Ensure Your Power Tools are Optimally Maintained

Preventative maintenance is the ultimate key to keeping your power tools, machines, and working parts in better working order. Making it part of your regular routine to clean and check your power tools will make a staggering difference in the longevity and performance of your tools and equipment. Just like watering the lawn or eating an apple a day, being more conscious of your tools and how you treat them, will make them healthier, happier, and altogether better.

Now, to get down to business; your power tools, especially your screw guns, grinders, and sanders need to be blown-out after every use. Using an air compressor or canned-air, concentrate a stream of air at and into all the tools messy parts and components. The tool’s vents, chuck, and generally any other opening on the tool require special attention to ensure there is no debris built-up inside the tool; debris clogs internal mechanisms limiting, if not stopping, the tool’s functionality entirely and can totally debilitate your equipment. Ultimately, it’s crucial to keep your tools clean and blown-out with every use – just like flossing, blowing-out your tools is easy, painless, takes only a few moments, and helps you to sidestep the world of very avoidable hurt poor maintenance inevitably inflicts – so do it!

Secondly, wiping your tools down is truly as simple as wiping them down. Using a shop rag or old t-shirt (and, periodically, a solution of diluted household cleaner) simply wipe-down the tool. Clean off any dust, debris, or residue and your tools and through a brilliant performance, they will show their gratitude. Although simple, this step is certainly not negligible and is vitally important to keeping your tools running at their best.

Thirdly, oiling your pneumatic air tools is another crucial step and one that an alarming number of people actually do improperly. The “one drop” rule is generally the most effective method of oiling pneumatic guns. Simply plop one drop of oil into the end of your gun (before use) for every 3,000 nails shot. In other words, just “one drop” of oil for every 3,000 nails. Also, be weary of over-oiling! Over-oiling creates a sludgy, sloppy build-up that causes the gun to stick and perform poorly. Under-oiling is another common misstep that causes the tool’s o-rings to dry-up and crack and also creates a metal upon metal friction within the gun that can cause additional internal breakage – an expensive fix for just missing one drop of oil. Simply remember: One drop every 3,000 shots, and your gun should stay smooth and precise.

Additionally, please periodically (and routinely) top off the oil in your air compressor as well. The more you use your compressor, the more you need to check and refill the oil. It is also hugely important to drain the compressor’s tank after every use. If the tank goes undrained for even a short amount of time, it can cause irreparable (or at least very expensive) rust damage to the tool.

Lastly, it is fairly common for contractors and other professional craftsmen to leave their tools to weather the, well, weather, on their own. We highly recommend that tool-users keep their equipment in a dry, temperate, and safe environment whenever possible; this means somewhere not outside. No man would like to lay tossed in the back of a truck in the heat, humidity, storms, snow, or freezing rain – your tools don’t either. Keeping them dry and temperate will save your tools and their components (which also effects your pocketbook) in a big way.

We all know it is easy to forget to maintain our power tools, but in following these few simple upkeep steps, your tools will be much happier to work for you. Preventative maintenance is vital to the longevity and positive, powerful performance of your tools, and as you can see, its easy do. Just do it and you, and your tools, will be glad you did.

Evolution Rage 7-1/4” TCT Multipurpose Circular Saw

Over the past several years Evolution tools and products have truly proven to be worth their striking name. Building equipment that is everything from efficient to economical, Evolution has a revolution on their hands with their line of Rage saws, particularly their Rage 7-1/4” TCT multipurpose circular saw. With an entirely reinvented blade design and a tool body that is both industrially tough and ergonomically comfortable, this Rage circ saw lives up to every expectation.

The Rage’s unique blade cuts through steel, aluminum, plastic, and wood (even with embedded nails, staples, or etc) with a truly surprising ease, and because these cuts are made both clean and fast without producing (nearly) any burr or sparks, the blade moves like a little miracle through any variety of materials. In fact, cutting laminates with smooth precision, and moving through industrial metals without hesitation, the saw begs only one question: why buy any other when you can do so much with this one?

