Recently IR Tools announced 4 new air ratchet models. I haven’t had a chance to test them out but the numbers look pretty impressive, especially for the MAX Series ratchets. Check out the YouTube video and full IR press release below. These ratchets and many others are also available now from Ohio Power Tool, see Air Ratchets.

Posted by Jay A. at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I recently sat through an hour plus presentation on new building code compliance for “Cracked Concrete” and the different products available from Powers Fasteners. As you can imagine this was a thrilling endeavor but unlike the name might suggest, it had nothing to do with fixing cracks in concrete. Instead it was all about what different types of concrete fasteners that meet the new codes for use in buildings today (even more exciting than you thought right). Powers does however make a great product for fast setting crack repairs in concrete floors and roads called PowerPatch. Also World of Concrete 2010 is only a few days and I need to bone up on my product knowledge.

The Concrete PowerPatch Kit ($153, Ohio Power Tool) is a 3 step process where an equal part A & B are mixed together then 3 times part C (aggregate) is added. The mix is incredibly fast acting and can be ready for road traffic in as little as 15 minutes. This product is idea for repairing heavy traffic sprall, patching bridge deck, walk-in freezer floor (cures in 60 minutes at 10°f), airport runways or patch prior to coating applications. The area does need to be very clean and dry before applying. Checkout the video below for more information:

Posted by Jay A. at 02:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I just watched the Web Cast for the launch of RIDGIDConnect given by Jay Gatz, VP of Strategic Planning and there were some statistics I found interesting in their research. Of those currently using video inspections equipment 60% are already recording digitally on DVD or other media, 51% currently use laptops on the jobsite, 65% said they needed to save the recordings for a year or more and 40% said they needed to share the recordings with other people. It looks like pricing for the service will run between $49 - $129/month which could be worth it for many reasons. Obviously if some 40% are still recording inspections onto VHS this service will not be for everyone but seems like it would be the next logical step in improving efficiency. Checkout the full Ridgid Press Release Below the video:

RIDGID^®, a leading manufacturer of hand and power tools including multiple digital inspection products, announces today at AHR Expo^® 2010 the launch of RIDGIDConnect^™ — a subscription-based, online business tool designed for service professionals and contractors who create or use digital information. A first-of-its-kind platform, RIDGIDConnect provides the ability to share and store digital assets such as diagnostic job site photos and videos, job reports and histories, maintenance records, customer lists and other business files, which in turn simplifies external and internal communication, as well as the recordkeeping process.

The days of waiting any amount of time to see what is new and hot from a trade show appear to be over. Today is the last day of the 2010 IBS show and already there are plenty of YouTube videos, twitter feeds (#ibs2010) and blog posts from the show. Of course there will be plenty more to come but this is a good start. We were going to attend but had to choose between this show and World of Concrete Feb. 2-5, which we will be attending in 12 days, stay tuned.

Wood Worker’s  Journal (YouTube) – One of our favorite woodworking personalities Chris Marshall, is currently on hand at the 2010 show and already has a dozen plus videos up on YouTube. Get more info and read recent blog posts from Chris Marshall.   

 Bob Villa, On The Level (Blog) – I’m sure Mr. Villa himself is held up in a Las Vegas hotel room tweeting and trying to knock these blog posts out each night after the show before making his way onto the strip for a little R&R… Ok maybe not but “On The Level” still offers a nice look at some of the new innovative consumer products from the show.

IBS2010 Video Booth (YouTube) – On the IBS2010 home page they have a link to YouTube (bottom of every page), apparently at the show they set up an almost live Video Booth where you can go in and talk about the show and be almost famous.

Sears Blue Crew (YouTube) – If you are interested in some of the new craftsman products these guys have several videos up already from the “Garage of Innovations” set up just outside the convention center. They also stopped by the Bosch Booth, Rockwell and a few others for a quick update on new products.  

These are just a few of the different online media sources for info from the 2010 International Builders Show and many more will be popping up over the next few days.  

Posted by Jay A. at 09:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hopefully this is the first of many new attachments for the Dremel Multi-Max, as oscillating tools become a staple among many of us and we are constantly looking to get new uses out of our tools for just another $5-$30. The new MM920 ($29, Ohio Power Tool) adds a more substantial grinding option, currently there is a MM900 ($33, Ohio Power Tool) diamond paper option but this is a 60 grit and uses the hook & loop pad MM11. The MM920 is an attachment that actually connects to the tool and the 24 grit Carbide can handle a little more abuse. Both attachments are better for different jobs and materials but it is nice to have the option.

