Ryobi is coming out with two new cordless battery-powered inverter generators, a 1500W model (RYi1802B5, shown above), and a 300W model (RYi300BG, more on that another time). Both are powered by their 40V Max Li-ion batteries.

Features include 1500W max output, (3) AC outlets, and an LCD display that shows remaining charge capacity among other things. It also features Bluetooth-connectivity.

There are handles-galore, for easy portability.

Unfortunately, Home Depot pulled the product page (temporarily) after I started the post with some notes and before I could finish it, and so there are quite a few unanswered questions. How much does it weigh? What can you do via Bluetooth – maybe a charge capacity monitor? What does the power output look like – is it a modified sine wave? Is it weather resistant?

If I recall correctly, the pricing was around $700.

Buy Now(via Home Depot) – link is temporarily down

Thank you Mark for the heads-up!

First Thoughts

The Dewalt Portable Power Station, reviewed here is a convenient kit, capable of powering full 15A corded tools.

Ego recently came out with a small AC inverter for their 56V batteries.

The Anker PowerHouse is a small rechargeable power source for light load devices.

The Bosch mobile battery bank was never released in the USA.

When paired with two 40V 2.6Ah batteries, the Ryobi battery-powered inverter generator will have 208 watt-hours of output capacity. When paired with 5.0Ah batteries, it’ll have 400 watt-hours of output capacity. The Dewalt, with (4) of their largest 12.0Ah batteries, would have 960 watt-hours of capacity, and 400 watt-hours when paired with 5.0Ah batteries. The Bosch mobile battery bank power unit is rated to 1650 watt-hours.

Can it be used to power corded power tools? Yes. Three at a time? That depends on the tool. An oscillating multi-tool, sander, and work light? Possibly. A table saw, grinder, and vacuum? No. Let’s say you have a 13A electric snow blower. This should be able to power it. It looks like the LCD display could provide users with a power output gauge, to help them avoid guessing, or at least it should; I can’t imagine Ryobi not including something like that.

Can it charge both batteries when plugged into an AC source with an extension cord? That’s a feature I would expect it to have. If not, that would greatly decrease its appeal in my eyes.

I spy USB charging ports, and what looks to be either a handy slot to stash your phone or an LED worklight (what else could it be?).

I think that Ryobi’s RYi1802B5 battery-powered generator could be an excellent recreational power source, and it might be useful to DIYers and maybe even for pro users. It should also come in handy in a blackout. But, how well-suited will it be for powering corded power tools?

Ryobi 40V Max cordless power tool line mainly includes lawn and garden tools – tools that are likely used by homeowners more than anyone else.

Ryobi’s new cordless battery-powered generator isn’t a game-changing innovation, and while it’s not powerful enough to serve as a jobsite battery generator solution, it’s not a wimpy 150W inverter either.

I find it appealing for what it is, and am eager for Ryobi to release more info as its launch date nears.

Related Posts:

New EGO Nexus Escape, a Cordless Battery AC Inverter New Ryobi 3.0Ah, 6.0Ah, 9.0Ah 18V One+ High Energy Battery Packs Anker PowerHouse, a Huge Battery Pack and Generator Alternative

Over at Home Depot, they have some very good power tool deals, today only. Deals are valid thru 3am ET 2/26/19, unless supplies sell out sooner.

First up, there’s a special bundle on Milwaukee M18 batteries. For $230, you get an M18 XC 6.0Ah battery, a rapid charger, and an M18 HD 12.0Ah battery. Both batteries are High Output. The 12Ah battery sells for $249 by itself, and other retailers have the special bundle for $249 – compare via Acme Tools.

After that, there are some good Milwaukee accessory deals, a very good combo price on a Dewalt table saw combo. Seeing as how the Dewalt table saw is $350+ by itself on Amazon, $349 for the saw and roller stand is a great deal.

The Dewalt brushless combo kit is also a good deal, featuring a compact brushless hammer drill, brushless circular saw, brushed motor impact driver, and brushed motor cut-off tool, (3) battery packs (two 4.0Ah, one 5.0Ah), a charger, and a ToughSystem rolling tool box.

Buy Now(Home Depot Deals of the Day)

Next, there’s another Dewalt deal, Ryobi and Bosch sanders, and a Makita 5pc 18V cordless power tool combo kit for $249.

The Makita cordless combo kit, XT506S, was $299 in early November, and held at that price through Black Friday. $299 was a good price, $249 is even better. I don’t think there’s a better pro-grade cordless power tool combo kit for the money.

There’s also a deal on a Husky garage storage combo, and Brush Master wood chippers.

Buy Now(Home Depot Deals of the Day)

In the last section, there’s another wood chipper, a selection of Dewalt and Wolverine footwear, and a Dewalt 20V Max brushless hammer drill kit and bonus reciprocating saw combo. The Milwaukee M18 Fuel and Packout combo bundle has already sold out.

Buy Now(Home Depot Deals of the Day)

Related Posts:

Reader Question: Advice on Buying a New Milwaukee M18 Cordless Power Tool Battery? 2019 Dewalt Cordless Power Tool Predictions Dewalt FlexVolt vs. Milwaukee M18 High Demand Cordless Power Tool Systems, Revisited

Ridgid has come out with a new 18V Octane cordless brushless 7″ dual battery angle grinder. Thank you to Dan for the heads-up!

Ridgid says that their new 18V Octane grinder, R88040B, is the industry’s most powerful dual 18V battery grinder.

As far as I am aware, Makita’s 18V X2 (36V) grinder and Metabo’s 18V-36V 9″ grinder might be the only other models that could be considered “dual 18V battery grinders.” However, while both of these brushless grinders are powered by the respective brands’ 18V batteries, they operate at 36V, while the Ridgid operates at 18V.

The new Ridgid Octane grinder can be powered by 1 or 2 of their 18V Octane batteries, or 2 non-Octane batteries. What this means is that although it was designed for the higher power delivery of the Ridgid 18V Octane Li-ion batteries, you can also use their non-Octane batteries in pairs.

• 7″ wheel size
• 5/8-11 arbor
• 6900 RPM max
• Brushless motor
• Electronic brake for faster spin-down
• 3-position handle
• 2-finger lock-on trigger
• Weighs 8 lbs

The bare tool comes with (1) grinding wheel, a spanner wrench, and the auxiliary handle. A battery (or batteries) and charger are sold separately.

Price: $229

Buy Now(via Home Depot)

First Thoughts

Press materials say:

Run the grinder off one or two OCTANE batteries for optimal performance, or one or two non-OCTANE batteries.

So, if you’re down to just one non-Octane battery, it might work, although not for long if the power draw heats up the battery too quickly.

I hadn’t considered this to be possible, but it makes a lot of sense. The grinder is designed for the latest high-output Octane batteries, for optimal performance and runtime. Add a second battery and you extend that runtime further. If you’re not ready to invest in Octane batteries, you can still use two non-Octane batteries. It’s brilliant, and very user-friendly.

This cordless power tool battery configuration can possibly be extended to other tools. Maybe a larger Ridgid cordless miter saw? Table saw? Dust extractor? What about other brands, such as Milwaukee? Can future tools designed to take advantage of their HD 12Ah batteries come with an adapter that allows the use of two XC 5Ah batteries?

The grinder itself is an interesting addition to Ridgid’s 18V cordless, but to me the battery power configuration is far more interesting for the potential it holds.

This isn’t the first Ridgid 18V cordless power tool to feature a dual-battery setup – their 18V cordless air compressor can similarly be powered by one or two batteries. However, while their cordless compressor can work with one or two batteries for greater runtime, there’s no Octane vs. non-Octane consideration. That this tool can work optimally with one or two Octane batteries, or two non-Octane batteries is a game-changer, or at least it could be.

What kinds of high-powered cordless tools would you like to see Ridgid springboard to from here?

Related Posts:

New Ridgid 18V Hyper Octane Batteries with Bluetooth New Ridgid 18V Brushless Cordless Power Tools, Coming Soon New Dewalt 20V Max Brushless Angle Grinder

I was asked the other day – which power tool brand makes the BEST cordless air compressor?

Well, the answer to that is easy – it’s Dewalt, Ridgid, or Ryobi. Why is it that easy? Because these are the only 3 power tool brands that have come out with cordless air compressors so far. It’s a new cordless tool category that was previously unthinkable.

I’ve used the Dewalt and Ridgid compressors, and they’re both fantastic. I have yet to try the Ryobi. We sent a Ridgid unit over the local high school wood shop, and the last we spoke, they were really loving it.

Editor’s Choice: Dewalt FlexVolt Cordless 2.5 Gallon Air Compressor

The Dewalt FlexVolt air compressor, announced in 2017, and reviewed here by Ben here, is the most capable cordless air compressor among its classmates. It has a 2.5 gallon tank, 135PSI max pressure, compact size, and a convenient “One-Turn” regulator.

I have used this compressor a bit myself, and love it. We had basement windows installed, and I gave it to the contractors, who couldn’t get over how much more convenient it was than having to drag their portable compressor down the stairs.

Sure, you still have an air hose, but there’s no power cord to wrangle.

I’ve used it with pin nailers, a stapler, brad nailers, finish nailers, and air accessories, and it handled them well.

Why Buy This One?

Compared to the other cordless nailers on the market, the Dewalt FlexVolt (DCC2560) has a larger capacity air tank, which means fewer air pump cycling during use. Its regulator is also a pleasure to use, with the knob showing the pressure settings instead of having to turn a knob while watching the output pressure gauge.

Editor’s Choice

The Dewalt FlexVolt air compressor would be my all-around choice. It’s not as compact as the Ridgid, but it’s still much more compact than most corded air compressors. It’s the most capable cordless air compressor on the market, and it’s reasonably priced. Unfortunately, there still isn’t a “bare tool” option, and so you have to buy it as part of a kit.

Price: $299 for the kit; street pricing is as low as $269.

