Tool-Rank.com Power Tool Blog

Dust Deputy Cyclone Dust Collector

Chris Rodenius — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:21:00 +0000

The problem most vacuums face when picking up fine dust is loss of suction. This loss of suction is caused by the dust particles blocking and clogging up the vacuums air filter. This blockage shortens the life of the air filter and ads harmful strain to the vacuum motor. There is also the fact that many shop vacuums do not do a very good job of filtering out fine dust.

The Dust Deputy from Oneida Air Systems is kind of like a pre-filter attachment for your shop vacuum. Using the power of the cyclone, the Dust Deputy separates more then 99% of the dust into a bucket, before it even makes it to the vacuum. This allows your vacuum to work more efficiently and also greatly reduces your cost of replacing filters.

The Dust Deputy can be purchased with everything you need to get started sans vacuum for $99, or you can buy the cyclone by itself for $59. Team this up with the BucketVac and you have yourself a complete portable bucket vacuum system. Video after Read More

Dust Deputy
$ Dust Deputy - Amazon

2009 Christmas Gift Guide

Chris Rodenius — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:15:00 +0000

Christmas is just around the corner, and you might be having a hard time finding some great gifts or you might be looking for gift ideas for yourself. Hopefully this Christmas buyers guide will give you the help you need.

The first link will point you to more information about the tool, the second link take you to a store where you can buy the tool. For more gift ideas, look through our tool reviews and tool blog. Also be sure to check out the 2008 Christmas Gift Guide for more ideas. Be sure you read the complete list after the ReadMore.

$20 and under

	GripSharp – A Pencil Grip And Sharpener In One I have been using this for the past couple of weeks, and it is very handy. About $3.50 - GripSharp
	New EZ Lock Detail Abrasive Brushes From Dremel These brushes can sand in places you could never get to before. Available in 36 grit, 120 grit, and 220 grit. About $7 - Amazon
	Light Your Drivers Way This light attaches easily to you existing screw driver, screw gun, or drill. About $9 - Amazon - Rockler
	Bosch Multi Construction Bits The Bosch Multi Construction Bits are a great bit for a multitude of applications. Check out the video review. About $10 - Amazon
	Rockler Bench Cookies Are A Hit (Still Not Edible) Not food for your bench dogs; they are non slip disks that elevate and hold your material. About $12 - Amazon - Rockler
	FastCap Pocket Chisels Save Your Pockets Fold-able chisels that keep your pockets safe, and your chisels sharp. $15-20 each - Amazon
	Rapid Warrior Combo Utility Knife & Hand Saw Its a knife that can easily be changed to use a number of different saw blades. Perfect for the toolbox $20 - Amazon

Bosch Teams Up With Sortimo – Unfair

Chris Rodenius — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:25:00 +0000

Chalk this up as one more thing we will probably never get here in the States. If you remember, I talked about the Sortimo L-BOXX in the past and its similarities with the Systainer. Both are stack-able storage systems that come in a verity of sizes, and offer many organizational features.

Bosch sells some tools in Europe that use the Systainer as its tool box, as do other tool companies in Europe. Now Bosch has teamed with with Sortimo to offer some tools using the L-BOXX system. The advantage of using the L-BOXX is its ability to be used in conjunction with Sortimo's vehicle storage solutions, as well as their home/office/shop storage solutions.

As of now, only the 14.4 & 18 volt drills are being offered using the L-BOXX system, but as an introductory offer Bosch is including a 77-piece accessories set and an additional L-BOXX. Sadly this kit will probably never been seen here in the US, which leads me to our next poll.

Update: Video from MrToolStop added after Read More.

{loadposition poll bosch}

Festool Having Closeout Sale

Chris Rodenius — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:00:00 +0000

I am just as surprised as the next guy, but indeed Festool is having a closeout. If you remember, back in the beginning of 2009 Festool enacted an across the board price increase on their products. The average price increase for 09 was just under 5%, this closeout sale offers savings of up to 25%; so there is still a considerable amount of savings. Keep in mind that the sale is only for select products, but these products include: the Domino Joiner, Cordless Drills, Orbital Sanders, Multifunction tables and more(14 items in total).

