Power tool advice?
 

I'm in the market for a compound miter saw, air nailer, and air compressor for general household repairs. As a new homeowner I'm constantly learning about home improvement projects. Until now I have managed all repairs using the few tools that I own and tools that I have rented and/or borrowed. The first investment I made was in a 4 piece 18V Lithium tool kit including compact drill/driver, circular saw, reciprocating saw, and flashlight. Basically I'm looking for advice on which brands/features/etc. to look for and things to avoid. For example, I borrowed a miter saw from a co-worker to cut crown and base. It didn't take long for me to understand why it's important to have a high fence when cutting crown in position. Also, installing crown without a air nailer is a huge inconvenience. Thanks.

Re: Power tool advice?
 

If you have a northern tool and equipment that is where I purchased q 100 gal air compressor.

Dewalt has a good reputation, but the best stuff I've see is from Milwaukee.

Re: Power tool advice?
 

Funny Justin, I was at Lowe's last evening shopping myself.
One thing that I have learnt over the years is to make sure you look at the items you normally wouldn't and ya get what ya pay for.

Example:
My cheap ass Skill Jigsaw and circular saws. They do the job OK.... but who woulda ever thought that I should have looked more closely at the cords when I was buying them. They are a stiff plasticized PITA and get in the way of cuts constantly. My Milwaukee stuff has a nice, soft, pliable cord. They are also removable, replacable, and interchangeable.

Three brands I wouldn't hesitate to suggest:
Milwaukee
Hitachi
DeWalt


Lowe's has some great deals right now on a couple of Dewalt Compound Mitre Saws.
There is also a 12" Hitachi for a steal.

Re: Power tool advice?
 

Highlighted in red :banger

Re: Power tool advice?
 

:tpd:

Re: Power tool advice?
 

While we're on the power tool topic.... check this out... http://www.sawstop.com/?gclid=CLr8qK...FQTxDAodf3Z1vg

Watch the videos. Amazing , yet simple.

Re: Power tool advice?
 

Cool technology. I imagine when it does kick in it's hell on the saw blade, brake, and motor (it digs right into an aluminum block, stopping it cold). Better replacing those than a finger though!

Re: Power tool advice?
 

Oh yeah, it destroys all that (except for the motor If you pay close attention, it stops within approx 3 saw teeth and cuts power as it does that) but a couple hundred bux is well worth the alternative.

Re: Power tool advice?
 

After the blade hits the stopblock, it's a gonner. IIRC, there's a shear pin in there that breaks to protect the motor from damage and allow the blade to drop out of the way.

Re: Power tool advice?
 

I love DeWalt.
Pricey but man do you get what you pay for.

I have a number of Craftsman items also. They have been very reliable.

Re: Power tool advice?
 

Beauty is in the eye of the tool holder.

I have had not great experience with DeWalt but I cannot kill my Milwaukee tools and trust me I have tried. (CutsAll, Hammer Drill, Planer, Two other cordless drills)

As for a compressor I have only one recommendation - do not get an oil less compressor - this comes directly from the man I respect most when it comes to tools and fixing things and that is my uncle who is (retired) a heavy duty diesel mechanic. He made that one recomendation and I listened, I have a great Campbell Hauser that only has a smallish tank but powers my brad nailer, my finishing nailer, my air grinders, air ratchet, impact wrench, hardwood floor nailer, and even a framing nailer that I rented. So unless you are going to tax it heavily a 100 gal air container takes up unneeded room.

On the miter saw I have a 10 inch Milwaukee that has cut thousands of board feet of lumber from everything from rough carpentry, molding, PVC, HD Fiber Board. If it had been available I would have got the 12" Milwaukee. The miter saw is the workhorse of my tools and I never do any jobs without it. I have had friends laugh at me when I show up to help when I bring my own saw but soon the Milwaukee is the only saw running.

Just my :2 like I said first it is all in the eye of the tool holder.

Re: Power tool advice?
 

DeWalt is always my first choice.

Re: Power tool advice?
 

I feel qualified to advise on this. I am three years into building a log home and have bought and tried a lot of stuff. As for compound miter I wouldn't trade my slider. I am fortunate to have an older DeWalt DW708 which is heavier than the present DW718. If you can find one I would recomend the DW708 but good luck. My friend has a Dewalt non sliding and although a great saw it is tough to cut 8" t&g siding on a 45 deg. I did a lot of this on the house. If I were buying new I would look at ridgid from HD. They have a life time warranty on a lot of there power tools even the batterys. I have some of there battery stuff and am pleased with it.
Nailers are a broad subject. I have several and it all depends on the job what I use. I have a paslode hoseless butane framer that I love. Paslode also makes a butane finnish nailer. I have borrowed the finnish gun and it worked well. This would keep you out of the compressor market. For finish nailers I like the 15 gauge angled finish nailer. It shoots a round nail and is easy to get in tight spots. Mine is a dewalt D51276K and it has been good to me. I like paslode stuff though both butane and pnumatic. A guy that helped me on the house had a dewalt cordless electric nailer that he bragged on and he was a pro contractor, I didn't try it.
Compressors are a budget thing. I have a big two stage in the shop and got tired of dragging hosr across the yard so I bought a cheep noname pancake that has run the air nailers for a year now without a problem and it is oil less. I wouldn't reccomend oil less but it was cheep and not my primary compressor. I also tried the belt clip CO2 regulator (jac pac) uses a paint ball bottle I have mixed fellings about it. I wouldn't get it unless it was cheep, you didn't have a lot to do, and you had a fill station near.

