Tools of the Trade: Tool Tests and Reviews

Paslode IM250A Li Cordless Finish Nailer

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 10:29:58 EST

Though expensive, this tool offers some real advantages over comparable pneumatics

Max Rebar Tier

Fri, 8 Mar 2013 03:38:16 EST

My crew recently formed and poured the foundation for a 4,200 square foot custom home we would later be framing. It was larger than the homes we normally build - the perfect opportunity to try out a tool I had seen at the JLC LIVE tradeshow...

High-Voltage Cordless Chain Saws

Fri, 1 Feb 2013 02:20:11 EST

When lithium-ion tools first hit the market, a number of manufacturers introduced 28- and 36-volt models.

Tools Up Close: Two Fuel-Powered Framers

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:06:05 EST

Early this year, Tools of the Trade sent me the newest models from Paslode and Bostitch, and this story is about my crew's experience with those guns.

Tools Up Close: Milwaukee M12 Band Saw

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:15:57 EST

Earlier this year Milwaukee added a tool to its M12 line that I never expected to see: a cordless portable band saw. Many tool companies make 18-volt band saws, but this is the first subcompact (10.8-volt/12-volt max) model. At 6.75 pounds and 12 inches long, it's small enough to be used one-handed.

Tools Up Close: Makita LXSL01 Cordless Miter Saw

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:15:53 EST

Over the past decade or so, a revolution of sorts has been occurring within the cordless tool industry. Thanks to improved motor and battery technology, power-hungry tools that were once available only as 110-volt corded models are being offered without cords. The list is long and includes rotary hammers, impact wrenches, angle grinders, and more.

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.

Tools Up Close: Milwaukee M12 Cordless Jigsaw

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:15:16 EST

When it comes to jigsaws, I'm an avowed barrel-grip guy, so even though many of my other tools are cordless, I've been stuck using a corded jigsaw. But with Milwaukee's recent introduction of the model 2445 saw (which takes M12 batteries), I've been able to add a cordless model to my tool kit.

Tools Up Close: Makita Compact Drill/Driver

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 07:13:52 EST

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 bays. To create a more comfortable and ergonomic handle than the ones on previous models, the manufacturer tapered the bottom of the grip and added vertical ribbing.

Tool Test: Subcompact Drill/Drivers and Impact Drivers

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 07:13:51 EST

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 marketing purposes are referred to as 12-volt packs). As with any voltage platform, the first tool a new user usually buys is a drill/driver, followed by an impact driver, so for this article I tested both.

Tool Test: Concrete Pinners

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 03:51:05 EST

Tools for nailing through steel or into fully cured concrete used to be limited to PATs (powder-actuated tools), but gas-powered pinners are gaining popularity. And there are powerful pneumatics – some old and some new – that have been flying under the radar for some time even though they excel at shooting into these tough materials. We gathered all the tools we could find in the two categories and gave them to a commercial contractor in Wisconsin to see how they fared on the job.

2010 Editor's Choice Awards

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 03:50:34 EST

This year's search for outstanding new tools, equipment, and innovative features was as challenging as ever, given the continued rate of product introductions from all corners of the manufacturing world serving professional construction markets.

2010 Editor's Choice: Senco Cordless Nailer

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 12:38:14 EST

Senco has simplified cordless-nailer operations with its new Fusion trim nailers featuring the company's Reflex-Shot technology, which provides instant trigger response.

2010 Editor's Choice: Milwaukee Cordless Mini Band Saw

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 12:38:07 EST

Milwaukee continues its leadership role in trade-focused tool design with this exciting compact 18-volt cordless portable band saw, the M18 2629-22.

2010 Editor's Choice: Ford Transit Connect Work Van

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 12:37:45 EST

Ford introduced a welcome sense of practicality to the industry when it brought the Transit Connect work van to the U.S. from Europe, where it has been popular since 2002.

2010 Editor's Choice: Hitachi WH14DBL Compact Cordless Impact Driver

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 12:37:42 EST

We love the way this category has continued to evolve, especially in terms of performance features previously seen only in industrial assembly tools.

Bessey TSC4.516 Staircase Clamp

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 12:32:13 EST

Bessey is known for its strong industrial and shop clamps.

2009 Editors' Choice: Milwaukee Subcompact Specialty Tools

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 11:54:57 EST

Subcompact cordless tools are a fast-growing trend and no brand has taken them further than Milwaukee's M12 line.

Tool Test: Compact & Subcompact Drill/Drivers

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:13:25 EST

Cordless drill/drivers have come a long way since the first one I purchased more than 20 years ago. It's interesting, though, that some have come full circle and ended up about the same size as those small, early tools, but with much better performance.

Tool Test: Portable Jobsite Table Saws

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 06:00:42 EST

Jobsite table saws have changed a lot since I started working for my dad in 1972. Back then, we did almost all the millwork on-site using a huge, 12-inch contractor's saw that might have stayed set up for months. I started my own company in 1981, and as the business grew, table saws shrunk. I took on a partner, and we started building custom homes. At one point, the average house I worked on was 6,000 square feet. Today, those jobs are harder to find, and smaller remodeling projects make up most of our work. We have to take our tools with us at night or at least store them out of the way, so at the end of a hard day, portability is a big deal with these little saws.