The term closeout means “to dispose of all remaining stock”, so why is the Domino on sale? It is still a pretty new tool, and Festool just recently added new accessory options for the Domino. It could be that Festool is changing something as simple as the packaging or contents, or even mean a new model is on the way.

Whatever the reason, enjoy the sale while you can and pick up what you need before the sale ends.

Update 10/30/09: Shane from Festool was kind enough to point out that there were some minor changes made to fence and base of the Domino (link). This is the reason for the closeout, but don't be put off as many users are still using the older model without problems. If you do find out later that you need these changes, you can buy replacement parts.

Festool Closeout Details

Ridgid Now Re-Branding MagSwitch

Chris Rodenius — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:36:00 +0000

During my recent look over at the Ridgid website I noticed something interesting. Ridgid is now re-branding a few of the more common MagSwitch products. This is likely to mean you have a pretty good chance of getting these at your local HomeDepot, or having them ordered from HD if they can not be found in your area. This is a smart move for MagSwitch if HomeDepot makes them available in most of there stores. This could also do a lot to get the MagSwitch name out there.

If things don't take off, you better get your Ridgid MagSwitch while you can, because the one listed on the HD website is about $10 cheaper ($40) then the regular MagSwitch Featherboard ($50).

As of now Ridgid is offering these MagSwitch products. Let me know if you spot any at your local HD.

RIDGID MagSwitch Switchable On/Off Magnetic Square
RIDGID MagSwitch Switchable On/Off Magnetic Featherboard
RIDGID MagSwitch 90° Workholding Angle
RIDGID MagSwitch Switchable On/Off Magnetic Ground Clamp
RIDGID MagSwitch Switchable On/Off Power Hook and Gorilla Hook
RIDGID MagSwitch Boomerangle Pivoting Welding Angle

Ridgid MagSwitch
HomeDepot Listing 11/1/09: Updated link with more products (6)

Home Depot Offering Drill Trade Up Program

Chris Rodenius — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:46:00 +0000

Starting this Sunday up until November 8th, Home Depot will be offering a drill trade up program. Simply bring in your used or broken power drill and Home Depot will give you 15% off of a new Lithium-Ion cordless drill. HD will then recycle your old drill and save the world; a win win for everyone.

Also, though not as cool, from November 5th – 15th Home Depot will be offering a trade up program for old Christmas lights. Bring in your old or broken Christmas lights and HD will give you a $3 off coupon towards new LED Christmas lights, good for up to 5 redemption.

Both trade up programs will take place at all Home Depot U.S. Stores.

Update 10/27: Here is the Home Depot Drill Promo Page

Makita Introduces Two Cordless Vacuums

Chris Rodenius — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:12:00 +0000

As part of Makita's plan to rid the world of power cords, they have added two more cordless tools to their lineup. You might not have expected cordless vacs from Makita, but it is something they have offered in the past and something most of us can use.

Their new cordless vacs come in two models, the first (Model BCL180ZW) uses the Makita 18 volt LXT batteries, and the second (CL100DZ) uses their 10.8 volt batteries. They are both about 18 inches in length total, and can be used for both floor cleaning, and broken down for hand held cleaning.

You are looking at a continuous run time of 10 minutes for the 18 volt compact battery (1.5 Ah), and 12 minutes for the 10.8 volt. You can get up to 20 minutes of run time with the BCL180*, when using one of the Makita 3.0 Ah batteries. The 18 volt model is also available as a kit, including 1 compact battery and charger. All three models include Vacuum, Extension, Floor Nozzle, Crevice Nozzle, ans 2-Stage Filter.

The Cl100DZ, BCL180ZW, and BCL180W are suggested to retail for $59, $89, and $149 respectively.

