Construction Distribution Magazine December 2009 Issue
I just had a chance to crack open the latest issue of Construction Distribution and it looks really nice. A recent shift in focus have made the publication a little more about the newest tools & applications and less about the “construction distribution” sales channel. Even for those in the tool sales channel I think this is a welcome shift and for all the readers of www.coptool.com most everyone can appreciate this magazine at this point.
Ridgid New Product Launch Coming - January 25th 2010
There have been some exciting products from Ridgid in 2009. The new microDRAIN and DVDpak have really changed the way many people do video inspection. The line trace feature on all the new monitors allows for easy location of the entire line.
At the www.ahrexpo.com on January 25-27 Ridgid will be announcing even more new products for 2010. Most of us are not going to be at the show but Ridgid still wants everyone to be a part of the excitement. If you visit their site you will see a countdown clock and email form to get the details sent to you on the 25th. Personally we have no idea what all is coming and what info will be available online on the 25th but we will definitely be checking it out in 27 days, 7 hours…
I have been lucky enough to get to see this new router in action unfortunately the release date has been pushed back a few more months so don't run out and try and get one today. Chances are it might be the middle of 2010 before we can get our hands on the final product. They keep going back and tweeking it so it’ll be perfect when it does finally hit the shelves. The router has been completely rethought from the ground up, with 20+ new innovative features, many of the improvements carefully designed to give better control to the user.
Checkout this editors blog by Glen D. Huey from Popular Woodworking Magazine. This post does a great job of going through the most significant improvements.
The MR23EVS was also mentioned in the latest issue of Wood Magazine as one of the “Top New Tools for 2010”.
The SpeedSand is the world’s first sanding disc applicator, which is design to hold up to 6 discs and perfectly align your hook and loop sand paper every time. In testing these out they worked very well, the whole package of sanding discs went right on the applicator and it was lined up perfect each time a new disc went on. To be honest up until this point I haven’t ever thought it was difficult to put on a hook and loop pad however they are not always perfectly aligned and I’m also not burning through sand paper packs at a time either.
The SpeedSand applicators are each $9.99 and come in 3 sizes: 5” - 8 hole hook & loop, 5” - 6 hole hook & loop and 6” - 6 hole hook & loop. You can order the SpeedSand directly from their website and visit Ohio Power Tool for all your other sand paper and sanding tools. See the video below to see how simple this product is to use.
If you are in the Midwest or on the East Coast you can place an order this weekend on OhioPowerTool.com and it will ship on Monday, as long as the item is still in-stock. If you are outside the area or reading this later my personal advice is always to spend a little more on the actual gift and have it come a late. Sure if you are buying for a 6 year old that’s not going to work but for grownup children getting power tools spend the money on some extra goodies.
GloBugs are ideal for emergency lighting, night time road work, outdoor events, and movie/television production. Multiquip GloBugs provide the absolute whitest, brightest output with 360 degree glare-free light. These Balloon Lights come with collapsible stands that can easily be set up and taken down by 1 person in only a few minutes and plug into any 120v standard outlet.
For a more portable style light tower solution Multiquip also makes GloBug Carts which are easy to pull and maneuver with 1 person unlike a trailer light tower. The carts are also compact enough to fit several in the back of a pickup or trailer and can work with any standard generator (although are ideal for Multiquip Generators).
Checkout this YouTube video below to see the actual size of some of these balloon lights and light towers. If you have no interest in Balloon Lights but love cheesy synthesizer music you may also enjoy this video.
ToolSnob - Oscillating Tool Accessories: What Fits What?
The Oscillating tools have become the biggest new categories of tools to hit the market in years. I though last year was going to be the biggest Christmas push but this year has possible been even better for these vibrating tools. I even heard the Dremel Multi-Max was the most popular tool sold in the entire world this year (although it did come from the mouth of a Dremel rep)! It seems like everybody will have one here shortly but with all the different models and different accessories there has been A LOT of confusion about which accessories work with which tools.
The great guys over at ToolSnob.com helped us all out by making a handy little chart for the most popular models of oscillating tools and what accessories will work with which tools. The post looks at the adaptors and which tools lock in place vs simply “fit”. It also links to all their reviews on each of the tools which are all pretty comprehensive reviews. I would encourage everyone to take a minute and check it out.
