Truly cutting the cord

Advances in technology take cordless tools to bigger, more diverse jobs

Just five years ago, cordless drill drivers were considered a novelty on jobsites, but today you’d be hard-pressed to find a toolbox without one. What’s even more dramatic is the number of cordless tools that now sit beside drill drivers, taking on jobs that were once the total domain of corded or even pneumatic power tools.

New battery technologies, engineering refinements and development of new tools are delivering more power to the business end of cordless tools.

The Contractor Tools and Supplies staff asked power tool companies to select the one cordless tool in their line that exemplifies this transfer of power. Their responses are logical and impressive.

Meet the tools that companies cite as the most innovative tools that stretch the use of cordless power:

Panasonic: Impact driver with digital clutch
Drill drivers have long been used to drive screws, but the cordless impact drivers have cut the tool weight by 50 percent and improved power by up to 600 percent, says Doug Bock, Panasonic’s sales manager. Its next generation of  impact driver uses electronics, instead of conventional slip clutch technology, to control speed, torque and drive so users can precisely set fasteners with minimal or no product fastener or finish damage.

The digital clutch technology in Panasonic’s recently introduced EYO7202GQW model automatically stops the bit or socket before over-tightening, even when the switch is still being pulled. A sensor and microcomputer sets operating parameters based on the 16-stage clutch setting and the low, medium or high power setting. Then, as power is applied to the fastener, it maintains torque and speed to tighten the fastener flush or within 1/4 turn of flush. Another quick pull of the switch will turn the driver 1/4 turn, offering the user fine operating control. “This makes fine, flush alignment quick and easy to do, even at high power,” says Bock.

Unlike conventional drill drivers that offer high speed and low torque or low speed and high torque, impact drivers provide low speed, low torque or high speed, high torque. “Our EYO7202GQW model has high torque for faster tightening that allows you to switch between two torque levels – hard mode and soft mode. Hard mode offers approximately 1,060 in.-lbs. of torque for fastening large-diameter bolt and nuts and lag bolts. Soft mode gives you about 711 in.-lbs. to reduce material surface damage and avoid stripping screw heads,” he says.

The higher power-to-weight ratios mean that a 14.4-volt or 12-volt tool can do the work of an 18- or 24-volt drill driver. “The lower weight and the smaller size makes them more comfortable to use and the hammering mechanism transfers little or no trauma back to the user,” Bock adds.

A popular feature is the white LED light with a condenser lens that makes it easy to see while working in a dark place. The light is powered by the battery pack and linked to the trigger switch to prevent it from being left on. It also has a built-in hook that makes it easy to hang the tool from a tool belt. Item No. 135

DeWalt: Finish nailer
DeWalt takes cordless power in a different direction with its four cordless nailers, says Pete Morris, DeWalt director of marketing. The units can shoot 1 1/2" or 2 1/2" 16 gauge finish nails  and are available in four 12/14.4-volt models — the DC612KA, DC613KA, DC614KA and DC615KA; and four 18-volt models — DC616KA, DC617KA, DC618KA and DC619KA.

“Prior to these units, nailers required a compressor and a hose. They really are a corded tool,” says Morris. “The DeWalt cordless nailers use a completely different technology – a flywheel mechanism — that can shoot four or five nails per second and up to 800 nails per battery charge. That kind of capacity can eliminate the compressor and the hose,” he says. “It’s not uncommon for a carpenter to be able to work all day on just two batteries,” he says.

The XRP nailers can be actuated in a sequential operating mode for precision placement or in a bump-operating mode for increased production and speed. The nailers are also available with straight or angled magazines. A six-position depth adjustment wheel allows for quick, easy nail penetration settings and a contact trip lock-off feature that increases safety by preventing accidental discharge when engaged.

Work-surface headlights use long-lasting LEDs that provide high visibility in low-light conditions. A textured grip provides the user with increased comfort and better control.

