ToolSkool Reviews

Back in June, when the weather was warm and the days were longer and a not filled with snow, I took a trip to the outskirts of Chicago to visit the Bosch Power Tools facility. We saw a lot of tools that were new and some that were improved.  One of the improved tools that we saw was the award-winning Bosch Power Box.  It was first introduced in 2004 and then upgraded in 2006.  Job sites and workshops everywhere became better places to work when the Power Box was there.  It had a funky, rugged look with the roll-cage design, but most importantly it really was rugged and stood up to the beatings that come with being on an construction site or in a workshop or garage.  

So what is new with the Bosch Power Box 360?  Well, for one thing, the 360 part according to Bosch… here’s what Bosch says about it in a press release, “The five-speaker design with an integrated subwoofer – an industry first among jobsite radios – projects high-quality, enriched sound in all directions. That means no more jobsite bickering over the placement of the radio.

Not only does the Power Box 360 offer outstanding premium sound but Bosch also made the sound more powerful than the previous PB10-CD. The PB360S model offers more than 2X the sound power output of the previous version, and the PB360D model offers up to 5X more sound power output. Advanced digital signal processing delivers optimized AM/FM reception and quality, for crisp, clear radio sound. Enhance the music listening experience further by selecting from four preset equalizer settings, or customize the music by programming separate bass and treble controls. 

Prefer to take your personal digital media player with you? No problem. The Power Box 360 features a weather-sealed digital media bay that offers secure storage and protection from moisture, dust and debris.  Simply plug your digital media player in, close the door and get back to work. Not sure you want to take your expensive media player to the job site? The digital media bay also features built-in SD memory card and USB ports so you can play your favorite MP3 and WMA digital music files right from your SD memory card or USB thumb drive device.  

The USB port also doubles as a powered USB port so that you can also charge most USB-enabled devices. The PB360D model even features a built-in SIRIUS™ Dock & Play port for connecting select SIRIUS satellite radio devices (device, antenna and subscription sold separately). Care to play your portable CD player, other satellite radio device or any other digital media device?  Both versions of the Power Box 360 feature external auxiliary ports as well as a line out port for connecting your Power Box 360 to another unit. 

Turn the Power Box 360 around and there’s a built-in battery bay. Plug the unit in and conveniently charge Bosch 14.4V or 18V lithium-ion power tool batteries inside the Power Box 360. If there’s no access to electrical outlets, those same batteries can be used to power the unit, which makes the Power Box 360 ideal for on-the-go or outdoor use.

If users do have access to electrical outlets, the Power Box 360 also serves as a power center. The PB360S model features built-in four-way power outlets and the PB360D model features four-way GFCI outlets so you can power or charge anything from corded power tools and small shop lights to cell phones and laptop computers. Both models also feature a 12V DC (car charger) outlet for more even more versatility.  

When it comes to controlling all that power and functionality, Bosch has made that easier too. The new illuminated LCD display on both models is angled upward for easier viewing and large, easy to see buttons and knobs make controlling and programming the unit nearly effortless. The PB360D model features a fully backlit front control panel for easier viewing in the dark and exclusive remote control with onboard storage for users to control the Power Box 360 from up to 40 feet away. 

Of course, the Power Box 360 retains the distinctive and rugged aluminum and rubber roll cage design. By using precisely positioned rubber bumpers to suspend the radio inside the protective cage, the Power Box 360 is isolated from the shocks and impacts commonly encountered on the toughest jobsites, so the music never skips a beat and the Power Box 360 stands up over time."
 

That’s the end of what Bosch has to say...now for what I know.  Since I haven’t had the pleasure of testing one of these babies out for any length of time, I can’t say for sure if they sound and all the other features are as superior as they say, but I can say this about the Power Box.  It is rugged.   While we were at the press event, we did a little test… and some of my colleagues from www.homefixated.com captured this video of the drop test… And if you take a look at the girly girl throwing the Power Box from the ladder… well that’s me!  So I know for sure it stood the test of the drop.  

Thanks to www.homefixated.com for loaning us the use of the video.  It might be the only time I’ll ever appear on youtube! 

