Kobalt 11-Piece Pliers & Wrench Tool Set Review

Kobalt 11 Piece Wrench Set Review

I love comfortable hand tools. Whether its a nicely designed hammer, or a great handle on a screwdriver, a well-designed tool that fits your hand perfectly is all the more easier to use. The 11-piece Pliers & Wrench Tool Set from Kobalt Tools is beautiful to look at and easy to handle. Though these tools are made in China, they seem to have a decent heft and quality about them that lets you know they will be around for years to come.

Ryobi Auto Hammer vs Craftsman Nextec Hammerhead Comparison

Ryobi Auto Hammer vs Craftsman Hammerhead

Last year Craftsman released their Nextec Hammerhead Auto-Hammer which operates on a similar principal as a pneumatic palm nailer. Of course this new tool intrigued us, but there was nothing to truly compare it to – that is until now. This holiday season, Ryobi has released its version of the Auto Hammer. We decided to put it head-to-head against the Craftsman Hammerhead model… and to make things a little more interesting; we figured we would also compare both battery-operated products to a Senco pneumatic palm nailer and a plain old fashioned framing hammer.

Kobalt 154-Piece Socket Set Review

Kobalt 154 Piece Socket Set Review

Tools. Everybody needs a good set, and Kobalt Tools is aiming squarely at the consumer market with their new line of sockets. This 154-Piece Socket Set includes all of the basic and extended sockets you could want for basic automotive and household uses. One of the things that is a constant annoyance is not having deep sockets for use with carriage bolts or other situations that require a deeper socket to clear the end of a bolt. With the Kobalt Socket Kit you have a solid 2 inches of depth past the ratchet.

Ryobi Duet FPR300 Power Paint System With Roller and Sprayer

Ryobi Duet FPR300 Power Paint System With Roller and Sprayer

The Ryobi Duet Paint System is a unique painting product. It provides an almost uncanny versatility in that you can use it as both a continuous roller and also as a finish sprayer. But it’s more than that. The system works such that two users can roll and do trim work simultaneously. I don’t know about you, but I always work with a partner when it comes to painting. It’s faster, and painting is more fun when you can both complain about the tedium. With Ryobi’s FLUID Technology you can place any standard 1 gallon container in the unit and the system will allow for continuous painting without refilling.

EPA lead paint rules

Prepare for New EPA Lead Paint Rules

There are only about five more months until the new EPA-inspired lead paint regulations take effect. Even with the date, contractors, and particularly remodelers, are still facing a bit of confusion on what the new rules mean, how they will be enforced, and how they differ from former rules regarding lead paint removal. As always, the government has made things more costly under the guise of “protecting” us from ourselves. Let’s discuss what the April 22nd deadline will mean to your company and how the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program Rule will change the way you do business.

Milwaukee M18 Cordless 1/4" Hex Compact Impact Driver 2650-22 Review

Milwaukee M18 1/4-inch Hex Compact Impact Driver 2650-22 Review

The new Milwaukee M18 1/4″ Hex Compact Impact Driver (2650-22) delivers impressive torque for its size. The new 4-pole frameless motor not only reduces the size of the tool, it also maximizes its efficiency to increase battery life. This is an incredibly nimble tool that will prove itself to be invaluable in the field for professionals; though its higher price tag will make it a bit of a stretch for the average consumer.

SKIL 5-inch Random Orbital Sander 7492-01 Review

Skil 5 inch Random Orbit Sander 7492-01 Review

Skil has upped the technology of their new 5-inch Random Orbit(al) Sander by adding a microfiltration dust collector and a pressure sensor that tells you when you’re bogging down the motor for too long. It’s a decent machine that seems to borrow a few things from its more expensive cousin, the Bosch ROS10 Palm-Grip Sander while providing most of those features at a much lower cost to the consumer.