CORDLESS TOOLS: Three New Kinds You’ve Probably Never Used – Yet

Power tool technology is the same as every other kind of advancement in the world. New stuff is expensive and exclusive at first, then it gets cheaper and more widely available over time. So what kind of new and interesting professional-grade tools show the future of tools for mainstream do-it-yourselfers? The newest wave of innovation happening out there now involves cordless power tools that used to have a cord but don’t anymore, and one of the most recent and impressive is an air compressor.

Cordless Air Compressors

It’s surprising how much handier a small air compressor is when you don’t have to fumble with a power cord. That’s the first thing I noticed about DEWALT’s FLEXVOLT 60V DCC2560T1 cordless compressor when I tried it out a few years ago. This tool takes the same batteries as the rest of the cordless tools in DEWALT’s 60V line, and it works pretty much like any other small plugin compressor I’ve used  – except no cord. It’s more than powerful enough to support single-gun finish nailing, and it can operate a framing nailer if you’re not squeezing off shots full tilt. Weighing 25.0 lbs including battery on my scale, the DCC2560T1 puts out 1.2 cubic feet per minute of air at operating pressure. The only time it can’t quite keep up with trim work is when you’re using multiple guns for bulk jobs such as running baseboard.  No big deal though, especially for a home user.

One of my favourite bonus uses for this compressor is topping up vehicle tires. It has no trouble firming up the largest pickup truck tire in short order no matter where you’re parked. Noise-wise, this compressor puts out the same decibels as a typical small portable plug-in model. It has become my favourite.

Cordless Miter Saws

Cordless mitre saws aren’t a brand new idea, but the appearance of a new model does mean this type of tool is moving more into the main stream. Milwaukee’s M18 2733-20 is also the lightest weight cordless saw I’ve seen,  weighing 28.4 lbs on my scale with a 9.0 amp-hour battery on board, blade and dust bag. Since decent cordless mitre saws came out a few years ago, I do most of my mitres and crosscuts cordless, and I find the Milwaukee easy to like. The LED work light comes on automatically when you hit the trigger, or you can switch it on manually. The shadow cast by the blade shows you exactly where both sides of the cut will happen. This makes it a whole lot easier to cut accurately when it really matters. I’m not exactly sure why, but I can cut more accurately with this saw than any of the handful of mitre saws I have in my shop. The sliding design also lets the 7 1/4” blade cut a maximum of 8 1/2” of width at 90º, and the motor is powerful enough to easily chew through 2”-thick rough cherry in my tests.

The video above shows how I used the Milwaukee cordless mitre saw to install trim in a cabinetmaking project I was working on back in 2018. This video isn’t specifically about the Milwaukee cordless saw (it’s actually a detailed lesson in cutting mitre joints precisely), but you do get to see this machine close up and in action. It’s one of the very nicest small mitre saws I’ve ever used for precision work. The LED blade illumination light works exceptionally well, and the blade brake stops the spinning blade in a moment when you release the trigger. Small, light, compact and lasts for more than one day of trim work without recharging using the 9 amp-hour battery.

Cordless Impact Wrenches

Cordless impact wrenches are tools similar to impact drivers made to drive deck screws, but they’re stronger and designed to tighten and loosen bolts and nuts using the same sockets that go on hand wrenches. Think of those air wrenches you hear grinding away in auto garages, except cordless impact wrenches use batteries and need no air hose. They’re also quieter than air wrenches. I’ve introduced two auto mechanics to cordless impact wrenches over the last few years, and both tell me they hardly use their air wrenches any more.

Although I don’t know many handy homeowners who own cordless impact wrenches just yet, I’m sure that’ll change. These tools make quicker more enjoyable work when changing tires or working on machinery. One guy I know restores cars and his cordless impact wrench makes it a whole lot easier to salvage old parts from the junkyard. If you’re the kind of person who likes to make things happen with your hands, the world of cordless tools makes for a pretty bright future.