I’m going to try to get my hands on one to test and I’ll give you a follow up.  There are two versions of the Bosch Power Box 360.  The 360S is the standard version, which the 360D is the deluxe version, and it has a few more bells and whistles, like a backlit panel, a place to plug in Sirius radio, and GFCI outlets.  You can get the Bosch PB360S for around $180 and the PB360D for around $250.

A cordless impact driver. It seemed like a dream back in the late 70s when cordless technology was just making it into the professional world (and on every homeowner's wish list!). “Wouldn't that be cool if they could build a battery tool with that kind of torque and performance?” And then in the late 90s we started to be afraid that they actually might be able to get batteries to produce that kind of torque. But would it have to be a 24-volt tool that weighed as much as a car battery? As the voltage grew, impact drivers started to sneak in, but only in the heaviest of the tools. And I really wasn't doing a whole lot of projects that would require an impact wrench anyway.

Enter the new millennia and the application of Lithium Ion battery technology to power tools. The power, torque and run-time increased, but the tool size shrank to half of what had been a “normal-size” cordless drill. And the weight? Heck, you can use it over your head for hours. I loved the size and power for use in a drill/driver application. Making holes and putting in screws. But I still didn't think I needed an impact wrench. And then the PS41 from Bosch entered my world for evaluation. I was looking for that proper “impact” need to do the test, when my battery on a different cordless drill/driver needed to head to the charger. Seems screwing 2x pine boards together can drain a battery pretty quick. Rather than divert my energy, I grabbed the Bosch Impactor and started driving 3” screws. My bit holder with the the ¼” shank slipped right into the quick release holder.

 To say I was impressed would be too weak. I really had a “whoa!” moment. Without hardly any effort on my part the impactor methodically drove screw after screw without a pause. A little louder than I might have preferred, but the impacting feature removed all the need for me to bear into the direction of the drill to sink a screw or bolt. In fact, I had to remind myself not to lean into the drill. It wasn't necessary, and I was just straining my muscles uselessly.

Shortly after that moment I moved to another part of the project where I needed to drive some pocket screws for joinery. 2-1/2” screws, to be exact. And voila! The bit for the pocket screws had the appropriate 1/4” shank. Holding a pocket joint together as you put the screw in is always a little more work than you think. But by not having to worry about bearing down on the back of my drill, the pocket joints were better aligned.

Okay, I'm sold. I tend to reach for the Bosch impact these days, and I'm actually a little disappointed when I realize that it's not the best tool for some jobs (#4, 1/2” hinge screws do not require 930 in-lbs of torque).

A few of the facts. The tool's head measures a little less than 5-1/2”, making it great for getting into small spaces, which, by-the-way, is one of those places where there isn't even room to get your had behind a standard drill to push! So impact works even better in this application.

The Impactor weighs in at 2.13 lbs (I'm trusting Bosch's info, I didn't really weigh it, but it's super light), and still offers 2,600 rpm and 3,100 bpm (and again, 980 in-lbs of torque). It comes with two batteries (30 minute charger included) and a carrying case. Price: About $170.  A little less on amazon.com.  

It's gotten so normal for a cordless tool to have a built-in work light that I almost forgot the Bosch light. Three LEDs surround the focus of the work, providing great assistance in a dark corner. Rather than a more common under-mount light, the three LEDs give an even light with few shadows right where you want it. Thank you! 

I like this driver. The downside? It's not the least expensive in the category, but it's engineered and built well, and I consider it to be worth the little extra. The other downside? Now I have another tool that I'll have to guard from my friends!

Visit the Bosch Tools web site to read more about this versatile tool.

The Worx GT is not a new tool.  You’ve probably seen the infomercial touting it’s merits for the last few years, but about a year ago, the tool was re-released with a 18V Lithium Ion battery.  I always liked the features of the original Worx GT, but wasn’t thrilled with the battery life of the old Ni-Cad battery.  While the battery worked fine when it was charged, I felt like mine only got a few charges before the battery died completely, and I heard that from several other people. 

For this reason, I waited almost an entire year, using the Worx GT Lithium Ion periodically to see how I felt about this tool.  This time I think they got it right.  The Lithium-Ion battery is much lighter than the Ni-Cad predecessor, and the tool feels more balanced to me as a result.   The only down-side to this is that all those people that bought the Ni-Cad version either have to keep buying more of the inferior Ni-Cad batteries or buy a new tool because they are not compatible.  

