As discussed before, we’re currently in a paid partnership with Home Depot that involves them sending over a selection of tools for us to consider for review. Some tools are given the spotlight, such as the Husky combination wrench set I reviewed yesterday, others need more time for full review, and a few are somewhat unsuited for my needs or likes, but I check ’em out anyway.
It has been working out nicely, and very interestingly, because it compel me to spend time with tools that I might not have otherwise volunteered to review.
As the winter quarter wraps up, here are the other tools that I have checked out and have things to say about. Some of these will continue to be tested, and you’ll see that coverage hopefully soon.
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Thank you Home Depot for providing all of the tools for review consideration!
Dewalt FlexVolt Cordless Air Compressor
Ben reviewed the Dewalt FlexVolt air compressor previously, and it will definitely be in my “best cordless tools for 2018” post, or something to that effect. I was working on it for a late-2017 follow-up to “5 Best New Cordless Tools from 2017 (That We’ve Tested So Far),” but sample delivery delays and the holiday time crunches got in the way of my plans.
I can tell you everything you need to know about the Dewalt FlexVolt cordless compressor in one sentence. Ready? Here goes:
It’s a fantastic cordless air compressor that has made my corded portable compressors obsolete.
Will it suit your needs? Well, can you benefit from using a cordless 2.5 gallon air compressor?
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Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Makita 18V X2 Track Saw
I’m still working on this one, but the Makita 18V X2 track saw has left me with quite the positive impression.
The only downside? I have to manually trigger my Festool dust extractor when using or testing the saw.
It cuts smoothly, and everything I threw at it so far (mainly 2x boards and 3/4″ plywood) has come out with smooth, crisp, and perfectly placed edges.
This will definitely be a “gift guide” recommendation come Father’s Day, especially if Home Depot has a good promo with free extra batteries, track saw, or both.
Is it better than Dewalt? Better than Festool? I don’t know yet. But if you’re a Makita 18V users, the X2 plunge-cutting track saw is an excellent tool.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Ryobi 18V 7-1/4″ Brushless Circular Saw
I need to come up with a good summarizing statement about Ryobi’s newest 18V One+ brushless power tools. They’re fantastic DIYer tools, and I think that pros might appreciate them too, for casual use.
The brushless tools are compromised a little, compared to pro-grade equivalents that sell at higher price points.
Their guards for their brushless grinder, for instance, are a little cheaper made than those found on higher-priced tools. That doesn’t affect their safety performance one bit, at least that I’ve seen. BUT, you also do get 2 guards, for 2 different types of grinding wheel and cutting wheel shapes. Have you tried to find the cutting wheel guard for pro-grade grinders? Most brands’ cutting wheel guards are very hard to find online.
This new Ryobi brushless circular saw lacks some of the finer touches of higher-priced saws. But it does have a brushless motor, which means better efficiency and longer runtimes, and it has a full 7-1/4″ size.
So while the saw might have a somewhat compromised design, they’re compromising I can live with. I’d rather know what I’m getting, than to simply have a cheaper tool with trade-offs that more significantly affect quality.
I have not yet pushed the saw through tougher cuts, but it seems to handle common lighter construction materials just fine.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Dewalt 20 Compartment Organizer
I tend to like fixed-divider or removable bin organizers over those with custom dividers. That said, Dewalt’s removable divider organizers seem to be decent.
This one is a 20-compartment organizer with removable dividers, clear lid, flat-resting handle, and latching tabs that can connect it to Dewalt’s other organizers of the same product family.
It’s the kind of thing that you might want to check out locally before buying. At $14, it’s very attractively priced.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Husky Torque-Limiting Impact Extension Bar Set
The idea behind torque sticks is that they can only deliver a certain amount of torque, when using a “calibrated” impact wrench, either pneumatic or battery-powered.
They’re designed around common torque requirements for modern cars, trucks, and trailers.
The torque sticks are 8″ long, 1/2″ drive, and come in a set of 5 sizes: 65, 80, 100, 120, 140 ft. lbs. They’re packaged together in a sturdy case, and with impact wrench calibration instructions.
I didn’t try them yet. If you want to learn more about torque sticks, there are a ton of discussions on forums and YouTube, debating whether they work or not, and how well.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Ridgid 18V Brushless Impact Wrench
What’s orange and grey, brushless, and featuring 3 speed and torque speed settings plus an “auto mode” for protecting smaller fasteners from over-torquing? This new Ridgid 18V Gen5X brushless impact wrench, model R86011B.
This is still on my to-d0 list, since I haven’t had any needs for a 1/2″ impact wrench lately, and my test bench queue isn’t quite up to it yet.
I tend to really like Ridgid drills and impact tools, and so I’m optimistic.
