We received a call last week from a friend who was thinking about buying a dozen Honda GX160 motors and wanted to get our opinion.  So naturally we couldn’t wait to get our hands on these motors to see them in action.  Honda makes some of the best small engines and generators around.  These motors are very tough, but at a price.  We found these anywhere from $350 and up, but well worth the price.

These are little engines and when we say little we mean 12″L x 13.4″W x12.5″H.  Don’t let the size fool you because they pack a powerful punch.  These commercial grade engines are air cooled 4 stroke OHV single cylinders.  They produce 4.8HP with 7.6 Lbs ft of torque.  These engines can be used for all sorts of applications such as go karts, chippers, generators, air compressors, pressure washers, concrete cutters and more.  Oh yeah, we were testing this engine for use as a pump.

As you can see by the pictures there is a black pump attached to this motor with an inlet and outlet, which has to be bought separately.  He wanted these motors to move water, so the pump was all ready attached.  Overall this is a very nice motor.  We couldn’t test this over a year’s period, but we will update you on any information we get back from our friend about the motors.  However, we did contact a couple companies who have been using these motors for awhile and time after time we got the same response back and that was they are very reliable.

The motors, as most motors these sizes, are a little loud, but that is to be expected.  You can throttle down and even on the lowest setting, she runs great.  Doesn’t sound like she wants to die out at all.  We pushed a lot of water to run this engine hot and the motor kept going.  On full throttle we had about three hours of continuous use on the 3.3 qt gas tank.

The only two knocks we have against this motor is when we left the gas on in the cold, sometimes we couldn’t get it started.  This is expected with most motors like this, not just this Honda.  You should always turn the gas off when not in use.  The other knock, which could be Honda, or the manufacturer of the pump system, was the placement of the exhaust.  The exhaust and the outlet to the pump where the same height, so if you were not careful with the hose, it would get burned by the exhaust as it gets very hot.  One nice thing would be for Honda to have a better cover over the exhaust to protect the user or item that comes in contact with it, maybe even have the protective cover have a larger gap between the exhaust and the cover so it doesn’t get so hot.

We did test this engine in winter time, so we didn’t have a chance to run the motor at full capacity in the middle of a blazing summer.  Again, overall we really liked this small , powerful motor.

Wow! You will never have to be bored again, even when doing the most mundane work that every once in a while you have to do. Makita’s 18V LXT Lithium-Ion FM/AM Job Site Radio definitely cranks out the tunes, with plenty of options to keep you amused! This radio came in the Makita LXT 702 from tylertool.com.  It is designed for rugged, to guard against weather and any other typical job site accident. It has a digital back lit quartz display with 10 pre-set FM/AM buttons and mp3 compatible. The radio is compatible with Slide Type and Pod Style Makita batteries. It will run one full working day (8 hours) on a single Makita Li-Ion battery (1.5Ah) charge. This baby is light, and easy to move around, weighing in at 9.2 lbs.

The voltage is 24 – 9.6, and the radio does come with a nice clock. There is a 5 FM/ 5AM Memory preset. The power source compatibility is nice, the radio takes all Slide Type and Pod Style batteries. The overall length x width x height is: 10.25″ x 6.5″ x 12″.

We really like the many features of this Work site radio by Makita. A few worth mentioning are the auxiliary ports for CD, I-Pod, or mp3 enthusiasts. Also, good durable rubber bumpers to prevent damage from drops. A nice carrying handle, and new and old Makita battery compatibility. Get to work and keep jamming while you are at it!

The only item we wished it had was a charger for your batteries.  If you plug in the radio to an outlet and have a battery installed, it doesn’t charge the battery.  Not a big deal since the kit comes with a charger, but just a thought.

Kit Overview

Makita LXT Drill/Driver Review – BHP452

Makita LXT Flashlight Review – BML185

Makita LXT Impact Driver Review – BTD141

Makita LXT Circular Saw Review – BSS611

Makita LXT Grinder Review – BGA452

Makita LXT Contractor Bag Review

Makita LXT Reciprocating Saw Review – BJR182

Most of your basic major brand name tool kits come with a Flashlight, and Makita is no exception. The kit from tylertool.com Makita LXT702 has a very nice flashlight.  In this particular kit Makita provides a high illumination, high powered light at 4,500 Lux. The flashlight is consistent with Makita’s compact design, with a length of 11-1/8″ and a weight of only .75 lbs. The light comes with a new Xenon bulb for extra brightness, and runs for up to 4.3 hours per charge. It uses the LXT Lithium-Ion battery. The battery (Ah) is 3.0

When we pulled this flashlight out of the kit, we noticed that it truly was very light! The head pivots 180 degrees, which is nice for directing light where needed when working. The battery on the flashlight serves also as a good solid base to let the light be directed where necessary independently. When you open up the lens on the light, Makita placed a spare bulb, so if the main one breaks, you can replace it very easy.  Good thinking on Makita’s part!  I don’t know how many times we dropped a light and the bulb breaks, but it is always a pain to figure out where you keep your spares.  Are they at home? under the truck seat? Where?