Still waiting for a good strong metal bit that can cut harder metals...

Posted by Jay A. at 04:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You may remember the 10” Makita LS1016L we took a look at several months ago. This saw added cut capacity while cutting the actual overall tool profile, making it much friendlier to use. I was really impressed at the time and the obvious question was when does the 12” come out? Chris over at Tool-Rank.com  tipped us off today and has all the stats up on his site as well. It looks like it shares many of the innovative features of the 10” but the capacity is obviously larger, up to 8” crown molding (nested). I look forward to getting my grubby little paws on one of these soon because it could be a serious contender for my next miter saw.  

Its official today Ridgid has available the new 100’ microREELs which are the big brothers of the SeeSnake microDRAINs (30’). With the addition of the new line comes many different options to configure both systems so to keep things strait the microDRAIN also picks up model number D30, while the microREEL can also be referred to as the L100.

The microDRAIN now also has an optional 512Hz Sonde for locating the camera head, these models will be designated D30S. The case can be configured for use with microEXPLORER or traditional SeeSnake Monitors. There is also an option to simply purchase the Drum Only with either the D30 or D30S configuration, which will work with any of the microREELs. The microDRAIN camera head is still slightly smaller and more flexible so a better option for P-Traps and smaller lines with tight turns. (Popular models 32663, 34233, 33103, 34618)

The microREEL comes standard with a 512Hz Sonde but does have an option for a reel counter; these models are designated as L100C. Similar to the microDRAIN you can get a case that will work with the Explorer or traditional SeeSnake Monitors. The microREEL will also switch between microREEL drums and microDRAIN drums in a matter of seconds so the unit is extremely versatile. (Popular models 35133, 35183, 35143, 35188)

Ohio Power Tool has many of these new models in-stock and can answer specific questions on specifications and pricing. Call 800-242-4424 or email your questions to sales@ohiopowertool.com. Complete systems can run between $2,000-$4,000 which is significantly less than a system in the past and can pay for themselves fairly quickly. If you are interested in more info on the microREEL, checkout the short video below:

Posted by Jay A. at 03:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When setting this up there were several guys in and out of the workshop and I heard a couple of comments like, oh yeah I saw that on the infomercial. That was to be expect I suppose however one of the guy had actually said his mother asked if he wanted a Jawhorse for Christmas and if someone’s mom is asking about it for a Christmas present, I’m going to assume all the Coptool.com readers have at least heard about it. Also several other fellow bloggers have already done reviews on this: ToolSnob, HomeFixated (see their video below), Stu’s Shed, LumberJocks, Toolguyd, Toolmonger, etc.

Having seen the infomercial myself it seemed like the Jawhorse could potentially be a very handy piece of hardware however I don’t fully believe anything I see on TV. I just saw the movie Avatar and can no longer tell the difference between what’s real and what is CGI. So when this Jawhorse came in the mail I was pleasantly surprised that the box seemed to weigh a ton. Not so heavy you can’t carry it, but beefy metal construction (no plastic) with solid springs. The best way I can describe it would be to say it feels like if it fell off a moving truck I’m pretty confident it would still work fine. It was also fully assembled and set up in seconds, right out of the box. Because there are already so many other reviews on the Jawhorse itself I’m going to dive in on the 2 accessory kits I also had a chance to review. Checkout our 20+ review photos.

Rockwell Jawhorse Miter Saw Station RK9110 ($75 Amazon)

It wouldn’t be hard a make a simple Miter Station for the Jawhorse out of plywood and 2x4s but this kit adds some very handy features. All the kit pieces attach to the clamp square and the handle makes it very easy for the whole unit to travel around with the Jawhorse. I was slightly disappointed in the fact that there is no way to easily attach a miter saw to the table top although clearly it would be impossible for it to work with even a fraction of the different miter saws out there. Since the unit will most likely be married to 1 or 2 miter saw over its life, it really isn’t that big of a deal for most. I was testing it out with several saws in for repair and didn’t want to permanently attach it to any of those. The 2 adjustable rollers are very nice add-ons, together with the outriggers a very nice customizable system. I would personally probably always use the rollers but maybe not the outriggers. For long boards the outriggers can be put on for support and you can stick the rollers several feet out. It is really great how customizable this whole system can be with just a few scrap 2x4s.     

