Manufacturer - Porter Cable

Model - PCB220TS

Average Purchase Price - $299

Overview

It’s cool to have a saw you can fold up and take from place to place, but if it doesn’t produce a great final cut, how good is it really.  We decided to run this saw through a couple different test to see if this saw is really worth the $299 price tag.  For starters, this price tag may seem high, but it’s actually on the low end of the price line.  This saw has all the features the more expensive ones have, but you wouldn’t know it with the low price tag.

Now we are not going to bore you with a mountain of stats, you can check them out under our stats tab.  However, we did want to touch on a couple important stats so you can see this is a table saw that does stack up to other saws.  First this saw is powered by a 15 amp motor that turns a 10″ blade 5,000 rpms.   Max rip to the right is 24.5″ and to the left is is 10″.  At a 90 degree you can cut up to 3″ and a 45 degree you can cut 2.5″.  Yes it does take a 1/2″ Dado.  Overall pretty impressive stats for a $299 saw, but what about portability?

The saw is easy to fold and unfold for one person.  To store in a truck or a shop, you can fold the whole saw up so the stand is under the saw and doesn’t protrude.  If you want to wheel the saw around, you can leave the bar out and use it as a handle.  However it really only works for someone under 5′ tall.  A taller person will find themselves bending down when wheeling the saw around.  The wheels could be a little bigger making it roll nicer when moving around, but all in all not too bad.  Everything on the saw has a storage place and stays put when moving the unit around.  Even the blade will full drop below the table to prevent the blade from getting damaged.

OK, the saw has good stats and is pretty portable, but how well does it cut?  Raising the blade is easy, just like every other saw we have used.  Turn the knob in front and raise or lower the blade.  To make a bevel cut, just loosen the lock on the front and turn the knob that is located on the side of the unit.  The degree markings are visible and easy to read.  Our bevel cuts where accurate.  The fence isn’t too bad.  When we locked the front of the fence, it also locks the back of the fence.  A user can adjust how tight it locks in the back.  The included measuring guide below the fence is easy to read, this was also accurate.  On the back of the saw there is a feed support that isn’t too bad, it could be a little longer.  Two very nice and well thought out features are the blade chute and stand arm.  The blade chute helps funnel all the waste material that drops below the saw, out the back of the dust ports.  This is a nice feature as it helps keep the inside of the saw clean.  One of the best features of this saw is the stand.  As you can see by the picture, the back leg is bent out.  This helps stabilize the saw when sliding larger piece of wood through the blade.  This way the saw doesn’t have a tendency to tip over.

One of the biggest down sides to this saw is the blade-guard riving knife.  While it does a great job and doesn’t get in the way, our model was extremely hard to take on and off.   Now we are not sure if it was just our unit or the actual model.  Once we took the guard system of to store it, it was extremely hard to put back on the unit, which means guess what, in a bind we would tend to by pass the safety feature.  A safety feature should be one of the easiest items to use on any tool.  Don’t make it easy for a user to pass on safety features.  Again maybe it was just our unit.

All in all this is a great saw.  For the price of $299, it is hard to beat.  Lots of power and very accurate right out of the box.  If you have a shop or you are a contractor and don’t want to pay the heavy prices of other portable saws, this is a great fit.

Specifications

SPECIFICATIONS

• Motor: 15 Amp
• Arbor Size: 5/8 “
• Blade Diameter: 10 “
• Blade Speed: 5000 RPM
• Max Rip To Right Of Blade: 24-1/2 “
• Max Rip To Left Of Blade: 10 “
• Depth of Cut at 45°: 2-1/2 “
• Depth of Cut at 90°: 3 “
• Max Width of Dado: 1/2 “
• Miter Gauge Groove: 3/4″
• Chip Exhaust Opening: 2-1/2 “
• Table Height: 35 “
• Table Size: 25 x 19-1/2 “
• Length: 25 “
• Width: 19.5 “
• Height: 35 “
• Weight: 73.76 lbs
• Shipping Weight: 85.46 lbs

Porter Cable Table Saw Includes

• 40 TCT Saw Blade
• Miter Gauge
• Rip Fence
• Two Blade Wrenches
• Push Stick
• Mobile Stand
• Manual

Warranty

Tool - 3 Year

Pictures - Video

[gallery link="file"]

