5 comments about Makita LCT200W Compact Lithium 2-Tool Combo Kit.

1. (From July 17, 2007) I'm a lead carpenter for a residential remodeler. I've owned 11 cordless drills over the years (currently I have 4) and this Makita is not only the best of the bunch, by far, it may be the best power tool I own. I've had it for about a month now and I've used it everyday. I have a complete compliment of "quick disconnect" bits so I also use this driver as a drill. I've drilled holes in concrete and block using masonry bits and it will easily countersink Tap-cons. I thought the little work light was a gimmicky thing but I have to admit, its a big help in tight dark places, I've even used it as a flashlight. For the size, weight, price, quality, power, etc, etc, you can't beat this drill/driver. The batteries charge in about 15 minutes but they last for days so with 2 batteries, you'll never be without a charged battery. The tool came with a soft square carrying case, kind of looks like a cooler. Since I hate wearing a tool belt rig, this case is great, if you remove the charger, this case will hold a bunch of standard handtools as well as the drill.
   This is a great product, I highly recommend it.
   
   *Update>> Its been just over a year and I have to say this drill is as good as the day I got it. In the last few months I purchased the combo kit, the drill and impact driver. I was curious to see if the first one I bought was still as strong as the brand new one. I see no difference. I am still more impressed with these drills/drivers than any tool I own....and its about time Makita sends me some free stuff for the gushing reviews. Seriously tho, you won't be disappointed.



2. Buying both items together is a money saver. Egronomics are great, I go around looking for jobs because both tools are fun to use & handle. Handy built in lights on both & glow in the dark ring on the impact driver. Speaking of the driver, with those barely perceptable impacts, it's got incredible driving power, much more than the drill. The fabric case is great & handy to store drill accessories too. Wish the batteries had a state of charge indicator and wish the impact driver had a clutch, but this is not utopia.



3. This combo has met all expectations, the tools are well designed and perform as advertized. The extra battery promotion is a good deal, remember to remove the upc code before trashing the box.



4. Light, compact, charges fast, and it has a comfortable grip. I have used the Dewalt 14v and 18v but a friend said I should try the Makita and I'm glad I did. The difference is staggering. I could not believe the power I got from the smaller Lithium battery. I could see in dark corners because of the light located above the trigger and because of the smaller size reach places I couldn't before. I have recommended the Makita LCT200W Compact Lithium 2-Tool Combo Kit to friends.



5. I have owned Makita 9.6v drill driver for 20 plus years. I recently bought this little combo kit to assist me with my new deck building. What have I been missing all these years. The impact driver is super light and small enough for the really tight spaces but lacks nothing for power right up to the very last drive on the battery. The Drill driver is the same...Makita has always been my first choice for quality and price and they haven't let me down with this product.

5 comments about Bosch RA1125 7-Piece Router Template Guide Set.

1. These templates are easy to install and work great. No tools needed and can be done quickly. Although the case is marked with the Bosch number and ID/OD, the template is only stamped with the Bosch number, they should have but the ID/OD on the templates. The case to hold the templates could have been made better. Overall I like the Bosch template system and this set provides many of the often used sizes so you'll have what you need.



2. Bosch tools are outstanding. This is just another example of a tool well made. Spend a few extra dollars and get the good stuff. Bosch is it!



3. They do the job, however, removing the router base to change collars is not very efficient. Given the chance to do it over, I'd buy threaded collars.



4. My bit was rubbing the side of the guide a little, the guide heated up and came apart. Ruined an expensive bit. These are cheap garbage.



5. This product was exactly what I was expecting. If fit very securely and easy to my Router base. I've only been wood crafting for about 3 years but this worked great with my Dove Tail jigs and some miscellaneous templates. If you own a Bosch and looking for a template this was shipped out and I recieved them with in 72 hours regular shipping.
   
   Happy Customer.

5 comments about Black & Decker RTX-6 2 Amp 3-Speed Rotary Tool with 30 Accessories and 2 Spring Clamps.

1. I am in the process of changing grout colors in my bathroom which involves removing all of the old grout first. I've burned through 4 dremels so far, they just can't take the workout. I ordered this in the hopes that the 2 amp motor would have more power and be able to handle the job. So far, I'm extremely impressed. It powers through the grout like it was butter, and shows no signs of slowing down. Far better than the dremel. If you have a heavy-duty task to complete, this is definitely the machine for it. It doesn't come with a lot of accessories, but after throwing away 2 dremels (I was able to return the others) I have plenty of them.



2. I haven't used this on any projects yet, but it does seem promising. It has a rigid feel to it and the price is ideal. I haven't used a Dremel brand rotary tool so I can't really compare.
   
   The only negative thing I have to say about this is that the collet nut is pretty hard to loosen once it's tightened. However, I found that putting the wrench against one of the fan blades made it easier to loosen. Probably not a good thing to do, but it does work.
   
