can you fly with power tools brands

Power tools and all tools longer than 7 inches (measured from end to end when assembled) are prohibited in carry-on baggage; these items must be packed in your checked bags.

Having traveled with thirty or so cordless drills and tens of other tools recently, I decided to look a bit closer into what the rules are when it comes to flying with power tools, hand tools, bolts, nuts, and other hardware.

If you are looking for a quick answer, here you go: in vast majority of cases, you can travel with your tools and hardware. Depending on the tool, you might be able to carry it on, however, I recommend checking all of them in to avoid any potential issues at security. The only exception to that are batteries from your cordless tools which need to be carried on.

While this article is based on FAA and TSA rules for traveling with tools and batteries, they can serve as a rough guideline for your other travels as well. In either case, though, if you are not sure whether or not you can travel with a certain tool or piece of hardware, make sure to get in touch with the local authority as well as your airline.

The general rule when it comes to flying with power tools – whether corded, battery-powered, or engine-powered – is that all of them need to be in your checked in luggage and are prohibited in your carry on.

Battery-powered tools such as cordless drills and saws can technically travel in checked in luggage with their batteries attached, but they have to be prevented from shorting and from accidentally activating.

As such, when it comes to battery-powered tools, I recommend you to remove their batteries and put them in yourcarry on luggage – only putting the tool itself in your checked in luggage.

While most power tool batteries should be within that limit, if you are unsure – and if there is no Whcapacity mentioned on the battery – you can calculate it as follows:

Engine-powered tools such as chainsaws, trimmers and generators are prohibited from both carry on and checked in luggage if there is any fuel left in them – even in the form of residual vapors.

Just like the drills themselves, you cannot carry drill bits in your hand luggage. And, given that sharp objects are prohibited from carry on luggage in general, things such as power saw blades should be packed in your checked luggage as well.

On the other hand, given that – as you will see below – tools under 7-inches long are allowed, in theory you should be able to carry on Phillips and socket bits. However, I would still pack everything in checked luggage to avoid any potential delays at the security check since the final decision rests on the security screening officer.

However, given that there is also the general rule of not being able to carry on sharp items and the fact that the security screening officer makes the final decision about whether or not you can carry something on, I recommend you to put all tools in your checked in luggage.

If you, for one reason or another, you insist on taking your tools into the cabin, here’s a list of some of the tools that are technically allowed in the cabin based on TSA’s website as long as they are under 7 inches long:Multi-tool without blades

As you can see above, in most cases, you will have to check your tools and hardware in. The notable exception being hand tools shorter than 7 inches and scissors with blades shorter than 4 inches.

One last tip: if for some reason you decide to carry on tools, make sure that you arrive at the airport early enough to have enough time to go back from the security check to the check-in counters in case the security staff determines that you must check the tools in.

You can pack almost all tools in checked bags. If you are bringing power tools any spare or loose lithium-ion batteries cannot be packed in checked baggage and much be packed in carry-on bags.

Gas powered tools can be packed in checked bags too. However, if they contain any residue or vapors of gas/oil, they would be considered a hazardous material & prohibited from being transported on the airplane. Even brand new tools can have residues because they are tested before sale. Check with your airline about bringing any gas powered tool in hold luggage.

You cannot bring power tools in carry-on luggage. Fans of the horror movie genre will understand why. Power tools can be used as weapons and that’s why they are not allowed in carry-on bags.

Regular hand tools must be shorter than 7 inches. This is because longer heavier tools could be used to knock someone over the head. Hammers or knives of any size are not allowed in hand luggage.

Decide whether you will bring your handtools in a carry-on or checked bags. Consult with your airline and see if they have any specific rules or regulations when it comes to the number of bags you can bring.

You may be surprised that there are laws and regulations regarding the types of handtools you can bring on a plane as well as the types that you can bring.

Being well informed prior to flying will help you be able to fly safely and avoid any uncomfortable situations. No one wants to be throwing their expensive collection of tools away in order to be able to get on the plane!

While these guidelines are the official ones that are endorsed by the TSA, it is ultimately their decision whether they allow you to travel with something or not. Doing your due diligence will certainly help you while you are traveling. There are many factors to consider. Being a responsible tool owner and having everything organized correctly will be a big help when you are traveling with your handtools or power tools on an airplane.

Batteries cannot be checked. Spare batteries need to be carried on. If your tools use batteries, then it is important to know. The airline must first approve lithium batteries with more than 100 watt hours to bring in your carry one. You can bring one spare battery that does not exceed 300 watt hours. Also, you can bring two extra batteries that do not exceed 160 watt hours each. Power banks and charging cases must also be checked in. Battery terminals must also be protected from short circuiting. Some ideas on how to do this include putting tape over the terminals or leaving it in their retail packaging.

Many engine-powered tools are prohibited from being taken on the plane, either carried-on or checked. If the engine has any residual fuel in the tank, even vapors, then it cannot be brought on the plane. Brand-new engine tools like chainsaws, generators or trimmers may be brought on the plane because they don’t have fuel in them.

The strictest regulations apply to handtools brought in carry-ons. Be sure to bring out your measuring tape—there are size restrictions that apply to bringing your favorite handtools on an airplane with you.

The official guidelines state that handtools seven inches and below are allowed on your carry on luggage. This measurement is the total length, end to end, of the tool when it is assembled correctly. To protect yourself and your belongings, be sure to know this ahead of time and pack any hand tools that you have safely.

If your handtools exceed this length then the tools need to be checked. Smaller tools like wrenches, screwdrivers, and pliers can be carried-on. Handtools like bottle openers may be carried on as well as checked in.

Tools that can be brought in with no problem, as long as they are under seven inches, are a multi-tool without blades, wrenches, pliers and screwdrivers.

