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Volt Battery Combo
DEWALT DCK274L 18-Volt Cordless Hammerdrill/Impact Driver Combo Kit with XRP Li-Ion Battery Packs
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Make Father's Day a day to Remember with a Power Tool by Robert Meyer
Father’s Day is rapidly approaching and many of us have not yet decided what to give that special person in our lives. I will always remember the joy on my father’s face when he opened the new woodworking tool we had selected for his father’s day gift. It was the same on Christmas.
I have compiled a list of suggested woodworking power tools to give as gifts this Father’s Day. The list includes woodworking power tools that were top-rated in their category by ConsumerSearch.com, Consumer Reports, Amazon and various other respected consumer reviews. Also included is a short review of the product to assist in your decision.
From the list below I am sure you will find a quality gift that will bring a smile to the recipient on Father’s Day and for many years to come. Perhaps you will be the recipient of a gift hand made with the tools you have given.
Best Corded Circular Saw: Milwaukee 6394-21Reviews praise the 7.25-inch Milwaukee 6394-21 circular saw for smooth, accurate cuts, easy adjustments, excellent balance and comfort. It has an electric brake for safety, a Quik-Lok cord attachment and onboard blade-wrench storage. The Tilt-Lok handle adjusts to keep the saw balanced, and a front handle provides extra control. The 10-pound Milwaukee saw can bevel to 50 degrees, useful in many remodeling and construction projects. It carries a five-year warranty.
Best Cordless Circular Saw: Makita BSS610 LXTReviews recommend this light 7.1-pound Makita cordless circular saw for comfort, safety and convenience. The 18-volt lithium-ion batteries recharge in 45 minutes and hold their charge a long time between uses. The saw has a laser guide and dual LED lights, plus a dust blower to clear the cutting line. The 6.5-inch blade can cut 2X lumber even at a 45-degree bevel, and the saw comes with a 3-year warranty.
Best Heavy-duty Circular Saw: DeWalt DW378GKThe DeWalt DW378GK is a hypoid saw with the motor mounted behind the blade. This makes for better cutting-line visibility and less risk of kickback. It's heavy at 13 pounds, but light for this type. Experts say the added weight can even be an advantage when sawing sheet stock on a horizontal surface. Reviews praise this saw's performance, durability and convenient rafter hook. It comes with a three-year warranty, plus a 90-day "no questions asked" return option.
Best Cordless Drill Overall: Panasonic EY6432GQKWThe Panasonic EY6432GQKW is the cordless drill/driver recommended in more reviews than any other. It's a well-tested model that comparison reviews often rank at the top, even above cordless drills that use batteries with higher voltage. It's nicely positioned, serving both homeowners and professionals at a moderate cost. If you mainly only need a cordless drill for occasional jobs, consider the budget-priced 12-volt Ryobi HJP001K (*est. $80), whose lithium-ion batteries have shorter runtime but hold their charge longer between uses.
Professional Cordless Drill: Makita LXT BDF451The 18-volt lithium-ion Makita BDF451 driver-drill with ½-inch chuck is recommended in more reviews than any other lithium-ion cordless drill. It's the current pro version in the Makita LXT lithium-ion series, and the 3.0-amp-hour batteries provide long runtime. The Makita BDF451 has three speeds compared with two on the 15.6-volt Panasonic EY6432GQKW (*est. $190), and carries a longer warranty. The Makita cordless drill uses lithium-ion batteries, which hold their charge much longer between uses, are expected to last longer and run at full capacity even while the battery fades. The main drawback is price.
Best 10-inch Sliding Miter Saw: Makita LS1013FLThough more expensive, a sliding feature adds more capacity; this Makita sliding miter saw can make very smooth cuts on up to a 2x12. Admittedly this Makita saw doesn't have quite the precision and features of the new Festool Kapex (*est. $1,300), but recent comparison tests find this Makita sliding miter saw close behind in performance and ease of use, and it's far less expensive. The Makita saw has a soft-start motor with electronic speed control, and reviews say it handles thick hardwoods well. The adjustable laser guide has a separate switch.
Recent comparison tests rank the Makita LS1013FL miter saw close behind the much more expensive Kapex (*est. $1,300) for both performance and ease of use. The Makita miter saw can make very smooth cuts on boards up to 12 inches wide, and the soft-start motor with electronic speed control lets it handle even thick hardwoods well. The adjustable laser guide has a separate switch. The main drawbacks are the short one-year warranty and the 45-degree limit to the bevel. The Bosch 4410L (*est. $500) bevels further, but the laser guide and blade changes aren't as convenient.
Best Heavy-Duty Plunge Router: Bosch 1619EVSReviewers praise the 3.25-horsepower Bosch 1619EVS as the best wood router for heavy-duty work -- even on hardwoods. As a plunge router, it can start grooves or cuts safely in the middle of a board, so it's versatile. Reviewers like its soft-start variable-speed motor, dust control, two-stage adjustment and self-releasing collets. Despite its 13.2-pound weight, reviewers say the Bosch 1619EVS maneuvers well for handheld use, yet also works well mounted in a router table. The large base opening and 2.56-inch maximum depth make it usable with large bits. The warranty is for one year. If you don’t need this much power, reviews suggest the 2.25-hp Bosch 1617EVSPK router combo kit (*est. $250), which comes with a plunge base (for cutting grooves in the middle of a work piece) plus a fixed base.
Best Fixed-Base Wood Router: Milwaukee Body Grip 5615-21 Reviewers recommend the Milwaukee Body Grip 5615-21 as an excellent first router -- easy to learn to use. It's designed so you can hold it with one hand, and it's lighter than most routers at just 8.8 pounds. This single-speed 1.75-hp Milwaukee wood router lacks dust control, but does have self-releasing collets, so bits are easily changed. Reviewers say height adjustment is easy even when the router is table-mounted. Like most Milwaukee tools, it comes with a five-year warranty. For more versatility, consider the more powerful variable-speed Bosch 1617EVSPK router combo kit (*est. $250), which includes a plunge base as well as a fixed base.All of these top-rated power tools are available for prices substantially below the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) from Woodworking Tips and Tools. If you are interested a tool not listed above, or a tool in a different price range you will also be able to find it there.
If you didn't find exactly what you are looking for, visit Woodworking Tips and Tools at http://www.woodworkingtipsandtools.com for more suggestions and thousand of tools to choose from.
About the Author
The writer operates a website, Woodworking Tips & Tools at http://www.woodworkingtipsandtools.com, that features information, tool reviews and a discount store offering the entire line of power tools at substantially reduced prices. A related site, Makita Power Tools at http://www.powertoolbargains4u.com features Makita power tools at discounted prices as well. For a cordless power tool reviews visit http://www.cordlesspowertoolreviews.com.