It features a max torque of 450 ft-lbs, the 4 operational modes, a tri-LED work illumination design, and $149 bare tool price tag.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Paslode Cordless Brad Nailer
Paslode’s new 18 gauge fuel cell brad nailer, 918100, is an incredibly compact and light brad nailer, despite how it might look in online photos.
Paslode says that it’s the lightest cordless brad nailer on the market (and I believe them). It weighs 4.25 pounds. As with other Paslode fuel cell tools, it can be used cordlessly.
It runs off a 7.4V battery pack (and fuel cells). The battery takes 1-1/2 hours to fully charge. If you just need to finish up for the day, a 2-minute charge will give you power for up to 200 charges. The full charge can drive up to 12,000 nails per charge. Each fuel cell can drive in around 1000 fasteners.
The magazine can hold one nail strip, or about 50 nails.
The verdict is still up in the air, but I think Paslode fuel cell nailer users will like this model for working in tight spaces. It’s a little lighter and more compact than their other brad nailer, with the main benefit in being the half-height nail magazine.
With the shorter magazine, the new Paslode brad nailer does do a better job of fitting into tight areas.
This is an example of a tool I wouldn’t have even explored if it wasn’t put in my hand to test. Will it change the way I work on any projects? No, I’m not a fan of air nailers, and cordless for when greater portability and flexibility is needed. Still, I can’t ignore that this is a compelling model for users who want a cordless nailer that’s a little more maneuverable than the current generations of purely cordless nailers.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Ryan Jacob
I have the Makita X2 Track saw and I can say I’m a huge fan! It cuts smooth, doesn’t bog down, and has great dust collection. I will say that the one downside to this was the dust port was some weird size so I had to buy a universal adapter from Rockler because I wasn’t able to make anything else fit.
As for as the Husky torque sticks, is this a new product? I spotted this on Home Depot’s website a couple of months ago when I was searching for some torque sticks and it showed out of stock for both online and in the store then and I noticed that clicking the link here it still shows out of stock.
Stuart
I’m not sure? There are reviews going back over a year, and I believe I saw a year-old YouTube video showing them.
Ryan Jacob
I remember seeing that video too. I also saw a video from Tools In Action on the Husky Torque Sticks not long ago. I really don’t understand why they have been out of stock for so long. I ended up buying some Capri torque sticks from Amazon and got to use them for the first time the other day when rotating the tires on my truck.
fred
When I bought my Festool corded track saw. I did some comparisons – and almost bought the Dewalt. I thought that the Dewalt had a better anti-kickback feature. But what soured me on it was that cumbersome blade changing, I wonder how blade changes on the Makita cordless are – and if the Dewalt cordless is any better than the corded in this regard.
Tom
The R86011B was about $159 with a battery and charger about 6 months ago, unfortunately they’ve discontinued that kit and now offer the bare tool for $10 less than the earlier kit price.
Stuart
If it was 6 months ago, that might have been holiday season promo pricing.
Chris
All these beautiful tools. But none of the Home Depot’s around me carry any in store. My Home Depot’s are lame. I want acme tools stores 🙁
Brett
Still no dust discharge port of any kind on the Ryobi circular saw? I don’t need to hook it up to my dust collector but it sure would be nice if my cut line wasn’t covered in sawdust 2″ into the cut.
Brett
Oh my mistake it looks like they did add a dust exhaust at the back of the cut. From their demo footage it looks like it could be more effective but at least they’re trying. It seems like a tough problem to solve on a blade left saw in a predominantly right handed world.
pete
I have the brushless ryobi saw, it does have the dust port. It works decent, you can follow a line without it covering up much. If i need a SUPER straight cut i’ll use a guide and some clamps so i don’t have to worry about following a line with my eye.
pete
I have a couple torque sticks that i use. I say that they do work but only if you understand how they work and how they’re implemented. Husky has had these for a while, they looks nice.
pete
That 2×18 makita saw looks super nice. The samurai carpenter seems to like his. I’ve been looking at the Kreg KMA2700 Circular Saw Track kit to attach to my ryobi brushless circ saw. I’ll probably make the excuse to get one on the next project.
AJ
The 10 and 20 compartment DeWalt organizer is sold in Europe under the stanley fatmax brand and comes with removable cups. I have been trying to get these cups through the DeWalt service center, but haven’t had any luck yet. IMO the fatmax version is better.
ca
I wish DeWalt would take better advantage of their 120 V corded/cordless system. Like the table saw, the compressors seems like a perfect fit for this. Alas, all they have made is a mitre saw.