Crowbars are not permitted on airplanes. They can be checked to be safely transported. Other work tools like laptops and tablets may be carried on the airplane. Duct tape can be carried on as well as checked in.

No engine powered tools can be carried on. Check with the airline ahead of time to be able to bring it on a checked baggage. Kitchen tools may also be flown with if you know the right rules. Blenders can be checked in. Cutting boards can also be checked in. Utensils such as forks and spoons can be carried on the plane, but knives need to be checked.

As well as bringing tools, you may be concerned with bringing hardware on a plane with you. Items such as nails and screws are certainly part of anyone’s toolbox, and you might be concerned with they will be able to fly with you. The best advice is to check them because they are sharp. You may be able to carry on nuts and bolts, but it really is a better idea to keep all of your hardware together to keep things organized. There are many affordable tool boxes available for your tools so you can bring them with you.

If you are traveling with power tools, either battery-powered or electric, then you need to check them. The general rule of thumb is all power tools must be checked, whether they are battery powered, corded, or engine powered. If you have any questions about traveling with your power tools be sure to contact the airline before your flight. Get their answer in writing so you can protect yourself when it comes to being time to get on the plane.

What many people decide to do when traveling with their tools is to purchase a “travel tool box”. Some people also get a “TSA lock” in order to protect their tools. The TSA takes no responsibility for checked items and many people want to protect their valuable investment.

As all tools can be checked in and only the small hand tools can be carried on, a travel tool box for the airplane is a great idea. However, you should run into few issues when flying, especially if you are organized. Contacting the airline ahead of time to ask about how to fly with larger, engine-run tools may also be a good strategy if you are unsure about whether or not you can fly with it. Many people fly with tools daily and it is totally possible to do it as well.

Nowadays, Battery i.e., bring power tools on a plane such as cordless drills and saws can strictly be checked in baggage with their batteries attached, but they have to be prohibited from shorting and from unintentionally activating.

Engine-powered tools like best corded impact wrench, chainsaws, trimmers, and generators banned from both carry-on and checked-in baggage if there is any petroleum left in them even in the form of leftover vapors in flight with power tools will be traveling with care.

If the tools purged of energy then it is technically permitted to be carried in your luggage, airlines might still reject to carry it if it ever enclosed fuel in the past. If the implement is brand new and never contained any petroleum, you should be capable to check it in.

On the other hand, you will see below tools under 7-inches extended are permissible, in conjecture you should be able to take on Phillips and socket bits. However, a person would still set all in checked baggage to keep away from any possible delays at the safety check since the final choice rests on the safety showing officer.

However, it is given that there is also the general rule of not being able to carry on sharp items and the fact that the security screening officer makes the concluding result about whether or not you can take some equipment on, they will recommend you to put all tools in your checked-in baggage.

If one cause or another, you be firm on taking your tools into the cabin, here is a record of some of the equipment that is strictly permissible in the cabin based on the regulations as extended as they are less than 7 inches lengthy:

Finally, we have taken a stare at mutually power and hand tools; let us rapidly look at the hardware. Given that screws are sharp and but sharp items are usually banned from carryon baggage so they will check them in. The same is applicable for nails, also. Likewise, for bolts and nuts, you may be able to take them on that they are not pointed and are not planned on the TSA’s website as a banned item. Though, traveling on airplanes with electric tools you will be better off just examination them as well.

Cordless power tools make life much easier for the DIY-ers and professional tradespeople alike. They carry the same power as their corded counterparts without the hassles of extension cords and generators. Who doesn’t love grabbing their cordless drill and heading to the backyard to finish installing deck boards without having to stretch a long extension cord across the yard?

Cordless power tools come with batteries that are the powerhouse behind getting your jobs done. They may seem a little tricky and bring their own questions. With the right answers, you can not only keep that to-do list short, you will have a piece of equipment ready for any task for years to come. Here are twelve common questions about power tool batteries.

Brand new batteries should be charged overnight to ensure you have a full charge on each individual cell, so that the life of the cell is not compromised. From that point on, future charges on a the proper/adequate charger can take between 30min to 2 hours to achieve a full charge. Never use under-powered chargers for high capacity batteries. Newer chargers are designed so that you cannot overcharge your battery (though don’t store it here, plugged in), and lithium-ion batteries have little to no memory, so you don’t have to worry about emptying it before charging.

When in doubt, check out Ottawa Faster Supply. We have a wide selection of tool batteries and cordless drills, saws, and tools to meet your DIY needs.

Only one difference is it four companies on 48% of the marketplace and Black and Decker owns Stanley DeWalt Craftsman and a half a dozen other companies so therefore they are all basically based upon the same designs and parts Black & Decker owns Lennox Craftsman Irwin tools DeWalt and crib master so what the hell is the difference they’re all Black and Decker

There store brand has never been makita try better try the orange colored rigid Makita tools will hold there own with DeWalt and Milwaukee all day long and if you get in the 40v platform there is no comparison though it is marketed more to the heavy tech mechanic with the torque ranges of impacts and the size combination of grinders

I am a professional ,I have been in the construction industry since july of 1983, I have built countless homes,high rides and everything you can name , and I must say you are wrong . I use a makita saw every day it the no.one selling saw in the world ,along with the complete line of makita tools they are one of the top brands but just so you know the other brand most used is dealt, which used to be sold under black and decker professional, but they changed their name ,but as,apro I dont care who makes the tools long as it performs the way it should I have countless nail guns but surprisingly the guns my employees reach for most is a 99 dollar harbor freight the senco,and Hitachi spend most of their day in my trailer,proof that quilty tools are some times manufactured by the store brand

A professional can use any of these power tools and absolutely do the same quality work . Most of us didn’t start out with the best tools ., Of course I love my equipment and I’m not stuck in one particular brand because they all have their star player …Don’t buy into the hype ….