Buy Now (via Acme Tools)
Buy Now (via Amazon)

Ridgid 18V 1 Gallon Cordless Air Compressor

Ridgid was first to come out with a cordless air compressor, with their 1-gallon model, R0230.

It can be powered by either one or two battery packs, with two delivering longer runtime. The Dewalt is said to be able to drive over 1220 nails per charge, while the Ridgid is said to be able to drive up to 1200 nails when powered by two 5.0Ah batteries.

It has a one gallon air tank, but that also makes the Ridgid air compressor smaller and more compact. It has a maximum pressure of 120 PSI.

Why Buy This One?

The Ridgid air compressor is compact and highly portable, and well suited for trim and finish tasks, although it can drive nails up to 2.5″ long. It’s more affordable than the Dewalt compressor, but is sold as a bare tool without charger or battery. But if you’re buying everything new, the Dewalt kit will get you started for less.

Price: $199 for the bare tool

Buy Now (via Home Depot)

Ryobi 18V One+ 1 Gallon Cordless Air Compressor

Ryobi launched their 18V One+ cordless air compressor last October. With similar specs as the Ridgid compressor, but different configuration and design, the Ryobi 18V 1 gallon air compressor, P739, is a compact general-use model.

Ryobi describes their compressor as being perfect for roadside tire inflation or turning pneumatic finish nailers into cordless finish nailers. They say that it can inflate a car tire from flat to full in 80 seconds, and it can inflate 9 car tires per charge with a 4.0Ah battery.

Why Buy This One?

The Ryobi compressor has the lowest cost of purchase, with their kit priced at just $158. The Ridgid has a more compact geometry, and the option to add a second battery for longer runtime, but the Ryobi’s value makes it a compelling choice for more casual users. The way it’s described, and bundled with a 2Ah compact battery, it’s more a tool of convenience for homeowners than a portable jobsite workhorse. Still, for more casual users (perhaps including pros), it could be a lower cost and highly portable complement to a larger corded air compressor.

We have not tested this model yet.

Price: $129 for the bare tool, $158 for the 2Ah kit

Buy Now(Kit via Home Depot)
Buy Now(Bare Tool via Home Depot)

Milwaukee, Makita, Bosch, Metabo, Metabo HPT, Craftsman?

We might see more cordless compressors hit the market, now that power tool brands’ Li-ion batteries are powerful and high enough in charge capacity to meet such demands.

Which brand do you wish would come out with a cordless air compressor of their own?

Personally, I would be most eager to see a Milwaukee M18 Fuel cordless air compressor. That would certainly shake up the market and drive further innovation and competition.

As an Alternative

As an alternative, consider pairing an existing portable air compressor, such as a 6-gallon pancake-style unit, with the Dewalt portable power station. However, any of the above solutions would be far more economical, unless you already owned the power station, in which case adding a small air compressor will set you back as little as $100.

Related Posts:

New Ryobi Cordless Air Compressor New Dewalt FlexVolt Cordless Air Compressor! New Ridgid 18V Cordless 1 Gallon Air Compressor

Harbor Freight has launched a new line of Hercules 12V cordless power tools, including a drill/driver kit, impact driver kit, and screwdriver kit.

We first wrote about Harbor Freight Hercules cordless power tools in 2017, after which we talked about how they were looking to make a serious push into the pro tool market. After that, they launched a new Hercules 12″ sliding miter saw.

More recently, Harbor Freight announced a new line of premium Icon tools and tool storage products, and we spoke about their new premium Quinn screwdrivers earlier this month.

They also came out with ultra-quiet Fortress air compressors.

The new Harbor Freight Hercules 12V cordless drill (item no.64370) is said to be a lightweight and compact design, capable of longer runtimes and legendary performance.

• 3/8″ ratcheting chuck
• 312 in-lbs max torque
• 0-400/0-1500 RPM
• 7-1/2″ long
• Weighs 2 lbs
• LED worklight

Harbor Freight emphasizes that their Hercules 12V drill is built with a Jacobs-branded chuck.

Price: $80 for the kit

The kit comes with a charger, carrying bag, and 2.0Ah battery.

Next, there is a new Hercules 12V impact driver (item no. 64369) which, like the drill, has decent on-paper specs.

Harbor Freight says that it has all-metal gear construction, built to withstand jobsite abuse.

• 1/4″ hex bit holder
• 1000 in-lbs max torque
• 0-2500 RPM
• 0-3030 IPM
• LED worklight with delayed-off
• 6-3/4″ long
• Weighs 1.87 lbs

Price: $80 for the kit

As with the drill, the kit comes with a charger, carrying bag, and 2.0Ah Li-ion battery.

Lastly, Harbor Freight is also introducing a new Hercules 12V cordless screwdriver (item no. 64368).

• 1/4″ quick-release chuck
• 312 in-lbs max torque
• 0-400/0-1500 RPM
• 6-3/8″ long
• Weighs 1.7 lbs
• LED worklight

The cordless screwdriver is similar to the drill, but with a quick-release 1/4″ hex chuck.

Price: $80 for the kit

The kit comes with a charger, carrying bag, and 2.0Ah battery.

All of the new tool kits come with some starter bits.

Additional 2.0Ah batteries are priced at $25 each.

Additional chargers are also available, at $30.

More Info(via Harbor Freight)

First Thoughts

Harbor Freight is comparing their new Hercules 12V cordless power tools to Dewalt’s 12V Max tools. Let’s do the same.

Dewalt 12V Max Drill Kit: $89 via Amazon
Dewalt 12V Max Impact Driver Kit: $89 via Amazon
Dewalt 12V Max Cordless Screwdriver Kit: $96 via Amazon
Dewalt 12V Max Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Kit: $129 via Amazon

So, the Dewalt drill and impact driver kits cost $9 more, each. The screwdriver kit is $16 more.

But, the Dewalt kits come with (2) Li-ion batteries, although individually they’re lower capacity (1.5Ah vs. 2.0Ah). Harbor Freight’s Hercules kits come with (1). The Dewalt 2-tool kit is $129. (So is Bosch’s at the moment.)

Ignoring promo pricing on Dewalt, Milwaukee, Makita, and Bosch 12V Max cordless drill, impact, and screwdriver kits, are these Harbor Freight Hercules 12V tools a good buy?

Actually, the specs are decent. Surprisingly, Harbor Freight’s Hercules tools best Dewalt’s 12V Max tools, specs-wise, at least on paper. Dewalt’s first 12V Max offerings launched more than 8 years ago, so maybe this is not that much of a surprise.

I bought a Harbor Freight Hercules 20V Max drill and impact driver when they first came out, for review consideration purposes, and they’re not bad. My complaints are more with the fit and finish than anything else, but those niggles were enough for me to drag my feet through the review process, leading to the tools being buried under newer interests. Maybe I’ll pull them out for final testing and review one of these days.

If Harbor Freight took lessons from their 20V Hercules tools and applied them to these 12V tools, they might be decent buys, at least for users not looking to buy into a system.

Dewalt’s 12V Max cordless power tool lineup has been stagnant. Harbor Freight’s Hercules 20V lineup has not seen any new tools, but not a lot of time has passed since their initial rollout. But if they’re not actively releasing new Hercules 20V cordless power tools, at what pace will they launch new 12V Hercules tools?

It won’t be long until new Harbor Freight coupons discount the prices a little bit.

Skil’s PWRCore 12 brushless 1/2″ cordless drill/driver kit is $80 on Amazon, and like the Hercules drill it comes with a 2.0Ah battery. The PWRCore drill has added features that make it a little more compelling than the Hercules, and it’s more powerful too. The Skil is aimed at DIYers, but the comparison seems fair. Which $80 12V-class drill kit would you purchase?

See Also: Skil PWRCore 12 Brushless Drill Kit Review

The new Harbor Freight Hercules 12V drill and drivers say all the right stuff on paper. Frankly, I think they’re moving in the right direction, or at least in a direction that keeps me open minded and even optimistic about what’s to come.

If you were looking to buy new 12V-class cordless power tools, would these make it to your shortlist?

I haven’t been to a Harbor Freight store since I bought Hercules 20V tools for testing. If there’s enough interest, I’ll head over to pick up one or more of these new 12V tools for some hands-on time.

Are there any Hercules 12V or 20V cordless power tools you’d like to see Harbor Freight come out with soon?

Related Posts:

Harbor Freight Hercules 20V Cordless Tools New Harbor Freight Hercules 12″ Sliding Miter Saw Harbor Freight Looks to Make Serious Push into Pro Tool Market

Ego has started to promote their new Nexus cordless “true alternative to gas generators” portable power station, model PST3042.

The Ego Nexus portable power station is a much, much bigger and more powerful source than their Nexus Escape, a 150W inverter that came out last fall.

The Ego Nexus can deliver 2000W continuous (3000W peak) power to 3 AC outlets (15A). It also has 4 USB ports, an LED display, metal handles, and a 4-port overnight charger.

See Also: Ryobi 1500W Inverter Generator

Ego is advertising that their Nexus portable power station can power a refrigerator in the case of a power outage, or a microwave for quick dinner cooking. They say you can bring it camping, hiking, boating, tailgating, or anywhere else you might want convenient power.

They say it’s “weather resistant.” There’s no mention of the Nexus portable power station being IP-rated against dust or rain.

It also features “Bluetooth pairing” and “WiFi pairing,” but Ego doesn’t specify what that means. Perhaps there’s an app that notifies you about charge capacity.

The output is a pure sine wave, which Ego says runs cooler and more efficiently.

The Ego Nexus portable power station is powered by Ego 56V Li-ion batteries, requiring just one, but working with up to four.

Examples of what it can power with (2) 7.5Ah batteries:

• 15A circular saw for 520 cuts of 2×4 lumber
• 80W 40″ LED TV for 8 hours
• 80W 40″ LED TV and a lamp with 60W LED bulb, and a 6W WiFI router for 4.4 hours
• Crockpock at low setting (70W) for 9 hours

Additional 7.5Ah batteries can provide for longer runtimes.

