We are excited to bring you a power tool review of the Bosch 18V Lithium combo kit.  For as much as we love Bosch power tools, this is only our second Bosch tool review.  Our first review was the Bosch Bulldog.  For this review the Bosch 18V Lithium model number is CLPK40-180.  There are a lot of power tool manufacturers on the market, there are a few good ones and even less professional grade tool manufacturers.  Bosch is one of the top professional grade power tool companies around.  While most companies will market to professionals as well as the home owner, Bosch tends to market a lot more to the professional. Most of their tools are designed for professionals that will use and abuse on an everyday occurrence.  When you look at their full line up of tools, you will understand what we mean by professional grade power tools.

Bosch Combo Kit CLPK40-180 Overview

This kit comes with four main power tools.  The Drill, Trim Saw, Reciprocating Saw and Flashlight.  So yes you can say three power tools and a light.  The kit also comes with a 30 minute charger and 2 FatPack batteries, which are the 2.6Ah batteries.  Some of the extras Bosch throws in are a Carbide circular saw blade, 2 reciprocating blades, bit holder, the side handle, Phillips bit and a very nice carrying case.  If you have been following us for a while, you know we always look at balance of a tool first.  Well this review is not different.  As we noted Bosch is designed for the professional and is designed to be used very hard all day long, so you better believe Bosch takes balance and the fatigue factor very seriously.  The first thing you will notice when you pick up the drill or either saw is how nice they feel in your hand.  These are so well balanced, they make some of the other power tools balance feel like a joke.  Now we know how an outlaw in the old west must have felt with a Smith and Wesson six shooter when they were spinning and firing their guns. 

We are going to go into each power tool and a couple other items in greater detail in the following reviews, but we wanted to give you a quick overview.  The drill that comes in this package is powerful.  This is one of the drills that just feels right in your hand.  While the balance is great, it just feels solid in your hand, but without the normal weight of a drill you would expect.  This drill has fast speeds and great torque. In the up coming review you will learn just how fast and strong this drill is and how durable this is made. 

The circular saw is awesome.  One of the best things is the size.  Bosch gave this a 6.5″ inch blade instead of a smaller blade that some of these other manufactures gravitated towards.  Believe it or not, the extra inch does make a huge difference.  The reciprocating saw is not different.  The compact design and low weight make this a great saw to own.  We could handle this very easily and it feels well built.  The stroke length is 1-1/8″ which is great for an 18V cordless.  One of the best features which we will cover in great detail during our Bosch reciprocating review is the Lock-Jaw, which makes changing and holding a blade one of the best on the markets. 

Now the flashlight is nice, but if we had to pick on one thing it would be the light.  As some will love this style and it has many uses, some people might still like the other common style with a handle and finger switch.  Again we will get more into this for our review, but just something to note.  The last item is the contractor bag.  Up until this point we like the Makita contractor bag the best.  After seeing the Bosch bag, we are now torn.   Yes it is only a bag, but this is what protects your investment when the power tools are being stored.

Final Thoughts on the Bosch Combo Kit CLPK40-180

Before we even started this review, we were a little bias because we know and understand how well Bosch is built.  We understand who they are made for. While some companies are struggling to find a niche in the market place, Bosch knows who their customer is and what they do.  We are very excited about trying each of these tools and showing you them in action.  Overall for a four piece combo set, these are hard to beat, but stay tuned as we are going to go over each tool.

Read more about the Bosch Combo Kit

Read and buy the Bosch 18V Combo Kit

We came across a great survey completed by Contractor Magazine that gives wonderful insight on professional tool users recent purchasing habits. We know you will find this information both intriguing and helpful for your own use! It seems that contractors are making more tool purchases at major home centers lately. In addition, they are doing much more work (72%) in service, repair and retrofit markets, or mainly aftermarket projects.

The major home centers have gained alot of steam in tool sales, overtaking plumbing wholesalers and closing in on the leader, industrial supply houses. Another interesting statistic for all of 2009 was that internet sales were down from the previous year. This survey speculates it might be because contractors like to handle a tool before they see it. We feel this is just a temporary blip, as internet sales will continue to play a major factor in the future. Prices on the internet are way to competitive. When the economy picks up, internet sales should explode. Contractors that do internet buying are doing it for bulk purchases and they already know their brands!