The units also have an impact-resistant metal top cap that increases durability and facilitates easy access for service and repairs. The nailers have easy tool-free removal of jammed nails. Item No. 136

Milwaukee: Cordless bandsaw
Since Milwaukee introduced its V28 28-volt Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) tool line early in 2004, the tool that has gotten the most notice is the 0729-21 cordless bandsaw. “It operates just like a corded bandsaw, but you don’t have to drag around 50' or 100' of cord,” says Boyd Miller, saw product manager at Milwaukee Electric Tool.

“The tool is a real enabler. Those who have used the tool say they can often get the job finished in the time it would take just to lay out an extension cord,” he says.

Its cutting capacity matches Milwaukee’s corded bandsaw and users report that it cuts just like a corded tool. It can cut conduit or pipe up to 4" in diameter. It also operates at the same cutting speed as Milwaukee’s corded bandsaw, and has a low/high blade speed selector with lock off. Low speed delivers 225 SFPM; at high speed, the unit will run at 350 SFPM. Like other latest generation cordless tools, the unit has LED light to illuminate the cutting zone.

At just under 20 lbs. and with no cord to drag on work, the unit feels balanced and very manageable. The two-finger trigger speed control and comfortable, non-slip, soft grip reduces vibration transfer to the user and in turn, reduces worker fatigue.

Milwaukee attests the unit can make 213 1" conduit cuts, 112 cuts through all-thread, 51 cuts through unistrut and 24 cuts through 2" galvanized pipe on one battery charge. Item No. 137

Makita: Impact drivers
“When it comes to driving fasteners, it’s all about more power and less weight. That’s why impact drivers are gaining popularity over driver-drills,” explains Susan Gibson, marketing specialist for Makita.

Gibson says the impact drivers appeal to a variety of trades because they are very small and are extremely versatile.

Makita offers the 14.4-volt 6935FDWDE and the 12-volt 6980FDWDE impact units. They can be outfitted with a 2.6 or 3 amp hour battery, depending on the runtime desired or the Makita battery packs you may already have.

The 12-volt impact driver delivers 1,110 in.-lbs. of raw torque, three times more than a standard 12-volt cordless driver-drill.

Providing comfort is a soft rubberized grip that prevents slippage to keep the operator in total control. Complimenting the grip is a compact design that allows easy maneuvering in tight places. Only 6 3/8" in length, this driver offers professionals the power and the access to drive screws in locations that were previously impossible, says Gibson.

“The 14.4-volt cordless impact driver offers similar power advantage in a 3.7 lb. package. When compared with a typical 14.4-volt driver-drill, it delivers more than three times more torque and almost twice the rpm, but is lighter and more compact,” says Gibson.

The 14.4-volt unit, at 6 3/8" long, delivers 1,240 in.-lbs. of torque and a top speed of 2,600 rpm. Typical 14.4-volt driver-drills offer only up to 350 in.-lbs of torque and up to 1,400 rpm. The impact drivers’ small size allows them to get into tight working areas. Item No. 138

Bosch Power Tools: Building a better battery
Cordless tool batteries have been a boon and a bane. Users want more power and runtime. That means more weight. Users want longer battery life, measured in charging cycles as well, and that means larger battery packs that can take the rigors of heavy-duty use.

While Milwaukee has stepped into the lithium-ion world of power to attain these, Bosch Power Tools researchers have redoubled their efforts to improve the nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) technology. This has resulted in the development of its Bluecore Ni-Cd battery that can be used in any of its present tools. “The Bluecore 9.6-, 12-, 14.4-, 18- and 24-volt battery packs offer 50 percent more battery life and a 30-minute charging cycle, plus a two year battery warranty,” says Jason Feldner, Bosch Power Tool spokesperson.

The new cells have advanced cooling rods between the battery cells that pull heat away during the charging and discharging cycles.

“This greatly reduces any hot spots in cells that speed up chemical breakdown and cause eventual failure of the cells. The battery packs also have special sensors that communicate to the microprocessor in the charger, which controls energy flow during charging and maximizes battery charge capacity,” says Feldner.

The Bluecore chargers come in single- or dual-bay styles and can charge older-generation Bosch battery packs, he adds. Item No. 139

Published in the September 2005 issue of Contractor Tools and Supplies magazine.

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