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News, Reviews, and Comparisons about Tools.

Archive for June, 2010

Paslode’s New PF150S-PP Positive Placement Metal Connector Nailer

June 30th, 2010

Paslode has just released a new Positive Placement Metal Connector Nailer. It’s a bit of a mouthful, but if you’ve ever tried to use a nail gun on a metal framing bracket, and missed (with any of a number of wonderfully unpleasant consequences) this is the tool you need. the PF150S-PP Nailer has a special “positive placement” tip that goes into the nail hole in the bracket, and insures that the nail will go into the hole. The nailer will hold up to two strips of 1-1/2″ nails for less reloading, and weighs a hefty 6lb 5oz. Unlike the cordless nailers that Paslode has become famous for, this one takes a air hose at 90 psi. No word on price or availability yet.

Source: Paslode

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Posted in Air Tools

Tags: Paslode

Around the Web: JET JWBS-14DXPRO Band Saw Review

June 29th, 2010

The folks over at NewWoodworker.com have just put out a great review of the new Jet JWBS-14DXPro Bandsaw. The big deal with this saw is its beefy cast iron frame, allowing a claimed resaw capacity of 12″ without the use of riser blocks. NewWoodworker found that it lived up to its claims, resawing an 11″ poplar board with a regular general purpose blade. The saw retails for $899 and is available now.

Source: NewWoodworker.com

18 comments »

Posted in Reviews, Saws

Tags: Jet

Dewalt DW3128P5 12″ Miter Saw Blade Combo Pack Review

June 29th, 2010

Up for review today is the Dewalt DW3128P5 Combo Pack. This Pack consists of two 12″ thin kerf saw blades designed for use with miter saws, the DW3128 and the DW3123. The former is a 80 tooth cross cut blade for fine finish work, and the latter is a 32 tooth cross cut blade for general purpose use. Both blades have carbide teeth and are meant for use on hardwoods or softwoods. The combo pack retails for $59.99 which will save you about $20 vs buying the blades individually.

Hit the jump to read the full review.

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Posted in Reviews, Saws

Tags: Dewalt

New Skil 1780 Rotary Hammer

June 28th, 2010

Skil just released a new rotary hammer in their Masters product line. The Skil 1780 has an 8.5 amp motor which allows it to drill, chisel or hammer drill in masonry and cement. It features a variable speed drive, easily adjustable via the side knob. Skil is so confident in the durability of this tool they’ve equipped it with auto-stop brushes that will prevent damage from occurring to the motor when the brushes wear out, implying that you will be using this enough that the brushes will actually wear out before anything else does. The 1780 also features a keyed chuck as well as a SDS-plus adapter, allowing the use of masonary chisels and drill bits, as well as regular HSS bits as well. No word on US avalibility, however it should be avalible in Europe this month, for €170 not including VAT.

21 comments »

Posted in Drills

Tags: Skil

Delta 22-590 Thickness Planer

June 25th, 2010

The new Delta 22-590 Thickness Planer has just been officially announced. Its a 13″ wide portable planer, in the familiar 4-post style. It features a 3-blade head, that runs at 10,000 RPM for a nice smooth cut. It has a different head locking system than other similarly designed tools, and claims (like most others have claimed) to eliminate snipe. The material removal gauge works over the full distance of the cutter, as opposed to many similar planers, where the gauge only works in the center. Dust collection may be an issue, as there doesn’t appear to be any way to hook a collector up to it, and the chips might get sucked back in to mar the surface. The planer should start showing up in stores in July, with a MSRB of $530

Source: Delta

1 comment »

Posted in Planers

Tags: Delta

Dewalt Announces 12V Li-Ion Line

June 24th, 2010

Dewalt announced today the introduction of a new battery line. Details are currently scarce, however, the lineup appears to include some compact drills and drivers, as well as an impact wrench, a bore scope, and a infrared-thermometer. Its great to see new lighter weight tools coming out that take advantage of the benefits of lighter batteries, however care needs to be taken that the tools retain a good balance and don’t just lop weight off the bottom making them difficult to handle. Once we get our hands on one of Dewalt’s new tools we’ll let you know how they did.

Source: Dewalt

1 comment »

Posted in Drills, Drivers

Tags: Dewalt

Irwin’s new SpeedHammer Power Masonry Drill Bit

June 24th, 2010

Irwin’s has updated their masonry bit line with the new SpeedHammer Power Masonry Bit. The new bit features a carbide tip to go through concrete and re-bar with easy. A new flute design allows for faster chip clearing. They claim to have doubled the carbide in the tip, and that therefore the lifetime of the bit will also double. Not sure I believe that there is a direct relationship between the amount of carbide and the life, however more is generally better. The bits are available in a range of sizes from 3/16″ to 3/4″ and from 6″ to 12″ long. They should start showing up in stores soon.

Source: Irwin

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Posted in Drills

Tags: Irwin

Makita 5” Concrete Planer

June 23rd, 2010

Makita has updated their line of concrete planers with the new 5″ PC5001C. It has a 10 amp motor, and weighs in at a hefty 11.2 lbs. Makita is touting the new front roller and adjustable base as providing greater stability which results in a more consistent surface. The PC5001C also features a softstart motor, and a dust bag (removable to be used with a vacuum). This new planer is ideal for anyone who spends their days leveling out concrete seams. Street Price is about $650, and its avalible now.

Source: Makita

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Posted in Planers

Tags: Makita

Around the Web: Stanley 4-in-1 Mobile Work Station Review

June 23rd, 2010

Old House Web (not to be confused with This Old House) has posted a short review of the Stanley 4-in-1 Mobile Work Station. They quite liked it, saying it is a great size, and easy to use. It’s not to big that it becomes unwieldy, and not to small that it doesn’t hold much. Organizational tools are generally overlooked, but if you think about how much time you spend looking for the right tool or materials, they can be far more valuable than any power tool.

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Posted in Organization, Reviews

Tags: Stanley

Popular Mechanics 18V Impact Driver Round-up

June 22nd, 2010

Popular Mechanics has posted a round-up of 18V Impact Drivers. These extremely versatile tools can be used for anything from installing a garage door opener to building a deck. Although many folks don’t see the point and will continue to use a regular cordless drill, once you use one of these guys you’ll never go back. The prices in the Popular Mechanics round-up ranged from the $395 Bosch 26618-01, to the $170 Ridgid Fuego R86030. The Makita BTD144 proved to be the winner, earning 4.5 stars, but at $350 its not cheap. The best buy is the Ridgid earning 4 stars and only costing $170. The Porter Cable PC18ID also deserves a mention, only costing $20 more than the Ridgid, but having a battery that lasts almost twice as long. Sadly the article lacks significant detail beyond the specific likes and dislikes, but its worth checking out if you’re in the market.