You have noticed we have written a lot of articles about power tool safety and that is because we have.  We feel very strong about this subject as most people do.  However we keep getting emails from people about accidents them or their friends have had.  We also see items on TV and online, plus all the stats about power tool accidents.  Again and again this keeps happening and probably about 95% of the accidents could have been avoided if a little thought or training was put in place. 

What seems to happen is most people get in a comfort zone and a routine.  Day in and day out they do the same things without any accidents happening.  But we have to remember it is just a matter of time before something goes wrong.  Take safety glasses.  How often do you wear them?  Like most people, not often enough and most of the time we get away with it, until the one time that something kicks back, something breaks, etc happens and now we are sitting in the ER wondering if we will be able to see.  So as you can see this is something that needs to be taken seriously and we will keep writing articles to help remind you.  If you are a contractor, make sure you share these with your employees, you know how costly an accident can be with insurance, finding new workers, down time etc.  Plus you don’t want to see one of your buddies laid up.

 Again it doesn’t matter if your a professional or weekend warrior, accidents happen and you need to think before you use a power tool that could kick your ***.  As with the other list we came up with a top ten list of power tool safety items you should remember.

• Safety Glasses- As noted above, most people do not use safety glasses.  Our eyes are very sensitive.  How many times have you had a particle go into your eye and you rub your eye because it is annoying.  Well these small particles can scratch your lens and more.  Safety glasses should be a must on any job site or home. 

• Ear Protection- Here is another body part we don’t protect.  I don’t think I have ever used ear plugs except when I was at the NHRA races.  This is really stupid on my part because the loss of our hearing happens slowly, and not fast such as cutting a finger off.  Over time the loud noises damage our ears and make hearing even more difficult. 

• Best Tool-  The is an easy one.  Sometimes we grab for a power tool that is convenient and may not be the best one for the job.  Well this is where accidents happen.  Always pick the right power tool for the job. 

• Technique- When using any power tool, make sure you are using it the correct way and if that means going over the owners manual, then take the time.  Make sure the blades or bits are designed for the material you are cutting through.  Make sure your technique of using the tool is proper and you are holding the tool the proper way. 

• Clothing- Do not wear jewelry or loose clothing as that can get caught on a moving part.  I don’t know how many times I see someone using a router or other tool that has moving parts and they are hovering over it with their hooded sweatshirt and the string hanging down.  Make sure your clothing is fitted and away from any moving parts. 

• Inspection – Inspect your tools and especially the power cords.  Stuff drops on cords all the time and worse people walk on power cords.  This just leaves an open end to electrical current.  Make sure all your power cords don’t have any holes or cuts.

• Being Clean- What does being clean have to do with anything?  Well it really doesn’t except I am sure the people around you would want you to have deodorant on.  We actually mean the work environment should always be clean and not cluttered.  If you have stuff all over the floor such as scrap wood, you have more of a chance of tripping, plus power tool cords always get caught up on the wood when you are cutting.  Take a couple of extra minutes and clean up around your work area.  It doesn’t have to be spotless, but it should be free of debris.

• Care – Make sure your power tools are in working order.  Make sure all the guards work and yes they are there for a reason.  Clean your tools so they don’t run hot and cause more problems.

• Location- What the heck is location.  Location is just make sure you have a place to store your power tools so they are not out where kids can get to them or even worse, your neighbors.  When they are put away, someone is less likely trying to pick it up who doesn’t have experience and try to use the tool.

• Lighting- Yes being able to see is important, who would have thought.  We have read some strange things of people cutting in the dark and we still don’t believe it, but people can be strange.  Now most of us don’t cut in the dark, but a lot of of us cut in low level light and that could lead to accidents.  Not being able to see a cut line because of low levels of light will cause you to shift your body in order to see, now your focus is on the line and not the cut.

Now most of these seem like common sense and they are, but sometimes we just need a little reminder that we need to take some extra time to make sure we keep ourselves and our employees safe.

A new hammer drill made by DeWalt – a worldwide developer and manufacturer of professional power tools, and part of the Stanley Black & Decker corporate group – has a plastic housing that is a combined part, enclosing both the electric motor and the mechanical drive, and replaces a previous metal component.

The engineering plastic used for the housing is BASF’s Ultradur B4300 G6, a PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) material.

The new part replaces two separate housings, one of which – the gear housing – used to be made of diecast magnesium. The plastic housing now accommodates the electric motor and the gear along with the chain drive. It has to be extremely accurate dimensionally, with the axes of the gear components remaining exactly parallel even at high operating temperatures and in humid environments. A weight saving is claimed from replacing the metal.

Reimund Becht, a project manager at DeWalt, commented: “Doing away with an additional metal part simplifies inventory and logistics, while the integration of key functions such as snap-on fastenings eliminates the need for screws and reduces assembly time. Moreover, cut threads are no longer needed. Manufacturing cost is reduced since, by contrast with metal, plastic parts … do not have to be mechanically reworked.”

