Our in depth cordless power tool reviews include the best cordless drills, best cordless saws, LED flashlights, best oscillating multi-tools, and more. If you’re a Pro, knowing whether or not you’re using the very best tools for the job makes all the difference. Pro Tool Reviews does head-to-head testing, tool shootouts, and individual tool reviews. We cover the latest products so you can know which manufacturers and tools work the best. While anyone can read our cordless power tool reviews, we write them with professional tradesmen in mind. That means we test some tools in-house with our expert panel of tool testers. Others, we send out on the jobsite and put them into the hands of Pros for evaluation. This lets us really get a feel for how a tool performs against the expectations of real-world applications. Also, it ensures we don’t miss out on a particular tool application we may not have thought of.
In addition to participating in Rockwell’s new Free Batteries for Life program, the new Lithium Ion tools have a compact design, are lightweight, and feature high torque capability and a fast charge time. The new kit includes an 18-volt 1/2-in. drill/driver (#RK2810K2) and an 18-volt, impact driver (#RK2800K2). It also includes an 18-volt lithium-ion battery pack (#RW9161), and 18-volt lithium-ion charger (#RW9162).
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.
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 1/2†keyless chuck, two speed gear box, 24 position adjustable torque clutch and a built in LED work light in the handle.
Built jobsite tough, the Ridgid R8408 Job Site Radio comes out with an industry first, built-in iPod docking station and a separate Aux Input Jack all located inside a protective compartment. Standard with a steel roll cage handle that encompasses all but the base which is made of impact resistant plastic, this radio is ready for you to crank out the work like a machine as you listen to your music. For you racing fans, there is a scanner that picks up the common race scanner frequencies.
Our favorite part of this radio is that not only does it look rugged, it is rugged! The DeWalt DC011 […]
Makita is breaking into the lithium-ion realm with gusto and is offering 8 new 18V li-ion combo kits, from 2-piece kits to full 15-piece master kits that will leaving you wanting for nothing. We took a first look at their latest 7-piece combo kit which includes, among other things, a 1/2-inch hammer drill, a 6.5-inch circular saw, impact driver, reciprocating saw, 4.5-inch angle grinder, flashlight and jobsite radio. This is a robust kit that only leaves off smaller-sized versions of what’s provided here.
The do-it-all portable drill that helped to define a market segment! For those big holes saws and auger bits… no problem! For drilling 3/4″ holes in concrete block… no problem! For driving in 1/4″ lag bolts… no problem! For taking the lug nuts off your 18-wheeler… OK, well it can’t do everything. The DeWalt DW988KA Heavy-Duty XRP 1/2″ 18V Hammerdrill / Drill / Driver is the tool for nearly any job. This drill comes with a high-torque motor, three-speed manual transmission, hammer drill setting, and a nifty removable side handle that can be added to the front and rotated 360 degrees to ensure you always have a comfortable grip and maintain control.
The Ridgid R86014 Drill/Driver is a great combination of quality and features. From its very solid construction to the automatic transmission, this drill is a sure performer. What’s more, the lithium-ion batteries reform this tool into something new, stronger, and better than its NiCd predecessors.
We took the Makita 6347DWDE Cordless Drill to task and discovered that Makita has some serious power in this 18V tool. The 6347DWDE provides ample torque and its easy to use and ergonomic torque control means that contractors and handymen will both appreciate the ease of use this tool offers. User-accessible brush replacement and Ni-MH batteries also indicate a tool that will last for years and years – even under extreme stress.
The Craftsman 4.8 Volt Pistol Screwdriver is a handyman’s (or handywoman’s) “go-to” tool. This rechargeable pistol grip screwdriver is perfect for those around the house jobs for which the big boy tools are simply too darn cumbersome. We tested out this pistol grip screwdriver in a variety of jobs and found it to be long lasting and perfect for most basic projects, provided you didn’t expect much torque or require the finesse of a variable speed drill.
