Power Tools Reviews

I've retired my 25 year old Bosch 1 578 1 jigsaw. This saw has given me excellent service for 25 years, it's only short comings are you need a special srewdriver to change the blade, it doesn't have a cut blower and you have to plug it in. The 52318 addresses all of these. It's a great saw goes anywhere and for me doing pickup work in unfinished house where sometimes the power isn't in that's important. The only thing I didn't like is the funny little wire guard right in front of the blade blocks my veiw of the cut, but a srewdriver popped it right out so everything is fine. Don't know if it will last 25 years but we'll see.

Out of all the cordless tools I own this one does the most on a battery. I own the bosch corded jig and have not used it once
since having this one.

The tool is made tough, the grip and balance is almost perfect.
The blade change system is phenominal. If you break a blade just pull the lever and the hot broken blade spits right out on its own!! The put a new blade in just push it in!!!

The 18v jig cuts anything with the right blade and really you can use it most of the day before the battery dies out.

I would NOT recomend replacing your circular saw with it the battery is not that, good but for jig saw work it is the best
and will impress the hardcore professional.

I must correct a previous reviewer however, the battery is not NMH(nickel metal hydride) it is NCAD, which is the standard battery used by all tool companies. He is growsly mistaken and readers should always double check reviewers statements I find
many mis- informations written by novice tool users on the Amazon tool rewiews.

What is cool is that when bosch puts out a battery upgrade it will work on this tool, I just dont know why you would need it.

Top of the line tool. Bosch is releasing a new corded Jig saw
that is just like this one and I will not evan consider it,
because once you have this you have no need for the cord!!!!!!!

This is a first class, quality tool, if I could give it more stars I would.

This saw is the same base unit as the other 3hp, right tilt. The only difference is the fence system.

Everyone knows that the Unisaw is the Holy Grail of all saws, and it lives up to this reputation. Out of the box it was flawless. It required almost no further adjustment. Even with the crappy blade that comes with the saw, the cuts are near perfect. The cuts become perfect after you throw that blade away and replace it with a better one. I recommend the Forrest Woodworker II.

The 30" fence that came with this saw was in service about 10 minutes before I decided to replace it with the 52". The saw was a gift (great gift, huh) and had I ordered it myself, I would have ordered it with the bigger fence. I got on the Biesemeyer web site and bought the replacement front and rear rails to convert it to the larger fence. You only need to replace these components, as the fence is compatable with both. I bought the new components and "factory seconds", but they were in perfect condition.

I looked at the "other" saws and came within inches of buying one based on price. I even drove five hours to a competitive product's showroom to see their saw hands on. I'm glad that I didn't buy it because it doesn't compare to this unit. The Unisaw is easy to use, easy to set up and adjust, and makes woodworking a religious experience.

Would I recommend this saw? Yes! Yes! Yes! The only drawback to this saw is that most people wait too long to buy it.

I've wanted a Unisaw since first using one years ago in high school shop class. It was a good saw then; it's even a better one now.

The saw arrived on the date ... said it would. The delivery driver not only unloaded it from the truck, but wheeled it around to my shop behind the house and into the shop. Only gripe about Delta's packaging is that extension table wiggled loose from box and suffered minor damage. Delta should rework packaging so damage in shipment is minimized.

Assembly of saw was straightforward, following Delta's directions in the owner's manual. The fence did not arrive with the saw as ... informed me it had been damanged, and would send a new one as soon as possible. So for about a week I could only use the miter gauge and dream about ripping boards.

All told, once completely assembled, this saw lives up to my years of dreaming and anticipation of ownership. I look for several things in a table saw; accuracy of saw and fence, quiet operation, fit and finish, easy and safe to use. The Unisaw never lags in any of these requirements. The saw and fence were dead-on accurate out of the box. The start/stop button mounted to the left of the saw's center is the ideal location for the saywer. The stop button protrudes from the switch face, allowing me to turn the saw off with my knee if necessary. Handy thing when the cut sometimes goes a little awry. The start button face is recessed, so accidental starting is minimized. The blade guard isn't the greatest, but what OEM guard is? Still, it is better than the one on my last saw, and I plan to keep it in place for all through cuts until I can go aftermarket for a better guard.

