5 comments about Hitachi DS18DL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion 1/2-Inch Cordless Driver Drill.

1. I have had plenty of cordless drills, including a Makita, and 2 Dewalts. This one is by far the best. The light is a feature I especially like. It is smooth, powerful and well built. The chuck is a real Jacobs chuck. For the extra money, this "industrial" quality model is well worth it over the "consumer" model.



2. I purchased this item as my previous generation 14V Skil cordless drill stopped working. This Hitachi is light weight and just powerful. I charged the battery and it is good to go for light work for two weeks. I am sure if I used it to the hilt I may have to charge it at the end of the day, but I never tried it that way.
   For someone at my age with deteriorating eye sight, I appreciate the battery-operated light that you turn on when you work in dark areas. It lights up the item where you are drilling the hole. It helps me a lot.
   I find this item a true handy tool.



3. I can not recommend this cordless driver drill. I inspected the drill upon arrival and noticed that without a bit in the chuck it appeared to have excessive runout (A.K.A. wobble). I inspected it with various drill bits and driver bits and saw the same thing. I then tested the drill with a runout gauge and measured the same problem.
   
   I reported the problem to Amazon, asked for a replacement and promptly received a new drill. This arrived even before I returned the original. Kudos to Amazon for their return/replacement policies.
   
   The second drill arrived in exactly the same condition as the first. Based on this experience I returned both for a refund. I have since purchased a Milwaukee 0824-24. My initial impression (not based on extensive use) is that the Milwaukee is superior in almost all respects. The clutch adjustment on the Hitachi is cumbersome and does not "click" into the detents smoothly. The Milwaukee is very smooth in this adjustment. It also has a separate adjustment for changing from driver to drill to hammer drill without changing the clutch setting. In fairness, I would prefer the lighter weight of the Hitachi, however I have read that the weight is due to use of metal gears in the Milwaukee rather than plastic in the Hitachi. I also like the belt clip light on the Hitachi. While both drills use a Jacobs chuck, the Milwaukee uses a higher grade chuck.
   
   I have owned a commercial cabinet shop and now use drills for home projects. I only accept "pro-quality" tools. This tool absolutely DOES NOT quality as "pro-level". With all the other choices available, I also recommend that homeowners/hobbyists make a choice other than the Hitachi. While not intimately familiar, Makita seems to have some good choices in their new line-up. If you don't need lithium-ion, Porter-Cable makes excellent Ni-Cad based cordless drills.



4. So far this drill has done the trick for everything I need. I've used it to hang curtains, install a fan, install hooks in the laundry room, and other odds and ends around the house--all on one battery charge.
   
   A bit of a warning on the battery charger. The light blinks red for 0.5 seconds as the battery charges. The manual indicates that a solid green light indicates a problem with the battery or the charger. Usually, green means "go," and blinking red indicates a problem. Other than that, I'm very pleased with this product.



5. If you are in the market for an 18V 1/2 Drill I can tell you I looked at them all. I had a Bosch 14.4 for a long time and it was a great drill until I dropped it. That is when my search for a 18V replacement began.
   There are a lot of options from Milwaukee to Dewalt, etc but as for quality, weight, build and price this is the best drill by far.
   Highly recommended.

5 comments about Grizzly H3141 Heavy-Duty 3-1/4" Portable Planer.

1. I was surprised with this product. I was expecting a low quality planer for the price; however this thing is awesome for the price. It operates with very little vibration, is quite, and has plenty of power. The only negatives are, the case is flimsy and doesn't really fit the planer well, and the fact that it is made in China which is something I guess I'm going to have to live with when it comes to power tools, still don't like it though.



2. I bought my planer a few months ago. It's got plenty of power and has a nice feel to it when used. I feel like I have total control of the cut with it's precise adjustment knob. Like mentioned before, the collection bag is surprisingly efficient. I highly recommend this tool!



3. My order was received as promised and arrived in good condition. This was a Christmas gift for my son. He is enjoying using it.



4. I was very pleased with this unit overall. It runs quiet, and well. It seems to be made well and I was glad it came with extra blades, brushes, and a belt. The case is a little small but it's ok. I wish it used the larger planer blades instead of the mini ones but they seem to be ok. I have yet to be let down by a Grizzley product.



5. I really like the planer. It works very well for the price. I was bummed that is did not come with the dust bag shown in the picture. I do most of my work in doors and I was hoping that the dust bag would catch all the dust for a quick and easy cleanup. With the dust bag I would rank this tool 5 stars but without it for my use 4.

5 comments about PSI Woodworking DBGULP Big Gulp Dust Hood.