DeWalt uses other BASF engineering plastics elsewhere in the new hammer drill. Ultramid A3WC4, a carbon fibre reinforced polyamide, is employed for the very rigid connecting rod which joins the piston to the crank wheel. The yellow and black exterior housing parts are made of impact-resistant Ultramid B3ZG6, and the components close to the motor that come into contact with hot and electrically live parts are made of Ultramid A3EG6 or Ultramid A3EG7.

DeWalt itself manufactures the plastic parts of the hammer drill hammer at its plant in Usti/Trmice (Czech Republic).

The new drill is already on sale in Switzerland, and is being rolled out throughout Europe this month.

Power Tool News

Manufacture: Milwaukee Tools

Power Tool News: New M28 Battery pack

Model Number: V28-M28

The News

As you know the V28 has had a bad name for a long time, well since they introduced the V28 in 2005.  Milwaukee wanted to be one of the first to introduce a power 28V line using the Lithium Ion technology, but with the speed also came a price.  They have had a lot of problems with the V28 in the beginning and the cost to replace the batteries is not cheap.  So naturally over time, the word spread to be carefully with the V28 and this has hurt Milwaukee sales compared to Dewalt and Bosch high voltage lines.  Well, Milwaukee is trying to change the high volt image by introducing the M28 line. 

The new M28 will have a better circuit board and better electronics to protect the high voltage M28.  Best of all these batteries are completely compatible with the current V28 power tools.   DPM features include a temperature management system to keep batteries at the ideal temperature range and individual cell monitoring to ensure optimal charge and discharge. Combined with a side packed design, integrated weld frame, cell separator and impact/vibration protective rubber, this pack provides maximum life and durability to the user.

About Milwaukee

Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, a Brookfield, Wisconsin-based subsidiary of Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. (TTI) (HKEx stock code: 669, ADR symbol: TTNDY) is an industry leading manufacturer and marketer of professional, heavy duty power tools and accessories.  Products include the legendary SAWZALL® reciprocating saws, M12™, M18™ & V28™ LITHIUM-ION cordless tools, HOLE-HAWG® drills, portable band saws, circular saws, driver drills, hammer drills, rotary hammers, grinders, sanders and a line of Test & Measurement and Hand Tools.  Accessories include SAWZALL® blades, SWITCHBLADE® self-feed bits, BIG HAWG® hole cutters, THUNDERBOLT® drill bits and SHOCKWAVE Impact Duty™. For more information on the full line of Milwaukee® power tools and accessories, please call 1-800-SAWDUST or visit www.milwaukeetool.com.

We have received a lot of emails lately about people having problems with their gutters and other problems that are associated with gutters, so we figured now would be a great time to put this problem to rest.  A lot of people never realize they have a problem with the gutters until it is too late.  We all get very busy with day to day tasks and the gutters are usually the last item on the list, if they are even on the list.  The big problem is when it rains, we are usually inside, so we never see what is happening on the outside with the gutters.  So one thing we do suggest is occasionally put on a rain coat, when it is not lightening, and take a walk outside.  Notice how the water is flowing.  Now you don’t have to get on the roof, but stand outside and walk around the house.  Is water pouring over the gutters or is it coming down the spout?  Is there water running away from the house or is it building up and running back to the foundation of the house?  Do you see unusual wet spots on the side of the house?   Just take a look around because you will learn a lot about your gutters and in the long run can save yourself a lot of man hours and thousands of dollars.

Water is the life of everything, but it can also be your worst nightmare.  Water can get in just about anywhere and cause major damage, so it is important to fix your gutters and other areas that water can damage.  As we said water gets everywhere and can ruin just about anything in your house as it can get behind walls and more.  The first sign of a problem is either your fascia or soffit will show signs of water damage, especially if it doesn’t get much sun light.

The two biggest problems that can easily be fixed are dirty gutters and spouts in the wrong place.  On average you want to clean your gutters out every quarter, unless you have a lot of trees around, then it will be more often.  If you live in places where it snows, make sure you clean your gutters in spring, one time in summer and in fall after all the leaves fall.  Cleaning the gutters usually takes care of any major water issues and doesn’t take a lot of time.  Two keys to let you know you need to change your spouts location is when you are outside and you see the water going back to the house.  The other way is when you hear your sump constantly going on when it is raining.  For most rain, drain tile is enough to disperse the water away from the house and the sump pump is secondary.  So when the pump is kicking on a lot, then you know you have a problem with water.  All you need to do is go outside and see which spout is letting the water run back to the house.  Just adjust the spout or even lengthen the spout so the water runs away from the house. 

