Tom sent in a tip that new Craftsman cordless power tools popped up on Sears’ website. (Thank you, Tom!)
I took a look, and yes, Sears has come out with a new Craftsman 20V Max cordless drill and impact driver combo kit. It’s model CK202A, item 00921417000, if you want to search for it.
The drill is said to deliver up to 300 in-lbs of torque, and the kit comes with a “charging station” that “notifies you when the battery is charged and ready for action.”
“No project is too hard now with this kit from Craftsman.”
The combo kit is currently “on sale” for ~$125.
There’s a September 7, 2018 customer question about whether replacement batteries are available. Sears’ response:
Yes, this will be available soon on sears.com December first week. #46530 only battery, #12882 Battery with charger.
This is important, because it suggests that this might be just one new offering from a new Sears Craftsman 20V Max cordless power tool platform.
This concerns me, for three reasons.
First, what about Craftsman C3 19.2V users? Will Sears maintain two cordless power tool platforms?
You remember Craftsman V4, right? They’re the tools that launched in the Fall of 2011 and were on clearance by December. I haven’t seen any replacement batteries after initial sales floor supplies sold out.
Third, in my opinion, this will surely confuse customers.
Here’s a side-by-side of Sears and Stanley Black & Decker Craftsman drill/driver offerings.
The batteries look different, and have DieHard branding.
But two lines of 20V Max (Sears just says 20V) cordless power tool platforms, completely incompatible with each other?
Sears will sell their Craftsman 20V Max cordless power tools, and Lowes will sell Stanley Black & Deckers. But, Amazon is also said to be an upcoming online retailer partner that will also sell Stanley Black & Decker’s Craftsman tools.
Most enthusiast users will know the difference. But there will likely be instances where the general public is confused. What happens when someone receives a tool kit for the holidays and buys a bare tool a year down the line? A battery? A charger? An expansion tool kit? And they find out that it’s not compatible with theirs? Oh boy.
Looking closer at the labeling, the Craftsman brand appears to be a badge recessed into the drill’s housing. To me, this suggests that it’s not a Sears Craftsman design, but perhaps a general design that is given Craftsman branding.
I cannot find like-designed tools online, nor can I match the battery pack design with other known designs. Meaning, I could be wrong, but I don’t think so.
So, it seems that Sears went with another OEM, presumably one that they haven’t sued yet. But which one?
Shown here is a generic-branded cordless drill, from an Alibaba listing. Can you see what the square recessed brand badge and (presumably) stickered battery has me thinking?
Are these new Sears Craftsman cordless tools – the drill and impact driver, and any other tools they have planned – designed and built especially for Sears and their Craftsman brand, or did they slap their brand on off-the-shelf offerings that they asked to be made in a red and black color scheme?
Here’s another cordless drill that’s available on Alibaba.
With a minimum order, you can work with the factory to get customized colors, branding, and packaging.
Here’s another one.
And here’s the new Sears Craftsman 20V Max drill with DieHard battery pack.
I’m really not looking forward to the types of emails I might receive down the road. “I bought a Craftsman 20V tool/battery/charger, and it won’t fit my other Craftsman 20V tool/battery/charger, what’s going on?”
Why, Sears, why? How could this possibly be a good idea?!
The other day I was installing some low voltage under-cabinet strip lighting in the kitchen and I had another opportunity to use the Milwaukee M12 soldering iron.
A portable soldering iron isn’t a tool I use every day or even every week. When I have serious soldering to do I, usually fire up my Metcal station at my workbench. If I have to take my soldering on the road so to speak, I’ve previously used an old Radio Shack butane soldering iron. While it is smaller and lighter, the biggest problem I have is that it’s hard to light.
Since I received the M12 cordless soldering iron sample from Milwaukee, when I need to solder away from my bench, I’ve been trying to use it, instead of my butane iron.
Before we get into the review, you might want to go back and read the preview to see all the features, but here are most of the relevant specs:
90W output
Max Temp 750°F
18 second heat up time
3-stop pivoting head
LED status indicator
LED worklight
45 min runtime under no load with a 1.5Ah battery
11.6″ long
0.9 lbs with 1.5Ah battery, 1.4 lbs with 4Ah battery
You can purchase the M12 soldering iron as either a bare tool (2488-21) for $69, or in a kit (2488-21) for $129 with a charger, 1.5Ah battery, and case. Both versions include the chisel and conical tips.
Buy Now (Bare Tool via Acme Tools) Buy Now (Kit via Acme Tools)
Heat Output
When I saw the Milwaukee cordless soldering iron at NPS17, my first question to the presenter was, “can it solder a penny?” This was a trick that an old engineer I studied under showed me. If the soldering iron you were trying to sell him couldn’t do this, he wasn’t interested.
Why is this relevant? Because you don’t melt the solder with the tip of the iron, you heat the material until it is hot enough that it melts the solder. Sometimes you need to solder to a large wire or ground plane. Surfaces like that can soak up the heat faster than the iron can keep up.
Of course nobody at the NPS show had a penny I could try to solder, and so this was one of the first things I tried when I received a test sample of the M12 soldering iron.
It took about 30 seconds to get the penny hot enough to melt the solder. I posted the video to Instagram last November 2017.
With a bench soldering iron, you have a dedicated stand that you return the iron to when you aren’t using it. Portable soldering irons have to be set down in uncontrolled environments. Some portable irons have a built in stand, but that’s just one more thing to get in the way.
The M12 soldering iron doesn’t need any sort of stand, as it is pretty stable in all of its configurations. As long as you put it down on a level surface, the hot tip won’t contact the surface.
Something I found useful in some cases was to use a 6-cell XC battery. Not only did it extend the run time considerably, but the 6-cell M12 batteries provide a really stable base. The only disadvantage is that it adds half a pound to the weight of an already heavy soldering iron.
Use Cases
That brings me back to installing the under-cabinet lighting. I wanted the installation to be invisible when you are standing at the counters. I couldn’t run a continuous LED strip because the lighting was going under three different cabinets. So I needed to cut three different strips, and connect them with wire fished through holes in the bottom of the cabinets.
There was really no way I could pre-assemble the strips. I suppose I could have used connectors, but that would have required drilling larger holes through the cabinets.
Connecting the strips together required me to get on my back on the counter top and solder above my head.
Above you can see a closeup of the strips and solder joints. They aren’t my prettiest work, but they are sound solder joints.
In this case, even though the M12 soldering iron is bulky, it worked pretty well. When I wasn’t using the iron, I was able to put it down safely and pick it up again without looking because I wasn’t afraid it was going to tip over and burn something.
Besides soldering wires, I’ve tried soldering components on printed circuit boards. Above is an example at one such attempt. I blew out the fuse on an M12 power source. You can see it in the lower right (marked TN). You can also see my attempt to solder the new fuse back in place with the M12 soldering iron – not my greatest work again.
To be fair, Milwaukee designed their M12 cordless soldering iron for automotive installers, field techs, and other such users. It’s more meant for soldering wires than small components like surface-mounted fuses.
With the bulky iron, I found it really awkward to position the tip of soldering iron on the component pads where it needed to be.
And no, I didn’t touch those other resistors and capacitors, that’s how I found them. It almost looks like this board was hand soldered.
