Summer 2010 Table of Contents

Featured
SiteLines: Training Day SiteLines: Training Day

If there's one thing that gets swept aside in the constant rush to put out daily fires and meet long-term deadlines, it's our ability to educate and train our teams – rookies and veterans alike – on an ongoing basis. Read more

Cutting Edge: Arkansas Contractor Wins Site Commander! Cutting Edge: Arkansas Contractor Wins Site Commander!

Veteran contractor Don Hodge of North Little Rock, Ark., went online to look for a Lenox 3-inch hole saw and came away as this year's winner of the Site Commander Sweepstakes. He picked up the keys to his new truck at the Lenox 301 NASCAR Race in Loudon, N.H., at the end of June. Read more

Cutting Edge: Confusion Surrounds Lead Rule

By now, everyone involved in residential remodeling should know about the EPA's Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) rule. As of midsummer there were still plenty of questions and confusion regarding the requirements for tools and equipment. In particular the government was still in the process of clarifying for carpenters, plumbers, painters, electricians, and other residential contractors how the cleanup and disposal of waste materials and workplace dust and debris should be handled. Read more

Summer 2010 Hot Finds Summer 2010 Hot Finds

Prefilter Hepa Vacuum / Two-Stage Hepa Vacuum Read more

Cutting Edge: Tool Crib Founder Returns to the Web

Acme Tools, the Midwest retail powerhouse that created the original online tool and construction equipment sales site, Tool Crib of the North, has re-entered Internet retailing after a 10-year hiatus. Tool Crib was sold to Amazon.com in 1999. Read more

Truckin' Around: Toyota to Replace Rusting Tundra Frames

If your pickup is a Tundra and it's got serious frame rust, you could be in for some good news: Toyota has announced that it will replace the complete frame on affected vehicles built between 2000 and 2003 at no cost to the owners. Read more

Truckin' Around: Dodge Ram Hybrid Pickup Cancelled

Just a few short months after Dodge announced that it would produce a gas-electric hybrid version of its recently re-engineered Ram 1500 pickup 'sometime in 2010,' the struggling automaker has pulled the plug on the project. Read more

Truckin' Around: GM Rolls Out New Heavy-Duty Silverado and Sierra Pickups

Turnabout is fair play in the automotive business, so after Ford and then Dodge gave their heavy-duty pickup lines a top-to-tailgate remodel, truck buyers could guess that it wouldn't be long before General Motors' fleet of HD work vehicles would get an overhaul as well. Read more

First Test: DeWalt's New Framing Saw First Test: DeWalt's New Framing Saw

Wormdrive saws are known for being plenty strong – and plenty heavy too. And as it turned out, where power is concerned, the DWS535 ranks right up there with the best of them. Read more

First Test: Milwaukee Compact Band Saws First Test: Milwaukee Compact Band Saws

Finding a new tool that fits the work is a real pleasure for the pro. A full-size portable band saw used to be the tool of choice for cutting angle iron, Unistrut, and threaded rod on the job – even though its nearly 5-inch capacity is overkill for most chores – but now our plumber's crew grabs one of Milwaukee's compact models instead. Read more

Hands-On Hand Tools Hands-On Hand Tools

We've carefully selected more than 50 hand tools to share with you this issue. This diverse collection of tools represents the next generation of designs, with features that will help you carry on your own legacy of quality and provide continued enjoyment in your particular trade. Read more

Hackman Retires Hackman Retires

Lee Breton has been asked to do some crazy things in his career at Lenox Industrial Tools, and he's done them all. But now, after 48 years with the company, he's hanging up his tool pouch – and leaving a hole in the tool industry that will never be filled. Read more

Tool Test: Concrete Pinners Tool Test: Concrete Pinners

Tools for nailing through steel or into fully cured concrete used to be limited to PATs (powder-actuated tools), but gas-powered pinners are gaining popularity. And there are powerful pneumatics – some old and some new – that have been flying under the radar for some time even though they excel at shooting into these tough materials. We gathered all the tools we could find in the two categories and gave them to a commercial contractor in Wisconsin to see how they fared on the job. Read more

Product Watch: Johnson Tile/Flooring Laser Level Product Watch: Johnson Tile/Flooring Laser Level