   Amazon doesn't include a list of the accessories, but it's not their fault. It doesn't even say on the box itself. For those wondering what this comes with:
   
   Rotary Tool - 1
   Carrying Case - 1
   Woodworking Clamps - 2
   Wrench/Flathead Screwdriver - 1
   1/8" Standard Mandrel - 1
   Sanding Drum Mandrel - 1
   Rubber Polishing Wheel (Coarse) (Brown) - 1
   Aluminum Oxide Stone Bullet (Brick) (For Grinding) - 1
   Diamond Point (For Engraving) - 1
   Heavy Duty Cut-Off Discs - 20
   Sanding Band (Coarse) - 3
   Sanding Band (Fine) - 2



3. After using this product for a couple of projects, I have to say it's just been awesome. Feels very well built, comfortable grip, and the 2 amps gives it alot of cutting power(for small projects). But wear eye protection when using any power tools. I already shattered a cutting disk with this. Make sure to let the tool do the cutting, not the force of your hand. I hope this thing lasts because it's been great so far.
   
   But hey f it breaks I could buy another one and the price of both would still be cheaper than a good dremel!



4. Pros (vs. the Dremel brand):
   -much cheaper (the comparable Dremel model runs about $60 to $90)
   -decent carrying case
   -doesn't heat up as fast (especially on the middle speed settings)
   -the Flip-Lock system is not only safer, but you only need one hand, and you don't end up removing the whole collet housing every time you want to change attachments
   -hand grip at the front of the tool allows for greater precision in detailing, etc.
   - tough clamps
   - nice warranty
   
   Cons
   - the accessories are a little cheap (the collet wrench is great though) and the set only comes with the large size collet (but with all the money you save on the unit, you can buy tons of extra stuff. And Dremel parts fit if you get the right collet size)



5. This thing is full of power! I got it to use in a dental lab setting and even though I had to buy a smaller collet adapter to fit my dental burs, I love this product. It's a good deal too, coming with clamps and accessories. What I like most is how it doesn't bog down at all no matter how much strain you put on it. The EZ change lever feature thing is really handy too, making it really easy to quickly swap out the bit you are using. Also, it isn't just a 3-speed unit, you can actually rotate the speed knob inbetween the three set speeds to get whatever speed you need. I'd buy again and have recommended it to all my other dental school classmates.

5 comments about Makita DC18RA Rapid Battery Charger For Li-Ion, Ni-Mh & Ni-Cd Batteries.

1. This was exactly what I was looking for. Quick shippment, and a great price!



2. We ship our installation tools all over the country. The cases are lined with 2" foam and we pad the tools with rags, but the chargers do not handle this well.



3. The brand speaks for itself. Reliable equipment that does what it is projected to do.



4. This model works much better than more expensive DC18SC, more quiet and much faster. Excellent model.



5. Great purchase. The product was a great price plus it was shipped promptly. I'm very pleased with the purchasing process. I would definitly buy from this seller in the future.

5 comments about DELTA 50-760 1.5 Horsepower 1,200 CFM Vertical Bag Dust Collector, 120/240-Volt 1 Phase.

1. I just got mine last night. It arrived with plenty of dents in it from shipping but Amazon offered me a discount to keep it since it still worked.
   
   It was easy to put together in spite of the manual. The directions tell you all you need is a 12m wrench and then the first step says to use a 'thin' 14m wrench ?? And they aren't kidding about the thin part. The wrench is needed to tighten the casters and there isn't enough room for a standard wrench to fit. I ended up using needle nose pliers; they were all that would fit. And the manual was written for a different model that has two filter bags. They also changed the filter bag bracket but show the old one in the manual.
   
   So I got it all together and hooked it up to the table saw. Boy did it suck the dust out of all the nooks and crannies. Much better than hooking up my shop vac.
   
   Quiet? I don't think so. Maybe not as loud as my 5HP shop vac, but still loud. It's just a less irritating, lower pitched sound than the shop vac so it's more tolerable.
   
   You'll definitely need a 20A breaker for this puppy. I couldn't run it through my retractable extension cord. It needed to be plugged directly into the outlet.
   
   But for the price (and look around for a $[...] form...Amazon doesn't list it but you can find one good until 7/8/2008), it's well worth the price of admission.



2. Powerful dust collector, 1 micron bag is great. Unit is pretty tall, barely fits in my 7' tall basement shop. Would not start up on 15 amp circuit, kept kicking the breaker out, even when no other equipment was running. Runs great on 20 amp circuit though, together with other 1 hp or 2 hp equipment.