Rating

[easyreview title="Porter Cable Job Site Table Saw - PCB220TS" cat1title="Ease of Use" cat1detail="Setting up and folding the saw is a snap.  Adjusting the blade height and bevel angle is also very easy.  Even storing the accessories is very easy.  Attaching the blade guard was nearly impossible." cat1rating="3.5" cat2title="Features" cat2detail="The saw comes with all the main features you would expect to find on higher end models.  Overall the saw is very accurate." cat2rating="4.0" cat3title="Stability" cat3detail="Making cuts with portable table saws can sometimes be tricky as a heavy piece of wood tends to push the saw around.  Porter Cable designed a nice sturdy stand with a back leg kick out that helps make the stand more sturdy under these cuts." cat3rating="4.5" summary="If your looking for a good portable table saw that is easy to use and has all the bells and whistles, without the heavy price tag, the Porter Cable is a valid option."]

Deals

As we find deals we will be updating this page.

Notes

All of our long term notes or other information we find after this is released will be presented here.

A portable inflator is a great idea.  You can use it for so many things like blowing up your kids pool, an air mattress, your tires or anything else you can think of.  Some models only allow you to do one or the other.  The Porter Cable is a little different.

Manufacturer - Porter Cable

Model - PCC583B

Average Purchase Price - $39 (Bare Tool)

Overview

Who doesn’t need or like a portable inflator, okay maybe Troy.  I have to say I have been wanting one of these for a long time.  My kids have a lot of things I am always blowing up such as balls, pools and more and I am tired of always feeling dizzy.  The other reason is for putting air in my tires.  I have a compressor, but it is a pain to haul the compressor out to the street to just put a couple pounds of air in my tires.  I have a weird driveway, so I can’t drive my truck back to the garage.  Now with this inflator, I can make sure my tires have the right amount of air or my kids aren’t playing with flat balls.

I already own the 18V Porter Cable drill so this was a prefect fit as I could just get the bare tool and not have to buy extra batteries or chargers.  One item I really like about this inflator is the digital read out.  I can check my pressure and easily see what the pressure is.  I also like the fact that this unit allows the user to set a pressure, turn it on and it will stop at a desired pressure.  The second thing I really like about this is that it has a high pressure and high volume function.  So I can inflate my kids pool and their footballs.  There is a switch that allows me to control which feature I want, pressure or volume.

Another cool feature about this inflator is that everything has a place.  I tend to lose stuff all the time.  With this tool, that will be hard, however I am sure I will manage to lose these items.  Both the high pressure and volume are stored on the sides.  The pressure hose fits very nicely, while the volume hose takes a little more work to get that into the compartment.  One note is the pressure fitting, this is made of metal and not plastic.

On the bottom, the 10″ 12V power supply wraps up nicely and is very handy.  On the back of the tool there is a place where the needles are stored.  If you don’t look, it is very easy to miss.

Overall this is a very nice set up and provides ample PSI of up to 100.  While it is rather loud, so are other ones I have seen.  I do like this system because it’s small and portable and if you already own the Porter Cable 18V tools, this is a perfect fit.

Specifications

SPECIFICATIONS

Kit Includes

• Inflator
• Needle for balls
• Attachment for mattress inflator

Pictures - Video

[gallery link="file"]

Rating

[easyreview title="Porter Cable Inflator PCC583B" cat1title="Value" cat1detail="The system has both a high pressure and high volume outlet.  Plus everything stores nicely, all for $39" cat1rating="4.0" cat2title="Noise Level" cat2detail="This system is very loud, as most are.  However we would still like to see companies lower the noise level." cat2rating="3.0" cat3title="Features" cat3detail="Having a digital read out is great.  Set the pressure and forget.  Can be used with a Porter Cable 18V battery or 12V car charger.  No 110 power." cat3rating="4.0" summary="If you need portable air and use the 18V Porter Cable line of power tools, this is a great addition."]

Deals

As we find deals we will be updating this page.

Notes

All of our long term notes or other information we find after this is released will be presented here.

You may remember we did a review of the Wall Buddy that has the same concept expect the Wall Buddy has a utility knife attached.  Both are very nice, but they do take time to get use to working.  Just wish there were small wheels that would help guide the square down the drywall, but again, not bad once you get use to using it.
The square is 24″ with 1/8″ thick tempered anodized aluminum blade.  There are perforations in 1/16″ increments for scoring.  The square is backed by a 1 year warranty.

