5 comments about Makita BML185N 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Flashlight.

1. I had to send this back because the flashlight was not compatable with the drill batteries as advertized with the purchase and so I was out an additional cost of 11 dollors to send it back. Dwaine Bleyhl



2. I bought this as it was so cheap and had just purchased a 18v Makita Drill/Driver set with batteries.
   It is pretty doggone bright and i love the ratcheting head. Compact, fits in the tool bag, no complaints from me.



3. I found the flashlight very useful. You are able to put it in different postions and angles. It is well balanced so it will stand on its on. Very bright and with the lithium 18 volt battery it last for hours.



4. this light is good for:
   1. seeing under the car when you are changing oil
   2. light under the sink when fixing or tightening a drain
   3. leave in the bathroom on the counter when the lights go out...
   because it stands well and the light lasts for at least 1 hour when charged recently.
   
   this light is NOT good for:
   1. seeing in tight places
   2. keeping outside the home - like in a car trunk - battery does not hold a charge that long
   3. camping
   because it is large and clunky with the heavy battery and the beam does not focus from flood light and narrow beam. Once it goes dead, it's out.



5. Be prepared to "light up your life". Great product. Having to purchase the additional charger and batteries was a tad expensive ( did not have any other 18 volt tools, only older) but now I can add the other newer 18 volt tools. Need a light - highly recommend this one

5 comments about Makita 194205-3 18 Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Battery BL1830.

1. This is a great battery, from what i've seen so far. I recently used the battery to finish two steel roofing jobs. I was very impressed with the battery life. Only had to charge once per day and we were predrilling the holes for the TEK screws. No problems with shipping. Lot cheaper than the big box stores. Good buy.



2. This purchase was a great value. I received it promptly and it powers my model airplane starters just great. I also purchased a Makita drill that can be powered by the same battery.



3. Really, these batteries provide seemingly endless power. They hold their charge for weeks with very little loss. I can use one battery for drilling and driving throughout an entire (moderately sized) project. They are extremely lightweight and charge in twenty minutes or less usually (in hot weather it takes longer). All three of mine slide on and off easily, with no issues of binding or falling off. With all the praise comes a VERY important caveat. DO NOT run these batteries into the ground. The instructions state that as soon as you notice a loss of power, stop and charge. If you over-discharge Li-Ion batteries, you can seriously degrade the life of the battery. These batteries are 1/3 cheaper on Amazon.com than at the home centers, so buy from here! Also, only the cells themselves are made in Japan, all other parts are made and final assembly is in China.



4. The order i put in was filled fast and on time , the battery is great and the price was excellent i will order again and will look for what i need here, THANKS



5. These batteries are the fastest charging cordless tool batteries I've ever used and they will put in a full day's work and then some before you have to recharge them. The 3.0 Amp Hour batteries take about 35-40 minutes to charge (there are 1.8Ah batteries for the drills that take less than 20 minutes!) if completely depleted and they're ready to take up again right where they left off! As some other reviews have mentioned, the only down side to them is there's very little warning when they do run out of juice, but seen from another point of view, they do keep running strong up to the last minute. So that's a tradeoff I can live with. I have four Makita tools that use this battery, and each has ONE battery, no extra spares, and I've never had to completely stop working to charge a battery. I just use one from another tool while I charge the one that ran down. Unlike other brands where I had to have 1-2 extra batteries for each tool!

5 comments about Black and Decker 71-978 Home Project 100 Piece Drilling and Driving Set.

1. I received this product in a very timely manner. It was in perfect shape and the description was very accurate. I am very satisfied.



2. I bought this item for husband for Christmas when he said, "All I want are tools. Tools are to guys what toys are to kids." He's already used them on many projects, and really like the set. Just enough assortment to be useful, not frustrating. Great value.



