Tool Reviews

You can access our tool reviews in many different ways. Here, we organize tool reviews by tool type. This includes power tool reviews and hand tool reviews as well as reviews of air tools and pneumatics. We also cover hardware, outdoor, and industry-specific products. All are organized by specific tool type. You can also check out our tool reviews by the tool brands or manufacturer, but if you’re looking for a circular saw, hammer drill, or other particular tool by tool type, then this section will get you to everything you need. Use the dropdown in the menu above to further refine your selection. With that you can get to a listing of exactly the right tools you’re interested in. Pro Tool Reviews covers and/or reviews over 400 tools each year, making this your one-stop shop for everything tool-related. If you want to know what the best tool in a particular category is, you’re in the right place.

Porter Cable PC18ID 18V Lithium Impact Driver Review

Porter Cable PC18ID 18V Lithium Impact Driver Review

Impact drivers are the new drill. While we don’t recommend them for actual drilling – not into hardwood, at least – the Impact Driver has become the go-to tool for most homeowners looking to reduce fatigue and stress when driving screws. The tools, like Porter Cable’s PC18ID 18V Impact Driver, are extremely compact as well – allowing for more maneuverability than many drills with standard chucks. At just under $80, it also presents itself as an incredible value – especially if you’re already in possession of the lithium-ion batteries and charger required to power this tool.

Porter Cable PCL418C-2 18V Lithium 4-Tool Combo Kit Review

Porter Cable PCL418C-2 18V Lithium 4-Tool Combo Kit Review

We weren’t sure what we’d find when we opened up the Porter-Cable PCL418C-2 18V 4-tool Combo Kit, but after just a few minutes examining the tools and handling them, we came away with the impression that this is possibly one of the best values in the market today. We don’t say that lightly, and we certainly were anxious to get to our performance testing – but in terms of sheer features and build quality, Porter-Cable really impressed us with their attention to detail and craftsmanship.

Wolf Bench Paws kit

Wolf Bench Paws Non-Slip Friction Pad Review

I guess when you’re in Wyoming, big cats tend to be more on your forethoughts than the rest of the country. When Woodworker’s Supply set out to create a product that would hold products in place when being worked on, they used nature and came out with the Wolf Bench Paw. The product is literally made in the shape of a wolf’s paw and includes an elastomer pad that penetrates the polypropylene (plastic) shell to establish a grip that won’t peel off or pull away from the body.

Milwaukee M-Spector AV M12 Multimedia Camera Kit 2311-21 Review

Milwaukee M-Spector AV M12 Multimedia Camera Kit 2311-21 Review

If you don’t have a cordless inspection camera, you don’t know what you’re missing. Or maybe you don’t need one, who knows. But if after reading this review you don’t at least have some inspection camera envy, you’re not walking around with a pulse. Milwaukee designed the M-Spector AV M12 Cordless Multimedia Camera Kit (whew, long name) to be a solution for those working in primarily in the plumbing, electrical, and automotive fields. From the ground up, the M-Spector is designed for portability and maneuverability – allowing you to visually go places you would never have been able to before.

Bosch CAG180 Cordless Angle Grinder Preview

Bosch CAG180 Cordless Angle Grinder Preview

Bosch Power Tools and Accessories has earned its well-deserved reputation for providing outstanding user experiences in the grinder category. Now, with the CAG180 4 1/2-inch, 18-volt Lithium-Ion Angle Grinder, Bosch has set out to create the most powerful cordless angle grinder in its class packed with power, design and safety features. It is designed to outlast and outperform the competition. The CAG180 addresses many common user complaints with cordless grinders used for light-duty cutting and grinding applications in metal, masonry and tile materials such as lack of power, excessive weight and poor overload capacity that causes the tool to stall when the pressure is raised.

DeWalt DWP611PK 1.25 HP Compact Router Combo Kit Review

DeWalt DWP611PK 1.25 HP Compact Router Kit Review

DeWalt brings compact routers to a new level with the new DWP611PK 1.25 HP Variable Speed Compact Router Combo Kit. Since it comes with both a fixed and plunge base you will be happy with its versatility. Don’t for a moment think that its compact size means that features and power were sacrificed either. We were surprised to learn that this pint sized router packs a punch and does a fantastic job at a wide variety of router tasks. At the end of the day we concluded this is a great woodworking tool.

Makita HM0870C 11 lb Demolition Hammer Preview

Makita HM0870C 11 lb Demolition Hammer Preview

At the 2011 World of Concrete (WoC) show this year, Makita unleashed a new hard hitting demolition hammer that uses less weight to accomplish more. The demo hammer, which accepts SDS-Max bits, weighs only 11.1 lbs. and is ideally suited for horizontal work and jobs where you just don’t want to lift a heavier hammer off the ground. The new tool comes with an Electronic Speed Control that automatically applies additional power to the motor to maintain speed under load to complete the most challenging jobs. It also features a soft start motor to suppress start-up reaction and current draw for more control and better accuracy.