What difference does it make who DeWalt is owned by? Are you saying they don’t make quality tools? Do you slam Lexus because they’re made by Toyota? Sorry but that’s a really dumb criticism.

Milwaukee, DeWalt and Ridgid are all top quality cordless power tools. Heck, even Ryobi are decent tools for home owners and DIY level guys. I’m not sure what tools you are referring to when you say they are like toilet paper soaked in Kool-aid.

What are you talking about?? First there are no Home Depot branded tools. Second, even ones sold “exclusively” at Home Depot are still not “Home Depot Tools” like Ryobi but this brand is the only one I can think you are try to bash. The rest are unquestionably good tools. Ryobi is part of the same company that owns other high quality tool manufacturers and share some of the same technologies. I’ve had the same Ryobi power tools that I purchased in the early 2000’s and have some other random less used Ryobi power tools, just because I have the batteries and they are not daily commercials work tools. My work tools are all Milwaukee, RIDGID and DeWalt. I have some Husky tool bags and cases and some hand tools. All take daily abuse and use and no issues.

The big box stores do a good rental business. The as a service thing is close to existing on that front now. It was funny, I was building something for a guy and had my chop saw, compressor, nail gun, generator as well as a slew of hand power tools and good ol mechanical hand tools at his site. We were at one of the big box places picking up wood. He had commented a couple of times about how expensive I was. I took him into the rental room, and showed him what the per day rental costs were and it would have only cost him about $50 more a day to rent the big stuff I provided and he DIYed it. The look on his face when he saw that was priceless,

The only tools I have been buying have been Ridgid at HD. If you follow the process and register all the pieces on line within the allotted amount of time post purchase, the tool and the batteries are covered by a lifetime warrantee. In a few years the owners of other brands will be faced with that buy a new tool and battery for $15 more than a new battery or buy a new battery for $15 less than a new tool and battery, while I can just swing by HD and get a replacement for free.

I have had two different instances where I “applied to register” (because you aren’t registered until Ridgid SAYS your are, and even then…) and Ridgid has said, “Registration? We don’t have a registration for this tool” or tools. First time, they said “No registration, please send proof of purchase to us”. When I sent a copy of the HD purchase receipt, they said, “Oh, this tool was registered four times”. Right.

The second time was for the first two Ridgid tools that I had purchased years ago (and registered). Ridgid said, “We have no record of these tools being registered”, i.e. – they won’t warrant the tools, period.

The lifetime warranty is why I have a sack full of RIDGID tools, I find them to be more than adequate and haven’t had any issues with them. I use the 1/2″ drive impact all the time and it still surprises me occasionally when I put it in something I just know it’s not going to have the needed torque to remove and it just buzzes it right off. Such as axel nuts which have never been removed

That’s a fantastic business model, from my perspective. As long as I stick with the same brand, I can make a one-time purchase for expensive batteries and have access to a huge selection of relatively cheap tools? I’m in. Great for customers, great for the brand, as it locks in those customers.

Hmm, except tool batteries are consumable (even rechargeables eventually die) so your one-time purchase is repeat. I’ll take mains powered tools where possible, a copper cable should be cheap compared to a battery pack.

My selling point was being able to leave the tools in a shed and the batteries in the mud room with climate control. Also they’re usually just 18650s if anyone needs to put those idle hands to use in the devil’s right-to-repair workshop.

You forget that one brand can use 4-6 different battery standards for their tools, each one compatible only with some tools. It’s the DSLR lens mount business model, where Canon, Nikon and some others used to have 4-6 different lens mounts (each) for different camera series…

I am more than happy to use a heavy duty cable to connect these $29 power tools to an external high current DC supply. Pesky neighbors wouldn’t want to borrow these tools. :P

If anyone has a better idea, please go forward and let someone know. If you saw the amount of power tools, etc that go running out the door on a weekly basis, and it was YOUR business, you’d try anything you had to, considering no one is allowed to try and stop them for fear of getting fired. The thieves know it, so they get away with it. It’s frustrating to all that would simply like to kick their ass before they hit the door, but yet… There are literally parents using their children as shields to run out and jump into a getaway car! It’s insanity! And if the prices go up, you can start hunting down the thieves and thank them for it. And yes, the cameras do work, and they help to ID thieves, but then police don’t have time to go after every petty thief that has already dumped the stuff at a pawn shop or in someone else’s garage..it’s a domino effect that needs to be stopped…Anyone got any ideas that aren’t full of sarcasm and bashing of what they do try? Can’t say it won’t be a pain in the ass, or that it will work, and thieves will probably find a way around that too.. but what will make it stop?! Pretty sure third world treatment of steal something, lose a hand, wouldn’t go over too well, but….

Get money from customers first – maybe online – then deliver the tools to them at their home the next day. With the money you save not running a store, you could sell the tools cheaper and throw in free delivery.

Hell, I’m making LESS now than I was 15 years ago, despite having grown my skill set significantly. I once owned my own home, now the possibility of owning another is completely out of reach. Meanwhile dickheads like Jeff Bezos exploit workers so he can fly a dildo to the edge of space and give CNN talking heads $100 MILLION each for being tools of the 1%.

let me ask you, when the vast majority of this country is homeless and starving in the street, who is going to be left to be buying power tools, let alone anything else that corporate America sells? Corporate greed is driving America towards COLLAPSE! Spending is what drives our economy, and fewer and fewer Americans are able to participate because of this concentration of wealth. This negative feedback loop has only ONE possible outcome, and it’s disastrous for EVERYONE.

