Winter 2012 Table of Contents

No, it's not a pasta strainer. The Hisco Mud Shovel has a unique perforated design that allows liquids to drain, so you're shoveling less slop and more dirt. Read more

Festool's new T-18+3 drill combines 18-volt lithium-ion power with a number of innovative features. Read more

When you work near the road, you need to wear some kind of high-visibility clothing. Read more

Sure, the jointed Ultra Flex III kneepads may make you look like the tin man – but they'll also keep your knees safe from harm, says the maker. Read more

The most common way to set a depth on a masonry bit is to wrap a piece of tape around the shaft of the bit. Read more

Think of the new Knaack Field Station as a mobile command center, with everything you need for a job-site office, including adjustable shelves, a plan table, and places to mount bins and a work light. Read more

Above all, a sledgehammer should be indestructible. Wilton claims its new BASH (Bad Ass Sledge Hammer) fits the bill. Read more

All it takes is one twisting, curling air hose to create a tripping hazard and completely clutter the work area. Read more

Max has just come out with a new standard-pressure 18-gauge brad gun (NF255F) that uses the same driver and bumper technology as the company's 400-psi tools. Read more

Sola's new Focus Vial Level is designed with a strong emphasis on readability. Read more

Makita's new lithium-ion powered planer, the first of its kind, can do everything its corded brother can do. Read more

ARE's RT series truck cap is extra tall, providing plenty of room for lumber, tools, and materials. Read more

If you're looking for a small metal-connector nailer, Senco just might have the ticket. The Joist Pro 150 is all about size. Weighing barely over 4-1/2 pounds, with a nose-to-rear length of 12 inches, this gun is designed for use in tight spaces. Read more

A truck cap keeps tools dry but can make it harder to get at them. The TramBed provides complete access to the cargo space in your pickup. Read more

The Cordless Warn PulzAll is a battery-powered pulling and lifting tool that can help you move heavy items like LVLs and I-beams. Read more

Milwaukee's new 6-in-1 Linesman Pliers are designed specifically for the electrician. Read more

The Mr. Heater Hero is a cordless propane heater, which means it's both portable and hassle-free. I Read more

Imagine how convenient it would be if your HEPA construction vacuum could clean its own filters and didn't require the use of collection bags. Read more

Imagine how convenient it would be if your HEPA construction vacuum could clean its own filters and didn't require the use of collection bags. Read more

Blindly rummaging around in the back of your truck on a dark winter morning is a lousy way to start the day. Read more

Two sawhorses and a sheet of plywood make for a very basic worktable. The new Benchmark Table offers a little more versatility. Read more

Amana recently released the first carbide-tipped countersinks. Because they're made with such a durable material, they keep a nice sharp edge and are tough enough to drill into hardwoods. Read more

Trying to squeeze cold construction adhesive out of a caulking tube can be like trying to push a cinder block through a keyhole. Read more

Weather Guard's new Hi-Side boxes are both weather-resistant and tamperproof: An innovative built-in gutter system helps them shed water, and all locks are drill-resistant. Read more

The Hydro Handle is an attachment that lets you wet-drill and polish stone, glass, and tile with any 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch cordless drill. It fits into the end of the drill and holds a coring bit or a diamond polishing pad. Read more

When demolition goes beyond prying (and when doesn't it?), there's the new Stanley Fubar Demolition Tool. Read more

When it comes to jigsaws, I'm an avowed barrel-grip guy, so even though many of my other tools are cordless, I've been stuck using a corded jigsaw. But with Milwaukee's recent introduction of the model 2445 saw (which takes M12 batteries), I've been able to add a cordless model to my tool kit. Read more

Erecta-Rack consists of 40-inch steel cross bars that snap into plastic support blocks, which stack and snap together like Lego blocks. As the rack goes up, the individual sections begin to resemble ladders, with towers of blocks for the sides and cross bars for the rungs. It's designed to be assembled as you go: Set up one level of the rack, fill it with freshly painted material, add another level, and so on. Read more

About a year ago, Tools of the Trade sent me a ZipSaw, a grinder-based cutoff saw that takes 3-1/2- and 4-inch proprietary cutoff wheels. Read more

For this article, my crew and I tested 11 self-leveling line lasers that can be purchased for $300 or less – an amount any tradesperson should be willing to spend for a tool that can pay for itself. Our pricing came from reputable online dealers; you may pay more or less based on when and where you buy the tool. We chose not to include point-to-point (dot) lasers, mostly because they're not as applicable to the tasks contractors perform every day. Read more

We pushed 18 recip-saw blades to their limits to determine their ability to cut quickly and resist wear. Read more

Porter-Cable's new oscillating tool is notable for its unique quick-change feature. Read more

If you're one of those people who can't hitch up a trailer to save your life, you should consider the Swift Hitch. Read more

When demolition goes beyond prying (and when doesn't it?), there's the new Stanley Fubar Demolition Tool. Read more

The Hydro Handle is an attachment that lets you wet-drill and polish stone, glass, and tile with any 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch cordless drill. Read more

Trying to squeeze cold construction adhesive out of a caulking tube can be like trying to push a cinder block through a keyhole. Read more

Amana recently released the first carbide-tipped countersinks. Read more

Two sawhorses and a sheet of plywood make for a very basic worktable. The new Benchmark Table offers a little more versatility. Read more

Blindly rummaging around in the back of your truck on a dark winter morning is a lousy way to start the day. Read more

Imagine how convenient it would be if your HEPA construction vacuum could clean its own filters and didn't require the use of collection bags. Read more

The Mr. Heater Hero is a cordless propane heater, which means it's both portable and hassle-free. Read more

Milwaukee's new 6-in-1 Linesman Pliers are designed specifically for the electrician. Read more

The Cordless Warn PulzAll is a battery-powered pulling and lifting tool that can help you move heavy items like LVLs and I-beams. Read more

A truck cap keeps tools dry but can make it harder to get at them. The TramBed provides complete access to the cargo space in your pickup. Read more

ARE's RT series truck cap is extra tall, providing plenty of room for lumber, tools, and materials. Read more

Makita's new lithium-ion powered planer, the first of its kind, can do everything its corded brother can do. Read more

Sola's new Focus Vial Level is designed with a strong emphasis on readability. Read more

Think of the new Knaack Field Station as a mobile command center, with everything you need for a job-site office, including adjustable shelves, a plan table, and places to mount bins and a work light. Read more

The most common way to set a depth on a masonry bit is to wrap a piece of tape around the shaft of the bit. Read more

Sure, the jointed Ultra Flex III kneepads may make you look like the tin man – but they'll also keep your knees safe from harm, says the maker. Read more

When you work near the road, you need to wear some kind of high-visibility clothing. Read more

Festool's new T-18+3 drill combines 18-volt lithium-ion power with a number of innovative features. Read more

Porter-Cable's new oscillating tool is notable for its unique quick-change feature. Read more