Dremel 3956-02 Variable Speed MultiPro Super Kit With 77-Piece Accessory Kit
by Dremel
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware
list price: $145.06 -- our price: $74.95
(price subject to change: see help)
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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

• Variable speed, from 5,000 to 35,000 rpm
• Quick-change collet
• Flexible shaft attachment, 77 bits, and two clamps
• 5-year warranty

Reviews (23)

I love my dremel
After more than 10 years of heavy use (maybe abuse) my Dremel 395
finally died last night.I can't get a new one fast enough, but I thought I might take the chance get a newer model.Alot could have changed in ten years, but after reading the reviews of the newer 395D and 400 models it sounds they would never stand up to the way I use my Dremel.So I think I'll be getting another trusty 395.

Great Tool & Value
Wanted one of these since was a kid.Finally (at 40) bought one and cant figure how I used to do projects without one.Anyone considering the kit without the flex shaft should reconsider.The flex shaft makes this the most versatile tool I own.

VERY VERSITILE....
I recieved this tool as a christmas gift in 2003. I make decorative boxes of all types and thought it would be handy for sanding tight radius, especially inside the box cavity. It does this duty extremely well, I am able to effectively remove all saw marks in those real tight area's and achieve a nicer finished product. What did surprise me was how many other task's I can use this little powerhouse for. I find myself using it for carving contours on the outside of the boxes a lot, with the variable speed you can maintain control easily, following the grain pattern, no matter how wild it may be. Then using one of the fine pointed stones, I can undercut the contour and polish it out, leaving a real head scratcher of a detail not usually found in decorative boxes. I use it to end cut drawer handles that are too small to chop with a saw, and to trim "keys" on mitered corners. Every time I am trying to think of a way to accomplish some wild (dumb?) way to accomplish something with wood I end up reaching for the dremel. With the flexi shaft, vari speed and "pencil" end it is so easy to control, that you can let your imagination get the best of you and still accomplish the finish you are looking for. Every one know's the common capabilities of this little tool, cutting, carving, sanding, grinding, etc, etc, but there are more.
I have had and used this tool for a year now and have had zero problems with it. I too wish I could find some finer sanding tubes, up to 220 would be nice, but I have made some using a worn out tube, 220 paper and super glue. Not a glamorous looking device but it works. When using the stones to polish wood they do clog up, just touch them to a rubber sanding wheel cleaner and they clean right up. I made blocks to hold all the differant attachments, and the case sits in one of the bins under my worktable. I am very happy with this tool and would recommend it to anyone for light, tight work. ... Read more

Asin: B00006JSPB
Subjects:  1. Dremel    2. (Dremmel)    3. Rotary Tools   

Porter-Cable 977511/2" 2-Speed Hammer Drill Kit
by Porter Cable
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware
list price: $195.51 -- our price: $151.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• One year warranty/30 day performance certification
• Powerful 6 amp motor
• Two speed ranges
• Built to withstand concrete drilling
• Adjustable handle

Reviews (3)

Tough, Versatile, Lightweight & Powerful
This drill is great.I have this and the 2620 3/8" drill and they are the pair of the century.This drill stacked up against every other drill I tried.The only other drill that came close was the Milwaukee, but it was much heavier.I highly recommend this one.The 977510 is tough, versatile, lightweight & powerful.

If you need only one tool
If I could take only one power tool with me! Smooth runningand lots oftorque. Hammer action also. Handles like a smaller drill, Easy on the armswhen working overhead and size allows you to get into places others don'tfit. Uses standard shank drills,a plus. We've used ours to anchor Telcoequiptment in concrete floors and walls. If you're not careful she'll goright thru the deck.Thats 3" reinforced concrete with a 3/4"masonry bit. Will do wonders thru Mild Steel.We take it on the jobsite andamaze all those guys with Milwaukee or Bosch drills. It would be well worthif it were only a regular drill. 3 Years of service without repairs.