3. I was skeptical when I ordered this dust collector because of some of the reviews I read with regards to the difficulty of assembly. I decided to take advantage of a good price on Amazon and take my chances. I was pleasantly surprised when after about 20 minutes I had the whole thing assembled and working. I found the cloth lined ring that is used for the plastic and filter bags very easy to install. It did not take 2 people to assemble it, I did it without any help. As far as the dust collector goes I have only had it a short time but am very please with it so far. As many people have written, I can't believe I waited this long to get one. The power of the unit is very good and is much quieter than my shop vac. I don't feel the need to wear headphones when using it. I would recommend this product.



4. Price was right and actually arrived before due date. Motor had damage that was not caused by shipping( Styrofoam was pristene)and unit was completely unusable. Amazon is shipping out a replacement, but with so many reviews complaining about damaged units, They need to communicate with Delta regarding this issue.



5. Seems to be a very good product. Setup was not that hard but would recommend having a helper as it is a heavy piece of equipment. I am anxious to cut some MDF now that the dust storm will be contained. From using it on other woods I can only wish I had bought it sooner.

3 comments about Henkel 01-82196 Loctite 2-Gram Super Glue Gel.

1. Its a good glue that dries really fast; I used it to fix broken ceramics and they sealed together without a crack showing. The only thing is I wish a little bit more came in the tube.



2. I was trying fix my daughters toy, but it never fixed. Waste of money. I never recommend this product to another person.



3. I ordered this super glue so that I would meet the requirements for free shipping. So, it only cost a few bucks versus paying over $9 for shipping of the pan I wanted. When we went to use it, got only a little dab of glue and the tube was almost empty. At least I saved about $7 in shipping so it wasn't all bad....and the glue did work well, just wasn't a full tube.

5 comments about Fein MultiMaster FMM 250Q Select.

1. Usually, the more jobs that a tool will do, the more badly it does most of them. Not so in this case. The multimaster seems to do cutting, sanding, scraping with equal quality, satisfactory all around. It is, however, expensive, and the blades, etc., are more costly than they should be, and to buy the plastic box (purchased separately at $170 or so) you would have to be out of your mind.



2. The Fein multimaster is a good, well made tool. Very powerful. I was surprised by how well it could cut into wood. The biggest problem, however, is the cost of the blades. These blades quickly wear out and have to be replaced. New blades are extremely expensive. Some people are making their own blades (do a web search) to try to avoid the cost. But there are some jobs that no other tool can do. It can plunge cut and it is great for precise woodworking.



3. So I caved. The amount of work it saved paid for a good chunk of it. The amount of frustration it reduced saved me. Try cutting a small piece of melamime out from underneath a counter and behind a sink with 4" to the wall with anything else, I dare you. An extra long chisel, an olympic hammer arm in contortionist mode, and an eyeful of shavings might have sloppily done the job. I wasn't in the mood to overexert myself for sloppy (possibly unacceptable) work, so off to woodcraft. After I bought it, I quickly realized how many uses I had for it! So I saw some painted over epoxy from behind a backsplash, and scraped it away no problem. The scraper is perhaps my favorite feature. It's so frustrating to gouge at something with a putty knife or chisel or scraper and have the work come hard, slow, and mediocre. This thing adds precision and saves 70% of the time. Then I sanded some, edged some windowsills, casually cut a piece of PVC just to save me the trip for something else, and tomorrow I'm doing some metal cutting. I hate sanding, who wants to carry a sander around? So I'll avoid it as best as I can and have a back up plan just in case, and if worse comes to worse, I'll sand with my saw/scraper/metal cutting/grout remover, and complain about it a bit.
   
   Build is top notch - solid and sturdy, even a bit heavy, more than most of even the best tools.
   
   I'm going to avoid using the wood blades unless the job demands the Fein.
   
   By the way, this thing is powerful! Cutting through the 1.5" glued mdf with this oscillating saw took some serious power. After I *nearly* bogged it down on maybe 1/3 or 1/2 power it jolted me a good bit, but the fein and I escaped unscathed, barely. So, I turned it up a good twist and it became quite an unpleasant tool to use. The thing oscillated itself and me at 30000+ or whatever RPM in a way that almost numbed the forearms. Although a bit shocking, the power wasn't unmanageable, and it got the job done. I have yet to top it out and can't forsee a situation that will demand it..
   
   sometimes I end up nicknaming tools.. "Get me the fine" sounds like a sentence fragment, so the word "stout" comes to mind.



4. Other than being very expensive the product is great, does what they say it will do.



5. Although the tool is too expensive there is quite nothing like it. put simply you can do things with this tool and fit it into places where no other tool would go. great for working on previouly existing stuff without destroying it such as moldings. I recenly added an additional front door to my house and managed to recover all of the old trim and was able to reuse it. warning save your cuts for those you really need to use with this tool (use another tool if access isn't an issue because the blades wear out super quick and are really expensive) having said all that I don'y know how I did without it all this time If you are a do it yourselfer and are easily frustrated by not having the right tool for the job at the moment, if this tool is near by I guarantee you you will use it

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

1. Great magnets for the price. These magnets are very powerful. They were used for a craft project. We placed them on the back of small dolls and put them on the fridge. They were able hold up about 4 pieces of paper. We are very happy with this product.



