Articles

Knife & Chisel Reviews January 22, 2009 0

Goldblatt Blade Runner Drywall Cutting Tool

We ran into Scott Murray of Goldblatt Tool Company who was showing off their new Bladerunner Drywall Cutter. What makes this tool unique and special is that it uses proprietary blades and a magnetic grip to cut both sides of the drywall at the same time. After the cut, it’s just a snap of the board and you’re done. It was kind of hard to believe that the tool actually worked. After trying ti a few times I can say that it’s one of the more innovative tools I’ve seen in a while. With practice it might just end up pushing your drywall knife out of the tool bag.

Flair-It Plus Plastic PEX Fitting Assembly Tool

Plumbers Tool Reviews January 22, 2009 0

Flair It Plus PEX Fitting Assembly Tool

by Clint DeBoer

We met with a representative of Flair-It Plus who demonstrated to us a new tool for joining PEX tubing to an all-new range of plastic fittings. The tool is going to be priced at under $50 and will be available later this year. What’s exciting is that it eliminates all brass fittings and seems perfect for markets such as California, Nevada and other states which have extremely corrosive water and eat brass fittings quickly.

Corded Saw Reviews January 22, 2009 0

Rockwell RK3637K 12A Reciprocating Saw

by Clint DeBoer

The Rockwell 12A vibrafree Reciprocating Saw RK3637K features Rockwellâ€™s patented active vibration canceling technology. This technology allows for up to a 70% reduction in vibration which translates into less user fatigue.

Cordless Drill Reviews & Impact Drivers January 22, 2009 0

DeWalt DC927KL 18V Hammer Drill Preview

by Clint DeBoer

DeWalt showed us a product that has been on the market for a while, but which is still pretty impressive in its own right. The DC927KL is a 1/2″ hammerdrill/drill/driver that is built for high power, high speed use. The high efficiency motor delivers 425 unit watts at max power to ensure that all drilling and fastening applications are met with plenty of power and speed.

Cordless Drill Reviews & Impact Drivers January 22, 2009 0

Craftsman 11910 C3 19.2V Drill/Driver Preview

by Thomas Gaige

The Craftsman C3 19.2V Compact Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver 11910 is the most recent addition to the already extensive line of the C3 tool system. The latest technology was used to build this compact and ergonomic drill that is 30% lighter and has features normally associated with a full size drill. Standard with a 1/2â€ keyless chuck, two speed gear box, 24 position adjustable torque clutch and a built in LED work light in the handle.

Oscillating Multi-tool Reviews January 22, 2009 0

Rockwell RK5100K SoniCrafter Oscillating Tool Preview

by Thomas Gaige

The SoniCrafter from Rockwell is a versatile and efficient multi-function tool. Featuring microsonic oscillation that will help give smooth cuts, this tool can be use for all kinds of cutting, sawing, scraping, shaping, polishing and removing grout. Since there is an extensive line of accessories available from Rockwell there should be no problems with working in materials such as plastic, masonry, tile, fiberglass and wood.

Cordless Combo Kit Reviews January 22, 2009 0

Ridgid R968 18V Compact Combo Kit

by Clint DeBoer

The Ridgid Fuego 18V Compact Combo is certainly one of the most compact combos we’ve seen to-date on the market. If you measure torque vs. weight, this it has a lot going for it, especially the newly redesigned drill/driver and impact driver. The combo includes two compact lithium batteries, and like all Ridgid tools, it remains compatible with all Ridgid 18V slide-mount Ni-cd or Lithium-ion batteries. These tools also come with the insanely cool Lifetime Service Agreement that guarantees the batteries and tools for life.

Tool Reviews by Tool January 22, 2009 0

RYOBI WS730 7-inch Tile Saw

by Clint DeBoer

Perfect for tiling projects in and around the house, the Ryobi WS730 tile saw includes a 7-inch diamond cutting wheel, wheel wrench, hex key, rip guide, bevel block, end of cut reminder, splash guard and operator’s manual. Ryobi has a motto: “Pro Features, Affordable Prices”. Since this is the first overhead motor tile saw to be offered at under $200 they’ve certainly seem to be delivering.

Swanson TL041M and TL043M Savage Levels Preview

Level Reviews, Measuring & Squares January 21, 2009 0

Swanson Savage Levels TL041M and TL043M

by Clint DeBoer

This week we got to do some hands on with the new Swanson Savage Torpedo levels. These new levels are made of solid billet aluminum and feature new “Brightview” vials which almost seem to light up from within. The way they are designed they really tend to suck in light to make the level easier to read, even in dimmer areas. The Savage series of levels (including the Lil Savage) have 4 really strong rare earth magnets which, in the demo we tried, allowed us to pick up a 12 pound block of steel without losing grip. If you’re doing commercial work with steel studs this could really come in handy.

Level Reviews, Measuring & Squares January 21, 2009 0

Swanson Wood Magnet T04424

by Clint DeBoer

At this year’s 2009 International Builder’s Show (IBS) in Las Vegas we got our hands on the new “Wood Magnet” from Swanson Tool Co. It’s a unique leveling device that fits onto any 2X material and instantly gives you accurate level, whether vertical or horizontal. It also has an integrated rubber band which allows it to be strapped onto 4X4 lumber to level up posts and foundation supports. What makes it truly unique, though is its adaptability. Instead of bringing along a 5- or 6-foot level, for example, you can simply strap the Swanson Wood Magnet onto a straight piece of 2X4 (up to 8 feet long) and instantly convert it into a long level.