Review: Cordless 18V SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Round-Up
Pulling over a mile worth of Cat5e wire is a challenge in and of itself, but doing it all inside […]
Milwaukee Original M12 FUEL Brushless Tools Review
It takes a lot to surprise me, it really does. Maybe that’s because I’m a “been there, done that” kind […]
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.
Bosch BlueGranite Turbo Carbide Hammer Drill Bits
Earlier this summer we got a chance to go hang out with the folks at Bosch and check out some of their new tools. While the power tools were fun to play with, we didn’t want to leave out the new accessories we learned of as well. Roger Amrol, president of Bosch’s accessories division in North America, announced the availability of several new accessories for the company this year. What this preview focuses on, however, is concrete. For this, Bosch rolled out lots of new products, but the most innovative of these were the BlueGranite Turbo Carbide Hammer Drill Bits. These bits are the same BlueGranite you’ve come to love and use, but Bosch did something different with the shank.
Hitachi DV18DBL Brushless Hammer Drill Preview
First it was Milwaukee’s Brushless FUEL Drills, then Makita got into the game. Hitachi Power Tools wasn’t far behind that (and really, the orders get confusing, but let’s just congratulate all of the manufacturers for innovating here). Now, the company is announcing new additions to its line of 18V Brushless tools. In particular, they are adding a new DV18DBL Brushless Hammer Drill. The new DV18DBL ramps up the power from the DS18DBL, which had 593 in-lbs of torque, to an impressive 654 in-lbs of turning torque. It comes with a 1/2″ ratcheting keyless all-metal chuck which feature carbide inserts for secure bit retention. This is a great addition for a tool designed to hammer into concrete. The clutch is designed to actually deliver 22 different torque settings, plus a hammer setting and drill mode for maximum torque. The tool is a compact 8.1″ in length, which is about a 1/10″ shorter than Milwaukee’s new Hammer Drill. It’s also fairly lightweight for a hammer drill at 4.8 lbs. The DV18DBL is sold as a kit and comes with two 3.0Ah Lithium-ion Slide Type batteries, a quick charger, side handle, carrying case and double sided Phillips driver bit.
Kobalt 18V Li-ion 4-tool Combo Kit Review
When Kobalt Tools gets into the power tool business, it’s going to draw attention. This for a variety of reasons, but the most obvious is because Lowe’s already has some excellent value tools already within its walls (Porter-Cable comes to mind). On top of that, Kobalt is billing its new tools as being “tougher than dinner with your mother-in-law”. Now, I like my mother-in-law, so I probably would have went with “tougher than dinner with your soon-to-be-fiance’s father”, but you get the implication. By setting the bar high – and making “toughness” the primary focus, Kobalt’s new line of Lithium-ion power tools were something we really were looking forward to getting our hands on. Of course, the press event was scheduled and held at an art museum… so I guess what Lowe’s is communicating to the tool world is that their new power tools are tough AND pretty. In either case, just what can you expect from the new tools? Lots, if our hands-on experience with them has anything to do with it.
Porter-Cable PC70THD 1/2-inch Hammerdrill Preview
When Porter-Cable announced it had launched a new 7-amp 1/2″ 2-speed hammer drill (PC70THD) we perked up our ears. The tool is designed to take advantage of new power-to-weight ratio advantages in motor and transmission technology and apply that to the corded tools that so often lag behind their “updated every 9 months” cordless brethren. The new corded hammer drill seems to really target pros who are looking for an ergonomic rotary hammer drill driver that doesn’t cost a fortune, but isn’t slack on performance.
Porter-Cable PC180CHDK-2 18V NiCd Hammer Drill Preview
Porter-Cable today launched the NiCd-based PC180CHDK-2 18V Hammer Drill. While not based on the new Li-ion platform, the new drill is designed to give general contractors, plumbers, electricians, woodworkers, etc, more power and performance over Porter-Cable’s current line of hammer drills. The PC180CHDK-2 18 Volt NiCd Hammer Drill is more compact and delivers greater beats per minute than the older model it replaces (the PC180HDK-2). The new tool uses 1.5 Ah, 18V NiCd batteries and is a 2-speed model, running at 0-350 and 0-1,500 RPMs. The hammer drill anvil mechanism delivers up to 25,500 blows per minute (bpm) and the tool delivers a full 424 in-lbs of torque at max potential. This hammer drill seems perfectly suited for heavy-duty applications like concrete, brick and mortar block drilling. The tool includes an all- metal chuck and weighs just over 5 pounds. From tip to back it measures 9″ in length which, for a hammer drill, means that you’ll be able to insert it into some pretty compact areas.
Masterforce 18V Lithium-ion 4 Tool Combo Kit Review
The Masterforce 18V Cordless Lithium-ion 4 Tool Combo Kit intrigued us when we first saw it. Masterforce is a midwestern brand sold exclusively through Menards, so we were anxious to see how well these tools would perform in the real world. It was certainly one of the biggest boxes I had ever seen for a 4-piece tool kit, so we knew we were in for a treat. I was very impressed when I opened the box and started to notice, in particular, all the thoughtful and forward-thinking features that came on all the power tools. We were definitely anxious to put them to the test.
DeWalt DCD985L2 20V MAX Premium Hammer Drill Review
With almost 500 in-lbs of torque, a three-speed transmission, ratcheting chuck and a new level of ergonomics, the new DeWalt DCD985L2 20V MAX Lithium-ion Premium Hammer Drill kit is a must-have tool. This new five-pound drilling and driving machine can handle just about any fastener, drilling, and hammer drilling application you can think of. With the smart battery technology of the 20V MAX platform and the built-in electronics, you can be assured that your cordless DeWalt tools will last and preform better than the current 18V tools. We suspect that this drill will quickly become the tool of choice for many of the tradesmen and contractors that opt for the new 20V MAX lithium-ion battery platform.