Final Thoughts
Would I recommend the M12 soldering iron? The answer is it depends. I find it easier to use than a butane soldering iron. You don’t have to worry about burning something when you put it down, and it gets the job done just as well.
A smaller butane iron is cheaper, smaller, and more maneuverable, but if you are in the field quite a bit, you are already in the M12 system, and you don’t mind the large size, this soldering iron might be a good fit.
This soldering iron is definitely not a replacement for a desktop soldering iron. Instead, it’s what you can take where a traditional soldering station cannot go.
Bonus Content
Here’s a thermal image of the tip after the iron has been powered on for about 5 minutes. The tip temperature isn’t accurate, but you can see which areas heat up relative to others. The tool itself remains pretty cool.
I tested the tip temperature with a thermocouple and measured it to be 735°F.
There could be a few reasons I didn’t get up to 750°F. First, I wiped the tip dry of solder because I was afraid of ruining the thermocouple, but the liquid solder might be necessary for proper heat transfer. Second, the thermocouple might be a few degrees off. Finally, Milwaukee might have been a little generous specifying a 750°F max temp. I’m not going to be too critical though, because I measured within 2% of their stated max temperature.
I was really excited when somebody told me that the Hakko T18 tips might be compatible with the M12 soldering iron, as this would open it up to a huge variety of tip sizes and styles that you could use for different applications.
But, I discovered that they were just different enough that they didn’t completely come in contact with the flair on the shaft. It turns out they are still usable, but I wouldn’t recommend them, because you might damage the heating element.
Thank you to Milwaukee for providing the review sample.
Milwaukee now offers two different M12 3.0Ah battery packs – a compact battery, and an XC battery. What’s the difference?
Somebody asked this on the Garage Journal forum, and it’s a great question. The answer can be extended to questions about other battery platforms, but things can get messy since there are more variables changing. For instance, the new Dewalt 20V Max compact 3.0Ah battery pack has larger cells than the bigger high capacity 3.0Ah battery, and so things aren’t entirely relatable.
The forum question asked about whether runtime is the same, with only the battery size changing.
While answering this requires making some assumptions in order to ignore several unknowns, hopefully my explanation makes sense. But also, please keep in mind that it’s been untested.
Background: M12 3.0Ah Compact Battery Pack
The compact 3.0Ah M12 battery pack, model no. 48-11-2430, has three lithium-ion cells.
For light Milwaukee M12 tool usage, say driving small fasteners, powering an LED flashlight at low brightness, or powering a heated jacket at low heat, runtime should be similar.
For such uses, the compact battery pack has a small size and pricing advantage.
Heavy Duty Applications
This is where things change.
Given what I have seen in other examples, the Milwaukee M12 XC battery will have the advantage here.
Milwaukee’s XC batteries also given certain tools, mainly drills, a slight bump up in power. This has been true for M18 tools, but I don’t recall if I’ve heard of similar for M12 tools. Luckily, we know someone who recently tested things out – Doresoom Reviews.
It’s unclear as to which other tools XC batteries might provide a power or performance boost for, but there are other benefits as well.
XC battery packs have twice the number of lithium-ion cells compared to compact battery packs – 6 cells compared to 3. For light duty tasks, there’s no practical difference.
Consider heavier duty work, where the power output of a battery pack increases. The compact battery pack might inch close to its output ceiling, and its internal temperature will increase, sometimes by quite a bit. A tool might then turn off, either due to over-current or over-temperature conditions.
Again, I’d like to remind you that this is all in theory.
The power output of an XC battery pack, will also increase in power output, but there’s greater overhead before it reaches on-paper limits. The battery pack’s operating temperature might still increase, but the XC pack should run cooler than a compact battery pack that’s being taxed under the same operating conditions.
Consider a situation where two barrels have to be filled with water. To fill the first barrel, one person is transferring water with a 3 gallon container. In the other boat, two people each have 1.5 gallon containers.
Let’s say the barrels are filled with 1 gallon per minute. The barrels will likely fill at the same rate. 2 gallons per minute? The person working alone might be filling their barrel a little slower. 3 gallons per minute? The team has more of an advantage.
If you’re saying “but 3 gallons of water doesn’t weigh all that much,” let’s say 3 gallons of cement. Or sand. Who will be faster or less fatigued, one person with a 3 gallon container, or two people with 1.5 gallon containers?
I’m not certain about 1.5Ah cells, but the last I checked, 2.0Ah and 3.0Ah cells had much higher maximum current discharge rates than 3.0Ah cells. This would make the 3.0Ah compact battery pack a little more prone to running hotter at high current operation.
This, in demanding applications, an XC battery pack should last longer, with less risk of over-current or overheating protections kicking in, at least compared to compact battery packs.
Size, Weight, and Ergonomic Differences
Compact batteries are smaller and lighter than XC batteries. This can be a convenience.
XC batteries have larger flat bottoms, allowing tools to stand up on a table, floor, or other stable horizontal surface. This makes it easier or at least quicker to set down and retrieve certain tools.
Pricing
The compact battery pack costs less than the XC battery, individually. Home Depot has a special on (2) packs of batteries, but the same is true for the XC battery.
If taking holiday season promo pricing into account, you can get (2) 3.0Ah XC batteries for less money than you can get (2) 3.0Ah compact batteries.
A 4.0Ah XC battery pack can be found for $69 at some retailers, $79 at others. If you’re just buying one battery, that gets you longer runtime than the 3.0Ah compact battery, for a proportionally less increase in cost.
Determining pricing advantages is tricky here. Things are somewhat close enough that pricing is probably the least important factor when comparing compact and XC batteries.
Summary
What it comes down to is what you plan to use the battery for. Will you be using it with a cordless saw? Heavy applications? Do you want to be able to set a tool down quickly, and have it at the ready for quick pickup? Or do you want your tool to be as small and light as possible?
If you want to guarantee maximum power potential, or the longest runtime in demanding use, the XC battery is likely the better bet. Stepping up to the 4.0Ah XC battery provides added advantage.
If you want to be able to set a tool down with greater stability, the XC is the better choice.
If you want a smaller and lighter tool, the compact should serve you well.
If you want the most bang for the buck, make a table and determine which battery will give you the most amp-hours of charge capacity per dollar.
Milwaukee is including the M12 Compact Charger and Portable Power Source, with select items in its line of heated gear this season, allowing users to charge their batteries the same way the charge their phones, tablets and other electronic devices, instead of having to use the usual M12 battery charger.
On the surface, this probably isn’t a big announcement, especially for tradesmen and women who likely have an ample supply of fresh batteries or easy access to a charger on their job sites.
But for the many users — like myself — who use the heated gear as their everyday winter attire, this is a pretty cool feature. I’m fortunate to have several chargers, so I keep one in the house, one in the garage, one in the basement, and so on – there’s always a charger where I might need one.
Still, if I’m heading out on an assignment — like, say, a high school football game — I’ve got to make sure all of my batteries are charged and to remember to pack them all in my bag. Dragging along a charger is impractical, and most times I can’t even find some place to plug in my computer, let alone a typical M12 charger.
The same goes for when I’m driving. Yes, Milwaukee offers a car adapter for their heated gear, but while available online, they’re hard to find in stores, and those are the kind of things you don’t think about until you need them. There’s also an M12 DC charger, but that little number is pricey, not to mention even more difficult to find on store shelves.
