The Best Power Tools
You only come to truly appreciate power tools when you have to do home improvement work without them. In mere minutes, these handy devices can take care of jobs that once took days. Whether you're looking for a quicker way to screw in some cabinets, a less expensive way to saw some planks, or an efficient alternative to a hammer and nails, there's a power tool that can help you achieve it. If you're new to home improvement work and need some advice on what power tools are worth your money, let our list of the best power tools on the market be your guide to better household handiwork.
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Impact Wrench
Bolt wrenching
An impact wrench is an essential power tool for any car person to have in their garage. If you’ve ever wondered how mechanics can twist those ultra-fastened bolts off your car tires in seconds, that is thanks to the impact wrench. Milwaukee’s impact wrench is an impressive, high-torque power tool that can remove unyielding bolts twice as fast as its nearest competition. Between Milwaukee’s RedLithium batteries that provide exceptional longevity and its Redlink Plus intelligent battery protection feature, you can rest assured that you’ll get a lot of mileage out of this device. Not to mention, Milwaukee’s friction ring allows for speedy socket changes that’ll keep your productivity riding high.
Pros:
- The fastest way to take bolts off car tires
- Great batteries and battery protection
- Friction ring for easy socket change
Cons:
- Limited uses
Black+Decker 20V Max Cordless Drill
Drill, baby, drill
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more recognizable power tool than a power drill made by Black+Decker, one of the most recognizable brand names in the business. As per usual, Black+Decker doesn’t disappoint with this 20V cordless drill/bit kit combo. Incredibly, this power drill can hold a single charge for up to 18 months. With that kind of battery life, you might as well throw the charger away altogether (though we certainly wouldn’t suggest that). Included with the cordless drill comes a bit kit set with 30 bits. The bits range from long drill bits of various shapes to shorter driver bits for high-torque situations. Black+Decker’s drill also comes with a soft handgrip that makes the drilling and driving experience far more comfortable, preventing many potential blisters in your future.
Pros:
- Holds a charge up to 18 months
- Comes with an extensive 30-piece drill/driver bit kit
- Affordable
Cons:
- Does not feature an LED light, which makes it hard to drill in low light areas of your home
Milwaukee M12 Fuel Power RatchetÂ
Ratchet and crank
The power ratchet is a misunderstood and criminally underused power tool. Milwaukee’s power ratchet performs essentially the same function as an impact wrench. While an impact wrench might have more torque to offer when removing bolts, this slender power ratchet can fit into much tighter spaces than the comparatively bulky impact wrench. Milwaukee’s power ratchet might not be able to compete with an impact wrench, but it beats out most other comparable power ratchets in terms of torque. At 55 foot-pounds of torque, this Milwaukee power ratchet punches way above its weight class.
Pros:
- High torque output for a power ratchet
- It can fit into tight spaces
- Highly durable build
Cons:
- The head may be too big to fit into very narrow spaces for bolt removal
Tacklife TCS115A Circular Saw
See it, saw it
Tacklife’s circular saw is the ideal happy medium between small handheld saws and workshop-based beasts like the table saw. With the circular saw, you can get some of the power of larger saws without the bulk (and the multi-thousand dollar price tag). Accuracy is also something Tacklife takes seriously. That’s why there’s a laser guide installed on this circular saw. The laser guide makes smooth straight cuts feel much more attainable to even novice users. What’s more, Tacklife’s double protection switch provides two measures of defense against potential injuries.
Pros:
- Laser guide installed for accuracy
- Double protection safety switch
- Ergonomic grip prevents fatigue during use
Cons:
- The laser guide runs on a separate battery
Craftsman V20 Cordless Brad Nailer Kit 18GA
Nailed it
Craftsman’s V20 cordless brad nailer is a much-needed electric update on bulky, expensive, and inaccessible gas and compression nailers. Craftsman’s nailer is smaller, easier to use, and far less expensive to operate. Not to mention, its electric power source allows this nailer to perform well in all climates, whereas traditional nailers might falter under certain conditions. And thanks to Craftsman’s tool-free jam and stall settings, it’s very difficult for this nailer to experience lock-ups or jams.
Pros:
- More reliable and easy to use than traditional nailers
- Prevents jams and lock-ups
Cons:
- Only shoots finishing nails
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some other types of power tools?
Aside from the more widely-known power tools like drills, impact wrenches, hand saws, and nailers, there are plenty of other kinds. To name a few: belt sanders are used for quickly sanding and finishing wood. Routers are used for cutting grooves and designs into the sides of wood planks. Air compressors are used to pump air into tires or difficult to reach spaces for cleaning. Heat guns use hot air to peel off old paint and bend rigid plastics.
What’s the difference between an impact wrench and a power drill?
Impact wrenches are used for loosening or tightening heavy-duty bolts and fasteners. A common use for impact wrenches is for pulling bolts off of car tires to replace flats. Power drills, on the other hand, are primarily used for drilling screws into wood. These two tools may look very similar to the untrained eye, but they perform very different functions.