Difference Between Corded and Cordless Drills

Should I go for corded or cordless drill? What are difference between corded and cordless drills?

Many people are planning to buy a power drill usually ask themselves these questions repeatedly. Electric drills are versatile power tools preferred by carpenters, contractors, and handymen.

Both corded and cordless drills do more or less the same thing, but each has unique features which make it different from the other. If you set out to buy a drill, then you need to know more about these differences to help you that make the right decision.

Here are difference between corded and cordless drills:

Power Supply

Corded-electric drills are stronger than battery-powered or cordless drills.

They have to be plugged-in to a power source to work. The electricity supply is constant and produces more amperage delivering more power for continued operation. Even the most powerful batteries cannot compare with electricity when it comes to power.

The batteries used with cordless drills are rechargeable and can be shared across multiple cordless tools. The biggest concern with cordless drills is that battery power might run out during a job.

Performance

There is a very thin line when it comes to performance between corded and cordless drills.

Some corded-electric drills have very powerful motors known as brushless motors capable of delivering too much power for a variety of drill applications.

Batteries also can produce a good amount of power, but their relatively less electricity limits their performance to just a few applications that do not require too much power.

Mobility/Portability

Both corded and cordless drills have some level of mobility or portability.

Corded drills have to be plugged-in to an electricity source or outlet. In other words, you must be near an outlet to use this drill. A good way to improve portability is to use a generator mountain vehicle to carry it to your workstation.

The good thing about cordless drills is that you can take them to literally anywhere regardless of the closest power source.

This high level of portability is perhaps the most attractive feature of the battery-powered drills.

Weight

What is difference between corded and cordless drills of weight? Would you like to know? Then know!

Concerning weight, corded-electric drills tend to be lighter than the cordless models.

However, some corded drills have long cords or cables that are as large as 12-gauge making them quite heavy and bulky during use. Such drills are tiresome to use, but they are incredibly powerful.

Cordless models are heavy because of the included batteries. Some models come with two batteries, which add to the weight.

Torque (rotational speed)

Torque is a significant factor when it comes to the performance of power drill.

The greater electricity flow of the corded-electric models produced more torque thus making the drill more powerful and efficient. Less power in cordless models yields lower torque making the less effective compared to their corded counterparts.

This explains why it is hard to find a battery-powered hammer drill that yields enough torque.

Safety

It is hard to think about power tools without thinking about your safety.

Both corded and cordless drills are designed with many safety features. However, the corded models may have very long cords that may tangle during operation.

This may happen if your workstation has a lot of clutter. If the cord crosses a pathway, someone can step on it, and this may be hazardous. Cordless brands do not have such problems.

Durability

Power tools can be quite expensive. Durability is one of the most important determinants of the quality, performance, and price of a power drill.

Corded and cordless drills are made from more or less the same materials. How they function is what determines their durability. The corded drills may function more frequently and for extended periods.

This leads to faster wear and tear. Cordless drills have limited battery life and therefore are seldom used for extended periods.

Price/Affordability

An important factor that will determine whether you should buy a corded or cordless drill is the price.

Cordless or battery-powered drills, especially those featuring the latest battery and motor technology, can be very costly. In fact, cordless tools are the most expensive of the power tools perhaps because of the convenience they give their users.

Usefulness

Corded and cordless drills work the same way. The difference comes in the specific applications they can handle.

Due to their high and consistent torque, corded-electric drills can do anything requiring the use of a drill such as crewing, wallboard installations, and boring holes into different materials.

Cordless drills, on the other hand, may not yield enough torque for some applications such as hammering.

Compatibility

It is a good thing to have several power tools that are compatible with one another to reduce the cost of maintenance by allowing some tools to share simple accessories.
In this regard, cordless drills win.

Several brands of cordless power tools allow you to buy their models without batteries at a reduced cost.

You can then by compatible batteries as accessories. This means you can use just two or so batteries for your whole collection of power tools.

Last Word

Both corded and cordless drills are great power tools whether you are a contractor, carpenter, a homeowner or a handyman.

I believe that you will find this information helpful in your quest to find the best drill based on the difference between corded and cordless drills. Each model has its own pros and cons for your consideration.