Ego also points out that, because it doesn’t use gasoline, you can safely use it indoors as well as outdoors. Being battery powered, it’s also quiet.

Price: $1197 for the kit, additional 7.5Ah batteries are $359 each

The Ego PST3042 kit comes with the Nexus power station and (2) 7.5Ah batteries

Buy Now(via Home Depot)

First Thoughts

There are a lot of questions that come to mind. You can use up to 4 Ego 56V batteries of any size and in any combination, but how does that work? Does it drain them one at a time, or simultaneously, in which case what happens if you use batteries of different capacities?

How long does it take to recharge the batteries when using the Nexus portable power station as a charger? They say overnight, but does that mean 4 hours or 12? Does it charge them one by one, or simultaneously?

The kit is priced at $1197, and two additional 7.5Ah will cost another $718. So that’s $1915 for a 2000W generators with 1680 watt-hour of charge capacity.

For comparison the Goal Zero Yeti 3000 is a 1500W pure sine wave power station with 3000W surge capacity and 3075 watt-hour capacity.

According to Home Depot, the Ego Nexus portable power station weighs 44 pounds.

What kind of remote control or monitoring can be done through the Bluetooth and WiFi connections?

Despite all the unanswered questions, the new Ego Nexus portable power station is a logical and welcome addition to their 56V cordless outdoor power tool lineup.

How does it compare to a gas generator? At the bottom of the Ego Nexus listing, Home Depot has some “similar options you might like” recommendations. There, they advertise a 4-outlet 4000W surge/3500W running gas generator, with 10-hour runtime at 50% load, priced at $249 as a “special buy.”

The Ego Nexus portable power station is advertised for home standby, jobsite, and recreational use. It seems capable for their purposes, but keep the 2000W continuous running wattage in mind. That should be plenty for powering many types of corded power tools.

Having the built-in battery charger is a nice touch, as it means you can plug it in at the end of the day and have it ready to go the next morning.

That it can be powered by 1-4 Ego 56V Li-ion batteries is a surprise, but a very welcome feature. Hopefully they eventually release a power station-only model, without batteries, so that existing Ego users can buy one without taking a full $1200 hit to their wallet.

Fully equipping it with 2 more 7.5Ah batteries will cost another $718 on top of the $1200 for the 2-battery kit. But that’s only if you want to fill all 4 battery bays.

Update: The online manual says:

(600W, 1200W, 2000W) The rated maximum continuous output power depends on the attached battery(s) on the Nexus power station.

What that means is that this is only a 2000W (continuous) when used with Ego’s highest capacity battery (or batteries?). With their smaller batteries, it’s a 1200W power source, or even 600W. On one hand, that does mean that any Ego batteries can give you some juice.

The 2x 7.5Ah battery kit configuration also makes more sense. But that also leads to more questions – what happens when unmatched batteries are connected? If you want to populate the other 2 battery positions with smaller battery packs, does the Nexus power station’s wattage change? With your choice of battery affecting not only charge capacity and runtime, but also wattage output, do you really have a choice? Ego needs to be clearer about how different combinations of batteries affect the Nexus performance.

At this time, Ego says “Works with 1, 2, 3 or 4 Ego batteries of any size, in any combination,” but you have to dig into the user manual to learn that different batteries can reduce the power output rating of the device.

There’s another wattage example in the user manual:

2 batteries BA1400T are located in position 1 and 4. They have 70% and 30% capacity respectively. The rated maximum output power is 1200W.

So, with 2 4.0Ah batteries, it can provide up to 1200W of power. What happens then if you have 2x 7.5Ah batteries and 2x 4.0Ah? This isn’t clear in the product listings, but at least it’s good to be able to see this information on the Nexus’s display.

Do you think this will be a jobsite alternative to gas generators?

Hopefully Ego can answer some of our questions – we’ll follow up once we learn more.

Buy Now(via Home Depot)

Related Posts:

Review: Dewalt Portable Power Station is a Cordless Adapter for Your Corded Tools (and More!) New EGO Nexus Escape, a Cordless Battery AC Inverter Whoops! NO New Dewalt Portable Power Station!

Makita’s 18V X2 cordless brushless track saw is a very good tool. I received a test sample last year, and can very highly recommend it. Right now, a popular (and rare) bonus bundle promo is back.

Over at Acme Tools and Amazon, buy the Makita 18V X2 plunge-cutting circular saw kit (XPS01PTJ), which comes with the saw, 2-port charger, (2) Li-ion batteries, and modular tool boxes to store it all in, and you get a FREE 39″ guide rail, plus (2) FREE bonus 5.0Ah batteries (for 4 total).

Amazon’s current price is $490.37, and Acme Tools’ is $499 ($479 thru 3/15/19 with coupon). Both are out of stock in the moment, but are accepting backorders.

Thank you to Matthew and Noah for the heads-up!

I wrote about this deal at length last year, here: Incredible Makita 18V X2 Brushless Track Saw Bundle Deal (Feb 2018).

Last year’s bundle came with a 55″ guide rail. This bundle is a little different, and comes with a 39″ guide rail.

Buy Now(via Amazon)
Buy Now(via Acme Tools)

Acme coupon code MAKITA20 takes an extra $20 off, now through 3/15/2019.

It’s also available at Tool Nut.

Buy Now(via Tool Nut)

First Thoughts

For my personal track saw, I bought a Festool. I’ve used a test sample of their cordless track saw a bit as well. Based on my experience with a test sample of this Makita kit, I’d probably go in this direction if shopping for personal use. It’s an excellent and high-performing tool. Competitively, I’d give the Makita an edge for the greater convenience of their batteries.

I think that this promo is a nice way to buy into Makita’s 18V (or 18V X2) cordless power tool system. The bundle gives you an $80 guide rail for free (price check), and $219 in additional batteries (price check).

I’m trying not to sound too encouraging, but if I let myself speak freely, I’d say that this is an incredible cordless brushless track saw and guide rail deal, one that’s really hard to pass up. Promos of this kind don’t come around very often.

It’s not clear when the deal will end.

More About the Saw

• 6-1/2″ blade size
• Can plunge-cut
• 2500-6300 variable speed
• Easy depth adjustment with scale
• Dual bevel supports
• -1° to 48° bevel range
• 22.5° and 45° bevel stops
• 2-3/16″ cutting capacity at 90°
• 1-9/16″ cutting capacity at 45°
• Works with (2) Makita 18V Li-ion batteries
• On-board battery fuel gauge

It can be used with or without a guide rail, and with or without dust collection.

Makita offers several styles of plunge saw blades (Amazon search results).

Related Posts:

Dewalt FlexVolt Track Saw (Coming Soon Teaser) New Makita Sub-Compact Circular Saw (XSH05ZB) is “AWS-Capable” New Makita “Rear Handle” Brushless Circular Saw (XSR01)

Meet the new Worx 20V Multi-Sander, a new cordless sander that is said to do the job of 5 different sander. It can function as a random orbit sander, finishing sander, detail sander, contour sander, and finger sander.

The Worx Sandeck Multi-Sander has a slew of specially named features – a Hyperlock tool-less sanding pad interface, Mode Max technology that ensures maximum sanding efficiency no matter which pad or base is in use, a DustStop micro-filter dust bag for reducing airborn dust, and Power Share, which means it’s a part of Worx’s 20V (Max) cordless power tool system.

The Worx Multi-Sander has a soft grip handle, variable speed dial, and on/off power switch.

A press of the release button unlocks the HyperLock clamp, which is turned to disengage the attached clamp pad.

After a couple of turns, the pad is removed and the Worx Sandeck is ready for the next sanding plate.

The finger and contour sanding attachments are secured to the detail sanding plate using a screwdriver.

Hook and loop pads enable fast sandpaper changes. The finish sander looks to have a standard clamp design, for use with plain-backed sandpaper.

Here’s how Worx describes the Sandeck Multi-Sander’s different attachments:

The 5″ random orbit function is your workman-like sander, and does all the tough, initial sanding. The 1/4 sheet finishing function smooths it down. The detail function lets you get into those tight corners. The finger sander attachment lets you really get into those tight spaces. And the detail contour is for rounded, bowl-like shapes.

The random orbit and finish sanding plates look to take standard-sized sandpaper (8-hole for the 5″ ROS, 1/4 sheet or cut-your-own sheets for the finish plate). The detail sander seems to have the same geometry and hole pattern as other such tools on the market. Replacement sandpaper for the finger and contour attachments might be more of a challenge.

The online user manual provides the following dimensions for the included sandpaper:

• 5″ random orbit with hook & loop backing
• 4-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ finishing sandpaper
• 5-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ [triangular] detail with hook & loop backing
• 3″ x 1-13/16″ finger with hook & loop backing
• 3-3/8″ x 2″ contour with hook & loop backing

The Worx Sandeck Multi-Sander also comes with a vacuum adapter, for use with a dust extractor or shop vacuum.

The Worx WX820L 20V Sandeck Multi-Sander kit comes with the random orbit base, a finishing sander base, detail sander base, contour and finger sanding attachments, a charger, 2.0Ah battery, carrying bag, and a starter pack of sandpaper. It also comes with a hole punch for using your own sandpaper with the 1/4 sheet pad.

Specs

• 4,000 to 10,000 OPM no-load
• 6 speed settings
• 3/32″ orbital diameter with the random orbit plate
• 1/16″ orbital diameter with the finish or detail plates
• Weighs 4.4 lbs

Price: $120

Buy Now(via Amazon)
Compare(Bosch Random Orbit and Finish Sanders via Amazon)

Some markets will have a bare tool option, WX820L.9.

First Thoughts

I’m intrigued.

Worx says that the multi-sander has large orbital radius for aggressive debris removal when needed, and indeed, it has a 3/32″ orbit radius when the random orbit plate is attached, and 1/16″ when the other plates are attached.

