2020 Holiday Tool Gift Guide

Every year we put out a holiday tool gift guide to help you pick out a gift for that hard to buy for tradesperson in your life or maybe a gift for yourself. All of the tools in this year’s guide are ones that are in my job site kit or in my shop. I can personally recommend all of these because I use them regularly.

Tool Gift Guide Stocking Stuffers

Milwaukee Tool Fastback 2 pack

What’s to say about these knives? I’ve been using them for years both on the jobsite and in the shop. One of them, either the compact or normal fastback is always on me and sometimes I’m even carrying two. Now you or your loved one can get in on the action with this great deal from Home Depot for under $15.

Stanley Fatmax 2 pack

Here’s another sweetheart of a deal from Home Depot. This time it’s 2 for 1 on the perennial best tape measure. Just $20 is all you need for this one. At this price, buy one for yourself and one for your loved one.

Stanley  6-Way Screwdriver

I love this screwdriver. It isn’t one of those fancy 800 in 1 drivers but what’s great about it is that it has the two Philips sizes (#1 and 2) on opposite ends of one bit and the two standard sizes on opposite ends of the other bit. I love these so much that I own 3. Under $5 at ACME Tools.

Gearwrench Micro

I bought this last year as a stocking stuffer for my then 6 year old son (on a recommendation from my buddy Stuart). It’s a good quality, compact kit with most of the sizes you may need around your house. It is especially useful on knockdown furniture. I bought it for him but I borrow it so much that I should just get my own… and you should too! Just over $16 on Amazon.

Bosch GLM50C LDM

When laser distance measures first came out, I didn’t think they were all that useful outside of estimating. Now I use them quite frequently just to do quick material calculations, or sqft measurements, or heights, or any other measurement that’s longer than my tape. Stan reviewed it a couple years ago and it’s still a great tool. On sale now at ACME Tools for just under $100. 

Measurements can be directly imported into a phone/tablet app for quick layouts

Stiletto 10oz Hammer

Up until this point, all the tools in the gift guide have been on sale or some kind of special holiday deal. Not so much with this hammer, it’s listed at the normal price. So why am I including it? Because it’s the best hammer I’ve ever swung. Sure a hammer’s greatness is pretty subjective based on how it feels to the user but it was our best pick for our finish hammer head to head a few years ago with 6 of 7 of us picking it over the rest of the field. You can get it for about $85 at ACME.

My trusty hammer is a little worse for wear but it stills bangs nails like a champ

Tool Gift Guide – Under $100 Gifts

Kindling Cracker

This cool little tool is something I bought for my dad as a gift a couple years ago. It’s a dead-simple piece of cast iron that you put small logs on top of and whack them with a hammer to get small pieces of kindling. No moving parts and it’s fun to boot! $90 at ACME

Metabo HPT 10″ Miter Saw

Are you or a loved one in need of a miter saw to finish off that honey-do list? Every year ACME has a honey of a deal on this Metabo HPT 10″ miter saw. Is it the greatest miter saw on the planet? No but the price is fantastic for a decent little saw. Don’t believe me? Check out the price and reviews at the following link. $89 at ACME.

Dewalt 20V Blower

I’ve had this blower a couple seasons now and while it’s similar to other blowers on the market, the concentrator nozzle is what makes this one special. Usually this model is around $140. At only $99 at ACME, this is a screaming deal.

Cordless Inflator

Battery-powered inflators have been out for almost a decade on the RYOBI One+ platform. It wasn’t until a couple years ago the Milwaukee and Dewalt also released inflators of their own. An inflator isn’t an everyday tool so get the one that goes with your current battery platform. Either Ryobi ($49 bare tool), Milwaukee ($99 w/battery and charger), or Dewalt ($99 bare tool).

Milwaukee USB Rechargeable Headlamp

As a commercial carpenter, I’m often in low light job sites. One of my most used tools is my hard hat headlamp. It’s usb rechargeable so I just plug in my hardhat to my truck at the end of every day so that it’s ready to go for the next day. I like the milwaukee one not only for the rechargeability but the attachment system is second to none. At 475 lumens, it’s no slouch in the light output either. Home Depot has a screaming deal right now for the headlamp and an additional battery for under $60.

Gearwrench 20pc SAE/Metric Ratcheting Wrenches

Gearwrench was the first company to develop ratcheting wrenches and this 20pc set is about the easiest way to get your hands on them. I’ve bought this set twice over the last couple years. Once for myself and then a set for my dad because I liked mine so much. Ohio Power Tool has a great deal on these wrenches at just over $55.

Here is my wrench drawer with part of the Gearwrench set

Tool Gift Guide – Over $100 Gifts

Milwaukee Packout

I use Packout every day. Almost all of my tools that I bring to the jobsite are in a packout box, bag, or container. Milwaukee was later than some brands to the party but they’ve been blowing the rest out of the water with the shear number of options in the lineup. The gateway for most is the three case stack. If you don’t want to wait, head to your local Home Depot and pick up the stack for $197 plus tax. Otherwise you can grab it at ACME for similar price and free shipping.

The three box stack is a gateway drug to all the other great SKUs in the Packout line, like these bags

Dewalt Tough System 2.0

If your loved one has a penchant for the color yellow instead of red, take a look at the all new Dewalt Tough System 2.0. They took many of the things that frustrated users with the original and fixed them all the while keeping the new ones backwards compatible. A three box stack is similarly priced to the Milwaukee around $200 but is currently $179 at ACME Tools.

Gen 1 can click right onto the 2.0 boxes

Makita Rear-handle Circular Saw

Beast is the word that best describes this saw. Gobs of power, so much so that you may think it’s corded. With the ability to cut through 3x material in one pass, this saw is sure to be a hit with the tradesperson in your life. Right now you can get the saw with 2 additional batteries too so that means you get the saw, charger, a bag, and 4 batteries for $249 at ACME.

