This set was on sale during the 2017 holiday shopping season for $25. Reference link.
Home Depot has a bunch of tool deals today, featuring Milwaukee M18 cordless power tool and Packout combo kits, some Ridgid air tools and compressor kits, Ryobi air tool and compressor kits, pneumatic accessories, a Milwaukee M18 High Output battery pack bundle, and some Milwaukee power tool accessories.
If any of that sounds good to you, check it out here:
Tool Deals(via Home Depot Special Buy Deal of the Day Page)
The deals are good, but nothing we haven’t seen before, except maybe the M18 6Ah + 12Ah + Rapid Charger starter kit bundle for $249.
Over at Lowes, they have this Dewalt 20V Max brushless cordless power tool combo kit and brushed motor angle grinder bundle on sale today.
The combo kit is currently priced at $319 at Amazon, and with a free impact driver promo. So, with the Lowes deal, you’re saving money and getting a free cordless grinder that you might be able to use.
The bundle comes with the DCK299M2 premium hammer drill and brushless impact driver kit, and DCG412B angle grinder bare tool.
As part of our paid partnership with Home Depot, they sent along several Dewalt cordless power tools for review consideration – the new brushless random orbit sander, and a recent brushless braking grinder. Both are part of Dewalt’s growing 20V Max cordless power tool platform.
Ah, so you want to do some metal cutting or grinding? That’s where Dewalt’s braking grinder can come in.
Kickback brake engages when a pinch, stall, or bind-up is sensed
Ideal for metal cutting and grinding
Ideal for cutting bricks/pavers, concrete
The grinder is available as a kit or as a bare tool. As a bare tool, it comes with the auxiliary handle and Type 27 guard. As with many if not most cordless grinders, Type 1 guards, for use with cut-off wheels, are available separately.
I for one prefer paddle switches, which cut power when hand pressure is removed from the trigger. You push a lock out of the way and then squeeze the trigger. Take your hand off the trigger, and the tool comes to a stop. And since this is a breaking grinder, it comes to a stop in about two seconds.
With a slide-switch grinder, you have to slide the switch to the off position (or remove the battery) to turn it off. Generally, paddle switch grinders are safer to use, although some heavier users prefer slide switches, which can be less fatiguing.
I’m not a very frequent grinder, and so the arbor nut stood out to me, more so than I can comment about its runtime or power (which so far was adequate and abundant, respectively).
I’m used to spanner wrenches which engage in two holes of an arbor nut. Dewalt’s 20V Max brushless grinder instead features an arbor nut that can be tightened by hand or a hex wrench. Frankly, it works really well, and is easier to use. Should you lose that hex wrench, you can source one elsewhere, although the included wrench is much longer than usual.
I really liked how easy and relatively quick it is to change discs and accessories. The spindle lock was easy to depress while during final tightening or initial loosening. The nut turned easily by hand, and tightening it with a hex wrench proved far easier than I thought it would.
You can tighten that by hand? Sorry, I’m a little behind the times here. The manual says:
While depressing the spindle lock button, tighten the locking flange by hand or using the wrench supplied.
So… yes, you can tighten it by hand. Loosening it might still require the hex wrench, though.
When the grinder first came in, I was hesitant. As mentioned, I don’t use grinders all that frequently, and while I knew I could put it through some testing, I wasn’t sure anything about it would standout. But, it surprised me.
(Dewalt’s FlexVolt grinder has a similar arbor and nut design, and also features a brake and kickback brake.)
It’s available as a bare tool, in a kit, and in a 2x 6.0Ah battery with bonus battery kit.
Overall, my initial hands-on impression is very positive. I love the arbor and nut design so far, and in use the grinder feels balances and well-controlled. The brake works, although it’s not as fast as the one on the FlexVolt grinder. Power doesn’t seem to be a concern at all, although I need more varied use before I can say for sure.
The only negative, at least to me, is the absence of a Type 1 guard, for use with straight cut-off wheels. But, if you mainly use grinding wheels and other accessories that require an open bottom, it’s a positive because it means you’re not paying for an accessory you might not need or even ever use.
Price: $169 for the bare tool
Buy Now(via Home Depot) See Also(Kit with Bonus Battery via Home Depot)
A disc is NOT included with the grinder.
Why buy this grinder compared to a brushed motor model? More power, longer runtime, no brushes to replace, modern ergonomics.
Why buy this grinder compared to the FlexVolt brushless model? Smaller size if you only want to use 4-1/2″ accessories, works with more affordable 20V Max batteries.
I will be holding onto this review sample for a while so that I can continue to test it. If you have any questions, please let me know and I’ll answer them as best as I can.
As part of our paid partnership with Home Depot, they sent along several Dewalt cordless power tools for review consideration – the new brushless random orbit sander, and a recent brushless braking grinder. Both are part of Dewalt’s growing 20V Max cordless power tool platform.
First, there’s the new Dewalt DCW210 20V Max brushless random orbit sander.
It features a 5-inch 8-hole hook and loop sanding pad and comes with a one-handed locking dust bag. Or, you can use a Dewalt dust extractor (DWV010 or DWV012). To connect other vacuum hoses, you’ll need a Dewalt DWV9000 universal quick connector adapter.
The geometry is different from I’m used to. Normally, with a corded sander, you have the power cord coming out of top, and the dust bag is on the bottom, straight at the back.
The Dewalt cordless sander, because of where its battery pack is placed, has a completely different shape. Its grip takes a little getting used to. You can guide the sander from the front, but I found my hands getting a little close to the sanding pad.
Overall, vibration control is good, and the sanding doesn’t seem wanting for power.
I have a few woodworking projects planned for the spring, and I think this will be my go-to for the work I’ll do outside, mostly for continued testing purposes, but also because it’s compact and useful. For indoors work, I’d want to pick up the vacuum adapter, but quite frankly, if I’m using a dust extractor vac, I might as well just a corded tool.
Although… I don’t see why it can’t be used with a cordless dust vac, as long as one can make the connection between the smaller hoses found on such vacuums.
The beauty of this sander is that it’s compact, cordless, and seems to do about as good a job as any 5″ random orbit sander I’ve used before. I haven’t done runtime tests, but it fared well on the compact battery pack I used it with.
The ergonomics are tricky to talk about. I will say that I still prefer a corded sanders, but my 6″ Festool is a completely different animal. I also do think that Dewalt did a fantastic job with the design, and that they paid very careful and diligent attention to the balance and vibration control.
If you’re wondering whether this is a recommended buy, so far I’d say the answer is *yes*. It’s just about as good as any cordless sander can be.
I will be holding onto the sander for a while longer so that I can continue to test it. If you have any questions, please let me know and I’ll answer them as best as I can.
In most tests I paired it with a compact battery, but it can also be used with a higher capacity battery pack. You’ll get more runtime with a larger battery, and I don’t feel much of a difference in regard to balance or control.
As part of our paid partnership with Home Depot, they sent along several Milwaukee cordless power tools for review consideration – the new M12 Fuel brushless cut-off tool, and an M12 Rocket LED worklight.
First introduced at NPS18, the Milwaukee M12 Fuel cut-off tool (2522-20) is a compact 3″ saw that can cut metal, plastic, tile, drywall, cement board, or PVC, depending on the blade style.
It is also worth noting that it can cut ceramic or porcelain tiles wet or dry.
Following is an intro video we took at NPS18. (I promise, I’ll bring a tripod or image stabilization gear to NPS19.)