If your cutting drywall and want a faster way to make cuts, the Johnson is a great addition.  Just remember it does take time to master this tool.  Don’t expect to get the tool and be an expert right away.

Drilling holes has come a long way since back in the day when it took days to drill one hole.  You had some guy sitting there spinning a tool by hand to make a hole.  Nowadays you have hammer drills and rotary hammers.  The process that used to take hours, now takes seconds.  When you think about what’s happening, it’s actually pretty cool.  Not only is it cool, it’s amazing a bit doesn’t bust easier or get dull right away.

Speaking of that Bosch introduced a new rotary hammer bit to make them even tougher.  The bits deliver more precision and have a longer life in reinforced or aggregate.  The new Bulldog Xtremes are built around a solid-head carbide design.  The process they use to make these bits also means less carbide wear.

Bosch uses their own process which uses diffusion-bonding technology and a high heat pressure solid welding process.  This means the head won’t break off.  I would really like to see this process.  Amazing all that goes into a little bit.

The tip has a centric conical tip which helps guide the bit and create rounder holes which does make a difference for fasteners and anchors.  There is even a wear mark that will alert the user when the bit has too much wear and is worn to a level that is no longer precise.  Hey my toothbrush has that also, an alert system to let me know when to change my brush.  Once the blue goes away on my bristles, I need to change my toothbrush.  Some how I think it might be a little different, but the concept is the same.

The flute design helps remove dust, which helps keep the bit cooler.  In return this also helps give you a longer life on the bit.  These new bits come from 5/32″ to 1″ diameters and 4″ to 39″ in length.

As you know we did a review of the new Bosch Rotary Hammer which is the next generation of rotary hammers.  While you can use these bits on older SDS models, they are designed for the newer generation of rotary hammers.

We didn’t get a chance to use the wood blades, but we did use the metal blades and the extra 2″ is nice.  We were working on a sauna room and had to move some pipes.  The extra 2″ does make a huge difference in tight spots.  Overall the blades stayed sharp and we did get a fair amount of cuts.  In fact I used a blade to cut through some cement board.  Yes I know they are not designed for that, but I had to make a circular cut.  I had two options, I could be energetic and walk out to the truck or be lazy and pick up the saw sitting by my feet with a blade already attached.  What would you do?  Right grab the saw by your feet.  Usually a blade will just get ripped apart with cement board, yes I have done it before.    No wonder I look like I am 6 months pregnant.  I can’t say I could sit there all day and make cuts in cement board, but it did last longer than I expected.  However when used properly and you cut metal, it does last a long time.

Almost every manufacturer has a 12V line, but none are as big as the Milwaukee M12 line.  With that said, they brought another cool tool to their already vast line of tools, the M12 Band Saw.  Yes you are reading that right, a 12V Band Saw.  If you’re like us, we did a double take when we heard the news.  How powerful or even useful can a 12V band saw really be?  We thought the idea was very cool, but how much work can a small saw really do?  Now Milwaukee already surprised us with the M12 Jig Saw as we thought a 12V jig saw was more of a joke.  That was until we tried the saw and found out we were more of a joke because the M12 Jig saw outperformed all of our expectations.  So how does the M12 Band Saw hold up?  Is it even worth the money?

Manufacturer - Milwaukee Tools

Model - 2429-21XC

Average Purchase Price - $199

Overview

How cool is the idea of having a 12V compact Band Saw?  To us, very cool.  This would allow a user to do so much such as cut conduit, black pipe, rebar and so much more.  But a 12V, come on.  How many cuts will it really make?  These were our exact thoughts.  Let me tell you from the minute we picked it up, we were sold and that was before even pulling the trigger.  The first thing we noticed was the balance of the tool.  This saw is extremely light, weighing only 6.75lbs, making it an ideal tool for one handed cuts, especially making overhead cuts.  The length of the saw is only 12″ which means you can get into tight spots to make these cuts.  Overall with the size and weight, this saw is extremely easy to control.

