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In mid-October I attended the Remodeling Show in Chicago. Among the exhibitors were a number of tool companies and I shot video of some of their tools being demonstrated.
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Darren Diess of Dustless Technologies demonstrated the filtering capabilities of their HEPA vacuum and showed me a number of dust collection shrouds that will fit the tools you already own.
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One of the more interesting products I saw was a modular tool belt system from Iron Dog Tool Gear. It consists of a belt that can be combined with various pouches and tool holders, which are held in place by metal clips. The clips fit into loops on the belt (and loops on other pouches) so they can...
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John Miller of Tapco Tools used a short version of the Anniversary Brake to show me how to make a number of different flashings: sill pans, head flashings, and a brick mold trim for use with replacement windows.
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...
For this article we tested four higher-voltage saws – 36-volt models from Bosch, DeWalt, and Hilti, and a 28-volt model from Milwaukee. We used them while framing and siding a house and for building a deck. Later, we performed a test to see how many cuts each saw could make per charge.
About a year ago my remodeling company had an opportunity to test the new CT 26 Dust Extractor. This product was not entirely unfamiliar to us, because our stable of vacuums already included some older Festools.
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Milwaukee's M18 Cordless 7/8-inch SDS Plus Rotary Hammer should find its strongest market among mechanical contractors who work on commercial jobs, but it will be of interest to any tradesperson who drills a lot of small holes in concrete.
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Changing a clogged vacuum filter is a dirty, messy job, and the cost of replacing collection bags adds up over time. The Dust Deputy installs in line with your vacuum's hose and diverts virtually all of the debris into a containment bucket, extending the life of the filter and reducing the need to...
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Most carpenters scribe with a compass or a small block of wood. That works fine but requires a practiced hand to keep the pencil line parallel to the scribed surface. The M.Power Perfect Butt Profile Scriber makes the task easier.
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Drop cloth; many-pocketed work pants; fiber-cement gauges; safety railings; hardhat holder; miter saw; roll-up knee protection; sticky gloves; more
Throughout the year, the Tools of the Trade staff sees and tests hundreds of tools. We're especially busy now, because it's the season when many companies introduce new tools and unveil them at the Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association show held every November. On the following pages...
About a year ago my remodeling company had an opportunity to test the new CT 26 Dust Extractor. This product was not entirely unfamiliar to us, because our stable of vacuums already included some older Festools.
Every June thousands of students from high school and college vo-tech programs travel to Kansas City, Mo., to compete in the SkillsUSA championships. Most compete in a single trade such as cabinetmaking, sheet-metal work, or welding, but some participate in the multi-trade TeamWorks event.
Stonehill College may be the only school where the graduating seniors adopt a class shovel. The tradition came about because the Easton, Mass., institution is home to what's commonly called 'the shovel museum,' a collection of more than 750 shovels – some dating back to the 18th century – made by...
Last summer, my painting company added a new sprayer to its arsenal: the Graco ProShot. For those who missed the hoopla surrounding the introduction of this tool, it's a hoseless 2,000-psi piston pump sprayer that takes pro-style tips and is powered by an 18-volt battery. The ProShot is sold...
The Makita drill/driver is short & a mere 7-9/16 inches from chuck to tail. With the battery attached, it weighs 3.3 pounds, which is lighter than the vast majority of 18-volt drill/drivers. Its small size and weight make for easy handling overhead and in tight spaces like cabinets and narrow joist...
In a perfect world there would be temporary power where and when you needed it, but in reality, many contractors must rely on portable generators some or all of the time. As a framing contractor, I've had to use them myself, so I understand how important it is to get a dependable machine that can...
Subcompact tools are the fastest growing segment of the cordless market. The number of available models has grown from a mere handful four years ago to more than 100 today. The tools in this category are defined by their small size, light weight, and 10.8-volt lithium-ion battery packs (which for...
My first encounter with construction lasers was 20-plus years ago on a commercial job site, where a subcontractor was using a rotary laser to level the track for a suspended ceiling. The tool obviously saved a lot of time, and even though it could only shoot level, I was jealous that my company...
A 23-gauge pinner is perfect for fastening small returns and delicate pieces that would be destroyed by a brad nailer. Cadex, known for well-made and feature-laden guns, has just released the CP23.30, a low-price alternative to some of its fancier tools.
Hauling a gang box full of tools from site to site is backbreaking work. Just hoisting the thing up onto the truck can take up to four people. Rescue 42's General Purpose Box makes this labor-intensive process a simple one-man job.
The H4X Remote Air Hub solves several problems associated with pneumatics on job sites. Instead of running multiple hoses back to the compressor, you put the Air Hub close to the action and plug tool hoses into it.
The task of mixing usually rolls down to the least experienced person on site, but it still has to be done correctly. While most mixing paddles only work with a single specified material, the uniquely flexible StirWhip – which looks like it's modeled after some rare sea creature – can be used with...