I wonder if the dual orbit radius design evolved from the Rockwell Duotech Sonicrafter, which had user-selectable oscillation angles.

Cordless operation? An included dust bag and vacuum adapter? Variable speed? Tool-less sanding plate changes? 3 sanding plates and 2 accessories? Automatic-adjusting orbital radius? Seems like the perfect DIYer or hobbyist sander.

Well, actually, I think that it might be even better if corded, but these days cordless sells a lot better. That it comes with just one battery will be limiting for potentially heavier users, but you can always buy more batteries.

Worx did their homework, as I think that the Sandeck Multi-Sander is a tool that many folks will actually want, use, and benefit from.

When starting out working with wood, I went with a random orbital sander and a 1/4 sheet sander, and together the two tools set me back over $100. I also bought an oscillating multi-tool sanding attachment for detail or awkward corner sanding. (The Fein attachment, with vacuum attachment, was $55 at the time, and is currently $77; at that price I’d sooner buy a detail sander.)

If starting out now, I’d go for Bosch sanders, which would total $115 at current pricing. With this Worx Sandeck, you get 3-in-1+ functionality for $120. 5-in-1 if you count the detail sander’s two attachments as separate functions.

It’s nice to see that they bundle everything you might want in the kit. More sandpaper would probably be useful, but it’s often better to put your money towards the abrasives you want or need, rather than more starter sheets in grits you can’t use.

Related Posts:

New Milwaukee M18 Cordless Sander This Looks New: Bosch 1/4 Sheet Finish Sander, GSS20-40 Dewalt Cordless Sander DCW210 Hands-on Review

We recently posted about the new Milwaukee CP 3.0 and XC 8.0 cordless power tool battery packs. Milwaukee has also announced today a brand new charger that is specially designed for their High Output and high capacity M18 battery packs.

The new Milwaukee Super Charger, 48-59-1811, can recharge all of their M12 and M18 Li-ion battery packs. However, as mentioned, there is a special advantage when recharging a High Output battery. Take a look at the following charging times chart to see what I mean.

Milwaukee’s M18 HD 12.0Ah battery pack, their highest capacity battery, recharges in 241 minutes on their standard charger, or 130 minutes on their RapidCharger. The new Super Charger can fully recharge it in just 60 minutes.

That’s right, 60 minutes and your HD12.0 battery is fully charged and ready to go.

However, the super fast charging times are only for the M18 High Output batteries. For Milwaukee’s other M18 batteries, charging times match the charging times you’d get with the Rapid Charger.

Here’s a sample list of Milwaukee M18 battery charging times when the Super Charger is used:

• M12 CP2.0: 30 minutes
• M12 XC3.0: 46 minutes
• M18 CP 2.0: 25 minutes
• M18 XC 5.0: 60 minutes
• M18 HD 9.0: 103 minutes
• M18 CP 3.0 High Output: 35 minutes
• M18 XC 6.0 High Output:  35 minutes
• M18 XC 8.0 High Output: 45 minutes
• M18 HD 12.0 High Output: 60 minutes

It takes 45 minutes to charge an XC 8.0 High Output battery, but 60 minutes for a popular XC 5.0? Remember, the High Output battery packs are built with larger form factor Li-ion cells. As such, they run cooler, and it seems they can endure a faster charging rate.

Long story short, there’s now a new faster charging option for users who have a growing collection of M18 High Output battery packs.

Or, another way of seeing things – if you want faster charging times, that’s a big incentive to upgrade some of your aging packs to High Output batteries instead of the standard variety.

Price: $159
ETA: July 2019

First Thoughts

Because some people will always scoff at the price and say something like “Milwaukee wants to charge HOW MUCH for a cordless power tool battery charger?!”, remember – this is an optional upgrade; you don’t have to buy one.

The way I see it, it’s good to have a faster charging option and not feel compelled to buy one, than to really want something that doesn’t exist.

Potentially, the charging times are so quick that they might save some users from having to buy another battery or two. When you’re talking about $199-$249 a pop for an HD 12.0 battery, the new Super Charger might pay for itself.

Since there’s no charging advantage for the standard M12 or M18 batteries, I think the Super Charger will have a limited audience – for now.

I would anticipate that, as High Output batteries start appearing in more and more pro’s tool bags, and in greater numbers, we might see some special bundles or promos, similar to how the Rapid Charger is featured in certain kits or “special buys.”

That all said, who’s in for one?

Related Posts:

Milwaukee M18 and M12 Vehicle Charger Coming Soon: New Milwaukee M18 CP3.0Ah and XC8.0Ah Cordless Power Tool Batteries Milwaukee Cordless Power Tools That Pros Love: M18 Six-Pack Charger

Over at Amazon, they launched a new Craftsman Tools storefront, featuring a selection of their new outdoor cordless power tools.

There’s no word as to when Amazon will start carrying Craftsman tool storage products, hand tools, or other cordless power tools, but this is at least  start.

See the new Craftsman Store at Amazon

Craftsman V20 Chainsaw Lopper

The new Craftsman V20 cordless lopper, model CMCCSL621D1, is a compact clamping chainsaw, . The model number suggests that this is a kit with charger and single battery.

Craftsman’s cordless lopper can cut branches up to 4″ wide. It’s designed for pruning trees and shrubs, and can be used for storm clean-up as well. The scissors-type cutting action is described as being fast and easy.

Price: $129 for the kit, which comes with a charger and 2.0Ah battery

Buy Now(Craftsman V20 Chainsaw Lopper)

Interestingly, it’s less expensive than the Black & Decker cordless Alligator lopper, which has been around for quite a while. The B&D Alligator is currently $142.83 at Amazon. It is hard to tell what has been changed, aside from the color scheme.

Craftsman V20 Cordless Blower

The new blower kit, CMCBL720D2, comes with the Craftman V20 cordless blower, a charger, and (2) compact batteries.

Features include 350 CFM and 100 MPH max airflow, a “boost mode,” and a metal scraper tip.

Price: $169 for the kit, which comes with a charger and 2x 2.0Ah batteries

Buy Now(Blower Kit via Amazon)

Craftsman V20 Cordless Pole Saw

There is a new Craftsman V20 cordless pole saw, CMCCSP20M1, which comes with extension poles that extend its reach to up to 14 feet.

It has an angled head, 8″ bar and chain, for cutting branches up 6″ thick, and a hook to help clear cut branches.

Price: $132.30 for the kit, which comes with a charger and 4.0Ah battery

Buy Now(via Amazon)

Craftsman V20 Cordless String Trimmer

There’s the new string trimmer, CMCST910M1, which features a 13″ cutting swath and 0.080″ line. It has a variable trigger with high/low speed control, for choosing between added power or extended runtime.

Price: $119 for the kit, which comes with a charger and 4.0Ah battery

Buy Now(via Amazon)

Craftsman V20 Cordless Hedge Trimmer

The new Craftsman V20 cordless hedge trimmer, CMCHTS820D1, features a 22″ laser-cut dual-action blade. It can cut branches up to 3/4″ thick, and a “power saw” feature can cut branches up to 1-1/2″ thick.

Price: $139 for the kit, which comes with a charger and 2.0Ah battery

Buy Now(Hedge Trimmer Kit via Amazon)

Craftsman V20 Compact Cordless Chain Saw

The new Craftsman V20 cordless 12″ chainsaw, CMCCS620M1, features a compact 12″ bar design for cutting in small spaces, and a bubble level for precise level cutting.

Price: $179 for the kit, which comes with a charger and 4.0Ah battery

Buy Now(via Amazon)

Craftsman V60 Cordless Lawn Mower

The new Craftsman V60 cordless lawn mower, CMCMW260P1, is listed but not yet available. It has a 21″ metal deck, single lever 1.5″ to 4″ height adjustment, and vertical folding position. Craftsman says it’s ideal for yards up to 1/4 acre.

It has 3-in-1 output functionality, with mulching, bagging, and side discharge modes.

Price: TBD

Coming Soon(via Amazon)

The kit comes with a charger and 60V Max 5.0Ah battery.

Battery Packs & Chargers

• V20 2.0Ah
• V20 2.0Ah 2-pack
• V20 4.0Ah
• V20 4.0Ah 2-pack
• V20 Max Fast Charger

Related Posts:

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Makita has come out with a new cordless jobsite coffee maker, DCM501Z, which can be powered by their 12V or 18V battery packs.

The Makita DCM501Z coffee maker can brew a 5 oz cup of coffee in 5 minutes when powered by an 18V LXT battery, and (3) 5 oz cups of coffee with a 5.0Ah battery.

When paired with an 18V 4.0Ah battery it can brew up to 2-1/2 5 oz cups of coffee, and up to 2 cups with a 3.0Ah battery.

• Works with (60mm) single-use coffee pods or ground coffee
• Can brew a 5 oz cup of coffee in 5 minutes
• Permanent drip filter, no paper filter required
• Compact design: 8-9/16″ tall
• 3-1/2″ cup clearance
• Boil dry protection – turns off if there’s insufficient water
• Weighs 4.8 lbs with battery
• Folding top handle
• 240ml water tank capacity
• Ground coffee requires 160 ml water, coffee pod requires 120 ml

Brewing time is a little longer with a 12V CXT battery – 7 minutes instead of 5 minutes.

While you can use 12V CXT batteries, the online user manual says that the 1.5Ah and 2.0Ah batteries will only brew up to 100 ml and 140 ml, respectively. A full cup of ground coffee requires 160 ml and takes 7 minutes with a 4.0Ah battery (BL1041B).

Price: $99

It looks like the Makita coffee cup and a cover are included with the bare tool.

Buy Now(via Tool Nut)
Compare(1st generation Makita coffee maker via Amazon)

First Thoughts

Looking at the product images, I think that the new Makita cordless coffee maker is a big improvement compared to the first generation model.

It looks like this new model is cordless-only, but I don’t think anyone will mind.

