Here is a very nice promotion on the new Bosch Radar Scanner D-Tect150 ($799, Ohio Power Tool) if you are using this in concrete applications. The promotion is for a mail-in rebate on a FREE Bosch Bulldog SDS-Pus 11224VSR ($189, Ohio Power Tool).

The D-Tect150 scanner is the most accurate construction detector on the market and certainly useful in many other applications other than concrete. We recently spoke with several folks that installed solar paneling on residential roofs and this is the only detector available that will penetrate the multiple layers of material to locate roof trusses, just as an example.

Download the Main-In Rebate Here!  


   

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Until October 15^th you can take advantage of some great instant promos on Ridgid hand-held inspection tool including a FREE Stainless Steel tube cutter 32078 with Gas Detector CD-100 or a FREE ratcheting tube cutter 32573 with Infrared Temperature Gun IR-100. Promotions are instant rebate and will ship with purchase! See this flyer for more information.
    

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 06:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We had a chance to test out the new Milwaukee M18 Caulk Guns recently and the most impressive feature was certainly the control this gun provided. Not only does the trigger offer very sensitive variable speed control but it also has a dial gauge to really fine tune the flow rates. If you have ever used cordless caulk guns in the past this is normally the biggest complaint, they are just sloppy. Also the Anti-Drip feature cuts off flow right when the trigger is released so you don’t get that last glop of material. With a claim of 200 tubes per charge this is the perfect tool for heavy caulk and adhesives. Read the full Milwaukee Press Release below and check out this video from our Friends at Chales & Hudson.

MILWAUKEE, WI - Milwaukee Electric Tool continues to expand the fastest growing 18V platform in the industry with the introduction of the new M18™ Cordless Caulk and Adhesive Gun. Capable of delivering up to 950 lbs. of force for the highest viscosity materials, this powerful applicator supplies unmatched pushing force for the toughest applications, even in cold temperatures. The variable speed trigger and six-setting maximum speed dial optimize the tool’s 0-21 IPM (inches per minute) flow rate for best-in-class control.

“The combination of incredible power and optimized speed settings will provide users with the ideal solution for dispensing a wide range of sealants and adhesives,” says David Lincoln, Associate Product Manager for Milwaukee Tool Corporation. “The M18™ Caulk Gun also gives users the ability to accomplish these projects with less fatigue as dispensing constantly with manual tools can be very cumbersome.”

Thank you to all the fans, vendors, racers and terrific sponsors that made the third annual Tool Racing Championships (www.ToolRaces.com) an overwhelming success for the 2011 season. Weather worked with us this time around and a lot of folks came together to support the event in so many ways. For about half the crowd it was their first time visiting the Idea Foundry and in addition to the media exposure a great way to introduce more people to the kind of fun we have there every day.  

Despite only having a dozen racers the actual competition was pretty fierce. The two year champion, Oinkenstein, returned along with his wife’s racer, Bride of Oinkenstein. We brought the Reaver back but added some wheelie bars that actually kept the racer on the track this time however in the end a rookie, Silver Scream, came in and took home the first place finish.

Silver Scream was a very simple design which reminded me of our pinewood derby days where the flattest, simplest racers always seems to win. This was basically a flat board, 15 amp circular saw and some wheels with really good bearings. He took home some $700 in Bosch Tools, a pretty good reason to get off butt and build one for next year.

The best looking racer went to The Scorpion, but almost lost to Dino Mite, a cute little triceratops belt sander which had some pretty nice speed. The Scorpion was a pretty menacing looking racer so it was funny to see the two side-by-side and have the crowd so divided. Really a testament to the diverse group the races drew-in this year. While the scorpion looked pretty aggressive it did not do well on the track. Levi & Dillion, of ReFab Studios promise to be back next year and said will have a new design that will be all speed!

The races certain were not all serious as we ramped the tracks at the end and launched the racers into the hillside. We’d have to say there was pretty good air on some of these racers that participated. Flaming hoops for next year a must!

