DeWalt announced the launch of its new 14-inch Abrasive Chop Saw (model D28710), which has been designed to offer contractors power, durability, capacity, ease of use and portability. The D28710 is ideal for a variety of end users including steel stud framers, mechanical contractors and metal fabricators who require a high-performing, durable saw at a great value. The tool addresses common concerns contractors have including durability and power, cut capacity and weight. A 15 Amp, 4 HP motor provides power and overload protection, so you can cut through tough materials like cast iron pipe, angle iron, threaded rod, conduit and square tubing. Contributing to the tool’s durability is a stamped base and bracket.
Dremel has been on an innovation kick these past few years, first releasing their Multi-Max Oscillating tool before anyone else (except the original patent, holder, Fein) and then coming out with their corded Trio multi-application tool. Well this October, the company is releasing their new Dremel Saw-Max, a one-handed, ergonomic handheld saw designed for micro-circular saw applications. The tool is aimed squarely at the DIY and hobbyist crowd, but pros may find it perfect for its extreme portability in making simple crosscuts and undercuts without the need for a miter saw or other cumbersome tools.
Everybody - and we mean everybody can use a cheap reciprocating saw to accomplish household maintenance and repair projects (well, OK, maybe not your mother-in-law). It's just a super-convenient tool that lends itself well to being a multi-purpose "grab-it" solution. Harbor Freight's Chicago Electric Tools 4-1/2" Rotating Reciprocating Saw looks to be the cheapest product we've seen in some time, retailing for $25 and often being on sale for less than $20 (we know, that's less than a combo pack of recip saw blades ). We had wanted to review this product for some time and finally were able to procure one - on an out of town trip, no less. Never truly off the job, we latched onto the tool and opened up the box to begin our testing. Within, we quickly found the 6-amp 4-1/2" reciprocating saw, a 10 tpi wood-cutting blade, 24 tpi metal-cutting blade, and even a pair of replacement brushes. Lifting the saw from the box to feel how well it was made, our initial impression was that it was not exactly top-notch in the build quality department, but it did feel like a great occasional-use power tool.
Next to maybe a cordless drill and a table saw, the miter saw is a tool that every serious professional and do-it-yourselfer really needs for his own. While the Chicago Electric 10" Sliding Compound Miter Saw from Harbor Freight is a real head-turner for its price, we wanted to know: Could it stand up to other heavy-duty products and hold its own? A lot was riding on this, as it's easy enough to justify blowing a few bucks here and there on some "experimental" hand tools, but a $139 sliding miter saw? That's a bigger leap of faith given the vast amounts of competition on the market. While the big boys are priced much higher for this type of product, Harbor Freight's Chicago Tools line has itself placed smack dab in the middle of a bunch of generic tool names. Of course, that's before coupons and discounts (we've actually seen this saw priced as low as $85.)
The Rockwell RK7321 BladeRunner with Wall Mount might be a good choice for the hobbyist or do-it-yourself type because of its ability to adapt quickly to different materials and types of cuts. For many casual project people, the lack of adequate work space, along with cost considerations, make it difficult to have a band saw, scroll saw, and table saw individually. Thanks to its ingenious use of t-shank jigsaw blades, the BladeRunner gives you the ability to do scroll cuts, rip cuts and cross cuts in many different types of materials. With a smooth stainless steel table and a unique material tension system, guiding materials though the cutting area is very easy. The ability to free up bench space by use of the included wall mount bracket is a significant feature as well that we really liked.
We were very much impressed with Bosch's Glide Miter Saw which the company revealed in 2010. That product more or less changed the amount of depth needed by a miter saw and allowed its use in hallways and jobsite trailers. Could a company known for its innovation change the portable jobsite table saw? In a word: yes. Bosch created the GTS1031 table saw to address the need professionals have for a truly portable, yet truly full-power jobsite saw. The Bosch GTS1031 table saw can be carried to or from a truck or trailer with its handle, and it falls nicely at your side. It's not the lightest saw in existence, mind you - but that's because it has all the power of the big boys as well. In addition, all accessories store safely and securely right on the saw itself. At just 52 pounds, this is a powerful table saw that balances portability and raw cutting power perfectly.