Over all we really like this light.  The only item we would change is the push button feature for the on/off switch.  A push button can turn on when you throw it in your bag or even when your driving down the road, as it can bounce around and turn on.  We really like the switch feature Milwaukee has implemented on their flashlights.  Again, I know we are knit picking, and this wouldn’t stop us from buying the Makita light.  All in all, you can always take the battery off the light when you store it away.

Kit Overview

Makita LXT Drill/Driver Review – BHP452

Makita LXT Impact Driver Review – BTD141

Makita LXT Circular Saw Review – BSS611

Makita LXT Grinder Review – BGA452

Makita LXT Contractor Bag Review

Makita LXT Reciprocating Saw Review – BJR182

Makita LXT Job Site Radio

The Circular saw is always a fun tool to use, and Makita’s cordless version here is no different. The Makita Circular saw model number is BSS611 and came  in the tool kit from tylertool.com LXT 702.  It is built with a D35 high torque motor that delivers maximum power for cutting 2x material at 45 degrees with 50 degrees capacity. Just like the other tools in this set, the saw is designed compactly. It is only 13-5/8″ in length and weighs only 7.1lbs. Because of this design, we experienced almost no fatigue when testing for 45 minutes of straight use! The saw comes with a heavy-gauge machined base for smooth and accurate cutting. It also has a built-in dust blower that keeps line of cut clean. The grip is Ergonomic, and like all the other Makita tools we have tested, it delivers even pressure and ease of control.

The blade diameter is 6-1/2″. The arbor is 5/8″. No Load RPM: 3700. The maximum cutting depth for 90 degrees is: 2-1/4″. For 45 degrees: 1-9/16″. For 50 degrees: 1-7/16″. The circular saw delivers 54 watt hours and the battery (Ah) is 3.0

Testing the Makita Circular saw was fun. We cut through both a 4×4 and some 3/4″ plywood to see how it would work. The saw was extremely light, like all the tools in this kit. The lithium Ion batteries really make a weight difference! We found the saw to be very versatile, fast and smooth in use, both when cutting through the 4×4 and the 3/4″ plywood.

There is simply no beating around the bush here, another nice tool from Makita!  Over all we like this saw.  Good balance and very easy to maneuver.  Easy blade change and very light.  As you can see when we cut through the 3.4″ plywood, it ran through it rather quick.  Yes we had a sharp blade, but we have used some 18V saws that would bog down and you would have to cut slow.  Not the Makita, it ran through it with ease.

Kit Overview

Makita LXT Drill/Driver Review – BHP452

Makita LXT Flashlight Review – BML185

Makita LXT Impact Driver Review – BTD141

Makita LXT Grinder Review – BGA452

Makita LXT Contractor Bag Review

Makita LXT Reciprocating Saw Review – BJR182

Makita LXT Job Site Radio

This is a review of the Makita Grinder model number BGA452 that came in the kit from tylertool.com LXT702.  The Makita Grinder is built well. The motor delivers 10,000 RPMs and subsequently produces fast and effective grinding. Like all Makita tools in this cordless kit, it is very compact in design. It is 12-1/2″ long and weighs in at only 5.6 lbs with battery included. The Ergonomic grip makes the tool very easy to use, and the pressure delivered is even, producing easy control.  We didn’t have a problem gripping the grinder, but we do wish there was a little more black grip on the shaft.  The hard plastic can tend to be a little slippery at times.  The Grinder comes with a built-in electronic control circuit with LED warning lights for overload protection. Also, if the battery is starting to drain, the LED lights will come on to warn the user to change the battery.  As with most grinders, it has a slide switch with lock-on.

The actual grinding wheel is 4-1/2″. The cut-off wheel is 4-1/2″. The wire cup brush comes in at 3-1/2″. The sanding disc is also 4-1/2″. The grinder delivers 54 watt hours of use, and the battery is 18VDC (3.0Ah).

