Long-Lasting Chop-Saw Blade
Abrasive metal-cutting chop-saw wheels tend to wear quickly and, in the process, shrink in diameter, reducing their cutting capacity. One solution is to use DeWalt’s new 14-inch DW8500 Diamond Edge chop-saw blade. According to the company, the diamond-grit blade cuts like a standard abrasive wheel (with a little less dust and a little more heat) but lasts 100 times longer while holding its original diameter. Considering that DeWalt’s standard 14-inch abrasive wheels go for about $4 to $12 apiece and the Diamond Edge blade costs $250, the latter appears to be a bargain. DeWalt, 800/433-9258, dewalt.com
Bright Liners
Ergodyne continues to expand its N-Ferno line of cold-weather work wear, most recently with two new hardhat liners: the regular-length 6850LED and the shoulder-length 6852LED. These cotton-twill shells lined with poly fleece are designed to keep your head warm while lighting your way. Two LEDs on the edge of the brim cast light up to 50 feet away, and two more LEDs underneath illuminate close-up work. Four CR2032 lithium button batteries ride in a rear interior pocket to provide more than 30 hours of runtime. In extreme cold, N-Ferno warming packs (sold separately) can be inserted near the ears; the packs generate heat for up to eight hours when exposed to air. The 6850LED costs $27 and the 6852LED $30. Ergodyne, 800/225-8238, ergodyne.com
Get a Grip
There’s nothing like wheeling a load of concrete or masonry downhill with cold or sweaty hands and having to hang on to the slick hardwood handles for dear life. Jackson Professional Tools’ Total Control Pro M6 wheelbarrow has a 6-cubic-foot steel tray and steel handles with closed-loop polypropylene grips at the ends that should make it easier to hang on when going up or downhill. The handles also make tilting and unloading easier, because you don’t have to reposition your hands. The wheelbarrow costs $120 to $130. Jackson Professional Tools, 800/807-2589, jacksonprofessional.com
Compact Caulking Gun
Newborn’s new Z-Lite caulking gun is designed to apply low-viscosity materials like silicone and acrylic latex. It uses a flexible steel strap resembling a tape-measure blade to move the plunger. To load a cartridge, you press and hold the thumb release above the handle (without pulling the trigger) and slide the knob at the top of the tool all the way forward; this pulls back the plunger. The rod-free gun can fit into tight spaces and toolboxes more easily than conventional guns can. It has a belt hook and costs $24. Newborn, 800/638-3983, newborncaulkguns.com
Power Protractor
I first saw Starrett’s 505A-12 12-inch aluminum ProSite protractor at the 2003 STAFDA show and was impressed by its simplicity. The tool has two vernier scales: a red scale for miter joints and a black one for butt joints. You simply measure the angle with the protractor and read the miter-saw setting directly off the appropriate scale with no math required. Now the company has introduced the CP505E-12 12-inch aluminum electronic protractor, which replaces the vernier scales with an LED display. This model also allows you to set miter and bevel angles for cutting crown moldings, including moldings with custom spring angles (see the company’s website for an explanatory video). It costs $150. Starrett, 800/541-8887, starrett.com
Lithium-Ion Cordless Framing Nailer
Paslode introduced the first cordless framing nailer back in 1986 and has been improving it ever since. The new CF325Li, which is assembled in the U.S., is similar to the CF325 it’s replacing: It uses an internal combustion engine powered by a disposable gas cartridge and a rechargeable battery to drive the company’s RounDrive 30-degree paper-collated nails ranging from 2 to 31?4 inches long. But the new model replaces the old nicad battery with a lithium-ion one that drives 50 percent more nails per charge while reducing the weight. Also, you can now adjust the depth of drive on the fly. The CF325Li – plus one battery, a charger, a case, and safety glasses – costs $400. Paslode, 800/222-6990, paslode.com
Smooth-Cutting Blades
Freud continues to grow its Diablo line of saw blades for contractors and has introduced two new carbide-tipped Ultimate Flawless Finish blades for table and miter saws. The 10-inch D1090X has 90 teeth, and the 12-inch D12100X has 100 teeth. Both blades have a nonstick coating and an “Axial Shear Face” grind that promises to shear cleanly through the material. They also have a new ultrathin kerf that’s supposed to reduce amp draw by 18 percent to 37 percent and allow portable job-site saws to perform like stationary ones. The D1090X costs about $60, the D12100X about $70. Freud, 800/334-4107, diablotools.com