Makita Tools
$ Makita Cordless Vacs - Amazon

Bosch 18 Gauge Brad Nailer Video Overview

Chris Rodenius — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:04:00 +0000

As you might know, Bosch just recently introduced a complete line of pneumatic nailers and compressors. Below is a pretty thorough video, introducing the Bosch BNS200-18 brad nailer. I also go over some of the features and talk about my likes and dislikes.

One dislike I forgot to mention in the video, is the lack of a hook of some type. As a professional, one of the things that really makes my life easier is a belt hook. Milwaukee by far has the best belt hook I have seen. It rotates 360 degrees and has a number of lockable positions. Another thing that seems rather silly not to include is pneumatic oil, and since the gun requires oil, you cant even use it out of the box unless you already own some.

Below the video you will notice a link for the video in the OGG format. This is for people that do not have Flash installed for whatever reason. However an internet browser that supports OGG playback is required (ie FireFox).

Video In OGG Format

New Yankee Workshop Says Goodbye

Chris Rodenius — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:53:00 +0000

After 21 seasons of great woodworking, Norm has decided to end his long time TV show, The New Yankee Workshop. The good news is he will continue being a part of This Old House. So will we probably be able to still see his work, though limited. Also good news is that The New Yankee Workshop will continue to remain available online.

I just hope PBS will continue to air his reruns on a regular basis. 21 seasons is a lot of episodes, most of which I have probably not see or have already forgotten.

"We've had a great run, built challenging projects, met wonderful woodworkers, and received loyal support from millions of viewers," stated Norm Abram in the release.

The questions is, will some other woodworker (possibly from the online world) step up to fill this void?

via Popular Woodworking

Tools.com – Heard Of Um?

Chris Rodenius — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:02:00 +0000

The problem with tools is we all want more of them. The other problem is we never have enough money. Here at Tool-Rank we try to keep you up to date with the latest deals, promotions, hot deals from the forum, etc, but we can't find you the best price on everything.

This is where Tools.com comes in to play. They take the hassle out of comparison shopping by listing each tool with a number of different stores and their respective prices. Now with a quick search you can find out the prices much faster.

While they are currently listing over 90,000 tools, from 500 brands, through 11 different venders, the price comparison list for most tools is pretty small. Most tools only list one or two prices from the different online stores. We can give then a pass right now because they are still in beta, but hopefully when Tools.com makes its way out of Beta they will have more pricing options, and more venders.

The next time you are comparison shopping, you might want to give them a try.

Tools.com

Important Tools For Your Shop

Chris Rodenius — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:58:00 +0000

Along with your work station with a built in refrigerator for your shop, you need drinks - and with cold bottled drinks, you need bottle openers. But just any old bottle opener will not do, you need something manly.

Tim Taylor would probably use some type of electric, gas, or hydraulic powered contraption, which would look and sound cool, but would also probably spill half of your drink. Now, if you are a glass half empty kind of guy, then you are all set. The rest of us can enjoy our entire drink by using these cool tool shaped bottle openers. These bad boys are made out of cast iron, so they have that old timely feel. After a light coat of rust, I am sure they will fit in with the rest of your treasures.

They cost $25 each, which might be a bit much, but they are probably strong enough to survive a natural disaster.

The Curiosity Shoppe via The Hardware Aisle

Makita Laser Distance Measurer Hits UK

Chris Rodenius — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:41:00 +0000

We probably all knew that laser distance measurer's were going to be a big part of the construction industry in the future. The only question was how long until everyone owns one. Makita's recent entry into the game (now available in the UK) might get you to become a believer sooner then you thought, and it is only a matter of time until it hits the US.

