Power tools are very expensive, and when said and done, all tools can be a huge expense. So when shopping for a power tool, not only do you want to make sure you’re getting the most for your money, but you also want to make sure you’re buying the right power tool. You don’t want to buy a tool that is overpowered or worse, underpowered. So when you buy a power tool, you want to see the important aspects of the tools, and this can be confusing at times. An important question to ask yourself is: “What type of user am I?” Once you figure this out, choosing the right brand is much easier. Once you’ve decided what type of user you are, you need to consider a few important things like cable vs. wireless, amps and horsepower, return policies and more.
Type of user
A power tool is an extension of your hands, like Edward Scissor Hands. If you have the right tool and a quality tool, you can create or fix just about anything. An important question to ask yourself is: “What type of user am I?” If you are a lightweight home user, you can get away with a less expensive brand like Black and Decker. A light home user will probably not make much use and abuse of tools and power is not a big deal. Remember that more power generally means more weight on the tool. Black and Decker designs its tools for light use by homeowners. They are built with quality and are inexpensive.
If you’re not a light-weight homeowner, but not a serious user, Craftsman is an exceptional tool. Craftsman has other companies that make these tools for them; you can see their manufacturers through the source code. Craftsman makes a good quality tool that has many features and good power. Also, they have an excellent return policy if something happens or you are not satisfied with the tool.
If you are a serious home user or contractor, choose a good brand like Milwaukee, Dewalt, Bosch, Porter Cable, or Makita. These manufacturers pride themselves on making the best tool. They constantly invest money in their research and development process to further improve these tools. These professional power tools cost more, but are made with better technology and materials. They also have a better design that causes less user fatigue. Not to mention, these tools are made to last a lifetime.
Quality tool
The tools mentioned above are good quality tools. I would suggest sticking with one of the older manufacturers for a couple of different reasons, but the main reason is efficiency. These power tools will last you a lifetime. They are designed by companies that have been in business for a long time and are familiar with power tools. They understand quality, safety, and what makes a good tool. These are more efficient, which means that they can actually transfer more power from the input or battery to the output. This means less work for the user and less frustration. If you want to learn more about the difference between cheap power tools and professional power tools, check out this article.
Wired Vs. Wireless
Corded power tools tend to have a bit more power, while cordless ones have the versatility. At least this is the case now. Milwaukee just released a new battery technology that could change everything. Cordless power tools are becoming more common as they increase their power and reduce the overall weight of the tool. I would suggest going with a cordless tool due to its versatility. The only reason to opt for a corded tool is if you will be using it for long periods of time or if the tool you are looking for has substantially higher capacity in the corded version.
Return policy
Power tools are expensive and I don’t care how carefully a company looks for defects, they will always miss one or two. You never know what will happen. These companies do a very good job and have very low returns on their products, but as a consumer you always want to be prepared. I would suggest going with a store that has an exceptional return policy, like Amazon. They have been voted one of the most return friendly stores year after year. Amazon is also a good place to go because it has user ratings from real people who have used the tools. Just make sure you know their return policy of whatever store you shop at.