The Tool Pig

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Demo Demon Amped Blade Giveaway!

thetoolpig — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 14:47:35 +0000

Instagram 1

thetoolpig — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 15:55:04 +0000

For more great tool and construction related content, visit my Instagram page.

Instagram 2

thetoolpig — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 16:06:48 +0000

For more great tool and construction related content, visit my Instagram page.

Instagram 3

thetoolpig — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 16:20:15 +0000

For more great tool and construction related content, visit my Instagram page.

Instagram 4

thetoolpig — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 16:22:05 +0000

For more great tool and construction related content, visit my Instagram page.

Toolpig Logo

thetoolpig — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 16:30:48 +0000

Over 30 years of experience in building trades and working with all types of power tools

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thetoolpig — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 15:26:24 +0000

1002249295 -Ridgid GEN5X Brushless 18V 1 Gallon Air Compressor - 2

thetoolpig — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 22:26:26 +0000

1002249295 -Ridgid GEN5X Brushless 18V 1 Gallon Air Compressor - 3

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1002249295 -Ridgid GEN5X Brushless 18V 1 Gallon Air Compressor - 4

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1002249295 -Ridgid GEN5X Brushless 18V 1 Gallon Air Compressor - 5

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1002249295 -Ridgid GEN5X Brushless 18V 1 Gallon Air Compressor - 6

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1002249295 -Ridgid GEN5X Brushless 18V 1 Gallon Air Compressor - 7

thetoolpig — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 22:26:55 +0000

1002469126 -Milwaukee 22oz. Milled Face Framing Hammer - 1

thetoolpig — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 13:48:24 +0000

1002469126 -Milwaukee 22oz. Milled Face Framing Hammer - 2

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1002469126 -Milwaukee 22oz. Milled Face Framing Hammer - 3

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1002469126 -Milwaukee 22oz. Milled Face Framing Hammer - 4

thetoolpig — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 13:48:38 +0000

1002469126 -Milwaukee 22oz. Milled Face Framing Hammer - 5

thetoolpig — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 13:48:43 +0000

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thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 15:56:00 +0000

317457 - Bosch Multi-Purpose Carbide Drill Bits for Drilling Tile, Masonry, Wood, Metal and Concrete (5-Piece)-2

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:06:37 +0000

317457 - Bosch Multi-Purpose Carbide Drill Bits for Drilling Tile, Masonry, Wood, Metal and Concrete (5-Piece)-3

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:06:49 +0000

317457 - Bosch Multi-Purpose Carbide Drill Bits for Drilling Tile, Masonry, Wood, Metal and Concrete (5-Piece)-4

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:06:55 +0000

317457 - Bosch Multi-Purpose Carbide Drill Bits for Drilling Tile, Masonry, Wood, Metal and Concrete (5-Piece)-5

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:07:00 +0000

317457 - Bosch Multi-Purpose Carbide Drill Bits for Drilling Tile, Masonry, Wood, Metal and Concrete (5-Piece)

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:07:05 +0000

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1002582625 - Dewalt 20 Volt Lithium Ion Cordless Band Saw

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:38:36 +0000

1002454977 -Makita 7 in. Diamond Cup Wheel - 1

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1002454977 -Makita 7 in. Diamond Cup Wheel - 2

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1002454977 -Makita 7 in. Diamond Cup Wheel - 3

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1002454977 -Makita 7 in. Diamond Cup Wheel - 4

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:43:36 +0000

1002582451 - Makita 18V Router - adjustment

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:43:54 +0000

1002582451 - Makita 18V Router - clamp screw

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:44:01 +0000

1002582451 - Makita 18V Router - speed control

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:44:07 +0000

1002582451 - Makita 18V Router - switch actions

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:44:16 +0000

1002582451 - Makita 18V Router- aluminum housing

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:44:23 +0000

1002582451 - Makita 18V Router- base

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:44:28 +0000

1002582451 - Makita 18V Router

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:44:36 +0000

1002286296 - Milwaukee Shockwave Impact Duty Driver Bit Set - 1

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:50:33 +0000

1002286296 - Milwaukee Shockwave Impact Duty Driver Bit Set - 2

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1002286296 - Milwaukee Shockwave Impact Duty Driver Bit Set - 3

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1002286296 - Milwaukee Shockwave Impact Duty Driver Bit Set - 4

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:50:53 +0000

1002286296 - Milwaukee Shockwave Impact Duty Driver Bit Set - 5

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:51:03 +0000

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thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 18:55:29 +0000

1002437590 - Dewalt 20V MAX 18GA Brad Nailer Kit - 12

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 19:01:05 +0000

1002437590 - Dewalt 20V MAX 18GA Brad Nailer Kit - 11

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1002437590 - Dewalt 20V MAX 18GA Brad Nailer Kit - 10

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1002437590 - Dewalt 20V MAX 18GA Brad Nailer Kit - 9

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1002437590 - Dewalt 20V MAX 18GA Brad Nailer Kit - 7

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1002437590 - Dewalt 20V MAX 18GA Brad Nailer Kit - 8

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1002437590 - Dewalt 20V MAX 18GA Brad Nailer Kit - 6

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1002437590 - Dewalt 20V MAX 18GA Brad Nailer Kit - 5

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 19:02:03 +0000

1002437590 - Dewalt 20V MAX 18GA Brad Nailer Kit - 4

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 19:02:10 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 14:54:51 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 14:55:12 +0000

IMG_4074

thetoolpig — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 15:33:24 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 18:16:53 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-10-25 at 7.42.37 PM

thetoolpig — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 00:45:52 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 00:45:58 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 00:46:02 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 00:46:07 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-10-25 at 7.43.22 PM

thetoolpig — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 00:46:14 +0000

IMG_0746

thetoolpig — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 01:33:05 +0000

IMG_3419

thetoolpig — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 01:46:09 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 01:46:54 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-10-25 at 8.55.43 PM

thetoolpig — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 01:57:46 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-10-25 at 8.56.03 PM

thetoolpig — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 01:58:01 +0000

img_4809

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 19:50:35 +0000

img_4793

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 19:52:30 +0000

img_4767

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 19:52:54 +0000

img_4767

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 19:52:54 +0000

img_4789

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 19:52:58 +0000

img_4760

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 19:52:58 +0000

IMG_4818

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 22:25:28 +0000

IMG_4819

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 22:25:58 +0000

IMG_4822

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 22:26:27 +0000

IMG_4826

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 22:35:21 +0000

IMG_4818

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 22:36:20 +0000

IMG_4819

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 23:03:03 +0000

img_4770-2

thetoolpig — Sun, 29 Oct 2017 03:22:41 +0000

img_4762-2

thetoolpig — Sun, 29 Oct 2017 03:23:41 +0000

img_4768-2

thetoolpig — Sun, 29 Oct 2017 03:23:41 +0000

img_4761-3

thetoolpig — Sun, 29 Oct 2017 03:23:41 +0000

IMG_4767

thetoolpig — Sun, 29 Oct 2017 20:16:14 +0000

img_5532

thetoolpig — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 14:10:45 +0000

img_3487

thetoolpig — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 14:11:11 +0000

661eeb57-9f0e-4d41-b23c-913035ea8dd6

thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:09:33 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:20:41 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:21:47 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:22:10 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:22:24 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:22:30 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:24:01 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:24:08 +0000

23374 Dremel ComboKit_CKDR-04_F

thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:24:18 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:25:37 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:25:42 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:25:48 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:25:53 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:25:58 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:26:30 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:26:46 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:27:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:27:01 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:27:26 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:29:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:29:56 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:30:28 +0000

null

thetoolpig — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:52:39 +0000

IMG_0091

thetoolpig — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 01:09:54 +0000

IMG_8026

thetoolpig — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 23:21:29 +0000

IMG_8027

thetoolpig — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 23:21:37 +0000

IMG_6664

thetoolpig — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 23:22:46 +0000

IMG_6662

thetoolpig — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 23:22:58 +0000

IMG_6661

thetoolpig — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 23:23:12 +0000

IMG_6661

thetoolpig — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 05:19:55 +0000

IMG_8024

thetoolpig — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 23:15:28 +0000

IMG_8025

thetoolpig — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 23:15:37 +0000

IMG_8027

thetoolpig — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 23:15:50 +0000

Photo Nov 16, 12 09 01

thetoolpig — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 05:00:06 +0000

Photo Nov 16, 12 09 02

thetoolpig — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 05:00:18 +0000

Photo Nov 16, 12 10 54

thetoolpig — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 05:00:42 +0000

Photo Nov 16, 12 10 59

thetoolpig — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 05:00:55 +0000

Photo Nov 16, 12 11 12

thetoolpig — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 05:01:17 +0000

Photo Nov 27, 15 16 08

thetoolpig — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 05:01:55 +0000

Photo Nov 27, 15 16 12

thetoolpig — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 05:02:38 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-26 at 11.57.59 AM

thetoolpig — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 18:03:13 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-26 at 11.58.31 AM

thetoolpig — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 18:03:28 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-26 at 11.59.05 AM

thetoolpig — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 18:03:33 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-26 at 11.59.30 AM

thetoolpig — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 18:03:40 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-26 at 12.00.27 PM

thetoolpig — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 18:05:50 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-26 at 12.11.13 PM

thetoolpig — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 18:12:07 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-26 at 12.00.00 PM

thetoolpig — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 18:12:38 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-26 at 12.16.12 PM

thetoolpig — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 18:16:34 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-26 at 12.11.42 PM

thetoolpig — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 18:17:01 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-26 at 12.00.37 PM

thetoolpig — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 18:18:10 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-27 at 12.19.58 PM

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 18:34:57 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-27 at 12.38.15 PM

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 18:38:43 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 18:46:20 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-27 at 12.45.38 PM

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 18:47:46 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-27 at 12.44.52 PM

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 18:47:56 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-27 at 12.44.13 PM

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 18:48:05 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-27 at 12.54.28 PM

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 18:54:59 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-27 at 3.35.30 PM

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 21:39:03 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-27 at 3.35.40 PM

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 21:39:16 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-27 at 3.35.51 PM

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 21:39:27 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-27 at 3.36.08 PM

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 21:39:36 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 21:39:47 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-27 at 3.36.57 PM

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 21:40:03 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-27 at 3.38.04 PM

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 21:40:16 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-27 at 4.25.32 PM

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 22:26:27 +0000

Photo Nov 27, 15 16 14

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 22:35:20 +0000

Photo Nov 16, 12 11 12

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 22:37:43 +0000

Photo Nov 16, 12 10 59

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 22:41:36 +0000

Screen Shot 2017-12-31 at 7.02.05 PM

thetoolpig — Mon, 01 Jan 2018 01:04:10 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-01-11 at 8.26.14 AM

thetoolpig — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 13:26:40 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-01-11 at 8.49.50 AM

thetoolpig — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 13:50:44 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-01-11 at 8.50.23 AM

thetoolpig — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 13:50:52 +0000

IMG_3712

thetoolpig — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 15:07:44 +0000

IMG_0176

thetoolpig — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 03:10:22 +0000

IMG_0174

thetoolpig — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 03:11:17 +0000

fullsizeoutput_2a68

thetoolpig — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 03:12:06 +0000

IMG_0139

thetoolpig — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 03:13:10 +0000

IMG_0313

thetoolpig — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 04:18:51 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-02-12 at 9.29.53 AM

thetoolpig — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 15:30:33 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:03:31 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:03:37 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:04:22 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:04:26 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:04:29 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:04:32 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:04:35 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:04:38 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:04:53 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:05:22 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:05:25 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:05:29 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:05:32 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:05:36 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:05:39 +0000

makita-circular-saws-xps01ptj-fa_1000

thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:05:42 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:06:07 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:06:11 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:06:14 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:07:20 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:07:23 +0000

ridgid-impact-wrenches-r86011b-44_1000

thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:07:26 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:07:30 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:07:33 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:07:36 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:07:40 +0000

ryobi-circular-saws-p508-44_1000

thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:07:43 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:07:46 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:07:49 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:07:53 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:07:56 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:07:59 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:08:03 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:08:06 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:08:09 +0000

greens-ryobi-wet-dry-vacuums-p770-fa_1000

thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:08:12 +0000

IMG_7861

thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:32:18 +0000

IMG_7866

thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 17:33:11 +0000

IMG_4305

mrs.toolpig — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 22:29:47 +0000

IMG_4306

mrs.toolpig — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 22:29:56 +0000

IMG_4307

mrs.toolpig — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 22:50:33 +0000

IMG_4308

mrs.toolpig — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 23:18:35 +0000

IMG_4309

mrs.toolpig — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 23:18:46 +0000

IMG_4310

mrs.toolpig — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 23:18:57 +0000

IMG_makita1

thetoolpig — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 03:52:06 +0000

IMG_makita2

thetoolpig — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 03:52:20 +0000

IMG_makita3

thetoolpig — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 03:52:34 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-03-11 at 10.57.39 PM

thetoolpig — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 04:00:57 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-03-11 at 10.57.50 PM

thetoolpig — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 04:02:01 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-03-18 at 8.53.15 AM

thetoolpig — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 13:54:17 +0000

IMG_4283

thetoolpig — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 14:44:09 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-03-18 at 7.23.13 PM

thetoolpig — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 00:23:35 +0000

IMG_1263

thetoolpig — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 01:00:49 +0000

IMG_0368

thetoolpig — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 01:08:08 +0000

IMG_0369

thetoolpig — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 01:08:20 +0000

Makita Rear Handle Saw

thetoolpig — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 01:16:57 +0000

XRH03

fullsizeoutput_2e88

thetoolpig — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 02:46:41 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-04-03 at 11.48.50 PM

thetoolpig — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 04:49:52 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-04-03 at 11.49.05 PM

thetoolpig — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 04:50:00 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-04-03 at 11.49.13 PM

thetoolpig — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 04:50:04 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-04-03 at 11.49.25 PM

thetoolpig — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 04:50:09 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-04-04 at 12.07.40 AM

thetoolpig — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 05:08:13 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-04-09 at 6.34.26 AM

thetoolpig — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 11:36:04 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-04-09 at 6.34.37 AM

thetoolpig — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 11:36:08 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-04-09 at 6.34.51 AM

thetoolpig — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 11:36:11 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-04-09 at 6.35.20 AM

thetoolpig — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 11:36:21 +0000

makita rear handle saw

thetoolpig — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 22:13:28 +0000

Diablo carbide medium blade

thetoolpig — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 02:43:41 +0000

IMG_4665

thetoolpig — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 14:12:46 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-04-27 at 11.13.52 PM

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 04:14:24 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-04-27 at 11.13.21 PM

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 04:14:28 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-04-27 at 11.13.06 PM

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 04:14:32 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-04-27 at 11.16.24 PM

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 04:16:42 +0000

IMG_8596

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 20:31:15 +0000

IMG_3327

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 20:31:28 +0000

IMG_5939

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 20:31:44 +0000

IMG_5641

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 20:32:00 +0000

IMG_3255

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 20:32:15 +0000

IMG_0798

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 20:32:30 +0000

IMG_6463

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 20:32:45 +0000

IMG_8334

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 20:33:54 +0000

Makita drywall saw

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 20:47:34 +0000

Makita drywall saw-1

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 21:13:34 +0000

IMG_0232

thetoolpig — Fri, 11 May 2018 16:44:10 +0000

IMG_0280

thetoolpig — Fri, 11 May 2018 16:45:12 +0000

Screen Shot 2018-05-28 at 4.11.02 PM

thetoolpig — Mon, 28 May 2018 21:11:36 +0000

Bosch on site

thetoolpig — Tue, 29 May 2018 15:48:30 +0000

Bosch promo pic

thetoolpig — Tue, 29 May 2018 18:06:05 +0000

IMG_0171

thetoolpig — Thu, 31 May 2018 00:29:30 +0000

IMG_0172

thetoolpig — Thu, 31 May 2018 00:29:33 +0000

IMG_0173

thetoolpig — Thu, 31 May 2018 00:29:36 +0000

IMG_0174

thetoolpig — Thu, 31 May 2018 00:29:39 +0000

IMG_0175

thetoolpig — Thu, 31 May 2018 00:29:40 +0000

IMG_0180

thetoolpig — Thu, 31 May 2018 00:29:43 +0000

IMG_0345

thetoolpig — Thu, 31 May 2018 00:37:07 +0000

IMG_0225

thetoolpig — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 16:16:03 +0000

IMG_0226

thetoolpig — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 16:16:19 +0000

IMG_0227

thetoolpig — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 16:16:42 +0000

IMG_0232

thetoolpig — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 16:17:03 +0000

IMG_1270

thetoolpig — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 16:46:34 +0000

IMG_0365

thetoolpig — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 17:34:48 +0000

IMG_0371

thetoolpig — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 17:36:00 +0000

IMG_0367

thetoolpig — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 17:36:30 +0000

IMG_0332

thetoolpig — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 17:40:37 +0000

IMG_0317

thetoolpig — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 16:27:31 +0000

IMG_0318

thetoolpig — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 16:28:25 +0000

IMG_0319

thetoolpig — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 16:28:52 +0000

fullsizeoutput_2ce0

thetoolpig — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 16:49:04 +0000

IMG_0495

thetoolpig — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 22:29:14 +0000

IMG_0496

thetoolpig — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 22:29:22 +0000

IMG_0497

thetoolpig — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 22:29:28 +0000

IMG_1428

thetoolpig — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 15:02:59 +0000

IMG_1465

thetoolpig — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 15:03:08 +0000

IMG_0526

thetoolpig — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 22:40:28 +0000

IMG_0525

thetoolpig — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 22:40:40 +0000

IMG_0527

thetoolpig — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 22:40:58 +0000

IMG_1329

thetoolpig — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 14:48:15 +0000

IMG_1351

thetoolpig — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 14:48:24 +0000

IMG_1349

thetoolpig — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 14:48:30 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 14:48:38 +0000

IMG_1500

thetoolpig — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 14:48:56 +0000

IMG_1507

thetoolpig — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 14:49:06 +0000

IMG_1620

thetoolpig — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 14:49:17 +0000

IMG_1628

thetoolpig — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 14:49:28 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 15:04:23 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 15:08:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 15:08:07 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 15:08:16 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 15:11:18 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 15:14:10 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 15:15:31 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 16:02:02 +0000

IMG_1601

thetoolpig — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 02:48:45 +0000

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thetoolpig — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 02:49:12 +0000

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thetoolpig — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 02:49:28 +0000

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thetoolpig — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 02:49:47 +0000

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thetoolpig — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 02:50:18 +0000

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thetoolpig — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 02:50:34 +0000

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thetoolpig — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 02:50:57 +0000

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thetoolpig — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 02:51:17 +0000

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wordpress.2017-07-27.xml_-3.txt

thetoolpig — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 18:07:59 +0000

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NextGEN Basic Thumbnails

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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NextGEN Basic Slideshow

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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NextGEN Basic ImageBrowser

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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NextGEN Basic SinglePic

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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NextGEN Basic TagCloud

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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NextGEN Basic Compact Album

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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NextGEN Basic Extended Album

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 20:23:00 +0000

thetoolpig — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 17:30:36 +0000

Home

thetoolpig — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 00:14:48 +0000

thetoolpig — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 15:52:58 +0000

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thetoolpig — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 15:55:14 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

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Why Does the World Need a Toolpig?

thetoolpig — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 01:19:57 +0000

Hello, my name is Paul Sprague I go by Toolpig on most tool related sites, especially Instagram. Here is just a sample of some of the tools I am currently putting through the paces. I have always been fascinated with tools. When I was growing up I had to make do with very few good Power Tools and I can still feel the frustration that goes along with a meager arsenal of tools. I also feel the frustration that comes with buying what I thought was a great tool and finding out it was not so great. I decided years ago to learn from other people's mistakes and research before buying. Before the internet I asked fellow tradespeople which tools they liked and why. I still do but with the incredible amount of information available today, I check out what people from around the world say in seconds on my iPhone. I want to be part of that overall voice that can be heard with a simple search. I have over 30 years of experience in the building trades and working with all types of power tools. I get what works and what doesn't. I have a firm grasp on the qualities that make the difference between a tool that simply gets the Job done and one that actually makes work a pleasure. I constantly strive to find the very best in each category. This means that I am not stuck on any particular brand. I will use ANY brand if it is well made and the ergonomics are good. If a tool has good dust extraction then it has a much better chance of being at the top of my list. It is my sincere hope that my reviews will help you to avoid frustration and make the decision making process easier when you are buying tools of your own. Thanks for visiting

Makita FD07R1 12V MAX CXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Driver-Drill Kit 3/8"

thetoolpig — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 05:35:57 +0000

At one time 12 volt tools were pretty much the top offering from all manufacturers.

Although 12 v tools are still somewhat popular, it seems that the industry as a whole has given higher priority to the 18v/20v Max arena. With 18 v tools shrinking in size and weight while still giving better power and runtime, 12v tools seemed to make less and less sense. Things may have changed with the release of Makita's new CXT 12v Max line. The new tools are not a simple reboot of previous designs with a different battery shape. By just looking at them you would think they were the same tools as before with a new battery platform. In actual use though the difference becomes clear. They all have improved performance. Leading the way is the all new FD07R1 brushless driver drill and PH05R1 hammer drill.

Right off the bat I will just say this is my all time favorite drill, ever, of any voltage, period. It packs near 18 volt power in a 4.8v size. It is truly the most compact 12v Max drill I have ever seen! It is smaller than every drill that I have ever seen offered by Dewalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, Metabo or Festool. When you first hold it, you realize you have something very special in your grasp. It truly feels like an extension of your hand. The Chuck is so close to the grip it is easily the most controllable drill on the market. The soft rubber overmold and the ergonomically designed slim handle make it ever so comfortable to hold. Gone is the oversized handle of most 10.8/12v max pod style battery tools. No extra girth or bulge to make it uncomfortable in extended use. The weight and balance are great as well. The change from in handle pod style to slide style batteries moves the weight lower to the end of the handle. This creates the perfect balance between motor and battery. Unless you are living under a rock, you have no doubt heard about brushless motors. The benefits of brushless motors are rarely exemplified more effectively than with this tiny powerhouse. The extra power is really there. The boost in runtime is impossible to argue. Despite its diminutive size I found it to be every bit as strong in use as the perennial class leader, the Milwaukee m12 fuel drill/driver. In test after test it matched screw for screw and hole for hole while being much smaller and lighter. Equal performance in a smaller size with less weight = more user friendly. It breezed through all sizes of decking screws up to 4" so I tried 6" long 1/4" diameter ledger lock screws. Next I tried 10"x 3/8" Torx head timber screws. It gobbled them up like candy. Next I tried some Bosch Daredevil bits. They are like a paddle bit but have a threaded tip that really grabs and pulls the drill through the material very quickly. Imagine a cross between a spade bit and a self feed bit. I first tried 1" then 1 1/4" in treated 2x lumber. Watch it here >>>https://youtu.be/A8NhkVdJCvQ I was very pleased with the performance. It was even better in 2x Douglas fir. Some will miss the full 1/2" Chuck of the m12 fuel drill when moving to his model. I have not yet found the need since I have other 1/2" drills already. If this was my only drill, I would be limited in the range of hole saws and self feed bits I could use. The more I think about it, the decision to use a 3/8" Chuck was probably a good one. It eliminates a whole world of overload possibilities. Overall, I call this a home run for Makita. They really did their homework before bringing it to market. Everyone who has used mine just loves it. They are always surprised by the power in relation to its size. The entire CXT line is a nice improvement but this drill and its hammerdrill counterpart are most certainly the Crown Jewels. I have not seen them at Home Depot but they are available online at Acme Tools and others. Thanks for visiting! Don't forget to give a follow and a like??

Mirka DEROS. Is a 600.00 sander worth the money?

thetoolpig — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 10:42:36 +0000

Unless you are a master of finely tuned hand planes and cabinet scrapers, chances are you have no choice but to sand. I have met very few people who actually enjoy sanding. If you think about it, what are the things you dislike about sanding? #1 It takes too long. This is a very valid point especially if hand sanding but it also fits powered sanders just as well. #2 It's too dusty! True with both methods. The very act of sanding abrades small particles from the work surface and these particles are a very fine dust. #3 It makes your hands numb! Or is at the very least uncomfortable. It doesn't take long for your fingers and hands to become fatigued when hand sanding or running an orbital. We all know that numb tingly feeling that hangs on long after the sanding has stopped. #4 It's noisy! That same vibration from orbital and random orbit sanders that makes your hands numb also causes all sorts of noise. Sometimes it's loud enough to cause hearing damage. I have bought and used sanders for many years from nearly every major manufacturer. This includes all of the large mainstream companies. They have all done the job more or less but I can't say I ever really enjoyed using them. They are the inspiration for the 4 main reasons I didn't like sanding. Too much of everything. Time, dust, vibration and noise. A couple of years ago I decided to try something better. I bought my first Festool. The 5" ETS 125 EQ along with a CT36 dust extractor. This was my first High end sander and I was thoroughly hooked! Even though it is the least expensive sander from Festool, it turned out to be quite a step up. Less noise, less vibration and no dust. One thing that didn't Change much was the speed. While I did appreciate the infinitely adjustable variable speed, the over all sanding speed wasn't really faster than a regular sander. The other advantages far outweighed speed though. Overall In the sub 200.00 group, this was by far my top pick. It opened my eyes up to a whole universe of better tools. I had to see what else was out there. I kept finding myself looking at the Mirka sanders from Finland. I had heard about how much better they were. When I finally decided to try one, I had to decide between the Ceros and the Deros. Both are brushless. Both are compact. Both are smooth. Both are very powerful. Both are nearly 100% dustless. The Ceros has been on the market longer. It is very unique in the power tool world in that it runs on DC power. This means that it comes with a large transformer. This is somewhat of a disadvantage but it's also an advantage. You can purchase a 6" sander kit and add on a 5" or a 3" for a fraction of the cost. Ultimately though I decided to go with the Deros. ( Direct Electric Random Orbital Sander ) I ordered the 6" version with the 5mm orbit. There are also 2.5mm and 8mm versions for finer or more aggressive sanding. I also ordered several grits of Mirka's Abranet abrasive. Abranet (abrasive net) is very nice to use. Instead of a paper sheet with punched holes for dust collection, it is made up almost entirely of holes. This allows for supreme dust collection. The Deros is as dust free as it gets. This feature of the abrasive keeps it cleaner and allows the abrasive to work longer without clogging. It also allows it to run cooler when sanding paint to reduce melting of the paint and clogging. [caption id="attachment_18" align="alignnone" width="3264"] You can see right throgh Abranet[/caption] When it arrived I loved how the yellow T-Loc systainer fit right in with my other Systainers from Festool and other companies. The first time I opened it up, I couldn't beleive my eyes! The Deros was tiny! It looked just like a sander, only smaller but with a huge pad. It is only 3.75 inches tall and weighs 2.2 lbs! I picked it up and just had to wrap my head around the fact that it was so light. It was the most compact sander I had ever seen. The systainer includes a molded organizer to hold the tool and accessories. The lid has a nice foam block installed to hold the sander firmly in its molded spot. There was also A hook and loop pad saver for use with Abranet discs, a few sample sheets of abrasive, a wrench, the manuals and a DVD about the Deros. [caption id="attachment_20" align="alignnone" width="3264"] Everything fits nicely in the Systainer[/caption] [caption id="attachment_19" align="alignnone" width="2448"] The mirka Systainer is right at home in the systainer stack[/caption] I unrolled the extra long removeable and interchangeable 4m cord and plugged it in to my Festool CT36. I was pleasantly surprised that my 27mm Festool hose fit perfectly in both diameter and length! I had read that the Mirka sanders did not fit. That must have been an issue with the Ceros. The dust port on The sander has a nice swivel future to help avoid hose tangling. [caption id="attachment_21" align="alignnone" width="2448"] Nice, secure fit on my Festool 27mm hose[/caption] I put the hook and loop pad saver on as well as a 120 grit disc , pushed the power button and played with the variable speed buttons and the variable paddle switch. Thats right, it has + and - buttons rather than a dial to adjust the maximum speed between 4000 RPM and 10,000 RPM. The paddle switch is set up similar to the high-end air sanders where the harder you push on the paddle switch the higher the speed. When I pushed the paddle and started sanding, my jaw dropped and my head bobbed forward. This tiny thing has got to have the highest power to weight ratio of any sander on the market. There was no awkward learning curve. It immediately felt like an extension of my hand. The center of gravity was extremely low and stable. The power and speed was unreal! It was exactly what I had always wished for. I found I could push much harder on the Mirka without stalling the pad compared to any sander I had used previously. In fact it is extremely hard to bog it down with one hand. My wrist could not handle pushing that hard on the sander all the time but it is very nice to know that if I need to push harder on a certain spot that the sander will power through without stalling out and creating unsightly swirl marks. Check out the video on YouTube >>> https://youtu.be/NmVZHIa1btE Another advantage I noticed right away was how quiet the Deros was compared to my other Sanders. The sound is so different. It's so authoritative and beefy sounding but at a lower level than I was used to. When you turn it down, it can become just a whisper. As a fire , water and mold damage restoration and remodeling contractor, I have used the Deros on many types of sanding tasks. Sanding raw wood. Painted wood, metal, painted walls, new drywall, old popcorn ceilings, knockdown drywall texture before and during repairs, cabinet builds , cabinet refinishing and furniture restoration. In each and every situation, I was nothing but impressed with the performance. In every case it has been faster, smoother, quieter and more powerful all with near zero dust. With a sander like the Deros, downdraft tables and large dust collectors are completely unnecessary. In fact you don't even need a very powerful dust extractor to realize the benefits of its superior dust collection. I find that I never need to run my Festool CT36 variable speed vacuum on high with it. I usually run it at 1/2 power or less. The Deros is so powerful that the suction from any vac on high will not affect the pad speed. But there is the extra noise factor so I always dial it down. (With regular sanders, running the dust extractor on lower power levels can actually help with making a better finish at times. Excessive suction can actually slow the pad down too much, creating more chance of swirl marks.) So when does it make sense to pay this much for an electric sander? Any time a person makes their living doing woodworking, cabinet building or finish carpentry it makes sense to use higher quality tools. In cabinet shops you often see pneumatic sanders. While these are very powerful they cost a lot to operate. The tool itself may not be any more expensive than the Deros but the air supply system is extremely expensive. The pneumatic Sanders require incredible amounts of clean dry air. The air compressors , air line dryers / water separators all add up to thousands of dollars of additional cost not to mention the electricity necessary to run a large air compressor. Even though this sander may seem expensive it is a real bargain when compared to the pneumatic alternatives used in cabinet shops. In addition to high volume cabinet shops, who else is buying the Mirka Deros? I have done a little research because I wondered myself. What I found was that the sander is used across the board in many industries that involve sanding. Auto body repair shops, drywall contractors, woodworkers, painting companies, high end furniture builders, flooring companies, remodeling contractors, boat repair shops, boat builders, surfboard manufacturers and the list keeps growing. Basically any one who wants the very best performance from a handheld sander. Whether or not this award winning sander makes sense for you can only be determined by you personally. For me it is a no-brainer. If my Deros was missing tomorrow I would order one to replace it immediately. The benefits that I see every time I use it for outweigh the cost. The smoothness of its operation, the low noise output, the high power output and The supreme dust collection all make the Mirka Deros the most advanced and user friendly sander on the market today.

Milwaukee Radius LED worklight.

thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 04:02:49 +0000

I have been a huge fan of Milwaukee LED work lighting for the last couple of years. They have truly carved out a unique position in the cordles lighting category. There simply is no other company offering such outstanding cordless lighting options today. The Radius light is their top offering at the time of this writing. It is the brightest cordless light I have seen yet. In factory form the output is rated at 4,400 lumens. That much light from a portable cordless source is just incredible. If you have the right situation where you need more light from it and it will not be glaring in your eyes, you can order the clear lens from Milwaukee and output is increased to over 6,700 lumens! The light will not be as smooth because it will not be diffused but it will be substantially brighter. The clear lens may not be the best for painting but it might be just what you need for another task. All that light requires some control and the Radius light has plenty of it. There are 3 buttons on the control panel. You can adjust the brightness between 3 levels. You can also choose which side of the light is active, left, right or both. Run times will vary depending on how you set it up. Low medium or high as well as one side or both. I am seeing a little over 2 hours with a fully charged 5.0 battery on high. I love that Milwaukee added a low battery minder. It flashes several times to warn you to either change the battery or plug it in to an extension cord. I have been really frustrated at times with the older lights when they shut off without warning in a crawl space or attic! The Radius light can be used on the floor or on a work top or you can hang it on a pipe or conduit or 2x lumber overhead with the hide away hook. If you can't find either of these Milwaukee also supplies a nice heavy duty hanging cable with the light. The Radius light is built very tough for extreme use. It is much stronger than you would imagine from looking at the pictures. My two daughters and I all stood on the light with no ill effects. Together we weigh at least 400 lbs. at the Milwaukee New Product Symposium 2016, we watched as Milwaukee employees dropped really heavy weights on different lights. All the others were destroyed but the Radius light just laughed at the test. It was completely unharmed. One welcome addition is an ac power option with an 11 amp output receptacle. Since these draw 1 amp or less, you can run 12 of these on one circuit. That would be a staggering amount of light! With the corded and cordless option, The possibilities are endless. We use the radius light on fire damage jobs where power has been cut to the house. We use it on construction jobs. We have also taken it on several camping trips. It always exceeds our expectations. All in all this is an extremely well made, versatile work light. I never want to be without it. I have many posts on Instagram related to this light and an incredible amount other tools.

Bosch Js120 12v jigsaw

thetoolpig — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 20:39:06 +0000

What a sweet sweet saw! I am very happy to be able to both review and give one of these away! This is not meant to be an in depth review yet.Rather it is just my early impressions which will be added to as I get more time with the saw. After using this for a few weeks, I am very impressed with the build quality and performance. It is very solid and has plenty of power for most light to medium tasks. The noise and vibration levels are very good as well. The saw is loaded with most of the features that have made Bosch jigsaws the standard by which jigsaws are measured. It features electronic variable speed, three position orbital action, barrel grip body, no mar sub base to protect your work, splinter guard and tool free blade changes. It uses the same 12v/10.8v batteries that all Bosch compact 12v tools use. For a tool this powerful I recommend the 4.0 packs. The 2.0 works but the 4.0 packs have 2 sets of 3 cell banks to deliver more power to the motor at any given time as well as longer runtime. As always, thank you for your support and feedback.

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The Game Changer: Diablo tools wants your feedback!

thetoolpig — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 19:43:03 +0000

Diablo tools has been on the cutting edge (pun) for many years now. With the introduction of the tracking point framing blade they are pushing the envelope further than ever before. I find it easier to push through the cut. It gives more cuts per charge on cordless saws. It also makes a tired old Saw feel like it has a new motor. The tooth design is new and has different geometry that seems to hold up to nails really well. The red coating helps it to glide through tough cuts like butter. I really like them. I have used many types of blades over the years and these are definitely some of my favorites. If you are interested in trying one and are willing to give your feedback, follow the link below and fill out the form in your Blade will arrive in a few days. As always thank you for your support! http://www.upyourcuttinggame.com/#/ToolPig_NMJJ88

FAQ

thetoolpig — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 20:30:39 +0000

TOOLPIG 100K / WITH SOUTHWIRE

thetoolpig — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 15:01:24 +0000

toolpigstips@gmail.com

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Black Toolpig T-shirts are here!

thetoolpig — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 14:25:57 +0000

[caption id="attachment_2620" align="aligncenter" width="3024"] Black Toolpig shirts size Large & X-Large only[/caption] I ordered shirts and if you are looking for your favorite Toolpig swag....... $15 shipped in USA only If you are outside the US contact Mrs.toolpig and she will check on price to ship to you!

DEWALT® Introduces The 12V/20V MAX* Jobsite Bluetooth® Speaker

thetoolpig — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 20:13:05 +0000

[gallery size="large" columns="2" ids="3016,3017"]

Aug 29, 2018 11:30 EDT

TOWSON, MD (August 29, 2018) – DEWALT adds to its 20V MAX* System, now featuring over 180 products, with the 12V/20V MAX* Jobsite Bluetooth® Speaker (DCR010). The speaker offers premium sound in a compact, portable design. It connects via Bluetooth® to wirelessly stream music up to 100-ft. away.

With dual 3-inch woofers, the 12V/20V MAX* Jobsite Bluetooth® Speaker delivers premium sound with powerful bass and loud volume. The speaker is compatible with 12V MAX* and 20V MAX* batteries (sold separately) and comes equipped with a standard detachable power cord to operate off of a 120V wall outlet. It can also be used with a FLEXVOLT® Battery for extended runtime (sold separately).

For maximum jobsite durability, the speaker features a reinforced, impact-resistant housing and metal grille along with a robust carrying handle. The handle doubles as a mobile phone stand that holds the user’s device and displays the screen. An additional storage tray is available under the handle. The speaker includes both a USB Charging Port and Auxiliary Jack which provide mobile phone charging and alternate connection options.

Available where DEWALT products are sold in October 2018, the 12V/20V MAX* Jobsite Bluetooth® Speaker will come bare for $99 MSRP (DCR010). It will come standard with a three-year limited warranty, one-year free service contract and 90-day money-back guarantee.

* Maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 12 and 20 volts. Nominal voltage is 10.8 and 18.

The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by DEWALT is under license.

DEWALT® Announces New Cordless Woodworking Tools

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Aug 27, 2018 11:23 EDT

TOWSON, MD (August 27, 2018) – DEWALT announces the new 20V MAX* XR® Brushless 5-inch Random Orbit Sander (DCW210), 20V MAX* XR® Brushless Jig Saw (DCS334), and 20V MAX* XR® Brushless Router (DCW600), three new cordless woodworking tools for professional cabinet makers and installers, trim carpenters, builders and remodelers, residential painters, furniture makers, and general contractors.

Each new tool features an efficient, brushless motor that’s durable and doesn’t require brush changes. Each unit is lightweight and compact, allowing the user to get close to the work surface for controlled cuts and sanding. In addition to their ergonomic design, the tools incorporate multiple texturized rubber over-molds to provide the user with a good grip in various hand positions.

The 20V MAX* XR® Brushless 5-inch Random Orbit Sander includes key features preferred by woodworking professionals including an easy-to-reach speed control dial for quick one-handed speed adjustments, a dual sealed switch that helps to prevent dust ingestion for longer switch life, and a replaceable 8-hole hook & loop sanding pad for quick and easy paper changing. A one-handed locking dust bag features an AirLock™ connection, fitting directly on the DEWALT DWV010 and DWV012 dust collectors (sold separately).

The 20V MAX* XR® Brushless Jig Saw offers precise cuts, a powerful motor, as well as a variable speed trigger and variable speed dial to control the saw’s speeds. This premium saw also features a 1-inch stroke length, 4-position orbital action, a keyless lever-actuated blade release, a keyless bevel change, a LED to illuminate work surfaces, and a no-mar plastic shoe cover. In addition, an integrated dust blower provides efficient dust management.

The 20V MAX* XR® Brushless Router features an all-metal motor that provides durability on the jobsite. Controlled by an electronic, variable speed motor, the router maintains speed under load. It is equipped with soft-start to minimize start up torque and an electronic brake to reduce bit coast down time when the unit is powered off.With dual-LED’s the router helps light dark work areas. Other features of the router include an adjustable quick release clamp for smooth and secure actuation, quick release tabs for simple base removal, a depth adjust ring for fast accurate depth settings, an easy-to-use spindle lock with a large button, and a 12-position ratcheting lock. The stable D-shaped base provides edge profiling and radius referencing. The router is also plunge-base compatible.

Available in fall 2018, the 20V MAX* XR® Brushless Jig Saw comes kitted with a 5.0Ah Battery for $329 MSRP (DCS334M1) or bare for $179 MSRP (DCS334B). DEWALT will also be launching a barrel grip version in January 2019 that will be sold as a bare tool for $199 MSRP (DCS335B). Also available in fall 2018, the 20V MAX* XR® Brushless 5-Inch Random Orbit Sander comes kitted with a 5.0Ah Battery for $249 MSRP (DCW210P1), kitted with a 2.0Ah Battery for $199 MSRP (DCW210D1), and bare for $119 MSRP (DCW210B). Available in spring 2019, the 20V MAX* XR® Brushless Router will be available bare for $179 MSRP (DCW600B).

The 20V MAX* XR® Brushless Jig Saw, 20V MAX* XR® Brushless 5-inch Random Orbit Sander, and 20V MAX* XR® Brushless Router each allow for a professional finish by offering speed control, low profile designs, material removal, and work surface visibility with the convenience of cordless. Each tool can also be used with a FLEXVOLT® Battery (sold separately) for extended runtime. They will come standard with a three-year limited warranty, one-year free service contract and 90-day money-back guarantee.

*Maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 20 volts. Nominal voltage is 18.

Bosch BLAZE™ Outdoor GLM400C Connected Laser Measure with Viewfinder

thetoolpig — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 17:30:36 +0000

June 12, 2018

Mt. Prospect, Ill., June 12, 2018 – Using a standard laser measure outside is often a hit or miss affair, with natural sunlight diluting the laser beam and creating shortened range or a complete lack of visibility. But laser measure performance issues in sunlight are now history thanks to the advanced technology and versatility of the Bosch BLAZE™ Outdoor GLM400C Connected Laser Measure with Viewfinder and the Bosch BLAZE™ Outdoor GLM400CL Connected Laser Measure with Camera. Both outdoor laser measures rely on an adjustable zoom camera with scratch-proof screen to find the laser target at up to 400 ft. in bright conditions, expansive indoor space or against busy backdrops. The easy-to-read color display illuminates large numbers and provides clear resolution in dark areas. The BLAZE GLM400CL version can take photos and comes with memory for 50 measurements and storage for up to 200 images, in addition to a lithium-ion battery. Default real-time measurement provides immediate, accurate measuring that automatically adjusts as the user moves closer or father from the target. Measurement accuracy is +/- 1/16 in. Each device is sized to fit into any pocket for easy access. A digital bubble level provides a visual reference when measuring horizontal distances. Measurement documentation can be transferred quickly to a smartphone or tablet relying on Bluetooth® connectivity in conjunction with Bosch’s MeasureOn app. Note: Photo files are too large to transfer via Bluetooth®, but can be transmitted using supplied USB cable. Easily organize, document and transfer measurements using the free Bosch MeasureOn app. The free-to-download app provides an intuitive and clear digital project overview, including floor plans, measurements and notes. “Not every laser measuring job is indoors under controlled light conditions,” said Brandon Eble, product manager, measuring tools, Bosch Power Tools. “A high percentage of jobs will require some outdoor measuring. Typical jobs are in direct sunlight for about 75 percent of the project due to light coming through incomplete walls without drywall or another covering. This drove us to develop the Bosch BLAZE Outdoor GLM400C and GLM400CL laser measures. Our goal was to provide a tool that could be used for a full job, no matter the lighting conditions or distance required.” The BLAZE Outdoor GLM400C and BLAZE Outdoor GLM400CL laser measures provide default real-time measuring, as well as length, area, volume and indirect measuring functions that are easy to employ using a display guide that walks the user through each measurement process. A built-in inclinometer determines the angle of pitch (tilt angle 360°), maximum/minimum stake out lengths and double indirect measurements. It also confirms when the tool is level. The Bosch BLAZE Outdoor GLM400C with Viewfinder is powered by three AA batteries and includes a hand strap and pouch. The Bosch BLAZE Outdoor GLM400CL with Camera includes an integrated, rechargeable 3.1 Ah Lithium-ion battery that delivers enough runtime for all-day jobs, along with a micro USB cable, a battery charger, hand strap and pouch. To learn more about the Bosch BLAZE Outdoor GLM 400 C Connected Laser Measure with Viewfinder Bosch BLAZE Outdoor GLM 400 C Connected Laser Measure with Camera or to find a local dealer, visit www.boschtools.com or call 877-BOSCH-99. Check out www.bethepro.com for additional tips and videos. Bosch BLAZE™ Outdoor GLM400C Connected Laser Measure with Viewfinder and Bosch BLAZE™ Outdoor GLM400CL Connected Laser Measure with Camera Fact Box

Product	Range		Accuracy	Functions	Power	Includes	Price
Bosch BLAZE^TMOutdoor GLM400C Connected Laser Measure with Viewfinder	400 ft.	±1/16 In.		Real-time length, area, volume, indirect measuring functions and built-in inclinometer	Three AA batteries	AA batteries, hand strap and pouch	US: $229 Canada: $289
Bosch BLAZE^TM Outdoor GLM400CL Connected Laser Measure with Camera	400 ft.	±1/16 In.		Real-time length, area, volume, indirect measuring functions and built-in inclinometer	Rechargeable 3.1 Ah Lithium-ion battery	Micro USB cable, battery charger, hand strap and pouch	US: $299 Canada: $369

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Watch Bosch videos on YouTube: youtube.com/boschtoolsNA

About Bosch Having established a regional presence in 1906 in North America, the Bosch Group employs nearly 32,800 associates in more than 100 locations, as of December 31, 2016. In 2016 Bosch generated consolidated sales of $13.7 billion in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For more information, visit www.boschusa.com, www.bosch.com.mx and www.bosch.ca. The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. The company employs roughly 390,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2016) and generated sales of 73.1 billion euros ($80.9 billion) in 2016. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. As a leading IoT company, Bosch offers innovative solutions for smart homes, smart cities, connected mobility, and connected industry. It uses its expertise in sensor technology, software, and services, as well as its own IoT cloud, to offer its customers connected, cross-domain solutions from a single source. The Bosch Group’s strategic objective is to create solutions for a connected life, and to imProve quality of life worldwide with Products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is “Invented for life.” The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 440 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch’s global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. The basis for the company’s future growth is its innovative strength. At 120 locations across the globe, Bosch employs 59,000 associates in research and development. Additional information is available online at www.bosch.com, www.bosch-press.com, http://twitter.com/BoschPresse. Exchange rate: 1 EUR = $1.1069 Bosch in North America In the U.S., Canada and Mexico, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket Products, industrial drives and control technology, power tools, security and communication systems, packaging technology, thermotechnology, household appliances, healthcare telemedicine and software solutions. For more information, please visit www.boschusa.com, www.bosch.com.mx and www.bosch.ca.www.boschusa.com. About Robert Bosch Tool Corporation Robert Bosch Tool Corporation, the Power Tools Division of North America, was formed in January 2003 when Robert Bosch GmbH combined its North American diverse power tool and accessories businesses into one organization. As a manufacturing pioneer with more than a century’s worth of experience, the Bosch name has become synonymous with engineering excellence. Located throughout North America as part of the global power tools division, Bosch associates maintain a legacy of world-class design, manufacture and sale for power tools, rotary and oscillating tools, accessories and measuring tools. For more information, call toll-free 877-BOSCH-99 (877-267-2499) or visit www.boschtools.com.

Festool CT Cyclone

thetoolpig — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 15:52:58 +0000

Festool Introduces CT CYCLONE

Pre-separator for debris and coarse dust available October 1

Lebanon, IN – On October 1, Festool will launch the new CT CYCLONE, an anti-static, pre-separator for large debris and coarse dust that is designed to be used with a Festool CT Dust Extractor. By separating large particulate before it reaches the dust collector, users can increase the efficiency and cost effectiveness of their portable Festool dust collection systems by reducing the number of filter bags needed. The CT CYCLONE also reduces the overall dust load on the main dust extractor filter which results in consistently high suction power throughout the work process. When used together, the CT CYCLONE and CT Dust Extractor form a three-step filtration system for dust and debris. “For craftsmen who work with large volumes of dust and debris, the CT CYCLONE pre-separator is the simplest answer for further increasing the efficiency of our CT Dust Extractors,” says Eugen Gassmann, Festool Vice President of Marketing. “CT CYCLONE minimizes costs by decreasing the number of filters and dust bags that you’ll need to keep your CT running smoothly.” CT CYCLONE can be used with all Festool CT 26/36/48 dust extractors and optimum usage is achieved with tools and applications which create high levels of dust and particulate. It separates and collects coarse and fine dust before it reaches the mobile dust extractor. The dust-heavy air that is drawn in, is swirled into a spiral movement in the cyclone, causing the dust particles to hit against the wall of the cyclone and, due to the gravitational force, fall into the collection container. The CT CYCLONE product video can be seen here. Features of the CT CYCLONE include:

Tool-free assembly and attachment means that users can easily attach and remove depending on their application and need
Reduce the number of regular CT dust extractor filter bags needed by handling high volumes of dust and debris with cyclone technology
Maintains consistently high suction power by reducing the dust load on the main filter
Highly portable – compatible with all CT Dust Extractors and Systainers, CT CYCLONE is a stackable collection container with compact dimensions and a sturdy design

CT CYCLONE (CT-VA-20) includes

Cyclone Systainer
Systainer Pan
Collection Container
Hose Connector - CT-VA to CT Dust Extractor
Disposable Dust Liner

For more information, please visit Festool USA or Festool Canada. About Festool Founded in Germany in 1925, Festool is known for its innovative, precision-engineered power tool solutions. Based in Lebanon, IN, Festool USA offers a comprehensive lineup of power tools and system accessories, designed to boost productivity through efficiency and high performance. For more information, visit www.festoolusa.com or www.festoolcanada.com.