As always, since the trimmer is battery powered, there is not gas and oil to mix, no cords to pull to get the darn thing started and no smelly emissions.  In fact, because these batteries are so eco-friendly, the Worx yard tool line earned the Energy Star label.  

The trimmer, with the LI battery installed, weighs just over 5 pounds, which is great in my book.   That’s 35% lighter in weight than most competitive cordless brands.   I don’t particularly care for doing yard wok and I want it to be as quick, easy, and painless as possible, and the weight of this tool helps with that.  The telescoping shaft easily adjusts to fit just about anyone’s height…even mine, and I’m 5’2”!  The trimmer cuts grass like a pro!  I have no problems getting up to fences, around trees, and over rocky areas.  I also like that you can easily adjust the angle to get under decks, and shrubs.   And if you’ve seen the infomercial, you know they talk about their unique line system, and as far as I can tell it works well,  and releases like it should.   It won’t cut through thick brush or sticks, but no string-fed tool wheel… You have to move up to an actual cutting blade for that. 

Now, the Worx GT trimmer boasts that it’s 2 tools in 1. So, what’s the other tool?  It’s very easy to rotate the head and convert the tool to a wheeled walk behind edger, so that you can trim along walkways and driveways.  This is not my favorite feature of the tool.  It works okay, in my opinion, but the real draw to this tool is the grass trimmer.   To get really clean edges, again you need a blade and not a string-fed tool.  

For the money,  I’d say this tool is well worth it and since the Lithium Ion battery is compatible with other Worx yard tools like the hedge trimmer (which I really liked) and the sweeper/blower,  you certainly get your money’s worth on the battery.  

You can buy the Worx GT Lithium Ion on Amazon.com for around $120 or order it at www.worxoutdoortools.com.  

I’ll start by saying I’m a little biased toward Paslode’s cordless nailers. I’ve used them for years and have always been happy (for the most part). I only had a few instances of the guns not firing when they were supposed to, but that was usually solved by changing fuel cells. A good cleaning at the suggested intervals also helps, I found out. I thought blowing them off with compressed air at the end of the day was cleaning them…hmmmm.

Maybe it’s the glut of new cordless nailers on the market that made Paslode take a closer look at their venerable hero, or maybe they really listened to users and took their suggestions to heart. I’ll put my money on the latter. The company is run by people who genuinely care about their products and your satisfaction with them – a rarity these days. 

The tool looks the same as its predecessor, but there are some marked improvements in its design and function. 

1. Fuel/Nail Combo Packaging. Instead of purchasing nails and fuel cells separately, they now come in ‘kit’ form. The theory being that there is enough fuel in the packaged cells to fire all the nails in that package…plus a little more. That’s a great idea, as long as you plan to use the Paslode nails. Some guys I know are pretty brand-loyal and have a preference that doesn’t always match the nailer brand. Personally, I like this concept and have had great luck with the new fasteners that Paslode designed specifically for this tool. They claim the new nails (called PowerBoost Black Tip Coating Nails) will drive in easily – even into LVLs. I found this to be true. The tool I used sank ‘em in on – and pretty quickly!

2. Redesigned Nose. I like this new feature. They’ve made it simpler to toenail at just about any angle – a HUGE improvement over the older tool which had a tendency to get rather fussy at extreme angles. They get an A+ for this new feature!

3. Faster Tool Performance. This is another area I’m happy they took the time to “fix”, so to speak. On the older version, I sometimes had the feeling that the tool didn’t want to work as hard as I did. It just couldn’t keep up with my rapid-fire trigger finger! The new one does! In my testing, it was sinking nails as fast as I could set the nose. Another A+ for the new tool!

4. Longer Between Cleanings. Paslode says the new CF325 will go through 50,000 fasteners before it needs cleaning. That’s good, because I will likely never clean it. The only reason my old nailer got cleaned was because we had a guest on one of our TV shows from the Paslode tech department. He cleaned it for me.

5. New Orange Quickload Fuel Cell. Another major improvement. I didn’t care much for the old fuel cells that needed to have a cap removed, a valve pushed in to set (which inevitably caused gas to leak out every time I did it – but I’m sure it was operator-error) and then had to be correctly set into the fuel cavity. I had to re-set fuel cells more than once. Not anymore! Another A+.

