Tool-Rank.com offers possibly the most ways to voice your opinion of your favorite power tools and accessories. You can start a new thread in their forum, comment on Chris’s blog posts or write your own power tool reviews and have others comment on them. The $250 Amazon gift card however is only on the tool reviews. Your 1^st-5^th reviews you write each count as chances to win and as the drawling will be at random it would make sense to increase your chances with more reviews. Content ends July 31, 2010 so you still have plenty of time to enter. Here is a quick video on how to write a review on Tool-Rank.

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 10:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It is always good to see a new manufacturer’s full line catalog, these days the old annual prints has become semi-annual and some have even gone a few years now without anything. Sure as we all get more web enabled it’s easy to get the same info in other ways. Customers can go into any store scan a barcode with an iphone app to get the specs, compare it to similar products and even get pricing comparisons from other stores. At the same time it’s still really nice to have those catalogs in printed form, hopefully this isn’t the last of them.

The Bosch catalogs are available at select retailers, like Ohio Power Tool, but if you don’t have such an awesome power tool store near you to visit, there are downloadable pdf versions. The full catalog is 272 pages (50mb) but they are also broken down into several sub-sections. Visit the Boschtools.com site to view & download.       

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Ingersoll Rand DD2T2 has been a very popular twin tank portable air compressor for years. It was recently upgraded/replaced by the P1IU-A9 ($312 w/Free Shipping, Ohio Power Tool) which produces about equal numbers to the previous model, 4.3cfm, for the same price. The design of the new unit is a little more user friendly with controls and two connections (previous model only had 1) on the front of the unit. The air filter is also more efficient and easier to service, right on the front of the unit. The overall dimensions changed slightly from 21”x17”x15” to 18.5”x18.5”x17” which isn’t a big deal unless you plan to install the unit in an existing enclosure.

The twin tank portable air compressor design is ideal for framing and finishing nail guns which is ironic because Ingersoll Rand doesn’t make any of those kinds of tools. They do make some of the best automotive air tools in the market such as impacts, ratchets, air drills, grinders, etc; however this unit is underpowered for most of those types of tools. If you are looking for a well built home/garage air compressor that is somewhat portable but still runs of standard 110-120v you might checkout the Ingersoll rand Garage Mate P1.5IU-A9 ($645 w/Free Shipping, Ohio Power Tool).

The Garage Mate has a similar 2HP motor that puts out a little more juice at 5.2 cfm. It also has a 20 gallon air tank which helps to handle the overage for more air hungry tools. Typically smaller impacts, drills, ratchets and cutting tools might have an average usage of 3-6 cfm because of intermittent nature of use and maybe a max consumption of 15-20 cfm. Grinding tools & sanding tools on the other hand may require more cfm because they can be used constantly for several minutes without rest. For professional automotive use this model would also probably be underpowered and you would need to look at a larger 220v unit. A good number to keep in mind in addition to cfm produced by the pump is 7.48 gallons/Cu. Ft. which is the amount of usage you can get from your air reserves in the tank, so even a 20 gallon tank really isn’t buying you a ton of cfm.

If you have any questions about Ingersoll Rand air compressors, pneumatic tool consumption rates, hoses, fittings, dryers, filters or anything else related to IR air tools give the guys at Ohio Power Tool a ring at 800-242-4424 or email sales@ohiopowertool.com for assistance.    

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 01:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Checkout the nice article in the recent Popular Mechanics on the new(er) Rockwell Jawhorse vs the older Black & Decker Workmate. Doug who also writes for ToolSnob, wrote the article and has a lot of field experience as his "real job" he does construction.

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 04:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Several years back a funny little 10.8v cordless drill hit the market from Bosch and at first people were not sure what to make or it (see our 2007 post Ain’t No Kids Toys). Fast forward to 2010 and the compact cordless tool category has exploded with tons of exciting new tools in the 10-12 volt range for home owners and professionals alike.

The new PS21-2A ($129, Ohio Power Tool) is the 3^rd version of the Bosch Pocket Driver and is available now, along with the 3/8” chuck drill/driver PS31-2A ($143, Ohio Power Tool). These next generation tools are built solid and no longer looked at as the “small tool” additions to the arsenal but more as replacements for some tried and true 14.4v and 18v tools. Both of these tools have plenty of torque to hang cabinets or even help build the occasional deck. At the same time the light weight design and 20+ clutch settings make it a nice tool for delicate jobs like working on computer boxes or assembling different items which can definitely be awkward with an 18v drill.