Milwaukee Mid-Torque

As Goldilocks said, “This one is just right.” The same is true for the Milwaukee Mid-Torque impact wrench. It has just the right amount of power and finesse for most fasteners. Lug nuts and automotive bolts to lag bolts and screw anchors in concrete. The version I have is gen 1 and it has 600 ft/lbs of nut busting torque. As a bare tool it is $199 at ACME. There’s also a newer version that just came out but that one is $40 more for only 50 ft/lbs of additional torque. Dewalt and Makita both have mid torque offerings as well and they seem really nice but I’ve only used them at media events.

My wrench and ratchet packout box. Mid-Torque is upper right.

Makita Couple Shaft

Hands down the best attachment system I’ve ever used and it appeals to most users because it comes in either gas or battery powerheads and about every attachment imaginable is available for this system. This isn’t something you’re probably going to gift someone (unless you’re married to them and get to benefit from it) but maybe it’s a gift you buy yourself this holiday season. Check out all the options at ACME.

Couple Shaft powerheads are available as X2 battery or 4-stroke gas

2020 Holiday Tool Gift Guide is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Makita Couple Shaft System – Pick Your Power

About 5 years ago, all of my small construction equipment and hand-held outdoor power equipment (OPE) ran on 2-stroke mixed gas. Then in 2016 I got my hands on a new 4-stroke Makita string trimmer and my 2-stroke trimmer started gathering dust. I kept it around though because it was an attachment system. Fast forward to the fall of 2019 and the Makita Couple Shaft attachment system showed up at the homestead. Spoiler alert, the days are numbered for my 2-stroke system.

Makita Couple Shaft – Born Out of Necessity

It goes without saying that urban and rural areas can be vastly different in terms of OPE needs. Different environments need different attachments. Someone in town doesn’t have a need for a brush cutter and someone who lives in the country doesn’t have much need for an edger. A manufacturer, like Makita, has 3 options when it comes to OPE: 1.) Make just the most common items as dedicated equipment, 2.) make everything as a dedicated item, or 3.) make an attachment system that has mass appeal. Makita has chosen a combination of 1 and 3 (like most manufacturers) but what makes them special is that their attachment system is huge. At the time of this post they are up to 13 or so attachments and growing.

Makita – Make All the Things

Like I said, the Makita couple shaft attachment system is huge, up to 13 different attachments currently. It isn’t surprising though considering how vast their 18V LXT line is (over 275 tools). “Make all the things” seems to be their motto when it comes to tools. Even knowing this, I was still surprised when I learned that they had two different power heads available for the couple shaft system. There’s a 4-stroke gas powerhead and also an 18V X2 battery powerhead.

Powerhead Specs – Just The Facts, Ma’am

18V X2 (36V) LXT® Brushless Couple Shaft Power Head – Model XUX01Z

Shaft Type : Multi-tool attachment
No Load Speed (var. 3 spd.) : 0 – 5,700 (Low) / 0 – 8,200 (Med.)/ 0 – 9,700 RPM (High)
Battery : 2X 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion
Net Weight (with battery) : 9.8 lbs.
Price: $269 Bare Tool and $449 Kitted with 2 batteries, a charger, and string trimmer attachment

25.4 cc MM4® 4‑Stroke Couple Shaft Power Head – Model EX2650LH

Engine Displacement (cc) : 25.4 cc
Engine (HP) : 1.1 HP
Max Engine RPM : 9,700 RPM
Power Type : 4-stroke gas
Fuel Type : Unleaded gas
Fuel Tank Capacity : 20.3 oz.
Crank Case Capacity : 2.7 oz.
Dry Weight : 10 lbs.
Price: $349 Bare Tool

Pick Your Power

While the two power heads don’t seem to have much for comparable specs, the important ones to note is that they operate at the same max shaft speed and the weight is pretty much the same. So how does a guy decide which one is best for him? We break it down below to help you decide.

Features and Ergonomics

Gas Power Head

What features could there possibly be on a gas powerhead? Isn’t it just a motor? It is but it’s the subtle features of the motor that really make it shine. It’s a 4-stroke engine so that means no mixed fuel. The oil is easy to check and change too. Additionally there is an automatic decomp making it easier and faster to pull the starter rope. In all honesty, this is the easiest starting piece of OPE I’ve ever used.

As far as ergonomics go, the handle controls are perfectly placed with the lockout automatically depressed when reaching for the trigger and the kill switch right near where the thumb grips the control handle. For a righty, it is perfect placement. Additionally there is a rubber over mold on the handle that makes wielding the tool both comfortable and enjoyable.

Battery Power Head

Talk about simple. The features on the cordless power head arenot many but they really add to the usefulness and durability of the tool. First there are three speeds on the power head. They are labeled turtle to rabbit. This is really useful for extending the run time. Another feature in the useful category is the reverse button. This allows the user to spin the motor (and attachment) backwards. Think about if you got into some really long grass and wrapped it up around the string head. Just hit the reverse button, pull the trigger, and spin the mess right off… definitely useful. And the last major feature is out of the durability category. Makita dubs it XPT or extreme protection technology. That helps protect the motor from dust and water meaning you can use it in the rain and in dusty conditions but don’t store it in a dirt pile or bucket of water.

When it comes to ergonomics, the battery power head has a similar feel to the gas one, the controls are well placed, the weight and balance are about the same, but the handle isn’t the same rubber material as the gas head. It isn’t worse, it’s just different. Part of it is the placement of the buttons and the little electronics pod. It’s like a big bulb in front of your hand where as the gas is a little sleeker design. The control layout on this power head is ambidextrous though unlike the gas.