The major thrust in the increase of tool sales at home centers came from small contractors, (those employing 1 to 4 workers). The larger contractors, (those employing 50 workers or more), still did most of their purchasing from industrial supply houses. Plumbing wholesalers numbers fell across the board. As stated above, all of the increases are coming in the aftermarket business, whereas new construction is still soft. Many or most of the contractors surveyed were working in plumbing, hydronic heating, warm air heating, air conditioning, radiant floor heating, and bath and kitchen remodeling. Plumbing was the number one type of work, and interestingly, almost 25% of those surveyed presented themselves as “green” contractors.

As far as tool use went, the number one used corded tool was the reciprocating saw, and then came a variety of hammer drills. Next was circular saws, power drills, and demolition hammers. The list continued down the line with rotary hammers, drill drivers, pipe threading machines, drain cleaning machines and floor drivers. When looking at cordless power tools, the most used by contractors was drill drivers, then power drills, followed by reciprocating saws, circular saws, hammer drills, and last, rotary hammers.

The final interesting fact we read from the survey was that in 2009, 83% of the contractors were doing work in the residential market. Almost 75% said they did work in the commercial market, but only 21% were doing work in the institutional market.

In the month of Febuary, 2010, DEWALT , a leading manufacturer of industrial power tools and accessories, announced the launch of the new MAGNETIC ToughCase® Container, a jobsite accessory storage solution. The ToughCase Container will be available in two set configurations, including the standard 15-piece Fastening Set (DWMTC15) and the 20-piece IMPACT READY® Drilling/Driving Set (DWMTCIR20).

 The MAGNETIC ToughCase Container, which was developed as a result of extensive user research and field-testing, has been designed to meet professionals’ repeated requests for a durable, compact and functional storage solution for bits, hole saws and other common accessories. Constructed from the same high impact resistant material that is used for DEWALT ’s XRPTM cordless drill housing, the ToughCase Container is extremely heavy-duty and capable of withstanding jobsite abuse. With its compact footprint, the ToughCase Container conveniently fits into users’ pockets or pouches, making it easily accessible at all times. Its small size is still large enough to hold common accessories including 6″ SDS+ and drill bits, 1 3/8″ step bits and hole saws.

 Two magnets on top of the lid allow users to adhere the case to any ferrous material, and the rubber bumpers prevent the case from sliding. The built-in hooks on the back of the case make it easy for users to hang it from most materials, such as electrical boxes, which gives contractors the ability to focus on the task at hand and quickly finish the job.

 ”Engaging in conversations with professional contractors was essential in the development of the new MAGNETIC ToughCase Container,” commented Stas’ Kotula, Assistant Product Manager for DEWALT Accessories. “We made improvements to the product based on contractor feedback in order to truly create an effective solution that allows users to conveniently store accessories on the job. While many contractors already have a storage case that they use, it was overwhelmingly clear that they required a better option to be as productive as possible.”

 The product offering includes two options that provide solutions for professionals across a number of trades including framing, general contracting, HVAC, electrical and mechanical. To find out more about the specific options,click on the link! Dewalt Toughcase

When looking at any new power tools, whether it be a power drill or anything else, the first question you should ask yourself is “how does it feel in my hand?”Any tool should feel like an extension of your hand. The tool may feel great while standing in the store aisle but how about after a few hours of use. While in the store, make sure all controls are convenient, and check to see if the forward/reverse and high/low speed switches in particular are easy to use.

Drills come in three distinct handle styles. The most popular cordless models have the T-handle style where the handle is placed near the middle. The T-handle style distributes the weight for better balance and less wrist strain. Some tool users prefer the more traditional pistol-grip style, and last, the third style is the right-angle version, designed for use where space is restricted.