3. Black and Decker 71-978 Home Project 100 Piece Drilling and Driving Set< I purchased this set to use with my Black & Decker cordless drill. I could not be happier with the set, it has everything I need to do odd jobs around the house and the price was more than reasonable. I have had very positive results when purchasing from Amazon and will continue to do so in the future.



4. the quality is great but almost every piece is repeated, so is really like 60 pieces + Replacement



5. What else can I say: great product at an even greater price.
   Everything you need for drilling & screwing at home.

5 comments about Porter-Cable 690LR 11 Amp 1-3/4 Fixed Base Horsepower Router.

1. This router is awesome! I am hooked on buying tools via Amazon because I got a real Porter Cable router for a great price. The router is solid, has worked perfectly for me thus far, and is really smooth. You can tell it's a quality tool just by the sound of it and the silky feel. Really, nothing else to report, and I think that's how it should be for a tool like a router. It just works every time, plain and simple.



2. Bought my first Rockwell router in 1974. I own 3 of these and have jigs made to accept the base, and many specialized bases to fit this router. It's more efficient for me to set up a router and leave it for a designated job. When I'm doing a run I can have as many as 5 different routers set up. This PC has a different base lock that seems to work very easily, along with the newer style chuck that makes for easy bit removal.



3. Have only used it once, but like it very much. Most of my power tools are Porter-Cabe



4. This 1-3/4hp router is just about perfect for hand held use. It's relatively lightweight, compact and rugged. The self releasing collets make stuck bits a thing of the past. Fine adjustments in height are a bit more difficult with the lever release base compared to the old style since it's a bit tricky to make the base tight enough to prevent slop and loose enough to allow adjustment, but the quick action and secure hold make up for that to some extent. The best feature is the anti rotation feature. Anyone who's ever forgotten to tighten the lock on a table mounted router knows how scary a loose router can be. With this base, the router will rotate down but not fall out of the base when turned on with the base unlocked. Removing the router from the base is still quick and easy.



5. While I am not a woodworking expert, I have enjoyed getting to know this tool. It seems very well made for the price point. As has been mentioned, it is lacking some of the finer features of high end units, but has been an excellent entry level router. I have used this as both hand held and bench mounted and it seems to have all the power I need. The switch location has been mentioned as a problem, so I have been VERY careful about how I hold the router when switching ON and OFF. Obviously this is not an issue when table mounted. I would highly recommend this router.

5 comments about MAGCRAFT® Magnets - 1/4" x 1/10" Rare Earth Disc, Package of 50.

1. These magnets are unbelievably strong. When I opened the package they literally jumped out of my hand and pinched my other hand. The magnetic field is so strong it is almost visible. (not really) Please be cautious around children I'd hate to see what happens if one or two were ingested. They will also RUIN a television or monitor in short order trust me please. Just don't go there. These aren't just powerfull magnets. They are amazing. I'm going to buy more. Everybody gets rare earth magnets for Christmas 08. The countersunk ones are great for hanging tools, pictures, door latches on cabinets etc. Refrigerators. Fingernails required.



2. Little david's hold on like GoliathsMAGCRAFT® Magnets - 1/4" x 1/10" Rare Earth Disc, Package of 50



3. Handy to have around the house for projects and whatnot. Well-packaged so they won't f-up your electronics/credit cards.



4. Bought for a magic trick and found I only needed 2 of these tiny magnets due to their incredible strength! Not sure what I'll do with the other 48, but they're fun to play with anyway!!



5. I needed small magnets to hold up some pictures on a sheet of stainless steel for wall decor. They're small enough so as not to distract from the photos and they're coated too for added aesthetics. Because they're strong suckers and they're thin, I'd recommend SOME nail length to pry these apart. These magnets are also way cheaper from AMAZON. At a local craft store, I saw similar magnets for 4 dollars for a pack of 6!

5 comments about Makita LCT203W 10.8-Volt 2-Tool Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit.