Again dirty gutters or misplaced spouts are the most common problems with gutters.  If you are still having problems, you may need to look further into the problem as other things can arise.  Sometimes gutters bend because of either ice build up or something putting strain on them.  Usually you can eyeball this problem and see it when it rains.  This will cause water to drain into the house either through the foundation or in the backside behind the gutter into the soffit or fascia.  There is a very easy fix to this.  You will see a metal bracket in the gutter, just grab a pair of pliers and bend the bracket in the middle.  This will cause the bracket to pull up on the gutter and therefore adjusting the level.  You might have to do this to more than one clip.

Other problems we have seen with gutters is they actually have a hole or are leaking at the joints.  Gutters are very inexpensive, but it takes time to rip them down and put a new one up.  A quick, reliable fix is use a silicone caulk or gutter sealant to prevent the leak.  This is a very easy way to fix the gutter and save time and money.  The only time this will not work is at the elbow of a spout as there is usually a lot of pressure build up at this point. 

To help keep your gutters clean, you can install gutter guards.  There are a lot to choose from, so we would recommend going to a box store and taking a look at what is available.  Now we have seen people make their own gutter guards using wire mess that has ¼” holes, but we think for the money and time, you are better off buying them.  They are not expensive and the time you save is well worth it, unless you are bored and your dream has always been to build gutters guards, then knock your socks off.

Cleaning and maintaining your gutters is very easy to do.  All it takes is a little time and being able to remember that they need to be done.  One hint is if your roof doesn’t have a steep slope, you can use a leaf blower to clean out the gutters as that is faster and easier than using your hands.

Power Tool News

Manufacturer: Milwaukee Power Tools

Power Tool News: New Hole Saw

The News

Milwaukee introduced a new hole saw today.  As you know hole saws cut through a variety of material, so having a strong reliable hole saw is a must.  This new accessory is a Carbide Grit Hole Saw and cuts through brick, block, cement board, tile, fiberglass and more.  As noted by the name, this is a Tungsten carbide bit, so it can withstand some tough cuts and will stay sharper longer than a regular steel bit.  The great thing about this bit being a Tungsten Carbide bit, is less wear and tear on your drill.

Whats new with this bit is that it features a segmented edge for faster cutting and offset for easy plug removal.  The edges are suppose to be clean from what Milwaukee claims, but haven’t tested this bit.  You can look for this in stores soon along with their new line of light hole saws. 

Specifications

• Available in 3/4″ to 2-1/2″
• Segmented Edge
• Carbide

About Milwaukee

Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, a Brookfield, Wisconsin-based subsidiary of Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. (TTI) (HKEx stock code: 669, ADR symbol: TTNDY) is an industry leading manufacturer and marketer of professional, heavy duty power tools and accessories.  Products include the legendary SAWZALL® reciprocating saws, M12™, M18™ & M28™ LITHIUM-ION cordless tools, HOLE-HAWG® drills, portable band saws, circular saws, driver drills, hammer drills, rotary hammers, grinders, sanders and a line of Test & Measurement and Hand Tools.  Accessories include SAWZALL® blades, SWITCHBLADE® self-feed bits, BIG HAWG® hole cutters, THUNDERBOLT® drill bits and SHOCKWAVE Impact Duty™. For more information on the full line of Milwaukee® power tools and accessories, please call 1-800-SAWDUST or visit www.milwaukeetool.com.

Power Tool News

Manufacture: Milwaukee Power Tools

Power Tool News: Twist Release Arbor

The News

Milwaukee has been releasing a lot of tools lately and some say its great while others have their reservations, but either way Milwaukee just released their new Twist Release Arbor.  This new power tool accessory will work with hole saws up to 1-3/16″ and works will all brands of hole saws, according to Milwaukee.

The new accessory features a tool free design, which does make life a little easier.  If you have ever used a hole saw sometimes removing the hole saw from the arbors is just flat out a pain in the A**, so we do have to say it’s about time to make this a hands free arbor change.  Now we haven’t tested this bit, so we are not sure how good or bad this design is, even under heavy use and pressure.  If anyone does have experience with it, we would like to hear from you.

The Twist release arbor features a Thunderbolt pilot bit and solid shank, which Milwaukee states it gives added durability.  We are not sure what type of material thunderbolt is or even how it is made, but it does sound tough.  Our guess is their Thunderbolt is made from steel otherwise they would have made it a point to state it was made of Carbide or some other tough material.  We are not saying steel isn’t tough. 

