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Tool Reviews by Tool

You can access our tool reviews in many different ways. Here, we organize tool reviews by tool type. This includes power tool reviews and hand tool reviews as well as reviews of air tools and pneumatics. We also cover hardware, outdoor, and industry-specific products. All are organized by specific tool type. Sorting Tool Reviews by Tool You can also check out our tool reviews by the tool brands or manufacturer, but if you’re looking for a circular saw, hammer drill, or other particular tool by tool type, then this section will get you to everything you need. Use the dropdown in the menu above to further refine your selection. With that you can get to a listing of exactly the right tools you’re interested in. Pro Tool Reviews covers and/or reviews over 400 tools each year, making this your one-stop shop for everything tool-related. If you want to know what the best tool in a particular category is, you’re in the right place.

Porter-Cable PC60THPK 6-amp Hand Planer Preview
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Porter-Cable PC60THPK 6-amp Hand Planer Preview

by Clint DeBoer

Ever wish your electric planer had a longer stance and better dust collection? Porter-Cable is attempting to meet those needs with its new 6 amp Hand Planer (model #PC60THPK). The brand new planer is actually rather sleek, with a raked back profile and 3 chamfer grooves. The new motor, which is reasonably powerful for those looking to do significant hand planing for finish applications, comes up with 16,500 RPMs. At first glance this planer seems perfect for planing wood planks, shortening doors and joists, and also chamfering and profiling the corners and edges of various hardwoods. The part we liked, however, was that it could chunk out up to 5/64″ per pass. For those who have trouble with fractions, that’s a little over 1/16 of an inch – not terribly deep by planing standards, but this is an instrument meant for finer work, not something with which to replace your circular saw. The planer comes with two blades and you can use either high-speed steel (HSS) or carbide blades. HSS blades are perfect for more aggressive planing – where nails might be encountered, and carbide blades are your tools for finish carpenters or craftsman who don’t risk jamming them up on anything except wood.

Milwaukee M18 Cordless SDS+ Rotary Hammer Review
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Milwaukee M18 Cordless SDS+ Rotary Hammer Review

by Clint DeBoer

Milwaukee tried to slip one by us earlier this year, but we caught it. As part of their April 1st push of the new RedLithium platform (which is no joke) the company leaked info on a new M18 Rotary Hammer with SDS Plus technology (2605-22). It’s a 7/8-inch model and comes with either 1 or 2 RedLithium XC batteries. We love it when reviews and projects collide. With the case of the Milwaukee M18 SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer, we couldn’t have asked for better timing. The M18 Rotary Hammer represents one of those cross-over tools. It’s a cordless tool that really attempts to be a corded tool replacement. It’s not for chopping up large swathes of concrete, but it’s also a huge step above something you’d use for routine fastening into block walls. The 2605-22 Cordless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer Drill Kit is light enough to be used overhead, but strong enough to plow through high density concrete with a 7/8″ bit.

Maxtech 50204MX Spade-Max Pro Spade Bit Set
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Maxtech 50204MX Spade-Max Pro Spade Bit Set Review

by Matthias Gaige

On first glance the Maxtech 50204MX & 51643MX Spade-Max Pro Spade Bit Sets might appear to be run of the mill spade bits, but upon closer inspection there are some key differences. Using these bits makes drilling medium sized holes a breeze thanks to a steep rake angle on the leading cutting edge that provides a faster and cleaner cut. With the steep angle, the bit acts more like a chisel as it cuts its way into the wood, in fact it quickly chips out chunks of wood. Now the thing to notice is that with the outside tips cutting before the flat part of the cutting blades, when you get to the backside of your board, you get a cleaner hole and less splintering. The whole idea of spades bits is for quickly boring through wood so speed is definitely of the essence and these bits deliver that. The slightly less expensive 9-piece set includes a 1/4″ hex drive Load N’ Drive quick connect collet that is super compact and has a spring loaded bit-eject mechanism. With 1/4″ quick connect hex shanks and a rust resistant black oxide coating, we suspect that if you pick up a set of these you will not be disappointed.

Dymo Rhino 5200 Label Printer Review
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Dymo Rhino 5200 Label Printer Review

by Clint DeBoer

If you are a professional contractor, electrician, plumber, or like to keep your stuff organized and easy to find, by now you’ve likely heard of Dymo’s line of Rhino label printers. The Rhino labelers are one of few industrial quality products designed to serve the needs of journeymen and contracting professionals who need on-site labelers that can stand up to the tough elements and challenges faced on the jobsite. The company just released its Rhino 5200 to update and replace its already well-regarded RhinoPro 5000 label printer that has been an industry standard. The new product simplifies and augments an already impressive label printing tool. Dymo doesn’t just stop at the machines, however, they have an impressive and well-rounded line of label products that cover the gamut and function in almost any environment. This includes entry-level nylon tape, vinyl tape in multiple color choices and also permanent polyester labels which are hearty enough to work for outdoor use or application onto rough surfaces. We were happy to put our grubby hands on the new 5200 and, when we did, we were quite pleased with the results.

Dymo Rhino 6000 Label Printer Review
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Dymo Rhino 6000 Label Printer Review

by Clint DeBoer

Dymo label printers have long been the serious user’s choice in label creation for quite some time now. With the new Rhino 6000 they have truly upped the ante in terms of features and capabilities. I say this for several reasons. One, the company has an extensive line of products that are specifically targeted for the professional and “pro-sumer” markets, and two, the Rhino brand is backed by labels that will work in a variety of applications and environments. From simple nylon tape that is perfect for cabling and simple label jobs, to vinyl which is available in many colors, to permanent polyester tape that can handle outdoor use and rough surfaces, Dymo has paid attention to the needs of custom A/V installers, electricians and journeymen everywhere.

Black & Decker LDX112C 12V Max Lithium Drill/Driver Review
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Black and Decker LDX112C 12V Max Lithium Drill/Driver Review

by Thomas Gaige

Seeing how just about everyone else has a compact 12V lithium-ion powered line of power tools, Black & Decker jumped on board with their value-targeted LDX112C 12V Max Lithium Drill/Driver. Using what has become an industry standard format for the battery style, they opted for a slightly different approach to its integration into the handle of the tool. The front load style actually makes it so that the drill can stand on its own and offer pretty good balance. This little drill has most of what we have come to expect from this type of tool – like an integrated LED worklight, rubber over-molded grips, and variable speed trigger. What actually surprised us was the metal gear box and 3/8″ metal chuck which seemed like nice touches on a value priced tool. The Black & Decker LDX112C 12V Max Lithium Drill/Driver comes in a cardboard box that includes a battery, charger, and a bi-sided driving bit. Sorry, but only one battery is included and there is no nifty carry case. But given its pretty small size, it could easily live in the junk drawer in your kitchen. Come on, admit it, you might not call it a junk drawer, but everyone has one. Its that central drawer in your kitchen or office that houses all the odds and ends that don’t seem to belong or fit elsewhere. It is the first place you will look for masking tape, screws, tacks, candles and a host of other necessities (yes, I too have one) – and what better place than to store this handy little drill/driver.

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