Power and Performance

Gas Power Head

This motor has been around for a few years it is as smooth as it is powerful. It’s the same motor that I have on the Makita trimmer I’ve been running for four years. It’s easy to start and the power ramps up quickly. It holds around 20 oz of fuel or 2.5 cups. While it doesn’t sound like much, I can get about an hour of use on the string trimmer before it needs a refill. It really is a sipper and it’s relatively quiet too.

As far as power goes, it seems like this attachment system was designed around this motor. And all of them work as well as you would expect on a gas power head. The cultivator and hedge trimmer attachments are particularly well suited for the engine. The gas motor handles a bind situation well and can power through.

Battery Power Head

I’ll be honest, the power and performance of the battery power head was a huge surprise. I wasn’t expecting much out of 36 volts (18V x 2 batteries) or the old 18650 battery cells producing them. I certainly wasn’t expecting them to run the vast array of attachments available. Like I mentioned above, the battery power head has 3 speeds from turtle to rabbit. So not only do the three speeds help you conserve battery power but they also help you dial in the right speed for the attachments. For example, the edger I use almost exclusively on speed 2. It has the perfect amount of power for all but the thickest overgrowth.

With that said though, I still need another set of batteries to get anywhere close to the runtime of a tank of gas. The battery powerhead does run quite a long time if I’m only doing intermittent work but if I’m on it constantly trimming thick grass, it doesn’t have the run time of gas. This is especially noticeable when trimming something like a large run of chainlink fence. My parents have a fenced in dog run out at their 5 acre country yard that’s probably 700 LF of chainlink if I count both sides. If I don’t trim it for a couple weeks, I can blow through a set of batteries just on that fence.

Makita Couple Shaft – Gas VS Electric – Which One To Buy

So how do you decide which one is right for you? First off, both of the powerheads are excellent. They are well built and work extremely well. There are some things to consider though, which may help you decide.

Land Size

The size of the parcel you are working is going to be the deciding factor for many of you. If you have a large area to manage, as in over a couple acres, the gas powerhead is going to be your best bet because of it’s runtime per tank of fuel. If you live in town, the battery unit should have more than enough to cover your yard and everything in it.

Noise

The battery unit is stealth mode quiet. If you live in an area with noise restrictions or quiet hours, take a hard look at the battery powerhead. The only noise you hear while operating is the whoosh of the string, blade, sweeper, etc. It’s so quiet, I run mine while the kids are taking a nap. The gas powerhead on the other hand is quite a bit noisier than the battery unit but it’s still pretty quiet because it’s “sewing machine” smooth due to being a 4-stroke.

Battery Investment

If you’re already heavily invested in the Makita LXT system, it’s almost a no-brainer to add this to the lineup. That’s not to say that if you don’t have a king’s ransom of batteries that you should get the gas unit. If you had 4 batteries, that should last you about as long as a tank of gas depending on what you’re doing.

Applications

Like I mentioned above, some applications are better suited for the different power heads. Some of the attachments are well suited to the different modes (turtle to rabbit) of the battery powerhead. For example, the edger is fantastic on the battery powerhead. It is near perfect on mode/speed 2. The string trimmer also benefits greatly from the 3 modes especially if you’re trimming around softer materials like vinyl siding or tree bark. Turtle speed 1 has just enough head speed to trim the grass without damaging tree bark or breaking vinyl siding.

The cultivator and hedge trimmer are better suited for the gas head. On the battery powerhead, these two attachments can sometimes trigger the motor protection feature which stops the motor in a bind situation. Which is good in theory but can get annoying in practice if you’re trying to till up a stubborn planting bed or trim up a bush with some larger main branches. The gas powerhead has a clutch that keeps the motor running in a bind.

So What Do You Think?

So what do you think about these two powerheads and the Makita Couple Shaft system? Which one do you think is better for your application? Are you gas user for life or have you switched over to battery power? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. We would love to hear about your own applications and experience.

Makita Couple Shaft System – Pick Your Power is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Hiniker Snow Plow Factory Tour

Last spring we had the opportunity to visit Hiniker Snow Plow. They’re a midwest manufacturer of small Ag equipment, light truck and skid steer snow plows, and salting equipment. We were visiting them in April and were coming out of one of the longest winters I can remember. There was still plenty of snow on the ground and no one had started digging holes yet to get the construction season started.

That winter had started in October and lasted until April. It was long, cold, and snowy. It was all the things that hinder construction in that season. We had a ton of snow and cold days for our outside work that winter. It really got me thinking about ways that contractors can supplement their income during the winter. One of the best ways is obviously snow removal so that’s why we headed to a plow manufacturer to see the operations first hand.

Why Hiniker Snow Plow

So why did we choose to take a look at a Hiniker Snow Plow? A number of years ago (like the 80s and 90s), Western used to be the go to brand around these parts (Minnesota). That was about all anyone had. My friends that had large lots to plow did it with Western. Then a new small manufacturer, Hiniker, started showing up. To be honest I don’t remember why they started taking over from the Western but I’m guessing it was because they just wanted to build a better plow that addressed user frustrations and made plowing easier and better. That’s the approach they take today when building plows, make a better plow. One that works better, is easier to mount, and easier to operate.

Easier To Mount

Remember back in the 80’s and 90’s? Trucks with snowplows had the mount, lights, and hydraulics permanently mounted to the truck. I don’t know who made the first quick mount but I know they changed the game for plow operators. Ever since then, mounts have been getting better. I tell you what though, I’ve never seen one easier than the Hiniker Quick-Hitch. In fact, the manufacturer claims it’s the fastest in the industry.

The benefit of a quick connecting/disconnecting mount is that you can take the plow off between events and thereby saving the wear and tear on the suspension and drivetrain of the plow truck. The mount is naturally in two pieces, the mount which contains the plow and then the truck forks. The forks are semi-permanently installed on the vehicle and is the structural component that the mounts lock into. Check out the video to see just how easy the Quick-Hitch system is. Seriously, it’s so quick.

