Editor Reviews

I was a bit skeptical when I first heard that DeWalt would be making hand tools. I figured the tools would just be re-branded Stanley tools, like the Bostitch hand tools were. How would a bunch of re-branded hand tools be interesting news for you to read? It wouldn't, but thankfully for all of us, the new DeWalt tools are not just a simple logo change. The DeWalt line of hand tools look like they were built upon Stanley models, but also improved upon. As a way to show the skeptics among us what they really...

Channellock has put together a great general purpose tool roll set, and in my opinion it is the best tool set they offer. The Tool Roll No. 3 Gift Set includes the: 430 tongue & groove plier, 420 tongue & groove plier, 337 cutting plier, 3017 long nose plier, 526 slip joint plier. These 5 tools are a great addition to a DIYer's small collection of tools, and can be used for many of the most common DIY tasks. This is not some cheap tool set either, and should last a lifetime. Channellock sent me this...

Is is fair or even possible to call a ToolRank Pick just from seeing a product demonstrated in a video? Well, that is pretty much the case for the Hat Grabber. The moment I saw it in action on video I knew it had the potential to be a real winner; all I had to do is test it out for myself to make sure it worked as well as advertised and confirm my suspicions. If you remember, the Hat Grabber is a small hardhat add-on that claims to better hold your hard hat on your head....

You know I love lasers, they automatically make everything cooler, and the Johnson 40-6616 tiling and flooring laser square is no exception. This cool little squaring laser projects two lines across the floor that are 90-degrees apart, thus making it ideal for the flooring trades. But you don't have to be one of the flooring trades to get good use out of this tool; the 40-6616 works great for anyone needing to make squaring lines on the floor. Though the 40-6616 uses new technology like lasers, the tool itself is very simple in design...

Tools are cool and lasers are cool, so we can pretty much assume that tools with lasers on them are double cool. So when Johnson Level sent over their 40-0921 self-leveling cross-line laser, even though I have used other cross-line lasers, I knew I would have fun testing it out. So after getting the kit out of the box, the obvious next step was to take it to the jobsite and put it to work. The Johnson 40-0921 comes in at a price of around $100 which puts it in the price range and...

Do the new Lenox Speed Slot Hole Saws Work? Yes. This is the easiest review yet. OK you might want a little more information on the subject, but in the end, the Speed Slot Hole Saws work as advertised. The stepped slot in the side of the hole saw made it super easy to eject out the piece of wood by simply working your prying device (screwdriver) up the steps. The Lenox hole saw may be named after the stepped slot, but there is a little more at work that ensures successful puck removal....

I have wanted to write a review for the Bosch Axial Glide miter saw for a while now, but the saw has so many features, that I thought It would be best to just do a video review. It looks like Bosch really took their time to make sure everything was done right, this not only includes the things you would expect, like bevel and miter controls, but even the smallest of things are done right. The Bosch GCM12SD miter saw is great, and is probably the best 12" saw on the market. I do a lot...

Up this time for review is the Johnson 40-6048 Glo-View Digital Level. This level is built around the Johnson Glo-View level body (reviewed here), but gets boosted into the digital age with a digital readout and all the goodies that goes along with it. Since I have already covered the analog parts of the level in the regular Glo-View review, today I will only be covering the digital parts. Analog levels have served us well for so many years, why do we need to go digital? Well, I am not here to tell you...

BrandChannellock Model #368 Buy Amazon Not too long ago I review the ChannelLock 9.5” 369 Lineman Pliers, but today I have the new smaller 368 8” version. As I mentioned in my previous review of the 369 Pliers, I am not a professional electrician, and any electrical work that I do is on a small scale. It is because my electrical work is DIY that I prefer the smaller ChannelLock 368's.I simply do not need the added cutting power that the 9.5” version offers. Sacrificing a...

Tool organization is not one of my strong suits, so when Veto Pro Pac said they wanted to send me one of their tools bags to review, I happily accepted. What they sent out was their LC bag, the smallest of their closed top bags. You might be unfamiliar with Veto Pro Pac because they are not something you will find in your local bigbox store, but they have become popular amongst contractors because of their design functionality, and high quality build. I think the problem with most tool bags is they...