2. 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.



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



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



5. 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 comments about Dremel 4486 Dremel Chuck.

1. This is a really nice idea from Dremel that is supposed to make changing bits a lot faster. And that it does. Plus it is very well made. However, I stopped using it as no matter how hard you tighten it, it loosens up and the bit begins to wobble (not a good thing at 5000 rpm). Then you have to stop and retighten. So it's too much of a bother. I do not recommend this item.



2. I began using the Multipro Chuck as soon as I got it! No need to switch collets and it will hold the tiniest bit. It is just what I needed to interchange brand accessories.
   Love it, love it!



3. This item works great. My only question is why doesn't the manufacturer provide it as a stock item with all its tools?



4. it may vary, but mine is nicely centered, no wobble. doesn't hold quite as snug as a collet.



5. In 1994 I purchased a Dremel kit and a version of this chuck was included. I was quite excited as those who have worked with the fixed-size collets know how pesky they are, especially for small drill bits.
   
   ohmi Vibration. I contacted Dremel Manufacturing and they, in 1995, had withdrawn this chuck as it was "too heavy" and "did not run true." They were glad to send me a package of fixed collets (but, having about fifteen different Dremels -- AC and battery), I have enough collets, thank you.
   
   Several years passed and then I saw that the adjustable chuck was again provided. I have one and will get more ... Dremel has solved the 'balance' issues which, are mighty, given the mass of this steel and speeds of 30K RPM.
   
   Also, I am a fan of the 50-bit box sets of carbide drills. When Harbor Freight sold these at half price, $4, I bought eight boxes. However, if you've tried these, you know that using such bits on metals, even 'soft' metals, they break easily.
   
   Using the variable chuck I devised a solution. If you have ever tried to deal with a carbide drill, broken off in a drill hole that is critical, you will mightily appreciate this ... so ... for $9.95, check or Paypal, I'll provide instructions and 2 additional components that virtually eliminate breakage.
   
   And, if you haven't tried such a drill, for $12.95 I will send the instructions, kit, and 3 carbide drills for you to try. Quite honestly, if you have not had the delight of using a carbide to drill, say, medium-hard steel, or even a printed circuit board, you will be very pleased.
   
   W. Curtiss Priest, Ph.D.
   Engineer
   email: bmslib@mit.edu

5 comments about Bosch 1591EVSK 6.4 Amp Barrel Grip Jigsaw.

1. I came to this jigsaw from an older B&D Professional. That was not a bad saw, but the lateral blade support was not in the same caliber as this one's.
   
   The smoothness is also unrivalled, as is the blade change mechanism. I never realized how sweet the electronic speed control would be until I'd used it. One simply sets the right speed, switches the saw on, and goes to work. It simply doesn't slow down under load due to the beefy 6.4 A motor.
   
   The only time I'd recommend against the barrel grip version is if you do a lot of vertical cutting. In that position, this saw is harder to hold onto, because the motor is so big in diameter. When working flat, it is not na issue.
   
   The dust blower works great too; no more huffing and puffing trying to keep the cut line clear. The cord is a high grade rubber one that doesn't get all stiff when it is cold. This may just be my last jigsaw. (and I'm only 31)



2. I am a woodworker and this 1591 is the finest jig saw that i have ever used. It is powerful and it is accurate. The blade guides are very similar to what you would find on a band saw making it possible to split a pencil line and have a true 90 degree cut.
   
   With the correct blade, I believe you can cut just about anything in any shape that you want to.
   
   I chose the 1591 over the 1590 because I find the barrel grip suites me better for the majority of my tasks.



3. This is the best jig saw on the market, considering price/value. I researched many brands and kept returning to Bosch because of the reputation of the brand. The barrel grip configuration is very comfortable to use; it gives me better control over cuts, especially when scrolling. The adjustments on the saw give you the capability to vary the cut from very fine to very aggressive; blade control is excellent. I'm a woodworker, so I purchased Bosch T30W 30pc Woodworking Jigsaw Set when I ordered this jig saw.



4. Sawing for a short period of time is very acceptable but with prolonged use (over an half hour) the motor heats up so hot that you can barely hold onto the saw. A cool down period of up to 20 min is adequate for another 10 or minutes use, then the heating up begins again. Never had this trouble with any other jig saw but might have to do with the fact that you are holding this saw by the motor, not some accessory handle. Like the blade changing, best I have used but the heat is not acceptable.



5. Everything about this tool is great,... except the foot. After a year of steady use the Aluminum cast foot has bent out of shape and the notch that ensures a 90 degree angle has snapped off.