1. Had to buy a reducer to fit vac hose, but it'll work!



2. Item came doubled boxed and in great condition. I haven't tried it yet but it looks like it will work just fine. It's not rocket science. If you hook up a good dust collection system to it, It will work good.



3. I bought this hood, plus that junky Shop Fox stand,(both from Penn State Ind.) and PSI didn't bother to tell me I needed an additional pipe clamp to hook them up. Of course they didn't offer to pay a dime of the extra shipping. The stand itself is a monument to overseas junk, although the price didn't reflect it. NOTHING fit correctly, the clamp to secure the hood in position was designed by a chimp, and generally I'd say avoid the whole mess. Make up your own design, it would be less trouble!



4. BIG GULP DUST HOOD
   
   It works ok but is hard to mount and if you use it on a lathe, you cannot get it close enough to do much good. You need to build something special to hold it up.



5. I have this product mounted to my radial arm saw and it is doing a decent job grabbing sawdust on cross cuts. I'm attempting to use an older Ridgid shop vac to suck in the dust, and it's pretty anemic, for the most part. I'm sure this setup would work better if connected to a higher powered dust collector.
   
   Beware, the diameter measurement is OD. I have it coupled to a 4" to 2 1/4" reducer, and it is currently held together with duct tape. To connect this securely to a reducer, you need a short length of 4" flexible tubing, or a connecter with 4" ID.

5 comments about JET 708315BTC JBTS-10BT-3 15 Amp Benchtop Table Saw.

1. I bought this saw for the belt drive feature. I wanted to try a belt driven table saw, and although I find this feature helps with noise and blade vibration, the rest of the saw's design leaves me disappointed. First off, all these other guys that complain about the fence and miter guage being sloppy are absolutely right. Even at full adjustment, the fence will easily lock in at 1/4 " out of square. Also, every peice of hardware on this saw just feels cheap. From the blade depth adjustment knob to the lockdown screws to even the on/off switch, each component simply feels like just another made in China cheap part. I am a fan of JET industrial equipment; this saw however is just borderline acceptable. I will not brag about owning this saw, and if my wife wasn't pushing me to install a hardwood floor in our house, I would DEFINATELY send it back and get a Bosch for double the price of the JET. I have used the Bosch and it is definately twice as nice.



2. Bought this for my husband who has in the construction business for almost 40 yrs. He has used it quite a bit and say's it does a top-notch job. Would recommend to all.



3. I was at this exact website in Fall of '06 when the reviews convinced me to purchase my JET. Now 2 years later, after about 40 hours of actual saw run time, my motor burnt up. I still rate this saw as a decent value; however, I am a home owner/DIY guy.
   
   PROS: I bought the saw from a local tool & equipment retailer for only $200, I quickly spent another $100 and got a quality Frued blade. This saw is by far the best value I could find as I browsed tool websites, pawn shops, and the big box stores. I custom mounted a SKILL router table to one side and placed it on a custom base--I love it.
   
   CONS: The rip fence doesn't accurately clamp to table, making accuracy challenging but I am not building pianos, just basic home stuff. One day I had to remove the blade guard, and I note there is a stud at the back of the table which gets in the way of the rip fence-- no bigee. Be sure to LocTite all of the bolts that hold the four plastic casings of the base because they will vibrate loose. All of the other complaints listed on the reviews are fairly accurate, but did I tell you I paid only $200!
   
   Dear JET/WMH Group: Please fix the fence, add a 3HP super motor, upgrade the blade, make some other refinements as mentioned by the other reviewers, and I will gladly pay $300-$400 because then Delta, Dewalt, Bosch, nor any other mfg would come close to an entry level-hybrid table saw on the market.



4. I love this saw. It does some great work. Take the time to fine square the blade (instructions provided), and use a carpenters square to make sure the fence is square and you'll have no problems.



5. My dad knows all about saws and he said the most important thing about a table saw is to get one that is belt driven. This one is. Not many smaller table saws are. This is a huge plus.
   
   One of the best purchases I have made in a long time. I would get this saw again in a heartbeat. I have zero complaints. It cuts well, cuts straight, the fence is good (not as good as some on more expensive or larger table saws) for the size saw. It has large rubber feet to prevent slipping. It is easy to change blades. I used it to cut laminated flooring which is a very dense product. It cut it well and the blade lasted a lot longer than I thought it would. It's very portable.
   
   I could go on and on, but won't. If you looking for a compact table saw look no further, buy this one.

5 comments about Shark 10-2204 Dowel/Dovetail/Detail Saw.

1. This is one of the least expensive tools I have, yet it never leaves my bench and I can't think of a tool I enjoy using more. The blade is extremely sharp, and its thinness and flexibility make cutting mortises easy. It slices through wood effortlessly, and with a laser-like clean line.
   