Appealing to all crafts and tradesmen, this multipurpose cutting machine smoothly cuts through steel up to 6mm thick (for 50m before dulling), and because of its meticulous design, your cut-lines are clearly and conveniently visible. Requiring no coolant while cutting steel, the Rage blade is innovated for both big smarts and big strength; these cold cuts are smooth and because they’re cold, they also allow you to immediately handle your materials without worry. Additionally, the tool’s redesigned multipurpose blade is not only groundbreaking but durable to boot – cutting up to 164 feet of 1/4” steel, the saw and blade are ridiculously powerful, and surprisingly high-performance.

The saw also incorporates a dust collection system in its top guard to automatically collect any wood or metal clippings, and with a high-torque, 1050 watt, 3500 RPM motor and high-torque gearbox, the saw’s powerful, durable components also contribute to the Rage’s overall awesomeness. The saw bevel tilts at 90-45 degrees, and with a fitted (removable) riving knife, this saw has all bases covered. Additionally, weighing only 14.3 lbs, and including goggles, earplugs, a molded carrying case, and an extremely affordable price-tag, the saw is generally brilliant – a worthwhile and versatile contribution to any builder and any tool collection.

Using Extension Cords the Right Way

With corded power tools its a general rule that the longer your cord length, the less energy reaches your tool. For the best performance, avoid using an extension cord altogether. Where extensions cords are vital, always use a heavy gauge cord (12-14ga) with the shortest possible length to complete your job. This ensures the most effective power transmission, and the least stress to the tool’s motor.

For many craftsmen, a pneumatic framing nailer is one of the greatest tools in the world. Making quick work of jobs that can take what feels like forever, and doing it with professional strength and precision, these nailers are an irreplaceable asset. If you’re in the market for one of the best framing nailers in the pneumatic world, well, you’re in luck. The following is a compiled, compacted set of reviews of the best framing nailers, and their prices, on the market today.

Hitachi’s NR83A2 framing nailer is one of the most high-quality, high-performance pneumatic framers on the market today. Weighing only 7.9 lbs the tool is clearly lightweight and the tool is extremely well balanced for the most comfortable operation and maneuverability. The framer has a tool-less depth adjustment allowing craftsmen to choose their depth of drive, and with an open nose design, extracting a jammed nail is hardly a hassle. The framer also features selective actuation, a favorite feature of most users, which allow craftsmen to simply transition from single actuation to contact actuation for the greatest versatility through a variety of applications. The tool is strong, fast, and versatile, and because it’s also so lightweight and well-balanced, continuous work and awkward applications are far less strenuous. Ultimately, the NR83A2 is a seriously tough framer built for durability on the jobsite and for reliability through the most heavy-duty applications. Lastly, pricing from about $290 – $320, Hitachi’s framer is a bit spendy, but is worth every penny. (Note: This tool is also available as a sequential trigger gun (NR83A2S) for just about $300.)

On another hand, Porter-Cable’s FR350A 3-1/2” roundhead framing nailer is one of the more heavy-duty pneumatic framing tools on the market today. With the power to drive nails up to 3-1/2″ x 131″ into engineered lumber, the tool has intense power. The framer’s compact body design contributes to its well-balance and overall smooth style while an internal piston catch mechanism ensures each shot is consistently powerful. A selectable trigger transitions modes between restrictive or contact actuation mode, and with a tool-free adjustable depth-of-drive, craftsmen have complete control over the tool’s performance. The tool is simple to reload, and a nail lockout mechanism alerts you when its time to reload your tool. Keeping your materials protected during work, the framer also has a (tool-free, adjustable) exhaust and a (removable) non-marring nose tip, and also having on-tool storage, the FR350AR is endlessly convenient. Ranging in price from about $200 – $230, the framer is a brilliant tool at a certainly reasonable price.