Here’s what I like about the Milwaukee M12 Fuel cut-off tool so far:
Great performance – fast-cutting
Optimized for one-handed use
Can use with out without the depth guide
Can be used with dust collection, and the accessory guard/adapter is included
Tool-free shoe attachment
Tool-free guard adjustment
Can work with (widely available) Dremel Saw-Max accessories
So far I’ve used it on metal tubing, a metal rod/shaft, 1/4″ threaded rod, and small PVC pipes.
One of the standout features is that you can use it in forward or reverse directions. That means that you can push OR pull the saw to make a cut, depending on the application and how you want to control the cut.
20,000 RPM
0.64″ cutting depth
8.9″ long x 4.7″ wide x 3.5″ height
Weighs 2.4 lbs with 4.0Ah XC battery
Although it only has a 0.64″ cutting depth, it does a great job with tubing that can be rotated through a cut, and the results are relatively (and surprisingly) straight, at least in my experience thus far.
Replacement consumables are now easily available.
Metal cut-off wheel (49-94-3000)
Carbide abrasive cutting wheel (49-94-3005)
Diamond tile cutting wheel (49-94-3010)
Price: $129 for the bare tool
The bare tool comes with the accessory guard and shoe, and one of each style of blade.
So far, I think the cut-off tool is a great addition to Milwaukee’s M12 cordless power tool line. Its small size makes it exceptionally comfortable and convenient for cutting smaller materials that can be awkward for larger tools. Plus, since it’s designed for one-hand operation, it allows you to use one hand to hold or position the material, while the other guides the tool.
I find it to be easier than using something like a die grinder, and it feels a little safer and more accurate too.
Milwaukee M12 Rocket LED Light
I am a big fan of Milwaukee’s M18 Rocket LED lights, and was gleeful to receive a test sample of the new M12 Rocket worklight.
Our electrician came over back in November, to add recessed lights in my office so that I could work more comfortably at evening and nighttime hours. They had to do some wire-routing in the attic. “Hey! I got just the thing,” and I ran to get a newly received Milwaukee M12 Rocket LED stand light.
Surprisingly, the legs met the cross-beams just perfectly. An M18 Rocket light might have been awkward in this space, given its larger footprint. The electricians carry Milwaukee Radius lights in their truck, and they might have been better even than the M12 Rocket. But it was raining and I figured I’d save them a trip outside.
I think this was the perfect example of places where the M12 Rocket light can shine. The M12 Rocket was placed near the stairs, and it lit up the work area without getting in the way. The M18 Rocket has a larger stance and would have gotten in the way or required careful positioning.
Plus, it was easier to carry up the pull-down stairs than the larger and heavier M18 light would have been.
I already had an M12 Rocket from Milwaukee that I had started testing, and so I sent the new M12 Rocket light off with the electricians for field testing. They mainly use M18 tools and accessories, and I thought it would be interesting to see what they thought of the M12 light.
Here’s a quick look at its pros and cons:
Pros
Very compact
Light and easily portable
Adjustable illumination angle
Works with M12 batteries
Cons
Height extension isn’t as good as on the M18 Rocket
Functionally, the M18 Rocket lights are more adjustable, as you have collar clamps to hold the extended lamp head in place where you want them. With the M12, you have to raise it all the way, and with enough force to engage the spring locks. If you don’t, it can slide back down (and being used to the M18 design, that bugs me a little). The M18 Rocket’s lamp head is easier and more adjustable to extend, but the M12 Rocket is smaller and more portable.
Personally, I think that the M12 Rocket is nicely balanced. It’s very compact in size, and less expensive than the M18 Rocket. There have to be compromises. The M12 Rocket light isn’t as bright as its higher-voltage siblings, but I think it’s bright enough.
Unexpectedly, but welcome, the M12 Rocket can also be powered by an AC extension cord. Milwaukee has been adding this functionality to a lot of their cordless LED lights, and I don’t hear anyone complaining. It’s a surprise because I don’t think I’ve seen this on any 12V-class cordless power tool brand LED worklights before.
I can absolutely recommend the Milwaukee M12 Rocket LED worklight.
1400 lumens on high, 700 lumens on low
45% smaller footprint than M18 Rocket tower lights
Collapses down to 31″
3 side handles
Extends to 5′ 8″
Weighs 6.65 lbs
Up to 10 hours runtime with 6.0Ah XC battery
Light head rotates 210° and pivots 270°
Impact-resistant design
The M12 Rocket LED light is bright, light, and despite that one niggle I can’t shake about its height extension, it seems perfect.
It was a hot day in Texas, this last September, when Hilti hosted their Innovation 2018 event at the Cavanaugh Flight Musuem. With cool vintage aircraft ever-present in the background, they showed us several of their current and newer products and allowed us get hands-on experience with many of them.
They filled two separate hangars and the outdoor space between them with three separate rotations: saws; measuring, layout, and inventory control; and vacuums and anchoring. I’m not going to discuss everything they covered at the event, rather I’m just going to pick out what I thought were the highlights in each rotation.
Saws
In the saw rotation, the first thing Hilti showed us was the new brushless SR 6-A22 reciprocating saw.
One of Hilti’s selling points on this saw is that the tool performs better in unsupported materials that have a tendency to vibrate. For this demo, they set up a sheet of 4×8 plywood supported only at the top and bottom. As you follow a straight line from top to bottom, the closer you get to the middle the more vibration you should encounter, making it harder to follow the line. The video above shows the Hilti Rep performing this demo.
When I tried it later that day, the first thing I noticed when I grabbed the saw was the long narrow barrel on the front of the saw. The smaller barrel allowed me to get a really good grip on the saw. When I tried the plywood demo, it was really easy to follow and cut along the line, even in the unsupported middle of the plywood where it vibrated the most.
Next, I got a chance to try the Hilti SJD 6-A22 jigsaw. I was surprised at how compact it was for a D-handled jigsaw, and this is a good thing, as the shorter height brings your grip closer to the work surface. As I was making a cut, I tried to push the saw into tighter curves and it seemed to handle it pretty well.
I didn’t get to try the dust collection, but you can see the by the clear shield on the front surrounding the blade, and the thicker base with dust collection around the blade, that it wasn’t an afterthought. The saw connects to a vacuum with a hose adapter that attaches to the rear of the base.
Next, they showed us the SPX metal cutting diamond blades Hilti introduced in 2017. These are meant to be a replacement for abrasive cutting discs. While abrasive discs cut quickly and cleanly, you can’t cut multiple materials, and they wear out. Because of this, you need to keep changing blades on the jobsite, taking up valuable time.
Hilti’s SPX diamond cutting discs can cut most materials, including metal, wood, PVC, and concrete, and is said to last as long as 100 standard abrasive discs. It comes in 4.5″, 5″ 12″, 14″, and 16″ sizes to fit angle grinders and larger saws.
Here’s a demo of the SPX 5″ metal cutting diamond blade cutting through different materials.
This next demo shows an SPX diamond blade on a gas-powered saw being used to cut steel decking. With this blade on the saw, you don’t need to worry about what’s under the metal decking, whether it be wood, steel, or concrete.
I had an opportunity to get my feet wet testing out one of the gas saws attached to their DSH-P self priming water pump. This pump is powered by the saw and can be attached to all of their gas-powered saw models. Being a pump, it doesn’t require a pressurized source; it can draw water from a reservoir, like a bucket.