Connect/Disconnect Video From Hiniker Snow Plow

Easier To Operate

Current Western/Fisher Controller

If you’ve operated a plow for any length of time, you probably pine for a time when controlling a plow was just a joystick/lever with 4 positions, up, down, left, and right. Those of you with straight plows are still enjoying the glory days of 4 positions but for the rest of you, have you seen a v-plow controller lately? The number of buttons is getting out of hand. A few manufacturers have up to 9 buttons on their V-plow controllers. That can get downright confusing until you get a ton of seat time. Training in a new operator? It’s going to be a long night for them looking down at the button layout every time they want to change positions.

Hiniker’s V-plow controller is a 4 position joystick and 2 buttons. The standard up, down, left, right are on the joystick and scoop and V are the two buttons. If you’re more used to airplane style controls where going down on the stick makes the nose go up, you can open up the controller and rotate the stick. To make things better, the plastic placard also flips over to represent the new control layout. Below is a quick video from Hiniker on flipping or replacing the joystick.

Talk To The Dealer

It’s one thing to read about a piece of equipment like a snowplow online but don’t take my word for it. Stop into your local Hiniker snow plow dealer (dealer locator) and try one for yourself. Hold the controller in your hand, check out the mount, inspect the build quality of the plow itself. A plow can be a big investment and you need to be sure it’s going to meet your needs. You’re not only vetting the plow, but the dealer as well. The dealer is your lifeline when it comes to parts and service of your plow. If you’re using a plow to supplement your income as a contractor in the winter months, you need a dealer that can help you fast.

Do you plow? Tell us about it in the comments

Have you ever plowed snow before? What plow did you run? What did you like or dislike about it? How was the dealer in supporting you? Let us know in the comments.

Hiniker Snow Plow Factory Tour is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Bosch Tools World of Concrete Highlights 2020

The first week of February 2020, we attended the World of Concrete trade show in Las Vegas. Every year the show is just enormous taking up the entire convention center and outdoor lots. There are tons of new products, equipment, and of course tools. The show only lasts 4 days and that isn’t enough time to see all of the innovations in the concrete and masonry industries. The tool manufacturers in the outdoor lots are always the big draw for us. The Bosch Tools booth was particularly impressive this year with a number of new and noteworthy introductions.

Revolve Rotary Lasers

Upon first entering the Bosch Tools booth, the first thing we saw were the 3 new rotary lasers, dubbed Revolve. They come in 1000, 2000, and 4000′ options. Now I’ve had a ton of experience on the old Bosch GRL 500, it’s my current rotary laser, but there were some things that bugged me about it. This new line of lasers addresses those issues and then piles on additional features.

First they come in multiple ranges so a contractor can pick the laser that meets their needs and budget. Second, all of them are available in a V variant meaning they can be used on their sides as a vertical laser. In fact they can be mounted on the tripod on their side. This is great for straightening long runs of walls. And third, all of the lasers can change batteries while leaving them on the tripod and the 4000 can use a core battery or D-cell batteries.

Revole 4000

So let’s talk about the flagship of the Revolve line, the Revolve 4000. This has an impressive 4000′ range and can run off of the Bosch Tools 18V Core battery or a 4 D-cell adapter. It has an IP 68 rating meaning they can withstand dust, dirt, and debris and can be submerged to 1.5m for up to 30 minutes. If it’s pouring down rain, this laser won’t let any water in. It has dual slope that’s perfect for grading applications. It can be connected to an app on your smart phone where the unit can be powered on/off, dialed in slope, or the best part uCal.

uCal stands for user calibration, meaning that you don’t have to send the laser off to the service center to get calibrated. You can do it yourself right in the field. This is huge! I can’t tell you the number of times my guys have tipped over another brand laser on the job and off to the service center it has to go. The company I used to work for kept two spares around just for this reason.

Bosch Tools X-Lock

The next impressive thing we saw at the Bosch Tools booth was the X-Lock grinder accessories interface. We first got a look at X-Lock at STAFDA but it was great to see how many different wheels are available for the interface. X-Lock is so easy and simple that the first time you see it in action you can’t help but say to yourself… “now why didn’t I think of that?!” Just push the wheel on, click, and go. To remove just pull the leaver and the wheel drops right off.

The best thing about X-Lock though is that Bosch is licensing it to other companies. Not just accessory companies but some other tool manufacturers. Did you know Bosch also created the SDS interface in rotary hammers? Mark my words, X-Lock will soon be the standard for grinders.

Cordless Track Saw

Last year when Bosch released their corded track saw to the North American market, people were saying two things. The first was how smooth it was. The second was why isn’t it cordless?! Well now the smoothest saw on the market has gone cordless. We don’t have a ton of details on it yet but it will be available this year.

The saw, model GKT18V 20GC, runs off of a single Bosch Core battery and fits all of their existing track on the market as well as a number of other brand’s tracks. The blade is 5-1/2″ inches in diameter which at first seems like a huge negative but we’re speculating that the size is due to being powered by one 18 volt battery instead of other brands that may use 2 batteries/higher voltage. If you’re speculating that this blade size may be hard to find, remember that Bosch owns Freud/Diablo so you can bet this size will be on the shelf at your local Frued/Diablo dealer or Home Depot. We’ll be sure to update when we have more details but also be on the lookout for our cordless tracksaw head to head sometime late spring or summer.

Bosch Tools Core Batteries

With more and more Bosch tools cutting the cord, the batteries are at the center of this movement. At the show we saw the all new Core 12 ah battery. This is the biggest battery that Bosch makes and includes fifteen 21700 li-ion cells.

While large batteries like this help to power large draw tools like rotary hammers and circular saws, they also can take quite a long time to charge. Bosch is combating this issue by releasing in the US market the Hell-ion charger. The Hell-ion, model GAL18V-160C, is a 16 amp, air-cooled fast charger. At 16 amps, this charger can charge the new 12.0 battery in 55 minutes. That’s fast. The charger has a power boost mode which means that it can partial charge a battery at a faster rate. This mode can charge a 4.0 battery to 50% in 9 minutes and an 8.0 battery to 50% in 15 minutes. That’s smoking fast.