Slippery slope. If it’s easy to defeat it’s pointless. So it’ll end up being integrated into same chip as motor controller. Once the Borg have invaded your drill/saw/etc, it’s easy to take the next step, which is “oh yeah, device demands to phone home” every so often, or else device refuses to work! This way, if someone steals the tool from You after you buy it, We can find/brick it! Oh, this is for telemetry, so we can make our products better! So we can alert you when your tool is getting near needing replacement! You did want to replace every year didn’t you? Or every month? We totally won’t brick your tool in under a month. Welcome to tools “as a service”.

100%. Absolutely spot on. That’s the exact progression with most companies these days, which is why I refuse to use any of them. I’ll go back to hand tools before I use an Adobe model impact.

Power tools aren’t cars dingus. I suppose you’re also advocating for requiring a license and insurance to use that drill? See how your lame, fallacious analogy falls apart? With “logic” like yours, probably not.

You think that is where the profit comes from for tool companies? Industrial buyers spend more in a year than Joe 6 packs entire neighborhood will in a lifetime. I buy 10-15k in Milwaukee tools a year just for my location.

Exactly, what will make or break this will be people/companies who buy, use and abuse these tools for a living in mass, not one random dude who buys one tool that he uses a handful of times over the course of a few decades.

wait for people to forget about it when it’s actually in place in a year and the lack of transparency as to which tools require an activation. oh those lawsuits are going to be fun. sign me up for that class action suit

I worked for home depot for 9 years, I first heard this mentioned by a Milwaukee rep that they were showing it at the store manager meeting (a trade show the show what’s coming to the stores in the near future) I mentioned concerns about longevity because I would imagine it would have to be an electrical Reed switch or something that’s triggered magnetically I dropped my tools all the time how many drops will it take until that falsely deactivates. I also mentioned to him that I know that the margin that home Depot makes on those tools is less than 10%, who’s paying for the security device to protect home Depot the end user? If it eats up more profit margin than the loss that the company is experiencing in a hole then it defeats the purpose so if I was the guest the end user is going to see the price increase which then is just going to keep them from being competitive to the retailers that is not doing this stupid ass program. How he mentioned it he said that they had an internal meeting and this was home depot’s proposal but they’re not really on board of it either again circle back to longevity of the tool that’s their name on the tool it needs to last the same as if it was bought with or without the security device and that’s not likely to be the case.

If the tool stops working, or even if the battery dies, it won’t cause me any major problems. I own HD’s RIDGID tools. If the tool or the battery dies they have a lifetime warranty. I just take it in and get a replacement.

Yes, far larger market for the Ryobi (batteries) then the Milwaukee. Though the Milwaukee tools are worth more, they are only worth 1/2 price to someone already in their red eco-system and those people tend not be on-line looking for steals. Too busy at real jobs. imho, Far better to steal Ryobi batteries and chargers.

Ryobi has made their ONE+ 18 volt tools for 25 years and the Lithium Ion ONE+ batteries work in every ONE+ tool. They recently launched a more powerful 40 volt line, all of which use the same 40 volt batteries in several amp hour capacities. Very likely they’ll still be compatible 25 years from now.

Second thought was any solution simple enough for a minimum wage cashier to do perform and cheap enough not to drive the price of these tools up is going to have a work around up for sale on ebay within a few weeks.

One power transistor few resistors and a microcontroller cost almost nothing. how quickly replacement controllers will be on grey market? And given the tools – they are probably unified anyway.

To a degree, just put the power tools in a checkout counter of their own and if people ask, then say that shoplifters are a problem with these high value goods. Few people would question it to be fair.

It’s probably not about the tools but the labour. covid has screwed up the employment market and by making the tools intelligent home depot can put any unskilled worker behind the counter. personally i would make do with a fuse that is blown in a special procedure to enable operation, kind of like a reverse bricking feature, but no drm needed.

The problem is that is is not where you keep the tools, unless you keep them locked up in the back room, where you only have to worry about employee pilferage. I read on one of the forms I am on that employees are specifically not allowed to even try to stop people from leaving with things in many stores. They are supposed to call the police and file a report an let the insurance deal with it. It is much more expensive to fight off a suite for having an employee get hurt or worse yet, hurt a paying or nonpaying customer. I also know first hand that about 90% of the time that things with the security tags that are supposed to be deactivated at the checkout are not. I no longer even slow down when I buy something and the alarm goes off. They ask me to stop, I just say no thank you and keep on going. I used to stop and I would get the manager and go to the cashier and make a big deal out of it but things never improved playing by the rules and trying to get them to improve. So now I just keep walking.

I would think that if they have an employee theft problem, CASH is a greater problem going missing than a bulky power tool in a box. They seem to have a handle on that.

Thieves are grabbing tools and running out of the store with them. Security can not detain them and by the time they get the police involved, it is too late.

You really think that people steal power tools because they’re poor!? Try it’s because they’re lazy and don’t want to work. You want to address the issues that cause theft? Great. I agree. Let’s address parents not teaching t heir kids morals and ethics and a sense of right and right. Let’s talk about children growing up with a sense of entitlement with no work towards earning that entitlement. Let’s address all of that and then we can START to get to the root cause of crime.

ICs are like medicine. The actual cost of production is very low. What you pay for is R&D and distribution costs. The cost of adding this “feature” is close to zero. They already have a microcontroller in most power tools, it’s just a matter of adding a tiny little bit of firmware to manage the lockout, and a way to communicate with the outside world which could be a simple serial port or optical (they often already have a white led for lighting, they could use it for TX, and add a phototransistor for RX, cost <$0.1)

I know there are some negative possibilities here, but I think they are approaching it from a different angle than people are expecting here. First of all, TTI builds Ryobi, Milwaukee, and Ridgid tools. Ridgid is Home Depot’s “House” brand. First to address battery expense and tool longevity concerns. Ridgid has a (basically) no questions asked lifetime warranty on their tools IF YOU REGISTER THEM IN THE FIRST 90 DAYS (otherwise it’s a 3 year warranty) a battery has a 1 year warranty. The trick is that any tool that comes with a battery covers the battery under the same warranty as the tool (except their vacuums which I found out thru sad experience). I have used the warranty once, they literally sent me two new batteries and let me keep the old ones.