1. This drill and impact driver combo is impressive. They have lot of power, comparable (beter) than most 12v nicad or lithium tools out there. For small to medium drilling or screw/bolt driving, these are just what you need. I currently own Makita 18V LXT tools and have been using Bosch 10.8 V Litheon drill (PS-20), impact driver (PS-40) and right angle I-driver (PS-10) before I try this new Makita combo. They are very similiar in size and power. But I found both Makita drill and impact driver has little more power and feel better in my hands than Bosch tools. They are all good tools and and you can't go wrong with either brand. I love these small, light weight tools that pack with power for 95% of my work.



2. After owning the Dewalt 36V Hammerdrill for a while I decided it was time to purchase something for less intensive applications. The twin Makita's are perfect for cabinetry, plumbing, and around the house type chores. The impact driver has plenty of power and surprisingly lasts quite a while in between charges. Haven't used the drill too much but it works great. Awesome deal getting both for under 180.



3. I am a cabinetbuilder by trade. I have owned Makita's LXT set for several years and love them, but then I saw these little cuties and had to have them. They are small, light, and soooo handy! Powerful little buggers, too. I have owned the set for a week now and have used them pretty much every day. The impact has just as much power as the 18v LXT does, but of course the battery life is less, which is to be expected. They are compact enough to fit in tight spots, like cabinets, and light enough that you can use it all day without fatigue. I will update this after awhile to let everyone know how they perform after longer periods.



4. I am a professional boatbuilder. Since purchasing this combo I haven't picked up my old 18v cordless, except when I didn't have a hex end bit in the size I needed. The impact driver makes driving screws so easy that in most cases I have to be careful I don't over drive them. I will never go back to using a drill to drive screws.



5. For me, it all started with the "Makita TD020DSEW 7.2-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Straight Line Impact Driver Kit" also sold by Amazon Makita TD020DSEW 7.2-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Straight Line Impact Driver Kit, which got pretty incredible reviews. Those reviews convinced me to buy it to replace a very well worn and used up Panasonic/Milwaukee 3.2 volt stick driver.
   
   Well, that 7.2 volt impact driver impressed me more than any other tool I have ever bought, bar none, with its ability to knock home screws, without any pre-drilling, and without stripping the heads, either. Not only that, but the impact feature managed to turn screws that had previously resisted every effort I could muster even when the paint was tediously chipped from the slot and my best Snap-On screwdriver was pushed as hard as I could do it. That little Makita just backed those old paint-covered screws out in no time, saving me the 1/2 day it otherwise would have taken me to take off the old closet doors and replace the hanger adjusting screws with new, hex-head sheet metal screws.
   
   The only thing the 7.2 volt driver needed was just what the folks who reviewed it found as shortcomings: lack of a speed control trigger, and difficulty turning on the LED to see the screw head in dark corners. And perhaps just a tad more power, enough to drive 1/4" lag bolts through the drywall ceiling and into nicely seasoned, hard old 2" by 10" rafters, all without pre-drilling - my next project.
   
   I began to wonder if maybe Makita made an impact driver with just a little bit more power, and adjustable speed control, but something not as big as the 18 volt models I'd seen in all the stores. The price for those was a little higher than I wanted to spend, and almost as important, the weight and power were a big jump up from the incredible lightness and size advantage that I had come to like so much in the 7.2 volt Makita.
   
   I also had trouble deciding whether another impact driver was what I wanted, or another cordless drill, when the Panasonic 12 volt I had was already about the smoothest and most functional cordless tool imaginable Panasonic EY6405FQKW 12-Volt Ni-Cad 3/8-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit.
   
   I was caught on a fence: spend the money to get bigger impact driver, so I could really put the fantastic advantages of an impact tool to use even more, or get a larger cordless drill - when I didn't really want anything larger. But, I felt that two impacts was a little extravagant.
   
   Then a search here landed this two-tool kit: both an impact driver, with speed adjustment, and a driver-drill, with adjustable clutch and speed control.
   