Hilti Layout Tools
Hilti has several ruggedized laser levels, but one of the neatest things I saw in this section was their universal PRA 90 automatic tripod, shown in action above. When using a compatible remote laser receiver, it can track the height of the receiver and automatically adjust the height of the laser.
Laying out a jobsite has become as easy as point, click, and drag. In the above demonstration, the presenter is using tablet software in conjunction with a total station to layout center points for drilling on a site. He picks his points on the tablet and the cart guides him to each point where he can transfer the point to the surface with a the laser pointer.
Vacuums and Anchoring
This is Hilti’s toolbox-sized 22V cordless vac. It is OSHA Table 1 compliant, and so it can be used for light dust collection and for cleaning up concrete dust on the jobsite. It has a HEPA filter and manual filter cleaning mechanism. Dirt is collected in a fleece bag.
The vac has two running modes: eco and max. The eco mode drains the battery slower, and doubles the running time compared to the max power mode. It has an 8 foot collapsible hose that stores on board the vacuum with the rest of the accessories.
I think one of the most interesting things I saw at the Hilti event was the SI-AS-22 adaptive torque module that connects to their SIW 6AT-A22 impact wrench between the wrench and the battery. This module allows you to either manually set the torque, or scan the torque off a box of fasteners. It then controls the amount of torque the impact wrench can drive, and records how many anchors you drove and whether all of them reached the proper torque.
The workflow looks like this – you grab a box of anchors, scan the label with the module inserted into the impact wrench, then drive the anchors to the proper torque with the impact wrench. You can remove the module and connect to it via a USB port to get a report of the fastening activity.
Rather than getting down on your hands and knees to set cast in place anchors, Hilti’s Kwik Cast (KCM-WF-ST) tool allows you to do it standing up. Just drop the anchor into the tube and use the slide hammer to drive it in. It has a color coded shaft, so when the color that corresponds to the color of the anchor disappears, the anchor is fully set.
Final Thoughts
There were 4 completely new embargoed tools that have been unveiled since the event, including the 36V worm drive style circular saw and SDS-MAX CombiHammer that I posted about back in November. I cannot share any photos because we weren’t allowed to take any.
Prior to this trip, I hadn’t really had much experience with Hilti tools, but after a full day of exposure, I was pretty impressed with their lineup. Their tools aren’t flashy or packed with features, but are solid and well thought out.
You probably aren’t going to see these tools in a big box anytime soon, as Hilti keeps a very tight grip on their distribution. It’s a conscious choice, they feel they can best serve their customers by being involved in every step, including sales and service.
Thank you to Hilti North America for inviting me to the Innovation 2018 event, and for covering my airfare and accommodations.
Milwaukee sent over a teaser announcement, with early information about new M18 cordless power tool batteries that are coming soon.
As you might already be aware, Milwaukee has come out with new M18 High Output cordless power tool batteries, including an HD12.0Ah battery, and an XC6.0Ah battery. Now, they are expanding that lineup of next-gen high-performance batteries with a new higher capacity compact battery, CP3.0, and an even higher capacity XC battery, XC8.0.
What’s so special about these new batteries?
Both batteries:
Fit all Milwaukee M18 cordless power tools and accessories
Provides 50% more power and runs 50% cooler (compared to standard CP and XC batteries)
The CP3.0 battery provides 50% more runtime vs. the CP2.0 battery, and is also said to provide XC power in a compact size.
The CP8.0 battery provides 60% more runtime than the XC5.0 battery.
More information, pricing, and availability, will be released later this month.
First Thoughts
Neither of the new batteries should come as a big surprise. With the 15-cell HD12.0Ah battery pack being engineered with larger 4.0Ah cells, a 10-cell XC-sized battery was bound to follow. Other brands have come out with compact 3.0Ah battery packs, and it seemed reasonable for Milwaukee to do the same.
What about a compact 4.0Ah battery? Not yet knowing the retail prices of the CP3.0 and XC8.0 batteries, I would guess that maybe the price of a CP4.0 battery would make it less compelling. The CP3.0 does provide a 50% runtime improvement compared to the Cp2.0 battery. The XC batteries, including XC4.0, are available for longer runtime needs.
How much more would you pay for a compact 4.0Ah battery, compared to the price for an XC 4.0Ah battery? And that’s probably why we don’t see that particular size and capacity battery coming out just yet.
Still, this is very welcome news. Depending on the pricing, I think a lot of users will be happy to buy these new batteries, which will deliver longer runtime in relatively compact sizing.
What else do you think is coming soon?
Here’s what I have a lead on: Milwaukee is coming out with a [redacted], and it’ll allow for [redacted] while [redacted]. And, it’ll power the new cordless [redacted] that Milwaukee M18 users have been asking for.
To start things off, you should know that all Milwaukee M18 batteries are designed to work with any Milwaukee M18 tool. There are some physical compatibility issues with a couple of earlier tools, but in those cases, Milwaukee will update those products for free.
Milwaukee M18 Battery Sizes
There are 3 main M18 battery size categories: CP, XC, and HD.
CP battery packs are the compact batteries, with 5 Li-ion cells. The CP labeling is fairly new, and should help to make things clearer.
XC battery packs are the “extended capacity” battery packs, with 10 Li-ion cells. Unless changes were made, M18 XC batteries will give certain tools a slight power boost. For instance, the “XC effect” should give M18 drills a roughly 10% increase in power.
HD battery packs are High Demand batteries, built with 15 Li-ion cells. These batteries deliver the longest runtime, and run cooler, keeping up with the heaviest duty Milwaukee M18 cordless power tools.
Milwaukee M18 High Output
Milwaukee announced new M18 High Output batteries in 2018, and has expanded the selection with the addition of a new High Output compact battery, and a higher capacity XC battery.
The “standard” batteries are built with 18650 cells, whereas the new High Output batteries are built with larger 21700 cells. The 21700 Li-ion battery cells are available at higher charge capacities, delivering longer runtime. Not only that, the cells can provided more power, and Milwaukee’s High Output battery packs run cooler.
Thus, the M18 High Output batteries can literally deliver higher output than the “standard” batteries.
An overly simplified way of thinking about it is that a Milwaukee High Output battery bumps you up to the next level of runtime, but in a smaller size battery pack.
The new CP3.0 battery provides higher capacity than the existing CP2.0 battery, and is said to have “XC power” but in a more compact size. The newest XC8.0 battery provides nearly the same charge capacity as the HD9.0 battery.
The numbers following the size designation is the charge capacity. A CP3.0 battery has a 3.0Ah charge capacity; an XC5.0 battery has a 5.0Ah charge capacity; an HD12.0 battery has a 12.0Ah charge capacity.
An Ah is an amp-hour, and can tell you how much runtime a battery will provide, relative to battery packs of other sizes.
Which to Choose?
Generally, you could or should choose the size of battery that is appropriate for the tool. If you’re not sure, check out the contents of that tool’s kit options, if available. A compact drill or impact driver might be best matched up with a compact battery, while a circular saw will likely be better paired with an XC or even HD battery.
Larger battery packs, in an XC or HD battery compared to a CP battery sense, are capable of delivering more power, and run cooler, which can affect runtime and longevity. Of course, they also deliver longer runtime. The High Output batteries cloud things up a little, since they can deliver more power than standard-size batteries of the same CP, XC, or HD size families.
Do you want longer runtime? Select a battery with a higher charge capacity.