Specifications

• Hole Saw up to 1-3/16″
• Tool free design
• Works with all brands of hole saws

About Milwaukee

Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, a Brookfield, Wisconsin-based subsidiary of Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. (TTI) (HKEx stock code: 669, ADR symbol: TTNDY) is an industry leading manufacturer and marketer of professional, heavy duty power tools and accessories.  Products include the legendary SAWZALL® reciprocating saws, M12™, M18™ & M28™ LITHIUM-ION cordless tools, HOLE-HAWG® drills, portable band saws, circular saws, driver drills, hammer drills, rotary hammers, grinders, sanders and a line of Test & Measurement and Hand Tools.  Accessories include SAWZALL® blades, SWITCHBLADE® self-feed bits, BIG HAWG® hole cutters, THUNDERBOLT® drill bits and SHOCKWAVE Impact Duty™. For more information on the full line of Milwaukee® power tools and accessories, please call 1-800-SAWDUST or visit www.milwaukeetool.com.

Professional Power Tool Guide is giving away a FREE Dremel 8200.  The 8200 is a cordless Lithium-Ion rotary tool great for almost any project.   We recently did a review, which you can read at Dremel 8200 Review.  We also did a quick video, which you can see below.

Below is some of the information for this tool

• Variable speed from 5,000 to 30,000 rpm provides maximum control and precision
• Separate on/off switch and speed control retains speed setting for the perfect speed every time
• Quick collet lock for fast accessory changes
• Cool-running ball bearing construction for smooth and quiet operation
• Comfort grip housing for easier handling and better tool control
• Compact and lightweight for easier handling and less fatigue
• Battery fuel gauge lets you know when it’s time to recharge
• High-capacity 12V ^MAX Lithium-ion battery for longer run times
• Always Ready–Lithium-ion battery holds a charge 6 times longer than standard NiCad batteries.
• Two-year warranty

Specifications of the 8200

• Battery Lithium-Ion Battery
• Charge Time 1 hour
• Speed Variable, 5,000 – 30,000 RPM
• Voltage 12V Max DC
• Weight (lbs.) 22 oz / 0.62 kg

This is a great tool and we had a lot of fun testing and playing with this. 

Now we are sure you want to learn how to win this tool.  Well it’s pretty easy.  All you have to do is leave a comment on any post or best of all leave a comment on our forum.  Once you leave a comment, you will automatically be entered to win.  If you are picked as the winner, we will notify you by email.  We only use your email to notify you that you won.  We never spam or sell any information, so you don’t have to be paranoid.  Your chance to win ends July 31, 2010.

Power Tool Review- Dremel

Power Tool Model – 8200  1/28

Pros: Cordless, very good power, great balance, items in tool kit, easy to use, number of applications you can perform with this tool.

Cons: Only one battery comes with the kit (Model 2/28 comes with two batteries)

Specifications of the Dremel

• 12V Max Lithium-Ion Cordless
• 22 oz.
• 5,000 – 30,000 rpm
• Quick Collete Lock
• Battery Gauge
• 2 Year Warranty
• 1 hour charge time

Nuts & Bolts of the Dremel

The Dremel is like WD-40 in the fact that there are so many uses for the item.  It’s the tool that you can just about doing anything with, well that might be a little exaggeration, but you sure can do a heck of a lot.  This rotary tool can sand, engrave, carve, grind, sharpen, clean items, polish, drill and more.

Specifications

The first thing you will notice once you open your new Dremel is the case.  The whole kit comes with a nice hard plastic case.  The great thing about the case is all the room to hold other accessories.  There is a small case they supply you with that has 28 different accessories to get you started.  A user can fit even more accessories in this small case or even a lot more in the large case.  Everything in the case has a place, so nothing slides around and you don’t have any loose items banging into each other.  Inside the case you also have a cutting guide, one hour charger, 1-12V Lithium battery and best of all the rotary tool itself.

The overall specs of this tool are very impressive.  We like the variable speed of 5,000 to 30,000 which lets the user match the speed to the type of application they are performing. Since the Dremel comes with one battery, we had to look at the charger more closely.  The charger is a one hour charger and for all practical purposes, it is a one hour charger.  We drained the battery five times and our average charge time was 47 minutes, so it did charge a little quicker for us.  We do like they incorporated a battery gauge which allows the user to see how much juice is left in the battery.  Note this review is for the 1/28, we would recommend paying the extra money and buying the 2/28 which has two batteries.

The Dremel only weights 22 oz., so it is very easy to maneuver and be extremely accurate without getting any type of fatigue.

The cutting guide is also very nice for three reasons.

1. It’s a cutting guide and lets the user have precise cutting depths
2. The depth lines are very easy and nice to read
3. Once the guide is set, it is very strong and will not break loose until the user wants it loose.

Review

We have to admit we were a little bias going into the review because we have used this tool a lot over the years and has always scored very high on our radar.  Second, Bosch owns Dremel and Bosch is one of the best power tool manufacturers around.  They don’t make junk.  While some power tool companies have tried to hit lower end markets and produce cheaper tools to compete against the no names tools, Bosch has stayed true to providing professional quality power tools to users.