   Just buy it -- it's so cheap that if you don't like it, you aren't out much. And I bet you'll agree with all these other reviewers that this saw is a gem.



2. As a custom woodworker I have a love for tools that do the job I need done. The is the greatest little saw on the market. The only draw back is trying to find someone that sells it without going on line.



3. I bought this to try as a saw to cut dovetails or tenons. If you're cutting a door jam or cutting dowels, it works great. Just don't be fooled by the dovetail saw aspect of the ad. Way too flimsy. I'll be going with a back-saw, like I should have done in the first place.



4. Buy this saw if you do any type of finish carpentry. I use mine all the time. Very thin accurate cut.
   Blade bends like a piece of paper so you can get it flush to the wood to cut off dowels when pinning a tenon. Plenty of other uses.



5. I own many of the Shark range of saws, and each is an awesome tool. Ultra sharp and hold their edge well. Pull saws are much easier to use than traditional western-style push cutting saws. This saw is equally as good and with a flexible blade is betetr suited for smaller detail cuts. Very happy with saws fast cutting ability which also leaves a nice smooth edge.

2 comments about Bostitch FLN150 1-1/2-Inch Flooring L-Nails (1,000 per Box).

1. The product was what it was supposed to be, but by the time the product got here, I had to go elsewhere & purchase it because I had already started the job.



2. The nails worked fine although I would use the 2" nails with the 5/8 bamboo flooring (they are stocked locally) on my next job.

5 comments about Makita LS1214FL 15 Amp 12-Inch Dual Bevel Compound Sliding Miter Saw with Laser and Fluorescent Light.

1. Blade that comes with it is sweet and leaves a fine finish. Laser is accurate and a nice feature. Side mounted gauge takes some getting used to but all in all I think the saw is a winner.



2. In my thirty years of carpentry this is the most precise and smoothest operating saw I have ever used.



3. This saw is amazing. It makes precision cuts. the stock blade works extremely well when cutting crown molding. Don't make a mistake and buy a Dewalt!



4. THis is a sweet saw until it broke. The fence shattered in three different places within a few days of opening the box. Customer service was not concerned that their components did not stand up to regular use. The parts had quality i would expect of an inferior tool manufacturer.



5. I have never owned this saw but I have used it quite a few times. I has plenty of power. I found it a little hard to move around and to adjust the settings.

5 comments about DeWALT DC925KA Heavy-Duty XRP 18-Volt Ni-Cad 1/2-Inch Hammerdrill/Drill/Driver Kit.

1. The dewalt dc925ka is an arm breaking powerhouse,This drill can power thru just about anythinjg you can throw at it.the self tighting chuck works almost too well, (I drilled out a lock with 1/2 in bit and almost could'nt get the bit out) Just a little on the heavy side



2. One day at the job site, a coworker informed me that he owed me a new drill. Curious, I asked "Why"? He told me that he had accidentally dropped my Dewalt drill/driver into a water filled catch basin and it was still in there.
   
   I ran over to where the catch basin was, saw my drill down in the murky depths, and went in head first to retrieve it. Retrieving the drill was easy enough, but extracting myself from the deep and narrow catch basin, with one hand on my drill, my feet in the air and my head pointing towards China, was proving to be a bit more difficult. Fortunately for me, the fellow who dropped the drill in the catch basin in the first place, Big John, happened to be a 6'6" giant and was able to pull me out by my ankles.
   
   After taking a moment to remind myself to always have an exit strategy in any future power tool rescue attempts (lest there be no around to yank on my ankles) I took my waterlogged drill and ran over to my car. I disconnected the battery from the drill, put both pieces on top of the defrost vents on my dash board, and cranked the defrost on full blast for about half an hour (I had the temperature set on low so that the battery wouldn't explode).
   
   Well, as you may have guessed from my 5-star rating, the Dewalt worked perfectly after that episode, and still works perfectly today, three years later. The water episode, in and of itself, isn't enough to rate 5 stars; it is all the use, abuse, and neglect that the drill endures that really impresses me. I use larger spade and auger bits than it is rated for when there are no corded drills around. I have mixed drywall mud with it, drilled lots of holes in concrete (again with larger bits than what it is rated for), drilled holes in steel and stainless steel, and driven lag bolts. It typically lives on the job site floor several days out of the week. I would say that Dewalt hit the nail on the head when they designed this product, but that doesn't seem a fitting metaphor for a drill, does it?
   
   There are several companies that make a great hammer drill/driver, and I can't say which is really the best. What I can say is that I never feel regret at buying this Dewalt, or look at another company's 18 volt drill and wish that I had bought that brand instead. I am completely satisfied with this product.