The new coffee maker works with Makita 12V Max and 18V Li-ion batteries, but you’re not going to get much done with their smallest battery packs. Aim for at least a 12V 4.0Ah battery or 18V 3.0Ah battery at the least.

It takes a whole lot of energy to heat up water, so the runtimes aren’t surprising.

Is the 240 ml (8.11 oz) water tank large enough? Up to (3) 5 oz cups of coffee at 5 minutes each? This is more of a personal-use machine.

Where can one get 60mm coffee pods? I can only find random brands on Amazon.

Obviously, there was enough demand for Makita to improve upon their first model and come out with this redesign. I think that some users will be happy, but others might wish for more.

The 12V Max and 18V dual-compatible battery port seems like a good idea. But would it have been better if it was designed as a dual-18V adapter that allowed for two 18V 5.0Ah batteries to brew up to six 5 oz cups consecutively? I guess then the water tank would need to be bigger. But as it is, you can’t brew a full 5.0Ah battery’s worth of coffee on just one fill-up.

I’m not much of a coffee drinker. How does one make hot chocolate in one of these? I guess you just set it to brew without coffee, and then mix in most of a hot chocolate packet?

It’s a nice touch that it comes with a Makita-branded mug, and a nice one too from the looks of it.

Is this a HOT new product? Let the details percolate for a little before you answer.

Related Posts:

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Dewalt is coming out with a new line of 20V Max compact brushless cordless power tools. The new Dewalt ATOMIC Compact Series is launching with a new drill/driver and impact driver. In a “coming soon,” teaser, it looks like a new oscillating multi-tool, circular saw, and reciprocating saw are on the roadmap.

The new Dewalt Atomic cordless power tools has the tagline where size meets power, emphasizing that the drill/driver has 13% more power and is 25% more compact, and the impact driver delivers 21% more torque.

It’s hard to read, but it looks like the new impact driver is being compared to the DCF886, while the new drill/driver is being compared to the DCD771, which is Dewalt’s brushed motor “special buy” drill and combo kit model that launched in 2013.

Dewalt Atomic 20V Max Drill/Driver DCD708

The new Dewalt DCD708 bears resemblances to the DCD777 brushless drill/driver that came out 2-1/2 years ago, and is similarly spec’ed at 340 UWO.

Regarding the specs, there are some disagreements on the product listings (I found one so far), and so they might be subject to change or correction.

• 340 UWO max power
• 6.3″ length
• Weighs 2.8 lbs
• LED worklight
• 2-speed gearbox, 1650 RPM max

The kit is bundled with a charger, carrying case, and (2) 1.3Ah Li-ion batteries.

Price: $159 for the kit, $119 for the bare tool

Buy Now(Drill Kit via Home Depot)
Buy Now(Bare Tool via Home Depot)
Compare(Dewalt DCD791 via Amazon)

Dewalt Atomic 20V Max Impact Driver DCF809

The new DCF809 brushless impact driver has improved and highly competitive specs, but it does lack the multiple speed and torque settings found on more premium tools.

• 1700 in-lbs max torque
• 2800 RPM max
• 5.1″ length
• Weighs 2.1 lbs
• 3-LED worklight

Compared to the current entry-level Dewalt brushless impact driver, DCF787, the new DCF809 is slightly more compact, and more powerful, at 1700 in-lb vs. 1500 in-lbs.

The kit comes with a charger, carrying bag, and (1) or (2) 1.3Ah batteries.

Price: $159 for the 2-battery kit, $149 for the 1-battery kit, $119 for the bare tool

Buy Now(2-Battery Kit via Home Depot)
Buy Now(1-Battery Kit via Home Depot)
Buy Now(Bare Tool via Home Depot)

Compare(Dewalt DCF886 via Amazon)
Compare(Dewalt DCF887 via Amazon)

Dewalt Atomic 20V Max Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit, DCK278C2

There will also be a 2-tool combo kit, featuring the Dewalt DCD708 drill, DCF809 impact driver, a charger, carrying bag, and (2) 1.3Ah batteries.

Price: $229

Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Compare(Dewalt DCK283D2 Premium Combo Kit via Amazon)
Compare(Dewalt DCD777 and DCF787 Combo Kit via Amazon)

First Thoughts

Thank you to Adam for the heads-up!

When Adam’s email came in with the tip, I jumped in my seat. WHOA, a brand new super-compact Dewalt cordless power tool lineup?! Maybe it’s meant to match Makita’s 18V sub-compact product category?

The new Dewalt Atomic 20V Max cordless power tools will likely be all-brushless. At launch, the drill/driver and impact driver both are, and the “20V Max Lithium Ion Brushless” stamp on the marketing banner suggests that future releases will be as well.

Here are the red flags. First, the teeny tiny footnote about the new Atomic Compact Series drill, and how it’s 13% more powerful and 25% more compact, references the DCD771, a 2-generations ago “special buy” drill/driver with brushed motor. While the DCD771 is still on the market, the brushless DCD777 has for the most part replaced it. The DCD777 is more compact than the DCD771, and more powerful. Compared to the DCD777, the new DCD708 IS more compact, but not any more powerful. If Home Depot’s specs are accurate, its max speed is slightly slower.

That aspect took away from my excitement.

The new Dewalt Atomic Compact Series DCF809 impact driver is more compact than the typical budget buy DCF787, and if the specs are accurate, it’s more powerful too. It is more powerful than the single-speed range DCF886 as well, but not as powerful as the 3-speed DCF887 brushless impact driver. It is more compact, though, and overall, the new Atomic cordless impact driver looks like a compelling new addition.

The new Dewalt DCD708 Atomic series drill does look compelling too, as an upgrade to their current entry-level brushless drill/driver, DCD777. Compared to their more premium brushless drills, I don’t think an Atomic vs. XR comparison would be level and fair.

The pricing seems… off, for lack of a better way of putting it. The Dewalt Atomic 20V Max 2-tool cordless brushless drill and impact driver is priced at $229. With… 1.3Ah batteries? Dewalt’s entry-level brushless drill and impact driver combo kit is currently $199 at Amazon (you have to “clip” a coupon to get to that price), but typically drops to $149 during promos and holiday shopping seasons.

The bare tool prices are higher than for the street pricing of Dewalt’s premium and compact brushless offerings, which is puzzling, Granted, these new Atomic series tools are a little more compact – 0.2″ for the impact driver compared to the DCF887, and 0.6″ for the drill compared to the DCD791, and a little lighter, but the DCD791 and DCF887 are more powerful, faster, and better featured. The full authorized dealer price on the DCD791B looks to be $119 at the moment, and the DCF887B is $129.

Dewalt’s entry-level brushless drill and impact driver kits tend to have a cyclic pattern. At holiday seasons, such as in Q4 and for Father’s Day, we might see the 2-battery drill kit sell for $99, and the 1-battery impact driver kit sell for $99.

If I had to make an educated guess, I would think that this is what we’ll see come May and June – $99 kit pricing on the drill and impact driver kits, and maybe $149 kit pricing on the 2-tool combo. That’d be fine.

Here’s the main point. I would say that, after looking at the initial selling points and specs list, I’m not very excited about the new Dewalt Atomic Series cordless drill or impact driver. I’m not turned off by them either. They look reasonably spec’ed, and improvements on their length and weight, and power for the impact driver, are GREAT. Despite my trying to make sense of the new cordless power tool line, as written out and shared in the preceding paragraphs, and eye-roll at the continued use of 1.3Ah batteries, the new tools do bring good things to the market.

With Dewalt competitors, namely Milwaukee and Makita, having matched Dewalt’s $99 holiday season drill and impact driver kit offerings, this is Dewalt bumping things up a notch.

The bigger news here is that Dewalt has given a name to this series of tools, and that they’re expanding it with new cordless cutting tools which are presumed to feature brushless motors.

It will be some time before we learn more about those new Dewalt Atomic “Coming Soon” cordless power tools. Will they, like the new drill and impact, be entry-level tools? Will they be main-line 20V Max cordless power tools and marketed to professionals as being compact alternatives to full-sized tools? Or will they be more prominently featured in “special buy” kits and combo kits, like the DCD771 drill that the new version is compared to in the Dewalt Atomic series marketing?

A 4- or 5-tool combo kit featuring Dewalt Atomic 20V Max cordless power tools might be a good sell towards DIYers or budget-conscious pros who might not need full-sized (and full-priced) pro-grade offerings, or pros who could benefit from using smaller and more compact tools.

One other question comes to mind. Will we see similar developments in the Craftsman 20V Max cordless power tool lineup?

Related Posts:

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Over at Amazon, they have a couple of Dewalt tool deals, valid today only.

Dewalt 20V Max cordless inflator with compact 3Ah battery and charger kit: $169 Buy Now
Dewalt 37pc mechanics tool set: $40 Buy Now

The cordless inflator has a list price and is currently $89 at Acme Tools. $169 for the combo bundle is an okay deal. The street price for the bare tool inflator is $105 at Amazon, and $109 at other authorized dealers. A 2-pack of the compact 3.0Ah batteries is $121-$149 at Amazon. While the inflator bundle is a good deal, the other Dewalt cordless power tool deals of the day have greater discounts on that battery and charger bundle.

Dewalt DCL079 tripod LED light with compact 3Ah battery and charger: $199 Buy Now
Dewalt DCGG571 cordless grease gun with compact 3Ah battery and charger: $169 Buy Now

The LED tripod light is $179 by itself. The bare tool grease gun is $180.

Buy Now(via Amazon)

Deals end at 3am ET 3/14/19, unless supplies sell out sooner.

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2019 Dewalt Cordless Power Tool Predictions New Dewalt 20V Max Cordless Inflator New Dewalt DCL074 Cordless LED Worklight with Bluetooth

A couple of days ago, someone asked me when we might see a Milwaukee M18 cordless power station.

Shown here, Dewalt has a 4x 20V Max portable power station.

Ryobi just announced their 40V Max portable power station.

Ego recently announced their 2000W continuous Nexus portable power station.

