Getting a quick and accurate bead on the temperature differential around an AC duct or a door can be a lifesaver for air mechanical technicians and energy efficiency specialists. While there are a lot of tools on the market that can help you do this, it's nice to be able to reach for a familiar name - particularly when your shop is already equipped with compatible batteries and chargers. Recently Porter-Cable launched the PCC581B Infrared Thermometer, which comes as a bare tool, making it a great choice if you're already vested in their 18V cordless platform. And if you're not, Porter Cable also offers a 9V-powered version, the PCC582B. Both of these infrared thermometers incorporate a tri-color beam that indicates temperature changes visually along with the digital readout. When you pull the trigger, the thermometer takes a reference temperature reading while it projects a circular green beam onto the surface at which it is aimed. The projected beam colors change when a difference in temperature is detected as you scan it across an area. A blue beam identifies a cooler spot, and a red beam indicates a hotter area.
With the rise of cordless finish nailers, Senco takes a different approach by using a sealed nitrogen cylinder and a lithium-ion battery to keep them powered. Recently we had the chance to try out the FN55AX Fusion F-18 Cordless 18-Gauge Brad Nailer. We found that this nailer packs in a pile of useful features, has plenty of power, and will keep up with pneumatic nailers. More and more we are turning to brad nails for our finishing projects because of their great holding power combined with the very small head size. A smaller head size means less patching and putty when you are done. There is a lot to like with this nailer and it comes in near the top of our list of must-have tools.
If you have a lot of DeWalt, Ryobi or Craftsman 18V cordless tools and find yourself frequently running out of battery power, the Ultimate Battery Power Battery Belt is something you should definitely check out. Repetitious or continuous use of cordless power tools can be troubling, since you normally need to keep a collection of batteries on the ready. Recently, we spent some time with the new Ultimate Battery Power UBP5000BT-DW-CH Battery Belt which came with the battery adapter for top post style 18V DeWalt cordless tools. The concept behind this battery belt is that it gives you up to 3.5 times longer run-time - and that means getting through a project on a single charge and with no battery changes.
We've certainly had our experiences with attempting to drill in tight spaces. When we saw the new PCC520B 18V Two-Speed Close Quarters Drill from Porter-Cable, the unusual-looking tool struck us as something that made a lot of sense. This is a tool that Porter-Cable needed to add to its line-up, and one that we were excited to finally be testing on the jobsite. The PCC520B bills itself as a truly compact drilling solution, measuring 5.5" in length and weighing only 2.4 pounds. It's so short, in fact, that it measures less than a competitor's 12V Pocket Driver that uses a less flexible hex chuck. Even though the tool looks a bit odd, with its double-stacked chuck-over-motor configuration, it's actually very well-balanced.
The Masterforce 18V cordless band saw was something that intrigued me. It looked light and portable and it was based on a decent platform that I was familiar with, so I knew there were batteries, chargers, and other tools that could work off the same system. That alone made it expandable and attractive and, besides that, I had been looking forward to trying out a cordless version of this type of tool for quite a while now. Not many DIY-types will have much use for a cordless band saw, but if you are an electrician or a plumber, it will almost undoubtedly be one of the greatest power tools in your bag. I happen to work for a local electrical company and so the ideas that were running through my head while pondering the use of this type of tool in my daily job, were beginning to overwhelm me. This was going to be a review I could really dive into.
Metabo Corporation is a company we're at least familiar with, though we haven't done too much hands-on with their tools to-date (something we hope to remedy soon). The German company has been around for decades and specializes in pro-grade electric and cordless power tools and abrasives for the industrial, construction and welding industries. This week, Metabo introduced the 18V STA 18 LTX Cordless Jig Saw which is part of the company's PowerMaster Series of 18V lithium-ion cordless power tools. Metabo is focusing on power and run-time, stating that the new saw can cut more than 98 feet of chipboard with a single battery pack charge. The tool seems ideal for all the expected roles of a jig saw, like HVAC duct cutting, cabinet making and fitting, and just about any plywood application you can think of.
Porter-Cable has been upgrading its initial line of 18V tools that are both forward and backwards compatible with their entire line of 18V NiCad and Li-ion batteries. The new PCL180CDK is Porter-Cable's second-generation 18V drill, this time compact in nature and making use of their latest Li-ion batteries. We tested it on a variety of products and really liked how Porter-Cable seems to be bringing a lot of innovation from some of its sister companies to bear in its more affordable models. The result seems to be less expensive tools that have a high degree of build quality and features. While we were surprised to find it still missing some of the more common features like battery-level indicators, yet the PCL180CDK remains a very well-engineered, lightweight tool that is a great addition to the Porter-Cable 18V lineup.
You can plan on leaving your air compressor, drop cord and air hose in your truck when you start using the the new Paslode CF325Li Cordless Framing Nailer Kit. Load in a fuel cell, the battery and a stick of nails and you are ready to go. Cord-free framing can't be any easier, especially for the tradesman, specialty contractor, remodeler and renovation specialist that is not concerned with production as much as precision, convenience and ease of use. An incredible 6000 nails per battery charge and up to 1200 nails per fuel cell combined with the recommended cleaning interval of 50,000 shots; means that down time is never an issue. The convenience that Paslode presents with this model makes for a very compelling argument for framing cord-free.
The Gyros 58-23672 Magnalite Pro Cordless Work Light makes working in the dark an almost pleasant experience thanks to its portability, flexibility and the large amount of light it puts out. This work light can easily replace most automotive drop lights, flashlights and even camping lanterns - and yet it offers cool-to-the-touch bright light to illuminate any task. With a slender size and lithium-ion battery power, there are many things to like about this work light.
The Ridgid Fuego R92009 12V Lithium-Ion 2-Speed Drive/Driver with LED Light is one tough set that combines great build quality and power into a portable platform. The flashlight comes with a powerful Cree-style LED light source that is nearly blinding in a dark room. The stocky construction of the drill/driver includes a compact 3/8" single sleeve locking chuck and an all-metal two-speed transmission. Both tools are literally built like tank and easy to grip and use. Their rugged construction should help this set to hold up to nearly any use and abuse you can throw at it.
There's nothing like a project to introduce you to new and interesting power tool blades. This time we were readying our new video set and needed to cut three 4 x 8 sheets of Melamine into about 32 pieces per sheet. That's a lot of cuts, and we weren't about to use a standard multi-purpose blade to do it as it would create rough, explosive edges along each side of the Melamine. To give us a fighting chance at cutting this material once and not having to sand every single edge, we picked up the CMT ITK Plus Finishing Blade. This is a 6-1/2" blade that is specifically made for cordless circular saws.
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