Do you want the most for your money? Crunch some numbers and select the battery pack with the lowest price-per-amp-hour ratio, or highest amp-hour-per-dollar ratio. Sometimes the best pricing can be found by buying a 2-pack.
Some users might prefer to buy one XC8.0 battery, while others might instead prefer two XC4.0 batteries. But if you’re running high powered tools, an HD12.0 battery could very well last longer than three XC4.0 batteries.
Also, keep in mind that higher capacity batteries take longer to recharge, and multiple batteries can require greater attention if you have more batteries to charge than you have chargers.
Although the High Output batteries offer higher capacities and can deliver more power than batteries from the same CP/XC/HD class, but they’re also physically larger, and also heavier.
Current Availability
CP3.0 and XC8.0 batteries are coming soon. All the others on the list are presently available.
Compact (CP)
1.5Ah
2.0Ah
3.0Ah – High Output
Extended Capacity (XC)
3.0Ah
4.0Ah
5.0Ah
6.0Ah – High Output
8.0Ah – High Output
High Demand (HD)
9.0Ah
12.0Ah – High Output
Questions?
Hopefully this clears things up. I’d be glad to help if you could use additional clarifications.
Which battery sizes do you typically use? If not with Milwaukee M18 tools, then with your brand of choice?
A small box containing Milwaukee M18 batteries and an HD starter kit (thank you Home Depot!) arrived today. After getting over having received a 2-pack of XC3.0 batteries when I thought the packing slip said CP3.0, the new battery we posted about this week, I realized that the on-package advertising made for a good follow-up to recent conversations.
On the package, it says: M18 Everything Fits. Then, there’s a chart showing that as you go from CP to XC to HD battery packs, you get increased power.
On the back, there’s a chart, showing a selection of Milwaukee M18 cordless power tools along a line that spans from light demand to heavy demand.
The XC battery is placed in the middle, presumably to indicate that it’s best suited for the middle of the range.
Generally:
The compact battery packs are suited for the lighter demand and more compact tools.
The XC battery packs are suited for all of the mid-sized tools, and can be used with the lighter demand tools. They can potentially be used with the higher demand tools.
The HD batteries are matched to the heaviest duty tools.
Some are quick to point out that you shouldn’t use the smallest batteries on the largest tools, and that’s true. There are higher demand tools, such as the chain saw (see Ben’s comment here), where the compact battery simply can’t provide enough power for proper operation. It’s uncertain how the new High Output compact battery might change things.
XC battery packs are fairly capable at powering most of Milwaukee’s M18 cordless power tools.
For the heaviest duty tools that were designed with the HD battery in mind, an XC battery won’t provide the same performance, but lighter use of such tools is possible.
Take the Milwaukee M18 Fuel portable table saw, for instance. I was able to cut plywood and 2×4 materials with power provided by an XC5.0 battery. While an HD12.0 battery would have been the best choice, an XC5.0 battery still powered the saw through light cuts. It worked.
Update: Following is a video demo from NPS18, showing performance with an HD12.0 battery and then an XC5.0 battery.
For a light demand tool, you can really use any of the battery packs. For most tools, you should see good performance from an XC battery. But, in a pinch, maybe you can use a compact battery if that’s all you have charged and ready, but it depends on the tool. For the heavy demand tools, you should use an HD9.0 or HD12.0 high demand battery. But, for lighter use of those tools, XC batteries have been shown to work.
Think of it this way. Let’s say there’s a small brad nail that needs to be driven into a 2×4. One of my kids could hammer it in. A finish nail? Maybe they can do it, but it’ll be slower than if I were to do it. A couple of nails? They’ll get tired quick. A framing nail? Better give me the hammer.
“M18 Everything Fits” holds well for most of the M18 lineup, until you get to the heavy duty corded and gas-replacement tools released in recent years.
You have to match the battery to the tool and the task. When in doubt about which battery a tool should be paired with, look to see what battery or class of batteries it’s kitted with.
Frankly, “my compact battery won’t power my heavy duty tool” isn’t a complaint I’ve heard about yet. I’ve heard “can I use an XC battery in that tool until I can get an HD battery,” and the answer is usually “it’ll work for most tools, just not as well as an HD battery.”
If a tool is kitted with an HD battery, that’s a clear indicator that an HD battery is needed for it to perform optimally.
At the time, Dewalt was promoting the capabilities of their new lineup, and Milwaukee was touting their HD9.0 High Demand battery pack. Milwaukee was also not so subtly challenging Dewalt’s claim of an advantage, saying that voltage is only part of the story.
Milwaukee has maintained that voltage isn’t everything, as we discussed in a post about their High Output power tool tech that was announced last year. And, it’s accurate. Their newest tools and battery packs can squeeze previously unimaginable power out of an 18V-class system.
When I compared Dewalt FlexVolt to Milwaukee High Demand, both brands had announced their 9.0Ah batteries, but neither were available yet.
Things have become more complicated when you try to compare the two brands’ next-gen cordless power tool tech.
Milwaukee’s M18 tools and batteries are all compatible, but with practical limitations in that you can’t do much when pairing a compact battery to their heaviest duty tools. Dewalt FlexVolt is one-way compatible, in that you can use FlexVolt batteries on 20V Max tools, but not the other way around. Milwaukee has the slight edge in how their XC batteries can fit and power their heavy duty tools, albeit not optimally.
Dewalt says that their 60V Max batteries allow for high power applications that were previously only possible with corded power tools. And that is also true.
Milwaukee has found ways to squeeze high power from 18V-class battery packs, with advancements in power distribution and thermal management.
Dewalt came out with 120V Max miter saws that can work with (2) FlexVolt battery packs or an AC adapter. Milwaukee has new saws and outdoor power tools that work effortlessly thanks to the new 12.0Ah High Output battery. Both brands have been expanding the limits as to what cordless power tools can do. Not just expanding, they’ve broken through the ceiling.
At the time of my original comparison, both brands’ announcements were limited. Now, both brands have expanded their offerings, and both Milwaukee and Dewalt have highest capacity battery packs equipped with larger form factor Li-ion cells. The larger cells mean more power and longer runtime.
In addition to large 15-cell batteries, both brands also now have high output/larger format compact 5-cell and standard 10-cell battery packs. Milwaukee announced two new batteries this week.
How do Dewalt and Milwaukee top offerings compare, say a FlexVolt brushless circular saw and a Milwaukee M18 Fuel circular saw with High Output battery? Both are powerful cuts-anything high performance saws, and I don’t think anyone will argue against the brands’ claims of the saws being true corded replacements.
What about future potential? Two and a half years ago, I thought Dewalt’s FlexVolt lineup held higher potential. At the time, their ceiling and potential for growth and expansion seemed higher.
One of the new FlexVolt tools was said to be able to deliver 1700W of power. So, with a 54V nominal tool, the battery pack would be tasked to deliver 31.5A of current. Since the battery cells are in series during 60V Max operation, that’s 31.5A per cell. For an 18V battery, the total current would have been 94.4A, and also 31.5A per cell. You cannot get that from a 15-cell 18V battery pack engineered with 18650 cells, at least not sustainably. But with larger 21700 cells and beefy cooling, it seems possible, or at least there’s a far greater possibility with Milwaukee’s 12.0Ah High Output battery pack.