Testing the PS21-2A

When I pulled the PS21-2A out of the box the first reaction was honesty, did they really need to redesign the whole tool just to shave an inch or so off the nose. It turns out the smaller compact design is just a nice bonus but the real reason it got an overhaul is the guts. The new Pocket Driver has 265 in lbs of torque where the first generation had 80; it also now has 2 speeds like a real driver should. This new generation also gets new batteries which “pack a little more punch” (BAT412 instead of BAT411) but either battery works on new or older tools. See this photo album for 20+ pictures from the test.

To test out the tool, that was provided for us, we simply stacked (3) 2”x4” and started screwing them together. First drove 10 large exterior 3.5” screws, then 50 standard 3” screws, then another 30 2” square drive (used the Bosch P2R2 bit which works splendidly with both square & phillips). After 90 screws the entire board was full and still plenty or juice left so to really test the torque and clutch went back over all 90 screws to see how far into the wood the screws could be driven. Basically hitting max torque 90 times in a few minutes, at which point you might expect some overheating but was not a problem for this tiny tool even with my other hand basically covering the entire tool. It finished that task and still had a little juice left but was pretty much fading out. With a few breaks to snaps pictures and find some more loose nails it took about 30 minutes to kill the battery at which point the 2^nd battery was fully charged ready to roll again. I am pretty confident in most real life situations the battery would be good for an hour or more of constant use and easily last all day with occasional use.

It is safe to say the new PS21-2A blows away the competition in the 12V compact driver category. However the short fall with the Bosch 12V Max line of tools does not come from any one of their tools but more with the depth of the line. With a head start as the creators of the category you would expect they would have the most tools in their lineup but that is definitely not the case. The Milwaukee M12 line for instance now sports over 20+ tools, many specific to professionals but lots of versatility throughout the line. If that is not a concern in your world and you are just looking for the best possible driver or 3/8” drill, Bosch may very well be your choice.        

Currently if you purchase the PS21-2A you can get a Free PS20B (Gen 2 Pocket Driver tool only), battery (BAT411 not the BAT412 it comes with) or LED flashlight, with a mail in rebate. Also you can still take advantage of the Free Shipping deal from Ohio Power Tool until the end of March by using the coupon code MARCH at checkout or calling in and mentioning the Free Shipping promotion.

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 02:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A friend of ours is in the business of sourcing wood and it definitely seems like an interesting job. Some of their wood comes from old barns in and around Ohio and gets repurposed into floors, furniture, raw stock, beams, whatever. A visit to a local Mexican restaurant, currently under construction, which is using a lot of their raw stock wood really gave us a good idea how unique some of their product is. If you have any projects coming up and you’re looking for say 16” wide floor planks or antique looking wood stock, get a hold of Tom at Old West Woods he’ll fix you up. It can also be a very environmentally friendly way to use real wood that's a good quality. If you want to see more pictures and projects you can also checkout their Facebook page, which some of you may have already done because they have 2,900+ fans.   

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 02:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We mentioned the Bosch Power Box PB360S previously in a post however the official launch dates and exact pricing were still unclear. At this point it looks like the PB360S ($209, Ohio Power Tool) will be hitting store shelves within the next week or two according to Bosch officials. To kick off the launch there is a limited number of FREE 2GB Bosch MP3 players (sent with your purchase, not a mail-in rebate) from Ohio Power Tool exclusively, available if you Pre-Order the Power Box PB360S from them. If you order by the end of this month and use the promo code MARCH at checkout you will also get Free Shipping on the order, even though the power boxes won’t ship till the first week of April.

The Power Box is one of the most complete jobsite radios we have seen out there. Many great features include 360 degree of sounds with a built in subwoofer, rugged enough to take multiple 5 ft drops (see video below), (x4) 120v power outlets for use when radio is plugged in, (x1) 12V DC car outlets, USB power outlet & SD/MMC card reader. There are also (x2) audio auxiliary ports for use with ipods, Mp3 players, satellite radio and other devices. The Power Box also runs off & charges Bosch 14.4v & 18v Litheon batteries. Typically you will see these in use with other DeWalt, Milwaukee & Makita chargers plugged into them; essentially they charge all of your power tool batteries if you don’t mind the octopus look.