Special thanks to our two lovely ring girls who really got the crowds going for each racer. Awesome addition to this year’s races and terrific spellers… not that we are ones to talk when it comes to grammar and spelling.

The coptool’s own Reaver, for the second year in a row, took home the trophy for Best Wreck… Not the one we are looking for but at least we were entertaining the crowds. The outer cage actually broke off after a few races (this was actually our first ever solo welding project a year ago) and out of frustration, due to a disappointing lose to Silver Scream, the Reaver was actually thrown half way down the trace. The Bosch 9” grinder motor still works great however so it’s not out of the question you may see it again with some work to the gear ratios to get better speed.

In addition to all the racing fun there was the Jeni’s Ice Cream Truck (Best Ice Cream In Nation & from Columbus) on hand as well as the inaugural launch of the brand new food truck, The Coop, which really blew us away. Several Idea Foundry members converted this truck in the weeks leading up to the event and the food reviews were all around terrific. Bok choy, duck, quail eggs, yep all ingredients you’d expect to get out of the back of a truck right.

Once again we need to give a special thanks to Bosch Power Tools who really stepped up and sponsored this year’s Tool Races! The event would not have been nearly fun without their terrific support of a bunch of hacks. Also thanks for letting us borrow the “small dome” to house the bar, certainly easy to find the event from the street. We would also like to thank Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer and Buckeye Vodka for their sponsorships, adding to the general celebratory mood of the crowd. Finally Ohio Power Tool and Liggett Stashower for taking care of lots of the other details that made the event run so smoothly. Check out the links below for hundreds of additional pictures. Until next year!!!

- http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2052770233780.110948.1080258003 
- http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2053208484736.110963.1080258003 
- http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2053487251705.110970.1080258003
- http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.222873371093581.49261.189314211116164
- http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150285333768631.352130.77451218630
    

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 09:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Possibly one of our new favorite tools, not only becuase it looks like a weapon out of a Japanese comic book, but also because it may change the way a lot of us cut concrete. Price on the hydraulic unit is pretty pricy for the Dragon Saw HDS60 ($6952, Ohio Power Tool) but in many ways will be a cost savings once these units get into production. Also Pneumatic, Electic and Gas units should be coming soon and all look to be more economically priced. In the mean time check out the latest video to really learn more about the inner workings of this machine... you may want to skip to 1:17.

This video actually shows it in action.

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 05:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Great article over at Charles & Hudson today on what trucks tool bloggers drive. Very interesting mix from F-250 to pull behind bike trailers. We made the list with our GMC Sierra along with another 10 or so of our fellow blogger cohorts. I also like that while we are all technically competitors everyone is super friendly and can come together to support each other’s blog post ideas like this. Nice post Tim!  
      

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 07:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Unfortunately we can’t take credit for being the first to power a bike or scooter with a cordless power drill however we did feel there might be some different ways to do things that have not been done. Our desire to build this came in the course of doing research for a recent Blog-A-Geddon, “What device, vehicle, object, etc would you like to see powered by a cordless drill and how would you do it?” We found several interesting rigs online and eventually our inner 8 year old took over and we had to build something.

The Kickbike ($259, Amazon) seemed like an obvious choice for the base vehicle because we wanted to do a scooter but also wanted the more stability you get with a larger front wheel at higher speeds. The Kickbike is basically a scooter with the front of a full sized bike so pretty much right on the money. For the motor/drill we needed the most torque, lowest RPM unit we could find which ended up being the Milwaukee M28 Right Angle Drill 0721-21 ($369, Ohio Power Tool). This drill is variable speed, based on trigger pull, from 0-400 RPM in low gear (0-1000 RPM in High). The low RPM, even on this unit, was still too high so we had to find a gear reducer which could handle the torque and get us even lower. The Hougen reducer 4:1 14008 ($175, Ohio Power Tool) was the best we found for the money and gets the drill speed to 0-100 RPM with some serious torque to carry myself, 225lbs, no problem.

