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

Published Oct 17, 2026, 3:30 PM EDT Cory Gunther is a senior author and Newsletter Editor at Valnet, covering cutting-edge tech, Android, and more for How-To Geek. He's covered Android, cars, and technology for over a decade. When he's not reviewing the latest gadget, you can find him off-roading in his Toyota truck, fixing said truck, or doing something outdoors with friends and family. He's covered CES, SEMA, and MWC and reviewed countless phones, TVs, speakers, EVs, e-bikes, and more. Before Valnet, Cory worked for GottaBeMobile. His writing has also appeared on SlashGear, InputMag, and AndroidCentral. He's written over 9,000 articles. Cordless power tools are wildly convenient, and they're getting better or more powerful all the time. By now, you've probably replaced several older corded tools, but that doesn't mean you should get rid of them. Many corded power tools are worth keeping even after switching to a battery-powered platform like Ryobi, DeWalt, or Milwaukee, and for several reasons. Some of those include unlimited runtime, more or sustained high power, not to mention the obvious avoidance of charging and dying battery packs. Corded power tools still have their place, especially specific models. Circular saws Keep that 15-amp saw for as long as it works Credit: Hercules The first thing that comes to mind is my old corded circular saw, which I've had for about 25 years. I'll admit, I reach for my cordless Ryobi saw all the time, but when I'm working on a big project or need a saw that won't bog down during long or deep cuts in lumber, I go for the wired variant. All the starting and stopping of a saw will quickly drain that 18V battery pack, and when you're on a big job, the last thing you want to do is stop to find another one or toss it on the charger. Then, as many of you will probably agree, my old saw is built like a tank and will likely outlast most of my cordless tools. It never hurts to have a second tool on hand, especially one that doesn't need a full battery. Plus, you can find some powerful, corded saws, like select Hercules 15-amp models, at Harbor Freight for cheap. Hammer drills Drill baby, drill Some heavy-duty jobs or strong materials like metal, brick, or concrete require a little more sustained power than what your battery-powered tools can deliver. And even if that Milwaukee M18 hammer drill is up for the job, if you have an old corded hammer drill, rotary models with SDS bits, or similar tools, hold onto them. The continuous torque and high RPMs of corded hammer drills make jobs faster and easier than ever. I recently had to drill countless holes into the bricks of my home, and even though I have a Ryobi Brushless Hammer Drill, it was getting hot and taking far too long. Then, I remembered I still had a corded model, and that thing churned through the brick like butter. It made the job substantially easier and faster, and that's a big deal. Hammer drills handle hard jobs that might cause thermal shutdown or drained batteries, which is why I still have my old faithful. Grinders and sanders That corded angle grinder is a workhorse Credit: Milwaukee If you have any type of corded angle grinder, you'll want to keep it somewhere in the garage for when you truly need it. When you're doing a tough job that requires grinding or cutting metal, things might get hot and take a while. Both of which are a recipe for disaster with battery-powered tools. Similar to the continuous power of a corded circular saw, that angle grinder will run endlessly for as long as you need it. No stopping for a dead or overheated battery. The same applies to any handheld orbital or belt sander. You'll generally get better performance and less vibration from that corded model, so don't get rid of it. Plus, if you're just working in the garage on something small, there's no need to waste a battery charge when an outlet is a few feet away. Reciprocating Saw (Sawzall) Demo all the things Credit: Bosch The other corded tool that I still have is an old, rusty yet trusty corded reciprocating saw. It's not actually a "Sawzall," as Milwaukee invented the sawzall and owns a trademark on the name. That's why everyone else calls it a recip saw. My corded Bosch reciprocating saw is an absolute beast, can cut through almost anything, and is great for doing a demo on a wall, cutting large tree branches, slicing through pipes, or anything else I'm doing around the house. A corded reciprocating saw delivers endless power when you truly need it. It's one of the few rugged tools I always take to my family cabin for odd jobs around the property. I'll probably never get rid of it, even though I also own a Ryobi Brushless HP saw. Like that corded Dremel, paint mixers, etc. Last but certainly not least, I wanted to highlight a few other oddball tools you probably have in a corded variation that you might want to keep. Naturally, this list of tools depends on the type of job you do, or if you're a professional, but the general logic applies to any situation. If you have niche tools or items you don't use all that often, like a corded Dremel, there's no point in replacing it with a cordless model just to do so. Just because you bought into a power tool battery platform doesn't mean you need to swap everything to cordless. I have several Dremel tools, an old corded paint mixer, a jigsaw, and a few other things I don't plan to replace or ever get rid of. I don't use them all that often, and I see no reason to spend additional money on a cordless version. Keep the cord for big jobs When you want the absolute most out of your power tool and are working on a big job or one that requires a ton of power and torque, stick to those trusty corded options. Cordless power tools are convenient, but corded tools can be more consistent, especially at the high-end. I've gone cordless for just about everything, but there are several old (and new) corded tools I still keep around, and you should too.