Johnson's Tile/Flooring Laser Level 40-6616 projects two 90-degree laser level beams that are visible over multiple surfaces with an accuracy of +/- 1/4 inch for up to 60 feet. Read more

Product Watch: Hilti PMC 46 Combilaser Product Watch: Hilti PMC 46 Combilaser

Hilti's PMC 46 Combilaser features Hilti Pulse Power technology for accuracy in level, plumb, and squaring functions. Read more

Product Watch: DeWalt DW030 Laser Distance Measurer Product Watch: DeWalt DW030 Laser Distance Measurer

DeWalt's DW030 Laser Distance Measurer covers distances up to 100 feet with 1/8-inch accuracy. Read more

Product Watch: CST/Berger Mini-Line and Point Laser Product Watch: CST/Berger Mini-Line and Point Laser

CST/Berger's electronic self-leveling Mini-Line and Point Laser Tool XLP-34 provides a 90-degree horizontal and vertical layout grid with bright red laser lines and self-leveling accuracy up to 1/8 inch at 100 feet. Read more

Product Watch: Stabila LD400 Laser Measure Product Watch: Stabila LD400 Laser Measure

Stabila's LD400 Laser Measure calculates length (up to 200 feet), area, volume, continuous measure, square footage, and diagonals with an accuracy of +/- 1/16 inch. Read more

Product Watch: Bosch CPL5C Five-Point Laser Product Watch: Bosch CPL5C Five-Point Laser

The Bosch GPL5C self-leveling five-point laser projects plumb, level, and square as well as cross-alignment lines on floors and ceilings, eliminating the need for two setup points. Read more

Product Watch: Leica Lino L2P5 Dot-Line Laser Product Watch: Leica Lino L2P5 Dot-Line Laser

The Leica Lino L2P5 is a super-bright, self-leveling, dot-line laser. Read more

Product Watch: Milwaukee Two-Beam Plumb Laser 2320-20 Product Watch: Milwaukee Two-Beam Plumb Laser 2320-20

Milwaukee's Two-Beam Plumb Laser 2320-20 is compatible with the company's M12 12-volt cordless-tool batteries. Read more

Product Watch: Spectra Precision HD100 Laser Distance Meter Product Watch: Spectra Precision HD100 Laser Distance Meter

The Spectra Precision HD100 Laser Distance Meter measures distance with 1/16-inch accuracy up to 330 feet and calculates area, volume, room dimension, and various Pythagorean functions. Read more

Product Watch: Pacific Laser Systems HVL 100 Self-Leveling Laser Product Watch: Pacific Laser Systems HVL 100 Self-Leveling Laser

The Pacific Laser Systems HVL 100 is a 360-degree self-leveling laser for plumb, level, and square. Read more

M.Power Combination 3D Square M.Power Combination 3D Square

M.Power's Combination 3D Square ($50) is a try square, marking gauge, and saddle square all in one. Read more

Milwaukee 11-in-1 Screwdriver With ECX Bit Milwaukee 11-in-1 Screwdriver With ECX Bit

Milwaukee's new hand-tool line is growing, with several everyday tools for the electrical and plumbing trades. Read more

Bridge City Tools Kerfmaker and CT-17 Dual Angle Block Plane Bridge City Tools Kerfmaker and CT-17 Dual Angle Block Plane

Bridge City Tools' KM-1 Kerfmaker is an ingenious little device that accurately figures a table-saw blade's kerf into repeatable cut lengths for lap joints. Read more

Stanley Sweetheart Socket Chisels and #92 Shoulder Plane Stanley Sweetheart Socket Chisels and #92 Shoulder Plane

Stanley is reviving its old Sweetheart branding yet again, this time for a line of bench chisels. Read more

Tajima Tool Combination Drywall Rasp Tajima Tool Combination Drywall Rasp

Tajima Tool's Combination Drywall Rasp ($16) has teeth made of chromed die-cast aluminum. Read more

Bostitch 33-001 25-foot Tape Measure Bostitch 33-001 25-foot Tape Measure

Bostitch, now the brand for Stanley's heaviest-duty pro hand tools, has introduced a series of new products. Read more

Greenlee Nut-Holding Nut Driver and Screw-Holding Screwdrivers Greenlee Nut-Holding Nut Driver and Screw-Holding Screwdrivers

