CMT ITK Plus Thin Kerf Finishing Blade Review
There’s nothing like a project to introduce you to new and interesting circular saw blades. As we readied a new […]
DeWalt DWX726 Rolling Miter Saw Stand Review
While the thought of a “portable” miter saw is appealing, carrying one around by hand is not my favorite past-time. I’d rather use a dedicated miter saw stand. We’ve used a bunch of these over the years, and when DeWalt announced it had put out a new gas-assisted model, the DWX726, we thought we’d give it a try to see how they might have improved upon what was already on the market. First and foremost, the job of a good miter saw stand is to support the saw, while also providing a consistent feed and support for the work material. There are two basic types of miter saw stands, the compact fixed stand (with or without roller feeds) and the heavier-duty rolling stand that is made to be a more permanent yet portable solution. DeWalt has both, but the new DWX726 promises to be both robust and highly portable.
Milwaukee Fluorescent Lighting Tester 2210-20
New tools are often nothing special. Most of the time they are incremental updates, but occasionally, they alter the makeup of an existing idea enough to be considered original – like the one-handed reciprocating saw, for example. But other times, they are downright original. I mean, truly original – as in “the first of its kind”. Milwaukee pulled this off when it saw a need for identifying and fixing fluorescent lighting. There simply wasn’t a meter on the market that could troubleshoot and fix this style of lighting quickly and easily. What the new Milwaukee 2210-20 Fluorescent Lighting Tester does is allow maintenance professionals to extend a probe, turn to the lamp function, press the test function and check to see if the lamp is good or bad. But how? The meter emits high frequency voltage when it contacts the glass. This process “activates” the bulb because the rod acts as a ballast which will energize a good lamp.
Paslode 900600 Cordless 16-ga Angled Finish Nailer Review
Going cord-free with trim nailers is the way to go, and the Paslode 900600 Cordless 16-gauge Angled Finish Nailer makes this easy to do. This nailer is best suited for the pro that focuses on remodeling and trim work. With an excellent line of sight and an angled nail magazine, getting fasteners into difficult-to-reach places is easy and can be done with great precision. The idea of not having to drag around a compressor, cords and hoses is a very compelling argument for going cordless. Not to mention, this Paslode is lightweight, compact, comes with a built-in hanging hook and is incredibly easy to use. This nailer makes our list of must-have tools!
Paslode IM250A LI Cordless 16-gauge Angled Finish Nailer Review
We already did a pretty thorough review of the Paslode 900600 Cordless 16-gauge Angled Finish Nailer last year. That was an excellent tool (still is) and it transformed, in my mind, the potential for what a finish nailer could be. Apparently, however, that was the dry run – regardless of how great a run it was. This year, Paslode released an update/replacement that has more than a few tweaks to the former tool. They’ve been listening to their users and we have to say, these tweaks – present in the new IM250A LI – really refine this tool into something special.
Porter-Cable C1010 1-Gallon Quiet Trim Compressor Review
We often use trim compressors to do smaller projects because of their compact size, convenience and mobility. The Porter Cable C1010 1 Gallon 135 PSI Max Quiet Trim Compressor is all of that and more. Overall weight is a very manageable 24 pounds and there is a protective steel roll cage that also doubles as the carry handle, allowing the compressor to be carried in an upright position. Probably the biggest feature of this little compressor is that it is oil-free and quiet. Normally you can’t say both of those words in the same sentence when talking about compressors. Somehow the engineers at Porter-Cable figured out how to make this little guy maintenance-free and you can stand to be in the same room with it when it is running. Our plan was to find out if it really is as good as they say it is.
DeWalt DW059HK-2 18V XRP Impact Wrench Preview
DeWalt has some pretty powerful impact drivers and wrenches, but their new DW059HK-2 18V XRP NiCd Impact Wrench with Hog Ring Anvil is nearly twice as strong as their existing DC821KA 1/2″ Impact Wrench. The DW059HK-2 was designed from the ground up as a brand new tool that could hold up to (and thrive in) extremely high-torque applications. We’re talking the stuff undertaken by real pros, be they mechanics, contractors, plumbers, or maintenance professionals. The wrench can also be purchased as a standalone tool (model number DW059HB) for those who don’t need a battery or charger.
Milwaukee M12 Cordless Jig Saw Kit 2445-21 Preview
Jigsaws can be very inexpensive and occasional-use tools, or they can be the thing you reach for at all times to solve a whole suite of difficult cutting challenges. In our case, we find that the tool really determines which viewpoint you have. Take the new Milwaukee M12 Cordless High Performance Jig Saw (2445-21), for example. This new jigsaw was shown off to us at the 2011 Milwaukee Press Event and we really haven’t stopped thinking about it. The new jigsaw is incredibly simple in design – but in a good way. It has a “Hybrid Grip” design, which Milwaukee pitches as the best combination of features from a top handle and barrel grip jig saw. And really, the handle is unique and it provides ample grip, while giving you really good balance while making cuts. The tool is also very small and handles well. It weighs just 4.1 lbs and is only 8.75″ long from base to front. From our inventory of the market, this looks to be one of, if not the most, compact cordless jigsaw that targets professional users. While the Milwaukee 2645-22 M18 Jig Saw we reviewed earlier this year provides more power, this M12 model is infinitely more flexible and portable.
Bosch ROS65VC 6″ Random Orbit Sander Review
We first got our hands on the new Bosch ROS65VC-6 6″ Random Orbit Sander with Vibration Control at their 2011 Media Event. Since then, we pretty much have been unable to take our hands off it. What fascinated us about the tool is that, when used side-by-side with other sanders, it truly did significantly reduce vibration. This yielded better control and, perhaps more importantly, less fatigue on the hands during use. We’ve used a lot of orbital sanders in our day and having a product that cuts out the vibration to this extent is worth its weight in gold – which is good, because this new sander from Bosch will cost you nearly that much.
Milwaukee 2313-20 M-Spector 360 Inspection Camera Preview
At the 2011 Milwaukee New Tools Press Event, Corey Dickert gave us an up-close-and-personal look at the M-Spector 360 – the company’s newest inspection camera. What probably impressed us the most was it’s small focal length. At just 1″ away, the camera gave a really good view of materials and let you get right up close to check out what’s happening in pipes, behind walls, etc. Most inspection cameras can’t get that close without losing focus. We also appreciated the detailed and colorful images that the new camera presented. There is at least one competitor that does an equally impressive job, but the Milwaukee is far and above most of the typical inspection camera, which looks, for all intents and purposes, black and white. It also has a very narrow 9mm camera head as opposed to the more common 17mm head. Right off the bat it’s already suited for residential, commercial AND automotive applications. In our hands-on use of the camera we examined jean material, circuit boards, and Cat 5e cable close-up and the images were excellent.