Milwaukee M12 Rotary Hammer 2412-22XC
Ask anyone who drills into concrete for a living and you’ll find that users of rotary hammers are clamoring for […]
Can Tin Anodes Make for Better Lithium-ion Batteries?
We keep following the news on Lithium-ion because, well, it’s an evolving technology. The thing with Li-ion batteries is that […]
IKEA FIXA Screwdriver Drill Review
When we saw an IKEA-branded drill we simply had to get it. Featuring a soft synthetic rubber skin, the 7.2V […]
Metabo MAG 28 LTX Cordless Magnetic Drill Press Preview
Lately, Metabo seems to be coming up with some pretty impressive products. Earlier this year they announced a 4.0 Ah Li-ion battery pack and now the portable electric power tool manufacturer has introduced the world’s first cordless magnetic drill press. Metabo is known for producing tools that are particularly suited for industrial, construction and welding applications and the new MAG 28 LTX fits right in. The new magnetic drill press uses a 25.2 V (others might call this a 24V) Li-ion battery to power the tool. For anchoring the drill to the surface, the tool uses a powerful rare earth magnet which requires no energy from the battery. This makes the mag drill suitable for use in remote and previously inaccessible environments.
Bosch RHS181K 18V Compact Rotary Hammer Drill Preview
Last summer we got to check out Bosch’s RHH180 Cordless Rotary Hammer Drill and found it to be the kind of tool that would make lots of on-site jobs much easier. When you just need to grab a tool and drill to, for example, set anchors or Tapcons to mount conduit, an 18V Hammer Drill can be a great solution. What we especially like about the new RHS181K is that Bosch took a great idea and compacted it further. The new hammer drill moves the battery from the front of the D-handle to the base and migrates the motor structure forward. The result is a much more compact design that shaves nearly a pound off the weight (the new tool weighs 4.6 lbs – and that’s including the 18V Lithium-ion battery.
DeWalt DCF895C2 Brushless Impact Driver Review
The DeWalt DCF895C2 20V MAX Brushless Lithium-Ion 1.5Ah Impact Driver should conjure up thoughts of long run time, cooler operation, […]
Makita LXMT025 18V LXT Li-ion Cordless Multi-Tool Kit Preview
Makita just released two new multi-tools, including the new 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Multi-Tool Kit (model LXMT025), and the corded Multi-Tool Kit (model TM3000CX5). Compared to other models on the market, these tools look to be hitting the market as “second-gen” level tools, with sufficient build quality to impress us out of the gate and enough run-time (18V cordless) and power (corded model) to be very practical.
Makita TM3000CX5 Multi-Tool Kit Preview
The new TM3000CX5 Oscillating Multi-Tool is powered by a 3.0 amp motor with soft start for smooth start-ups. The variable speed control dial allows a flexible operating range (6,000 – 20,000 OPM) and enables the user to match the speed to the application, and the electronic speed control maintains constant speed under load for smoother, higher-quality work. Similar to the 18V Lithium-Ion Multi-Tool, the new TM3000CX5 has a 3.2 degree oscillation angle engineered for faster, more aggressive cutting and sanding.
Kobalt 18V Li-ion Cordless Impact Wrench Review
For anyone who does any sort of automotive work, the impact wrench is a must-have tool. Even if you only occasionally remove a tire, there is a stark difference between using a breaker bar or tire iron and a pneumatic impact wrench. But with an impact wrench, you also have the obligatory air compressor, hose, and necessary room to make sure it all works. Not so, with Kobalt Tools’ new 18V 1/2″ Cordless Impact Wrench. Of course, the real issue is, now that they’ve severed the cord and gone to the 18V Lithium-ion battery, is the tool sufficiently powerful to truly take off lug nuts? Can it replace, for real, not just for “most purposes” the air powered impact wrench? That’s what we set out to prove or disprove. And like most experiments, we had a lot of fun, and learned more than we expected.
Makita LXDT04 18V LXT Cordless Impact Driver Preview
Makita’s new LXDT04 Cordless Impact Driver uses the company’s variable speed 4-pole motor to deliver 1,420 in. lbs. of maximum torque. It does it with 0-3,200 impacts per minute and up to 2,300 RPMs. We love impact drivers, and Makita’s new model seems suited for a variety of tough-as-nails (or, as is the case, tough as lag bolts) fastening tasks. Since the LXDT04 only weighs 3.3 lbs, it’s also got an excellent power-to-weight ratio and measures just 5-7/16″ long – smaller and lighter than the BTD141 18V Impact Driver that it replaces.