Power Tool Books Reviews

I have been using this system for about 9 months and I am very satisfied. This machine works wonders on straight edge blades such as chisels. But beware, sharpening curved blades, such as knives and plane blades, requires practice to acquire a certain finese.

For example, I sharpen my hand plane blades so that they have a slight to substantial curve on them. My scrub plane has a substanial curve while my smoothing planes have a very subtle curve. The curve eliminates the "edge bite" that results when a straight plane blade is used. I use the multi-purpose jig for plane blades and it requires a bit of practice to get a really nice edge. Still, using the Tormek for curved blades is probably easier than water stomes but not much.

I bought a lot of the accessories and boy, are they expensive. One of these days Delta will make a knock-off Tormek that sells for half the price. Some of the accessories are great, such as the scissor sharpening jig and the knife sharpening jig. But who in their right mind would need to sharpen an axe to a razor sharp edge?? Just use your regular grinder.

Certain accessories shold be included in the basic package, such as the diamond truing tool, because the wheel WILL become out of round.

I'm a long-time doubter here. My primary hand tools are a set of Japanese chisels, some Pfeil carving tools, and a number of Lie-Nielsen plances of which I'm inordinateld proud. I have an entire library of sharpening stones and have been completely egotistical about hand sharpening and honing. In other words, I was an edge snob. That it could take me two days to sharpen everything after a sizeable project was besides the point.

Age, and the addition of another set of exotic chisels, finally did me in. After all that time sharpening it took another two days to work the cramps out of my fingers. suddenly the Tormek, despite its price tag, began to look good. So I attended a demo and watched someone sharpen a very fine chisel in about 15 minutes, including the traditionional hair shaving flourish. the finish of the edge was mirror perfect. I started saving my pennies.

The Tormek works by using a sharpening wheel that can be surfaced easily for either fast cutting or fine finishing. It rotates through a water bath at about 90 RPM. The tool being sharpened actual stays cold so you never lose temper. On the other side is a honing wheel with a leather surface on which you put a bit of rubbing compound, and that finishes the job. Because of the way you use the wheel, the edges are hollow ground. So if you are a perfectionist, you should grind at a slightly greater angle, but I know of no one who has ever had a problem.

I bought the Tormek with a host of accessories, but this model, out of the box with just the basic jig, will do 90% of your sharpening. It took me 6 hours to go through every edged tool except my joiner blades, and every one is perfect. Including the iron on an old, ugly Record T5 that had literally become a paperweight. If you want a way to consistenty get great edges on a host of tools (you can even get an axe sharpening jig) there really isn't another option. And it actually does what it says it does.

I've been using the grinder with a few of the different jigs and I can say it does, indeed, put a great edge on tools. I did find out that nothing is as easy as you might expect. The grinder does take a little practice in setting up and using the various jigs. The jigs are repeatable which is a big strength. That is, once set up correctly, you can repeat the bevels without even thinking about it. I gave this tool five stars because it does what it claims to do and does it very well. My plane blades and chisels have a mirror finish on them and are VERY sharp.

This is an outstanding kit. I had a Dewalt 18v drill and needed a rip saw and circular saw, but at $200 -$250 each it just made sense to get this kit for $599 w/ free shipping. Plus the rebate for a free tool, which I ordered the jigsaw. I did debate getting the Craftsman or Rigid kit for about half the price. So what sold me on DeWalt? I noticed during a NASCAR race, after a mutli-car wreck, that several teams were using the DeWalt 18v Reciprocating Saw cutting away fenders! I didn't see anyone using Craftsman, Rigid, or Bosch?

I started using the kit immediately. The first project was a double tier floating deck at about 600 sq ft:

Rip saw with a 9" blade went thru 6x6 treated posts with little effort.

Hammer drill drove about 500-600 deck screws quick and controlled. It also went thru the concrete without hesitation.

Circular saw is great as well, trimmed deck boards, cut angles on the posts, and portability is so nice when you don't have to worry with cords.

Cut off tool is wonderful; I usually had to use the torch but it was always a hassle getting the tank moved around to the job, but I walked my fence row a trimmed 15 tension bars in about 8-9 mins.