6. Quick Change Depth Adjustment. The good news? No tool required – just some strong thumbs! You can adjust the depth quickly and easily now. Truly, I think I gave up on adjusting my old tool. It was easier to come along with a hammer and sink the nails the rest of the way. 

Overall, Paslode has taken a great tool and made it even better. Did they listen to their end-user customers and make true, meaningful improvements? My answer is yes. Sure, they added some handle overmold for comfort, but that means little to me. I wanted a nailer that was faster, easier to use and required less maintenance to keep it that way. Looks like I got my wish. Nice job, Paslode. 

You can find the Paslode CF325 Cordless Framing Nailer at Amazon.com for around $370, and for around $30 more, you can get the Paslode CF325 Cordless Framing Nailer and Nail Kit. 

A battery charger is a battery charger, right?  Not if it’s the Ryobi Intelliport Charging System.  The charger charges up to 6 Ryobi batteries at a time, and they can be either NiCad 18V One+ batteries, or 18V Lithium Ion One+ batteries.  

This charger is pretty self explanatory if you just take a look at the box, but after testing it,  I found the claims to be true as best as I could tell.  It has a 1 hour charge time, and charges each of the 6 18V batteries one at a time, in one hour or less… check, that worked in the test. 

The next thing you’ll see on the box is that the charger helps to maximize battery life by keeping them cool, which in turn keeps them operating a peak performance.  It charges the batteries only as needed, and the batteries that are stored on the charger don’t heat up too much, which is good since heat is a battery’s biggest enemy.  I assume this claim to be true, as the batteries are always ready to go, and they are not at all hot to the touch.  Another check!  Also, they have the energy star stamp of approval as a qualified battery charger for a better environment. 

The charger comes with a quick-release wall mount bracket that reduces workspace clutter.  The charger releases from the mount easily and the batteries are securely locked into place for transport.  The soft-grip handle at the top makes it easy to carry batteries to a jobsite or to your buddy’s house to help him or her finish the “honey-do” list.  

If you use the Ryobi One+ line of tools, the 6 port Supercharger is a great accessory to have.  Never be without power, and keep your batteries lasting longer!   You can find the charger anywhere from around $100 - $150, but here’s a link for $99.95.  Yes, that’s a chunk of change, but if time is money, you certainly get every penny’s worth.

So some of you are probably saying…  a portable fan on a tool review site?  Really?  To you, I firmly say: REALLY.  If you haven’t heard of the Ryobi One+ line, you either don’t live near The Home Depot or a rock has fallen on top of you.  Ryobi started this line several years ago with NiCad battery technology.  It’s a consumer line of tools that is at an entry-level price point, but with some pretty fun bells and whistles in a lot of cases.  Pros don’t usually go near this stuff, but the average Weekend Warrior can find some decent power and a wide range of tools and accessories to do a lot of jobs around the house.  And there are a lot of accessories, which makes gift-giving for Dad a bit easier.  

To get started in the One+ line, you first have to buy a tool that comes with a battery (like a drill driver) or you have to buy an 18V battery.  Once you have a couple of batteries, you can use them to power any of the tools or accessories in the One+ line.  Since the introduction of Lithium Ion, you can buy both platforms of battery, and they are also interchangeable with the line of tools.  

Back to the portable fan:  Ironically, when I got this fan to be tested, we had just had a flood in Nashville and the weather had just gotten extremely hot and sticky.  So, it was a good time to stick a battery in, turn it on and see if it would help dry out my basement, keep me cool in the workshop, etc..  

The first thing you notice about the fan is that it’s very lightweight, even with the battery attached.  It has a high and a low speed and an off position all on the same switch.  The fan itself if very well-balanced for carrying with the handles on the top, which made it extremely functional for carrying to various spots in my basement, and then up the stairs into the house, and even to locations for video shoots or jobs.  It’s even got a little “j hook” at the top that pops up if you want to hang it, but I never really found a need for that. 

What I did really like was the adjustable base, which made it very easy to blow the fan in several directions… So if I was sitting at my desk I’d point it towards me, or if I was standing in my basement working, I’d tip it back a bit further to blow the air higher.  