The saw has plenty of power. Dadoing operations that would practically stall my old table saw barely lowers the RPM of this saw. Ripping thick stock should be no problem. The fit and finish of this saw are adequate, though the plastic motor cover kept wanting to slide down till I figured out how to secure it properly. I'd prefer it to be hinged rather than the way it attaches.
The saw starts and runs quietly. My last saw was terribly loud; even with hearing protection on it was a major distraction and made using the saw unpleasant. With the Unisaw, I can pick up a board and buzz it through without hunting around the shop for my ear muffs. It's that quiet.

...P>You can't go wrong with this saw. This particular configuration must be "optioned" up a bit at this price; i.e. you'll want the 30" extension table and a mobile base if your saw isn't destined to live in one designated spot in your shop. I got both for my small shop; makes the saw the perfect addition for it.

I've used Grizzly, Jet and older Delta table saws and this is hands down the best I've used yet. This is one of the strongest 3hp units available on the market. At 220v this saw puts out 12 1/2 amps. This added power lets you use wide kerf blades which allows for smooth cuts and no bogging down. This saw is smooth and quite and is very compact too. The reason for getting this saw is because I have limited space available and with a moble base, you'll hardley notice that this is even in your basement. The miter slots are precise with no binding or sloppiness. If you're looking for a new saw shop around and ask questions but I guarantee you'll be back for this. Please do yourself a favor, and save yourself money in the long run buy this one now. I've gone through two different table saws and wish I had purchased this one first.

I've had numerous cordless products over the years but none compare to this combo kit. I have only had it 2 weeks and wanted to use it more before reviewing but I tell you, this is one nice set of tools. Although I learned a long time ago to pay the money and get the best, I continually look for "deals". Well, this is a deal. The combo gave me a good value on 4 tools, 3 of which I really wanted, with the light a good bonus.

Impressed with the comfort and power. My neighbor is really jealous so this is a side benefit. I look forward to many projects and will update from time to time.

Wasn't formerly a big DeWalt fan but now I'm sold.

I don't know how I got along with out this kit. The power, battery life, quality, and durability of these Dewalt tools are top of the line. I'd say these rank at the top with the Makita and Milwaukee kits. The DC988 drill works great, even after 2-3 years of use it is still as strong. I had only a small gripe because of the stiff cluch (even the lightest setting was to strong). The DC390 circ saw is great for quick cuts (when you don't want to pull out the miter or cords and the regular circ saw). The new DC385 saw is strong and can take the punishment (only grip is the front guard is easy to cut into, especially now with the new design that allows the blade to be mounted sideways, but it causes no real functional issues).
The price you pay for the Dewalt is the only downside, it seems to be the most expensive kit. But if you already have 18V dewalt tools...

The only weak part of the kit is the batteries. They will be the part that breaks when you drop it (usually the case, but sometimes the solder joints) I can't say that the same thing won't happen to the other kits, so don't make more out of it than it is... just try not to drop them. (ha ha)
I would like to find out if a smart charger could be bought for the packs. One that can discharge the pack and then pulse/reflex charge them back up with a peak charge cut off (instead of a temp or timed cutoff) I don't think the DW charger does any of that.

Where do I start?

I used to be a professional door/window/storm door installer for Lowe's & Home Depot and ran through the gamut of tools in my travels. I began with some low volt Black & Decker's and moved to a 14.4 Firestorm. Well the removable chuck on the Firestorm died after about a month, though it was a nice feature, leaving me drill-less.

Step in DeWalt DC4KITA...

