Tools of the Trade: Latest News

Suit Against Home Depot and Power Tool Companies Dismissed – For Now

Thu, 2 May 2013 10:47:40 EST

Late last year Orchard Supply sued Home Depot, Makita, and Milwaukee for running what it says was an illegal group boycott.

Depot vs. Lowes

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 03:18:59 EST

More from the department of boring corporate news: Home Depot stomps Lowes. If you shop in those stores you may have contributed to the following not-so-boring statistic.

Fixing the Chinese Drywall Disaster

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 11:00:59 EST

Carelessness led to Florida’s problems with defective Chinese drywall.

18-Volt Ryobi Batteries Recalled

Mon, 4 Mar 2013 04:05:00 EST

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with One World Technologies has announced the recall of 4.0 Ah 18-volt lithium-ion Ryobi tool batteries after several reports of packs busting into flames on the charger.

Chinese plywood is about to go up in price

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:25:32 EST

In response to an unfair trade petition by U.S. manufacturers of hardwood plywood, the U.S. Commerce Department is going to impose up to a 27% duty on imported Chinese plywood.

The Hilmor Brand Joins Irwin and Lenox

Mon, 4 Mar 2013 04:04:09 EST

Newell Rubbermaid, the parent company of Irwin and Lenox, is launching a new brand of tools aimed at the professional HVAC mechanic.

No More $9.99 or $99.99 Tools

Mon, 4 Mar 2013 04:04:30 EST

Canada has done away with the penny and Home Depot announces...

Apex Tool to Close Its North Carolina Plant

Mon, 4 Mar 2013 04:06:02 EST

The Apex Tool Group announced it will be closing its Gastonia, NC, plant in June 2013 and moving those jobs to facilities in Texas and China. Among the tools made at the plant are sockets sold under the Craftsman brand label.

New Tax on Wood Creates Confusion in California

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 03:28:41 EST

As of January 1, California retailers have been required to collect an extra one percent tax certain lumber products. Plywood, framing lumber, and unfinished decking are among the products subject to the tax. Doors, windows, trim, and other more heavily processed items are not.

Home Depot Loses $257K to Double-Cart Scheme

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 03:28:39 EST

A New York duo has been arrested and accused of using a double-cart scheme to steal $257,000 from Home Depot stores in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. They allegedly loaded two carts with identical items, paid for one, and stashed the other in the store.

Bill Bans Use of Sulfur-Tainted Drywall

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 03:28:36 EST

Congress passed a bill that limits the amount of sulfur allowed in drywall and directs the administration to press Chinese manufacturers to compensate victims of tainted Chinese wallboard products.

OSHA Extends Temporary Fall-Protection Enforcement Once Again

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 03:28:34 EST

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has decided to push its toughest enforcement measures for its new fall-protection rule back to March 15, 2013, according to a memo released on Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Wages on Hold

Tue, 5 Feb 2013 01:29:43 EST

Most of the remodeling company owners we spoke with for this article had to cut wages during the recession. But many are reporting that in the past two years they have started to increase pay. As Craig Huseby, owner of Huseby Homes, in Nashville, Tenn., put it, 'You can only go so long without giving a man a raise.'

OSHA Extends Temporary Fall-Protection Enforcement Once Again

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 03:28:28 EST

Hardware Chain Sues Home Depot and Power Tool Companies

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 03:28:25 EST

Orchard Supply Hardware, a California hardware chain, is suing Home Depot, Makita, and Milwaukee Electric Tool in federal court for restraint of trade. Orchard claims Makita and Milwaukee cut off its supply of power tools shortly after Home Depot announced plans to lock up the supply of key hardware products to counter the threat posed by Amazon and other online retailers.

Helper on Home Remodeling Project Sues Supervisor over Stairway Collapse

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 02:50:18 EST

Texas lawsuit faults co-worker for failing to provide a safe workplace, inadequate supervision.

Ryobi Portable Table-Saws Recalled

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 11:56:05 EST

One World Technologies of Anderson, S.C., is recalling Ryobi portable table saws with potentially misaligned saw blades, according to the Consumer Products Safety Commission. The recall involves over 21,000 Ryobi RTS20 portable table saws that were imported from China and sold at U.S. and Canadian Home Depot stores from July 2010 through October 2010.

Bosch Recalls Hammer Drills

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 03:51:57 EST

Bosch has issued a recall of about 20,000 hammer drills. The models have a grounding system and trigger switch that could cause ground wire abrasion and/or ground connector failure posing a shock hazard.

CuttingEdge: Equipment Rentals Trending Up

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 03:51:35 EST

Despite the continuing economic uncertainty affecting the housing and construction industries, not all of the news is bad. Three recent high-level studies are seeing early signs of recovery and forecasting growth for the months ahead, with residential building and remodeling picking up steam as we move into 2011.

Cutting Edge: Arkansas Contractor Wins Site Commander!

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 03:51:23 EST

Veteran contractor Don Hodge of North Little Rock, Ark., went online to look for a Lenox 3-inch hole saw and came away as this year's winner of the Site Commander Sweepstakes. He picked up the keys to his new truck at the Lenox 301 NASCAR Race in Loudon, N.H., at the end of June.