In March 2017, when Dewalt’s FlexVolt 9.0Ah battery hit the market, they said that it runs cooler than Milwaukee’s HD 9.0Ah battery, saying that in their testing the battery temperature rose 50% faster during a constant 60A discharge, until thermal shutdown at 70°C. I believe that, since the Dewalt battery has larger cells (said to be 20700) compared to the 18650 cells in the Milwaukee M18 HD battery.
A comparison between the Dewalt FlexVolt 12.0Ah battery and Milwaukee M18 HD12.0Ah battery is going to be a lot closer. The same should be true for 20V Max 6.0Ah and M18 XC6.0Ah batteries, both also featuring larger and more powerful Li-ion cells.
At the moment, I think that both brands are at pretty even level. Milwaukee had upped their game, and Dewalt has expanded their FlexVolt lineup with new tools.
Looking to the future, Milwaukee might be a little limited by their insistence on platform-wide compatibility. It’s a really good thing, in my opinion, but they have lost some practical compatibility between their compact battery packs and highest performance tools. If their next cordless power tools are even more powerful or more demanding, it might even affect their ability to be functionally powered by XC batteries.
What happens if or when Milwaukee comes out with a 12″ cordless miter saw? How well will it perform when paired with a compact or XC battery if it’s designed to fully benefit from an HD or HD High Output battery? A 10″ table saw? A 14″ chop saw similar to the one Makita recently introduced?
Dewalt can release a 10″ table saw right now if they wanted to. They could make it the third tool in their 120V Max power system and allow it to be powered via AC adapter or 2x FlexVolt batteries. And since FlexVolt tools are not compatible with 20V Max batteries, there’s control and guidance regarding which batteries users can choose from.
There is still the potential for Milwaukee to expand with multi-battery tools, similar to Makita 18V X2, what Festool has done with their cordless saws, or what some other brands have also done in the past. I don’t think they’ll do this on handheld power tools, but for a larger miter saw, table saw, or something like a dust extractor? That would make Milwaukee High Demand and High Output tech more potentially competitive with Dewalt FlexVolt in the long-term.
With Dewalt, the ceiling is higher, in my opinion, before their FlexVolt cordless power tool line reaches and maxes out its full potential. That ceiling is a little lower with Milwaukee M18, even M18 High Output, although the potential for 2-battery M18 tools can raise their potential, perhaps at least to the same level as Dewalt FlexVolt. Meaning, there is no telling what we’ll see from Dewalt FlexVolt or Milwaukee M18 in the next few years. Both systems have a lot of height and growth potential.
Both Dewalt and Milwaukee are at the top of their games right now. I am really hoping that nobody asks “so, which one would you buy?,” frankly because that would be an extremely tough decision. Ask me again in 4-5 months after we hear about what Milwaukee has planned for 2019 and 2020. Their NPS19 new tool show will surely introduce some new cordless power tools or technologies. Dewalt has not yet announced a 2019 media event (at least not that I’ve heard about), but they have been consistently rolling out new tools for their 20V Max and FlexVolt lineups.
The Dewalt FlexVolt vs. Milwaukee M18 High Demand comparison has become far too apples vs. oranges for clear results. It no longer comes down to what the platforms can do, but what they can do for you. In that regard, I think Dewalt has an edge, given some of their unique FlexVolt offerings, such as the 12″ miter saws, cordless air compressor, and new portable dust extractor vac. Milwaukee introduced new M18 heavy duty tools and High Output battery last year, and for this year I’m expecting a big expansion for this year. They might even have a surprise or two up their sleeves.
Cordless power tools have become better and more capable than ever, and neither brand is going to rest on their laurels.
Bosch came out with new 36V cordless power tools about a year ago (early 2018), including a new drill/driver (DDH361) and hammer drill (HDH361).
Yes, new Bosch 36V Li-ion power tools.
The new drills have a Bosch-exclusive Kickback Control feature, where an integrated acceleration sensor limits shuts down the motor with sudden movements are detected. This should help mitigate injury risks in bind-up situations.
They also feature a 25+1 precision chuck, 360° Sure-Grip side handle, and flexible Durashield housing that can helps the drills withstand accidental drops on concrete.
4-pole brushed motor
885 in-lbs max torque
0-450/0-1800 RPM
0-27,000 BPM (hammer drill)
Weighs 4 lbs (drill), 4.25 lbs (hammer drill)
The kits come with a 36V charger and (2) 4.0Ah battery packs.
List Price: $499 for the drill kit, $529 for the hammer drill kit Street Price: $430 for the drill kit, $467 for the hammer drill kit, as of the time of this posting
Buy Now(Drill kit via Amazon) Buy Now(Hammer Drill kit via Amazon)
First Thoughts
Here is how the press release emailed started off:
There are times when the job requires a high-powered tool that offers both strength and safety. Bosch’s newest 36V drill/driver and 36V hammer drill/driver are just the tools you need.
While I wouldn’t consider myself in the market for a 36V-class cordless drill/driver or hammer drill, I do know that some users specifically prefer tools of this size. Although I know the demand is out there, I don’t know if it’s about the single-battery runtime, or prolonged endurance under heavy duty applications. Tradition?
Even with Bosch’s new higher output CORE18V battery packs and the tools designed around them, I think there’s plenty of room in the market for 36V Li-ion options.
The anti-kickback accelerometer sensors seem like a great safety touch, and a measure that I hope to see in even more tools in the future. With drills this big, it seems like a must-have.
New 36V Li-ion cordless power tools? That was a surprise to me. But, there’s demand for them, and Bosch is answering that demand with new 36V Li-ion core tool offerings.
Over at Home Depot, today’s deal of the day features a selection of air nailer and compressor bundles, cordless nailers, air compressors, and Carthartt hoodies and other light outerwear.
The highlighted deal, in my opinion, is the FlexVolt cordless air compressor, which is bundled with a bonus battery. There are other notable deals, including the new Dewalt 21° framing nailer with a bonus 4.0Ah battery.
Back in the “Your Favorite Tools of 2018?” post, I commented that the Milwaukee M18 Fuel metal-cutting circular saw was one of my favorites even though it came out in 2017.
I received a sample of this saw back in 2017 and have been using it occasionally to cut some steel bars and angle iron, but until I joined a Maker Space last fall and got into welding, I haven’t been able to give it as much attention as I should have.
Cutting metal with a circular saw is nothing new – many years ago I trimmed a steel-clad door using a standard circular saw with a carbide blade. They even make special standard-sized circular saw blades you can use for cutting metal. Still, this new breed of battery-powered saws is designed specifically for metal cutting. They’re lighter and designed to prevent metal chips from flying everywhere.
I had been using a 14″ Evolution saw for cutting metal stock, until I jammed it and broke off a bunch of teeth. Without the use of a metal cutting saw, my project was on hold util I remembered the M18 Fuel metal-cutting circular saw I had sitting in my basement.
The included 5-3/8″ 30T carbide blade is meant for cutting EMT, strut, sheet metal, angle iron, and other ferrous materials. The stated battery life is 370 cuts in 3/4″ EMT — presumably with the 5Ah battery.
The bare tool comes with a 5-3/8″ 30T blade and sells for $219, while the kit adds two 5Ah batteries, an M18/M12 charger, and contractor bag for $419.
Buy Now (bare tool via Acme Tool) Buy Now (kit via Acme Tool)
It turns out that some of the Home Depots around me have the bare tool in stock, and so I’m also including a link to Home Depot so you can check the availability near you.
While looking on the Home Depot website I also found a pretty good deal: the M18 Fuel metal cutting circular saw kit with a M18 mud mixer for $419, the same price as the metal cutting circular saw kit alone. This deal appears to be online-only.