Festool TSC55REB cordless tracksaw

thetoolpig — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 20:25:09 +0000

Available at ACME Tools I used to say,"I can't afford a track saw." After buying one, I say ,"I can't afford not to have a track saw." Owning a good track saw can literally change your whole work experience for the better if you do any type of woodworking, carpentry, cabinet installation or even drywall. That's right! High end drywall contractors are using track saws! I still remember that first moment when I first used one years ago. It wasn't even a Festool. It wasn't a very good one but it was good enough that I realized that I needed a track saw in my life. I was building some roll around cabinets for a large commercial project. That track saw was rough, loud, crude and so so dusty! The track side of the cut was pretty decent but the waste side was just as splintered up as a regular saw would produce. Still it made an impression on me. I began researching track saws. I knew I wouldn't buy that same saw. It was not a nice user experience even though it did the job. I was trying to avoid Festool because I thought it was too expensive. In the US there aren't very many choices. There is basically Festool, Mafell, DeWalt and Makita. On the lower end you have a few more but I am never interested in the low end when buying tools. Schutte lumber in Kansas City had a Festool event one Saturday and I decided to just go try one out. Words cannot describe the feelings I had that day! That day changed everything for me! Once I used the Festool TS55 REQ connected to a CT dust extractor, I was hooked! I didn't need to keep looking! The cuts were perfect, both the track side of the cut and the waste side were smooth and tear out free thanks to the splinter guards on both sides of the cut. The dust collection was almost 100%. I bought both on the spot! I also bought a sander and an MFT work table and some accessories. Never before had I experienced dust free woodworking. Every time I used the saw or sander, I just couldn't help but smile! Last year when I saw the release of the new TSC55REB I knew I had to buy one. I already had the rails so it was easier to pay for it. It is available in many different configurations from full kit with batteries, charger and a rail all the way down to a bare tool . I love a cordless jobsite. I really couldn't wait to try one out! I thought it would be a good companion for my corded saw. I was mistaken. It was a full on 110% replacement for my corded saw! I couldn't believe it! It could do everything the corded saw could but with more torque! Less bogging on those heavy hardwood rips. Best of all...no cord or hose to trip on! I have seen plenty of tools knocked off of a work bench from someone tripping on a cord. Many people have asked me ,"What is the point of a cordless saw if you have to have it hooked to a dust extractor? " I feel that it is a very good question. I like to think of it as a more versatile tool. When connected to an extractor it behaves exactly like a corded saw but with more power. The only thing that it doesn't do is trigger the extractor to turn on. You have to manually turn it on. Most of the time though, I skip the hose and use it without. This brings us to one of the most outstanding features about the tsc55: The superior dust collection with the included dust bag. It is no ordinary throw it in the corner useless dust bag. It is far and away the best passive dust collection system I have ever used on any tool. It catches so much dust that you actually have to empty it often. It even does a near perfect job of catching all of your MDF dust without an extractor. Festool engineers really outdid themselves when designing this cordless saw. It is nearly identical to the corded version in many ways. The areas you will find differences are in the motor case area. The motor housing is molded to accept one or two 18v batteries. There are 2 sets of variable LED battery level indicators on the saw body. They are easily seen any time you are starting a cut. They make it very easy to monitor available run time. This is a nice feature because you may not want to start a critical cut when they are nearly depleted. I really appreciate that Festool engineered the saw to run on 2 batteries at 36v or one battery at 18v. This gives us much more flexibility. I know of no other dual battery tool that gives this option. Although at 18 volts the saw runs a bit slower, you can keep on working with one spare while they both charge up. The difference in speed is hardly noticeable to me since I rarely run the saw on full speed anyway. Just like all Festool track saws the TSC55 has a variable speed dial. This allows you to adjust the blade speed to match your material. Wood, mdf, plastic, laminates and non ferrous metals require different blade speeds. The TSC uses a brushless EC-TEC motor with MMC electronic motor controls. They allow the saw to maintain correct speed for the job with a wide variety of blades, materials and conditions. Before cutting with any new track, you will first need to make an initial reference cut of the splinter guard. It is installed on the aluminum rail slightly wide from the factory. The blade cuts completely through and determines the final width of the splinter guard. With any cut on any circular saw, you want to set your depth before cutting. To make a cut with a track, you simply have to mark your cut and place the splinter guard on the marks on the side you wish to keep. It is not necessary to mark the whole cut line. I normally only mark the beginning and the end. The tracks are very straight and since the blade follows exactly the edge of the splinter guard, the cut is always straight. The splinter guards and riving knife make for very safe and accurate cuts There are many blade choices from Festool. I have only used the ones for wood products. I Like the 24 tooth for general purpose use. It is a little faster than the factory 48 tooth blade and still leaves a very clean cut. The edge is as glue ready as I have ever seen with a circular saw. For even faster rips there is a 12 tooth Panther blade. On rips, I have noticed very little reduction in cut quality with it. I have heard from quite a few users that the panther is their main blade. For crosscuts in veneer plywood or melamine, I definitely recommend the factory 48 tooth blade. I like this cordless saw so much after using it a year that I completely stopped using the corded version and sold it. It has become my all time favorite power tool. It really simplifies a major portion of my work. I can say with confidence that anyone considering a tracksaw should seriously consider the 18-36v Festool TSC55REB. It does everything a corded track saw does and more. It is very easy to schedule a demo at your local dealer. Shop for the TSC55 REB at ACME TOOLS I review and recommend products to help you buy the stuff you need. If you make a purchase by clicking one of my links, I may earn a small share of the revenue. My picks and opinions are independent from any business incentives.

$99.00 Festool Pro5 ltd sander is the best deal ever!

thetoolpig — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 17:03:56 +0000

Festool Pro 5 LTD Festool dropped a bomb on us by offering this limited edition sander for an unprecedented deal. My first Festool purchace was the ETS125 and a ct36 dust extractor. It changed everything for me! I never knew how clean sanding could be. I never knew how smooth a sander could operate. The noise level was better than I had ever experienced before. It was better in every way than any random orbit sander from just about every manufacturer you could name! at $198.00 I felt it was a good value. For 2016 Festool took that sander and upgraded it in many ways. It now has 25% more power, improved ergonomics, more durable switch,better vibration control, interlocking dust port and an edge guard to protect adjacent surfaces from damage. Put that all in a special edition blue systainer for a lowball price of$ 99.00 and you have the Festool PRO-5 Ltd. item #201234 to order this special deal click here. Order From Acme Tools

New Tool Alert Milwaukee Fuel Surge hydraulic driver

thetoolpig — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 14:50:40 +0000

What is the "Surge"? It's a brand new 4 mode brushless driver with a hydraulic power train instead of a traditional hammer and anvil impact driver. It looks like an impact. It does the work of an impact driver but it is much different in operation to reduce jobsite noise pollution and exposure by 1/2 or more. It also provides 3x less shock to your hand and wrist. The Surge operates at 76 dB in controlled tests according to Milwaukee. This is at least 10-15 dB lower than traditional impact drivers. I do not have in anechoic chamber for such testing but I found in my shop that it was around 82 to 85 dB in normal fastening situations. My measurements are probably more realistic than factory controlled measurements with soundproof walls. However compared to normal impact drivers which operate at around 100 dB it is a huge improvement! There are 3 other impulse drivers on the market already. The Makita xst01 is about 2 years old and has been my favorite so far in this category. Ridgid made the stealth force driver late in 2015 and Ryobi also just brought one out. The Ridgid and Ryobi work well but I do not like them. They are far too big for extended professional use. I really like the route Milwaukee took with the Surge. Instead of following the lead of the DIY companies, they decided early on that their driver would be compact and light with adequate power for 90% of medium or smaller fastening tasks. Screws and smaller lags 6" or less. For larger fasteners it is recommended to use a traditional impact driver or impact wrench. The Surge is a dead ringer for the feel of the Fuel generation 2 impact driver. It is just about 1/4" shorter in length at 5" . It weighs just 2.1 lbs.. the grip and balance are spot on for heavy extended use. It feels best with a compact battery. It has 3 speeds for a wide range of fasteners and applications. The 3 speeds really reduce screw stripping and ruined work. It also has a 4th screw driving mode for sheet metal screws. This mode starts the driver at full speed and as the screw drives into the metal, it slows down to aid in a controlled fastening. This makes it much easier to stop driving before the screw head breaks or the hole is stripped from over driving. If you are like me you were wondering what can a driver with only 450 inch lbs do for me? After all most impact drivers today are rated at 1500+ inch lbs. If you have been following me for any time on Instagram you know for a fact that it is not always about numbers. Often times a tool with a much lower torque rating will get to the job done faster. The new hydraulic power train on the surge develops peak torque faster than an impact driver and holds that peak torque longer so that in our hands with 90% of fasteners, it actually operates almost exactly like a regular impact driver. I ran several speed tests with the surge and the top of the line 2757 Fuel one-key impact driver. In each test the Surge was a second or less behind the one key impact in finishing a screw. I tried drywall screws, 3 inch decking screws, 4 inch decking screws and 6" ledgerlock lag screws. While it is not quite as fast as the one key impact driver it will certainly keep up and do the work we need to get done quietly. Compared to lesser impact drivers, the surge is equal or faster. Watch my video about the Surge here>>> https://youtu.be/7WfqdDMQdXc Who will benefit from this amazing tool? Basically any trades person who has ears and or hands! It would be easier to say who wouldn't benefit. There is not a trade on planet that wouldn't benefit from a tool that does 90% of the work of a really good impact driver. I have been preaching the benefits of soft impact drivers for some time now. It is great to see another great tool companycoard with the release of the Fuel Surge hydraulic driver from Milwaukee. It is very reasonably priced at $150.00 US for the bare tool. There is a one-key version coming soon as well. Get your hands on one and see the difference for yourself. As always thanks for looking. If you like this kind of article don't hesitate to subscribe. I will not share your info. Buy at Acme Tools

Milwaukee One-Key Impact Driver

thetoolpig — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 12:59:08 +0000

I am going to come right out and say it. When I first heard about the one key system, I thought it was a gimmick. It was during NPS2015. While I was excited about the release of the Fuel Generation 2 tools, I was somewhat intrigued by one Key but I honestly felt it was an answer to a problem that didn't exist. I actually decided I probably wouldn't buy it and bought two of the Fuel gen2 hammerdrill and impact combo kits. They were very good and I was quite satisfied with them. I am a diesel truck guy. My last six trucks have been diesels. One thing that we have learned is that a simple tuner can make a good truck into a great truck! A tuner can increase the power, fuel economy and how the transmission behaves. I wondered if the one key could have a similar effect on the new tools. I decided to rethink my decision. I just had to try the one key system. I started out by trying the impact driver as it is one of my most heavily used tools. I use impact drivers in all aspects of our work. It's hard to beat the all around usefulness of a good impact driver. In the last decade their popularity has exploded. I see them being used as drills, screwdrivers as mini impact wrenches, pipe cleaners and much more. Their usefulness seems to be limited only by our imagination. So far in my testing and in my Instagram posts on my @toolpig and @worksmarternotharderig pages, I have received quite a wide range of public opinion on these tools. Many are very excited about this new technology and already have one or can't wait to try it. Others have never tried it and feel pretty much like I did before trying it. Basically that it's unnecessary tech built into tools adding to the expense. It is interesting to note that so far, 100% of the negative comments I have received are from those that have not yet tried a one-key tool. When The FedEx truck delivered the impact driver and I picked it up for the first time, it immediately felt so familiar and comfortable. The only difference I could see compared to the fuel generation 2 was the extra mode for blue tooth. Out of the box it looks and performs pretty much exactly the same as the one I had been using for the last seven months. I knew however that just using the impact driver in the factory settings would be a waste. Included in the box is a quick start guide. It explains how to get the app, add the tool to your inventory, how to connect to and then customize the tool. Within the app you will find inventory management, last known tool locations, custom Milwaukee profiles for common tasks and user adjustable profiles. For the impact driver, some of the custom Milwaukee profiles are screw in concrete anchor and self tapping screw. It is my understanding that a whole team is working on developing new custom profiles and will be updating the app with them as the are released. As an example of a custom profile from Milwaukee, let's take a look at the concrete anchor profile. To select it you must first select "tool controls" then "setup" Then select "concrete anchor." Within this profile you will see different parameters like material you are fastening to; concrete, cinder block or brick as well as anchor diameter and anchor length. I found the settings to be really spot on but if you don't, you can tweak them for your specific application. This is very useful because each mix and age of concrete is different. The same can be said of brick. For my first attempt at creating a custom profile, I decided to try pocket screws. I love pocket hole joinery on cabinet face frames and other woodworking tasks. I do not like using an impact driver for setting them normally. They are easy to drive too deep or strip the holes on. I always use a driver drill with the clutch setting pretty light. Just enough to get the screw snug and squeeze the glue out. Using the app on my smart phone, I tapped tool controls. I chose a medium low rpm 1150 and low torque level. I chose Kreg screw. After you are finished you hit save on the app screen. My first task was screwing some blocks to the top of some kitchen cabinets to support crown molding. I am pleased to say that it worked flawlessly on each block of wood. It drove each screw home without overdriving and stopped completely. Normal 3 speed impacts will keep hammering away at a screw at the preset rpm as long as you hold the trigger. Needless to say, I was very happy with the result. In this situation, the blocks were pine and the cabinet tops were particle board. When I used the driver on hardwood face frame stock, I had to adjust the speed and torque up slightly. The next custom profile I needed was for installing switch plates and plug covers in a kitchen. Normally with an impact driver you have to feather the trigger so much that it's probably not even the right tool for installing plug covers. With the fuel one key driver it is easily possible to install covers continuously without damage. For that setting I went to about 550 RPM and the lowest torque setting. Incredibly it drove the screws home and stopped completely before damaging any switch covers. Please understand that it will not clock the screws vertically. I caught a ton of heat from electricians on my Instagram post because of this. I feel that they completely missed the point of my video. My third custom profile was for larger sheet metal screws. In our air duct cleaning division, we frequently remove the covers from furnaces and air handlers to access the internal components. We also remove fan motors. Most of these screws are #10-16x 3/4". On the light gauge steel of air handlers, you can easily strip the screw holes out if you aren't careful. https://instagram.com/p/BCvUcS_Ox9W/ After setting up a profile and naming it air handler screws I was able to remove and replace them without damage. As with the other custom settings, the driver drove the screws home and completely shut off each time. I must say that I am very impressed with the flexibility and repeatability the one key system offers on different fasteners. There are other benefits as well. With all of the available tweaking, I find the trigger sensitivity to be much better than both generations of fuel impact drivers. That was my main complaint about the fuel gen 1 and 2 impact drivers. The power band was kind of like a 2 stroke dirt bike. Not a lot of torque down low and then a little more throttle and Bam it would take off like a rocket. The one key impact is much easier to control. Another benefit, tool inventory allows you to keep track of both one-key and non one-key tools. It also helps locate missing one-key tools. I Asked for and received a brief description from my contact at Milwaukee Tool: · "The ONE-KEY™ app will automatically store the last time it was within range of your tool. You can check your app to easily pinpoint the last time and location you were within 100 ft of your missing tool. · Also, if you mark the tool as missing in your app, if anyone with the One-Key app is near your missing tool, it will send you an update. They won’t get this notification, but you will." At this point it should be noted that the app is not completely developed. There are teams working on it every day and as updates are made we receive the benefits in the app updates. Who knows how far this will take us? I have had extended time with this unique impact driver. It continues to do the job it was designed for very well. I sometimes revert back to factory settings for tool fights on Instagram. I have had no issues whatsoever. The power is there. He torque is there. The control is there. One thing is for sure. This is the future. This is not a gimmick. This is not going away. Bosch recently announced a similar system in the works. I am sure other companies are scrambling to launch competing systems as well. Whether you are a Milwaukee tool fan or prefer another brand more, we can all thank Milwaukee for taking such a bold step. When power tool companies compete, we win.

Toolpig Makita instagram 50k giveaway #2

thetoolpig — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 22:29:17 +0000

I just want to thank all of you for all of your support and all of your feedback. It really means a lot to me to know that you care and that you are interested in the reviews I am doing and the tools and toolfights I am posting. And a huge thanks to A-OK Power Equipment WWW.AOKPOWER.COM and Makita USA for their support in this.

Milwaukee Releases the Amazing Mid Torque Impact wrench!

thetoolpig — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 16:08:06 +0000

Milwaukee tools and tool fans were excited to start 2017 with the announcement of a new addition to the M18 FUEL line -- Mid-Torque Impact Wrenches! With plenty of power to tackle a wide array of heavy fastening applications, the Mid-Torque is up to 4” shorter and weighs 2 lbs less than competitive tools in the High Torque class, allowing more access into tight spaces and reducing user fatigue. Some quick features: ??450ft-lbs of fastening torque. ??600ft-lbs of nut-busting torque. ??Similar in size and weight to compact impact wrenches. New models include M18 FUEL Mid-Torque Impact Wrench with 1/2" Pin Detent and M18 FUEL Mid-Torque Impact Wrench with 1/2" Friction Ring. Available: February 2017 MSRP: $399 for kit, $189 for bare tool I feel that this is an outstanding impact wrench. It is barely larger than than the compact but has more than 2x the power. It has quickly become my most used and favorite impact wrench. It is so much more manageable for most tasks I run in to. For changing tires or brakes on cars and trucks it is perfect. For running lag screws in decks it performs just as well as the large High torque impact wrench. I know I will find many more uses for it as I get to know it better. The size and balance make it so much more versatile. Where I used to have to break out my Ingersoll -Rand titanium pneumatic, I can now use this compact beast. I used to try to use my compact in these spots but it just didn't have enough power. All in all this is a home run for Milwaukee and a first in the industry. I feel it will be a popular seller. I am pleased to be able to give one away here!

DeWalt Flexvolt Sliding Compound Miter Saw Rules the Jobsite

thetoolpig — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 20:28:29 +0000

Many people say they have no use for a cordless miter saw. The general idea is that you set up a station and you don't really need to move it around much on the job site. I have a different view point though. I HATE Cords simple and direct. I work on many jobs where there is one or maybe two receptacles for many people to share in many trades. With that scenario we deal with tripping breakers and possibly Tool damage from voltage drops. Then you have the problem of somebody coming along and unplugging your cord so they can run their tool. Heavy duty cordless tools solve all of those problems and more. I applaud DeWalt for developing this heavy duty tool platform that is also backwards compatible with their current 20 V Max line. I have had every generation of DeWalt and Makita sliding compound miter saws since the old 708 came out. I have tried every other brand along the way and keep coming back to DeWalt. They just feel right to me. They have been dialed for many years. I have found that people who have never used them before figure them out faster than any other saws. The capacity is tops or near the top in each successive generation. The accuracy out of the box is usually very good. If there is a problem it is usually very easily adjusted by the careful carpenter. The DHS790 Flexvolt saw is nearly identical to the dws780 before it. The 780 was really close to the dws718 before it. Each generation has gotten better and better. The biggest change of course on the new saw is the corded/cordless flexibility you have with it. It can be ordered with the 120 V adapter or without. They can be ordered with or without batteries as well. It is truly amazing to me that it feels stronger on batteries than when plugged into the wall. It spins up faster and has amazing torque on battery power! 2x 3x even 4x12 hardwoods are no problem. Framing lumber is butter to this beast. Here is a video of it cutting a white oak 4x6??https://instagram.com/p/BR54S1lgTWk/ I ordered my saw with the 2.0 60 V Max batteries. They are also rated at 6.0 A hours at 20 V Max. They are good for 100's of cuts. Of course runtime will vary with material size and density as well as blade condition. Since that time the 3.0 20 V Max batteries have come out and they are giving a much higher improvement in runtime than 3.0 vs 2.0 would suggest. With heavy use in continuous cutting they are giving more than double the runtime. This is partially because the 3.0 batteries are using the 20700 cells which are 20 mm x 700 mm. The 2.0 batteries are using the 18650 cells which are 18mm x 650mm. There is a substantial difference in the size and the formulation inside the cells. They are much better suited to delivering higher amperage output without wasting energy to heat. It may mean the difference between using the batteries for half a day or a full day on one charge. One less noticeable difference with the new saw is the XPS Light was shelved and replaced with a dual LED cutline indicator. It is basically the same thing but the XPS was a single LED split by the blade and the cutline LEDs are on either side of the blade for a sharper shadow line and brighter light. One of the changes that I don't really feel is an improvement is on the lighting control. It comes on when you squeeze the trigger or touch the light button but it will not stay on continuously like on the DWS 780. I have heard many people state that they wish they could stay on and I agree. I have always thought the Dewalt fences were among the best in the industry. They are often taller than other brands and offer great flexibility with no hassle. The flexvolt saw will cut a 1"x8" standing up against the fence. In normal configuration the saw will easily cut larger than a 2 x 12 but the fence is removable to allow for 16 inch wide cross cut with the back fence. So far I know of no other saw besides the DeWalt dws 780 with this feature and capacity. The miter scale is stainless steel and is easily adjusted if your angles are off. It is marked in one degree increments up to 50° on the left and 60°to the right. There are additional marks at 22.5, 31.6 and 35.3 which are commonly used angles to make 45° miter or to cut crown molding flat on the table with a complimentary bevel angle. There are detents at 0°, 15° and 22.5°. To release it from the detents there is a thumb button. To lock at other angles you simply push the lock lever down. To release it you lift up. Over the course of many years I have never seen someone struggle with learning these controls. The bevel lock handle is at the rear of the saw and is not as convenient as some with upfront controls. It is however simple to use and very effective. It is set to bevel 0 to 45 left or right. There are overrides on each side that will allow you to go deeper in the bevel up to 49° by simply pulling on a small metal lever. There are also some heavy duty positive stops for 22.5° and 33.9°. Where these positive stops actually end up are easily adjustable with a bolt on either side. There is a trenching feature that consists of a small steel flip down lever and an adjustable set screw for setting of the trench or dado. It limits the depth the saw will plunge so you can make a cut without going through the material completely. The onboard blade changing wrench stores nicely in the base and is also helpful in making adjustments to this off without having extra tools. This is not the simplest blade changing operation I have seen but it is not overly complicated. The saw came with a standard general purpose blade that also comes on the corded miter saws. It also came with a high-performance flexvolt 60 tooth blade which is optimized for cordless efficiency and quality of cut. I was very impressed with the flex volt blade. I am not usually impressed with factory blades unless the saw comes from Festool or Makita. This one however does a respectable job of making clean cuts with little tear out or run out. It does in fact increase the number of cuts you can make on one charge. The weakest area of performance for the flexvolt Miter saw is dust collection. Dewalt has many saws with better dust collection capabilities. The 20v max 7 1/4" is one. The DWS717 10" is another. All of the DeWalt non slide saws are better for dust collection. The collection system is a long horizontal tube with a flexible boot close to the blade and an airlock connection at the back of the saw. The air lock connection fits Dewalt dust extractor hoses perfectly. I like this connection because it is very secure and locks and unlocks with a simple twist of the locking ring This is a rather large saw but it is more compact than many 12 inch saws. It is around 56 pounds so one person can carry it but it is probably not a fun task for anybody. It can be lifted from the top handle when stowed correctly or it can be lifted from the base with two hands. I will add to this review with updates from time to time but this gives a good overview up to this point. Overall this is my top choice for general carpentry miter saws. Cordless or corded. If you are in the Market for a new top tier miter saw, the Flexvolt should be on your shortlist. Order at ACME Tools?? http://bit.ly/2oqxj0q

Blåkläder 1690 Ripstop work pants are rugged and tough.

thetoolpig — Tue, 02 May 2017 17:44:26 +0000

I am really enjoying using these new pants. I don't always need the tool bag pockets that Blåkläder is known for. These will be perfect for those days. They still have a several tool pockets larger cellphone pockets and more. They also have my favorite pockets of all...the much needed reinforced kneepad pockets. Even those these may be the toughest ones yet they're still quite comfortable. They are built perfectly for me. They are cut generously and have quite a bit of give for a kneeling, crouching, bending, stretching and climbing. The poly/cotton blend material is really tough but also lightweight. And breathable. I think it will feel cooler in the summer than 100% cotton especially if you are out of direct sunlight. Here are some details from Blåkläder: A new, heavily tested fabric is launched within Blaklader. The rip-stop fabric is lightweight and comfortable with an unmatched durability of even the heaviest fabrics. Equipped with features like kneepad pockets and carpenter pockets on the leg, making this pant the essential tool for your work day. The gusseted crotch panel is made from stretch material increasing the flexibility and durability. FABRIC 60% cotton, 40% polyester, ripstop 250 g/m² FUNCTIONALITY Stretch panels Pre-bent knees REINFORCEMENT CORDURA® 1000 reinforced nail pockets, back pockets, ruler pocket, leg pockets, knees and hem DETAILS Plastic zipper fly Loops, one with D ring Inside leg seam with double stitching Blåkläder embroidery back POCKETS Back pockets with bellow, reinforced Leg pocket with pen pocket, extra pocket and telephone pocket, Leg pocket with zipper, Thigh pocket with zipper Knee protection pockets with two placement level options and velcro closure Side pockets Ruler pocket reinforced with CORDURA®, Ruler pocket with extra pocket, Ruler pocket with pen pocket FINISH Leg bottom with CORDURA® reinforcement, Adjustable leg hem with drawstring and CORDURA®-reinforcement REFLEX Reflective details Available at Toolnut here ??? http://www.toolnut.com/blaklader-169013309900-rip-stop-pants-black.html?utm_

18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Sub-Compact Brushless Cordless 2-piece Combo Kit (Driver-Drill/ Impact Driver) 2.0Ah

thetoolpig — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 02:39:16 +0000

This review is part of The Home Depot #Prospective review program. We are compensated for all of these reviews but we can say what we want to about the tools. We are able to have honesty and openness. . If you read my review of the 12 V brushless CXT driver/drill you will see that I reallylove subcompact tools. The whole premise of 18v sub compact tools is great! They are actually smaller than most current 12 v tools but have better power and runtime than any you can buy today. The tiny size is a huge advantage in many situations. They are so handy to be able to just slip in your tool bag without a lot of extra weight. They are also great to hang from your belt or pocket without contributing to plumbers crack! [caption id="attachment_602" align="alignright" width="284"] The Makita is smaller than 12v drills[/caption] This new 18v XFD11 drill has replaced the CXT 12v drill as my favorite. What's not to like? It is nearly identical in form and function with added power and runtime! The drill body is actually so close to the 12vmax tool that it's hard to tell them apart. Makita decided to build the 18v subcompact tools in black instead of the normal teal we all have come to expect. This not only looks cool, it helps distinguish them from the 12v CXT tools. The other improvement is the 1/2" chuck which allows you to take advantage of the extra power. It runs at 0-500 rpm on low and 0-1700 on high speed. It has 20 torque settings for accurate driving of different sized fasteners and materials. The XDT15 impact driver follows the same path in being extremely close to the 12v brushless model in form. The slender handle just feels perfect in the hand. The comfort makes for light work whatever the task. Again, the black color scheme sets it apart. It also deletes the clear plastic nose cone in favor of an exposed metal hammer case. It runs at 0-1300 on low and 0-3000 RPM on high with up to 3900 impacts per minute. This allows very respectable power and speed for such a compact tool. It also offers an assist mode to aid in driving certain types of fasteners like self drilling screws in sheet metal. It allows for more control and less stripping of your fasteners. Some people like it while others do not. In my opinion it's nice to have the option. I love using these bad boys just about anywhere but one place they really shine is in overhead work. The light weight and compact ergonomic design really reduce fatigue over a long day. Another place they shine is in cabinet building and installation. Face it. With finish work we don't often need a 1000+ in.Lb. monster. The subcompact drill and impact driver will run about 95% of the bits needed in most situations. The extra small size and weight make them a no brainer to use on hardware and predrilling for fasteners. The slim unobtrusive bodies make pocket hole joinery a snap. Electrical, plumbing, Hvac installation and repair are also great uses for them. The power is great for driving all sorts of screws. The slender bodies make it much easier to run screws in tight spots where clearance is an issue around ducts, pipe, conduit, wiring, linesets, exhaust vents and myriad other obstacles. They aren't just for small drill bits and screws. The impact does great on decking screws and self drillers in metal. For lag bolts and timberlock screws I recommend pre drilling or a larger impact driver or an impact wrench. I have run quite a number of holesaws and auger bits with the drill. One of the first things I did when I got my set was to chuck a 1"x 12" ship auger bit in it and proceeded to hog out a huge pile of shavings from a 6x6 treated post with it just to see if it could. I posted videos on Instagram showing it. I have drilled plenty of holes in cabinets as well with holesaws for water supply and drain lines. It has handled them all very well. I find that it will handle anything I feel confident doing one handed. In other words , if the bit is big enough that feel more comfortable using a side handle for the task, I'll go get a bigger drill with a side handle. Overloading a tool or your wrist is never a good idea. Tools can be replaced. Wrists are harder to come by. I can't think of a trade that does not stand to benefit from this set of really well designed tools. They truly will do 90-99% of everything we do with cordless drills on the job or in the shop. For those heavier tasks, like large holesaws or lag bolts we have heavier tools available. For the rest of the jobs we do, why carry the extra weight all day every day? Why spin a bigger motor when a smaller one is up to the task? This Makita subcompact brushless kit just makes good sense. It is 100% compatible with the full LXT line. The subcompact line will be growing with some additional tools coming soon. The first I have seen is a gorgeous sds plus rotary hammer. I really look forward to watching this line up grow. You owe it to yourself to at least try them out. Who knows? Perhaps you will find a new favorite as well. If you are buying tools anyway try our links to Home Depot. they won't change your price but they will help us continue.

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M18 18-Volt FUEL Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 10 in. Dual Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw Kit

thetoolpig — Mon, 15 May 2017 22:21:30 +0000

Have you ever wondered why we even need a cordless miter saw? If so you are not alone People ask me about it all the time. I feel they are very important to have for many different situations. On some job sites there is limited or no power. I have worked alongside many trades over the years. Let me tell you , it isn't very fun sharing one or two circuits with different crews. Popping breakers is no fun for anyone. It can ruin a cut or and expensive piece of material. On some building projects only an electrician is allowed to reset a breaker after checking the circuit and determining that it is safe. Down time is no fun when you are trying to get a job done and stay on schedule. Cordless tools prevent all of those problems. If you have enough batteries you can work all day without touching a charger. Even a large tool like a miter saw can benefit from being cordless. The time saved by leaving the cords in the truck can be significant over time.

When I first heard news of the Fuel miter saw from NPS15 (Milwaukee tools New Product Symposium) I was really hopeful that it would finally be the real cordless miter saw I had been waiting for so long. At NPS16 we were able to finally use it and share pictures and video. I was perplexed with it from the first cut. It sliced 4x4's and 2x12's pretty well but it had a hard time producing a good bevel cut.

Why was it called the worlds first when other companies already had cordless miter saws of their own? The existing saws were small with blades between 7 1/4" and 8 1/4". they were well made and capable. All of them had what I feel to be an oversight or design flaw. They all suffered from having a single bevel design. This is pretty significant to a trim carpenter. With such a small blade, many cuts must be made on the flat, lying down on the table rather than standing against the fence. Having a single bevel means that some of the time you must flip the work piece in order to obtain the correct angle. For many cuts that is not a problem but for cuts on materials with a profile or a finished face it is not a good solution. Another issue is blade availability. You can find good blades for these smaller sized saws but you have to look much harder. It is much easier to find great 10" blades. I have often felt the first great cordless 10" dual bevel sliding compound miter saw would own the market. 10 inch saws are probably the most popular at least in North America because they are full-size saws with full-size capacity. Many have stated that they get less blade deflection and wandering in the cut with a 10 inch saw versus a 12 inch saw. The Milwaukee Fuel was the first in this 10" class. It has all the features we expect to get the job done. It has good capacity for a 10" saw. It has dual bevel. The controls are all smooth. The slides, bevel function and miter table are all smooth. There is a very nice cut line indicator light that uses an LED to cast a shadow line from the blade on to the workpiece. The Led not only makes it easier to see your cut line, it illuminates your whole piece. Notice how it works in the following video [wpvideo ZaeVy67u ] I have found the Milwaukee Fuel Saw to be fairly efficient. It has a relatively powerful Brushless motor that extracts all possible power from a single 18v battery. It works with a slim battery. it is better with a 5.0 and even better with a 9.0 high demand battery with 3 rows of 5 18650 cells providing higher current and less voltage drop under load. I have actually been surprised at how well it cuts with the factory blade. It has made pretty smooth crosscuts and miters for me. It sips 9.0 batteries. It can do 100's of cuts on one charge. Around 400 cuts on base board or slightly less in 2x material depending on the width. Efficiency may sway you to look at the saw. The bigger Flexvolt Saw has more ultimate power but cannot match cuts per battery. I have used the saw on many jobs. After getting it dialed in I can say that it has actually done well at making different types of cuts in trim. I have installed baseboard, base shoe, casing and crown molding. I have cut both hardwood and MDF with it. I have also used it for cutting cabinet face frame material. The accuracy has never left me wanting. I can say that on several jobs, I have never ruined a cut with the saw because of accuracy problems. In finish work the power is adequate. It is surprising what they can get out of an 18v battery these days. I have also used it for framing lumber. It does really well on cross cuts and mitres on 2x4- 2x8 material. It also crosscuts 2x10's and 2x12's fairly well. The place I find the saw struggling is with bevel cuts on material over 1" thick. It will make those cuts but you need to remember it is 18v with a full size 10" blade. It has a tendency to dig in at the end of the plunge and stall if you don't have a slow and steady feed rate. I have noticed on my jobs that guys who call miter saws "chop saws" seem to have more trouble with this than finish carpenters. There is a some discussion about flex in the rail system. All saws have some flex. The Milwaukee is somewhat stiff when the head is fully extended toward the user. As the head slides toward the fence, more of the rail system is exposed and the flex increases quite a bit. I checked quite a few sliding miter saws from many manufacturers and I found the Milwaukee to be mid pack on the HIGH side in the flex. This is not as much of an issue with miter cuts. It comes into play more with bevel cuts. The stiff headspring means you have to push down pretty hard on the handle to get it to plunge. This is a poor combination for consistent, accurate bevel cuts. I always try to be mindful of this when using any miter saw. I always try to have a neutral grip. That means I avoid lateral pressure on the handle. I try to stay lined up with my hand and arm so I am only applying pressure down and forward through the whole cut. All said, this saw has never ruined a cut for me on the job. It can produce nice cuts for me. I will say it takes more concentration with the fuel than other saws to make those nice cuts. Did you know you can use some miter saws to make dados? The Milwaukee fuel is one saw that has the trenching feature. Check this video to see how it works. The biggest weakness after the head flex is dust collection. I am extremely picky about dust extraction on my jobs. If you watch my Instagram videos I think you already know that. I am deeply invested in Festool because of this. In our fire and water damage restoration work we find ourselves in many finished homes and dust control is a huge priority. The Milwaukee has a pretty long dust channel built into the main sliding arm that terminates into a short tube and then a supplied dust bag. It catches about 30% with the bag. A little more with an extractor. If you are a Festool guy you will not be impressed. If dust collection is not a big issue for you, it could be a good fit. I would be more likely use this saw on new construction where there are many trades working and making dust already. I would use it for framing a deck or even a house. When cutting outside I don't see dust as being a problem. The saw itself is very compact and lightweight considering its capacity and feature set. I love how easy it is to transport and set up. I have heard many comment that they prefer it over the 12" DeWalt Flexvolt saw and other corded saws for these reasons. My final verdict is this. If you are a Milwaukee fan on the M18 platform, this saw is at least worth a look. Most Milwaukee users I know are not heavily invested in Festool or other tools with dust extraction or extreme accuracy as a priority. If you need a general purpose saw the Fuel Miter Saw should serve you very well. The smaller footprint and light weight make it a nice option for punch list work and occasionally the main saw on a job where power is off or limited. We regularly need a saw like this on jobs with no power. If it had stiffer rails, more power and good dust collection I would have kept it. As it is I moved it on to a framer. We are hoping to see the needed improvements on Generation two. Milwaukee M18 18-Volt Fuel Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless 10 in. Dual Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw Kit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy Now at The Home Depot

Pros:

Convenience

Performance

Weight

Smoothness

Capacity

Cordless power

Accuracy

Value

Features

Cons:

Dust

Flex

Milwaukee 9 in. 5 TPI with Carbide Teeth The AX SAWZALL Blade (1-Pack)

thetoolpig — Mon, 15 May 2017 22:15:57 +0000

" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Carbide Ax Blades

It was many years ago in the 90's that I first used the Ax blades from Milwaukee tool. They immediately became my favorite blade for any kind of demolition where I would be encountering nails or screws or roofing materials. That was a long time ago but the ax has continued to hold the top spot as my choice for any tough cut The design has been continually improved for greater durability and faster cutting speeds. The main body has remained very similar. It is both thicker and deeper than most reciprocating saw blades for greater strength. original high-speed steel teeth were very effective in cutting nail embedded wood. They were small enough that they didn't break off easily and stayed sharp for a good long time compared to normal wood blades. [caption id="attachment_332" align="alignleft" width="358"] Previous Generation Ax Blade with tooth guard compared to competitor[/caption] Milwaukee never rests and has continually improved the AX blades. There was at first an adjustment in the number of teeth per inch. There were more teeth per inch close to the tang for durability and fewer further out for faster cutting in heavier materials. This was developed from user feedback. One of the most effective improvements was changing the tooth profile to add a tooth guard. This allows fewer teeth per inch for faster cuts but strengthens the tooth from breakage and limits the bite depth so the tooth has less exposure on hard impacts with nails and screws. The next development was creating the fang tip for really fast plunge cuts. Even though this proved to be one of the most durable blade designs ever, Milwaukee knew they could do better. The future of premium sawzall blades would have to have a more durable tooth. Enter tungsten carbide. If the right balance of carbide particles and binders could be developed it would not only stay sharp longer, it would open up new possibilities of what you could do with a SAWZALL! Milwaukee is not the first company to offer carbide toothed reciprocating saw blades. I have used carbide blades from a handful of companies with mixed results. The first blades I bought from one competitor were a huge disappointment. They lasted a long time in clean wood but the second I encountered a nail or screw, several teeth would be lost. Early failures were partially because early blade designs were based on circular saw blade technology. What works for a circular saw may not work for a reciprocating saw. Tooth profile, hardness as well as connection to the blade itself all affect durability in different ways. The wear and tear on a recip blade is often far more severe than a circular saw blade. There is far more vibration and impact with the material as well as embedded nails and screws or adjacent surfaces like concrete. One advantage Milwaukee has is they operate their own carbide factory in Germany. This allows them to spend countless hours researching, developing and testing many different grades of carbide and how they perform in an exhaustive array of materials and conditions.

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A particularly memorable part of the factory tour is where the carbide cylinders are actually welded to the steel strapping that will become a seemingly unending supply of blades. That's right. Each tooth starts out as a carbide cylinder which is individually welded, not brazed, right to the steel. It's actually a beautiful process to watch. I would love to share a video of it but it is not permitted. [caption id="attachment_400" align="aligncenter" width="519"] A carbide tooth is born[/caption] After this the various lengths are cut, tooth profiles are ground and the blade is heat-treated. The next steps are powder coating, labeling, packaging and then distribution so we can put them to work on our jobs. With each new generation of Ax blades we see improved cutting performance and blade life. So far they have been my most used blade in demolition of fire and water damaged buildings. You never know when you are going to encounter nails or worse, hardened screws when cutting framing members out. As long as I don't break the blade accidentally, I find that they last longer than 20-30 regular blades. To me the Ax carbide blades represent the best value of any blade designed for wood with nails.

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The world is pretty much butter for the carbide ax. Milwaukee actually issued a challenge to many of us in the tool review community. They sent us blades and said see what you guys can cut . I decided to use one blade and see how far I could go with it. I cut numerous nails, screws and bolts. It was not enough. I had to find something more challenging. I cut a dead drill up. The blade went right through the whole motor and transmission. It went through ball bearings, gears and the hardened steel Armature shaft. Watch it here ???https://instagram.com/p/BOF6oEqBGWg/ I even bought a grade 8 bolt just for testing purposes. It was 5/8" diameter 5" long. I first cut the head off which was way too easy. Watch it here??https://instagram.com/p/BOfvDdfg7Xz/ Next I clamped it in the vise and sliced it all the way down the middle. Watch it here??https://instagram.com/p/BOfyqPcgaHR/ Remember this is designed as a wood blade. Also remember that a single blade was used for all of these tests After that I decided that my elbows and hands needed a rest from testing sawzall blades. With such an outstanding heritage and relentless improvement the Milwaukee ax family and especially the carbide ax blades represent an unbeaten value and stand as my number one choice in Sawzall blades.

Buy the carbide ax at Home Depot

[caption id="attachment_402" align="aligncenter" width="3264"] At NPS16 We were privileged to watch 1 carbide Ax cut 2x4 lumber over 1400x's[/caption]

Makita x2 36v hybrid HEPA dust extractor

thetoolpig — Mon, 08 May 2017 16:18:41 +0000

I have really enjoyed getting to know the xcv04 HEPA vac. It is one of the smallest canister type extractors on the market but has surprisingly good power. This is honestly the case when running it on ac power or on 2 18v lithium ion batteries. I should note that the power is not the same when running on the batteries but it is very respectable and adequate for many tasks. It comes with a nice compliment of accessories. There are two hoses. One smaller lightweight hose and a larger heavier anti static hose. There is a nice wide steerable floor tool, a rubber crevice tool, And real metal extension wands. It comes with a debris bag for the canister as well as a nice full sized fine mesh prefilter and HEPA filter. The whole case is very solidly built and aids in noise reduction. The casters are very sturdy and roll and turn very nicely. There is an on off switch on the front panel as well as a variable speed dial. On top there is a full width foot switch. This comes in very handy when running a power tool connected to the hose. You can kick the switch , run the tool and kick it off very easily. As far as I know, at the time of this writing, it has the most cordless power of any vac sold in N. America at 74 CFM. It has a static lift spec of 36". CFM is the volume in cubic feet of air the blower can move in one minute. Static lift is a good measurement of the negative pressure (suction) it can generate. It is actually how high the vacuum can lift a column of water in a 1.5" tube. On corded power The little Makita has 127 cfm and can lift this column 96" off the ground. I am very pleased with the real world performance of this vac. Specs are just numbers for comparison. My testing has been mostly cordless mode and can be highlighted by three or four outstanding examples. The first application was using it with the Makita xsh03 6 1/2" brushless cordless circular saw. The saw itself comes ready for a dust port. The factory accessory dust port takes only a few minutes to install. It comes with the vacuum port and a shorter thumb lever for the blade guard as well as the mounting screws. If you have ever used a Makita cordless circular saw, you may have noticed that the vast majority of the dust is expelled out of a discharge chute. This is no accident. The design is there to aid in dust collection should the user decide to install the dust port vacuum attachment. When I installed the accessory dust port and hooked the extraction hose to it the fit was just right . My first cuts were on some UV finished birch plywood. This is normally a very dusty product to cut. Both large shavings and airborne dust are usually pretty high. Well.. not this time! I could breath just fine. Even the surface of the plywood was missing the telltale dust particles. Emboldened, I decided to try some MDF. Now most of you know that MDF is actually from the devil himself. It is the bane of many a carpenters existence. The dust from cutting it is very fine and light and it seems to go everywhere and sticks to everything. It is abrasive and very hard on tools. It gets in your eyes and scratches. It makes us cough and is known to be carcinogenic. The cut was nearly dust free! It wasn't quite as clean as a Festool Track saw but it was the cleanest cut I had ever made with a regular cordless saw. There were just a few larger heavier shavings from the blade on the surface of the MDF. The fine dust that usually floats in the air was in the vacuum. I was needless to say very pleased. The next tool I wanted to try in Cordless mode was the LXT X2 36v sliding compound miter saw. It passed this test with flying colors. Every cut was as dust free as a miter saw can be. I would say it was extremely close to the performance of the Festool Kapex hooked to a Festool extractor. This combo is known around the world as the cleanest miter saw on the market. The Makita was matching it cut for cut even though it was running on a cordless extractor. I feel it is a very effective combination for working clean. Check the Instagram video here ??? https://instagram.com/p/BS1Y3nlAdyo/ I knew a harder test for the extractor would be a table saw. I am currently testing the DeWalt Flexvolt 60v max tablesaw. The Flexvolt tools have been outstanding and the table saw is no exception. Most table saws have a dust port in the rear but the newer Dewalt saws have two dust ports. One in the normal rear position and one on the upper blade guard. In addition they have flexible baffles running underneath from the blade shroud to the table top. This creates a seal to keep the dust from escaping and it has proven to be the most effective dust collection set up on any portable table saw design. In order to test the saw I needed to split the vacuum hose into two. I used a Furnco flexible wye no hub connector. I then connected the two hoses to both ports. I made several cuts on solid hardwood, plywood and MDF. The results left me in awe! Even on battery power, it was as dust free as my Dewalt DWE 7499 on a corded extractor. Only a few heavier crumbs escaped the extractor. All the fine dust was contained. I did not need a respirator even on the MDF rips. Check the Instagram video here??? https://instagram.com/p/BOxs7VfAn88/ My next test was even more difficult. (Disclaimer: This is not in compliance with new OSHA regulations which go into effect Sept 23. It is merely to display the effectiveness of this unit at removing dust. Use at your own discretion) I used the Makita LXT brushless grinder with a dust collecting shroud and a 4 1/2" diamaond concrete grinding cup . It passed this test with flying colors I ground quite a bit of material smooth without a spec of dust in the air or on the concrete. As I mentioned. This solution is not OSHA compliant after sept 23 2017. It does however work if you are working on your own property or for a small exposure job that doesn't fall under the ruling. Check the Instagram video here??? https://instagram.com/p/BSRWX4Lgxqv/ In each of these cases, the Makita HEPA vac would have almost twice to 3x the power when plugged into a 120v receptacle. I do not see this as a handicap for the extractor when on battery power. I see it as an advantage and an extra level of effectiveness and versatility. After all what can your normal vacuum do for you when there is no power? MI really feel this is significant! It means we finally have solution to work clean even when there is limited or no power on a job site. I have worked on many job sites where there are only one or two live receptacles and several trades trying to get their respective tasks done. Sure we can bring a power strip or 3 way cord and get by. This may work great or it may trip the breaker or worse damage your tools. On my fire damage restoration jobs we sometimes work for weeks with no power at all. Generators work well by but they cause pollution and fatigue us with noise. I personally am working toward a 100% cordless jobsite. This Makita extractor has brought me one step closer to that goal. For more info visit http://www.makitatools.com Available at Acme Tools ??? http://bit.ly/2pYBrGx ???

Team toolpig T-shirts are now available!

thetoolpig — Tue, 16 May 2017 18:42:44 +0000

We are very excited to be able to offer Toolpig T-shirts now! We have black with metallic logo, blue with white in supersoft polycotton blend from Next Level apparel. We also have 100% cotton hi viz. lime/yellow with a black logo. Sizes small through Large left - limited sizes and colors 20.00 shipped in the US. Please list the size, color and mailing address in the memo when you pay! We are out of lg. Hi Viz We are out of sm. Black PayPal.me/thetoolpig

Toolpig Tool-fight on YOUTUBE!

thetoolpig — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 19:00:55 +0000

How good is the new Milwaukee M 12 Fuel generation to impact driver?

Milwaukee m12 fuel vs. Makita 18v 12v

Toolpig's Raw Tool Videos

Many more Toolfights to come so subscribe to my channel Toolpig's raw tool videos

We want to swap stickers with you!

thetoolpig — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 03:09:44 +0000

We are having a lot of fun trading stickers with people from all over the world! If you do not have stickers to trade here is a $10 off coupon to help get you started !

??Sticker mule ??

Makita 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit (3-Tool)

thetoolpig — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 03:57:22 +0000

Over the past few years as brushless tools have become more mainstream, there has been a serious lack at least in North America of combo kits that include anything more than a drill and impact driver. Nearly every combo kit I have seen available in the US has been all entry level brushed tools. This has kept prices down but performance has also suffered. Enter the Makita 18-Volt LXT lithium-ion cordless combo kit! It includes three of the most used cordless tools for any trade. The XPH12 1/2" hammer drill/driver, the XDT13 impact driver and the XRJ05 brushless reciprocating saw with 2 of the upgraded 4.0 batteries with charge indicators. [wpvideo fBDob4Xv] The 4.0 batteries actually offer a power output advantage over 5.0 and 6.0 batteries. As Amp hour ratings increase, so does the lithium content which creates more heat during discharge. The result is the higher amp hour rated batteries actually have lower maximum current capabilities. You may or may not notice this difference. It is more apparent in higher drain applications. This is a real fact of life. It's all physics. This is why batteries which are using 18650 cells are all topping out at 6.0. Amp hours. Starting with the XPH12 1/2" hammer drill we find a strong heart of the system. The XPH12 comes from a long line of outstanding drills. The most notable being the XPH 07 1090 inch lb. monster drill. If you take that outstanding drill and reduce the size by 50% and the weight by half you have the XPH12. It has a really strong brushless motor. Even though this is a compact drill it still has a class beating 530 inch lbs of torque. It boasts 0-550 on low-speed and 0-2000 on high. With the efficient brushless motor the 4.0 batteries go a long way toward getting your job done. The XPH12 is a nice upgrade from the XPH05 and XPH06 drills. It will handle up to 1/2" bits in steel and I found it to work well. Most drills do if your bits are sharp. [wpvideo HI2YCzpe] In wood it handles all of the typical spade, brad point and augur bits as well as hole-saws normally used on a job site. Since I prefer the speed and efficiency of a rotary hammer I do not normally drill in concrete with a hammer drill but it's good to know that the XPH12 in hammer mode actually does pretty well in concrete and masonry. It will easily do 3/16" and 1/4" holes for tap cons and other anchors. Larger holes are possible but you will need to be patient.

" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy Yours At The Home Depot

The XDT13 impact driver is a strong performer and offers a nice upgrade in power and speed compared to almost all previous and current Makita impact drivers. I feel there are too many choices of impacts from Makita. This is just one step down from the flagship XDT12. It offers similar performance at a lower price point. This model is their best basic heavy-duty brushless impact. It lacks the different speed controls and assist modes. Honestly I don't miss them. I personally keep my impacts on high-speed and just go. If I need to drive slower I ease up on the trigger. Here is a speed run against a top of the line brushless Milwaukee Fuel one Key impact driver. [ngg_images source="galleries" container_ids="1" display_type="photocrati-nextgen_basic_slideshow" gallery_width="600" gallery_height="400" cycle_effect="fade" cycle_interval="10" show_thumbnail_link="0" thumbnail_link_text="[Show thumbnails]" order_by="sortorder" order_direction="ASC" returns="included" maximum_entity_count="500"] One thing I love about Makita drivers is the size. They are very compact and short from the back of the motor to the chuck. This is just slightly longer than the tiny XDT12 top of the line impact. They are among the smallest 18V impact drivers on the market. The compact size really helps in many scenarios. Say you have a tight cabinet and no right angle impact. A shorter impact will get the job done without running the bit at an angle. Thus there will be less chance for damage to your fasteners or the workpiece. Another thing that I feel is really good on this driver is the trigger sensitivity. It may not seem important but a coarse trigger feel and control can be frustrating. If the trigger response is linear you will have much better control and you will avoid over driving screws and damaging your work. This is especially important when starting or finishing screws. Full speed ahead or stiff or jumpy trigger is not good in either situation. The XRJ05 reciprocating saw is outstanding in its class. In speed and power testing it is at the top of the heap. I have run all the professional saws for days on end cutting various materials with different blades and I'll just say it's a winner. I feel the power to weight ratio is spot on. I really like the adjustable speed with full power for general purpose wood cutting and low-speed for metals and composite materials. The low-speed is the sweet spot for metal-cutting. It cuts more efficiently and makes your blades last so much longer. The simple switch is a great idea. A speed dial is also good. I feel they are far more practical for most than a Bluetooth app. Things I look for in a reciprocating saw are a comfortable handle, rafter hook, LED light, orbital action and an adjustable shoe. This saw has all of them but orbital action. The handle is THE most comfortable on the market. It has a very comfortable rounded butt which makes so much sense when you use it for extended periods. Most recip saws have a pretty squared off handle at the top of the tool. Some even have a small protrusion at the top corner. They create more psi on your hand when the whole mass vibrates back and forth in a cut. The longer the cut the worse your hand feels. With extended cuts you may even experience a bruise on your palm from this vibration. Of course gloves reduce this effect but a good rounded handle reduces it even more. Speaking of vibration the XRJ05 feels like it has a fair amount compared to other saws. It actually has more than the Milwaukee and DeWalt in free air but in the cut it has less. As strange as it sounds it is really a thing. It may have a lot to do with the new vertical crank mechanism. I don't know the actual watts out on the motor but it seems to cut more efficiently than the horizontal cranks of team red and yellow. It even beats the orbital action of the New Bosch saw. The vertical crank minimizes lateral oscillation which wastes power and instead thrusts the blade into the material even more. It's almost like a pseudo orbital action. Whatever the case this saw and the 36V X2 saw are my favorites for feel in the cut. I like a Saw that just chews through the material with little input and straining from me. [wpvideo y1IGVygw] One last outstanding feature of the Makita is the one-handed automatic blade clamp. It is the same design as the saws that were released in 2005 and they are hands down my favorites! You simply push a blade into the chuck and it snaps in with authority. When you need to change blades you simply turn the rubber coated clamp and the blade jumps out! Nothing else even comes close. All other designs require TWO hands to insert or remove a blade. Most are metal which can be pretty hot if you are a heavy user. I can't think of a trade that wouldn't benefit from this combo kit. There are not very many brushless combos other than the basic drill and impact combos in North America. This is an outstanding one I can recommend without worrying about negative backlash from people who buy one. At least check it out and compare with other available combo kits. For more info visit http://www.makitatools.com

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BL™ Brushless Motor delivers 530 in. lbs. of Max Torque
Efficient BL™ Brushless motor is electronically controlled to optimize battery energy use for up to 50% longer run time per charge
The BL™ Brushless Motor eliminates carbon brushes, enabling the BL™ Motor to run cooler and more efficiently for longer life
The electronically controlled BL™ Brushless Motor efficiently uses energy to match torque and RPM to the changing demands of the application
Variable 2-speed design (0-500 & 0-2,000 RPM) (0-7,500 & 0-30,000 BPM) covers a wide range of drilling, driving and hammer applications
Compact and ergonomic design at only 7-1/8" long
Weighs only 4.0 lbs. with battery (battery not included) for reduced operator fatigue
Features Extreme Protection Technology (XPT™) which is engineered to provide increased dust and water resistance in harsh job site conditions
Rubberized soft grip provides increased comfort on the job
Dual L.E.D. lights illuminate the work area

I review and recommend products to help you buy the stuff you need. If you make a purchase by clicking one of my links, I may earn a small share of the revenue. My picks and opinions are independent from any business incentives.

