January 2009 Archives - CopTool - Power Tool Reviews & News Blog

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January 30, 2009

Around the World: Milwaukee Laser Tools?

Checking out the Milwaukee websites for Europe I came across the Milwaukee Laser Range Finder LM60. This looks like a similar tool to the Bosch DLR165K range finder. The 60 meter range on this tool is just slightly more than the Bosch 165 feet range, at about 195 feet if my math is right. I would think if it’s successful in Europe it will make its way state side although there has been no mention of this tool so it would not be within the first half of this year.

Below is the official press release from Milwaukee in Europe:

Laser device for higher precision - Milwaukee LM60 makes measuring simpler, faster and more precise

Skilled craftsmen only achieve perfect working results if they have taken precise measurements in the planning phase. The common measuring methods using a folding rule or an ultrasonic device are awkward and often imprecise. The LM60 laser device from heavy-duty manufacturer Milwaukee makes things easier, enabling distance, areas and room volume to be exactly measured indoors and outdoors.

With just one turn of the hand the device is ready to take measurements. Even if the distances to be measured are long, for example in buildings under construction, only one person is needed to carry out the measurements. The device measures distances up to 60 metres with accuracy of +/- 1,5 millimetres. By comparison, conventional ultrasonic measurement devices are 50 times less precise and will only measure up to 15 metres.

The measurement result is immediately shown on the large, clearly laid out display, and built-in illumination enables results also to be read in the dark. What’s more, the Milwaukee LM60 shows the measurements in the metric system or in inches. Indirect measurements can be made using the device or individual measurements added. If, for example, the entire floor area of an apartment or house has to be measured the addition function makes it easy to quickly total up the various measurements of the individual rooms.

Thanks to its compact design the LM60 is ideal for measuring places which are difficult to access. The laser beam takes precise measurements in the smallest corners. Furthermore, the LM60 is suitable for use outdoors. The laser dot and targeting assistance make it possible to precisely hit the desired targets even at a considerable distance. The robust housing is totally rubber dust protected making it suitable for tough assignments on building sites.

With its handy size the LM60 fits into any pocket and is easy to take anywhere thanks to its strap and the bag supplied. Further practical characteristics of the LM60 are the battery-saving automatic-off function and the low-battery display. The batteries are also supplied with the device.

Here is the link to the original post - http://www.milwaukee-et.com/int/int_news.nsf/vwPressReleases/4FE331E216329531C125749E00253F02?OpenDocument

Posted by Jay A. at 01:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 29, 2009

Free Ridgid Micro Explorer 30063

The Ridgid microEXPLORER has been one of the most popular new tools in recent months. Never before have you had so much functionality in such a small inexpensive piece of equipment. This should be a standard piece of hardware for most tradesmen. Unfortunately it will not replace many of the jobs of the bigger 200’ SeeSnakes when it comes to seeing in lines and locating the problem.

The good news is you can now get a brand new Ridgid microEXPLORER 30063 for free. The current sale price on Ohio Power Tool is $690 plus an additional $102 for the 9.5mm head. If you purchase a Mini-SeeSnake Plus and LCD Monitor with DVD 23888 you will get the Explorer and additional 9.5mm head for free. Call the experts if you have any questions 800-242-4424.

Posted by Jay A. at 05:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 28, 2009

New Portable Milwaukee Band Saw 6232-6N

Milwaukee Tool just announced the next generation of portable band saws. The new Milwaukee Band Saw 6232-6N is 40% faster than the previous Milwaukee models and 20% faster than the closest competitor, the Dewalt DWM120K. The Milwaukee motor was updated from a 6 amp to a 10.5 amp motor and is now the most powerful on the market. The improvements don’t stop there, with aluminum motor housing, better saw balance, 2 finger trigger, variable speed dial, improved blade protection and new bearings this is a very solidly built band saw.

The band saw’s deep cutting capacity is 4-7/8” however it can cut up to 6” round pipe when rotating. The improved T handle grip not only allows for comfortable operation but also allows the tool to lock into a vise for stationary cutting. Another nice feature for those who maintain many of these units and are thinking about upgrading some of them, is that up to 80% of the parts are interchangeable. This means if you have brushings, pulleys or other parts they will work in the new & old models.

