Power Tools Reviews

I am 22 and just got married a month ago. I got the tool set about a month before I got married and I have used it a hundred times since. The tools aren't the most heavy-duty things out there but they are a perfect starter set that will last for a long time.

I like this kit a lot, it is great for new home owners!. If you are planing to do some "DO IT ON YOUR OWN" stuff just buy this one.

The storage station is made of plastic but it feels strong. It can be used as a small work bench!

The bonus 100 piece bits are great too!!.
All the tools are good for starters. If you are planing to upgrade you may have to look further.

i like this product very much coz i fill like i can do every thing with this stuff & they very strong & in my ow house i also have a lot of things things of "black & decker" coz they number 1!!!!!!!
tanks a lot !

The Bosch 11248EVS is a rotary hammer drill using a spline drive for the drill bits. The capacity of this drill is 1-9/16" solid and 4" for the core drills. You also have capability to use other attachments such as a ground rod driver, chisels, etc. in the "hammer mode" (more on this later).

The house I moved into a few years ago was a basket case. It seemed that everything needed to be repaired or replaced. The time was right for me to find a rotary hammer drill.

There are different type of drives. There are: SDS, SDS-MAX and spline drives. As I understand it, SDS is for smaller diameter holes. SDS-MAX was designed for larger holes. It seems that spline drives seem to fall in between SDS and SDS-MAX drills. Any supplier of drills can supply you with drills and other accessories for your drill.

There is some debate if spline drives or SDS-MAX last longer. Some contractors claim the spline drive "teeth" shear off rendering the bit useless. So far I have not found any claim to be reliable and fault is with the user. The service centers find it is the abuse of the tool and contractors or whoever buying poor quality bits. I have used many spline drive bits all without fail.

This Bosch 11248EVS is a spline drive tool that has two operations. The first one being the rotary hammer drill. This is where a drill is rotated, much like any other drill, and then is struck with a "hammer" to pulverize the concrete or stone that you are drilling. During this operation the drill is struck thousands of times per minute with a force of about 7 foot pounds of energy. This means that each hit is the same as you raising a 7 pound hammer one foot and dropping it. May not seem like much, but remember that this is happening THOUSANDS of times per minute. In the case of the 11248EVS it is rated at 1700-3300 blows per minute and the bits rotates at 170-340 RPM.

If you use the tool in the hammer only mode you get a 20% boost in the hammering energy. To go from one mode to another you rotate a selector switch. In the hammer only mode you also can adjust the rotation of the tool in 30 degree increments. This is handy if you are using a spade bit and need to turn the bit for a better operating position.

The drill has a "soft start" feature in which the drill starts slowly and then comes up to full speed. This helps to keep the bit from walking. The speed can also be adjusted by rotating a small dial on the drill body for the maximum drill operating speed or by using the trigger. The more you squeeze the trigger the faster the drill will go. With some practice you can easily vary the speed. There is a "lock on" mode to keep the tool on all the time, but this feature works in the hammer only mode.

"Auto-Max" is a feature in which the drill is automatically set to the highest speed when the drill has been unplugged and then plugged in. I wasn't too sure if I liked or disliked this feature so I am somewhat neutral on it.

Drills are held in place by a very easy to use chuck. Pulling the locking collar of the chuck towards you unlocks the chuck. You insert the bit fully into the chuck and then release the collar. Pull on the bit and it is now locked into place. If you see red on the collar you have not installed the bit correctly. Take it out and try again. A few minuets fiddling with this and you'll be a pro. Bosch recommends using "bit grease" on the ends of the bits before putting it into the drill. You can buy this grease from Bosch or any of their service centers. You will greatly extend the life of the tool by doing this AND making sure the bits is clean going into the chuck. Wipe all and grime and grit off the spline teeth, inspect for any deformed or missing spline teeth, place a small amount of grease on the end and insert into the drill.

The 11248EVS uses 11 amps of current and has a 12 foot three prong cord. The Bosch 11248EVS is NOT a double insulated tool and it requires a GROUNDED circuit. This is NOT the time to be sharing the circuit with everybody else or you'll be making a trip to reset the circuit breaker. And... don't get cheap on the extension cord. Use a heavy duty cord rated for the drill. Use that heavy duty 14 gage or even a 12 gage cord for minimum voltage drop.

