The first announcement is two new corded auto feeds, model number DS325AC and DS340AC.  Both kits include an industrial grade aluminum auto feed screw attachment, an extension pole for standing applications, a nylon bag and some bits, plus the screwdriver.

Basically this is a system that saves time for the user.  The auto feed system saves time by eliminating the reloading of fasteners individually.  The Senco screwdriver is an in-line feed system which you can see by the pictures below

The difference between the two screwdrivers is the RPM.

Senco DS325AC

RPM – 2500

Applications - Sub-floor, sheathing, wood and composite decking, heavy gauge metal to metal applications

Price – $219

Warranty – 1 Year

Senco DS340AC

RPM - 4000

Applications – High speed application: Sub-floor, sheathing, decking, light gauge metal

Price - $199

Warranty - 1 Year

Both tools are designed to be used with one hand, but if you do prefer two hands, there is cushion grip.  The screwdrivers have a variable speed trigger, 360 degree adjustable handle, 10′ power cord, no mar nose and a toe-nail nose piece to prevent slipping.

The auto-feed attachment can be removed to drive individual screws if the user needs.

 Senco’s Three new Attachments

Now if you would prefer not buying the kit and turn your screwdriver into an auto-feed system, then these might just be the attachments for you.  According to Senco you don’t have to worry about jams or misfeeds, plus there is an easy to use depth adjustment.  All three attachments have an aluminum frame and hold up to 50 screws.

DS110

Application – Metal to Metal applications like wall panel, decking, metal truss and more

Screw Size – 5/8″ – 2″

Price – $69

Notes – Slim design great for corners and channels.

DS210

Application – Wall and Ceiling Applications

Screw Size - 5/8″ – 2″

Price – $65

DS310

Application – Variety of applications like subflooring, decking, drywall and more

Screw Size - 5/8″ – 3″

Price – $109

Notes – 21″ extension pole and 360 degree adjustable grip handle included.

The only downside I see to the ladder is it is a bit bulkier and heavier than most other ladders, but then again no other ladder can do what the Little Giant can do.  You can split the ladder into 2 step ladders that hold up to 300 lbs each.

The Mag4 hinges have 4 locks for added safety.  They are spring loaded and automatically lock into the desired position.  The Rock Locks easily lock into the open position until you reach your desired height.  Then a slight smack of the palm engages the lock back into position.  In all the Little Giant Xtreme pictures we have seen the Rock Locks were orange, ours just had a steel look.  Although the ladder did not pinch us it certainly looks like it could, be careful around the locks and ALWAYS make sure the ladder is locked into postition before operating it.

The Xtreme comes with the AirDeck safety handrail and tool tray, this helps you retain your balance when you’re on a high step and also hold your paint and tools.  A really cool thing is the magnetic tray, so if you’re replacing a ballast or fixture it will help you retain your hardware.  The AirDeck is easily attached via 2 orange locks on either side.

The Comfort Step is great for when you stand for long durations.  I felt confident putting all my weight on the step thanks to the thick cable and quality hardware.  The step folds up when you fold the ladder.

The Tip and Glide wheels allow you to easily maneuver the 34.5lb  ladder to where you need it.  This is great for electricians in big buildings when they have a lot of ground to cover.  The wheels are rubber and did not mar up our wood or tile floors.

The steps on the ladder have awesome grip.  Every step has precise grooves that grip your shoes.  You feel firmly planted walking up this ladder.

The ladder fully extended gives over 17″ of reach.  The ladder flexed a little bit at the length, but nothing that was a concern.  The ladder is wider on the ends which give it unmatched stability.