Now, with the new M12 power source, you can just plug it into a wall outlet – or USB post – just like you would with your phone, tablet, or other USB-powered gizmo or gadget. Obviously, it’ll take longer to fully charge a battery pack — around three hours for a 2.0 battery, according to Milwaukee — compared to the usual 30-minute charger, but if you’re sitting at the office all day, you’ll be at full strength for the commute home.
The new M12 charger and power source will be included with all Milwaukee Toughshell, Quietshell, and the new-to-the-line Axis heated jackets, while heated hoodies and heated vests will continue to ship with the standard M12 battery holder. That’s for the bare tool options, the kits also come with a battery pack and AC adapter.
Of course, you can also pick up the “travel charger,” as I like to call it, on its own if you’re just looking to upgrade your existing collection of M12 heated gear. When you buy it separately, the 48-59-1201 comes with the USB cable and AC adapter.
To clarify, when bundled with a 2018 heated jacket, the new M12 charger and power source doesn’t come with the USB cable or AC adapter when you buy the “bare tool” version. The AC adapter and USB cable are only included in the kits, or if you buy the device separately. But the beauty of it is that you can use standard MicroUSB charging cables or adapters without issue.
Since this item has already been available for awhile, I’m sure some of you are already using it, and so I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
The new MicroUSB M12 charger and power source comes with its own AC adapter and USB cord, but can work with others.
Milwaukee emphasizes that it is compatible with any USB output, including in-vehicle USB ports.
It can also be used to power or charge other USB devices, with a 2.1A max output. There’s also an on-board battery fuel gauge.
First Thoughts
I’m really excited about this – perhaps too excited, to be honest. But small things like charging a battery via USB can make a big difference, especially when freezing your rear end off during yet another Polar Vortex.
As I write this piece, I keep flashing back to the day before Christmas last year when I had to make the trek from Milwaukee to Green Bay to cover a Packers game at Lambeau Field. Earlier that week, I saw the DC adapter at a local Farm & Fleet, but passed on it, thinking I had more than enough batteries. But about 20 minutes into the two-hour trip, the heater on my truck finally died, and because I was already late, I had to keep going, figuring my coat would suffice.
It did (though my legs and toes were another story), but I had burned through the two batteries I brought for the trip before I even arrived in Green Bay, and since every hotel in Wisconsin is booked solid when the Packers play, I had no choice but to make the drive back that night… after dropping $250 on a long-sleeve shirt, hoodie, and socks (especially painful since I’m *not* a Packers fan in any way, shape or form.)
That drive was probably the coldest I have ever been in my life. I looked up my game story from that night, and the temperature at kickoff was 10 degrees, with a wind chill that dipped well below zero and only got worse in the overnight hours.
Now, had I paid better attention, I would have discovered this product on shelves when it came out last fall, but I didn’t. Same goes for NPS; maybe because it was my group’s last rotation of a long day; maybe I was still having fantasies of using the table saw to build my new kitchen cabinets, or maybe I was just mesmerized by the sweet, sweet trucker hat (I’m a sucker for hats, with my collection at over 300 hats and growing, so bear with me), but I completely missed it when the product manager mentioned this addition to the 2018 line.
Needless to say, this is one Milwaukee M12 upgrade I’m definitely making before winter hits. Since it can also be used with an M12 battery as a USB power bank, chances are I’ll be able to use it throughout the year too.
We recently posted about the new Skil PWRCore cordless power tools. Skil has not gotten back to us with any of the information or images we asked for, but luckily Amazon put up some new listings, and so we now have a look at the new oscillating multi-tool and several kit options it’s bundled in.
It bears resemblances to some other designs currently on the market, such as Kobalt’s 24V Max model, which is no surprise since Chervon – Skil’s new parent company – has been Kobalt’s cordless power tool OEM for a while now.
The Skil PWRCore multi-tool joins the nascent 12V Max brushless cordless power tool lineup, and there’s no word as to whether there will be a PWRCore 20 version.
It looks to feature a tool-free blade change mechanism that works with slotted oscillating multi-tool blades. From the looks of things, it *might* be compatible with Dewalt and Rockwell multi-tool accessories, but there’s no way to tell just yet.
The Skil PWRCore 12 oscillating tool also features a very large LED worklight, variable speed dial, and on/off sliding switch.
It will be available in several kit options.
Skil PWRCore Drill & Multi-Tool Combo Kit
First, there’s a 2-pc cordless combo kit, bundled with a brushless drill/driver, charger, and 2.-Ah battery pack.
I would expect to see this kit aggressively priced during the upcoming holiday season. Seeing as how it only includes (1) lithium-ion battery pack, and how Skil seems to be positioning the PWRCore tools to appeal to homeowners and beginner DIYers looking for entry-level tools, I would predict promo pricing of $99, or possibly less.
I don’t know what the price will be, but I would all but guarantee that it’ll be less than $127.38 when inventory starts shipping. I could be wrong, but I don’t think that Skil could successfully charge this much for entry-level cordless power tools, brushless or not, especially with the kit only including (1) battery pack.
Skil PWRCore 12 Drill, Multi-Tool, LED Flashlight Kit
Next, there’s a Skil PWRCore brushless drill/driver, multi-tool combo kit, with charger and (1) 2.0Ah PWRCore 12 battery pack.
If you ask me, $150, or $149.99 as it’s currently listed, seems to be higher than what the eventual street pricing will be. $150 can get you presumably more capable Ryobi 18V cordless power tools. Or even Porter Cable 20V Max cordless power tools.
SKil PWRCore Multi-Tool, Drill, Bluetooth Speaker Kit
With this kit, you get the Skil cordless oscillating multi-tool, brushless drill, and a Bluetooth speaker, plus the charger and (2) 2.0Ah Li-ion battery packs.
This bundle includes a second PWRCore battery pack, which as mentioned in my new Skil PWRCore power tools preview post, *should* have built-in USB charging ports. (*Unless there are versions of the battery that lack this feature, but Skil hasn’t gotten back to me about such details yet.)
The charger included in these tool kit bundles looks different than the one we posted about last week.
That other charger has a USB charging port and PWRJump quick-charge option, where you can get the battery to 25% charge in just 5 minutes.
The one included in this combo kit looks different. I can’t tell if those are LEDs or USB charging ports. It doesn’t look to have any PWRJump controls, either.
Thus, it’s uncertain if you get the same USB power bank PWRCore 12 battery packs with these bundle kits, or the PWRJump charger, or if you get a version that lack these features.
I recently wrote about how I believe there will definitely be confusion between Stanley Black & Decker’s new Craftsman cordless power tools, which will be available at Lowes, and the new Craftsman power tools that Sears is coming out with.
The new Stanley Black & Decker (SBD) Craftsman power tool lineup, as far as I consider them, are the new Craftsman tools, while Sears’ are licensed products, seeing as how SBD now owns the brand.
The average consumer probably won’t realize this.
In addition to the potential confusion just by the fact that there are now V20 and 20V tools with red and black color schemes and Craftsman branding, a reader reported about Sears associates and customer service agents being ill-informed, leading to inaccurate advice that the tools were compatible with Craftsman V20 and Dewalt product platforms.
Although I was nearly certain that the two new lines of Craftsman-branded 20V Max cordless power tools were not at all compatible, I reached out to Craftsman – on the SBD side of things – for confirmation.