3. I bought this drill to replace my 15 year old trusty Makita 12volt cordless. For outright raw power I think it's great. If you're out there driving a single size screw or drilling through just about anything, it will do a good job. With adjustments for clutch, speed, and (confusing) a feature for screwing or drilling or hamerdrilling, it is versatile, no doubt. However, that's where my praises end. First, it is heavy....not a big thing if you're drilling or screwing straight down. My job, as a garage cabinet installer, calls for veried angles, however, and it can be cumbersome. The other gripe I have is that I have to make sure I have all three adjustments correct if I switch from a 3" screw to a 3/8" drill bit. Personally, I'd buy the Makita again if I had it to do all over again.



4. Pro's - Unbelievable torque! Make sure your work is secure and that you have a good grip; if a bit locks into your work (especially steel), you're in for a ride. Good adjustments for different work. I don't use the hammer feature often so I can't speak on that.
   
   Con's - A bulldog (heavy). Not the best for working overhead or arms out horizontal for long periods of time. I have lighter drills if I need them but they don't drive or drill nearly as well.
   
   Overview: I have several different brand 18V drills, some are very good but I dedicated myself to Dewalt 18V tools. I currently have 11 different Dewalt tools (and I don't have them all) that operate off the same battery platform...no other manufacture offers that.



5. I acquired this tool by accident: I was buying an 18V reciprocating saw and the drill came with it. But this tool easily took over most of my drilling needs, even some of what I used to do with a corded tool.
   
   Most eye-opening experience with the DC925: I needed to drill some vent-stack holes in stud wall fireblocking and top plates. This tool was able to drive a 2-1/2" Milwaukee Self-Feed bit through doubled 2x4s in half a dozen locations -- and that's with a dull bit and a two year old battery (fully charged, but old ones aren't as strong).
   
   Among the other high-torque jobs this drill has accomplished, it regularly runs an 18" x 5/8" ship-auger bit through 8 to 12 inches of framing lumber many times per hour, can handle multiple deep holes with a 3/4" auger, hammerdrills pilot holes for Tapcon anchors and for tri-nailing wood onto concrete, and often runs abrasive flap wheels and discs for metal finishing. Oh yeah, in a pinch (no power nearby) it has even mixed two to three gallons of drywall mud or thinset mortar. Not bad for cordless.
   
   As for durability, it has fallen ten feet onto concrete a number of times, and has generally been treated roughly as if it were not made of plastic. Still works like new.

1 comments about Fein 63717085017 120 Grit Velcro Sandpaper (50-Pack).

1. i purchased a fein detail sander with all the bell and whistles . i purchased it to mainly use as a detail sander, well the sandpaper velcro backing would fail within a few minutes of use. this is the paper that came with it. i was sick 300 plus dollars and paper wont stay on. ordered fein velcro sandpaper works great. i can sand and sand till the sandpaper side wears out and the velcroe still holds tight.

5 comments about Bosch TC21HC 21-Piece T-Shank Contractor Jig Saw Blade Set.

1. Nice case that even fits inside jigsaw case. The blade selection is good as well. One for every occation.



2. Bosch TC21HC 21-Piece T-Shank Contractor Jig Saw Blade Set
   Delivered on time at a good price.



3. This set of blades is excellent in every way. The blades are well made, and sharp as can be. These don't have the cheap, bent metal teeth you will find from bargain priced blades, but are sharpened at multiple angles that will take some skin if mishandled. The quality of the blades was a nice surprise, tho at the price and with the Bosch name probably shouldn't have been.
   
   The case, which is the reason I bought this set, is the nicest I've seen. I own two sets of Bosch drill bits w/similar cases. The size is usefully small, not the cheap overblown puffy plastic type so often found in the tool world today, that takes up a lot of room and doesn't store much. There is room for about triple the number of blades, in the case. I store the plastic chip/split preventer for my Bosch 1590EVSK 6.4 Amp Top Handle Jigsaw in this case as it is easily misplaced (I didn't bother rating the saw as it has excellent reviews that tell the story well). I keep the jigsaw and this blade case in my Makita LXT405 18V LXT Lithium-Ion 4 Piece Combo Set bag, rather than the saw's factory case, as the case is bulky and the only accessories I need for the saw are the blades and chip preventer.



4. I am pleased with the quality of the blades in this set. The hard case is nice and necessary as the blades are very sharp.



5. I bought this as a starter kit as my last jigsaw was stolen with all the blades. It's okay and I like the case, although there are blades that I'll never use. It would be nice if they had a kit specific for installers such as 'trim carpenters' or 'tile & plumbing', but that would mean not being able to sluff off unneeded blades for extra cost. Still, its okay for the price.