http://www.tool-rank.com/ 879-211 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/Cordless-Sanders/milwaukee-m12-cordless-multi-tool-kit-2426-22-20110216879/ This is a great tool, After using many other multi tools this one is my favorite. It has speed and tracks well when cutting. Vibration seemed to be a minimum. ]]> Tue, 16 Aug 2011 03:02:26 -0500 233-184 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/cordless-drills/Bosch-18-Volt-Litheon-Compact-Tough-Drill-Driver-36618-02-20080907233/ generally like bosch tools and this tool was great as a drill,just didn't have enough torque to drive larger screws,wouldn't keep up with my 19.2 volt craftsman drill. ]]> Mon, 04 Oct 2010 02:51:43 -0500 752-172 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/cordless-drills/skil-108v-lithium-ion-drilldriver-2410-01-20100809752/ This tool packs power and versatility into a small package. Weighs in at just 1.8 pounds. (Yeah guys, I know, but to this woman THAT can make a difference.) The driver bits included are : PH1 (1) PH2 (2) PH3 SL6-8 (1) sl8-10 (1) S2 (1) H 1/8" (1) H 5/32" (1) T25 (1) The drill bits: 1/16 1/8 3/16 1/4 The base charging unit conveniently holds 6 bits. This little tool features a chuck that pulls up for bit changes (uses hex bits). This actually lets you quickly swap back and forth between drill and driver bits. (I usually will use a bigger drill when predrilling and then use this to drive screws or other fasteners.) The smaller size is really convenient since it can get into areas my larger drills never would. The smaller size also makes it easier to carry up and down ladders or from job to job. The drill features an electronic clutch with 10 settings to help in not stripping out a screw head (you know we all have) and to provide more torque in drilling. I've loaned this to both my electrician and plumber for doing work in the crawl space or attic and both loved it. (My electrician actually picked one up for his tool box.) The base of the unit conveniently displays the battery power. Simply depressing the trigger shows green, yellow or red. The battery charge seems to last and last - I've never exhausted it. The literature states it will drive over 200 screws on a single charge. A power light is also located in the base of the drill. According to the Amazon listing it is made by Bosch with the Skil brand. Yes it is listed on Amazon for the featured price if $85.20. ]]> Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:44:37 -0500 103-168 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/cordless-circular-saws/ryobi-18-volt-one-5-12q-circular-saw-with-laser-p500-20080303103/ I got this saw to replace another trim saw when the battery died. Wow what a difference! This saw can handle any job my corded circular saw can. The batteries charge quickly and hold a charge well. Being part of the 1+ family is great since you can pick up other tools that will use the same battery and charger. This saw is heavier than I expected and I do find that continous use will wear me out (lol). Overall, this is a great little saw - I'm glad I got it. You should pick one up too. ]]> Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:52:47 -0500 102-165 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/cordless-impacts/ryobi-18-volt-one-impact-driver-p230-20080303102/ I purchased the P230 at Home Depot on special for 99 dollars a few months ago, it was included in a drill/impact combo kit with a bag, drill,charger and two batteries. Upon opening the kit, the one thing I noticed right away is for some reason Ryobi cheapens the look of their drill and Impact driver when offered in a combo special, it is probably not the noticeable to many at first, the specs are the same, but the grip on the drill does not fully wrap around the body and the torque setting ring is a different color. The noticeable difference in the impact driver is, unlike the model you can purchase separately it does not have a LED light above the trigger. Not a deal breaker, but I don't know why it's not standard. The Impact driver itself performed well out in the field, it drove 5 inch 1/4 hex lag screws with ease through 2x12s and 4x4s, while building several raised garden beds. I managed to build several boxes on one batt before needing replacing. My guess is I drove around 28 lags before needing to replace the batt,I don't expect results like that in the future, but was pleasantly surprise with it's performance. Overall the P230 feels solid, is well balanced, and is pretty powerful for an entry level ,homeowner tool. Like with all Ryobi batts, I expect diminishing returns with every charge quickly over time. I'm building a pergola over a deck in a month or so, and will update this review further on the Impact drivers performance. But so far I'm pretty impressed, if your already invested in the Ryobi one line, I would recommend this as an addition, especially if you can get it in a kit with 2 batteries for under a