The FR350A is also available reconditioned (FR350AR) for just about $160. As a reconditioned tool, this nailer presents a truly superior value to craftsmen and builders. For those unfamiliar with recons, they are an extremely great value that bring craftsmen the highest-performance tools at a tiny fraction of regular cost. Reconditioned tools, for some minor cosmetic or technical defect, have been returned to the manufacturer. There, they undergo a series of stringent tests and retests and restoration processes before being re-released with an “R” trailing the model number. This little “R” (and potentially hundreds of dollars) is truly the only difference between a brand new tool and a recon. The value with reconditioned tools is a no-brainer; when they are available, buy them.

Like Hitachi and Porter-Cable, Senco is known for building some of the best pneumatic tools and nailers in the industry. With well-seasoned experience and superior craftsmanship, Senco is a steadfast contender in the world of pneumatics. Pricing from about $270 – $290, their SN902XP framing nailer is a brilliant and saucy little tool with 904 in/lbs of power in a compact, 7.3 lb package. This round head framer is also built with a innovated design that requires up to fifteen-percent less air than other comparable models, and still having the power to drive 2 – 3-1/4” (round head plastic collated) framing nails with fast efficiency, the nailer perfectly unites precision power and lightweight convenience. The nailer also drives 2″-3-1/2″ smooth shank nails and 2″-3″ ring shank nails. The tool’s compact design also contributes to its ability to work in tight spaces in between studs and joists, and its overall balance and ease of operation. Additionally, the gun is easy to transition from rapid fire to sequential fire and is simple to load and unload for optimal convenience on the job. The SN902XP is ideal for a huge number of applications from framing, fencing and subfloors, to trusses and decking. It additionally has a patented TrueDrive magazine to prevent jamming and an adjustable depth of drive for unfailing precision with every shot. Like the above Porter-Cable nailer, Senco’s SN902XP is also available reconditioned (if you can find it) for about $170.

In the end and whatever your needs may be, one of these nailers is certain to be an ideal framer. With big power, acute precision, and the accountability of a time-honored manufacturer, these pneumatic framing nailers are the best of the best.

Beat the Rust

Keeping your tools in a damp basement, garage, or shed is likely to inflict some rust damage. Try keeping an ordinary piece of chalk in your tool box, case, or bag to absorb the excess moisture in the air. The chalk acts like a sponge, sucking the moisture from the air and keeping it from rusting your tools. Eliminated moisture equals eliminated rust.

For many folks a pneumatic pin nailer is the saving grace of a busy or stressful workday, for many others, a pneumatic pin nailer is the go-to tool for craft, hobby, and home projects. Ultimately, these tools are versatile, powerful, precise, and effective for every degree of craftsmen. Determining which pin nailer is best suited to you and your needs, though, can be a struggle. To help alleviate some of these pains and possibly lessen the pressure of your search, I’ve done some research of my own on the industry’s best, brightest, and most affordable pneumatic pin nailers.

For the most heavy-duty pneumatic nailing, Senco’s line of pneumatic tools is one that truly never fails to impress; with innovation, design, and all-around style, Senco nailers, like the FinishPro 11, a 23 gauge pin nailer, remain in a league of their own. Perfect for your most detailed and intricate projects, this micro pinner is both lightweight and powerful with the extra punch for effective use in harder materials. Additionally, pins fasten securely and leave behind them a virtually invisible hole with no splitting to your materials.

The tool is comfortable to use, and with an aluminum housing the tool is durable to withstand the trials, bumps, and bruises of pneumatic tool life. The pinner drives 23 gauge, headless micro pins from 1″ – 2″ in length with the power to slide through tough materials while also not splitting or marring your projects and as the tool weighs only 2.9 lbs, it is extremely comfortable to operate throughout awkward or continuous work. Ultimately, with comfort, precision, and power, the pinner is ideal for molding, cabinets, trim, and etc, and pricing at about $240 – $250, the nailer is definitely an investment, but one that will continuously deliver professional, powerful, high-performance results.

