-
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.
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.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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.
-
-
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...
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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.
-
-
-
-
-
-
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.