In the past 3 months, I’ve been using the M18 Fuel metal-cutting circular saw quite a bit. Here are a few examples of what it can do.
In the video above I’m working on a locking table saw dolly, trimming the excess steel off the caster mounts. I’m cutting pretty slowly because I’m trying not to knock my phone off the table while it’s recording the video, and so the saw can cut the 3/16″ angle iron faster.
Still, it’s a good demonstration of several aspects of the saw: how easily it cuts steel, how fast the brake stops the blade when you release the trigger, and how the saw contains or deflects the metal chips.
Above you can see a closeup of the dolly feet. One thing that’s easier to do with a circular saw than a stationary chop saw is to notch out angle iron like I did for the feet. Ideally a band saw would be a better tool to use, but I didn’t have one available at the time.
I had an idea to organize a file drawer, and it involved cutting 45° notches in two matching pieces of 3/16″ angle iron. After marking out the cuts I proceeded to clamp the stock in the vise and make 3 to 4 passes with the circular saw. It took a lot of cuts to make, but the saw handled it easily. I would probably have been able to complete the project on a single charge, but I had started with a half-full battery.
For another project, I needed some small rectangles of 1/4″ steel for the base of a stool. The steel needed to be thick enough so I could tap it and screw casters into it.
Before anybody comments on the horrible weld, although I’m just a beginner, I am not that bad. I had just started run out of shielding gas on the left side and it took me the entire length of the weld to figure why it was sputtering so badly.
It took the M18 Fuel metal-cutting circular saw a little longer to cut through the 1/4″ steel plate, but it was able to handle it. I wouldn’t recommend cutting through yards of steel plate this thick, but it works well for small cuts.
Issues
I left the saw at the Maker Space for several months, and the people that I talked to that had used it were really impressed with the saw. Although, one day I walked in and tried to use the saw, but I couldn’t see the cut line and the saw was having trouble cutting even 1/8″ steel.
Above is what the view of the blade should look like through the protective window. It’s even easier to see the blade and the cut line when the LED is shining after you pull the trigger.
This next photo is what the guard looked like after I picked up the saw that day. It’s not dirty, it’s scratched beyond repair. There’s a long shaving trapped inside the guard and I suspect this was part of the reason it was scratched.
Nothing I had cut had ever created long shavings, and I suspect the material was either not ferrous or there was something wrong with the blade.
I went online, located the service parts list (PDF), and found the part number for the clear guard (44-06-0201). Then I found the nearest Milwaukee Service Center and called to see if they had the part. Unfortunately they had just sent an order, so it would be two weeks before I could get a new guard, but it would cost me less than $2.
While I was waiting, I picked up a new blade at Zoro for $40 after shipping and tax. Comparing the new and old blades, I could see the carbide teeth on the old blade were severely worn down to the point where the carbide was the same height as the back side of the tooth. This blade was toast, no wonder it wouldn’t cut. It’s possible that the teeth might be able to be reground, but it would require reshaping the steel tooth as well as sharpening the carbide.
Since I didn’t have a guard I could see though yet, I tried to use the saw without the guard in place and that was a mistake. I was continuously pelted with metal chips in the face. I had already taken the precaution of wearing not safety glasses, but safety goggles, but it was too distracting. I definitely do not recommend trying this.
Danger aside, I was able to determine that with the new blade, the saw was back to it’s former steel-eating glory and I was eagerly awaiting the new guard so I could use the saw again.
Final Thoughts
I was pleasantly surprised at how easily the M18 Fuel metal-cutting circular chews through ferrous metals like steel with the included blade, but that’s not all this saw can cut. You can also buy other blades to cut aluminum, brass, copper, plastics, plexiglass, PVC, and more, but I have yet to try that.
As I wasn’t there, and nobody approached me about the damage to the saw, I don’t know how the extreme wear to the blade and guard occurred. It very well just could have been used so much the blade dulled naturally, or it could have been abused. Such is the nature of a communal work space when you leave your tools for general use.
I haven’t tried the other cordless metal-cutting saws like the Makita or Bocsh yet, and I suspect they probably perform just as well. The purpose of this review wasn’t just to try out this saw, but to show what a saw in this category can do. They are definitely quicker than using a cutoff wheel on a grinder, and probably safer on the whole too.
Thank you to Milwaukee for providing the review sample.
Makita has recently come out with a new 18V cordless band saw, model XBP03. As far as we are aware, it’s very similar to their other compact band saw, XBP01, but with a different blade housing.
The guard on the Makita XBP03 is made from aluminum, which they say increases its durability. Compared to the previous model, the XBP03 is also a little heavier, and 1/4″ longer. In kit format, it is bundled with 5.0Ah Li-ion batteries.
32-7/8″ blade size
2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ max cutting capacity (rectangular)
2-1/2″ max cutting capacity (round)
630 ft/min no-load speed
Built-in LED light
18-3/4″ overall length
Weighs 9 lbs with battery
Tool hook
Tool-less blade changes
Adjustable material stopper plate
The Makita XBP03 is compact and ergonomically designed for one-handed operation, which makes it a better choice for overhead applications. In order to be suitable for one-handed operation, as per ANSI Standard 60745-2-20, the wheel cover fully encloses the blade outside of the cutting area.
It also has exterior blade adjustment, for more accurate blade tracking and increased cutting performance.
The new 2-1/2″ compact cordless band saw is designed for cutting conduit, Unistrut, threaded rod, channels, pipe, square tubing, and other such materials.
It’s available as a bare tool, XBP03Z, or in a kit, XBP03 . The kit comes with a carrying bag, rapid charger, and (2) 5.0Ah batteries.
Buy Now(Kit via Amazon) Buy Now(Bare Tool via Amazon) See Also(Other Style via Amazon) See Also(Other Style via Tool Nut)
First Thoughts
The XBP03 can be considered an update to Makita’s other model, XBP01, which has a plastic wheel guard. According to the sales flyers, the XBP01 weighs 7.5 lbs with battery, while the XBP03 weighs 9 lbs. If the two models are to be sold alongside each other, rather than the XBP03 replacing the XBP01, the weight difference could be a reason to choose the previous/other version of this new one. Most likely, the XBP01 will continue to be sold until inventory runs out.
How many of you use compact 2-1/2″ cordless band saws one-handed? There’s an auxiliary handle that could and probably should be used if you can, but I’ve been told that the one-handed capability comes in handy for overhead use in the field.
The Makita XBP03 doesn’t have as great a cutting capacity as Milwaukee’s M18 (2629), which can cut up to 3-1/2″. But the Makita is lighter and has a faster cutting speed (630 vs. 480 ft/min). Additionally, the Makita features housing on both sides of the wheels.
In speaking with Makita, I learned that the aluminum housing should provide greater durability in jobsite conditions, where tools are inevitably dropped. From the images above you might notice that the aluminum housing covers much of the front of the tool and also wraps around the wheels. The rear enclosure is plastic, presumably to save on weight and costs where added protection or durability is not required.
Chris wrote in, understandably upset that his preorder for the new Dewalt cordless router was delayed.
As mentioned in our preview of Dewalt’s new cordless woodworking tools, the DCW600 router is expected to be released in Spring 2019. At least one retailer had a mid-February preorder ETA, and they emailed customers when it became clear that the tools won’t be shipping out just yet.
In talking with Chris through email, he asked a good question – what’s the point of preorders anyway?
