Tools

Nextorch Tactical pen KT5503A: 42g 

I was curious about Nextorch Tactical Pen.  I opened the box and the pen has some heft to it. The tactical pen weights 42 grams.  A tungsten tip is   on one end of the pen it is designed to break glass. I didn’t have a windshield to try and break it, but I did break a bunch of bottles. The case is made out of aluminum and it is quite durable. To write with the pen simply unscrew the cap and you have a writing instrument. One of my friends says too bad it isn’t one of those space pens that can write anywhere. I unscrewed the body and showed him the ink jet cartridge and on the cartridge it says this space pen cartridge. He was surprised the Nextorch thought of including a space pen cartridge.The pen is a basic black and if you look at it you will just think it a pen but you will know it is hidden abilities. You can purchase the pen in three different models. 

myMet

myMet measures wind speed, air temperature and it fits in the palm of your hand

i downloaded the app for my android phone and there is a app for the iPhone too.

The app is easy to use and it designed so you can send the collected information either as email or text.

MyMet uses the smartphone gps. This ability will let you know the location, direction and time of your readings. It is great for camping, working in a job site.

The unit is easily turned on by sliding it out of the case and it turns off by sliding it back into. There is also a power button that you can use in addition.  The app is easy to use and there are some settings you can adjust. The battery is easily replaced and Weatherhawk has designed the unit to turn off when not being used which increases battery life.

It is a powerful unit in a small package and is easy to take it with you.

Milwaukee M12 Variable Speed Polisher/ Sander w/ Accessory Kit 2438-22X

The Milwaukee M12 Variable Speed Polisher/ Sander w/ Accessory Kit is a well thought out kit

It is not a “bare tool” kit but comes with two batteries. The batteries are of different capacities which are 1.5AH M12 battery, one 3.0AH M12 XC battery. There is a charger included also.

It has two speed setting  and the first setting is for polishing  which has a rpm speed from 0 to 2800 rpm. The second setting is for sanding and goes from 0 to 8,300 rpm.

The M12 speed polisher/sander has a handle which is screwed into the unit and there is option of attaching it either the left  or right side. There is  a battery gauge on the unit so you know how much power is left. I would recommend purchasing another M12 3.0 AH  battery if  you are planning on doing a big project.

This unit is easy to use and  weights 2.4 lbs. The kit comes with one 3” backing pad for attaching the polishing pads and one 2” backing pads for attaching sanding pads. The included soft case allows you to keep the tool, battery, charger, and backing pad together. 

Ryobi 16GA CORDLESS FINISH NAILER

I had the opportunity to use Ryobi 16 gauge cordless finish nailer for a home improvement project in my home. First this is a bare tool and you have to purchase the battery and charger separately. The project was to put in a new window and this tool made this job easy to use.

There is no need for an air compressor just attach the 18 volt battery into the unit. The unit is easy to operate and there are icons and instructions on the nailer. To operate it insert the 18 gauge nails in the magazine and then insert the battery. Before you work on your project it is a good idea to try it out on some scrap wood. There are two setting you can set it for single or continuous nailing . Another setting is the depth setting and based on the wood, length of the nail and how deep you want to drive the nail where flush or below the surface. This nailer made short work in attaching the trim.

There is a slight delay from when you pull the trigger. I believe the nailer is storing  up the air to propel the nail into the wood.  The nailer can hold 100 nails and the length of the nails  ranges from ¾ of inch to 2 ½ inches.  The battery according to Ryobi can drive 800 nails.

I loaned out the nailer to my friend who putting in cedar planks in his closet. I asked him how did it go and he said that it was great and he had no problems. He also said he was planning on using a hammer to do it and the nailer did a great job.  

It is economical to operate and you are not tied to a hose and a air compressor.  If you are planning on doing a lot of nailing I would recommend getting two batteries.

Weatherhawk 350

This a close to a full weather station as possible.

The Weatherhawk 350 is opened similar to a pocket knife. It just flips open and when it is closed the case protects the unit. It is a very well thought out design. The 350 comes with a lanyard which make it easy to tote around your neck. The unit does not very much and after a hike out in the woods I don’t think you will realize you are carrying it. The only thing I wish it was Bluetooth capability and had a app for it so you download the information the 350 has acquired.

