I want to get rid of wires when renovating my apartment. Right now I'm using a corded drill, but I'm constantly looking for an outlet. Should I switch to battery-powered versions or stick with the corded one? What are the downsides of cordless drills?
A cordless drill-driver is a really convenient thing, especially if you've got a big apartment and outlets are far away.
The main downside is that the battery dies, so you either have to wait for it to charge or keep a spare one around, plus the capacity degrades over time. The power is usually lower than corded models, but for apartment repairs it's more than enough.
I'd recommend getting a model with a lithium-ion battery from a decent brand - they hold a charge pretty well and will last for years if you don't treat them carelessly.
The main thing you'll run into is power loss as the battery drains, especially on tough jobs like drilling through thick concrete or wood. A corded drill delivers the same power all day long, but a cordless one might barely have any punch left by the end of a charge. On the flip side, if you're just doing simple stuff - hanging shelves, putting together furniture, driving screws - then a battery-powered drill is a godsend for convenience, and you won't have that cord constantly getting in your way.
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