Husky 22in Pro Grade Rolling Tote

thetoolpig — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 00:34:15 +0000

HUSKY ROLLING TOTE

My first experience with a husky rolling tool bag was a pleasant surprise. I had not really used much from Husky and didn't really know what to expect as it was a store brand. I was using it in conjunction with a rolling tool/consumables cart on a large heavy commercial cabinet installation job. The bag was used to hold my hand tools like my hammer, measuring tape, pencils, square, chisels, pry-bar, container of drill bits, container of driver bits, gloves, a Makita 18v drill, impact driver and an oscillating multi tool. All other tools and consumables were kept in the large rolling tool box. We rolled those bags full of tools from one apartment to the next installing kitchens and bathroom vanities. All of the pockets were well sized and there was room for each tool to complete the task at hand. I was impressed with the quality of the hardware, stitching, handles and the wheels. These details raised my expectations when I thought about Husky products from then on. When I visited Home Depot headquarters in Atlanta in April 2017, I learned more about why the quality was so good. #thdprospective

" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Purchase at The Home Depot

We were able to witness first hand the extreme testing each product goes through to ensure high quality. In fact I learned that the bag I had grown fond of was actually in their entry-level line. You see, it was one of their red bags. The best Husky bags are the black line. They are upgraded in many ways with heavier, higher quality materials and hardware throughout to better withstand the abuse they will receive on a job site.

Now I have the larger heavier duty black 22" rolling bag. It holds more of everything. Not only is it larger, It has 38 Pockets! Plus 4 tape measure hangers. The construction really is a big upgrade to the bag I knew before. Thicker walls, heavier zipper, feet and handle. I can't imagine any tool this tote wouldn't be able to handle as long as it fits.

[wpvideo QANmPPMk]

There are 3 large steel reinforced wheels to make navigating over cords and debris very easy. The wheels are protected with a through axle and outside reinforcement. They don't seem likely to fall off or break any time soon. When the bag is zipped closed and the neoprene rain gator is in place the bag is water-resistant. I wouldn't throw it in a lake and expect it to keep the your tools dry but the odd cloud burst should prove to be no problem if you forget it outside or in the back of your truck. This may pay for itself fairly quickly depending on how water-resistant your tools are.

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With 3960 Cubic inches of storage plus the outside pockets the Husky rolling tool bag is one of the larger bags on the market. It doesn't stop there however. The top is flat and inviting allowing you to stow other large toolboxes or bags on top. Imagine the trips between the job and the truck that can and will be saved by this well designed well-built rolling tote. I encourage tradespersons in the market for a large rolling tote to check these out. You just might be pleasantly surprised like I was.

" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Order from The Home Depot

1680-denier, heavy-duty, water-resistant material protects your contents
150 lb. weight capacity supports a wide range of tools and accessories
38 storage pockets keep all your items organized
Reinforced tool wall provides flexible storage options
Measures 22 in. L x 12 in. W x 15 in. H
Backed by 5-year limited warranty

Metabo celebrates 50 years of preventing injuries and saving lives.

thetoolpig — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 17:49:51 +0000

My all time favorite grinders are from Metabo. If you haven't heard of them, it's because they aren't mainstream. They are truly high end. They are the smoothest,most powerful longest lasting grinders on the planet. They have many design details that set them apart. They all come together to produce the best you can buy. The vibration control is far better than any other manufacturer. The durability is unmatched as well. The power to weight ratio is continually improved as other companies try to catch up. The biggest development in grinder safety happened 50 years ago when Metabo first introduced the slip clutch. Today we are celebrating that with a giveaway of 2 of these amazing grinders. The rest is from Metabo corporation Metabo: Introduces Limited Edition Gold Grinders Celebrating 50 years of the industry’s first Safety Slip-Clutch September 1, 2016 – West Chester, PA – Metabo Corporation, a leading international manufacturer of professional grade hand-held power tools and accessories is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the industry’s first Safety Slip Clutch by offering a special, limited edition, angle grinder with an attractive, bright gold motor housing and guard. Two versions will be offered, a 4-1/2” WP9-115 Quick and a 6” WEP15-150 Quick, and both include a FREE Safety video (in both English and Spanish) which is used by end users and Safety Directors all across the country as a key safety training tool. The limited edition grinders also feature a bright gold label and are consecutively serial numbered, making them suitable for collecting. The 4-1/2” grinder comes with a free Original Grinding wheel, while the 6” will include two free Original Slicer wheels. Both models feature the exclusive Metabo Safety-Slip Clutch, which has been preventing injuries for 50 years, an anti-vibration side-handle, a quick-change nut system, and non-locking paddle switches, while the 6” also feature an electronic package to stabilize the grinders RPM while running under load. “In 1966, Metabo invented the safety-slip clutch, arguably the most important safety innovation ever introduced for angle grinders. This one feature started a safety revolution that continues to this day,” said Joe Smith, Metabo USA’s President and CEO. “Metabo continues its focus on end-use safety and productivity with all of our tools from metalworking to concrete prep, with injury-preventing features such as mechanical brakes and anti-vibration features.” The FREE safety videos have been used by Safety Directors in both open and closed shops throughout North America and Canada as a staple in their on-going safety training programs. It addresses all of the ANSI and OSHA requirements as well as many best practice safety concepts. The Metabo 50th Anniversary grinders are available at participating Metabo dealers for a limited time only. ABOUT METABO: Engineered in Germany, Metabo’s premium line of power tools are designed specifically for professional users to provide the highest level of safety, reliability and performance. Metabo manufactures both corded and cordless power tools, as well as a full line of abrasives and accessories for metalworking, concrete and many other industrial and construction applications. Metabo products include angle grinders, die grinders, drills, rotary hammers and dustless systems. The Metabo Ultra-M 18V LiHD battery technology offers users the mobility and power for the most demanding industrial applications. Metabo: Introduces Limited Edition Gold Grinders Celebrating 50 years of the industry’s first Safety Slip-Clutch September 1, 2016 – West Chester, PA – Metabo Corporation, a leading international manufacturer of professional grade hand-held power tools and accessories is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the industry’s first Safety Slip Clutch by offering a special, limited edition, angle grinder with an attractive, bright gold motor housing and guard. Two versions will be offered, a 4-1/2” WP9-115 Quick and a 6” WEP15-150 Quick, and both include a FREE Safety video (in both English and Spanish) which is used by end users and Safety Directors all across the country as a key safety training tool. The limited edition grinders also feature a bright gold label and are consecutively serial numbered, making them suitable for collecting. The 4-1/2” grinder comes with a free Original Grinding wheel, while the 6” will include two free Original Slicer wheels. Both models feature the exclusive Metabo Safety-Slip Clutch, which has been preventing injuries for 50 years, an anti-vibration side-handle, a quick-change nut system, and non-locking paddle switches, while the 6” also feature an electronic package to stabilize the grinders RPM while running under load. “In 1966, Metabo invented the safety-slip clutch, arguably the most important safety innovation ever introduced for angle grinders. This one feature started a safety revolution that continues to this day,” said Joe Smith, Metabo USA’s President and CEO. “Metabo continues its focus on end-use safety and productivity with all of our tools from metalworking to concrete prep, with injury-preventing features such as mechanical brakes and anti-vibration features.” The FREE safety videos have been used by Safety Directors in both open and closed shops throughout North America and Canada as a staple in their on-going safety training programs. It addresses all of the ANSI and OSHA requirements as well as many best practice safety concepts. The Metabo 50th Anniversary grinders are available at participating Metabo dealers for a limited time only. ABOUT METABO: Engineered in Germany, Metabo’s premium line of power tools are designed specifically for professional users to provide the highest level of safety, reliability and performance. Metabo manufactures both corded and cordless power tools, as well as a full line of abrasives and accessories for metalworking, concrete and many other industrial and construction applications. Metabo products include angle grinders, die grinders, drills, rotary hammers and dustless systems. The Metabo Ultra-M 18V LiHD battery technology offers users the mobility and power for the most demanding industrial applications. Metabo: Introduces Limited Edition Gold Grinders Celebrating 50 years of the industry’s first Safety Slip-Clutch September 1, 2016 – West Chester, PA – Metabo Corporation, a leading international manufacturer of professional grade hand-held power tools and accessories is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the industry’s first Safety Slip Clutch by offering a special, limited edition, angle grinder with an attractive, bright gold motor housing and guard. Two versions will be offered, a 4-1/2” WP9-115 Quick and a 6” WEP15-150 Quick, and both include a FREE Safety video (in both English and Spanish) which is used by end users and Safety Directors all across the country as a key safety training tool. The limited edition grinders also feature a bright gold label and are consecutively serial numbered, making them suitable for collecting. The 4-1/2” grinder comes with a free Original Grinding wheel, while the 6” will include two free Original Slicer wheels. Both models feature the exclusive Metabo Safety-Slip Clutch, which has been preventing injuries for 50 years, an anti-vibration side-handle, a quick-change nut system, and non-locking paddle switches, while the 6” also feature an electronic package to stabilize the grinders RPM while running under load. “In 1966, Metabo invented the safety-slip clutch, arguably the most important safety innovation ever introduced for angle grinders. This one feature started a safety revolution that continues to this day,” said Joe Smith, Metabo USA’s President and CEO. “Metabo continues its focus on end-use safety and productivity with all of our tools from metalworking to concrete prep, with injury-preventing features such as mechanical brakes and anti-vibration features.” The FREE safety videos have been used by Safety Directors in both open and closed shops throughout North America and Canada as a staple in their on-going safety training programs. It addresses all of the ANSI and OSHA requirements as well as many best practice safety concepts. The Metabo 50th Anniversary grinders are available at participating Metabo dealers for a limited time only. ABOUT METABO: Engineered in Germany, Metabo’s premium line of power tools are designed specifically for professional users to provide the highest level of safety, reliability and performance. Metabo manufactures both corded and cordless power tools, as well as a full line of abrasives and accessories for metalworking, concrete and many other industrial and construction applications. Metabo products include angle grinders, die grinders, drills, rotary hammers and dustless systems. The Metabo Ultra-M 18V LiHD battery technology offers users the mobility and power for the most demanding industrial applications.

Toolpig 55k Instagram giveaway!

thetoolpig — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 21:49:39 +0000

[wpvideo rdHACYpd] I am very close to 55K on Instagram and to celebrate I am hosting a giveaway of the new awesome HK 55 or HKC55 saw and a T 15+3 drill from Festool. This is being sponsored by Festool USA and Schutte lumber company in Kansas City Missouri. This is a link to their brand-new festool online store http://shop.schuttelumber.com/Festool-Power-Tools_c6.htm
Rules are on my Instagram page find it and follow and participate.

RIDGID 12-Volt Lithium-Ion 1/4 in. Cordless Palm Impact Screwdriver Kit

thetoolpig — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 17:54:22 +0000

Out of all the tools sent to us for the Home Depot #THDprospective tool reviewer program this little Ridgid palm impact driver is the biggest surprise. As I mentioned in some previous Instagram posts I actually thought it was a gimmick. I thought it was an answer to a question no one asked. I didn't really give it much thought. I tend to focus on professional, industrial and high-end tools. Tools that are generally considered to be the best.

When it arrived and I took it out of the box I really wasn't expecting much. I expected it to be clunky, cumbersome and awkward. The supplied 12 V battery is a 1.5 amp hour. That's not bad for the tasks we have thrown at it. The next day when I took it off the charger and snapped it in the tool and start using it I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't clunky and cumbersome at all. Sometimes its good to be wrong. It is actually fairly nice to use. There is a nice large forward and reverse switch on top. There is no trigger. It has a pressure sensitive switch built into the nose of the tool. When you push on the bit the tool powers up and starts turning the motor. The harder you push the faster it turns up to max speed of 2000 RPM with 2900 impacts per minute. If you want to drive a screw slowly give it light pressure. If you want to drive it faster push harder. It seems that they spent some time getting the variable speed dialed in because it works very well.

Everyone on our crew who has used it has actually enjoyed it. We have used it on building projects and also for demolition days on water damage properties. It works particularly well for removing drywall screws after tearing out damaged drywall. It fits very nicely in narrow cabinets and can be used in place of a right angle drill or impact driver.

It will drive most common construction screws with ease from about 3" or less. It will do longer screws and even ledger lock screws but it takes awhile and may drain the battery faster than expected. Honestly it would not be the primary driver for a deck builder driving hundreds of decking screws every day. It could work for a homeowner building a deck for themselves. Whether or not this Palm driver is right for you depends on needs and expectations. For me any tool choice boils down to application. Do I need it? If I don't actually need it, will it make some tasks easier or more efficient? It's all about right tool for the job and this tool is definitely a useful addition to the tool box. I don't feel that it replaces a traditional Impact driver for general construction but it is a good complement to one. It could easily be the ONLY impact driver in your tool box if you understand its intended purpose and power output range. That range is on the lighter side. After all it is a 12v max tool but in my book its a useful one. We are finding plenty of tasks for it and usually the person using it also has a smile on their face.

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He Said...She Said

In the words of mrs.toolpig............26 year married to the #toolpig has given me tremendous exposure to tools but I have never embraced them like he does. I don't feel very confident with tools around the house or on the jobs we do together. He has always had a love for them and I have had a love/hate relationship. Love that using them has kept a roof over my family but hate the bond he seems to have with them. ? That being said he asked me to use the rigid palm driver for a project I wanted to do to help the local dog rescue @pawscrossedinc ?to raise money. I must admit. I was shocked of how easy, wait easy isn't the word, it gave me confidence I could use tools around the house without giving up and waiting for him to come do it for me. I can't give it too much credit, I still am not the perfectionist my hubby is but I do think its ease of use for me makes me try to do a better job.

He would have to tell you more about the specs and uses for this tool and that's ok, I am here to tell you it's a great little gem to get the job done. Whether it's on a job or around the house doing those projects that hubby hasn't had time to complete. He was even surprised at how much I liked using the tool. This one is staying in my "tool bag" when I decide what tool bag that might be. ? #takebackthepower #thewomenarealargearmy #girlpower

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Dewalt 20-Volt MAX Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit (2-Tool) with Tough Case

thetoolpig — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 21:02:33 +0000

Dewalt brushless combo

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The Model # DCKTS291D1M1 premium Built in the USA brushless combo kit is a great addition to anyone's arsenal or a great place to start building one. It has two of the highest performing tools in their classes, a slim 2.0 battery and a fat 4.0 XR battery and charger. The two sizes of batteries make the tools perform in different ways. With the slim battery, they are much lighter and Have a very nice balance. With the 4.0 battery, they both have more power and speed with additional run time. This is a little known but proven fact. Some may tell you that the larger battery gives you the same power with twice the run time but there is more to the story. The larger battery has two rows of 5 cells which are able to discharge twice as much amperage at 18v ( Yes that is correct. These batteries are 20 V hot off the charger and 18 V on the tool under load just like every other 18 V battery on the market ) at any given moment. If the tool demands it the 4.0 XR battery can give it the extra power it needs for the more demanding task. If you need even more power, try the tool with a flex volt battery which has three rows of five cells.

I had the previous generation of this combo kit and while the tools were strong and performed very well, I was really stoked when Home Depot sent me this new kit for the #THDProspective reviewer program. It really has some nice upgrades! First off both Tools have more power than the previous generation. The fact that they come in a tough system case is really a nice upgrade to regular blow molded cases or bags.

More power arghhh aargh aargh!

I will start with the DCD991 drill. It is basically the same drill as the DCD 996 hammer drill without the hammer function. DeWalt does not give a torque rating for the drills rather they rate them at 820 UWO Unit Watts Out. This is a significant jump over the last generation DCD995 of 650 UWO. If I had to guess, torque would be well over 1200 inch pounds. This is from comparing it to the top drills from Milwaukee and Metabo. This Dewalt has more power than either of these competitors. The Milwaukee Fuel one Key is rated at 1,200-inch pounds and the Metabo is rated at 1,300. In several tests with large self-feed type bits, the DCD991 easily outperformed these two competitors. Another test for ultimate torque was driving large lag screws. They are Spax 1/2"x 12" long. I normally test drills and impact drivers on two stacked treated 6x6's. The DeWalt had more torque than either of these monsters. On low-speed, It drove the screws consistently deeper in the treated lumber. After several attempts to match the DeWalt, the Milwaukee Fuel One Key was actually smoking.

I do have one complaint in the power department. This is a serious heavy-duty drill and it needs a longer more robust side handle for use in Low gear. Another thing that I feel is missing on a drill with this much torque is an electronic kick back control. (Bosch and Hilti have a very effective accelerometer based torque control built-in to their high-powered drills to protect users instantly in case of a bind up.)

It's not all about power though. The DCD 991 has plenty of refinement. The handle is one of the most comfortable on the market with the slender grip and soft rubber over mold. The soft over-mold also helps protect finished surfaces. The chuck is a high-quality German-made carbide jaw Rohm keyless. This alone demands that Dewalt classifies the tool as built-in USA with global materials. That's not always a bad thing is it.

One area of refinement is in the trigger sensitivity. It is very linear and controlled. I feel that DeWalt has some of the best trigger performance on the market.

With great power comes great responsibility

An outstanding example of refinement is in the electronic clutch. It is far more advanced than your average drill driver with a mechanical slip clutch. With three speeds and 12 clutch settings, it should not be very difficult to find the perfect combination for any task you want to throw at this beast. When one says that it is a three-speed drill it is only part of the story. The numbers are somewhat deceiving and describe only the top speed of each gear. What I am saying is the clutch torque settings also affect the speed. If you put the speed selector in number one which is low gear with the highest torque You then have 12 settings of torque in that range. That is not the end of it. Each torque value also gives a different speed. The higher the number in each torque range the higher the speed. But wait there's more! The number on the clutch has different values for each Speed range. That is to say, number one on speed one has far more torque than number one on speed two or speed three. On a normal mechanical slip clutch, number one is the same torque value no matter what the speed is.

Let there be light

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Another outstanding innovation in the 991 drill is the work light. They give you three choices of light output. Low is pretty normal for a drill driver. Medium is brighter than most and then you have a unique task setting which will give you a 20x brighter 60-lumen work light for up to 20 minutes. I can't tell you how many times this task light has saved me when I was in an attic or crawl space. It even outperforms some stand alone 18 V work lights. All in all the DCD 991/996 is a very impressive drill for the money.

The DCF 887 impact driver is also a crowd favorite.

What makes it so popular? Quite honestly I think it is the over all value. This is one of the most powerful quarter-inch impact drivers on the market. It has 1,825 in. Lbs of torque in a compact size. It is also very comfortable and efficient.

I had the DCF 886 and DCF 895. This newer driver is a big improvement over both of them. They were top-of-the-line a few years ago but time marches on. The 887 enjoys a nice torque increase as well as a higher top speed. This means that you will get more work done in a shorter period of time. One thing I was very happy to see go was the flat face of the 895 along with its trigger finger bit release. The new one-handed chuck for bit insertion and release is much nicer. The new design which is much like the 886 is also nicer for getting into tight spots.

The handle has the same design as the drill and is extremely comfortable. The trigger is very comfortable and has the same precise control. The triple LED lighting is truly among the best in the business for being able to precisely place fasteners and to actually see what you're doing. The belt hook is a very nice 2 step design. It has a wider area for larger pieces and a deeper narrower spot for tool bags, belts, and pockets.

Control freak

Most top-of-the-line brushless impact drivers these days have at least three-speed settings to get a wider range of control. The DCF 887 has perhaps the easiest method switching between the various speed settings. It is a slide switch rather than a button or series of buttons. The first speed setting is 0-1000 rpm. It provides 20 ft lbs of torque. It is called precision Drive for ultimate control with smaller fasteners. It is low enough you may not even notice it impacting at this level. Speed 2 is 0- 2,800. It provides 125 ft.lbs of torque. Speed three is 3,250 RPM and 152 ft.lbs.

Most people I know just leave their impact drivers on high all the time. They want to drive screws as quickly as possible and get on to the next task. It is nice though to be able to dial the maximum torque down for smaller fasteners or even delicate fastening situations such as installing cabinet hardware.

One situation where it is nice to use a lower speed is when we are touching up drywall screws. If they are not quite driven slightly countersunk it is nicer to use an impact on a slightly lower speed to set them since full power can cause more damage in a split second.

Another area where a lower speed is nice is in building cabinet face frames. If you use pocket hole joinery, you probably know that it is easy to strip the pocket hole screws with too much torque. I actually prefer using a driver drill for this task but many still use an impact driver. The middle speed and torque setting make this much safer.

DEWALT 20-Volt MAX Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit (2-Tool) with Tough Case< width="1" height="1" border="0"/>" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy this at The Home Depot

Over all this is a simple solid powerful proven design. It will provide years of reliable service.

The third great piece of this outstanding combo kit is the box. The Dewalt tough system boxes are a giant leap forward over the typical blow molded cases and nylon bags. I am not saying it is perfect but it is much better than the other options. The box is much more useful with its use of space. It has two fold down storage trays in the lid.

It stacks and locks with the other tough system boxes and locks into the dolly and garage storage system. I feel that Dewalt would be doing you a great service to ship all of their tools in these outstanding boxes. It is so nice to be able to lock them together on a rolling toolbox or dolly. It is so nice to be able to transport many pieces of equipment in one trip.

My main complaint with this box is there is no mold or insert to hold the tools and charger. Even a thin plastic liner or piece of foam would help. My solution was to order a Kaizen foam insert to make a custom liner for the tools. You trace the shape of the tool and cut it out exactly how you want it. It is a very nice accessory.

Powerful, efficient brushless motor delivers up to 75% more run time over brushed
DCD991 drill/driver has 3-speed, high performance (0-2,000 RPM) all-metal transmission optimizes tool-to-task for fast application speeds and improved run time
DCD991 drill/driver has a heavy-duty 1/2 in. ratcheting nitro-carburized metal chuck with carbide inserts for superior bit gripping strength
DCD991 drill/driver has a 3-mode LED provides lighting in dark or confined spaces up to 20X brighter than previous model
DCF887 20-Volt MAX 1/4 in. impact driver provides 1,825 in. lbs. of max torque at fast 0-3,250 RPM speed and 0-3,600 impacts per minute
DCF887 20-Volt MAX 1/4 in. impact driver has a compact size (5.3 in. front-to-back length) and lightweight (3.4 lbs.) design
Includes batteries and charger

DEWALT 20-Volt MAX Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit (2-Tool) with Tough Case< width="1" height="1" border="0"/>">Buy one at The Home Depot

Bosch Speed Clean Dust Extraction Bits

thetoolpig — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 23:31:33 +0000

Bosch Speed Clean Dust Extraction Bits

I was very excited to be able to try these for the first time at the world of concrete 2017 in Las Vegas Nevada. I could not believe how excellent the performance was. The fact that I could drill holes in concrete faster than ever before with almost no dust around the hole or in the air was just amazing to me! I had to try several holes because I could not believe what I was seeing. Each time the dust extraction was just incredible. There is a lot of buzz in the industry right now about silica dust and OSHA. For good reason we need to be thinking about the issue. It's not just about OSHA and avoiding fines. There's a much bigger picture here. Silica is everywhere. It's in soil, landscaping materials. It's also in concrete and masonry as well as granite and other stones. When we cut, drill, or grind any of these hard surfaces or materials we release Quartz particles also known as silica into the air. You can't see the fine quartz particles but you can breathe them in without even knowing it. It is extremely destructive to our lungs and other organs. Among other things it can cause kidney disease, silicosis, COPD and lung cancer. OSHA has new silica rulings and will begin enforcing them On September 22 2017. The rules are very detailed and will be different for each application whether it is drilling, breaking, sawing or grinding. Bosch has many solutions to help contractors meet the new rules. The heart of their system is their HEPA dust extractor. It has a self-cleaning mechanism to keep the HEPA filters free of clogs. The HEPA filters Capture more than 99.97% of all dust particles 0.3 µm and larger. There are many attachments available now that work on existing power tools with existing accessories to catch dust at the source. These are various shrouds dust boots and other attachments. One outstanding accessory that is now available is the new speed clean bit. The system works with an SDS plus Rotary hammer or for larger applications SDS Max rotary hammers. The bit looks like a normal SDS plus or SDS Max bit with a nozzle coming off the side. The bit is hollow from the carbide tip all the way up to where the nozzle resides. There are holes in the tip that allow the dust extractor to pull the fine particles from the leading edge of the bit to the extractor. Why do we need something like this? It is because using a rotary hammer to drill concrete or other masonry material creates an incredible amount of dust in just a few seconds. When we are young we feel invincible. It doesn't take very long to figure out that we were wrong. Drilling with these speed clean bits can and will protect us and our co workers from inhaling respirable silica. They will contribute to longer healthier lives for us and those around us. As I mentioned at the outset the performance of these bits is incredible. It's really hard to imagine that much dust being extracted out of the tiny holes in the tip. The fact is though these work very well. Because they are cleaning out as they drill they have the added benefit of a faster feed rate. This allows you to save time on two fronts. You are drilling faster and you are cleaning at the same time. Time is money so these bits can save you money. A perfect application for these speed clean bits is setting chemical anchors. Normally we have to drill the hole then clean it out with a blowout bulb and brush. This is both time-consuming and dangerous as it releases silica dust into the air. With these hollow self extracting bits the hole is continuously being cleaned as it drills. Imagine the time saved when you can simply drill the hole and install the anchor. Bosch has partnered with Simpson Strong-Tie. If you use the speed clean bit the hole is ready for adhesive anchors without blowing or brushing by hand or vacuuming. Looks like a great partnership to me. If you're reading his chances are you need to implement dust extraction into your workflow. There are other options for dust free drilling but this seems to be one of the best for efficiency as well as effectiveness. If you use a dust boot or on board extraction vacuum you can capture dust with a regular bit. However the air will be dust free but the hole will not be clean. You may still find yourself spending more time cleaning that hole which may in itself release dust into the air. Just a couple of words of warning to anyone who buys these bits. They can become clogged when using them in green concrete with a high moisture content. Also never ever use them without an extractor. The time it takes to clean them out is probably more labor than the price of a new bit. If any other issues come up in the future I will try to add them in this paragraph. We are all faced with the same guidelines and rules. The fact is we need to provide compliant dust extraction methods across the board. To me these hollow extraction bits make a lot of sense. They are possibly the simplest solution because they are one piece. You do not have to wrestle with an extraction boot. The hole is cleaned all the way to the bottom as you drill. They are faster while drilling in there faster because you don't have to clean afterwards. I feel they are a great solution for any contractor and especially one who works with chemical anchors..

Hollow drill bit - connects to a vacuum system to deliver up to 50%-time savings versus the conventional drill-blow-brush-blow anchor-installation method
Faster drilling - provides up to 25% greater drilling speed thanks to less dust and reduced friction
Part of a dust-reduction engineered solution - included rubber adapter and bit works with a vacuum system to manage airborne silica dust
Optimized for adhesive anchoring - works with Simpson strong-tie set-XP high-strength anchoring adhesive
A proprietary Bosch design allows dust and debris to be removed through the milled center of the bit
Bit life is comparable to the life of Bosch bulldog SDS-plus bits
System reduces airborne silica dust, a known contributor to respiratory illnesses
Bosch 3/4 in. x 18 in. SDS-Plus Speed Clean Carbide Dust Extraction Bit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bosch Speed Clean Bits - Buy at The Home Depot

For more information:

Check out this link to theSpeed Clean landing page.

Diablo 7- ¼ in/ 24- Tooth Demo Demon Tracking Point Amped Saw Blade

thetoolpig — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 15:47:26 +0000

Tracking point amped 7 1/4" blade

Toolpig has had a pretty long history with Diablo tools and even longer with its parent company Freud. They have built an enviable reputation in the blade and bit industry with above average to excellent offerings in the huge power tool accessory market.

The tracking point blades were a nice jump in the evolution of framing blade quality and performance. I have enjoyed using them very much the last couple of years. Last year at the STAFDA convention and more recently at The Home Depot headquarters in Atlanta, GA we were able to see and use the next generation of tracking point blades.

Diablo demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that their new blade was superior in many ways to the current crop of carbide tooth framing blades. They had some pretty torturous displays set up to demonstrate the superiority of the new blade. There was a mock up of a very possible scenario where you could be cutting and your blade would come into contact with nails, screws, lag bolts, metal flashing and composite roofing.

They ran two of their competitors 2x framing blades in Makita corded circular saws. About 2 feet into the cut all of the carbide teeth would be lost in a shower of sparks and smoke was pouring out of the cut. This was not surprising. The blades were performing just as we all had expected.

Next they ran the tracking point blade and our eyes could not believe what we were seeing! The Diablo Demo Demon blade made it all the way through the torture test.

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Most circular saw blades used in framing will have an alternate top bevel. That means in addition to the standard sharp hook angle they have a sharp edge on the side of the blade. The sharp edge will alternate from left to right as you go from one tooth to the next. This is one reason that you will find most of these blades have an even number of teeth.

The name tracking point actually means something. It comes from the unusual grind of the carbide tracking point teeth. Instead of two tooth profiles there are three. It is similar to a modified triple chip grind blade where there are the alternating top bevel teeth and between them there is a square raker tooth to square off the cut. The Diablo Demo Demon has the alternating bevel but the extreme outside edge has a chamfer instead of a super sharp point. This makes the teeth more durable since the edge is not as vulnerable to chipping from impacts with hard materials. Then instead of a normal square raker tooth it has a slight center point. It is a very low angle to help it with durability. It is high enough to aid in straight tracking. You read that right. The point actually makes it easier to cut a straight line.

In normal cutting the tracking point amped blade behaves like a blade should. It makes nice clean cuts and moves smoothly through the material with no drama. Some blades feel like they are hammering through the material. This demo demon blade glides through with a velvety smoothness.

There is less strain on your saw motor and less drain on your batteries. This means your batteries will run longer per charge. You'll make fewer trips to your charger. Time saved is money in your pocket.

The Diablo Demo Demon tracking point amped blade also lasts longer than normal blades in the same price range. The original tracking point framing blade lasts up to 5x longer but this new blade lasts up to 10x longer! How do they do it? First off they are not made in China! Freud makes most blades in Italy.

Because they manufacture everything they have strict control over quality. They use .4 micron carbide with a high cobalt content. The exact percentage is protected. Since they are able to control the mix of the carbide they can control many of its properties including hardness toughness and impact resistance.

The benefits of all of this fine-tuning and engineering can be seen in my latest blade test. Two new blades were used in this test. One was run in new condition. The other was purposefully run through a board that had 10-12d framing nails and 10 2-inch hardened drywall screws before the test.

The Test

The test was to see how efficiently each blade would rip a 2x12 x16ft Douglas fir board. If I was using a corded saw the test could probably last for days. I decided to use the new Makita x2 36 v rear handle saw with 2 5.0 amp hour batteries. It is a very powerful saw but being cordless there is a limit to the runtime.

The brand new undamaged blade allowed the saw to rip 204 lineal feet of 2 x 6 douglas fir. That is actually pretty outstanding. Rip cuts are always more difficult than crosscuts.

The blade that was run through the 12 D framing nails and 2 inch hardened drywall screws before the test allowed the saw to cut 119 feet.

That is pretty significant. It tells me that even if you hit a nail or two or five or 10 your blade is still good and it's still going to cut efficiently. If you hit hardened screws it's going to slow it down a little bit more. In this video you can see that when it is cutting the nails there really aren't any sparks it's not until you see it cutting into the last 10 screws that you start to see the shower of sparks.

Real World Results!!

That was a controlled test but I have also tortured the blade on my jobs. In our fire and water damage restoration work we do a lot of demolition. We have used it to cut out saturated hardwood flooring and subfloor. This is an extreme test of blade durability. When cutting wet wood flooring out it is impossible to avoid the nails and screws. The wet wood also makes it hard because it is so full of water is actually squeezes on the size of the blade in a braking motion just like the disc brakes on your car. It causes lots of heat. The Diablo Demo Demon absolutely aces this real world test. I can confidently say that it does actually last at least 10 times longer than regular carbide blades that we have used. This has become my go to demolition blade.

I have sent several of these blades out to framers and general carpenters and so far I have gotten nothing but great feedback from them.

I knew I liked it but its good to know that others who are harder on stuff than I like it as well.

The more I use it the more it really looks like the Diablo Demo Demon is going to be the premier framing/remodeling/demolition blade on the market. With the high-performance in the low price it just makes sense. Try one at your local The Home Depot or use the link below to order from TheHomeDepot.com

" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">7- ¼ in/ 24- Tooth Demo Demon Tracking Point Amped Saw Blade

MILWAUKEE 22oz FRAMING HAMMER

thetoolpig — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 12:12:05 +0000

Milwaukee Framing Hammer

I haven't been more surprised with a tool in years than I was with the Milwaukee hammers. I have long avoided steel handle hammers because of how they make my elbows feel. I used to use them because I didn't enjoy replacing wooden handles very much. When you are young and inexperienced you think you can wantonly just pull nails without any thoughts of durability. Unfortunately when we are inexperienced we are also the strongest we will ever be, not a good combo for the old hickory standbys. About 15 years ago I swore off of steel handle hammers except for demolition days. I bought some Hart wood handle hammers and a few years later, I bought some Dalluge titanium head /wood handle units. I loved all of them. More recently I got a Stilletto Ti bone2 titanium and the new to market Martinez M1 titanium handle / steel head hammer. My favorite of all is the Martinez M1, but we are talking about a huge difference in cost of these hammers. Steel handles from nearly every manufacturer definitely hold up better but for the most part they transfer far too much energy to the wrist and elbow. When I first saw the new Milwaukee hammers I will admit I dismissed them as just more elbow abusers. Let me tell you how wrong I was! From the first swing I could tell that these were special. You wouldn't think they would be any different from other mainstream steel handle hammers. Milwaukee spent countless hours developing these on computer models, in the lab and on the job site. The effort was well worth it. The results are outstanding. It's hard to believe how much vibration these handles absorb before it hits your hand, wrist and elbow. It's not that the rubber grips are super soft. They are actually harder than I expected. They are certainly harder than the DeWalt, Fiskars and Fat Max hammers. The vibration dampening comes from the advanced design of the head and handle core. I have found that the worst hand-shock comes when you miss the nail and strike the lumber or other material directly. When you hit the nail there is usually a tiny shock but the nail moves as the hammer gradually decelerates and much of the energy is transferred to the work and not your hand. When you miss, the hammer decelerates faster, transferring much more energy to the handle. The further down the handle you are gripping, the more it hurts. This contributes to carpal tunnel syndrome and other problems. Believe it or not even compared to wood, fiberglass and composite handles the Milwaukee has one of the lowest amounts of hand shock I have ever felt even when I miss. Even when I am holding it by the end of the handle. The head is also designed to control ringing. The claws are different thicknesses so they do not act like a tuning fork when you strike a nail or other hard object. [gallery type="slideshow" ids="1553,1552"] The magnetic nail starter on the face is a nice touch. I wish the magnet was stronger though. Sometimes the nail will fly off if I am not paying attention to how hard I am swinging. I'll chalk it up to user error but I will mention that it never happens with my favorite Martinez tools M1 titanium handle hammer. I actually feel the handle is a good length. Some may prefer a longer handle but then I see a lot of guys choking up on the handle of some hammers with longer handles. I guess a longer one would give more leverage for pulling nails. I just pull sideways when I can't get one to move. I never thought I would rave about a steel handle hammer. Here I am though. There is simply no other hammer I recommend as highly in this price range. Yes, I prefer the Stiletto Ti bone 2 and the Martinez M1 but those are both high-end and they have high-end price tags. The Milwaukee hammers are available in smooth face and milled. They are also available in a composite handle in both faces. The composite handles are lighter but I feel the steel handles have less vibration and they are the ones I grab more. You may prefer the composite. Regardless, I urge you to at least try one. I think you will be pleasantly surprised as I was.

Milwaukee 22 oz. Milled Face Framing Hammer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy one at THEHOMEDEPOT.COM for under $40

Ridgid Air Compressor - #THDProSpective

thetoolpig — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 15:55:22 +0000

Ridgid cordless air compressor

I have heard many mixed thoughts about the concept of a cordless air compressor. Some love the idea and couldn't wait to get one. They feel the convenience is perfect for their needs. Others say, "It's a waste. If you have to have a hose you may as well just have a cord too and not have to worry about batteries." Ridgid was the first to offer an actual cordless jobsite compressor and I think they did a great job with it. It is 1 gal. With a max pressure of 120PSI. It runs on one or two 18v batteries. I like the nice rubber feet. I also like that it is fairly quiet. The handle is nicely placed for balance. Many compressors will hit you in the legs when carried. This one is one of the nicest ones to carry. The drain is a nice and easy 1/4 turn valve. BSince it's so easy to move, you may find yourself using it with a shorter hose and moving it around much more than a normal compressor. To me it makes sense. Cordless nailers are all the rage these days. They are better than ever but there are very few good cordless 23GA pinners. There are no cordless 21GA pinners that I know of. With the 18v Ridgid compressor I can keep using my cordless guns and still have a high quality pinner that moves around with me. This is especially nice when moving from room to room installing casing or other applied moldings. The best cordless nail guns still fall short of the best pneumatics in the same class. The cordless guns are very close in general performance but they are still much larger and can't match the power of a good pneumatic with full length nails. Check it out at The Home Depot With the Ridgid you can be cordless without being stuck to any particular brand. You can use a Hitachi 15 ga. Along with a senco 18 ga. a Cadex 21 ga. and a grex 23 ga. or any combo you own. I have taken it on a few cabinet and trim installs and I must say I am very pleased with how it works. I have two of the small 1 gallon corded Senco compressors and as far as I'm concerned they will be gathering a lot of dust after having this Ridgid.

Performance

From an empty tank the Ridgid only takes about 55 seconds to completely fill. It takes about 23 seconds to recover after kicking on when the pressure reaches around 87 PSI. This is very acceptable especially since it is so quiet. With my senco 15 ga finish nailer I can get about 6 shots before it kicks on. With my 18 ga. It can do about 11 shots and my Cadex 21 and 23 Ga. guns will do 16 shots. My Everwynn 21 and 23 ga guns will do 20 each. Is it possible to use it with a framing gun? I tried it with my Hitachi and Paslode framing guns. I got 5 shots each before it refilled. This was actually very surprising because I only got six out of my 15 gauge finish nailer and these framers are much larger and more powerful. If you have just a few nails to place here and there this Ridgid could be a viable option. You can get about 10 shots before they stop driving flush in solid framing lumber. Wait a few seconds while the tank tops off and you can shoot a few more. Whether or not this is practical for you depends on your individual needs. With two 5.0 batteries you can get about 90 recoveries. That is good for hundreds of shots with any application. With an Everwyn 21 or 23 ga pinner it's upwards of 1,800. This portable cordless air compressor exceeded my expectations in every way. I will definitely keep it in my regular finish arsenal. It won't keep up with a large corded one does but it sure does a lot of things very well and I could see this fitting well into many different situations. Check one out for yourself to see if it's right for you.

Dual-power draw allows the compressor to run on both 1 or 2 batteries
Brushless motor technology for superior power and runtime
1 Gal. tank portable size for job site mobility
Locking regulator holds knob in place to prevent unwanted pressure changes
Universal push-to-connect quick coupler accepts both 1/4 in. automotive and industrial plugs with easy single-hand connection
1/4 in. turn ball valve tank drain - drain tanks quickly with one easy turn
120 maximum PSI provides ideal pressure for an extended range of work (for finish, trim, and inflation applications)
Powerful enough to drive 2.5 in. nails flush into the toughest surfaces
Hose wrap for efficient hose storage management
What I would change.
Make the tank a little larger.
Make it a little quieter

I review and recommend products to help you buy the stuff you need. If you make a purchase by clicking one of my links, I do earn a small commission. My pledge to you is this: I will always say what I really feel. I will not taint my reviews to make a quick buck at your expense. I want you to know the truth about the tools I review for the good or the bad. My picks and opinions are independent from any business incentives.

Husky 1/4" & 3/8" Universal Mechanics Tool Set - #THDProSpective

thetoolpig — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 15:04:27 +0000

Husky Universal Mechanics Tool Set

In the last few days I have had to turn my hand to repairs of the lawn mower, the car, and the house and have found the same wrench in my hand each time. The house is old, circa WWII, with the original gravity furnace. The car is much newer, only five years old, and the lawn mower is, well, kinda groady with a layer of dried grass all under the deck. The wrench is a Husky socket wrench set from Home Depot. By itself the ratchet handle is a pleasure to hold; it has nice heft with a smooth finish and a fine ratchet action. Instead of a bright chrome finish, it’s dark, so while standing on your head under the car with neither your regular prescription nor your bifocals in focus, at least you are not blinded. Hooray for modest advantages. Of course, it’s mostly the sockets that do the work. These feature a sort of 12-point spline shape inside. This sort of shape was promoted a couple of decades ago by a premium tool brand. Here it is definite advantage. That gravity furnace, the octopus in the basement, is assembled with square nuts. These sockets fit just fine, no grubbing about for a set of antique tools. This is not a modest advantage; big hooray from the pocketbook. See, that spline shape does not bear on the points of whatever fastener you’re likely to encounter. Torque is transferred through a more meaty part of the head of the fastener. So, square nuts can be accommodated very easily and, whatever the shape, it’s less likely to be rounded-off when great torque is called for even if the previous guy started the rounding . This too is far from a modest advantage. I should mention that they are guaranteed forever which constitutes a large advantage. It’s similar with the lawn mower. Since the socket does not have to be a perfect fit on the fouled blade bolts under the deck, the repair or re-sharpening can move forward with a minimum of lost time. Again a modest advantage because under the deck could be hosed down with great results but who wants to do that? Sharpening lawn mower blades is already enough of a chore to put you in a sour mood. These sockets are the enemy of procrastination. Different advantages come into play under the hood of the car. Well, not rounding off fasteners is an advantage anywhere, but these sockets offer the disproportionately large advantage of clear, easy-to-read, laser etched markings. This advantage is hard to overstate, especially to eyes of a certain age. Also, each socket has a machined knurl at its base. You know your own fingers; they try to turn bare sockets. Now, maybe they will succeed. This particular Husky socket set of 60 pieces includes a palm racket handle that is gimballed. Modern automobile engine compartments are cramped and that palm racket with a gimbal action is uncommonly handy. Some things become obvious after they are in your hand. Bottom line: the Husky H10060MTS Mechanics Tool Set is an excellent foundation for real accomplishment. Stanley Brown

Set includes one 3/8 in. drive 100-position ratchet, one 3/8 in. drive 100-position gimbal palm ratchet, 1 standard length 1/4 in. drive knurl grip universal sockets, 8 deep 1/4 in. drive knurl grip universal sockets, 12 standard length 3/8 in. drive knurl grip universal sockets, 12 deep 3/8 in. drive knurl grip universal sockets and 16 other accessory and drive tools

100-position, low-profile, long handle ratchet has an ultra-narrow 3.6-degree arch swing
Gimbal ratchet features multi-directional rotation for easier access in hard-to-reach areas
Knurl grip universal sockets fit 6-point, 12-point, square, E-Torx, spine and partially rounded hex fasteners
Each socket features a knurl ring and tapper design, making them easier to grip and spin using only your fingertips
Industrial black finish stands up to a lifetime of use
Laser-etched size markings stand out on the black finish for easy identification
Bits work with the bit adapter socket to create 11 different bit sockets
Bits are formed from heat-treated S2 tool steel for added strength and wear protection
Tools are forged from chromium-vanadium (Cr-V) steel for outstanding durability and strength
Sockets feature chamfered lead-ins to help provide fast and easy placement onto drive tools and fasteners
Plastic storage case is stamped with size markings for easy identification and organization
Husky mechanics hand tools are guaranteed forever; if your Husky hand tool ever fails, bring it back and we will replace it free

Husky 1/4 in. and 3/8 in. Drive 100-Position Universal SAE and Metric Mechanics Tool Set (60-Piece)Buy at The Home Depot

Makita SP6000J Track Saw kit

thetoolpig — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 23:10:52 +0000

Brad Gosselink and Toolpig talk about the Makita track saw.

I bought the (SP6000J) Makita track saw with the 55” rail a little over 2 years ago. This may be an overstatement but I believe it's one of the tools that have completely changed my career as a finish carpenter. The first time I used the Makita track saw it reminded me of the first time I ever used a 9.6 volt makita cordless drill or the 12 volt Panasonic impact driver, I instantly knew I had to have one. Unlike the cordless drill and impact driver which I bought immediately, I hemmed and hawed about buying the track saw. It finally came down to that I had to buy one and I bought the makita instead of others because of the price point. I was struggling with a fledgling new business at the time. In the next year or so I was able to use the Dewalt and the Festool track saws. They're both great saws and do just as good of a job cut wise as the makita but if I ever had to buy another track saw I would definitely buy the makita again for a few reasons. The Festool is expensive and it really only has two upsides. In my opinion they're only upsides for one reason. Cutting slabs or really thick wood. One of the upsides is that you can get one of their track saws with a 7 1/4” blade compared to the Makitas 6 1/2”. That's great but I haven't needed to cut down a 2 1/4” door in forever and 98% of my work with these saws is for 3/4” sheet goods. The other upside is that it has a riving knife. This is a very heated debate. For me since I don't cut many slabs I don't have to worry about the cut closing back up on me and if it does on sheet goods or a door. Guess what, I'm returning that sheet or that door. Also, it's not like we are using it like a worm drive nor does it have the power of a worm drive, I can easily hold the saw down in case there's kickback which is most commonly caused by me not the saw or lack of riving knife. The Dewalt also has a riving knife and it only comes with a 6 1/2” blade. It uses its own guide rail system which is a big problem for me but not so for others who are heavy into the dewalt line. In the time I've been able to use Dewalt, the saw works just as well as the Makita or Festool but it has one big Achilles heel in my book. The plunge action, for some people who have only used the Dewalt it's not a big deal but for guys like me who use the makita it's a big deal. Instead of the plunge action curling into the wood it slides down and in. I always feel like I'm exerting too much pressure down, so much so that I'm afraid to use the track saw without the clamps. Which for the festool and makita I bought the track clamps and have never used them. In my opinion because of the way the plunge action is on the Makita and Festool, the saw glides better and you're pushing forward and not down and forward. The other problem with the Dewalt is the track. You can only use other Dewalt tools on the track. Since the Makita and Festool tracks are pretty much interchangeable. If you destroy your track you can borrow your buddies while yours is on order ( I have never ever had to do that, lol). If you buy a Festool router, which you can now afford because you bought the Makita track saw, you can use that router on the Makita guide rails. Now for why I like the Makita better than the other two. I'm rough on tools, really rough. I don't throw them or anything like that but I definitely don't take care of them like I should. The Makita can take a beating, trust me, also if you do destroy it by dropping it from height you can get another one for a very reasonable price. That brings me to my second opinion, price. The Makita is considerably less expensive than the Fezz, it arguably does just as good of a job and it's tracks are pretty much interchangeable with the Festool. The last reason is the 45° safety lock on the track. All of these saws are top-heavy and awkward on the bevel cut. The Makita has a lock on the saw that goes into the track. This makes it so the saw shouldn't come off the track when let go on the bevel. It also makes it very hard to make the saw go past 45°, unlike the Dewalt and Makita which don't have a lock to the rail all you have to do is let the saw bevel and it's off the angle. With the Makita you have to pull the whole track off the wood with the saw to go off bevel. In retrospect, all of these saws are good, all will save you time and money and will make your job site safer. For me it's a no brainer, get the Makita. You will be more than happy with it, it does its job extremely well and you won't break the bank buying it. One last thing, get the long track with the saw don't just get two 55” tracks and keep putting them together and taking them apart and putting them together and taking them apart and putting........ You'll thank me later!! Brad Gosselink
BUY YOUR VERY OWN HERE

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Check it out at ACME TOOLS

Toolpig's take My original tracksaw purchase was going to be this Saw. I tried for months to check one out at a dealer but I could not find one anywhere near my home. I was actually trying to avoid looking at the Festool because of price and I did not want to get started on an expensive path. That all changed when I was invited to Schutte Lumber Company in Kansas City, MO for a Festool Friday event. I immediately bought the TS55 REQ with a CT 36 extractor as well as an MFT multi function table and an ETS 125 sander. I had read that Makita had a more powerful motor but I decided to go ahead and buy the Festool. I liked the riving knife and the off cut splinterguard. I decided that being able to have a perfect splinter free cut on the work piece and the off cut without scoring would eventually pay for the difference in saved labor and materials. Since I would be using the saw primarily for sheet goods like MDF and plywood I figured the Ts55 would have plenty of power to get that work done. I also figured that if I ever needed to cut heavy slabs or thick doors I could always invest in a TS 75.

After running the saw for about a year the TSC 55 came out. I decided that I needed one. I Thought it would be a good supplemental Saw to the corded one. I was t was every bit of an eye-opening experience as my original TS55track saw was. With more power and no hose to mess with it became my favorite tool ever. I eventually sold the corded Saw from lack of use.