The ladder is great for stairs and almost any situation you throw at it.  You can even use it as a plank platform. When used correctly it is one of the safest ladders on the market.  For the home owner this is the only ladder you will ever need and for the contractor it’s a blessing!  I truly believe in the Little Giant Ladder and the Xtreme is feature packed.  It has a lifetime warranty and is a quality tool. Check out the Little Giant Ladder

Press Release:

DEWALT® Offers a Premium Line of SDS Plus Bits – SOLID ROCK CARBIDE™ Bits for Long Life and Increased Durability*
TOWSON, Md. (February 2, 2012) – In continued support of professionals tasked with drilling holes in hard and reinforced concrete, DEWALT offers its expansive line of SDS Plus Bits, which includes SOLID ROCK CARBIDE™ SDS Plus Bits. The SOLID ROCK CARBIDE™ bits are designed for mechanical contractors, electricians, plumbers, forming and tilt wall contractors, glaziers and other maintenance and repair professionals. For durability and long life, these bits feature two times more carbide than standard SDS Plus drill bits decreasing the downtime caused by flute or tip breakage.
“When using standard SDS Plus bits for heavy-duty anchoring applications, many users voiced concern about their short lifespan and durability issues, which lead to downtime on the jobsite,” said Maurice LaPointe, product manager, DEWALT. “With two times more carbide than standard SDS Plus drill Bits, the SOLID ROCK CARBIDE™ bits are specifically designed to withstand difficult drilling applications, and provide long life and durability.”
The SOLID ROCK CARBIDE™ SDS Plus Bits are manufactured using an innovative welding system to affix a whole piece of carbide to the tip of the flute. The solid carbide tip significantly improves the durability of the bits, cutting down on bit tip breakage during concrete drilling.

Win a FREE Cyclops Toolguard

All you have to do is come up with some creative ways you would use this alarm.  You can post the comments either below or in the other two areas:

• Cyclops Toolguard Review
• Cyclops Toolgaurd YouTube Video

We will announce the winner on Feb 29, 2012

Good Luck

Here is how the system works and for this we are using it on a truck box.  The alarm is powered by three AA batteries.  You mount the alarm on the box door using sticky 3m tape that is included.  Once you alarm the system, it remembers the psotion of the alarm and uses that as the starting point.  When in alarm mode any movement out of that positions will activate the alarm.  So when the door is in the down position and it is armed, once the door is open, it activates the sensor and turns on the 110db alarm.

Overall the set up is a snap and a great way to help protect your items in your toolbox or anywhere else you can dream of.  For the price of the alarm, it’s worth it.  A couple downsides to this system is you can not leave the alarm armed all the time.  Since it has a memory of when you arm it, movement causes it to activate.  So when we had ours armed and drove down the street, it started whaling while we were driving.  We thought it was funny, but the police didn’t see our point of view.  Not that it is a big deal because why do you need it activated when you are driving.  If someone steals your tools while your driving, you have bigger issues.  However, it would be nice to set it and forget about it.  We would like to see it have two remotes for the system.  The higher versions come with two remotes.  Also for those who want added security, they do have a system that you can mount under your truck hood.  That way when they open the box, they can just rip off the alarm and silence it.  Overall it seems to be designed more for the overnight storage or when you will be away from your truck for a long time.

Another good use for me is for my garage door.  I have a detached garage and have a lot of tools in the garage.  I do have a pad lock since the door it is not Automatic.  This way I could arm the alarm and just leave it until I need it.  We didn’t take an extract measurement, but it did work within 20′.  Check out Toolguard.com for more info.

Win A Toolguard Alarm

We are using it on a truck box, but there are so many other uses for this alarm, as you can see on the Youtube comments below.  Speaking of uses, just post how you could use this alarm and you will be entered to win a free alarm.  Besides a truck box, one place I would use it is in my kids Spiderman lunch box.  That way when he opens it in the small lunch room at school it will scare everyone.  Ahh I couldn’t do that or could I?

How many times have you been cleaning with your garden hose and wished you had a little more reach?  or a little more power?  Well Briggs and Stratton were thinking the same thing.  Think of the Amplifi as the medium between a garden hose and pressure washer, three times the pressure, 4.5 times the force and two times more flow.  According to Briggs and Stratton it is the first product of its kind that Amplifies your water pressure and stores your hose.

The unit is made out of ABS plastic and designed to store a 75′ hose on the top.  A 35′ GFCI cord runs power to the unit and they also include a 15′ inlet hose so you can hook it up to your spicket.  The unit has 2 wheels on the bottom and they included a bar that you can attach to tote it around.  The 5 setting spray wand has 3 power settings that shoot up to 30′ away and 2 that are unpowered for flower watering, etc.  The wand holds 4 AA batteries that power the chemical injection pump.  Adding detergent is easy.  Fill the container with your favorite detergent, hit the button on the front and you’re spraying.