The grinder was fun to test. It may not seem like much, but we like being able to screw in the handle on either side of the tool.  For some people, they may have a hard time getting used to only the two positions and not having the ability of the 360 degree position of a handle.  We found the grinder to be light and easy to use, and when cutting through re bar, we had no problems at all, no bogging down!  The blades were very easy to change, but make sure when you do this you always take off the battery for safety! One more nice set of features were the warning lights for tool overload and low battery. Lastly, when grinding cement, the tool worked really well with no bog down whatsoever.  We only ran it over a small cement block, but it was more to make sure this could even cut cement with an old blade.  After using this grinder for a while, we are confident that this is a workhorse for a grinder and wouldn’t have a problem having this as the only grinder on the job site, without a corded version around.  We just would make sure a battery was always charged, so we didn’t have any downtime.  As for the batteries, they charge in 30 minutes, so even a hard shot on this grinder would last at least 30 minutes.

All in all, another good tool from Makita!!

Kit Overview

Makita LXT Drill/Driver Review – BHP452

Makita LXT Flashlight Review – BML185

Makita LXT Impact Driver Review – BTD141

Makita LXT Circular Saw Review – BSS611

Makita LXT Contractor Bag Review

Makita LXT Reciprocating Saw Review – BJR182

Makita LXT Job Site Radio

We have been receiving a lot of email this year about plows and what we would recommend.  To be quite honest we don’t have a lot of experience with plows, but lucky for us we live in Chicago.  Chicago has some of the biggest snow plow service companies in the world, so we decided to visit them.  We went to three different companies and the total number of plows between the three companies was well over 200.  They have plows on their salt trucks, liquid trucks and just plane old pick up trucks.

We had a chance to talk with the main mechanics at these companies.  We found out how long they have been with the company and their experiences.  We have to say all the guys were very nice and took time with us, especially during this busy snow season.

When we spoke with the mechanics we expected to get different reactions to which plows they liked the best, but we were wrong.  All three stated they liked the Western plow the best.  They all said they had the least amount of downtime with the Western plows.  Other brands they have used over the years have had problems with such things as the hydraulics getting damaged because of where they were located, or the wings didn’t work.

We wish we had an opportunity to test these plows ourselves, but for this we will just have to take their word.  As they deal with plowing as a profession.

We would like to hear your thoughts

This is a review of the Makita Contractor bag that came in the kit LXT702 from tylertool.com.   No one really thinks that much about the bag they will be getting when they order a set of tools. In the case of this Makita tool set, that’s a thought you may want to include. Not only do you get a great set of seven basic tools for almost any job, you get a nice durable tool bag that easily holds the whole set that it comes with. This nice looking bag has a wide range of outside pockets for any extra necessities you may need to have when on a job site. The pockets are sealed shut when needed with either durable zippers or Velcro. This tool bag also has nice pouches on the inside, perfect for small accessories like fasteners or extra tools. One of the more standout features of this bag that we noticed was the design and durability of the shoulder strap that comes with the bag. The clamps that attach the strap are metal, not plastic like most other brands of bags. This ensures much more durability when constantly carrying a loaded bag.

The bag also withstood our hardcore weight test! All the tools that come with this bag may weigh in at 15 – to 20 lbs. at the most. The bag easily handles this total weight. We wanted to show tool users how much more durable this bag really is! We took a 50 lb bag of rock salt and put it in the bag, carried it around and had no problems, whatsoever. Just check our video for the test!

The only thing we thought a little unnecessary that came with the bag were the wheels on the bottom and the telescopic handle. These features won’t get used much in our estimate, unless you are using your tool bag to travel on a plane! Even if you didn’t have the power to lift a 30lb. bag of tools from your truck to the site, we doubt the wheels would help very much over a rough terrain.

Keep Tooling Baby!!

Kit Overview

Makita LXT Drill/Driver Review – BHP452

Makita LXT Flashlight Review – BML185

Makita LXT Impact Driver Review – BTD141

Makita LXT Circular Saw Review – BSS611

Makita LXT Grinder Review – BGA452

Makita LXT Reciprocating Saw Review – BJR182

Makita LXT Job Site Radio

The Makita built Reciprocating Saw model number BJR182 has a D35 high torque motor that delivers 50% faster cutting than most of it’s competition, cutting with a 1-1/8″ stroke that cuts 2900 SPM.  This saw can be bought separately or as in the combo kit LXT 702.  The design of the tool is very compact with the length coming in at 17-3/4″ and the weight being 8.1 lbs. This combination of compactness and light weight provides the perfect tool to combat fatigue during a long demo job. The design provides one-handed, fast tool-less blade changes and shoe adjustments. The saw also has two-piece armature and field along with externally accessible brushes for serviceability and longer motor life.