There was still a nagging doubt in the back of my mind. I really wanted to know how good the Makita version of the track saw was. People asked me at least once a week how it compared to the Festool saws. I just didn't feel right about giving any answer without actually using one. Late in 2016 I put my order in for an SP 6000 J and 2 55 inch rails. I also ordered a pair of the clamps and a set of guard rail connectors to make one long rail out of two short ones. It has been flawless for the past eight months. I have purposefully used it more than my Festool saws and I have been very pleased. I really do like the extra power. The motor is very smooth and has a really nice soft start and electric brake. The over all operation is typical Makita. Controls are well placed. The handle is comfortable. The plunge action is very smooth. I also like the bevel lock mechanism. It allows you to lock the Saw to the track while making bevel cuts. Check this short video to see it in action. [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="http://thetoolpig.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/720p-1.mp4"][/video]

I have found the riving knife omission to be less of a problem than I had been led to believe. I have actually never had a kickback on a track saw with or without a riving knife. Similar to what Brad said I have used a worm drive Saw for my whole career. At this point it's 30 years. I pay attention to how a Saw feels in the cut. You can feel a motor starting to labor more if the blade starts getting pinched in the kerf. I can control a kickback on a wormdrive. These track saws don't have near as much torque as a wormdrive.

The other omission was the offcut splinter guard. I miss this more than the riving knife. It allows a little more splintering on your waste side of the cut. If that cut off is scrap it's no big deal but if that cut off is half a sheet of plywood or maybe even more it could create a problem. The Makita does allow for a 2mm deep scoring cut which drastically reduces the chipping and splintering in difficult materials like melamine and thin veneer plywoods. It really works well and produces cuts as clean as or cleaner than the Festool TS55. Although this does increase the quality of the work it also increases the time spent for each cut. This also allows a little more dust into the air even when hooked to an extractor. In the end it is up to you to decide how much dust is acceptable for your situation. I say for 95% of the jobs we do the dust extraction on the Makita is fine. If you want better extraction you will have to pay significantly more for it. In the end, it's not a matter of which Saw is better. It's which saw is better for YOU. If the quality is really close you have to look at features. Which ones will work best in your shop or on your jobsite. For more info visit http://www.makitatools.com IF YOU LIKE MY REVIEW AND WANT YOUR OWN CLICK HERE ? ACME TOOLS Pros: Power ?????????? Smoothness ?????????? Controls. ?????????? Bevel cuts ?????????? Value (419.00) ?????????? Dust ???????? Cut quality. ?????????? Convenience ???????? Cons No splinter guard No riving knife Cord is shorter than hose Cord is placed at an awkward angle I review and recommend products to help you get the most for your money. . If you make a purchase by clicking one of my links, We earn a 5% commission without affecting the price. My review stands with or without any commission.

QBIT Double Gang Outlet Box Saw

thetoolpig — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 15:57:11 +0000

Here is our first take on the QBIT Outlet box

cuts in double gang boxes in seconds
six 3 3/4 "x 4"
exact cut every time
compatible with most oscillating power tools
universal mounting rotates 360degrees
high quality American made & engineered
safe to use (always use safety glasses & hearing protection)

??? IF you love toolpig buy yours here???

WD-40 specialist in the toolpig workshop

thetoolpig — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 19:58:03 +0000

I am pretty sure If you are reading this you have been using WD-40 for many years. Did you know they have a wide range of spray lubricants, rust dissolvers, greases and cleaners?

WD-40 sent us some products that I'd like to show you. These are from the WD-40 Specialist line. They are made for a wide range of applications that go far beyond the original formula in the blue can. This is a sponsored post but the thoughts are my own.

The first one I want to show is this new can you can see above with the WD-40 EZ-REACH straw applicator. How many times have you lost the little red straw that comes with the regular can? They work well in most applications as long as you don't lose them. They also come off if you bend them too far with this new flexible straw you never have to worry about all that. Just bend the tube into any position and enjoy the precision placement of the lube. Also pictured is the large WD-40 Trigger Pro non-aerosol container. It is hand powered so you never have a partial can that won't dispense. Next up is the WD-40 Specialist Spray and Stay Gel Lubricant This is a thicker formula that won't drip. It can prevent rust for a whole year. It also lubricates up to 12x longer than regular WD-40 Multi Use Formula. Then we have the WD-40 Specialist Rust Release Penetrant Spray. Again it outperforms the regular multi use formula. This one is so strong they call it blu torch technology. We are currently testing it on some extremely stubborn corroded battery hold down bolts. We will update soon on how well it works. The other line is the industrial strength cleaners and degreasers. Check them out to see which one is right for you. In addition to these products we have been using the specialist series of greases. I just went for the WD-40 Specialist True Multi-Purpose Grease because it outperforms the others in every way. That way I can just use one grease for everything. I don't have to think about which gun I grab. I just grab one and get to lubing. This is a time saver and I am sure time is important to you as well. One thing I really like is these products are all available at your local The Home Depot. You can also order them here. For more information check out their Website: https://www.wd40specialist.com/products?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2-alkpyn1gIVkABpCh0q1QyoEAAYASAAEgKSafD_BwE

Diablo Tools Sand Net for random orbit sanders.

thetoolpig — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 00:17:47 +0000

I have to admit that up to this point Diablo is not the first name I think of when ordering abrasives. I normally don't get my pads at big box stores. Other than my cordless Makita I don't have any sanders that actually match the Diablo 5 /8 hole pattern.

I also try to buy larger quantities than they offer to cut the cost per sheet or rather cost per minute of sanding. It is normally more efficient to replace your pads every few minutes than it is to try to get marathon run time out of them. This is especially true if you are sanding work commercially. Wasted labor is far more expensive than a $1.50 piece of sand paper. Even if you are sanding your own project, time is precious and you don't want to waste your most valuable commodity on a piece of paper. Each abrasive I have used has pros and cons. Most sandpaper on the market tends to wear out very quickly. The abrasive particles have sharp edges. As they move across the work surface they cut the high spots off and make the entire surface smoother. At the same time the sharp edges of the particles are broken off or dulled. When you put a new abrasive sheet on your sander pay attention to how it feels. It really grabs at first. You can feel the torque of the motor and the resistance to movement. As the abrasive wears you feel less and less of this feedback. When you notice it not cutting a well it's time to switch it out. It may look just fine but it's wasting time. Those sheets can be reused for hand sanding touch-up or custom sanding blocks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVRtLDDwekE I have used Mirka gold abrasives for decades. For the last few years my workhorse abrasive has been Festool Granat. When I want ultimate dust collection I have used abrasive net sheets with hook and loop backing called Mirka abranet. It is a screen you can see through. It doesn't have holes. It is basically all holes so the dust collection is superb. Diablo sand net is a very similar product. The nice thing is it is available at any Home Depot a Store in a 10 pack for less than $15.00. It's not a huge investment to find out if it's right for you. Each pack includes an interface pad that is designed to protect the hook and loop pad of your sander from damage. No matter what brand of sander you have it is important to use an interface pad when using net abrasive in the finer grits. Without it your pad hooks will wear out prematurely and will no longer hold your abrasive securely. I was surprised at how fast sand net abrasives smooth out the rough spots on both hardwood and plywood. I do feel it cuts faster and lasts at least as long the red Diablo sheets. It easily outperforms the other options they offer at Home Depot. The longer working life can be attributed to the open mesh design which is much more efficient at clearing dust and loose abrasive particles away from the work surface. I would also say that so far sandnet seems to be more durable than the regular abranet I am used to. The abrasive is holding up longer for me with general use. It cuts longer before it is worn out. The edges also hold up better to abuse. The worst thing you can do for a sanding disc is to ding the edge by hitting an adjacent surface. Often just one bump against a sharp edge can complete ruin a sheet. This new Sand net is tougher than most traditional paper sheets as well. I highly recommend using a dust extractor or vacuum when doing any power sanding. Some sanders are better at dust extraction than others but all are better on a vacuum than without. The vacuum removes the mix of dust from the work surface as well as the abrasive particles that have broken off. If these are not removed they can scratch your work and create more swirl marks. The build up of dust can create more heat and can lift the pad from the surface enough that is slows the sanding process. This new sand net abrasive will help your current sander do a better job of handling dust. It will cut longer. It will run cooler. It will last longer. This means it will save both time and money compared to normal sand paper discs. I think it is definitely a way to work smarter not harder.

Diablo 5 in. 120-Grit SandNet Disc with Free Application Pad (10-Pack)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">If you like my review and want to buy click here for The Home Depot

I review and recommend products to help you buy the stuff you need. If you make any purchase after clicking one of my links, I earn a small percentage. My picks and opinions are independent from any business incentives.

Makita 18V Compact Brushless Router

thetoolpig — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 16:01:43 +0000

[gallery type="slideshow" columns="1" ids="1653,1652,1651,1650,1649,1648" orderby="rand"]

Makita Cordless Router XTR01

Makita sent us one of these to test. Since then I have already purchased another one. They are THAT good! We are pushing for a 100% cordless job site and this is definitely an important tool for trim carpenters and installers to have on site. It is also indispensable in the shop. Routers have always been one of my favorite tools. They are so versatile for so many applications. They aren't just for making round overs on stock. They are invaluable for cutting mortises in doors, flutes in moldings, circles, ellipses, dados and repetitive pieces with a pattern bit... The first cordless router I ever saw was a Makita in the 90's. It was more of a laminate trimmer and used one of the old stick pack batteries long before 18 v tools were even a dream. I never bought one. I can't even tell you how good it was. I actually thought it would be underpowered and never gave it a chance. Times have changed. We have seen cordless advance to the point where it is no surprise when we see an 18v tool outperform a corded tool. It makes so much sense to build a cordless router. I would have to say that the most annoying thing about routers is the cord. They always seem to get hung up right as I am in the middle of a cut. Sometimes it causes a divot or burn mark in my work. I always try to plan but you never know what will happen once you turn it on and start to move. Cords move, stuff happens. Another annoying thing about cords is that they get in people's way and sometimes they trip on them, pulling tools off the bench. On a precision tool like a router that is never a good thing. If you work alone it is less of a problem. When you have a crew you never know what may happen to a tool. If something does happen, fat chance finding anyone who knows anything about it. For years one of the finest trim routers on the market has been the Makita. It has a precision balanced motor and smooth controls. There are a plethora of bases for it. This versatility has made it a fan favorite. The XTR01 is a near clone of the corded model. It has an extremely smooth and powerful brushless motor to make the most of your batteries. It adds a couple of bright LED lights to illuminate your work. It can easily run any bit that this class of router would normally run. It comes with a 1/4" and an 8mm collet. It is available as a bare tool or as a kit with batteries, charger and the fixed and plunge bases. All of the normal trim router accessories work with it. There are dust shrouds, edge guides and even track adapters so you can use them with your track Saw rails. There are also offset and angle bases available to make the most of your router bits. The XTR01 is the only heavy-duty professional grade cordless router on the market. It is the only tool with an aluminum body and bases. It is precision balanced and machined for long life and dependability even under heavy use. There are other cordless routers on the market but they are lighter duty tools with plastic motor housings. They don't run as smoothly . There aren't many accessories available for them either. They are great for simple tasks like putting an edge on a board. They are definitely useful and the price point will get them in many hands. I should point out that there really is no direct competitor to the performance or quality of the Makita system. Each person must decide what they truly need and expect from a tool when considering a purchase. To use the Makita there are a few things to note. There are two pressure switches you must push to activate the tool. On is a lock and the other is the power. There is also a variable speed dial to match both the bit and the material. The larger the diameter the slower the speed should be. A solid carbide laminate trim bit with a 1/4" cutting diameter works great at 30,000 rpm but a 1 1/4" chamfer bit needs a slower speed to operate safely. The electronic control can give extra torque for larger bits on the lower speeds. This is one of the benefits of brushless technology. The bare tool comes with a fixed round base. It works very nicely for general use. There is a square plate available if you want it for more stability or to run on a straight edge. There is a nice dust port available for when you want to work cleaner and breath without a mask. They came with a pretty stout stamped steel edge guide. I feel it is a very nice touch. It increases the utility of your bits. Even if they have a guide bearing I like the guide. We often need to put an edge on something that is too thin for the guide bearing to register on. The edge guide also helps me to avoid mishaps on the ends and corners of my work pieces. The plunge base is also very nice as it offers a wider more stable center of gravity. The handles are nicely placed and very comfort. There is a 3 position depth stop with a fine adjustment. The controls are all pretty normal and straight forward. There is a chip shield on the operator side. There is also a dust port available for the plunge base. The plunge action is pretty good. It's not quite as smooth as my Festool OF1010 or my DeWalt 611 but they have much more use on them. I am hoping that with a little use the XTR01's will break in. The depth lock lever requires a little more effort than I am used to as well. I have used DeWalt and Festool plunge routers for many years. I have never had a Makita plunge router before. I'm not sure if they are all this way or not. I guess I just have to learn to use my man hands with the little Makita. There is also an adapter that allows you to use the router on your track Saw guide rails. Track saw rails are great for cutting flutes and V notches in flat stock. They can also be used in place of a jointer for straightening the edges of your stock. This pair of routers has aced everything I have thrown at them. If they were stolen today I would order them again immediately. Now that I have experienced cordless routers, I wont go back. I have a few trim routers that will be collecting dust now. I really see no need for a corded trim router at this point. We really aren't done exploring all the ins and outs of these little beauties but we know enough to say they are the real deal and aren't going away any time soon. If you are a trim carpenter, remodeler or woodworker I imagine you will love using one of these bad boys. They are as useful as any trim router and add the benefit of no cord. The really nice accessory package makes them a seriously appealing addition to any tool collection. For more info visit http://www.makitatools.com

Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Hammer Drill/Impact Driver Combo Kit w/Bonus 18V BL Router and 18V Battery 2PkThe Home Depot

Makita Diamond Cup Wheel 7" - #THDProSpective

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 15:01:14 +0000

Makita Turbo Wheel

Grinding concrete is a necessary task for most flooring contractors and many remodelers. Concrete is rarely as flat as you think. Before you can install a nice level flat tile job you will most likely need to grind off some high points. If the concrete floor has been treated with a sealer you also will need to grind the top surface off so that you can get a good bond with your thin set mortar. There are many other situations where it is necessary to grind concrete as well with repairs, patches, setting of walls and cabinets. I've never met anyone who enjoyed it. It has always been noisy, backbreaking dusty work. I have done more floor grinding in my 30 years of construction and restoration than I ever care to talk about. On big jobs we have rented floor standing grinders. On most though I have used my Metabo 2,300 watt 7" grinder with a pearl abrasive shroud and cup wheel. I never thought about changing my combo up because it works. Plenty of power, dependability and it is pretty good at catching the dust. The Home Depot sent us this Makita 7 inch Diamond anti-vibration grinding cup wheel ( part number A – 96425) to see what we thought of it. This one is the 24 segment turbo wheel which aids in airflow to the dust extractor. It his engineered for improved performance and less vibration. It is perfect for paint / sealer and adhesive removal as well as concrete surface preparation. It is made for both fast material removal and a quality finish. It is designed to reduce chatter. This will keep the wheel firmly planted on the surface for most efficient removal of the material. This is even more important when you are using cordless tools. When using a battery with a finite amount of energy you want to do everything you can to increase efficiency. I had the wheel and dust collection guard mounted up on my old 15 amp Makita grinder and I was ready to go with it but then we received the brand new X2 36 V cordless XAGU 12 right before our testing began. I could not resist using the new cordless grinder instead. This was the perfect opportunity to test out several different items as a system. It doesn't always work out for us to test every single tool on a job site within the time allowed for our review. We were really glad to receive these items just in time to do some concrete floor surfacing around a stool flange and some other plumbing on a small sub grade restroom job. The floor was one of the roughest concrete finish jobs I have ever seen. The floor was all over the place on depth. Some places had over 1/2" drop on either side of the trowel marks. We first used my old Makita with no dust collection just for fun. Within almost six seconds there was so much dust that I couldn't even see. Even after one minute there was still dust in the air. I opened the entry door and ran a blower to get all that airborne dust out of our work area. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvGhpB51E2E We then used this new Makita set up with the cordless XAG 12 grinder running the A 96425 turbo cup wheel in the 195386-6 dust extraction wheel guard on the VC 4710 extractor. I ground the rough concrete for a solid 20 minutes on a pair of 6.0 amp hour batteries with only a few small puffs of dust when I lifted the edge or ground over a drain hole. The Makita wheel is quite nice to use. It is the smoothest diamond cup wheel I have ever used. Like I said before I am used to a Pearl abrasives wheel but I have used many others as well. There was no chatter. The vibration reduction design really makes for a nice operation. The diamond segments are arranged like the veins of a turbo which create air flow. It works very well with dust extraction. Hence the turbo designation of the wheel. The same design of these pieces is also available for the smaller XAG03 and XAG10 cordless grinders as well as most of the corded grinders. The wheel is part # A-96403 The shroud is # 195236-5 We have actually been using these for the past year. This setup is for smaller areas and detail work. It has plenty of power for doing a bathroom sized room or a smaller kitchen. It is easier to handle one-handed and requires a lot less effort to do the same job. It is slower though so use your own discretion. The dust extraction is every bit as good. Either way you can't go wrong. Next time I need a diamond cup wheel I will not hesitate to order another Makita turbo wheel. [gallery type="square" columns="2" size="large" ids="1644,1645"]

Makita 7 in. Turbo 24 Segment Diamond Cup Wheel, Low-Vibration, Compatible with Angle Grinders with electronic controllerBuy at The Home Depot

For more info visit http://www.makitatools.com

Anti-vibration design engineered to keep the wheel planted firmly on the surface for more efficient material removal
Turbo rim design for fast material removal and a smooth finish
Innovative design reduces chattering for an improved operator experience
Use with Makita dust extracting surfacing shroud for a cleaner work environment
Hubbed design for quick wheel changes; 5/8 in. - 11 arbor
For paint and adhesive removal as well as concrete surface preparation

20-Volt MAX Lithium-Ion Cordless Band Saw - #THDProSpective

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 23:18:41 +0000

Dewalt 20v Max Compact Bandsaw

Handheld bandsaws are one of the most underrated tools on the job site. They can cut a wide variety of materials but they excel on metals. Because of this we primarily see them used by electricians, HVAC crews, plumbers and metal fabricators.

There are a few different classes of portable bandsaws. This article will focus on the compact DCS371 from DeWalt. It is not recommended but it is small and light enough that it can be run one-handed. With a 5.0 battery it weighs 4.3kg or 9.4 lbs. The weight with a slim battery is 4 kg and 8.9 lbs. The saw has plenty of power with the slim batteries but has a little more and 2x the runtime with a 4.0 and even more with a 5.0. If you want even more power and runtime you can use the saw with the new 6.0 batteries in either the flex volt or the heavy-duty 6.0 XR with upgraded 20700 cells. They both carry a weight penalty though. With the XR 6.0 it weighs 10 lbs and with the Flex Volt 2.0/6.0 you are at 10.5 pounds. The Flex Volt 3.0/9.0 will not fit.

My money is on the 2.0. It strikes a good balance between power and weight.

The saw has the popular DeWalt soft black over mold for comfort and a secure grip. The grip itself is a little deeper than most DeWalt cordless tools. I feel this gives you more leverage for keeping the saw square to the cut. There is a well placed LED light to illuminate your cut.

There is also a solid round hook to keep your saw secure. You can hang it on a pipe or a piece of unistrut or a scaffold or lift. The hook is fixed. It cannot swivel out-of-the-way. I feel it is pretty small. I also wonder why it is placed beneath the handle. Every time you need to hang it up you have to flip it upside down before hanging it. Then to make the next cut you have to flip it again. Unless I am missing something this is inconvenient. It seems counter productive. Still its better than nothing. The one thing I can see it being good for is if you hold the saw in your left hand and then hang it from your tool bags. I also feel a lanyard ring would help the saw to be safer when on a lift.

The largest size of material you can fit in the throat is 2 5/8". The maximum depth of cut is 2 1/2" unless you are within 1" of the end of the material. Within 1" you have no limit to depth.

This saw has handled everything we have thrown at it from unistrut to pre-punched angle to EMT to 2" schedule 40 pipe. Basically it all might as well be butter. It zips right through with a smoothness that just can’t be matched with a reciprocating saw. This really makes the saw a pleasure to use. It has so much control since the saw isn’t jumping around and vibrating during the cut. Bottom line is it makes better quality cuts in less time.

A huge advantage to using a bandsaw is safety. One area is the noise factor. A bandsaw is much quieter than a reciprocating saw, a carbide toothed circular saw or a grinder with a cut off wheel. Second is the lack of sparks flying. You are less likely to get hit with flying sparks or hot chunks of metal. There is also a lower risk of fire. I also feel there is a lower risk of injury from coming into contact with the blade.

There is only one speed. The blade runs at a constant speed of 570 SFPM. I think a second speed or a dial would be nice. Most of the bandsaws we have used have a speed dial. Stainless eats blades faster than mild steel and a slower speed helps them last longer.

For smaller pipe, angle and tubing this little saw is a beast. If it fits it cuts. The comfort of the tool as well as the ease with which you can get great cuts makes it a really useful tool. I recommend checking one of these out to see if its right for you.

For More Info visit Dewalt.com

Buy at The Home Depot for $219.00

LED work light with 20 second delay illuminates dark work surfaces for accurate cutting
Integrated hang hook allows user to hang the saw without damaging the front handle or base
Blade tracking adjustment increases blade life by providing better blade tracking
Dual bearing blade guide rollers provides increased durability in the blade support system
2-1/2 in. cut capacity cuts up to 2 in. SCH 40 pipe
Uses a 32-7/8 (83.5)cm blade
2 1/2 in. cut throat capacity

Bosch Multi-Purpose Carbide Drill Bits - #THDProSpective

thetoolpig — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 16:01:38 +0000

We have all seen the TV infomercials of the drill bits that are supposed to drill everything and still do a great job with any material. If you're like me you probably roll your eyes and change the channel. I am pretty sure that none of those home grade bits would hold up very long. Traditionally we have divided drill bit's into several categories. There are Twist bits primarily for steel but are also used on wood, plastics and other metals. There are auger and ship auger bits that are only used on wood. There are Brad point bits that look like twist bits but have sharp points specifically for clean holes in wood. There are also Forstner and self feed bit's which are very similar and are only used in wood. Another category is specifically for concrete, masonry and other hard materials. They have a steel shank with a carbide tip braised on the end to withstand the abrasive properties of crate and masonry. They are usually used in hammer drills and rotary hammers. There are also specialty bits made with diamond grit for drilling glass, ceramic and porcelain tile. When we see a claim that a certain accessory is good for several different materials we have to really consider how it will hold up as well as how it performs. Cost of the accessory as well as cost of the time involved in using the accessory must be considered. This is true whether we are working commercially or in a DIY setting. Time is our most precious commodity and once we use it we do not get it back and we can't go buy more. The Home Depot sent us a set of these Bosch daredevil carbide tipped bits for review. We are allowed to say anything we want positive or negative. Please read carefully to see if they are for you. I first saw these bits when we were invited to the Home Depot headquarters in Atlanta. I was very skeptical until I actually used them. We used them on steel, wood and concrete block and then went back to steel. They can actually drill all those materials. I'm not going to say that these are fast in any of these materials. They are most efficient in concrete block. This makes sense since they are closest to hammer drill bits with their carbide tips. They performed just like concrete bits because they basically are concrete bits with a 1/4" hex shank. To compare to other bits I used the 3/16" in concrete block then in steel and wood. It flew through the block and was slower than I had hoped in the steel. It was also slower in the wood. I thought it might be because the bit had already been dulled from drilling holes in the concrete. I then took a quarter inch bit and went straight for the steel and I found it to be as slow in the steel as the one that had already gone through concrete. It also was fairly slow through the wood. Next I grabbed a quarter-inch twist bit made for steel and drilled a hole in the steel and the wood and it was much faster. Then I used another Bosch carbide tipped masonry/concrete bit on the steel just for comparison sake. It was much slower than either of the daredevil bits. The tip looks extremely similar to the daredevil bit with a slightly different grind. I was surprised at how much faster the daredevil bits were. This tells me that there really is something going on and that these are not simply masonry bits sold as all-purpose. There is actually some engineering to optimize the tips for multi material use. Where would I use these? I am not going to lie, I have no need for them in my work flow. That doesn't mean that they wouldn't work for you or someone else in a different situation. I am a firm believer in the best tool for the job and the right accessories for the task at hand. I completely stopped using hammer drill bits 20 years ago when I bought my first SDS plus hammer. Once you go SDS it is impossible to go back. When I drill steel I use high-speed steel bits and lubricant. That doesn't mean I feel these are useless. For roughly $20.00 I think they would be handy as a backup set of drill bits for situations where you don't know what you were going to encounter. They would be ideal for drilling through a metal plate or piece of wood right into the concrete with no worries of damaging a high-speed steel twist bit. Even if they take a "bit" longer through those other materials you do save time by not having to switch . Whether or not these work for you would have to be determined by you. At the very least this is a nice set of concrete/masonry bits. The fact that they also work in other materials is a solid plus. They are definitely worth checking out to see how they fit in your workflow.

Bosch Multi-Purpose Carbide Drill Bits for Drilling Tile, Masonry, Wood, Metal and Concrete (5-Piece)Buy at The Home Depot

Drills tile, masonry, wood, metal and concrete
Innovative tungsten carbide plate suitable for multi-purpose applications
Sharp, multiple diamonds ground cutting edges for a high drilling rate, even in hard materials such as tiles and concretes
Sturdy drilling head for a long serviced life in drilling and impact drilling applications
Includes (1) 5/32 in. x 4 in. x 6 in., (1) 3/16 in. x 4 in. x 6 in., (1) 1/4 in. x 4 in. x 6 in., (1) 5/16 in. x 4 in. x 6 in., (1) 3/8 in. x 4 in. x 6 in.

Dewalt 20v Max Brad Nailer - #THDProSpective

thetoolpig — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 15:11:01 +0000

DeWalt 18 GA. Nailer

Cordless nail gun's are becoming more and more popular with each passing year. We get so many questions about which one is the one to get. There are so many choices out there and we all really want to avoid buying lemons. Believe me with 30 years in building and remodeling I have bought my fair share of lemons and I know the frustration that it causes. I take tool reviewing very seriously because I never want to give bad advice and I never want to encourage someone to spend their money on something that is going to be a big disappointment.

Why Even Talk About This?

For several years all cordless nail gun options were pretty bad. More recently it seems manufacturers have worked really hard to make a tool that we can use successfully. There are many competing technologies with the same goal in mind. That is to successfully drive nails in certain gauges and lengths into a variety of building materials such as hardwood soft wood plywood and MDF. All of the newer options will accomplish this goal to a certain extent.

The Industry Standard

My most used guns over the years in both the 16 and 18 gauge categories have been Paslode impulse nailers. They use compressed gas and a small rechargeable battery to run a fan and the ignition. The design is basically a single event combustion engine. Their design has given them more power in a smaller lighter package than the battery only guns have been able to deliver. The downside has been weaker cold-weather operation and the maintenance schedule where you disassemble the gun to clean it and lubricate it to keep it in top running order. There have been many battery only competitors brought to the market in the last 10 to 15 years and none of them have really compared well with the Paslode guns. Even though they keep getting better they just haven't been able to top the Paslode in performance, hole size or overall user experience.

Not Their First Rodeo

Now DeWalt has released their new 20v max 18 Ga. nailer along with several other sizes. How does it stack up? Short version? In my opinion, Very well. At first glance it has everything. Adjustable depth of drive, belt hook, LED light, dry fire lockout and tool free clearing of jams. This is not DeWalt's first 18 ga nailer. They do know a thing or 2 about what we need in a nailer to make our job better. They have both pneumatic nail guns and the old 18v ni-cad gun under their belts. I really feel that this new gun is finally to the point where I can confidently say just go get one. The performance is really up there where we need it to do clean finish work.

Precision Machine

The first thing I want to cover is that the hole it produces is very tight. Once you get it adjusted to the proper depth with the tool free thumb wheel, it is no larger than the head of the brad. This is very important because we do not want large holes to fill in our finish molding. They might be Okay on paint grade wood work but on stained and finished or pre-finished molding it is always better to have the smallest hole possible. In comparing this gun to the pneumatic version there is a difference in the hole size. The cordless in this case actually out performs the pneumatic. It also handily outperforms the Milwaukee fuel and other cordless brad nailers in both hole size and cleanness. I was surprised at how tight the holes actually are. [gallery type="slideshow" columns="1" ids="1676,1675,1674,1673,1672,1671" orderby="rand"] The nose is very similar to the Bostitch precision point nailers. No surprise here since they are also owned by Stanley Black and decker. There is nothing to obstruct your line of sight. Perfect nail placement is easy and repeatable. The nose also allows you to get into tighter places than all other cordless brad nailers. They share many other features with the new Bostitch cordless nailers as well. They are near clones inside and out. The next point is power. This gun has absolutely amazing power in all materials that we run into with finish work. It is one gun you actually need to dial back to the right setting to avoid over driving. It doesn't matter if it is MDF, Pine, walnut, White Oak or hard maple the DeWalt 20v has power to spare. Many guns do just fine with a range of nails but struggle on full length fasteners in hardwoods. Some of the more powerful cordless guns will do fine with red oak and then leave the head proud on hard Maple. The DeWalt 18 ga gun has no such trouble. Smooth sailing all the way. It is the first non gas cordless I have run across that will cleanly and consistently drive in these scenarios. This brings up another point. User experience. To be sure, this is more important to me than the other points. All the power in the world is useless if there is too much feedback to the user's hand. Some guns mentioned earlier have the power but they can actually be painful to use after a while. The flywheel design in the DeWalt nailers is very efficient and offers class leading power with much less feedback to the user. Recoil is a fact of life with any nail gun but this gun has a minimal amount. It is very pleasant in the shot. I can literally nail all day with no hand shock issues. After 30 years as a carpenter and woodworker, I appreciate user-friendly tools more than ever. Your mileage may be different but suffice it to say no one benefits from more recoil. No one wants wasted energy transferring to your hand and wrist instead of being concentrated on the nail. The flywheel design also gives DeWalt another possible advantage in some situations. Once that flywheel is spinning you can bump fire the thing until you are out of nails. I don't use trim guns in bump fire mode but that's not to say you might not benefit from that ability. There are many creative minds out there we never know what they might come up with. A few other notable features: The gun itself is completely symmetrical. It has arguably the best balance of any of the cordless guns. The grip is very comfortable. I find dewalt grips to be some of the most comfortable on the market. The main head has rubber bumpers to help you avoid scratching finished surfaces and it also keeps your gun looking new longer. The belt hook can be placed on either side of the gun. It is in the perfect spot for left or right hand use. It is very comfortable has no sharp edges that we cut into your pocket if you used it on your jeans and it is plenty wide enough to hang on your nail bags. DeWalt has provided a simple switch to change the gun from single shot to bump fire mode. It works very well and requires no tools. The LED lights are well placed and light up both sides the gun for use in dark areas such as under cabinets. Since there are lights on both sides there is only a very thin shadow line in the middle where there is no light. No tool is 100% perfect. I would still like to see a smaller form factor. It shares the same basic head dimensions with all the other 20v max finish nailers and stapler. It doesn't take as much power to drive a 2" 18 ga brad as it does a 2 1/2" 15 or 16 ga finish nail. I also find that the safety lightly dents softer woods like pine, plywood or pre primed MDF. It's not as bad as some other guns. I thought I should mention it for full disclosure. If any other complaints arise I will update this article. The benefits far out weigh these minor quibbles. DeWalt really has all of their cordless nailers dialed. In 2017 I can confidently say there is no other battery only cordless 18 ga. Brad nailer I can recommend more highly. Don't just take my word for it. Try one without risk for 90 days with the DeWalt satisfaction guarantee and 3 year warranty.

20-Volt Max Lithium-Ion 18-Gauge Cordless Brad Nailer KitBuy yours at The Home Depot

Diablo 4.5 in. Diamond Wheel for Metal Cutting - #THDProSpective

thetoolpig — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 02:46:01 +0000

Diablo diamond wheel 4.5 inch/5 inch

Home Depot sent us some of these wheels for review in the THD Prospective program. We have complete freedom to say anything we want about these products. I urge you to read the full article to see if these are right for you because I feel these are good for some applications but not for all. Mini grinders have long been one of my favorite tools because they are so useful for so many things. We cut metal with them, we grind welds, we cut concrete and block with them. We also use them on tile installation for cutting cement backer board and tile. I also use them for coping miters on trim installation. Since they are so useful for so many trades they are found on many trucks, whether it be a metal fab truck or a plumber or electrician's truck or an HVAC contractor or even a general contractor/remodeler. One wheel that is especially dangerous on a mini grinder is a metal cut off wheel. The bonded abrasive disks are fragile and can explode if they are dropped or tweaked in a cut. The resulting shrapnel spinning at 9,000 + RPM can cause serious injury or even death. There are dozens of photos on the Internet of people who have cut off wheels stuck in their cheek or other parts of their body. If you choose to search for those do so at your own risk. Diablo Tools has developed some steel body cut off wheel with bonded diamond grit as the cutting media. This is a welcome advancement for tradespeople who need an occasional cut off wheel and do not feel so safe with the bonded discs. It is not meant as a heavy-duty all day long cut off wheel. We tried them on some 1/2" solid rod. They are okay on the 1/2" for intermittent cutting but I feel they are more for thinner materials. They are designed with a continuous rim and with heavy cutting they can warp on you. I suggested to Diablo project managers to add a segmented rim or some expansion slots. I feel they will come out in successive generations of this wheel. Whether or not they are right for you depends on the application. For extended cutting and heavy-duty use Diablo Tools makes several fine quality carbide blades. These new cutting wheels are very thin and are an easy load on your cordless grinder. This makes it very convenient for grab and go cutting needs. The continuous diamond rim gives you a consistent depth of cut whether it is brand new or you have done 100 cuts. The steel body means you can use them with regular safety glasses. Even though they are not as fast as a regular bonded abrasive slicer wheel they can actually be faster because you don't have to go look for your full face shield to make a few cuts. I found it handy for cutting nails, screws and staples after removing water damaged underlayment and drywall. It will also cut the tops of your anchor bolts off above the nut. It will do hog wire and concrete mesh. It will also do rebar if you don't try to cut anything larger than 1/2". One thing I do not recommend cutting with it is threaded rod because it leaves too much of a burr. Most of the benefits of these cutting wheels center on safety and convenience. It is very convenient to be able to just keep this wheel on your grinder and throw it in your toolbox for when you need it. That is something you cannot do with a bonded abrasive wheel and expect it to be safe. It is also very nice to be able to cut without a full face shield. Here are some points from the manufacturer for consideration.

Diamond rimmed wheels deliver up to 100X longer cutting life and durability when compared to one standard bonded cut-off disc
Advanced Electro-Plating Process for even distribution of diamond abrasive cutting edge
Maintains cutting diameter for consistent cutting results
Diamond technology is safer to use versus bonded discs by providing more control, less sparks and less dust
Diamond wheels do not shatter or break when dropped
Ideal for cutting rebar, angle iron, cast iron and steel bar
For use on angle grinders with a max RPM of 13,280
7/8 in. arbor
Available in four different sizes: 4-1/2 in., 5 in., 6 in. and 7 in.

The Home Depot

Husky Water Resistant Leather Gloves - #THDProSpective

thetoolpig — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 13:21:30 +0000

Husky Water Resistant Leather Gloves

I feel everyone in the trades can benefit from good work gloves. I didn't always feel this way. When I was younger I felt invincible and may have even felt that scars from cuts and scrapes were cool. You know what they say, “Chicks dig scars.” Today I feel differently. Hand injuries slow us down no matter how you slice it. (pun) Even minor hand injuries can become major problems. I have even seen pictures of people losing entire fingers from infections from what seemed to be minor cuts. Not to mention the down time during a job healing or the medical bills if injured that can be avoided with the proper protection.

I have worked on a few different large-scale commercial projects that required everyone to wear gloves unless they were operating a table saw , grinder, drill press or other tool with a rotating blade or bit. You can imagine any number of injuries that could result from a glove coming into contact with a spinning blade. It was on these sites that I truly developed an appreciation for gloves. I realized that the "I'm too tough for gloves" mentality just doesn't work. I found that it only took a few days to get used to them.

I soon got to the point where I actually felt something was missing until I put on my gloves.

There are so many options out there that there is a glove designed for nearly every task and situation. I always used to use leather gloves because I felt they were the best. With advances in synthetics there has been a huge influx of gloves made from other materials. I like them with Kevlar for cut resistance in certain applications like steel stud framing or handling glass. A lot of people like them for their better finger dexterity. They are also unaffected by water.

That is what is so cool about these new Husky water-resistant gloves. They are super comfortable. The leather is really soft on your hands. They offer really good overall impact, abrasion and puncture resistance. They are more versatile than many other more specialized materials. These new husky gloves offer all the benefits of regular leather plus they don't shrink or get hard after getting wet. They aren't water proof but they are made in such a way to withstand washing or rinsing. We completely dunked ours and experienced no ill effects. This is not something everyone does but working in wet weather or wet trades gives peace of mind that this will be a glove that will stand up to what is thrown at it on the job.

We have used these for cutting firewood stacking and hauling firewood. We have use them for doing demolition on water damage property. We have also used them outside with some landscaping pulling out bushes and moving blocks.

I have to admit they are a nice looking pair of gloves for the money. At The Home Depot you can get a pair for under $15. Definitely worth a look and if you are in the market for an all around tough pair of work gloves you should take a look into this pair. They are Toolpig approved!

The Home Depot

Team Toolpig Joins the Pro Tool Innovation Awards in 2017

thetoolpig — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 15:55:52 +0000

We feel honored to have been included in this years judging process of the Pro Tool Innovation Awards. This years winners represent the best new features, improved performance or outstanding value in each category. The Awards cannot be bought. Each judge privately selects his or her choice from the list of submissions. A lot of thought goes in to this process. It's not a matter of, "I like DeWalt more than Milwaukee or Makita better than Bosch so I'm picking this tool over that one." The goal here is to award Innovation and drive future improvements in each category so we all benefit. Nearly all of our choices turned out to be winners. Those that did not became runners-up.

We feel privileged to have been a part of this enjoyable and interesting process. We want to thank Clint and everyone on the Protoolreviews team for including us. The comments below are from Protoolreviews

Started in 2013, the Pro Tool Innovation Awards program is the largest and broadest awards program in the power & hand tool, accessory, and fastener industries. The PTIA program recognizes those tools which provides excellent value, advanced features, and the newest innovations. Each year the Pro Tool Innovation Awards are judged by a panel of construction industry and media professionals who handle and use hundreds of new tools each year. From personal use on the job site to exposure to tools at media events and industry trade shows, the PTIA judges can spot innovation a mile away. Now in its fifth year, the 2017 Pro Tool Innovation Awards saw 263 entries from over 60 manufacturers. Hit the link below to see the winners and check out how your favorites stack up. PTIA 2017

Husky 3/8 Drive Digital Torque Wrench - #THDProSpective

thetoolpig — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 00:58:55 +0000

Husky 3/8 drive Digital Torque Wrench

Team Toolpig welcomes the opinion of a 6 year Tradesman Field Mechanic. Let's talk about the pros and cons of the Husky 3/8 drive Digital Torque Wrench, my overall opinion as a mechanic is that it is a very affordable torque wrench for the everyday mechanic. It has a torque range 5-80 in. lbs. When compared to my "other brand" torque wrenches I find it is spot on. It also comes with a certificate of calibration, definite pro. I do like the adjustment knob, I find it very easy to adjust and lock, this takes a lot of strain off your wrist by not twisting the handle, another pro for me as a tradesman that uses his hands daily I like to find the tools that do the work for me with the least strain on my body. The handle has a very comfortable grip as well, which is beneficial for long time use. It also is oil resistant and this is a great thing in the hand of any mechanic. I know myself, I tend to get my hands a little greasy and dirty. [gallery columns="4" ids="1930,1931,1932,1933" orderby="rand"] The first con I see with the wrench. There is no way to push to release your socket button on the head, that would be something I would recommend to add, as the ball can wear out and cause your socket to fall off. It does have a rebuildable ratchet pawl, if the ratchet were to wear out, replacement parts could be considered. I like the fact that if you can adjust to ft. lbs, you can simply press the green button to convert to either; in.lbs, newton meters, or kilogram per cm on the fly. The other con I see is I would recommend on the next generation of this 3/8 Digital Torque Wrench to have a LED Backlight display, for working in a dark environment, definitely see a lot of dark places with such a great tool. Most of the tools in my toolbox have consisted of Gear-Wrench, Matco and Snap-on mainly because I am partial to the warranty for the tools but I am open to Husky with this warranty policy.

My overall opinion- How could anyone pass up such a great quality tool with a LIFETIME WARRANTY!!!

Tony Sprague [video poster="" src="http://thetoolpig.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/img_3288.mp4"][/video]

Torque range: 5 to 80 ft. lbs. or 60 to 960 in. lbs. or 6.78 to 108.48 N-m and 69.1 to 1106.0 kg-cm
LED screen can be switched with the push of a button to display in ft.-lbs., in.-lbs., or newton meters or kilogram centimeters
Factory calibrated to +/- 4% clockwise accuracy in the upper 80% of torque range
Wrench is designed to give an audible click when torque setting is reached
Hard plastic case for storage and protection
End cap twist to easily set desired torque level which is displayed on the LED screen
Sealed head design keeps out dirt and oil
When the wrench is set the low end of the torque range the click will be less then when at the high end of range
Recommended that you remove batteries when wrench is stored for extended periods
Meets or exceeds ANSI standards
Oil resistant rubberized grip
When the wrench is not in use, it is recommended to store it below 25% of capacity
Wrench should be checked for accuracy every 5,000 torque applications or if it is subjected to abnormal handling

Milwaukee M18 18-Volt Lithium-Ion High Demand Battery Pack 9.0Ah - #THD ProSpective

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 15:30:46 +0000

Milwaukee tools have long been an important part of the Toolpig arsenal. We have used many generations of their tools. No one can argue that they are a major player in today's tools scene. Milwaukee fans are some of the most loyal on the planet. When we all first heard about the new 9.0 Amp Hour High demand battery. We were all pretty stoked. At the time of launch it was to be the highest capacity 18v battery by a wide margin. It promised double the runtime of a 5.0 in certain applications. The numbers do not add up but in application it seems to work out.

How did they do it?

All lithium-ion power tool batteries are made up of a series of individual lithium-ion cells to get to a certain voltage. To get to 18 V you need five cells of 3.6 V each running in series which adds up to 18 V under load. Pretty much any of the slim packs that you see such as 1.5, 2.0 or 3.0 AH will have five cells in this configuration. Batteries with this arrangement are very lightweight and maneuverable for light duty tasks. They can be used in a higher demand situation but they will drain quickly and will create a lot of heat which is wasted battery power.

The larger packs such as 4.0 and 5.0 are basically two of the slim packs stacked and running in parallel. Instead of five cells running in series you have two stacks of five cells running in series. This arrangement gives you the same 18 V of power but it roughly doubles the amount of current that is available at any given time. You will not notice a difference in power between a 5.0 and a 2.0 battery on a light duty task such as using an impact driver on small cabinet screws or inch and a quarter drywall screws. You will see a lot of difference on a more difficult task such as driving 8" lag screws or ripping 2x lumber with a circular saw.

To make the 9.0 battery, Milwaukee used three rows of five lithium-ion cells. They are high quality high demand 3.0 Amp Hour 18650 cells. (18650 means they are 18mm diameter x 650 mm length). This battery can actually take your old faithful M18 tools and give them a turbo boost. Now instead of drawing 18 V of power from two rows of five cells you can now get 50% more current from 3 rows of 5 cells which translates to higher torque and longer runtime no matter what the task.

Why Did They Do It?

Milwaukee has repeatedly stated that they are firmly committed to the M18 platform for cordless power tools. I will not comment as to whether I feel this is wise or not. What I do know is there is fierce competition for our Power tool dollars. There have been great advancements in cordless tool design in the past few years. Brushless motors make the most of lithium-ion batteries. We now have many cordless tools that outperform corded tools all day long.

With the larger tools come larger brushless motors with higher power demands. That is where the high demand 9.0 battery pack comes in. It was the next logical step for Milwaukee. It is the biggest and baddest they have to offer so far for their m18 tool line. Just like stepping from a 2.0 battery to a 5.0 gives you're tools a boost in torque and power, so does stepping from a 5.0 to a 9.0. That means our regular old drills and saws will feel stronger all through the discharge cycle. The difference is noticeable especially on higher drain tools like sawzalls and circular saws. This new battery has enabled Milwaukee to develop even larger more powerful higher demand tools than ever before. Last year we saw the world's first and only 18v SDS max rotary hammer as well as the world's first 10" 18v brushless sliding miter saw. We also saw the new line of OPE with the release of the string trimmer, hedge trimmer and blower. For the most part these tools have performed admirably. They all perform their best when running on a High Demand 9.0. [gallery type="slideshow" columns="1" size="medium" ids="2002,2003,2000,1998"] This newer battery is also more efficient than a 5.0 or 2.0. How so? Since there are 3 banks of cells discharging the needed current, each bank is discharging slightly less current than if they were part of a single or dual bank battery. Less amperage out means less heat generated. Heat in a battery is just wasted energy. The less wasted energy the more is left to run your tools! They have been duking it out on the job site with higher voltage lines from DeWalt, Metabo and Makita. So far it seems they are staying fairly close to the competition. The DeWalt Flex Volt tools enjoy a significant power output advantage with their 60v max (54v under load) batteries. They demonstrate an even larger power difference with their 2x60v=120v 12" cordless miter Saw. Makita and Metabo enjoy a comfortable increase of 36v power by putting 2 18v batteries on high demand tools. How long Milwaukee will be able to stick to their guns on the 18v decision only time will tell. For now the High Demand 9.0 will deliver the max power from all of your m18 tools.

For more information visit Milwaukee

Buy at The Home Depot for $169

REDLINK intelligence: provides optimized performance and overload protection using total system communication between tool, battery and charger
Best-in-class construction: offers long-lasting performance and durability
Fuel gauge on board: displays remaining run-time for less downtime on the job
All-weather performance: delivers fade free power in extreme jobsite conditions
Versatility: powers more than 100 Milwaukee M18 cordless power tools
Compatible with all M18 lithium-ion chargers
The M18™ REDLITHIUM™ HIGH DEMAND™ 9.0 Battery Pack delivers up to 5X more run-time, 35% more power, and runs 60% cooler than standard 18V lithium-ion batteries

Dewalt Tough System stacking toolboxes THDProspective.

thetoolpig — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 17:31:32 +0000

I am a huge fan of stacking interlocking toolboxes. I have been using the Festool systainer system for years but it is very expensive and the boxes aren't really made to hold up to a full on hardcore construction crew. They are aimed more at the finish carpenter/ tradespersons who works alone or with a small crew. Having an interlocking system for your toolboxes is a real advantage over tool bags or random boxes. Organization is the key to efficiency. Having the option to carry more than one box at a time can save both time and money. The locking design keeps each box firmly in its place during transport. It also saves space while adding a measure of protection to your tools and boxes. Add some wheels and transport becomes much easier. You can haul multiple tools and boxes full of accessories in one trip from the truck to the job site. The advantages become even more clear when working in high-rise buildings where you must use an elevator to reach your job. Some job sites have little to no close parking and many find themselves walking long distances to reach the actual site. With interlocking boxes you can turn several trips into one. When the original tough system come out with the metal dolly I was very intrigued and almost bought a full set. I mostly work alone and decided not to add another storage system to my workflow. I liked the tough build and utility of boxes but the arrangement of the dolly took up too much space for my needs. Even though, I work out of box trucks and job trailers, space is always limited. For many it is probably an awesome set up. Each situation is different and we all have to weigh the pros and cons of different solutions. With the new large DS450 rolling bottom tool box we can now have similar utility while saving space. The boxes are still the same tough build but now stack tight while interlocking with each other. I immediately saw the benefits of the new box. It was just what I needed to get me to try the system. Since it is both taller and deeper than previous boxes, it will hold larger tools as well as more of everything. It has a telescoping metal handle and large wheels for smooth rolling even when navigating stairs. It also has a removable tray for smaller commonly used items. One advantage that it has over at least one of the competing systems is the lid. When you open it the telescoping handle tilts back and out-of-the-way. It allows the lid to open fully without wasting space. Thus there is no need to remove the lid to get into the bottom box. Few things are more annoying than having to look around at the end of the day for the lid of the bottom box. Without the lid the next box will neither stack nor lock in.

The design of the Tough System is solid. They are made of a thick structural foam material. The hinges are heavy to stand up to job-site abuse. The handles have a nice soft rubber over mold for comfort when handling them. The lids all have a foam gasket to keep water and dust out. They are IP65 rated. In my experience they are weather-proof. I left a set outside for the better part of a year with tools inside. Through many thunderstorms and blowing snow they stayed dry as a bone inside. I am not afraid to store any tool in them. I have heard reports of some getting moisture inside but I'm not sure why. Perhaps they had a defective unit or a crack of some type. I have never had a drop of water or a hint of condensation. The lifetime warranty is reassuring. Buy at TheHomeDepot.com There is a very nice array of boxes available in the tough system to meet many different requirements. There are large, medium and small boxes. There are organizer boxes , open top totes and boxes with drawers. There is even a tough system music job radio. It is my favorite of all job radios. It has the best sound quality so far. The highs are crisp and clean and it has the best bass of all job radios no matter the brand. All of these boxes lock together for ease of handling and to keep things from falling off the stack. I feel that every trade can benefit from the DeWalt Tough System storage. It doesn't matter what job we do, we all can benefit from organization and tool protection as well as ease of transport. I encourage anyone who works with tools and or parts and accessories to at least check them out at your local Home Depot.