There is also a PB360D “Power Box Deluxe” coming later this year which adds some nice features including GFCI on the 120V outlets, more juice to the speakers, built in satellite radio features, remote & backlight on the controls.   

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 02:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

At the World of Concrete apparently we spent too much time talking to the Makita girls and totally missed the new addition to the Makita’s Anti-Vibration Technology (AVT) technology breaker line. The AVT line has been very successful in the construction world and as the US (aka California then maybe everyone else) starts to adopt 2005 European Vibration Laws or some form of them there is going to be an even bigger push in that direction. If you are currently looking to purchase a SDS-Max rotary hammer drill or hex shank demolition breakers it is possible a few years from now you may not be able to “legally” use the tool or at least have limited time per day, if it doesn’t meet new codes.  The new Makita AVT HM1317CB ($1,170, Ohio Power Tool) is the latest addition in their AVT line up with many exciting features in addition to the low vibration and ease of use. Checkout the full Makita Press Release below.   

La Mirada, Calif. – Makita, a worldwide manufacturer of technologically advanced power tools that are more compact with less weight yet deliver industrial strength power and results, is proud to announce the release of its new 42 lb. AVT Demolition Hammer, model HM1317CB. This hard-hitting hammer is equipped with Anti-Vibration Technology, Makita’s exclusive counterbalance system that delivers more efficient hitting on the concrete with less vibration in the tool. 
 
The new HM1317CB is the latest in Makita’s growing line of AVT-equipped concrete hammers.
 
“The new HM1317CB combines hard-hitting power and less vibration for more efficient hitting,” said Anthony Corwin, Makita product manager, commercial products. “The HM1317CB is engineered to be the most efficient breaker hammer in its class. And at 42 pounds, it’s easier to maneuver than a larger 60 or 70-pound model, but still delivers enough power to get the job done.”

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Safety equipment isn’t as fun to shop for and as a new table saw however for some people (more & more as OSHA regulations get tighter) it has become a daily part of life which means you are going to be spending plenty of hours each week in that harness. For this reason there are a wide range of styles and options available today. FallTech pretty much has whatever you are looking for in a Safety Harness, from the very basic (easy on the wallet) to meet OSHA requirements to Kevlar Harnesses with 10,000 lb webbing.

Above you will find the FallTech sizing chart, the “size fits most” section will work for 80-90% of the work force and are the harnesses you will find on www.ohiopowertool.com. Of course extra small and extra large sizes are no problem, simply call 800-242-4424 or email sales@ohiopowertool.com and they can help you. Below is a quick rundown of the available FallTech Harnesses:

FT Basic -1D 7007 $29 – 6300lb webbing, 3 Point size adjustment, basically the new guy special...

Contractor – 1D 7016 $40, 3D 7018 $48 – 6300lb webbing, 5 point adjustments, 9 position leg straps, lanyard keepers

Tradesman – 1D 7008 $55, 3D 7010 $60 –compare to contractor but 6800lb webbing & forged alloy, 2 lanyard keepers for Ys

Foreman – 1D 7070SM $68, 3D 7073SM $80 –compare to contractor but with improved comfort, shoulder pads, waist support & functional work belt, 6300lb webbing

Journeyman – 3D 7027 $73, 3D 7035L $108, 5D 7034L $113 – compare to Foreman with even more comfort, 7000lb webbing & forged alloy, 2 lanyard keepers, retrieval options

WeldTech – 1D 7039 $188, 3D 7038 $188 – 10,000lb webbing made with Kevlar & Nomex, resistance to cuts and heat.

ComforTech – 1D 7080SM $112, 1D 7082SM $126, 7081SM $138, 7083SM $152 – 7300lb webbing, silicone gel, memory foam, lumbar support, Cordura fabric, Maximum Comfort

If you are buying the harness for yourself and looking for comfort obviously the ComfotTech is the way to go, you can wear it for 8 hours and hardly notice you are wearing anything. The Journeyman is also a very popular harness for people purchasing their own equipment and while it doesn’t have all the bells & whistles still a comfortable harness. If you are purchasing for a crew it is a good idea to consider the Contractor over the FT Basic as it have 5 point adjustment and will fit a variety of body types much better.

For lanyard, SRL, lifelines, anchors and other FallTech safety products, Ohio Power Tool carries a wide range of option for all your fall protection needs.     