Following is what I heard back from Jeff Doehne, General Manager for the Craftsman brand:
Stanley Black & Decker is not supplying Sears with their CRAFTSMAN 20V tools and 20V Diehard batteries. The 20V CRAFTSMAN products that have been released by Sears is not compatible with the new CRAFTSMAN V20 tool lineup that debuted at the brand’s launch event in mid-August.
The V20 lineup can be viewed on CRAFTSMAN.com, and will be available at Lowe’s Home Improvement, Ace Hardware, and on Amazon.com. Furthermore, the new V20 batteries produced by the CRAFTSMAN brand will not be compatible with the 20V products released by Sears.
We would also like to note that the CRAFTSMAN SKUs for our new products begin with “CMT” for easy identification. Additionally, the new products released by CRAFTSMAN are titled, “V20”, whereas the products released by Sears are “20V”. NEW CRAFTSMAN products can be viewed on CRAFTSMAN.com, and will be available at Lowe’s Home Improvement, Ace Hardware, and on Amazon.com later this year.
A big question for me is: are the SBD V20 batteries plug compatible with the Sears 20V batteries? I.E. Can I buy a SBC V20 and use it on a Sears Craftsman 20V tool and vice versa???? Nobody seems to be asking this….
This is the type of question I have been anticipating, and others like it will only increase in frequency as both Craftsman and Sears promote and advertise their power tools throughout the end of the year.
Craftsman’s response pushed my 99.9% certainty to 100%, and so I can now say with absolute confidence that the two cordless power tool platforms are not at all compatible.
So, there you have it.
NO, Craftsman V20 and 20V Max cordless power tools, batteries, and chargers, are not cross-platform compatible. To ensure compatibility, stick with the V20 lineup and look for a CMT model number prefix on everything.
Dewalt recently announced a new cordless electrical cable stapler, model DCN701, which they say is 2X as fast as manual hammer stapling (using a DCB203 2.0Ah battery stapling 12-2 Romex in 2×4 wood).
The new Dewalt cordless cable stapler is designed for fastening NM-B (Romex) type wires and cables, and can also be used for low voltage applications. There’s a proprietary guide that helps users drive staples safely and accurately over cables. Translation: there’s a staple guide that helps prevent users from stapling through cables.
It is compact, weighs 4.7 lbs without battery, and features a center-mounted LED light for eliminating shadows or working in low-lit areas. The belt clip can be positioned on either left or right sides.
Dewalt says that their new Electrician’s Stapler can replace manual cable fastening methods, and its compact size allows for use in tight spaces and even overhead.
They provided me with this chart that shows the stapler’s compatibility. The new special 1″ insulated staples, model number DRS1800, are UL-listed and can be used with single and even double-stacked cables ranging from 14-2 to 10-3 (single stack only for this size). It can also be used for CAT5, coax, and other low voltage cables.
Price: $199 for the bare tool (DCN701B), $249 for the kit (DCN701D1)
The kit includes a 2.0Ah battery pack and charger.
As of the time of this posting, pricing on the staples is said to be $8 for a 540-count box.
ETA: Early 2019
The new Dewalt DCN701 Electrician’s stapler is said to be made in the USA with global materials.
First Thoughts
Not knowing much about cable stapling options, but having witnessed a couple of wiring jobs, this looks like a convenient new tool to add to an electrician’s tool kit.
It seems great that there’s a single 1″ fastener size that can work with a range of Romex wire and even low voltage cables.
But that new special staple gives me something else to think about. At the moment, Dewalt is still finalizing retail partnerships, but I’m told that the new staples will be widely available at independent distributors and other retailers. My concern is this – what happens if you need a new box of staples ASAP, and your local supplier doesn’t carry the staples?
From the response I received from Dewalt, it seems that they’re all but promising me that an electrician can find more staples quickly and easily. Their assurance, and the fact that there’s a one-size-fits-all staple, has me cautious, but pretty much convinced.
Of course, the staples will likely be widely available online. But being a proprietary form factor, I’m thinking of scenarios where an electrician might leave their last box of staples at a job, in the wrong tool bag or van, or if they simply miscalculate how many they might need for a job and need a fast resupply.
Here’s what those Dewalt DRS1800 staples look like. It seems to me that the stapler has one power level, and the plastic cable shield prevents over-pressure situation that could restrict, crush, or damage, non-metallic cabling.
Is there anything like this on the market? Most electricians seem to prefer hammering staples into place, and the electrical staplers I’ve seen, like the GB Cable Boss ($26 via Amazon and unfavorably reviewed) are widely frowned upon.
There were several reasons why I was interested in the new Skil PWRCore cordless power tools, at least in the context of reporting about them. First, this is the first big change to come to the brand after Bosch sold it to Chervon, a Chinese-based power tool and accessories company.
But also, the new charger was said to feature a fast-charge option which allowed for a 25% charge in 5 minutes. The battery packs were also advertised as having build-in USB charging ports, for connecting your depleted personal electronics to.
Still, I thought it was a pretty cool thing for Skil to do.
There are other interesting aspects as well. From the language, Chervon also engineered the battery packs with similar phase-change cooling materials as can be found in their EGO branded outdoor power tool battery packs.
In my post about the new Skil cordless multi-tool kits, I remarked about how the charger looked different, and seemed to lack the PWRJump quick-charge functionality. A reader thought otherwise, saying that it appeared to have 2 USB ports.
Skil has not yet responded to our repeated requests for more images and product details, but they have uploaded some product manuals that provided some new details.
So, from the product manuals, it appears that there are 2 types of chargers, and different types of battery packs. Some select kits will come with the PWRJump charger and a PWRAssist battery pack, but others – most notably the combo kits – will come with a more basic charger and battery pack.
The “basic” charger lacks the 25% quick-charge feature of the PWRJump charger, and it also doesn’t have any USB charging ports. It’s a little slower too, taking about 1 hour to recharge a 2.0Ah battery pack. The PWRJump charger takes about 45 minutes.
There are no new details regarding Skil PWRCore 20 cordless power tools.
What I’m hoping is that the new PWRCore 12 cordless power tools are the start of a larger rollout. There’s definitely demand for entry- and even mid-priced compact cordless power tools in the 12V Max voltage category. I loved a lot of what Chervon designed for the Sears Craftsman Nextec lineup, and was disappointed when it was all but abandoned a few years ago.
At the time, I was told repeatedly that “more is coming,” but the last new Sears Craftsman Nextec tools debuted in 2012.
Over at Home Depot, today’s deal of the day features some Dewalt outdoor power tool bundles.
Bundles feature Dewalt’s FlexVolt chain saw, paired with your choice between a hedge trimmer and a blower, and there are also 20V Max bundles, featuring a chain saw and hedge trimmer, or string trimmer with hedge trimmer.
Dewalt’s new Tstak Bluetooth radio and charger is out now (model no. DWST17510). We’ve got a test sample that I’ll be playing around with soon, but with it being designed to be a scaled-down ToughSystem radio charger (which sounds great and can handle rough and tough environments), I expect it to impress.
Tool Nut prominently featured the Dewalt Tstak radio in their latest newsletter, saying that you can save $20 off the list price right now, and that they’ve got the lowest price around, guaranteed.