Hearing and eye protection is a must with any tool of this sort. You are drilling hard and very unforgiving materials with tools that are made of hardened and tempered tool steel and/or carbide tipped. The hammering action creates noise, vibration and dust! A dust mask is also recommended as the dust can cause health problems down the road.. There is a nice feature on the drill and that's the dampening handle. It is a spring loaded handle to help cut down on the vibration. Seems to work pretty well. I have used many other tools without and it's fatiguing.

The side handle must always be used as there is considerable torque produced. The clutch helps prevent the drill from getting away from you and spinning around without you holding it. Hopefully you'll have the presence of mind to let go of the trigger before 50 feet of power cord is wrapped around the drill! The handle can be positioned at just about any angle you desire.

A power indicator shows when the tool is plugged in and power is present. The other light is the service soon light. Once illuminated you have 8 hours of operation left and then the tools stops and will not work until taken to a service center. As far as maintenance is concerned, there really is not much to do. Keeping the case free of grime and the air vents clear of dust is about the only thing that one needs to do. The other maintenance is best left for the service pros, i.e. brush and bearing replacement and lubrication.

Actual use. When I got it I started out by drilling about seventy five 3/4" holes into 4 inch concrete. The speed is on par with other brands and may be a touch faster. The next test was driving ground rods. That was scary. Scary meaning how fast it did it. The first ground rod ran into hard pan soil and this took a while to get through. Driving it in with a sledge hammer bent the rod and made the rod useless so... that's when I tried the hammer drill method. To drive ground rods you'll need a ground rod driver and if you drive a lot ground rods you'll want this accessory in your tool kit! The hammer drill got it into the hard pan with much less effort than with the sledgehammer and it did not bend the ground rod into a pretzel. The second ground rod went into the ground like butter. I am totally sold. A 3-3/4" core bit was purchased to install a drain and this was done without too much fuss.

Hammer drills are about the most expensive tools around the remodeling or construction site. I've worked with many contractors and they say the Bosch is the tool that lasts. It is more money but in the long run they are well worth the extra cost.

The drill is about 15 pounds and comes with a fitted plastic case that has compartments for the drill, drill bits, and small accessories.

Bosch is the best in terms of build quality and overall stability. I own several Bosch products, they are very impressive, including this combination hammer. I'm sure it will last a long time and can be counted on for performance everytime time it is needed. Very stable.

Very durable, powerful, runs smoothly, one heck of a workhorse. I must say I'm so impressed.
Do yourself a favor, invest in this hammer, you will be glad you did! It is designed and built to last. The BEST of the BEST!

I recently purchased the bosch 1942 heat gun. I am very pleased with my purchase. I like the fact that it doen't get hot enough to burn the wood, Although they all have the potential too. The last gun I had would get very hot. Hot enough I would burn the wood.You can really tell the difference in the areas I stripped with the old heat gun and the new one. I would recommend this
heat gun to anyone interested in purchasing such a product.

I've used this heat gun for many different projects while working on my old house and I am amazed that it still works as consistently as the day I bought it. As with all of my tools, I follow the instructions included - Bosch reccomends you need to let it cool down every once and a while - not use it for extended periods on high. In addition, instead of just turning it *off*, you have to turn it to the no-heat setting, open the side vents full, and let it run til the barrell is no longer warm to the touch. Perhaps that's why my gun has lasted so long? Probably so, because Bosch designed it to be used that way. I also agree with the other reviewer that this is the heat gun to buy. Incidently, I own or have owned about ten Bosch power tools and their accessories from saws and blades to routers and bits, so perhaps I'm biased. However, I also have always noted that Bosch tools seem to rate high in contractor (FHB) and contruction (JLC) magazine reviews. Oh yes - don't forget to buy and use a *respirator* (not a dopey dust mask) when using this tool.

I really like this heat gun. It is commercial quality. It will last for years, can be rebuilt ( if necessary ), the base is very convenient ( this does not cool quite as fast as the variable heat range model ), and always comes up to the same temperature. I think if I were to buy another the variable heat range model, just because there are times when this model is too hot for the project at hand, and varying the distance between the gun and the work is not enough. That is my only complaint w/ this tool, but it is not the tool's fault. If you intend to use this gun for the same project and you don't need to vary the range, this is the heat gun to buy !

