Bosch's Saw Ambition: Gadget of the Week
Proving that the golden age of lithium-ion power tools is just getting started, When weight is an issue, you can swap out the included 36V FatPack battery for the optional 36V SlimPack ($129), which holds 35 percent less juice, but is 1 pound ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Lithium-Ion Power Tools Charge Ahead
The lithium-ion power tool revolution roared to life two years ago this month when Milwaukee Electric Tool introduced its brawny 28-volt products. Other manufacturers soon jumped in. Now the power tool market is awash in lithium-ion technology. ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Makita Lithium-Ion Stick Driver
This isn't the only lithium-ion stick driver out there. But Makita's is the most powerful stick model we've tested, offering the kind of impact driver function normally found only in drills. The result is a lightweight tool that's fast (up to ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Home Toolbox Essentials: Skill Set
When I tallied up the tools in my box, I counted 61 items with a combined weight of over 50 pounds. Of course, some things are multipiece, such as the set of high-speed-steel twist drills in a fold-out metal case. I think I've got a good little ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Greenlee Angled Cutting Pliers: Cutting It Closer
The best innovations are often the simplest, like the curved profile of these Photograph by James Westman/Studio D , which let you place the head flush against a flat surface while gripping the handles securely. This tool is handy for cutting in ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Stanley Self-Leveling Laser Level: Upgrade Wish List
Stanley CLL with Laser Pole (Photo by Chris Eckert / Studio D) It's a clear sign of progress when you can get an affordable self-leveling laser level with its own 9.5-ft. telescoping pole for easy use at practically any job site. Stanley's CLL ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Woodworking Marker Tool: Upgrade Wish List
Carpenter pencils have met their match in this Multipurpose Marking Tool ($5). It's a solid chunk of graphite composite that lets you draw thin or wide lines on everything from drywall to metal. It has multiple sides and 12 corners, so when one ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Cutting Class: The Ultimate Saw Test
A typical corded circular saw with a 24-tooth, 71/4-in. blade spins at about 5800 rpm. Don't rush for your calculator - we've already run the numbers: Those teeth are doing about 125 mph when they hit the wood, making as many as 139,200 bites per ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Upgrade Wish List: Self-Adjusting Wire Stripper
Like a mini assembly line, Irwin's speeds things up through division of labor. An adjustable stopper keeps the wire where you want it. Squeeze the handles, and a pair of clamps presses the wire against notched strippers, which tear the insulation ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Time Machine: 1927
Built to the specifications in our December 1927 issue, this electric floor scrubber could hold a quart of "hot soapsuds." Seventy-nine years ago this month, PM featured amateur mechanic Arthur Capron's plans for an electric floor scrubber. ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
2006 National Hardware Show Editor's Choice Awards
The Stout Tool Corp. introduces the first one-handed, cordless bandsaw for cutting pipe and metal. It's the model STX-250--a 9 lb, 18 volt tool that cuts stock up to 2.5 inches in diameter. And, in conjunction with its Cutting Station accessory ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
How to Build a Toolbox: Simple DIY Woodworking Project
We built our tool-box out of 3/4-in.-thick D-Select pine - a grade that's just about knotfree - and 1/4-in lauan plywood for the drawer bottom. Two 6-ft. lengths of 1 x 10 pine will do the job. For generations, tradesmen of all persuasions have ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