Available at TheHomeDepot.com

One very nice accessory that I really enjoy using with the tough system boxes are Kaizen Foam Inserts. My friend Brian Way makes them in his shop. He is a custom mill work installer. He created a nice way to organize and protect his tools. They are CNC cut multilayered foam inserts that fit the box perfectly. They are available in different thicknesses for different applications. The way you use them is lay the tools on the foam in the box, trace them out with a long tip marker and then cut the foam out with a thin breakaway knife so your tool fits snugly in the insert. The multiple 1/8" layers make it very easy to cut and peel to fit your tool perfectly. You always want to leave a layer or 2 on the bottom. It protects the tool and keeps it from moving around during transport. Available at kaizeninserts.com use coupon code toolpig for 10% off your order. [caption id="attachment_733" align="aligncenter" width="1944"] Dealt Tough System - Combined with Kaizen Insert[/caption]

Buy at The Home Depot

Makita XPS01 X2 36V Tracksaw - #THD-ProSpective

thetoolpig — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 03:00:36 +0000

Check out the awesome X2 at Home Depot What can I say? I love track saws. I've been using them for years. They make many hard tasks easier. Once you have one it's impossible to go back. It changes something inside of you. Even stubborn doubters have changed their minds in as little as one use. I used to think I had no need for a track Saw. I felt like a straight edge and a couple of clamps were enough to make nice Straight cuts. I used to say, "Track saws are too expensive for what you get." How wrong I was. There is more to it than just making straight cuts. The first track saw I used was a cheap one from grizzly. It wasn't very good. The dust collection was horrible and the splinter guard was off by 1/8" but it was good enough that I soon realized that I needed a tracksaw in my life. I originally wanted a Makita since I was against Festool pricing at the time. The problem was that I couldn't find a Makita anywhere within a 3 Hour drive and I wanted to try the Saw before buying. My favorite lumberyard Schutte Lumber in Kansas City, MO invited me to a Festool event and I decided to go ahead and check it out. I have to say I was hooked! I bought the TS55 Saw which is the smaller Festool and a CT36 dust extractor. The Saw served me well for about a year and then the cordless TSC55 came out. I was so happy with the cordless one I rarely wanted to use the corded Festool. I still wondered what the Makita was like so I ordered one last year. I was very pleasantly surprised. I found that it was excellent in many ways. It has noticeably more power than the Festool saws. It makes the same quality of cuts as the Festool saws and it cost a lot less. In fact knowing what I know now, if I had to do it all again I would not hesitate to buy the Makita first. What about the XPS01 cordless Makita? It is the newest one on the market and let me tell you it is very impressive. It does everything all the other track saws do but it is also nicer to use than most. That is very important to me. If I truly enjoy using a tool then my day goes much better. This saw has a long list of things that stand out. First off there is no cord. No one is going to walk by your workbench and trip llon the cord causing your saw to crash to the concrete floor below. The short track is identical in length to the Festool 55" but the long track is almost a foot longer making it much nicer to use on full sheets. To me it has the most comfortable main handle and side handle. It has the smoothest plunge feel of all of the track saws I have ever touched. It glides on the tracks like nothing else on the market. It has the nicest bevel set up . It has a -1° stop as well as a 22 1/2° positive stop and a 45° positive stop and it will go up to 48° positive stop. It is about 1 lb lighter than the Festool cordless. It is much much more comfortable to use than the DeWalt. It uses an ultra thin kerf blade and powerful brushless motor with auto downshifting so it can blast through material easier than just about any other cordless or corded track saw I have used. Check this link below for a video of it in a tough cut. Please keep in mind the dust bag was full before the cut and a lot of the dust is coming out the bottom of the saw because of it. Makita is famous for putting great blades on their saws from the factory. At first I was a bit concerned about the saw having a 52 tooth ultra thin kerf blade. I knew it was a really good idea for cutting power and run time but I wondered if it might flex more in the cut and leave a rough edge compared to a full kerf sawblade. After using it on the job for building and installing cabinets and breaking down full sheets in the shop I realized that those fears were unfounded. The 52 teeth do a very nice job of making very clean cross cuts even in thin veneers. I have used it mainly without the 2 mm scoring feature and the results have been quite good. It is even cleaner when you use the scoring setting. If I find myself in a situation where I am using an expensive piece of material I may be more inclined to use the scoring feature. Even though I don't use the scoring feature much it is good to know that it is there.

I think the blade is made by Tenryu. It is extremely similar to their ultra thin kerf blade. Whether it is or is not it is a wonderful blade and I wish it would work on my cordless festool without removing or changing the riving knife. (I do believe the Tenryu version comes with a thinner riving knife for the Festool Saw)

Another huge advantage of the Makita XPS01 track saw is they have an unequalled range of compatible high performing woodworking and carpentry tools on the 18 V LXT and X2 36v platform. I really feel that the X2 36 V system is an Excellent solution to provide heavy duty tools without forcing users to go to a larger battery system. There are a couple of things I would change if I could. I would like to see an offcut splinter guard like on the Festool TSC55. (I think it is patented so I don't see that happening) That piece is probably the most important thing that sets the Festool apart from all other saws on the market. It increases the quality of the waste side of your cut and it increases dust extraction with or without a vacuum extractor. The next thing I would add is a good dust bag. I know it is meant to be used with a vacuum extractor but the saw catches an incredible amount of dust with just a dust bag. People have been modifying the Festool TSC55 dust nozzle to fit the Makita so they can use the Festool bag on their Makita Saw. I have not done it yet and I am not sure that I will. I have not seen a nice clean modification yet. I have been using the Dewalt flex volt miter saw dust bag on my Makita. It works well but it needs to be dumped frequently. It would be nice to be able to use it with one battery in a pinch as well. Some people say it needs a riving knife but I honestly don't miss it. I have never had a kickback with it or the corded version on sheet goods or solid wood. Even worked and twisted word has not been a problem with this saw. Please don't feel that I am against riving knives because I am not. If the saw was sold with one on it I would not remove it. I definitely like a riving knife on my tablesaws when I am not using overhead guard with a built-in riving knife. The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages with the Makita XPS01 36 V cordless track saw. If I found myself without a track saw tomorrow because of theft or fire, this unit would absolutely be the very first one I would buy . To me it dominates in performance, features, compatibility and value.

Home Depot

Milwaukee Shockwave Impact Duty Driver Bit Set - #THD-ProSpective

thetoolpig — Sun, 29 Oct 2017 23:34:30 +0000

**Milwaukee Shockwave Impact Bit Set**

Driver bits are probably the most common power tool accessory sold. We all use them. Every single trade needs them. We drive so many different types of fasteners for so many applications.

We have been chucking screwdriver bits in drills for decades. Back then if you had a hardened tip it really didn't matter much how much flex the shaft had in it.

Since the late 90s impact drivers have gotten more and more popular every year. Today people seem to use them more than even drills. Impact drivers are much harder on driver bits than drills. Not only do they have more torque than most drills, they make that torque with a hammer and anvil mechanism. What does that mean? The driver bits will get much more abuse on an impact driver because of thousands of torque events per minute compared to the sustained lower torque load of a drill. In the we end up with broken bits. It is sually a tip that snaps off in the fastener. Sometimes it's the entire shaft that breaks. Although there generally is no good time for this to happen, if you are like me it always happens at the worst time. Usually it’s toward the end of a job and I'm in a hurry and then I have to stop what I'm doing and go look for a good bit.

To counteract this problem Milwaukee and other manufacturers have come out with impact rated bits. These are made to absorb shock and lessen the effects of the impact event on the bit. Some of these are simply made of softer metal that will flex. Others have been created with what is called a torsion zone. It is usually an area with a smaller diameter than the 1/4 inch hex which will flex slightly during impacting to avoid snapping the bit.

Milwaukee named their impact rated bits Shockwave. They are made with a torsion zone. I was really happy to see they had made them a couple of years ago and decided to give them a try. I thought they were OK. They were not outstanding but they did improve on regular quarter-inch hex driver bits. The main thing that kept them from being outstanding were the tips. They seemed softer than the top performing bits from DeWalt, Bosch, and Makita. The Tips did not seem to have a precise fit in the fasteners. Due to the looser fit and softer material I think they would also deform faster than the competition.

The second generation Shockwave bits are much improved over the original version. I was very eager to get my hands on them. Milwaukee initially sent us a few to try and I really feel they are much nicer. They have a much more precise fit in the fastener as well as a longer torsion zone. The tips themselves are more durable as well. These seem to be both harder and tougher than the original. Home Depot more recently sent out a 50 piece set of bits and we are finding them to be very nice to have in our tool box. All of our original concerns have been addressed. They are good enough that we have bought more for some of our trucks.

This new set has very useful mix of driver bit types. They have all of our most common sizes. There are 19 2 inch long driver bits with Phillips number two and number three as well as Robertson Number two and number three. There are also several torx. 1 ea.T-15 2 ea. T-20 2 ea.T-25 1 ea. T-30. There is a 1/4 inch slotted. There are 1/4" and 5/16" nut drivers. There is a three 8" socket adapter. There are 2 double ended screwdriver bits, each have a number two Phillips at one end. One has a slotted and the other has a T-25 at the other end. There is a similar mix of the 1 inch insert tips along with four Allen or hex driver bits with a magnetic bit holder.

I did have trouble recommending the original Shockwave bits when asked my opinion. I have no problem recommending this newer generation. When they set out to improve these bits they really paid attention to feedback they were getting and it shows in the quality and durability of the new designs. Buying a nice 50 piece set like this is much more economical than buying individual bits.

For more info go to Milwaukee Tools

Please buy yours at The Home Depot

Optimized shock zone geometry absorbs peak torque and prevents breaking
Custom machined tip prevents stripping and reduces wobble
Custom alloy 76 steel maximizes resistance to wear and shock
Includes 50-pieces
30X longer life versus other impact bits
3X more torque versus other impact bits

Acme Tools and Toolpig celebrate 110,000 followers

thetoolpig — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 14:38:49 +0000

We have been doing business with Acme Tools for 25 years. Some of you might remember back then it was called Tool Crib. I can fondly remember devouring every issue of Fine Homebuilding and spending extra time on the Tool Crib ads. Their old phone number is permanently burned into my memory! They have generously offered this Generac iq2000 generator to give back to this awesome IG community that we feel privileged to be a part of. We have always been impressed with their customer service and super fast shipping on every order we have ever made. We love the free shipping as well. If you haven’t dealt with Acme Tools you are missing out. If you like to check out the specs on the generator or you need to buy one click the link below. Acme Tools

Dewalt MaxFit 30 Piece Screw Driving Set - #THD - ProSpective

thetoolpig — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 03:43:12 +0000

Dewalt Impact Bits

For years DeWalt has been making really good driver bits. They have an exact fit in the different fasteners and are pretty durable. Instead of sitting back and enjoying the success they have pushed ahead and improved upon them in a few areas. Why We Need Them Impact drivers are much harder on bits than drills because they work differently from drills to deliver higher torque in a smaller package. In a drill the torque is constant and smooth. With an impact driver there is a rotating hammer which impacts an anvil thousands of times per second delivering higher torque. That torque is not smooth. That hammer can be very destructive to bits in just a few seconds. Because of this we need bits with different characteristics in different zones. We need the tips to be hard so they last a long time without wearing out. However, harder steel can be brittle. If the entire shaft is hard it will most likely break in short order. Impact rated bits can be made in a few different ways. DeWalt manufacturers most of their impact rated bits with a torsion zone. That means they have a normal 1/4" hex shaft where the bit meets the impact driver and a slimmer more flexible area that is made to twist slightly to absorb some of the impact energy from the hammer mechanism. It may seem strange that a slimmer shaft would make the bits more durable but it works very well. This 30 pc. set is perfect for 99% of all my driving needs. I prefer to use Torx head screws when I can. It includes T 20 and 25 in both 2" and insert tip sizes. It also has a good mix of Phillips and Robertson in both lengths as well as 1/4" and 5/16" nut drivers. Two nice features of this set are the sleeved bit extension and the 10x magnetic screw lock. The 10x means it is 10 times stronger than regular magnets. It really helps keeping the screw straight and definitely reduces screw drops even if you cam out of the screw head.

For the money you may find a different configuration that works better for you. For my needs this is as close to ideal as it gets for a smaller set. You can find these at your local Home Depot or click here to buy online DEWALT Maxfit Driving Bit Set (30-Piece)At The Home Depot

Securely fasten a variety of flathead, Phillips and Torx screws with this 30-piece MaxFit Screw

Lock Set from DEWALT
Includes a magnetic screw lock sleeve so you won't drop any fasteners and a bit tip holder
Provides extended reach when your power tools need to operate in cramped spaces.
The bit tips are precision-machined to snugly fit screw recesses, resulting in fewer stripped screws.

Dewalt.com for more information

I review and recommend products to help you buy the stuff you need. If you make a purchase by clicking one of my links, I do earn a small commission. My pledge to you is this: I will always say what I really feel. I will not taint my reviews to make a quick buck at your expense. I want you to know the truth about the tools I review for the good or the bad. My picks and opinions are independent from any business incentives.

Bosch GLL 2 Self Leveling Cross Line Laser - #THD-ProSpective

thetoolpig — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 04:17:38 +0000

Bosch GLL 2 Self Leveling Laser

When I first received the Bosch GLL2 laser kit I actually laughed out loud. I thought,”Man that looks like a laser level only smaller.”

Bosch was going to get the last laugh as you will soon see.

I have used laser levels on my projects for the last 15 years. For many years that meant a large expensive Hilti rotating laser. I used it both inside and outside for grading, footings and concrete forms all the way through framing, siding and more until the last cabinets and moldings were installed.

In recent years prices have gotten lower and lower and the units have shrunk even more. I now rarely use the rotating lasers as most of my jobs are inside these days. Fixed beam lasers are easier to use inside as they have a constant line which is easier to see at any given moment.

This Bosch GLL2 is the smallest and one of the least expensive lasers I have ever used. It comes with batteries and a base/clamp for mounting to a stud or pipe or anything else that will fit in its jaws. Since it is a cross line laser level It has a horizontal and a vertical beam. You can have one or the other or both depending on the task at hand.

Who needs it?

At $39.00 at Home Depot it is affordable enough to land in every tradespersons toolbox or bag. I literally cannot think of a trade that wouldn’t benefit from a small yet accurate laser level. If you can come up with one let me know.

Our electrician has used it on electrical runs to get receptacle box layout straight and conduit and EMT level and plumb.

Our HVAC technician has really enjoyed using the Bosch laser to get his trunk lines perfectly level and in a straight line.

I have used it on cabinet installs and it has worked flawlessly. I checked and rechecked and it matched the accuracy of larger, much more expensive lasers in kitchens up to 18’ Long. On somewhat larger areas I expect similar results.

I have also used it to set showers and bathtubs and for tile layout on walls. It has never given me a false reading with any of it.

All Lasers have some cons no matter what the price.

I want to mention that it is not as bright as the other larger more expensive lasers that I use. We can’t expect it to match 500.00 green lasers on every point. Because of this there is a more limited range. The price point is one of the lowest I have seen for a cross line laser level from any brand. The fact that it is a name brand like Bosch and it actually works makes it that much better.

I never expected the Bosch GLL2 to be as good as it is. It exceeded my expectations and I feel it is worth a look if you don’t have a laser level already. If you do have one I recommend it as a backup for when your helper knocks your expensive one to the concrete.

Find More Info at Boschtools.com

The Bosch GLL 2 Self-Leveling Cross-Line Laser is a compact and high-performance leveling and alignment solution for professionals.
Easy-to-use one-button operation allows the user to choose among cross-line, horizontal or vertical modes, depending on the application, and it provides an accuracy of ±3/16 In. at 30 Ft.
The unit includes a flexible mounting device that can clamp to practically any interior surface for maximum versatility.

Diablo-9pc Bi-Metal and Carbide Hole Saw Set - #THD-ProSpective

thetoolpig — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 16:54:24 +0000

Diablo Carbide Hole Saw Set

The Diablo name has become synonymous with great value in cutting and drilling. We believe this 9-piece set follows that tradition. The heart of this set is one of the best quick change arbors on the market. This set includes a 1-1/2 in. bi-metal hole saw, 1-1/8 in. bi-metal hole saw, 7/8 in. hole saw, 3/4 in. hole saw you get a special feature with this set; a 2 in. carbide toothed hole saw to give you taste of what carbide hole saws will do for your work flow.

Teeth

The teeth are slightly more aggressive than traditional hole saws. They cut faster than most that we have used over the years. They have a lower tooth count with a heavier shoulder behind the tip to give each tooth better impact protection and a longer wear point.

All of the hole saws offer great lifespan and durability in a variety of materials. Wood with nails, metals and plastics are all easily handled by the high-speed steel teeth. The 2" carbide tipped hole saw takes durability to a whole new level. Drilling extremely tough materials like stainless and cast iron are now easier than ever before. Fiberglass and other reinforced composites are now easier to work with. You will immediately notice the longer life of not only the hole saw itself but also of the batteries in your cordless drills.

There are many advantages with these hole saws over others on the market.

Easy Drop n Go

Probably the single most annoying thing about hole saws is removing the plug after cutting the hole. These Diablo hole saws have at least two features that make plug ejection easier. The first is the tool free feature. When done drilling simply pull back on the quick release collar to use the bit to force the material out of the hole saw. The second feature is the large side vents that allows easy access of a screwdriver to push any material from the hole saw. Although this doesn't sound tool-free it is an easy way to release the material left behind. Because of the aggressive set of the teeth I have often found material to fall out on its own after drilling.

Size Does Matter

The Second most annoying thing about a hole saw is you can rarely get through a 2x4 before it is completely filled and cannot drill deeper. I find these Diablo hole saws to be 2-3/8" deep which is plenty to make it through a bottom 2x4 plate and a sub-floor with one swing. This makes a huge difference in convenience and prevents frustration on the job for me.

Quick Draw McGraw

I have never experienced a faster, easier system for changing out hole saw sizes. This system borrows technology from your favorite impact driver chuck. For the fastest easiest change outs I have ever had on the job. To install a hole saw, you simply insert the adapter nut into the quick change chuck of the mandrill and push it until it closes with a satisfying click and lock. They have provided 2 adapter nuts to use with your existing hole saw cups.

All in all these have quickly become our favorite hole saws. We use them in kitchen and bath remodel jobs as well as fire and water damage restoration work. At this price, just under $40 at Diablo Bi-Metal and Carbide Hole Saw Set (9-Piece)the Home Depot they are easily accessible for most users.

For More Information On Diablo Click Here

Diablo Bi-Metal and Carbide Hole Saw Set (9-Piece)The Home depot

2 in. carbide tipped hole saw provides 20X faster material removal in wood and metal, 10X faster material removal in hardened materials and 3X more holes per charge
1-size fits all mandrel fits all Diablo hole saws, from 5/8 in. to 6 in. Dia
Variable tooth design provides faster cuts with less vibration
Drills wood, plastic, aluminum, metal and stainless steel
For use with a drill press or hand-held drill

Ridgid-JobMax 4 Amp Multi-Tool - #THD - ProSpective

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 18:58:35 +0000

Ridgid JobMax Multi-Tool

The Home Depot provided us with the Ridgid JobMax Multi-Tool, Model # R28602, This is part of an interchangeable tool system with a power unit and multiple heads that clamp to the power unit. Our sample shipped with the oscillating multi tool head. Our crew and I have used it on our residential and commercial jobs for cutting, wood, metal and plastic pipe so far and it actually cuts and scrapes pretty well. I feel it is more than capable for your projects at home. I even feel that you could benefit from one of these for light to medium professional use.

ATTACHMENTS

[gallery type="slideshow" link="file" columns="1" ids="2262,2263,2264" orderby="rand"]

This tool has a cordless power head available from Ridgid and a matching one from Ryobi if you are looking for a cordless ability. To get more bang for your buck you can also purchase attachment accessories like the Reciprocating saw attachment and the Jig saw head. I can see the benefit in one platform with many uses, especially for an intermittent tool.

BLADE CHANGING

It has a very nice tool free blade changing system. It is spring loaded and consists of a lever on a pin with a retention piece at the end of this pin. It also is magnetic to hold the Blades clearly before you engage the clamp. The whole mechanism is very secure and we never had it come loose on the projects. One thing I really appreciate about it is there are no extra pieces to keep track of while on the job.

LED LIGHTS

With a well placed LED light on the power head it illuminates the blade and the cut at any time the trigger is activated. It has a variable speed trigger but no dial. It is not really possible to maintain anything other than full speed. Most professional models provide a speed dial for extended cutting at lower speeds. Some materials require different speeds to avoid burning or melting.

POWER

We have found the motor to be powerful enough for most general purpose work. For normal intermittent cuts use we never found any issues with over heating. It notches framing lumber and plywood with ease. Under cutting door jambs and casing were no problem for it. Drywall is nothing for the power it has. With extended paint scraping we experienced some heat management issues. We found the tool too hot to handle after more than 15 minutes of scraping paint without gloves.

WARRANTY

One appealing factor of Ridgid Power Tools is the Lifetime service agreement. As long as you register your tool soon after purchase (within 90 days) you are covered for life if it ever fails.

Click Here for More Information

Buy Yours at The Home Depot

The powerful THRUCOOL motor provides 33% more power and can get through the toughest jobs.
Equipped with a tool-free head, changing blades has never been easier - just pull, flip and twist to change out blades for a variety of jobs.
This tool is backed by the lifetime service agreement for free parts, free batteries, for life

Hitachi 18V Brushless 3-1/4” Band Saw

dcs_contracting — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 23:50:08 +0000

HITACHI 18V

This article will focus on the CB18DBLP4 18 Volt Brushless Lithium Ion 3-1/4” (83mm) Band Saw from Hitachi. It falls in the “compact” band saw category since it does not have the capacity of the deep-cut 4-3/4” (120mm) models, however it has greater capacity than the Dewalt, Makita, Bosch & other models that use the 32-7/8” (835mm) L blades with a 2-1/2” (63.5mm) capacity. This model uses the 35-3/8” (900mm) L blade like the Milwaukee so the capacity is mid-range up to 3-1/4” although I was able to remove the blade covers and cut 4” (101.6mm) EMT with an OD of 4-1/2” (114.3mm). I would love to see the Manufacturers develop this midrange category further as it makes for a lighter weight, smaller option great for lift or overhead work but increased capacity to the true compacts. Hats off to Hitachi for starting with this underutilized but effective category.

With the 5Ah battery it weighs an advertised 7.7 lbs. (3.7 kg). The weight of just the tool is advertised at 6.45 lbs. (2.9 kg). I have used the saw with the newer 6Ah battery which provides plenty of runtime to the powerful Brushless motor for the last 3/4 months on a dozen jobs. If you are not already on the Hitachi battery platform, this saw might tip the scales that way as they recently slashed their battery prices. You can get the 1.5Ah for $30 US and the 3Ah for $40 US from various suppliers, both are slide on style Li-Ion packs that fit this saw.

LED Light

The saw has an elastomer grip designed to reduce vibration and provide comfort and a secure grip. They have also provided a threaded second handle which isremovable, a very useful feature to allow greater access to tight areas on field cuts. There is an on-tool LED light to illuminate your cut on dimly lit work sites. There are no built-in hook on this model.

FEATURES

One of the best features on this saw is the Soft Start feature when used in the Auto cutting mode. It reduces the torque recoil when you pull the trigger and allows you to stay on your cutting line easier. Once the blades engage the material it ramps up to proper cutting speed prolonging battery life and reducing noise. It also has 5 set speeds on the dial for a more traditional feel with a range of 260 - 640 SFPM (80-195m/min) to work on a variety of materials and prolong blade life. We used the saw on steel channel strut, threaded rod, rigid/EMT conduit, aluminum & copper conductor 600V cables and 2" schedule 40 electrical PVC conduit. The included blade works well and has a decent life depending on the materials cut. I struggled to find blades for this saw online and in stores as big box stores in my area do not stock them.

BATTERY PLACEMENT

The battery placement is different from other saws requiring a bit for me to get used to as I kept wanting to grab the handle incorrectly. Once I got used to it the placement results in a balanced light weight feel having the battery over the blade. Enhancement requests for this tool I have two. The first is the on-tool battery meter, I prefer the meter on the battery which enables you to check it without placing it on a tool. The second is the blade covers. While a nice safety feature that other saws do not have, the covers trap the metal shavings which leads to heat buildup and shavings getting on the rubber drive wheel causing the blade to slip. Since the drive wheel does not have grooves as larger saws do but are smooth, the blade of rubber drive wheel can slip while cutting with the shavings in the cover. Fortunately, if you own or purchase this saw the covers can easily be removed, which increases the cutting capacity a bit on round pipe if you ring cut the material.

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As before mentioned on this website in discussing bandsaws, a huge advantage to using them is safety. One area is the noise factor. A band saw is much quieter than a reciprocating saw, and most carbide toothed circular saw or grinder blades. Second is the lack of sparks flying resulting in a lower risk of fire. I also feel there is a lower risk of injury from encountering the blade since it continuously moves in one direction with very little exposed.

[gallery type="columns" ids="2178,2177,2176"]

For pipes, channel, angle and tubing that fits it will cut it. The comfort of the tool as well as the ease with which you can get straight fast cuts makes it a useful tool especially for the MEP & metal fab trades. I recommend checking one of these out to see if its right for you.

For More Info visit Hitachi Power Tools

MORE DETAILS

· Covered by Lifetime Warranty

· Brushless motor for higher efficiency, increased battery and tool life

· Soft Start and Variable speed dial for cutting a range of materials

· Dual bearing blade guide rollers

· LED work light with delay illuminates dark work surfaces for accurate cutting

· Uses a 35-3/8” L (900mm) blade with tool less blade changes

· 3 1/4 in. cut throat capacity exceeding most compact bandsaws

· Removable side handle

Contributed by Daniel Swindler (IG: DCS_Contracting)

Electrician in Indianapolis, IN, US

Dremel 3-Tool Combo Kit with 15 Accessories - #THD - ProSpective

thetoolpig — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 17:44:09 +0000

Dremel 3 piece Tool Combo Kit Since we are remodeling and fire / water damage restoration contractors we were somewhat perplexed when we received the Dremel 3 piece kit from Home Depot. Nevertheless we can test and use any tool on the planet so we dove right in. It seems everyone or their Dad has at least one Dremel rotary tool since it is what they are known for. They have been a popular gift item for many years and we can use them for a multitude of applications. This kit also has the MM35 multimax oscillating multi tool and the 6 amp Saw max mini circular Saw. I use them mostly for working on my RC monster trucks and for widening the holes on door strikes when homes sag and the bolt no longer fits correctly. If possible I’d rather re-hang a door properly but not everyone can afford the cost. I have also seen more than my fair share of pre-hung doors with the mortise too high or too low. I think the operators at door factories get a little excited on Fridays and stop checking their work. Maybe they have a little Monday fog, I'm not sure. A quick grinding or cutting session with a rotary tool and all is well with the door operation. The one in this kit is a nice compact unit but still has enough power for anything I would use it for. It has 10 marked speeds and comes with an assortment of bits and Blades to get you started with a variety of tasks. The noise and vibration are about average. I can feel a little tickle in my hand while running it. One nice feature is the built in removable collar wrench. It stores right on the tip of the tool. This makes it easier to keep track of for sure. There is also a regular wrench in the kit if you should ever need it. The MM 35 oscillating multitool is aimed for diy and homeowner use. It will cut drywall and thinner materials just fine but will not cut hardwoods or plywood thicker than about 1/4”. We used it on a bathroom remodel and it cut 1/2” drywall well but found it to be much slower than what I am used to with 3/4” sub flooring cut out. It will eventually do the job but if you are in the construction trades, I recommend a professional model such as a Bosch starlock or equivalent. (Dremel is owned by Bosch so there is a tie in here) For crafts and Home projects this should be fine. It does have a variable speed dial but I never used it on any speed other than 10 which is max. It also has a “quick release” lever on the head that looks like a tool free blade clamp. This is not the case we found. Actually a quick release wrench is what it has on the tool. You must remove it, unfold it and use it to tighten or loosen the blade retention screw. I found the screw came loose often during cutting operations. It was good to have the wrench on hand to tighten things up. It also has a triangular sanding pad which will work as a detail sander. I recommend intermittent use as the tool gets hot after more than about 5 minutes of sanding. It also has a pretty small arc of oscillation so it will be slow going. It should be controllable for hobby use and won’t be so aggressive that you damage your work. To me the most useful tool for me in this kit is the Sawmax circular saw. At first glance I thought it would be useless but I was wrong. I like the blade left configuration because it allows right handlers to use it in their right hand and see the blade for straighter cuts and ultimate control. It comes with a carbide grit multiple material blade that doesn’t look to be very useful for anything but it turned out to be a great performer. It also has some abrasive blades for metal. We used it on the same bathroom remodel and it cut drywall and plywood very well. It has between 0-3/4”depth of cut. We were pleased with how controllable it was on underlayment and subfloor. It really was easy to follow a straight line with the little notch in the base plate. It did get pretty warm under this load so I eased back on it. Dust control was very easy to achieve with it. We simply held a vacuum hose close to the blade opening and got really good results. I realize it would be better for hobby use and Home projects than construction sites but I feel it is good to test the limits of tools to see how they will hold up on lighter tasks and I was pleasantly surprised with how the Saw max performed in this harsher than intended environment. I would like to try a diamond blade on some tile and see how it cuts porcelain tile. It may just replace a grinder or handheld tile Saw. If you need these tools in your garage it makes sense to buy the kit in order to save money. Dremel.com for more info

Buy Your Dremel at THE Home Depot

I review and recommend products to help you buy the stuff you need. If you make a purchase by clicking one of my links, I do earn a small commission. My pledge to you is this: I will always say what I really feel. I will not taint my reviews to make a quick buck at your expense. I want you to know the truth about the tools I review for the good or the bad.  My picks and opinions are independent from any business incentives.

Ridgid GEN5X Brushless 18V Drill/Driver and 3 Speed Impact Driver Combo Kit - #THD- Prospective

thetoolpig — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 03:01:43 +0000

Ridgid Gen5x Combo Kit

First thoughts:

Home Depot sent us this combo kit to check out and give feed back on. I don’t have a lot of experience with Ridgid Power Tools. I really didn’t know what to expect. From the first time I grabbed them I knew they meant business. They both have a nice heft to them that I didn’t really expect. They feel very solid.

The Hammer Drill:

The hammer drill has the expected features of a current compact cordless hammer drill. The always popular brushless motor. Two speed transmission with three modes; screw driving, drilling and hammer modes. It sports an all metal Jacobs chuck. It has a bright LED light in the handle base that stays on for a few seconds after letting go of the trigger. I feel it is definitely an improvement over the ring light inside the chuck on an earlier model. The handle is nice and slim with an aggressive over mold for a secure grip. Speaking of the grip, this drill has a unique feature. When you grab it, there is a second switch in the handle and it activates the LED light even if you never touch the trigger. I originally thought it was a bit gimmicky but I do actually find it useful in darker areas. You can use the extra light to place your bit exactly where you need it. I normally would hit the trigger with other drills in these situations.

It’s Brushless Power:

In real use the Gen5x brushless drill works like most compact brushless drills. We don’t always need over 1,000 inch lbs. of torque. The brushless motor is efficient, smooth and fairly powerful. It will do 95% of the drilling and driving jobs most of us will run into on a residential or commercial project. We have run all different types of bits with it on our jobs from simple driver bits and twist bits to medium-sized hole saws. It has never wavered on anything yet that I have asked of it.

Other considerations

I have to keep this as honest and unbiased as possible. I will say it is somewhat larger than most of the competitors in this segment. They are for the most part slimmer shorter and lighter. They are also more comfortable to use all day especially with a slim pack battery. The Milwaukee, Dewalt, and Makita brushless compacts seem to have more power and torque as far as I can tell in my testing. I realize every manufacturer is different. They all have their methods of testing. I do not have the lab equipment to check actual torque specs on anybody’s products. I will tell you that the box states 700 inch pounds of torque on this drill. Whether or not it meets the actual number that is published does not really affect me. What matters to me is this: Does it do the job? In our use in remodeling and restoration work it has done a fine job and is the best tool in this combo kit.

The Impact Driver:

The other tool in this combo kit is the brushless Gen5x impact driver. It has the same feature in the comfortable handle as the drill. When you pick it up you activate the LED lights even without touching the trigger which I find to be actually useful in some circumstances. The 3 LED’s are bright and well placed around the chuck. Since there are three you will have no trouble finding your screw or seeing your work. It as a very nice smooth acting one-handed chuck. When you want to insert a bit you simply push it in and it does all the work for you locking it in securely. When you want to take the bit out you just pull the collar and the bit is ejected.

PROS

Like the drill the impact is both powerful and efficient. I am just going to say it runs a long time on a battery. I cannot tell you how many drywall screws it will put in on one charge. Every piece of lumber is different and you may get different results than I can. I don’t normally get into run time testing because at some point during the day you are going to have to switch the battery out and it really doesn’t matter to me if it is at 3:00 or 4:15 You still have to switch it out.

CONS

The driver itself is larger than most in this class. It is both longer and wider with more weight than any of the other impact drivers that I use currently. I don’t understand why it has to be so large. It does the job but at the cost of extra weight and more bulk in your hand. It is actually somewhat of a surprise that it is called a compact because it is as full size as they get these days.

I also might mention that it has a published torque rating of 2250 inch pounds. I have no way to confirm or refute that claim. I did find that the top Milwaukee, Dewalt and Makita brushless drivers with lower torque ratings seem to drive screws, even large lags, faster than this model. At the same time they are smaller and lighter. I am not bashing this tool. I am simply stating what I have experienced in comparison to the other tools in this class.

Bottom line

Overall, this is a nice set to work with. If you are on the Ridgid platform these are the latest and greatest. If you also want the benefits of longer runtime efficiency and longer life these are an easy choice. If you are not on the Ridgid platform and considering a purchase of a drill and impact driver it is good to look at other tools in the platform. There are more and more unique and useful tools available on the Ridgid 18v platform as time goes on. If they appeal to you or would work well in your arsenal then these would make a great introduction to the system.

One appealing factor of Ridgid Power Tools is the Lifetime service agreement. As long as you register your tool soon after purchase you are covered for life if it ever fails.

For More information click here

RIDGID 18-Volt Gen5X Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit with (2) 4.0Ah BatteriesTo Purchase from Home Depot Click Here

Hammer drill - best-in-class torque with a powerful 700 in.-lbs. of toruqe in a compact hammer drill
Hammer drill - compact size and lightweight design for a fully powered hammer drill
Impact driver - best-in-class torque with an industry leading 2,250 in.-lbs. of torque
Impact driver - 3-speed settings to provide adjustable power and speed for any job
Impact driver - tri-beam LED lights around the front housing to elimate shadows from the work surface
Backed by the industry’s only lifetime service agreement
Backed by the Industry's Only Lifetime Service Agreement
Hex grip enhanced micro-texture for secure grip and maximum user comfort
4.0 Hyper lithium-ion batteries have triple-protection electronics, best-in-class extreme weather performance and on-battery fuel gauges
GEN5X brushless motor technology delivers up to 50% more run time and longer motor life than similar products

Dewalt 7 Tool Combo Kit - #THD- ProSpective

thetoolpig — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 18:40:03 +0000

Dewalt 7 Tool Combo Kit

We have a long history with DeWalt Power tools. We have been using their stuff since before they were called DeWalt. Back then they were called Black and Decker Industrial. They have come a long way since those days in the early 90's. Dewalt 18v has been one of the all time best-selling cordless platforms on the planet. I am sure the 20v max platform will completely eclipse it when all is said and done. When The Home Depot sent us this 7 piece combo kit we were stoked. It has 7 of the most used tools out there along with 1-2.0 slim pack battery and 2-4.0 AH full size batteries and a charger all in a rolling Tough System Toolbox.

DCD796

It starts with the DCD796 brushless/2" hammer drill. It runs at 0-550 and 0-2000 RPM. with a max BPM of 34000 in hammer mode. It is probably the highest performing compact brushless drill on the market now. If it is not number one it is very close. I bought one of the DCD791 driver drills last year and it easily out powers the newest compacts from Milwaukee, Bosch and Ridgid. It's not all about power though. It has one of the best handles in the industry with great comfort and ergonomics to go along with that power. It also boasts the best light of any drill. The LED has 3 brightness settings. Normal, High with normal drilling and a special extra bright setting to use as a work light for up to 20 minutes. We have really enjoyed using these drills on the job. They are absolutely my top pick for a compact cordless so far.

Max power 460 UWO
1/2" chuck size
2 speed settings
14 clutch settings
2.7 pounds

DCF885

The next most important tool in the kit for me is the impact driver. I thought it was curious that this impact was brushed while the drill was brushless. This is a no frills impact driver even though it is brushed it has great performance and power. It has a 3 LED light array on the front for amazing view of your work. It is compact and lightweight and offers a one-handed chuck. It spins 2800 RPM's. The handle is very slim and ergonomic with just the right amount of over-mold grip. The only difference I am seeing between this one and the brushless is I can smell the brushes while driving screws.

0-2800 RPM
Max Torque 1400 in-lbs
2.8 pounds

DCS355

The next tool is the oscillating multitool. This is the most unique multitool on the market. It has arguably the most comfortable grip of all the multitools. It is slender like a drill handle with a dual action trigger. It has a very unique tool free blade clamping system. This is one of its greatest strengths but at the same time it limits blade compatibility since it must have an open end of the blade tang in order to work. It has a powerful brushless motor and a bright LED for TOUGH cutting. The one thing I don't like about it is there is not a variable speed dial and is harder to hold a lower speed with a variable speed trigger. You can only lock it on at full speed which is 20,000 OPM. Overall it is powerful and efficient multitool, just a few quirks I thought you should be aware of before purchase. This tool has the ability to add a belt hook. That is unique in the tool world.

20 V Max
0-20,000 Oscillating per minute
2.3 pounds

DCS381

This is a reciprocating saw. This design is a reboot of the earlier 18V XRP saw. Not much has changed other then the battery connection. It is light weight and powerful with an easy to use tool free blade clamp but has no adjustable shoe, rafter hook or LED to illuminate the work. It also has more vibration than other current saws. It is a solid tool and will get your job done with ease but I feel an update may be more user friendly and would be nice.

0-3000 Strokes Per Minute
1" Stroke Length
6.2 pounds

DCS393

This is a 6 1/2" cordless circular saw. One of the more powerful brushed circular saws on the market. It spins at 5000 RPM which makes it feel more powerful then other previous versions or saws with lower blade speeds. This is the entry level saw with a steel stamped foot plate rather then the magnesium of the higher end units, it has a plastic blade guard and no rafter hook. It will do up to a 50 degree bevel cut on 2x lumber, a 2-5/16 maximum depth of cut at 90 degrees. Overall a solid saw that will make your life easier.

3700 RPM
Electric Brake
7.2 pounds

DCG412

Here you have a 4 1/2" grinder with 8000 RPM. It has a quick change arbor nut and a tool free blade guard. It is pretty powerful for a brushed grinder but I find the handle with the finger guard awkward compared to the cordless brushless grinders on the market. It has a two finger trigger with no way to lock the switch. It is a useful tool for any light duty cutting or grinding of metal, concrete, masonry or tile. We even use these cordless grinders for coping crown and other moldings.

8000 RPM
Spindle Lock
4 pounds

DCL040

Its actually a pretty nice LED light with a swivel head and metal hook for hanging its a go to for tight spaces. Its one of the few work lights I have ever used that has the ability to add a belt hook. That is a huge plus for me. Super compact and bright at 110 lumens on the job in dark spaces it will help get your job done.

20V Max
LED
1 pound

DS450

This tough system box is IP 65 rated which means your tools remain dry on the job or in the back of your truck. It has a lifetime warranty. Room for the complete combo kit and more, it will allow you to stack and roll other tough system boxes instead of carrying them on the job with 6" wheels and a telescoping handle.

Holds 88 pounds
Carries up to 154 pounds

For More Information at the Home Depot

Dewalt 10” Table Saw w/ Stand Included - #THD-ProSpective

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 22:12:39 +0000

Dewalt 10” Table Saw

We have used Dewalt table saws for as long as they have made them. We have found them all to be outstanding in their respective categories.

This is one of the earlier compact job site saws with a full 15 amp motor. It also runs a little slower than some of the newer saws at 3,850 RPM but it doesn't seem to affect cutting power or speed. Even though it is a compact saw it has most of the features of the full size saws.

It has the open steel frame that Dewalt has been famous for many years now. It is a light weight yet TOUGH design made for abuse of a job site construction setting. I can't tell you have many table saws I have broken by throwing them into the back of the truck. They were all made of plastic. Some of the brands were Craftsman, Makita, Delta and Dewalt.

The 3 1/8" cutting depth will not get you through a 4x4 in one pass but it will rip 2x material all day long without breaking a sweat whether it's a 90 degree or 45 degree bevel.

This model has the rack and pinion fence system that Dewalt has become famous for. It securely holds the front and back of the fence parallel to the blade. At the time of this article no other portable fence system on the market can beat it for repeatable accuracy.

It features a 24" rip capacity which will get you to the center of any 4x8 sheet. The fence has a fold out feature which keeps the material flat.

The scissor fold stand it comes with is plenty strong and stable. It has super fast set up from your truck to the cutting station. What I like about the stand is you can mount your saw to it permanently with bolts or leave it loose. When you use it on the folding stand loose it is still stable and secure even without the mounting bolts. To me this gives the best of both worlds. You can use it on the stand when you prefer but you are not tied to it. You can take just the saw for a few cuts.

This represents a solid value for a full featured compact job site table saw.

For More Info at Dewalt.com

DEWALT 10 in. Compact Table Saw with StandIf you want one Click here and BUY Home Depot

10 in. blade for fast, accurate rip cuts
Rip fence with 12 in. left and 20 in. right rip capacity for ripping wider materials
Adjustable rear feet designed to level the saw on uneven work surfaces
Lightweight design for easy transporting on and off the job
Maximum cut depth of 2-1/4 in. at 45° and 3-1/8 in. at 90° for a variety of useful cuts
Dust port allows for 2-1/2 in. vacuum hook up and minimizes cleanup

Makita XSL02Z Compound Miter Saw by Brad Gosselink

thetoolpig — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 22:43:15 +0000

I’ve been able to use the Makita XSL02Z 18 volt X2 LXT brushless cordless 7-1/2”dual slide compound miter saw for the last couple of months. Let me just say this saw is a beast!!! I’ve always been the type of guy who thought bigger is better and I've always bought big chop saws. I forgot how nice it was to use the old 8-1/4” hitachi chop saws of old. This Makita reminds me of this old Hitachi, tons of power, seemingly indestructible and light as a feather. There are so many big plusses to the Makita chop saw. Weight: #1 It’s light 28.8 pounds, as I'm getting older this is getting more and more important. I beat the crap out of my body trying to keep up with my old lead carpenter and having a chop saw that I can curl with one arm is a major plus.

Accuracy:#2 It’s accurate, with the smaller blade you have less chance of the blade walking out on you when taking a small amount off of hardwood. It miters 47 degrees to the left and 57 to the right. Even with the small blade it will cut through a 2X12 at 90 and a 2X8 at 45.Cordless:

#3 It’s cordless and brushless. I know this isn't important to everyone but for siders, framers, deck builders, replacement window installers, track house trim installers, hardwood flooring installers, etc…. You won’t be fighting for the only outlet that works in the house, you won’t have to rev up the generator to run the saw, you won’t be blowing breakers and it’s small enough to have on a scaffolding and not be in the way.

Power:

#4 The Makita XSL02Z has power to spare, I haven't been able to bind up this saw once. As long as you're using it properly you should never have a problem with it. I’ll post a vid of it going through 8/4X8 maple.

Battery:

#5 The batteries last forrrreeevvveeerrr!! Compared to the Dewalt flex volt or even the Makita 10” cordless chop saw this is a thin kerf blade that doesn't need to use a ton of energy to get ramped up to speed. I’ve made hundreds of cuts in a day and never had to switch out the batteries once.

Affordable Accessories:

#6 The blades are cheap, you can run just a normal circular blade if need be in it.

Overall:

This saw will do 90%+ of all the work you need. It’s not really versatile as a crown saw but I’d rather have my big saw to do that any way, There aren't many issues with this saw.

Cons:

#1 As a lefty, where I use my left hand to pull the trigger more often, the motor sometimes gets in the way of my right hand holding the material. Usually with only 2X stock. #2 The saw also only bevels to the left and not to the right, but I'm not really asking of this saw to ever bevel. I’ll be using this saw for rougher work most of the time, deck building, framing, siding etc. #3 It has a small base for the wood to sit on so you will either need a good stand for it or good support, especially when cutting wider wood on a miter. The table shrinks even more on the miter. #4 It needs to be screwed down to a work station, bench or have its own stand. Since it’s light it really wants move around on you when you change the miter angle. If it’s not screwed down it will go all over the place. Even with the few issues I talked about the Makita XSL02Z will be my go to saw for just about everything that I do in the future. It’s light, accurate, powerful and easy to use. It also feels like it will be able to stand up to the abuse I put all of my tools through. That’s one of the major factors with me buying Makita, I can beat on them and not have to worry. Another Great Review By : Brad Gosselink

Click Here For More Info On Makita.com I review and recommend products to help you buy the stuff you need. If you make a purchase by clicking one of my links, I do earn a small commission. My pledge to you is this: I will always say what I really feel. I will not taint my reviews to make a quick buck at your expense. I want you to know the truth about the tools I review for the good or the bad. My picks and opinions are independent from any business incentives.

Husky 1/4 in., 3/8 in. and 1/2 in. Drive 100-Position Universal SAE and Metric Mechanics Tool Set (105-Piece) - #Thd-Prospective

spraguermeister — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 04:06:33 +0000

SAE & METRIC

WHAT'S INCLUDED

This Husky 105-Piece Set is very well equipped but easily manageable at 105 pieces. It includes; 26-1/4"sockets, 38-3/8" sockets and 14-1/2" drive sockets as well as the corresponding ratchets. There are also 10 SAE and metric wrenches and sockets, extensions and adapters are also included in this kit. It seems like this selection of tools is right for about any mechanic or weekend warrior. It has the main things we need in order to accomplish about 90% of the tasks we do . Included is a really nice 3/8" Gimbal ratchet ( palm ratchet) and a screwdriver inset bit set as well. These are great for tight spots. The first thing we noticed was how nicely the tools are finished. We really like this black satin finish. We haven't had it long enough to tell you if its as durable as chrome but I am super happy that I'll never be dealing with peeling chrome from this set. Have you ever gotten a piece of chrome stuck in your skin or under your fingernail? Believe me you never want to. We also like the design of the box end of the wrenches and the sockets. It's more of a spline drive than a 12 point. This means less stripped nuts and bolts. I hate when a 12 point socket slips and I end up bruising my hand or raking my knuckles. The design of these really makes a difference. The sockets consist of standard length and deep well. They are made to have the capability to fit external torx, square drive, six point, twelve point, six point rounded edge and spline head fasteners. The ratchets have a well made quality feel to them. They are longer than I expected and the extra leverage is nice, I might add. The pawls are fine and this gives enough movement of the fastener even in a tight spot.

HANDY TO HAVE

I have used this set on a daily basis for months as a forklift mechanic. They have served me very well. I didn't have the highest of expectations since these are not marketed as professional mechanics tools. I am kind of hard on tools. My father (toolpig) says I could tear up an anvil in a sandbox. He is probably right. I have no issue using everything to its full potential and then some. Cheater bars are there to make my job easier. Hammers give wrenches a little more torque. I'm sure I am harder on tools than the average person and this Husky set has held up rather well. My only complaint would be that the sockets do not stay attached to the ratchets very well causing sockets to fall on the ground or in a service bay. Thats probably not a big deal for some. It depends on what your situation may be.

BE PREPARED

We always like to keep a tool set like this in our vehicles to be ready in case of a break down. This set comes in a nice organized compact case. It can fit behind or under your seats, or any other convenient spot. It is nice to be able to grab all of your tools in one trip. Multiple trips mean loss of production to get what you need. that makes no sense when they are already included in this kit. This is also perfect for companies that do their own maintenance or repairs.

WHERE TO BUY

This is a 105-Piece set that would cost you over $400 to buy individually, at your nearest Home Depot you can pick this set up for around $110. The tool set is equipped with a lifetime warranty. Clearly stated on the case, that alone is well worth your money.

100-position ratchet to access spaces 40% tighter vs. 60 Teeth
Includes 66 sockets, 10 wrenches, 3 ratchets and 21 accessories
Lifetime Warranty

Makita VC4710 Dust Extractor

thetoolpig — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 03:39:26 +0000

If you have followed me for any time at all you probably have figured out that I am extremely reliant on dust extraction for the majority of my work. I depend on dust extractors on almost every aspect of every job. Over the past 30 years, I have had too much exposure to all the really horrible construction dust types. Looking back, it's scary to think how much silica, asbestos, lead and wood dust I have inhaled over the years.

Some have poked fun at me for the time it takes to run dust extraction while working. I have to admit, I have been guilty of the same sentiment in former years. Like many younger ones I felt invincible and that anything that got lodged in my lungs would eventually work it’s way out if I coughed enough.

A New Leaf

Older and wiser, I now consistently use an extractor at every possible opportunity. It really doesn’t matter if I am cutting drywall out on a water or mold damage job, grinding concrete for a tile install, cutting sheet goods for a cabinet build or sanding I almost always use dust extraction.

Credit goes to Festool for helping me to open my eyes and see the need for quality dust extraction. Festool CT extractors were the first high-end vacs I bought. They do an excellent job and fit very well in my shop and in my job site workflow. I rate them as my favorite dust extractors for finish work but there are a couple things I must mention.

The disposable fleece bags are very effective at filtering the majority of particulates before the air passes through the HEPA filters but they are expensive to purchase. Depending on usage you can go through several in a very short time. That cost adds up. You can also buy a long life bag but they are extremely expensive and expose you to all the dust contained in them while you empty them.
The other thing that I must consider with the Festool extractors is that they are not really OSHA compliant for silica at the time of this writing. Because of this I use them only for non concrete and tile related jobs.

With the Vc4710 and it’s self cleaning filter system you can pretty much use and empty the vac repeatedly without ever buying a bag of any type. There are plastic bags available if you want to use them for ease of emptying the canister. For full containment you can buy the fleece bags if you want to.

Bagless Performance

I opted to run my VC4710 with no bags at all. The purpose was to see how the extractor would perform in the shop and on site with just the filter cleaning system. I have been nothing but impressed with the excellent performance over the past year. It is extremely effective no matter what I throw at it. We use several high-end extractors from top-tier companies including DeWalt, Bosch, Fein, Metabo, Milwaukee and Hilti. This Makita has consistently performed at or near the top of this group for suction power and debris cleared. It seems to have among the most consistent suction whether the filters are new or heavily used. The power is also the same whether the tank is completely empty or almost completely full.

While most of the high-end extractors perform really well at keeping up with the tools doing the cutting, grinding and sanding. Some lose more power than others during the cleaning cycle . The VC 4710 has 2 separate filters and cleans one at a time during the self clean cycle. Because of this, one filter is always working to allow the vac to retain more power during auto clean. This means you will have much less dust escape the tool during cleaning.

All auto clean extractors produce noise and they all produce even more noise during the filter cleaning cycle. One thing that you will notice right away with the Makita is how low the noise levels are. I am pretty sure it has the lowest noise levels of any of the readily available self-cleaning units. If there is a unit from these tool companies that can match it during normal operation, it falls behind during the auto cleaning cycle.

The loudest cleaning cycles are found in the Hilti, Fein and Bosch. They produce a loud thump 3 times every 10-20seconds. The thumping is strong enough that you can feel it from several feet away. It can even give me a headache with prolonged use. This may or may not bother you on a noisy job site. If you think it may bother you I suggest looking very closely at the Makita. The filter cleaning cycle on the VC4710 is by comparison a very small tapping noise which is audible but very unobtrusive.

Cord and hose management is always important with any extractor. The VC4710 has an effective provision for both. There are tough plastic ears molded into the upper cover to wrap the cord around and hold the extra long 16’ antistatic hose. There is also room for attachments in the top.

The vac can be switched on manually or with a power tool plugged into the on board receptacle. It is variable speed to match the task at hand. For cutting and grinding you probably want full power. For sanding you probably want to dial it down to a lower level to avoid too much pressure on your sanding pad. Too much pressure can cause swirl marks or rougher work. It can also wear your abrasives out faster.