I agree with the last reviewer from Centreville - this is one heck of a bargain, and let's face it, this grade of tool is pricey enough for the home handyman. Like a lot of people I did my research on cordless 14.4V drills and decided that any of the recent ones - Bosch, Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee etc. would have been OK for what I wanted - a deck building tool. At one local store I was advised to get a Makita 12V impact driver for about $220, but then the additional chuck for drilling would have put the price over what I wanted to pay. I'm glad I resisted and got a drill / driver. Anyway, more research on this particular out-of-production-combination (the 3660CK) reveals that the drill has been replaced by the 2 new tough series (Brute and Compact). If one does the detailed comparison, the 3660K drill in this set has almost identical specs to the new Brute tough - except for some metal casing - which alone is about $190. The newer drills don't add any useful features to what the 3660K has. The saw is still being sold as a combo with the new Compact tough 14.4V drill and retails also for $190. With the Amazon discount I paid $195 for both - with free shipping - which can't be beat I think.

As far as performance etc., I find the 5.3 lb drill to be the heavy end of what is comfortable for me as a handyman, but it is very well balanced. One thing that surprised me was that the variable speed trigger gives you a lot of control over slow drilling - you don't have to run it with a lot of torque if you don't want (the clutch setting notwithstanding). The saw was an added bonus, but already I have been impressed with how smooth and easy it is to use.

In short, this deal won't last forever, and there's little reason to prefer the two newer Bosch models that don't come with the saw (unless you plan on frequently dropping them from the roof). Like the other reviewer, I find the case is too big for everyday use, and I suppose I'll now get the flashlight as well for $20. Would I buy this again - you bet!

I needed to replace my 8 or so year old Bosch 12v drill, and naturally considered Bosch again due to the fantastic experience I had with the 12v. I considered DeWalt and Makita, which I'm sure would have been good, but ultimately went with this Bosch kit for the amazing price. Just the saw alone is $180, the new Compact Tough 14.4v drill is about $140, so for $200 ($220 minus $20 rebate) this kit was a steal!! The drill isn't much heavier than my 12v, and it is significantly more powerful, I from 250 to 425 inlb of torque. I drilled a 1/2" speed bore longways (the 5-1/2" way) through a 2x6 on high speed setting and it flew through, probably just as fast as my 6 amp DeWalt electric. I then cut the 2x6 with the fantastic 14.4v saw, and it went through just as easily as my 12 amp Skil electric. Both the drill and the saw have a fantastic feel to them, they fit my hands well and feel top-notch quality. I can't get over the saw, everything about it says quality - including the very nice flip-up exhaust port for your shop vac.

The good? Price, performance, feel, quality, reliability if its even close to my previous 12v. Which still works fine, by the way, but one of the batteries is bad.

Bad? The case is too big. It is designed to hold drill, saw, charger, rip fence, drill handle, owners manual, and cordless light (guess I will have to get one of those now.) I wish it had a separate case for the drill and saw, since I rarely need to carry the saw anywhere.

This set is one HEavy-Duty drill and saw. Not for a weak person to use. Gets the job done without a hassle. I love the carbide tipped blade.

I recently purchased an N88WW nailer for a modest framing job and was very pleased with its performance, particularly the fastener depth control feature: simply depress a button on the side of the nosepiece and slide the assembly in, or out, to change how far the fastener is driven into the wood, from countersunk to about 1/4" proud. Driving depth is quite consistent and toenailing is simple.

The tool also comes with a "soft shoe", a rubber collar which slips over the aggressive teeth of the nosepiece, to prevent scratching or gouging of the workpiece, but you'll want to remove it to get maximum depth when toenailing.

A rotating deflector allows the operator to aim exhaust in whatever direction is best. This is especially handy in tight corners where the exhaust blast could result in a face full of dust if the deflector were not adjustable.

The tool ships with a contact trip trigger installed but a sequential trigger is included and can be installed in a couple of minutes. The included heavy duty nylon carry bag, with handle and shoulder strap, is a real bonus.

Being a lefty I found that the air line, which exits from the right side of the magazine, was often in the way, but this is no great hardship.

All in all, this is a great tool that makes framing faster, easier and more accurate than with a hammer.

Highly recommended.

Note: If you'r project will include lots of joist hangers, this may not be the best nailer for you. Check out Bostitch's new round head stick nailer that has a special nosepiece for shoooting into joist hanger holes, as well as a standard framing nosepiece.