To get the set up we wanted we found a matching size rear wheel on a kid’s bike and basically cut the entire back half off and inverted it. This kept the chain and rear tire perfectly working together so we really did not have to reinvent the drive mechanism.

The Kickbike rear wheel structure unfortunately was not wide enough to accommodate a wheel with a chain so we had to gently persuade it to expand. We cut the Kickbike rear tire mounts off and welded the kid’s bike to it, using the kid’s bike as the new tire mount.

We had the most difficulty finding a way to attaching the drill to the bottom bracket/crank and staying completely centered. We ended up boring a hole on the lathe and pressing the Hougen adaptor thread where the pedal arm would have gone. By using this thread piece we can easily remove and attach the drill by simply reversing the drill and hitting the trigger a few times.

To hold the drill in place securely we simply welded 3 round tubes to the frame which is pretty sturdy. Currently zip ties keep it from moving side to side but we will soon be welding on more permanent side supports to really hold the drill in place.

The throttle is controlled with the brake caliper from the kid’s bike attached to an extra long tandem brake line and a brake lever mounted on the handle bars. Currently the setup is getting the job done but a more customized piece is also in the works for the trigger of the Milwaukee Drill.

The speed could use some improvement which could come from switching the Milwaukee Drill to High Gear at x2.5 the RPM but may not have enough torque. If torque is low it could require a few manual kicks to get started then use the drill for higher speed cruising, which is fine with us. There is also the option of changing out the gear sprockets for different ratios but we did not want to do that unless it was really essential.

Total in parts new this would take almost $1000 to build however there are many variations that would reduce the cost tremendously. Hopefully it’s a different enough design to inspire other people to come up with even more variations.  

Facebook - Album of 48 Pictures

Instructables - Milwaukee M28 Kickbike
                       

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 02:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Metabo is one of those tool brands that you’re not going to find at the local big box stores, sure a little more pricy but also very dependable and well engineered. What Metabo is most known for is their grinders, we say this pretty confidently because other manufacturers use Metabo as the target comparison when redesigning their own grinders for power and durability.

The Metabo W18LTX ($123, Amazon) is Metabo’s first cordless lithium-ion grinder and we are pretty confident it’s going to perform very well if Metabo is going to put their name on it. We were also very surprised how reasonable priced the unit is compared to other 18 volt grinders. We only found it sold as an add-on bare tool however, not in a kit with battery and charger so you would also need to purchase a Metabo LTX Cordless tool kit. Check out the video below for more info on the Metabo 18V cordless line as well as the official Metabo Cordless Grinder press release after that.  

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Metabo Corporation, a leading international manufacturer of professional grade portable electric power tools and abrasives for industrial, construction and welding applications, has introduced its first professional-grade cordless angle grinder, complete with a rotating battery pack, making it ideal for grinding and cutting applications in hard to reach areas.  The W18LTX cordless angle grinder is part of Metabo’s Power Master Series of 18 V lithium-ion cordless power tools.

This 4-1/2” grinder’s slim motor housing and ergonomic side handle make it comfortable and easy to use throughout the day.  The cost-effective, durable W18LTX is ideal for users needing a reliable tool for tough, portable grinding and cutting.

Incorporating more than 85 years of Metabo grinding innovations, the W18LTX features a robust, debris-resistant 4-pole motor with easily replaceable carbon brushes, and removable dust filter.  It has a no-load speed of 8,000 rpm.

Safety features include advanced motor protection with a no-volt release switch that protects against unintentional starts when inserting a battery, a burst-proof guard that can be adjusted in seconds without tools, and an electronic shut off that helps to prevent kick-back.

Added features include thermal overload protection and an electronic soft start that helps extend motor life significantly. Metabo’s proven air-cooled charging technology cools the battery pack to a level temperature during charging using guided air flow ducting.  This increases productivity by shortening the charging process and helps sustain the life of the battery by keeping individual cells cooler during the charging process.