So, when can we expect to see something similar from Milwaukee? Thank you to Ron for the great question!

Let’s start by asking some different questions.

Is This Something Milwaukee Tool Can Do?

Sure. Combine the voltage of a couple of M18 cordless power tool batteries, pass the higher voltage through a DC to AC converter, and voila, you have an AC power source, derived from DC battery packs.

DC power sources are convenient, and have been growing in popularity. There’s no noise compared to a gas generator, and although batteries wear over time and need to be replaced, they’re quick to plug in and charge up at the end of the day.

For heavy use, gas generators are still king. But for light or even medium demand applications, a battery-powered source can be useful. You won’t get all-day use out of a set of batteries, or maybe you can depending on the types of tools or applications, but there are conveniences compared to utilizing a gasoline generator.

Can Milwaukee come out with a cordless power tool station right now? Absolutely.

Is This Something Milwaukee Tool Wants to Do?

Here’s the thing – Milwaukee Tool and other brands have been striving for a cordless jobsite. There are still plenty of corded tools and equipment, many of which don’t yet exist as cordless tools. Other times, users’ needs might vary.

If you want a cordless air compressor, you’re limited to just 3 brands.

Related: The Best Cordless Air Compressors

If you want a cordless 10″ table saw, you’re out of luck – for now.

Cordless 12″ sliding miter saw? There’s only one brand available right now.

Full-sized dust extractor?

Full-sized router?

Maybe your favorite sander isn’t yet available as a cordless sander, or if it is, maybe you’re not happy about the price.

Discover: Festool Hybrid-Powered Sanders

While a DC to AC cordless battery power station doesn’t quite “cut the cord” in the way that professional power tool brands have been moving towards, it can simplify jobsite setups in a lot of different settings.

I think that a cordless power station is something that Milwaukee could very well want to do.

Jobsite adoption of a portable power station might not be very widespread, at least at first, but there are also very many Milwaukee M18 users who would be happy to have an M18-equipped power station that can be used into the weekends too.

If you ask me, I think that a Milwaukee cordless power station is something they might be willing to do.

Why Haven’t We Seen One Yet?

Well, if you’re going to do something, you might as well do it right and make it as compelling as possible.

With their new M18 High Output battery packs, especially the HD 12.0Ah pack, a Milwaukee M18 portable power station is going to be very effective, or at least much more effective. A full kit featuring 12Ah battery packs would likely require a hefty investment, but the XC6.0, HD9.0, and maybe even XC5.0 battery packs still hold a lot of charge capacity.

Milwaukee takes pride in their “everything fits” philosophy, and so you can be sure that even if their  High Output batteries might provide top performance and runtime, their other M18 batteries will still work.

Still, although cordless power tool battery packs now hold more charge capacity than ever before, and other brands have apparently seen fit to develop portable power stations, an eventual Milwaukee model is not guaranteed to be on their roadmap. Will customer demand be great enough to justify development and marketing of such a product?

What Might it Look Like?

Milwaukee’s Packout modular tool box system launched two years ago, and they announced new products for the line last year.

Maybe we’ll see a rolling power station, similar to their rolling tool box, meant to the bottom of a stack of a Packout tool boxes. Maybe it’ll be a mid-section box. Or maybe it’ll be a top-section device, similar to Dewalt’s portable power station.

It’s very reasonable to assume that if Milwaukee does come out with an M18-compatible portable power station, it’ll be compatible with their Packout storage system.

That said, raise your hand if you’d like to see a Packout-compatible vacuum. Packout-compatible cordless air compressor? Products like these might only be a matter of time.

The Likelihood of a Milwaukee M18 Cordless Power Station?

Well… if it’s not on their roadmap, perhaps Ryobi’s portable power station will be treated as a test of the market. While Milwaukee cordless power tools are developed by Milwaukee product managers and engineers, and Ryobi power tools are developed by TTI North America, we have seen evidence of communication between the brands, at least at high levels.

Between the different TTI brands, components and parts are different, production methods likely also differ, and resultant quality is also different. But it would be foolish not to look at release trends and not make the assumption that information and even data is shared between the brands, at least perhaps on a limited or case by case basis.

For instance, there are four cordless oil pulse drivers on the market, and three of them are made by TTI. There have been numerous instances where Milwaukee Tool, Ryobi, and Ridgid have followed each other’s innovations and entry into new markets and product categories.

Doubts

Is this something that Milwaukee Tool can produce? Yes. Are they interested in developing such a tool? I’d say the answer is yes. Can they do so at a competitive and compelling price point? Bosch launched a mobile battery bank for the European market more than 3 years ago. Can you find that Bosch product in the USA? No.

The market has to be open to a product before it can be realized. Meaning, the question isn’t so much whether Milwaukee Tool can and wants to come out with a portable power station, but whether enough pro users want to buy one, to justify its existence.

Thus, the answer to “when will Milwaukee launch a cordless power station?” really depends on the answer to another question. So, let me ask YOU:

(When) Would you buy a Milwaukee M18 cordless power station?

Other Thoughts

All this talk is about the potential for a Milwaukee Tool portable battery-powered AC source, for powering corded tools and devices.

What about an AC adapter for their cordless power tools?

Hitachi, or rather Metabo HPT, has come out with an AC adapter for their MultiVolt cordless power tools. Los Gatos, a now-defunct 3rd party company, made a similar product with different brand connections, but they seem to have disappeared in the years since.

Dewalt has such an adapter for their 120V Max cordless power tools, namely their two FlexVolt 12″ miter saws.

We might very well see something like this from Milwaukee, but probably not until or unless they come out with some kind of battery-multiplier system, such as an M18 x 2 table saw or similar.

Personally, I think a DC battery-powered AC source is more likely than an AC-powered DC source.

Update: Glossary

To clear up some confusion that came to light in the comments section:

Portable Power Station: The focus of this post is on a hypothetical Milwaukee Tool M18 portable power station, a device which would utilize M18 cordless power tool batteries to output an AC electrical source for the operation of corded power tools in the absence of a typical AC outlet.

A portable power station uses DC battery sources to output AC electrical power.

For instance, a portable power station could potentially power a corded router, worm drive circular saw, table saw, or shop vacuum.

Charging Station: An existing product that is plugged into an AC source for recharging M18 cordless power tool batteries. Portable power stations usually have battery charging capabilities, but charging stations can not power corded tools. Charging stations use AC power to recharge DC batteries.

A charging station can only charge batteries. At most, some also have USB charging ports.

Note: THIS is probably why some brands describe their portable power stations as battery-powered inverter generators.

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Reader Question: Advice on Buying a New Milwaukee M18 Cordless Power Tool Battery? Milwaukee Cordless Power Tools That Pros Love: M18 Six-Pack Charger Review: Dewalt Portable Power Station is a Cordless Adapter for Your Corded Tools (and More!)

The new Milwaukee M18 chainsaw, which was released just a few months ago, is an amazing beast. At least year’s new tool media event, Milwaukee discussed the new High Output batteries, and ways the new chainsaw was designed to take advantage of the new batteries’ higher current capabilities.

Milwaukee’s claims was that it was powerful, faster than gas, and could deliver up to 150 cuts per charge. On paper, the new Milwaukee cordless chainsaw does look to be better than gas.

But how well does it perform?

We requested a test sample from Milwaukee, and put it in the hands of an experienced tree service professional. They had started a job with several gas chainsaws from top brands, and I handed off the Milwaukee saw with a fully charged 12.0Ah battery.

Not all the above trees were cut using the Milwaukee chainsaw; the image is intended to show the context of the job that day. I witnessed the M18 saw being used on one of the large trees, and on some large-limb trimming tasks. I didn’t stick around to watch everything, because it can skew things.

After about an hour I checked back with the tree service pro who had been using it. “So, what do you think?”

Wow, it’s quiet.

Cuts fast.

Feels good.

A quick count showed 3 Stihl gas saws and 1 Echo on the field. There might have been more.

Checking back again, I saw the pro filing a tooth on one of the blades. The saw had hit something metal from an old clothes line install or similar. There were two other saws nearby, ready to be used, but he had wanted to continue using the Milwaukee. To me, that made a strong statement about how good the new Milwaukee chainsaw really is, as it demonstrated an immediate preference.

I’ll be checking in with the tree service company soon, to see how well the Milwaukee M18 cordless chainsaw has worked for them over time, and how it compares to the many gas engine chainsaws they’ve been using alongside it. I can try to pass along any questions you might have about the chainsaw’s performance or use.

Features and Specs

• M18 Fuel brushless motor
• 16″ Oregon bar and chain
• Designed to provide the power and performance of gas engines up to 40cc
• Variable speed trigger
• 6600 RPM
• Reaches full throttle in under 1 second
• Automatic oiler
• Dual-stud for improved bar and chain retention
• On-board scrench storage
• 33″ overall length
• 3/8″ low profile chain pitch
• 0.043″ chain gauge
• Weighs 13.9 lbs

So, in 3 words, it’s fast, quiet, and good.

Price: $449 for the kit, $299 for the bare tool

Buy Now(Kit via Acme Tools)
Buy Now(Bare Tool via Acme Tools)
Buy Now(Kit via Tool Nut)

The kit comes with a Rapid Charger and HD12.0Ah battery. They say it’s compatible with all M18 batteries, but will work best with an HD or High Output high capacity battery. If you don’t have an HD12.0 battery, you’ll probably want to get the kit.

If you’ve used this saw, what do you think of it? Would you agree with the fast, quiet, good assessment?

Thank you to Milwaukee Tool for providing the review sample.

Related Posts:

Review: Dewalt 20V Max Brushless Chainsaw, and How I Was Wrong About it Dewalt 20V Max Brushless Chainsaw Milwaukee M18 Fuel Surge – a Brushless Hydraulic Impact Driver (Quiet Pulse Driver)

Over at Instagram, the fabulous Murray Kruger (@krugerconstruction) posted a short video of a Makita 18V 4-battery backpack.