The on board receptacle has a power tool rating of 6 amps max. You may find like we did that it works with larger tools. We must keep in mind that you will most likely damage your tool from limited amperage and the resulting voltage drop since the cord is 16 Ga. If your tool has a higher rated amperage you really should run it on a separate circuit. This will give best performance and will protect the tool and the vac from overload. It will also save you trips to the breaker box. There are a few extractors available with larger 12 to 14 Ga cords They are all more expensive. Some are from Hilti. The others are from Festool.

This vac is taller than most in its class. It looks top heavy but we haven't had I any issues with tipping. It may fit better in your storage spot than others or maybe not.

The one thing I’d like to see is a way turn the auto clean off at least for a time. The vac is extremely quiet on the lower levels but it ramps up the speed to high for each cleaning cycle no matter what the speed is set at. This adds noise even though it is quieter than most other auto clean extractors it is still noticeable since it is so incredibly quiet on lower speeds. Some caster brakes would also be handy to keep it from rolling during transport.

Final Verdict

No tool is perfect. After using it for over a year in many different applications, I can confidently say the VC4710 is pretty darn close. I feel it should be at the top of your list or at least close to the top if you are considering a dust extractor purchase.

For More Info go To MakitaTools.com

Bosch 120K Giveaway

thetoolpig — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 16:46:32 +0000

We want to thank you all for the support to reach another milestone! We are now over 120K strong on Instagram. We are celebrating with Bosch by offering to followers of @boschtoolsna, @toolpig and @mrs.toolpig a giveaway four 1/2' drill and impact driver kits Combo kits (CLPK 232A-181) and 1 of the new brushless18v orbital Reciprocating saw kits. ( GSA 18V-125) as the grand prize!! Three of the combo kits and the Recip saw will be for those who comment here. One will be chosen from Ladies in the trades who follow and tag friends on mrs.toolpigs post. Don't worry ladies you get to enter here as well! To enter this giveaway subscribe to our page and leave a comment below to tell what you want to see from Bosch as well as our pages here and on Instagram. including your instagram name and trade. Also let us know where you work. Shout your company out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_OALWmgOPo&feature=youtu.be Feedback from you is how we learn where we can do better. Once again thank You all for your support in all of this!

Southwire Tools 2017 at STAFDA

mrs.toolpig — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 15:33:18 +0000

We had an amazing opportunity to learn about some great products from Southwire this year and wanted to share with you the videos. They had a great launch of the Made In America Pliers and Strippers. Have you had a chance to get your hands on them yet? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xan00na3czo&t=37s During our visit we learned about some great Sumner products. The 2100 series Contractor Lifts are impressive:

12', 18' & 24' heights (3.9 m, 5.6 m, & 7.2 m)
650 lb capacity (300 kg)
Loading Bar - great for overhead cranes
Pulley Guards prevent cable from coming off
Reversible forks
Plunger pins for quick readjustment and compact storage
No tools needed - no loose parts
Variety of attachments
Large 7/32" (5.5mm) load cable
Load cable feeds inside mast (no more exposed cable just inches away from operator's face.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp41l-bwkYM&t=54s Clamps Galore to add for your needs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C16_SrLu-sE&t=8s Max Jax -2

4,500 lb / 2,041 kg load capacity
4 - 36” / pipe capacity
Base reversible for 23” - 36” / 58.4 - 91.4 cm heights
Drop-slot roller wheel head offers more wheel contact with pipe
Roll pipe through fab shop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr04E7pEWYs

Graco Ultra Cordless Paint Sprayer

thetoolpig — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 18:14:32 +0000

For me the easiest way to clean out the ultra airless pump when shooting latex is in the sink. You can use the cup but this is a lot faster and simpler. I wouldn’t get it in the motor. The pump section is impervious to water. I’ve had it all apart and I’m not worried about this. Keep the water pressure low and you’re good. If you aren’t comfortable don’t do it. I’ve had it in a bucket of water up to the motor before. So I’m ok doing it. The pump is replaceable as well. I keep the motor a little higher so water runs out the front. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6ANEGW2k3E&lc=z23ye3xbgmque3w5204t1aokgo455frs5vakhsearvz4rk0h00410 Toolpig Tuesday Tip

Dewalt 20-Compartment Pro Small Parts Organizer- #THD-ProSpective

mrs.toolpig — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 05:46:52 +0000

"Clutter Costs Me Money"

As the small business owner I need to make sure that we are set up to accomplish all I put before my employees. That means I have to give them a good set up for success. Have you started a job and spent more time digging around in a cluttered tool caddy for what you need, especially if the items are smaller and drop to the bottom? Now be honest, I am pretty sure we all can use more organization in our lives, not to mention our job sites. My crew does cleaning for HVAC so we are in need of an assortment of sizes of screws, washers and caps for access points we make to clean out the systems. I have to say these compartments in the Dewalt organizer make getting the job done more efficient in the end. Less trips back to the truck for the right size fasteners and for me that spells out productive employees, which translates to happy customers. No Joke, I am so much better to work for when I have productive people making customers happy. [gallery type="slideshow" columns="2" ids="2466,2465" orderby="rand"] It's titled "Guaranteed Tough" but my crew can certainly put toolboxes through a battery of test. The boast is, if it fails they replace. It seems like a tough plastic so I don't expect it to be destroyed like some of the cheap knock offs out there. I look forward to what this might look like months down the road. Although I like the 20 compartments for our needs it was nice to see we can adjust the dividers to larger or longer spaces. Definite win! The handle is thin as you can see in the photo but if you are carrying a lot of weight in yours it may make an issue. I can see that it could fail over heavy loads for long-term use. This baby is the size of a small briefcase, hmm, wonder if I can make it over for that? Stay tuned there may be a whole new arrangement for tools and toolboxes on the page. Although it is similar to the T-Stacks and the Tough System it doesn't interlock with those. I would say this is a disappointment if you have some of those systems already on hand. You have an option to purchase other pro units and combine them.

Side latches enable stacking to other units including DWST14825 deep pro organizer, DWST14925 shallow pro organizer and DWST14835 10 compartment pro organizer

The latch system though is great. A secure and tight latch making a seal on each space, just what is needed when full of fasteners. No one wants to pick it up and have the top open up spilling out its contents or find the contents spill into the next space. The hinged clear lid looks to be a nice complement. See through is a must! Good job Dewalt! We know what we have at a glance, not to mention at the end of the work day, what needs to be restocked for the week. When I first looked at this I couldn't imagine it would be useful. I have to admit at the price of $13.97 at Home Depot "Shut up and take my money!" If you need help to get your "stuff" together this is the way. I am not gonna lie, I am now looking at how I can make this help me in other areas of my life. I can foresee so many places I can make better with the use of such a simple container. If you are in the market for storage on the job, then I suggest checking into the Dewalt 20 compartment organizer at Home Depot

Makita Impact Gold 2" Bit Set - THD-ProSpective

thetoolpig — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 04:03:02 +0000

Makita Impact Gold Bits

We have used Makita impact gold driver bits for years. They are some of the strongest bits out there. They are precision made for a great fit in the corresponding fasteners. They have a really hard shiny gold finish that makes them stand out in your bit container.

Why impact Gold

All driver bits eventually wear out or break. Tips need to be hard or they wear out too quickly. Shafts need to be tough so they can slightly flex. Impact drivers cause a lot more stress on bits than drills do. Drills have relatively steady low torque. Impact drivers have extreme torque spikes every time the hammer hits the anvil. When a screw stops turning and we don’t let off the trigger the driver bit has to absorb all that energy. The fully hardened bits can’t absorb that energy and they break under the impact force. Impact rated bits like the Makita impact Gold have hardened tips with a torsion zone which is a smaller diameter area signed to flex slightly to absorb the impact energy. This design is tied and true and has proven itself over many years. .

Home Depot sent us a 2 pack of #2 Phillips bits to try. This is an easy review because we had already invested in Makita impact gold bits. We and our crews have used them extensively in woodworking, cabinet building, framing, deck and fence building, hvac repair, air duct cleaning, demolition and reconstruction on our remodeling and fire damage restoration jobs. I have also used them extensively in tool evaluation of many brands of impact drivers and drills. And we got a whole set to use around the house.

We use more torx 25 bits than anything else. Next would be Robertson then Phillips. We like the torx and Robertson better because there is less cam out compared to Phillips. Nevertheless at least in the US Phillips #2 are generally the most widely used construction screws I have seen. We run into them every single day.

Because of this we need a good reliable bit at all times. These impact gold bits fill that need easily. They have a great combination of hardness, toughness and fit. They are also very easy to identify in a pile of bits. They don’t seem to rust in normal use as far as I can tell. The shiny coating adds to durability and protects the steel alloy.

The precision tips fit most #2 Phillips screws perfectly and seem to hold up better than most bits.

You can pick them up at The Home Depot for less then $4 USD.

We highly recommend Makita impact Gold bits. We also recommend more than just the #2 Phillips bits we received from Home Depot. We regularly use the Torx and Robertson as well as the nut drivers. Try them for yourself I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Designed exclusively for high-torque impact drivers
Xtreme torsion technology is engineered to allow the torsion section of the bit to flex under load, taking pressure off of the bit tip for increased durability in high torque applications
Precision-fit tip engineered to prevent cam-out and stripping
High-quality steel engineered for use with impact drivers
Ideal for driving screws in a wide variety of heavy-duty fastening applications including deck building, framing and installing plywood subfloor
Lasts up to 10X longer than standard insert bits
Combine with an impact gold bit holder to last up to 15X longer than standard insert bits

Makita 10" Sliding Compound Miter saw

gosselinkfinecarpentry — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 17:00:53 +0000

[caption id="attachment_2491" align="aligncenter" width="3024"] Cordless[/caption] I was able to use the Makita LS1019L and the XSL06 on the same jobsite for 2 weeks. I was working with Ken Alger of @riwoodworker on Instagram doing a mill work install in Lexington. I’ll start this off by saying I miss my old Hitachi Koki chop saw, I have a DW716, 7 1/2” X2 makita, have owned 2 Bosch 10” SCMS and have used a Kapex for an extended period. I was surprised by my findings when I used the two new Makita saws. I really wanted the cordless model to be my favorite. We were cutting 1 3/8”X11” solid popular base molding, an 1 3/8”X 8” sprung solid poplar cove on the flat (but it can barely be cut on the spring angle if need be) and an 1 3/8”X13” secondary solid polar crown. The XSL06 was able to cut through these materials, but it struggled somewhat, which at points caused it to slightly make the blade deflect. Only when cutting on a miter and bevel did it have this problem. The other difference between the two that I preferred the corded over the cordless was the head spring. I’m assuming because of the extra weight of the batteries they had to make the head spring a little tighter on the XSL06Z. It’s not noticeable unless you’re switching back and forth from saw to saw. (They were set up in the same room, one for cutting the crown on the flat and one for 90° cuts). The slighter tension on the LS1019L just made the saw feel smoother. We had no problems with any play in the head of either saw and I haven’t had a problem with my personal saw either, that seems like an out of the box problem not one that comes on with use. The huge plus of the cordless model is it’s cordless, unless you are cutting extremely thick and wide hardwoods it has more than enough power. It never blew the breakers on the job we were on. It’s pretty much a cordless saw with corded power. The only other problem with it is dust extraction, but if hooked up to the corded/cordless Makita vacuum with the paddle switch on top I just tap the paddle switch with my foot and the vacuum is on and tap again with my foot and it’s off. No turning a switch to turn it on and off which takes time and time is money. We got about 4 hours of run time with 2- 5.0’s, 4 carpenters and two saws going. We were pushing the saw to it’s limits. The LS1019L, you just couldn’t stop it. It ran right through anything we put in front of it. The dust collection on the two saws is great compared to any other saw I’ve used. It’s darn close to the Kapex if not on par with it. The dual ports really help with collecting as much dust as possible. Just remember to run a large hose on your dust extractor, the smaller the hose the less power the vacuum will have in collecting dust. For the price of either saw it’s the best in its class, the top rails, the power, dust extraction, simple bevel adjustment. It’s got it all. I’d be hard pressed to tell you which one to buy. It’s a matter of needs. Is being cordless, no trip hazards, running cords, moving around a lot more important to you. Or is having a saw that just goes, has a little more power and won’t have a battery die on you mid cut more important??? [caption id="attachment_2490" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Corded[/caption] Either way you’re getting a beast of a saw, for less than half the cost of its closest competitor. To purchase this great saw click here Acme Tool To learn more about this tool click here Makita Tools

Ryobi 18V One+ Cordless 7-1/4 in. Brushless Circular Saw - THD ProSpective

thetoolpig — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 05:28:13 +0000

Ryobi 7 1/4” circular saw.

Ryobi is a brand you honestly won’t often find on my job site. I used to buy some of their Tools about 25 years ago when I was starting out. Back then they offered a lot of bang for the buck. They did the job and helped me earn enough money to get by and to buy better tools when they burned out. I knew when I bought them they weren’t really made for daily use on construction projects.

Home Depot sent us the new Ryobi 7 1/4” brushless circular saw for review in the #THD PROSPECTIVE program. Right off the bat we liked it because of its compact design and blade left orientation. Blade left saws are very user-friendly because you can have a clear line of sight to the entire blade while holding it in your right hand. Brushless Tools offer many benefits such as longer runtime and longer overall motor life. They also usually have better motor power. In this case the benefits are real. This new saw outperforms all previous cordless saws from Ryobi. We used in our shop and on the job to get a good feel for how it performs in a variety of materials and situations.

One reason we like the Ryobi 7 1/4” size because of the deeper cutting depth and the superior choice of 7 1/4” blades compared to the smaller 6 1/2” and 5 3/8” blades of other cordless saws. In order to keep the weight and price down the saw has a steel stamped base plate and a plastic blade shroud and guard. I have never used a saw that had a plastic shroud before. It seems rigid enough for general purpose use. It is pretty light and seems to be well-balanced. The handle has a nice grippy over mold to make it more comfortable to hold and control. The saw includes a very useful LED light and a dust blower to keep your sight line clear. We think that is a very useful addition and would like to see them on all cordless saws. During our use on the job we found it to be plenty strong for most household cutting tasks. It has smooth power in sheet goods and 2x framing lumber. It runs at 3,800 RPM which is a bit slower than the class leaders but is still a good RPM for torque and cutting speed. [gallery type="slideshow" columns="4" ids="2430,2429,2426,2425" orderby="rand"] It’s nice to see advanced features on an entry-level saw. They add to the ease of use no matter how much experience you have. We feel like over all this is a nice addition to anyone’s tool arsenal for home projects and remodeling. If you already have Ryobi 18v Tools it’s a no brainer, just order it from From Home Depot for $119!(bare tool only) However, if you don’t have any I say consider the tools you will be needing for your home projects over the next year, If they are also available from Ryobi then you may want to look closer at this saw. I review and recommend products to help you buy the stuff you need. If you make a purchase by clicking one of my links, I do earn a small commission. My pledge to you is this: I will always say what I really feel. I will not taint my reviews to make a quick buck at your expense. I want you to know the truth about the tools I review for the good or the bad. My picks and opinions are independent from any business incentives.

Milwaukee HEPA extractor

thetoolpig — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 00:24:35 +0000

Acme Tools

I have always admired Milwaukee Tools. My first high quality tool purchase was a Milwaukee Magnum drill in the early 90’s. I can still remember the feelings I had when I pulled the trigger and that smooth power came to life. Back then I wanted a Milwaukee vacuum. They were big heavy-duty metal bodied extractors. Being younger I never felt I had the money for one so I bought cheap shop vacs. For the past few years I have noticed the Available Milwaukee vacuums were nothing like those beasts of the past. The newer ones actually looked suspiciously close to those cheaper shop vacs I had bought all along. I’m not sure if they are rebadged shop vacs or not. They looked close enough that I never bought one.

With the silica rulings that went into effect in sept of 2017 Milwaukee was in need of a true Heavy duty auto clean HEPA extractor. I admire them for choosing Nilfisk to build it for them instead of starting from scratch with a new unproven design. Nilfisk is a recognized leader in industrial quality vacuums and dust extractors.

The Milwaukee unit we ordered from Acme Tools was delivered within 2 days. I had to just take a few minutes to admire it. I’ll just say it is a really nice looking vacuum. The red and black moldings have a very sharp-looking contrast. It has a space-saving low profile semi-rectangular shape. The wheels and casters are heavy-duty non marring rubber where they meet the floor. They are well-built and should hold up to years of job site handling. The front casters have brakes to help the unit stay where you want it.

This unit has a two stage filter system with a Pleated pre filter and a Hepa filter. Many of the newer auto clean units have an auto clean mechanism for the HEPA filters. This unit uses auto clean on the pre filter which should in theory save wear and tear on the all important HEPA filter. Time will tell if there is an advantage to this system. Usually HEPA filters are more expensive than pre filters so it may very well save you money in the long run.

The extractor ships with a 36mm hose with multiple ends to fit most of various Milwaukee tools and dust attachments. It also seems to fit most other makes as well so there should be few compatibility issues. The sizes correspond to the 2 most popular sizes from Europe. There is a 36mm and a 27 mm as well as a drilling boot adapter. The hose is very soft and flexible black rubber with a slick red scuff guard. It is one of the best hoses I have seen from any company. Included in the box are the hose management clips which mount to the sides of the extractor. They are extremely effective at keeping that awesome hose wrapped up between uses and for transport.

The cord is 16 ga. And at XX feet is plenty long for my applications without being so long it gets in the way. There are two elastic cords to help keep it wrapped up and secure. The wire gauge is enough for its rated output.

I would prefer a 14 or even a 12 ga cord for higher overload capacity when using with power tools. Cord sizes seem to be all over the place in the extractor category. Most like this unit have a 16 ga. cord. Bosch and Fein use 14 ga. Festool and Hilti extractors have 12 ga cord’s. I have never felt the Festool and Hilti Cord’s get hot during extended use. Hilti has a max power tool rating of 11 amps. I did run the Milwaukee with a concrete saw rated at 15 amps and nothing tripped or burned up. I do not recommend this as it is taxing for both the tool and the extractor. The 16 Ga cord cannot pass enough current to supply 15 amps to the tool plus what the extractor needs. There would likely be a voltage drop and possible damage to the motor on the tool or the extractor or both. At the very least you will be dealing with tripped breakers.

Acme Tools

The controls are very straightforward with a large dial to turn the unit on and off or for auto start with power tool activation. If you turn the dial a little farther it will also deactivate the auto clean function. This is a very welcome option when using filter bags. With the fleece bags the auto clean is unnecessary and just adds noise to your environment. There is a second small dial to control the speed of the motor. This is important for many reasons.

Sometimes you need to manage power for different tools that run off the built-in receptacle. A larger tool requires more power. Sometimes it is possible to turn the extractor down to allow more power for the tool. Some tools work better with less suction as well. Sanders don’t really need a ton of suction for effective dust extraction . Too much can actually slow the sander down and cause swirl marks your work. It can also create more heat in your sanding pads. Heat causes them to break down faster. It also can melt paints and other finishes contributing to gumming up your abrasives. I usually turn it down to about 25%-30% Power when sanding.

When using larger tools like Miter saws, concrete saws and grinders it is normally best to run the extractor at max power to catch as much dust as possible. In these cases it is better to just run the tool on a separate circuit or use a cordless tool. As cordless technology progresses you will find more and more cordless tools that are up to the task.

As the vacuum runs you will hear a thumping noise every 10-15 seconds or so. It is a normal byproduct of the cleaning mechanism doing its job. The Milwaukee is quieter than most in the filter cleaning cycle. It is louder than the Makita and DeWalt but quieter than the Metabo and much quieter than the Bosch Hilti and Fein extractors. It pulses airflow back through the filter to knock caked dust out of the pleats to keep airflow as close to maximum as possible. This is one Key difference between these high-end dust extractors and regular shop vacs. With a regular shop vac you will lose suction in a matter of a few minutes or even seconds with fine dust such as concrete or masonry. This translates into lost productivity while you stop working to take the vac apart for cleaning. It also means more exposure to the dust while cleaning the filter. Because of this many of us, myself included, sometimes chose to skip dust extraction altogether. No doubt this common situation contributed to the OSHA silica rulings that now govern our industry. We found the Milwaukee to always maintains adequate suction power for everything we threw at it. We ground concrete floors, cut tile and backer board out on remodeling jobs, used it on Miter saws and tracksaws. While it is not the strongest extractor we use, it is more than capable of keeping up with a 5” concrete grinder or a rotary hammer. There was a little more loss of suction during auto clean than the Metabo and Makita extractors. I was somewhat surprised at first since the Makita comes from the same manufacturer. It does make sense though because the Makita cleans one filter while the other keeps working and the Metabo uses electromagnetic pulses to shake the filters while the airflow is maintained.

Acme Tools

Whether or not this is important depends on what you are doing with the extractor. The change in pressure can allow a puff of dust to escape. Even worse the change in pressure will sometimes be enough to move the cutting tool off of the cut line. This is something we just get used to with auto clean vacs. While in the cycle I sometimes ease up on how much pressure I apply to the tool. We feel this dust extractor is of very high quality and is probably one of the best products Milwaukee has brought out in the last few years. Now that we have had it a few months we are very happy with the purchase from Acme Tools. It is very reassuring to know if I would have had an issue with it they would have taken care of it very quickly and professionally.

Makita Rear Handle Saw

thetoolpig — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 15:36:32 +0000

ACME TOOLS

My earliest tool memories involve a Skilsaw wormdrive. I was probably five or six. I will never forget how heavy that all metal beast felt when my dad told me to pick it up and bring it into the job he was doing that day. Back then I always used two hands to pick it up. I felt so big a couple of years later when I got to make my first cut. It was scary and amazing all at the same time. I still remember the torque kick when I pulled the trigger. It took me off guard but I was immediately in awe.

That monster was unstoppable. It was our everything saw. It was the only circular saw I used until I was about 18. Wood, metal, concrete, you name it. If dad could buy a blade for it we could cut it.

When you learn to use a certain tool at an early age you develop deeply ingrained muscle memory and hand eye coordination. The worm drive saw just feels natural to me. I can make some fantastic cuts with a sidewinder Saw but no matter how much I use them they will always feel less natural to me. For most carpenters that grew up out west the worm-drive is the weapon of choice.

The first 9.6v and 12v cordless saws that came out were weak and for me the blade was on the wrong side. The line of sight was completely blocked by the tool itself. I always felt they would be great but they never were.

Somewhere in the mid to late 90’s companies started producing 18v saws with blade left configuration. I bought a 5 3/8’ dewalt and a Craftsman. Now we were finally getting somewhere. They could actually cut a 2x4 and I could see the cut line. My joy was short-lived however. My guys and I stripped the gears out in multiple units.

My next round was the Milwaukee and Makita 6 1/2’ 18v and the Porter Cable 19.2 v saw boss saws around 2000. All 3 were pretty good. We got many years out of all of them. They were not very fast but at least they could cut 2x even on a bevel. The blade left design was closer to what I wanted but not quite there yet. For the next 15 years or so not much changed other than the switch to lithium-ion batteries.

When brushless motors started getting popular we saw a huge increase in power with similar weight. Finally we had power close to corded. We saw a huge increase in people actually using cordless saws all day long. We even saw many production framing crews make the switch to cordless. As long as they had multiple chargers they could stay running all day long.

I remember talking with friends in the tool community when these saws came out about how amazing it would be to have a cordless worm drive saw.

Makita was listening and they were the first to bring us a cordless answer to the worm drive. I must mention that this saw is not actually a worm drive or hypoid gear saw. It is a blade left helical geared saw with a rear handle. Is that a problem? It is actually an advantage. Why? Because a worm gear is very inefficient at transferring power. They can waste as much as 40% of your power or more. Although they are durable and can take an impact they would drain your battery much faster than a helical gear.

Our first look at the saw was at World of Concrete 2017 in Las Vegas. We were privileged to be invited to the media event release. I couldn’t believe they asked me to be the first to use it on the Facebook live broadcast. I was so excited to make that first cut! I think I was almost as excited as I was as an 8-year-old when My dad let me use the worm drive for the first time.

As I grabbed the saw I couldn't help but notice how light it felt. I adjusted the depth as normal to cut the 2x10. As I pulled the trigger I was pleasantly surprised that there was no torque kick. When I started the cut, it was amazingly smooth! Smoother than any saw I had used before. It felt so easy to cut a straight line with. I couldn't help but think of a hot knife going through butter. It took all of 5 seconds for me to realize that this was to become my favorite circular saw of all time. After the cut I wanted to cut again but I had to wait for others to have their turn with it.

When the Facebook live broadcast was finished we got some time to get to know the saw better. Makita had a whole truckload of lumber on hand for as much cutting as we wanted to do. There were 3x4's and 6x6's

The Makita was always able to cut completely through the 3x4 boards. The corded Skilsaw worm-drive saws were not. The Makita has as far as I know one of the deepest depth of cuts at 2 9/16" of any 7 1/4" Saw. (Tie with DeWalt Flexvolt blade right circular saw)

We then went on to power tests. We couldn't help but be impressed! It actually outperformed the corded Skilsaw worm drive saws. Some people thought the worm drive was more powerful because we could push it harder and it would keep turning. This turned out to be wrong. The Makita has protection circuitry. Because of this it would shut off if pushed too hard. Interestingly if we pushed it slightly less it could outperform the worm drive saws. Because of having no protection built-in, the worm drive saws would start smoking after a few runs trying to keep up with the Makita rear handle saws.

How is this possible?

This rear handle saw is able to compete with the most powerful corded saws because of it's unique X2 battery system. By using two batteries from its 18 V LXT lineup Makita is able to produce incredible amounts of power in a cordless tool. Not only do the dual batteries give the power needed for those tougher cuts, they are also able to run longer as a pair than would be possible using one battery at a time. In our rip tests using this saw vs the 18 v brushless Saw we were able to cut far more than double the amount with this saw over the single battery brushless per change.

Another reason the power is so outstanding is the built in power management. You don't always run your car at full throttle. It would waste fuel and wear it out much faster. Same with this saw. It's not always running at max power. If you are making a lighter cut like a 1x12 or 2x4 cross cut the Saw sips batteries in the normal power mode. When you get into a heavy cut like a 2x rip the power management system shifts the saw to high torque mode. It is seamless and you don't even notice it happening. To let you know the Saw is getting a good workout there is a little green LED that lights up.

Back in the real world we couldn't wait for the saw to come out. When it finally did it was pure joy to use on the job. All the power and torque were there. The balance was as perfect just like I remembered. The rafter hook is amazing. The depth and bevel adjustments are strong and easy to operate. The shoe is nice and stiff. The all metal guard is easy to engage even on angle cuts.

One thing I really appreciate is the layout of the handle. It is very close to the centerline of the blade. It is almost a full inch closer than the new Dewalt rear handle saw. That coupled with the long length of the body makes it easier to cut a perfectly straight line with than any other saw I have used.

Two things I miss on this saw are an LED light and a dust port. I feel an LED would make those short winter days a bit easier to live with. a dust port would make demolition cleaner and would open up the possibility of using it with diamond blades for concrete products.

I can't say enough good things about this saw. It is truly a home run for Makita and we give it our highest recommendation. It is one of our favorite. tools of all time and is definitely our top pick for full size cordless saw.

To get your own saw check out Acme Tools

For more information on this tool visit Makita tools

Dewalt FLEXVOLT 2.5 Gal. 60-Volt MAX Brushless Cordless Air Compressor Kit - #THD-ProSpective

thetoolpig — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 00:30:58 +0000

#THD-Pro Spective Many contractors have found the idea of a cordless air compressor to be very intriguing. They wonder if it would be powerful enough for their needs. You may wonder why we would want a cordless air compressor when we can just go get a cordless nail gun and skip the compressor all together. We have found that cordless air compressors have filled a nice void in the industry. There are no 21ga cordless pinners available at the time of this writing. There are very few decent cordless 23ga pinners. Although most of the cordless nail guns perform admirable in general use they still fall short of the best pneumatics in power when driving full length fasteners. This cordless compressor allows you to have the best of both worlds, convenient portability and maximum pneumatic performance. We have been using the cordless air compressor for many months now. The first one we got was the 1 gallon 18 volt from Ridgid power tools. We have been very pleased with it and have had no problems. We were very excited to get to try out the new Dewalt flex-volt 60 V max compressor. Overall it is a similar footprint compared to the Ridgid. It looks to be a little stronger with a larger tank and a higher maximum working pressure. It features a 2.5 gallon tank and will go up to 135 psi. This will allow you to shoot more nails before compressor needs to recover. This will also allow you to run larger guns such as framing nail guns for a longer period of time. It will also allow you to fill tires faster.

#THD-Pro Spective

I thoroughly enjoy the OneTurn regulator. I wish every air compressor had one of these. Normally adjusting your output pressure requires a little trial and error. You have to pull out on the knob and rotate it either up or down and press back and see where the pressure ends up. It is impossible to know where the pressure will end up until the next recovery cycle. At that point you may have to pull the knob and turn it once again and then push it back into the locked position. With the Flex-volt simply turn the knob to the desired pressure when you're done, boom! It's that easy. At 79 dB it is not the quietest compressor on the block but well within the range of acceptable on a normal job site. If you will be working close to the motor you may wish to wear hearing protection as it is loud enough to effect your hearing. It is pretty light to carry around at 21 and a half pounds and the handle is very comfortable. With the low weight and freedom of a cord you may find yourself moving it around much more than your current corded compressor. I was surprised to see so much plastic on the Dewalt, however it seems to be pretty tough. The Ridgid has a welded steel frame with a rubber padded handle but the Dewalt has a plastic frame/ motor shroud supporting the steel tank. One minor quibble about this compressor is the placement of the single air hose coupling. If you are looking at the front of the unit it is on the right. Instead of being slightly angled upward on the control panel, it is protruding horizontally out the side. The air compressor is not heavy enough to allow one-handed insertion of your hose. It would be nice to see 2 couplers as it is large enough to run 2 finish guns.

Hook yourself up at The Home Depot

FEATURES

Up to 1,220 nails per charge
Brushless motor paired with a heavy-duty oil-free pump provides cordless convenience with the power of a corded tool
OneTurnâ„¢ regulator for fast, accurate pressure adjustments
Lightweight and portable at only 21.5 lbs
Heavy duty roll cage for job site application
Compressor Made in the USA with Global Materials
79 dBA operational noise level (tested per ISO 3477)
1.2 SCFM @ 90 PSI (tested per ISO 1217)

Paslode 18 Gauge Cordless Brad Nailer - #THD-Prospective

thetoolpig — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 16:09:52 +0000

#THD-ProSpective

We have a long history with Paslode nail guns. This isn’t the first and certainly won’t be the last. From the original impulse and trim pulse guns with old Ni-cad batteries up through several generations we have had a very good run with Paslode. We have always done our maintenance and kept our fuel fresh and we have experienced no down time with any of their nail guns. I will usually run a nail gun for a few years and then I will sell it to upgrade to the latest and greatest model. We have had great success with them in overall feel, balance weight and power. They have enough power to drive full length nails into hardwoods like oak, walnut and maple. The power is very consistent. The newer fuel cells now have improved cold weather performance. Over the years many challengers have come and gone. We have never found a cordless trim gun that equals or surpasses a Paslode in power to weight ratio or ergonomics. Whether we are talking the 16 gauge angled or straight or the 18 gauge, nothing has equaled or surpassed it in our use. Paslode guns are for the most part smaller, lighter and more powerful than battery only competitors. They feel closer to a pneumatic gun than most. The shot is crisp. The recoil is minimal. The hole that remains is no larger than the nail head itself. The weight and balance are spot on for all day comfort. You will find that the nail guns rarely jam. Usually there is a drywall screw involved if they do jam up on you. When this happens, the easy clear nose takes only a few seconds to correct the situation and you are back in business. We've been using this new compact 18 gauge brad nailer next to the standard 18 gauge gun and have found it to be equal in many ways. It feels like it has the same motor. The power is there, the shot is just as clean. The major difference is the magazine has been reduced in size to allow better access in some tight spots. Due to the shorter magazine it gives better clearance. This allows you to tilt the gun to a greater angle than the standard model. To match the shorter magazine Paslode has developed a shorter nail clip to go along with it. There are 50 nails in these smaller clips so you will have to refill more often. Whether or not this is a good tradeoff for the tighter clearance will depend on your needs. In my experience, one advantage of the Paslode over battery only nail guns is nails per charge. With a 7.4-volt Li-ion battery drives up to 12,000 nails per charge. You can also get 200 extra shots with a 2 minute quick charge. Either one of the Paslode 18 gauge brad nailers will do a great job for almost any trim carpenter. The original is still my favorite however this new compact gun offers better clearance and lighter weight.

The Home Depot - ProSpective

Drives into harder woods with total accuracy
Durable stainless steel magazine resists warping and jams and provides easy nail removal when switching nail sizes
7.4-volt Li-ion battery drives up to 12,000 nailer per charge
1-1/2 hour full charge; 2-minute quick charge for up to 200 extra shots
Battery stand-by position secures battery in off position to conserve battery power
Covered by Paslode 2 Year Service Promise – FREE repairs with no questions, no hassles, no cost
Reversible belt hook – Easily adjusts and keeps both hands free and the tool always at your side
Tool free depth of drive is easy to adjust, even with gloves on
No-mar tip protects premium wood
5 year limited warranty

Get in the Sticker Swap

thetoolpig — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 02:50:29 +0000

Use link to get $10 credit Sticker Mule

Get $10 off order from Stickermule

Husky Metric or SAE Long-Pattern Universal Combination Wrench Set - #THD-ProSpective

thetoolpig — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 05:13:36 +0000

I have to be honest. Husky hasn’t really been a brand that was much of an influence for me. I just thought of it as another Store brand. That all changed when we were invited to tour the Husky tool testing lab. The torture tests they impose on Tools are quite extensive. I just couldn't help but be impressed at the lengths they will go to in order to find the weaknesses in each and every husky tool.

They have all manner of machines and test equipment to stretch, tear, bend and break all of the different Husky products. Coatings are analyzed. Alloys are tested to make sure they meet the specs every time. Tools are tested to failure and everything is documented so that the products can be improved continually. It doesn't matter if you're talking about a hammer a tool bag or a ratchet strap. Every single Husky product is rigorously tested so that we don't have to wonder. Seeing first hand what they go through I am convinced that they are high quality and we can actually trust these tools and accessories.

These wrenches are no different. They seem to be some of the nicest sets that Home Depot offers. I like the industrial black finish with laser size markings. we have only seen one chip on one wrench. We have not seen one speck of rust in several months of use. We are in the Midwest and it is very humid here. I kind of like the trend away from chrome but I'm sure at some point chrome will regain that popularity. I like the extra length because it makes it easier to turn those sticky bolts and nuts.

Both ends are made to maximize the power we can generate with our hands. The open end is called surface grip and the design allows for up to 80% claimed better grip over standard open end wrenches. I have no reason to doubt that as we had absolutely no slippage on any Application. The box end is also a departure from Standard box end wrenches. Instead of a six or 12 point design it looks more like a spline. This allows it to grip better and helps it to avoid rounding the fasteners off. It works on just about any type of bolt. It could be a hex head, external Torx, square or even a rounded off head.

Purchase @TheHomeDepot.com

I know these are not going to make a professional mechanic go out and sell their snap on, Mac or Matco wrenches. These are made for general-purpose use like working on your own car or truck or machinery. If you need a quality set of wrenches these deserve a look. If you are able to use them I am sure you will like them as much as we do.

[caption id="attachment_2570" align="alignleft" width="616"] 10 PIECE SET[/caption]

Metric Long-Pattern Universal Combination Wrench Set

Set includes 10 metric wrenches covering sizes: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19 mm [caption id="attachment_2572" align="alignright" width="278"] 10 PIECE SET[/caption]

SAE Long-Pattern Universal Combination Wrench Set

Set includes 10 SAE wrenches covering sizes: 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 7/8 in.

Surface Grip open-end design provides up to 80% more grip and a reduces the risk of rounding fasteners
Universal design box-end works on 6-point, 12-point, square, spline, E-TORX and partially rounded hex fasteners
Longer overall length than standard wrenches allow for better access in tight spaces
15 offset box-end offers increased clearance against flat surfaces
Laser etched size marking stand out on the black finish for easy identification
Industrial black finish provides corrosion resistance and added durability
Package doubles as a storage rack to keep your wrenches organized and in one place
Chamfered lead-ins help to provide fast and easy placement onto fasteners
Meets or exceeds ANSI standards
Forged from chromium-vanadium (Cr-V) steel for outstanding durability and strength
Non-slip open-end design provides more grip
Guaranteed forever
Universal box-end design fits 6 different fastener styles
Husky mechanics hand tools are guaranteed forever; if your Husky hand tool ever fails, bring it back and we will replace it free of charge

Diablo 9 in.10 TPI Carbide Medium Metal Cutting Reciprocating Saw Blade - #THD ProSpective

thetoolpig — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 03:56:59 +0000

Diablo means blades. More people turn to Diablo tools for blades than any other company I know of. Their blades offer high value in each category. They have built a solid reputation in the woodworking industry with many carbide blades for table saws and miter saws as well as handheld circular saws. They have taken that expertise and brought it to the reciprocating saw market. Since the demands for reciprocating blades are more severe than for circular saw blades they are able to tweak the carbide hardness, toughness and strength as well as particle size to make the top performing blade in each category. Instead of making just one or two carbide reciprocating blades, they make several because needs are different for varying applications. Even with metal blades there are different demands. There isn't just one metal blade. There are several choices offered so you can get the best possible performance with your given task. This particular one is the medium metal-cutting blade. It is designed for cutting metal from 3/32" up to 1/4" thick. It will obviously cut outside of that range but that is where it is most efficient. We have been able to use it on steel pipe, tubing and angle iron. It works great on 3" cast iron pipe. We love the way it cuts these materials. The move to carbide teeth in a reciprocating saw blade changes the way we think about what a reciprocating saw can cut. Things we never would have dreamed of cutting with a reciprocating saw a few years ago are now the norm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQt_Pr_xq3A For instance, cast iron is a material that just eats reciprocating saw blades. I have cut tons of it out in my remodeling jobs. I used to burn 3 metal-cutting blades up on one cut in cast. It was so slow that I just avoided it or I would use a diamond blade on a grinder for most of the cuts and then finish up with a reciprocating saw. Now with Diablo carbide blades like this, I don't even think about it. I can make several cuts with one blade and it's still good for cutting wood, steel and other products. Another tough material for a reciprocating saw is stainless steel. Even after several cuts in cast iron and steel my Diablo medium steel blade still cuts through stainless pipe like butter. I don't know of any metal I normally run into that this blade won't cut. Thank you Diablo Tools for making such outstanding recipes blades. If you need a blade to get the job done, this should be on your short list.

High performance carbide for greater durability and 50x cutting performance in medium metal applications

Enhanced carbide to blade connection for extreme impact resistance
10 TPI tooth geometry for clean/smooth finishes on
medium metal applications
1 in. oversized blade body for straighter cuts with less vibration
Perma-shield non-stick coating for less heat and friction
Ideal for cutting ferrous metals and high strength alloys between 3/32 in. to 1/4 in.
Red reciprocating saw blades are a registered trademark of Freud America, Inc.

THE Home Depot

Rotating your tires with Ridgid & Husky - #THD-Prospective

thetoolpig — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 04:21:47 +0000

[gallery type="slideshow" ids="2424,2423,2422,2421,2420" orderby="rand"] I love the Nitto Trail grappler tires on my truck. They offer excellent grip in mud, snow and sand. The ride is very nice. They are also pretty quiet for a mud tire. Every 5,000-7,000 miles I like to rotate them to keep the wear more even and to quiet them down as much as possible. If I leave them on too long without rotating they get rougher riding and much louder. Rotation is essential for almost any tire but it is more so with mud ties. I know I know, all you need is a jack and lug wrench but how fun is that? In this article we will be taking a look at a couple of options from The Home Depot that are far more interesting. The Ridgid 1/2” brushless impact wrench seems to be a really solid tool. It is made of tough plastic with that grippy protective over mold. The grip is very slim and comfortable. I could use it all day without complaining. Layout is very nice. There is a simple slide switch to select the four speeds. Having the slower speeds is important on an impact wrench. Not as much when taking things apart but because of the power they produce you can easily over tighten a fastener or damage your work. The size and weight are really a nice balance between the high torque monsters and the compact impact wrenches. This is close in dimensions to the Milwaukee and DeWalt mid torque wrenches. I wouldn’t say it’s made for a tire shop or a full-time mechanic although it would no doubt serve them well. It is aimed more at serious do it your-selfers and contractors who need the power without all the extra weight and don’t want to drag an air hose around the job site or garage. So will it take off lug-nuts? That is probably the most asked question when discussing impact wrenches. Power output is very respectable at 450 ft lbs. that puts it right in the upper end of this class. It actually surpasses some corded impact wrenches and some of the older heavier full size 18v high torque impact. For most vehicle plug nuts that is plenty. Cars and light duty trucks will be a piece of cake. I have a one ton truck with eight lugs on each wheel. There is enough juice in a 5.0 to do all 4 wheels off and back on. Of course when reinstalling the wheels I need to adjust the torque down so I don’t over tighten the nuts. Over tightening can cause the studs to completely break off. That’s never a good scenario! This combo offers two ways to adjust the torque down to avoid damage. The first way was already mentioned. There is a slide switch to allow you to choose four different levels of torque to match the application. modes 1,2 and 3 are low medium and high torque settings. " A" or auto mode runs the impact wrench normally until it reaches enough resistance to Start impacting then it immediately shuts off to avoid damaging the studs or the lug nuts. The other way is to use the Husky torque limiting extension bars between the impact wrench and your socket. They are also called torque sticks. These are made specifically for impact wrenches. They will not help with a regular ratchet or driver drill. They are made to twist slightly with each impact event. This will absorb a predetermined amount of the impact force thereby limiting the max torque to a certain level. There are four different extensions corresponding to four different levels of torque. My truck requires 150 ft lbs for each lug nut. I grabbed the 140 ft lb extension and proceeded to torque the nuts down on the first wheel . The impact wrench was on The maximum setting. It is recommended to always check the final torque with a torque wrench. I adjusted my 1/2” torque wrench to 150 ft. lbs. to make sure they were correct.. We have to understand that there is definitely a percentage of variation when using these extensions. How long the wrench is allowed to impact. The cleanliness of the threads. Presence of rust. Lubrication etc. can all affect final torque. What I wanted to do was get the lug nuts on and close to the recommended torque. This was certainly faster than running the lug nuts by hand. Whether the torque limiting extensions are for you or not depends on what you want to accomplish with them. They are not accurate enough to use for final torque of your lug nuts. However, they can save time and should get you in the ballpark then you can finish up by hand with a proper torque wrench.

The Home Depot

Ridgid 18-Volt GEN5X Cordless Brushless 1/2 in. Impact Wrench (Tool-Only) with Belt Clip

Brushless Motor Technology delivers over 50% more runtime and longer motor life
4-Mode settings provide adjustable power and speed for the most demanding jobs and precision work
Maximum torque output of 450 ft. lbs. of torque for heavy-duty applications
Tri-beam LED around the front housing helps to eliminate shadows
Auto mode setting automatically shuts the tool down when it begins to impact to prevent overtightening
Die-cast gear box for increased durability and professional quality
1.2 in. friction ring anvil is compatible with popular impact-rated sockets and allows for quick socket changes
Backed by the industry's only lifetime service agreement

Husky 65-140ft. lbs. Torque Limiting Impact Extension Bar Set

Set includes: (5) 1/2 in. drive torque limiting extension bars: 65, 80, 100, 120, 140 ft. lbs.
Bars are designed to limit the amount of torque applied to a fastener when using a calibrated impact wrench
Color coded rings allow for easy torque range identification
Bars are designed for use with both cordless and pneumatic impact wrenches
Designed to be used with a calibrated pneumatic or battery powered impact wrench (calibration instructions included)
Extension bars are 8 in. in length
Ideal for use when changing lug nuts on multiple vehicles
Pin hole at the base of each bar for use with pin and O-ring for a secure attachment to drive tools
Cold formed from chrome molybdenum alloy steel (Cr-Mo) to withstand heavy-duty impact use
Chamfered lead-ins help to provide fast and easy placement onto drive tools and fasteners
Laser etched marking stand out on the black finish for easy identification
Plastic storage case is stamped with size markings for easy identification and organization
Meets or exceeds ANSI standards
Husky mechanics hand tools are guaranteed forever; if your Husky hand tool ever fails, bring it back and we will replace it free

Toolpig Shirts are here!

thetoolpig — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 14:39:45 +0000

Black shirts - Sizes Large and X-Large only

$15 ships USA only

if outside US contact mrs.toolpig for cost of shipping

Bosch VAC090AH 9-Gallon Dust Extractor with Auto Filter Clean and HEPA Filter

thetoolpig — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 16:50:40 +0000

No matter what I am doing on a job you will always find a HEPA extractor nearby. I have been in construction for over 30 years. In that time I have breathed Asbestos, gypsum, wood dust, mold, lead, silica, paint fumes, lacquer, epoxy and on and on.

The Early Years

When I was younger I never gave much thought to my lungs. Oh I wore a paper mask while tearing out all sorts of horrible materials but I rarely gave any thought to extracting dust at the source before it was in the air. I did rig a few dust shrouds for a few tools to use with my cheap Shop Vacs but they weren't very effective.

I Needed An Extractor

Several years ago I finally decided to go buy an extractor. I ended up going with Festool along with a track saw and a sander. I have to say it completely changed everything with my work. Now I do everything I can to run an extractor on every tool possible. I love them but there is a disadvantage in that you need to use bags to keep the dust out of the HEPA filters.

Bosch To The Rescue

The VAC90 from Bosch is a very capable unit. It has a very powerful motor that produces 150 CFM and 97 inches of water lift. Also it can be used with or without HEPA filters. There is a benefit of use with or without bags. Bosch made a very effective automatic filter cleaning mechanism that pulses air back through the filter every 15 seconds to break the dust loose and keep the airflow at max. This is important for many reasons; It is required by OSHA in the USA for dust extraction while drilling, cutting and grinding concrete, masonry or other products containing silica.

The higher the airflow the better it will extract dust from your tool. The better the airflow the cooler your tool and consumables can run because friction from dust is reduced. The better the extraction the cleaner your job will be. The most important benefit is the air you breath will be cleaner and healthier.

Downtime is reduced or removed entirely because you aren’t stopping to take the vac apart to clean the filter.

There are several more nice touches with the VAC90. It has a power tool activated receptacle. Power Broker Dial (Variable speed motor control to balance power needs between the extractor and the tool.) It has nice quality wheels and locking casters to keep it from rolling around in your work truck. It has a built-in interface to lock L-Boxes into for safe stacking and carrying of your tools. There are bungee cords attached to keep your hose tamed while transporting this beast.

The hose has a nice format to fit a variety of tools an attachments. The main end is a standard 27mm size compatible with most European tool dust ports. It fits most Festool, Fein, Metabo, Mafell, Mirka and Flex. It has a quick release end to allow you to lock it to a floor tool handle, some of the tools that are made with dust extraction as well as the universal drilling attachment.

One thing to pay attention to when choosing an extractor is the cord size. The Vac90 has a 14 ga. cord. This may give it an edge over some other vacs in this class. Some have a 16 ga.cord and won’t handle as big of a tool even when you turn them down to the lowest setting. To me the bigger the cord is the better. If the tool and vac try to draw more amps than the cord can handle, something will probably burn up. There can be voltage drops which sometimes cause burned armatures.

With the Vac 90 you can run a tool with 7.5 amps safely depending on where you set the Power Broker Dial.

We have been beating on this thing for well over a year now with no problems. It has sucked concrete dust while grinding floors for tile, drilling holes with large and medium-sized rotary hammers. We have used it on drywall dust, plaster dust sawdust from hardwood, softwood, MDF and plastic.

We even used it all day one time cleaning out joist cavities where a dryer vent had come undone for 20 years. It was so full of dryer lint I though it was going to choke itself to death. Not so. It kept right on going like it was made for it.

One thing I don’t like about it is the cleaning mechanism is pretty aggressive and loud. It’s fine for awhile but with extended use it can get on your nerves. For comparison the Fein and Hilti vacs are just as loud while The Makita, Metabo, Milwaukee and DeWalt auto clean cycles do not make as much noise. I recommend hearing protection any way since grinders and rotary hammers are very loud. I have purposely been using it without filter bags to see how well the auto clean works. Since it has proven itself to work so well I will keep using it this way until the next filter change out before I think about going back to using the filter bags.

I can't think of any trades that wouldn't benefit from having an extractor like this. for sure concrete, masonry and flooring contractors need at least one for their various tasks. Plumbing, Electrical and HVAC contractors often have to drill or cut concrete to run conduit, pipes and line sets as well as wires. Carpenters, painters and woodworkers also benefit from a good extractor for sanding, cutting and routing.

I encourage you to take the plunge on a good quality extractor. Our lungs are amazing but they weren't designed to be able to cope with the added stresses of construction dust. the sooner you start working with dust extraction the better your chances of having a long and healthy career in your trade. once you live with a good extractor you won't ever want to go back. After living with it for well over a year we feel this Bosch VAC90 unit or its big brother the VAC150 with the same performance on a larger tank are some of the top contenders in this class and definitely deserve your consideration.

If you are in the market and feel this Bosch VAC90 would fit your needs check out the price on AcmeTools.com

Ryobi - 18-Volt ONE+ 6 Gal. Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum - #Thd-Prospective

Stanley Brown — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 18:43:56 +0000

Chapter One:

At Home

The Ryobi cordless Wet/Dry vacuum proved very handy a couple of days ago in cleaning the car at home. You know, wash the car in the driveway, then pull out the floor mats and vacuum the carpet. Now, at the car wash you run around like wild, trying to not waste the quarters you fed into the vacuum. At home, no quarters but the vacuum frequently gets hung up by the cord getting trapped under a tire because you very much have to move about to reach everywhere. With the cordless vacuum that just will not happen. Also, no frayed cord dragging across wet ground threatening to light you up. Anyway, this vacuum has other virtues, too. A low center of gravity for instance, large side wheels that refuse to get hung up on any obstacles, casters front and rear, more carry handles than you have hands, the vacuum hose latches into place so you cannot pull it out by accident, clever onboard elastic tool storage. In use, the Hose Deck becomes the obvious place to hold whatever tool you don't need in your hand this minute. The whole package is low profile so it will probably fit under some other tool in the garage or workshop. All that said, you may be running around the car like wild to get the carpet vacuumed before the battery is exhausted. The fix, of course, is a second battery because the charger will have the first one recharged almost faster than the second one can run down.

Shop Online at The Home Depot

Chapter Two:

Worksite

Siblings and in-laws are a little better than rank amateurs at constructing a cabin. The one working electrical outlet is tied up with extension cords. The cordless vacuum is great at going to where it is needed without impacting anyone else. Never mind other trades at a real work site; this is the brother-in-law minefield! Tools that contribute to peace? Priceless! Well not exactly but only $99. By the way, this vacuum is not the screamer I was afraid it would be. Originally I did not think it was really suited to work site use, but my wife and her sisters gave it a workout so I have had to change my mind. Since my house was built-in 1945 it has only 60 amp service. Until I get it rewired, cordless tools are a godsend and very welcome.