The unit is on demand, meaning the pump only turns on when you pull the trigger.  The pump is relatively quiet and provides a good amount of power.  Since this is not a pressure washer, there is no psi rating.  We cleaned a UTV, washed some windows on the side of the house and even knocked an old bee hive that was 2 floors up.  The Amplifi can be left outside in temperatures above 32 degrees.  It is perfect for patios and it doesn’t look gaudy.  The unit costs $199 at Lowes.  Overall, the unit is good for the homeowner who wants fast, accessible water with the power to clean.  The Amplifi has a 90 day warranty which we consider to be substandard.  Every product should have at least a 1 year warranty!

Check out the Amplifi (Via Amplificleaning.com) or (Via Facebook)

ACME Tools must have some serious connections with the boys in Red.  They are the first to have the new M-18 Fuel drills available for sale.

The links are no longer active so either they sold out or jumped the gun.

Ships within 7 to 10 business days.

Old Left - New Right

If you haven’t read our review of the non hammer drill versions you can here.  That review applies to these tools also.  Now let’s talk about the flagship DCD985L2 Premium 20v Hammer Drill Driver.  I have always been a fan of the Dewalt 3 speed drill and have a DC988 that I recently upgraded from the XRP NiCD to a XRP lithium-ion battery that I received from ACME TOOLS.  The DCD985L2 is close in size and weight to the DC988 and makes the DC988 look outdated.  The main feature that sticks out is the 20V’s grip,  I still cannot get over the grip, it is like it was made just for me!  Ergonomic and surrounded by over molded rubber, it is comfortable with or without gloves.  Now when I grab the old drill it feels wide and not as comfortable to hold even though I have used it for years.

The DCD985L2 is rated at 450 Unit Watts Out and its 3 speed transmission can produce (0-600 RPM; 0-1,250 RPM; and 0-2,000 RPM) and (0-9,775 BPM/0-22,950 BPM/0-34,000 BPM).  The ratcheting chuck grips well thanks to carbide teeth.  Unlike its predecessor, you can retain your driver clutch setting when selecting between drill and hammer modes.  We are still lacking any type of battery fuel status indicators for the 20V line.  However, there is an LED at the front of the tool that is turned on via the trigger and remains on for 20 seconds.  The chuck does cast a shadow so it  works best for general wide area illumination.  It comes with a nice hard case, a 1 hour charger, 2 3.0 AH batteries (works with 1.5 AH packs also) and a twist lock ring style handle which works great.  There is no belt clip or bit holder included with this kit

The DCD785C2 is a hammer drill version of the DCD780C2, the head is a bit longer to incorporate the added feature and it weighs a hair more than its non hammer drill counterpart.  This drill does include a belt clip and bit holder :}.   A 15 setting clutch and 2 speeds provide 0-600/0-2000 RPM and 34000 max BPM.  2 1.5 AH batteries and a one hour charger all fit in the included case.  350 Unit Watts Out is what DeWALT says this tool puts out.  The drill performed awesome and had plenty of power for every task we used it in.

In one situation where I was drilling into a plow assembly, the plastic chuck was gouged due to it rubbing in a tight area, which now makes me a fan of metal chucks.  The trigger activated LED stays on for 20 seconds.  It has awesome power and puts 20V power in small spaces where you need it!  Overall, I like both drills and they are my main drills of choice.  They are covered by DeWALT’s Standard warranty.  Check out the entire DeWALT 20V line up and also check out the Dewalt Owners Group

Cutting a door to size can be a little intimidating if you have never done it before, but no worries, it’s actually pretty simple.  However there are a couple things you should know first.  While there are a variety type of doors available, there are really two main doors, solid and hollow.  A solid door is actually solid wood from top to bottom and from front to back.  These tend to be found more in office buildings and upscale homes.  Hollow doors are a lot more common in the home.  In the hollow section you can have two types.  A truly hollow door where there is a void inside the door.  You can also have the same door, but instead of a void, there is insulation that is sprayed in the door.  OK lets get to cutting the door down to size.