There really was no assembly.  You just took it out of the box (and it is NOT one of the tools that comes with a battery, so you have to already have a battery from the One+ line), plug in the battery, adjust the base to the direction you want, and flip the switch.  The run time listed on the box was five hours, but I found that it ran even longer than that if the battery (NiCad) was fully charged, and it even ran over 7 hours when I used my fat-pack Lithium Ion battery.  

Is it the most powerful fan in the world… No, but it was great for the portability it offered for moving around the shop, hauling up and down the stairs, etc… And  I didn’t have to keep it near a plug or drag an extension cord around.  With a price point of just under $30, it’s not all that unreasonably priced as long as you already own a couple of the One+ batteries (this tool is not one of the One+ line that comes with a battery).  Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this fan, and how often I have used it in the month I’ve had it in my office / house.  For keeping cool in the shop, using when you’re outside at a garage sale, hauling between home and office, it’s a great solution.

Lithium-ion batteries have been used for years in cell phones and digital cameras, but until a few years ago the technology was never a good fit for high-current draw applications such as power tools. Once that technological threshold was crossed, the Lithium-ion cell quickly found many places in cordless tools. Why? With Lithium-ion batteries you get an increase in power with a decrease in the overall weight of the battery. Initially, this power-for-pound benefit allowed a 12-volt drill to perform at the level of a 14.4 or larger drill without an increase in size. But heading the other way has proven just as beneficial. Smaller “pocket-size” drill/drivers are now on the market that offer incredible power in a user-friendly size.

Size is only one of the improvements offered by Lithium-ion. They also offer an increased number of cycles (number of times you can recharge the battery) for longer life, and the charge on Lithium-ion batteries does not dissipate when the tool is at rest. Earlier technologies, Nickel-Cadmium and Nickel-metal Hydride did suffer from this problem. Now your drill will be ready to use, even if it’s been sitting unused and not-recharging for months. 

Another benefit is the energy in the battery is expended in what is called a “fade-free” usage. The battery provides full power until the charge is exhausted, then simply stops. Earlier technologies would allow the batter to continue operating at a lower lever and slowly fade to empty. 

One more? Because the batteries use no cadmium, they're more eco-friendly!

Let me start by saying that I had one of the first-generation Ryobi battery-powered chain saws that came out several years ago. It was (and remains to this day) a trooper! I had used it several times before I even realized it required chain oil. That said, I had it about 15-20 feet in a tree and dropped it to the ground (accidentally). It survived the fall and my ignorance with flying colors.

Now, Ryobi has introduced their lithium-ion powered saw. I love it even more. I’ve never been a big fan of gas-powered chain saws, as I could never seem to get the fuel/oil mixture right and the saw never really wanted to start after my initial use. I have a Stihl that remains in its case to this day because I don’t want to hassle with the starter.

The Ryobi battery-powered saw got its first use this week when I tackled two large limbs that had fallen from a tall oak into my back yard. Of course, on the way down, one of them took out a skylight while the other left two 4-inch holes in my roof. But I digress. The Ryobi, on a fully-charged battery, took on the 6-inch oak limb (about 17-18 feet long) with flying colors. I was able to cut all but about 5 feet of the limb on a single charge – and that was with the smaller battery that Ryobi supplies. I think that if I had used the larger battery, I would have gotten through the entire limb.

It has a 10-inch bar, so the Ryobi isn’t designed to be a tool for downing huge timber, but it certainly is a great tool for eliminating the occasional fallen limb or even a small tree. It was actually my tool of preference for cutting the smaller limbs off a downed tree in my back yard some months ago (the first-generation tool, that is). With the addition of the lithium-ion power plant, this saw is a no-brainer for anyone who hates dealing with fussy gas machines.

I give the saw a thumbs-up for ease of use (press the safety and pull the trigger), and for doing a tidy job. Granted, it cuts more slowly than its petro-fueled cousins, but that’s to be expected…it’s a lighter-weight tool. For me, the additional wait time was minimal. A little pricey at $120 (found it online at that price today, but that is WITH the lithium ion battery that powers other One+ tools), but worth it, in my humble opinion. Just don’t forget to add the chain oil. ☺

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