Hey everyone! I'm dipping my toes into woodworking and planning to buy my first tools, likely a circular saw and a drill, followed by a sander and router. I've heard that when investing in cordless tools, you're really buying into a battery system that can keep you committed for life. I noticed that many tool brands offer both brushless and regular motor options. My question is, for someone like me who's using these tools as a hobby, is it worth spending a bit more on brushless motors, or should I just go for the regular ones?
3 Answers
I’m shifting toward more hand tool woodworking myself but don’t want to give up my good cordless tools. My projects will primarily be smaller and less frequent, so I mostly grab them for quick jobs. For that, I find brushless motors are nice, especially for battery life and power, but if you're cutting costs, brushed motors will still work perfectly fine for those little tasks.
For hobbyists, the difference between brushed and brushless motors might not be that significant. Brushless tools last longer and are more efficient, but if you're only using them occasionally, you might not see much benefit. Honestly, just go for whatever’s on sale. Check out the used market, too! Often, older tools work just as well with a new battery.
If your budget allows and you plan on using the tools regularly, I'd say go for brushless—they're definitely better. But if you're just going to use them here and there, it’s really up to you. Either option will get the job done as a hobbyist without breaking the bank.
Totally get where you’re coming from! I used to be all about the newer tech too, until I saw that my old brushed tools still did the trick for my occasional projects. Just find a good balance of budget and necessity.