It has some great features such as a large backlit multi-line display screen, measuring in both metric and imperial, a memory function and more. But there are a couple more features that really set it apart. The first being a tilt sensor said to offer more measurement possibilities, and more accurate indirect measurements. The second is a function that automatically detects the longest measurement when measuring from inside corner to corner. Now you can sweep the laser across a corner and the laser will do the rest of the work. If any of this has you confused, check out the video after the Read More

Makita Tools UK

Bosch 12V Max Metal Shear For The US – It's Official

Chris Rodenius — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

If you read Tool-Rank regularly, (like you should) you would remember me talking about the Bosch 12 volt cordless metal shear in Europe. It has now officially been announced here in the US via press release, and can now be found on the Bosch website. The listing for the PS70-2A has also reappeared on Amazon after its brief listing.

The PS70-2A can cut metal thicknesses up to 18 gauge for steel and 12 gauge for aluminum, with a cutting radius as small as 1/4-inch. Being only 12 volts, it probably wont replace your corded shears for big jobs, but its portability is what is key. The PS70-2A kit includes two 12 volt Lithion Max Batteries, a 30 minute charger, one 4 sided blade, a feeler gauge, a hex key, and a carrying case.

Bosch Tools
$ PS70-2A - Amazon
$ PS70-2A - Ohio Power Tool

Cabinet Makers Supply - FastCap Giveaway

Chris Rodenius — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:02:00 +0000

Want some free tools? Of course you do. Well, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until November 4th, Cabinet Makers Suipply will be giving away free FastCap tools. Now you can win those cool FastCap Pocket Chisels we talked about in the past.

Rules

Must be located in the USA.
Follow @cabinetsupply on Twitter (http://twitter.com/cabinetsupply)
Retweet the tweet made at 8AM(Pacific Time) from @CabinetSupply to enter to win that product.
Check the list of @fastcap products we are giving away (below)
Winner announced on twitter before the next product giveaway
Winner will be sent a direct message on how to get their prize

3 New Plunge Routers From Makita

Chris Rodenius — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:26:00 +0000

It looks like Makita has upgraded their highly ranked 3612C Plunge Router, which if you remember was awarded 2nd place among all 3+ HP plunge routers tested by Tools Of The Trade Magazine. It was second only to a Festool router which is 3x the price.

The Makita models RP1800 and RP2301FC are both upgraded versions of the 3-1/4 HP 3612; with the RP1800 being a single 22,000 RPM speed and the RP2301FC being a 9,000 - 22,000 RPM variable speed. Not only looking better then the previous model, the new versions also feature a number of upgrades. The first thing I noticed was the joystick style trigger switch. A trigger where your hand will be, obviously makes sense and also makes it easy to transition from gamer mode to woodworking mode and back The RP2301FC features a soft start, and an electric brake, which not only make the tool much safer, but also prevents mistakes. Another nice feature only available only on Model RP2301FC is the addition of LED lights, which Makita likes to add to everything and I agree with them. Both models have a plunge depth of 2-3/4" and offer 3 preset depth stops.

The third model is the RP0900K which is a smaller lighter duty model plunge router. This 1-1/4 HP router has a speed of 27,000 RPM at 8 amps, and accepts only 1/4" router bits. Its maximum plunge depth is 1-3/8" This is obviously a lighter duty router then the above models, but it also comes with a lighter duty MSRP.

Model	RP2301FC	RP1800	RP0900K
Collet Capacities	1/4" and 1/2"	1/4" and 1/2"	1/4"
Plunge Capacity	0" - 2-1/4"	0" - 2-1/4"	0" - 1-3/8"
No Load Speed	9,000 - 23,000 RPM	22,000 RPM	27,00 RPM
AMPS	15.0	15.0	8.0
Max Horsepower	3-1/4	3-1/4"	1-1/4"
Overall Height	12-1/4"	12-1/4"	8-1/2"
Net Weight	13.4 lbs.	13.4 lbs.	6 lbs.
Includes	Extended depth adjustment knob, 1/4" collet sleve insert, 1/2" collet, wrench	Extended depth adjustment knob, 1/4" collet sleve insert, 1/2" collet, wrench	1/4" collet sleve insert, straight guide, (2) wrenches, tool case
MSRP	$329	$259	$159

Makita Tools
RP0900K RP1800 RP2301FC - Amazon

GripSharp – A Pencil Grip And Sharpener In One

Chris Rodenius — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:48:00 +0000

It is not everyday that a completely unique product comes along and the GripSharp certainly is one of them. It is a combination pencil grip and a pencil sharpener. The GripSharp slips right over the tip of any standard size pencil, and offers additional comfort and the convenience of a pencil sharpener that is always at hand.

