Pacific Laser Systems PLS1Professional Distance Measuring Tool
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware
list price: $595.00 -- our price: $399.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

• One-year warranty
• Take critical layout measurements accurately with the press of a button
• Accurate to 1/8" at 300 feet
• Battery powered, hand-held, and durable, 2 AA batteries included
• Save valuable time and re-work costs with each project

Reviews (4)

Quick payback, accurate, easy to use
I'm a remodeling contractor who works alone.I wish I had bought the PLS1 years ago.Huge time savings, wonderful accuracy.I'm completely satisfied, and would recommend this instrument to anybody who has ever wasted time trying to make a folding rule or a tape behave reliably.The PLS1 has paid for itself on the first job.That's pretty good.

Fantastic unit
I use this thing every week. It works great and is highly accurate. Allows you to reach out to places impossible otherwise. Just how high is it from the footings to the brick freeze? Easy. Just place the tail of the laser on the footings and shoot the brick freeze. Whammo! 18'5". Great.

How far is it from this stepdown to that stepdown? Whammo! 16'8". How far is it from this layout string to the footings? Whammo!

Is this side of the porch header the same height as the other side of the porch. Shoot both sides, allowing the PLS1 to display the difference and whammo, you know if you need to level it or not.

I could go on and on. Just cost too much.

Excellent Choice
Have been using this measurer for 5 months now. Common usage has been in theatres measuring the distance from stage flooring to the grid and from floor to the pipes our stage lights hang from. The beam is bright enough to see at great distances, 300' and more. The bright beam definitely helps me when measuring the trim heights of our pipes as there are usually dozens of pipes with inches of each other and 30' to 50' above my head. The quick sampling of the device and return measurement is very handy even when the objects are in motion.

My only complaint was that of the base end which is tappered. I quickly overcame this when I discovered that the red half-moon, which you can see in the picture, rotates to create an X base allowing the device to stand on end. The ability to choose measuring from nose or measuring from base is a real plus. The ability to add and/or subtract dimensions is very handy as well.

Without a doubt PLS provides great quality and features for the money. Their other laser devices, PLS3 and PLS5 have proven indispensable to me over the past several years and the addition of the PLS1 is very welcome. ... Read more

Asin: B00004TR4O
Sales Rank: 5202
Subjects:  1. Measuring & Layout Tools    2. Distance Estimators    3. (Sonar)    4. (Sonic)    5. (Electronic)    6. (Range Finder)    7. Line Lasers    8. Scanners    9. (Stud Finders)    10. (Studfinders)    11. (Stud Sensors)    12. (Stud Sensers)   

Drum sanders, at a glance, are deceptively simple-looking tools. But let us assure you, Performax's 16-32PLUS drum sander is a serious piece of equipment, and Performax has clearly put a lot of care into the construction process to ensure precision sanding. At the heart of this sander is a self-cooling drum that keeps the air current moving throughout the sanding process, preventing overheating and possible wood-warping. Another feature, one we especially like, is the adhesive fastening system: a spring-loaded, simple-to-manipulate lever on the inside of the drum that saves you from ripping up your hands trying to get the sandpaper roll in place. The engine on the 16-32PLUS is entirely self-enclosed. This sander has such remarkably smooth action in large part because its precise PowerFeed dimensioning system ensures a perfectly flat conveyor surface. The open-end 16-inch drum allows you to sand surfaces as wide as 32 inches in two passes, making this sander perfect for small shops and hard-core home hobbyists. --Michael Shilling ... Read more

Features

• 1-1/2 hp motor direct drive, 115v single phase
• Automatic feed belt
• Hinged dust cover with 4-inch dust port
• Sands to a uniform thickness of .010 inch
• Sands up to 32-inch in 2 passes

Asin: B00004TQZC
Subjects:  1. Drum Sanders    2. Sanders   

Hitachi CB75F14-1/2" Resaw Band Saw
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware
list price: $4,770.00 -- our price: $2,549.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• Hitachi exclusive 5 year warranty
• Powerful 15 amp, 2.8 hp motor
• Table tilts at 45 degree
• 900 RPM with 11 13/16" height cut
• Rack and pinion fence adjustment

Reviews (12)

Over priced under powered
I obtained this saw from one of my Doctors hobby shop.I got it for $610.00.At this pice it is worth the money.I am a one man shop building custom furniture.It is great for matching pannels. It is underpowered for production.I was a tool and die maker with General Motors in the 60's.I took the saw apart and rebuilt it.There is no vibration and it cuts streight as an arrow.If you find a used one and need a dedicated resaw this one is great for the small shop. It shoud come with a 3hp motor and the price shoud be under $2,000 with all the guide attachments.The quality is top notch, no complaints in that department.I use a 3" carbide skip tooth blade on the saw.I never take it off.Happy Sawing.

