Ranked best-of lists for power tools, curated so you can buy in minutes
Ranked best-of lists for power tools, curated so you can buy in minutes
Makita LXT and Ridgid 18V are both broad cordless platforms, but they suit different buying priorities. Makita has a much larger selection of compatible tools and batteries, including specialist and outdoor equipment. Ridgid offers a capable core lineup and can be a good value, especially when a kit or promotion includes batteries and a charger. […]
DeWalt’s 20V MAX and Bosch’s 18V platforms both use lithium-ion batteries, and both cover the cordless tools most homeowners and many tradespeople need. The voltage labels don’t indicate a meaningful difference in everyday power: DeWalt’s “20V MAX” is the maximum voltage of a five-cell battery pack; its nominal voltage is 18V, like Bosch’s 18V packs. […]
Choosing between Milwaukee M18 and Makita 18V LXT is less about the voltage printed on the battery and more about which tool system you want to own for the next five to ten years. Both platforms use lithium-ion batteries rated at 18 volts nominally (20 volts maximum when fully charged), and both cover drills, impact […]
Choosing a Cordless Heat Gun A cordless heat gun is useful when a cord would snag, a vehicle or work area has no outlet, or the job takes only a short burst of heat. Typical tasks include shrinking electrical tubing, loosening labels and adhesive, and warming small plastic parts. For long sessions or large surfaces, […]
Cordless soldering irons are useful for service work when an outlet is out of reach: repairing a sensor lead, touching up a low-voltage connection, or making a quick joint in a vehicle or control cabinet. They are not a substitute for a temperature-controlled bench station. Tip temperature, recovery time, and battery runtime are harder to […]
What to expect from a tool-battery vacuum A cordless handheld vacuum that uses a power-tool battery can be a sensible shop or vehicle cleanup tool, especially if you already own batteries and a charger on that platform. The trade-off is size: most are bulkier and heavier than a small household handheld, and many are designed […]
A cordless torque wrench is useful when a fastener needs a specified tightening torque, not just a strong turn. The catch: many tools sold as “torque wrenches” are impact wrenches with torque-control modes. Those modes can help prevent overtightening, but they do not automatically make the tool a calibrated torque wrench. Choose based on the […]
For plastic plumbing repairs, a cordless pipe cutter is most useful when you have several cuts to make, limited hand strength, or a cramped work area. It is not automatically better than a manual ratcheting cutter. A powered tool costs more, adds battery weight, and can make a poor cut quickly if the blade is […]
Large electrical lugs need a crimper that can deliver repeatable force, fit the lug and conductor, and make a complete crimp without relying on hand strength. Cordless hydraulic crimpers do that with a battery-powered pump and interchangeable dies. They save time on repeated jobs, but they are expensive, bulky, and only dependable when the tool, […]
A cordless knockout tool is worth buying when conduit holes are frequent, large, or awkward to reach. For occasional holes in thin steel, a manual draw stud and ratchet cost less and need no charged battery. For repeated work, a battery-powered hydraulic tool can pull a punch through without the long hand effort—and usually makes […]