Each battery features Metabo’s state-of-the-art cell monitoring system, Electronic Single Cell Protection (ESCP) that electronically monitors the individual cells during the charging process and discharging process to prevent damage as well as prolong battery life.  The batteries and charger are covered by Metabo’s three-year warranty; if they don’t charge, they are replaced at no cost.
    

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 05:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One of the greatest things about being involved in a community workshop group like the Columbus Idea Foundry is that you get to see other people’s projects come together before your very eyes. Our fellow Foundry member Todd Perkin has been plotting his Inhaler Hot Rod for some time but now that it’s getting towards the final few months of the build his vision is really coming together and lots of folks are lending a hand.

The Inhaler received some generous material support (batteries) from the Buckeye Bullet electric land speed car project which was one of the last big hurdles to making this car a reality. Several other Foundry members have also jumped onboard and now there is an official Inhaler pit crew which is awesome to see everyone helping out. The project has also had some good local press coverage and was just featured on the Gas 2.0 blog yesterday.

If you want to see the project in person and/or talk electric car / hot rod building with Todd & company, the car will of course be on display at the Foundry on Saturday, August 20^th for the www.ToolRaces.com. An event not to be missed!  
    

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A short time ago Bosch began converting their 18 volt cordless batteries over to the new 3.0Ah HC batteries which have been shipping with their Second Generation Drills. The new batteries not only bump Ah rating from 2.6 to 3.0 but also lower the cold temperature working range to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, a big step for lithium ion. Another new feature we were very excited about was the 3 light battery gauge which can be very handy when you have a mess of the same batteries. But the important question that stuck in our mind was does this really provide that much longer run time?

When it comes to battery run time it can be very tricky to truly compare apples to apples, if you are drilling holes or cutting wood it seems like there could be a little room for variation in materials, user style, accessories, size of hole, etc. For the Bosch 18V FatPack battery however we have a terrific benchmark in the Bosch Power Box PB360S Review where we know the exact settings and life of the battery for several different trials.

The Bosch HC FatPack battery lasted 4 hours 26 minutes (level 18, same EQ settings), which was truly amazing for us as the standard FatPack only got 2 hours 43 minutes in the previous test. It was in fact the same kickball tournament from the original test and pretty much all the other variable were identical. It seems amazing (unbelievable) to us, which is why we are planning to repeat the test for the new battery this week. That being said, we are pretty confident having been within ear shot the entire time, the radio was doing its job and we only used a single battery for the whole day’s activities. How does this equate to battery runtime in a cordless drill or jigsaw, we can’t say for sure but our guess is it can only be a good thing. One slightly disturbing thing did happen however when we first put the new battery on the Power Box it did not work. After a momentary freak out, we plugged the Power Box into our truck inverter and it came on again and no further problems switching batteries.
    

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 07:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MAX Power 1350 ft-lb maximum reverse torque from a tool that weighs just 7.4 lbs and is compact enough to access tight spaces.
MAX Durability Built to last and designed to withstand tough use in rugged environments; a two-year limited warranty is standard.
MAX Productivity An air motor that’s 16% more efficient than its predecessor and an easy-to-clean inlet screen means less down time, better tool performance, and less money spent on compressed air.

The new Impact is targeted to launch the first week of September along with the new MAX Air Hammers so it would be a good idea to get your orders in now! All the new IR tools can be pre-ordered from Ohio Power Tool and if you have any questions do not hesitate to give the guys a call at 800-242-4424.

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It all started back in 2008 with a little spade bit that was just too aggressive to simply be called a spade bit, so the good folks a Bosch named it the Daredevil Spade Bit. Now with the launch of their new faster cutting framing saw blade (post coming soon) and renaming of their equally aggressive auger bits (previously known as the Nailkiller Augers) the Daredevil family of construction accessories is born. What better way to kick off the launch than to team up with a real life motorcross Daredevil, Mike Metzger and give lots of stuff away! Check out the new website, www.BoschDaredevil.com and enter to win one of 4 weekly prizes or the grand prize. For more info read the official Bosch press release below.     

