I am sure that each of you has at least one cordless tool. I have a whole collection of them too. And, frankly speaking, I made one serious mistake, which I later regretted greatly. Today I will tell you how not to repeat it and choose tools wisely. It all started when my brother gave me a small 12-volt drill. At first, I took it as a toy, but soon realized that it was ten times more convenient than its corded counterparts. I used it constantly when doing home repairs. Then I got a workshop and started collecting tools. And it was at this stage that I made the main mistake. A 12-volt reciprocating saw. Where to use it? It is better to cut flat materials with a jigsaw or a circular saw. For pipes, there are cutters. For branches, there are secateurs, loppers or chain saws. I tested the reciprocating saw on fresh wood: three pieces of maple branch with a diameter of 30, 55 and 70 mm. The results were not impressive. It is 13 times slower than a lopper, 8 times slower than a handsaw, and 67 times slower than a chain saw. However, a reciprocating saw is useful for demolition work where you don’t have to worry about hitting a nail, or in rescue operations. But the 12-volt version is weak. It’s like using a nail file instead of a rasp. The only justification is for light tasks for the elderly or children. Conclusion: I don’t need a reciprocating saw. The Renovator is a rare but irreplaceable tool. Its thin vibrating blade cuts through hard materials, reaching hard-to-reach places. For example, I sawed out doorways and cut flush. But there are downsides: expensive replacement Starlock blades and a quick battery drain. In the end, I bought a corded Renovator and now use it instead of a cordless one. Conclusion: I no longer need a 12-volt Renovator. The drill and screwdriver are my most used tools. Their light weight and compact size are ideal for small jobs. However, their power is limited. If the drill gets stuck, the motor can overheat. And long screws sometimes don’t go all the way in. I solved the problem by buying more powerful versions, but I kept the old tools. They are convenient in cases where compactness is more important than power. Conclusion: I will keep these tools. The miniature circular saw did a great job with plywood up to 12 mm. But for working with OSB, I needed a powerful plunge saw. It is faster, works longer without recharging, and removes dust more effectively. Since then, the mini circular saw has been idle. Conclusion: the tool played its role, but now I don’t need it. I bought a 12-volt jigsaw on sale, adding it to my collection. But I didn’t find any serious tasks for it. For complex jobs, I bought a networked jigsaw, and I rarely use the cordless one. Conclusion: you can safely give it up. But this tool is a real favorite. A miniature angle grinder with a 70 mm disc is ideal for small tasks. I use it often and consider it irreplaceable. Conclusion: I highly recommend it. If you are a beginner, think before buying a new tool. Will it really be in demand? I didn’t think about it and now I have five tools that I don’t need. But the experience was useful. --- *Bonus story* By the way, I remembered a funny incident. Once I took a photo of a girl on this table. I had just covered it with oil and forgot to wipe it off properly. Delicate skin and oil are not the best combination. Now this lady doesn’t communicate with me anymore. If you want to see those photos, the links to Boosti and Patreon are below. --- *Final* Learn from my mistakes, not yours. Make an informed choice and don’t waste money. Good luck in the workshop!