[gallery columns="4" ids="2433,2431,2432,2436" orderby="rand"]

Chapter Three:

Suggested Uses

I have been writing about the Ryobi One+ P770 Wet/Dry Vacuum. It came to me with a battery and the hose, of course, two wand sections and a couple of attachments. Onboard storage will accommodate a couple more attachments of your choice and I suggest you add them to keep the elastic snug. I have not mentioned its wet virtues because I almost never use a vacuum on liquids but for this one I made an exception. How could I not when wet is in it's very name? Someone suggested timing emptying a 5 gallon pail but all I had handy was a 5 quart bucket (full disclosure: I filled it to the 4 quart line). The bucket was empty in 15 seconds at most, faster if I had kept up with the dropping waterline better. I did remove the pleated filter. Third-party filters are available. This test brought to light some unexpected details. The top latches on very secure and the latches stand proud so replacement is, literally, a snap. The top is gasketed, too. The carry handles I previously thought merely abundant are really very well placed for emptying the vacuum, especially as there is no drain port. Upside down it is easy to see that the various components are built up with friendly fasteners. The more I work with this Ryobi cordless vacuum, the more impressed I become with the thoughtful practicality of its engineering.

Chapter Four:

Bullet Points (From THD)

Multi-size no-tip wheel design and 360° mobility for balance rolling over obstacles such as cords and thresholds
Corded performance with 80CFM, all with cordless convenience
Convenient onboard accessory storage and no-mess hose storage dock
Multiple carrying handles for easy transportation
Removable top for simple emptying
Compact design for space-saving storage
Crevice tool, floor nozzle and extension wands included
Part of the Ryobi ONE+ family of over 100 products

Husky 92 Piece 1/4" & 3/8" Drive Mechanics Set - THDProspective

thetoolpig — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 04:21:15 +0000

Husky 92 piece 1/4” and 3/8” drive mechanics tool set.

Sometimes less is more. We don’t always need every tool made to complete a repair. This well equipped $39.00 set has really come in handy because of its smaller footprint. I sometimes find myself looking at it and wondering where else it might fit. Under the truck seat. Behind the rear seat. In the camper. It includes over 90% of the most common fasteners we run into daily whether it's in the shop, home or the car.

The tools themselves seem to be very well made. We understand they aren’t really aimed for professional mechanics but that doesn’t stop Husky from testing them to extremely high standards. We were able to witness some of this extreme destructive testing at the Home Depot headquarters. They thoroughly test everything about the tools. They don’t just do it once, they do it repeatedly. Periodically they will bring in another sample to test all over again. The strength of the steel. The failure limits. The chrome plating. The fit and finish. All details must match their specifications.

The main attractions of this set are the surprisingly nice 72 tooth 1/4 in. and 3/8 in. drive locking ratchets. You will be pleased to note they only need 5 degrees of swing to turn the sockets. The lock is very secure. You won't be losing sockets with these ratchets. They have an easily found quick release button for fast and clean socket change-outs. the reverse lever is well placed and easily switched without looking at it. one thing I know from watching destruction tests is that I'll never break one of these under normal use. I think a cheater pipe would do it but I don't use them on ratchets.

Now for the cold formed Chrome Vanadium steel sockets.

There are 52 in total.

14 standard length 1/4 in. drive 6-point sockets.

8 standard length 1/4 in. drive 12-point sockets.

10 deep 1/4 in. drive 6-point sockets.

20 standard length 3/8 in. drive 6-point sockets.

They feature an off corner loading design which prevents slipping, stripping and rounding off of nut and bolt heads. The mouth of each socket is chamfered to help to with easy placement onto fasteners

The sizes are deeply stamped in fairly large numbers for easy identification.

We like the feel of the ratchets and sockets. The handles are comfortable and will allow you to pull pretty hard on a fastener before your hand hurts. The chrome plating feels like it won’t chip off like some cheaper socket sets. Chrome provides corrosion resistance and added durability. It also easily wipes clean of oil and dirt

There are also 38 other heat-treated S2 tool steel driving tools. there is a 1/4' hex screwdriver handle with a full set of metric and standard nut drivers. there are also a nice assortment of Phillips, flat head and torx bits.also included are metric and standard hex wrench sets.

Everything fits neatly in the case. Nearly every piece has a clearly marked spot. This set like all Husky tools carries a full lifetime warranty. That means if your Husky hand tool ever fails, take it to Home Depot and they will replace it for free.

Makita XDS01Z 18V LXT® Lithium‑Ion Cordless Cut‑Out Saw

thetoolpig — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 05:20:18 +0000

Few tool releases hit me as hard last year as the world’s first cordless drywall saw.

When we first saw the photos from Japan we all had to wonder what it could be useful for. It certainly has a unique shape. We tried to figure out if it was backwards or if it had the right form factor. The first time I got to use one was at The 2017 STAFDA (Specialty Tools and Fasteners Distributors Association) show. Once I held it and fired it up I could tell it was perfect for its intended use.

Why we need it

Cutting out drywall is never fun. It doesn’t matter what the trade is. On remodeling jobs, water damage restoration, plumbing retrofits, electrical repairs and HVAC change outs there is almost always a need for cutting out at least some drywall.

Traditional tools for cutting it out would include utility knives, hammers and hand saws. They are always slow and labor-intensive. They are very messy and will leave a lot of dust in your customer's home. More recently oscillating multi tools have become very popular and do work well for cutting drywall for the most part. The trade-off is the noise level and they also create a cloud of dust. You can follow the blade with a vacuum hose to make it cleaner but it is impossible to contain all the dust. This makes it harder to control the multi tool in a straight line. It is also a less than ideal solution for cutting out ceilings because you can get chunks of drywall in your eyes when cutting overhead even with safety glasses and a vacuum.

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Makita must have had these things in mind when they developed the drywall cutter. It solves all of those problems in one handy compact tool. Compared to the other options is much quieter, faster and cleaner. I have yet to meet a person who has used it who does not immediately appreciate the benefits.

It is sort of like a really high-speed jigsaw with a really short orbital stroke. it has teeth on 3 sides of the blade. It has a forward sweeping motion before it moves up. This unique action allows you to cut completely through the drywall without cutting the insulation or stud behind it. It is very easy to dial in-depth for various drywall thicknesses. The adjustment wrench is stored in the base of the tool

One of the best things across the Makita line has to be the comfortable handles. This one is no different with the expected black over mold for a secure grip. There is a battery level gauge on the handle base. The bright LED light on the front of the tool really makes it easy to see where you are headed. The base is fitted with a plastic sub base to protect the wall and to make it easier to slide the tool across the surface. There are various V notches front and rear to make it easy to follow a line.

This dust collection is impressive with or without a vacuum. It includes an internal dust box that catches a great deal of the dust on its own. It has a little vacuum port with a rubber plug to keep it from falling in your eyes. This will work for a while but if you have a lot to cut out or if you need 100% extraction you will want to hook it to a vacuum.

It works very well with all the Makita cordless extractors but it is outstanding with the XCV05 backpack vac. I love to strap the back pack vac on and go to town cutting out drywall. To not be tethered to a cord or heavy vac hose is an incredible feeling. With this system I actually look forward to drywall cutout day. I never did before. Little things like this truly make my work day much more enjoyable. Of course the drywall saw will work with corded vacuums as well. You may find the need for an adapter depending on the hose end. One thing to note is the blades are a bit pricey. I have seen them anywhere from 11-25 dollars a piece. For this reason I try to preserve them as long as I can. The single best thing I can do is to avoid drywall screws like the plague. I will either mark the cut line with a laser level or chalk. Next, I run the line with a powerful rare earth magnet. If there is a screw in the way the magnet will let me know. Then all that is needed is a driver or drill to remove the screw before cutting. Is this tool right for you? That depends on whether you cut out drywall or not. Any trade that does will benefit from having one. If you do it a lot you owe it to yourself to try one out. remember Makita has a 3 year warranty and a 30 day guarantee that you will be satisfied or get your money back. What are you waiting for? Go get one.

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Acme Tools

Melody Backlit Mirror by Renin

mrs.toolpig — Mon, 28 May 2018 20:53:40 +0000

We first came across the Renin company at The International Builders Show in Orlando, Florida in January this year. Of course I loved the thought of having the Melody Mirror for my own. We arranged to make this happen and the install went smoothly. We contacted a local "sparky" Ben Archer to install for us so we were sure to have it installed correctly. It is hard-wired into the wall. The size of the 3mm polished edge clear mirror glass is 32"x24", great size for me. We placed it as an accent mirror in my side of vanity. The sound quality is good for a small speaker, that it is in a bathroom probably helps with that I would imagine. I have to say to bluetooth connect is a quick and easy process. The lighting strip is 24 Watts / 6000K colour temperature and I love the backlight lighting for when I put on makeup. The website sates it lasts 50 hours and I hope to make it every hour of that time. I so far use it a lot. Time will tell. If you want more information to purchase your own check out Renin Corp for backlit mirrors and more, including barn doors.

Dremel Versa Power Cleaner - #THDProspective #HomeDepot

mrs.toolpig — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 13:00:17 +0000

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot.

A LITTLE ABOUT WHO I AM :

My name is Kim and I am married to Toolpig. It is no surprise to anyone that knows me that cleaning is what I grew up doing all my life. I pride myself on proving I can “get it clean” when we enter a customer's home. I learned this attitude from my parents, they started over 50 years ago in my small town as wide-eyed teenagers a cleaning business that, to this day is still running strong. They began in janitorial and grew to carpet cleaning, air duct cleaning and water and fire damage restoration clean up work. Something that I am thrilled to be entrusted with operating. I never know if we are about to enter a house that basically needs a small clean up or a major over haul. Let me tell you we have seen our fair share of the worst. I was taught pride in my work from an early age. After marrying my hubby I was taught more about working smarter not harder with the proper tools on the job. Not that we didn’t have proper equipment but as time went by there were bigger and better tools out there for the job.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE TOOL :

That being said I was introduced to the Dremel Versa Power Cleaner sponsored by The Home Depot to give a try to let you know what I thought.

The facts:

Rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides superior and consistent speed to tackle jobs anywhere which holds a charge for 18 months
USB adapter provides the fastest charge so the tool is ready when you are (charges in 2 hours)

I decided to make a proper review of the product I needed to get it into my hands and what better way to do this then tackle the soap scum that we all have on the shower and glass door. I charged it up in the 2 hour time but at first use it ran down after only 15 minutes of the work out I was putting it through. See I am certain I am the only one in the family that wipes the glass down after each shower so water spots are prevalent. I decided to plug it in for over night to give a better test. Totally the best call for the longevity of the unit to tackle the cleaning again. Paired with some hard water remover the different pads and scrubbing head, it did an amazing job cleaning up the glass. The bristle head was ok at cleaning the shower head but I think it was challenged. As far as the drain cover, I noticed as the battery wore down it would get caught and stop in the holes of the cover. This caused it to stall. I had to power off and on to restart. After a good charge it no longer had this issue. Point is, keep it on full charge to have the best possible use.

It states that it is the fastest tool on the market to do the work so you don’t have to, I have to say the rotation is good and as long as you don’t put too much pressure on the unit it does great. The individual heads are a snap to change including the screw off brush and love that it has a boot to avoid splash when it rotates. USB charger is an interesting way to go for them to charge. Quick to plug-in and remove that illuminates while charging and lets face it, who doesn’t have USB outlets these days if you forgot or loose the charging block.

The main negative I would have to give is that it gets a little hot after a while. I was however cleaning a 64 square feet glass panel. I needed to re-charge after the glass walls. After charging I was able to finish the tile floor and walls. I am not certain it would hold up on the job day in and out for my crews abuse but I can assure you it won’t make it that far away from my hands anyway. It's a great tool to have on hand for household cleaning. I recommend small tasks for it. It cut through the build up with no hesitation. I also noticed how light weight it is and comfortable in my hand. I would like an angled head attachment to get better into the corners of the shower. Maybe a longer head attachment that can go into the small corners. Splash guard seems to get in the way in corners, not enough to stop the cleaning just to annoy and cause you to have to adjust.

IF I WAS A MAKER :

I can imagine a whole world of uses if I was in the profession of leather, metals or other works that could use polishing. Pretty sure it would come in handy in a makers shop. If you are looking for a gift or just to add it to your collection at the price just under $50 - Buy it!

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is

partnering with me to participate in

the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of

the Program, I am receiving compensation in

the form of products and services, for the

purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All

expressed opinions and experiences are my

own words. My post complies with the Word Of

Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics

Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission

guidelines.

Makita 18V SubCompact Rotary Hammer used with Bosch 1/2 In. x 13 In. SDS-plus® Speed Clean™ Dust Extraction Bit- #THDProSpective #HomeDepot

thetoolpig — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 22:22:07 +0000

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot

Give us a comment and subscribe- Toolpig is giving away one of these bad boys!

I never had a hammer drill while I was growing up until one job we did where I forgot to set the anchor bolts on the top of the concrete walls before the concrete set up. I was about 16 working with my Grandfather. Next lumber yard run he came back with a Skil hammer drill. That job was where I learned how much I hate hammer drills. It was a pretty large duplex so I got to drill a LOT of 1/2” holes for the wedge anchors. Here is why I hate hammer drills:

They are slow.
They are extremely loud.
They need a lot of force to make forward progress.
They vibrate a lot.
They burn up bits fast.
They are tiresome when drilling walls.
They are exhausting overhead.

Some of them like that old Skil don’t hold up very well. It didn’t even make it through the job before burning up. We ended up exchanging it two times before my grandfather decided it was not worth having. He went with a Makita after that and it was better in every way. It was still a hammer drill and I didn’t enjoy using it. The day I got my first taste of rotary hammers was a glorious day indeed. The first one I used was a Bosch rental unit. I was helping my uncle install 6”x6” angle iron in a grocery store to keep the forklifts from hitting the walls. I couldn’t believe how effortless it was to use. It made that concrete feel like butter. I knew I had to get one or two but there were so many choices. I ended up going through about 20 different rotary hammers. Today there are two main formats. SDS plus for smaller tools and bits up to about 1 1/4” and SDS Max for larger tools and bits. There is no single rotary hammer that is great at everything so you need to consider what your needs are. What size hole will you be drilling and how many holes you need to drill in a day. I was so surprised to see this tiny subcompact rotary hammer when the photos were first released. It’s the size of a 12v with more power and runtime. It has all the benefits of any rotary hammer when compared to a hammer drill. It drills faster with less effort especially horizontally and overhead. Every second you are using it there is also less noise and less vibration to the hand. Less time and less vibration during that shorter time is a win-win for everyone. Makita included rotation only and hammer with rotation. I would like to have seen a chipping function as well. I feel it would be very useful for tile removal and delicate chipping tasks. There is a very effective vibration control system. The handle is spring-loaded so that the motor and hammer mechanisms can do their work without transferring all the energy back through your hand and wrist. There is also a nice soft over molded rubber grip. This is one of the very first rotary hammers I have ever seen that comes with the provision for a belt book. The belt hook was not included on my unit but I do have an extra from old Makita tools that bolted right on and I really like that functionality. I would recommend using this for holes up to 1/2". You can do larger holes but it’s going to take more time and cause more wear and tear on the hammer mechanism. If you need to do larger holes there are many rotary hammers on the market that will do just fine for those applications. Where I think this unit shines is in drilling holes for tap cons and similar concrete anchors in the 3/16 to 3/8" range. It is perfect for fastening plate down and for mounting different types of pipe supports and HVAC brackets. I also feel that it is a perfect tool for setting electrical boxes on concrete walls. It is so handy to be able to hang this on your tool belt and have it right there when you need it. When I am on a lift or a scaffold I really enjoy when I have everything within reach. Now if you follow us on Instagram you will probably notice that we use almost every brand of tools and accessories that are available. One mash-up that I have enjoyed is this little rotary hammer paired with the Speedclean hollow dust extraction SDS plus bits from Bosch power tools. We have used these bits for some time now. They are some of my favorite rotary hammer bits that I have ever used. They drill very quickly because the dust extractor pulls the dust through the bit and out to the extractor instead of the dust staying in the bottom of the hole where it interferes with the carbide cutters. Since the hole is cleaner the bit also runs cooler contributing to longer lifespan. These bits are also approved for use with Simpson Strong tie chemical anchors without the normal blow brush blow cleaning process after you are done drilling the hole. It is surprising how effective this little combination is at speed and cleanliness. To be able to breathe clean air while working is priceless. Regardless of hole size or number of holes this will hands-down smoke any regular hammer drill for speed and ease of use. The effortless way it works is quite remarkable considering the weight and size. I actually have hammer drills but I’m going to tell you honestly I don’t use them unless it is my absolute last option. I feel this is somewhat of a niche tool. It is very useful for many applications but is not necessarily going to be a universal fit for every trade and every task. Size and power are always a consideration when selecting a power tool. Match the tool to the job and it will be smiles all around. Over load and overwork a tool and you will find frustration. I would probably not choose this as my only rotary hammer but I would pair it with a large SDS plus or SDS Max for the widest range possible.

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is

partnering with me to participate in

the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of

the Program, I am receiving compensation in

the form of products and services, for the

purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All

expressed opinions and experiences are my

own words. My post complies with the Word Of

Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics

Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission

guidelines.

Dewalt 20-Volt MAX XR Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless Drill/Impact Combo Kit - #THDProspective #HomeDepot

thetoolpig — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 16:57:15 +0000

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot.

This is a very popular kit. I think it represents a great value. Team one of the most powerful brushless impact drivers on the market with one of the highest performance compact brushless drills and you have a winning team on your hands. Both the drill and impact have a Dewalt brushless motor which delivers up to 57% more run time over brushed. The DCF887 has 3-speed settings for versatility with Precision Drive for added control.

I used to run the predecessors to these tools. DCF 886 and DCF 895. They were good tools but Dewalt is never content to rest on its laurels. The 887 received a nice torque and speed increase over the outgoing models. Does that really matter? It does if you want to get more work done faster. One thing I don’t miss is the flat face of the 895 and trigger finger bit release. The new one-handed chuck for bit insertion and release is much nicer. The new design which is much like the 886 is also nicer for getting into tight spots or odd angles.

DeWalt handles are some of the most comfortable to me. The 887 is no different. It may not matter to some but I use an impact driver more than almost any other tool. A comfortable handle can make a long day driving screws more bearable. The trigger is very comfortable and sensitive. The triple LED lighting is among the brightest to allow you to really see your work without a huge shadow. The hook has a 2 stage design. It has a wider area for thicker material and a deeper narrower spot for thinner materials like belts, and pockets.

Today we expect top-of-the-line brushless impact drivers to have at least three-speed settings for a wider range of fasteners. The DeWalt DCF 887 has one of the easiest ways to switch between the various speed settings. It is a big old-fashioned slide switch rather then a button or pressure pad. I definitely prefer this over the buttons. The first speed setting is 0-1000 rpm. It develops 20 ft lbs of torque. It is called precision Drive for precise control with smaller fasteners. It is low enough you may not even notice it impacting at this level. Speed 2 is 0- 2,800. It provides 125 ft.lbs of torque. Speed three is 3,250 RPM and 152 ft.lbs.

homedepot.com

I usually just leave my impact drivers on high all the time. I want to drive screws as quickly as possible and get on to the next. However It is nice to be able to dial the maximum torque down for smaller fasteners or delicate fastening tasks such as installing cabinet hardware.

One situation where it is nice to use a lower speed is when we are touching up drywall screws. Sometimes you don’t get them set perfectly. I have to say it is nicer to use an impact on a lower speed to set them. You want to drive them slightly past perfectly flush. Full speed can bury the screw in half a second.

Another good place to consider power management is in building cabinet face frames. If you use pocket hole joinery, you probably know that it is possible to strip the pocket hole screws with too much speed and torque. I normally just grab a driver drill for this task but many still use an impact driver. The middle speed and torque setting make this much safer.

DCD796 has a high-speed transmission with 2-speed settings and the brightest light on the market.

What about the DCD796 brushless 1/2" hammer drill? It shares numbers with the top of the class. It runs at 0-550 and 0-2000 RPM with a max BPM of 34000 in hammer mode. As of this writing, it is probably the highest performing compact brushless drill on the market. If it is not number one it is very close. I bought one of the DCD791 driver drills last year and it easily out powers the brushless compacts from Milwaukee, Bosch and Ridgid. It's not all about power though. It has one of the best handles in the industry with great comfort and ergonomics to go along with that power. It also boasts the best light of any drill. The LED has 3 brightness settings. Normal, high with normal drilling and a special extra bright setting to use as a work light for up to 20 minutes. We really enjoy using these drills on the job. They are pretty much my top pick for a compact cordless so far.

I love that the kit has both sizes of battery. You may not always need full power. I usually run the 2.0 in the impact because it is so light. If I am driving screws all day I may throw the fat pack 4.0 on. It gives the tools a boost in power as well as run time. I have heard many say it doesn’t matter and that it only adds runtime. I disagree. The tools run at 18 v. That is 5 cells times 3.6 volts (4V hot off the charger) times the peak amperage the cells can discharge. In the fat packs there are two rows of 5 cells putting out the same voltage but much more amperage if needed. You will see an increase in speed and torque from the larger battery at every point in the discharge cycle.

We really feel this is a great gateway to the DeWalt platform. Cordless drill and impact kits are truly useful for every trade and for DIY-ers as well. If you want a compact kit with premium features this very well could be for you.

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of the Program, I am receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. My post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.

Wiss Straight-Cut Aviation Snips-#THD-Prospective #HomeDepot

thetoolpig — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 22:34:01 +0000

Wiss snips are made in USA and have always been known for being of high quality. This post is sponsored by The Home Depot.

The blades are tough yet hard enough to cut over 3 miles of cold-rolled steel in its lifetime. I do not have a way to test this claim but I also have no reason to doubt it because they have always lasted years before needing to be replaced.

When I saw that we were reviewing these Wiss snips I knew what I wanted to say. I already have two pairs ready to go to work in those situations where I want only one pair of snips. These are the yellow universal snips. They cut straight, left and right in light stock.

Right off I must say that honestly I do prefer the red and green left and right snips. Off set snips are even better for me because they keep my hands above the sharp edges of the cut material and turn easier. Red handle snips are made to cut straight and left turns and curves. Green snips are for straight and right turns and curves. If you are looking for the set of 3 check them out at HomeDepot.com.

These are best for when you don’t want to have two pairs in your tool bags. I find that they are useful to a certain point. There is usually some sort of compromise with multi use tools and honestly these are no different. These are set up almost like red snips. When you are cutting through the material the piece to the right will be under the snips and the left side will be over the blade. They seem to cut straight well enough. They also turn left fairly easily. To make a left turn you will need to keep the snips above the work piece. This will make it easy to cut a curve or a right angle to the left. Right turns are a little more difficult but are possible. In order to make a right turn you will need to keep the snips under your material. As long as you keep them under the material you can make curves or angles to the right. If you try to turn right with the snips above the material you will damage the sheet metal. This is easier in thinner materials. There are places that these turns won't be possible. In those instances you will find that a good set of red and green offset snips will make life easier.

Everyone is different as is each situation. What works for one may not be as ideal for another. You may prefer to have only one pair of Wiss snips in your tool bags. It certainly saves weight it is also faster to deploy because you don’t have to remember which pair you need for a cut. I like these snips and I have bought them more than once over the years. No doubt I will buy them again. You can find them at Home Depot by themselves or in a convenient three pack with the red and green snips.

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is

partnering with me to participate in

the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of

the Program, I am receiving compensation in

the form of products and services, for the

purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All

expressed opinions and experiences are my

own words. My post complies with the Word Of

Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics

Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.

Ridgid 3-1/2 in. Round-Head Framing Nailer - #THDProspective #HomeDepot

thetoolpig — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 21:43:57 +0000

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot I have used many framing nailers over the years but for the last 20 I have pretty much settled on Hitachi NR83A guns which are full round head in the same 21 degree configuration as this Ridgid nail gun. I like to use full round head plastic collated nails because they are inexpensive and offer a very secure hold because of the full round head. In some areas they are required by code where the clipped his nails are not allowed. Since it is a plastic collated gun the magazine is quite long to allow you to insert two complete strips nails. I have never owned a Ridgid nail gun before. I’ve never even considered one before. No particular reason. It’s just that I found the Hitachi guns to be up to the task and I never found myself looking for alternatives. I have done residential construction for over 25 years now. I am not a full-time framer and lately I actually do less of it than I used to. The framing I do now usually consists of restoration work on fire damaged buildings or remodeling projects and additions. We will completely gut one to several rooms up to a full house with a burned out attic and a big gaping hole in the roof. Because of this I probably do not need a full-time production quality framing gun. At this point I feel that the rigid is well up to the task to fit my needs. My first good-sized project with the gun was in Puerto Rico. We were there as volunteers for disaster relief from Hurricane Maria. Our crew was framing a new home on an old foundation. It had a new concrete floor. Using Florida’s code for a cat 5 hurricane as a guide there was a bit of extra work we weren’t used to. The double bottom plates were bolted with 1/2” chemical anchors between each stud. Everything was nailed normally then Simpson strong tie hurricane clips were installed at every connection. Both sides of each stud got clips top and bottom. Each rafter got clips top and bottom. Beams had steel straps up one side of the studs and over the top all the way to the other side of the studs. It was the most labor intensive small house I have ever worked on. I was very pleased with the performance of the gun. It had plenty of power for the treated lumber we were using to build the house. We used it to frame walls and the roof as well as all the sheathing on the walls and roof. It was almost as powerful as the Hitachi guns. All of the lumber was solid 2x. There was no LVL available there. It was so powerful that we actually had to dial the nose back to avoid over driving the nails in the 5/8” T-111 treated sheathing. Some of the younger guys weren’t paying attention and got in a hurry. We had to show them the depth adjustment and explained why we need to utilize it when switching tasks from framing to sheathing. (They also got a quick lesson on oiling the guns every day) We adjusted the depth to just barely set the nail flush. The gun was very consistent after adjustments were made. The galvanized ring shank nails should hold for many hurricane seasons. One thing that I really enjoyed was how easy it was to toenail with the gun. The nose is well designed and works well even in tricky and awkward spots. There are a couple of standout features I really enjoyed about this gun. One thing is the big fat rafter hook. It swivels around the gun for great flexibility. Next is the dry fire lockout feature. When you run out of nails it will not keep firing. This helps the gun last longer and it helps your quality of work. If it keeps firing without shooting a nail you may think you’re getting work done when all you’re doing is punching holes in your work. There are many guns on the market that will keep firing even when you are out of nails. I feel very annoyed when the gun does not have dry firelock out and I don’t catch it right away. The sound does change when there is no nail but on a noisy job site with earplugs in and sometimes hard to catch it. The other feature I like is the onboard switch between single fire mode and bump fire mode. It is so simple to switch between the two modes and I really appreciated not having to use tools or disassemble the trigger to make the change. There is also an easy clear jam mechanism that allows you to pull part of the magazine back and out-of-the-way if you ever get a nail jam or something bound up between the driver pin and the nails. The depth of drive adjustment I mentioned earlier is pretty straightforward and I think most people find it easy to avoid over driving the nails or having them stick up from your work. The magnesium body is light. The anodized magazine is plenty strong and survived being dropped. Overall it feels well-balanced and the over molded grip is comfortable in my hands. The curved and over molded trigger feels good to me even after a long day. Each person is different so I would suggest at least going to the store to see how I feels in your hand before making a purchase. You may feel that it is awkward or you may find that this is the most comfortable thing you’ve ever touched. About the only thing I cannot comment on at this time is durability and reliability. So far in my use it has been flawless. I have heard from many carpenters and "do it yourselfers" that Ridgid nail guns are good for the long-haul and easy on the wallet. Order your today from thehomedepot.com

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is

partnering with me to participate in

the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of

the Program, I am receiving compensation in

the form of products and services, for the

purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All

expressed opinions and experiences are my

own words. My post complies with the Word Of

Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics

Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission

guidelines.

Why I Chose Makita for Disaster Relief in Puerto Rico

thetoolpig — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 23:30:00 +0000

Two Weeks In Puerto Rico

One of the most rewarding experiences I’ve been able to share in many years was spending two weeks in Puerto Rico as a disaster relief volunteer. I really count it as a privilege and a blessing to be able to use my skills to help others.

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What happened there was deeply disturbing . Much of the suffering and loss of life could have been prevented. It has been exported that fewer than 100 people died during hurricane Maria but upwards of 4,000 lost their lives from after effects from the storm. There was no power to run medical equipment of any kind. Many are still without power more than 9 months later. Most were without adequate water and food. All supplies were limited. Government corruption and misappropriation of resources are just some of the many things that went wrong to add to the suffering of the people.

When I received the preliminary invitation on Builder Assistant to go for reconstruction work I immediately talked to my family about the possibility. We talked about the expenses, the missed work, the time apart and a bunch of what ifs. We said some prayers and thought about the blessings we have received. Everyone was in agreement that I should go for two weeks. We accepted the invitation and began looking for a good flight.

The letter that accompanied the confirmation of my accepting the assignment mentioned the scope of work would be framing and metal roofing. It said bring your own tools to complete the work. I thought that was pretty vague so I began playing out different scenarios in my mind. What would I need? Would there be power? Should I take corded tools or cordless? I quickly decided cordless was the way to go. Then I had to decide which cordless tools I would need to take.

I had heard from others who went that I would need a drill, impact and saw for sure as well as nail bags and normal hand tools for framing. I am the Toolpig and I knew that I would need more than the basic tools.

My flight like most included a carry on and one small item. One checked bag up to 50lbs was $25.00 US each way. A second bag up to 50lbs was $35.00 each way. I decided that I would take every tool possible and stay under the 100 lb limit. Just an extra 20lbs would be an extra $100.00 each way. It didn’t seem to be worth the extra expense for the tiny amount of extra weight. Some of you generously offered to pay the 100.00 and I really appreciate the kind offers. I hope you don't think I was rude for not taking you up on it. I just felt that it was a rip off for American Airlines to charge that much more for a few lbs. I asked about any breaks for disaster relief workers and they told me there were none for Puerto Rico. They had some offers for the Virgin Islands and one other place but nothing for Puerto Rico.

My next hurdle was to decide which cordless platform I would go with. I started weighing the basic tools like a drill and impact. I weighed Ridgid, Milwaukee, DeWalt, Bosch and Makita brushed and brushless drill and impact sets. Right away I ruled out Ridgid because of the extra weight and bulk. Next I started to look closely at what supplemental tools I would be able bring and stay under 100lbs.

For framing, a circular saw and reciprocating saw are very necessary. For metal roofing a metal-cutting saw, nibblers or shears can save a lot of time. I heard we would be installing a lot of T-111 sheathing inside and out of the homes. That requires a lot of hole cutting for electrical outlets and switch boxes. I figured a jigsaw or multitool would be the best tool for the job. I really wanted to take a track saw but it was out of the question when I started weighing tools. Plus how would I take a track? That would have been a third piece of luggage and would have been more expensive than a track. I was now down to considering Makita and Dewalt.

When flying with power tool batteries there are strict TSA guidelines. For lithium-ion batteries under 100 watt hours there is no limit to the amount you can take in your carry on. Between 101 and 160 watt hours there is a limit of 2 batteries. You can’t have terminals exposed so each battery must be individually wrapped to avoid contact with anything that could cause a short.

The TSA rules really made it a no brainer to go with Makita for all my power tools. I could take unlimited 18v 5.0 amp hour batteries. I did not know how much charging I would be able to do each day so I took 25. (Makita is the only platform I have so many batteries in. I bought almost all of them in kits during extra battery sales and sold the tools.) With DeWalt I would have not been able to take more than 2 flex volt 2.0/6. batteries. The 3.0/9.0 batteries are over the limit of what you can take. I know you can slide the clip on the batteries, effectively separating the 3 cell banks. I just felt it was not worth the risk trying to get them through TSA. They do have the last say right or wrong. If they say it doesn’t go on the plane you leave it behind or miss your flight.

Makita must have been paying attention to my instagram posts about getting ready to go. They overnighted a brand new set of the new more compact 16ga metal shears, a fan cooled jacket and a new brushless hybrid tool. It is a 4 in one drill, driver, hammer drill and impact as well as a few sets of bits to take .

As it turned out that was a very good move on Makita's part. Those tools proved themselves to be very useful for the building work.

Here is a pic of the tools I took.

Brushless drill

Brushless impact, brushless circular saw, brushless metal-cutting saw, brushless router, subcompact reciprocating saw, subcompact rotary hammer, brushless hybrid tool, top handle jigsaw, oscillating multi tool, brushless grinder, right angle impact driver and the new cordless shears. I also took the new fan cooled jacket.

We used every single tool I brought. I used the circular saw the most. I was usually cutting for myself as well as a few other guys. Next most used was probably the impact driver but a very close third was the oscillating multitool. I had no idea it was going to be so useful while framing. The crew also appreciated the sub compact recip saw. It easily fit between rafters when cutting mistakes. It is so handy with its short size but it's not short on power.

Another crew favorite was the right angle impact driver. It was the perfect tool for installing the Simpson strong tie hurricane clips in tight spots. It was used over 100 times in the two weeks I was there. The metal-cutting saw cut the steel roofing panels with ease. It was much better cutting the sheets upside down. There was less chatter and throwing of metal shards that way. The new shears are simply amazing on flat metal. They aren’t the best at cutting through the ribs but we figured out quickly that if we slightly curved the panels it would cut the ribs pretty well. The hybrid tool was a treat to have with us. It was especially handy at pre drilling then driving screws. This was the case in both wood and concrete. It works with any 1/4' hex shank bit.

It just so happens that I took an assortment of 1/4' hex shank bits from makita and some newer carbide tip multi purpose bits Bosch. They proved to be extremely versatile. They are made for metal, wood and masonry. We used them for pre drilling studs. We used them for tapcons. We even used them as countersink bits for some of the hurricane clips. They aren't quite as sharp as a typical twist bit so they worked very well for countersink bits because they didn't dig in so fast that we couldn't stop them from blowing through.

[caption id="attachment_2821" align="alignleft" width="300"] Makita Puerto Rico Rep Robert Diaz Galarza stops by to donate many bits, blades and other accessories[/caption]

As it turns out, taking Makita tools was a wise decision. The weather was typical for a Puerto Rican summer. We were out in the sun and on the roof. The heat made every brand of tool run hotter. The sun beating down on the black batteries made them all a little hotter as well. Fortunately, none of the Makita tools went into thermal overload. When the batteries were put on the charger, the cooling fan would quickly cool them down to charging temp. This was significant. Unexpectedly one whole day we had a crew of electricians working with us and they got to the point where their Dewalt and Milwaukee batteries wouldn't charge fast enough in the heat. Some of them wouldn't charge at all. They had to borrow my 1/2' drill and impact driver to get their work done.

[gallery type="rectangular" ids="2829,2826,2820"]

Before I went several of you suggested that I leave the tools behind for others to use. After seeing what many were using to get the work done, I decided that was a good idea. I just left the basic tools. XPH12 drill, XDT12 impact, XSH03 brushless saw and the black subcompact reciprocating saw as well as a charger and a few batteries. I am positive they are in good hands and will be used well. Many will benefit from them both in the work and those who get their homes worked on. I was told by my Makita contact they may be willing replace them for me but I'm not sure. If that changes I will update this and credit will be given to Makita. The most important thing is that they will be used to help with the rebuilding work even though I am back home with my family.

Two companies who also deserve a shout out are Stabila and Home Depot.

Stabila levels sent 10 Pro sets with a 4' and a 2' and a torpedo level in each as well as two Jamber sets with 78" and 32" levels for hanging doors as well as a bunch of tape measures. They also sent me the green cross line laser level that I took down. I ended up giving it to the workers that would be there long after I was gone.

Home Depot sent me a 500.00 gift card for whatever I needed while down there. We used it to buy a tee square, chalk line, numerous blades and bits as well as many fasteners. I didn't spend the entire amount but my project coordinator made sure the remaining balance was used for the work after I was gone as the need arose.

The best part of the experience was getting to know like-minded people from all over. There were so many backgrounds. Some were really young guys just out of high school. One 19-year-old I worked with actually sold his truck so he could afford to go down for months. Another volunteer in his 30's left a successful business behind to his younger brother so he could go indefinitely. Others were retirees who had great freedom and wanted to use their last good years to help as many as they could. One older volunteer was in Florida for relief work for months. When his assignment was complete he drove home to Rhode Island and took a nap and got on the plane to Puerto Rico. Many sold vehicles and homes so they could help out. My sacrifice of a few tools, plane tickets and a couple of weeks lost wages was nothing compared to what many have given in support of the work. You may or may not believe in an all powerful creator but I feel that this is one way we can give back for all the many gifts he has given us. I will do my best to keep life simple so I can be available for more of this work n the future.

My crew for 2 weeks enjoyed a well deserved beach party with dozens of other volunteers and locals on my last Friday of the trip.

Makitatools.com

for more information

Truck and trailer maintenance with DeWalt and Husky - #THDProspective #HomeDepot

thetoolpig — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 03:14:01 +0000

This post is sponsored by Home Depot

Dewalt 20v Max Mid-Range Impact Wrench

Dewalt DCF894

As vehicles and equipment continue to rise in price we try to do better at maintaining what we have to try to keep it running as long as possible. We can use hand tools to do all the work. It will eventually get done. If we do though we would miss all the enjoyment and variety that power tools and accessories add to the mix.

As a kid growing up I always did this with hand tools because that's all I had. Dad didn’t like buying tools like I do and I didn’t have the money back then. Those old hand tools always did the trick. I still remember my dad showing me how to hold the wrench on the lug and then jump on the wrench to loosen them. In fact I still usually travel with a nice T wrench with multiple ends for multiple sizes of lug nuts.

I rarely use the manual T wrench any more. I just take it as a back up. I really would rather use an impact wrench. I have gone through many over the years. The first one I had was an old black and Decker industrial (Now DeWalt) corded one from the 90’s. I used to use it for everything I could. It was not very powerful but it was heavy and had a cord.

Next, I bought an Ingersoll Rand Titanium 1/2”. What an improvement! It was half the size and weight with 3x the power. It was perfect…almost. It was great when we had it on a big shop compressor. On portables it didn’t have enough air to produce all the power I needed. Plus it was tethered to an air hose. I found that the air hose itself would affect performance as well. Smaller hoses definitely meant smaller power levels.

My first cordless was an 18v Milwaukee. It was decent but not very efficient. I bought a couple of snap on 18v wrenches and they were better. These were all Nicad tools and nothing like what is available today. I was not satisfied and put them up on eBay.

In 2005 we saw the dawn of lithium-ion tools. I bought 4 of the makita LXT combo kits and 2 of the Milwaukee combo kits. I bought the Milwaukee v28 impact wrench to go along with the contractor packs of tools. It was a beast but the batteries turned out to be rife with problems. I soon dumped all the v28 tools. They were so bad that Milwaukee abandoned the v28 and v18 platform. I swore to never buy Milwaukee tools again. A promise I kept until 2015.

The next one I decided to try was the Makita LXT 18v impact wrench. It was the best I had tried up to that point. Although it was big and powerful it's actually very quiet. It was my workhorse impact. It helped me build a lot of decks and I used it anywhere I could fit it when working on trucks, cars and trailers.

Every year tool companies continue to bring out better tools and accessories. Brushless impact wrenches far exceed the performance of the older brushed and even corded tools.

The Dewalt 20v Max Midrange Brushless Impact Wrenches are definitely some that come to mind. They are a big step up from the compact impact wrenches and drivers but not as much of a handful as the high torque impact wrenches. There are two different versions. The one with a detent pin is the one we will be covering here.

A detent pin is a spring-loaded pin in the 1/2” square anvil that holds the sockets securely. Usually there is a corresponding hole in the socket. This connection is very secure but still workable for switching sockets.

Speaking of impact sockets

[gallery type="slideshow" columns="1" size="large" ids="2856,2855,2854,2853,2852,2851,2849,2846,2845,2843" orderby="rand"]

I was tired of always looking for my impact sockets. I had several sets from Matco, Williams (Snap-on) Craftsman (USA) and even Harbor Freight. I tried to keep them all in one drawer but I didn’t always follow through. Add to that my two sons who are constantly working on something and they get scattered about pretty quickly.

I decided to order a big impact socket set from the Home Depot. I had never thought about Husky impact sockets before I toured their testing facilities in Atlanta, GA. After seeing the rigorous torture testing they do I am confident in pretty much anything they offer.

I actually ordered 3 sets.

Husky 1/2 in. Drive Hex Bit Impact Socket Set MM (7-Piece)

Husky 1/2 in. Drive SAE/Metric Impact Socket Set (64-Piece)

Husky 3/8 in. Drive Standard Metric Impact Socket Set (9-Piece)

The big set is huge and has such a great range in standard and Metric in both regular and deep lengths. They are from 3/8” to 1 5/16” and 13mm to 27mm. They will easily cover 99% of anything I'll need to do with an impact. It includes some extensions, a 3/8” adapter and a universal joint for off angles and difficult areas. The only other thing I would like to add is a good set of torx impact sockets.

So far these sockets are very good. Made of Chrome Molybdenum, they are a tougher metal than traditional chrome sockets and absorb impact force without shattering. Like I mentioned, I use some of the best on the market from Matco and Williams and these are indeed very impressive to me.

After hammering on them extensively working on a trailer and a few trucks I am finding no evidence of flaring on the tips which happens with all impact sockets over time.

One issue I always have with impact sockets is rust. I live in the midwest and the humidity is high because of all the corn-growing. It dumps moisture into the air. The bare metal sockets rust pretty quickly. These Husky sockets are actually far more rust resistant than any others I have used. These have an oiled black oxide finish. They look polished. I think it will hold up very well.

They are a great match to the Dewalt mid range impact wrench. It packs plenty of punch for taking off wheels on any vehicle as well as breaking suspension and exhaust bolts loose. The 2 speed switch helps with re-assembly as well to avoid damaging the threads or breaking fasteners. We are really enjoying using them together.

I enjoy the fact that it has a high and low-speed as well as the center position which is adaptive depending on circumstance. It may start out fast but when there's a load put on it, it will slow down to avoid stripping threads or breaking fasteners. You will no doubt enjoy playing around with this mode to see how well it suits your particular needs.

It is rated for 350 foot pounds of torque. This is overkill for nearly any fastening situation. Torque on low is ready for about 50 foot pounds of torque which is probably more practical for most assembly tasks. Even though it has a lower number rating then say Milwaukee or Ridgid impact wrenches I don't really see much difference in actual use compared to the others. It keeps right up there with those that have higher numbers on paper.

Every impact wrench has its limitations. This one is no different. You may find some tasks are difficult for it. In those cases you will want a high torque impact wrench. I feel that this one is suited for 90 to 95% of any task you would do with a one half-inch impact wrench. Because of this I use it much more than a high torque impact wrench. It is much lighter and better balanced than any of the high torque impact wrenches. It is also much shorter and narrower and will fit in much tighter spots. The Dewalt has a few degrees of angle between the handle and the Motor and I find this more comfortable than a perfectly straight 90 degree angle.

The feature set and performance make this a no brainer if you are on the Dewalt 20v Max platform. If you are not, it is a solid tool worth considering if other tools in the platform fit your needs.

Order from the Home Depot

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is

partnering with me to participate in

the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of

the Program, I am receiving compensation in

the form of products and services, for these

purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All

expressed opinions and experiences are my

own words. My post complies with the Word Of

Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics

Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.

Milwaukee M12 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Rivet Tool & 14in. Bolt Cutter - #THDProspective #HomeDepot

thetoolpig — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 13:00:52 +0000

Suspended ceiling repairs with Milwaukee - sponsored by

I was called out for a bid the other day. The person was concerned about their ceiling falling in the basement. When I got there it was clearly a poor installation. Some of the ceiling tiles had fallen and the grid had gaps between the 12 foot main tees and the four-foot tees. Besides being out of level it was apparent that none of the ceiling tees had been riveted to the wall angles. What a mess!

They made it clear that they did not want a whole ceiling installed. Rather they wanted to use the existing pieces and straighten it up. To me it is almost more work to try to fix something that was poorly installed than it is to just rip it out and start fresh. If it was my house I would probably just tear it out and throw it in the dumpster and start over. Nevertheless it is not my property and I don’t make the final call.

The next best thing was what we decided to do pull the tiles and set them to the side. Then we took the meager amount of undersized suspension wires completely off. The eye bolts were large enough but there weren’t enough of them to adequately support the grid system. We added eye bolts as needed and installed new heavier gauge wire.

We found the Milwaukee 14 inch bolt cutters to be perfect for cutting this wire. They require much less effort than side cutters or Dykes. They can actually cut larger wire up to 5/16” threaded rod if you need to.

The next step was making consistent level bends in the wire to correspond with the top of the holes in the main tees. This was an easy task because we use laser levels for consistent height. If you set your level at the correct height all you have to do is put your pliers on the wire at the bottom of the laser line and then bend it 90°.

Once the wires are installed and bent at the same level the main tees can be installed to the wires. When completed 4 foot cross tees can be installed between the main tees.

Before the final tees can be cut for the perimeter everything must be squared up. This is very important for fitment of the ceiling tile as well as structural integrity of the whole system. Once you have your grid square it will stay square if you install at least a few rivets on the main tees and wall angles. ( Check your local fire code before installing) This will greatly strengthen the whole system and will keep it from moving when people slam doors and the pressure causes tiles to lift or if there is other movement in the building.

I have used a hand powered pop rivet gun for the last 30 years. The most common size I use is 1/8”. You can clamp the tee to the wall angle and drill them together or you can use a hole punch made just for ceiling grid.

I have never complained about my hand powered pop rivet gun because it always does what I ask of it.

Enter Milwaukee

When I first saw the Milwaukee m12 rivet gun I was very surprised! I had never seen or heard of a cordless rivet gun before. The only ones I had seen where hand powered or pneumatic. I had never considered a pneumatic gun because I didn’t feel like running an air hose to install less than 20 or 30 rivets.

[gallery size="medium" columns="2" ids="2885,2887"]

With the cordless m12 Milwaukee now available my thoughts changed. This thing is an amazing little tool that saves a ton of work and time. It is so easy use that anyone can do it. People with smaller hands have no problem installing even larger rivets. In use it is effortless. You simply set the rivet in the opening of the gun then insert it into the hole and pull the trigger. It is so fast and smooth that you’ll be done before you know it. There is a little catch bin for the stem. Be included 1.5 amp hour battery has enough power to install 450 1/8” rivets. Imagine how your hands and wrist feel after installing just 30 rivets by hand and you can see the benefits of this tool for those who install a lot of rivets.

This is one of those tools I never knew that I needed until I have one to use. If you install any amount of rivets I think this is definitely worth a shot. They are available in kit form from the Home Depot.

[caption id="attachment_2886" align="aligncenter" width="289"] Every cordless tool needs a belt clip and this one has it![/caption]

Milwaukee M12 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Rivet Tool

Milwaukee 14 in. Bolt Cutter

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is

partnering with me to participate in

the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of

the Program, I am receiving compensation in

the form of products and services, for the

purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All

expressed opinions and experiences are my

own words. My post complies with the Word Of

Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics

Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission

guidelines.

Dewalt 20-Volt MAX Lithium-Ion 21-Degree Cordless Framing Nailer-#THDProspective

thetoolpig — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 02:53:26 +0000

This post is sponsored by Home Depot

We are pretty new to this nail gun because there was a delay in receiving it from Home Depot. We haven’t had a lot of time with it yet. I can tell you this though. Dewalt is well-known for making good quality nail guns in both pneumatic and cordless models. They have been making cordless guns for a couple of decades now since they came out with the 18v XRP guns. They all have a robust serviceable flywheel design which was pioneered by Senco and perfected by Dewalt.

Heavy Duty or Just Heavy

This gun has a nice comfortable grip which is important because it is no lightweight. It is heavier than any modern pneumatic framer. Added weight is part of the price of admission for the convenience of no hose. It has a great hook that rotates around the handle for a greater range of hanging options. Since you don't always need full power, DeWalt included a selectable power switch. This will come in handy when you are switching tasks and nail sizes like when switching from framing to sheathing.

We have had a good overall experience with DeWalt guns with our finish work. We have high hopes for this one with framing. This new model is very similar to a gun that has been out for a few years now. The biggest difference is the magazine. It is longer and has a 21 degree angle to accommodate the full round head plastic collated nails. These are the ones I like best. They seem to be more affordable and have greater pull through resistance than the clipped head nails. I have used this type of framing nail for about 25 years in my Hitachi NR83A guns. I have seen no reason to change and that makes this DeWalt that much more appealing to me.

how it proves reliable for us

We don’t frame as much as we used to by choice but we do a fair amount of smaller framing jobs in our remodeling and fire/water damage rebuilds. I feel cordless nailers are ideal for intermittent use like in remodeling. I wouldn’t use one exclusively framing but on these smaller projects or for punch out work they seem to be a good fit.

Now we will take a break and consider a couple of my pet peeves, I really hate cords and I hate hoses even more. They are a trip hazard. They get hung up all day long. Every time I turn around I am making another loop in the hose to get caught on something. Literally The freedom of having no hose is really worth the trade-off of lower power and slower operation. It has a delay when the flywheel is spinning up compared to pneumatics.

If you use bump fire mode you can keep the speed up and there is less delay compared to the best pneumatics. I have heard of some having issues with jamming with their guns but quite frankly we are not experiencing it on ours. Perhaps they got early production models or just defective units. All guns will eventually jam. There are many reasons for getting a jam. We can't always see what is behind the lumber we are nailing. We could hit a chunk of concrete, steel, a screw or another nail. Maybe the collation strip gets hung up or the magazine gets bent. Sometimes the brand of nail makes a huge difference in performance. I have been using Dewalt , Grip Fast and Hitachi nails in it. So far they are doing the trick. If that changes I will update. I am not here to give empty praise for any tool company. Each tool stands or falls on its own merit.

If you do get a jam, it's not hard to clear and reset the driver. There is a switch on the front of the main body for resetting it. On my Paslode which I like very much I have to reset the driver with a screwdriver by forcing it back up. It's not easy and it can result in hurt fingers.

Power in a Good way

Power is pretty good for most new construction lumber. On old growth wood or harder materials like LVL or timber strand it doesn’t sink the nails consistently at least with 3 1/4” which is stated as the max length. The Paslode has more power but you must use gas cartridges in addition to the battery. Gas is an added expense that should be considered. It also uses clipped head nails or offset round head so it's not a direct comparison. If you are on the Dewalt platform it is an advantage to use the same batteries. For some it may be the only one to consider.

The ability to change from singe shot to bump fire with a switch is a handy addition. Some of my guns require tools or a finicky process to change them. The switch on the DeWalt is almost too easy. It's a great way to balance between productivity and safety.

Shopping Time, is this the gun for you?