Okay fine it is well balanced and easy to control, but who cares if it doesn’t cut, right?  According to Milwaukee you can make 150 cuts into 3/4″ EMT before you deplete the XC high capacity battery.  Now we never tested this claim primarily because we can’t count that high and didn’t have enough material around to make that many cuts.  However we did cut through a lot of rebar, EMT, PVC and ground stakes.  We probably made about 50 cuts and the tool showed half power left for the battery.  Considering we were cutting heavier material than the 3/4″ EMT, we are going to take Milwaukee’s word of 150.  Get this, the saw cuts through 3/4″ EMT in 3 seconds.  Another item to mention is this saw has a 1-5/8″ x 1-5/8″ cut capacity and uses a variable speed trigger.

Making the cuts were very easy.  We experienced little vibration and we had complete control over the saw.  In fact we even tried to jam the saw by cutting through EMT to get the saw to stop and to our surprise, it just ran through with out even a hiccup.  When you make cuts like you are supposed to and not jam the saw through the work, the saw does a fantastic job and the line of site is great.  Milwaukee has an LED light placed above the blade, so it casts a shadow of the exact location you will be cutting which is helpful.

Unlike the Bosch 18V band saw which you need to remove 2 phillips screws, opening the M12 Band Saw is a snap.  There are two small clips that a user just slides to open the door.  If you need to change a blade, the tension release is on the outside and very easy to access.  Changing a blade is a piece of cake.  If the saw is out of alignment and you need to align the blade, there is a small screw on the outside you can use to get the blade running true.  Ours was accurate and never needed adjustment.  There is a small fixed brush that cleans the debris off one of the wheels and this brush can be replaced.  There is also a small magnet where the blade passes over to catch metal shavings and help protect the longevity of the tool.

We had a hard time finding something we didn’t like about this saw and while it does come with one XC battery, we would have liked to seen two batteries.  However I am sure this would have raised the price point.  Considering the battery charges in 30 minutes, it is not a huge deal to us.

One huge note is this saw is the only band saw on the market with a fully integrated lower guard that covers the blade outside the active cutting area.  This saw also meets OSHA requirements for one handed cutting.

This is another cool tool from Milwaukee.  It allows you to make your cuts quickly and accurate.  Couple this with Milwaukee’s other M12 tools and you can’t go wrong.

Specifications

SPECIFICATIONS

Milwaukee M12 Band Saw Includes

• 2429-20 M12 Sub-Compact Band Saw Tool
• 30-Minute Charger
• (1) M12™ XC High Capacity REDLITHIUM™ Battery
• (1) 48-39-0572 18TPI Sub-Compact Portable Band Saw Blade
• Carrying Case

Warranty

Tool - 5 Year

Battery -2 Years on M12 XC

Pictures - Video

[gallery link="file"]

Rating

[easyreview title="Milwaukee M12 Band Saw 2429-21XC" cat1title="Balance" cat1detail="The balance of the tool is great.  The ability to clearly see the cut is a must and the Milwaukee is dead on accurate. " cat1rating="4.5" cat2title="Features" cat2detail="The blade change system is easy and Milwaukee made this a tool-less blade change system that allows the user to easily change the blade.  The roller system is very nice, accurate and true.  Milwaukee even has a brush and magnet to help clean and protect the tool.  This does meet OSHA requirements for one handed cutting." cat2rating="4.0" cat3title="Number of cuts" cat3detail="We were suprised how many cuts you can get with this saw.  We didn't expect much from a 12V, but we were wrong.  Of course the harder the material, the less cuts you get." cat3rating="4.5" summary="If you are like most where you need a band saw, but not for everyday heavy use, this is the saw for you.  You don't have to worry about carrying an 18V around for small jobs, plus the M12 line is huge."]

Deals

As we find deals we will be updating this page.

Notes

All of our long term notes or other information we find after this is released will be presented here.

If you know some good tips or tricks for easy fixes, drop us a line or leave a comment below and share with everyone.

Tip 1 – Fix a Squeaky Floor

For a quick fix, sprinkle talcum power or powered graphite between boards and that should do the trick.  This will only work for a short time.  So if your wife says you never do anything around the house, try this trick and prove her wrong.  Just don’t let her see how easy the fix was.  This should buy you a couple extra weeks of sitting on the couch.

Tip 2 – Remove Blood from Fabric

Removing fresh blood stains from fabric isn’t too hard.  Just make a paste with water and talcum powder, let it sit on the spot.  When it dries, just brush it away.  This sounds a lot better than how I used to remove stains from my clothes.  I used scissors.