The maximum cutting capacity depends upon the material involved. For pipe (w/6″ blade): 5-1/8″. For wood(w/12″ blade): 10″. The stroke length is 1-1/8″. The strokes per min. (SPM) 0-2,900. The reciprocating saw delivers 54 Watt hours, and has a battery (Ah) of 3. Putting all these quality features together gives you a tool with a Ergonomic shape that fits like a glove when in use with even pressure and easy control.

When we tested the saw, boy did we like it! We have always been big fans of the Milwaukee Sawzall, but after testing Makita’s reciprocating saw, we realize that the competition is pretty tough also.  We cut through an oak 2×4 with embedded nails, and had no problem whatsoever! The balance was good, and the saw did all the work. We really like the easy adjustment for the shoe, and the one handed blade changing feature is definitely super cool.

If you have read our other reciprocating saw reviews, you know we look at the saws overall features and benefits, but we want to make sure of two items.  Vibrations and blade locking.  Vibrations are very important for two reasons.  First the more vibrations you have, the less power or work is getting transferred to your work.  The second reason is more vibration equals more fatigue.  When you are trying to fight vibrations, even a little will wear on your arms over time.  The Makita reciprocating saw has a very low vibration when using this saw.  We cut through a lot of different material for testing purposes, Our video below shows us cutting through Oak 2×4.  All the different materials, the Makita cut extremely well and the vibrations were held to a minimum.

The second item is the blade locking and changing system.  Again we have always liked the Milwaukee system as once you insert the blade, it will stay in place.  However you need two hands to change the blade, not a big deal, but something to mention.  The Makita is different, you can change the blade very easy with one hand.  It just locks into place, push the blade down and it locks.  Once the blade is in place, we took pliers and even put the blade into a vice and couldn’t get the blade to come out, except when we turned the locking mechanism and it just popped out.  We have to say this is one of the coolest reciprocating saw features we have ever seen.

To sum up, the cordless Makita Reciprocating Saw is a good quality, highly durable tool.  The vibrations are held to a minimum and the blade change locking system is top notch.  The saw is light, but heavy enough to help perform the cutting.  This saw is definitely worth buying.

Kit Overview

Makita LXT Drill/Driver Review – BHP452

Makita LXT Flashlight Review – BML185

Makita LXT Impact Driver Review – BTD141

Makita LXT Circular Saw Review – BSS611

Makita LXT Grinder Review – BGA452

Makita LXT Contractor Bag Review

Makita LXT Job Site Radio

This Makita Drill/Driver is built with a maximum torque motor that delivers 450 in. lbs. of efficient torque, and at the same time is very compact in size. It is only 8″ long and weighs in at a light 3.5 lbs. It has a 2-speed design (0-400/ 0-1500) and covers a wide range of drilling and driving applications. The Shift-Lock drive system sleeve quickly shifts from “hammer drill” to “driver” mode. The drill/driver also comes with a built-in LED light for illuminating the work area. This tool accepts all Makita Lithium-Ion slide-style batteries.

The Makita Cordless Drill work capacity is Steel:1/2″ Wood: 1-1/2″ Masonry: 1/2″. Blows per minute: Low:0-6,000, High: 0-22,500. Watt hours for the Drill/Driver are 54 and the battery (Ah) is 3.0

This is a nice compact Drill/Driver. It is very light weight and extremely well balanced, which really takes operator fatigue out of the equation when doing a long job. The Ergonomic shape fits in your hand like a tight glove. The drill delivers even pressure and control is very easy. The only option on this drill that seems a little silly to us was the Built-In LED light. When we were using the drill, the light made no difference what-so-ever in illuminating the work area, and unless you are really working in the dark, you don’t need it.

You can see from our video that will be out shortly that this Drill/Driver from Makita is very easy to use. Whether you are a beginner, or a professional user, this tool is designed to make your job easy and short. There was no bogging down on this tool when in use, and it still showed us plenty of power in it’s cordless version. When we used this tool, it seemed to handle as well as any other Drill/Driver we have tested. Our test only involved about 25 minutes of constant use, but in that time there was no fatigue at all! We would venture to say that you could easily work hour over hour with this baby and experience little arm fatigue.

As you can see from the video, it drills through the wood very easy.  We even had some dull bits and the Makita didn’t hesitate.

All in all, a nice Drill/Driver by Makita. It’s light weight and good balance make it a fun tool to take to work. You definitely feel confident when starting a job with this tool. The only kink in the product is the LED light that is promoted as a help in lighting up the work space. We didn’t notice any difference in lighting when using the tool.  You can pick this up at tylertool.com.