I purchased this kit and instantly fell in love. The power, the battery life, everything was extremely impressive. In fact, I loved it so much that I bought a second one for my father. From lag bolts to 4" wood screws to light duty drywall screws to paddle-bit drilling, the drill in this kit handles everything I continue to throw at it. The reciprocating and circular saws speak volumes about the DeWalt quality (thus I learned my lesson pertaining to Black & Decker <==> Consumer; DeWalt <==> Commercial). And the addition of the light is really just an added bonus. As for all-in-one packages, you will find no better choice than the DeWalt DC4KITA!

I bought this router because I needed to make some fancy doors on cabinets I was building. This is a great tool. The router is powerful and did not have any problems cutting through hard oak. This is a great kit because sometimes you don't need the plunge base and it's much easier to cut free hand with the fixed base, smaller, more sleek. The dust collection in the plunge base isn't that great but that could be because my shop vac isn't that powerful. I have used this tool a lot and would buy it again if I had to do it over.

I was volunteering in a workshop and they had this Dewalt router kit. I was amazed at how quiet and smooth this router was and bought one myself! It is nicely designed. The grips are very comfortable. It is easy to change between the two bases. I love the rpm ramp up feature...this prevents the router from jolting to a start. It comes with a nice case and 5 router bits.
One slight complaint I have is that the on/off switch is hard to reach when both of your hands are on the handle. It is at the top of the router motor unit and is just out of the reach of my thumb.
Dewalt has another winner on its hands!

I have researched routers for the past 2 months. I've been in stores, felt them all, looked at them all. Read every review here on Amazon.com and all of those "free reviews" i could read on the internet as well as patwarner.com.

I really really wanted a Porter Cable because I heard they are the best. I didn't like the crude nature of the 690 and I didn't want to twist the MOTOR to move the freaking bit up and down. I'm just getting into woodworking and I wanted something that felt just right. After going into Woodcraft and Lowe's and Home Depot, I chose the DeWalt over the newest Porter cable because:

1) the 890 series, while it feels solid and looks great, has some shortcomings with quality parts--especially the plunge base. It has a PLASTIC depth marker--and some aren't even CLEAR so you have no idea what depth you are at.
2) the dewalt's plunge is the smoothest out of ALL other routers with bosch's and makita's being tied for 2nd. Porter cable's was very very stiff and didn't feel natural. I would be scared i would mar the workpeice pushing down so hard on the dang thing.

Bottom line- I tried and tried to love the new porter cable. And I do, but not as much as the newest Dewalt. However, I still will probably go with their 3 1/4 horse, and a 890 D-Handle if they ever make it.

This grinder is very quiet and it has plenty of power to sharpen your blades. It does not vibrate like the other grinders that I looked at. I wish it had a light to go with the grinder though.

This grinder has alot of power and is very well made. The balance is great, no vibrations like others I've used. I would recommend this to ALL.

The purchaseing was very easy and getting a great deal on shipping was even etter! The grinder was here on time and made a execlent Christmas gift! thank you Amazon.com

This is by far their best. I read the reviews here then bought it. You Want This One. Not sure if other reviewers mentioned, but the nose unscrews to reveal the standard thread for things like router bases.

I've had many Dremels over the years. I've even picked up a few "antique" ones from their early years. Cute for a few quick jobs like rubber wheel to polish carving tool edges, and nice to know they still run, but for hours of routing, get this one. Dial in just the right speed for bit and material and away you go. With much less noise too.

Now, as for dating your Dremel .... well

..after reading many positive reviews first. I've had my 3981 for 2+ years and it's been handy for things I can and can't do with my other tools. Quality is very good, feels solid and like it will last. I like the electronic variable speed control and the soft start. Don't have the shaky switch problem that another reviewer had mentioned.

So far I use it to sharpen the lawn mower blade, make drywall cutouts for electrical outlets, trim the dogs nails, and probably half a dozen other little tasks.

The only drawback is that is has a cord(!) so we've decided to get the lithium cordless version as well.