Makes Dust of your Masonary!
This is one, beefy gem of a hammer drill. It has plenty of power to handle ANY of your drilling needs and can make a 1/4" hole through a solid red brick (not the morter)in 42 seconds! Whats nice about this drill isthat it's compatable with all your standard-shaft drill bits, unlike an SDShammer drill in which you would need an adapter to use them. Also, SDS bitsare more expensive and sometimes harder to find than standard-shaft hammerbits. When the battery in your cordless drill dies and you forgot torecharge the spare, no problem! Plug it in and press on!Most of myapplication is to set anchors. With it's 2-speed variable control, itprovides great control on a variety of surface textures and reduces"walking" away. The maximum size hammer bit I've used to make ahole so far is 5/8" and had no problems making dust out of areinforced concrete building. I have no doubt it has enough power to make a3/4" hole... maybe more!The only drawback I have found is that thehi-low speed switch jams sometimes, and you have to rotate the chuck byhand while turning the switch. This is addressed in the owners manual, butit does slow you down. If you have to drill BIG holes in one-shot, forkover a paycheck and get a SDS or Spline-drive hammer. They are great atdoing that job. Otherwise, you can make big holes with this beauty bydrilling a circle of smaller holes and chisel them out.Porter Cable makesa great, reliable product. This one is no exception. ... Read more

Asin: B0000222X5
Sales Rank: 4070
Subjects:  1. Porter-Cable    2. (Portercable)    3. Drills    4. Hammerdrills    5. (Drils)    6. (Hammer Drills)   

Arrow Fastener P22 Heavy Duty Plier Type Stapler
by Arrow Fastener
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware

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Features

• All steel construction, chrome finish
• Removable staple channel for cleaning
• Reaches in hard-to-get-at places for stapling from any position or angle
• Ideal for heavy duty bagging, tagging, and sealing operations
• Uses 1/4" and 5/16" staples

Reviews (1)

Best of them all
My P-22 is approaching 40 years old & is the absolute BEST plier type stapler I have ever used or owned, heavy duty industrial or otherwise. The only drawback has always been -- & still is -- difficulty in finding its proprietary staples. However, this has been all but alleviated with the web!! No more hunting, just a web search turns up this & various locations to get them. They were always available from the company, but until the Internet I had problems locating them (My P-22 is stamped "Brookyln, NY" and they are not there anymore --just Saddle Brook, NJ).Being on my last box of 5000, I've only used it sparingly for the tough jobs, while daily needs were met with inferior products, using readily obtainable standard --ie, easily replaced -- staples.Now that I can easily find the staples, I can return to using exclusively my P-22, the absolute BEST!! ... Read more

Asin: B00004Z2JF
Sales Rank: 4699
Subjects:  1. Hand Tools   

GB Electrical GS-668.5" Wire Stripper/Cable Crimper
by GB Electrical
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware

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Reviews (2)

Suits the needs of the do-it-yourselfer
I have had this tool for about 5 years now and have used it to re-wire my house and garage.The strippers still work flawlessly even after years of use.The wire cutter, on the other hand, has got rather chewed up and does not cut wire cleanly and I usually have to use the cutter on my pliers to handle this task.Still, this tool represents a good value for the buck, and I have not yet felt the need to shop for a replacement.

Electrical Buddy
This item is a must have for the electrician andthe do it yourselfer handy mans tool.Many uses for a tool like this on your side! ... Read more

Asin: B00002N5EW
Sales Rank: 9146
Subjects:  1. Hand Tools    2. Crimpers    3. Wire Strippers   

Porter-Cable 347K 7-1/4" Blade-Right Circular Saw Kit
by Porter-Cable
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware
list price: $157.19
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Editorial Review

Although Porter-Cable's 7-1/4-inch circular saw features a 15 amp motor,it weighs just 10-1/2 pounds. It's an excellent choice for builders who want asaw that packs plenty of power without the heft of a wormdrive. To lighten thesaw, Porter-Cable used lightweight, durable magnesium--which won't crack orbend--for the blade guards and part of the housing. It's still a tough saw,though; in fact, Porter-Cable boasts that this saw will sustain up to a 6-footdrop without damage. This saw sports a very flat, very strong cast-magnesiumtable, too, with reinforced ribs that make it difficult to bend or break. (Cansomeone tell us why some companies ruin good saws by giving them wimpy tables?)