Only down side was the XRP batteries held up for 2 posts on the rip saw and then it was dead. The drill and circular saw did what I expected as far as lifetime. The only thing that I did not like was the Hot/Cold feature on the charger. I had an older battery that this feature never affected, but the new XRP batteries seemed to always set this off. The manual says it helps extend the overall battery life, but this needs to be remembered if you only have a couple of batteries. When this "Feature" is on the batteries DO NOT charge! So the quick 1 hour charge they advertise now takes 2-3 hours (1-2 hours for the "Cool Down" and an hour to charge it).

Tools did an amazing job. Overall I am VERY satisfied and will continue to buy DeWalt.

Been using the 18V DeWalt tools on the job where we put them through hell. Yes, we smoked some drills and fried some batteries but the tools went down fighting. Been watching the sales at Lowe's & HD hoping to finally get myself a good set of cordless tools for the house. I have to tell you, this kit at this price on Amazon....well, I couldn't match it anywhere else. I don't know how they do it but Amazon always seems to have what I'm looking for at very attractive pricing. Anyway, I finally have a kit that has everything I wanted and more. You'll wonder how you lived without a right angle drill. Only complaint is that the portable light is pretty much a waste - would have preferred a jigsaw. I know folks have complained about the 18V batteries not lasting but I've never had that problem. Just wish they weren't so expensive to replace when they do finally die.

Traveling out to client location and installing cabinets and fixtures, this is a must have kit...It is amazing what power these items have.

This tool actually belongs to my woodworking buddy who also lives next door. He got it for his birthday last year, but really hasn't used it much. He hasn't been able to get very good results with the machine. Mainly because he's fairly impatient and didn't really watch the video or read the manual. Don't get me wrong...he is not dumb...he just does better if someone show's him "hands on" how to use a particular tool.
I've had this tool in my shop now for a week or so, and it is really too much fun. My sweetie has some micro turning tools that I have always had a heck of time sharpening because they are so small. The tormak changed all that, once it is set up, these little tools are no longer a challenge, not even those #%$&**% tiny gouges. Our other turning tools are also enjoying a high level of sharpness. I've pretty much gone thru all the tools in my shop that have a cutting edge...chisel's, planes, etc., learning to use the machine and all the jigs that came with it. The video is excellant and the manual pretty complete, well layed out and plenty of pictures. Setup for differant tools does take a little time and patience, but I think with use, the time factor will be greatly reduced. It does a fantastic job on all cutting tools and I will miss this tool when it returns to it's home.
This is not a tool that I can afford, especially with all the attachments, but it is definitly on my wish list. Maybe one or all of the grandkids will get together next christmas and surprise me. (Yeah...that'll happen)
I would recommend this tool to all woodworkers who want sharp cutting tools and can afford this tool. It is very solid, fit and finish are excellent,runs smoothly, and very fast once set up.Maybe someday........

Buy the complete package; it is expensive, but you only have to do it once. The system is simple and easy to use. It gets the chisels so sharp you must watch those fingers when working on a project.

I bought the Tormek turners package. The Instruction book is first rate. The steps are easy to follow and the illustrations are clear. I have used it on chisels and hand plane blades. I'm working my way through all my tools and using them as I go. To date I am thrilled with the ease of use and the great results cutting wood. Flattening the backs on the side of the stone takes a little bit of time if there is a lot of material to remove but it goes easily. The tools work quickly and switching between the rough and fine grinding surfaces takes me about less than a minute including removing and replacing the tool being ground. I have changed bevel angles pretty easily. The honing feature is easy to use and gives the metal a mirror finish. The tormek is heavy enough to stay in place without any fastening required. The biggest bother is cleaning out the water tray but a hose does the trick in no time. I would not want to dump the fine, wet grit down a sink without running a lot of water.

This replaced a high speed grinder with 'special' white and pink stones plus and assortment of aftermarket jigs, diamond stones, ceramic stones, natural stones and other stuff. All of them helpful but slow and not as accurate.

If I figure all I spent on the other stuff I was half way to the Tormek package. I should have listened to my wife when she said "just buy the best".

I was looking for replacement batteries after the originals failed to perform. I looked around and found a another brand that has a direct replacement. Then I found this offer for two DeWalt replacement batteries at the super low price, I had to purchase these.

So far, the batteries have performed as I expected. In my case, the batteries were delivered before the estimated delivery date.

