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Milwaukee may be on to something!  It looks like RIDGID is following suite and building quality trade specific tools like its sister company.  Actually, RIDGID has always had speciality plumbing tools, so maybe it is the other way around.  I am confused!  Either way TTI has been making all the right moves lately and seeing record profits. Well it looks like we now have another specialty tool from RIDGID, it sort of resembles an air saw.  It is the RIDGID Roofing Cutter, powered by compressed air it is $99 at The Home Depot.

Some INFO:

• Compact, lightweight, durable construction, for extended use and less user fatigue
• 9,600 SPM, for superior cutting performance
• Tool-free adjustable exhaust, allows you to direct the exhaust where you want it
• Hex Grip, innovative micro texture for secure grip and maximum user comfort
• On board hex key storage, for convenient blade changes
• Swivel quick connect, for less hose tangles
• Adjustable shoe, for optimal cut control
• Self-cleaning in-handle air filter, keeps debris out of tool and extends tool life
• MFG Brand Name : RIDGID
• MFG Model # : R040SCA
• MFG Part # : R040SCA

SPECIFICATIONS

The first thing you notice is that it is obviously bigger than the original JawHorse.  This is so it can hold a full 4×8′ sheet of plywood.  The simple Fred Flintstone wheel design of the original JawHorse has been replaced with 2 roller blade type wheels.  The wheels feel as though they are on ball bearings and the unit is a breeze to tote around.  The unit folds more easily due to a new leg lock latch and locks together better than the original.

You can clamp up to 600lbs anywhere from 0 in. to 49 in. with up to 1 ton of clamping force.  The foot pedal allows your hands to be free so you can position your work while you clamp.  Each step gives you 1″ of clamping.  3 legs provide rock solid capability on uneven ground and are rubber padded for flat floors.  You will instantly fall in love with this tool, it is easy to operate and invaluable the workshop.  Check out Rockwell.

Well like everyone else, Hitachi is following suite and came out with their 18V brushless motor.  Weird how they are all coming out at the same time.  Don’t these companies try to keep these things a secret so they can be first to market.  I would say we have a little leak among these companies.  OK lets see how it stacks up.

Manufacturer - Hitachi

Model - DS18DBL

Average Purchase Price - $310

Overview

Well it has been a long time since we reviewed a Hitachi product.  We were pretty happy with the last drill we tested, so we wanted to see how this one compared.

The first thing we noticed about this drill was that it is brushless.  Not because we were smart or saw the inside of the drill, but because that is what the box said.  If your not familiar with brushless motors, it is the new wave for power tools.  Basically a brushless motor provides more power and runtime.  Since there are no brushes, you have less friction loss.  Because there is no friction, you also get less heat.  Which means a longer life and longer battery life, pretty cool.

OK, so what’s up with this drill.  The first thing we noticed was how nice this drill feels in your hands.  The balance is great and pistol grip fits nicely in your hands.  The drill only weights 4.4 lbs which isn’t too bad.

The motor powers a 1/2″ all metal ratcheting chuck that puts out 1,800 rpm.  The drill puts out 593 in-lbs of torque which is very powerful.  Not as powerful as some of the other brushless drills we have tested, but certainly not in the bottom of the pack.  There are 22 clutch settings and a drill mode.  One thing we would like to see different is the set up.  You have to move the clutch setting to the drill mode and there is not a separate control.  While most drills are designed like this, it does provide a disadvantage.  Having a separate control for drill mode allows the user to switch back and forth much quicker.  This way a user can keep a lower torque setting instead of adjusting the clutch each time.  Again not a big deal as most drills are designed this way and we are use to it.

One of the coolest of innovative features is the speed settings.  On top of most drills you have a high and low, so two speeds.  The Hitachi has this also, but they also implemented a cool feature.  On the side handle of the drill, there is a small button to digitally change speeds even further.  Just push the button and the speed changes.  You can see your setting located at the base of the drill.  This means a user can actually have 8 different speed settings.  We really like this feature because it allows the user to truly match the speed to the application.  Hitachi also included a battery gauge.  While some other manufactures went with a four bar system, Hitachi uses a two bar system.