18V Flexi-Click

One of the best surprises at the Bosch Tools booth was the 18V FlexiClick 5-in-1 Drill/Driver System. The 12V has been out for a few years and has proved to be a very valuable tool for drilling and driving in hard to reach places. Now that same functionality is available in the Bosch 18 volt platform. TheBosch GSR18V-535FCB15 is a compact brushless drill body that weighs in at only 2.1 lbs without the battery. Despite it’s small size it still has plenty of power with 535 in/lb of torque. The kit comes the drill body, a 4 ah core battery, a charger, a bag, a right angle, offset, and straight chucks.

At first glance the new 18V looks very similar to the 12V but the 18V has an ace up its sleeve. To quote the late Billy Mays, “But wait there’s more!” The new 18V has an optional SDS-plus attachment that’s sold separately that allows the FlexiClick to be used as a small rotary hammer. The attachment is model number GFA18-H and will be available shortly for $99.

The new FlexiClick is available now though from Acme Tools for $299 kitted and that includes the drill body, case, charger, 4.0 core battery, right angle, offset, and straight chucks.

Video Highlights

That’s A Wrap

That’s all from the Bosch Tools booth this year. So what are you most looking forward from Bosch this year? Let us know in the comments!

Bosch Tools World of Concrete Highlights 2020 is a post from Tool Box Buzz

DEWALT Tools World of Concrete Highlights 2020

We recently had the privilege of attending the World of Concrete 2020 show. It’s held every year in either January or the first week of February and it includes all things in the fields of concrete and masonry. This show is so huge that it takes up the entire Las Vegas Convention Center including the outdoor lots. The biggest draw it seems is always the tool manufacturers including DEWALT tools. Here are the highlights from this year’s DEWALT tools booth.

Toughest of the Tough

The first thing we checked out at the DEWALT Tools booth was the Tough System 2.0 with the biggest update being latches. Latches on the front, latches on the side, and latches on top.

First, the stamped steel latches from the original tough system have been replaced with a much beefier injection molded piece that has a much more positive and robust feel.

Second, the side latches have been updated as well. The new latches feature a quick connect design that allows them to automatically snap into place when a case is set into them. What’s awesome though is that they are fully compatible with the original tough system cases. An old case can be put anywhere into the stack, it’s fantastic backwards compatibility.

Third, DEWALT added a little pop-up T latch on the lids of the new boxes. This allows the new half size organizers to click into place.

DEWALT Tough System 2.0 is keeping the good parts of the first iteration and fixing the things that needed fixing. And the best part is that it’s completely backwards compatible. These updates are coming Q2 of 2020.

Rounding Out the Team

DEWALT had 3 cordless SDS Max rotary hammers in the FlexVolt system but there was a small hole in the middle of the lineup. At World of Concrete we were introduced to the newest member of the DEWALT tools FlexVolt SDS Max family, the 1-3/4″ DCH614. When Ricky (the product manager) starting showing off the tool and telling us how much effort and thought went into this new tool, a quote from Iron Man 3 ran through my head…

I’m pleased to announce the imminent arrival of your bouncing, bad-ass, baby brother. – Robert Downey Jr playing Tony Stark

What makes this tool great is that it fits in the “goldilocks zone” of the lineup. It has the capacity of taking care of most contractor needs while still be affordably priced. It’s quick stats are 10.5 joules of impact energy, 380 rpm, ~15 lbs, 1-second sync wireless tool control, and optimized for 5/8″ through 1-1/4″ holes. Coming in at $899 kitted and $599 bare, DEWALT now has SDS Max hammers at $799, 899, 999, and 1099 so a contractor is sure to find a tool that makes the most sense for their work.

Other Notables from DEWALT Tools

The SDS Max hammer wasn’t the only cool thing we saw in FlexVolt though. The new cordless pipe threader was there along with the new inline stud and joist drill. The S&J drill comes in a regular or quick chuck. We also got try out the FlexVolt Mixer/Drill. While this tool isn’t that new, it’s the first we got to try it and it has some power. If you have to mix up bag mix concrete, thinset, drywall mud, SLC, etc.,  check this drill out. It can mix up to nine, 5 gal pails of concrete per charge on a 6 ah battery.

The biggest introduction though was the new 12 amp fast charger, the DCB1112. It can charge the largest battery DEWALT makes, a 12 Ah FlexVolt battery, in one hour. That means that any of the rest of their battery sizes will charge in much less time than that.

Grinder Cutting Dust Shroud

DEWALT also introduced two new grinder cutting dust shrouds for both 7″ and 4-1/2″/5″ grinders. The Grinder Cutting Dust Shrouds feature an adjustable shoe to provide easy depth-of-cut adjustment and multiple windows for blade visibility. The plunging system helps improve dust collection when starting and finishing the cut.

• DWE46127 7 in. (180mm) Grinder Cutting Dust Shroud
• DWE46125 4-1/2 in. / 5 in. (115mm / 125mm) Cutting Grinder Dust Shroud

New Grinder Shrouds

That’s a Wrap

They had a few other things that were new but it’s hard to fit them all into one summary article. If there’s something you saw in our social feeds or other avenues that you think are useful and noteworthy, let us know in the comments.

Dewalt NEW Tools for 2020 Video Preview

Note: Coverage of the World of Concrete booth was sponsored by DEWALT.