I bought my first Dremel (a Model 2) in 1947. It finally gave up in 1993. Since then I have added the single speed and multispeed Multipro models to my tool box. Now the digital model comes along and is the best of the best. Its soft start, dependable speed control, and high power make it equal to any job. It fits all the Dremel attachments making it every bit as adaptable as the others. It handles all the cutting, shaping, finishing, and polishing tasks involved in my construction of miniatures and architectural models.

Based on conversations with steel workers I was under the impression that Metabo grinders were invincible, and prior to today I believed it. I use my Metabo grinder for a range of remodeling tasks from cutting cement (diamond blade) to coping trim (sanding disk) to cutting steel (cut off wheel) and a bunch of other applications. I always keep the grinder in my truck because it's so versatile. There are some situations when only a grinder will do.

Sometimes I've overpowered the grinder, so I'll probably replace it with a more powerful model (this is Metabo's weakest model) like the WE 14-125VS which is almost the same weight, spins the same sized wheels, but has a motor that's twice as powerful.

Today I was grinding down joints in an OSB subfloor that had gotten wet and mushroomed a bit. With a 24 grit sanding disk the tool hogged away at the OSB. After about an hour or so I noticed smoke coming out of the housing and figured that some dust had gotten inside and started to cook. A bit later the smoke increased, the rotational speed dropped, and the grinder started making terrible noises. I unplugged it, felt the housing, and was surprised at how hot it had become. I think I toasted my grinder, and I've only been using it for 7 months-very disappointing.

Fortunately it was still under warranty. Unfortunately, Metabo's 3 year warranty program is so convoluted that I'm sure they designed it to keep people from getting 3 years of service for free. I failed to register my tool soon enough, but even if I had, I might not have printed out and saved the certificate that would have granted me 3 years of service. So I've only got a 1-year warranty. Beware if you think the advertised 3-year warranty stated on the box is automatic.

I am a welder who uses this tool for heavy grinding of metals. Out of my Makita and other brands, this tool is my favorite and certainly better than anything else I've used. It has a nice paddle type switch and quick change system. Extremely rugged and has handled being dropped from the welding bench onto concrete many times. Absolutely the best grinder out there.

Its the first grinder I ever had and I think its awsome hard to slow down easy and change disks.

The hatchet is up to milwaukee's usual standards and is of excellent build quality. I see this reciprocating saw as being for someone who only needs it for small to medium jobs. Right now I have been using the saw for a demo project on a commercial building and my only complaint would be that saws gets extremely hot after long uses. Black handle grip gets hot enough to burn hands when used for long periods under heavy hand pressure and therefore gloves are needed. Even with gloves many breaks are needed as the saw even burns my hands while wearing gloves. Because of this heat problem I gave this tool four stars, but otherwise I would definitely recommend this tool to a DIY type person or someone who needs a sawzall occaisionally.

This is my first reciprocating saw so I don't have a lot to compare it with. I don't know how I lived without this saw for so long. I love it. The positionable handle is great for getting into awkward places. The saw is powerful enough to quickly get through all of the jobs I have used it for so far.
It is very easy and quick to switch blades.
It's also nice that it has the quick release power cord.
Sturdy but light weight enough to use easily.
An excellent saw.

I have used this saw for a few months now. As another reviewer mentioned this new handle feels more natural to hold and the way it folds down makes it really compact and with its 3/4 inch stroke its ideal for tight spaces. The quik change blade system is better than any I've used in the past(portercable,dewalt)its counter balanced mechanism works great very little vibration and plenty of power. I highly recommend this tool but for certain jobs I perfer a recepricating saw with more amps and a longer stroke [1"1/8 to 1"1/4]they are more aggressive not to say that this saw cant hold its own this is a great saw.2005 this is the last thing I will ever buy from amazon as there customer service is now being outsourced and they are snotty arogent and useless too bad there customer service was the best on the planet

I have owned the panasonic 12v drill for years. This driver has even more features than I expected. Much nicer than the comparable Makita. Panasonic drills and driver are recommended. they are the best.

