Here’s the new class of cordless tools for your outdoor tasks

Professional carpenters, mechanics and those of us who work around the home, cabin or yard, are unplugging in favor of cordless tools. Some of us are even replacing gas-powered lawn mowers, chainsaws and other outdoor lawn and garden equipment with battery power.

However, outfitting your workshop with a set of cordless power tools that can handle all the projects on your to-do list is a pretty big investment. One way to make that endeavor more affordable is to stick with a single brand. Lithium-ion batteries, which aren’t interchangeable between tool brands, make up a big chunk of the cost, so having one that works with a variety of bare tools is a smart strategy.

These days, virtually every power tool comes in a cordless form – drills, circular saws, impact drivers, reciprocating saws, sanders – you name it. While impact drivers, drills, and reciprocating saws are common among the varying cordless power tool brands, specialty tools are not.

Woodworking tools like cordless biscuit joiners, planers, cordless ratchets and pin nailers are less common and are only offered by select battery tool systems. If your projects demand these specialty tools, look for a brand that offers them.

Combination sets

Whether you’re building an arsenal of battery-powered tools from scratch or upgrading an existing collection, combination tool sets are the most cost-effective way to fill a tool chest or work space.

That’s because you typically save quite a bit of money when you purchase a battery-powered tool set with four or more tools when compared to buying each tool individually. Plus, these sets frequently include two batteries, a charger, and a handy carrying bag, all of which add value.

That’s not to say that all tool sets are a great deal. Some include too many cheap filler tools to make them look like a better deal than they really are. Tool brands also may include lower tier models of certain tools in their combination sets.

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The best sets have tools that see a lot of action – drill/drivers, impact drivers, circular saws and reciprocating saws. Secondary tools that are nice to have in a larger set include orbital sanders, oscillating tools and jigsaws. Many combination sets also come with bits, saw blades and other accessories, so each tool is ready to use out of the box.

Most sets include extra tools that add to the set, but are less valuable than the aforementioned tools, including flashlights and Bluetooth speakers. Beware of sets with too many of these cheaper filler tools, as they typically don’t offer the same value as those with a solid lineup of core battery-powered tools.

Batteries, chargers, motors

Given how much rechargeable lithium ion batteries cost, pay attention to how many batteries a set includes. Most come with at least two.

The batteries that tool brands include in their combo sets are typically the lower capacity, 2.0 amp-hour (Ah) variety, though some sets offer larger capacity batteries up to 5Ah.

Battery chargers also vary.

Some sets will include basic chargers, while others come with higher-end, fast chargers that fully recharge batteries in as little as 45 minutes.

Battery-powered tool motors come in brushless and brushed varieties. Brushless motors produce less friction, which results in better overall performance (including higher torque and faster RPMs).

Tools with brushless motors also wear better than those with brushed motors, which means they’ll last longer. While brushless motors are superior, those tools come with a higher price tag. Most cordless tool combo sets include tools that are either all brushed or all brushless.

Understanding a tool brand’s target market is key to finding the right battery tool system that works for you. While some brands cater mainly to professionals, most offer reasonably priced tools that may not cut it for pros, but offer more than enough power and durability for the home workshop.

Popular reputable brands include Milwaukee, DeWalt, FLEX, and Craftsman.

Into the outdoors

If you plan to go with cordless outdoor power equipment – things like lawn mowers, chainsaws, string trimmers, and leaf blowers – then it may make sense to choose a battery tool system that offers cordless workshop tools and outdoor equipment.

This is basically the path I followed, with one exception. Like most, I started with a cordless drill/driver. My current model is a Black & Decker with a 14-volt battery. It also has an accessory reciprocating saw.

Next, I wanted battery-powered outdoor equipment.

I decided to try a WORX leaf blower with a 20-volt battery for removing leaves and grass from our composite deck and paved driveway, and was able to do both on one battery charge.

It worked so well that I added a string trimmer that converts to a wheeled lawn edger. The trimmer head also tilts up to 90 degrees for clean cuts at any angle. It came with two batteries, which provided enough power to trim around the house, trees, and storage buildings.

Next, I added a WORX pressure washer, which I’ve used more than I expected for washing cars, UTVs, and tractors.

While it doesn’t have the power of electric or gas models, it’s especially efficient in removing road salt and rinsing off soapy water.

I also have a 10-inch chainsaw that converts to a pole saw, and extends my reach by 8 feet. It works well at removing tree limbs and branches up to 4 inches in diameter. I’ve used it in conjunction with my 16-inch gas chainsaw and as a standalone saw around the yard and in the woods.

My most recent purchase was an impact driver that efficiently attaches screws to most wood without the need to drill pilot holes. The same 20-volt batteries power all the tools.

The company also offers a larger 40-volt chainsaw and an 80-volt lawnmower. The same batteries power these tools by simply adding more batteries. Although WORX tools may not be as familiar as some other brands, the tools and outdoor equipment have worked well for me. I bought the tools with batteries, but tools also can be purchased without batteries at substantial savings.

Other top outdoor picks

Stihl features a full line of battery-powered chainsaws and other equipment. EGO offers a 56-volt, 22-inch aluminum self-propelled mower. ECHO offers a 56-volt, 21-inch self-propelled mower, and Greenworks has a 60-volt, 21-inch self-propelled RazorCut mower.

The EGO POWER+ 22-inch aluminum deck self-propelled lawn mower delivers powerful cutting performance with its aluminum deck design, 11.1 foot pounds of torque and 3,350 RPM for increased lift.

XGT is Makita’s most powerful handheld solution for landscaping, with 40-volt and 80-volt max lawn mowers, blowers, trimmers, chainsaws and more. XGT also offers a range of compatible handheld tools with 125 total products. The LXT System offers more than 325 products powered by the same fast-charging 18V batteries.

Don’t overspend

It’s easy to fall into the trap of overspending by investing in high-performance power tools designed to meet the demands of a professional worksite.

If your tools aren’t going to see daily use and your projects don’t involve boring holes through concrete or driving 3-inch lag bolts into 6x6s in 2 seconds flat, there’s no reason to splurge.