Proper Air Tools to Complete a Job
At the start of any project one of the most important things that you must do before you start is to make sure that you have the proper tools to complete the job. How many times have you started a project, had all the materials together and begun to work when you realize that you are missing a critical tool to complete the job. Even more frustrating than this, is getting to the worksite, only to discover that you don't have electricity to run the Air Tools. Of course you could always bring a long a generator and some extension cords to the worksite, but rest assured, there is an easier way.
The answer to the electricity issue is to buy cordless power tools. Instead of having to plug them into an electrical outlet, they have a battery pack attached that allows them to be charged, used and then recharged again. No need for electricity on the job site. Often carpenters and other tradesmen will use power tool everyday, including cordless impact wrenches, rotary hammers, jigsaws, and cordless circular saws, to name just a few.
Cordless power tools were first introduced to the market in the late 1970's, usually with a 7.2V battery pack, which unfortunately did not last very long, especially when using them quite hard.
Over the years, battery technology moved forward and power tools eventually became available with a 24V battery pack, which is much more powerful.
When purchasing a cordless air tool, there are a few key factors to consider when making the purchase.
First, you want to make sure that you buy a tool that is powerful enough for your needs. If you are a professional contractor, opting for a higher powered, 24V power tool is likely the best, however this is not always true. Often times, as the size of the battery pack increases, so does the size and weight of the tool. This is often very true with something like a cordless drill. You can buy the most powerful drill, but if it's too large to use, you may be frustrated.
This brings us to the second point – comfort. You must be comfortable with the size and weight of the tool when you purchase it. Consider whether you can easily carry and use this tool all day. Lastly, look at the accessories for that particular tool. For instance, many cordless power tools will come with 2 battery packs, which is very handy. Newer cordless power tools can recharge a battery fast enough so that while one battery is in the charger, the other can be in use and you just keep rotating batteries.
Like many other products, you get what you pay for when buying cordless power tools. Many inferior products have been made and sell for significantly less than a quality, brand name cordless power tool. Quite often, there's a reason why these tools are so inexpensive. They have been made with inferior materials and the battery may not last as long as a quality cordless power tool made by a large company like DeWalt, Makita or Milwaukee.