The next question to ask yourself is “how much power do I need?” Cordless drills are measured in volts. Drills are available in everything from around 2 volts (for a cordless screwdriver) to 24-volt tools, well the actually range higher for professional models. Higher voltage means heavier weight, so consider buying a tool that will meet 80-90% of your needs. 18 volt models are the most popular, and they will usually meet most homeowner’s work needs. Corded drills are measured in amps. Generally, a higher amperage motor means more power.  Cordless batteries also have amp measurements, but will get to that at another time.

You must also consider what type of jobs you most likely will be using the drill for, or to put it another way, what type of material will you be working on with your new drill? Drilling softwood, hardwood, metal, and masonry all require different drill speeds. Harder materials or larger bits have to be worked at lower speed. Conversely, softer materials and smaller bits can be used at higher speeds. Look for a drill with variable speed. Variable speed allows the user to control the bit speed. This is very important when you plan on working different materials and accessories.

You also should consider choosing a drill with an adjustable clutch setting. The clutch reacts to the resistance of the screw, which changes as the density of the material changes, allowing you to drill holes of consistent depth. Adjusted properly on identical scrap material, a clutch can keep you from driving a screw too deep, which makes this feature great for beginners. An adjustable clutch can also reduce the possibility of stripping a screw head or snapping a screw off altogether. Also important to note is corded drills don’t depend on batteries for power. Their constant supply of electricity makes them better suited than cordless drills for tough jobs like drilling in masonry or boring large holes in wood. Corded drills are available with the same variety of features as cordless. For most homeowners, a 3/8″ corded drill is a good choice.

For beginners, trying to determine the best chuck may not seem that important at first, but it really is! Chucks are attachments where the bit is inserted, having jaws that grip the bit. Drills come in 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″ sizes. This measurement is the chuck size and indicates the shaft diameter of the bits and accessories that will fit the drill. (For most homeowners, a 1/2″ size should be sufficient). Chucks can be keyed (the jaws are tightened or loosened with a key) or keyless(the chuck can be tightened or loosened by hand). Keyless chucks offer two major benefits. If you have ever misplaced or lost a chuck key, you already know one of them. A keyless chuck will also allow bits to be changed more quickly.This can be a real plus when you need to change from a drill bit to a screwdriver bit repeatedly or if you happen to be wearing gloves on the job.You can change the chuck in some keyless models with only one hand because the shaft locks when the trigger is off. In most models, however, you have to use both hands to turn the chuck in opposite directions. While you’re in the store, change the bit on different drills to see what style of keyless chuck you prefer.

We can’t cover all bases, but this should get the beginner started on looking for power drills!! Good luck!

Here are the figures for the month of January 2010. Let’s put our tools to use and build, build, and build!!

Feb 17 Building Permits - The number of building permits issued in January fell from December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 621,000. Permits are still up 16.9% year-over-year. While multi-family building permits plummeted 26%, single-family permits were up 0.4% during the month.

Housing Starts – Construction of new homes climbed to an annual rate of 591,000 during January, up 21.1% from a year ago. The rise was attributed to decreased new home supply. Export and Import Prices – Import prices increased in January by 1.4%, largely due to higher fuel prices. Prices for non-fuel imports rose 0.4% for the month. Export prices rose 0.8% in January following a 0.6% rise in December.

Cold Weather Work Gloves Overview

Mechanix Wear gloves have been around for all most 20 years.  They got there name or their start in 1991 when they were used by pit crews in the Dayton 500, hence maybe the name.  Over the years they have grown and become one of the leading manufacturers of personal protective equipment for the hands.  They make gloves for mechanics, military, emergency response teams, and yes for the construction industry.  Gloves play a vital role in protecting a user’s hands.  They can protect from small scratches and small particles, to large puncture wounds and even fire protection. 

For this review we are looking at the Mechanix Wear Cold Weather gloves, model number MCW2-08-010.  The shell is made from a heavyweight fleece with a wind resistant lining.  The cuff sports a Neoprene for a better fit.  One item we like the best is the palm which is made of leather.  The leather provides a superior protection and is a great material for grip.  These gloves are designed for Climate Zone 2 and used in weather from 0-32F.