Overall the drill/driver is very impressive.  The feel and balance are great.  The drill has lots of power to rip through just about anything.  The speed setting is great and no other drill compares to this feature.

Specifications

SPECIFICATIONS

[ws_table id="3"]

Hitachi Brushless Drill DS18DBL Includes

• (2) 3.0Ah 18V Lithium Ion Slide-Type Batteries (330067)
• 14.4V-18V Universal Rapid Battery Charger (UC18YRSL)
• 2-Sided #2 Phillips Driver Bit (983006)
• Side Handle
• Carrying Case

Warranty

Tool - 5 Year

Pictures - Video

[gallery link="file"]

Rating

[easyreview title="Hitachi Brushless Drill DS18DBL" cat1title="Balance" cat1detail="One thing we really like about the drill is the balance and feel.  The handle is thin and provides a good grip.  This drill fits like a glove." cat1rating="4.0" cat2title="Power" cat2detail="While this drill has a lot of power, 593 in-lbs of torque, it does lack compared to its competitors.  Don't get us wrong, 593 is still very powerful." cat2rating="3.5" cat3title="Features" cat3detail="While this drill doesn't have an LED light, which is no big deal, it does have something much cooler.  The four speed electronic toggle switch.  With a push of a button, you can increase the speed.  This means the drill has 8 different speed/power settings.  This is one of the cooliest features we have seen on a drill in a long time.  A user can truly match the speed to the application." cat3rating="5.0" summary="Hitachi makes some great tools.  This drill is different.  With the electronic toggle switch and ample power, it is a winner."]

Deals

As we find deals we will be updating this page.

Notes

All of our long term notes or other information we find after this is released will be presented here.

Manufacturer - Porter Cable

Model - PCB220TS

Average Purchase Price - $299

Overview

It’s cool to have a saw you can fold up and take from place to place, but if it doesn’t produce a great final cut, how good is it really.  We decided to run this saw through a couple different test to see if this saw is really worth the $299 price tag.  For starters, this price tag may seem high, but it’s actually on the low end of the price line.  This saw has all the features the more expensive ones have, but you wouldn’t know it with the low price tag.

Now we are not going to bore you with a mountain of stats, you can check them out under our stats tab.  However, we did want to touch on a couple important stats so you can see this is a table saw that does stack up to other saws.  First this saw is powered by a 15 amp motor that turns a 10″ blade 5,000 rpms.   Max rip to the right is 24.5″ and to the left is is 10″.  At a 90 degree you can cut up to 3″ and a 45 degree you can cut 2.5″.  Yes it does take a 1/2″ Dado.  Overall pretty impressive stats for a $299 saw, but what about portability?

The saw is easy to fold and unfold for one person.  To store in a truck or a shop, you can fold the whole saw up so the stand is under the saw and doesn’t protrude.  If you want to wheel the saw around, you can leave the bar out and use it as a handle.  However it really only works for someone under 5′ tall.  A taller person will find themselves bending down when wheeling the saw around.  The wheels could be a little bigger making it roll nicer when moving around, but all in all not too bad.  Everything on the saw has a storage place and stays put when moving the unit around.  Even the blade will full drop below the table to prevent the blade from getting damaged.

OK, the saw has good stats and is pretty portable, but how well does it cut?  Raising the blade is easy, just like every other saw we have used.  Turn the knob in front and raise or lower the blade.  To make a bevel cut, just loosen the lock on the front and turn the knob that is located on the side of the unit.  The degree markings are visible and easy to read.  Our bevel cuts where accurate.  The fence isn’t too bad.  When we locked the front of the fence, it also locks the back of the fence.  A user can adjust how tight it locks in the back.  The included measuring guide below the fence is easy to read, this was also accurate.  On the back of the saw there is a feed support that isn’t too bad, it could be a little longer.  Two very nice and well thought out features are the blade chute and stand arm.  The blade chute helps funnel all the waste material that drops below the saw, out the back of the dust ports.  This is a nice feature as it helps keep the inside of the saw clean.  One of the best features of this saw is the stand.  As you can see by the picture, the back leg is bent out.  This helps stabilize the saw when sliding larger piece of wood through the blade.  This way the saw doesn’t have a tendency to tip over.

