Power Tools Reviews

This saw works great! It's small and compact (folds up), but cuts almost like butter through branches 3 or 4 inches in diameter. When my ratchet pruners are not sufficient, the little saw does the job. I can put it in my pocket. I am really pleased with this purchase.

I purchase a saw to fit in a small toolbox on a small tractor / riding mower. I keep it with me to cut branches that grow low. (You know the kind that hit you in the head when out mowing the grass). Now I stop (hopefully before getting hit with an un-seen branch) and cut off the culprit. Its small enough with a tight enough blade pitch to cut small branches, and large enough to cut branches as large as about 1-3" before you'll want a bow saw or the like. It folds small enough to safely carry in your pocket while also hand carrying a large pruner or other tools.

I bought this because I mixed up the brand name of what I was actually looking for, but I found it to be excellent for what I need. It fits in my bucket with all my other garden tools and it's the only saw I have that I can stick in my back pocket. Great product, I would recommend it as a must have item.

I'm finding this blade tough to beat for the price. Crosscuts are easily as clean as my Forrest's at about half the price, and it rips better than other crosscut blades I've used. In fairness, my Forrest rips thick material better. The LU88 has large teeth, Frued's best carbide, anti-vibration slots, and teflon coating. Great for crosscutting and general purpose use on a TS, but I wouldn't recommend it for a CMS or RAS because of the aggressive hook angle.

Most crosscut blades cut cleanly but fall short in their ability to rip well or handle thick stock. The LU88 has some general purpose capabilities that many crosscut blades don't. It's tooth geometry features ATB carbide and a 15 degree hook angle that allow it to rip materials up to about 1" thick. Most crosscut blades have a very low or even a negative hook angle which provides a polished edge, but it also burns on almost any rip cuts. The LU88 is alot more versatile than most crosscut blades and cuts about as cleanly as my Forrest WWII. If you don't need to do alot of heavy ripping, I think you could do nicely using just this one blade. It's thin kerf design makes life pretty easy on my small saw. Very nice blade, and priced pretty reasonably too.

I've been an amateur woodworker for 25 years and in the last 5 or 6 years gotten into more and more projects that require the "right tools". I bought this blade 4 years ago when it first went on sale in our local area and I love it! Cuts whatever I feed into it with no difficulty and leaves a glass smooth edge. A little pricy in my local area to sharpen but that's life.

At this point all my blades are Freud and I'm a cheap SOB at heart so that's saying a lot.

Jim - a frugal New England woodworker

If you can afford it then it is clearly worth it. I wish I bought it 2 years ago. I bought it without the remote but purchased remote separately from woodcraft.

I recently purchased the DC-1100C Canister Unit (without remote)and found the assembly very easy and was quite pleased with the quality of the product. However, I went to the supplied manual to make the necessary changes to operate the unit at 230V and upon removing the switch mechanism faceplate I did not see the wiring hook-up illustrated in the manual. At this point I assume that I must go one more step and go directly to the motor wiring to make the change (behind the switch mechanism). This would require cutting the nylon strap to gain access. I also assume that I should not make any changes to the On/Off switch wiring.

Need help/clarification.

Thanks

I bought this dust collector last fall and have been very pleased with it. I have a small custom furniture business building mission furniture in white oak and also use lots of hard maple and cherry. I currently have one 4" flex 10' long hose on this DC connected to my cabinet saw and the other alternates between a 12 1/2 Dewalt planer and my jointer. This DC keeps up with the planer surfacing 10-12 wide white oak without blinking. I have successfully used the DC on two machines at the same time and had plenty of suction.

I also use blast gates when only using one machine or switching connections with the DC running. Eventually I would like to hook up a short system with metal duct and have no doubt with blast gates this will do well.

This went together easily and quickly. The remote lives in my shop apron and the timer is nice to put the DC on for a set amount of time. It is not terribily noisy either.

The canister cleans easily with the flapper and the bag holds a lot of sawdust. The canister is a vast improvement over filter bags in ease of use and filer efficency. I have been dumping the bag out into a large trash can and I am still on the original bag after about 25 cycles of unloading saw dust. It came with 5 clear bags.

I run the DC at 115v on a dedicated 20 amp circuit without any problems.

I would buy this DC again without hesitation. I am a Jet fan and have a 14" bandsaw, small mini-lathe and a dedicated mortiser as well and I am happy with each for it's durablity in my workshop.