This nailgun is my first and I have been very pleased with it. I have been helping to build a log style house and have used it to nail everything. I have run #12, #10, and #8 nails thru it. The only problem I have had was a bad batch of nails. We got to looking at the nails and found that the nails were welded at the wrong angle. The gun still drove them flush into the lumber-with the head of the nail at a @60 degree angle. We got another box of nails-end of problem.

The depth control is simple to use and effective. The ability to just turn the exhaust port where you want it is wonderfull. Being able to load and unload nails from the rear of the gun saves a lot of time compaired to the other guns on the job.

I have been quite happy with my nailgun. I do some handyman type work and usually just nail by hand. My trusty Eastwing is getting a lot less use these days.

Never owned a nail gun before but this one is as advertised,
BUT ..... UNDERSTAND THIS!!! IT TAKES 28 DEGREE WIRE WELD CLIPPED HEAD NAILS!!!!!!! same as for the N80S !! made by Stanley.. Loews has them. The closest Loews to me was 70 miles away. Great gun but non standard nails. I gave it 5 stars because the gun is a winner.

I got this tool set for christmas, and haven't stoped using it.
Whether building a shed to doing home repairs this is a great set of tools I would recommend to anyone. 5 stars doesn't begin to discribe it.

If your looking for a go anywhere do anything tool kit, then this is it. The 18V power combined with the balanced, lightweight design makes this 5 tool set a real value. I love the "feel" and versatility this unit provides and the second battery and quick charger keep me right on task with no delays. The sander is especially nice because it can get into the very tightest of corners. I used the grinder to cut off some nails poking out under my deck boards and it made quick work of them. And the saw was up to the task of cutting the hole in the roof I needed for installing a new attic vent. Thank goodness this is a cordless unit with real power. Finally, I didn't think I would ever use the chisel, but yesterday I installed a new oak threshold (the old one had dry rot) and needed to chisel some of the new threshold out to account for some uneveness between the stoop and the brickwork. Overall, this unit works really well and I also like the space saving case. My only reservation is where to get replacement sandpaper with the same holes in it, but I finally found some that fit at a local True Value. Everything I thought it would be and more. Highly recommend!

I've owned the ComboTool 5-n-1 for almost a year now and I absolutely love it. I originally purchased it for (2) reasons, 1)sometimes you just need a reciprocating saw and 2) the cost of a reciprocating saw is nearly as much as the 5-n-1. Therefore, with the extra features/tools included, I saw it as an incredible value.

I just recently completed the installation of a new fireplace and chase(non-masonry chimney). I can say with complete confidence that I could not have done it without the 5-n-1. Oh, sure, I could have gone out and rented/bought the tools that I needed. I could have gone up and down 20 feet of scaffolding to swap tools. But, the time and cost of doing so would have been a real detriment. With this tool I was able to keep everything right by my side and swapping is a matter of seconds. Another huge advantage was the 18V battery pack. If I can help it, I'll never go back to extention cords:-) Because the tool comes with (2) batteries, one is always charging(it only took about 40 minutes) while the other one is in use. Not one time in nearly 3 weeks of this project did I have to stop working to wait on a battery. On top of that, they are amazingly powerful. For instance, I used the recip. saw to cut through 6-8 floor joists in my crawl space and the thing never flinched. Needless to say, I'm a completely satisfied customer. I recommend the 5-n-1 with 5 stars.

This Dewalt generator is ,without question,one of the nicest on the market. It's level of design,preformance and finish is the best available today. I have used many generators,from various manufactures and I would say that this Dewant unit compares with the super-duty,heavy construction, units I've used. You can't go wrong.

As always, DeWalt exceeded my expectations. This gem arrived in perfect condition. Once I had completed assembly and added oil and fuel, I gave a very light tug on the rope to get a feel for how much resistance it would offer. It started! Have only had it a few weeks, but it works just as advertised. The automatic idle is a very nice feature which really keeps noise down when there is no load. Note - be sure to follow instructions, since the generator is shipped without oil. If you like to jump ahead, do not put in fuel or oil before assembling wheels and lifting hook.

As always, DeWalt exceeded my expectations. This gem arrived in perfect condition. Once I had completed assembly and added oil and fuel, I gave a very light tug on the rope to get a feel for how much resistance it would offer. It started! Have only had it a few weeks, but it works just as advertised. The automatic idle is a very nice feature which really keeps noise down when there is no load. Note - be sure to follow instructions, since the generator is shipped without oil. If you like to jump ahead, do not put in fuel or oil before assembling wheels and lifting hook.