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 03:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Bosch NailKiller Auger Bits (In-stock now at ohiopowertool.com) newly developed auger bits claim a 900% better lifespan than what is currently in the market today. It also offers a 61% reduction in torque response, vastly improving the user experience. I had a chance to see these bits in action at the 2009 STAFDA show, see video below, and they went through nail after nail with no problems. Also it eliminates the need for separate Ship Augers and Spur Augers, available in short 7.5” and Long 17” lengths. Checkout the full Bosch Press Release below.

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 04:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Milwaukee M12 hacksaw 2420-22 ($179, Ohio Power Tool) has been an incredibly popular seller, with the pistol grip it is far more user friendly for 1 hand cutting than your traditional reciprocating Sawzall. Milwaukee has also recently come out with high capacity M12 XC Battery ($79, Ohio Power Tool) which not only give the M12 hacksaw longer runtime but actually gives the tool more power.

Available soon you will have the option of an M18 Hacksaw which will come with either the M18 slim or XC battery. This will be a good addition for those that already have other Milwaukee M18 tools. For many professionals there will be plenty of justification to have both a Sawzall & Hacksaw on the jobsite.

The only difference I can see in the stats is that the M18 has a ¾” stroke vs M12 with a ½” stroke. Otherwise it looks to be the same 0-3000 SPM speed and Quik-Lok keyless blade holder. We will let you know more as these become available.  Checkout the youtube video below:

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 02:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If you have ever had to remove a bunch of large cores (up to 6”) before typically you will find it’s not a terribly pleasant job. Commonly guys will use two screwdrivers and pry the core up and then try to grab the lip and pull it out. This core extracting tool from Diamond Products Core Bore makes the job much easier and will save you a ton of time and energy. It’s such a simple design, why was this not invented years ago. The Core Extractor ($36, Ohio Power Tool) is a little pricy for what it is, but well worth it for the time it will save you.   

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yesterday Milwaukee Tool announced several new hand tools to be available very shortly. There are some new features that make these more than just shelf filler items. There is a new 11 in 1 screw driver with ECX bits, a new jab/rasping saw and 2 new utility knives coming next month.

Eliminating the need for users to carry multiple drivers, the 11 in 1 Screwdriver comes complete with 9 fastening functions including #1 Phillips, #2 Phillips, 1/4” slotted, 3/16” slotted, #1 ECX™,  #2 ECX™,  and 1/4”, 5/16” and 3/8” nut drivers. In addition, an integrated wire stripper and wire bending hole allow the user to strip and/or bend up to 12 gauge wire before fastening to electrical boxes.

“No other jab saw on the market integrates the cutting and rasping functions needed to expand holes,” says Tim Albrecht, Group Product Manager- Hand Tools for Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation. “We are constantly looking for ways to make applications easier and increase productivity. The less time wasted switching from tool to tool, the more productive the user will be.”

To combat the likelihood of the blade bending or breaking, the new Milwaukee® Rasping Jab Saw features the most durable 6” Plaster/Drywall blade available on the market. The saw also features rubber over mold to increase comfort and prevent hand slippage.

Designed to activate the blade 3X faster than a 2-handed opening, the Fastback™ Utility Knife features a one handed blade opening for easy activation. In addition, a tool free blade change allows for fast and efficient adjustments, while a thin body design makes it easy for a user to store the knife in their pocket. An integrated gut hook and wire stripper also increase utility by allowing the user to make cuts without exposing the blade and eliminates the need to look for another tool to accomplish the task at hand.

Activated by a side sliding mechanism rather than a cumbersome top button, the Sliding Utility Knife also features a tool free blade change and wire stripper for increased efficiency. Complete with rubber over mold to increase comfort and reduce hand slippage, the new tool also includes on board blade storage to avoid looking for blades on the job and is designed to fit in a tool pouch for added convenience.

Expect more new hand tools from Milwaukee and they all feature a Lifetime warranty. Designed specifically for the professional tradesman market these new hand tools promise innovation and best in class performance. More news to come as these products are available.

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 08:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For anyone that does work with any of the Department of Transportation (DOT) across the country this may be a helpful list. The links are to copies of the approvals for your records. The list was provided by Powers Fasteners and you can order these products online from the Chemical Anchors & Fasteners page from OhioPowertool.com. Free freight and discount on pallet orders for all the epoxy, chemical anchors as well as Mechanical Anchors for Powers Fasteners. If you have additional questions call 800-242-4424.   