It’s getting cold outside all over the country and in many cases a portable heating solution is needed. If you are sipping Mai-tai on the beach somewhere I am jealous and you can probably skip this post all together. If not…TPI carries a full range of portable electric heaters from the small 120V units to these much larger units. The Fostoria Hear Wave Salamanders are available ranging from 10 kW to 45 kW and are designed as a safer flameless alternative to propane or kerosene heaters. Below are some typical applications and a time to heat chart:
New Construction
An insulated “up-to-code” 1800 sg ft building would only need 1 15kW heater to achieve up to 60 degrees temperature rise. Uninsulated, the same space could realize a 40 degree temperature rise. These temperatures would be reached in just over 2 hours.
Pole Building / Work Shop
To heat an insulated 2000 sq ft (40’ x 50’) pole building with a 12’ ceiling – use two 15kW heaters. This would provide a 60 degree temperature increase within 2-3 hours.
The units are very simple to operate and push ambient air over multiple heat coils and recirculation the air within the room until the temperature on the unit’s thermostat is reached. The 10 & 15 kW units operate at 800 CFM while 30 & 45 kW units are able to do 1100 CFM. These units are extremely easy to move around or take to and from the jobsite.
Ohio Power Tool supplies a full range of ceramic, infrared, forced air and radiant electric heaters from TPI. If you have any questions about power requirements, square footage calculation or any other things related to these electric heaters contact the experts at Ohio Power Tool at sales@ohiopowertool.com or call 800-242-4424.
New from Makita is the Autofeed Screwdriver 6844 ($267.60 Ohio Power Tool) some innovative new features have been combined into this screw gun. Tool-less screw depth adjustment and a capacity of 1-3/4” – 2-15/16” screws make this a very versatile tool. The D-handle and motor placement make the tool very comfortable for extended use and well balanced for working in any position. Dust proof construction and ridgid aluminum casting keep the slide working smooth for the life of the tool. Other features like lock-on trigger, belt clip and anti-tilt make this new Makita one to consider when looking for a new fastening tool. The extension handle 194500-1 ($84 Ohio Power Tool) would be the one accessory to consider which makes the tool even more versatile for many fastening applications.
The new Lincoln PowerLuber AC2440 ($188, Ohio Power Tool) is the new corded version that will plug into any standard 120V outlet and uses the 14 oz grease tubes. The AC2440 has similar output as the cordless 14.4V & 18V Cordless PowerLubers with 2 speed options, High Pressure (3.6 oz/min) & Low Pressure (8.0 oz/min) but will never run out of juice as long as it’s plugged in. Basically this is a good option if you need a lightweight portable grease gun to do a lot of volume but will always be close to power or a generator. In certain shops this might make a lot of sense however the new Lincoln 1844 ($267, Ohio Power Tool), 18V grease gun is now available which can do 8-10 tubes per battery so running out of juice with this cordless is less of an issue. Checkout all the Lincoln PowerLuber options.
LumberJocks.com Winter Woodworking Awards – Yin Yang
I really enjoy the Lumber Jock contests and seeing what everyone comes up with. This time we should also see a little wider range of build entries as it’s not specific to any one type of furniture but instead a theme so entries could really be almost anything. Happy Building!
Category: Yin Yang – the dark and the light. Where would one be without the other? Create a project that uses color dark & light (wood, stains, etc.) to convey how contrasts work together to make the whole. When you post your project describe the Yin Yang effect that you created.
Submit your project between January 1st – 31st
Vote on all the projects between February 1st -7th
Prizes include Bench Cookies for top 11 spots and for 1st place an additional $400 gift card, all from Rockler
Rules:
1. You may enter one project. 2. By entering, you verify that your entry is your own creation (Note: LJ.com is NOT responsible for monitoring authenticity). 3. Entry opens on January 1, 2010 at 6 AM and ends on January 31, 2010 at 3 PM CDT. 4. Voting opens on February 1, 2010 at 6 AM and ends on February 7, 2010 at 3 PM CDT. 5. Each vote must list top five entries in order. You cannot vote for your own entry. (Note: When you sign in to vote, you will not see your own entry listed.) 6. You are allowed to vote only if you have at least one project listed on the LumberJocks.com. 7. You can vote only once. 8. Top woodworkers will be those with the highest point scores following the voting system. (See point system below.) 9. Award recipients will be required to provide their mailing address in order to receive their Award gifts. 10. Results will be announced on February 8, 2010 at 6 AM CDT.
