Power Supplies Reviews

I bought my dewalt about 2 yrs ago. Having problems with the
motor stops and then I have to tap on it to get it to run.
For the money the quality is not there and I am a big dewalt buyer and fan. Not sure if after I try to get it serviced if I will purchase another dewalt saw or not.

This is my first reciprocating saw and I was not disappointed. I really like the fact that the blade can be used in any position (up, down, left, right) and is very easy to change. The blade quick change system is great and easy to use, just lift the lever and insert the blade. It has a variable speed trigger. The tool is also very comfortable to hold and is not too heavy. It comes with a carrying case that allows you to store the tool with the blade inserted (you don't have to remove it). The case has plenty of room for extra storage.

This saw is great! I got it for my husband for his birthday and he loved it. Great buy.

This saw rules-
It is only my second circular saw (I am 13) but I think it will be my last saw. It will cut through fresh pressure treated wood with out breaking a sweat. This saw is so quiet that you do not need ear plugs. I own many other Milwaukee tools, I expect high quality from them, and like always, the past with flying colors. You will need some worm drive oil, Milwaukee part # 49-32-0050, and then your set. It will not cut a 4x4 in one pass, but it will cut a 6x6 in two passes.

Good luck,
And Happy cutting
Sammy.

IF YOU'RE INTO HEAVY DUTY REMODELING OR FIRE REPAIR,THIS SAW IS FOR YOU. IT'S NOT FOR WIMPS AND IT WON'T LET YOU DOWN. I'VE HAD MINE FOR OVER TEN YEARS AND IT SHOWS NO SIGN OF WEARING OUT.

To have a fair review of this saw, besides long lasting quality we should point out two important features of this outstanding saw: 1)SAFETY is maximized by Milwaukee here, positioning the handles far from the blade ! 2)YOU CAN SEE where you cut, making precise cuts.(almost impossible with other circular saws).

I purchased this saw believing it was made in the USA. The technical data provided by Amazon states the country of manufacture as being the US. I was very dissapointed when the product arrived and found "Made In Taiwan" on the box. I called Milwaukee and was told the US made miter saw, model # 6494, had been discontinued and that the -6 on the end of the model number denotes made in Taiwan. I decided to keep the saw despite this issue, if the quality seemed good. Overall, the saw appeared well made. However I was dissapointed to find a crack in the aluminum base in an area where the casting was quite thin. Needless to say the saw is being returned, and I am shopping for a different brand.

I bought this saw as a job site saw, its good for cutting baseboard, 2x4, and casing. It has the best range of degrees of any saw. 59 to the right with 51 to the left. And you can push the bevel cut three degrees to right. All that helps in the field. BUT the bevel doesn't have a positive stop at 0 an 45. What it does have is strong spring that holds and stops it at these places. so if you lean a little on the motor as your tightening the lever, you could easly be off a degree or two from 0 or 45. Not good. The micro adjustment on the miter cuts isn't anything to write home about also. Milwakee makes a big deal of this in their ads, but other saw micro adjust just as well.
The saws motor is load, but doesn't have the high pitch whine the some makita's, hitachi saws have, that's good. It also came with a 60 tooth blade, better than advertised.

I gave it three stars because it only has the wide range on the miter cuts going for it. Other than that its just a chop saw with a good 5 year warrenty. My ideal cabinet shop saw is the 8 1/4 slide hitachi saw.

The Milwaukee Magnum is a serious, heavy-duty tool, that does what it should--makes very accurate cuts, one after the other, all day. I'm very demanding of my tools and I looked at a LOT of miter saws and the Magnum was the only saw that consistantly was top of the class for accurate cuts and durability.

And it delivers. I've used the Mag now for 6 months and this baby is going to be with me for a long, long time. Plenty of power and the cuts are dead on, every time. No deflection, no curved cuts. The flip fence feature is brilliant and I say this because I have a friend who almost lost a finger with another brand of saw that didn't have this feature.

The price, size, and weight probably mean this is not a saw for the occasional-project homeowner. The whole design of this saw is geared toward the professional. If you're just building one deck, this is more tool than you need.

I was also disappointed that the saw is made in Taiwan. It doesn't mean it's not a good tool, though. I also agree with a previous reviewer who mentioned the front adjustment knob sticks out too far and could be bent when moving the saw around.

It's getting harder to find serious tools these days. It's nice to find something that works AND is built to last.