   What a combo! For me and my around-the-home projects the tools are perfect, and I didn't have to give up anything. The impact driver is the perfect "in-between" size for me, as was indicated by the other reviews noting use on boats and cabinetry. Light and small with a perfect hand fit for my large hands, the LED goes on and stays on whenever the trigger is depressed, and the speed control overcomes the one slight hang up with the 7.2 volt stick driver, lack of a speed control.
   
   Both tools have power comparable to my 12 volt Panasonic (which I thought had remarkably more power than a prior 12 volt DeWalt), but are incredibly small and easy to handle. The impact driver is plenty strong enough to drive screws right through doug fir (and similar soft woods) and out the back side if you don't watch out, and the impact driver retains the high motor speed and even higher impact rate that made the 7.2 volt my prior favorite.
   
   Before buying, I tried multiple tools at a Home Depot store, all with fresh charges on the batteries, and in my opinion, both Makita's out drive a very good Milwaukee 10.8 volt driver sold for around $130 (down now for Xmas), and way out power almost everything else, too, until you get to the 18 volt range. (And in that range, too, the Makita set - quite a bit more money - is the tops by far).
   
   When the box was opened, there was enough room in the toolbox to toss in a pretty large sized DeWalt 1/4" driver kit with phillips, square, and flat blades, 1/4" drills, and a host of other goodies, and still add another smaller, pocket-sized bit holder, plus a small 1/4" chuck to hold drill bits that aren't 1/4" hex shank. That's all that is need for a lot of projects, and it's easy to carry in one hand.
   
   Weak spots or complaints? The kit would be a lot better if it had a third battery, and so far, even Makita does not list replacement batteries at its web site. But at the rate this kit is disappearing off the shelves at the local Home Depot, the batteries won't be far behind.
   
   For the size, weight, and price, this is one fine set of cordless tools.

5 comments about Milwaukee 2601-22 18V Li-ion Compact Drill Kit.

1. I like how light weight it is and I like the light. I have not used it very much yet and it may be that I am just not used to it. But to me it seems like the driver part is too fast. My older Ryobi unit seemed to be slower, but it stayed in the heads of screws better. With the Milwaukee 2601-22 I found myself stripping the heads off the screws because of the speed and I did have it set on speed 1 which is for the driver not the drill. If I predrilled the holes for the screws it worked fine though.



2. Ordered the Milwaukee 18v Compact Drill driver and selected 2 day shipping as I was in middle of project. Got the drill in 2 days and it is the best drill I have ever owned. Lots of power, easy to hang onto, can get into some small places. I absolutely love this drill. Jim in Zapata Texas.



3. I am a handyman by trade, and use this tool almost daily. I graduated from Milwaukee's 14.4v, and this is more compact for getting into tight spots, lighter and more powerful. The added features of a built-in light and belt clip are great! The battery power level indicator is great for planning ahead for charging needs. The little bit holder could be placed a bit further inboard though, as the one of the bits can catch on clothes, etc. and fall out.



4. Well, the first words I think of for this review is wow! I'm struggling to find fault with it. I'm not new to drills either. I have a Makita BDF451Z, Makita 18V NIMH (forget the Model), DeWalt DC925, Bosch 18V Beast, Bosch Screw Driver, Panasonic 12 V NIMH, Ridgid 12 volt standard and angle drill, and a couple more.
   
   I like the reversing switch unlike others. Just lift your knuckle up and it's there. But to each his own.
   
   The variable speed is incredibly precise! It does not stick or jump up in speed. 5 year warrantee sounds good to me. Also, I have been worried about the fact that Litho batteries go bad if you completely drain them. Each battery in this drill has a button you push that estimates the batterie's charge state. I like the ergonomics and balance better than my Makita BDF451Z. The drill has very high speed, good clutch, nice price ($199 Home Depot). The only thing that ticks me off is that it is made is China. No disrespect to China but doesn't the U.S. make any products any more? I would have gladly paid 15% to 20% more if it were made in the U.S.



