Professional Tool Reviews for Pros

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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.

Bosch FNA250-15 15 ga Angled Finish Nailer Review
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Bosch FNA250-15 Angled Finish Nailer Review

by Clint DeBoer

The FNA250-15 15-ga finish nailer from Bosch is quite possibly the most convenient and lightweight finish nailers we’ve used to-date. With conveniences like a trigger that can easily change modes without having to be replaced, to an adjustable drive depth that can be activated with your fingers, this tool is taking construction and finishing to a new level of simplicity. Its small size and lightweight frame makes it easy to maneuver into tight spots and get that last corner shot. We actually brought it along to a few job sites and interviewed several pros, letting them handle and use the Bosch FNA250-15 Finish Nailer for themselves. Reactions, while different, were all quite positive. Most shared similar comments about how the tool was easy to hold, had little girth, and could be adjusted at will. Though we never encountered any jams, the business end of the tool can be taken apart so easily that it was easy to see that any difficulties or problems could be dealt with quickly and conveniently.

Timberland PRO Helix Waterproof Safety Toe Work Boots Review
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Timberland PRO Helix Waterproof Safety Toe Work Boots Review

by Thomas Gaige

Not all work boots are created equal and the Timberland PRO Helix 6″ Waterproof Safety Toe Work Boot might just change the way some folks think of work shoes thanks to their lightweight performance and features. Not only is the leather treated for shedding water but there is an additional waterproof membrane that lines the entire inside of the boot to make sure your feet stay dry. The Helix 6″ Waterproof Safety Toe Work Boot is what Timberland is calling a hybrid work boot because it really combines the best of materials to make it lightweight and comfortable yet meet the safety and performance needs of today’s workmen. To start, the uppers are made of full-grain leather that is treated to be waterproof. Just to ensure that your toes stay dry, there is an additional waterproof membrane inside the boot that completely surrounds your foot. With a watertight boot, there is the potential that your feet might perspire some so they treated the inside Mesh lining with an Agion antimicrobial treatment.

Craftsman 17562 NEXTEC 12V Right Angle Impact Driver Review
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Craftsman 17562 NEXTEC 12V Right Angle Impact Driver Review

by Matthias Gaige

Removing or driving fasteners in cramped spaces is easy with the new Craftsman 17562 NEXTEC 12V Right Angle Impact Driver thanks to its compact head size of only 3-1/2″ and 700 in-lb of torque. This handy tool comes with lithium-ion battery power, a variable-speed trigger, 1/4″ hex quick chuck and a compact size that will surely make it one of the go-to tools in your collection. The engineers at Craftsman did a fantastic job of combining the functionality of a right angle drill with an impact driver. The Craftsman 17562 NEXTEC 12V Right Angle Impact Driver represents what might be an industry first with their design and from what we can tell, they engineered a great tool. This impact driver proved to be very versatile when working in cramped spaces and for some projects it’s a must.

SOG FSAT-8 Flash II Tanto Straight Edge Knife Review
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SOG FSAT-8 Flash II Tanto Straight Edge Knife Review

by Thomas Gaige

The SOG FSAT-8 Flash II Tanto Style Blade Straight Edge pocket knife is not your grandpa’s whittling tool but rather a modern, lightweight, assisted opening knife that combines both form and function. Two of the slickest features of this knife is the S.A.T. or SOG Assisted Technology which almost automatically deploys the blade as soon as you place a little tension on the blade thumb stud. The other is the unique piston locking mechanism that not only positively locks the blade open, but also makes it easy to close. One of the first things we noticed about the SOG FSAT-8 Flash II Tanto is how lightweight it is. The biggest reason for of its nimble weight is that the handle is made of glass-reinforced nylon (GRN) and it does not have any reinforcing metal liners in it. While this might sound like a bad idea, we found that the overall feel of the knife is quite sturdy and actually well balanced.

Porter Cable 14" Chop Saw PC14CTSD Preview
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Porter Cable 14″ Chop Saw PC14CTSD Preview

by Clint DeBoer

The chop saw isn’t a new tool by any stretch of the imagination, but as anyone knows who’s done a lot of metal cutting or fabrication, this is a tool you really need. Porter-Cable’s new 15 AMP Chop Saw (PC14CTSD) has been built to ensure it offers contractors performance, ergonomics, ease of use, and durability. This chop saw seems ideally suited for a number of trades, including mechanical contractors, electrical contractors, metal fabricators, and many other areas that need a simple, but durable tool for cut-in-place sawing. The PC14CTSD simply performs like a tool that is capable of handling a number of metal cutting applications on professional jobsites. This tool, in particular, seems to have been built with the contractor in mind. To start off with, the 15 AMP, high torque motor delivers 3,800 RPM, which enables the new chop saw to cut through tough materials, including cast iron pipe, angle iron, threaded rod, conduit, square tubing, and more.

Irwin 15 inch Universal Handsaw Review
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Irwin 15 inch Universal Handsaw Review

by Thomas Gaige

The new Irwin 15 inch Universal Handsaw is a departure from the standard hand saw since it can deliver faster cuts with less binding and works with many different kinds of materials. You can use it with PVC, vinyl, laminate flooring, as well as with both hard and soft woods. With a unique, patented tooth grind, this saw does a fine cut finish with a coarse saw cut speed.

Johnson Level 118000 Picture Perfect Level Review
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Johnson Level 118000 Picture Perfect Level Review

by Thomas Gaige

So, you just hung something on the wall and you can’t get it quite straight. Chances are that you could probably use the Johnson Level 118000 Picture Perfect Level to get it just right. With this nifty little tool, you can quickly and easily get all your wall hangings perfectly level. This is the tool that, rather than keeping in a tool box out in the garage, should be in a drawer in the kitchen.

Johnson Level 1707-4800 level vials
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Johnson Level 1707-4800 Glo-View Aluminum Box Level Review

by Thomas Gaige

The new Johnson Level 1707-4800 48-inch long Glo-View Heavy Duty Aluminum Box Level can definitely help you get things straight, even in a dimly lit room, thanks to its glow-in-the-dark level vial surrounds. The other feature of this level – one that is almost better than the glow-in-the-dark feature – is the domed level vial that offers 320 degree visibility. With a oversized aluminum box frame, precision machined edges and faces and large size hand holds, this level is a carpenter’s dream.

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