hundred. ]]> Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:25:23 -0500 79-157 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/cordless-jig-saws/DeWalt-DC330K-18V-Cordless-Jig-Saw-Kit-with-Keyless-Blade-Change-2008013079/ My cordless philosophy-- When choosing a cordless tool system make the choice based on the specialty tool you need the most then go with that system, living with the shortfalls in each given tool, but enjoying the benifit of shared batteries and the option for buying bare tools later. This saw Is part of the DeWalt cordless line up. And that Is the reason I ponied up the $$$ even though I own a Festool Trion barrelgrip. Over all I give it average marks. The blade does not stay strait in thick cuts!! If you need a cordless jigsaw to build a system around this is not your saw. But if you use DeWalt or need a cordless to cut exterior trim or sheets It is fine. Craig ]]> Thu, 22 Apr 2010 02:50:40 -0500 268-154 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/Cordless-Sanders/bosch-12-volt-max-multi-x-carpenter-kit-ps50-2b-20081009268/ Picked this set up to help me with some new projects i took on to learn and it has been a great value, great price and the quality is terrific , definitely well worth the investment for anyone even a newbie like myself! As they say a craftsman is only as good as his/ her tools! ]]> Mon, 05 Apr 2010 23:06:38 -0500 268-153 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/Cordless-Sanders/bosch-12-volt-max-multi-x-carpenter-kit-ps50-2b-20081009268/ Very solid feel, plenty of power with smooth operation. This tool feels better to use than my new Fein corded model. ]]> Sun, 28 Mar 2010 22:07:03 -0500 96-130 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/cordless-circular-saws/bosch-1664k-18v-cordless-6-12q-circular-saw-kit-2008030296/ My crew of 4 guys were using this saw (as part of a larger set with driver, jig saw, sawzall and circ saw.) The saw worked great but all 4 ended up with power issues in the drive train and also 3 of the 4 ended up have the blade guard stick in the open position. This happened after about 6 months and all within 3 weeks of each tool quitting The rest of the tools held up but the saws are a weak point. I have since switched to the Milwaukee V18 and now M18 cordless kits and the saw that comes with that kit is much better. ]]> Wed, 20 May 2009 04:46:32 -0500 160-129 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/cordless-drills/bosch-108v-pocket-driver-ps20-2-20080605160/ A must have driver for both the home owner and the contractor. For such a small drill/driver it packs a lot of power and the small Lithium Ion batteries have yet to show signs of loosing the ability to hold a charge. My crew and I were installing an under deck ceiling system that required A LOT of screws be driven into the lower portions of the joists. The guys laughed at me when I took this tool out of my truck. After 10 minutes of them holding their 14 and 18 voly tools over head they were getting sore shoulders. I was still zipping along, no stress, no fatigue. I bought a cheap set of drill bits designed to fit into the drills "chuck" so I am able to use it to pre-drill holes too. It is also great to carry in my drywall tool belt to use the set any screws that were under driven. Again, no wrist fatigue or strain. ]]> Wed, 20 May 2009 04:35:46 -0500 102-124 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/cordless-impacts/ryobi-18-volt-one-impact-driver-p230-20080303102/ This tool works. Well made, great battery (Lithium Ion version), light mounted in handle. Bought it at the last minute to repair some fencing figured I would take it back if I didn't like it, drove a couple hundred screws flawlessly. It's a keeper. ]]> Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:49:39 -0500 233-122 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/cordless-drills/Bosch-18-Volt-Litheon-Compact-Tough-Drill-Driver-36618-02-20080907233/ I THOUGHT IT WAS UNDERPOWERED FOR AN 18 VOLT DRILL IT PERFORMED MORE LIKE A 14 VOLT, I TRADED IT IN AFTER A WEEK FOR A MILWAUKEE ]]> Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:42:02 -0500 421-116 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/cordless-circular-saws/milwaukee-6310-20-18-volt-circular-saw-20090402421/ I would have rated this saw higher in the battery life rating had it come with the V18 batteries. With NiCads the run time is pretty poor, with the V18 it is just tolerable. I use this saw fairly often for odd jobs and punch list type work, it serves me well. It will cut a fair amount of 2X material and or a few sheets of ply.It will cut 2X material at 45°. It won't do it as quick as a corded saw, but it will do it just the same. This saw fits my hand well and is well balanced for cutting both on the flat and overhead. It is fairly light, though not as light as the Makita LXT. This saw works best with a thin kerf blade, standard kerf seems to kill batteries even