Power Tool Reviews Archives

April 7, 2011 0

Porter-Cable PC60THPK 6-amp Hand Planer Preview

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.

April 7, 2011 0

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. Itâ€™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.

March 30, 2011 0

New Skil Routers Get Upgraded – Models 1817, 1827, 1830

by Clint DeBoer

It’s no surprise that one of the goals of Skil is to provide tools that offer a high level of […]

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

March 28, 2011 0

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.

March 8, 2011 0

Craftsman 17562 NEXTEC 12V Right Angle Impact Driver Review

by Matthias Gaige

Removing or driving fasteners in cramped spaces is easy with the new Craftsman 17562 NEXTEC 12V Right Angle Impact Driver thanks to its compact head size of only 3-1/2″ and 700 in-lb of torque. This handy tool comes with lithium-ion battery power, a variable-speed trigger, 1/4″ hex quick chuck and a compact size that will surely make it one of the go-to tools in your collection. The engineers at Craftsman did a fantastic job of combining the functionality of a right angle drill with an impact driver. The Craftsman 17562 NEXTEC 12V Right Angle Impact Driver represents what might be an industry first with their design and from what we can tell, they engineered a great tool. This impact driver proved to be very versatile when working in cramped spaces and for some projects it’s a must.

March 3, 2011 0

Dremel 8300-01 12V Cordless Multi-Max Oscillating Tool Kit Review

by Clint DeBoer

We were impressed with the original Dremel Multi-Max Oscillating tool – and to this day it remains one of our most trusted go-to tools in the Pro Tool Reviews arsenal. What makes the Dremel even more successful is the prevalence of its accessories, which can be purchased just about anywhere. That means that if you are in the middle of a job and you “spatula” your blade, you can run to the local home improvement warehouse and get a replacement. Try that with some of the more obscure brands. Now Dremel has released its Cordless Multi-Max Oscillating Tool and we couldn’t be happier. It takes the speed and agility of the original tool and cuts the cords. It allows the tool to be more and do more. What may come as a surprise to most is that it really doesn’t cost all that much more. It’s also not a replacement for the Multi-Max, but a different product that caters to a different user requirement. Dremel will continue to manufacture and offer both products.

February 28, 2011 0

Porter Cable 14″ Chop Saw PC14CTSD Preview

by Clint DeBoer

The chop saw isn’t a new tool by any stretch of the imagination, but as anyone knows who’s done a lot of metal cutting or fabrication, this is a tool you really need. Porter-Cable’s new 15 AMP Chop Saw (PC14CTSD) has been built to ensure it offers contractors performance, ergonomics, ease of use, and durability. This chop saw seems ideally suited for a number of trades, including mechanical contractors, electrical contractors, metal fabricators, and many other areas that need a simple, but durable tool for cut-in-place sawing. The PC14CTSD simply performs like a tool that is capable of handling a number of metal cutting applications on professional jobsites. This tool, in particular, seems to have been built with the contractor in mind. To start off with, the 15 AMP, high torque motor delivers 3,800 RPM, which enables the new chop saw to cut through tough materials, including cast iron pipe, angle iron, threaded rod, conduit, square tubing, and more.

February 23, 2011 0

Self-healing Li-ion Batteries on the Horizon

by Clint DeBoer

Self-healing li-ion batteries would mean a dramatic improvement in the battery’s ability to sustain itself through extended use. Lithium-ion batteries […]