We recently added more work space to our shop. While we enjoy the luxury of having sufficient room, the need to route new air lines for pneumatic tools into and around the addition didn’t sound like fun. This is when we realized that over the last couple of years, we’ve been minimizing the use of air-driven tools in favor of more convenient and less cumbersome cordless versions.

Our cordless conversion started when a friend introduced us to a slick Milwaukee 3/8-inch drive ratchet. It became our new favorite tool—it’s light, easy to maneuver, and doesn’t need a heavy, cumbersome air line. The first time I used it, I immediately had to have one of my own—and now own two. This pushed me to invest in more Milwaukee tools, mainly so I could use one charging station to keep the batteries energized.

This also led us to wonder if going cordless would be perfect for someone setting up their first shop. Don’t get us wrong. There will always be a need for compressed air for inflating tires, running heavy duty impact guns and drills, spraying paint, and other jobs that require a lot of power.

But consider this scenario: You are a younger hot rodder with a limited budget. The car wants all kinds of expensive parts, but you also need tools to screw all that stuff together. Going cordless is a fairly inexpensive option to get the tools needed to tackle most jobs around the shop. You can add air tools and a compressor as your car-crafting skills improve and project requirements increase. The idea is to maximize your investment.

The Best Mix

So what mix of cordless, air, and even corded tools is ideal? That depends on what your needs are, of course. We’ve put together a list of tools that can tackle most every job a home shop would encounter. You don’t need to get everything at once—start with the basics and add to your collection as the need arises.

Cordless Tools
• 3/8-inch ratchet
• 3/8-inch impact
• 1/2-inch impact
• 1/4-inch impact
• 1/4-inch collet die grinder                 
• Right angle, short reach drill             
• Metal cutting circular saw
• Small reciprocating saw
• Sheetmetal nibbler
• Small cut-off tool
• Paint buffer
• Small vacuum
• Portable air compressor
• Handheld, underhood, and other LED lighting

Air Tools
• 1/2-inch impact
• 3/8-inch ratchet
• 1/4-inch die grinder
• Right angle drill
• Sander
• Paint gun
• Paint buffer
• Air nozzle

Corded Electric Tools
• 1/2-inch drill
• Paint buffer
• Bench grinder/wire wheel/sander
• Right angle grinder

About Those Batteries

Most cordless tools on the market run on batteries rated at 18 to 20 volts. They offer a lot of power and quick recharging times. A 20-volt impact gun will generally offer more torque than a 12-volt version. This is one case where more is better.

Another side of the battery power question is something called the amp-hour (ah) rating. For example, Milwaukee offers its REDLITHIUM M18 18-volt batteries rated at 3.0, 5.0, 6.0, and even 12.0 ah.  The difference is the capacity of the battery for storing amperage that can be delivered over a given period of time.

Batteries with higher ah ratings offer more storage capacity than lower-rated batteries. They’re also larger, more expensive, and take longer to recharge. What you get in return is a battery that will generally deliver more power over a longer working period. This is a very generalized statement but several on-line testing sites support this evaluation.

As an example, let’s say we have an 18-volt drill that demands one amp per hour. If we power this tool with a 5ah battery, we can expect this drill to operate for five hours. If we powered a tool demanding four amps with a battery rated at 8ah, we could expect the tool to function for nearly two hours.

These examples are based on ideal conditions that rarely exist in the real world, but they give you an idea of how long you can expect batteries to last. The best way to minimize downtime is using having an extra battery or two on a charger ready to go.

Let’s take a look at some of the tools we use in our shop.