Cold Weather Work Gloves Review

For a review it is hard to show certain features, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to cover them.  For one thing we tested a pair of large gloves.  Now I usually wear a large, while these did fit nice, they wear a tat tight on my hand.  When we gave them to an outside crew to look over, we did hear another user state the same issue.  So one thing if you are ordering these gloves, you might want to go up one size.  However, they had a great feel to them, and while they are cold weather gloves which tend to be a little bulky, they were not too bad, so I wouldn’t loose control while wearing these gloves.  The overall dexterity was still very good.  As noted the wrist is made from a Neoprene and uses an integral elastic wrist band seal which did keep the cold air out.  We used these gloves while we were unloading cement, studs and other materials from a trailer.  The leather palm let us grab the materials very easily.  We didn’t have a problem picking up any of these materials and getting a good grip.  The wrist closure did prevent the snow and wind from entering the gloves.

Final Thoughts on the Cold Weather Work Gloves

This is a great glove as it provides cold weather protection, wind protection and personal protection.  While it does prevent the user from having great dexterity compared to warm weather gloves, considering all the cold weather gloves we tested, this is a great buy.  They are very comfortable, provided us with great protection and we were still able to pick up screws and smaller items to complete a project.  Over the years we have tested many types of these gloves, and the Mechanix Wear gloves have been the best cold weather gloves for the price.

To learn more about these gloves, go to Mechanix Wear Gloves

To purcahse these gloves, you can visit tylertool – Mechanix Gloves

Painter’s Pyramid Overview

You may remember our review of the Painter’s Pyramid. If not, you can take a look at the pyramid review.  For a quick review, the Painter’s pyramid is a great way to stain, paint, or finish your work in one sitting.  The system allows you to complete the project easily and allows the user to paint the sides, bottom and top without having to wait for a side to dry and then come back to finish up.  K&M came out with a new product to compliment the painter’s Pyramid.  The new product is the Painter’s Pyramid Finishing Turntable.

The Finishing Turntable by Painters Pyramid is exactly as the name implies.  It is a turntable that allows the user to rotate their work and finish a certain side of the project.  This allows the user to minimize their contact or movement with a project.  In return this lowers the chance of dents, scratches and blemishing one could cause while working with stain, paint or other finishing products.  The turntable has a base of about 15.75″ which provides a lot of stability for even large projects.  The system utilizes 12 Painter’s Pyramids that can be adjusted to fit the dimensions of your work.  To our surprise this turntable supports up to 100lbs. 

Painter’s Pyramid  Review

When we first checked this turntable out and having previous experience with the Painter’s Pyramid, we had a good idea we would like this.  What this turntable does that is great, besides lowering frustration with finishing projects, is it minimizes contact with the user.  We have all had that happen when we are painting or finishing a project, we have to lift the item up to move or reposition the project.  What happens?  We end up dumping, dropping or something else that frustrates us because we are not paying attention.  The turntable eliminates this as all the user has to do is turn the project without ever  having to lift it up.  We like the fact the system uses 12 painter’s pyramids because this allows for greater stabilization which we found to be the case with this tool.

This system is ready to use right out of the box.  Just place the turntable on a work space, then place your work on top and you’re ready to go.  We found even with 80 lbs. on the turntable, it moved very easily.  One item we liked was being able to replace the pyramids.  In case you drop or somehow break one of the pyramids, there is a screw on the back to disassemble the turn table and make any replacements as necessary.  If you took time to review our previous article on the pyramids, you will see how well the minimal contact points really turns out a superior finish woodworking project.  The turntable just adds to this cool invention. 

Final Thoughts on the Painter’s Pyramid

This is a great addition to the all ready popular and functional Painter’s Pyramid.  The finishing turntable is very easy to use, very stable and makes working on any project a snap.  While we loved the painter’s pyramid, the turntable is great as it adds all the great features of the pyramids, but now you can easily move your work and get the hard to reach places.