Rockwell Jawhorse Plywood Jaw Attachment RK9109 ($55 Amazon)

The Jawhorse alone can be configured between 0-37” which is really great but if you want to handle full sheets of plywood you will also need this jaw replacement that can handle 32”-52” material. The kit includes 2 outrigger clamps to extent the work surface similar to the Miter Station however I was disappointed to find these two kits use different outriggers (one holds 2x4 vertical, the other horizontal) so you can’t use two sets of outriggers with the plywood attachment, which may of added stability. Another disappointment with this kit is the outrigger clamps don’t fit on the jaw so you could potentially loose one pretty easy. With the Jawhorse and miter station everything was so well designed for portability. The nitpicky stuff aside the Jawhorse with this attachment was easily able to handle ½” plywood. The wood 2x4s needed to be screwed into the new Jaw (holes already there) to work properly which again adds a little time to set up and takes away from the portability. If you want to work with 4’x8’ sheets of wood comfortably, by yourself, with an easy portable setup, this has got to be one of the best solutions around.     

Overall the Rockwell Jawhorse RK9000 was a pleasure to review and just a really nice solid well priced tool for anyone to own, hack to pro.        

Posted by Jay A. at 04:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Looking at some new Ridgid Plumbing & Locating gear for 2010? Checkout the Spring Fling 2010 Mail-In rebate flyer good for purchase made from now until March 31. Some of the deals are better than others but across the board there are some nice freebies including 9.5mm Micros, Explorers and 18v Monitor Batteries. The 4^th page of this flyer also highlights some of the 100’ microReel, more info on those to come shortly.

For more information on this promotion or any Ridgid plumbing products visit OhioPowerTool.com, also feel free to email questions to sales@ohiopowertool.com or call at 800-242-4424.

Posted by Jay A. at 03:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Announced officially today Milwaukee Tool has come out with a M12 Grease Gun 2446-21XC (Ohio Power Tool, $199). This is a new category for Milwaukee and will go up directly against the Lincoln Lube 12V PowerLuber 1244 (Ohio Power Tool, $199) which has been the most popular cordless grease gun for several years. When compared head to head, Milwaukee vs Lincoln Lube the 12 volt Milwaukee has several advantages. The two kits cost about the same however M12 2446-21XC offers higher pressure with 8,000psi, a battery that can dispense 7 tubes, almost double the lincoln (although 1244 includes 2 batteries vs 2446-21XC kit with 1) and possibly most significantly the Milwaukee M12 battery is shares with 20+ other tools while the Lincoln 12V battery can only be used on the one tool.

The Milwaukee grease gun also offers many innovative new features right down to the basic design of the tool, which has a base and more supportive tube enclosure. Hopefully this new design will prevent some of the damage we see every day with cracked handles and housings. Lincoln does offer an 18 volt PowerLuber 1844 (Ohio Power Tool, $267) which can pump 8-10 tubes per battery and has 2 speed transmission, high volume & high pressure but even their high pressure option is only 7,500psi. The higher pressure is required for some applications, also very useful in cold weather or clearing clogged zerk fittings.        

Overall I think the Milwaukee Grease Gun 2446-21XC Kit (also available as tool only 2446-20XC, $129) will be a very popular item if for no other reason than there are already so many Milwaukee M12 tools and batteries out there. As the M12 line grows it makes the case stronger for all the other existing tools, also this is the first tool we have seen a kit include the M12 XC high capacity battery but it gives me hope on expanding the line further in the future. Read the full Milwaukee press release below:

MILWAUKEE, WI – Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation expands its LITHIUM-ION system with the new M12™ Cordless Grease Gun. With up to 25% more pressure and run-time than the competition, the 2446-21XC is capable of delivering over 8,000 PSI max operating pressure for heavy duty applications and dispenses up to seven grease cartridges per battery charge. 
“While most grease fittings require low operating pressures, our user research has unveiled a need for a grease gun that can deliver the high pressure needed for heavy machinery, cold weather and clogged grease fittings,” says Paul Fry, Director of Cordless Tools for Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation.  “Heavy construction, manufacturing and agricultural equipment can have anywhere from a dozen to over a hundred grease fittings that should be greased regularly. The 2446-21XC delivers the highest max operating pressure in its class to get even the toughest jobs done and eliminate as much down time as possible.”