I just received a couple samples yesterday and you can look forward to a review in the near future. If you can't wait, you can pick up a GripSharp directly from their website for $2.89. They are available in black, blue, green, red, and yellow.

GripSharp

DIY CNC Router Kits

Chris Rodenius — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:05:00 +0000

Building your own CNC router doesn't sound like a project your average DIYer or tinkerer can do; after all building CNC machines is not something that is common knowledge. However the kits from BuildYourCNC.com make the process very simple. For as little as $2205 you can purchase a kit that will allow you to build a 2 foot x 4 foot CNC router. This kit comes with all materials needed to completely build your CNC router from the ground up. All that is required is the CNC/design software. A 4x8 kit is also available for $2975.

The building process looks simple enough and if you have ever put together furniture from IKEA, this is probably something you can handle. They also make it super easy to assemble by offering the complete building instruction for free on video on the Internet. Ironically, the parts for your router kit are made from a CNC router made from the same kit. Another nice option if you already have one of their smaller CNC kits, or know someone with a CNC router - you can purchase the CNC g-code files for a fraction of the price, and mill your own.

Makita Promotions Are Back

Chris Rodenius — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:13:00 +0000

People like us don't usually need an excuse to buy new power tools, but Makita always makes it a little harder to resist the buying temptation by offering great tool promotions. Now until the end of this year you can get the brand new Makita 3-Speed Impact BTD144Z free after mail-in-redemption, when you purchase a qualifying cordless tool.

Qualifying tools include: 5 3/8" Metal Cutting Saw BCS550, 7/8" SDS-PLUS Rotary Hammer Kit BHR240, 3/8" Angle Drill Kit BDA350, 1/2" High Torque Impact Wrench Kit BTW450, or Portable Band Saw Kit BPB180.

If that wasn't enough for you, Makita is also giving away ten 15 piece 18-volt LXT lithium-ion combo kits. WOW! What a great prize one of these would be to win. This contest also ends at the end of this year, so be sure to enter today.

Makita Promos
Makita - Amazon

Lenox Cuts A Bus – Guess To Win

Chris Rodenius — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:31:00 +0000

The Lenox Hackman cut an entire double decker bus in half recently in Fradly, UK using a Lenox T2 blade. If you can guess how long it took the Hackman to cut through the bus, you could win some great gear from Lenox, including a 9 piece Plumbing/Electrician kit, a HACKMAN World Tour T-shirt and a Koozie. All you have to do is give your answer to Lenox on their Facebook page in the HH:MM:SS time format. Contest ends September 30th, 2009. Good Luck.

Contest details

New Bosch 1006VSR 3/8” Corded Drill

Chris Rodenius — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:16:00 +0000

Cordless tools may be king on the jobsite, but that doesn't mean there isn't a place for corded tools in your life. Corded tools offer a few key benefits over their cordless cousins, such as more speed in a lighter body at a much lower cost. Plus, as long at you pay your electric bill, you will never run out of power.

Bosch's latest corded drill model 1006VSR uses a 6.3 amp motor to deliver 0-2600 RPMs, which is significantly higher then an 18 volt equivalent, while also keeping the weight at only 3.4 lbs. It also features a 2 finger variable speed trigger and a newly designed soft grip handle which is said to offer users added comfort throughout the day. The 3/8" drill uses a keyless chuck to make changing bits a quick and easy task, and a belt clip frees up your hands when you need them. The new 1006VSR will be available later this fall for around $60.

Bosch Tools
Bosch 1006VSR 3/8” Corded Drill - Amazon