Greenlee has some interesting fastener-holding drivers. Read more

Lee Valley Tools Veritax Skew Block Plane Lee Valley Tools Veritax Skew Block Plane

Lee Valley Tools comes up with a lot of thoughtful designs, and its Veritas brand Skew Block Plane ($189) is no exception. Read more

Bessey TSC4.516 Staircase Clamp Bessey TSC4.516 Staircase Clamp

Bessey is known for its strong industrial and shop clamps. Read more

Ideal Industries Sir Nickless Cable Cutter Ideal Industries Sir Nickless Cable Cutter

Ideal Industries has invented a better mousetrap for the electrician in the form of an improved armored cable cutter. Read more

Jackson Pulverizer Demolition Tool Jackson Pulverizer Demolition Tool

Jackson has a new demolition tool called the Pulverizer Read more

Nail Jack Pro Model, Nail Hunter and Staple Jack Pliers Nail Jack Pro Model, Nail Hunter and Staple Jack Pliers

Nail Jack extraction pliers have an 'anvil' behind the head that you pound on to drive the tips into the wood surrounding a nail. Read more

Irwin Vise-Grip 10CR Fast Release Pliers Irwin Vise-Grip 10CR Fast Release Pliers

Irwin's newest Vise-Grip pliers have a 'self-energizing' jaw design that shifts under load and self-tightens, similar to the action of a pipe wrench. Read more

SOG Knives PowerLock Pliers SOG Knives PowerLock Pliers

Like many multi-tools on the market, SOG's PowerLock pliers ($110) have a knife blade, screwdrivers, and a 1/4-inch hex-bit driver adapter. Read more

Green Grass Group DoubleVsquare Green Grass Group DoubleVsquare

Green Grass Group's DoubleVsquare ($25) — which consists of two triangular-type aluminum squares hinged down the center — makes it easier to transfer marks around corners Read more

Craftsman Universal Design Ratcheting Wrench Set Craftsman Universal Design Ratcheting Wrench Set

Craftsman wrenches are synonymous with lifetime-warranty quality. Read more

Starrett Pro Site Miter Saw Protractor Starrett Pro Site Miter Saw Protractor

Starrett has a new plastic version ($25) of its Pro Site Miter Saw Protractor that's half the size and price of the aluminum model. Read more

Kunz 5 Plus Jack Plane Kunz 5 Plus Jack Plane

Kunz has a new premium plane line. Read more

Ridgid Tailpiece Extension and Close Quarters Autofeed Cutters Ridgid Tailpiece Extension and Close Quarters Autofeed Cutters

Ridgid plumbing tools have been a mainstay in the industry for decades, and the company's newest offerings show us what plumbers have been missing until now. Read more

Rockler Pock-It Hole Clamp Rockler Pock-It Hole Clamp

Rockler's Pock-It Hole Clamp ($20) is a novel device for aligning and clamping pocket screw joints in 3/4-inch stock up to 3 inches wide. Read more

Jevon's Tools 3D Squares Joinery Clamps Jevon's Tools 3D Squares Joinery Clamps

Jevon's Tools 3D Squares ($60) are sold in sets of four to help with clamping casework corners and making joinery square, but they also have other uses. Read more

Megapro 15-in-1 Hex Bit Driver Megapro 15-in-1 Hex Bit Driver

Megapro won an Editor's Choice award a few years back for its handy 15-in-1 screwdriver. Read more

DoorJack Foot Lever DoorJack Foot Lever

The DoorJack is a clever foot lever for lifting and rehanging doors up to 240 pounds. Read more

Hot Finds: Fein Power Tools Two-Stage HEPA Vacuum Hot Finds: Fein Power Tools Two-Stage HEPA Vacuum

The wet/dry vacs in Fein Power Tools' Turbo line are designed with 0.3-micron Tier-II HEPA filters to comply with the new RRP rule, says the maker. Read more

Hot Finds: Dustless Technologies HEPA Wet/Dry Vacuum Hot Finds: Dustless Technologies HEPA Wet/Dry Vacuum

Dustless Technologies offers a wet/dry vac with a dedicated HEPA filter (model 16006) to meet the requirements of the new EPA lead rule, says the manufacturer. Read more

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