For a lot of people, off-grid living is a passion. It is something that enables them to learn about self-sufficiency, sustainability, and independence. Living off the grid allows you to detach from the regular busy life of most people. It can help you boost your energy and take some time off from the hassles of life. However, you also have to remember that living off-grid needs practical tools. This way, you will be able to build and maintain your home.
It is true that living off-grid means you have no connection to the grid. Therefore, you need to harvest electric power from nature, just like how you gather water from natural resources. With this, it is quite unrealistic to think that you can utilize massive power tools as you have limited power. What you need to do is to replace those tools with non-electric options.
If you are planning to live off-grid soon and are thinking of what power tools will be most useful to have, we are here to help you. In this post, we are giving you a list of the essential power tools for off-grid living.
The Best Power Tools to Have for Off-Grid Living
If you are planning to live off-grid, all you need are essential items that will help ease your work, such as power tools. However, you can’t bring the massive power tools that are usually used at home or on construction sites as you only have a limited power supply. What you need to look for are power tools that are battery-operated or those that run via gasoline engines or through a generator. To help you pick, here are some of the best power tools to have for off-grid living:
Drill and Impact Driver
A drill is one of the important tools for any project that involves making holes and driving screws. It is also used in connecting parts together and even for adding ventilation to the home. It is one of the tools that provide invaluable service, particularly when it comes to woodworking.
A lot of drills come with an impact driver as a set. You can easily find drills that are powered by rechargeable batteries. When you look for one, ensure that you pick one that is high-grade and has long battery life. This way, you will be able to move around easily and work in smaller spaces. Also, make sure that you also buy various drill bits.
Gas Chainsaw
When you choose to live off the grid, clearing out trees and removing bushes are part of building your homestead. Using an ax can help, but it is quite impossible to finish the job if you are faced with a large area of forest. Therefore, having a chainsaw is a big help. It is also handy if you are planning to build a cabin or heat with wood.
When you buy a chainsaw for off-grid living, choose a combustion-driven tool that can last for years. But you also need to make sure that you have a fuel supply for it and a fuel stabilizer if you wish to store it for a long time. There are also battery-operated chainsaws, but you need to make sure that the battery is charged at all times, which also requires the use of electricity.
Reciprocating Saw
When living off-grid, you also need to have a tool that you can use to prune trees, cut pipes, or trim wall studs. It is a good alternative for a hand saw, which is quite exhausting to use for large projects. A cordless reciprocating saw is perfect for off-grid living. This will enable you to use it anywhere as long as the battery is charged. However, you also need to have a stock of blades since they are disposable. Avoid using dull blades as that can be dangerous.
Cordless Nail Gun
This is an essential battery-powered tool that is needed by any woodworker. It can be used in various tasks and can help you save lots of time. In addition to that, it can also work from any angle that you need. When using a battery-powered nail gun, make sure that you always have a backup battery to be able to finish your work. Also, find one that does not need CO2 cartridges.
Angle Grinder
This is a versatile power tool that can save time. It is also energy-efficient, making it great for off-grid living. An angle grinder is used for sharpening blades and hand tools quickly. In addition to that, you can also use it to cut off steel roofs and rusted bolts. It features lots of blades that can be used in making various cuts on wood, tile, and concrete.
Power Sander
A sanding block can be used for smaller tasks. However, a power sander is better for extensive work. When you build your off-grid house, you will be able to find it a very useful power tool. It can be used to smooth out metal and wood surfaces. However, you will need to buy multiple grits of sandpaper. For off-grid living, opting for a lightweight sander is better for easy control and transport.
Generator
If you plan on using power tools, you surely need a source of power to recharge them. Portability is the solution for the right generator. Choosing a generator that has wheels will enable you to move it wherever you need it. In addition to that, you can also use a gas-powered generator or a solar-driven one.
If you opt for a gas-fueled generator, you need to make sure that you purchase extra gas. It can help save you when your solar is down. A solar-powered generator is also a good choice as it can work quietly without emitting exhaust.
Power Systems for Off-Grid Living
Using power tools when living off the grid also requires the use of energy. Even though they are powered by a battery, you will still need power from time to time to recharge your power tools. There are various off-grid power system options to choose from, such as solar energy, wind energy, and micro-hydro energy.
- Solar Energy: Photovoltaic panels are used for solar energy to convert sunlight to electricity. This is the most practical among the types of off-grid energy as it requires only a few special conditions to work. All you need is a sunny location, which is quite easy to find. The only downside is that it may not work well on cloudy days and at night. Therefore, you still need to rely on a backup generator and batteries.
- Wind Energy: This type of energy can turn the motion of air into electricity through a turbine and generator. Compared to solar, this setup costs less. However, many places are not windy enough for the system to work well. Wind turbines also require a large area of open space to work properly.
- Micro-Hydro Energy: This works similar to wind energy, using a naturally occurring motion to spin a turbine, converting movement into energy. The motion used is the flow of water. This produces the most electricity, making it a constant source as long as a water source exists. However, the downside is that it is quite difficult to find viable locations for it.
Conclusion
It is indeed essential for you to have power tools if you plan to live off the grid. These off-grid living tools will enable you to finish tasks quickly, which makes living off the grid more convenient. However, you also have to plan out your power source well as you still need it to charge batteries for your power tools. We hope this post helped you learn more about off-grid power tools.