To properly introduce the new Milwaukee Band Saw 6232-6N Ohio Power Tool is giving away a brand new Milwaukee 4.5” rattail grinder 6122-30 ($119 sale price) with each band saw purchased however supply is extremely limited with 3 max per order. The grinders will be shipped with the units, no mail-in rebates to worry about. The Milwaukee 6232-2N is available now for pre-sale at $299 and should be in-store before Febuary 6^th.

Milwaukee Tool is serious about proving themselves in the metalworking tool category. Within the next month or so Milwaukee will also introduce several new 5”, 6”, 7” & 9” grinders to accompany the new 4.5” grinders available now. All the new Milwaukee metalworking grinders are intended to not only compete with the likes of Bosch, Makita and Metabo in this category but in fact become the preferred brand for users.

Posted by Jay A. at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 27, 2009

Making a Dremel Multi-Max Adaptor for Fein Accessories

The Dremel Multi-Max has received plenty of positive press from tool blogs, forums and national news sources and for good reason. This tool has been a huge success for Dremel, possibly bigger than they expected. It has been eating into Fein sales of the MutiMaster, I haven’t even seen the infomercials recently. One problem for the Dremel however is that it is not yet really compatible with Fein accessories. The Dremel tool does have a good selection of accessories at very affordable prices however they need to add many more and until these are released over the next year, Fein still has some nice specialty attachments not available from Dremel.

The Bosch PS50 Multi-X was smart enough to include an adaptor with every tool which allows them to work with Dremel & Fein accessories. The Bosch PS50, a very well built tool, has been less popular than the Dremel Multi-Max simply because the cordless oscillating market is much smaller than the corded version. Run times for sanding and scraping are pretty low however nothing beats the convenience of cordless for certain jobs. Bosch may also come out with its own corded version within the next year but I have not heard anything official yet.

If you don’t want to wait until Dremel comes out with an official adaptor, which I’m sure is on the way, you can always make one. Recently I saw a post from a fellow Power Tool Blog on Tool-Rank.com where they make an adaptor from an old Dremel blade. From the pictures you can see the Fein blades fits perfectly over the Dremel mounts but with nothing to hold it in place it just won’t work. An additional washer of the right size could do the job but this keeps everything much more secure and what else are you going to do with a used Multi-Max blade?

Posted by Jay A. at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 26, 2009

2009 International Builders' Show Reviews & Round Up

Unfortunately we didn’t get a chance to make it to this years International Builders’ Show which was held January 20-23 in Las Vegas. This show always features lots of great new products and exhibits. I will be keeping my ear to the ground for good blog posts or any youtube clips from the show. Here is what I’ve found so far but I imagine there will be lots of new stuff up all week long.

Great daily posts from ConsumerReports.org 14 Posts Here

The WoodWorkersJournal has some good YouTube footage Here

Blog posts from Jan 20-23^rd from This Old House blog, called “Hardware Aisle”

UnderConstructionTalk brief show review (videos coming soon)

Get the full 2009 interactive show floor plan & exhibitor list here

More to come, please add comments with any additional links…

Posted by Jay A. at 03:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 22, 2009

SDS vs. SDS Plus vs. SDS Max vs. Spline Drive

There is sometimes a little confusion as to what bits work with which tools and what the best bits to use with each job are. It is a little confusing, even for us who are constantly using these different acronyms. It was much simpler before when there was just SDS with smaller bits and Spline Drive for the larger heavy duty stuff. Later there was the introduction of the SDS-Plus which does work interchangeably with regular SDS bit and simply offered a stronger connection, so not much confusion there. Then however we got the SDS Max which is not compatible with anything else and is very similar to Spline Drive for strength and capacity.

If you are starting with an empty toolcrib I can tell you the trend for most manufacturers and buys is going towards the SDS Max over the Spline Drive. Although some people with existing bits and equipment are holding true to the Spline Drives so it would be hard to imagine either style going away anytime soon.

