And as clumsy as I can be at times, I definitely consider myself fortunate. I had a shop teacher way back when at high school that persistently chided us to always keep the table saw blade set just 1/8 inch above the lumber we were cutting to prevent fingers from getting cut off.

Now if this seems like a simple solution, that’s because it is. Along with proper use of table saw blade guards and the metal guides, it really does help to prevent unwanted accidents.

In fact, I have my own survival story thanks to this tip. Getting a little carried away and probably being careless, I did manage to find the table saw blade once with my finger. Thank goodness I was using this 1/8 inch technique at the time – I managed to escape practically unscathed with just a minor knick to my finger.

Of course, another tip I can offer from lots of hands on experience is to sharpen or replace your table saw blades frequently. I’ve found that dull blades bind and kick back way more than brand new or freshly sharpened blades, reducing any potential possibility of injury quite a bit. Don’t forget to use the same caution with portable saws too.

Again, I know it’s easy to get carried away or just plain forgetful of good habits when using a saw, but I’ve learned to stop what I’m doing and think for a moment each and every time I step up to the saw. I like my fingers and my eyes just the way they are, after all!

I’ve gone through a few cordless drills but after much trial and error I found one that fits my needs perfectly. Now I’m not going to tell you what brand to buy, but I can give you some pointers to help you locate the right cordless drills for your needs.

Cordless Drills: Decide What You Need

Before you go to the hardware store or department store, have a good idea of how you could use cordless drills in your DIY plans. For example, if you’re going to do only a few minor jobs here and there, then you don’t need to shell out $300 for a top-of-the-line 18 volt piece of equipment. Save a few dollars and buy a cheaper model. It should get the job done.

Now if you’re planning some major cordless drilling projects, then it may be worth it for you to spend the extra now instead of having to buy new drills periodically. In the long run, you’ll probably end up saving money. Both Dewalt cordless drills and Makita cordless drills are brands I would recommend researching before you make a choice.

Regardless of whether you’ll be using your drill a lot of a little, you should go ahead and choose one in the 14.4 to 18 volt category. You’ll find a number of options with less, but the minimal savings won’t be worth the frustrations caused by the lower power. Weight isn’t a big difference either. Most of the 9.6 volt models weigh about the same as the 18 volt models so that shouldn’t be a factor in your decision.

Cordless Drills: Batteries

Obviously, one of the major appeals of cordless drills is that you won’t be tied down by a cord. On the down side, you will have to worry about losing battery power midway through a project which can be very annoying (I found this out when I was building a hutch as a surprise for my wife a few years ago).

My recommendation is that you choose a cordless drill that comes with a second battery so you can always have one charging while the other is in use. That method should prevent those types of problems from occurring.

While we’re talking about batteries, you should also remember to think about the cost of replacement batteries for your drill. These rechargeable batteries usually only last for about 500 recharges so eventually you may need a new one. Of course if you’re spending less than $100 you’ll probably just buy a new drill when this battery dies. If you’re spending more than that, you may want to take into consideration that cost of replacing the battery. Prices vary from $20 to $80 so this can be a deciding factor, especially if you’re planning to keep a cordless drill for a long period of time.

Remember you’re always better off choosing a big name brand for your cordless drills. These tools are likely to deliver better results and last longer even though they may cost a little more.

I sure appreciate the fact that working with out cords is a huge convenience while getting the project done. But I’ve also figured out that NiCad cordless drill batteries seem to only last about long enough for just a handful of screws or holes drilled. Some brands are better than others, but in the end whether using pro equipment such as Bosch, DeWalt, Milwaukee, or Ryobi or the consumer geared Craftsman or Black & Decker tools, battery life remains an issue across the board.

Through my trials and tribulations, I can tell you that you will need at least two batteries to even begin getting the job done efficiently. Start with both batteries fully charged. While using one on the drill, keep the other charging. Just as soon as the battery on the cordless drill dies, swap it with the fully powered battery from the charging base. Keep this rotation going constantly to have enough juice to effortlessly complete the project.

Want to really super charge the process? Learn from the pros like I did – pick up a second charger and another pair of NiCad batteries and stay way ahead of the game. I can thank my brother-in-law for this tip, but I sure wish I would have thought of it sooner!

But there’s one more thing. Probably like most men out there, I didn’t exactly read the manual that came with my drill before I started using it. If I did, I would have known right away that running a battery completely bone dry will allow it to store a better charge. By this, I mean holding down the drill trigger until there’s zero movement at all. This simple tactic also works miracles for extending the life cycle of the batteries over the long haul.