Points (voting):
1. Points will be assigned to each vote cast with the following values: 1st place: 5 points 2nd place: 4 points 3rd place: 3 points 4th place: 2 points 5th place: 1 point 2. The Winner will be the member with the entry with the highest points in that category. 3. In case of a tie, the top honors will be given to the member with the most 1st place votes and if there is still a tie, the highest number of 2nd place will be the determining factor, and so on.
Over the weekend I helped build this kitchen island with a buddy. He took it over to another friends paint shop to get hit with a few coats of white (not the top counter piece obviously). It was a pretty simple build with locking casters on the bottom to move the cart around, would also make a nice workshop cart. I snapped a few pictures just for fun.
Update - Back from the automotive paint booth and a great hookup from a granite guy and presto.
Perhaps you have seen a commercial for the Craftsman Auto-Hammer recently and wondered as I did how useful is this new tool really. Would this ever replace my real hammer? Can it do handle large nails, what about finishing nails? I had the chance to review one the other day and hopefully this will provide a little insight if you are thinking about getting one or asking Santa to put one under the tree. Checkout the photos and also a Coptool YouTube video below.
Out of the Box
A flip up view window to check out what’s inside… I suppose it can be helpful to check out the actual size of the tool, closest you’ll get to having a model on display. Just like the large Lego kits from my younger years, got me pumped then too. When I got the tool out I was a little surprised it had only 1 battery, I had originally thought it came with two. Also the bag was a little wimpy; it comes in two separate parts you need to put together by the zipper. As for the tool itself it’s pretty basic, no battery indicator, speed adjustment, adjustable heads or other such features. The good news is the tool is the perfect size, it feels nice in the hand with a large trigger and full soft grip that goes all the way to the top so you can use your other hand to stabilize the head. The battery looks just like every other 12 volt lithium you have ever seen with 3 cells inside. The charger is pretty basic with standard indicator lights and 30 minute charge time.
Feature / Benefits of the Auto-Hammer
While the Auto-Hammer is pretty basic at first glance there are some thoughtful features that went into building this tool. First off the LED light can be a big help in some applications, working outside or in a well lit shop obviously not necessary but there would be many situations it could be useful. The magnetic head is also another smart feature that was added to this tool. You can put a nail in the head and drive it accurately with just one hand, no need to hold the nail as all. This could be handy if working on a ladder or trying to hold up something while trying to hammer.
But How Does it Work
I went through an entire battery worth of test nails of all sizes from little trim nails to large deck nails and other odd things. I got about 80 nails in with the one battery. Right off the bat I was a little frustrated with how the auto hammer worked it would start the nail great, get it all the way down but once you get to the end the piston would vibrate off the nail head and hit the wood. Also it was hard to tell when you finally did get the nail all the way in, so I kept taking the auto-hammer off, checking the nail depth and putting it back on. However after doing about half the nails I did get better at using the tool. There is some finesse involved which I didn’t get right away; I was actually able to put finish nails in drywall flush without damaging the drywall at all (Watch Video). This is because the piston actually works kind of like a variable speed trigger as you can slightly engage it and do finish nails or lean on it for heavy pounding. I suppose you could also use a nail set to get them flush or even countersink them. With nails up to 1-7/8” by the end of the test I could also get the nails flush pretty accurately but the 3” nails still caused some issue getting flush without occasionally slipping off and hitting the wood. Also there is some vibration to the tool so after 80 test nails my hand felt like I hammered 80 nails. I was also able to successfully use the tool with my right hand (normally a lefty) which it was pretty easy and I was pretty dangerous with the regular hammer in my right hand. I like to use my off hand for these tests to get an idea how an even bigger novice than myself might handle the tool. Try it sometime its pretty entertaining.
The Verdict
All in all this is a nice tool and a good holiday gift idea for the DIYer, especially for $99 (Sears). I would never build a deck with it or frame a house but for occasional odd jobs and around the house use it could be pretty handy. This is not a good tool for a professional carpenter but for someone who likes gadgets and doing random projects I can see the fit.
Bosch Impactor 26618-01 - New 3 Setting Model for 18V
Bosch just today announced a new Impactor for the 18V Litheon line which has 3 settings for a much wider range of applications in driving and drilling applications. I personally haven’t had a chance to test one of these units yet but obviously this would be a welcome improvement on an already great tool. In the meantime checkout the official Bosch Press Release below. Pre-order the 26618-01 on Ohio Power Tool for $398.