Tip 3 – Clean Wood Furniture and Floors

Boil some fresh tea and let it cool.  Dip a rag in the tea and wipe your wood clean.  Once it dries, buff your wood with a clean cloth.  Actually this all sounds pretty dirty.

Tip 4 – Sand Curves in Furniture

Wrap a tennis ball with sandpaper and this will allow you to create a nice finish on your curves.  Who thought tennis balls weren’t just for your antenna on your car, now they actually have two uses.

Tip 5 – Remove Water Rings from Wood Furniture

Mix equal parts of vinegar and olive oil.  Apply it with a clean cloth and rub with the grain of the wood.  Use another clean cloth to shine it up.  Sounds pretty cool.  I will teach this one to my wife, right after I pack my bags.

All Time Tip

If it is supposed to move and doesn’t, use WD-40.  If it moves and isn’t supposed to move, then use duck tape.

There is nothing like the sound of a hammer drill working hard.  Well okay maybe the sound of a slap shot or a nice hit on the boards, especially when it is a Red Wing player getting hit by a Blackhawks player.  It still amazes me how a small motor can deliver so much power and do so much work.  What is even more amazing is the Bosch hammer drill that delivers 700 in-lbs of torque and it is only an 18V.

Manufacturer - Bosch Tools

Model - HDH181

Average Purchase Price - $280

Overview

Take a look around at any job site and you will see a Bosch tool hard at work.  If you don’t see a Bosch hard at work, try finding a real job site.  If you look closer at the tools you will see they have been used and abused.  A lot of bigger job sites buy their own tools for that job.  These tools are used by people who don’t own them, so they don’t care as much about the tools.  It is kind of like when you rent a car.  You do brake torques, you jump them over rivers and play smash up derby, after all isn’t that why you pay the extra $7 for the insurance agreement.  Well enough talking about what I did last weekend in the rental car, let’s talk about the Bosch Brute Tough Hammer Drill which is an 18V Lithium-ion drill.

The first thing you might notice is the chuck.  It is bright and stands out.  That is because it is a single sleeve aluminum ratcheting chuck, which gives this tool a pretty good balance.  The hammer drill is not front heavy and actually has a nice feel to it.  The chuck is a little shorter than some other drills on the market and this drill is only around 8″ long which makes it easier to get into tight spots.  Another feature Bosch implemented into this drill is an ergonomic soft grip.  The handle of this drill has a nice feel and design which makes it ideal to work with gloves or no gloves.

As with most drills, the internals are covered by a plastic body.  Bosch uses an ABS /nylon composite which is more flexible than other types of plastic.  This is ideal as it will flex when dropped and prevent cracks, plus it absorbs some of the impact and helps protect the internal parts.

Inside the hammer drill, there is a 4 pole motor that produces 700 in-lbs of torque which is very impressive.  The motor turns the chuck at 0-420 and 0-1,800 rpm which is controlled by a variable speed trigger.  There are 25+1 clutch settings to match the power to the application.

We ended up using this hammer drill a lot on a local house we were working on.  One place we used it a lot was the basement.  We are finishing the basement and had to set some anchors plus drill through some concrete to run pipe.  Would the Bosch Rotary Hammer be easier?   Sure, but we wanted to run this tool and give it a challenge.  After all when we were fastening down the sub floor with this drill, we were pretty sure we heard the drill laugh at us, well at least giggle.  Time and time again the drill did what it was supposed to, work and keep up with the user.  Well what else is there really to say about this hammer drill except it is a workhorse.

Specifications

SPECIFICATIONS

Bosch Brute Tough Kit Includes

• Bosch Brute Tough Hammer Drill
• 2 – 18V High Capacity Lithium-ion FatPack Batteries
• Lithium-Ion Fast Charger
• Double-sided Philips Drive Bit
• Side Handle
• Carrying Case

Warranty

Tool - 1 Year

Pictures - Video

[gallery link="file"]

Rating

[easyreview title="Bosch Brute Tough Hammer Drill - HDH181-01" cat1title="Balance" cat1detail="This drill has great balance and is very easy to work with.  The soft grip makes it very easy to work with, even with gloves." cat1rating="5.0" cat2title="Power" cat2detail="Don't let the smaller look fool you.  This packs a powerful punch." cat2rating="5.0" cat3title="Value" cat3detail="If you are looking for a great work drill that will work day after day, this is a great drill to own.  The 30 minute charger is perfect." cat3rating="4.5" summary="It is hard to be unbiased when you have been using Bosch for over 20 years.  They are just some of the toughest tools around.  When you spend the money, you know you will get every penny worth of the tool.  Bosch doesn't cut corners with their tools."]