I'd read many positive magazine reviews and owner reviews for this driver before I ordered it. I expected the best, and so far, it's been a real treat. But not in the way I anticipated.

For the past 15 years, I've been successfully using my Panasonic cordless drills as drivers, because they "can." I suspect that they're strong enough to "turn some of the cheaper cordless drills backwards..." But, due to the unfortunate economics of battery replacement, I usually replace them when the battery stops taking a charge. I've never "worn out" or broken any of my Panasonic cordless drills.

But back to the driver... it has a completely different operating "feel" than any cordless drill (which, in retrospect, should have been obvious to me). And it's taken some getting used to. For example, it doesn't want to bog down when pushed to its limit. It just keeps plugging away, trying to further seat the fastener. I initially had to be careful, to keep it from overtightening the work. (I also spun off a few screw heads). But after a brief trial and error period, and experimenting with the different clutch settings and speeds, I became much more familiar with its capabilities. And it automatically became a much more valuable tool. Now, I almost exclusively use this driver to drive and loosen fasteners. My other cordless drills are relegated to doing actual "drilling."

All in all, it's a super tool. Especially if your work tends to be mostly fastening.

And by the way, I had to read the manual to figure out what that lever "thing" was, on the bottom of the handgrip.

First off, don't even think about buying an American made impact driver. Japanese products, as everyone knows are made better than American products - the same goes for power tools.

Some people swear by Hilti, and Dewalt and other such 'Merican power tools. These are the same people that are convinced that a Ford F150 is more reliable than a Toyota Tacoma.

The Japanese just make better products. With that said, I must say that this gun spanks ANY other product out there. The closest competition is the Hitachi line of impact drivers. True, Hitachi invented this type of driver, but Panasonic seems to have improved and refined it. The Panasonic boasts a useful headlight, yes it is helpful! It has a digital clutch so u can easily dial in your settings, gentle for drywall/finishing, middle for framing, and max for ripping the lug nuts off of your Toyota Tacoma (or Ford F150). Yes its true, attach the 3/4 square socket attachment, and tear off bolts with ease. And the pound them back on! Impressive to say the least!

The power is more than there, need to drill a hole, pop in a drill bit, need to bore, add a spade, the hammer action of the gun just rips through anything! One of the best parts about the set up is the superior battery life, the Hitachi can't compare here. Panasonic is a leader in the battery industry and has the advantage here with the 3.5amp pattery packs. This gun is ready for work.

It feels good in the hand, light weight enough so that you'll easlly forget its in one of your tool belt pockets. After you get this you'll have no need for a regular drill again, there is no comparison!

This is one of the best sander I've used.

I own fabrication shop and use many sanders like makita and porter-cable. If you are planning to use the sander more than 8 hours a day, then it is it.

the only downside is (1) it is 30 percent heavier than the other (2) a lot of noise (3) some of the accessories are made in plastic. Older model were made with ALL metal.

It's a sad day for the trusty ole Porter Cable 504 Locomotive Sander. I just heard that Black & Decker/Dewalt bought Porter Cable, and as part of the restructuring, discontinued the 504 worm drive belt sander. Folks this was the best belt sander ever made. The design goes back decades, and was made in Jackson, TN. Dewalt's president John Schiech said in an interview "...Porter Cable/Delta showed that while these brands are strong and highly respected, their product lines were suffering from lack of investment and specifically innovation, which is a strong suit of our company." I guess Dewalt/B&D's idea of "investment & innovation" is to import more junk from China. It looks like the legendary 725 worm drive Porta Band Saw may be next on the chopping block, most dealers are currently out of stock. Call or write Black and Decker and voice you opinion to keep Porter Cable as we know it and these great old tools alive.

I have been a woodworker and finish carpenter for thirty years.There is simply no comparison between this sander and all of the lesser pieces on the market.The weight of this sander is an asset when sanding flat work.The belts can be changed quickly.I have never seen one break.If there is any drawback,it may be the lack of a dust collection system.So,wear a respirator.This sander makes it worth it.