Power tool manufacturers are adding features to jobsite staples to get the job done faster. We polled a few in-house tool experts at Tools of the Trade, a sister publication of ProSales, and then added some picks of our own to choose these noteworthy upgrades and new releases.
The tool-free shoe on Porter Cable’s 18-volt reciprocating saw clamps around pipes and other small objects to hold them steady, thus making for cleaner and easier cuts. You don’t need a tool to change blades on the 4.4-pound saw, and the saw can be angled in three positions to make it easier to get into and work in tight spaces. 888.848.5175. www.portercable.com.
The GSL 2 Professional surface laser from Bosch detects irregularities as small as 0.3 millimeter per meter by projecting two laser lines up to 10 meters from a 360-degree rotating head. The two lines appear as a single line if the surface is even and deviate where the surface is irregular. 877.267.2499. www.boschtools.com.
Festool developed a drywall sander with a modular design in which the arm can be collapsed to work in tight or low spaces, or extended to safely reach high ceilings and walls. The Planex sander uses the company’s dust-collection technology and features a pivoting head and spring-loaded sander pad. 888.337.8600. www.festoolusa.com.
As manufacturers roll out more cordless power tools, Milwaukee is making its RedLithium Advantage XC4.0 batteries available for its 18-volt line. The XC4.0 battery runs twice as long and recharges twice as fast as standard Lithium-ion batteries, the company says. Milwaukee also upgraded its two-speed 18-volt impact drill and driver so that the M18 Fuel line of cordless tools now offers up to 725 pounds of torque when using its XC4.0 battery pack. 800.729.3878. www.milwaukeetool.com.
Metabo says it’s the first to market with a cordless drill press for use on steel that employs a rare-earth magnet. This heavy-duty magnet clamps onto metal with 2,500 pounds of adjustable holding force, making it possible to drill on vertical, horizontal, and sloped surfaces. The MAG 28 LTX drills up to a 1 ¼-inch diameter hole with an annular cutter and up to a ½-inch-diameter hole with a spiral drill, both to a maximum depth of 2 inches. 800.638.2264. www.metabo.us.
With its cordless 20V Max line, DeWalt is entering the market for tools with slide-mount batteries and battery gauges. The line’s three-speed brushless impact driver runs 57% longer than its brushed versions. 800.433.9258. www.dewalt.com.