After getting your measurements and taking the door off the hinges, your ready to go to work.  First and foremost you always want to trim the bottom of the door.  However don’t just assume you can cut the bottom of the door and be OK.  Most manufactures have a piece of wood on the bottom of the door which allows the door to be trimmed to size.  The size of this depends upon the manufacture.  A good rule of thumb is there is a 1″ piece of wood in place.  If you have to cut larger than that, you could ruin the door, but again there are tricks to that.

OK the first thing you need to do is make sure you have enough room to make the cut so you do not penetrate the hollow part of the door.  Don’t assume you have 1″ because maybe the personal who installed the door had to trim 3/4″ off to make the door fit in the first place.  One trick you can do is take a small drill bit and drill from the bottom of the door, not the face,  into the wood.  This will allow you to tell about how much room you have.  You can use a flashlight to see a rough estimate. If for some reason you do not have enough room to make the cut and will cut into the hollow part, then you can do the following.

Say you need to trim the door by 3/4″ because of your new shag carpeting.  If you only have about 1/2″ of material for the bottom of the door, that’s OK.  Just make your cut, but keep the bottom part of the door.  You can trim the sides of the part you cut off and replace that back into the bottom of the door.  You can use glue and pin nails so the bottom stays in place.

Lets assume you do have an 1″ that you can play with and only need to cut 1/2″ and lets assume the world is perfect while were at it.  Once you measure where you need to make the cut, draw your line.  Some people will tell you to score that line with a knife so you don’t get chipping.  You can do this as it won’t hurt, but if you use a 40 tooth blade or fine blade, you shouldn’t make any chips in the door.  Another key to not chipping the door is let the saw get up to speed before you actually make the cut.

OK we have the line.  The first thing you want to do is protect the door.  Most saws have a metal shoe and can scratch the door as you run it across the door to make the cut.  You can protect it with paper, tape or something else that will stay in place when you cut.  Once the door is protected you now need to make sure your cut is straight.   I find the easiest way to do this is have a guide.

For the guide you will need two clamps and a straight edge which can be a long level or a piece of straight wood.  Now what you want to do is measure the bottom of your circular saw.  You want to measure from the edge of your shoe to the blade.  Say your measurement is 1″.  Now you want to take the 1″ plus the 1/2″ you want to cut off and clamp down your straight edge on both sides at 1-1/2″.  This way when you make your cut, it will be straight and you will cut off 1/2″ of the door.

Don’t forget to sand the bottom and prime the bottom of the door before hanging it back up.

Porter Cable has a hit on its hands with the PCC582B.  It’s innovative visual alert system is awesome!  Porter Cable also has a 18V model that is compatible with Porter-Cable 18V lithium-Ion or NiCd batteries.  The 9V battery is a good option for those who do not have Porter Cable 18V tools.  A 12 to 1 spot ratio with an operating range of  -22°F to 590°F make this a great all around non contact thermometer.  If you need to record temperatures, you can store up to 10 and they are easily scrolled though via the playback button.  And of course it works like a normal IR thermometer and shows you the temp in either Fahrenheit or Centigrade.  The over molded grip is ergonomic and easy to hold, the tool fits well in your hand and is easily aimed.  To protect the lens and sensor during storage it comes with a cover on the front that stays attached, so you do not lose it.

Simplicity and innovation is the best way to describe the PCC582B,  It is so simple to use that you will have it figured out before you even read the first paragraph of the manual.  Pull the trigger and it locks on, whatever you are pointing at has a green spot illuminated on to it.  Green indicate that this is the reference temperature.  Red indicates warmer than the reference temp and blue indicates cooler than the reference temp.  1°, 5°, 10° Fahrenheit are your threshold choices. All of this is displayed on a easy to read and navigate red LCD back lit display.

For finding thermal leaks the PCC582B is fast.  Just run it along the wall until you see a color change and you have found your leak.  With an accuracy of +/- 1.8 degrees the Porter Cable PCC582B is good of most situations.  This product is backed by Porter Cable’s 3 year warranty .  Overall I like the PCC582B, it is brainless to operate and has a great price point at around $70.  The time saving innovative visual cues set this tool apart from the crowd.  Good Job Porter Cable!

