Battery vs. Electric Power

Which Tool is Right for your Project

In an ideal world DIYers would be able to purchase any tool they desired, but unfortunately most homeowners have to operate on a budget. That usually means you can’t stroll down the power tool aisle of your local home improvement store or browse your favorite online tool website and fill your shopping cart with every model that looks appealing – instead you have to be selective with your purchases.

The good news is that there are a lot of different styles and types of power tools to choose from, but that can also make it difficult to make a final decision when you can only purchase one of each model. One of the biggest dilemmas for many DIYers is whether to go with the traditional electric powered tools or the convenience of battery power offered in an every growing selection of models.

It wasn’t that long ago that this wasn’t a tough decision at all – if you were the type of person who dug out their tools once a month to tighten a doorknob or hang a shelf, battery powered tools were perfectly acceptable, but if you were a serious DIYer or woodworker, only electric power would do. However, times have changed and the capabilities of battery powered tools have advanced tremendously over the past several years. It’s not unusual now to go out on a jobsite where craftsmen make a living with their tools and find many battery powered tools in use on a daily basis.

Why have these professionals made the switch to a type of tool they might have scoffed at in the recent past? The primary reason is convenience – on a jobsite without permanent power, using battery powered tools can eliminate the need for starting up a generator and stringing out an extension cord. The newer high end battery models are just about as durable as professional grade electric power tools and with the high voltages now available, they’re almost as powerful.

So, based on all of these good points, why would someone not choose a battery powered tool for their home workshop over an electric powered model?  The main reasons are power and the length of time a battery can be used before it runs out of juice. Some home improvement projects require all day power and lots of it – if you’re cutting numerous 2” x 8” or 2” x 10” roof rafters for a home addition, an electric powered circular saw is normally preferable to a battery model and the same principle holds true when drilling through many framing members to run wiring, you’ll probably want to reach for an electric drill. Even though great advancements have been made in the performance of battery powered tools, they may not be the best choice for larger projects where all day power is required. Supplemental batteries are always an option for longer running times, but even then the peak performance of electric tools can normally surpass their battery powered counterparts.

If your budget limits you to choosing between electric and battery powered tools, the type of projects you anticipate doing can help make the determination as to which should be in your workshop. Hopefully in the future your choice will be which type to pull off your shelves rather than which to purchase.