5. Milwaukee is a great company. Or maybe WAS a great company. I love this tool, but wish I could return it. It's not defective, but Milwaukee definitely misleads you about warranty and compatibility.
   
   The tool carries a 5 year warranty, and they have 5 year warranties on their 18V LI batteries... but not on THESE 18V LI batteries. THIS tool (and all compact 18V tools) has only a 2 year battery warranty, which is NOT mentioned on the box (where the 5 year warranty is prominent). In fact, the battery/charger manual which is included talks at length about a 5 year battery warranty WITHOUT making it clear that it doesn't apply to any battery covered by the manual! These new lithium batteries have a worse warranty than their original lithium batteries. You can't find that out until you get to the 8th page of the manual inside the package where you find out you don't have the 5 year warranty advertised on the outside of the package.
   
   It gets better: These new tools cannot use any battery with a 5 year warranty! Only the OLD tools have compatibility across the line. The NEW tools have their own battery style. The old batteries say on the packaging they'll work with any 18V tool, and that used to be true (NiCAD or Li-ion). Now if you call their Customer Support line they'll make fun of you for not realizing that "V18 Lithium Ion" isn't the same as "18V Lithium Ion" ... so OF COURSE they're not compatible. Why would you think they are? "Lots of customers figure that out and don't have a problem" was what they told me.

5 comments about Bosch PR20EVSK Colt Palm Grip 5.7 Amp 1 Horsepower Fixed Base Variable Speed Router with Edge Guide.

1. I read all the reviews of this router before i bought it. The slipping base and difficult collet were a concern. I also read others who seem to have solved these same problems.
   I went ahead and bought it as the price was reasonable, it was a great size and weight and it's a Bosch tool which have always treated me right.
   That was two years ago.
   I don't use a router but once or twice a week and mainly for shelving and trim work, and mortising new doors.
   For what i need as a handyman/carpenter, it has been perfect.
   When i have doors to hang, they are usually interior replacement slabs and sometimes 10-12 at a time. I have used this router on maybe 200 doors so far. The shelving and other custom detail or trim work that requires an ogee or chamfer bit, it works just as well. I have used it on, i dont know, maybe 1000 linear feet of wood. This is not a lot of production for two years, granted, but i wanted to give a fair review that included how much/little i've actually used the thing.
   I find it plenty powerful, easy in my hand, lightweight, and easy to adjust.
   The previous complaints about the base slippage i have yet to experience...but admit the base is a little tricky to adjust and lock in. The stubborn collet, yes, drove me nuts the first day or so. I just took off the red button and now push the metal tab with my finger, and it works. That red button retards the tab from going in far enough to actually lock it down.
   Poor design, agreed, but solvable.
   I also jettisoned the stupid case that comes with it and just keep the router, base, wrenches, a bunch of bits, and some door lockset bores in a small leather tool bag.
   Even with its limitations and a couple of hiccups, I recommend this one highly.



2. This is a nice router, but I agree with many who said the base isn't perpendicular to the shaft. I returned it and got another one and it was about the same. I decided to keep it, I shimmed the base .030inches with a couple washers. Works fine now.
   I made sure it was twisted to the lock position, I adjusted the clamp tight, then looser with no change.
   By the way, Amazon was great. Exchanged it no problem. Very fast shipment of replacement. Amazon is always my first choice when it comes to ordering something online. Everything is usually fine but on the rare occasion that there is an issue, they have always taken care of me.
   Thanks Amazon!



3. I bought this router as a second router. My first router is a large Makita that works well, but is difficult to use in tight spaces and is very heavy. This Bosch is very light and easy to hold and use. I especially like the soft start feature. The construction seems to be very solid and the adjustments are easy to use. Excellent router for the price.