Senco’s FinsihPro10 (23 gauge) pin nailer is another example of Senco’s line of brilliant pneumatic machines. At only 2.35 lbs the tool is ultra compact and lightweight to ensure strained, awkward, or continuous use is simpler and more comfortable for operators. Ideal for the most intricate finish, trim, and remodeling work, the FinishPro 10 fastens securely while still only making a virtually imperceptible hole in your materials. With this pinner, your results are professionally smooth to the smallest detail, and with a hardened steel driver ensuring the tool’s longevity and a smooth metal cap to protect your working materials, the pinner is both durable and delicately precise.

Porter-Cable is another superior performer in the world of pneumatics; built with durable innovation, and brilliant speed and power, Porter-Cable’s PIN100 1″ pin nailer is uncommonly awesome in a variety of tough applications. Shooting 23 gauge micro pin nails from 1/2″ to 1″ long, the tool automatically adjusts to different fastener lengths to ensure that your pins are not only permanently tight, but always in the right place as well. Additionally, the tool’s bottom load magazine holds 170 micro pin nails, and because it also has a nail reload indicator, empty magazines will be the least of your worries.

The nailer is extremely lightweight weighing only 2 lbs; this compact design provides optimized access into tight spaces, corners, and awkward spots – ultimately keeping you more comfortable and your materials more protected from the potential dents or dings of a bulkier tool. The pinner’s rear exhaust port channels debris, tool oil, and other contaminates away from your workpieces, and pricing from about $100 – $110, the tool is both professionally awesome and quite affordable.

On another hand, while this Air Locker tool is best suited for light-duty users and light-duty applications, the Air Locker P630 (23 gauge) micro pin nailer is a great tool at an astounding value. The tool’s components are built for durability and because the tool comes both with a case, as well as a replacement driver and o-ring kit, craftsmen can be certain the tool will remain kicking for a good, long while.

The nailer automatically adjusts for fastener lengths from 1/2″ through 1-3/16″, rendering the tool always accurate as well as simple to operate for any degree of user. The P630 features a bottom load magazine and an adjustable exhaust to ensure oil and any other contaminates are directed away from your working materials, and although this nailer doesn’t necessarily perform on par with heavy-duty Senco or Porter-Cable models, the tool definitely carries its own weight. Ultimately, pricing at $59, the P630 offers light users a strong tool with the drive to complete light applications with notable high-performance and a ridiculously low price.

In the end, one of these pneumatic pin nailers is certain to meet your individual needs and specifications. With the power to keep your pins professionally secured, and the precision to do it cleanly and delicately, one of these pinners is your ticket to professional, beautiful results.

A quality pneumatic brad nailer both enhances and simplifies the work of craftsmen, carpenters, and anyone looking for a good-old air nailer. Ideal for crafting, cabinetry, furniture, trim, and etc, one of these high-performance pneumatic brad nailers from Senco and Porter-Cable is certain to take your craft to a higher level.

For craftsmen, carpenters, and cabinet shops, a quality pneumatic brad nailer is basically a bare necessity. Designed for trim, baseboards, cabinets, furniture, and etc, a brad nailer is built for the most precise, clean, and effective nailing. Where-ever you need smooth and crafty fabrication or installation, a brad nailer is just the tool for the job. Finding the best brad nailer, though, can be a tough process, so I’ve compiled a bit of information on the industry’s very best pneumatic brad nailers to help you narrow your search for the ultimate air tool.

Senco is known for building some of the best pneumatic tools this industry has ever seen and their FinsihPro18 (18 gauge) brad nailer is brilliant example of the Senco difference. With the power, durability, and perfectly compact design to bring you the most professional, impressive results, the FinishPro 18 is a tool to be remembered. Weighing only 2.9 lbs the tool’s lightweight design entirely eliminates the pains of continuous or overhead work, and this comfort comes without any sacrifice to power; the nailer drives fasteners up to 2″ into hard woods making this brad nailer ideal for cabinetry, trim, and any type of finish work. The tool also has an adjustable depth-of-drive for the most precise nailing, and a hardened steel driver for longevity and durability. The tool is simple to load, and with a low-load indicator you’ll never be caught off guard with an empty magazine. The nailer’s rear exhaust keeps oil and dust away from your work surfaces, and with a no mar pad the your materials are just about as protected as they can be. Ultimately, this nailer is tough enough for heavy-duty applications while being ultra compact to ensure you are always comfortable and in control of each shot and each application. Additionally, as the Finish Pro 18 only costs around $80 – $90, this brilliant tool comes at a brilliantly affordable price.