In addition, the Grease Gun is the only tool in its class with a system of compatible tools offering the user greater utility in drilling, fastening, lighting and cutting.  The 2446-21XC also comes standard with a high capacity LITHIUM-ION battery that can provide up to 2X the performance in the user’s other M12™ tools. Other features include a lightweight, ergonomic handle design for added user comfort during prolonged use and an on board hose storage and shoulder strap loop for greater convenience and less mess. With the introduction of the new grease gun and plans to grow the M12™ cordless platform in the future, MILWAUKEE® continues to expand its leadership position in the sub-compact category.  The M12™ platform will continue to offer innovative solutions in power, productivity, and portability.

Posted by Jay A. at 03:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

At first I thought this website was all about tricked out garages that cost more than $100,000 to build, which also would have been a cool website. However that is not the case for www.100kgarages.com  which is actually a site dedicated to the small fabricators across the country.

The idea is that a network of small and medium size fab shops all connected together would allow any crazy eyed individual within the network to have the capacity of a large manufacturing plant at their finger tips. For instance if you prototyped a product (you don’t even need your own equipment, checkout www.columbusideafoundry.com in Central Ohio) and wanted to sell a million of that product through a website, you could load the plans on the network and those from all over with capacity could manufacturer the product. This helps the person who needs manufacturing capability and also those with down time, to utilize their equipment and make a few extra bucks.

So far the network is centered around the Shopbot CNC router machines which makes sense but could, in the future, be applied to CNC Mills, Laser Cutters, Water-Jet, etc. There are endless possibilities to the technology and as it develops, new possibilities will continue to arise. The website www.ponoko.com brings everything together with material suppliers, creative folks and even buyers.     

Posted by Jay A. at 01:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The new IR 259 essentially replaces the 258 as their mid-level ¾” gun for Ingersoll Rand. However there is nothing mid-level about this tool. It’s smaller and lighter than any other gun in its class. The gun delivers an impressive 1,050 ft lbs torque in both forward and reverse and only requires a 3/8” air inlet hose, unlike many others which require ½” inlets hose. The new design has better weight distribution, easier to switch from forward and reverse and I imagine easier to service and repair from the looks of the large bolts on the front.

The new Ingersoll Rand 259 ($299.99, Ohio Power Tool) is very competitively priced, offers variable control trigger and is assembled in the US. Although, is assembled in the US what we really get excited for these days? All around this is a great gun at a great price and it looks pretty cool as well.      

Posted by Jay A. at 09:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

January & February means prime time for industry trade shows, up north things are a little colder, slower and people perhaps have a couple of days to see what’s new in their industry. Here is a quick list of just a few of the shows happening in the next two months.

International Builders Show – January 19-22, 2010

The largest building industry tradeshow in the country! More than 175 education sessions and great keynote speaker! All the top vendors will be there for building supplies, tools, etc with interactive booths and displays. Plus its Las Vegas.

AHR Expo – January 25-27, 2010

This is the world’s largest HVAC&R industry trade show. In Orlando, Fl for 2010 this show is not only a great place to see new products, attend education sessions, network but also has great deals on some of those expensive products from many vendors. This trade show is designed specific for those in the Heating, Cooling and Refrigeration industries. We mentioned the show earlier as the place where Ridgid is planning their 2010 World Premier Product Launch.      

World of Concrete – February 2-5, 2010

The industry's ONLY annual international event dedicated to the commercial concrete and masonry construction industries. Featuring indoor and outdoor exhibits with the industry's leading suppliers showcasing innovative products and technologies, exciting demonstrations and competitions, a world-class education program, and the information you need to help sustain and grow your business. This show is also another great Las Vegas show, maybe the only place big enough for the indoor/outdoor requirements in February.

The Rental Show – February 7-10, 2010

This show features a wide range of products from heavy construction, light construction/general tool and party/special event products together on one floor, in one continuous hall. The show is also in Orlando,Fl for 2010 and I am just curious who provides all the rental party/special event products for the show.

Pumper & Cleaner Show – February 24-27,2010

In Louisville, Ky for 2010 this show is specific for professionals in septic system installation & service contractors, drain and sewer cleaning & repair contractors, portable restroom operators, industrial maintenance & cleaning contractors, municipal water & sewer system maintenance managers and other related professional.

Obviously there are many more shows throughout the year worth attending however these are just a few in the next 2 months. If you can’t make it but are interested in a particular show I would encourage you to check out the websites. Many have interactive floor plans and a lot of details. Also specific trade publications will attend and do a good job covering the shows with articles and videos (see http://www.forconstructionpros.com/video/).  

Posted by Jay A. at 01:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)