Weatherhawk is definitely easy to use just press the mode button and it turns on. To see the different data has collected just press the mode button and it will display the information. An example is when you view  the temperature press the  view button and information is displayed is the  max/min of the reading. Press the view  button again and it will display a bar graph of the temperature for up to 48 hour period.  

Weatherhawk 350 is a very powerful unit and I was amazed at the all the measurements it can make.

Being out in the field and knowing what type of weather is extremely important for planning and mission success.  Another name  I would call the Weatherhawk 350 would be a pocket weatherman I think it that good. 

Milwaukee 2682-20 M18 5-3/8-Inch Metal Saw

I tried out the Milwaukee 2682-22 5-3/8" Metal Saw .The first thing I noticed was its solid construction and light weight only 5.8 lbs . construction. I charged up the two batteries included with the saws and looked for some metal to cut. Lucky for me my friend Keith stopped by with his work truck and pulled out some scrap metal to test.. I cut the first piece of metal , a inch of threaded metal rod easily, it felt like a knife cutting through butter. The saw did all the work and in seconds it was cut. The second piece of metal was a formed U Piece of metal about 2 inches thick, the saw cut through it quite easily . My friend and my son tried it too and we are all amazed. I have cut metal with a hacksaw and a reciprocating saw but using the Milwaukee was the most fastest as well as easiest. The saw cuts in a nice straight line. I have used a reciprocating saw and the blade bends a lot , wears out quickly and the cut is not as accurate. . I wanted a real working test so I had Keith take it to the job sites he visits. He cut for about five hours in the week and only replaced the battery once. I asked him about the blade and it was still cutting fine. The blade is a circular 5 3/8" with 1/4" inch gap about every inch. I was surprised that the design would cut metal but it does very fast and efficiently.
Keith said "I have to buy one of these the amount I will save on labor will pay for this saw in no time." What he liked most was the lack of cords and that it was so superior to in cutting metal compared to other tools he has used. After trying the Milwaukee saw he went out and purchased one. I am still amazed at that because he said this was the first Milwaukee tool he has purchased. He had personal preferences for other brands , but this shows you how strongly he felt about it.
M18 battery has a "gas gauge" so to speak on the battery. You press a button four LED lights light up when it charged , two light up when it is half charged. While you are using one battery the other can be in the charger getting recharged.

Below are some specs on the tool

* Compact, Low-Profile Design For easy handling and increased control
* Exclusive 4-Pole Frameless Motor Delivers 3600 RPM for up to 20 percent faster metal cutting
* Extra Large Cut Guide, Impact-Resistant Window and LED Light Improves line of sight for more accurate cuts
* Lightweight Design, 5.8 lbs For easier overhead cuts and less user fatigue
* Tool-Free Depth Adjustment Quickly and easily adjust cutting depth from 1/8-Inch - 2-Inch

Milwaukee M18 Cordless Compact Blower

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this blower. This compact blower is designed to clean your work area.

The blower reminds you of a leaf blower thou smaller. I have  used  it to  dust and debris  from my basement.

The tool uses the M18 lithium battery and runs for a long time. The M18 battery has a button where you can check the remaining power. The blower has three different speeds which are low, medium, and high. Milwaukee’s Blower according to the manufacturer the airspeed is 160 mph , which will move a lot of dust and dirt.

During this winter without end, I took the blower  outside to blow off about ¼ inch of snow of my cars. It not one of the recommended uses, but it didn’t scratch the cars. This blower is one of those tools that when you have it you wonder how you did without. Your work area will see the difference in using the Milwaukee M18 Cordless Blower.

The only thing I would make this better is put the intake on the left hand side instead of the right. I found holding the blower in my right hand I the intake  would get blocked by my pants.  The easy  correction is just to make sure you hold the blower away from your body.

I think this is the only compact blower design for the work bench on the market. The and Milwaukee M18 Cordless Compact Blower definitely makes a worthy addition to your tool collection

Ryobi 18 volt Hybrid Fan

I have not seen a fan that uses both AC volt tool. or a DC battery back. The charger and battery pack are not included it is a bare tool.

It truly is a useful fan. I had to dry some paint and it was just easy to pick this fan up plug a battery and turn it on. The fan has two speeds a low and high. The fan on battery power and in the low mode lasts a long time, However on high setting the run time is about half the time as on low. The fan can be mounted many different ways and it will be a great addition to your tools

It is worthy addition to your tool box.