DEWALT Tools World of Concrete Highlights 2020 is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Milwaukee New Product Symposium 2019 Highlights NPS19

Earlier this month we had the privilege of attending Milwaukee Tool’s annual media event dubbed NPS19. We’ve gone a number of times in the past and have posted similar articles to this one. This is basically a highlight reel from our instagram feed for those of you that were too busy building cool stuff to follow along in real-time. Following along on social while an event like this is going on is like drinking from a firehose. You get enough to drink but there was sure a lot of water that you missed too. Consider this post a slow sipper.

Some of the notable items were the M12 Surge, new cordless framing nailer, cordless rear handle circular saw, 12″ cordless miter, and a router. Sure those are mostly carpenters tools but they had a lot of impressive things at NPS19 in plumbing, automotive, safety, and many other areas. What was different about this year is that they didn’t show us all of the tools, just the ones relevant to TBB readers. Most of you are carpenters so we saw carpentry, safety, lighting, packout, accessories, and automotive.

Tells us your highlights

With that said, I’m sure there are a number of tools in the other breakouts that would be useful to you. If there’s something that you saw in NPS coverage and you think we should know about it, let us know in the comments. If nothing else, tell us how that tool helps you solve a problem.

So what tools impressed you at NPS19 this year? What tool is at the top of your wish list? Tell us in the comments, we would love to hear about it.

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Milwaukee New Product Symposium 2019 Highlights NPS19 is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Craftsman V60 Outdoor Power Equipment

By Ben Carmichael

As a homeowner, I take pride in maintaining my property. Part lawn, part garden, with a healthy
amount of woods and bushes along the perimeter, I have always looked for outdoor power equipment
that meet two simply requirements: they don’t require an extension cord, but they deliver reliable
power.

That’s why I’ve enjoyed working with new Craftman v60 line of outdoor power equipment for
maintaining my property. They have proven to be strong, effective, and reliable over my time of
testing. Plus, I think they look good too — which, given my house is on the corner of two busy
roads, is a welcome plus!

Craftsman V60 Overview

All of the tools I tested were on the new Craftsman v60 system, relying on rechargeable lithium
ion 2.5 AH batteries. These tools are new for 2019, and include:

• V60 Cordless Brushless Axial Blower
• V60 Cordless 16 inch Brushless Chainsaw
• V60* Cordless 15 inch Brushless Weedwhacker String Trimmer with Quickwind Kit

Initial Impressions

Upon unboxing, I had two initial impressions of these Craftsman tools: they are light, and they
look great. The former is more important than the latter, of course, but still: you want to use
something with confidence, and design matters.
The only tool that required any assembly was the string trimmer, and that was a breeze.
Initial impressions upon unboxing were very strong.

Testing in the field

Ergonomically, all of these tools feel good and well balanced in the hand. The handles all come
equipped with a soft rubber that feel good when handling, and dampens some of the vibration.
The weedwacker is extremely well balanced, for instance, as is the chainsaw — both handled
easily, and without trouble.

This might see like a small note, but the shape of the handles themselves are also quite well
thought out. They are shaped to fit your hand in a way that reflects considerable thought and
design. I give kudos to the team on this front.

I also found the tools in this entire new suite of V60 to be very light and yet sufficiently powerful
for my uses. For instance, the Brushless Axial Blower cleared leaves leftover from the fall from
around my stonewall with a breeze. It was strong enough to lift them out of the stone wall itself
as well. In other words, these tools don’t sacrifice power in exchange for weight.

Craftsman V60 Improvables

After using these tools for a few weeks, I found the improvables to be only in the details.
For instance, on the axial blower, there is a small dial on the side that is labeled “Hi – Lo”. When
you turn it, you find it’s actually simply a cruise control setting — one that allows you to take your
finger off of the trigger. This is a great feature, and could only be improved by labeling as it as
what it is.

I also found the shape of the weedwacker guard to be an odd shape — and one that, when I was
using it, didn’t give me a lot of confidence it was going to do the kind of blocking and tackling I
would hope. A slightly larger guard wouldn’t add considerable weight but would add peace of
mind — at least, it would to mine.

I did time how long the 2.5 AH battery lasted, and in using the blower non-stop it lasted
approximately 15 minutes. This could be improved by upgrading the battery, which Craftsman
offers. They offer 2.0, 5.0, and 7.5 AH batteries.

Final thoughts

For my needs, these are a perfect fit. We have a large yard, and growing gardens. They have
helped me maintain the lawn edges, remove trees, and clear debris easily. They are light
enough to keep fatigue at bay, powerful enough to do what I want, look good, and are made by
an American company with almost a century of experience under their belt. That’s all I possibly
ask for.

Where To Buy

Specifications:

Craftsman V60 Cordless Brushless Axial Blower

• Air Speed: 110 MPH
• Air volume (cubic feet per minute): 600 CFM
• Brushless
• Weight. 5.6 lbs

Craftsman V60 Cordless 16 inch Brushless Chainsaw

• Bar Length 16 in
• Tool-Free Chain Tensioning YES
• Oiling Automatic rpm
• Weight 12.4 lbs
• Weight without Batteries 9.8 lbs
• Chain Pitch 3/8 in
• Guage 0.043
• UL Safety Listing YES
• CSA Safety Listing YES

Craftsman V60 Cordless 15 inch Brushless Weedwacker String Trimmer with Quickwind Kit

• Rpm 0 – 5200 / 0 – 6200 rpm
• Cutting Swath 15 in
• Line Diameter .080/.095 in
• Feed Type Bump Feed
• Number of Speeds 2
• Number of Lines 2
• Weight 10.2 lbs
• Weight without Batteries 7.6 lbs
• Replacement Accessories CMZST260H
• UL Safety Listing YES
• CSA Safety Listing YES

Craftsman V60 Outdoor Power Equipment is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Milwaukee M12 Surge – Inventing A Unicorn

The tale of the M12 Surge… Join me in my time machine for a moment if you will and lets wind the clock back three years. The year is 2016 and the M18 Surge has just hit the market. I remember when it first came out thinking, “How great can this tool really be?” and “Are impacts really that loud?” I imagine a lot of other tradesmen had similar thoughts. It wasn’t until the videos started hitting social media that I knew I needed to get my hands on one as well.

