Re: OT Multifunction Tool Review

On Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:30:16 -0700, "Joel Koltner"
<zapwireDASHgroups@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Hi Keith,

"krw" <krw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:dken555qnatu98tv32ct5trivlu8m0cim7@xxxxxxxxxx
So it is. I've never seen one. I note that it'll take 12V batteries
too. Maybe...

I'd be surprised if it accepts the 12V batteries, although I suppose it
could... someone could have designed them a little buck or Cuk converter in
there.

The charger is advertised as working with both the 4V and 12V batteries, which
is good.

Ah, yes. I misread the page. I'm not so interested if it takes yet
another battery type.

The Milwaukee is a broken cylinder type. I hate them. I'd rather use
a manual screwdriver.

I was talking about this one:
http://www.milwaukeetool.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=2450-22&CategoryName=SC%3a+M12+Cordless+System

Yes, that looks a lot like the Bosch.

http://www.milwaukeetool.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=0490-20&CategoryName=SC%3aScrewdrivers

We had the "broken cylinder"-type screwdrivers back, wow, ~15 years ago now
where I once worked. I saw very little value in them.

http://www.milwaukeetool.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=0490-20&CategoryName=SC%3aScrewdrivers
Nope. None.

BTW, if you're in the market for a circular saw, the rear-pivot
Dewalt DW364 is really nice.

At the moment the only handheld circular saw I have is a 14.4V Dewalt --
certainly not in the same league as yours there, although I'm generally just
using it to cut through plywood, so it's adequate if not stellar. I've been
occasionally kicking around the idea of the 36V Dewalt cordless circular saw,
since AFAIK it's the only "prosumer" level cordless saw that accepts full
7-1/4" blades. I keep hoping they'll release a 18V (using the newer Nano
batteries) version. (The current 18V version is 6-1/2"... grumble...)

I have the 18V circular saw too. It's OK, but I still reach for the
DW364. I bought the cordless saw to more or less replace the 3-3/8"
9.6V Makita. It was great for cedar siding, but not much good for
anything else. Since my current house has cement siding...

I'm not familiar with the Sonicrafter. It looks like another one of
the multi-tools, perhaps a light weight one?

I think it's actually a bit heavier than the Dremel... but more expensive too
($120-$180 depending on how many accessories you'd like included in the kit
vs. $100). So you're about 1/3 the price of a Fein Multimaster, and the
reviews I read said it really was almost as good... except for having the old
screw-lock blades that are prone to just out of position if you apply too much
sideways torque. I bought it over the Dremel based on thinking I'd want the
slightly-more-powerful motor and the perceived better availability of
accessories, but objectively I have no idea how valid those thoughts are.

Really? Is this a different one? I know nothing about them and just
found this with a search.
https://www.sonicrafter.com/index.asp

But I do know that it works and I'm happy enough with it to keep it. :-)

Hmm... I see that "everything Dremel" is now made in China, understandably
enough. I bought my first Dremel tool back in high school, back when they
were made in my home state of Wisconsin (in fact, my mother and grandparents
spent years living in Racine, Wisconsin, where they started)... how times
change...

Maybe that's why Arrow and Avenet are always visiting us. We still
manufacture our own stuff.

[*] Which reminds me. I gotta find it so I can get its batteries out
of the garage. It's often over 120F in there.

Our pressure washer ruptured its (some sort of cast metal) output hose
connection over last winter, which utterly amazed me (both because I wouldn't
have thought much water would have remained in the thing nor that, in our
garage in southern Oregon, it would have gotten down to freezing). Happily,
the replacement part was cheap and readily available from Amazon. Amusingly,
one of the customer comments about it began with, "I left my pressure washer
in my garage over winter..." :-)

Living in VT sorta forced a respect for freezing water. Here in AL,
they don't even have frost-free silcocks. Scares the crap outta me,
since everything is built on a slab.

Amazon's best-selling "home improvement" list can be interesting to look at:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/hi/551236/ref=pd_ts_hi_nav -- it's
usually heavily weighted with power tools!

Amazon knows my address well. ;-) I bought a Unisaw from them a
couple of months ago and there are smiley boxes all over the garage.
The Unisaw was too good of a deal to pass up (a slow economy has its
benefits). Even SWMBO didn't flinch, too much. "It didn't cost any
more than the quilt on our bed (that the cats sleep on)." ;-)
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: OT Multifunction Tool Review
    ... I'd be surprised if it accepts the 12V batteries, ... Dewalt DW364 is really nice. ... I think it's actually a bit heavier than the Dremel... ... garage in southern Oregon, it would have gotten down to freezing). ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: I-power batteries
    ... to richard at ipower, but got no response, i suspect being in the UK ... Yes I bought a set of 4 batteries and the charger and I love them. ... Light weight, quick charge, and I never have throw the duracells into ...
    (rec.arts.movies.production.sound)
  • Re: On topic -- Schick vs. Gillette blades
    ... The batteries on my rechargeable Philips have just ... They are plain AA Ni-Cads with solder tabs. ... A few Torx screws and you are in - I just bought a replacement pack ...
    (rec.crafts.metalworking)
  • Re: Cheap batteries for LED flashlights
    ... That's the one tidbit of useful information on the whole group. ... I bought ten Sony CR2016 batteries for a total of $6.90. ... The local Walmart's prices are four ...
    (misc.survivalism)
  • Re: Harbor Freight Tools
    ... I bought a battery drill that is pretty much crap. ... came with 2 batteries, ... You can drill and screw real ...
    (alt.home.repair)