The primary benefit to tool users and buyers, at least from my point of view, is that you get “in line” to receive the new tool.
Let’s say that an online retailer has an allocation of 20 units at launch, and then up to 10 units per week after that. What happens if 40 people preorder that tool? The tool will launch, and at that point it will be out of stock. Technically at that point it shifts to backorder status. Another 15 people order the tool when it launches, after seeing it in a newsletter. A week later, 20 more are ordered.
With a growing list of preorder and backorder purchases, it might be quite some time before inventory catches up to demand and fulfillment. But if you preorder, you get a place in line.
This happens for some, but not all cordless power tools. Usually, the most highly anticipated tools are affected most.
Take Milwaukee Packout tool boxes, for example. It took months after the initial launch for inventory caught up to demand.
These things can work out differently, depending on the retailer, the brand of tool, or the type of tool.
Will there be a promo or discount when a tool launches? It’s hard to say. You might have to wait weeks or months after it’s released for a retailer to have an eligible sale or coupon. Tool Nut has a $25 off $100+ Dewalt discount promo going on right now, ending 2/15/19, and it works on the Dewalt cordless router. So, do you preorder at a discount, or wait for it to be released, find that there are no coinciding discounts, and pay full price?
There are benefits for brands and retailers, but potentially receiving the item earlier is the biggest reason for customers.
As far as I can see, the biggest downsides is the frustration in waiting for a preordered tool to be delivered. Tool manufacturing is a complex business, and there are unforeseen circumstances that could delay production or delivery of a new product.
New releases can be also be plagued by defects, issues, or design changes that prompt buyer’s remorse, but this is rare and infrequent. It’s a risk that early adopters face in many industries, and it’s a tradeoff for being among the first to buy a new product.
I have preordered and backordered tools in the past, depending on the tool or product and how long I want to potentially wait for it. A good sale or promo can sometimes be the deciding factor.
But there are risks when it comes to promos, too. Back in 2017, Amazon launched a $10 preorder promo on a new cordless drill. But when it was released two months later, there was a temporary $30 price drop to help drive launch sales. Ordinarily, preordering for a $10 gift card is a great idea, but not if there’s a $30 discount right when it launches.
Milwaukee has come out with a new M18 brushless threaded rod cutter, 2872. It features 3 die sizes – 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″, covering the most common threaded rod sizes used in construction and commercial spaces.
The Milwaukee M18 threaded rod cutter can cut mild steel (1/4″, 3/8″, or 1/2″), or stainless steel (1/4″, 3/8″).
Milwaukee says that their brushless threaded rod cutter can produce “nut ready cuts,” that don’t require filing or any other finish work.
The cutter cuts without sparks, burs, or chips. When paired with a CP2.0 battery it can make over 400 cuts of 3/8″ mild steel threaded rod per charge.
Can cut 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″ mild steel coarse threaded rod
Can cut 1/4″, 3/8″ stainless steel coarse threaded rod
Four-sided upper and lower dies
LED worklight
Integrated lanyard hole
Onboard Allen key storage
11″ length
Weighs 8.7 lbs with battery
The M18 threaded rod cutter auto-returns after each cut, and also a built-in 1-1/2″ trim length.
It has a one-handed grip, for comfortable overhead use, and can also be rested on a flat surface for pre-fab cutting.
Price: $399 for the kit (2872-21), $329 for the bare tool (2872-20) ETA: March 2019
The kit comes with a 2.0Ah battery, M18/M12 charger, and hard carrying case.
Buy Now(Kit via Acme Tools) Buy Now(Kit via Tool Nut) Buy Now(Bare Tool via Acme Tools) Buy Now(Bare Tool via Tool Nut) Compare(Dewalt Threaded Rod Cutter via Amazon)
Milwaukee has had several years to develop their M18 brushless threaded rod cutter, which could potentially make it even better.
At the least, I am sure that Milwaukee users in certain trades are going to be extremely pleased with the new offering.
Bur-free, spark-free, chip-free, and nut-ready cuts in popular threaded rod sizes? What’s not to like?! The tool shears the rod while preserving the threads, which should make for much quicker work and better results.
Here’s Milwaukee’s promo video:
What I find interesting is that it’s a Milwaukee M18 brushless tool, and not M18 Fuel or built with a brushed motor. Dewalt’s DCS350 has a brushed motor and can handle up to 350 cuts of 3/8″ threaded rod per charge (it’s kitted with a 2.0Ah battery).
In addition to being more efficient, the Milwaukee is said to have the “clearest line of sight while making overhead cuts.”
Replacement dies will be available in a set, 48-44-2872.
Makita has come out with a new 12V Max CXT cordless inflator, MP100DZ, that’s designed for common tire and recreational inflation needs.
It can top off car and light truck tires, inflate bicycle tires, sports balls, and other such things.
The inflator can deliver up to 120 PSI and has a backlit digital pressure gauge for setting the pressure. It has an auto-stop function that automatically stops inflation once the preset pressure is reached.
Additional features include a built-in LED light, 25-1/2″ hose length, on-board storage for included accessories (Presta valve adapter, sports ball needle, tapered adapter), and a clip to help the attached air hose stay close and neat during storage or transport.
Slide-style Makita 12V Max CXT battery and charger are not included.
First Thoughts
While the runtime and capacity of 12V-class inflators can be limited, they are incredibly convenient for seasonal tire pressure adjustments, sports balls, or bike tire inflation. They can also be used for things like inflatable pool toys.
A 12V-class cordless inflator can be good to have around, even if it might only see occasional use. A few years ago, on two separate occasions, a 12V cordless inflator bought me time until I could get a slow tire leak patched.
So, about Makita’s 12V Max cordless inflator – yes, please. This is one of those tools that every compact cordless power tool platform should have.
Ryobi has come out with two new cordless soldering tools, an 18V One+ soldering iron, and a Hybrid 18V One+ soldering station.
The new Ryobi cordless soldering iron, P3105, is a 40W iron with adjustable temperature range from 300°F to 900°F and can reach a temperature of 900°F.
Update: Jared made a good point in his comment, in that there are no adjustment controls. The “variable temperature” claim on Home Depot’s listing is probably a mistake.
The Ryobi soldering iron has a 3-foot reach (as opposed to cord length), and features a built-in iron holder. An LED status indicator lets you know when the tool is heating up, when it has reached its maximum temperature, and when it is cooling down.
Ryobi has also come out with an 18V One+ hybrid-powered soldering station, which can be powered by battery or AC source. For AC use, you’ll have to supply your own extension cord.
The new Ryobi hybrid cordless soldering station features an adjustable temperature range of 300°F to 900°F, LED indicator, and built-in soldering iron holder. It also has a space for the included tip-cleaning sponge.
The station also has onboard tip storage. It comes with fine and chisel point tips, but there isn’t mention about whether other tip sizes or styles will be available, or if it’s compatible with 3rd party tips.
On Home Depot’s website, Ryobi says: At this time I can only recommend our tips and the ones for the Milwaukee M12.
I find myself with mixed thoughts about these tools. What kinds of applications are they designed for? I can see them being handy for say robotics competitions, where you might have to fix something. But other than that?
With both of these new Ryobi options, you have a cord-attached soldering iron that needs to be placed on a table or other stable surface within 3 feet of what you’re soldering. Will you need a cordless soldering iron on a workbench?