Then came the true moment of realization when I finally got one and used it for the first time. It’s like the tool just willed the screws into the wood. I mean, I was used to all the noise and rattling with a regular impact, the Surge just didn’t have that. I’m sure a lot of other tradesmen had the same realization. I know they did because I started to see less and less impacts come out on the jobsite except for particularly long or difficult fasteners.

It also didn’t take long for guys to start longing for an M12 version. If driving fasteners can be this nice on M18, why can’t it be for guys on M12? After all, they’re the ones reaching into the small, confined spaces to drive fasteners. As the next couple years went by what once seemed like a pipe dream now started becoming that tool that contractors asked for on the regular.

The Wait Is Over

Finally the red team in Wisconsin has heard our pleas and has delivered the M12 Surge. It is as you would expect from a M12 driver, it’s light and compact but not toy like. It has the pod style battery that is a signature of M12. Putting the batteries in the handle (unless you’re running an XC pack) helps contribute to the tools ability to get into small spots.

Give Me The Deets

So what makes this thing special besides being small? It is 2x quieter than a normal impact. It has the same 450 in-lbs of torque as its M18 brother. M12 Surge has 4 driving modes like any of the other fuel offerings and one of those modes is a tek screw mode that’s perfect for steel stud or other tin applications. It only weighs 2 lbs. It fits in your tool bags. The surge has less vibration than normal impacts. Faster driving speeds for small to medium fasteners. The list of benefits just goes on and on.

How Do I Get In On This Action – Where to buy the M12 Surge

The tool doesn’t start shipping until the middle of August but you can preorder from the following retailers.

Milwaukee M12 Surge – Inventing A Unicorn is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Milwaukee Chainsaw Review

Back in June of 2018 we got our first look at the Milwaukee Chainsaw. It was at NPS18 and it was the first demonstration of the day. They paired the M18 Fuel Chainsaw up against a Stihl MS170, an entry level gas saw. And what do you know, the Milwaukee kicked the crap out of it. Now I’ve been a gas saw user for just about my whole life, I was instantly skeptic of the demo. My first thought was how I can replicate the demo using my own saws.

Fast forward almost a year and I’ve had plenty of time to use the Milwaukee chainsaw right along side my gas saws. What I’ve come to realize is that both kinds of saws have their place. It just depends on what kind of work you need to do.

Milwaukee Chainsaw Features and Specifications

Small enough to fit in the cab of the skid loader

• 16 in. Oregon Bar and Chain (R56)
• POWERSTATE Brushless Motor provides the power and performance of a gas engine up to 40CC.
• REDLITHIUM High Output HD 12.0 Ah Battery Pack: Provides 50% more power and runs 50% cooler versus standard REDLITHIUM HD packs
• Variable speed trigger for full control
• Dual-stud for improved bar and chain retention
• Automatic oiler for proper chain lubrication and increased productivity
• Onboard storage for included scrench
• Compatible with 175+ M18 solutions
• 3 year tool and 3 year battery warranty
• Includes: (1) M18 FUEL 16 in. chainsaw, (1) REDLITHIUM high output HD12.0 battery pack, (1) M18 and M12 rapid charger, (1) 16 in. Oregon bar and chain, (1) scrunch

What’s Great About The Milwaukee Chainsaw

First, it feels like a gas powered saw. It has a half wrap front handle and an extended back handle that is very usable even with gloves on. It has metal felling dogs unlike the plastic ones found on competitive battery powered saw. The chain brake works like a chain brake on a gas saw.

Milwaukee looks and feels like a typical gas saw.

Second, the saw is a pretty quick little unit. It reaches full throttle in a second but that’s the nature of an electric motor. An electric motor has 100% of available torque at 0RPM. It also spins at 6,600 RPM. That’s the motor RPM, not the chain RPM.

Third, the saw also uses standard off the shelf bar and chain size. It uses a 16″ Oregon bar with an R56 chain. That means it is .043″ gauge semi-chisel with 56 drivers. I was able to find the R56 chain for $5 cheaper than the same Milwaukee packaged chain. This is also pretty much the same chain as the Stihl PMM3. If you’re having trouble sourcing a chain locally, have your Stihl dealer make you a PMM3 loop with 56 links.

Standard Oregon Bar and Chain

Fourth and perhaps most important, the saw is compatible with any M18 battery. It can run on any of them but runs best with any of the new high-output batteries using the 21700 li-ion cells. The M18 is the power source of this saw meaning there is no gas/oil mix to keep fresh.

Things That Bug Me About This Saw

Corded, battery, and small gas saws pretty much all run a low profile, narrow kerf, low-kickback chain. They have to or they wouldn’t have enough power to be all that useful. With these small chains though, they are less forgiving of a pinch situation. I’ve pinched and thrown the chain on this saw more than I like to admit. When using a narrow chain, you really have to pay attention to the way the log or branch is going to fall/twist towards the end of the cut. If Milwaukee could get a little more juice out of this unit, enough to run a wider chain, this saw would have a broader appeal.

Extremely narrow kerf chain. Metal chain catch for when you toss a chain.

The other thing that bugs me is the way the saw shuts down when overloaded. As a heavy gas saw user, I’m used to leveraging the saw into the wood and feeling for that bog down point. With a gas saw if I push too hard the chain may slow or stop but let off a little and it keeps right on cutting. With the Milwaukee if I push too hard, it shuts off and I have to pull the battery out and put it back in. It needs an audio or visual cue that I’m driving the spurs too hard.

Milwaukee Chainsaw Is A Home Run

So despite the things that bug me, this saw is a home run as long as it is in the right application. So what are some right applications? Utility work, small storm cleanup/light home use, urban tree trimming, and carpentry are where this saw really shines.