More Info (via Porter Cable)

The box comes with mounting brackets that you need to bolt into your bed.  We bought an after market attachment that allows you to securely mount the box, without having to drill into your bed.  If you have a little imagination you can also fabricate a bracket very easily to do the same thing.

We like this box, but we don’t feel it is intended for the contractor for a couple of reasons.  While the box looks very nice, the thickness of the aluminum is thin.  One thing we really do not like is the bottom of the box.  The box has a lot of room for storage, but the bottom of the box is not reinforced with either brackets or a thicker metal.  It feels like the thickness is the same as the sides.  Considering how big this box is and how much it can hold, someone could put some serious weight in the box.  Not sure how long term it will hold up.

The box does come with two keys which is important, but no storage trays.  Some people complained about the seal of the box and how they did get water in the box.  Since we installed the box we had one rainy day and two snow days and did not have any water in the box. Another complaint is people getting a lot of dirt in the box.  We didn’t get a lot of dirt in the box, but we did get some dust in the box.  Primary we think it is because where the box is installed to the bed, there are long slots that are open to the environments where dust and dirt gets in this way.  Since it is facing down, we don’t see water as a problem.  You could probably just put a piece of metal or something to cover these holes.

Kobalt Long Term

We looked at the reviews of this box and saw some issue that we have to take a closer look.  Some common complaints were that the lock broke after a while, problems with the seal on the lid, latches and some other items.  One person complained about the welds.  Our welds seem to be great, but again only time will tell if they hold up.  We will continue to monitor this box and keep this page up to date.

Overall it is not a bad box.  However we don’t think this is for the contractor who will be accessing tools a couple times a day and puts abuse on their box.  This box is better suited for someone who is just looking for extra storage and will not put it under heavy conditions.  The box was easy to install and does look great.  Very easy to use and the lock assembly seems to be pretty good.  As noted we will keep this article up to date as a long term view of this box is needed.

The DCL040 looks like your typical pistol grip style light with a rotating LED head.  The ergonomic over-molded rubber grip makes it comfortable to hold and the on off switch is where the trigger would be if it were a drill.  The head is relatively compact and positively locks in 10 positions giving it a 120 degree pivot.  Above the head is a ring that can be rotated up for hanging.  You can use optional belt hooks on either side of the light,  just like the drills.  The light is very stable when sitting upright and weighs 1lb without a battery.  As with all high power LED lights the head of the unit does get warm, but nothing compared to incandescent bulbs.

DeWALT’s standard 3 year warranty covers this tool.  The DeWALT DCL040 20V MAX Lithium Ion LED Work Light is rugged and has great run time.  If you  already have the 20V line of tools and need a light, the DCL040 is a no brainer!  Even if you don’t, it is a great work light.  Our very own Dewalt Dude took the light apart on the Dewalt Owners Group check it out.

To aid in cold starts the squall has a built in electric starter, just hook up the included extension cord and you’re set.  Being a 4 cycle we thought the unit would be a little more quiet than it is.  The unit has a chute direction handle that is easily locked into position.  To angle the chute you need to reach over the unit and manually aim it, however, the chute worked its way fully open while operating a few times.  You can adjust the chute angle tension via a knob at the pivot point.  The choke, primer and key are all easily accessible even with gloves on.

Our test conditions were 6″ of wet snow.  We pulled the starter and on the second try it came to life.  The choke was simple to operate and worked well.  Pulling back on the safety handle engages the auger.  The auger helps propel the unit through the snow and all you have to do is basically guide it and aim the chute.  During our tests the Squall 2100 threw the snow about 15 ft, enough to more that adequately clean off a 2 car driveway.  Distance thrown depends on conditions and moisture content of the snow.   The Squall was not as quiet as we had hoped, it was a tad louder than a 2 stroke blower that we have.  The skid shoes are adjustable so you can set your shave plate height.

Overall the Troy-Bilt Squall 2100 is solid well built machine.  It works as advertised and is a good fit for an all around snow blower.  It is protected by the Lowes Service Advantage, a number that you can call 24/7 for technical help and has a 2 year warranty.  Check it out at Lowes

Update: 1-21-12 - On the second snow storm the year, the wheel fell off and the crimp style cap that holds it on is missing in the snow.  This leaves the blower unusable.  We will be calling the Lowes service advantage and report back.