Kit Overview

Makita LXT Flashlight Review – BML185

Makita LXT Impact Driver Review – BTD141

Makita LXT Circular Saw Review – BSS611

Makita LXT Grinder Review – BGA452

Makita LXT Contractor Bag Review

Makita LXT Reciprocating Saw Review – BJR182

Makita LXT Job Site Radio

If you all ready read our review of the Graber tool belt and pouch, you will know how much we love their products.  They are high quality and crafted to last a long time.  All their products are hand made and made to last.

You wouldn’t think we would get excited about a cell phone case, but actually we are very excited about this case.  Everything about this case shows quality.  There are four strong rivets that hold this leather case in place and help keep its shape.  The double stitching offers a nice design look.  Even the button that snaps down to hold your cell phone in place is strong, when you snap it into place, the only way it will come unsnapped is by the user.  The metal belt clip in the back is also solid and will stay on your belt until you remove it.  It is tight and strong and will stay in place.

We put our cell phone in the case and dropped it from about 20 feet up in the air on a cement driveway.  As we expected, the phone stayed in the case.  We opened the case and nothing was wrong with the phone, not even the screen was cracked, every button and option on the phone worked.  Now we doubt this will ever happen to you because of the Stainless Steel belt clip on the back of the case.  The clip is very solid and strong.  We attached the phone case (with the phone) onto the tool belt.  We swung the belt around in a circle and tossed it around, not one time did the clip fall off the belt.

What is great about Graber cell phone cases is they will custom make a case for your phone.  All you have to do is trace your phone (front and side) on a piece of paper, fax it in and then they will call you with a quote.  I don’t wear my tool belt all the time, but I am going to have a custom cell phone case made for my phone.

The Graber cell phone case is extremely nice and worth the price.  This case will keep your phone safe and will not leave your side.  The double stitching and rivets make this a high quality case that will last.  If you are looking to add to your collection, take a look at the Graber cell phone case.  You can buy their products direct graberharness.com or at Tylertool.com

A tool belt is an essential piece of equipment for any worker.  Tool belts come in a variety of material, such as cloth, nylon and leather.  While some people like nylon belts, we prefer the leather and wouldn’t use anything else.  They last longer, are more durable, and you don’t get nails or other fasteners poking you on the side.  All in all, we just feel they are a better investment.

We were very excited when we spoke with the owner Chris at Graber.  While they make a lot of other products, we were especially interested in their tool belts and pouches.  We spoke with Chris and we had to get our hands on one of these belts.

Graber started in 1974 in Grabill, Indiana.  Over the years Graber has been known for a lot of things, but when people hear the Graber name, they know it means quality. With everything they design and craft, quality is their number one concern.  Their tool belts, pouches, and cases all come with a one year warranty.  There are a lot of things to like about their products, such as: American made, American Hide, Chrome Oil Retan process, thicker leather and oil and wax edges, to name a few.

Graber belts are made from tough and long-lasting Bull hide.  While most belts on the market are 10-12 oz., Graber is 14+ oz., which means the belt is thicker and will last longer.  Another plus is the oiled and waxed edges.  If you have noticed on your tool belt that you bought from a local hardware center, the belt deteriorates rather quickly.  One reason is the sides are still exposed to the environment.  Graber solves this problem by hand oiling and waxing every belt and every edge.  Graber uses a Chrome Oil Retan which provides strength and durability with out the traditional weight you would expect from a leather belt and pouch.  Over all, the way Graber creates their products suggests they truly believe in quality, and having the best quality belts and pouches around.

When we received our belt, pouch, and cell phone case (We will review the case in another posting) in the mail we were very excited.  Right from the start we could see the quality and the craftsmanship that goes into the belt and pouch.  The first item we noticed was the soft leather.  When we picked up the pouch, we expected it to weigh a lot, as most leather pouches do.  To our surprise, it was very lightweight.  This is due to their process, as they use the Chrome Oil Retan.  Even though it was new, it felt like that old baseball glove you have that fits perfect.  The rivets are solid and we know this will provide years of durability.  The lip on each pocket is thick and will also last without wearing out.

The Graber tool belt is all leather.  The belt buckle is all metal and has two prongs to hold the belt in place.  Our belt has ten different positions.  So in the summer time you can make it a little more snug while in winter time with the extra cloths, you can loosen the belt up and still have it fit very nice.  Graber will send the size that is right for you.

