Four Reasons You Should Upgrade to Smart Power Tools
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Power tools make everything easier and your finishes more professional. You might think that connecting these power tools to an app on your phone via Bluetooth is an unnecessary upgrade. Why on earth does your electric drill need to be connected to your phone? The truth is that “smart” Bluetooth-connected power tools offer many real benefits, and you should definitely start thinking about upgrading your tools to include them.
More control
The main reason why smart power tools are a good investment is the increased control they offer. If you’ve ever wasted time experimenting with torque settings on a drill (and then forgotten about those settings the next time you do a similar project), you know how often you work blindly and just figure things out by feel. With a smart drill, you have extremely fine control. For example, the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Drill allows you to not only set a specific RPM for the drill, but also set a torque range that stops the drill when you hit it. No more broken or stripped screws.
Smart tools like this also allow you to select or create profiles for specific jobs. You can choose the material you’re drilling into, the bit size and other factors, and the app will select the ideal settings for the job. If you change these settings or create your own, you can save it as a custom profile so you don’t have to do all this experimentation every time you tackle a similar job.
Better security
Anyone who has worked with power tools knows how dangerous they are. I am still haunted by a power saw experience that happened a few years ago. very about to mutilate myself, and I consider myself a fairly safety-conscious DIYer.
Smart tools offer a range of enhanced security features. Smart saws like the Milwaukee Sawzall M18 Fuel can monitor motor vibration, temperature and stress and stop the tool if it is about to overload, overheat or spin uncontrollably. This not only protects your squishy bits and vulnerable fingers; it protects the tool itself. Instead of a blown motor or bent guide, the tool emits a warning and shuts off so you can safely disengage, breathe, and start again.
Rich data
Have you ever dug out an old power tool and wondered if it was still in good working order? What if the battery still had enough capacity to be useful, what if the tool still offered acceptable performance? With a smart power tool, you don’t have to guess. Bluetooth-connected power tools typically collect a lot of data about their condition and performance, and can tell you whether the battery is still good (and how much use is left in the current charge), the condition of the motor, and whether it needs maintenance. You’ll be able to avoid needlessly replacing tools that just need calibration or cleaning, but you’ll also know that you need to replace a tool before it fails at a critical time.
Location tracking
Most smart power tools offer a tracking feature that shows you where your tool is. While this is probably most useful for professionals who have a team spread out over a wide area, if you’re in the habit of lending your tools out or you’re not the only person using them, being able to see who made off with your drill or saw is a blessing. And if you have a bad habit of leaving your tools where you last used them, this feature could also save you from wasting time searching for them.
Smart tools, especially if purchased from the same manufacturer, can also offer inventory tracking, showing you exactly which tools you have or are missing. Haven’t you ever had a reciprocating saw? Your inventory screen can tell you, and your tracking feature can show you where it currently resides, so you don’t accidentally buy a duplicate of a tool you already own.
Simply put, it’s the price. These tools tend to be much more expensive than their simpler brethren. The M18 drill mentioned above costs over $100 less if you get the non-smart version, for example. But if you use your tools a lot and need fine-grained control of their settings and a way to monitor their status, the extra expense may be worth it.