Is this gun for you? It may very well be. There are a few choices on the market. Some are stronger. Some are lighter. Not one of them is perfect. The DeWalt can definitely get the job done. It saves the hassle of running an air hose and setting up a compressor. Also it uses widely available nails in many regions. Last it uses the same batteries as all 20v max tools. It has selectable power levels as well as bump fire or single shot.

If you need a cordless gun for intermittent use like smaller remodeling jobs or punch out work this is definitely worth a look. You really have little to worry about if you want to try one. DeWalt has a generous 90 day satisfaction guarantee and a 3 year warranty against defects.

Get yours at the Home Depot.

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is

partnering with me to participate in

the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of

the Program, I am receiving compensation in

the form of products and services, for the

purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All

expressed opinions and experiences are my

own words. My post complies with the Word Of

Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics

Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission

guidelines.

Husky 1.8ft x 3ft. Portable Jobsite Workbench-#THDProspective

thetoolpig — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 20:23:30 +0000

This post is sponsored by Home Depot

A good work table can make a huge difference in our work day.

It really doesn't matter what trade we are in. We all need a spot to keep our immediately used tools or to cut our materials or both.

We have been using the Husky work table for a couple of months now. Overall we like it a lot. We have used it for a few remodeling jobs. It has come in really handy on a tile job. Holding up my Sigma tile cutter really well. This was the perfect height to be able to see the cut line and comfortably score and snap the porcelain plank tile. I found it great to clamp tile to while making miter cuts. It has proved to be just right to hold drills, drivers bits and fasteners for door installations and installing kitchen cabinets. It is light, stable and strong. Its more than just a table and has some standout features you may enjoy.

Its a husky thing!

You may be comparing it to the Dewalt work table. After all they are similar in size. Honestly that is where the similarities end. The Dewalt is faster and easier to deploy but the Husky has a bit more functionality.

It has some metal tee track inserted into the top to allow you to use the included hardware to make router fence. It also has a removable plate with multiple mounting holes to facilitate mounting your router. Together they make a pretty convenient easy to use lightweight portable router table.

Set Up

To set up the husky, you first find and release the legs from the bottom of the table. They are individually clipped in with plastic tabs. You then insert each leg into its corresponding hole under the top. You push it in and give a firm turn to lock it in place. It takes less than a minute to do all four. Once they are locked in the table is pretty sturdy. One more thing about the legs, they have a swivel tip with rubber feet for stability and traction on hard surfaces.

The labels say it holds up to 1,500lbs. I will take their word for it. We visited the testing facility and I can’t get over how rigorous the testing is for every aspect of each husky product. Although I have not seen this table tested but I saw many other products tested and they all far exceeded published claims.

Also found underneath the table is a toolbox that holds different sized inserts for different sized bits for the router table and fence system.

There are also some sturdy steel clips for hanging 2x lumber from the sides or ends of the table top. They come in pretty handy for extending the work surface area to hold plywood or other sheet goods. We also like using two together with a sheet of plywood to make a large work area.

All Trades Welcomed

Whatever your trade I think you will find these work tables beneficial. They are compact, light and easy to set up. They are strong enough to hold a lot of material and large enough to hold a good complement of tools and supplies for many tasks.

Order yours

The Home Depot

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is

partnering with me to participate in

the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of

the Program, I am receiving compensation in

the form of products and services, for the

purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All

expressed opinions and experiences are my

own words. My post complies with the Word Of

Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics

Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission

guidelines.

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Hammer Drill & Impact Driver Combo Kit (2-Tool) w/(2) 5Ah Batteries-#THDProspective

thetoolpig — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 22:05:40 +0000

This post is sponsored by Home Depot

[gallery columns="2" ids="3083,3081" type="slideshow"]

Competition is fierce between power tool companies to build the fastest most powerful tools in each class. Through the years Milwaukee has always been a contender. When the original Milwaukee Fuel line came out it was the undisputed champ in each category. The drill and the impact featured new brushless motors and came with more powerful 4.0 batteries.

Time marches on and competitors passed them in performance. Then gen 2 came out with 5.0 batteries and we were all impressed for a second time. They were slightly smaller and more powerful. In the staged tests at Milwaukee headquarters they handily outperformed the competition. But the competition came back with more powerful tools. Milwaukee never rests and so gen 3 came out swinging.

Dynamite comes in small packages

It is truly astounding how small this new drill is compared to anything else on the market. It is actually smaller than many of the “compact” drills and impact drivers sold today. The drill is so small that sometimes if I’m not paying attention I pick it up instead of the impact driver.

After the size, the first thing you will notice is the chuck has been updated. This is a welcome improvement for many. Many of us changed the old chucks out for heavier duty Rohm keyless chucks. Time will tell if the new one holds up better than the earlier generations. So far they seem to be holding well.

Another improvement is the side handle. It is longer and has a better clamping system than before. Don’t throw this one away because you’re going to need it. With bigger bits and a smaller tool you need the extra leverage this one provides to avoid injury. It does have some electronic kick back control. It senses a spike in load and shuts the drill off. This does help some but it still hurts if you aren’t paying attention.

I really feel that ALL high power drills need a real active accelerometer based kickback control like Bosch and Hilti provide on their top Tools. They measure a change in rotation and kick off within as little as 1/8 -1/4 of a turn. This is safer and more effective at protecting your wrist and hand. Which may even save a life. I have personally seen people get knocked off a ladder with a drill bind up. As Tools get smaller and power levels increase this will continue to be more and more important in the industry.

To save space the double adjustment collar has been replaced with a single clutch/mode sleeve. This may be great for you or you may hate it. All the torque settings are available until you select drill. One more click to the right and it goes into hammer drill mode. It is easy to turn the collar too far. You may find yourself in hammer mode when you don’t want to be. The speed selector switch seems stiffer than in the previous generation but maybe that will loosen up with use. The clutch itself is electronic. I think that's nice because there is a lot less noise. Here is a video to demonstrate.

With the size and power changes heat management is more of an issue. The drills seem to run hotter than before. For intermittent use you may never notice it. For extended drilling you are going to want gloves or time to let it cool off. In my opinion the cooling vents are too small. They may keep foreign objects out but they no doubt contribute to the higher operating temps.

I don’t normally do much runtime testing. I know I will need to change the battery at some point during the day. It really doesn’t matter to me if it’s at 3:00 or 4:45 PM. All the new brushless tools are more efficient than the tools from just a few years ago. How a tool feels while I am using it and how it makes my workday better or worse is more important than the number of drywall screws it can drive on a charge.

That said I did want to see how it would do on a heavier load as well as to see how hot the drill and battery would get after a full discharge on a difficult task. I like using self feed bits to put a good load on a drill. We have many sizes so I thought I’d start with a 3 5/8” bit in 2x12 Southern Yellow Pine.

With a fully charged 5.0 we got 18 holes. The drill was really hot so I grabbed my infrared temp sensor. It read 152.5 degrees and the battery was 107.9 degrees. As I mentioned earlier the drill is SO small and SO juiced up on power that there are now issues with heat management. This may be an extreme test but you can compare how hard you use a drill and figure out how it will do for you. For intermittent use it shouldn’t be a problem. I certainly feel most people will use it intermittently.

For comparison, I ran the same test with a Dewalt DCD996 drill. We were able to make 24 holes with the 3 5/8" self feed bit. The temps were 118.1 degrees on the drill and 111.7 degrees on battery. The Dewalt did 25% more work at a significantly lower temperature.

Biggest impact power in a really small package

The impact driver is substantially smaller than any of its predecessors. In fact it is one of the shortest impacts on the market. The form factor makes it my favorite Milwaukee impact yet. I love compact tools if they can do the same job. It’s an added bonus if they do the job better than before.

It has the expected Three speeds for different fastener types and sizes as well as a screw driving mode which gives full power when you need it but backs off under hammering so you don’t break or strip screws. People either seem to love these modes or hate them. I, personally use the speed modes on smaller fasteners but I do not use screw driving modes. For me, I want full power and speed until I don’t. I get impatient when the tool slows down for too long. With this impact the speed and power on high are extremely satisfying. At 3800 rpm it is the fastest 18v driver now available in the US.

For comparison here are a few top drivers and their top speeds.

DeWalt DCF887	3250
Makita XDT12	3600
Hitachi WH18DBDL2	2900
Bosch IDH182	2800

Who needs this set? Electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs and carpenters. Pretty much anyone who wants the smallest most powerful drill and impact available. I can’t think of a trade that wouldn’t benefit from the superior power and compact size. It’s up to any task you would normally do with a drill and impact. This kit has the added benefit of fitting in tighter spots for more efficient Use of space. These will definitely work in places the older models won’t where they are too long. Narrow cabinets and between joists and studs are just a couple that come to mind. I am sure you will find more.

If you are looking for a great set check this Milwaukee Set at Home Depot

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is

partnering with me to participate in

the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of

the Program, I am receiving compensation in

the form of products and services, for the

purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All

expressed opinions and experiences are my

own words. My post complies with the Word Of

Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics

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Makita 18V SUBCOMPACT 6-1/2" CIRCULAR SAW- #THDProspective

thetoolpig — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 18:22:53 +0000

This post is sponsored by Home Depot

I’m going to share a little secret. I am a fan of Makita. I know it’s a surprise. We aren’t supposed to show any bias when reviewing Tools but I fail sometimes. It’s not that I chose a color and said it was the best ever and every other color is garbage. I actually spent many years opposed to buying Makita Tools. Although I had a good impression of Makita when I was a kid that impression was tarnished by the HVAC contractor I worked for when I left home. He bought a brand new reciprocating saw and broke the blade clamp off the shaft on the first day. Instead of exchanging it and giving Makita a chance he just kept telling me Makita was junk. That stuck with me for years. I would often overlook Makita tools when making buying decisions because of that experience.

That eventually got turned around. With each Makita tool I bought I saw more and more that my old boss was mistaken. That reciprocating saw was definitely a defect that slipped through the cracks. I feel it important to recognize that all companies have defects and lemons from time to time for whatever reason. I have also learned that some have more than others. In my 30 years of building and remodeling experience Makita seems to have fewer defective tools than many companies. It’s also the vibe I get from talking to many repair technicians over the years.

I’m really glad I got over that negative mindset because if I hadn’t I really would have missed out on some incredible tools over the years. My favorite tools are usually cordless and Makita is a clear market leader in many of the tools that matter most to me.

This Makita sub compact 6 ½” brushless saw is the newest one on the market and should just now be hitting stores. We get to use them a little while before they hit the market so we can let everyone who is interested know about them.

So far this little guy is a beast. Even though it is one of the smallest 18v saws out there it has full size power and features. Total length is only 10 5/8". It has a magnesium upper blade guard and an aluminum foot plate to save weight so it weighs less than 6 1/2 lbs with a 2.0 battery. The 6 1/2' blade will cut material up to 2 1/4".

[gallery type="square" size="medium" ids="3011,3009,3006"]

The LED light is well placed for those last few cuts we need to make when the sun is disappearing from our winter skies. With automatic speed change it sips batteries when making easier cuts but has gobs of power and extra torque when you need it. It blows through plywood 2x lumber and LVL with ease. Hardwoods are also a piece of cake. Even bevel cuts are good. The lower guard is well designed. It works smoothly with fewer hang ups than many saws. There is a provision for adding a rafter hook. It has 2 tapped holes in the upper blade guard so you can screw it in. I am definitely going to order one as soon as I can. A good hook really helps protect the saw from falls as well as keeping it handy between cuts.

A sweet bonus feature is the dust nozzle that was included. It makes the saw much more versatile. You can use it normally with or without the nozzle or you can hook it up to your vacuum or dust extractor to have great dust control. It's attached with a tab on the upper end and a machine screw on the lower end. It’s seems to get the majority of the dust. This feature has been sorely lacking in circular saws sold in North America. They have been included with most brands sold in Europe and Australia for many years. We need the option of working dust free too. It may seem like a hassle at first but it can actually save time in the end because you don’t have as much cleaning at the end of the job. It also helps protect our lungs from all the harmful things we cut.

This saw is positioned below the XSH03 blade left saw so it does have a few cost saving parts. You will notice the lower blade guard is plastic. The footplate is not Magnesium. Rather it is stamped aluminum. I don’t know if you will ever notice the difference in actual use. It could be an advantage if the saw is dropped. You can straighten aluminum easier than Magnesium.

The bevel adjustment is held tight on both ends of the plate. There is a longer lever on the front and a thumb screw on the back. It is easy to adjust to 45° consistently or if you need to get more adjustment there is a simple tab you can rotate out-of-the-way.

[gallery type="square" columns="2" size="medium" ids="3008,3007"]

Even though it is a less expensive saw it seems to have the same motor as the XSH03. If it isn’t they sure did an awesome job with the replacement. To me it sounds really close and it turns the blade at the same 5,000 RPM. At the time of this writing I do not have an XSH 03 to directly compare. My XSH03 stayed behind in Puerto Rico for other disaster relief workers to keep using and I haven’t ordered a replacement yet. From memory this seems to be equal in power. It is certainly more powerful than any of the 18v brushed saws. I noticed it also seems more powerful than the Milwaukee Fuel brushless saw and is over a pound lighter in weight also.

For me, I personally prefer the XSH03 because it is blade left. When growing up in Arizona we used nothing but Skilsaw worm drive units. They are all blade left. I have a lot of experience with blade right saws like this one but I am always more comfortable with a blade left saw. Many of you are just the opposite and prefer a blade right saw. If that is you I highly recommend this saw. You won't find a more powerful, lighter or more compact 6 1/2" saw anywhere .

Order yours at the Home Depot.

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is

partnering with me to participate in

the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of

the Program, I am receiving compensation in

the form of products and services, for the

purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All

expressed opinions and experiences are my

own words. My post complies with the Word Of

Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics

Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission

guidelines.

Metabo ASR35 ACP Autoclean HEPA Dust Extractor

thetoolpig — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 22:06:00 +0000

Metabo isn't a name most people have heard of. Even among contractors and those in the building trades it is one of the more obscure brand names. That is slowly changing with social media and the internet. They are best known for their line of world-class grinders. Talk to a welder. Chances are they have heard of Metabo.

I have three of their grinders from the 90's. Two are for metal and one is for concrete. I used to use it with my old Clark industrial shop vacuum but now I use it with something much better! Long before OSHA passed the new silica standards in the US, Metabo Power Tools were making scores of dust free solutions for cutting drilling and grinding concrete in Germany. Europe already had high standards regarding quartz(silica) and Metabo has some of the highest performing dust extraction solutions on the market. The backbone of most of these solutions is the ASR35 ACP dust extractor. I must say right off the bat that it is one of my top favorites among the auto clean HEPA extractors. It is made to use with your power tools that have dust extraction provisions. If you look on the control panel you will see a covered receptacle. You plug the tool into this receptacle and when you turn on the tool the vac starts running. When you turn the tool off the vac runs for several seconds then shuts off to gather any remaining dust. You can also see two turn dials. One is marked “current control”. It is a very nice way to balance power needs with what is available. You don’t want to overload the extractor or the circuit. If you run the extractor on full power 11 amps that leaves 4 amps for your tool on a 15 amp circuit. If you have a 10 amp grinder you need to turn the extractor down to 5 or at least close to it. It is good to have the flexibility for noise as well. You don’t always need 100% of the power. When sanding, too much suction can pull your sander too tight to the surface causing more heat and scratches in the finish. The other dial controls which mode you are in. Off/ On with no auto clean, on with auto clean and tool activation with auto clean. On paper the ASR35 may look to be a little underpowered compared to some of the competition. It is rated at 130 CFM (cubic feet per minute) airflow while others are rated higher at around 150 CFM. With brand new filters the others feel more powerful at first. When you start using the vacs the field starts to level out more. When you peek inside you see the Metabo vac has 2x to 4x the surface area on the HEPA filters compared to all the other extractors. It also has the most effective filter cleaning mechanism of all the auto clean extractors I have used. Most extractors use reverse airflow to blow air back through the filters. They all work to varying degrees but all of them lose a certain amount of air flow during the cleaning cycle. The Metabo vac uses an electromagnetic pulse to physically shake the filters. This ensures that you never lose any of the air flow and it also more effectively cleans dust and debris from the filter elements. This mechanism is louder than the Makita and DeWalt extractors but not as loud as the Hilti, Bosch and Fein units. We have used and abused our Metabo vac for about 2 years now. We have run it with no dust bags the whole time to see how it compared to other extractors. Still we are on the original filters. So far we have used it for cutting concrete grinding concrete to level for tile, cutting tile buffing tile, sanding drywall and texture, extracting wood dust in our shop and on the job sites. We have used it to clean the floor on job sites and the shop. Probably the worst thing we’ve done with it was heavy silica clean up after soda blasting paint from brick. It makes a 2” layer of baking soda, silica and paint dust on everything in the vicinity. When we clean it up, we repeatedly fill the vacuum until it is hard to lift it. At that point we would pour it into the dumpster and repeat. One thing became clear when we used this vac side by side with all the other major extractors from all power tool companies. We found it has the most consistent performance. It has gobbled up everything we have thrown at it in remodeling and fire and water damage restoration without a hiccup. We really like the size of the unit. It is very compact with a more rectangular footprint than some. It rolls easily even around cords and hoses on the job or in the shop. A welcome feature is a flip-up arm for cord and possibly hose storage. I also use it to hold my sander between uses. There is also a little light to let you know when you are restricting the airflow too much. There are no bungees or hooks to keep the hose tamed while moving it around. It came with a regular grey/silver hose. We ordered the optional red antistatic hose to avoid getting shocked from static buildup. The hose ends are I believe 27 mm. I would like the option for a 36 mm end for bigger tools. I borrow a hose end from my Makita when I need the bigger size. My old trusty 7” Metabo grinder with dust shroud has a larger port than the hose. The factory hose fits the newer smaller grinder shrouds perfectly. It also fits the majority of other European tools like Festool, Mafell and Bosch. In fact the same vac is available from Mafel and Hitachi which will become MetaboHPTl. They are made by Starmix which is well-known in the industry for making high-end extractors. The Metabo vacs may not be the easiest to find but they are definitely one of my top recommendations if you are a heavy user and want something consistent for the long haul. They are available at ACME Tools.

Ridgid Mega Max Brushless- #THDProspective

thetoolpig — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 22:37:45 +0000

This post is sponsored by Home Depot

I’ve always been intrigued by hybrid multi headed tools. I remember really considering a Shop Smith when I was in my 20’s. In the end I decided dedicated tools were more efficient for my needs. At the other end of the spectrum are drills with interchangeable heads. I really like them for many reasons so I have several. I have known about other systems with many tool attachments but I stayed away from them since they were light duty tools for homeowners. The first multihead tool that I used and liked was the Ridgid Jobmax oscillating multitool. (Check the review here) It was surprisingly solid and powerful. It performed better than some dedicated multitools. There are quite a few attachments for it. While I haven’t used all of them, most seem to be well made. The new Mega Max Tools are now here! Since the first time I saw a picture of these new extra duty tools I have wanted to use them to see how they compare to current dedicated top-tier tools. They really seemed to be a powerful yet economical solution to many a tradespersons needs. With this system you can basically have two heavy-duty tools for the price of one. The third SDS plus head is a lot less money than a third dedicated tool. We are used to single use tools but face it tools are very expensive and for most of us we can only use one at a time. I finally got my hands on them a few months back and let me tell you they do not disappoint! The power head is straight up beef?! I don’t know the actual wattage of the motor but it’s ample for the tool heads included. The coupling is mostly metal for strength and durability. There are some plastic areas for smooth engagement. The actual drive gear is a tough rubber piece that looks like it can really take a beating. To attach a tool head you need to hold the power head at a 45° angle in relation to the head. Engage the two pieces and twist. It will have a positive click and then a flash of the status led and a chime to let you know it is ready for action. To disengage simply slide the unlock button, twist 1/8 turn and pull apart. It’s such a slick system. Changing power heads is just as easy as changing a battery on most power tools. I don’t find it inconvenient at all. Each tool compares very well to class favorites. This was something I wasn’t sure about until I tried them out myself at the Home Depot Prospective event in New York City. I purposely tried to stall the right angle drill with the bits they had on hand and couldn’t do it. All I got was a strong performance from each tool and that’s what I am finding here as well. On the job and in the shop they are pulling their weight and then some. The tool I was most interested in was the reciprocating saw. In remodeling and fire and water damage restoration work we do far more demolition than right angle or concrete drilling. When configured as a reciprocating saw it is just slightly longer than the class leaders from Milwaukee and Makita. With a 6.0 battery it weighs 10 pounds 12 ounces which isn’t too bad for such a powerful tool. [gallery yle="font-weight: 4 0;" ids="2933,2935,2938,2940,2941,2942" orderby="rand"] There is no extra rattling and just a little more vibration with the MegaMax recip than other saws on the market. The tool free blade clamp seems to work fairly well. It is not as smooth and easy to use as the Makita or Bosch saws but it seems well designed. It is closer to the old style Milwaukee clamp. Right now it is easier to insert a blade than it is to take it out. If that changes as it breaks in I will update as needed. The adjustable shoe is something I wish all saws had. It increases blade life considerably, especially in metal. One thing missing is a rafter hook. With the MegaMax reciprocating saw you get straight line cutting and orbital action. This has been a feature sorely lacking in cordless tools until recently. Ridgid was one of the first to offer it in their gen 4x and 5x 18v Saws. Now Bosch and Milwaukee also offer it in their newest saws. Orbital mode essentially thrusts the teeth into softer materials (not generally used on metal) for a deeper bite with each stroke. It’s almost always faster than straight mode on any saw. This not only saves time on each task, it also reduces the time your hands, wrist and elbows are subjected to the vibration. This is no small matter. When I am doing comparison tests on recip saws my elbows wrists and hands ache for weeks after the tests are over. On speed and power tests the MegaMax performed well. It is in the middle to upper half of the class as far as I can tell. I would put it up against any current cordless recip saw for most tasks. It looks like these are aimed at contractors more than past Ridgid offerings. It is far far better than any of the cordless tools I bought when I was starting out. The right angle head is not as frequently used in my work but it is no less impressive. It is absolutely a workhorse of a drill. I am not a plumber or electrician. We almost always sub those trades out to licensed professionals. The only time we don’t is if it is in a rural locality that doesn’t require it and we can’t get subs to do the job. Nevertheless we do still have to drill joists and studs occasionally and this drill is just crazy powerful. In one test with a 4 5/8” self feed bit it actually got through a 2 x12 faster than the DeWalt 60 volt stud and joist drill. This makes me think it will outperform the Superhawg as it is well-known to be less powerful than the DeWalt. It comes with a solid side handle to help you handle all that torque. I know a lot of guys laugh at side handles. I don’t recommend laughing at this one. The overall length is shorter than the Superhawg so you have less leverage with which to control it if the bit binds. I didn’t seem to be able to find a mechanical clutch. I think it’s all electronic. When the bit binds the tool shuts off. The margin is pretty high so you are going to feel it. At the point where it stalls the DeWalt and Milwaukee’s are already clutched out mechanically This is NOT a tool to use while distracted! It can and will smack you. One complaint I have early on is the chuck key and storage. It is not a standard key. It is an angular cast piece and I feel it is uncomfortable when trying to loosen bits. The other issue is it falls out of the storage slot easily. I feel it will get lost all too easily. Also the slot is in the upper head handle. If you need to remove it for any reason there goes your slot. The keys and storage are much better on the DeWalt and Milwaukee offerings. The third head is the SDS plus rotary hammer. As with the other head it performs very well. I’ve used it side by side with some of the best on the market and it is right there on speed and power. It effortlessly drills concrete and with 2 ft lbs of impact energy it will easily outperform the biggest hammer drills while making less noise. In addition to the regular drill and hammer mode you can use it for chipping. This is always a desired feature on a rotary hammer. It makes tile removal a breeze. It can also be used on light chipping of concrete. It’s not for breaking out a basement floor or sidewalk but it does great on smaller tasks. It will be fun and interesting to see how these tools hold up over time. We will periodically update on how they are doing. The lifetime service agreement should reduce any worries in that regard. Just don’t forget to register them. These are available only at Home Depot. You can order them in the link below.

HomeDepot.com

Tell us what you think below in your comments. Be sure to let us know what trade you are in and where you are located. Leave your instagram name, facebook name or email for giveaways.

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is

partnering with me to participate in

the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of

the Program, I am receiving compensation in

the form of products and services, for the

purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All

expressed opinions and experiences are my

own words. My post complies with the Word Of

Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics

Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission

guidelines.

Best ratchet straps from Husky- #THDProspective

thetoolpig — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 13:00:34 +0000

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot

We have used many brands of ratchet straps over the years and really couldn’t live without them. We use them to secure ATV’s, mountain bikes, Kayaks drywall, insulation, plywood and lumber of all sizes. Notice I put the fun things in first. Work hard play hard bro!

We just received a set of these from Home Depot to check out and I’ll tell you it’s going to be a piece of cake because we have bought them before. You see I rarely break them or wear them out. My problem is I lose them. They get borrowed and forgotten. We send people away with them on a load because they forgot their own or never had any. We always hear sincere promises of a safe return but alas they almost always fail to make it back. Homing pigeons these are not! I also genuinely lose them fair and square. No excuses. I can’t multitask. Sometimes I can’t even task. The force (ADHD) is strong with this one.

What’s so special about these Husky straps? Let me tell you. We had the privilege to tour Home Depot world headquarters near Atlanta GA and we got to go behind the scenes in their test lab. Those guys are nuts with testing!! They go far beyond what we ever conceive of in our warped little minds. They build all sorts of contraptions to test every husky product to destruction. On the strap test our jaws dropped as we saw the straps hold up to their rated capacity and higher and higher and higher. If I remember right it was more than double the load before they finally failed. It wasn’t even the strap that gave up. It was the heavy steel hook.

Ok now before you go and overload them remember if they break and if you lose a load, your friendly local DOT will be looking at the driver of the vehicle as well as numbers and ratings. This article will NOT get you out of trouble in any of the 48 states or Alaska or Hawaii. Still, it’s reassuring to know they will do more than is clearly stated on the package and boldly printed on each strap which in this case is exactly 766 lbs working load. For those on the metric system there are simple formulas to convert pounds to Kilograms or you can do a quick google search if you have a good signal. I usually figure just under half as many kilos. It hasn’t gotten me in trouble yet.

So what does $15.96 get you? Exactly four of the nicest smaller straps you’ll ever find. These are just light years ahead of so many budget straps. The part that I appreciate first is the part that doesn’t dig into my hand. The handle has a sweet thick rubber grip. Thanks Husky!

Next you’ll notice the length. 16 feet is pretty long for a smaller strap. The hooks are dipped in a nice soft vinyl coating to protect your surfaces. This set comes with a nice storage bag which is rare at this price.

All in all, I've never seen a better deal on a quality set of straps anywhere. Available at Home Depot

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is

partnering with me to participate in

the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of

the Program, I am receiving compensation in

the form of products and services, for the

purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All

expressed opinions and experiences are my

own words. My post complies with the Word Of

Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics

Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission

guidelines.

OLFA Heavy Duty Knife Giveaway

thetoolpig — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 16:20:26 +0000

OLFA Heavy Duty Knife Giveaway

We have been nothing but impressed with the Olfa knives we have used. I was never a fan of Breakaway knives before Instagram. The reason was because they were always cheap flimsy junky knives with cheap blades. Because of this great community of giving and taking I learned about Olfa knives and decided to give them a try. We have enjoyed using them for cutting drywall, rope, tile backer, waterproofing membrane, plastic corrugated drain tube etc. They are real workhorse knives with stainless steel liners, fiberglass reinforced handles and high carbon Japanese steel blades.

This is your chance to try one out.

Please come back and let us know what you think of them after using them on your job and send us your videos of them in the field for a chance to be featured on our page.

U.S. Product: OLFA 18mm Fiberglass-Reinforced Auto-Lock Utility Knife (LA-X)
Canada Product: OLFA 18mm Fiberglass-reinforced Utility Knife with Ratchet-lock (L-5)
Shortened ‘Nickname’: OLFA LA-X and L-5 Utility Knives
Number of knives we’re giving away: 300
Length of Contest: One Week
Start Date: August 19

OLFA KNIVES:

Each OLFA Snap Blade is like having 4 trapezoid blades in one, with 8 ultra-sharp cutting edges in each blade without ever having to change blades.
OLFA Ultra Sharp Black Blade – premium blade double honed to 59-degree edge angle to be 25% initially sharper than an OLFA Silver Blade
Features a multi-purpose metal pick. Perfect for opening boxes and paint cans

CLICK HERE TO WIN YOUR OLFA KNIFE

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED

Bosch to Give Away 2,000 Freak Two-in-One Impact Wrench/Impact Driver Power Tools in Freak ‘N’ CORE18V Contest

thetoolpig — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 12:48:14 +0000

Contestants must submit video about why they want to change their battery platform to advanced Bosch CORE18V; contest begins today

WE’RE GIVING AWAY 2,000 FREAK ‘N’ CORE18V’S

IN 30 SECONDS OR LESS SHARE A VIDEO OF WHY YOU NEED A NEW CORDLESS PLATFORM

USE #FREAKNCONTEST IN YOUR ENTRY

DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 14TH 2018, OPEN TO U.S. RESIDENTS 18+. DON’T GET DISQUALIFIED - READ THE RULES BELOW IN THE ENTRY FORM Mt. Prospect, Ill., Aug. 21, 2018 – If you’re in the market for a new power tool battery platform, Bosch has an opportunity for you. The Freak ‘N’ CORE18V Contest launching today gives entrants the chance to submit a video about why they need the new battery platform. Winners receive the Bosch CORE18V 6.3 Ah battery along with the company’s Freak two-in-one impact wrench/impact driver. The Bosch CORE18V battery offers maximum power and performance while minimizing weight, an achievement that proves its claim as the best-built battery among leading competitors. The battery employs advanced Lithium-ion technology to deliver 80 percent more power than previous generation Bosch batteries. The Freak impact driver features the socket ready all-in-one tool holder, which combines a 1/4 In. hex and a 1/2 In. drive into one tool for ultimate versatility. The all-in-one tool holder eliminates the need for users to own an impact wrench and impact driver, and also eliminates the need for socket adapters. “Bosch is committed to giving away 2,000 Freak impact drivers paired with the CORE18V 6.3 Ah battery,” said Roger Amrol, president, Bosch Power Tools North America. “Participants must enter the contest by posting a short video explaining ‘why I need a whole new Freak ‘n’ cordless platform.’ This is something new for the power tool industry, but speaks to the Busch culture of creativity and fun.”

Click to Tweet: .@BoschToolsNA is giving away 2,000 FREAK 'N' CORE18V batteries. Just post a short video explaining why you need a whole new freak 'n' cordless platform, and you could win. Enter now: https://www.boschtools.com/freak

Entrants must post a short video explaining why they need the new Bosch cordless platform using the hashtag #FreakNContest. The contest will end on September 14. Visit boschtools.com/freak for rules and additional information; contest is open to U.S. residents. The promotion dovetails with the Bosch CORE18V 4.0 Ah battery becoming available at Lowe’s in September. Winners of the Freak contest will be encouraged to post another video with their impact driver and CORE18V battery for a chance to win more prizes. To learn more about the Bosch, the Freak impact wrench/driver or the CORE18V 6.3 Ah battery, visit www.boschtools.com or call 877-BOSCH-99. Check out www.bethepro.com for additional tips and videos.

Like Bosch on Facebook: facebook.com/boschtoolsNA
Follow Bosch on Twitter: twitter.com/boschtoolsNA
Watch Bosch videos on YouTube: youtube.com/boschtoolsNA
Follow Bosch on Instagram: instagram.com/boschtoolsNA

About Bosch Having established a regional presence in 1906 in North America, the Bosch Group employs nearly 34,500 associates in more than 100 locations, as of December 31, 2017. In 2017 Bosch generated consolidated sales of $13.7 billion in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For more information, visit twitter.com/boschusa, twitter.com/boschmexico and www.bosch.ca. The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 402,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2017). The company generated sales of 78.1 billion euros ($88.2 billion) in 2017. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. As a leading IoT company, Bosch offers innovative solutions for smart homes, smart cities, connected mobility, and connected manufacturing. It uses its expertise in sensor technology, software, and services, as well as its own IoT cloud, to offer its customers connected, cross-domain solutions from a single source. The Bosch Group’s strategic objective is to deliver innovations for a connected life. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is “Invented for life.” The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 440 subsidiary and regional companies in 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch’s global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. The basis for the company’s future growth is its innovative strength. At 125 locations across the globe, Bosch employs some 64,500 associates in research and development. Additional information is available online at www.bosch.com, www.iot.bosch.com, www.bosch-press.com, www.twitter.com/BoschPresse. Exchange rate: 1 EUR = $1.12968 Bosch in North America In the U.S., Canada and Mexico, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket products, industrial drives and control technology, power tools, security and communication systems, packaging technology, thermotechnology, household appliances, healthcare telemedicine and software solutions. For more information, please visit www.boschusa.com, www.bosch.com.mx and www.bosch.ca.www.boschusa.com. About Robert Bosch Tool Corporation Robert Bosch Tool Corporation, the Power Tools Division of North America, was formed in January 2003 when Robert Bosch GmbH combined its North American diverse power tool and accessories businesses into one organization. As a manufacturing pioneer with more than a century’s worth of experience, the Bosch name has become synonymous with engineering excellence. Located throughout North America as part of the global power tools division, Bosch associates maintain a legacy of world-class design, manufacture and sale for power tools, rotary and oscillating tools, accessories and measuring tools. For more information, call toll-free 877-BOSCH-99 (877-267-2499) or visit www.boschtools.com

7‑1/4" 24T Carbide‑Tipped Max Efficiency Circular Saw Blade

thetoolpig — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 23:31:26 +0000

Makita drops a new top dog framing blade

One of the big surprises we have had this year is the release of the Makita 7 1/4” Max efficiency carbide tipped framing blade. At first glance it looks almost identical to the earlier 24 tooth ultra coated framing blade but when looking closer you begin to notice the differences. First thing you will notice is it is lighter due to the thinner design at 0.057” thick making it one of the thinnest blades ever. The differences don’t stop there. The actual carbide teeth are tapered for less friction in the cut. The shoulder of the tooth is narrower than the cutting edge thereby reducing contact with the material being cut. We have used them both in the shop and on the job and been nothing but impressed time after time. We had initial fears that this blade may not be durable since it's so thin so we ran some extreme tests. To determine just how efficient this blade is over existing blades we set up a continuous rip test with the XSR01Z which is the X2 36v rear handle saw. We got some culled lumber from Home Depot that no one would want to use for building because it was warped and cracked. It ended up being 2x12 Douglas fir. With the new max efficiency blade we were able to get over 300 feet of lineal 2x rips on one charge of 2-5.0 batteries. See the video This was over twice as many lineal feet of ripping as compared to the most popular framing blade on the market. The Diablo tracking point amped blade which is known for being efficient and durable even with nails and screw embedded wood. The results were so shocking to me I couldn't believe my eyes. I re-ran the test to make sure the results were accurate. See the video here Many have been concerned about blade wander in long heavy cuts because of the extra thin kerf. I have found no such wandering even though I made cut after cut with no rest between other than the time it took to walk from one end to the other. The blade was warm but never warped. For a second test I cut 10 framing nails to see how it would affect the blade and then re-ran the test. The results were just as astounding at the first test. I was able to rip 265' in the same Douglas fir on one battery charge. After cutting nails video For a third and final test I wanted to see how many framing nails it could cut embedded in framing lumber before becoming too dull to cut. I feel this is important since I have experienced many blades becoming harder to cut with after hitting as little as one nail. We were astonished to see the blade pass through 190 framing nails! I think it would have cut many more if I had let the blade cool. It went through about 180 before the blade started to warp and wobble. I kept pushing hard anyway and all the teeth sheared off at once. With an asking price of about $10 at Acme Tools I will definitely be using this blade for years to come. Let us know what you think in the comment section below.

Specs according to Makita

Up to 70% faster cutting compared to standard blades
Ultra-Thin 0.057" kerf reduces the load put on the tool
High grade Tungsten carbide tips for durability
Special ATAFR (Alternate Top Alternate Face w/ Raker) carbide tips provide smoother and faster cuts
Blade coating provides reduced pitch build-up for smoother cuts
Specially engineered teeth assist to reduce the load put on the tool while cutting
Reduced swing width allow for smoother material removal with less cutting resistance
Top bevel angle designed with a sharp 23° tip which provides a smoother cut
Slimmer tip bottoms provide lower cutting resistance.

Tell us what you think below in your comments. Please subscribe to our page. Be sure to let us know what trade you are in and where you are located. Leave your instagram name, facebook name or email for future giveaways.

Bosch Daredevil Bits

thetoolpig — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 22:12:19 +0000

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot

When you are talking about inexpensive drill bits for wood you can’t find a better bang for the buck than a good set of paddle bits or spade bits as they are called in some areas.

I've been running them for as long as I remember. Probably for the better part of 40 years. Of course, back then they were my Dads bits. We had no organization back then. All drill bits were kept in a cantilever tackle box. Twist, concrete, auger and yes paddle.

Back then there were no paddle bits like these Bosch daredevil bits. They were much simpler and less effective. They had a simple point and two wings, one for each side.

Bosch daredevil bits have some notable improvements over regular paddle bits. First thing you’ll notice are the shape of the wings. They are better in at least two ways. Instead of a straight ground edge there is a nice profile with a spur on the end for much faster cutting of the outside of the hole. In addition the face of each wing has a bend at the tip to help it clear chips faster to keep up with the sharp cutting spur.

The other improvement is the threaded pilot point. Instead of a simple point, the threaded tip pulls the daredevil into the wood much faster and more consistently than regular paddle bits.

The third improvement is the 1/4” hex shank end. It allows for a much firmer grip in your drill chuck. It also makes them a perfect match for impact drivers which are a perfect match for them. This is pretty important because more and more people are using impact drivers more than drills these days.

Recently Bosch celebrated the sale of 50 million Daredevil bits making it one of the most popular drill bits in history. We would like to congratulate them on their success. We will continue using them as we have been since they came out in 2013.

Bosch 165 ft. Laser Measure with Bluetooth and Full Color Display

mrs.toolpig — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 14:07:43 +0000

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot

My name is Kim, Mrs.toolpig. Toolpig hates being in an office. He loves building and creating with his hands and of course tools. I am much more at home in the office. However, every year I spend more time in the field and less behind the desk. Several years ago I became the primary person for doing bids and estimates for fire and water damage claims with our restoration company. I also estimate for Toolpig's remodeling and restoration jobs.

For the last few years I have used the entry-level GLM20X LDM from Bosch for all my measurements. It has a limit of 65 feet. Most of the time it is adequate for my estimating needs since we estimate each room separately. We enter the room measurements and then line items for each task into an insurance program. The GLM20X has really become a staple in my toolbox. We were sent a few red LDMs from another company to try and we just don't get along with them like we do the Bosch. They are not simple and intuitive like the Bosch has always been.

I was pretty excited to get my hands on the GLM50CX LDM. It opens some doors for me that will make a big difference. Right away we noticed two things that they have in common is the Real-Time Distance and Backlight Display. Excitedly I now will have access to a number of new features. The one thing I love using is the memory feature. Storing up 30 measurements at one time opens up worlds of efficiency on a job. I generally have customers hovering over me or standing ankle-deep in water or slop. Not having to carry around the clip board makes it all so much better. Not to mention dragging around the tape measure in the mess. Bottom line is it makes me money. I am in and out of a job quicker now. The customer also sees a streamlined professional process and not fumbling with a tape and clip board.

I am happy to have the built-in inclinometer level on the display to tell me when it's the right time to take measurements. If the Bosch LDM is tilted the measurement will be too long. Level measurements are accurate measurements. It is accurate to 1/16” so I feel supremely confident with my estimates I turn into the insurance companies. We checked them against our favorite tape measures and found them to be not only as accurate but much less work to get that accuracy.

Toolpig used it to install baseboard on a recent remodel and he was impressed with the results. He said it's actually easier to use than his trusty Fatmax. The laser pointer makes it so simple to measure to the exact spot needed. Also, since he's not reading on a curved area of tape it takes less squinting to get the perfect length. If the piece is between 2 walls he adds 1/32"to 1/16" to get the coped ends extra tight.

With the indirect measuring and inclinometer, I can get easy numbers on the ceilings that are peaked.

The rotating display is something I had to get used to using. Don’t misunderstand, I like it. I means the numbers are always upright and easy to read.

Finding the area of a room works so well for me. It is so easy to build a complete house on quick sketch with a touch of the finger on the screen of your smart phone or tablet. This makes my work less like work and more like playing with toys. Hats off to you Bosch designers. Someone in the field really did some research.

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I have used the $50 one for years but with all the extra features and range it will pay for itself in a short time. If you are in the market for a LDM then I suggest checking this one out at The Home Depot for $149 now.

Backlit color display
Bluetooth functionality
Laser measure is extremely precise with accuracy of 1/16 in.
Overall range is 165 ft.
3 indirect measurement modes are offered along with a built-in inclinometer
Default real-time measurement shows distances move in relation to the target
Stakeout measurement
Handy pocket-size design
Includes: (2) 1.5-Volt AAA batteries, pouch, hand strap, target cards and ID tags
Free GLM measure and document app allows you to overlay your measurements onto photos
Create digital floor plans, import and edit existing floor plans, and then export your results with the free GLM FloorPlan app

Renin Corp and Thetoolpig.com Barn Door Install And Giveaway!

thetoolpig — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 22:11:28 +0000

We have been using Renin building products for awhile now. They offer a lot of style and good quality at really affordable prices. We are more than pleased with these barn door kits. Each kit contains pretty much everything you need for the whole process. The slab, rail, rollers, Soft Close Latches, handle, screws, bolts and assorted accessories are all in the box. All you need are a few tools and an hour or so depending on your skill level. The instructions are well written and understandable. After posting one of our previous installs, Renin reached out to offer a giveaway for our followers. We are ALWAYS interested in giving back to you all in appreciation of all the support. Therefore we are pleased to announce this giveaway of the with 3 winners in USA and Canada! Below is the door you can win! T o enter: Leave your instagram name and where you would install this door in the comments below! You must be following Renincorp on social media like instagram. You must be 18 or over. You must live in the US or Canada

www.renincorp.com

HERRINGBONE BARN

DOOR WITH EASY GLIDE

SOFT CLOSE

This barn door features our Exclusive preinstalled Easy Glide Soft Close mechanism for a quiet and smooth open and close. This one-piece chevron plank design door in a pre-stained satin nickel grey finish adds character and a unique charm to any room. This barn door compliments any home, office or common space and includes our hardened steel straight strap hardware kit, matching handle in matte black finish and our Easy Glide Soft Close. DETAILS Barn Door Kit includes: Rustic Matte Black Hardware, Track, Handle, Wood Backer & Barn Door Pre-installed Easy Glide Soft Close mechanism for a quieter and smoother closing action Trackless door design keeps floor opening clear and hazard-free Ready-to-assemble, pre-drilled mounting holes and bottom-groove guide Fits openings between 28" - 34" wide and opening height of 80-1/2" Actual Panel: 36" x 84" x 1-3/8" Pre-finished doors are manufactured in a way that requires no further painting or staining The manufacturing materials used create a realistic and permanent finish. Many other styles available at Lowes home improvement.

Ryobi ONE+ 18V Bolt Cutters - #THD ProSpective

thetoolpig — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 01:56:07 +0000

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot.

One of the biggest surprises at the Home Depot prospective event in New York was the Ryobi 18v one + 18v bolt cutter. I wasn’t expecting anything like it from Ryobi. I figured a company that already made press Tools would make one first.

You probably already know that Ryobi isn't a brand you’ll see on my jobs very often. That said, I totally see their place and respect what they are. DIY tools with a lot of features and performance for the money. Maybe you didn’t know that I actually used to buy them in the early 90’s when I couldn’t afford higher end tools. They always gave me the most bang for my limited buck back then. I always got a couple of good years out of them and earned enough money to save up for more and better tools.

This bolt cutter seems pretty well made for its intended purpose as most Ryobi power tools are. It is a nice size with enough grip area for both hands to control easily. There is plenty of rubber oversold for a secure grip. It's supposed to cut bolts up to 3/8”. I can say it will do it depending on bolt hardness. It will do grade 2 for sure. Sometimes it stalls out but if it's the right size and grade all you have to do is back the jaws off,push the button again and it gets another surge of power.

We have used it on wire closet shelving and it really seemed to be a good fit for that process. It has plenty of power for both the small and larger wires.

What I like about it is compared to manual cutters there is a lot less hand shock. I can definitely see where these would be very useful for people with arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome or other hand or wrist issues. Even though I am strong enough to cut a bolt or lock with them it doesn’t mean that the cut feels good when the cutter finally breaks through. With the Ryobi you just push the button and let the tool do the work.

One thing I highly recommend is to make sure you are wearing safety glasses and that both pieces are secured so they don't fly when the material yields to the cutting pressure. I have had quite a few pieces fly with considerable force while using the Ryobi cutters. This is something you must do with any bolt cutter but since these are easier to use it may be easier to forget.

I am glad we had this opportunity to review one of these. I probably would not have chosen to order one on my own. This THD-Prospective program really has me looking at things I would never have thought of trying.

Try one for yourself from Home Depot.

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is

partnering with me to participate in

the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of

the Program, I am receiving compensation in

the form of products and services, for the

purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All

expressed opinions and experiences are my

own words. My post complies with the Word Of

Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics

Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission

guidelines.

Dremel Multi-Max 5 Amp Variable Speed Corded Oscillating Multi-Tool Kit with 28 Accessories and Carrying Bag

thetoolpig — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 01:55:04 +0000

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot

We reviewed the Dremel MM30 last year and quite frankly we were not impressed with it. It was weak, slow, underpowered and overheated a lot. We tried a second unit and it performed the same. We cannot recommend it for anything harder to cut than drywall.

Dremel was concerned about our results and reached out. They told me the MM30 was not meant for job site use. I wholeheartedly agreed. Dremel offered a new MM45 and said it would perform better. They also said it was still not meant for professional construction use but added that it would do most tasks well.

So what is the difference in the two tools? They look almost identical. The form factor, the plastic and over mold look the same. They feel similar.

From the first use I realized the MM45 was a huge upgrade over the 30. It has a lot more power. It doesn’t struggle cutting plywood or framing materials like the MM30 did. It holds speed better in any material. It sands better. I even think the blades stay sharp longer. I think it's because the tool clears the dust more effectively. This allows the edge to do more cutting of fresh cool material rather than bogging down in hot dust.

Another advantage of the MM45 is the variable speed is actually useful. It has enough power and speed that it makes sense to turn it down sometimes. Some plastics do better at lower speeds. Too fast and they melt which doesn’t make for a clean-cut. It also saves blades when cutting metal. Slower speeds produce less heat so the teeth stay sharp longer.

The MM45 has a tool-less blade changing mechanism. I’ll say it works pretty well. It seems to stay tight for us. We have used it on intermittent sub-flooring cuts and detail sanding. We cut all the staples on a flooring underlayment tear out with it. We have not used it to cut subfloor out around a whole kitchen or something of that nature. We will leave those more difficult jobs to the MM45’s stronger cousin the Bosch Starlock.

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We found the MM45 to have heat management issues like the other Dremel units we have reviewed. This is why I have not been using it on extended cutting tasks.

Where do we feel this tool fits in? I have to be honest. I don’t recommend it for professional use. It will certainly be adequate for most home projects and crafts. If you are remodeling your own home the MM45 will be plenty of tool for many tasks in the process. Dremel offers a wide array of accessories for cutting, grinding, paint scraping, grout removal etc. if it's not something you will use heavily. You may find it fits your needs better than a more expensive professional grade tool. It offers similar cutting power to many of the more professional tools at a lower price point.

Check it out at Home Depot.

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is

partnering with me to participate in

the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of

the Program, I am receiving compensation in

the form of products and services, for the

purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All

expressed opinions and experiences are my

own words. My post complies with the Word Of

Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics

Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission

guidelines.

Bosch 165 ft. Laser Measure with Bluetooth and Full Color Display - #THDProspective

thetoolpig — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 03:36:18 +0000

This post is sponsored by Home Depot

Dremel Multi-Max 5 Amp Variable Speed Corded Oscillating Multi-Tool Kit with 28 Accessories and Carrying Bag-#THDProspective

thetoolpig — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 16:30:21 +0000

This post is sponsored by Home Depot

Ridgid 18V Charging Radio-#THD Prospective

Josh P — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 17:00:42 +0000

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot

First look

At first glance the job-site radio looks great! It has the standard Ridgid look that all #TeamRidgid fans have come to know and love and I like the dark black shell better than the grey on the earlier model. The user-friendly front panel makes it easy for anyone to use, the display is bright against a dark background which makes it easy to see. Connecting to the Bluetooth on my phone was fast and simple. The connectivity is amazing, I walked well over 100 feet away connected to the radio using Bluetooth and it was still connected. The only reason I stopped there is because I could barely here the radio from that distance.

don't forget your ridgid app

It is definitely worth the time to download the Ridged Radio App, this way you can control the unit wirelessly. If it’s not loud enough or if you want to change the station, you don’t have to get up. You can adjust the volume and the bass and treble from your phone on the app. Now you control the music anywhere on site, no more work mates changing the station on you! The app also lets you make and set alarms for reminders during the day and allows you to have pre-stored radio stations. So when you return to a job you can find that perfect station again.

As far as the unit itself, the tough plastic shell around the unit seems very sturdy and has not made me worry about durability at all while I have been using it. Besides, this product has the same lifetime guarantee that all Ridged products have.

CHarging capabilities

I do like that you can charge your phone from the USB port on the side of the unit and that you can charge any of your Ridgid batteries on the charger built-in the back. Yet I think having just one of each is little lack luster. If your just one guy its perfect, but, if you work with anyone else it would be better to have at least two battery charging stations and two USB ports to charge multiple phones.

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As far as the sound, the speakers are good and clear, yet I do wish it could go louder. When you make much noise, screw-guns, saws, hammers, etc. It tends to get drowned it out by the noise easy, even when the unit is turned all the way up. Although this did not seem to be a big issue at all for me.

great power options

I like the large display on the front that has the time and shows you when a battery is done charging. The battery charger on the back was well thought out so that if it starts raining or if there’s lots of dust, it has a rubber cover that goes over the battery while it charges. It is definitely an upgrade from the model before which did not charge the battery. Don't worry if you don’t have a place to plug it in it also has the option to use the Ridged battery in the back you’ve been charging, so if you keep one in there, even if the power goes off or you don’t have a place to plug-in, you can still jam on!

Overall the Ridgid 18V Charging radio has it all, I just want more of it! At its price point at $179 it’s not a bad deal for what you get considering what a battery charger, phone charger and Bluetooth radio would cost you separately. I would recommend this unit to all Ridged fans, but, also to anyone who wants a reliable Bluetooth radio for your job-site or workplace.

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is

partnering with me to participate in

the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of

the Program, I am receiving compensation in

the form of products and services, for the

purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All

expressed opinions and experiences are my

own words. My post complies with the Word Of

Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics

Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission

guidelines.