THESE ARE A EXCELLENT VALUE. AFTER A LOT OF SEARCHING LOCALLY AND ON THE INTERNET SINGLE 18 VOLT BATTERIES WERE RUNNING REAL CLOSE TO $80 DOLLARS. WHEN YOU CAN BUY TWO FOR $55 DOLLARS WHY SHOP ANYWHERE ELSE AND SPEND MORE FOR QENUINE 18 VOLT DEWALT BATTERIES.

Presumably, each DW9096 in the pack works as well as the single item (see reviews on DW9096). This is a great price for a pair. I was looking for cheap batteries for my DeWalt equipment and found a 1.4 Amp hour battery for $54, but at only a buck or two more (per battery) for these, I will get the genuine, high-capacity thing! As soon, that is, as I scrape the money together.

A must have tool for remodeling. The Fein tool is easy to use and great for doing detailed work in tight spaces.

I had been able to test market this product before purchasing one of my own and I am very impressed with this product. It is very accurate and easy to handle. Very lightweight and compact in size but packs a punch for the amount of tasks it can accomplish.

This detail sander is worth its weight in gold! I have owned one for about 3 years. The construction is rugged and feels good in your hand. The weight is behind the sanding pad which has its advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage allows for a great deal of pressure control on the pad, which I prefer... the down side, if you try to use this tool for an extended period of time you will feel it in your wrist and forearm. The price may seem a bit on the steep side, but this sander can almost eliminate most hand sanding (all but final finish sanding) in corners; around the base of ballisters; and other 'odd' places. It is a shame this unit is so expensive making it one of those 'add-on' tools to your inventory after you have purchased everything else. If you do a lot of woodworking and cabinetry or custom construction and millwork, get one as soon as possible; you will wonder why you waited so long. This labor-saver is one that will spoil you very, very quickly.

I have both the standard size triangular sanding pad and the narrow 'finger' pad and these have been able to meet all my sanding needs. The standard triangular pad allows you to turn the sanding sheet to a 'fresh' sanding point, very handy. I use the 'hook and loop' sanding sheets and they perform much better than the peel and stick variety. I can not speak to the use of the flush cutting attachment (I have a Bosch 1640VS electric flush cutting saw), and have never had occassion to use the scraper attachment; if I have scraping to do it is usually pulling up tile floors and I use a heat gun and broad putty knife.

Note...This tool can be very aggressive. The first time I used it, I put too much pressure on one of the sanding points and in the blink of an eye wore off the point of the sanding sheet AND the rubber covered point of the sanding pad! So go easy on your first project and get a feel for the way this tool functions on some scrap wood and plywood samples. I didn't ruin the project but I did have to replace the sanding pad. Fein has most of the more common sanding grits available in both sheet profiles.

I had the oportunity to test both of these lathes and , what is better about the Delta is the Belt access door location Jet was a pain to change speeds, also smoother running. AND less money to boot!

Very quiet smooth running no vibration small and light enough to move any where take it to shows and use at shows... No.1 lathe. Turn bowls plates covered boxes pens and a lot of art work.

The lathe worked great right out of the box. I would say the instructions are a little weak. They lack any instructions on how to replace the face plate, live center, etc... Had to look at the parts diagram to figure out how to place in a pen mandel.

But as for the machine itself... it's perfect!...

The tools seem to be very nice although I have not had a chance to use them a lot yet. Light is a bit of a waste but the drill, powered hand saw, jig saw and three batteries all piles into the super large case weigh a ton. It might be better to split the stuff up into 2 smaller cases.. plus the stuff seems to shift around in the case a bit. I am still waiting for the FREE tool I was supposed to receive from Dewalt on the mail order deal that was offered. If the extra fee tool comes then this was a great deal with free shipping.

I've had this set for nearly four years now.
As a collection, it's great because you dont need different sets of batteries or chargers.
but its really about the separate tools

1.The drill- the best cordless drill on the market. its perfectly balanced. powerful. sturdy. totally reliable. the hammer mode is great too. i love this tool.

2.the flashlight- a very handy option. in deciding to buy this set, i didnt think i liked the flashlight much, but i use it a lot.

3.trim saw- its great for those one or two cuts. has a nice balance and is pretty sturdy. depth adjustment is simple and easy. the bevel is a bit shakey, and not properly balance for accurancy. the guide is worthless. this saw eats up the battery very quickly. doesn't replace a corded. not even close.

