5 corded power tools worth keeping, even after you’ve gone cordless

Released Oct 17, 2026, 3:30 PM EDT

Cory Gunther is a senior author and Newsletter Editor at Valnet, covering innovative tech, Android, and more for How-To Geek. He’s covered Android, cars and trucks, and innovation for over a years. When he’s not evaluating the current device, you can discover him off-roading in his Toyota truck, repairing stated truck, or doing something outdoors with loved ones.

He’s covered CES, SEMA, and MWC and evaluated numerous phones, TVs, speakers, EVs, e-bikes, and more. Before Valnet, Cory worked for GottaBeMobileHis writing has actually likewise appeared on SlashGearInputMagand AndroidCentral. He’s edited 9,000 posts.

Cordless power tools are extremely practical, and they’re improving or more effective all the time. By now, you’ve most likely changed a number of older corded tools, however that does not imply you need to eliminate them.

Numerous corded power tools deserve keeping even after changing to a battery-powered platform like Ryobi, DeWalt, or Milwaukee, and for a number of factors. A few of those consist of unrestricted runtime, more or continual high power, not to point out the apparent avoidance of charging and passing away battery packs. Corded power tools still have their location, particularly particular designs.

Circular saws

Keep that 15-amp saw for as long as it works

Credit: Hercules

The very first thing that enters your mind is my old corded circular saw, which I’ve had for about 25 years. I’ll confess, I grab my cordless Ryobi saw all the time, however when I’m dealing with a huge task or require a saw that will not slow down throughout long or deep cuts in lumber, I opt for the wired version.

All the beginning and stopping of a saw will rapidly drain pipes that 18V battery pack, and when you’re on a huge task, the last thing you wish to do is stop to discover another one or toss it on the battery charger. As numerous of you will most likely concur, my old saw is constructed like a tank and will likely outlive many of my cordless tools.

It never ever injures to have a 2nd tool on hand, specifically one that does not require a complete battery.

Plus, you can discover some effective, corded saws, like choose Hercules 15-amp designs, at Harbor Freight for low-cost.

Hammer drills

Drill infant, drill

Some durable tasks or strong products like metal, brick, or concrete need a little bit more continual power than what your battery-powered tools can provide. And even if that Milwaukee M18 hammer drill is up for the task, if you have actually an old corded hammer drill, rotary designs with SDS bits, or comparable tools, keep them.

The constant torque and high RPMs of corded hammer drills make tasks quicker and much easier than ever. I just recently needed to drill many holes into the bricks of my home, and although I have a Ryobi Brushless Hammer Drill, it was fuming and taking far too long. I remembered I still had actually a corded design, and that thing churned through the brick like butter. It made the task considerably simpler and much faster, which’s a huge offer.

Hammer drills manage tough tasks that may trigger thermal shutdown or drained pipes batteries, which is why I still have my old faithful.

Mills and sanders

That corded angle mill is a workhorse

If you have any kind of corded angle mill, you’ll wish to keep it someplace in the garage for when you really require it. When you’re doing a hard task that needs grinding or cutting metal, things may fume and take a while. Both of which are a dish for catastrophe with battery-powered tools.

Comparable to the constant power of a corded circular saw, that angle mill will run constantly for as long as you require it. No picking up a dead or overheated battery. The very same uses to any portable orbital or belt sander. You’ll normally improve efficiency and less vibration from that corded design, so do not eliminate it.

Plus, if you’re simply operating in the garage on something little, there’s no requirement to lose a battery charge when an outlet is a couple of feet away.

Reciprocating Saw (Sawzall)

Demonstration all the important things

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The other corded tool that I still have is an old, rusty yet dependable corded reciprocating saw. It’s not in fact a “Sawzall,” as Milwaukee developed the sawzall and owns a hallmark on the name. That’s why everybody else calls it a recip saw.

My corded Bosch reciprocating saw is an outright monster, can cut through practically anything, and is fantastic for doing a demonstration on a wall, cutting big tree branches, slicing through pipelines, or anything else I’m doing around your home.

A corded reciprocating saw provides unlimited power when you really require it. It’s one of the couple of rugged tools I constantly require to my household cabin for chores around the home. I’ll most likely never ever eliminate it, despite the fact that I likewise own a Ryobi Brushless HP saw.

Like that corded Dremel, paint mixers, and so on.

Last however definitely not least, I wished to highlight a couple of other oddball tools you most likely have actually in a corded variation that you may wish to keep. Naturally, this list of tools depends upon the kind of task you do, or if you’re an expert, however the basic reasoning uses to any scenario.

If you have specific niche tools or products you do not utilize all that typically, like a corded Dremel, there’s no point in changing it with a cordless design simply to do so. Even if you purchased into a power tool battery platform does not suggest you require to switch whatever to cordless.

I have a number of Dremel tools, an old corded paint mixer, a jigsaw, and a couple of other things I do not prepare to change or ever eliminate. I do not utilize them all that typically, and I see no factor to invest extra cash on a cordless variation.

Keep the cable for huge tasks

When you desire the outright most out of your power tool and are dealing with a huge task or one that needs a lots of power and torque, stay with those dependable corded choices. Cordless power tools are practical, however corded tools can be more constant, specifically at the high-end. I’ve gone cordless for almost whatever, however there are a number of old (and brand-new) corded tools I still keep around, and you must too.

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