Second, for the subscription model everyone is scared of. They will be doing this over Bluetooth. There are already Milwaukee tools that have the feature and all of my batteries are Bluetooth enabled. You can optionally pair them to an app and use it to see battery stats, lock the battery, and make the battery chirp if you can’t find it. I rarely use it, but I have to locate a battery a few times. Also useful to lock your batteries and make them useless to criminals.

I have 7 Bluetooth enabled batteries, 3 x 3Ah, 3 x 6Ah, and a 9Ah. I purchased them with tools, so all but the 9Ah is covered lifetime (the 9Ah came with the vacuum). I am not a professional, but I do use them a lot, and have had no trouble. I actually pulled some old chargers apart for the battery holder and contacts and installed them in some power wheels for my kids. The batteries will get replaced free when they die, so why not? Also, power wheels batteries are the real rip-off. I know some of you like to hate stuff for the sake of hating it, but at least for now I don’t see any mal intent here, and I have been VERY happy with my Ridgid tools. My oldest drill from them is about 8 years old and still going strong.

With registration tools AND batteries have lifetime warranty with HD house brand. They use Bluetooth for locating tools/batteries, as well as stats, and give you an option to lock your tools. If no app, tools work as normal unless you expressly locked them.

TBH, I was given a set of Ridgid tools when I was younger and just kept going with them. I continued because I liked the lifetime warranty on the batteries. I agree they are not the BEST tools, but they are no B&D garbage. I have never had a real issue and I don’t see a reason to plop large sums of cash for tool quality that will not realistically benefit me. That just seems stupid.

HDX is home depot’s house brand for simple tools and supplies. I have never seen an HDX power drill myself. Home Depot “Launched” the Ridgid line in 2003 and has exclusive rights to sell. From my research and talking to people home depot also services the lifetime warranty for the power tool line. This discussion is not about the Ryobi line, and I don’t care for their power tools (the battery design bugs me) so I have not done much research beyond knowing they are also produced by TTI. Do your (any?) research before you spout off bud.

The lifetime warranty for Ridgid tools is serviced by home depot. If you try to register the tool it will ask for the Home Depot receipt (there are a couple other options like if it was purchased at a Ridgid trade show or home depot website, but home Depot receipt is the primary option, you can not buy from an online outlet besides HD and get a warranty).

With this change to their tools, people will first have to stop at the register before leaving.. it’s ridiculous to burden customers with this requirement.

You’re a funny guy. I actually have a few. They take forever, even in softer wood, and look at driving screws, or drilling through metal or steel. Not going there. Should we also give our power saws away and onlynuse a hand saw to build your house and furniture? You think it takes a long time to build now, if we go back to 1940’s era tools and practices, we will never get out of the housing shortage.

Sounds like the perfect opportunity for someone to start a business selling converted versions of the tools. Send the battery in, replace the locked guts with your own unlocked version, send back out.

I’m not convinced this isn’t a bluff until we know more about it. If they come up with a creative way to stop shoplifting, good on them. I just don’t see how they could easily implement this from manufacturing to POS. I’ve worked retail, I’ve repaired my own power tools. I doubt they’ll add any wireless technology, so that means physically doing something to unlock the tool at the POS. I could see adding Bluetooth chips to unlock something big like a miter saw, but that would be a lot of investment for a $79.99 drill or saw- usually left out in the open (versus behind a locked gate) and thus the low hanging fruit for theft.

Apparently some tools already have Bluetooth locks in them (e.g., https://onekeysupport.milwaukeetool.com/en/knowledge/ios-tool-lockout). I could see integration as easy as scanning the UPC, then scanning a serial number barcode (Nintendo has required this of their retailers since the mid-90s), then pushing a cryptographic activation code via BTLE once the transaction is done. Or they could use EPC/RFID to read the product type and serial number simultaneously. Or replace the UPC with a 2D barcode, etc.

I don’t know why they didn’t simply have the tools on display to look at and hold. Then the other tools in a cage and when I wanted to buy a tool, I could pick up a card, taken it to checkout, swipe and pay for it and have someone bring me the tool. Such a simple and easy system that has been working for countless other stores for decades.

Just in case somebody hasn’t pointed it out yet – the “shoplifting prevention” line is probably a smokescreen. What’s *really* going to happen is the tools will be sold by subscription, and you’ll need to pay a yearly fee to keep using them.

Came here to post this. Absolutely. I can totally see HD replacing their “lifetime warranty” on their Ridgid range of power tools with a subscription model where you no longer own the tool.

I suspect the percentage of tool users who are willing to open up and fix their own tools is pretty high. A subscription model is probably redundant. We already buy consumables: screws, bits, battery packs, and unnecessary accessories.

When I buy a Stihl piece of equipment it is registered at the store I buy it from immediately before I leave the store. A real time saver and great customer service. I’m glad HD is doing that too. I register all my Ridgid tools I buy and it would be a timesavers for me.

Or they say they don’t work. Some just have a battery shell held on with a fancy strap or bracket. I got some air tools off a display from a store that was changing things over to a new display. They insisted they didn’t work but I took them home, screwed in the quick connect fittings, hooked up the hose. Working tools.

I can see that happening for professional grade tools but that will never fly with regular Joe 6 pack who does diy projects at home. I’ll go back to Harbor Freight or buy knockoff tools from somewhere besides HD.

