Bosch D-Tect 150 Wallscanner plumbing

Bosch D-Tect 150 Wallscanner Preview

We recently got back from Bosch’s Global Leadership Tour media event and were fascinated by all the new tools they are working on. One tool that we saw LAST year, however, was the Bosch WallscannerD-Tect 150. This tool uses Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) radar technology and is the first detector at a sub-$1000 price point that detects rebar, water-filled PVC, copper piping (non-ferrous metal), wood studs and live wiring. The BoschD-Tect 150 does more than detect these materials, though, it gives the user material type, depth, and relative width information. The D-Tect 150 works through concrete, wet concrete, and even deep concrete up to 6″. In fact, you can use it in any of seven surface modes.

DeWalt DWHT33385 25ft Tape Measure Review

DeWalt DWHT33385 25ft Tape Measure Review

Many might think that once you have used one tape measure, you have used them all; and to this person I would say that you really need to try out the DeWalt DWHT33385L 25ft Tape Measure. This tape measure includes a number of features and upgrades that most casual users and professionals will quickly appreciate. The blade lock is among the best we have used and the extra large blade tip makes hooking the tape super easy on just about any side. With a 13 ft stand out, reaching and working by yourself is easier thanks to the rigid blade.

Blaklader Bantam Shorts

Blaklader Bantam Shorts with Utility Pockets Review

While not all jobs allow for shorts on the job site, if you are so lucky as to be able to wear them in hot weather, we would suggest checking out the Blaklader Bantam Shorts with Utility Pockets for sure. There are plenty of work shorts to choose from, yet few offer the features, pockets and comfort that Blaklader does. Since I live in the southeastern United States and it is in the middle of July, the timing was perfect for the arrival of the Blaklader Bantam Shorts. I immediately put them on and what jumped out at me was that, after a few minutes, I realized that they were as comfortable as one of my work t-shirts that had been washed hundreds of times – and these came right out of the box! Just like the full pants version with their outside utility pockets, these shorts also include them and they are just the right size and in the right location so that they quickly become second nature to use. There are some pockets behind the utility pockets that also allow them to be tucked away when not needed. It is hard to find faults with the Bantam Shorts since they have pockets in the right places and details that make life on the job easier

GyrosGuard Rotary Tool Safety Shield installed

GyrosGuard Rotary Tool Safety Shield Review

If you have ever used a mini cutoff wheel with a high speed rotary tool, you just might know what it’s like to have tiny pieces of a cutoff disk thrown at you when it breaks. To ensure a safer user experience with just about any rotary tool on the market, the GyrosGuard Rotary Tool Safety Shield offers protection, visibility and performance for rotary tool users. This unique blade guard does not impede visibility, yet offers complete coverage of the cutting wheel or blade. Thanks to an ingenious spring loaded design, and an easy to operate thumb stud that makes opening the guard easy, you can access and cut the material that you are working on. Along with the GyrosGuard Rotary Tool Safety Shield, Gyros Precision Tools offers a complete line of rotary tool accessories and miniature tools.

Milwaukee M12 Thermal Imager Preview 2260-22

Milwaukee M12 Thermal Imager 2260-22

Possibly the most interesting tool of the entire 2011 Milwaukee Media event was Milwaukee’s new M12 Thermal Imager. With a maximum 4 hours of run-time, and dual cameras (it takes both a digital camera still and a thermal image at the same time) this is a whole new style of product for the M12 line. When you pull the trigger, the two images are immediately stored onto the included 2GB SD memory card. In this way you have a reference image and the thermal image for each location. What we also liked was that you can view either mode when you pull the trigger, so its easy to focus on what you need to in order to survey a site for insulation needs or weatherization.