I looked into it, and they’re right!
Tool Nut has the Dewalt Tstak jobsite radio and charger on sale now, for $199. That’s a little lower than the $199.99 street price I can find it for elsewhere at the moment, and $20 lower than the $219 list price. Ha! (Sorry Tool Nut, I love you guys, but you had me going there for a second. But I guess that extra 99 cents savings is still 99 cents one could spend on something else.)
The Tstak music player can charge or be powered by Dewalt 12V Max, 20V Max, and FlexVolt battery packs.
If you don’t care about size, the larger ToughSystem music is enjoying some nice discounts these days. At the moment, it’s $188 on Amazon, and eligible for $10 off $50 savings.
Oh and in case you didn’t know, it’ll also be available in red…
But, keep in mind that the Dewalt 20V Max and Craftsman V20 cordless power tool battery systems won’t be compatible. There might be some difference between their features, but as far as I can tell, they’re identical aside from branding and the battery pack connector.
Dewalt model number is DWST17510, Craftsman model number is CMST17510. (I’m actually impressed and pleased that they did this with the model numbers.)
Over at Home Depot, there are 14 Milwaukee tool deals of the day today (10/8/2018).
The deals feature several M18 cordless power tool combo kits, an M18 Fuel drill, impact driver, and Packout tool box combo bundle, cordless miter saw bundles, an accessory set, an M12 LED flashlight kit, a combination wrench set, and Hardline folding pocket knives.
All of the deals look decent, if those tools have been on your wishlist or shopping list at one time or another, but the 5-tool cordless power tool combo kit looks to be especially good.
Surprisingly, the M18 Fuel mid-torque impact wrench is also on sale, as a $199 special buy. A Google cache of the page from 2 days ago shows that the price was $219. Other retailers have it priced at $250 and up.
Every cordless power tool, at all levels from budget-priced to super-premium, has design compromises.
If you want more speed, you sometimes have to give up torque. More torque? You might need to put up with heavier weight.
Let’s take a l0ok at some of the major factors that guide or are guided by a cordless power tool’s design.
Which of these aspects are most important to you, for your most-used tools?
Torque
If there’s one on-paper spec that most people look at more than anything, it’s torque. Heavy duty tasks and larger power tool accessories require more powerful motors and gearing.
Cordless drills benefit from having two or sometimes three gear settings. In other tools, the speed and torque are fixed. Many tools have a variable speed trigger switch, but you can only gain torque if the gearing is changed. Simply slowing down a motor won’t increase its torque or power.
Application Speed or Performance
A perfect tool would be fast and powerful. But for most tools, torque has to be traded for faster speeds.
Application performance is usually dependent on both speed and torque, but it can sometimes be considered separately.
Let’s say you have two identical cordless circular saws. One has a 6-1/2″ blade, the other has a 7-1/4″ blade. Which cuts faster?
Ignoring torque considerations for a moment, if both saws have the same speed rating, the saw with the larger blade should cut faster. Why? The larger blade has a larger circumference, which means that for the same RPMs, more “cutting edge” is passing through the work material in the same amount of time.
To gain a sense of application performance, you have to look a lot closer at the details. That’s where blade size, stroke length, oscillation angle, and other such factors come into play.
Size & Weight
Think about a bench vise, or an anvil, or even just a workbench. If you want greater strength and stability, you need more mass.
If you want more power in a cordless tool, you need a bigger motor. If you have more power, you need a longer handle (or handles). More power, in an electrical sense, often means greater cooling by means of a bigger fan and careful vent placement.
If you want a powerful tool that can speed through work, you’re probably going to have to make do with a larger and heavier tool. And if not, then faster application performance, such as stepping to a larger blade size – that will surely do it.
Cost
What are you willing to pay for?
With some tools you can “have it all” – power, performance, and small size and weight – although only brushless impact drivers come to mind. For other tools, more power or performance is only delivered alongside a bigger price tag.
Smaller Stuff
There are some other smaller factors, such as unique features. But are things like LED afterglow customizations ever a primary deciding factor?
What Matters to Me Most
Drill: Size, and torque. I prefer a smaller cordless drill, and as long as it has the torque to do what I need it to, I can live with slower speeds, if it doesn’t affect performance too much. I’m willing to spend more, which can often bump application performance up a little, and without increasing the tool size.
Impact Driver and Wrenches: Size and torque. Again, I prefer a more compact impact driver and impact wrench. I don’t need record-breaking power, but if I can get greater torque in a small package, I’ll take it.
Circular Saw: Size and application performance. 6-1/2″ saws can often handle my tool-to-work cross-cutting needs with ease, but 7-1/4″ saws often have more power and faster application speeds. If shopping for one today, cost would also be a consideration, likely leading more more towards a 6-1/2″ saw than the current breed of can-do-anything premium brushless 7-1/4″ saws.
Reciprocating Saw: Generally, I want the fastest application speed for the money, at least most of the time. Other times, I want the smallest and lightest tool, and without a deep hit to my wallet. That might mean something like an M12 Hackzall and 18V-class full-sized saw.
We already talked about some of the new Skil PWCore 12 cordless power tools, and we knew that there was a PWRCore 20V lineup also on the way. Here’s what we know so far.
First up, there’s a Skil PWRCore 20V 3-tool cordless power tool combo, featuring a drill/driver, impact driver, and USB adapter accessory. I suppose that’s a clear indication that the included battery pack doesn’t have a built-in PWRCore USB charging port.
The tools also don’t seem to be brushless. Neither the tools themselves, nor the product descriptions, make any mention about a brushless motor. So, until I see indication otherwise, I’m going conclude that they have regular brushed motors.
Torque and speed details aren’t mentioned. The impact driver has pre-light (what’s that?) and after-glow LED illumination.
The combo kit, model CB739101, comes with (1) 2.0Ah battery pack and a charger.
It looks like the same Skil PWRCore cordless drill/driver is available in a separate combo kit, model DL527502. They’re describing it as a “Go-To DIY drill” that can tighten screws or “drill into surfaces and more.”
Amazon’s description lists the torque as 177 in-lbs. For comparison purposes, the Bosch PS31-2A 12V Max cordless drill/driver delivers 265 in-lbs. The PWRCore 20V drill has 2 speed settings – 0-420 and 0-1450 RPM.
(Something seems fishy about Amazon’s specs rating. Either this is a very under-powered drill/driver, or their specifications table is inaccurate.)
The kit’s said to be bundled with a 2.0Ah battery and 1-hour charger.
Next, there’s a Skil PWRCore 20V cordless hammer drill, HD527803. Like the other tools, it doesn’t seem to be brushless. I mention this again because I had assumed that the PWRCore 20V lineup would feature brushless tools like the PWRCore 12V lineup, and also similar to the 24V Max tools that Skil’s OEM, Chervon, makes for Lowes and Kobalt.
The PWRCore hammer drill has a quick-selection switch, which I prefer more than clutch dial settings, and is rated to 350 in-lbs max torque. It has the same speed settings as the drill/driver 0-420/0-1450 RPM, but is said to be capable of delivering up to 350 in-lbs torque.
The hammer drill comes with a 5Ah battery pack, which takes 130 minutes to charge.
Finally, it what I believe is the least expensive 18V-class kit of its kind, there’s a new PWRCore 20V reciprocating saw kit, RS582902.