Our pouch has 10 pockets and uses a three tier system.  They also makeother 10 pockets and other 8 pockets with other features.  As we noted above, this pouch is put together by strong rivets that will last a long time.  One item we li is this pouch is not stiff, it is all ready flexible to fit you.  The stitching that holds the pockets to the pouch is very thick.  Also, we like the lip of the pockets, they are thick and will provide a long life as you will be putting tools and fasteners in and out of this pouch on a constant basis.

We tested the belt and the pouch.  There is not a lot to test to a belt and pouch, but we still ran it through some test to find out more about the quality and durability.  For the belt, we could see by the construction that it was made with quality in mind.  We did take the buckle part and smack it on the concrete ground a bunch of times to see if we could break it or the rivets, but as we assumed, it held up great.

When testing the pouch, we tried to rip out the rivets by pulling on the pockets, which is more abuse then anyone who is properly using a tool belt will every create.  The stitching and the rivets help up with no problems at all.  The next item was the hammer holders.  We had one person hold the belt and another pull on the hammer to try and break the loop, but we didn’t have much success.  The last item was throwing tools into the pockets to try and pierce the leather.  Well, we all know leather is extremely tough, so we had no luck with this either, didn’t even break the rivets.

Now you might be asking yourself, why wouldn’t I go to the local home center and buy one of their belts.  Well for a couple of different reasons.  First, this is a nice two piece system, the belt and the pouch.  Most have them as one piece.  There are numerous advantages of a two piece system over a one piece.  For instance, with a one piece system, you will have a hard time finding one to fit you as nice as the pouch. With a two piece system you have the freedom to move it around, so if you want the pouch towards the front you can move it there.  If you prefer to have the pouch towards the back you can move it there also.  One great feature with a two piece is when you are climbing a ladder, you can move the pouch towards your backside so it doesn’t get in the way or get caught on something on the way up the ladder.  Another great feature with a two piece system is if something breaks, or you need to replace an item, you are only replacing that item, not the whole belt.  The biggest reason to go with a quality tool belt and pouch like Graber is the way they create a quality product.  Quality rivets and leather.  The Chrome Oil Retan process makes the belt strong and durable, but with out the added weight.  These are only a small sample of reasons for why we are recommending Graber belts and pouches.

Over all, if you are looking for an incredible tool belt system, we would go with Graber.  They are the highest quality and made to last.  We have worn a lot of belts over the years, but none have been crafted as well as the Graber system.  You are not going to get a better fit anywhere else, at least we haven’t found one.

For those electricians or plumbers who might be looking for more loops and pockets, Graber will be launching their new line in early 2009 that will fit your needs.  Currently you can buy Graber products direct from Graberharness.com or Tylertool.com

Makita LXT702 18V 7 Tool Combo Kit Lithium Review

We will be writing up the individual review shortly as we are very excited about this Makita kit.  Below is an overview of the kit and each review will go into more detail, plus how we tested each tool.

There are many power tool manufacturers to chose from.  When you narrow your selection down to professional power tools, the list becomes even smaller.  One of the best known professional power tool manufacturers is Makita.  You can go to all most any job site and you will find someone using a Makita product.  They are reliable, priced reasonably, and will last you a long time.  That is why when we got the Makita LXT 702 Kit, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on these tools.  For this review we will give you a brief overview of the kit and in days to come we will do individual reviews of each power tool that comes in the kit.  We found this kit at Tylertool.com.  Tyler Tool  offers many combo kits that have more tools or less tools, so you can always find a kit that is right for you.  We ordered this kit and received the tools in about two days, shipping was free.  When we first received this kit we couldn’t wait to tear open the box, we were like kids at Christmas morning.  This kit comes with seven different tools, which are all listed below.  We knew we would like this set as we are use to Makita.  The LXT702 didn’t disappoint us.  When you pick up the tools you could just feel the quality, they felt good in your hands.  The balance was extremely nice.  Over all there wasn’t much to complain about.

Below we list a little more detail about each tool and as we said before, we are going to test each tool and will include write ups under our power tool section for every part of this kit.

Makita BHP452 Drill Driver

This driver definitely “drives” home the quality of Makita! It’s 4-pole max. torque motor delivers 450 in. lbs. of efficient torque in a compact size, and it only weighs 3.5 lbs. Ergonomic shape fits like a glove with even pressure and easy control.

It has great balance and can be used for lengthy jobs without creating fatigue. It’s shift-lock drive system sleeve quickly shifts from “hammer drill” to “driver mode.” Boy, its fun to use!

Makita BTD141 Impact Driver

This compact driver has a built 4-pole max. torque motor that delivers 1330 in. lbs. of torque. This baby only weighs 3.5 lbs and is balanced to perfection to minimize fatigue. It has an electric brake for immediate stops and minimizes kickback.