I have owned five of these UPS units over the past four years. I purchased three for my Mac and PC at home. Then I had to purhcase two replacements for units that simply quit. Currently only ONE still works! I have very infrequent power outages, perhaps three in the past four years. These units work well to allow you to save your work and shut down. My G5 mac was so power hungry that I had to use one for the computer and another for the 23 inch LCD. I can't comment on other UPS brands such as Belkin, but I have seen many competing brands on the web and at the computer stores. There seen to be quite a few dealers selling refurbished APC products but this may be a reflection of APC's popularity rather than the poor reliability of their brand. My experience over the past four years has been mixed. These are not inexpensive units and you have to decide how precious your data becomes. If you really fear the loss of data during a blackout then the answer is clear. I chose to switch to high quality surge suppressors and never work during potential storms. Many users do not have that flexibility so a UPS is essential insurance. The units I puchased were identical and only one unit is still operational after four years. I can accept the need to replace the battery every one to two years; three of the batteries failed and alarms beeped until I bought new batteries. Prices vary from $15 to $50 depending on the vendor. Battery life depends on many factors so I don't begrudge APC for wear and tear on the battery but to have 4 out of 5 units simply stop working is unacceptable. I bought APC branded batteries and can't explain why the recurrent failures. I'm frustated with my APC products but it may be a problem with this model. Just beware of the hidden costs of battery replacement when purchasing an UPS!

I have owned one of these UPS's for about 3 years. Earlier this year the alarms went off indicating that the battery needed replacement. I thought that was odd considering the age of the unit. No problem though, I'll just log onto APC's website and order a replacement battery. Wasn't I surprised to see that APC indicates that this model doesn't have a replacable battery. This didn't make much sense to me since the unit has an access door to the battery compartment.

Well, I removed the battery and found a web vendor that had a replacement for $18. It is a very common 12volt cell and was available from several vendors. The unit is back up and working well again.

I have experienced several black-outs in the past few years and this UPS can keep my CPU, 19" monitor, cable modem & network switch operable for enough time to save any work in progress and shut down my system.

In closing, it is a well designed unit with adequate power for most home or small office systems. But I was a little put off by the short life of the original battery and incorrect replacement information listed by APC.

Had mine since December 1999 but noticed that the battery failed after about 3 years, like the other poster wrote, APC didn't list a replacement at first but now they do and I finally got around to replacing it. Battery type is RBC2 for those wondering.

Solid unit, having a telephone line/out and USB controller is a plus.

Just purchased 2 14.4 Dewalt XRP batteries, the originals where at least 10 years old. But as with any battery they don't last forever. Could not see replacing with an 18 Volt when there was nothing wrong with the drill, a 1/2 hammer model. Charged the first one and could not believe the difference, made it feel like when it was new. Still using the first battery and its been at least 3 weeks since it was first charged. I'm not a contractor just a diyer, but they were still worth the money. If the price goes up anymore though for each battery then I'll look at the DeWalt 18 volt.If these last as long as the first pair, they will out last me.

Battery works hard and long. The new battery design is much better than its predecessor. You can actually get your hand around the battery now to release it. It's true that the new battery will not fit in the old case. Hint: use a utility knife and alter the plastic case so the new battery fits.

The difference between this battery and the "regular" 14.4v DeWalt batteries is like night and day. I was always fairly pleased with the performance I got out of my original batteries, but once I picked up one of these I was convinced that the hype is justified. Right out of the box I noticed that this battery is a bit larger and significantly heavier that the regular 14.4's. Once fully charged, I slapped it in my drill/driver and was AMAZED at how much more powerful this battery pack was. I have also been impressed with the run time between charges, but since I have not yet used it to build any decks, etc., I cannot say if the battery truly lasts 25% longer (or 40% or whatever).

I highly recommend this as a quality product that performs amazingly well.

DeWalt DW236 half inch Drill Review

There is little reason to buy a drill with a key-locking chuck, when keyless drills like this provide plenty of force to hold any bit from slipping - from 1/16" to 0.5". Pressing a button near the chuck locks the drive shaft - then, the rubber-coated chuck works exactly as you would expect. The chuck is easy to tighten and easy to loosen. The only way to improve on this arrangement would be to have an automatically locking shaft similar to those on high-quality cordless drills.

For a lightweight half-inch drill, this unit has plenty of power - far more than, for example, the 18 volt Bosch 33618 Brute cordless drill/driver. When drilling holes where maximum tool control and protection from torque is needed, you'll appreciate the wonderfully designed auxiliary handle. Partially loosen the handle and rotate it to any point in 360 degrees and less than a half turn will tighten it firmly. The handle can be completely removed from the drill in seconds, by loosening the clamp and sliding it off the tool.

The primary handle fits my large hands comfortably; there are no sharp places, nothing that pinches, and the trigger switch works beautifully. One thing that irritates me though, is that manufacturers don't follow standards for the reversing switch. I own numerous corded drills, and this DeWalt is the only model where you slide the lever (that's over the switch) to the LEFT for the bit to go clockwise - or RIGHT for counter-clockwise. That's counter-intuitive - in fact, all the other drills I own are just the opposite.

Why is it that if I go to Lowes and/or Home Depot they supply a carrying case?

