Power Tools: How to Choose and Buy at a Good Price
Corded or cordless
The first fork is the power supply. A corded tool (230 V) is more powerful and doesn't run flat in the middle of a job, but is tied to a socket. A cordless one is more mobile, handy at height and in places without electricity. For a drill-driver a battery is now the standard, while for a rotary hammer or an angle grinder, corded models are usually more powerful and cheaper.
If you take a cordless tool, look not only at the voltage (for example 18 V) but also at the capacity in Ah, and at whether the batteries fit other tools of the same brand. One battery platform lets you buy more tools without a battery for less.
What to put in your request
- type of tool — drill, drill-driver, rotary hammer, angle grinder, jigsaw, circular saw, router;
- model or brand — for example Makita HR2470;
- power supply — cordless (voltage) or corded;
- specifications — power in W, impact energy in J, disc diameter, torque;
- what is included — number of batteries, charger, case, drill bits;
- for what work — home, renovation, professional;
- new or second-hand, warranty, delivery and budget.
Example: “I need a new SDS-plus rotary hammer, 800 W, 2.7 J, in a case, for renovating a flat and drilling concrete. Makita or Bosch preferred, 1-year warranty. Courier delivery to Johannesburg, budget up to R 2,000.”
How to read the specifications
For rotary hammers, the main figure is the impact energy in joules, not the power in watts: it decides what you will be able to break through. For angle grinders, the disc diameter and speed control matter. For drill-drivers, the torque and the type of motor: a brushless motor is usually longer-lived and more economical, but costs more.
A professional tool differs in its reserve of working life and how easy it is to repair; a household one, in its price. For a few jobs a year, paying extra for a “professional” line isn't always needed, but for daily work it pays for itself.
How to compare offers
The same model from different sellers can differ in what is in the box: one includes a case and two batteries, another only the tool with no battery. Check exactly what comes in the kit, the length of the warranty and who services it. For second-hand, ask for a video of it working under load and photos of the carbon brushes and the cable.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You don't have to compare prices in ten online shops: describe your request, and tool sellers reply in a chat with offers including the price, the kit and delivery. It is free for the buyer. Sellers see where they rank, so they compete for your request. BlaBlaPrice shows the best-value offer first, with seller reviews beside each one. Contacts stay hidden until you choose a seller. Create a request or read how it works.
For accessories, see drill bits, discs and accessories, and for work without electricity, petrol tools.