Bulk of retail theft, is the employees… The activation thing, is probably intended more of as a deterrent. Likely, there was already a trend with manufacturers to make smarter tools. Mostly like, the consumer will eventually have the same controls, and more of their purchase. Not always possible to keep your tools in a locked, secure cabinet. Not play toys, for yours, someone else’s kids. Or even just anybody, on a job site. I can see a GPS, or similar tool locator. Really surprised it hasn’t been a ‘thing’ for a while. Tools, get lost. misplaced, sometimes ‘walk’ around on their own… I don’t mind my brother using my tools, but he’s terrible about putting them back where he got them, doesn’t always mention he’s ‘borrowing’ something.

Power tool accessories work along with the power tool to perform the required task or job efficiently and safely. Whether it is a saw blade, drill bit or grinding wheel, you should choose accessories that are specifically recommended by the tool manufacturer for use on its tool. Just because an accessory can be attached to your power tool, it doesn’t mean it is intended for use on that tool and does not ensure safe operation. Speed, size, guarding, application, and mounting requirements must all be addressed. Third-party websites often promote use of accessories that are inappropriate for a particular tool, often turning it into a tool used for other than its intended purpose. The site may include pictures of accessories mounted on well-known brands of power tools. This does not mean the accessory use is recommended by the manufacturer of the tool.

Accessories that are incorrectly sized cannot be properly guarded or controlled. The outside diameter and thickness of your accessory must be within the capacity rating of your power tool.

Accessories running faster than their rated speed can break and fly apart. The rated speed of the accessory must be at least equal to the maximum speed of the power tool.

Accessories that do not match the mounting hardware of the power tool will run out of balance, vibrate excessively, and may break or cause the operator to lose control.

Each year, manufacturers dazzle us with new tool innovations and battery technology. We want more run-time, more power, and more overall tool longevity. By and large, major tool manufacturers are delivering those things. Today, the best cordless drills far exceed the capabilities of corded tools. Professionals are beginning to regard their 18V tools as their primary option instead of just supplemental tools. Tool innovation continues to highlight the similar capabilities of 12-volt vs 18-volt. It’s remarkable to see, and the tools are exciting to use. But more power isn’t our only consideration. In the 12V vs 18V equation, we can quickly get to a point where we experience diminishing returns.

We get there not because of the power, but because of factors accompanying the power. After all, there’s no need to kill a fly with a sledgehammer. Here are some of the biggest considerations when comparing 12-volt vs 18-volt tools.

It’s obvious that 18-volt tools have more power than their 12-volt brethren. However, 12V vs 18V isn’t just about power. You simply may not need all that torque.

A professional carpenter or installer can likely use a 12-volt tool all day long without needing an 18V tool. Thanks to lithium-ion technology, today’s 12-volt drills and impact drivers perform a lot like yesterday’s 18-volt tools. Some even seem to fall somewhere in between the two categories.

However, what if you’re in production performing heavy-duty, high-stress tasks? Then an 18-volt platform might be better suited for the job. For many users, however, that 12-volt power tool gives you plenty of power for most of the work you might toss at it.

12-volt tools certainly hold an advantage with their lighter weight. If you oftenfind yourself in crawlspaces, attics, working overhead, or with your arms extended, 12V tools have the advantage…hands down. If the power level gives you what you need, you’ll want to consider the 12-volt platform.

Unless you drive a dump truck, space is probably limited. Your best shop tool box or truck bed toolbox is prime real estate. If your tools are smaller, you can carry a wider variety of tools for jobs you may encounter. You could carry a 12V impact driver, 12V drill, one-handed recip saw, and even a circular saw (and probably more) in a reasonably sized toolbox or backpack and be ready for just about anything. An 18V set would be considerably larger and heavier.

For most of us, there’s no getting around investing in an 18V tool and battery platform. The cost of entry isn’t nearly as high for 12V tools, however. Finding a good 12V system—even as a supplement—may help you work smarter.

That flips upside down, however, when you consider the fact that the widest variety of tools exists on the 18V platform. That actually makes the 12V platform the “luxury” option. While those smaller tools save on weight at the expense of power, they also don’t represent a platform that you can infinitely build upon. Rather, they deliver a more ergonomic solution for those of us who want to pay for that convenience.

So who are 12V tools for? In our opinion, these smaller tools target two types of consumers. First, they appeal to the DIYer who may not intend to buy anything other than a drill, impact driver, small saw, etc. They aren’t looking to build out a “tool connection”. The other user is the seasoned Pro who can afford to add some lightweight tools to their arsenal to save them weight when working overhead or simply performing tasks that don’t require a heavier, beefier tool.

We love the constant innovation and increased power coming out of the major tool manufacturers. We won’t stop wanting more because we simply expect more from our cordless tools. But there are some considerations to think about before heading right over and picking the box with the biggest numbers on it. A 12-volt platform is smaller, lighter, and cheaper. It comes with the ability to get into tight spaces and help alleviate fatigue during long periods of use.

Just remember—very few Pros can do everything on just a 12-volt platform. Most of us use 12V tools to supplement our 18V tools when the situation lets us choose ergonomics over power.

I’m sure you have some opinions about 12V vs 18V tools. If you’re a Pro and you have other cordless tool tips, add them in the comments below or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

By now, you may have seen the videos running around that show a converted DeWalt or Makita lithium-ion battery running a Snap-On cordless glue gun using a tool battery adapter. If you haven’t, take a look below at the one showing off the possibility and upcoming product launch. At first glance, this might look like a good idea. The possibilities of using power tool battery adapters are profound. Figure out who makes the best lithium-ion batteries on the planet and pair them with the best cordless impact driver or other tools in each class, regardless of the manufacturer by just using a battery interface.

Another video I saw (by a company that will remain nameless since I don’t want you blaming me for the consequences of your youthful exuberance) creates a system that lets you run tools at a higher-than-rated voltage. 9.6V tools run at 14.4V or even 18V! Who wouldn’t want that at their hands?