The resaw seems uderpowered at time, but overall a fine saw
I have owned the resaw for six months now. I have used the saw to resaw maple and birch. The saw cuts the 8" plus wood nicely. I knew the motor was underpowered when I bought the saw. My shop is a one man shop, with not many time restraints, so not to big a problem for me. The motor never stalls and the resaw runs smoothly

Well Built But Underpowered
I have had my Hitachi bandsaw for about 4 years and have used it extensively to make bookmatched panels in addition to ripping boards in the rough.When properly set up and adjusted, it has performed well but I have found it to be frustratingly slow in its cut rate when resawing 8" to 10" wide walnut or hard maple boards. It does provide adequate tension for the 3 inch blade, being approximately 16000 psi when the adjustment is against the stop (blade manufacturers recommend a minimum of 15000 psi).Note, many bandsaws cannot attain proper tension with a resaw blade of even 1.0 inch width.

The pluses of the saw is that it is well made and easy to setup and adjust (provided that you know what you're doing).The minuses are its price and the fact that it is underpowered (the motor should be a 240 volt unit of at least 3 hp). ... Read more

Asin: B0000223KH
Sales Rank: 20956
Subjects:  1. Saws    2. Band Saws    3. (Bandsaws)   

Generac Portable Products 97774000 Watt Extended Life Premium Generator with Wheel Kit and Storage Cover
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware
list price: $879.93 -- our price: $749.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

A reliable generator is essential gear for contractors, but it's also important for home owners, campers, RV enthusiasts and others who may face planned or unplanned power needs. The Generac 9777 4,000 watt extended-life generator is just such a tool. The generator is ideally suited for either occasional or everyday use. A rugged, 7.8-horsepower overhead valve industrial engine provides 4,000 watts of reliable electricity and up to 13.5 hours of use on a single four-gallon tank of fuel. The unit is versatile and easy to use, with two 20 amp 120V power outlets, one full-power 30 amp 120V twist lock outlet, and one full-power 20 amp 120/240V twist lock outlet. It also comes with charger cables for recharging 12V batteries. The engine runs quietly and is designed with several added smart features, including an oversized dual element air filter, an automotive-style oil filter, and full-pressure lubrication. It also features a pressurized low oil shutdown system, automatic idle control, and a power surge alternator that protects against power fluctuations when starting and operating several motor-driven items at the same time. --Carl Thress ... Read more

Features

• 13.5 hours of runtime on a single tank of fuel
• Powered by a Generac OHVI extended life engine with full pressure lubrication
• Ultra-quiet large muffler and intake silencers keep noise to a minimum
• Auto voltage regulation holds voltage steady for use with sensitive electronics
• Auto idle control saves fuel by idling engine down when no load is needed

Reviews (21)

Outstanding Generator (update)
During the hurricane Charley power outage my neighbor was kind enough to run an extension cord from his generator over to my house and saved all my food.The day we got power back I ordered the 9777 from Amazon with super saver shipping and $25 off promotion.Four days after I received it Hurricane Frances slammed the Florida East coast HARD.This little generator saved our bacon for three days while we were without power.The best thing I can say about it, and the reason I bought this item, is the fantastic fuel economy.I was getting between 3 and 5 hours per gallon while powering a freezer, refrigerator, fans, lights, television, coffee pot and using the built in 12 volt charging function.This compares to my neighbor with his gallon per hour usage.It started up every time with one or two pulls, has pressurized lubrication, an idle function switch and a built in 12 volt charger.I do agree with others that the little foot on the front of the unit could be beefier but still give it 5 stars because of the miserly fuel consumption.Do not underestimate this fact when looking for generators since gas was not available down here in Florida for several days after the hurricane passed.