The saw has a 1″ stroke length and 3,000 SPM cutting speed. It also features a tool-less blade change system and an adjustable shoe.
Skil says that “it expertly cuts through almost any material from fiberglass and PVC to metal and masonry.” (I know that there are masonry reciprocating saw blades out there, but I don’t think I’ve ever used one. Have you?)
It’s bundled with a 2Ah battery pack and 1-hour charger.
Lastly, there’s 5Ah battery pack, BY519603. I haven’t seen a 2Ah battery pack yet, at least not sold separately, but I assume they will be.
Skil says this about their new platform:
The PWRCore 20 system features a wide range of products backed by industry-leading technology. The PWRCore 20 Lithium Battery has a patented temperature management system that results in longer run time and longer battery life. Each cell is surrounded by revolutionary phase change materials to keep the battery cool and powering through any project.
I wish that Chervon would release some details about their new Skil PWRCore cordless power tools already. The new platforms interested me, at first, and from an editorial standpoint. But the more I see, the more “meh” I feel about things.
They tout that “the Future of DIY has arrived,” and that you can “forget the bulky, heavy tools of a generation ago.”
But isn’t that pretty much true of ALL Li-ion cordless power tools?
It looks to me like Skil will focus a little more on their PWRCore 12V cordless power tools – and PWRCore 12V-powered accessories such as levels, and that the PWRCore 20V lineup is a little more value-oriented even. Otherwise why not engineer all of the tools with brushless motors?
The PWRCore 12V lineup still holds quite a bit of my interest and attention, and I’m really eager to see what Skil might be coming out with next. But these PWRCore 20V power tools? I can see some potential benefits, but it’s a hard sell right now, at least compared to competitors’ 18V-class options. Ryobi has a very mature 18V One+ cordless power tool lineup, and Craftsman has their new V20 cordless power tool lineup aimed at similar types of users.
The pricing seems very competitive, though, even aggressive, and so Skil might have an edge there, appealing to beginner DIYers and homeowners looking for their first cordless power tools.
It’ll be interesting to see where they go from here, although I’d be far more interested if some of Skil’s PWRCore 12V tech trickled up onto this 20V Max product family. From the product descriptions so far, which is the only information we have to go on right now, that does not seem to be the case.
Cordless screwdrivers are still very popular with installers who want more control and repeatability when driving or adjusting small to medium-sized fasteners.
If you want the drill kit, it’s currently $136.88, and also eligible for $20 off $100+ discount, bringing the final price to ~$117 for the kit. But, that’s not as good a deal as the one in August.
I noticed two new listings for Metabo 18V cordless jigsaws. I’m not at all familiar with them, and so I am considering them new products. Maybe they are, maybe they aren’t, it’s always hard to tell with Metabo.
First up is the barrel-grip jigsaw, STA 18 LTX 100. It looks more compact than an older Metabo model, and more air vents.
Metabo says that the cordless barrel grip jigsaw is extremely handy due to small handle size and soft-grip surface.
It features a variable stroke rate, pendulum stroke (orbital mode), and low-lying blade guidance with spring support. There’s a tool-free blade change mechanism with automatic blade ejection feature, and the footplate bevel angle can also be adjusted tool-free.
A blower function helps to keep the cut line clean and clear.
The jigsaws – both of them – appear to have built-in dust collector ports, but it’s unclear as to whether the vacuum accessory ports are included with the bare tools.
There’s also a top handle model, STAB 18 LTX 100.
It features the same specs and features, but with a top handle and variable speed trigger switch. It looks like there’s also a lock-on button.
Metabo’s going to have amp-up their efforts if they’re to stand a chance competing with other pro-grade cordless power tool brands in the USA.
I’ve liked the couple of Metabo cordless power tools that I’ve tested. But if I were in the market for a new cordless jigsaw, there’s not enough for these two new models to make it to my shortlist. If I had already bought into Metabo’s 18V cordless power tool lineup exclusively, then I’d be a lot more interested. But at the moment, Metabo is not doing enough to answer the question why buy either of these instead of competing models?
Promo Video
Here’s a quick promo video with music that I’d characterize as an “action movie montage.”
Dewalt has come out with a new FlexVolt dust extractor vacuum, model DCV585. Thank you to everyone who wrote in with tips.
The new Dewalt FlexVolt 60V Max dust extractor vac is aimed at helping contractors meet OSHA Table 1 compliance for crystalline silica dust containment.
The Dewalt DCV585 features Tstak tool box stacking compatibility, HEPA filtration efficiency, and can be used for wet or dry pickup.
125 CFM
2.0 gallon tank size
8ft hose included
Weighs 17.6 lbs
Features on/off Wireless Tool Control with included remote
Can be controlled by a Wireless Tool Control-enabled tool
Automatic filter clearing
HEPA filters included
The new Dewalt FlexVolt cordless dust extractor features Wireless Tool Control, which gives users the option to activate the vacuum from a few feet away, and a remote is included with the tool. There will also be Wireless Tool Control tools, which also activate the vacuum remotely.
Price: $349 for the bare tool (DCV585B), $549 for the kit (DCV585T2) which comes with (2) FlexVolt batteries and a charger. ETA: Nov 2018
With the remote, which will probably be best located at the end of the hose or on the tool (fixed around a handle?), users can turn the vac on or off without having to reach for the built-in controls. While it’s still a manual control, my recent experiences with Festool have taught me that it’s an extremely convenient feature, even a must-have. It’s a nice touch and one that instantly elevates my sight-unseen impression of the new Dewalt FlexVolt vac.
But also, there will be tools that can automatically activate the vac. That’s a big plus, too.
I really like this way of going about things. You can buy new tools that feature the wireless trigger, but if not, the included wireless remote gives you far more flexible and convenient placement for a second manual switch.
Tstak form factor and connectability? YES! Hopefully a ToughSystem adapter is in the works.
The vac looks good on paper, and its features sound “just right.” This looks to be the Dewalt FlexVolt brushless wet/dry dust extractor vacuum that everyone has been waiting for.
The new Skil cordless screwdriver has a built-in 4V Max Li-ion battery, and recharges via micro USB cable. It comes with a USB cable, but no charger, which Skil probably assumes most people already have at home these days.
Its 1/4″ hex bit holder is depicted accommodating standard 1″ bits, and dual LED lights ensure that you’re never working in the dark. The fingertip direction dial allows for forward and reverse rotation, and a spindle lock at the center allows for manual use.
There’s no mention of torque rating, but it has the same 230 RPM motor speed as the Hammerhead screwdriver.
Lastly, there’s the built-in non-contact voltage detector, which gives visual and audible signals when a live AC current is detected.
Skil says the driver: gives you the power to tighten cabinet hinges, replace outlet covers, install shelves, assemble sturdy furniture, and more.
When Chervon came out with the Hammerhead cordless Circuit Sensor screwdriver, my local Lowes stores didn’t seem to move many. The concept seemed sound, and the tool itself was decent. But the Hammerhead brand was new and unfamiliar. I’m thinking that they’ll have much better luck with this new Skil version.
My biggest question is whether the price will remain steady at $25, or whether it will dip down to $20 when the holiday season is in full swing.
One potential plus is that the Hammerhead screwdriver has been out for a while, and so I would expect for the Skil driver to be well seasoned and perfected.