The simplest tools are often the hardest to review. How much different can any two tape measures be? They are all basically as simple as a thin piece of metal with lines and numbers. So simple, yet, I have the hardest time finding one that I like. I have used tape measures from all of the major brands and have a good understanding of what I like and need, but none of them on the market fit the bill. Design is what makes or brakes a tape measure. It spends a lot of time in our...

Remember a few days ago I went on a rant against carpenters pencils? I also talked about my new favorite carpenter pencil replacement, the Staedtler graphite 771. Well, I put together a little video to show you its cool features. The 771 is now my go-to pencil throughout the day, though I do keep a .7mm on hand when greater accuracy is needed. I don't think this pencil was designed for carpenters, but it has a lot of great features on it that suit our needs.

Lasers have been one of the most useful and most popular tools in the last 10 years or so. Technology in a whole has been advancing more rapidly then ever before. This allows us to buy more advanced tools from the past at a much lower price today. Case in point is the Johnson Model: 40-0918 manual-leveling rotary laser level that Johnson sent over for review. Just a few years ago it would have been impossible for a DIYer to go out and buy a rotary laser level, but today the 40-0918 can be purchased for...

Introduction Porter-Cable first announced their ultra compact line of 12-volt tools back in August of 2010. They were one of the last of the major brands to make tools in the ultra compact category, but they had a few extra features that set them apart, as well as a lower price. One tool in the new line that caught my eye was their version of the ultra compact reciprocating saw; it had a new simple clamping feature that looked like could really come in handy. Porter-Cable was awesome enough to send their ClampSaw to...

Up for review today is the Ratcheting ReadyWrench that was provided without cost by Black & Decker. The Ratcheting ReadyWrench is a dog-bone style wrench that features selectable sockets on both ends of the tool. Each end consists of four universal sockets that are capable of fitting both Metric and SAE nuts and bolts. This feature gives the wrench a total of 16 sockets in one tool. The main selling point of the Ratcheting ReadyWrench is the 16-in-1 design coupled with a new ratcheting system. Offering a total of 16 wrenches in one small...

A while back Channellock sent over a pair of their 369 lineman pliers and I had the pleasure of putting this tool to the test. Now I am not an electrician, which the tool was originally designed for, but who couldn't use a good set of pliers to help out with life's daily problems. The pivoting action on the pliers was really smooth and a tell tail sign that these are quality made. Channellock recently updated these pliers by reducing the size of the pivot. This change allowed them to move the point closer...

A level is just a long flat piece of material that houses a few vials and lets you know when things are plumb and/or level. It is one of the simplest tools we use on a regular basis. Being a tool that is so simple, it is hard to see how much it can be improved. But what is the most important part of the level? In my opinion it is the vial. A good easy to read vial can make all the difference. Even the most accurate level is useless if the vial is...

What exactly is a switchable impact? Well, as the name suggests, it is an impact driver with a switch. This switch then allows users to completely turn off the impacts from the tool. It basically turns your impact driver into a standard drill/driver. One of the questions often asked of this tool is why one would need a switchable impact. The answer is simple; you now have a single tool that can take the place of two tools. When you are up on a ladder, do you want to have two tools to worry about,...

DeWalt recently introduced a new storage container for tool bits called the Magnetic ToughCase and they sent one to me for review. The new ToughCase is made from the exact same material that DeWalt uses as the body of their heavy duty XRP drills. I should think that a material good enough for a top of the line drill, should be good enough for drill bit storage.

Rockwell might not have been the first company to make an oscillation tool, but that didn't stop them from trying the make the world of oscillation accessories a better place. The SoniShear attachment for the SoniCrafter quite simply turns your oscillation saw into a pair of power shears cutting at a whopping 20,000 strokes per minute. At only $25, the introduction of a low cost power shear should be a welcomed addition to DIY world... if it works. Rockwell sent out a SoniShear so we could find out for ourselves.

