They all seem to have a proprietary accessory system, some require tools some don’t, some are interchangeable and some are not.  Well if there is one thing I can tell you about the FEIN Multi Master is that it is one of the best if not the best Multi Tool on the market. Why shouldn’t it be they invented it in fact they invented their first tool back in 1867!  At $199 the price has finally become in reach of most DIY types.  The starter kit comes with a nylon bag, a scraper blade , Universal blade and a triangular sanding disk with 5 sheets of varying grits.  You can get more accessories with other tools for less money.

The accessories can be changed by lifting up on the top lever and pulling the pin that holds on the accessory.  It is relatively easy to change and allows for multiple angles.  The tool was balanced well and was comfortable to hold for extend periods.  Not a lot of vibration was transferred to my hands but the tool seemed wider than most Multi Tools I have used.  The variable speed selector produces 11,000-20,000 oscillations per minute.  The thumb wheel was a bit to small and hard to rotate for my liking and the speed indicators were small and hard to read.

We used the MultiMaster to flush cut subfloor under our cabinets and flush cut nail heads.  One mistake I always make with Multi tools is use them for bigger jobs than they are intended for.  I always go through blades like crazy.  Multi tools are for small odd jobs that any other saw would have no business even trying to do.  Overall the Fein MultiMaster is a good quality tool now at a reasonable price.

It has a 2 mode switch that allows for bump fire or trigger fire. When the unit is on, a white LED at the head of the tool illuminates and it also does a good job of lighting up your work area. Nail depth adjustment is simple via the thumbwheel that has a visual indicator. The unit weighs 6 lbs and overall feels good in your hand. To load nails, pull the slide back and insert the nails then slide it closed, it is a very simple system. A clear site view lets you know when your nails are running low. It drives 3 nails per second and a jam is easily cleared by just opening the slide. We did not experience any jams but occasionally got a misfire.

The Fusion comes with a 18V charger and battery that can charge 80% in 15 minutes and 100% in 45 minutes. It only comes with one battery so the 15 min charge is great to finish up those last few nails. The battery has a fuel status gauge on it so you know how much charge you have left. To hold it all, our F-18 came in a bag, not like the F-15 which came in a hard case. Personally I like the bag better, it holds more but obviously does not protect the tool like the hard case.

SENCO provides a 2 year warranty with this tool. Overall, the F-18 is a good all around tool nailer and I like it. The only dislike I have is that the plastic feels a bit cheap.  Check out SENCO here

The base is made from the same 3mm Polypropylene as the tool bags, which is unbelievably tough. When we shot up the XXL with shotguns and rifles the base withstood the bullets. It almost self sealed itself. The rest of the bag is made from 600 PVC impregnated Denier Nylon which is waterproof. Marine grade zinc rivets, double stitching and powder coated D rings scream quality. Veto covers this product with a 5 year warranty. Remember, this is a soft bag and not a hard case so if you run it over with a truck you might damage the equipment inside.

Some noticeable changes from previous bags is the lightened handle design and the hook on the shoulder strap to stow it when not in use. There are also light brown leather accents that give it a plush look. Make no mistake, you won’t find Veto Pro Pacs at Walmart, they are designed for the professional and at around $200 the LT isn’t cheap. But if you’re looking for the best protection you can get in a soft bag for all your electronics, the LT is well worth the price. I work in the IT field and the LT bag is more than just a bag for me, it is a tool. It allows my to carry all my diagnostic equipment around and easily see my tools at a glance. I can keep my service manuals in the file pockets and I use the tape measure clip to hang my DeWALT DCF610 drill from.

The bag seems to be bottomless, there is always an extra space to fit something in. The bag is heavier than most laptop bags due to it being built like a tank but I it is the only bag I trust to protect my valuable electronic equipment. Tools In Action highly recommends the Veto Pro Pac.

NOTE: In the pictures some have the TP3 and MB attached to the bag.  They are sold separately and we will have them reviewed here soon.

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.

We needed a Miter for our flooring project to keep our cuts straight and tackle tight angled trim cuts.  I am terrible at making cuts on a miter, I just always seem to mess them up.  Well I can say for the first time ever my cuts were accurate every time, largely in part to the XPS system.  It lays out a shadow of exactly where the blade is going to cut.  It looks like a sharp pencil line and is better than any laser I have ever seen, but like most lasers you cannot see the line in direct sunlight.  The LED does a good job of illuminating your work area.  There is no wobble or play in the saw, it is dead on precise.

15 Amps at 3800 RPM is what the DWS780 puts out and it goes through material like butter.  The cut was smooth, straight and left a clean edge on our hardwood flooring.  For the first time in my DIY career I was able to make accurate cuts with ease.  The saw can cut up to 2×16 dimensional lumber at 90° and 2×12 at 45° and the tall sliding fences support crown molding up to 7-1/2″ nested and base molding up to 6-3/4″ vertically against the fence while easily sliding out of the way for bevel cuts.  It miters 60° to the right and 50° to the left.  The dust collection system works great at capturing most of the dust.

The unit weighs 56 lbs and we felt the need to have a mobile stand .  We chose the DWX726 Rolling Miter Saw Stand.  It is a folding Miter Saw stand with wheels which gives you a complete mobile solution.  It can support up to 8′ of material and easily folds down and stands up on its side for vertical storage.  It was easy to move around and the tall tires went over uneven terrain with ease.  The Miter saw attaches to the stand with 4 allen head bolts and an included wrench sits on the side of the stand, no quick release here.  The gas assist lift helps raise the unit into the stand position.

The stand and the saw are a winning combo from DeWALT.  For the professional or the DIY guy that has to have the best, the DWS780 truly is the king of the Miter Saws and the addition of the DWX726 stand make it the perfect mobile job site solution.

Here at TIA we like innovation and helping out the little guy, especially if it is made in the USA.  Well today I want to show you the Straight Flush saw.  It allows you to do flush cuts with ease.  Some may say it is dangerous, but no more dangerous than a table saw or a Dremel Saw Max in my opinion.  It has features like :

• Bevel cutting from -5 to 65 degrees
• Zero clearance cutting capability
• 3 cutting decks
• Cut depths of 3-1/8″ (lower), 1-9/16″ (front) and 3-1/8″ x 1-9/16″ (undercut)
• A removable rip gate for longer cuts.

Let Vinnie tell you all about it:

Check out www.straightflushsaw.com for more info.

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.

GPR-9R GARAGEPRO – This is a 9 piece kit that consists of two 24″ rails that you screw into your wall, it even has built in bubble levels.  It can hold up to 1000 lbs or 50lbs per hook.  I was able to fit 5 shovels/brooms on the hooks and the big hook was awesome for my 75 ft air hose.  You can easily move the accessories anywhere you want.  A tray allows easy access to hammers, screwdrivers etc.

PBH-1R BIKE LIFT - I used to hang my bike on the ceiling and dreaded every time I had to take it down.  I had to get out the ladder and pray that it didn’t fall on me.  Well the Bike lift makes this process safer and requires less effort thanks to a 4:1 mechanical advantage.  Install was simple and the rope auto locks when held at an angle to prevent the bike from falling.  When the lock is not engaged it is a good idea to wear gloves as you could get rope burn easily.

ABL-1R BIKE AND LADDER LIFT - This product obviously lifts bikes and ladders, I used it to hold a 36lb Little Giant Ladder.  It can hold over twice that, like the PBH-1R it was easy to raise and lower.  You have to make sure that the rope does not slip off of the pulleys when you start lifting and make sure that  the hooks are secure on the ladder before lifting.

Racor has some great storage solutions for cleaning up your cluttered garage.  Check out Racor Storage Solutions

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