Porter-Cable took care of the details, too. The no-catch lip on the blade guardensures that the guard won't catch on an edge at the beginning of a cut, and itkeeps a user's hands away from the retraction lever. The 360-degree adjustabletop dust nozzle lets you direct sawdust in any direction, and you can easilyattach a dust bag or a shop vac to collect the dust--a particularly handyfeature for a remodeler who wants to make a couple of cuts indoors withoutmaking a mess. There's also a clip on the top of the saw that lets you clamp thecord off to the side when you're cutting sheet material, so it's less likely todrag behind and snag the edge. A heavy-duty carrying case comes included, too,though it's a little tricky getting the saw to fit inside. --Jon Groebner ... Read more

Features

• One year warranty/30 day performance certification
• 15 amp motor for maximum power
• Sturdy, lightweight magnesium base
• Miter lip on lower guard for no-hang-up cuts
• Dust chute deflects chips and dust away from operator

Reviews (24)

9years of daily use and still going strong
This saw has been a battle axe and has enough power to keep my worm drive in its box most of the time. The base is accurately calibrated and doesn't clog or "float"like other saws out there. I am not in love with all Porter Cable products, but this saw istop quality right along with their routers. Mine is the 347 (no "K"-- for Kit) because the "K" model was not out yet. I love the dust port and miss it when I use a saw without one. In my opinion, the only true competitor in the under $150 price range is Bosch and that saw is heavier with a smaller motor and I would not recommend the Makita saws that are in this class at all.

Solid Saw!
I was loooking for a solid 7 1/4 inch saw to use for framing and other general home repair tasks.I checked out the Skil 77 and while it seemed to be built like a tank and would probably outlast me, it was awkward to handle.The PC 347 has a nice balanced feel, plenty of power (15 A motor) and a rigid, perfectly sized magnesium base plate.I've only used it on wood so far but it definatley seems to have the power to cut through just about anything. The dust chute seems pretty effective in diverting most of the debris away from the operator. Though I do wish they would include a dust collection bag.I'm sure there are better saws out there but this one a great value - solidly built, very comfortable to use and the price is right.Worth every penny and then some!

5 years strong
i started in carpentry 5+ years ago and tried everybody else's saw before buying this one (as i did with all my first-purchase tools). it is the lightest, most comfortable, plenty of power, and after being tossed around, dropped, cutting every material imaginable with all different blades, cutting thru 2 or 3 cords, it still is my favorite tool, and the one i feel most confident with in my hands. i have 5 porter cable tools now, and none have been a disappointment. quality stuff, buy it. ... Read more

Asin: B00004SBC4
Subjects:  1. Porter-Cable    2. (Portercable)    3. Saws    4. Circular Saws   

Porter-Cable 9543 Quik-Change Jig Saw Kit
by Porter-Cable
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware
list price: $310.70 -- our price: $149.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

If you ever find yourself searching for a wrench so you can change the bladeor adjust the bevel on your saw, this professional-quality wrench-free jig saw fromPorter-Cable may be the perfect tool for you. It features a reliable and strong-holdingquick-blade-change system that eliminates the need for a hex wrench. Although thepinch-and-twist mechanism takes some getting used to, it's easy to change blades onceyou have it down. The mechanism accepts only T-shank blades, but offers a reliableblade grip. The base bevel adjustment is also tool-free, and involves popping out abuilt-in crank from behind the saw, giving a few twists to loosen, and then giving a few moretwists in the opposite direction once the bevel is set.

The shoe has detents at 0, 15, 30, and 35 degrees, but you can set it anywhere in between. This jig saw has a hefty 6 amp motor with more than enough power for professionalapplications. It features a variable-speed trigger, as well as a variable-speed dial. The9543 jig saw kit also offers a dust blower to keep your line clean, along with orbitalcutting action that features varying degrees of orbit--from full for soft wood to none formetal cutting. It's clear that Porter-Cable put a lot of thought into the design of this saw.The result is a professional-quality saw that's easy to use but doesn't sacrifice anyessential features. --Brian Trinen ... Read more

Features

• One year warranty/30 day performance certification
• Powerful cutting action
• Variable speed
• Fast, easy blade changes
• Orbital cut selector

Reviews (18)

buy a dust shield!
The only complaint I paid any attention to is the dust issue. Went to Porter Cable's wesite to see if they resolved that issue. They have a dust-shield. It is part number '886775' and costs $7.05 (http://www.porter-cable.com/index.asp?e=4937). I'm Canadian, BUY NORTH AMERICAN!!