Installing metal roof panels on a hot day is like hanging out in a convection oven, so any tool that speeds up the process is worth considering. The Strong-Tie BGP300 auto-feed screwdriving system drives the hex-head screws with washers used to fasten metal roofing and siding.
Nothing destroys masonry bits like rebar. One solution may be the new SpeedHammer bits, which – according to Irwin – are designed to be twice as durable as standard masonry bits.
Door Deckers are designed to assist with both the painting and the drying of doors and shelves.
Air hoses can be difficult to stow and are a real tripping hazard. Because of the unique design of its inner and outer walls, the new GilaFlex hose has no shape memory; it coils easily.
To a thief, a construction site can be a treasure trove of expensive tools and possibly an easy way to get into someone's house. Nightwatcher Security Lighting should thoroughly freak out even the most adept burglars and vandals.
Bostitch recently upgraded its 15-gauge finish nailer with an eye toward making life easier for the trim carpenter. The gun has a small, thumb-operated blowgun for clearing away dust and debris and a small battery-powered LED on the nose.
Cutting door and window openings through sheathing with a recip saw usually leaves a rough and crooked edge. Milwaukee's new flush-cut blade was created for these applications.
As the latest entry in the ongoing competition for the perfect deck demo tool, the Duck Prybar is distinguished by its unique adjustable head.
If it weren't for hammer tackers, the tedious task of applying felt paper and housewrap would be intolerable. As part of Arrow's new RED line, the HT50iRED has a bottom-loading mechanism that the maker says tightly secures the staples and makes jamming less likely than in rear-loading models.
The Festool RO 90 DX Sander has switchable modes that allow it to function as a grinder, orbital sander, and detail sander. In grinding mode, the motor gears down to produce more torque.
Rebar tying tools seem to come in two flavors: simple hand tools and high-tech cordless machines. Somewhere in the middle are the new Pinza Tying Pliers, which look like a set of end nippers with the spiral shaft of a Yankee screwdriver grafted into them.
Framing hammers take a lot of abuse, and after a while their striking surfaces can start to break down. To prolong the life of the Hardcore Hammer, its maker recessed the waffle face (made from hardened steel) slightly from the head's smooth outer ring.
Protecting tools from the weather is an ongoing struggle for anyone who works outdoors.
Because they have a pair of close-set blades spinning in opposing directions, dual-blade saws virtually eliminate kickback and are great for plunge-cutting.
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Digital inspection cameras are useful for seeing into walls, down conduits, and anywhere else only a mouse can fit. As part of Bosch's 12-volt platform, the new PS90> has a 2-11/16-inch screen with a maximum resolution of 324x240.
Dust masks can be restricting, particularly when you're trying to talk to someone. With its pleated sides, the 3M Vflex respirator solves this and other annoyances.
Even though they fold, stepladders are bulky and difficult to transport. The Little Giant Select Step combines two common sizes – a 6-footer and an 8-footer – in one model, so you've got one less ladder to haul around.
With the Hitachi N2503AF you can install thin wood flooring without having to contort yourself into awkward positions to hold the nose at the proper angle.
Fifteen years ago, when I started out as a framer, Skil was the only real choice for carpenters looking for an inline saw. Since then, a lot more companies have started making these tools and now there are quite a few to choose from.
Ray Robinson, Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 winner
For as long as I can remember, miter saws have ridden on rails. This design works very well except for one shortcoming: You need to set up away from the wall because the rails protrude from the back of the machine. Bosch recently introduced a 12-inch dual compound sliding model (GCM12SD) designed...
Like many carpenters, I enjoy listening to music at work. When I was starting out, there were only a couple of options: Leave the truck radio on with the door open (and risk having to jump the battery later on) or listen to a bad-sounding boombox that was held together with duct tape and had a wire...
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...
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As a framing contractor, I rely on nail guns more than almost any other tool. When I buy a framing gun I look for a model that is comfortable to handle, able to toenail well, and powerful enough to drive nails flush every time.
With the enactment last spring of the EPA's Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) rule, contractors are facing a number of new requirements, one of which is to use a HEPA vacuum for cleanup whenever lead-based paint is disturbed. The rule also says that HEPA vacs need to be used with tools that...
It takes only one stray rock or a dirt-embedded log to dull a chain saw, making it both unsafe and ineffective. Now there's an alternative to the tedious process of hand sharpening: The PowerSharp Sharpening System provides an easy, on-the-fly way to freshen up the teeth of your saw.
If you own a pickup, getting a sheet of MDF or veneer plywood from the lumberyard to the job site on a rainy day can be a tricky proposition. It doesn't take too many raindrops before your purchase is ready for the dumpster. The Kerry-All Pouch is designed for just such bad-weather situations.
Wheelbarrows aren't exactly the steadiest vehicles on the road -- most are wobbly and awkward to navigate. Ames True Temper says its Total Control Wheelbarrow is an exception.