After this was written Hurricane Jeanne hit us several weeks later.Again, this little generator ran flawlessly for several days powering all of the above plus the window air conditioner (Panasonic, see separate review) that I had purchased for just such an occasion.Fuel consumption was the same and all my neighbors with thier 5500 Watt overkill units were sure jealous of that.I still heartily recommend this generator.

faulty oil pressure switch
WE bought this generator as a emergency power unit about 3 yrs ago.we have run it for a total of maybe 40 hours.the last time we used it,itran for 1hr. then shut down. would start right back then do it again. unit is full of oil.unpluged oil pressure switch now it will run. this unit is not very quiet but still quieter than some coleman generators.factory should include extra switch and symptoms of this problem in manual.

Commercial Grade
I recently purchased my Generac 4000 EXL for my RV. ( Also for my home, in the event of rolling power black-outs.The product is very sound in design with big generator features at a economical price.I especially like the pressurized oil system for the engine as it will extend the life of the engine. The electric start is a "must have" for a portable generator. (even more so for a RV)The automatic idle control is great and helps with noise control. (The unit tends to be a little noisy when under a heavy load.) The generator is compact and can easily be stored in the RV.
I have found the generator to be able to handle all my power needs. Even when the AC unit is turned on the Generac 4000 handles the power needs without problems.
One note:
I did purshase a three year service contract on the unit just to take care of any problems.So far I have had no problems with the unit.
I highly recommend this generator... ... Read more

Asin: B00004WHKO
Subjects:  1. Generators    2. (Generaters)    3. Power Supplies   

Just as the infomercials state, the Rotozip is an ideal all-around tool for wood and Plexiglas crafts and simple home improvement projects. We especially like that the Rebel includes a safety-conscious bump on/off switch that allows the tool to be shut down with just a tap. We also applaud Rotozip for creating a tool that's comfortable and easy to use for both men and women, big hands and small. All of the Rotozip saws have comfortable, ergonomic grips and are powered and balanced so the user never feels as though the tool is likely to torque out of his or her hands. The combo kit includes the Zip Mate, a useful little 4-inch grinder that attaches to the spiral saw motor and cuts metal and masonry, as well as acting as a grinding and polishing wheel (albeit a small one). Bottom line? The Rebel is a great do-it-yourself tool that's easy to use. This combo kit comes with everything you need for crafts and weekend projects. --Mark McDonald ... Read more

Features

• 4.5 amp, two-speed motor
• Air diverter switch
• Quick release handle
• Spiral saw power tool and Zip Mate attachment
• Three-postion bump-off switch

Asin: B00004WHV5
Subjects:  1. Rotary Tools   

Dremel 3956-01 MultiPro Variable Speed Super Kit with Flexible Shaft
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware
list price: $152.70
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

While there are a number of rotary tools on the market made by a host of different manufacturers, the Dremel Moto-Tool is the one they all strive to copy. Dremel's MultiPro variable-speed model is great for a huge range of projects, from home improvement tasks to hobbies and crafting. It has a continuously adjustable speed range from 5,000 to 35,000 rpm, which allows the user to effectively work with materials as soft as balsa wood and as hard as ceramics. The flexible shaft that comes with this model is great for working in tight spots many rotary tools can't touch. The kit also comes with an assortment of accessories and a handy carrying case. Others may copy it, but Dremel has been making rotary tools so long they've come close to perfecting the idea. --Brian Trinen ... Read more

Features

• 5-year warranty
• Variable speed, from 5,000 to 35,000 rpm
• Quick-change collet
• Flexible shaft attachment, 75 bits, and two clamps
• Carrying case with storage compartments

Reviews (14)

Variable Speed Switch cause of Malfunction
This Dremel was great when it worked. I had the same problems that I see many others have had. The variable speed switch was not designed well and the tool is rendered useless after a few weeks of light usage. The tool was sent in for warranty repair 2 weeks ago, still waiting.

Christmas dream
I mentioned to my mother ONCE that I wanted this...and so I was stunned when I got it for Christmas!I use it for everything from clockmaking, to cleaning and refinishing antique jewellery and the like.Everything... literally everything.There are so many more attachments to get!... The "flex shaft" is a necessity for me, at least.So I reccommend buying this "super kit" which comes with that flex shaft....

Dremel does it again!
I still have my 10-year-old Dremel tool but I wanted this one because it goes up to 35,000 rpm. And is it sweet! I like the soft grip body because it is more comfortable to hold and doesn't slip when my hands get sweaty. The faster speeds make the cuts smoother when I use the routing bits.

I also like the way Dremel keeps coming out with new bits to keep the tool versatile. ... Read more

Asin: B0000223UF
Subjects:  1. Dremel    2. (Dremmel)    3. Rotary Tools