Deals

As we find deals we will be updating this page.

Notes

All of our long term notes or other information we find after this is released will be presented here.

Like it, love it, hate it, the brushless is here and it is here to stay.  What is so special about a brushless motor you may be asking?  Bottom line it can be a better solution for motors.  The reason being is yes, there are no brushes, which means less friction, which means less heat built, which means more power, longer running time between charges and a longer life.  Wow my 4th grade teacher would have been mad at that last sentence.

Manufacturer - Milwaukee Tools

Model - 2603-22

Average Purchase Price - $279

Overview

Milwaukee is not the first to market a brushless motor, but I do have to say it is one of my favorites.  Well you may be asking what makes the Milwaukee Brushless so interesting.  There are three things, the motor, the battery and the Redlink system.

First, is the Powerstate brushless motor.   As we already discussed a brushless motor can transfer more energy to the tool.  In fact this drill produces 725 lbs of torque, one of the best in the 18V class.  Now if you are just using this drill to fasten plywood to studs, you might not notice.  However we did notice when sinking the screws.  Normally if you didn’t get the screw sunk the right way you would have to back the screw up a little and then run it into the wood again.  We did find that most of the time we could just drive it home without having to back it up.  Another place we notice the difference is when we hit knots in the wood.  We did hear the difference when we hit a knot, but the drill or screw kept on going.  One place we really noticed the difference was when we were using a hawg hole bit and an auger bit to drill through the floor to run pipe throughout the house.  It did an awesome job completing this chore, but you do have to make sure you hold onto the drill as you can really feel the torque and power of the drill.  Okay we also mixed up some Ardex with the tool.  Now we wouldn’t suggest using a cordless tool for this task, we would suggest using a corded mixer, but what the heck, we figured we would give it a try.  We had to lay down a self leveling compound on the front walk and this required us to mix the Ardex with water.  We put everything in a 5 gallon bucket and gave it a shot.  The first thing we noticed was that we had to use the side handle as this really pushed the drill to its limit.  Another thing we noticed was the overload protection didn’t kick in which was awesome.  Again we wouldn’t suggest it, but we know a lot of people do this as it is more convenient sometimes to grab the closest drill.

The second item on this drill is the battery, the Red Lithium.  The Red Lithium is a great battery and I have had a lot of good luck with these batteries compared to others we have used over the years.  We get some pretty cold winters in Chicago and I am one who just leaves the tools in the truck over night.  With these batteries they will operate at 0 degrees F.  This means you don’t have to wait for the batteries to warm up, you can start working right away.  Actually it was always a great excuse to have an extra cup of coffee in the morning when we had to wait for the batteries.

The third item is the RedLink system.  Now we would be lying if we said we fully understood how this system works, because we don’t.  We do know it is a way for the tool, battery and charger to all talk to each other to provide more efficiency.  The Redlink uses a circuitry system to be able to monitor the tool and battery.  So basically what it does is provide a better fail safe system between the tool, battery and charger.  In return because of less heat build up under loads, you get a longer running drill and longer life from the drill.

We really like this drill/driver.  Lots of power and a solid tool.  However what got us equally excited was the multi volt charger.  No more having two chargers taking up space.  Milwaukee has a single charger that will charge both the M12 and the M18, pretty cool.  As a note, it will not charge both batteries at the same time.  The system will charge the battery that was inserted first.  Once that is done charging, it will start charging the second battery.

One downside to brushless motors can be the expense.  With a brush version, you can change out the brushes and be on your way as these tend to go first on the tool.  If a brushless motor breaks, you have to replace the motor or buy a new tool.  You should get a lot more use and a great life out of this brushless version.  We have seen some stats say 10 times the life.

 Is it worth it to upgrade to the brushless?

