Tools of the Trade: Greg's Latest Articles

Björnkläder Work Pants

Mon, 4 Feb 2013 11:59:21 EST

Several years back I was at the JLC LIVE trade show and an exhibitor was selling Scandinavian-designed work pants that had built-in sleeves for holding knee pads, waist-level pouches, and all kinds of specialized pockets. I bought a couple of pairs and before long I had stopped wearing my old work pants. Those first pairs of work pants were from Blakläder, but I have since switched over to a brand called Björnkläder.

A Deck Builder's Tool Kit

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:15:54 EST

These specialized tools boost productivity and quality.

Tool Test: 18-Volt Drill/Drivers

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:15:50 EST

Today's cordless drills are significantly better than the ones I used four or five years ago — they have more power and greater runtime, and take less time to charge. Many of them are lighter, too. The most obvious change has been the move from nicad to lithium-ion batteries, with lithium-ion becoming the de facto standard for pro-grade tools. But it's not just the batteries that have gotten better; now motors are smaller and more efficient, and chargers charge more effectively, because they communicate with the batteries.

Tool Test: Affordable Line Lasers

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:15:13 EST

For this article, my crew and I tested 11 self-leveling line lasers that can be purchased for $300 or less – an amount any tradesperson should be willing to spend for a tool that can pay for itself. Our pricing came from reputable online dealers; you may pay more or less based on when and where you buy the tool. We chose not to include point-to-point (dot) lasers, mostly because they're not as applicable to the tasks contractors perform every day.

Tool Test: Affordable Line Lasers

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 07:15:01 EST

Tool Test: 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Impact Drivers

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 02:09:17 EST

For this article my crew and I tested 18 lithium-ion impact-driver kits. Some companies sell the same tool in two kits – each with different batteries – and in such cases we tested both versions. We used all the drivers for several months, trading them around so that everybody had experience with each one.

Tools Up Close: Hilti Electric Concrete Saw

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 07:13:41 EST

The DCH 300 is electric, so it's reliable and produces no fumes, and it has a hose port that can be connected to a dust-collecting vacuum. Though designed to cut concrete and masonry, the saw can be used to cut metal if it's equipped with a fiber-reinforced abrasive blade. Lots of companies make electric cut-off saws; what's unusual about this one is the cutting capacity, which at 4-3/4 inches deep is comparable to that of a 12-inch gas model or an electric tool with a 14-inch blade.