With that said, we still had to go into the review with an open eye thinking maybe this is different.  We thought one thing we would be able to knock the Dremel for was the balance since the battery sits in the back of the tool, but to our amazement the Dremel has great balance.  When holding the tool in your hand, it has a nice wide base to grip and hold the tool.  The weight is evenly distributed across the tool, so its not front or back heavy as we first thought it might be.  Balance is always crucial for any power tool, but especially with this rotary tool.  The Dremel can perform detailed work such as engraving, cutting tile, cleaning grout, so a steady hand is very important.

Changing a bit is very easy.  The lock feature to change a bit is towards the front of the tool.  You don’t have to put a lot of pressure on the lock button in order for the collet to lock, which is nice.  Once you have a bit in the collet, it stays in place and is very sturdy where we never had a problem.  The variable speed is at the handle of the tool.  Again it is very easy to adjust and it always stayed in place where ever we set the speed.  The vibrations, which are small, never moved the speed up or down by itself.  Also we thought where the speed function was placed, we might have a problem when holding onto the tool and accidentally changing the speed, but again that never happened, so we are not worried about that.

The battery lasted a long time especially when we were just polishing or even doing some light sanding.  We do wish the kit came with two batteries as heavy use, as with any battery, caused us to charge it quicker.  But for the price of the kit and the price of the extra battery, it is well worth buying this kit and an extra battery.  For everything you get, it’s a steal.

As we stated the Dremel has easily over a thousand different applications you can do with this tool, so on our video we didn’t want to bore you with a lot of different uses.  Plus all our videos are on youtube and they only give you 10 minutes of video, sorry, but we are too cheap to try and figure out how to host and pay for our own videos.  The main thing we wanted to show you was some of the features and benefits, so the cutting guide and just show you with a drill bit punching through some wood.  As you can see the Dremel went through the 3/4″ Plywood with no problems and as you can see how fast it cut through the wood, without it bogging down too much.  Yes it was only plywood as opposed to a harder wood, but our goal was for you to see it in action.

Conculsion

There are a lot of other companies that have tried to compete with the Dremel, but they are just too hard to touch.  The 8200 is by far the best rotary tool available on the market.  Yes we even like it better then the corded Dremel versions because this has a lot of power and we love the versatility of taking it anywhere around the house and not being tied down to bring extension cords or having power near by.  The variable speed gives the user complete control of the tool.  The balance allows the user to easily use this on any project and not get fatigued.  We would recommend buying the model 2/28 as that comes with two batteries.

Links

Read more about the Dremel 8200

See the specs and buy the Dremel 8200 1/28 (One Battery)

 See the specs and buy the Dremel 8200 2/28 (Two Batteries)

About Dremel

 There are more than 17 million rotary tools currently in use, with that number growing daily. Dremel is the leader in rotary tools. With numerous attachments and more than 150 available accessories, it truly is one of the most versatile tools any homeowner can own.

Power Tool News

Manufacture: Hilti

Power Tool News: First Injectable Fast Cure Adhesive

Model Number: HIT-HY-150 Max SD

The News

Hilti introduced the first injectable adhesive anchor system, which if you have not used this system and might have the need, take a closer look at it.  It is very easy to work with and very reliable.  Hilti brings another product to the table with its new fast cure system.  The Hilti Adhesive system is a fast cure system that is designed for anchoring and meets the cracked concrete performance test.  This means you can use standard threaded rods and rebar in all seismin zones under the IBC Code.  In case you don’t know or are still in the learning process, the IBC is the International Building code.

Whats great about this product is not only the reliability, but the versatility of this product.  Most adhesive systems are very sensitive to different climates and conditions.  Now we haven’t seen all the data yet, but Hilti indicates the cure time is 30 minutes at a temp of 68 degrees.  We are not sure how much time is added per degree.  But 30 minutes is great and allows work to continue without having downtime.  Now what is great is that you can apply this adhesive to concrete temps of 14 degrees to 104 degrees, which means that even on the coldest of days, you can use this first thing in the morning or even in Vegas in the afternoon.  What was told to us by our local rep is that even on cold days at 14 degrees, the adhesive is very easy to work with.  This is critical because while some products, not this type of adhesive, we have seen manufacturers claim they work in all climate conditions, but when it comes time, the product is unworkable.  We are going to take Hiliti’s word that even at 14 degrees we can still work with this product. 

We were told that this product can be installed in damp holes, so we are hoping that cold and damp will not affect this product or the strength of the 150 MAX.  This is critical because a lot of sub basements tend to be damp and wet, not even during initial construction but even in older buildings depending upon the type of construction.  Best of all is that a user only needs this adhesive.  You don’t have to buy special bonding agents, etc.  You don’t even have to buy special anchoring systems.  Hilti designed this adhesive to work with standard threaded rod or rebar

Specifications

• 30 Minute Cure Time
• Flexibility of temp applications
• Holes can even be damp
• No special elements required

Now we haven’t tried this new product yet because we just haven’t been in a position or had the need.  So if anyone has tried it, we would like to hear what you think.  Leave a comment below or drop us an email.