SDS & SDS Plus – Typically used with Carbide drill bits 5/32” – 1-1/8” and thin wall carbide core bits up to 4”. There are also several types of smaller chipping and chiseling bits that work extremely well with standard SDS Rotary Hammers. You will find the tools often give max capacity right in the title such as 1” SDS or 1-1/8” SDS. These are solid bit capacities so don’t go sticking a 1-1/8” bit on a ¾” SDS Rotary Hammer Drill, even though the bit will fit it is going to be under powered.

SDS Max - Typically used with Carbide drill bits 1/2” – 2” and thick wall carbide core bits up to 4” (thin wall up to 6”). There are also many chipping, chiseling, bushing, cutting and digging bits that work well with the SDS Max tools. Many of the demolition tools and large breakers will use the Hex shank but that is another topic for another day.

Spline Drive - Typically used with Carbide drill bits 1/2” – 2” and thick wall carbide core bits up to 4” (thin wall up to 6”). There are also many chipping, chiseling, bushing, cutting and digging bits that work well with the SDS Max tools. Most of the time the SDS Max & Spline drive tools are identical with simply different chuck retainers to distinguish the different models.

Adaptors – You can get adaptors to go from SDS Max to Spline or vise-versa or from either size down to the smaller SDS or SDS Plus sizes. It is obviously best to avoid unnecessary adaptors whenever possible, just another thing to loose, break, etc. I don’t think there are any adaptors available to go up from SDS to the larger sizes (SDS Max or Spline) and if there were such an adaptor it would be best not to use it.

SDS = SDS Plus
SDS Max = adaptor for SDS & SDS Plus, Adaptor for Spline
Spline = adaptor for SDS & SDS Plus, Adaptor for SDS Max

One point that probably causes the most confusion of the different style bits is the tool capacity rating in the titles. For instance a Bosch has a few SDS-Plus Bulldogs; one is a 7/8” SDS-Plus & the other is a 1” SDS-Plus. This inch rating refers to the drilling diameter capacity or basic power of the drill not a different size SDS-Plus shanks; all SDS-Plus shanks are the same.

Another point of confusion is there are two types of larger hammers produced by most manufacturers the demolition hammers as well as rotary drill hammers. The rotary drills can almost always be used as a drill and also switched to only hammer mode for using chisels. These are also sometimes called combination drills. The demolition hammers on the other hand only operate in hammer mode and can’t drill which means they are significantly cheaper. When shopping online sometimes the pictures might be the same, make sure you are getting the right unit.

If you have any questions at all about any SDS tools or accessories please call the experts at Ohio Power Tool 800-242-4424 or email sales@ohiopowertool.com. In addition to knowledgeable sales staff they also are also running a winter/early spring special on all SDS, SDS Max & Spline Drive Carbide Hammer Drill Bits for 50% off list price. Stock up now and save considerably. Search Tools by Category: SDS & SDS Plus Hammer Drills, SDS Max Hammer Drills, Spline Drive Hammer Drills.

Posted by Jay A. at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 19, 2009

New Ingersoll Rand 2115TiMax 3/8" Impact

A short time ago Ingersoll Rand released the 2115TiMAX an updated version to the incredibly popular 2115Ti. In the tradition of the 2135TiMAX, market leader ½” impact, the new 2115TiMAX redefined the 3/8” impact category by setting the bar even higher for “power-to-weight” and “power-to-size”. With 300 ft-lbs of torque in a titanium body weighing less than 2.5 lbs and shorter than 6” it will be near impossible for any other impact to improve upon this design.

So what changed for the new 2115TiMAX vs. 2115Ti? The new tool features an improved air flow system with 7-vane design, over the previous 6-vane design. The improved air flow also increases total power to 300 ft-lbs of reverse torque, about a 10% improvement. In addition the tool also gets new power controls, more ergonomic handle and new feather trigger.

“The new 2115TiMAX is the perfect blend of power and size, but we didn’t stop there,” said Mike Walker, vehicle channel business manager for Ingersoll Rand. “Technicians asked for a tool that was easy to handle and could stand up to frequent use on stubborn bolts. Once again our industry leading engineers were up to the challenge improving the feather touch trigger, enhancing the settings on the power regulator and improving the overall durability of the tool components. We’re confident technicians will find this tool suitable to use as their primary pneumatic impact wrench.”

