You may remember the 20V MAX framing gun that was announced with such fanfare a couple of years back—well here’s a similar model that drives 16 GA angled finish nails. It’s the DCN660, a brushless cordless nailer schedule for release in October 2015. The tool is made in Germany and will go for $399 in a one-battery kit. It will also be sold bare.
We’ve all seen modular storage boxes and jobsite radio/chargers with Bluetooth. This is a modular jobsite radio/charger with Bluetooth. Compatible with DeWalt’s ToughBox System, it is shown here on the wheeled carrier. But it can also be carried by itself or stacked on and attached to other ToughSystem boxes. I can’t tell you much more about it other than the Aerosmith they were playing on it came in loud and clear. It charges 12 and 20V MAX batteries and will be available in September 2015 for about $229.
What’s so sacred about making spirit levels out of aluminum, when for hundreds of years they were made from wood? Now they are about to be available from DeWalt in carbon fiber. Why carbon fiber? It’s light, strong, and if you are an early adopter you’ll be the only person on site who has one. This 4-foot model will go for about $100. There will also be 72- and 96-inch models and the possibility of other sizes later one.
Something about this 25-pound cordless stick and TIG welder is indescribably appealing to me—and I don’t even weld. Based on the $4,500 Fronius Accupocket 150/400, DeWalt’s DCW100K is unlikely to be a big seller. But it could be just the thing for the tradesman who needs to do light arc welding where power is unavailable.
This is DeWalt’s new DCF620 brushless cordless drywall gun, which can be used with or without a magazine. I was able to try it out and while it’s not as fast as the fastest corded models, it’s plenty fast and easier to handle than anything connected to a cord. The product manager is holding the new tool alongside a corded model to illustrate their relative size and weight—which are so close you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference. The new gun spins 4,400 rpm and is said to be able to fasten up to 58 sheets of drywall per charge. The DCF620 sells for $139 bare, $199 in a one-battery kit, and $269 in a two-battery kit.
This is one of three new one-piece forged steel hammers. Available in 16-, 20- and 22-ounce sizes they are a less expensive alternative to DeWalt’s two-piece MIG Welded hammers. Features include an oval shaped striking face, side puller, and a checkered face and magnetic nail starter on the 22-ounce model. Price: $22-30. COO: Taiwan.
Two new cross-line lasers, one in red and the other in green. Green is more visible to the human eye than red so the green projects a greater distance.
The new lasers are designed to be powered by 12V MAX batteries but can also be powered by a “dummy” battery containing standard AA cells. The dummy packs only work in the lasers. Look to the lower right and you will see two more (red and green) lasers. Both models project 360-degree beams in all three planes.
Here are 5 of the 11 pneumatic fastening tools recently released by DeWalt. Left to right they are: 30-degree paper tape framer, 1 ½-inch metal connector nailer, 15 GA “DA” angle nailer, 16 GA finish nailer, and 18 GA pinner. The last three tools are equipped with “Precision Point” technology, the DeWalt equivalent of Bostitch’s “Smart Point” technology. For more on the new nailers see DeWalt Introduces a New Line of Nailers and Staplers.
The ½-inch detent pin anvil model (DCF899; also available with ½-inch hog ring) is one of three new heavy duty brushless impact wrenches from DeWalt. I photographed it in front of a NASCAR vehicle because it was used in a demonstration by a professional pit crew. While the tool isn’t fast enough for use by a pit crew (they use custom-built air tools that run 16,000 rpm) it’s up to whatever a mechanic might throw at it. The other models in the series have a ¾-inch hog ring (DCF898) and 7/16-inch quick release chuck (DCF897). The quick release chuck is favored by utility crews—and the quick release model has a ring on top from which the tool can be hung.
DeWalt already made a 5-inch capacity deep cut corded band saw; now they make a 20V MAX cordless model.
This new low profile 5-inch sander (DWE6423K) has a separate counterweight to minimize vibration. It has a 3-amp motor, weighs 2.9 pounds, and spins 8,000 to 12,000 OPM on a 3/32-inch orbit. It will be available in August 2015 and will retail for about $79.
The D25263K is one of four new rotary hammers that were shown at the media event. Three are inline models and one is a pistol grip. The inline models appear intended to compete with the Bosch Bulldog. This particular model has hammer drill, drill, and chipping only functions and delivers 0-1,450 RPM and 0-5,350 BPM with 3.0 Joules of impact energy. Price: $199 COO: China.
The media event was the first time the new 20V MAX cordless miter saw was shown in public. I’d seen it online and written about it but there’s nothing like handling and running a tool in person. I monkeyed with all of the adjustments and made a dozen or so cuts with it—cuts fast and feels very solid. My instinct is to think of this as a second saw, but DeWalt is pitching it as a primary saw for people who mostly cut narrower stock. Two groups that were mentioned by name: flooring contractors and remodelers. The saw takes a 7 ¼-inch blade, weighs 32 pounds, and is said by its maker to be capable of up to 183 cuts per charge in pine 2x4 on a 5.0 Ah battery.
This 1-inch SDS brushless 20V MAX rotary hammer (DCH2733P2) is optimized for chipping work and drilling diameters of ½ inch or less. Features include a retractable hook and a light with a 20-second delay. Available in June 2015, the tool will be sold in two battery kit for $499 and for $299 bare.
These Bluetooth enabled batteries were among the more interesting new items at the event. The illuminated light indicates the one on the left is communicating with a smart phone app (more on that in the next slide). The upcharge for Bluetooth functionality is about $20 per battery.
The Tool Connect app allows Android and Apple devices to communicate with Bluetooth enabled batteries. Functionality includes diagnostics, actions, and alerts. Diagnostics include the temperature, condition, and state of charge of the cells. Actions include the ability to disable a battery when it is out of range (as in—if someone steals it). Alerts allow you to be notified when the battery overheats, is low on charge, or when charging completes. This is new technology and there is probably more that can be done with it. In my opinion, the most useful things these batteries and app can do is notify you when charging is complete and disable batteries when they are out of range.
This is an interesting setup for mechanics tools. Various groups of tools (“Stackable Sets”) are contained within modular storage boxes that clip one to another. Instead of hauling a complete set of mechanics tools, you can take specific groups of tools for specific jobs. The plastic sticking out to the right is removable; it’s there to hang the box on a display rack at a store.
The boxes for the Stackable Sets contain removable trays. The trays can be taken out and dropped into the drawer of a larger tool box. This allows the same tools used in the garage or shop to be also be used in the field.
This tool bag with light is one of several that were on display—including an open tote and a tablet cover.
This guy cut and cut and cut to demonstrate the speed and power of a new 6-inch corded cut-off tool (DWE46044) and the durability of DeWalt’s cut-off wheels.