We're out at the DeWalt media event today, testing out various new products. One of them is the brand new 12" Sliding Compound Miter Saw (Model DWS780). DeWalt is positioning the DWS780 as the lightest dual bevel sliding miter saw on the market - and indeed it weighs in at just 56 lbs. The $599 DWS780 seems like a really great product for both the professional and serial DIY'er who wants to tear into serous home projects. DeWalt's new 12" Sliding Compound Miter Saw has a new XPS LED light that throws a "laser-like" shadow on the work surface. This is designed to show where the blade will cut. DeWalt believes this system is more accurate than traditional laser systems and won't drift out of alignment over time. While they are providing a neat new way to get an accurate cut, we were sad to still see them using the smoke-colored blade guard, which obscures the view of the blade.
We love table saws, and lawsuits notwithstanding, we like some of the new products that are finally starting to hit the market. We got our hands on the DeWalt DW745 - the company's handy new 10-Inch Job site Table Saw. It comes with a new Site-Pro Modular Guarding System that adjusts the saw quickly for a variety of cuts. It really makes the job all that much more quick, with accurate cuts that don't take long to set up. The saw is both portable and powerful. The motor pumps through 15 amps and it has a large 16" rip capacity. This tool includes a split blade guard, adjustable miter gauge, and even a push stick - all of which secure to the side of the tool itself for easy portability. Also included is a 10-inch, 24-tooth carbide blade, which will get you started, but as we've found with most DeWalt blades - should be replaced as soon as possible. Regardless of what blade you put on it, it will spin up at 3,850 rpm (no-load) and should be quick enough to take all that 15-amp power and chew through even the hardest hardwood or pressure-treated lumber.
The Porter-Cable PC85TRSOK 8.5Amp Orbital Reciprocating Tiger Saw comes ready to cut or rip through just about anything thanks to its ability to switch from reciprocating to full orbital action. Many tradesman might remember the original Tiger-Saw and know that it was a tool to be reckoned with. The big question for us now is if this new lightweight model can live up to its predecessors. Things like an adjustable shoe and a powerful motor are a good start for sure. At first glance this tool seems to be a great bargain because it is high on features and low on price, but before we can recommend this new breed of Tiger Saw we have to spend a little quality time with it just to see how tamed (or rather untamed) it is.
The Porter Cable 450PK 1.25 HP Compact Router Combo Kit brings a breath of fresh air to the compact router market with plenty of power, quality features and woodworking versatility built in. We were impressed that this pint sized router packs a punch and does a fantastic job at a wide variety of router tasks. Combined with an all machined aluminum body, aluminum fixed and plunge bases, and a very positive depth of adjustment system; we found that a high level of precision can be attained. Thanks to its lightweight construction, and compact size, many trimming, edge round-over and chamfer type cuts can be made with ease and control that can be more difficult to do with a full sized tool. Sure there are instances when a larger sized router is needed but we would bank on the fact that most casual woodworkers and even professionals would benefit from the compact size of this router. We find it pretty easy to recommend the Porter Cable 450PK 1.25 HP Compact Router Combo Kit to anyone.
The chop saw isn't a new tool by any stretch of the imagination, but as anyone knows who's done a lot of metal cutting or fabrication, this is a tool you really need. Porter-Cable's new 15 AMP Chop Saw (PC14CTSD) has been built to ensure it offers contractors performance, ergonomics, ease of use, and durability. This chop saw seems ideally suited for a number of trades, including mechanical contractors, electrical contractors, metal fabricators, and many other areas that need a simple, but durable tool for cut-in-place sawing. The PC14CTSD simply performs like a tool that is capable of handling a number of metal cutting applications on professional jobsites. This tool, in particular, seems to have been built with the contractor in mind. To start off with, the 15 AMP, high torque motor delivers 3,800 RPM, which enables the new chop saw to cut through tough materials, including cast iron pipe, angle iron, threaded rod, conduit, square tubing, and more.
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