If you already have a tough drill, then the upgrade probably isn’t worth it.  Unless you can dump your old drill and get good money towards the brushless.  If you are looking to get a new drill, the brushless is the way to go.  Look at it this way.  Say you have a truck that can tow 8,500 lbs and has a payload of 1,650 lbs.  Then the manufacturer comes out with a new truck and now it can tow 10,000 lbs and has a payload of 1,850 lbs.  Is there a difference?  Yes.  Is it worth the upgrade?  The truck still does what you need it to do.  Well that probably wasn’t the best example since a truck is around $30K and a drill is around $300, but I think you get our point.  If so let us know because we weren’t sure what we were trying to say.

Specifications

SPECIFICATIONS

Milwaukee Brushless Drill/Driver Includes

• 2603 M18 Fuel 1/2 Drill/Driver
• 2 M18 High Capacity Batteries
• Multi Volt Charger

Warranty

Tool - 5 Year

Battery – 3 Year

Pictures - Video

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Rating

[easyreview title="Milwaukee M18 Fuel Drill/Driver - 2603-22" cat1title="Power" cat1detail="One of the most powerful 18V drills on the market.  This drill is hard to beat. " cat1rating="5.0" cat2title="Balance to Weight" cat2detail="There is a difference between the brushed version and brushless version of this drill, but it is hard to tell.  The drill feels good in the hands and doesn't bog down the user. " cat2rating="4.5" cat3title="Value" cat3detail="You get a better drill that lasts longer and does more work. Milwaukee has a huge line up so you can use your batteries to the fullest." cat3rating="5.0" summary="Tool companies are moving towards brushless for a reason.  They run longer and do more work.  The Milwaukee is a great drill/driver."]

Deals

As we find deals we will be updating this page.

Notes

All of our long term notes or other information we find after this is released will be presented here.

Not too long ago I was sitting on my couch late at night.  In fact now that I think about it, I do that a lot.  Which probably explains my three chins and why I look like I am 6 months pregnant.  I saw a tool that was the next wonder tool.  It cut through wood, sand, scraps and more.  It was an oscillating tool and it vibrated to perform these tasks.  I thought to myself what a great idea, but I wasn’t about to get burned for the 22nd time by buying junk on TV, I was too smart.  After all a vibrating tool is only good for one thing.  Right, compacting stone.  Well it turns out I was wrong.  In fact I have been using them for a long time as they truly are great tools.  They are perfect for rough construction to finishing work, they really do have lots of uses.

Manufacturer - Bosch Power Tools

Model - MX30EC-21

Average Purchase Price - $199

Overview

Here is the deal and I know we will receive a lot of emails with this next statement, but here we go.  There is no corded oscillating tool that comes close to the Bosch, not by a long shot.   Okay settle down, let us explain.  We know there are hardcore Fein, Dremel and Porter Cable users out there.  Those are great tools and we are not knocking them, but when it comes to taking them on a job site, no one comes close to Bosch.  When we say job site, we are not talking about redoing a bathroom or kitchen.  We are talking about a big job site where your tools get beaten.  A place where others will borrow your tools and not care.  We’re talking about job sites where the site buys the tools to use.  A place that is hopping with workers whose tools will fall on the ground, get dropped, kicked and thrown around.  A place where tempers flare and you have to protect yourself from the guy who is pissed, so you grab your oscillating tool to protect yourself, Okay not that place, but I think you get the point.  If it can handle those tough places, it can handle any place, big or small and that is the Bosch Multi-X.

Oscillating tools are not new to Bosch, but the MX30EC is and it is the best of the best.  What makes it the best?  This is a complete tool from the cord to the motor, from the tool free blade change to the soft start system.  So let’s jump in and take a closer look at this work horse.

Bosch put in a 3 amp motor that helps provide power for even the toughest applications.  When the tool is under stress, the Multi-X will keep a constant speed so you don’t get the bogging down.  The system has a metal gear housing which helps with durability and vibration.  When using this tool, the vibration was kept to a minimum.  Yes you can still feel it, but a far cry compared to other manufacturers we have tested.  After using the tool, we didn’t have that tingling feeling in our hands or arms, which can lead to fatigue.  Another cool feature is the soft start system.  This is huge because there is nothing like turning on a tool time after time only to have to fight the tool from the start.   Once you move the button to the on position, there is a small delay.  The motor then will rev up and be at full speed.