You can learn more about the Painter’s Pyramid Turntable

Campbell Hausfeld Overview

Well, this has been one of our longest reviews.  Over three months in the making.  Usually with our reviews we can wrap them up in a couple of weeks with all the different tests and runs on a jobsite or two.  The Campbell Hausfeld was different.  The reason being is while this nailer has all the fancy options a professional nailer needs, its also designed for the homeowner.  After we tried the nailer, we were very impressed and actually thought this could be used by the professional.  So we took it to a non union site and let one of the carpenters run it for a week.  While it was hard for him to put his Makita down, he agreed.  After a week, he basically wanted to keep it.  At this point we knew it wasn’t just us who saw something more in this nailer.  We decided to bring it to a few more jobsites and a couple more homeowners to get more feedback on this nailer. 

The model number for our review of the Campbell Hausfeld finish nailer is CHN70699AV.  This nailer uses a 15 gauge nail from 1″ to 2-1/2″ nails.  As we stated, this nailer comes with all the bells and whistles.  There is a built in laser for greater accuracy when nailing.  Even a stud finder helps the user place the nails in the correct locations.  As with most professional nailers, the Campbell Hausfeld has an anti-dry fire which prevents the gun from firing when there are no nails in the gun, well actually 5 or fewer.  This helps protect your surfaces when you’re not paying attention and just firing like a nut.  As you can see from the video below, this is hard to jam, but if you do, it has a quick clear latch to make jams a snap to clear.  Another nice feature is the bubble level.  This is a great on board tool to make sure you’re plumb. 

There truely is a lot to this nailer, such as oil free maintenance, low nail indicator, swivel plug, no mar tip, quick switch to move from bump to sequential and adjustable exhaust to name just a few.  Now with all these features, you would think the gun would weigh a lot, but it only wieghts 9.3 lbs and the balance is great.  The overall lenght is 20″, height is 17.3″ and lenght of 20″.  So overall, great numbers for this type of nailer with these features.  The Campbell Hausfeld CHN70699AV comes with a storage bag, batteries for the stud finder, and starter nails.  We have seen this retail for around $150 and up. 

Campbell Hausfeld Nailer Review

 If your not familiar with a trim nailer, this type of nailer is good for obviously trim items such as baseboards, crown molding, trim, furniture and more.  Now since you are dealing with more detail work, you need a lot of control over this nailer.  So naturualy as we do with all tools, we paid special attention to the balance of this tool.  Overall, Campbel Hausfeld has great balance.  This was very easy to balance and work with.  While it does weigh 9lbs, the balance makes it feel a lot less.  We didn’t have a problem controlling the nailer and driving in nails at precise angles.

The stud finder is a nice addition to this nail gun.  Besides being easy to use, it is very accurate.  Now what we love is the trigger.  It is a piece of cake changing from bump to sequential with a three position trigger.  As you know, we think safety is the most important part of any tool and any job site.  With the easy to use trigger and changing the trigger action with one hand, it allows the user to focus on the work.  If you have seen the video below, then you will understand about jams with this nailer.  As you can see we tried to jam the gun by firing it into a cement block.  We didn’t have much luck to get this to jam on video, which overall is very impressive.  We have tested other guns and when we fired it into a cement block, we could all most guarantee we could jam the gun.  However, a couple days later we did end up jamming the gun and with the quick latch up front, it was very easy to open up and clear the jam. 

Now we could go on and on about the other features, but we won’t.  We figure this review is long enough and if you’re like us, you probably have a short attention span.

As we noted above, we took this nailer to a bunch of different jobsites and some homeowners we knew that would be working on projects that needed a finsher nailer.  Over and over we heard the same thing, this was an amazing nailer.  The balance, the power, the feel, we heard it all!

Final Thoughts on the Campbell Hausfeld Nailer

Overall this is a great nailer.  While this is designed for the home user, we think many professionals will see the benefit of using the Campbell Hausfeld CHN70699AV.  This comes with all the bells and whistles the professional guns come with, but at half the price.  With the way we need to manage our cash flow, this makes sense.  If you are looking for a finish nailer, this is a must buy.

Hitachi Power Tools today introduced the DH38YE2, a 1-1/2” Spline Shank Rotary Hammer featuring more power, lighter weight, less vibration and lower noise than its long standing predecessor, the DH38YE. The next generation DH38YE2 is compact and ergonomically designed to hammer or hammer/drill holes in concrete for anchors or rebar, demolish and chisel concrete, cut, dig, tamp or drive ground rods with ease.