It also has a built-in LED light to illuminate the work area. The grip on this tool makes use so simple, you could watch T. V. while getting the job done. Just kidding!!

Makita BJR Reciprocating Saw

Makita builds the high torque motor that delivers 50% faster cutting with a 1-1/8″ stroke that cuts 2,900 SPM with this saw. The tool is very compact and light for all the power it delivers. It only weighs 8.1 lbs. You can make one-handed, fast tool-less blade changes and shoe adjustments.

Like all other Makita tools in this kit, this one is very ergonomic, and fits like a glove with even pressure and easy control. Happy cutting!!

Makita BSS611 Circular Saw

The D35 high torque motor delivers maximum power for cutting 2x material at 45 degrees with 50 degrees maximum capacity. This saw has an excellent compact design. It is only 13-5/8″ long and weighs in at 7.1 lbs. A good tool to have in your corner!!

One nice feature with this saw is the built-in dust blower, as it helps to keep the line of cut clean. Even though it is light to handle, it has a heavy-gauged machine base for smooth and accurate cutting.

Makita  BGA452 Grinder

The makita grinder has a 10,000 RPM motor that produces 50% faster grinding, just what you need if you are the grinding type! It is compact and weighs only 5.6 lbs. I wish my wallet weighed that much! It has a built in electric control circuit with LED warning lights for overload protection.

Also important in the design of this little hotty is the slide switch with lock-on. This is a feature we all would like to have on our back- scratchers! We will review the handle in more detail shortly. While there is some soft grip, we noticed some hard plastic, which can cause sliding. We have to review this tool before we really can comment, though.

Makita Contractor Bag

One of the best bags we have used, love the metal clips. More than enough room for a full set of tools, plenty of pockets for incidentals. One item we don’t feel is a must are the rolling wheels and extended handle option. The weight it adds probably is not worth the benefit it provides.

Makita BML185 Flashlight

This is a high illumination light that emits high power at 4500 Lux! it is well built and doesn’t even weigh one lb. It comes with a new Xenon bulb for extra brightness. You can run this light for almost 4.5 hours before it needs a charge. It uses a LXT Lithium-ion battery.  This has a nice base, so the light can stand on its own.

Makita BMR100W Job Site Radio

What good is a job site without a decent radio to keep us company? This baby is designed for rugged weather and rugged use. Features include a digital backlit quarts display, 10 pre-set FM/AM buttons and mp3 compatibility. It also has a protective bumper design for added durability.

It runs one full working day, (8 hrs) on a single makita Li-Ion battery (1.5Ah) charge. Fits in most tight spots and only weighs 9.2 lbs. Let’s jam while we work, not whistle while we work!

Makita LXT Lithium Ion Batteries and Charger

(2) LXT Lithium-Ion3.oAh batteries – As you can see by the picture, the battery locks into place and stays in place.  Click on the picture and you can see the nice beefy lip that holds the battery in place.

(1) Rapid Optimum Battery Charger – The charger gives the user a lot of valuable information about the battery such as fully charged, bad battery and more.

Makita Reviews

Makita LXT Drill/Driver Review – BHP452

Makita LXT Flashlight Review – BML185

Makita LXT Impact Driver Review – BTD141

Makita LXT Circular Saw Review – BSS611

Makita LXT Grinder Review – BGA452

Makita LXT Contractor Bag Review

Makita LXT Reciprocating Saw Review – BJR182

Makita LXT Job Site Radio

This is a mini Maglite that was sent to us from Tylertool.com to illustrate their new engraving tool and how it works on metal.  You can see more about this Maglite on Tylertool.com.  We were going to test this flash light, but as Tony pointed out, these flash lights are used by law enforcement and other agencies that require reliable and sturdy products.  So we are pretty sure these are fully tested and meet anyone’s needs.  We decided to tell you a little bit about this light.  Below you can see the mini mag beam against the mag 3D beam.

The mini Maglite uses everything that is great about the bigger lights, but makes it in a smaller version, hence mini.  This comes in a nice case with two AA Duracell batteries.  As with all Maglites, you can change the light from Spot to flood depending on what purpose you need.  The flashlight is made of alumunum and is water resistant. It has a peak 2200 candlepower.

The scratches on the case are from us when we were carrying it in our toolbag and from sliding on the work bench.

As with all Mag lights, there is a spare bulb under the tailcap.  Just pull the spring off and you can access the spare buld.

One cool feature with this flashlight is the ablity to convert to a free standing candle (Click on above picture).  This is a great feature when you need to use both of your hands and can not hold the light, such as when you are working under a sink or other awkward spots.