I bought the Makita 4341 FCT because of the reviews listed here.My old Jig saw was 40 year old B&D.I was looking at a Milwalke but concerns where expressed with the blade changing.The Makita blade change is fast and easy taking less than a 3 seconds.Using the Bosch blades I was impressed with the power of the saw cutting through 1 1/2 of plywood.Vibration seemed to be quite low.The on/off button would be better as a toggle switch but this is a minor point. I'am glad I bought the barrel type as I can see you have more control plus enables you to get in to tight spots.The LED light works but could be even brighter for my tried eyes it certainly better than nothing at all.The soft start is a bonus plus.The Makita case is notlike the old metal ones this a plastc effort hardly gives enough room for the cord and a couple blades packages.I say drop the price and forget the case minor point though.All in all I am happy with the Makita 4341FCT Barrel Grip.

Plenty of power, comfortable to handle, and has less vibration than any jigsaw I've ever used. Even the light, which I at first thought was just a gimmick, has come in handy on several occasions. I also own two Milwaukee jigsaws, two Bosch jigsaws, and have used numerous others, and while the Milwaukee and Bosch saws are excellent tools, in my opinion, the Makita is definitely the cream of the crop.

I used to own a porter cable jigsaw. After I read a tool test in one of my wood magazines, I sold my PC and bought me the Makita. One of the best decisions I've ever made. I should have bought this one the first time. It is just a great power tool. I HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to anybody that is thinking of buying a jigsaw. It is powerfull, handles awesome and it is very quiet.

I have only used this drill a few times, but I am impressed with its capabilities so far. I used to have a chicago drill, and this is like a cadillac compared to that one. my coworkers have smaller Dewalts & Milwaukees, but this works as well as those do, just a little heavier. I love the instant stop feature, saves stripping screws!

I'm a homeowner and occasional DIYer. I do appreciate a good tool and splurged on a previous version of this drill 3 years ago when I needed a cordless. It has been a workhorse... it handles all of those "around the house" tasks without breaking a sweat. It's lightweight enough to be very handy to just grab and use, and laughs at my typical jobs- hanging stuff on walls, putting Ikea furniture together.

The controls are really well designed- the direction switch is in easy finger reach, but never gets in the way. The gear shift is on top and thus easy to see, reducing the number of "oops" moments. The speed control is very precise and easy to fine-tune, and the drill stops instantly when you let go of the trigger. The body is narrow enough to fit in tight spots, and the thing is light enough to hold and control at arm's length without being a weightlifter.

But I came to have a new appreciation of it last weekend when I was replacing the decking on our back deck with Trex composite lumber... I used this drill to pre-drill and drive all of the screws for a 300 sq. ft deck. The power was plenty sufficient, and the excellent batteries were able to keep up with me- by the time I ran one out, the other was charged and ready to go- I was doing the cutting and carrying the lumber too, so it got regular breaks. The battery life was still excellent after three years of neglect- being left uncharged for long periods of disuse, or alternately staying in the charger for weeks at a time. I had only rarely done a "full cycle", and yet I felt like all the power was still here.

Anyway, I've been really, really pleased- unless you're a pro that *really* needs a lot of power and run-time, don't be seduced by higher-voltage drills- this is likely to match the endurance and needs of even a relatively serious DIYer, and you'll have something a lot lighter and nimbler than one of those monsters.

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVE MAKITA TOOLS ,SO I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO MY NEW DRILL,I ALREADY HAVE AN 18V AND THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEING QUITE A BEATING, FOR THE PASS 2YRS NOW,AN MY ,IT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF EVERY CHALLENGE.THIS 12V IS NO DIFFERENT.THOUGH IT IS MUCH LIGHTER,WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I BOUGHT IT ,AND IT FITS MY GRIP,AS IF IT WERE COUSTOM MADE FOR MY HAND,THE TOOL IS VERY COMFORTABLE AND EASY TO USE,I AM A FULL TIME W/WORKKER,AND THIS TOOLS,MAKE MY WORKERS ONLY WANTS TO USE IT,I AM NOT SORRY THAT I BOUGHT IT ,ONLY THAT I TOOK SO LONG TO BUY IT..MY NEXT BUY WILL BE A SLIDEING COMPOUND,12" MAKITA OF COUSE...FLETCH..