One of the biggest down sides to this saw is the blade-guard riving knife.  While it does a great job and doesn’t get in the way, our model was extremely hard to take on and off.   Now we are not sure if it was just our unit or the actual model.  Once we took the guard system of to store it, it was extremely hard to put back on the unit, which means guess what, in a bind we would tend to by pass the safety feature.  A safety feature should be one of the easiest items to use on any tool.  Don’t make it easy for a user to pass on safety features.  Again maybe it was just our unit.

All in all this is a great saw.  For the price of $299, it is hard to beat.  Lots of power and very accurate right out of the box.  If you have a shop or you are a contractor and don’t want to pay the heavy prices of other portable saws, this is a great fit.

Specifications

SPECIFICATIONS

• Motor: 15 Amp
• Arbor Size: 5/8 “
• Blade Diameter: 10 “
• Blade Speed: 5000 RPM
• Max Rip To Right Of Blade: 24-1/2 “
• Max Rip To Left Of Blade: 10 “
• Depth of Cut at 45°: 2-1/2 “
• Depth of Cut at 90°: 3 “
• Max Width of Dado: 1/2 “
• Miter Gauge Groove: 3/4″
• Chip Exhaust Opening: 2-1/2 “
• Table Height: 35 “
• Table Size: 25 x 19-1/2 “
• Length: 25 “
• Width: 19.5 “
• Height: 35 “
• Weight: 73.76 lbs
• Shipping Weight: 85.46 lbs

Porter Cable Table Saw Includes

• 40 TCT Saw Blade
• Miter Gauge
• Rip Fence
• Two Blade Wrenches
• Push Stick
• Mobile Stand
• Manual

Warranty

Tool - 3 Year

Pictures - Video

[gallery link="file"]

Rating

[easyreview title="Porter Cable Job Site Table Saw - PCB220TS" cat1title="Ease of Use" cat1detail="Setting up and folding the saw is a snap.  Adjusting the blade height and bevel angle is also very easy.  Even storing the accessories is very easy.  Attaching the blade guard was nearly impossible." cat1rating="3.5" cat2title="Features" cat2detail="The saw comes with all the main features you would expect to find on higher end models.  Overall the saw is very accurate." cat2rating="4.0" cat3title="Stability" cat3detail="Making cuts with portable table saws can sometimes be tricky as a heavy piece of wood tends to push the saw around.  Porter Cable designed a nice sturdy stand with a back leg kick out that helps make the stand more sturdy under these cuts." cat3rating="4.5" summary="If your looking for a good portable table saw that is easy to use and has all the bells and whistles, without the heavy price tag, the Porter Cable is a valid option."]

Deals

As we find deals we will be updating this page.

Notes

All of our long term notes or other information we find after this is released will be presented here.

The first thing that I thought when I saw this tool was it resembles the Porter Cable clamp saw PCL120CRC-2  design, although I have not seen the PC up close.  The DCS310 feels solid and weighs in at 3.1lbs. The kit comes with one battery, a 30 min charger, the tool, a bag and both a wood and metal cutting blade.  Of course we always like to see 2 batteries but that brings up the cost.  Currently it is $149 at Amazon it is also available in kits with other tools.  DeWALT covers this tool with the standard 3 year warranty.  We still have no 12V battery status gauges, but are hopeful to maybe see that this year.

The tool is best when controlled with 2 hands, one on the pistol grip and on one at the head of the tool to provide pressure.  The shoe pivots, but is not adjustable.  The saw accepts standard reciprocating saw blades in a right side up or upside down configuration. The entire blade assemble is encased which offers added protection. There is a handle on the right side of the head that allows you to change blades.  Rubber over molded padding covers half of the head for a solid grip.

The comfortable pistol grip trigger provides a variable speed of 0-2700 and has 9/16″ stroke length.  The trigger also activates an instant on LED light to illuminate your work. You can disable the trigger for transit via the trigger lock.  Even with the battery installed most of the tools weight is in the head.  This actually aids in keeping the saw planted on your work which helps eliminate chattering.  The 3 pivot handle helps you get into those tight areas and gives you extra control that most other 12v saws do not have. It is easily unlocked via a thumb slide switch.  The DCS310S1 is a great addition to the 12V Max line, it is compact and easy to carry around for those little jobs when a big reciprocating saw is to much!