Mount Prospect, Ill., Twist the throttle and hit the dirt, the Bosch Daredevil™ brand has teamed up with X-Games freestyle motocross gold medalist and world record holder Mike Metzger.  Known for his precision, speed and focus, Metzger’s spirit embodies the same best-in-class performance as the new Bosch Daredevil wood cutting and drilling accessories.  As part of the partnership, Metzger and Bosch will showcase Daredevil style to X-Game fans and contractors across the country.

“Like Metzger, the Bosch Daredevil series brings creativity and edge to the arena,” said Kevin Enke, marketing director, power tool accessories North America, Bosch.  “Whether through balanced performance, efficient speed or its smooth finish, the Daredevil accessories save contractors both time and money on the job.” 

The new Bosch Daredevil series includes the Daredevil spade bit, a bit that relies on an innovative threaded-tip design to provide great speed, ease of use and a high-quality hole; the Daredevil auger bit, which employs dual cutting edges to cut nails in wood, yet provides balanced drilling; and the Daredevil framing blade with its thin-kerf, extra-hard steel plate and triple-sharp carbide teeth to power through wood to deliver a combination of speed and a smooth finish.    

“The thrill of the ride is what keeps me going,” said Metzger, known as “The Godfather” of American Freestyle Motocross for pioneering the motocross back flip.  “It’s great to team up with a brand, like Bosch, that brings that same thrill to its customers by offering products that get the job done the right way every time.”

To bring its partnership with Metzger to life, Bosch has launched a “Work Hard, Play Hard” campaign that recognizes the Daredevil spirit of contractors across the country.  Now through August 25, 2011, consumers can share images of their Work Hard, Play Hard spirit on www.BoschDaredevil.com for the chance to win weekly accessories, tools and more.  One grand prize winner will receive a Weatherguard tool box signed by Metzger, Bosch Circular Saw, plus a collection of Daredevil circular blades.
    

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 05:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well several months back we took a modest selection of 5 utility knives and compared a few common features in the original Utility Knife Showdown. However just after that launch Irwin launched several new knives that brought some interesting new features to the table as well as some very trade specific knives so we did the follow up Showdown 2 – Irwin Strikes Back. Not wanting to be left out of the party the Stanley Group sent over 3 additional knives from Stanley, DeWalt & Bostitch. At this point we feel it is safe to say we can do a pretty robust comparison with a good majority of the utility knives you will find in the market, in all we narrowed it down to 8 finalists with a good mix of unique features.

Irwin Protouch Utility Knife ($14, Amazon) has recently been updated and is a big improvement over the previous model. Blade change no longer requires the knife to be opened, on board blade storage in easier to access and the contoured shape provides a much better feel overall. Great all around knife.

Milwaukee FastBack 48-22-1901 ($15, Ohio Power Tool) very well constructed with a great contoured grip. The flip-out style utility knife has been increasing in popularity over the past few years as it is much easier to carry all the time using the belt clip. This knife also features two wire stripers.

CH Hanson Flip Knife ($13, Amazon) is designed more as a specialty tool but we could see it being very handy in a wide range of situations. The two sided knife features a strait and hooked blade, one on each end and a safety feature which prevents them from being extended simultaneously. Quick release blade buttons means you never need to open the knife at all, but if you did want too it's very easy. This does make it a fairly large knife especially considering the lack of on board blade storage.

Bostitch Twin Blade Utility Knife ($9, Amazon) the obvious advantage with this knife is the twin blade setup which can easily be switched with just a move of the thumb. This knife also features quick blade change and on-board blade storage however we were not impressed with blade storage as there were no magnets or clamps to hold the blades in place so they can fall out when you open it.