The Makita 14.4-volt impact driver is the best tool of it's kind I've ever used. It's lighter and better balanced than the Dewalt inpact driver. The handle is also more comfortable for a smaller hand, like mine, unlike most other drivers. My whole crew owns and uses this tool. A great buy!

We've tried almost every variety of cordless drill to install 5/16th head self-tapping screws in aircraft hanger construction. Nothing worked including a new Dewalt 18v, although my wrist would tell you it tried really hard. I was hesitant to buy another cordless driver that might not due the job, but working with extension cords 30 feet off the ground is such a constant irratation that I decided to try the Makita.

Wow, this thing really drives screws, end of my problems, and my arms and wrist hardly know it's there. Battery life is amazing considering that each screw we drive requires quite a bit of energy and we're getting about 100-150 screws per battery. It's only about 75% as fast as a corded screw gun (not drill) so if you have an entire wall to screw down, I would still suggest a corded screw gun. This really shines on piece work, electrical conduit hangers, HVAC, etc. It may not be cheap, but you won't be disapointed. Also, one more thing to mention, I've dropped it three times from 20+' onto concrete and other than case scuffs, no problems.

I love this tool. I was working on a remodel where I had to raise a bunch of headers over doorways and didn't have the compressor and nail gun available. This building had old growth Douglas Fir framing that was tight grained and hard which made toe nailing on a ladder difficult to say the least. The electrician who was working on the same job was using a Makita 12V impact driver ot install his boxes and he had an extra one he let me use. The very first screw I drove into that rock hard fir made me giggle like a little girl. It was amazing to watch big fat 3 inch wood screws just melt into the wood with no strain or pushing on the back of the driver. The very next day I went down to K119 tools to check out the available models. I checked out the Hitachi, Panasonic and Makita and they all seemed equally good. The Panasonic 12V has two torque setting and the best battery. I considered the 12V models but after holding both the 12's and 14's side by side the weight difference seemed minimal so I went with the extra power of the 14.4V. Since the Makita 14V was cheaper than the Hitachi 14V and both brands have excellent reputaions I went with the Makita since that was the brand I had been using and it has a better battery. The following monday me and my coworker hung 35 sheets of sound insulating board on the ceiling. He used a 18V DeWalt drill/driver and I used the Makita 14V impact driver with a dry wall nipple bit. By lunch time my coworker's arm was tired from holding the 18V over head but I was still going strong with the light weight compact impact driver. I can't praise this tool enough it's just incredible how easy screws sink. Once while showing off for a friend I drove a 2 inch pan head screw all the way through a 4 by 4 redwood post and out the other side... it's just amazing! Where has this tool been on my life! Since then I've use it to hang cabinets and install new windows. What's really great is just how small and light yet powerful it is. Oh and the L.E.D light on the front is great when your driving screws inside kitchen cabinets. I just can't say enough about this little powerhouse... Buy one now you won't regret it.

I've owned this saw for two years now and I'm overall pleased with it. I've cut pipe, angle iron, rebar and auto bodies with mine, and of course the easy stuff like wood and light pruning. The saw is well balanced, fairly strong and well built. If I were to buy a recip saw today, I'd go for one with more power, say around 10 amps or so. Orbital cutting action would be nice as would an easier to use speed controller. The one on this saw is that screw in the trigger type that is rather differcult to adjust under its protective rubber boot. But once set, the speed stays fairly constant and will help increase blade life cutting metals. Many folks pass up these saws in favor of jig or circular types. But, if you remodel for a living, or just for your self, this type of saw is indespensible.

If you've ever used a "Sawzall" or similar product, you know that the biggest drawback of any of these guys is vibration. These puppys just want to jump all over the place. Makita is famous for making vibrationless tools, and this is no exception. As soon as you pull the trigger, you'll notice how quiet this saw is. The biggest problem is the allen screw chuck, which is typical of all makes. There is now a keyless chuck model. I reccomend it. Still, unless you are changing blades alot, it's not a big deal. For remodeling. this tool is a must. Why force and split a 2x4 out of a frame when you can simply cut the nails and slide it out undamaged. Need to install a roof jack in a 2x6 T&G roof? This saw will cut circles around any thing else (litteraly). I don't use this tool every day, but when I need it, nothing else will do.