One of the coolest features of this tool is the Tool Free blade changing system.  You no longer have to pull out a hex key (if you could find it), unscrew a screw, change blades, then tighten the screw again.  I know this doesn’t sound like a lot, but actually it is.  A tool that takes another tool to change the blade is a pain.  I always found it a hassle if I just wanted to adjust the angle of a blade, it was time consuming.  A lot of times if I needed to change blades for a quick job, I would try and find a different way to get the job done, which defeated the purpose of the tool.   With Bosch’s tool free system, it is a snap.  Just pull a lever and you can either adjust the angle of the blade or use a different accessory.  Once the blade is on, it is on and will not come off until the user wants the accessory off.  Basically there is a prong in the middle that puts an outward pressure on the blade to hold it in place.  When you need to change a blade, the prong relieves the pressure and you can make a change.  We did have one time where we were doing a lot of cutting and when we went to change blades, we couldn’t get the new blade off.  It turns out there was just some saw dust build up between the prongs and when we went to release the blade, the saw dust was blocking the prongs from relieving pressure.  Not a huge deal since we just blew the dust out. This only happened one time and the other times when we were cutting wood, we never experienced the problem.

Some of the other notable features are the no mar ribs on the front of the tool.  This is great as it protects finished products you may be working close to.  One of the biggest things we liked was the longer power cord. Yes, we are pretty simple.  The longer cords are very useful as it means there are more times you don’t have to pull out that extension cord to get a job done.  If you do have to pull out an extension cord, you’re not dragging around the point where the tool and extension cord meet, very useful when on a ladder.  The cord is attached to the tool with a ball pivot.  This system is nice as it means the cord will last longer and is also very useful when you get into tight spots.  The brushes are very easy to access when you have to change them.  Yes we said when you have to access them.  This tool should last you that long where you will use this year after year and eventually you will have to change the brushes.

One thing we did notice on our model was the variable speed dial.  Ours was a little hard to turn and didn’t have that nice feel we were used to.  We have used other Bosch tools that offered a variable speed dial such as the router.  Normally they turn very nice and are easy to turn.  So we are not sure if they are all like this or just ours.  Not a huge deal and we can still turn it, but it was harder with gloves on.  Again maybe this is the way it is designed because the tool does vibrate or maybe we just have a bad dial switch.

Overall this tool is well designed and someone put extra thought into designing this tool from the no mar ribs in the front, to the longer power cord and everything in between.  The motor feels solid, the constant power even under stress worked as advertised.  The tool free blade system is easy to use and the blade stays in place.  We really like the soft start system and the fact we where not fighting the tool every time we turned it on.  If you are looking to own one oscillating tool, it has to be the Bosch Multi-X.

Specifications

SPECIFICATIONS

Bosch Oscillating Tool Includes

• 3 Amp corded Oscillating Tool
• (1) OSC138JF Japanese-Tooth Wood Saw Blade
• (1) OSC2RSC Rigid Scraper Blade
• (1) OSC312F Wood/Metal Saw Blade
• (1) OSC312RF RIFF Grout Blade
• (1) OSC112 Wood Plunge Cut Blade
• (1) SDP001 Sanding Pad
• (15) Wood and Paint-Sanding Sheets
• (1) Accessory Box
• (1) Carrying Case

Warranty

Tool - 1 Year

Pictures - Video

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Rating

[easyreview title="Bosch Multi-X Oscillating Tool - MX30EC-21" cat1title="Vibration" cat1detail="We have used a lot of oscillating tools over the years.  With a 3.0 amp motor, we were expecting this tool to have a lot of vibration.  We were amazed that with the power of this, the vibrations were a lot less then expected.  You can still feel the vibrations, but it doesn't take a toll on your hand or arm." cat1rating="5.0" cat2title="Features" cat2detail="The soft start is awesome.  The no Mar ribs on the front are a great way to protect your work.  The best thing is the Tool Free accessory change system.  Once in place it stays.  The blade will not come off." cat2rating="5.0" cat3title="Balance" cat3detail="The balance of the tool is great.  Looking at the tool, you would think it is front heavy, but that wasn't the case." cat3rating="4.5" summary="There is no other corded oscillating tool on the market I would want to take on a job site under abusive conditions.  Bosch has proven their worth over time.  They are made to last and made to be abused.  They are made to just flat out work and do what they were designed to do."]

Deals

As we find deals we will be updating this page.

Notes

All of our long term notes or other information we find after this is released will be presented here.