Makita LXDT08 18V LXT Brushless Impact Driver Review
I was challenged by a recent project that involved re-roofing a jewelry store. Now, I can’t say specifically what was […]
Gorilla Ladders Easy Reach Step Stool Recall
Don’t climb that ladder! Well… at least check to see if it’s under recall. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) […]
DeWalt DWS780 12-inch Compound Sliding Miter Saw Review
At first glance, the DeWalt DWS780 miter saw looks impressive—like it means business. It also looks very similar to the […]
Craftsman 4Ah XCP Batteries Upgrade C3 Tools
Craftsman has just jumped into the fray with new C3 batteries that take their lithium-ion powered cordless tools to 4.0Ah […]
RotoZip Course and Medium 4″ ZipDiscs Preview
RotoZip is a tool that is stretching its reach in the marketplace. It’s a tool that has amped up (literally) […]
Bosch GSL 2 Surface Laser Review
Bosch released a new tool this summer – one that wasn’t merely an improvement on an old idea or a tweak to some existing designs. It was revolutionary and it grabbed our attention. The GSL 2 Surface Laser is a new type of laser leveling device that uses dual angled self-leveling lasers to mark both peaks and valleys on floors, be they concrete or any other material. No, for concrete guys this is going to be a no-brainer purchase. We’ve used it and the tool is clearly going to appeal to anyone who has to deal with this common issue on a regular basis. In a sense I’m giving away our conclusion up front, but let’s explore the tool and see how it works and what exactly it does. By the end, whether you lay wood flooring, vinyl, tile or are a concrete guy, this a product you’ll want to pick up in order to save time and money.
CST/berger RL25HCK and RL25HVCK Self-leveling Rotary Lasers
We checked out the CST/berger RL25 series of self-leveling rotary lasers back in June of this year at Bosch’s 2012 Media Event. CST/berger is well-known for making serious laser levels and the USA-based (Illinois) company is always on our radar for innovative and trending laser technology. The new RL25H Exterior and RL25HV Interior/Exterior Self-Leveling Rotary Lasers are particularly of interest to us because they take the power of rotary laser and package them into a more durable product with less moving parts. These are the products you use on a regular basis if you’re doing any sort of grading, leveling or excavating work. CST/berger’s RL25 lasers are IP56-rated and have a very durable overmold. They scream “heavy duty”. Of course, they can also reach 2000 feet and have an accuracy of 3/32″. That’s tight enough tolerance for all but the most amazingly stringent applications. There are two models we checked out, the RL25H with a horizontal-only beam and the RL25HV with both horizontal and vertical lasers.
Makita LXPH03 18V Cordless 1/2″ Hammer Drill-Driver Preview
Makita formally announced its newest 18V hammer drill this week, the LXT-powered LXPH03 1/2″ Hammer Driver-Drill. The new LXPH03 puts out 750 in.lbs. of (max) torque, but it’s more compact and lightweight than the previous model. The new LXPH03 is also engineered for increased resistance to water and dust, though we don’t see an IP certification on the tool as of yet. On this new hammer drill, Makita used a proprietary 4-pole motor to up the torque and speed. The new driver/drill puts out up to 30,000 BPM and 2,000 RPM. The new all-metal planetary gear system is more efficient so the LXPH03 ends up being more compact as well. In fact, it measures just 8-7/8†long and weighs 5.1 lbs. with the battery.
Better Li-ion Batteries Through Algorithms?
OK, so the recent advances in lithium-ion batteries have been both encouraging… and also a lot of science fiction. On […]
Porta-Nails 470A Pneumatic Flooring Nailer Review
Having both refinished and laid my share of flooring, going from a manual nailer to a pneumatic is a bit of a jump – but a welcome one. As anyone who has done flooring knows, the two tools work in basically the same way, but with one exception. With a manual flooring nailer, the very act of beating on the rubber ram cap drives the ratcheting mechanism which sends the cleat into the wood until it’s all the way in. With most decent floor nailers, the ratchet will then reset when the nail is at the correct depth. Porta-Nails’ 470A Flooring Nailer is a pneumatic model which uses 89-90 PSI of air pressure to drive the nail into the flooring with a single, less-aggressive strike.