This countersink has to be the best on the market. Ive tried many diffrent brands over the years and never found as good. I buid resturants for a living that requres a demanding scheul.which really puts tools to a harsh test.this tool has preformed well.

I have burnout,broken,dulled,and demolished every kind of countersink/drill bit Ive been able to find over the years. Even my old fovorite, the Fuller countersink, would need attention after 8 or 10 jobs. I'd get a year out of a set, maybe. Then I got my hands on some DeWalt countersink, and after more than a dozen jobs I still haven't had to sharpen a one. Even the #6 & #8 which I use the most. The countersink has stayed sharpe though hundeds of holes,in plywood,pressboard, formica,& solid stock. The drill bit has also exceded my exspectations. It has stayed true and hasn't shown any signs of fatigue. I have yet to have to sharpen either piece, which has save me time (and money). This is the best countersink combination I have found. I could go years without buying another one , if I didnt loose it at the last job.

I have burnout,broken,dulled,and demolished every kind of countersink/drill bit Ive been able to find over the years. Even my old fovorite, the Fuller countersink, would need attention after 8 or 10 jobs. I'd get a year out of a set, maybe. Then I got my hands on some DeWalt countersink, and after more than a dozen jobs I still haven't had to sharpen a one. Even the #6 & #8 which I use the most. The countersink has stayed sharpe though hundeds of holes,in plywood,pressboard, formica,& solid stock. The drill bit has also exceded my exspectations. It has stayed true and hasn't shown any signs of fatigue. I have yet to have to sharpen either piece, which has save me time (and money). This is the best countersink combination I have found. I could go years without buying another one , if I didnt loose it at the last job.

A relative came over to help me install drywall in my basement and brought his Dewalt screw gun. After seeing him run through a box of screws I realized it was pointless for me to try to keep up with my drill and bit attachment. It was more efficient for me to measure and cut pieces and let him take care of the fasteners. I was fascinated at how he would keep the screw gun running with one hand and bring up screws from his apron with the other. Once he got going, his rate was one screw every one-two seconds. Jeff had to leave after a couple of hours but left the Dewalt for me. It was then that I learned the features that allowed for this lightning fast drywall installation.

When the trigger is depressed, the motor runs, but the tip does not turn until it is also pressed against the work surface. The motor runs at much higher RPM's than my drill resulting in the 1-5/8" screws disappearing into the drywall in a blink. The depth adjustment disengages the clutch at your predetermined setting resulting in perfectly placed screws every time. The drywall paper was perfectly dimpled, without breaking, at every screw. I also found that longer 3" screws installed through joists just as quickly and easily.

It turns out Jeff let me keep his "old" Dewalt because he had a few that he uses for work. I can't wait to use it on my upcoming deck project.

With the built in clutch mechanism, there is no chance of stripping or twisting off the head off a screw. Simply set the depth adjustment, drive the screw, and wait for the clutch to engage. The screw will always be the perfect depth, every time. I was building a deck with someone else using a drill and was able to drive a good 25% more screws in the same amount of time since I didn't have to worry about depth and torque. Be sure and pick this one as it's the only one that comes with a case. You just can't go wrong with a good case -- you'll never loose the other head attachments.

I had a chance to use this screwdriver this past weekend and found to have plenty of power to put drywall up and to put in deck screws through redwood decking it worked great. the set and forget nosepiece was handy. i can't say enough about this dewalt we own many dewalt and other brand tools and this dewalt does not let us down.

What can I say, great tool for the money. Good name brand you can depend on. Handy for all those jobs around the house. Don't have one? Why not, get yours today! Thumbs up.

I had used this grinder to grind welds on steel furniture and cabinets. It ran cool and never had problems with the dust messing up the brushes. I also used it to widen the rough out for over 10 windows in red brick - no problems from the work or dust. The grinder is over 4 years old and I think the only complaint I have is with the noise (though every grinder is loud) - just have some ear protection or your ears might be ringing.

I had used this grinder to grind welds on steel furniture and cabinets. It ran cool and never had problems with the dust messing up the brushes. I also used it to widen the rough out for over 10 windows in red brick - no problems from the work or dust. The grinder is over 4 years old and I think the only complaint I have is with the noise (though every grinder is loud) - just have some ear protection or your ears might be ringing.