They all seem to have a proprietary accessory system, some require tools some don’t, some are interchangeable and some are not.  Well if there is one thing I can tell you about the FEIN Multi Master is that it is one of the best if not the best Multi Tool on the market. Why shouldn’t it be they invented it in fact they invented their first tool back in 1867!  At $199 the price has finally become in reach of most DIY types.  The starter kit comes with a nylon bag, a scraper blade , Universal blade and a triangular sanding disk with 5 sheets of varying grits.  You can get more accessories with other tools for less money.

The accessories can be changed by lifting up on the top lever and pulling the pin that holds on the accessory.  It is relatively easy to change and allows for multiple angles.  The tool was balanced well and was comfortable to hold for extend periods.  Not a lot of vibration was transferred to my hands but the tool seemed wider than most Multi Tools I have used.  The variable speed selector produces 11,000-20,000 oscillations per minute.  The thumb wheel was a bit to small and hard to rotate for my liking and the speed indicators were small and hard to read.

We used the MultiMaster to flush cut subfloor under our cabinets and flush cut nail heads.  One mistake I always make with Multi tools is use them for bigger jobs than they are intended for.  I always go through blades like crazy.  Multi tools are for small odd jobs that any other saw would have no business even trying to do.  Overall the Fein MultiMaster is a good quality tool now at a reasonable price.

It has a 2 mode switch that allows for bump fire or trigger fire. When the unit is on, a white LED at the head of the tool illuminates and it also does a good job of lighting up your work area. Nail depth adjustment is simple via the thumbwheel that has a visual indicator. The unit weighs 6 lbs and overall feels good in your hand. To load nails, pull the slide back and insert the nails then slide it closed, it is a very simple system. A clear site view lets you know when your nails are running low. It drives 3 nails per second and a jam is easily cleared by just opening the slide. We did not experience any jams but occasionally got a misfire.

The Fusion comes with a 18V charger and battery that can charge 80% in 15 minutes and 100% in 45 minutes. It only comes with one battery so the 15 min charge is great to finish up those last few nails. The battery has a fuel status gauge on it so you know how much charge you have left. To hold it all, our F-18 came in a bag, not like the F-15 which came in a hard case. Personally I like the bag better, it holds more but obviously does not protect the tool like the hard case.

SENCO provides a 2 year warranty with this tool. Overall, the F-18 is a good all around tool nailer and I like it. The only dislike I have is that the plastic feels a bit cheap.  Check out SENCO here

The base is made from the same 3mm Polypropylene as the tool bags, which is unbelievably tough. When we shot up the XXL with shotguns and rifles the base withstood the bullets. It almost self sealed itself. The rest of the bag is made from 600 PVC impregnated Denier Nylon which is waterproof. Marine grade zinc rivets, double stitching and powder coated D rings scream quality. Veto covers this product with a 5 year warranty. Remember, this is a soft bag and not a hard case so if you run it over with a truck you might damage the equipment inside.

Some noticeable changes from previous bags is the lightened handle design and the hook on the shoulder strap to stow it when not in use. There are also light brown leather accents that give it a plush look. Make no mistake, you won’t find Veto Pro Pacs at Walmart, they are designed for the professional and at around $200 the LT isn’t cheap. But if you’re looking for the best protection you can get in a soft bag for all your electronics, the LT is well worth the price. I work in the IT field and the LT bag is more than just a bag for me, it is a tool. It allows my to carry all my diagnostic equipment around and easily see my tools at a glance. I can keep my service manuals in the file pockets and I use the tape measure clip to hang my DeWALT DCF610 drill from.

The bag seems to be bottomless, there is always an extra space to fit something in. The bag is heavier than most laptop bags due to it being built like a tank but I it is the only bag I trust to protect my valuable electronic equipment. Tools In Action highly recommends the Veto Pro Pac.

NOTE: In the pictures some have the TP3 and MB attached to the bag.  They are sold separately and we will have them reviewed here soon.