Power Tool News

Manufacture: Milwaukee

Power Tool News: New PVC/ABS Saw

The News

Milwaukee has been adding a lot of power tools, they have been increasing their line for their M12 and safety tools.  Well Milwaukee is adding one more tool to their hand tools, called the PVC/ABS Saw.  As you guessed this is a saw designed to cut through hard plastics. 

Milwaukee incorporated a metal core body to withstand harsh conditions.  The saw has a clamshell handle design to prevent damage when dropped.  The handle also has a rubber grip to help with comfort and control.  If you have to change the 18″ blade, Milwaukee designed this to be a tool free change.   

You can learn more about the Milwaukee PVC/ABS Saw at Milwaukee.com

Specifications

• Tool Free Blade Change
• Metal Core Body
• Rubberized Grip
• 18″ Blade

About Milwaukee

Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, a Brookfield, Wisconsin-based subsidiary of Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. (TTI) (HKEx stock code: 669, ADR symbol: TTNDY) is an industry leading manufacturer and marketer of professional, heavy duty power tools and accessories.

Power Tool News

Manufacturer:Hilti

Power Tool News:Hilti Reciprocating Saw

Model Number: WSR 18-A CPC

The News

Hilti’s new reciprocating saw is an exciting new power tool they added to their 18V line up.  As with other reciprocating saws, this can be used for a variety of applications such as cutting EMT conduits, galvanized pipe, sheet metal, OSB, rebar and more. 

Now we have not tested the WSR 18-A saw, Hilti claims this will make more cuts than any other reciprocating saw in its class.  Knowing the other Hilti tools we have used and their true professional grade, we have no doubt about this claim.  The WSR uses an 18V Lithium Ion battery to produce the power.  Hilti backs up these batteries with a 2 year battery replacement.  One reason the WSR 18-A can do this is the Eccentric gear and the design of this saw, more efficient.

The saw has a key-less blade clamp which makes it easy to change the blade, we are not sure how it compares to the Bosch, Milwaukee or Makita saw, but we guess pretty similar.  Because Hilti tools are designed to be used everyday, all day comfort is very important.  Hilti uses a 2 step injection to produce a molded grip for better grip and comfort.  The Hilti also has a variable speed trigger to allow the user greater control. 

Reciprocating saws are designed for demo work, so making a tough tool is a must.  Hilti uses a drop resistant housing to help protect the internal components and absorb some of the shock.  They also have a CPC battery technology that helps protect the battery, switch and motor since reciprocating saws tent to get very hot.  And yes they are compatible with other 18V cordless Hilti power tools.

About Hilti

Hilti provides leading-edge technology to the global construction industry. Hilti products, systems and services offer the construction professional innovative solutions with outstanding added value. The headquarters of the Hilti Group are in Schaan in the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Power Tool News

Manufacturer: Milwaukee

Power Tool News: Models added to Test and Measurement Line Up

The News

As noted Milwaukee added 14 new models to their test and measurement line up.  Milwaukee is not changing their form or function, but what is different is the calibration specs.  These tools now provide users with a National Institute of Standards and Technology certificate of calibration or NIST.  The older models do not have this certification, which while they are great tools, there were certain jobs you could not use these tools on.  With the new NIST, a user can meet certain specification for different organizations such as ISO. 

The new NIST versions include a NIST certificate of calibration with data that lists the accuracy of each measurement function, the date when it was calibrated and when the next calibration should take place.  This is what was missing from the earlier models, which we are glad to see Milwaukee has included because this allows many companies to hold reputable standards.  In the long run this provides better accuracy which means you can improve safety. 

Milwaukee first introduced their measurement and testing tools in 2009 and since then Milwaukee has been moving forward with these tools and this is a huge step.  In the past a user or company would have to get these certificates in the aftermarket, but not now which saves time and money in the long run. 

About Milwaukee

Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, a Brookfield, Wisconsin-based subsidiary of Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. (TTI) (HKEx stock code: 669, ADR symbol: TTNDY) is an industry leading manufacturer and marketer of professional, heavy duty power tools and accessories.  Products include the legendary SAWZALL® reciprocating saws, M12™, M18™ & V28™ LITHIUM-ION cordless tools, HOLE-HAWG® drills, portable band saws, circular saws, driver drills, hammer drills, rotary hammers, grinders, sanders and a line of Test & Measurement and Hand Tools.  Accessories include SAWZALL® blades, SWITCHBLADE® self-feed bits, BIG HAWG® hole cutters, THUNDERBOLT® drill bits and SHOCKWAVE Impact Duty™.