I’ve been mowing my yard with the new Dewalt 2x20V brushless mower since the middle of July and I figured it’s about time I actually reviewed it. My test sample was delayed until the middle of summer, giving me the opportunity to purchase and spend some time with the EGO LM2101 push mower, reviewed here while I waited.
One aspect of this mower that people get confused about is the actual operating voltage — what does 2x20V mean? It means that the two batteries are in series, and so the mower actually runs at 40V Max (36V nominal). This is the same voltage as their 40V mower.
I’ll start out like I usually do, with a rundown of some relevant specs:
No run time specified
19″ cut width
20″ metal deck
1.5″ – 3.4″ cutting height
Brushless motor
Requires two 20V Max batteries
Mulching, bagging, and rear discharge
2 position handle
Folds for compact storage
Single-lever 5-position deck height adjustment
3 year Warranty
Right now the mower is only sold in one form, as a kit with batteries and a charger. Specifically, it comes with two 5Ah 20V Max (DCB205) batteries, a single bay charger (DCB112), collection bag, mulching plug, and safety key for $399.
Interestingly, as I was searching for links, I found a Home Depot page for a Dewalt 2x20V mower with a “bonus” of two 5Ah batteries for $677. What? That’s $277 dollars for two “bonus” batteries? That’s well over what you’d pay if you bought the original mower and just went and purchased 2 additional 5Ah batteries.
I’m wondering if they created this listing to counteract so many of the bad reviews due to poor battery life. It still doesn’t address the batteries heating up so much that you can’t charge them right away, or the 5+ hour recharge time for a pair of 5Ah batteries.
The handle has two mowing positions and one storing position. I was a bit skeptical of the long fixed-length handle at first, as it does take up more vertical space when stored, but I found the solid handle really improves the responsiveness of the mower.
There are two knobs on the side of the mower that you pull and twist one-quarter turn to move the handle.
The metal handle with the metal plate and the positively locking knobs really make the handle feel like a part of the mower deck. The whole assembly is very rigid. The deck responds instantly when you press down on the handle to lift the mower — there is no slop at all. This makes mowing a much more pleasant experience, especially when you are tired.
Speaking of storing position, the mower folds up and rests on the back and takes up very little space. I can fit both the Dewalt and Ego mower in a smaller foot print than my old gas mower.
The mower weighs 26.30 kg, or about 58 pounds with the two 5.0 Ah batteries installed.
The dual battery meters are very visible when you are pushing the lawn mower.
To adjust the height of the mower, there’s a single lever with 5 notches.
Something that surprised me about the mower was the inclusion of a safety key. The mower will not run without the key in place. For the life of me I can’t figure out how this makes the mower any safer. My Ego mower doesn’t have a safety key. I just see this as something that would be frustrating to lose.
If you need to work on the mower safely, you take the batteries out, just like any other battery powered tool.
At the Craftsmen launch I asked one of the mower people why they included the safety key on the Craftsman and Dewalt mowers. He said it was required by law. I asked specifically which law, and I’m still waiting for that response.
It also doesn’t appear to be a theft deterrent, as I found a simple jumper between the terminals will allow the mower to operate normally. Stuart will probably make me put a disclaimer here like: DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME!
Issues Out of the Box
I was already aware of the handle pinching the cable thanks to Travis over at toolsbydesign on Instagram. And the first time I tried lifting the handle into place, it pinched the wire.
The pinching cable seems like such a small matter, but I know from experience that over time a small issue with the mower’s cables can turn into long term frustrations with the mower. My old Toro had a cable that kept moving around on my and catching on things. No matter how I moved it or strapped it down, eventually it worked it’s way back to where it was in the way. After 8 years with the mower, it drove me crazy.
What’s worse about this pinching cable is that if it’s not fixed, it’s going to fail, and it’s not going to take 8 years. You’ll be lucky if it lasts a season. Plus, Murphy says that it’s going to fail when you are already in a hurry, or are in a bad mood.
My third and final fix was to 3D print a new bracket that holds the cable far enough inside the handle to where it doesn’t want to catch. You can also see the 3D printed ball on the cable, that was my first try. I thought the ball would be thick enough that it would jump out of the way if it got pinched.
I did discover later when I tried bagging that this solution can interfere with the bag. @toolaholic on Instagram came up with a much simpler solution. He simply twisted the wire so that the loop faced away from the joint where it was pinched and held the wire in place with a few wraps of electrical tape. Sorry I don’t have any photos of that fix because it was from a temporary story of his.
Another issue that was pointed out to me by Travis was that the height adjustment lever gets in the way of the handle release knobs if you have the deck height set to 2 or 3. The easiest fix for this is to change the height.
Run Time With Included Batteries
Dewalt does not specify a run time, so here is what they do say:
It is perfect for properties up to 1/4 acre. For optimal performance, the battery-powered lawn mower can be paired with high capacity 20V MAX DEWALT batteries or FLEXVOLT batteries for extended runtime.
I felt is was important to use their own words, because this mower has been widely panned for it’s abysmal run time with the included 5Ah batteries. That’s not the only issue.
Once you have exhausted the 5Ah batteries, they get quite warm. Now 120°F might not be too hot to run in the mower, but they are too hot to charge right away.
When I put the two batteries into a charger, you can see the hot/cold light is on. The charger won’t charge these batteries until they cool down.
That brings us to another issue. I’m charging the batteries on the Portable Power Station because Dewalt only ships a single bay 2A charger (DCB112) with the mower.
This means that it will take at 2.5 hours to charge a single battery. If you bought this kit and weren’t already in the Dewalt 20V Max ecosystem, that means that you’d have to wait at least 5 hours to run this mower after you ran out of juice — and that’s if you remembered to switch batteries on the charger at the 2.5 hour mark.
So how long was I able to mow with the included 5Ah batteries? I don’t have very thick grass and that I mow it every week so I’m not making the mower work very hard. With that in mind I was able to get somewhere around 20- 25 minutes of mowing before the mower would quit.
This amount of time only allowed me to mow about 3500 sq. ft., or about half of my front yard. To finish the yard, I ended up using other Dewalt batteries that I have. Changing the batteries halfway through became frustrating, especially after being spoiled by the the long run time of the EGO LM2101 cordless mower that I reviewed here.
Run Time With 9Ah FlexVolt Batteries
We knew in advance of receiving the mower that people were complaining about the short run time, so we asked Dewalt for two 9.0Ah Flexvolt batteries to test with the mower, but I didn’t receive them until the end of August.
When the 9.0Ah Flexvolt batteries arrived, I charged them up and was able to mow my entire front yard, which is about 6600 sq. ft. Every time I mowed thereafter I was consistently finishing after 40 to 45 minutes with one bar left on both batteries.
There isn’t much left after that one bar though. One day I started mowing my back yard after I finished my front yard, but I only was able to mow a few rows before the 9.0Ah batteries were depleted.
The other bonus was that the Flexvolt batteries did not overheat. Their temperatures never measured over 82°F and I was always able to put the batteries on the charger right away.
Blade vs. Deck Size
Top: Blade length. Bottom: Deck width
On the Dewalt 2x20V mower the blade is 19″ and the deck is 20″.