 With a powerful 8.4 Amp motor that delivers 950 watts of input power, this new rotary hammer produces 5.9 ft/lbs of impact energy and delivers fast drilling and chiseling. With a full load speed of 510 RPM and a full load impact rate of 2,800 BPM, this rotary hammer only gives off vibration levels of 18.8 m/s2 (full load) and a noise level of 95.2 dB (full load) for more comfortable operation in hand and a less noisy work environment. It features an easy-to-use dial for two modes of operation; hammer-only and hammer/drilling allowing it to tackle a variety of tasks with the simple turn of the knob. 

 The DH38YE2 has a safety clutch that shuts down rotation in the event of a bound bit for improved user protection. A dust proof cover prolongs the tool’s life by protecting internal components from dust and debris. Auto-stop carbon brushes prevent motor damage and are easily accessible for simple maintenance checks, while the sealed grease system additionally lends to the tools maintenance free operation.

 The soft elastomer handle, a feature of Hitachi’s ergonomic design, provides a secure grip surface, absorbing vibration for comfort and control during operation. Its solid and dependable chuck accepts Spline Shank bits. An adjustable 360° side handle provides better control and can be removed when working in tight spaces for better maneuverability. It spans just over 16” in length and weighs a mere 14.1 lbs.

 The Hitachi DH38YE2 comes complete with a side handle, dust cover, depth stopper and a large injection molded carrying case with ample room for storage of bits and other accessories. For more information including the full line of Hitachi products and support, please contact Hitachi Power Tools at 1-800-829-4752 or visit www.hitachipowertools.com.

Makita is a good  manufacturer of high quality industrial power tools and accessories, and they have just announced the release of a new line of drywall screwdrivers, models FS2200 (2,500 RPM), FS4200 (4,000 RPM) and FS6200 (6,000 RPM). The new drywall screwdrivers deliver speed, power and ergonomics for all framing and hanging applications.

Makita’s new drywall screwdrivers are powered by a 6.0 AMP motor designed to handle all framing and hanging applications. The FS2200 delivers 2,500 RPM and weighs just 3.5 lbs. The FS4200 delivers 4,000 RPM and weighs just 2.9 lbs., and the FS6200 delivers 6,000 RPM and also weighs just 2.9 lbs.

All these new screwdrivers have an adjustable depth locator assembly with a Sure-Lock™ feature that provide the ability to get consistent screw depth. They also come with a large variable speed trigger with lock-on button that is designed for continuous use. Each drywall gun has an ergonomically-designed grip for increased comfort and a cast aluminum gear housing for less weight and increased durability, with an L.E.D. light to illuminate the work surface. Other convenience features include a depth locator holder for convenient storage during framing applications, and bit storage on the base of the grip to reduce downtime.

Makita’s new FS2200, FS4200 and FS6200 Drywall Screwdrivers are engineered for all framing and hanging applications, and are ideal for drywall contractors, acoustical contractors, carpenters, plaster contractors, maintenance contractors, and general contractors seeking an best-in-class drywall screwdriver.

To find out more about these new Makita tools and their specifications, click on this link: http://www.makitatools.com/en-us/Modules/Tools/Default.aspx?CatID=54

SKIL  has a new groundbreaking flooring saw that saves time, energy and money by allowing users to make all sorts of cuts with just one tool.

Drawing from the brand’s expertise in cutting and their innovative product development process, SKIL is proud to unveil the latest addition to a full product offering, the SKIL Flooring Saw.  The SKIL Flooring Saw allows do-it-yourselfers and installation professionals alike to leave their bench top tools in their workshops and upgrade to a multi-functioning saw that makes clean cuts which will impress even the most seasoned flooring installers.  

Designed to cut through hardwood, laminate and engineered flooring up to 8 inches wide and 3/4 inch thick, the SKIL Flooring Saw smoothly makes miter cuts between zero to 47 degrees and also quickly transitions to a fixed saw allowing rip cuts to width.  

