| Choosing the right power tool for the job or | | | | portability. But there are unfortunately downsides |
| application is paramount to getting the job done in | | | | to products like this, not just due to vibration and |
| a timely fashion and more importantly with the | | | | weight but also health and safety issues such as |
| correct amount of safety for both yourself and | | | | battery safety which is now causing problems in |
| anyone else in the vicinity. | | | | the United States of America as voltage rises. |
| While a lot of this is down to personal preference | | | | The higher rating of battery power leads to an |
| there are a few factors that are consistent when | | | | increase in the running temperature and the risk |
| selecting the correct tool, particularly cordless | | | | of fire or even explosion when the core operating |
| tools. Weight is very important factor particularly | | | | temperature of the battery runs out of control |
| with a tool that is in constant use such as a drill, | | | | and chemical reaction is such that the products |
| impact driver or grinder. Using a tool which is | | | | alights or worse explodes. |
| heavy or cumbersome leads to at least aching | | | | Of course, the cordless tool revolution brings |
| arms or at worst more serious ailments such as | | | | about many changes that are positive and |
| white finger. Heavy tools in conjunction with | | | | amongst others the portability of tools allows |
| overreaching or working on platforms or ladders | | | | them to be used in situations where it was |
| can also be exceptionally dangerous and could lead | | | | previously impossible or completely impractical. |
| to serious falls or accidents. | | | | Imagine having to drag a generator across a |
| Vibration is now a major concern across Europe | | | | muddy field to a barn renovation in order to |
| with legislation now in place to ensure workers are | | | | power all your tooling requirements (and don't |
| protected from vibrating tools and the symptoms | | | | forget all the tool would need to work off 110v) |
| thus associated with. In April of 2006 a worker in | | | | and then at the end of a long days work drag it |
| France won an astounding 25,000 Euros from his | | | | back again, or run the risk of leaving the |
| employer after loses the use of fingers in his right | | | | generator only to come back the next morning to |
| hand as a result of vibrating tools. The employee | | | | have had it stolen or vandalized. |
| was using a grinder for extended periods during | | | | So in short, there's no stopping the continuous |
| his working day, somewhere in the region of 4 to | | | | improvement of cordless power and to be honest |
| 6 hours per day on a five day working week. | | | | I don't think anyone would really want that and in |
| Doctors carried out tests on the subject and their | | | | time I think it's fair to say that work sites and |
| findings where sufficient that a court of law | | | | even the humble garden shed will one day be |
| concluded that the evidence was such to press | | | | clear of the tangle of wires and extension leads |
| charges against the employer. | | | | and I for one think that can't be too much of a |
| Cordless drills are now standard across work sites | | | | bad thing, bring on the revolution! |
| for their ease of use and of course their | | | | |