So what are the issues there? Well, if we were talking about NiCd or NiMH battery packs…probably nothing. But when dealing with current tools that use lithium-ion batteries…that’s another story.

Manufacturers design most modern tools—certainly brushless models—so that the battery and tool talk to each other. Think of it like the animal kingdom. Dogs can mate with other dogs, even of another breed. Similarly, Ryobi 18V batteries work with the tool you bought with it or any other Ryobi 18V cordless power tool.

This is true of our cordless tools as well. Battery adapters are like laboratory mating. If you get that unnatural mismatched voltage pairing to work, it’s going to limit the number of battery charges, the life of the tool, or both.

This is likely because there are some “smart” tools…some “smart” batteries….some with both. Remove some of these safeties, and the tool just might not shut down when it draws too much heat from the pack….or vice versa.

Believe it or not, manufacturers actually care about how you use their tools and batteries. Bounce that drill off a roof onto concrete and you’re unlikely to get it serviced under the warranty. Using a tool with third-party battery adapters can have a similar effect. Manufacturers don’t like when you bypass the safety communication protocols built into either their batteries and/or tools. Those electronics exist for a reason.

If a tool cannot communicate properly to a battery pack, you can end up in a situation where it asks for too much power. That can present a problem and run the tool hotter than expected. It can even shorten the lifespan of the tool. While a manufacturer may not know whether or not you used third-party batteries with their product, you still risk voiding a warranty if or when they find out.

Just to cover our bases—yes, we know some battery adapters work without any issues. As an example, the DeWalt DCA1820 battery adapter ($39.99) claims compatibility with most DeWalt 18V tools. It lets you use 20V Max batteries in most of their 18V tools. They do, however, give an amply large list of exceptions—likely for some of the reasons stated above. The adapter also will not work with FlexVolt batteries.

Look, I know that you’re searching for a more affordable way to get tools in your hands. If you really want to be cheap, do it with a $40 Harbor Freight impact driver, not a top-of-the-line drill that at some point you paid good money for. Using third-party tool battery adapters simply presents too many potential issues for us to consider it. Time is money and we want our tools to work every time—letting us get as much work done as possible.

Lithium-ion batteries charge quickly, hold their charge and don’t degrade in storage, which is important for gardening tools as they might not be used on a daily basis.

There are a number of cordless tool system brands, below we"ve listed some of the most popular. And if you’re looking for specific cordless tool, you can see how various tools go head to head on test in our round-ups for the best hedge trimmers, the best cordless lawn mowers and the best pressure washers.

Stiga’s cordless tool range includes:Series 100: Multi-tool system, lawn mower, hedge trimmer, grass trimmer and leaf blower. The tools in this range are powered by a 20V 4Ah battery.

Series 500: Multi-tool system, lawn mower, hedge trimmer, grass trimmer, leaf blower and chainsaw. The tools in this range are powered by two 48V 2Ah batteries.

Series 700: lawn mower, hedge trimmer, grass trimmer, leaf blower and chainsaw. The tools in this range are powered by Stiga E-Power E440, 4Ah batteries, which are sold separately.

Series 900: lawn mower, hedge trimmer, grass trimmer, leaf blower and chainsaw. The tools in this range are powered by Stiga E-Power E475, 7.5Ah batteries, which are sold separately.

AK: lawn mower, hedge trimmer, grass trimmer, leaf blower, scarifier and shrub shears, which are powered by AK10, AK20 and AK30 lightweight 36V batteries.

Makita Power For All cordless tool ranges include:18V System: leaf blower, hedge trimmer, grass shears, pole hedge trimmer, string trimmer, line trimmer, brush cutter and wheelbarrow

These are individual tools, sold separately and usually with the choice of with or without a battery and charger. Therefore once you"ve bought your first tool, battery and charger from a particular range you only need to buy "bare" tools from that range in the future. Tools available can include:Strimmers

Cordless tools can require a bit of forward planning to keep your batteries charged - there’s nothing more frustrating than waiting for batteries to charge when you’re ready to start the job at hand.

Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries need a special charger to match the battery’s specific size, but this can increase the costs. Some cordless tools don’t come with the battery and charger included, while others have a range of different sized batteries that fit the range and provide more power - great news, but they will require a specific charger to fit their size.

Think about your garden and what sort of tools you’ll need to tackle different jobs and choose your range accordingly.Consider the run time and charge time of batteries. For example how tall and long is your hedge and how big is your lawn - if you have small hedges, a short battery life isn’t such an issue as it won’t take too much time to cut. On the other hand, if you have a large lawn, you’ll want to feel confident a cordless mower won’t run out of battery half-way through the job. If the run time is short, you may want to consider choosing a model with a quick charge time or buy a second battery, so you’re not delayed for too long.

Once you’ve chosen which type of cordless power tool you’re looking for, it’s time to think about power. Most brands offer a range of cordless garden tools, which vary when it comes to the power they offer, from entry level needs to a higher spec that is designed to be used in large gardens, and by professionals.

Three factors determine the power of your cordless power tool:Voltage (V) - indicates how much power the lithium-ion battery can provide. The higher the voltage, the more powerful the battery, which is important if it’s powering a tool that requires a bit more oomph, like a mower or leaf blower.. Keep in mind that more power generally means the battery will be heavier and more expensive too, so it’s important to gauge what you need for your size garden or task

Sometimes cordless tools can be bought with an integrated battery, in other words the battery is built into the tool and you charge the whole tool as opposed to just the battery, but most often they come with a chargeable battery pack - usually lithium-ion - which is removed from the tool to charge and can be used to power other cordless tools in a brand’s range. Integrated batteries are smaller than battery packs, making this type of cordless tool cheaper and lighter than those with removable batteries but the batteries don’t hold a charge as long so they’re ideal for smaller jobs.