quicker. ]]> Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:48:05 -0500 160-111 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/cordless-drills/bosch-108v-pocket-driver-ps20-2-20080605160/ For someone looking for a small drill/driver that they put in their carry-along tool bag/bucket/tray/box that's not going to add a lot to the weight, this is a good one. I specialize in restoration painting, so that means I almost always have to do some minor carpentry with each project before the paint goes on. I have a couple boxes for big or long tools that I use for those jobs, but I also have a small, open-top tool tray with my most-used tools in it. Up until now, I didn't have a drill/driver in that tray because of size, and more importantly, because of the weight consideration. The size & weight of the Bosch PS20 makes carrying it in the tray feasible. The battery charger for same does not fit the criteria, so that stays in its bag and goes in another container. Much of the drilling/driving that I do on a daily basis can be done w/ this driver. Its small size is also a big plus for getting into tight places, but it's got enough torque to drill & drive for the majority of my needs. When it doesn't I've got other drivers w/ more torque. I've owned Bosch tools for many years and have, for the most part, been very satisfied w/ their quality and performance. These drill/drivers seem to be reflective of that same quality. ]]> Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:00:38 -0600 382-110 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/Cordless-Reciprocating-Saws/milwaukee-6514-20-hatchet-cordless-reciprocating-saw-20090207382/ I was not really impressed with this tool when I first purchased it. It cut all right, it was just the the battery did not last all that long. With Nicads this saw will only last less than about 10 minutes. When I got some V18 batteries and tried them on this saw, I was much more impressed, now it could cut for closer to 15-20 minutes. This saw does have very little vibration. A lot less than the Makita LXT, About on par with a regular Milwaukee corded sawzall. The folding handle is a little different, sometimes it actually is useful. Folded the saw is about thirteen inches long, which can fit in some places a regular sawzall cannot. I often find myself using it with the handle fully extended, when I'm working on a ladder. I feel I can exert more pressure easily with an over handed grip that is accommodated with this handle style. The quick release blade clamp functions flawlessly, and is always easily accessible, unlike Makitas LXT. Milwaukees 18 volt Nicad tools can now be had for bargain prices. They work a lot better with the new V18 LithIon batteries. Would I buy it again? Probably not. I'm so much more used to a regular styled sawzall, like Milwaukee's V28 offering. ]]> Sat, 07 Feb 2009 02:28:59 -0600 372-106 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/cordless-drills/Makita-BHP451Z-12-inch-hammer-drill-20090124372/ One of my everyday drills, this has functioned well for me. I really appreciate the light. It has made my life easier on many occasions. Nice not having to go run for a work light when you have to drill in a dark place. Light is even bright enough to use as a makeshift flash light. The light lights, and stays on with just a light tap of the trigger,you don't even have to spin the bit, this is handy for lining up to a mark. If I'm doing a lot of drilling I usually go through two charges before lunch, and two after, for more moderate use a charge usually last more than a day. This drill is a clunky shifter, both for its speed and mode. Sometimes you have to spin the drill to change speeds, and the mode selector feels as if it may snap off. It hasn't yet in the 2 years that I've owned this drill, but it does feel as if it will. It does shift between forward and reverse quite well. Trigger speed control is smooth and fairly progressive. The chuck works well, as long as it is kept clean. The battery removal on mine sometimes feels a little sticky, as the battery fits well. I never notice any looseness in the battery mounting system. ]]> Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:43:44 -0600 368-104 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/Accessories/Milwaukee-V18-Lithium-Ion-batteries-20090118368/ I bought a V18 drill set partly because of the battery upgrade, I wasn't really expecting that much of an improvement over my NiCads, but I was wrong. These batteries rock! I really notice the improvement when sawing, both with the sawzall and the circular saw. I would say I'm getting twice the run time out of these batteries compared to the NiCads. 