Bosch to Develop New Lithium-ion Batteries in Eisenach, Germany
Robert Bosch GmbH appears to be setting up a new lithium-ion plant in Eisenach, Germany. They are dubbing it a […]
Warranted Superior Hand Saw Circa 1921
We’re going to just admit this up front – we have no idea how old this saw is. We do know, or at least surmise, that it is in excess of 90 years old due to how it came into the family. It belonged to my great grandfather and was used on a number of lumber-cutting tasks. This is a Warranted Superior Hand Saw, which is to say that it’s commonly referred to as a “lower class” of saw since it doesn’t bear the Disston seal, but rather a more generic moniker. Warranted Superior is actually a company by Warren and Ted Superior, makers of a ton of hand saws back in the early 1900’s. The blade on these saws is actually reminiscent of those old two-man saws used by loggers before the advent of chainsaws and gas-powered cutting machines in general.
Rockwell Model 4420 Type 2 Finishing Sander Circa 1971
In continuing our “Old Tools” mini-series, we wanted to follow up on our last installment and cover a Rockwell 4420 (96) Type 2 1/3rd sheet Finishing Sander that was purchased for a penny back in 1971 and has been in use ever since. It was purchased alongside a Black & Decker 7301 Circular Saw and a corded drill for $19.99 (for the pair). When you purchased the two Black & Decker tools you received your choice of another tool for just a penny. Needless to say this was a good deal at the time – in 2011 dollars that would equate to around $120 for three tools – and this was before the advent of Chinese manufacturing and cheap parts and materials. Add to this the fact that both the Black & Decker Circular Saw and the Rockwell Finishing Sander are still in usable operation and you really have a great deal!
Mall Drill Model 143-T Circa 1947
This “Old Tools” mini-series has gotten pretty popular, so we went deep down and pulled out an antique drill from 1947 a Mall Drill Model 143-T one-speed corded drill. This tool was actually purchased when my grandfather got out of the Army right after World War II ended. He used it for his antenna installation business where it was employed heavily up until 1969. After that, this tool saw part time usage for the next 20 years. For the past 20 or so years it has seen only occasional use, mostly due to the advent of cordless technology and variable speed tools with integrated brakes.
Bosch DDS181 Compact Tough Drill Review
We don’t normally romance our tools, but it’s hard not to fall in love with Bosch’s new DDS181 Compact Tough Drill/Driver. It’s sleek, ergonomic, and will literally run all day long on one battery. The design is new from Bosch and the tool presents itself as a super-compact drill/driver that will run seemingly forever when set to work on fasteners or drilling pilot holes in dimensional lumber or furniture. This compactness and power come at a price to be sure, but with the benefits, it’s actually still a pretty good value for professionals looking to get the most dependability, features, and power-to-weight ratio out of their tools.
Chicago Electric Rotating Handle Reciprocating Saw Review
Everybody – and we mean everybody can use a cheap reciprocating saw to accomplish household maintenance and repair projects (well, OK, maybe not your mother-in-law). It’s just a super-convenient tool that lends itself well to being a multi-purpose “grab-it” solution. Harbor Freight’s Chicago Electric Tools 4-1/2″ Rotating Reciprocating Saw looks to be the cheapest product we’ve seen in some time, retailing for $25 and often being on sale for less than $20 (we know, that’s less than a combo pack of recip saw blades ). We had wanted to review this product for some time and finally were able to procure one – on an out of town trip, no less. Never truly off the job, we latched onto the tool and opened up the box to begin our testing. Within, we quickly found the 6-amp 4-1/2″ reciprocating saw, a 10 tpi wood-cutting blade, 24 tpi metal-cutting blade, and even a pair of replacement brushes. Lifting the saw from the box to feel how well it was made, our initial impression was that it was not exactly top-notch in the build quality department, but it did feel like a great occasional-use power tool.
Chicago Electric 10-inch Sliding Miter Saw Review
Next to maybe a cordless drill and a table saw, the miter saw is a tool that every serious professional […]
Fluke Ti9 Thermal Imager Preview
Fluke makes a lot of high-end test and measurement tools. This week they alerted us to their new Fluke Ti9 […]
Dremel 3000 Rotary Tool Preview
Dremel’s 3000 is its newest rotary tool and updates the line to include some very handy and ergonomic features. One of these is the new EZ Twist nose cap. The cap has an integrated wrench used to tighten accessories and which takes away the need to include a separate wrench that can be misplaced. The tool is also a bit shorter than the Dremel 300 series, but its rated at 1.2 amps, so it’s powerful enough to handle tasks requiring both power and finesse. The new rotary tool has a more efficient fan design with side vents for better cooling. The Dremel 3000 also claims to be quieter and runs with less vibration. From our initial viewing of the tool, we like the new design, which also offers a trumpet-shaped nose cap which yields a secure and comfortable hold on the tool during use. Dremel is targeting the 3000 Rotary Tool for cutting, grinding, sanding, carving and polishing.
Black & Decker 7301 Circular Saw Circa 1971
We got a chance recently to put our hands on a classic, a Black & Decker 7301 1HP circular saw. This rugged circular saw was purchased back in 1971 and has been running ever since. It has a cast aluminum body and a stamped steel shoe. It was purchased alongside a Black & Decker drill for $19.99 for the pair (in 2011 dollars that’s about $120!) On top of that, when you purchased two Black & Decker tools you got a third tool for a penny more (my dad picked up a Rockwell 4420 (96) Type 2 1/3rd sheet Finishing Sander.) Three heavy duty tools for that price, at that time wasn’t bad. And it was a REALLY good deal considering two of the three are still in operation!