We couldn’t be happier with these design improvements; I can’t wait to see what is next. Of course all the IR tools are backed by a free extended two-year limited warranty, available with registration of the tool online at www.irtools.com/warranty.

Posted by Jay A. at 08:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 15, 2009

Final Cut Saw Blade Sanding Paper

We received an interesting product in the mail which I was skeptical of initially but recently became a believer. The product is the Final Cut Saw Sanding Disks. These are sanding disks that can be attached to your saw blades ranging in size from 7.25”-12”. My concern was that the pads might come off or tear and flap around but so far I have not had that problem, the pad really is stuck on there, even after some use. This is a great idea for a table saw but I might be hesitant to put it on my circular saw. I don’t think these would handle PVC or an occasional nail very well, but you may be much easier on your tools than myself. I am a big fan of saving time and making things easier.

The sanding discs fit most standard saw blades from Bosch, Irwin, Milwaukee as well as others. To purchase the final cut sanding disc to attach yourself or their 10” saw blade which already has the sanding disc attached checkout their website at www.finalcutblade.com.

Posted by Jay A. at 02:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 14, 2009

Milwaukee V28 FREE Batteries

If you are looking for cordless tools with real power behind them a great choice would be the Milwaukee V28 line of tools. Now is a great time to get a real deal on the V28 line of tools because Ohio Power Tool is offering a free 3^rd battery with Any Tool Kit or Combo Kit. The high powered V28 battery’s current sale price is $150 but with good reason not only do they have superior power and capacity but they also carry a 5 year/ 5000 charge warranty, better than any other battery on the market. This deal is for an instant battery, NOT a mail-in rebate.

If you are looking for additional batteries for your existing V28 tools you may want to consider adding a new tool such as the ½” Impact, Grinder or Bandsaw which are all included in the FREE 3^rd battery deal.

If you have any questions about any Milwaukee Tools please feel free to contact Ohio Power Tool at 800-242-4424 or email sales@ohiopowertool.com

Posted by Jay A. at 03:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 13, 2009

Top 8 of 2008 – Tool Blog Posts

2008 was definitely a big year for Coptool.com going from a few posts per month to almost everyday. Below are the top 8 most popular posts from 2008 based on page views, feedback & popularity. It’s pretty funny to read the older posts and see how things have evolved. Hopefully 2009 will be as kind to us as we hope to continue to grow and improve the website.

8. Guide to Buying Power Tools Online – This article is about buying power tools online and things to look for to make sure you are dealing with knowledgeable legitimate companies.

7. Milwaukee M18 Tools – Making the Switch – This article was written as the new line of Milwaukee 18 volt tools was being released. In the article it compares the new M18 to comparable models of Dewalt, Makita and previous Milwaukee V18 tools.

6. Power Tools From Around the World – The very first look at the possibility of Bosch (and/or Dremel) releasing a tool to compete with the Fein MultiMaster. The PMF 180 is a Bosch corded version of the tool which I would still like to see the Bosch release a corded version in the US.

5. Ridgid Calendar 2009-2010 – This was intended to be a very short post simply letting everyone know the new Ridgid Calendars were available but the post received a tremendous amount of traffic. Who knew pretty girls would get traffic on the internet? P.S. There are plenty of calendars still available, free with any order, just ask.

4. Milwaukee Seesnake Micro Killer – The first article written about the Milwaukee M12 M-Spector camera and how it compares to the Ridgid Seesnake Micro (or at least how it was supposed to compare as at the time we had not gotten our hands on the model).

3. Ridgid Micro Explorer Digital Inspection Camera 30063 – The first look at the Micro Explorer and some of the advanced features it had over the first generation of micro Seesnake.

2. Milwaukee 4201-22 vs. Bosch PS20-2 – This post was one of the first real comparison tests we did back at the beginning of the year. The post had a fair amount of pictures and really gave readers a good feel for the differences between these two products.

1. Some Fein Lookin’ Tools – Bosch PS50 & Dremel Multi-max – The most popular post of 2008 was not surprisingly the first official post announcing the new Bosch PS50 & Dremel Multi-Max tools. These tools were probably the most hyped tools for the 2008 holiday season and were also the topic of our most popular YouTube video from last year.