* Information provided from www.Powers.com and Powers Fasteners. Some states do not maintain an approval list for anchoring systems. For approval, contact local engineering authority for acceptance project by project. Contact Powers customer service department for project submittal materials or download available submittal materials directly from this website.

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Just a few days ago this crew successfully tested the Heat-1X rocket which is slated to launch for the first time this summer. The purpose of the rocket will be eventually to launch a man into space within an incredibly confined capsule (seen above) at the tip of this rocket… You’d have to have balls like church bells to climb into that and get shot into space but I’m sure it would be a fun ride. Read all about their plans and building awesomeness at www.copenhagensuborbitals.com; also you can donate to the project if you want to support the cause. I really like the fact that a couple of buddies can build spaceships on their own with a few hundred grand of donated money and a time line of a few years. NASA on the other hand needs trillions and a few decades to put a man back on the moon. Anyway it looks like these guys are having fun.

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 08:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As we mentioned yesterday Bosch has a 12V free tool promotion, so it’s only fair to mention Milwaukee also has a 12V free tool give away this month for the 2 beam plumb laser 2320-20. See the full Mail-in Rebate PDF, good until the end of May. You can get up to 5 free lasers on one order so stock up now. The deal is good on almost all the Milwaukee M12 Tools, shop OhioPowerTool.com.  

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 08:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you have ordered anything online in 2010 you may have noticed your shipping charges have probably gone up. Ohio Power Tool is looking to provide some relief on several of their popular brands including Bosch, Dremel, CST/berger & Rotozip for the month of March. The order must meet minimal criteria (over $99, under 70lbs) and you have to use Coupon Code in checkout “MARCH”, very important. You can also call in the order 800-242-4424 and let the nice people know you want the free shipping deal.

Bosch 12V MAX Free Goodies

In addition to the free shipping from OhioPowerTool.com you can also take advantage of this Mail-In rebate deal on most of the Bosch 12V Max kits. Get yourself a free Driver PS20, 12V Battery BAT411 or LED Flashlight FL11A. All are pretty sweet deals. You may also notice it says PS21-2A and if you view the PDF form you will get a first look at the new Pocket Driver which according to this rebate will be out before May!

Bosch 18V Free Goodies

Still good until the end of March is this Mail-In Rebate for a Free 18V battery or 18V flashlight. This deal is also a very nice one and good on almost every kit available including the compact drill/driver & Impactor. Checkout the Bosch 18V tools available from Ohiopowertool.com. Of course all these deals can be used together so take advantage for the free shipping in addition to the free tool mail-in rebates.

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 09:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This past week was the Pumper Show down in Louisville, KY and was very curious about the show so we took a drive down early on Saturday. Set up like other trade shows but there was an emphasis on end user selling for many of the vendors we talked to with show special pricing and some products even stacked up in booths. As far as the pumper products went we really had no interest although have to say I was really impressed with the Blacktie setup, classiest port-a-johns ever possibly.

Ridgid had a good sized booth and lots of interactive displays and challengers for using some of their machines. The big emphasis from Ridgid was on “going digital” with their new RidgidConnect service. It is very clear in this could be a great business tool for many plumbers, inspectors, etc. The best new product from the show was the final piece of this digital puzzle. The SeeSnake to Laptop connection system and software introduced as part of the SeeSnake LT1000. This platform sites on top of the SeeSnake Reels (fits mini & full size) and connects directly to a laptop or microExplorer ($690, Ohio Power Tool). The Ridgid LT1000 ($1756, Ohio Power Tool) also has a full waterproof touch pad to control recording and keep your gloved hands off the laptop keyboard. Software is included for full viewing of most laptops, exact specs for laptop requirements coming soon. The LT1000 will run off battery or AC power and even includes new reel feet stabilizers to keep the reel in place.

The Ridgid LT1000 will be available in a few months; more information and pre-sale will be available on OhioPowerTool.com in the Ridgid SeeSnake section as we get closer to the launch date. The LT1000 should cost around $2000 and will include a 60 free trial to Ridgid Connect which with a wireless internet card would mean inspection could go from reel to office to customer in a matter of minutes.         

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 08:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)