Mount Prospect, Ill.,– The fastest growing segment within the professional cordless power tool category is impact drivers. Yet some users have been hesitant to adopt the tools because they still needed a second tool for drilling. Bosch Power Tools & Accessories is removing that barrier this week by introducing the 26618-01 18V Impact Drill/Driver. By combining typical drilling and driving capabilities with the added power of impact fastening, Bosch’s multi-function tool offers pro users the power and versatility to tackle any number of common jobsite applications.
Bosch’s 26618-01 offers an ideal combination of torque, speed and control, all within a single tool. The result is incredible versatility. A two speed motor (0-750 / 2,800 RPM) offers users the choice between high speed for small diameter drilling and high torque/low speed for drilling with spade bits or precision driving applications. When it’s time to tackle large diameter driving and fastening applications, users can effortlessly switch to impact mode and let the tool’s best-in-class 1,500 inch pounds of torque (3X more than a standard drill/driver) do all the work. Even with all that power, the tool’s compact 7” length enables users to accomplish tough tasks in tight spaces. Powered by Bosch’s proven 18V Litheon battery platform, the 26618-01 offers best-in-class performance in almost every meaningful measure. Bosch’s powerhouse delivers40 percent faster screw driving, 20 percent faster drilling, two times more holes drilled per charge and 50 percent more screws driven per charge. This high level of performance is thanks to side-by-side battery and tool engineering that yields highly efficient power output in every application. The 26618-01 is compatible with Bosch’s 18V Litheon SlimPack batteries, a feature unique to Bosch’s tool that offers even greater user flexibility on the jobsite. The 26618-01 is also built to withstand the rigors of heavy duty usage. Bosch’s Electronic Motor Protection (EMP) , for example, protects the motor from damage due to stalling and Electronic Cell Protection (ECP) protects the batteries from overloading, overheating and deep discharging. The result is the best runtime and longest battery life in the cordless tool category, even in demanding applications.
In terms of user comfort, Bosch’s soft grip surfaces reduce user fatigue and slippage, while the spring-loaded impact mechanism reduces the torque reaction and minimizes screw cam-out. Bosch’s patent-pending white light LEDs offer phenomenal visibility in dark or tight spaces. A sturdy metal belt hook, which can be mounted on either side of the tool, frees up hands to move materials into place.
FallTech Personal Fall Arrest Equipment Added to Ohio Power Tool
Recently added and available online now at OhioPowerTool.com is a full line of FallTech Personal Fall Protection Equipment. Fall Tech was chosen by Ohio Power Tool because they manufacture high quality product, made in the USA, at competitive pricing and continuously come out with innovative new products.
FallTech Products include: Full Body Harnesses, Shock Absorbing Lanyards, Self Retracting Lifelines or SRLs, Rope Grabs, Vertical Lifelines, Roof Anchors, I-Beam Anchors, Concrete Anchors, Roofer & Contractor Kits, Full Temporary Systems and many other products. More items and information will be available online for FallTech soon. If you need something you don’t see online or want a quote for an order, call Ohio Power Tool direct at 800-242-4424 or email sales@ohiopowertool.com.
More Information from FallTech FallTech is a full-line domestic manufacturer of personal fall arrest equipment. All of our soft-goods, mechanical equipment and systems are hand made right here in the USA. All of our hardware is precision engineered and tooled to our exact specifications using the finest alloys available.
At FallTech, our objective is this: To provide our customers with the best fall arrest equipment available. We are just like you: We might not be the biggest…..we are just working to be the best.
Why Do You Need Fall Protection? Every year, work related falls are a leading cause of death in the workplace. Besides loss of life, employers also lose millions of dollars in other fall related expenses. A comprehensive fall protection plan not only saves lives and money, but is also required by OSHA.
Providing a safe work environment begins with analyzing fall hazards and eliminating them. If the hazards can not be engineered out, the next step is to determine which fall arrest system is appropriate. FallTech’s sales and technical staff can help you choose equipment that is economical, lightweight and easy to use. Our extensive line of fall arrest equipment meets the needs of construction and general industry. We can help develop and implement your plan and can even provide training to your employees.