On another hand, Porter-Cable’s BN200B is another (18 gauge) brad nailer with all the power and innovation to bring you impressive results with every single shot. With a long-lasting, virtually maintenance-free motor, the tool’s durable high-performance is unfailingly reliable, and with a rear exhaust keeping oils and contaminants away from your workpieces, your results are clean and precise. Additionally, a (removable) no-marring nose piece keeps your materials protected against scrapes and scuffs for for the cleanest possible results. The BN200B drives nails from 5/8″ to 2″ in length (with a depth-of-drive adjustment), and because of an internal piston catch, the tool delivers consistent max power through every shot. A low nail reload mechanism indicates when a reload is required, and with a tool-free jam release, nail removal is always simple. The tool has a 100 nail magazine capacity, and weighing only 2.6 lbs the tool is comfortable during continuous use and even the most awkward applications. Although its strikingly lightweight, the tool is also built with a strong die-cast aluminum body for long-lasting durability, and a special hardened driver blade additionally contributes to the tool’s overall longevity. Ultimately, this nailer is pretty awesome, and pricing at only around $100, its a superior tool that will also fit into your budget.

Among the best of the best, either of these pneumatic brad nailers is certain deliver exceptional, impressive results.

Makita’s LS1216L Dual Sliding Compound Miter Saw

Makita’s LS1216L 12″ dual slide compound miter saw is a brilliant and powerful tool that takes Makita’s miter cutting innovations and performance to a whole new, intensely efficient level. With a 15 AMP direct drive motor delivering 3,200 RPMs with smooth, soft starts, and with a huge cutting capacity (up to 8″ crown molding (nested), 6-1/2″ baseboard (vertical), and 15″ crosscut at 90°), the saw has the big power and accommodating design to best any industrial project.

Despite big power, the saw also has a comparatively compact design with an ergonomic rubberized horizontal D-handle to optimize user control and comfort. A patented four-steel rail system and rubberized feet ensure superior cutting, and with miters at 0°- 52° left, and 0° – 60° right (positive stops at 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6° and 45° (left and right)) the saw is brilliantly smooth and built to manage any variety of cutting and cut angles. The saw also bevels 0° – 45° (left and right) with positive stops at 0°, 22.5°, 33.9° and 45° (left and right as well), and offers an exclusive 5-1/2″ tall dual sliding fence system with versatile upper and lower fence adjustments for perfectly precise miter and bevel cuts.

The tool’s dual rear handle bevel lock (with front and top facing scales) and one-touch miter lock are easily accessible for simple, accurate adjustments. Electronic speed control maintains constant speed under load for the smoothest, most high-performance cutting, and with an independent laser indicator, you can always clearly see your line of cut and also make precise micro-adjustments for either “left-of-blade” or “right-of-blade” cutting. A transparent blade-guard system also contributes to maximum cut visibility, and large adjustable levers ensure fast and simple fence adjustments. The saw’s large precision machined aluminum base provides support to cut materials for the most efficient cutting, and with a fully enclosed bottom throat plate, your work surfaces and workspaces remain clean and clear. 

To purchase this beastly miter saw with a durable jobsite stand, Makita offers the LS1216LX. This is the same exceptional tool with a little extra pizazz in the form of a miter saw stand with 9′ material extensions and smart features for simple portability and quick set-ups.

Ultimately, the LS1216L is an extraordinary power tool. It is among the top players in the miter sawing family, and with its superior design and Makita components, the tool will certainly be a top contender for years to come.