JoeM
So far being the key there. The way these tools are designed RIGHT NOW, seems to be a kind of “Template” that they plan on using for bigger sibling tools. The Compressor seems to just be the first. Once that gets a bigger brother, they’re going to need to change the roll cage design to fit the tough system or TSTAK rolling carts, as well as step up the voltage to 120 Volts. I mean… This is a 2.5 Gallon, right? Well, I can’t see them keeping it 60 Volts beyond 5 Gallons. Then, when we reach 10, 15, or 20 Gallon models, they’ll need to be Corded/Cordless hybrid 120 Volt systems. Last I checked, a 20 Gallon vertical tank compressor stands right around 4-5 feet tall. That’s a big machine, even with the big FlexVOLT batteries, it’s going to need 2 or AC in order to fill that tank in any reasonable amount of time. It’s just math there.
Same can be said for more saws. So far we have 2 saws. DWS716 and DWS790, with various charger/cord adapter/battery kits to accompany them. When we look at the TABLE Saws, I’m sure we could see larger versions with 120 Volt systems on them just the same. Then there’s the idea of Tile Saws, Metal Chop Saws, and even the odd liquid cooling supply system, and dust collection systems. These are all bigger applications that they haven’t released for FlexVOLT yet. Big systems have more potential to use the 120 Volt Hybrid system that the DWS716 and DWS790 use.
The key may well come down to… How many of us buy the DWS790 kits, stands, and extra batteries. If we’re only buying the kits with batteries, they won’t want to box up as many full kits with the Adapter. If there’s no point in making the Adapter for profit, then they likely will hold the FlexVOLT system back to mostly 60 Volt systems that don’t require being Hybrids. So, if you want the bigger toys, you have to invest in the current one to show the Marketing Idiots that your money is being spent on that feature.
Whiskey and Wood
A couple of thoughts on the makita tracksaw, I own both the festool and the makita, to me the makita is hands down better! I bought the festool track saw bag kit and added it to the makita (takes about 2 minutes to modify, @toolsbydesign on instagram has videos on how to do it) so I don’t have to use an extractor, but you can also get the Bluetooth module with manual button at the tool from festool now if you are using a festool dust extractor. The stock makita blade is super nice but thin and flexes a bit too much for 8/4 hardwood cuts, but for everything else is fantastic. It has a lock mechanism for holding the blade in place while you change blades, super simple! And it feels like it has quite a bit more power than the festool, and saves quite a bit of money! The festool does have slightly better dust collection, but not by much.
Dillon Corr
Side note… the air compressor has been on clearance at several local HDs. I also noticed the track saw on clearance at a local HD yesterday… next to the paslode. Could this be a list of soon to be clearance’d items they are sending you?
Bill
Dillon, I checked with my local HDs hoping to find the same but none of them have the Dewalt cordless compressor on sale. They do have a corded version of this, that looks a lot like it, on sale now for $179. Are you sure the ones you saw on sale are the cordless 60v max compressors?
Yusef
Yes, I picked one up for 150. Been eyeing it for a while, but it was too much at 300, especially without a cord option.
Dillon Corr
yep – two stores had them marked down to $225, one to $150
MacLean
My neighbor just got the new Ryobi saw. I own a Makita. The Makita…an older cordless circular saw from 2013 blows the doors off the Ryobi…which keeps bogging down the second you deviate from a straight line trying to square your cut.
Pete
Could be the blade. I immediately put a diablo framing blade on my ryobi and i havent had the same experience. Or maybe i dont cut crooked lol.
Adabhael
Now that the FlexVolt Cordless Air Compressor has displaced the Ridgid one that was among the Best New Cordless Tools from 2017, will the Ridgid test sample be a giveaway item? Please and thank you;-)
Joe
The Dewalt 60v compressor is awesome. Two batteries will last all day (9ah) perfect for punch list , using trim guns, hanger guns, and light framing….I use it everyday….the new 12ah will probably last all day…and hopefully a “120v “ will follow.
The Stanley organizer with removable cups and clear lid is as good at $11 as my $53 Sortimo cases with removable cups…easily. Only problem is getting more small cups, the site is always messed up and they cost a $1 each,ouch. The “ Shaller” cups don’t fit it, but do work in my Durham metal containers.
Paslode makes the best cordless nailers ,still. Just a pain to use in the winter,no matter what you do. My Dewalt cordless nailers work in any extreme weather.
JoeM
I now want one of those DeWALT air compressors even more than ever before. How little I’d use it, it’s perfect.
Rick
and.. again.. dewalt.. lack of packaging thought. Why not make this fit into, or clip into, the tough system??? why drive the lawn mower with 2 20v’ instead of 2 20v’s on this …
This makita isn’t as good as the prior deal with 4 batteries and free track which was also 499.