The hybrid-powered station makes a little more sense to me. However, if you want to use AC power, you need to supply your own extension cord. While I like that many hybrid-powered cordless tools (mainly LED worklights) can work with standard extension cords, this is one of those times when an included AC adapter might have been a better idea.
To me, a cordless soldering iron should be self-contained. That would limit its features, versatility, and compactness a little. But then again, my impression of what is proper comes from the fact that there hasn’t been cordless soldering stations like this before.
A cordless cord-attached soldering iron will be more slender than an all-in-one, which could result in a more comfortable or controllable user experience.
Despite being a little hesitant, I can be open-minded. I’ll have to let the idea grow on me.
How would you use a Ryobi cordless or hybrid soldering station?
Here is the new cordless Ryobi 18V One+ flex-shaft rotary tool station (P460), which was mentioned or asked about by numerous readers after receiving an email newsletter from Direct Tools, a TTI outlet store.
I have not seen the Ryobi cordless rotary tool before – and yes I’m calling it cordless because despite there being a flex-shaft for mechanical power transmission, it’s battery powered.
Direct Tools is selling “factory blemished” inventory, presumably from an early production run, and it’s not yet available anywhere else.
It’s actually technically inaccurate to describe this as a rotary tool, since it is essentially a flex-shaft tool. The motor itself is in the base station, and a handpiece as attached via flex-shaft. This allows for the handpiece to be substantially slimmer and more controllable and comfortable to use than a traditional rotary tool which puts the motor in your hand.
The Ryobi rotary tool base station can be mounted to a wall (or pegboard as shown here) to save some bench space. Or, you can rest it flat on a table or workbench. There are numerous screw keyhole slots on the back, which could allow for other mounting methods.
Variable speed
Up to 34,000 RPM
36″ flex-shaft
1/8″ collet size
Includes 33 cutting, grinding, sanding, polishing accessories
“On-board accessory collet accepts most accessories”
Rubber feet on base to reduce slipping
Integrated keyholes for mounting or storage
There’s even a built-in accessory storage area on the base station, with holes that could fit burs or other shafted bits.
Price: $60 for factory blemished model
Buy Now(via Direct Tools) – out of stock as of the time of this posting
Ryobi 18V One+ battery and charger are sold separately.
First Thoughts
Will it be available at Home Depot too? When?
What’s the runtime?
Is the handpiece detachable, and if so, can you use Foredom or other brands’ handpieces?
Will replacement flex-shafts be available? Collet nuts? (It looks to use Dremel-sized collets.)
There are separate on/off and variable speed controls, which is nice. However, there are typically two types of flex-shaft tool controls – dial-controlled, and foot pedal-controlled, with both having their own advantages. This Ryobi rotary tool looks to bring a lot of flex-shaft tool features and benefits to users, except for the option to use a foot pedal, and that’s a big one.
Flex-shaft tools are typically mounted next to the work area, by a hanger of some kind. I bought a base for mine so that I could use it on a benchtop, and find that it’s more awkward than hanging it, due to how the flex-shaft moves as hand positioning shifts while working.
The Ryobi flex-shaft tool has several keyhole mounts, two in the vertical direction and two in each horizontal direction, and so a user could potentially rig a bench accessory that can allow the motor base unit to be suspended wherever they want.
I think that this is going to be a hobbyist must-have, especially if the retail price isn’t too much higher than outlet store pricing for factory-blemished units.
While I have tons of questions, and I don’t think it’ll hold up to popular flex-shaft tools in regard to features, performance, or breadth of available accessories, it looks amazing.
Does it have to be cordless? Personally, I’d like to see Ryobi develop a renewed interest in corded benchtop power tools.
Lastly, I can’t help but wonder how a product like this gets brought into being. Do Ryobi or TTI North America have a running wishlist of products they wish existed for personal use? Because that sure seems like it. I can imagine the brainstorming session – “hey guys, wouldn’t it be great if we made a cordless flex-shaft rotary tool so that I could more easily work on carving, jewelry, hobbyist, or small fabrication products in my one-outlet garage?” *Thumbs up* Ryobi, whatever process you have for deciding what cordless power tools to come up and out with next, keep it up.
A reader emailed in with a tough question, asking for our thoughts as to whether Dewalt would be coming out with a new cordless miter saw soon.
Houston wrote:
What’s the latest on a new Dewalt cordless miter saw? A 10″ 60V Max FlexVolt, or possibly just an updated brushless 20V Max XR 7-1/4″ (or 8-1/4″)?? The DHS716/790 12″ saws are great, but monstrous and expensive. Have you heard rumors of them coming out with something a bit more midrange in both size and price?
Unfortunately, I haven’t heard any rumors yet. I can only speculate, but it’d be unsubstantiated guessing. Houston was okay with that, so I gave it some thought.
With Dewalt’s 20V Max cordless 7-1/4″ miter saw, Dewalt was insistent at the time that it didn’t need to be brushless. If its power was sufficient, and runtime decent, why add a brushless motor?
Could they come out with a brushless 7-1/4″ saw? Sure. But consider the pricing of their current offering.
If the current model still sells well, why come out with a pricier brushless one? It wouldn’t be a good idea, unless they can match the pricing, but can they?
While Dewalt could potentially come out with an 8-1/4″ saw, would they? That blade size is used in cordless table saws for power and portability considerations. In a miter saw, it’s possible, but it could be a headache when it comes to blade selection and availability.
Can Dewalt come out with a FlexVolt 60V Max 10″ cordless miter saw? Yes.
Can Dewalt come out with a new FlexVolt 60V Max 10″? Yes. A non-slider 10″ saw? I’m not so sure they’d want to. Sliding? What benefits would it present compared to the current 120V Max slider? Maybe lower cost of entry if it only requires one battery.
The Dewalt 120V Max 12″ compound miter saw is discontinued, or at least the kit SKU DHS716AT2.
I would say that Dewalt might be in a position to respond to industry trends and developments, but they’re leading in the cordless 12″ category, offering something that other brands don’t have.
Also, consider that Dewalt knows how many of their miter saws retailers sell in North America, corded and cordless, 10″ or 12″, sliding or fixed. They’re going to leverage that data when determining whether to expand their cordless miter saw lineup or not.
Given their current offerings, anything Dewalt might come out with in the cordless miter saw field could potentially take away from their existing offerings, rather than generating new purchases. There will have to be something new or changed before we’ll see any new cordless miter saws from Dewalt. It’s not knowing what new developments might be going on behind the scenes that makes it difficult to predict their plans and activities.
Milwaukee, on the other hand, has a hole in their lineup, with no red counter to one of their fierce competitor’s top cordless products, but their battery technology can now help them fill that hole.
But for Dewalt, will a brushless 7-1/4″ saw generate more sales? A brushless 10″ saw? An updated 12″?
Without fresh insight or industry developments, it’s hard to predict what Dewalt is working on. Will we see new cordless miter saw sizes? I don’t think so.
Updated cordless miter saw models? Ooh, that would be a different question and a different answer.
The new Dewalt FlexVolt vacuum has wireless tool control.
Wireless Tool Control allows for wireless ON/OFF capability when paired with the included remote or a Wireless Tool Control-enabled tool.
That’s an area I think Dewalt is more likely to expand into, with new dust extractors or vacuums featuring wireless automatic activation. If or when new Dewalt Tool Control vacs hit the market, we might see Tool Control-enabled or connectable miter saws to pair them with.
But right now, until anything new comes to light, it’s just a guessing game.