Milwaukee Slide Utility Knife 48-22-1910 ($7, Ohio Power Tool) is another knife which rearranges the classic knife design very cleverly. The slide is on the side preventing the release from getting caught on a pocket or tool belt and cutting yourself. The blade storage is also very nicely situated in the handle with a magnet holding the blades in place. The blade is removed with a quick release button so the actual case on the knife is never opened. The thumb pad also improves the comfort for long periods of use.

Stanley FatMax 10-778L Utility Knife ($9, Amazon) a more traditional utility knife but with some added features including padding near the blade for and a locking feature when the blades is extended both handy for chocking up on the knife in various drywall and other applications.

DeWalt Folding DWHT10035L Utility Knife ($11, Amazon) the most recent addition to our ever growing collection of utility knives this folding utility knife has several unique features including on-board blade storage and retract ability. Both these features allow the knife to function just as any regular utility knife but in about half the size when closed. Also features a wire stripper.

Irwin Drywall Fixed Blade Utility Knife ($10, Amazon) specifically designed for drywall use this knife would not be recommended as a general purpose knife. However for drywalling all day long this specialty knife would be very handy as it is intended to be used all the way chocked up with fingers by the blade and very firm blade position.     

Blade Storage – of the eight, six had onboard blade storage ranging from 2-5 blade of storage space. The Bostitch was our least favorite as the blade knock around loosely in the handle and when you open it can fall our fairly easily. Also the opening mechism is clucky which only adds to the likelyhood of loosing the blades on opening. The Irwin ProTouch and Stanley FatMax were both pretty easy with nice soft springs holding the blades in but the winner remains the Milwaukee Slide with its magnet holding compartment, very smart. – Milwaukee Slide Winner

Blade Changing – this time seven of the eight featured quick release blade mechanisms, the Irwin fixed blade deliberately did not obviously. Of the other seven it is very difficult to pick a winner but probably the one that would be the quickest would be the Bostitch as the release is on the top next to the retract lever. We could also however see how it might be the easiest to accidentally press while in use. In comparision to just a few years back we have to say all were really quick, probably none took over 6 seconds which is amazing to think such a short time ago and fumbling around with this. - Bostitch      

Blade Play - All the utility knives in our sample had some blade movement; the only way to prevent it would be to more securely fasten the blade in place which would make the quick change blade releases and sliding features nearly impossible. From most play to least here is the order: Irwin ProTouch, CH Hanson, Bostitch, DeWalt, Milwaukee Slide, Stanley FatMax, Milwaukee FastBack, Irwin Drywall Fixed Blade. Even the fixed blade still had some play but it was very minimal. The Stanley FatMax impressed us in this category as it was very tight even with the retract feature. – Irwin Drywall Fixed Blade

Safety – Accidents with utility knifes are very common, maybe not as catastrophic as accidents with a table saw but nobody enjoys getting their finder sliced with a razor sharp blade. Right off the bat we will take the Irwin fix blade out of the running, that blade can be dangerous in the hands of an unskilled laborer. In the way of blade releases the Irwin ProTouch is by far the best, as it features a separate unlock position which needs to be engaged to use the blade release button. In terms of keeping fingers away from the blade in use we thought the Milwaukee Fastback, Stanley FatMax and Irwin ProTouch all did a good job providing a more aggressive lip on the handles. – Irwin ProTouch

Weight – Bostitch 7.8oz, CH Hanson 5.9oz, Stanley FatMax 4.9oz, DeWalt Folding 4.9oz, Milwaukee Slide 4.8oz, Milwaukee Fastback 4.7oz, Irwin ProTouch 3.8oz, Irwin Fix Blade 3.5oz. While it should be no surprise the double bladed knives were the heaviest we were surprised to see the Irwin ProTouch so much less than the others but still had all the same features (even had 3 blades in storage).  – Irwin ProTouch

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 09:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)