When Bosch asked if I wanted to review their latest 12 volt pocket driver, I just had to say yes. I asked the Tool-Rank readers not long ago if they thought 12 volt tools offered enough power, and now I would be able to see this for myself. It is weird that in the relatively short life of cordless tools we have come far enough that instead buying tools wanting excess power, we are looking at smaller tools with enough power. Why buy a tool that can drive a 6” lag bolt, when we only need to drive a...

Every time Dremel comes out with a new rotary tool I get that warm fuzzy feeling inside. I don't know why, maybe because it is one of those tools that you know can always get you out of a jam. That is, if you remember to have it on the job when you need it. This is also the reason I love the fact that it is cordless, no cords means it is practically setup right out of the case. The 8200 is Dremel's first Rotary tool that is compatible with all Dremel accessories and attachments, so the gap...

When ChannelLock said they wanted to send me their new Model #412 6.5” V-Jaw Tongue and Groove Pliers, I was a bit hesitant. My job is in installing commercial cabinets and millwork, how effectively could I test a tool that is designed for nuts, bolts, etc. After a bit of use, my concerns were quickly put to rest. First let me explain the difference between ChannelsLock's regular tongue and groove pliers and their V-Jaw sibling. While the regular T&G plier has two parallel flat contact surfaces with teeth at a right angle,...

Oscillation tools seemed to top the list amongst DIYers this past year, but for many professionals, the step up to track saws was high on their list. Why track saws? Because they offer table saw quality and accuracy in a much smaller more portable tool. They also have the added benefit of being much safer to operate. Today I will be going over my experiences using the Eurekazone track saw system. Eurekazone sent over the EZ Smart Guide SGS-114" kit, which includes: (1) 64” rail, (1) 50” rail, (3) rail connectors, (1) Smart Base, (2) Smart Clamps, (2) AC-1...

Back in May, I wrote about Campbell Hausfeld's new line of Pneumatic Nailers. Their goal was to produce a nail gun for your average Joe that could give results of a seasoned pro. To do this, they have added some interesting features to their model CHN70699 finish nailer which are not found in other nail guns. These features include: a built in laser, warning lights/sounds and even a stud finder. The CHN70699 can fire nails ranging in size from 1" up to 2-1/2" and uses standard angled 15 gauge finish nails. The operating pressure range is between 70 and...

Introduction It is always fun to test out tools for review, but it is especially fun when you know the tool you will be testing is something you need, or will make life easier. Such is the case with the Work Sharp 3000. Like me, I am sure a lot of carpenters have tools such as chisels and hand planes that get used and abused at work on a daily basis; but how often do those tools get the good sharpening they need to perform at their best. In the past I have used everything from belt...

I don't know that there has been a single type of tool that has been more popular at a given time, then the oscillating tool is today. The main reason behind this, is the fact that most of these tools have all come out at around the same time. Rockwell, unlike Bosch and Dremel, is relatively unknown, but has a few things that are helping them out. One being the popularity of their JawHorse which I have seen discussed in a number of tool related message boards, another is their infomercials. Which is also how the Fein MultiMaster was...

Over the past couple weeks I have been testing out the new Bosch Multi Construction Drill Bits, and so far I am really liking them. Being a finish carpenter, I have on a number of occasions had to install cabinets, and vanities over tiled walls. The problem with this is that you need one drill bit to drill through wood, and another to drill through the tile. The Bosch Multi Construction Bits really make it easy to drill through both materials at the same time. Another problem I have is attaching wood backing to concrete walls with...

I recently had an opportunity to test out the Stout X-Band Saw and Cutting Station. Let me start out by say that the X-Band Saw is like no other saw on the market. How so? Well, you have the ability to use the saw as both a portable hand held band saw, and a small band saw station when using the available Cutting Station accessory. When you first pull the X-Band out of its case you realize how small it is. Hopefully the photo of the X-Band in hand can give you an idea of its size....

Introduction This is one tool that has had a lot of attention ever since it was announced. It seems people have been waiting for an alternative to the Fein MultiMaster for some time. Let me just say that there is a $300 price difference between the Fein MultiMaster and the Dremel Multi-Max, with the Dremel being the cheaper of the two. This is probably the reason people have such a huge interest. Being someone that has never used the MultiMaster, unfortunately I cannot give you a comparative review. You might want to...