4 batteries will keep me sawing non stop(well, except for having to keep returning to the charging station for fresh charges).The battery charge gauge is extremely handy, No more wondering if how much of a charge is left. I do think my Makita LXT will drill a little longer, though it is not quite as strong as the Milwaukee. The LXT circ saw lasts about as long, I don't enjoy the LXT sawzall (vibration) so I will withhold that comparison. Will I buy more? Yes. I'm disappointed Milwaukee is discontinuing this line, and I hope they continue with backwards compatible technology. ]]> Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:10:03 -0600 335-91 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/cordless-drills/Ryobi-12-Volt-Drill-HP512K-20081231335/ I picked up this little drill on sale at the depot about a year ago, real cheap during a promo. At the time I needed something smaller & lighter then my 18volt and corded tools, and something slightly more powerful then my cordless screwdrivers. It also serves as a sacrificial tool I wouldn’t miss if it happened to fall out of my hands during some work on the gutters. While not thinking much of this drill initially it has grown on me and I find myself using it a lot more then I thought it would. The drill is comfortable, reasonably lightweight, and well balanced. It has comfortable rubber molded grip and features a built in level. It’s a variable speed, one gear drill that is best used in a fastening capacity but also has sufficient power to drill small holes. The drill has a pretty decent run time on a full charge, though it won’t really hold it more then 10 days or so. The charger could be improved, it is not a 1 hr quick charge and the lights on the charger fail to indicate when there is a full charge, I find it best to let the battery charge at least overnight. Overall the Ryobi 12volt is not a bad little light duty unit to use around the house and for 19 bucks on sale it’s a pretty good value. ]]> Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:48:05 -0600 108-69 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/cordless-other/ryobi-18-volt-one-radio-p740-20080303108/ While walking around the home depot recently, I came across this item in the clearance bin, it was part of a combo paired up with a P200 drill one of my favs, (which I thought Ryobi had stopped making) and a battery, I wasn’t interested in the radio, and I just considered it as more of a bonus, what I really wanted was the extra battery and the P200 to replace my slowly dying 5 year model. Well one day while working on a roof I decided to give this little guy a try and was pleasantly surprised, it wasn’t the absolute gimmick I kinda thought it was. The sound is pretty loud for a unit of its size, but if your using earplugs or loud power tools it will get quickly drowned out as I learned. The greatest asset of this unit is its portability, it’s extremely transportable you can throw it in a tool bag no problem and find room to place it anywhere. I’ve used it in crawl spaces, small bathrooms, roof with jack stands, list goes on. Another nice feature is the aux port which allows you to connect your mp3 player, old walkman, etc to the radio. Radio operation is pretty straight forward, a volume control dial that operates the on/ off and volume. A little toggle switch, that allows you to click in either direction to change the station on the digital read out, it’s effective but very slow. The strengths of the radio has to be its price, decent sound, mp3 player auxiliary capability The weakness of this unit is there is no AM. For some reason there is no AM, which is a huge for sports fans or people who listen to talk radio. I found this out the hard way when roofing, went to put on a baseball game, and couldn’t find the AM, had to climb down the ladder to get my pocket radio. Another weakness is no presets, seek or scan button, which wouldn’t be that big of a deal if the toggle scan was somewhat fast. Lastly it’s Mono, but that’s to be expected in a unit this size. Overall it’s an affordable, decent sounding radio with iffy reception that works with MP3 players and the Ryobi one battery system which provides severals hours of music on a full charge. I got mine as a bonus but would pay the 20 bucks that this unit costs on it's own. ]]> Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:04:16 -0600 82-65 http://www.tool-rank.com/cordless-tools/Cordless-Lights/dewalt-dw919-heavy-duty-18v-cordless-flexible-floodlight-2008013082/ I still carry a flashlight as a backup and I'd recommend the same to anyone using it at night, since you may knock it over, plywood may fall on it, et cetera. the bulb breaks easily. It can be used for task lighting. I suspect that the other Dewalt 18V flashlight might be better for that, though.
The design of the light, with the flexible neck, lets you set it up in all kinds of positions. The advice given in another review - set it on its side - should be taken to heart, as I think that's the most reliable way to use it. Setting the light on the battery base and extending the neck can make it unstable.
I want to see what is in store with the new lith. batt. ]]> Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:55:40 -0500