There are quite a few questions about the new Craftsman 21226 MiterMate miter saw that we set out to address with a full no-holds barred hands-on review. Is the MiterMate gimmicky? Overly complex? Awkward and clumsy? Or is it as innovative and functional as Craftsman advertises? Keep reading for our full review of the MiterMate, or […]
The Imaginatively Designed Craftsman MiterMate Miter Saw
The Craftsman 10″ MiterMate Miter Saw is unlike any miter saw that we’ve ever seen before. Compared to a traditional miter saw, the MiterMate, with its innovative V-fence system, is said to help woodworkers and DIYers save time while increasing the efficiency and accuracy of their cross cuts and miter joints.
Ryobi Tek4 Snips & Screwdriver Set – a Closer Look
As previously mentioned, the Ryobi Tek4 5-piece kit features two new additions to the Tek4 lineup – a cordless screwdriver, and power snips. We gave these new Tek4 tools some more thought, and were able to briefly give them a try in-store. All in all, we are pretty optimistic about these new tools, and the […]
Power Tool Clearance at Home Depot
There is a power tool clearance going on at Home Depot, with some tools selling for more than half-off. Following are some of the deals that you can expect to find: Milwaukee M12 3/8″ drill + radio $79 (compared to $180 on Amazon) Dewalt 4-pc cordless tool set $200 (hard to find in stock; $500 on […]
We’re a “Bit” Disappointed Today
In case you didn’t catch our lame attempt at humor, a particular drill bit issue has created a bit of annoyance for us. It all started about one year ago when we purchased a “G” sized jobbers length twist drill bit for a small project. The project was delayed and put on the backburner, and […]
Ridgid 1/2″ and Hammer Drill Deals!
Over at Amazon, Ridgid’s 1/2″ drill and a 1/2″ hammer drill are priced considerably lower than at Home Depot and other Ridgid distributors. This could be a temporary sale or price drop, but maybe we’ll see more price drops as part of an end-of-the-year sale. Ridgid R7111 8-Amp 1/2″ Drill (Amazon – $57 at the time of this posting) […]
Ryobi Tek4 5pc Combo Kit With Screwdriver & Snips
Ryobi has just released a brand new 5pc combo kit as part of their Tek4 power tool system. Included in the combo are two new and three familiar tools – a cordless screwdriver, power snips, smart noise-suppression protective headphones, an LED flashlight, and a mobile device charger.
New Gator Black Zirconium Sandpaper
Gator’s new Black Zirconium Ultra Power sandpaper utilizes a special grit composition that allows it to “sand three times faster and last three times longer than regular sandpaper.” These cutting and longevity improvements can be appreciated by everyone, from the DIY woodworker, to the professional in a production environment.
Dewalt & Milwaukee’s Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuums
While cordless handheld vacuums such as Makita’s new model and the ubiquitous dustbuster are suitable for light duty cleaning or small messes, there may be times when you may need something a bit more robust. For medium duty cleaning tasks, what you’ll want to whip out is a cordless wet/dry vac. Although a traditional corded vacuum would typically be better suited for most […]
Bosch Jigsaws and Why We Love Them
We have used quite a few different brands of jigsaws in recent years, but by far our favorite brand is Bosch. We’ve been using Bosch’s 1587AVSK jigsaw model for about two and a half years now, and it’s reliable, durable, provides plenty of power, and still operates smoothly and efficiently.
Skip the Mall and Make a Homemade Gift
Black & Decker has teamed up with U-Bild to provide three free project plans – a birdhouse, hope chest, and a jewelry box, to help you skip the lines at the mall and craft a homemade gift for that special someone.
Bosch 18V Triple-Mode Impact Drill Driver
The newest tool on the block is Bosch’s 26618-01 3-mode multi-function cordless impact drill/driver. Bosch stepped things up a notch with this Impactor by incorporating two conventional speed settings as well as a selectable impact mode.
Why Makita May Lose a Circular Saw Sale
Okay, so I am searching for a new cordless circular saw. I’m not committed to any one brand, and am considering Porter Cable, Hitachi, Dewalt, Makita, and Milwaukee’s product offerings. Up until last night I was very strongly considering Makita, but that has since changed. So why the sudden change of heart? Because Makita has made […]
Bosch Impactor 12V Cordless Impact Driver $100!
Bosch’s 23613 Impactor 12V cordless impact driver is on sale for the mind-boggling low price of $100! The impact driver comes with two NiCad batteries, a charger, and a carrying case. We had to double check, but these are new tools and not refurbished, or bare-bone kits! Note that this Impactor is going to be […]
Dremel 4000 Reviewed by Tool Snob
Tool Snob recently posted a very well written and thorough review of the new Dremel 4000 rotary tool that is definitely worth checking out. They had a lot of good things to say about the tool, and summed it up rather nicely with the following statement: To wrap things up, this is a fantastic tool […]
Silver and Deming Drill Bits
Silver and Deming drill bits are large size drill bits with reduced shanks that are ideal for situations where a bit diameter is greater than the capacity of a drill chuck. For example, if you need to bore a 5/8″ hole and your drill has a 1/2″ chuck, you’re going to be needing a Silver […]
Dewalt 38pc Impact Bit Set $10
Over at Amazon, Dewalt’s DW2169 Impact Ready bit set is currently priced at a ridiculously low $9.88. There are a lot of #2 Phillips bits in the set, but there is also a sufficient selection of other bits and adapters to make the set a great buy. If the price jumps back to its normal range […]
Milwaukee M12 Right Angle Drill Hands-on Review
Here’s our original review of Milwaukee’s M12 cordless right angle drill/driver.
Porter Cable Low-Profile Sander Hands-on Preview
With the Porter Cable low-profile sander giveaway ending in a few days, we thought that it might be a good opportunity to get some light hands-on time with the tool. Despite our superficial evaluation, we are thoroughly impressed with the features and build quality of the sander.
Ryobi Auto Hammer vs. Craftsman Hammerhead
Update: Since writing this post, we have published a hands-on review of Ryobi’s Auto Hammer – click here to check it out. At first glance, Ryobi’s 12V ONE+ Auto Hammer closely resembles Craftsman’s 12V NEXTEC Lithium-ion powered Hammerhead Auto Hammer. Well, looking at the specs, the two cordless hammers are far more similar than they are different […]