The prototype backpack is loaded up with (4) Makita 18V Li-ion cordless power tool batteries, and can supply power to their 18V or 18V X2 tools.

On the side you can see a built-in fuel gauge.

Murray says that it’s surprisingly light on the back, and I agree with his assessment that it will open up doors for longer runtimes!

View this post on Instagram

Prototype 18v power pack from @makitatools • Uses 4 batteries to power either a single or dual battery tool • It’s surprisingly light on the back, this will open up doors for longer runtimes! • What you guys think? . . . @makita.ca #makita #makitatools #prototype #tools #contractor #construction #concrete #worldofconcrete2019

A post shared by Kruger Construction (@krugerconstruction) on Jan 22, 2019 at 10:23am PST

Neat, right?

Obviously, a cordless battery backpack power supply like this will have its uses. It won’t be practical, for example, to use it to power an impact driver.

When you’re dealing with multi-battery setups, swapping batteries from tool to tool can get tedious. A battery backpack like this can eliminate some of those frustrations.

Perhaps there will be future Makita technologies that can benefit from the combined power of (4) 18V Li-ion battery packs. A concrete breaker?

Not only does this add a cord to cordless power tools, it tethers them to your body. This will have benefits for some tools, but could be a hindrance for others. Outdoor cordless power tools, such as blowers or chainsaws, can possibly benefit from an off-tool power source configuration. An LED area worklight? Not so much.

I like that Makita is trying out new technologies, and am eager to see how they intend it to be used. What other new tools might they come out with that could tie in to this one?

Follow on Instagram:

@krugerconstruction
@toolguyd_stuey
@electronsmith (Benjamen)
@dusty.tools (Benjamin)

Discover: Makita 18V X2 Power-Assist Wheelbarrow

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Quick Sneak Peek of New Craftsman Tools! (2018 Media Event Kickoff) What’s Brewing? A New Makita Cordless Coffee Maker, DCM501Z Sneak Peek: Ridgid 18V Cordless Miter Saw, and a 5Ah Battery Pack!

Grizzly has recently teased their entry into the cordless power tool market, with a new 20V drill/driver listed on their site. Now, it’s clear they’re all-in, launching a full spectrum of core cordless power tools.

Grizzly, if you’re not familiar with the brand, is large mostly mail-order brand of woodworking and metalworking machinery, offering everything from benchtop tools under $1000 to huge 3-phase equipment with 5-figure price tags.

And now, they’re getting into the cordless power tool market. Not only that, they describe their new power tool lineup as Pro, which could mean they’re looking to grab a chunk of market share from typical pro brands, such as Dewalt and Milwaukee.

Here’s what Grizzly has come out with so far:

• T30290 Grizzly PRO Hammer Drill
• T30291 Grizzly PRO Impact Driver
• T30292 Grizzly PRO 3/8″ Impact Wrench
• T30293 Grizzly PRO Circular Saw
• T30294 Grizzly PRO Reciprocating Saw
• T30295 Grizzly PRO Jigsaw
• T30296 Grizzly PRO Oscillating Tool with 9 Accessories
• T30298 Grizzly PRO Inflator w/ LCD Panel
• T30299 Grizzly PRO Angle Grinder
• T30300 Grizzly PRO Bluetooth Speaker
• T30301 Grizzly PRO USB Adaptor
• T30304 Grizzly PRO 2.0Ah Lithium Ion Battery
• T30305 Grizzly PRO 4.0Ah Lithium Ion Battery
• T30303 Grizzly PRO 2.4A Dual Port Charger
• T30300 Bluetooth Speaker

Grizzly says:

Have instant power at your fingertips with our new lineup of professional duty 20V Grizzly PRO cordless tools and accessories! The beauty of our 20V system is the ability to operate any tool in our lineup without unnecessary additional batteries lying around your shop – it’s that simple.

For some of the tools, they add:

The Grizzly PRO 2.0Ah Lithium Ion Batteries are low profile and incredible lightweight for all day performance.

They also say: Affordable Performance has Arrived!

Looking at the product pages for the individual tools, their specs are modest.

The new Grizzly Pro 20V cordless hammer drill has competitive speed range, but lower max torque rating than I would have expected. It does have a brushless motor, which is surprising, but welcome.

• 1/2″ metal chuck
• brushless motor
• 0-600/0-2000 RPM
• 370 in-lbs max torque

The new Grizzly Pro 20V impact driver looks a little better on paper.

• 1/4″ quick-release chuck
• brushless motor
• 0-3000 RPM no-load
• 0-3000 IPM
• 1400 in-lbs max torque

They don’t mention if it’s single-speed, or if there are multiple torque/speed settings.

The new 6-1/2″ Grizzly Pro 20V circular saw is not listed as having a brushless motor.

• 6-1/2″ blade size
• Electric brake
• 3800 RPM

Dewalt’s DCS391 brushed motor cordless circular saw, for example, features a 5150 RPM motor. Faster cutting speeds means greater performance and quicker work.

Overall, the new Grizzly Pro cordless power tools appear to be very low priced – a good thing for DIYers and others who want maximum capabilities on a smaller budget.

The Grizzly Pro cordless jigsaw, for example, is $69.95 for the full kit, including a battery and charger. Or, it’s $57.95 for the tool and a 2.0Ah battery. The bare jigsaw is just $26.95.

Cordless circular saw? $34.95. Oscillating multi-tool? $34.95 for the bare tool.

Grizzly Pro 20V Combo Kit Pricing

• Hammer drill and impact driver kit with (2) 2.0Ah batteries and charger: $189.95
• Circular saw and reciprocating saw kit with (2) 4.0Ah batteries and charger: $187.95
• “Contractor” 5pc tool kit with 3 batteries and dual-port charger: $329.95
• 20V Master kit with 10 cordless power tools, a charger accessory, 3 batteries, and dual-port charger: $549.95

More Info(Grizzly Catalog Page w/ Links)

Notably, the batteries are said to be made by Samsung, although it’s unclear as to whether they mean the battery cells, or the entire packs. Samsung does offer power battery pack design and manufacturing services (Samsung SDI).

First Thoughts

What makes these tools “Pro?”

What will the warranty be like, if a tool fails prematurely?

Who is Grizzly competing against?

Will they be coming out with new tools?

Will bare tools and batteries still be available for purchase 5 years from now?

Grizzly introduced their lineup as being incredible professional 20V power tools. What makes them incredible? From the looks of it, affordable, yes. Incredible? No.

However, the tools do offer some good features. The oscillating multi-tool, for example, has tool-free blade change.

The pricing is really low. $13 for a fast charger, $35 for a 2.0Ah battery, $58 for a 4.0Ah battery, and bare tool prices are around $35 for the saws and $60 for the brushless hammer drill or impact tools.

The impact driver has a mid-range max torque rating of 1400 in-lbs, but the brushless 3/8″ impact wrench is a little under-rated with similar specs, using the Dewalt DCF890B as a baseline.

Here is the question that Grizzly needs to answer: WHY should someone buy these cordless power tools? Right now, it seems like they’re hoping the tools sell themselves. Why buy these tools instead of say Porter Cable, Skil, Ryobi, or Harbor Freight’s Hercules line, or any of the other more budget-friendly cordless power tool systems?

Thank you to Fred for the heads-up!

In this email, Fred postulated that maybe Grizzly is looking to compete with Harbor Freight. They could be, but if so they’ll have to improve their marketing game. They’ll have to up their marketing if they’re looking to compete with any brand.

Lastly, I’m just thinking aloud here, but could these new Grizzly Pro cordless power tools be linked in some way to Walmart’s inclusion of Grizzly in their Pro Tools store?

Related Posts:

Sears Launches New Craftsman 20V Max Cordless Power Tools Hilti 12V Cordless Power Tools First Look: New Dewalt ATOMIC 20V Max Compact Cordless Power Tools

Sears has recently come out with a new Craftsman 20V Max cordless power tool combo kit. Their new cordless platform launched a few months ago, and this kit is their first to include more than a drill and impact driver from the new line.

The new Sears Craftsman 20V Max 5pc cordless power tool combo kit comes with a drill/driver, impact driver, 6-1/2″ circular saw, reciprocating saw, a flashlight, (2) 1.5Ah DieHard Li-ion batteries, and a charger.

Drill

• 1/2″ chuck
• 0-350/0-1300 RPM
• 300 in-lbs max torque
• Weighs 3.1 lbs with included battery

Impact Driver

• 1/4″ hex quick release chuck
• 0-2500 RPM no-load
• 0-3100 BPM
• 1100 in-lbs max torque
• Weighs 2.8 lbs with included battery

Circular Saw

• 6-1/2″ blade size
• 2″ max cutting depth at 90°
• 3300 RPM
• Weighs 6.8 lbs with included battery

Reciprocating Saw

• 7/8″ stroke length
• 0-2600 SPM no-load speed
• Weighs 4.7 lbs with included battery

Battery charging time is said to be 4 hours. The kit also comes with a carrying bag.

Price: $198

Item number is 00946512000. Model number is “TBD.” The combo kit is currently available at Sears.com.

As a reminder, Sears Craftsman 20V Max cordless power tools are not compatible with Craftsman V20 cordless power tools sold at Amazon and Lowes. Sears’ Craftsman tools are developed and marketed under licensed, due to the sale of the Craftsman brand from Sears to Stanley Black & Decker.

Read More: Sears Launches New Craftsman 20V Max Cordless Power Tools

We’ll continue to follow up about new Sears Craftsman 20V Max cordless power tool developments. Personally, however, I am much more interested in Craftsman’s V20 cordless power tools. Confused about the difference? You’re not alone.

Related Posts:

Sears Launches New Craftsman 20V Max Cordless Power Tools Craftsman V20 and Sears Craftsman 20V Cordless Power Tools and Batteries are NOT Compatible New Craftsman 20V Cordless Power Tools! (Including Brushless and Made in USA*)

Dewalt has officially announced their new ATOMIC Compact Series cordless power tool lineup, adding to the 200+ tools in their 20V Max cordless system.

