it is easier to change sanders than to change grits. and it is more cost effective over time because discs tend to get used completely up. I have 4 sanders with the grit written on them. 

I my line of work if I work to say plus or minus .015 it doesn't take as long as when I work to plus or minus .001. One can triple the time. and when I have to work to plus or minus .0001  you can add another 3 time as long as it takes to get to .001, not to mention getting it within .001 and then heat sinking it before going to the finish. 

What I am  saying is one doesn't need a $500 ROS sander to sand with a 100 grit disc. So it is easier, over time to buy in my case 4 sanders.

[tablesawtom]

Having written all of the above I was building a job and switching sanders back and forth I got the cords all tangled up and while untangling cords one ended up on the floor and so on. Then the light came on why not go Battery.
Now, which one. The Makita looked cumbersome and top heavy at Home Depot. I stopped into a Rockler store and asked about the sander. I was a long way from home. Anyway I personally tied one. I found I really liked it enough to buy it. ALL the reasons for not buying it evaporated into thin air. In my opinion one doesn't get done sanding any faster putting down ward pressure on a sander. actually just the weight of the sander alone is sufficient to do the sanding. The sander looked balky I found out it didn't rally matter

Now the first battery sander I bought was a Bosch sander. Personally I didn't like the feel of the 18 volt sander but I really liked the 12 volt sander and that is what caused the battery sander in the first place and it has 180 grit on it.

If and I say If you are a hobbyist and considering a sander you might want to consider a battery sander. I am before battery powered  tools so I have both corded and uncorded sanders and  would encourage you to consider battery powered sanders. Don't need an electric outlet close by or extension cord. Cords can't get tangled and so on. and you won't have to consider replacing perfectly good sander.  

So my recommendation is to consider battery sanders and palm routers and to stay with what ever battery platform you chose. So you might want to look over all the tools available in a particular platform before beginning. 

Tom

[R Clark]

My first battery tool set was Makita-branded.  It was the 10.8V Li-Ion drill and associated driver.  I ran those tools for many years, even building a pergola and gate arbor with them.  I liked them alot.  I bought after market batteries frmo eBay and got some more use out of them.  They fit my hands very well, and like many of us, I just couldn't give up on that set; they were like old friends and work partners.  That set is still in the basement for chores around the house.

When I wanted to expand, I bought into Milwaukee 12V units.  I've got several of them now.  I'm looking to add a battery ratchet unit for my mechanicing needs.

I did have an old Hitachi 18V drill.  BIG and heavy.  But the batteries gave up and aftermarket batteries didn't last very long.

Then my wife wanted a few battery operated tools for flower bed and garden work.  I bought into Ryobi's One+ system, and decided to do that my hobbyist wood shop, too.  I know many won't buy Ryobi, opting for DeWalt or Milwaukee instead.  But I'm not making my living with these tools and Ryobi One+ line is very extensive for all sorts of jobs around shop and the acreage.

I'm considering a Ryobi 18V brad nailer.

My Ridgid corded ROS gave up the ghost a few months ago.  I just spent some "quality time" with my DeWalt ROS; the switch on it is failing, and it's never been a  very good sander anyway.  I think I'm going to jump in on a Ryobi ROS, and go cordless with that.  I'll probably add a Ryobi impact wrench, too.

[jteneyck]

I can see the benefit of a cordless sander for light duty work that only takes a few minutes.  For serious work that takes a long time, I'll stick with my corded 6" ROS.  

So thanks for nothing, Tom.  Now you've got me thinking about buying a cordless sander.  

John

[tablesawtom]

I can see the benefit of a cordless sander for light duty work that only takes a few minutes.  For serious work that takes a long time, I'll stick with my corded 6" ROS.  

So thanks for nothing, Tom.  Now you've got me thinking about buying a cordless sander.  

John

John,

I can sand all day, just change batteries it is not just for light work. And I do take sanding seriously. I do not have a corded 6" sander but there are times it would be nice. On black Friday buy two 5 amp hour batteries and get a free tool. It doesn't take long to collect several. And you are welcome about considering a cordless sander. It is all I reach for now.

Tom

[tablesawtom]

The problem with the older battery sets were the batteries. The old aftermarket batteries were even worse. Today the major brands have the lithium batteries and the manufactures like them to be used in several of their tools.  

I just happen to be on the Makita's platform. But Ryobi tools offer a lot of different tools at a more reasonable cost. It just depends on how much you plan on using them. I do not have any experience with Ryobi. But I am sure they will preform very nicely. Thanks for commenting.  

Just remember everything in life is a choice. One even decides to get up or stay in bed, it is a choice.. And one mans junk is another mans treasure. 

Tom

[museumguy]

I bought a Ryobi battery adapter that accepts Makita batteries. I currently have 2 Ryobi tools but only my Makita batteries. So far, I am very happy.

[fredhargis]

For me I always have a vac plugged into my sander anyway, having a power cord doesn't seem to be that much of a problem. I've enerally moved away from battery powered tools except for drills/drivers. But as suggested above, to each their own.

[tablesawtom]

For me I always have a vac plugged into my sander anyway, having a power cord doesn't seem to be that much of a problem. I've enerally moved away from battery powered tools except for drills/drivers. But as suggested above, to each their own.

Are you suggesting that all of the engineers at the various tool companies can't do their job and design an effective sanding dust bag that comes with the sander. Because I have never purchased a sander that didn't have one in the box. In other words, according to you, they are selling sub standard safety equipment. And that to catch all the dust that is generated, one must have it hooked up to either a Dust Separator or a shop vac. Do they or do they not meat OSHA standards.  One must protect their lungs from every particle of dust, but because of the noise levels of separators or a shop vac, it is okay to destroy your hearing. I have a hearing disability from the Navy. And it happens over time. The body is perfectly capable of handling small dust participles, but hearing damage never gets better. Have you ever been outside on a dusty day and you are still alive. 

If you smoke, please have the decency not to respond to a little dust. If you wear hearing protection 100? of the time Okay, but be honest. If you offend one time you are a, I will leave it blank. 

Companies who make dust separators want you to think that you have have to capture up all the fine dust. Companies like Rockler will be more that happy to sell you all the hoses and attachments so you can drag a hose behind you when you sand. The first step in the game is to make you afraid of it. And then if we get it all, we don't have to clean up. It is all taken care off. 

It is easy to write ( I ALWAYS ) But my question is how do you get it all when finishing the sanding project by hand ?

But to each his own

Tom

[MstrCarpenter]

I use duplicate tools to save time too; D.A. and belt sanders, skill saws (Makita 5007's) at 45° & 90° for stair skirts, drills with pilot, clearance, and countersink. Sawzalls for wood and metal (nails), framing and sheathing (even though both guns could take either nails) and to top the list I used two Bosch flush cutters last week just because it's faster than flipping the blade over. I even prefer two chop saws set up for standing trim and baseboard.

I think I've shown that I like to save time when possible.  I have many cordless tools too; doubles of most and 6 each of the Dewalt drills and impact drivers. I use them all to save time, but I have to say that the corded versions always outperform the battery versions for me. I'll deal with tangled cords if/when they slow production. Which brings me to my pet peeve. I hate it when I pull the trigger to discover the tool is unplugged. Especially the 5007. That's right up there with one screw half-way in a wall cabinet when the battery quits! 

I'm not saying anyone is wrong to prefer cordless sanders, just that they're not my preference for what I do. My first D.A. sanders were pneumatic, as that was all that was available back then. I still use them in the shop, hooked up to their own hoses too.