“The ability to make both miter cuts and rip cuts in all wood flooring types with one saw makes this tool a pioneering product that DIYers and flooring installers are going to appreciate,” said Garth Prince, Product Marketing Manager for SKIL.  ”Whether your installation project takes you to the attic or the basement, our new Flooring Saw offers the ultimate in cutting innovation. After receiving extremely positive feedback from installers who tested it during development, we know they’re looking forward to its launch. DIYers are also going to see this saw as a great alternative to larger bench top tools for their flooring projects.”  

The saw features a large aluminum tabletop with miter detents at the most popular angles, ensuring cutting accuracy for all skill and experience levels.  SKIL’s engineering team had the foresight to design the tabletop height to 1-1/2 inches, the same height as a piece of scrap 2x material or two pieces of stacked oak hardwood flooring. This allows for support of extra long flooring pieces so they don’t bend or tip off the table during cuts, increasing accuracy and safety.  The SKIL Flooring Saw comes with a 40-tooth carbide tipped blade – which provides a clean cut without shredding laminate or splintering oak.  Additional features include a built-in cord wrap, a handle for easy portability and a convenient push stick that stores under the table top.  Available online and in select retail and hardware stores nationwide beginning in March, the new SKIL Flooring Saw (model # 3600) will have a suggested retail price of $159.  Visit www.skiltools.com/en/flooringsaw for detailed product information and where to buy.

There are basic tips you should be aware of when heating or cooling your home to get great comfort. In addition, when that heating or cooling bill shows up, you want it to be as low as possible! Here is information we dug up that should really help.

Most all forced-air systems have balancing dampers in the branch ducts that lead to the rooms. These dampers are close to the plenum to which the ducts are connected. There normally is a handle on the outside of the duct that controls the damper. When the handle is parallel to the duct, the damper is wide open, and air flows freely through the duct. When the handle is perpendicular to the duct, the damper is closed. Unless you are a HVAC expert, you should probably have a professional evaluate your house’s duct system and its airflow. This is important because even a little adjustment to the dampers can have a big impact on air flow. Even a 1/4 inch adjustment to the damper can increase or decrease airflow in the amount of 100 to 200 cubic feet per minute.

Another thing homeowners can do to get better airflow performance and comfort is to continually run the systems fan. Constant air flow mixes the air between rooms and between your house’s floors. This can even out temperature differences and believe it or not, increase the life of the fan. This is because the fan will no longer have to constantly start and stop. Last but not least, talk to your professional HVAC person about the duct configuration in your home. You can have separate heating and cooling zones on each floor. This can conserve lots of energy.

Hope this post of information keeps more money in your piggy bank, and keeps you more comfortable in your home too!!

Hey tool lovers! Makita just released its new 12” Dual Slide Compound Miter Saw with Laser, model LS1216L. The new miter saw is also available with Makita’s Jobsite Miter Saw Stand (model LS1216LX).

The right accessory can ease the use of any tool and help enhance specialized applications. They can also provide added convenience and make work much easier. Save time and effort and increase your skills when you add the right accessories to your your power tool collection.

Cutting Power Tool Accessories

Saw blades come in a wide variety. The number of teeth per blade helps determine whether you are doing more all-purpose cutting (less teeth) or smoother, finer jobs (more teeth). The type of blades you use also play a part: carbide-tipped blades stay sharper, and while they may cost more than steel, they will also last much longer and will save money over time.

• Height extensions raise the guide and allow band saws to cut thicker materials
• Work stands, tool stands and roller support stands provide added stability and a level work area
• Dado blades, as well as dado blade inserts and throat plates, give you the ability to easily make needed dado cuts
• Clamps for table saws and miter saws hold stock down firmly for more accurate cuts

Drill Press Accessories

Bits make the difference between an average job and a super success. As with blades, carbide-tipped bits are the best choice, both for their long-lasting performance and their ability to stay sharp.

• Fences help maintain accurate positioning when drilling repetitive holes
• Mortising bits help you drill holes for mortise joints (cavities in stock that receive tenons)
• A drum sanding kit turns your drill press into a rotary sander and buffer

Dust Collection Systems

Keeping your workstation clean and dust-free will add to the lifetime of tools and make your work area safer. CFM, or Cubic Feet per Minute, is the basic standard of measure used to rate dust collectors and is defined as the volume of air they can move at a given static or constant pressure. Select a dust collector with enough CFM to handle the dust output of your biggest dust-generating machine.