Power Tool Review – Ingersoll Rand Ratchet

Power Tool Model – 1207Max-D3

Pros: Good Balance, Powerful, Forward/Reverse location, Trigger 

Cons: None that we could see 

Specifications

Air Inlet NPTF: 1/4 Inch
Av. Air Consumption: 113 l/min (4 cfm)
Sound: 95/106 dBA (Pressure/Power)
Performance Rating: MAX
Maximum Torque: 65 foot-pounds
Square Drive: 3/8 Inch
Free Speed: 200 rpm
Min. Hose Size: 3/8 Inch
@ Load: 453 l/min
Length: 10.75 Inches
Weight: 2.75 Pounds

Nuts & Bolts of the 1207Max-D3

Specifications

This was a tool we picked up and enjoyed using right from the start.  Before we get into the review and what we did, let’s take a closer look at the overview of this tool.  As you know,  it’s a 3/8” ratchet, but a couple items to note is the power this harnesses.  The torque on this is 65 Ft-lbs. and an rpm of 200.  Now the 1207MAX is a little longer coming in at 10.8” so it gives the user a nice grip and large area to hold on to this tool.  The weight is great weighing only 3.2lbs.  One item to note is the forward and reverse is controlled by a collar which comes in very handy.

Review

When we do a review one of the main items we look at is the overall balance of a tool.  If the balance is bad in a power tool, we immediately give it a bad rating because balance is everything.  Balance allows a user to control what they are doing and also plays a big part in user fatigue.  The first thing we noticed picking up the IR 1207Max was how great the balance is.  While most air powered tools are, surprising there are still a lot that do not have great balance.  With the MAX tool, we felt this was a tool made for the users hands.  With the ¼” ratchet we messed around in a mechanics garage.  With  the 3/8” we took this one to a job site and messed around to let some of the guys play with it to see what type of feedback we received.  We used it primarily on a local contractors backhoe which was a Cat 428.  The first item we messed with is the lug nuts on the front tires to loosen them and tighten them.  What we found out was working with the IR Max was a real treat.  Very easy to control the speed, especially with the variable speed power regulator. 

Now when we were using the tool, it was about 72 outside, so we didn’t get a chance to test how the air tool is made from a composite handle to insulate from the cold.  Another note is the housing.  IR uses a Nickel plated housing to help protect against corrosion.  We ending up getting under the backhoe and trying to find anything we could loosen or tighten in open or confined spaces.  Again and again the tool outperformed our expectations.  We were very happy with the end results of this.  Actually everyone was impressed except for Timmy and that was just because it was his Backhoe we were messing with.  He actually had to take the MAX around and make sure everything was tight.

Conculsion

If your looking for a great air ratchet, take a look at the Ingersoll Rand 1207MAX-D3.  The balance is great and feels like a solid tool.  The ratchet has a lot of power and great features such as the easy to control trigger and the collar forward and reverse.  For the money, this is a great air wrench.

Links

Read more about the 1207Max D-3

Buy the Ingersoll-Rand 1207Max D-3

About Ingersoll Rand

Ingersoll Rand is committed to enhancing our customers’ efficiency, productivity and operations through our diverse and innovative Ingersoll Rand branded product offerings. We are part of Ingersoll Rand Corporation, a $13 billion company global diversified industrial company with a 100-year-old tradition of technological innovation. We have the depth of knowledge, expertise and experience to be the best solution to meet your requirements – from our complete compressed air systems, to our tools, pumps, material and fluid handling systems, and our environmentally friendly microturbines.

Tool Review: Ingersoll Rand Max 

Model Number: 1105Max-D2 

Air wrenches are fun tools to use because of the power and let’s face it, they sound cool almost like your in the NASCAR pits.  We use power tools everyday, but air ratchet wrenches are a little different, so we wanted to get some expert advice so we took it down to Bob’s Auto repair shop.  We use Bob to do all of our maintenance on our trucks, so we have a great relationship with him.  We told Bob what we were doing with the website and after he gave us that blank stare as if we were talking in a foreign langue regarding the internet, he agreed to put this to the test.  Now Bob may not know what the internet is, but he does know his cars and he certainly knows his air tools. 

When we gave him the ratchet, he wasn’t surprised to see it was made by Ingersoll Rand.  In fact the first thing he informed us was that he always had pretty good luck with IR.  He also noted that these were IR’s new line of air tools and was pretty excited about testing them.  Looking around his shop we did see some other IR tools along with a variety of other manufactures he has collected over the years.  As we noticed with the ratchet, Bob also noticed that the balance of this tool was great.  The bulk of the weight was evenly distributed over the tool without much on the front or back of the tool.  The second item was the low profile forward/reverse.  He was pretty excited about this since sometimes when he gets in tight spots, he ends up hitting the forward/reverse only to have to pull the tool back out and reset the direction.  He showed us how the low profile option on the 1105MAX was a great design to stop his frustration, and he does get ticked pretty easily.  