Also be sure to check out our Dewalt Atomic cordless power tools first-look, which discusses the new drill and impact in more detail.

Dewalt says that the new Atomic series compact cordless power tools combine performance and durability in a compact format. It is optimized for tight spaces, overhead work, and for long periods of use. The tools are optimized for overhead work and long periods of use.

They’re aiming the new 20V Max Atomic cordless power tools at general contractors, remodelers, electricians, mechanical and HVAC tradespeople, plumbers, and cabinetry and furniture builders. In other words, all of the types of users who are typically interested in Dewalt cordless power tools and accessories.

The Dewalt Atomic product family will include the following tools:

• Drill/driver (DCD708)
  • DCD708C2 2-battery kit, $159
  • DCD708B bare tool, $119
• Impact driver (DCD809)
  • DCD809C2 2-battery kit, $159
  • DCD809B bare tool, $119
• Hammer drill/driver (DCD709)
  • DCD709C2 2-battery kit, $179
  • DCD709B bare tool, $129
• Circular Saw (DCS571)
  • DCS571P1 1-battery kit, $269
  • DCS571B bare tool, $149
• Oscillating multi-tool (DCS354)
  • DCS354B bare tool, $129
• Reciprocating saw (DCS369)
  • Price TBD

What’s interesting – and potentially concerning – is that the drills and impact driver are bundled with 1.3Ah batteries, their lowest-capacity compact packs.

ALL of the Dewalt Atomic cordless power tools will feature brushless motors.

The Atomic drill/driver is said to have up to 13% more power and be 25% more compact than the DCD771, their entry-level model that launched in 2013. The impact driver is said to have up to 21% more torque than the DCF885, which launched in 2011.

There is new information about the new Atomic series saws and multi-tool, although no imagery has been provided yet.

Dewalt Atomic Hammer Drill

The new compact cordless Atomic hammer drill/driver is similarly spec’ed as the new drill/driver, featuring 340 UWO max power, 0-1650 RPM, and 0-28,050 BPM for masonry drilling applications.

Read More About the Dewalt Atomic Series Cordless Drill and Impact Driver

Dewalt Atomic Circular Saw

The 20V MAX* Compact Circular Saw has the power and depth-of-cut to complete 2×4 dimensional lumber at 90 degrees. With its extended reach, the rear-handle-design is maximized to rip sheet goods such as 3/4-inch OSB (oriented strand board). The circular saw also features a removable auxiliary handle, onboard dust port, electronic blade brake, and onboard blade key storage.

Okay, so the new Dewalt Atomic series compact circular saw can cut 2×4 or other 2x lumber, presumably in a single pass. It obviously has a reduced blade size, perhaps 5-3/8″, and a rear handle that’s optimized for long rip cuts in sheet goods. The auxiliary handle is removable (why?). An on-board dust is a plus, as is the electronic blade brake.

In kit format, the Atomic circular saw will be bundled with a 5.0Ah battery.

Dewalt Atomic Oscillating Multi-Tool

The 20V MAX* Compact Oscillating Multi-Tool includes a Quick-Change accessory blade holder, bright LED work light, and ergonomic Dual-Grip variable speed trigger.

How will the new oscillating multi-tool differ from the current model, DCS355? I’m curious – was the need for a new compact model inspired by sales performance of the single battery Black Friday 2018 kits?

Dewalt Atomic Reciprocating Saw

The Reciprocating Saw also includes a bright LED work light, Quick-Change blade holder, an ergonomic variable speed trigger, and a pivoting shoe for cutting performance.

From the sillouette, the new Dewalt Atomic reciprocating saw resembles the Milwaukee Hackzall, or perhaps a fixed-angle version of the Dewalt 12V Max pivoting reciprocating saw.

Dewalt Atomic Series Compact Cordless Power Tool Launch ETAs

Spring 2019

Drill/driver (DCD708)
Impact driver (DCD809)

Fall 2019

Hammer drill/driver (DCD709)
Circular Saw (DCS571)
Oscillating multi-tool (DCS354)

Early 2020

Reciprocating saw (DCS369)

More Thoughts

Dewalt’s positioning and marketing for the tools seems a little unclear. Compact? Yes, they are. Brushless motors? That’s appealing. 1.3Ah batteries for the drills and impact kits, while the circular saw is bundled with a 5.0Ah battery?

How will the oscillating multi-tool compare with the current Dewalt 20V Max model, or will it be replacing it?

The new circular saw and reciprocating saw look to be uniquely featured, or at least complementary to existing Dewalt 20V Max models.

Has their been demand for a more compact long rear-handle circular saw from Dewalt? I know that the compact recipricating saw will be in demand. But have users looked at Dewalt’s 6-1/2″ circular saws and said “that’s too big, I want something smaller?” And if it does not feature a smaller blade size, that rear handle is going to contradict the compact theme of the entire series. Thus, while it’s a presumption that the new Atomic compact series will feature a smaller blade size (Dewalt did not specify the blade size in press materials), I think it’s a reasonable one.

Traditionally, more compact circular saws have been in the realm of DIY cordless power tool platforms, such as Craftsman and Ryobi, pro tool brands’ 12V-class cordless lineups, or specialty models such as the Mafell KSS 300 cross-cutting system.

Before I allow myself to get excited (or critical) over the new Dewalt Atomic cordless power tools, I want to see what they can do.

I also have to ask a question I know readers will ask – why is Dewalt announcing these tools so far in advance? When they announced their new cordless woodworking tools, most of the tools were a few months away, with only the router having the longest lead time. Even so, those products were all featured in a cordless woodworking tools family photo. The Dewalt 20V Max Atomic hammer drill, circular saw, and oscillating multi-tool are 6-9 months away with a Fall 2019, and the reciprocating saw can be as long as a year away, with an “early 2020” ETA.

This is an unusual announcement for Dewalt. Quite frankly, it’s welcome, as I’d rather know as much as possible than less. I can’t wait to learn more! But on the other hand, there will be so many questions, my own and readers’.

That all said, based on the limited information available, are you excited about any of the new Dewalt Atomic Compact Series cordless power tools? Unfortunately, we know the least about the tools I’m most interested in – the circular saw, oscillating multi-tool, and reciprocating saw.

Lastly, there have been questions and some rumors that Dewalt is revitalizing their 12V Max cordless power tool lineup.

V12 branding on the new Craftsman charger very strongly suggests that Stanley Black & Decker is working on new 12V-class compact power tools for that brand. There are some images online of a new Dewalt 12V max brushless compact cordless drill, an impact driver, and a battery. While unverified, it would be efficient for Dewalt to develop both brands’ 12V-class cordless power tools at the same time.

As for my point – IF Dewalt is coming out with new 12V Max cordless power tools, including brushless tools, why not give that lineup Atomic branding? They still could, using Atomic as a cross-battery-size branding to indicate “compact power,” in the same way that Milwaukee’s FUEL branding can apply to both M12 and M18 cordless power tools.

So, that’s where my thinking is at. Either the Dewalt Atomic launch announcement is meant to precede a competitor product launch or announcement of some kind, or to start creating buzz that will grow and set the stage for big 12V Max product announcements. OR, it could just be a vague teaser meant to give us a light taste of what’s to come, but that seems like the least likely possibility.

Dear Dewalt: Please tell us and show some more!

Related Posts:

First Look: New Dewalt ATOMIC 20V Max Compact Cordless Power Tools New Sears Craftsman 20V Max Cordless Power Tool Combo Kit New Skil PWRCore 20V Cordless Power Tools – First Look

New HiKoki/Metabo HPT 10.8V/12V Max cordless power tools are set to hit the market, with the launch including a drill/driver, hammer drill, and impact driver.

Particularly noteworthy is that the lineup is centered around a new Li-ion battery form factor, which will be available in 1.5Ah, 2.5Ah, and 4.0Ah sizes.

Featured on the HiKoki website, the new 10.8V tools are said to be super easy to work with, versatile and compact with the shortest length in their class.

All three of the new tools are built with brushless motors. In addition to being compact and long-running, the impact driver has 3 tightening modes – low power, high power, and a mode for self-drilling screws.

Also significant is that the new battery packs feature built-in battery fuel gauges, with 4 LED indicator lights. That’s certainly a welcome feature.

HiKoki boasts that their charger delivers class-leading charging speed, with the 1.5Ah battery fully charged in around 22 minutes.

• DS12DD Drill/Driver, DV12DD Hammer Drill/Driver
  • 10mm (3/8″) chuck
  • 38 Nm max torque (~336 in-lbs)
  • 0-440/0-1700 RPM
  • Drill weighs 1.1 kg (~2.43 lbs), 149 mm (5.87″) length
  • Hammer drill weighs 1.2 kg (~2.65 lbs), 162 mm (6.38″) length
• WH12DD Impact Driver
  • 1/4″ hex chuck
  • 135 Nm max torque (~1195 in-lbs)
  • 0-3200 RPM (max), 0-1300 RPM on low
  • 0-4000 IPM (max), 0-2500 IPM on low
  • 134 mm (~5.28″) length
  • Weighs 1.1 kg (~2.43 lbs)

There’s no word yet as to whether these new HiKoki tools will be released in the USA under Metabo HPT branding.

First Thoughts

The new drills and impact driver look competitively designed and spec’ed, and I welcome the addition of a new 12V-class brushless motor cordless power tool platform.

The addition of an on-board battery fuel gauge is a great modernization, and something I hope comes to their 18V battery packs too.

But will there be more tools, such as saws, LED lights, or other compact cordless power tools? Will the tools be launched in the USA? Time will tell.

Lastly, I have found that I favor “HiKoki” over “Metabo HPT.”

Related Posts:

Hilti 12V Cordless Power Tools The New Hitachi 36V Cordless Power Tools, Coming September 2018 Metabo 18V Compact Cordless Reciprocating Saw