Laser Guide Accessories

Don’t guess when you need to have exact cuts and precise details. Laser guides give a visible line that allows you to clearly see and maintain the correct cut. Tools with the LaserTrack system supply you with the accuracy and confidence needed to perform any job.

• Laser line guides make it easy to achieve the perfect cut
• Laser guides for drill presses allow the user to see precisely where the drilling location on the material will be

Sanding Power Tool Accessories

Various sanding jobs can call for different strengths and styles. Sanding belts of differing grits are designed to handle jobs ranging from light to heavy. Sanding discs and strips can replace worn or older parts.

• Use higher grit sandpaper for finer sanding, lower grit for more material removal

Specialty Power Tool Accessories

Some planers feature table extensions with infeed and outfeed rollers that make feeding your stock easier. Top rollers let you slide a board across the top of the planer so you can feed it again.

• Stands and sawhorses are a simple way to provide added stability to your workplace
• Specific stands support specific tools, while universal stands allow for multi-purpose operation
• Sawhorses can hold between 1,000 to 2,000 pounds when used as a pair, and fold down for easy storage
• Keep in mind that sharp blades enhance performance, while dull blades will hinder operation

Wet-Dry Vac Accessories

Useful attachments for wet-dry vacs include a floor sweep, crevice tool and wide water blade. A car upholstery tool lets you keep your car’s insides looking as good as the day you brought it home.

• Remember to regularly clean and change filters for best performance
• HEPA rated filters capture 99.97% of particles at 0.3 microns.

We hope this information will help you get your projects done better!

RIDGID®, a leading manufacturer of hand and power tools and video inspection devices, announced today the launch of RIDGIDConnect™ — a first-of-its-kind online business tool designed for contractors and service professionals to securely share and store job site information via a computer, laptop or smart phone.

RIDGIDConnect™ creates a digital platform for professionals such as plumbers, HVAC technicians and facilities managers to store job site photos and videos, job reports and histories, maintenance records, customer lists, and other files needed for recordkeeping. The online tool enables subscribers to share information with customers, other contractors and third parties. RIDGID unveiled the new subscription-based service at AHR Expo® 2010, the international HVAC/R trade exposition taking place in Orlando, FL.

“Think of this online tool as the contractor’s version of an electronic medical record for each of their customers,“ said Jay Gatz, vice president of strategic planning, RIDGID. “We conducted hundreds of hours of research with contractors and maintenance professionals to identify their needs and make sure our online tool could easily and quickly be adopted to help manage their digital assets.“

RIDGIDConnect is designed to meet three primary contractor needs when it comes to handling information and digital media assets: share, store and simplify.

RIDGIDConnect: Share

The “share“ aspect of RIDGIDConnect enables professionals to overcome communication challenges previously associated with digital media assets. RIDGIDConnect subscribers have the ability to:

• Prepare and send detailed, professional job reports that include notes and customer details to multiple recipients.
• Edit and narrate digital media (videos and photos) to provide concise, easy-to-follow explanations.
• Control recipients’ access privileges.

RIDGIDConnect: Store

RIDGIDConnect stores and protects a professional’s digital assets on a secure and continually backed-up system, including:

• Detailed customer lists and job histories.
• Uploaded digital media from inspection tools (any manufacturer) and digital recording devices.
• Project files and records.

RIDGIDConnect: Simplify

RIDGIDConnect simplifies and bridges the technology gap by:

• Eliminating the need to copy digital files to DVDs, CDs or USB flash drives.
• Lessening the back-and-forth explanation between clients and/or co-workers.
• Providing around-the-clock access to records from any location.
• Utilizing RIDGIDConnect mobile to conduct business in the field via a smart phone.

RIDGIDConnect is available in four subscription plans to suit the needs of businesses and organizations of various sizes. To register for a free 30-day trial or for additional information about RIDGIDConnect, visit www.RIDGIDConnect.com.