Hope this helps

Re: Power tool advice?
 

Just remember that there's a difference between the tools you see in Home Depot or Lowes (screwguns, etc) and the versions that contractors are able to get. The screwguns we have at work are a better quality than those in the store.

Re: Power tool advice?
 

Alot of it is going to depend on what you want to do, you kinda sound like me do it yourselfer on alot of small house projects and want the tools to make life a little easier.

I bought a package deal at sears that came with the compressor below and a set of 3 nail guns. and i bought just one of there base model mitre saws, a rip saw is wonderful to have if you actually plan on cutting longer material.

I also have one of there table saws that i picked up on sell.

Never once have had a problem, but i do have a 100 gallon in the workshop for running air tools etc, but the pancake one below works beautifully with nail guns and other small projects.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...5215000P?mv=rr

Re: Power tool advice?
 

If I am making a living at it I would get higher line tools but (you can call me cheap now) if I am using a tool very infrequently I get those from Harbor Frieght. For example I wanted a screw gun in the house for blinds, misc repairs etc.

15 bucks for 18v cordless drill with a light and it works fine for the tasks a hand.

Re: Power tool advice?
 

I will use the miter saw primarily for molding, shelving, and general carpentry. The compressor will be used for tires, nailers, paint sprayer, and impact wrenches. As far as nailers the only one that I probably wouldn't have a use for is a framing nailer. Finishing and brad nailers will be used most of the time.

Re: Power tool advice?
 

I bought this off a guy on Craigslist last year (It was still sealed in the box) for just such uses. Works pretty good, but a little loud. I paid $225 and Home Depot wanted $299 + tax.
My brother-in-law has one as well and uses it when he builds fences. Although he bought a better nail gun to use with the compressor.

http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-C.../dp/B000HZGTIA

Re: Power tool advice?
 

For impacts, you would generally need more volume than what a pancake compressor could provide. Unless, you want to have it run constantly or recharge between difficult nuts/bolts.

IMHO 10 gallon minimum for impacts/automotive air tools. Otherwise you'll end up drinking too much beer while waiting and it will become counterproductive.

Re: Power tool advice?
 

A compressor to run an impact needs to be at least 10 cfm. Not very portable and not too handy for household repair. A pancake is hard pressed to run an impact. Buy two compressors or the paslode butane or like I did for a while buy a lot of hose.

Re: Power tool advice?
 

I could really do without an impact right now. I didn't know that it was going to dictate the size of the compressor. After a little reading most guides say that I should get an air compressor capable of 5 psi @ 90 cfm. Does this sound about right?

Re: Power tool advice?
 

No, 5psi (boost) at 90cfm would be a computer case fan blowing into a garbage bag.

You probably meant 5cfm @ 90psi. This all depends on what you want to run and how hard you are going to run it. That's not a lot of air for high consumption tools.

Re: Power tool advice?
 

Yes sorry that was a typo. :(

Re: Power tool advice?
 

I've bought a few tools in my lifetime - :ss

Buying tools can be and should be personal. The best tools out there can be crap if they are not what you need and don't fit your hand. To re-cap some of whats been said and to add to that:

If you want tools to last, buy what we, the pro's buy. Hiliti, Milwaukee, Porter Cable and Senco for nailers. Buying good quailty tools from these manufacturers, there is an excellent chance that as the tool gets old - 10-15 or 20 years they are going to have repair parts for them. I have a 1970 Hiliti powder gun that until recently was able to get parts for - that's a long damn time. This said - don't over buy on a tool that you will hardly ever use - DeWalt, Ryobi or Skil might work.

Don't buy a tool because it's popular, a certain color, etc. Pick the tool up and put it in your hand. Check for fit and feel. How heavy or light is it. Where are the handles and do they feel comfortable. Where are the controls - are they handy while using so you don't have to think about it - or do you have to stop and look at it. On saws - what side blade do you want? Ejector side? Do you need tools to change the blade? What is the base plate made of? Adjustment knobs? Sealed bearings and bushings? Direct drive or belt drive?
Look for features you need and accessories that can be added. And by the way - don't select a saw with less than 15 amps.

Ask wherever you are buying from to actually turn the tool on and use it if possible. Pro centers will do that. Hilti stores for example have areas just to use the tools. Home Depots sometimes have tool days. Look for events. If you know someone with a particular tool you like - ask to demo it.

Compressors is the latest discussion so - a small pancake one will most likely fit you just fine. Most of your tools will run at between 100 and 110 psi with your small brad nailers and paint sprayers at 90 and less. And yes a small pancake will run an impact wrench, air your tires, etc just fine. You won't be using it continuous. Porter Cable normally has some good deals on a two nailer set with compressor at Home Depot and Lowes.

So -
Buy quality.
Buy for fit and feel.
Buy for features/accessories.
Buy according to use.

And don't try to buy all your tools at once. Buy as you need them. As you gain more experience and skill - your taste and needs in tools will change.



Ron

Re: Power tool advice?
 

FWIW, Home Depot had a green tag sale on the Milwaukee 12" Compound Sliding Miter Saw this morning for $299. Unfortunately all of the stores in my area are sold out. Their stock was very limited.