Milwaukee Tool 3/8-inch cordless ratchet
This cordless Milwaukee Tool 3/8-inch ratchet is our go-to tool. We have several pneumatic versions but the cumbersome air hose always gets in the way. (Image/Jeff Smith)
Summit Racing 20 volt cordless 1/2-inch impact gun
We can’t talk about power tools without touching on the classic 1/2-inch impact gun. We’ve been playing with Summit Racing’s 20-volt cordless impact gun. The tool’s light weight and small size allow us to use it in places where a big pneumatic gun and air hose can’t reach. The gun can easily achieve 65-70 ft.-lb. of torque on a typical 7/16-20 steel lug nut. (Image/Jeff Smith)
Summit Racing 20 volt cordless angle grinder
This Summit Racing 20-volt right-angle grinder is easy to manage. It’s perfect for small and medium jobs or where a corded power tool isn’t available, like at the race track. (Image/Jeff Smith)
Milwaukee Tool M12 cordless die grinder
This Milwaukee M12 FUEL die grinder offers three spindle speeds. Speed 1 runs the tool at 10,000 RPM for delicate items like wire wheels. Speed 2 is 15,000 RPM, while Speed 3 runs up to 20,000 RPM for cut-off wheels and grinding bits. The tool uses Milwaukee’s M12 REDLITHIUM 12-volt batteries. (Image/Jeff Smith)
DeWalt 1/2-inch corded drill
We use our DeWalt corded 1/2-inch drive drill to pressure-lube engines. We’ve found that lighter-duty 3/8-inch drills don’t work as well. Here’s one place where the additional power of a corded tool is needed. (Image/Jeff Smith)
Milwaukee Tool M12 Hackzall cordless reciprocating saw
We used to use a manual hack saw to trim aluminum or mild steel pieces for custom brackets. Now we use this slick Milwaukee M12 FUEL Hackzall reciprocating saw for these jobs. Milwaukee also makes cordless versions of the classic Sawzall reciprocating saw that fit in tighter spaces and can make quick work of cutting metal like the larger Sawzalls do. We also have a 15-amp corded Milwaukee reciprocating saw for those big jobs. (Image/Jeff Smith)
Milwaukee Tool 1/4-inch impact driver
We use this Milwaukee 1/4-inch drive impact driver for light duty projects like working on carburetors. We also used it to drive Torx head screws into 2×6 wood when building work benches. (Image/Jeff Smith)
Milwaukee REDLITHIUM XC 6.0 batteries
There are plenty of reasons to invest in a larger battery pack. These Milwaukee REDLITHIUM XC 6.0 batteries offer more power than smaller batteries and operate cooler when pushed hard. The two-pack XC 6.0 kit is also substantially less expensive than buying single batteries. (Image/Jeff Smith)
Milwaukee Tool dual battery charger
If you anticipate using cordless tools that take different-size batteries, consider a charger like this Milwaukee dual battery charger. We only charge lithium-ion batteries when we are in the shop–never leave them unattended on the charger. (Image/Jeff Smith)
Milwaukee Tool M18 Top-Off inverter adapter
This Milwaukee M18 Top-Off inverter adapter converts an M18 battery into a power source for charging low-voltage, USB-operated devices like a laptop or cell phone. The inverter also has a 175-watt, 110-volt power outlet for light duty applications. It’s perfect for track days or if the main power in your shop goes out. (Image/Jeff Smith)
Air tools
Even though I’m a big fan of cordless tools, I still keep an assortment of air tools at the ready. Tools like 1/2- and 3/8-inch drive impact guns, air drills, and die grinders can handle really tough jobs that can tax a cordless tool. (Image/Jeff Smith)
Keywords
air tools, cordless tools
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Author: Jeff Smith

Jeff Smith has had a passion for cars since he began working at his grandfather's gas station at the age 10. After graduating from Iowa State University with a journalism degree in 1978, he combined his two passions: cars and writing. Smith began writing for Car Craft magazine in 1979 and became editor in 1984. In 1987, he assumed the role of editor for Hot Rod magazine before returning to his first love of writing technical stories. Since 2003, Jeff has held various positions at Car Craft (including editor), has written books on small block Chevy performance, and even cultivated an impressive collection of 1965 and 1966 Chevelles. Now he serves as a regular contributor to OnAllCylinders.