When my cordless drill failed I wanted a corded replacement. After looking at the local Home Depot we decided on the DW236. It isn't as heavy as similar drills, its quiet, the keyless chuck is fantastic and I love the adjustable handle for a firm, two handed grip.

I'm not a contractor, but a friend who is recommended DeWalt products and I'm glad I took his advice. If you need more power, get a hammer drill but for general drilling needs, this will be your preferred drill.

This is the original Black and Decker Buffmaster. I bought mine in 1992 and it still works great.

To the person who has problems with , and refered to tie pads.
Any major paint wholesaler can sell you a kit that will replace
the pad with a velcro based plate to which you can place a foam
or wood pad with a touch and all work great.

I bought this polisher to compound and wax a boat and I was extremely pleased with the results. The variable speed dial with a maximum RPM of 3000 was definitely the ticket on the parts of the boat that were suffering from severe oxidation.

I found myself running at about 1800-2000 RPM's over most of the boat but having the extra power when needed was definitely a time saver.

The only drawback I could mention is that this tool is not friendly about accepting generic polishing and cutting pads produced by "other" manufacturers. The Dewalt mounting bolt for the flex backplate leaves few options other than to use DeWalt pads unless you want to use the drawstring type, and I have been unable to find any drawstring pads worth purchasing.

With as many batteries as I use, I may be heading for record breaking status. And I have found that Duracell lasts longer in the C and D sizes. I do like Energizer best for AAA and AA.

The possibilities are endless with these batteries!! For instance you can use batteries to run a device such as your very own personal massager for hours on end! What a way to relieve stress after a long hard day of work. You know it will last long because the pink bunny makes it so. Yay!

Energizers last longer than Duracell and are equal in price. Enough said?

My shop uses many sanders and I have purhcased many through amazon.com or "Tools parts direct" web site. This sander works fairly well if used several hours a day as long as you can change the bearing regularly.
If you are more heavy professional, try p&c 504.

When you consider most belt sanders on the market and then go out and take a close look this one surpasses many others .
Most outside of a few have the motor set 90 degrees to the belt , while this is not the most balanced desigen Makita has come up with a design that almost eliminates tipping and gouging .
Another thing to look at is the flatness of the base and how sturdy it is secured to the motor .
This sander has a flat base and it does not flex or give at all and it is set 90 degrees to the base of the motor .
A friend of mine got the porter cable and one of the first things I noted was the base appeared bend so the sander leaned to the right ( viewed from the handle end) this was before I got the makita and when I did check others in stores all where the same way .
The one I got has the dust collection and it works very well , one thing to keep in mind is that all belt snaders pickup from the rear so if you have the rear off the work area dust will drift and blow on all belt sanders .
This sander also has a rather long cord so for me most of the time I don't need an extension .
Some conplain that it seems to be a 4" base on a 3" sander and in a way it is and it can be used to run the belt to the edge for flush sanding . More important is that this wider base gives the sander stability and helps a great deal to keep the sander from tipping .
I do have a bosch 3x21 inch inline belt sander with variable speed and use it for most jobs requiring a belt sander and for light duty work .
But if I do need to remove wood fast and stay in control put a 150 grit belt on this sander and work with ease and control plus fast stock removal .
There are not alot of things that can go wrong with this tool . It is well designed and simple to adjust , the tracking works very well and there is also a replaceable belt stop to keep form cutting the housing through with the belt and it is made to last a very long time . Everything about it is heavy duty .

I have owned this belt sander for 9 years now and it has never let me down. The dust collection works great, belt changes are a snap with the lever. This is one of those tools that just feels right in your hand, powerful but light. Extra wide base is for flush sanding. Would buy again in a minute.

The product seems underpowered compared to its rating. The amazon.com process can't be beat with their great prices!

I have, and am still using, the first unit I bought six years ago. I have a professional wood sculpture business, and have run this grinder hundreds of hours with carbide shaping tools on hardwood. Mostly walnut and birch. I bought a second unit that is setting in a drawer in case this one ever quits, but it isn't going to be soon. The one problem is that the slide switch gathers dust, and now it takes an extra push to get it going. It doesn't ever stop once running. If I dig the dust out of the switch it is fine. Other than that one thing, the heavy bearings, the good case, and strong motor, make this a wonderful tool. WAY better than any tools in my shop by Delta and Sears.

I have been doing flowbench developed porting for over 22 years. Sometimes my porting bench runs 12 hours a day. I own (in use at this site) more than 8 air die grinders, 8 hand held electrics(makita!), and 2 remote cable driven units. Years ago (1982) I was looking for an affordable electric die grinder, I tried several $80 - $100 units NONE LASTED more than a few days! EXCEPT THE MAKITA YOU SEE HERE! I still have the first 2 I bought, DATED 1982, until a few weeks ago only brushes and a switch had ever been replaced!! These 2 have THOUSANDS of hours use. Finally I had to replace a shaft in 1!! A true industrial quality tool @ a hobby price! Ken