There seems to be an industry standard in battery powered lawn mowers to use the size of the deck and not the cut width as the size of the mower. Whereas on gas mowers, the cut width is the size of the mower, or at least that was what I thought. To confirm this I went to several stores with my tape measure and measured the blades of every gas mower I could find.
Without exception, the gas mowers used the blade length to describe the size of the mower.
I found that Menards even goes as far as to specify the cut width on the placard in front of their gas mowers. Of course I double checked and measured the blade myself and found it to be 21″. I forgot to check the battery mowers though.
Noise
For an electric mower, the Dewalt 2x20V seems a bit on the loud side. While it has no gas engine, I measured 84 dBA at the handle approximately 1 meter away. This is too loud for me to hear my headphones and almost on the threshold of needing hearing protection if you were able to run it all day.
Bagging, Mulching, Rear Discharge
The mower has a mulching plug behind the rear door. It needs to be in place for mulching. Otherwise for bagging and rear discharge, it needs to be removed.
Here’s what the mower looks like with the mulching plug removed.
For rear discharge the mulching plug is removed and the rear door swings down back into place. The grass is actually deflected downward by the rear door onto the rubber rock catcher.
In the above video you can see how the grass and leaves are shooting out onto the rubber rock catcher, but quickly accumulate and start to block the rear discharge.
In the photo above, I had a few more leaves in the mix and it completely plugged the rear discharge.
I usually never bag my grass unless I’m collecting leaves in the spring and fall, but I put the bag on and collected grass for a few rows.
The mower does a pretty good job of throwing the grass to the rear of the bag. This way, it fills from back to front and doesn’t start to block the clippings before the bag is full.
I mulch most of the time and the mower also did a pretty good job of this. I would mow some decently thick grass and there weren’t windrows of grass left over.
As for cut quality, my lawn isn’t very good for determining this. Unless I mow on the lowest setting and scalp my grass, I haven’t used a mower either electric or gas that really does a good job. I think I would need one of those professional models they use to stripe baseball fields before you’d notice any difference.
The Dewalt 2x20V pretty much cut the same as my EGO, and my Toro, and my Lawn Boy before that.
Summary
I really like the feel of the mower. The handle is solidly attached to the deck with almost zero slop. This makes the mower respond instantly. This is a huge plus over my EGO LM2101 where there is a ton of slop in the handle.
Despite the smaller 19″ cut width, it really doesn’t take me much longer to cut my yard, so I don’t think that the smaller blades size should scare anybody away.
While I was at Craftsman, I asked about the battery life issues (it’s no secret that Craftsman borrowed from the Dewalt OPE team). I specifically asked why, with having only 28.6% less watt hours available than the Ego 5.0Ah battery, it can only run about half the time. I was given two answers: 56V gives you a bit more efficiency than 40V, and the Dewalt mower is actually geared lower to handle thicker grass.
I think a third reason is the heat buildup. The Flexvolt and EGO batteries are designed for this kind of sustained load and the 5Ah 20V max batteries aren’t.
Despite a few annoying quirks, this is a good mower packaged with inadequate batteries and charger. It’s further puzzling that they marketed the mower as being “perfect for properties up to 1/4 acre,” then only be able to mow about 1/12 of an acre every 5 hours.
I see two solutions to the run time issue. Offer a bare tool at a discount for people that already have a few 9Ah or 12Ah FlexVolt batteries. Or offer the mower with 9Ah Flexvolt batteries and let’s not forget a dual charger like the DCB102 so you don’t have to swap batteries during charging.
Thank you to Dewalt for providing the review sample.
In August, Stanley Black & Decker invited Stuart and I to their new Craftsman Tools product launch. At the show they introduced a ton of new hand and power tools, but today I’m just going to cover the the new V60 platform tools.
The V60 is a 60V Max platform that is designed for Craftsman’s cordless outdoor power equipment (OPE). Craftsman is also introducing a line of 20V outdoor power equipment, but the V60 is targeted primarily at enthusiasts and users with lager properties that would benefit from more power and longer run times.
The platform will be launching with:
String trimmer
Blower
Chainsaw
Hedge trimmer
Self-propelled and push mowers
Sorry, there’s no cordless snow blower – yet?
Craftsman V60 Batteries
The V60 battery packs will come in three sizes 2.5Ah, 5Ah, and 7.5Ah, each of which contains 15, 30, and 45 Li-ion battery cells respectively. A max voltage of 4V per cell times 15 cells gives you 60V. It could and has been argued that it should really be called 54V, but that’s not going to be addressed any further in this post.
Currently, they are using 2.5Ah, 18650-sized cells in the packs. This means a 2.5Ah pack will have 1 bank of 15 cells, a 5.0Ah pack will have 2 banks, and a 7.5Ah pack will have 3 banks. They did mention the possibility of using larger cells, and the battery compartments of the mowers have room for larger packs.
I did not see the V60 chargers or chargers of get a feel for the amount of time it’ll take to charge the different sized batteries.
Craftsman V60 Tools
Shown here is the new V60 blower. I played with it for a short time and noticed it had a bit of a kickback when you pulled the trigger, similar to my EGO LB530 blower when you hit the turbo button.
The above photo is actually rotated sideways. The blower is hanging on a VersaTrack rail with its built in hanger — many of the new Craftsman cordless power tools, including chargers and drills, have hooks that are VersaTrack-compatible.
VersaTrack is Craftsman’s slatwall-like panel system, for organizing tools and accessories on a variety of hooks and attachments. With built-in VersaTrack adapters, you can store compatible tools on a rail or panel section without the need for any extra hooks.
I was able to test the V60 16″ chainsaw on a 6″ or 7″ log of indeterminate species they had sitting in a sawbuck. I made a few cuts and found it easily cut through the log without bogging, but you wouldn’t expect log this size to be a problem for a 60V chainsaw.
On the top of the chainsaw there is a bubble vial. At first I was a little confused — why do you need to cut your firewood with the ends square? Then I remembered that chainsaws can be used in construction, such as for cutting off the ends of timbers, or trimming fence posts and stiles.
I did not get very good photos of either the V60 hedge trimmer or the string trimmer, but you can see them both hanging up on the wall. They did not talk about them, nor did I have time to ask, but you can also see what looks to be a pole saw and an edging attachment. I’m not sure if they belong to the V60 string trimmer or the gas trimmer hanging farther over, out of the photo.
The string trimmer has a high/low switch and variable speed throttle. It also features a dual string bump feed system. They also mentioned that you’d be able to rewind the string without taking the spool apart.
Finally, we come to the two steel-decked cordless mowers. They’ll offer both a self-propelled and a push version. The 3-in-1 mowers — named as such for their bagging, mulching, and side discharge options — have 21″ decks. The actual blade diameter is 20.5″.
You’ll notice they look very similar to the Dewalt 2x20V and 40V mowers. They have a similar height adjustment mechanism, but with 6 heights instead of Dewalt’s 5.
Bosch 12V Max Cordless Screwdriver and Impact Driver Kit
Over at Amazon, they have this Bosch 12V Max cordless screwdriver and impact driver combo kit (CLPK27-120), for $98.
The choice of tools is interesting. I suppose that the impact can be used for driving in heavier duty fasteners and for drilling with hex shank impact-rated bits, and the screwdriver would be more of an assembly and finish work tool.
Shown here are some of the new Stanley Black & Decker Craftsman cordless power tools.