One option he really liked was the variable speed power regulator, which after he showed us made a lot of sense.  The one car he had on the lift, he grabbed two sockets and told us “watch and learn boys.”  He was replacing a bad wire harness located somewhere by the firewall on the outside of the car.  He put the first socket on and set the power regulator on high and started taking off a couple of bolts.  He then changed the socket, set the regulator to low and started taking off some plastic fasteners that held on part of the firewall.  He told us to try and do that with some of the other makes and manufacturers on the market today.  He did all this with one ratchet.  He didn’t have to stop and use an air ratchet for the steel bolts, then set the tool down, grab an open ended wrench from his back pocket so he could be careful and loosen the plastic nuts.  He did this all with one tool.  Now we didn’t think of this before Bob showed us, but after seeing it in action and how it was strong enough and precise enough for the steel bolts, but gentle enough for the plastic nuts, we thought this was pretty cool.  Yes, it sounds like the Secret slogan for that deodorant.  But in all seriousness, this was a great way to show that the tool has multiple functions and lets the user have complete control of the tool and not the tool controlling the user. 

After leaving Bob’s place, we took it on our site the next day to play around.  We used it on some rusted old bolt, not because we needed to remove them, but to just play around and see what damage we could do or not do.  Overall, this took off anything we wanted.  We used a 5 gallon compressor and had a lot of fun with the wrench. 

 

Conclusion

As stated there are a lot of ratchets to pick from, but the IR is one of our favorites we have tested in a long time.  Having Bob show us the real ins and outs to this tool was great and having Bob stating he wanted this wrench says a lot.  The use we got out of this tool from Bob and us just playing around with some rusted old bolts on the site, made us a believer.  For the money, this is a great new series from Ingersoll Rand line of Air power tools.

    

Links

Learn more about the Max1105 D-2

Buy an Ingersoll Rand 1105MAX-D2 1/4-Inch Composite Air Ratchet

About Ingersoll Rand

Ingersoll Rand is committed to enhancing our customers’ efficiency, productivity and operations through our diverse and innovative Ingersoll Rand branded product offerings. We are part of Ingersoll Rand Corporation, a $13 billion company global diversified industrial company with a 100-year-old tradition of technological innovation. We have the depth of knowledge, expertise and experience to be the best solution to meet your requirements – from our complete compressed air systems, to our tools, pumps, material and fluid handling systems, and our environmentally friendly microturbines.

 

Tool Review: Dewalt Toughcase

Just about every manufacturer offers some sort of case with some kind of power tool accessory.  Sometimes the cases are pretty good, but most of the times, they tend to be cheap.  Now we are not knocking some of the cheap cases because they do make great storage containers for accessories, but it is always nice to have at least one case you can throw your good bits in or have something durable enough to take some sort of beating.  Well we are not the only ones who think a case can be just as important as the accessory, Dewalt listened to a lot of different contractors out there and developed their Toughcase. 

The first item we noticed was the thickness of the case.  This is not some cheap plastic that will crack under heavy conditions.  As we noted it is the same material used in the XRP cordless drill.  The next two biggest items that are important in case, which some manufacturers miss is the latch and the hinges.  Dewalt uses a metal latch system that is installed on the bottom half of the case and latches the top half down.  Once you latch the case in place, the latch itself is nice and solid and locks the two halves completely without any movements separating the top half from the bottom half.  The next item is the hinge.  Again some manufacturers just use a plastic hinge that after a while, just ends up breaking.  Dewalt again thought about long term uses and heavy conditions.  They have a metal rod that joins the hinges together for added durability.  This type of hinge system lets the user open and close the case without compromising the durability, even in colder weather environments.

After taking a closer look at the case we can see the case was actually built with the thought of job site use, so we wanted to test the magnets and the hinges.  As you can see by the video below, the magnets are pretty good and held 1.25 lbs to the aluimium stud with no problems.  We did have a problem with the magnets holding 2.5 lbs, but again for this size case, we don’t even think you could get 2.5lbs. of accessories in it.

The hooks on the back are plenty deep to make any type of hook system to hold this case in place.  We just attached it to the same stud using the back hooks.  As you can see we had 5 lbs. resting on the case and the hinges didn’t have a problem supporting this type of weight.

Personally I like this case because I keep my most common bits, a pencil and a couple of other items in it and in the center console of my truck for easy access.  This case was very nice to have and I could just grab it for certain jobs and go.

If you need a good case, we recommend the Dewalt Toughcase.  Very sturdy and well built.  We like the two options of accessories they offer with this case, so it gives the user some variety to choose from.

Don’t forget to enter to win 1 of 5 Dewalt Toughcases – Read more here