4. I have had it for about a year now and it is a nice little tool. Very easy to handle and change bits out. The power is great.



5. I selected this brand and model in part because of favorable reviews in several woodworking magazine product comparisons. I was not disappointed in my choice - I have been using the router almost daily for about a month and love it. Some features I particularly like are the ease of removal of the base - unlatch, twist and it's off. Arbor lock makes bit removal a one-wrench operation. There is good visibility of the bit for following layout lines, especially if you use a transparent base plate. The small horsepower and soft start make it easy to control for fine work but it has sufficient power to cut cleanly if you don't force deep cuts. Overall, the router has a solid quality feel - but not too heavy - and is not a plastic toy like some cheaper brands.
   
   A few minor complaints: There are double arrows embossed to facilitate alignment when re-connecting the base and motor. They are not easy to see - I used some red paint to highlight them better. Also, the optional round base plate which is compatible with the Porter-Cable router template guides does not center well at all - I think the screw holes are slightly out of aligment with the center.

5 comments about Incra MITER1000SE Miter Gauge Special Edition With Telescoping Fence and Dual Flip Shop Stop.

1. Great miter gauge. Easy to setup with included instructions. Once set up to the saw it produces incredibly consistent miter cuts. Must have for any table saw.



2. I like this product. The directions were a bit hard to follow, there had been some changes to the product since they were written. There were some updated sheets for some of the changes, but not all, so it was somewhat confusing, but not impossible to figure out. The product was shipped to me in a timely fashion. The Incra Miter1000SE works as advertised, I'm very pleased with it, it's a big improvement over the stock miter gauge that came with my table saw.



3. I upgraded to this miter fence because I needed to make repeated + accurate angle cuts that were beyond the range of the fence that came with the saw. It worked beautifully. The stock I was cutting was too long to use the stop, but I'm sure it'll come in handy next time I'm working on something smaller. My one caution is that as you change the miter angle, the fence might need to be adjusted for blade clearance. A wrench is included for this purpose.



4. I'm not a professional woodworker, but I feel like one when I'm using the Incra 1000SE Miter Gauge. Take my advice, when you make the decision to step up to a good table saw, go ahead and order this miter gauge. You will be glad you did!



5. The Incra Miter 1000se appears to function as advertised. the problem was in the packing and UPS. UPS deliverd the miter by droping the box over my five foot gate. This caused a knob to be broken along with a few other minor problems. The product was not packed very well. The only filler in the shipping box was some brown paper. This did not cushion the fall.

5 comments about Bosch PS20-2A 12 Volt Max Lithium-Ion Pocket Driver with 2 Batteries.

1. The Bosch line is great. I have all the 9.8v tools and this one is no diffrent. It's exactly the same tool as the 9.8. In fact you can use the battries an charger in either one.The 12v rating is just a sales gimmick to make you think it's new. Still a great tool.



2. This light duty driver is everything you would expect and hope for and quite a bit more. Battery life is excellent. I drive half to one & a half inch screws with it all day cabinet making and have to change batteries only every other day or so. Its small size, light weight and excellent balance make it a pleasure to use. Bosch has created a real winner.



3. This drill is light, it fits in my hand comfortable and is extremely easy to change drill bits. I LOVE it!



4. I received this driver because of a promotion when I bought another PS20 10.8 Volt Model. That driver is already great but besides of running with 10.8 and 12 volt batteries the PS20-2A spins up to 500 rpm`s instead of the 400 rpm`s of the 10.8 Volt model.
   While that doesn`t sound to much it is really a great improvement in driving in screws.
   
   These driver are really on of the most handy tool I have owned, I used the bigger cordless driver less and less.
   
   Another big improvement is the "Clic-Change" bit holder, it holds now the bits without a bit holder and it has a magnet.



5. This driver is soooo handy and strong enough to tackle the toughest of projects. This is the second one we ordered. One for each tool box: Wife & Husband :-)