Honorable Mention: Future of American Automakers – Congressional Motors - This was a pretty funny post which got an incredible number of hits unfortunately it was because we were credited as the authors for a short time on Autoblog.com even though it clearly said we were not the authors.

Posted by Jay A. at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 09, 2009

Ohio Power Tool - Construction Distribution Cover Story

If you would like to learn more about Ohio Power Tool as a company read the cover story from Construction Distribution for the December/January issue. The article highlights some of the reasons we are different as a company and why you may want to do business with Ohio Power Tool. The “We Need it Now” article is a look at a few of the local customers and their perspective on what Ohio Power Tool does for them.

Distributor Spotlight: Be quick, be efficient! The future is now.
By A.D. "Butch" Horn

'We need it now!'
By A.D. "Butch" Horn

Posted by Jay A. at 01:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 07, 2009

Custom Building Hydraulic Pumps

At Ohio Power Tool you can get a wide variety of Power Team Hydraulic Pumps powered by hand, air, electric or gas pumps. Pumps can be configured with small reservoirs, large reservoirs, single acting, double acting, different types of valves, remote control switches and so many other features. You can find many different model configurations available in the Hydraulic Pumps section which should handle most needs and is likely to be in-stock.

However if you need a pump to do something specific that is not handled by one of the standard models available do not worry. Everyday we work with factory to custom configure hydraulic pumps for customers with very specific needs. Large or small pumps, 1 unit or hundreds typically we can get these pumps built by at the factory within a matter of weeks. These would all include full factory warranties and are similar in price to equivalent models.

If you have any questions about hydraulic pumps, rams, tools, hoses, couplers, specific jobs, configurations or anything else related to hydraulic systems give Ohio Power Tool a call at 800-242-4424 or email sales@ohiopowertool.com. Get pro help to custom configure the right pump and system for your needs.

Posted by Jay A. at 03:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 06, 2009

Ridgid SuperFreeze & Pipe Thawers

When it comes to pipe maintenance the easiest thing to do is obviously shut the entire system down and work at your leisure to fix any problems. Of course this not always an option. In some cases work needs to be done without shutting off the water supply. In these cases a very handy tool to have around is the Ridgid SuperFreeze. The SuperFreeze pipe freezer unit allows you to keep the water system operating while making repairs. The RIDGID SF-2500 is a mini-refrigeration unit that circulates self-contained refrigerant to its aluminum freeze heads. These heads form ice plug in as little as 5 minutes in copper tube up to 2 1/2" or steel pipe up to 2". The ice plugs remain frozen while the unit is on allowing ample time to repair any sprinkler head, valve, leaking pipe, etc.

The Ridgid pipe thawers units KT-190 & KT-200 do just the opposite; they thaw pipes that may have frozen. Recently we’ve seen a bit of a spike in interest for these units with colder weather and ice storms shutting off power in some areas. Not a good combination for pipes full of water. Thawing Units provide continuous heating to quickly thaw 1/2" to 1 1/2" frozen metal pipes. With these lightweight, versatile units, there is no need to dig or tear apart walls. Simply attach the clamps to the metal pipe on each side of the frozen section and the pipe is thawed within minutes.

Both of these types of units can be very handy for any contractors. For more information on these or any other Ridgid Plumbing Tools contact the experts at Ohio Power Tool (800-242-4424) and they will be happy to help you find the right tool for the job.

Posted by Jay A. at 09:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 05, 2009

Workshop of the Future - Instructables

I have many regularly visited websites for tools, gadgets, projects and building stuff but one of my favorites has got to be Instructables. The basic idea of the site is it is a place where anyone can post a “How To” on building anything. It has a huge fan base of active uploaders for everything from fully working electric cars to simple cooking recipes.

Recently Craftsman sponsored a contest for the “Workshop of the Future” where the winner gets a $20,000 gift card from Sears to get all new tools for their workshop. Unfortunately the submission portion is over however the voting begins today, Jan 5^th – Jan 11^th. Help determine who should get the money from the 172 entries; there are some pretty good ideas here.

Posted by Jay A. at 08:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)