I'm a bit frustrated with this
I used to use a Bosch in a cabinet shop that I loved using.
Since I have a lot of Porter-cable tools so when PC came out with this I thought it was going to be more like a gray version of the Bosch I loved with improvements. Since everyone is in competition with each other it must be so.
When I had to change my first blade I was in horror. I think I have it down now but boy is it still a royal pain. I dread blade changes but I'm getting better at it. Maybe my fingers are just getting increadibly strong.
It has a lot of power and looks great.
Dust blower, nice feature, blows dust directly in front of the line you're trying to cut on.
If I have to start using this more I might sell it on ebay and get a new Bosch.

I don't like it
Yes, it blows the dust right in your face, and mouth.It works great if you use it with your arm outstretched and don't need to look at what your cutting.
My buddy used it too, now he needs to buy new contact lenses for his eyes.Evidently he wasn't using it at his full arms length.
Buy the Bosche. ... Read more

Asin: B0000222YV
Subjects:  1. Porter-Cable    2. (Portercable)    3. Saws    4. Jig Saws    5. (Jigsaws)    6. (Saber Saws)    7. (Sabre Saws)   

Stanley 33-730 FatMax 30' Tape Rule
by Stanley
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware
list price: $37.49 -- our price: $19.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• Massive new bumper designed for increased hook life.
• 1-1/4" wide blade (25% wider) for more durability, easier to read graphics, stronger stiffer blade during use.
• 11 foot of blade stand out, the longest in the industry.
• Dual material ergonomic case. Small comfort grip, smaller than most 25' tapes.
• Exclusive cushion grip built into the case for comfortable non-slip grip and impact resistance.

Reviews (11)

claims
My new stanley fatmax is advertised to stand out to 11 feet.
Ha HA mine may make it to 9 feet 6 inches.and Stanley won't even respond to my e-mails.
Is this the way to treat a long time custmor? I think not

Now.......my secondary tape
I've gone thru three in one year. I'm a builder so that is slightly above average for my use. But I do keep buying them. My major gripe is that none of them really stay hooked very well when moving. Also they will slice through your finger in a flash if you're used to finger braking.(too fast retract) It is also tempermental in retracting if used past 15ft. I've seen 'em live & die from second floor to concrete. BUT....it does have a fantastic standout. Good, but buy it on sale.

Replacement Blades for Fat Max Tapes
I really liked the Fat Max 30' tape. However, Stanley does not make replacement blades for it.My Fat Max is a little less than a year old and has developed a hole at about the 11 foot point.Because no replacement blades are available, the cost forreplacing it with a new one is too high.Too bad Stanley doesn't stand behind the fat max with replacement blades like they do with some of their other less sturdy tapes. ... Read more

Asin: B000051WTB
Sales Rank: 306
Subjects:  1. Measuring & Layout Tools    2. Tape Measures   

Keson LL650LV75Y Laser Edge 100 Torpedo Laser Level
by Keson
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware
list price: $79.99
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Features

• Three vials (0, 45, and 90 degrees)
• 650nm laser
• +/- 1/4-inch at 100 feet
• Includes carrying case and three AA batteries

Reviews (1)

Excellent Product
I bought this less than a week ago, and it has already proven quite useful.It was used as an emergency substitute for a much higher price bracket He-Ne laser at work in a biomedical optics laboratory, and it actually did quite a decent job in my optical setup.The level helped quite a bit during the alignment phase.It was also used in a home project where we were shoring up a sunken floor from under the house, and it proved useful again in showing where the low spots were.The friend with the sunken floor certainly liked it, and wants to buy one for himself now. ... Read more

Asin: B00008IHTC
Sales Rank: 11125
Subjects:  1. Measuring & Layout Tools    2. Levels    3. Torpedo Levels