No, the above pictures are not UFOs.  This is a comparision of two maglite flash lights shining on a wall about 10 ft away.  The left light is the minimag light and the one on the right is a 3D mag lite.  Obviously the 3D has more power and a bigger bulb and that is why the light is more concentrated and brighter, but we were very suprised that the 2 AA was still extremely bright.

Overall, if you are looking for a flash light, take a look at any Maglite.  They make some of the best flash lights around.

This review is for the Milwaukee V28 Hammer Drill.  We bought this kit through tylertool.com because it was the cheapest price we could find, plus we have always had a great experience with them.  This came in the Milwaukee V28 Combo kit model number 0928-29, but you can also buy this drill separately.  If you are looking to buy this separately, the model number is 0724-20.

The first thing you notice about this drill is the balance.  The drill only weighs 4.4 lbs without the battery.  When you attache the V28 battery, it balances the all metal chuck and sits perfectly in your hands.  To jump ahead, this drill comes with a side handle which you will need because it puts out an amazing 600 lbs of torque. The Milwaukee hammer drill has a 1/2″ chuck with carbide jaws and the clip-lok system.  The motor can also produce some serious speed, 0-9000/0-27000bpm and 0-600/0-1800rpm.  As you can see, there is a high and low setting plus 20 clutch settings.  Another cool feature is the battery can go on forward or backwards.  This helps when  you have to get into spots that are tight and the battery always seems to get in the way.  With this, you just turn the battery around and are ready to go.

We like the balance and feel of this drill.  We stuck on a 1/2″ dull drill bit to test the power.  We first drilled into a treaded 4×4 and as you can see by the video, the drill went through it with no problems.  The next thing we did was to use the dull drill bit and drill into a solid Oak 2-2×4.  We attached the two Oak 2×4’s, so in essance we had an Oak 4×4.  Again this drill ran through the solid Oak with no probelms, not once did it bog down.

Another test we did was to mix concrete.  In a 5 gallon bucket we filled it up half way with concrete and, mixed it with the drill.  For this test we knew we needed the side handle, because this drill will produce 600lbs. of torque.  As you can see by the video, we had a hard time holding the 5 gallon buck in place.  The drill mixed very well.  Now long term we don’t know how much of this type of work the drill can handle, but again, there are other corded drills out there that are better suited for mixing concrete.  Over all, the drill mixed the concrete great.

For the Milwaukee hammer drill we gave it 5 blades.  We really like the power it produces, but one of the best features is the overall balance.  This is a powerful drill that you can easily work with all day long and not get to tired.  This is one drill you will not regret buying.

Milwaukee V28 Kit Overview

Milwaukee SawZall Review

Milwaukee Battery Review

Milwaukee Work Light Review

Milwaukee Charger Review

Milwaukee Contractors Bag Review

Milwaukee V28 Circular Saw

This review is for the Hitachi Hammer Drill that came in the kit KC18DCL that we bought from tylertool.com.  The model number for this drill is DV18DL.  This drill packs a lot of power and produces 570lbs of torque.  Compare that with the Milwaukee V28 that produces 600lbs of toque, and the Hitachi is only an 18V.  While most hammer drills have two speed settings, the Hitachi has 4 settings.  The four settings are 0-200/400/900/1800 rpm, so as a user you do have lots of control.  One feature we really like is the unique access to the carbon brushes.  On the back of the drill you have easy access  to change the brushes once they get worn out.

When you first pick up this tool, you notice this has great balance and is extremely light weighing.  The tool only weights 4.9lbs.  The tool belt clip is a nice feature, but we found the light to be pretty much worthless.  While it does work a little bit, it just got in the way more than it helped.

We ran a couple tests on this drill.  One was simple drilling and the other was mixing concrete.  For the drilling part we used an old, dull drill bit.  We drilled into a treated 4×4 that the drill ran through with no problems.  We also ran this drill through two solid Oak 2×4s, and again there was not much resistance.

For the mixing test, we used a 5 gallon bucket to mix some concrete (normally you want to use a mixing bucket, but we did this so we could see it better with the camera).  Over all, as you can see by the video, the drill did bog down a little, but still mixed the concrete.  To be fair, this drill is not really designed to mix concrete, there are better and more powerful drills that are made to mix conrete and motar.  The side handle did come in handy because you can feel the power from this drill when mixing the concrete.

Over all, this is a very nice drill.  We like the low profile of the battery and how light this drill is.  This drill has a great feel and very good balance. You can use it all day and not get worn out!