I use this saw for everything: demolition, metal, even tree branches! It will cut anything you put to the blade. It's easy to handle and use whether you're ripping out door jambs, galvanized piping, or tackling some hefty tree branches (using 12" 6 TPI blade). Very powerful.

what more can I say? If you're in the market for a high-end drill box, then this baby is your ticket. The features are too many to list here. I'll just say that this box has not disappointed me one iota. I was a little nervous at the time of ordering because of the countless sub-par boxes out there, but my anxiety disappated once I held this one in my hand. Pure quality. I even dropped it intentionally off of a three story building, and guess what? Not even a scratch. I highly recommend this drill box.

Nice metal drill box/case. Has a padded saddle which cradles the drill, keeping it from sliding around inside. Nicely made for the price. Amazon shipping was good -- box in box -- arrived undamaged. Nice size for holding drill and acc. Not too big. 1/2" 0302-20 fits perfect ...

If you believe in protecting your tools, and at the prices tools go for why wouldn't you?, this Milwaukee Steel Carrying Case is is ideal. It's sturdy, roomy, and conveniently laid out. The locking mechanism is reliable, unlike other cases. If you are a professional or just handy around the house, this box is a necessity, not a luxury. And at Amazon's prices--a bargain.

Milwaukee always represents quality and this set is no exception. Well worth the expenditure.

If you want good, really really good, drill bits - GET THESE! The differance between these and cheap ones is unbelievable. Worth every penny. Accurately sized, finely machined, SHARP, properly ground angle, and somewhat larger sized index case with size markings that are easy to read. I first used these to drill some holes in metal for tapping. Granted I was using a drill press but I hardly felt any resistance at all in the handle. A perfect clean hole.

Good drill bits are getting harder and harder to find! These are the fastest and smoothest bits I've found for drilling metal hands down.

i'll preface this by saying i'm a professional carpenter and make my living using my tools.

i have owned or used worm-drives from skil, makita, and bosch, as well as sidewinders from porter-cable, makita, hitachi, skil, and dewalt. this milwaukee is my saw of choice in nearly every situation--it is light (4+lbs less than a worm-drive), powerful, accurate, and the tilt-lok handle is a great feature. at first, i thought i'd not use the tilt-lok often, but i end up using it in a different position several times a day. another feature easily overlooked but crucial is the positioning of the secondary handle. i most often cut one-handed anyway, but when i do grab the front handle, my hand and wrist are far enough forward to stay well away from the blade sightline.

my only (small) complaint is that i'd prefer the dust collection to be a bit more organised. porter-cable saws do a great job with this, and i wonder why the other manufacturers can't seem to get it together.

if i had it to do over again, i'd spring for the blade brake model--the blade can do a lot of damage in the 8-10 seconds it takes to spin down.

I received this saw as a birthday present, allowing me to retire my old underpowered and inaccurate Black & Decker "Sawforce" saw. The Milwaukee arrived in perfect condition and purred like a kitten from the start. I have been very impressed with every aspect of this thing, most notably:

The tool-less ability to change the base plate angle as needed;

The POWER. It cuts wet framing lumber and quarter sawn white oak with equal ease;

With all that power, I have not experienced any binding, stalling, kicking, burning etc;

The tilt lock handle is fantastic. I cannot conceive of using a saw without it now that I have it;

The blade that came with the saw is quite good.

Overall I cannot say enough good things about this saw. Its relatively light, very accurate, powerful, and feels like it will outlast me. Buy one yourself and you won't be sorry!

I bought this saw about 5 months ago to replace an old Makita and have used it almost daily since. I did a lot of research before buying using online reviews and magazine comparisons. After reading the reviews and having previous experience with other Milwaukee products, I opted for this one.

The tilt-lok handle makes it very easy to change positions, allowing for maximum control and comfort while sawing. I especially like the adjustable front handle. It makes beveled cuts a snap, keeping maximum leverage right where it needs to be. Once you use it, you will miss it if you have to use anything else. With 15 amps, I haven't found any wood too tough to cut with it even with a dulling blade. I purchased the edge guide about two months ago. This is a necessary addition if you cut lots of plywood.

I am becoming quite a Milwaukee "fan-boy". Every tool of theirs I've bought has been a winner. As long as they keep making tools with this kind of quality, performance and features, I'll be a user for life. This saw will be a welcome addition to any serious woodworker's shop or contractor's truck. If you're still undecided, give this saw a try. You won't regret it.