Power Tool Reviews & News For Professional Tradesmen

DeWalt Tools, Tough in the South Event 2017

Posted by Neil Rankin on August 22nd, 2017

Last week the Coptool crew headed off to Nashville, Tennessee to visit the DeWalt Tough in the South Experience where we got a good look at some of the up and coming DeWalt tools and accessories. We saw some new designs on some classic DeWalt tools that shows their commitment to their users as well as their determination to stay ahead of the game. We were very impressed by some of their advancements in jobsite connectivity technology that reflect the rapidly changing dynamics of jobsite productivity.

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Using a Welding Mask to Watch a Solar Eclipse

Posted by Jay Amstutz on August 19th, 2017

This Monday the 21^st the moon will fully eclipse the sun for a narrow band across the US, during a “complete eclipse” you can actually look at the sun if it’s fully behind the moon without any protection and not be harmed because the sun is completely covered. However if even a tiny sliver of the sun is visible, which will be the case for the other 99.9+% of the country at any given time you will need to wear serious eye protection. You can check out the American Astronomical Society (AAS.org) for legit vendors of “Eclipse Glasses” but it’s not pretty, from their site Note: It is now too late to buy solar viewers in time for August 21st. Virtually all vendors are sold out, whether or not they’re listed as such below. See our pinhole projection page for other ways to enjoy the partial phases of the eclipse.

Good news is this is just another excuse to buy that Iron Man Welding Mask you’ve been thinking about! Unfortunately you probably can’t order anywhere online and have it by Monday but perhaps one of these masks at Home Depot can be ordered for a local pickup this weekend. While there are a wide range of price points for welding masks the important specification to note is mask must be a 12 or 13 shade for sufficient protection from the sun. Darker the better but at 14 you may not be able to see much. Welding Glasses or Dark Green Face Shield rated IR3 or IR5 are not going to be protective enough for staring at the sun and can cause serious eye damage. ***WARNING*** if the auto darkening doesn’t come on and stay on (with no flickering) you are not protected so make sure it works correctly.

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At 10:30 AM | Posted in Safety Equipment | 6 Comments

Confined Spaces – On the Job Safety Tips with Safex

Posted by Jay Amstutz on August 18th, 2017

When working in any confined space there are a wide range of potential hazards and unfortunately has been a source for many worker fatalities in the past. For this reason there are some clear processes and procedure OSHA requires anytime some is going to enter a Confined Space. We have limited knowledgeable in this area but it is a very important topic which seems to raise a lot of questions, so we took a field trip to the Safex Training Facility to get a little better understanding of what processes, procedure, regulation and equipment are involved with working in confined spaces. Continue reading →

At 11:39 AM | Posted in FallTech, Safety Equipment | Leave a comment

Diamond Edge Cutting Wheels Head to Head

Posted by Jay Amstutz on August 18th, 2017

Special Thanks to The Jimbo Slice Workshop for this Guest Post, some great info we think many will find useful!!!

For years we have been using bonded cutting wheels for our metal cutting needs, and for years we’ve understood their limitation and danger. A rotation disc at 13,000 rpms that could explode at any minute. Not only can they break up and hurt users and people standing by, they don’t really last that long. Continue reading →

At 9:21 AM | Posted in Comparison Tests, Freud / Diablo, Lenox Tools, Milwaukee | Leave a comment

Skilsaw Recip Saw SPT44A with BUZZKILL Technology

Posted by Jay Amstutz on August 17th, 2017

We have been very impressed with the new SKILSAW professional brand and their departure from the cheaper Skil Tools we were seeing in the market. They have really been creative in utilizing the tried and true Wormdrive motor to expand to high quality metal saws, table saws, larger circular saws and a handful of other nice circular saws all paired with high quality Diablo Blades. This new reciprocating aka “BUZZKILL” saw SPT44A ($99) is their first branch away from a circular saw platform but we are guessing this is the first of many under their new leadership.

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At 3:37 PM | Posted in Skil Tools | Leave a comment

Milwaukee M18 Tower Light 2120-20 ONE-KEY IP67

Posted by Zach Hamner on August 17th, 2017

Milwaukee has continued to drive their innovation efforts, by launching a new ONE-KEY M18 Rocket Tower Light 2120-20 ($599) & 2120-22HD ($899) check them out for pre-sale, shipping in October. This new product features their ONE-KEY technology, three-stage adjustable leg design, IP67 and can be adjusted to a height of 65″. The IP67 rating means it’s waterproof up to 3′ and completely sealed, clearly that level of durability adds to the price tag which maybe over built for many people’s budgets but that’s why Milwaukee has so many M18 Lighting solutions for every price point. Compare to the Streamlight Scene Light or Pelican 9480 or Pelican 9430 and the price is inline for the application. We are very interested to learn more about this prodcut ourselves and get to see a demo, in the meantime the full Milwaukee M18 Rocket Tower Light press release is below. Continue reading →

At 11:29 AM | Posted in Cordless Tools, Milwaukee | Leave a comment

Milwaukee M12 Micro-USB, Car Charger or Solar Power Source

Posted by Jay Amstutz on August 15th, 2017

For many years Milwaukee has offered the ability to use their batteries to charge your phone via USB. The current M12 Power Source 49-24-2310 ($27) and M18 Power Source 49-24-2371 ($30) are quickly becoming a staple for pros that have Milwaukee batteries as a great way to charge their devices on the go. This new M12 Power Source Micro-USB 48-59-1202 ($49) goes 1 step further and allows you to charge any M12 Battery on the go. Continue reading →

At 4:42 PM | Posted in Cordless Tools, Milwaukee | Leave a comment

Metabo Factory Tour & New Tools in Germany!

Posted by OzToolTalk - Dwain on August 11th, 2017

Coptool and oztooltalk bumped into each other recently whilst visting Metabo headquarters in Nürtingen, Germany. The two day tour included the production line, showroom and tool testing facility.

After a presentation from the CEO, who’s technical knowledge of their battery technology surprised me, we headed straight for the production line. The first surprise for me was that Metabo produce almost every part in the facility. Smelting and moulding of steel and aluminium, plastic moulding, precision milling and bending, and assembly are all done on the same grounds.

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At 3:55 PM | Posted in Cordless Tools, Metabo Tools | 2 Comments

Makita 10″ Sliding Compound Miter Saws LS1019L (corded) & XSL06Z (cordless)

Posted by Neil Rankin on August 7th, 2017

Makita has always been a strong name in miter saws, and this year they are releasing two new competitors in the ring that will be sure to impress. We got our hands on the two new saws at the 2017 Makita New Products event and were able to get some live demos before they hit the shelves.

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At 5:23 PM | Posted in Cordless Tools, Makita Tools, Wood Working Tools | Leave a comment

Milwaukee 2017-2018 GRIDIRON Work Gear

Posted by Neil Rankin on August 4th, 2017

Milwaukee Heated Work Gear & Now Milwaukee Non-Heated Work Gear have been a huge success from what we have seen in the past couple years. We’ve seen them make some pretty big innovations in work wear, and they seem to step up the quality and functionality almost ever year. This year, Milwaukee has taken some tips from workers in the field, heard their frustrations with cold weather work clothes, and delivered an impressive new lineup of hard-hitting cold weather gear for Milwaukee fans everywhere.