4.recipro saw- again, great for small projects. i use it a lot to cut steel and copper pipes. doesnt have much power, but if you need portability or a light weight recipro, its great. for me and my needs, this does replace a corded.

5. jig saw. i hate this saw. it pisses me off when i see it in my tool crib. i really wanted to love it. i love curved cuts and intricate work. i thought i;d love the portability, but i realize i was just caught up in the cordeless craze. this tool fills no niche. get the four pack and avoid this tool. heres why: the chuck is keyless, sure, but its plastic and stripped out on me. the power is weak. the tool is improperly balanced for smooth cutting,. you need to pay more attention to holding it steady and flat than where the blade actually is. and, when do you ever need a cordless jigsaw? you don't. jig saw work is workbench work. buy a corded one.
i have an 80 dollar corded dewalt jig saw that is 10 times the saw that the cordless version is.

I have owned my Delta Sander for several months- bought due to the favorable review in one of my woodworking magazines.

Problems:

Mechanism to elevate table is flawed. Cog belt constantly slips- I have spent whole days just trying to get table parallel. Table is diffuclt to raise and lower. Called customer service a few times but they were of limited help= suggested I take to service center. At nearly 200 lbs this is somewhat impractical.

Motor must be removed to replace cog belt- not a one person job- motor is very heavy.

No way to avoid snip.

Tool might be good for small jobs- like crafts- but working with even small panel doors leads to disappointing results.

I have many delta tools in my shop- love them all except this one.

I have had this sander for 4 years, and the infeed cannot be adjusted to track correctly. I have tried a new belt and every adjustment, talked to delta for support, all to no avail.

I had mine set up and adjusted in about 2 or 3 hours. I burned a couple of boards feeding too fast or going too deep. Once I slowed down, It sands perfect.
It's not a planer. But it's a great sander.

I purchased my 330M a couple of years ago and, true, it did work well for a time. However, now I have an expensive piece of junk (attachements extra). The problems I've encountered began as low pressure and progressed to no power.

I would gladly pay to get this unit repaired, but, according to the fabulous customer service staff at Karcher, I need to bring it to either Des Moines or East Grand Forks--I live near Minneapolis.

I was told this by a rep after using the 800 number service center directory. Every listed service center near my home either do not repair electric Karcher units or never did (I am still trying to figure out how they pick their business partners--several had never worked on Karcher products.)

After countless phone calls, many minutes on hold and several emails (no one ever even replied) to Karcher I finally spoke with a live person who informed me to travel several hundred miles to repair a hundred dollar machine.

Forget it. I'll let my dollars vote for me. Karcher will never see another dime out of me and if asked I will tell all to avoid Karcher products. If Karcher's goal is to ignore/anger customers I must say 'nicely done'.

I should have known that something made of plastic would last about as long as something made of plastic!!!. The handle on the unit I purchased blew the internal gaskets on the third squeeze. The pressure was actually not too bad before that happened. $5.00 and two weeks later I had the replacement parts from the local service center. As I expected, 3 squeezes later the gun was leaking like a stuck pig. I wrote to Karcher and they are sending me a replacement gun....FREE OF CHARGE (I'll believe it when I see it). A new heavy duty gun will run between $35 and $55. I think I'll use that $55 towards the purchase of a new commercial grade unit.....and not a Karcher. Oh...and thanks to the dude who turned me on to "Pressureparts.com." They've got what you need to fix what needs fixin'.

I wish that I had spent the extra $150 and bought a gas powered one instead of buying this K360. I have owned it for 3.5 years. The unit only has ~ 80 run hours. The pressure switch has been replaced twice(out of the warranty period, of course). Repair cost $50 each time and took ~ 4 weeks each. Bad sign when the lady at the repair shop said, "We see a lot of these". After the second repair, I swore that the third time, I would junk it and buy a more-powerful, gas-powered one (Coastal TX is a mildew-coated place). Once again, the pressure switch failed.

When it worked, it worked well. But the reliability has not been that great. I love the Karcher attachments, especially the rotojet - cleans dirt and mildew off of paint without removing the paint. 1600 psi & 1.7 gpm is barely enough for down here. I have been doing a lot of comparison shopping, and the attachments from other manufacturers do not have the features that Karcher offers. Since I have a full set of Karcher attachments, I may end up purchasing another Karcher pressure washer.