Utility/Linemen

This is the best application for this saw. Milwaukee already makes a ton of tools, cordless and hand, that are designed for Utility and linemen. Mount a scabbard to the side of the cherry picker bucket and this saw will always be right where it’s most useful. I have a friend who is a purchaser for the local electric co-op and he was outfitting every truck with one of these saws just for trimming utility poles.

Small Storm Cleanup/Light Home Use

This saw is perfect for the infrequent chainsaw user. Need to clean up some limbs or small trees that blew down in a storm? This is your saw. Is your gas saw always in for service because you don’t use it frequently enough to keep the gas fresh? This is your saw. One battery probably won’t cut it though unless you don’t have much work to do.

Urban Tree Trimming

One of the best things about a cordless saw is that they are so quiet. This is important in an urban setting. This saw isn’t for a tree removal service but for someone who does trimming and pruning. For example, a city employee who shapes and prunes the trees in the city parks would find this saw perfect for their work.

Carpentry

A chainsaw isn’t an everyday tool on a construction site. For instance, it is used for cutting timber framing, TJIs, shoring timbers, and other things that need a depth of cut larger than a circular saw. The Milwaukee chainsaw is perfect for these tasks because it uses the same M18 battery that a lot of other job site tools use and its just grab and go.

Final Thoughts

While the gas saws will dominate the woods for the foreseeable future, there is still a huge place for battery powered saws like the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Chainsaw. Milwaukee’s first attempt at a cordless chainsaw produced a very useful, very compatible, and very fast saw. Many chainsaw users will find this saw extremely useful for their work.

Milwaukee Chainsaw Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Skilsaw Table Saw – Which One To Get?

Back at the end of 2015, Skilsaw announced the first ever worm-drive table saw (SPT 70WT-22). Before that no one had ever had that geartrain in a table saw let alone a job site saw. Then just about 2 years later the brand announced another table saw (SPT 99-12) also with worm drive but this one was touted to be more powerful than the first one. So how do you decide which Skilsaw table saw to get? We’ll break it all down for you.

What’s A Worm Drive?

Let’s start with the basics… what’s a worm drive? A worm drive is a gear train that has the motor at 90 degrees to the output. To achieve this, a worm with spiral teeth meshes with a worm gear or wheel. To contrast this, a sidewinder or direct drive saw uses spur gears which are straight toothed and the input and output are inline.

So what’s the benefit to worm vs spur? In a saw this translates to greater torque in the worm drive set up. This can also mean a larger footprint and mass though. The size and weight matters if you’re using a circular saw overhead but less so in a table saw. In a table saw application, power is usually one of the most important factors. Additionally, the worm gear configuration allows a greater depth of cut. That’s a big plus in a table saw.

The Contenders

Like I mentioned above, Skilsaw now has two worm drive table saws. The portable SPT 70WT-22 and the heavy-duty SPT 99-12. The SPT XX is for the series motor that’s in the saw and the last digit is for the saw blade. A two is for a Diablo blade vs a one which would be a stock blade.

Skilsaw Table Saw Similarities

Most importantly, both saws offer the legendary Skilsaw worm drive geartrain. This makes for a quieter and more powerful saw. This also allows for a 3-5/8″ depth of cut. Pair that with a Diablo ripping blade and both saws can just hog through the wood.

• Worm Drive
• 10″ Diablo Ripping Blade
• 3 in 1 safety guard – riving knife, anti kickback pawls, and blade guard
• All saw and safety parts store inside saw frame
• 15A 110V
• 3-5/8″ Depth of Cut
• Upfront Controls – Power, depth, bevel, and fence levers and dials are all right on the front
• Bevel -1 to 46 degrees
• Optional Zero Clearance Insert

Skilsaw Table Saw Differences

The rack and pinion fence on the SPT 99 is one of the biggest differences between the two. It is very similar to the Dewalt fence and locks very tight with the flick of a lever. It is still highly adjustable when released though. In fact, I usually just grab the fence and pull it to the right mark, it’s faster than spinning the dial. This fence also offers greater rip capacity at 30-1/2″ vs 25″

One of the other huge differences between the two is the stand. The stand on the SPT 70 is a compact little fold up unit. The stand on the SPT 99 is also a fold up unit but is permanently attached to the saw. It offers support for sheet goods while cutting as well as the most generous wheels of any tool stand I’ve ever used. At 16″ they’ll roll up an over any job site debris you may encounter and even work really well on stairs. The stand is awesome but it is big.

With the different motors in the saws, a 70 series vs a 99 series motor, I would think there would be a difference in power but to be honest it isn’t noticeable. They both had no issue with full depth rip cuts in a chunk of red oak dunnage.

Decision Time

So which one do you get? Think about the features that are important to you. If you work out of a pickup or small trailer, the SPT 70 and its tiny storage footprint should be on your radar. You’ll have to carry it though and deal with a lesser fence. The fence isn’t bad, it just isn’t as nice as the rack and pinion. The saw isn’t that heavy either, just 49 lbs. It’s an easy one arm carry for just about any tradesperson.

This saw is a great addition to the jobsite.

If you work on gnarly job sites or have to go up and down stairs a lot, the SPT 99 should be on your short list. The wheels on the stand are the biggest of any in the industry. Also, the fence is right on par with the Dewalt, often considered one of the best on any job site table saw. This saw takes up a ton of space though.

The last thing that may figure into a purchasing decision is the price. The SPT 70 is normally priced around $370-80 and can sometimes be found with a free stand. The SPT99 is usually a few ticks over $500. You’ll have to decide if the fence and wheeled stand are worth the $130 price difference.

(The links above are affiliate links. If you end up purchasing the tool using the link, I get a very small commission. This helps us to keep producing free tool content to all of you.

Skilsaw Table Saw – Which One To Get? is a post from Tool Box Buzz