Cordless tools with a chargeable battery pack might be a little heavier and more expensive but if you’re happy to stay with one brand, you can use the same battery with other tools in the range. While you can expect to pay a little more for them, if you’re happy to stay with one brand, you can use the same battery with other tools in the range assuming their size and voltage is compatible.What do I need to know about Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries?

The most common batteries used in cordless tools are lithium-ion. Technology behind lithium-ion batteries has dramatically improved in recent years, because they’re the same batteries used to power electric cars and energy storage. Significant investments have been made to develop the battery’s efficiency and performance and you can now expect the same power from cordless tools as you would get with corded and petrol alternatives.

Lithium Ion (Li-ion) batteries are ideal for cordless garden tools because they provide a decent amount of power, and, despite being relatively small, can cope with being charged time and time again regardless if it’s fully or half used, so you don’t have to worry about charging it at the right time and in the right way.

This tool set sits at the higher end of the price-range and is best for committed gardeners. The tools performed every job well so we judged it a Best Buy.

There’s no assembling as the tools arrived ready to go and the batteries charge in 80 minutes. We found the system was efficient and good value money and would suit regular gardeners or bigger gardens. We judged this a Best Buy through our expert cordless garden tools reviews.

We found the Universal Hedgecut 18-500 and Universal Grasscut 18-260 from this cordless garden multi tools system were simple to set up and the battery was easy to swap and recharge. The charger has indicator lights to let you know when the tool is fully charged. The hedge trimmer felt well-balanced and the ‘Antiblocking system’ stopped growth jamming the blades. However, it was less powerful than other tools and felt a little flimsy, although the blades were longer.

The 24 V string trimmer and hedge trimmer cordless garden multi tools set comes with battery and charger included, which is unusual for this style of tool.

The grass trimmer has a rotatable head for edging but a slightly small handle meant the tool was uncomfortable for some testers. The hedge trimmer also had issues with the handle, as testers felt it was insubstantial. It is a light tool but struggles with thicker growth. The leaf blower was more comfortable to use and felt powerful, with two speeds plus a nozzle for more focused blowing.

Loginor join Which? to see the best cordless power tool brands rankings.BrandCustomer score %Battery life and chargingEase of useGeneral performanceBuild quality and robustness83%★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆

Table notes: In February 2021 we surveyed 548 Which? Trusted Traders. The results in the table above are based on traders who either own or use cordless power tools from each brand.

We received ratings for five popular brands from the expert traders we surveyed. We require a minimum sample size of 30 to provide an accurate and robust score to a brand, and we found that Which? Trusted Traders who completed our survey tend to use and own tools from a relatively small pool of brands.

Black+Decker range:Black+Decker is a stalwart brand in the world of power tools and has almost any power tool you can think of in its 18V cordless power tool range. Whether you"re after a drill, strimmer, chainsaw or palm sander, Black+Decker has you covered.

Log inor join Which? to find out whether Black+Decker featured in our top cordless power tool brands. Or you can view the entire Black+Decker range on the Black+Decker website.

Bosch range:Bosch has two distinct ranges of power tools, blue and green. Green is for home DIYers, and blue is for professional tradesmen. The blue tools claim to have more torque, more power, longer lasting batteries and longer warranties.As the sample for our survey was professional tradesmen, we would imagine that the majority own the professional blue tools. In either range you can buy almost any type of power tool that you can imagine, with everything from jigsaws, sanders, cordless leaf blowers, drills and angle grinders covered.

Log inor join Which? to find out whether Bosch featured in our top cordless power tool brands. Or you can view the extensive range of Bosch power tools on the Bosch website.

DeWalt range:DeWalt is an American manufacturer of power tools and hand tools, and is a registered trade mark of Black+Decker. DeWalt mainly makes tools for the construction and woodworking industries, but will cater for almost any type of cordless power tool you might want for domestic use too. DeWalt has 12V and 18V cordless ranges.

Log inor join Which? to find out whether DeWalt featured in our top cordless power tool brands. Or you can browse the DeWalt cordless power tool range at the DeWalt website.

Erbauer range:The Erbauer is exclusive to Screwfix and B&Q and offers a full range of cordless power tools suitable for any home DIY project, big or small. Erbauer tools tend to be a bit cheaper than more premium priced brands, but do they deliver when it comes to your home DIY projects?

Log inor join Which? to find out whether Erbauer featured in our top cordless power tool brands or see the full range of Erbauer power tools at the Screwfix or B&Q websites.

Festool range: German brand Festool makes some seriously expensive cordless tools. You can view its full range of cordless products on the Festool website. The company focuses on tools for construction and carpentry and it promises perfection in its tools.

Log inor join Which? to find out whether Festool featured in our top cordless power tool brands. Or you can view the full range of Festool cordless power tools at the Festool website.

Log inor join Which? to find out whether Makita featured in our top cordless power tool brands. Or you can view its range of cordless tools, with a variety of battery options, at the Makita website.

Milwaukee range: Milwaukee is a subsidiary of Techtronic Industries, which also owns AEG, Hoover, Ryobi and Vax. It produces corded and cordless power tools. Milwaukee"s cordless range is extensive, including all kinds of drills, wrenches, ratchets, saws, grinders, planers and much more.

Log inor join Which? to find out whether Milwaukee featured in our top cordless power tool brands. Or you can view its cordless range on the Milwaukee website.

Log inor join Which? to find out whether Ryobi featured in our top cordless power tool brands. Or you can view Ryobi"s full range at the Ryobi website.

Stanley range: Stanley is a another brand owned by Black+Decker and has been making tools for more than 170 years. Its tools are marketed squarely at professionals, but they"re available for any DIYer to buy too.

Log inor join Which? to find out whether Stanley featured in our top cordless power tool brands. Or you can view Stanley"s considerable range of drills, saws, sanders and more at the Stanley website.