This is a guest post by Erin Couch, the sales and marketing manager for the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA), an organization that supports and helps independent hardware store retailers become better and more profitable merchants. When she is not painting chalkboard walls, she enjoys hiking with her dog, scouring antique stores for one-of-a-kind pieces and learning the ropes of becoming a DIYer.
When I was little, my grandparents had this fantastic chalkboard in the hallway of their farmhouse. As a very creative, and sometimes ornery six-year old left in the deep country of Northern Indiana, the chalkboard was a perfect outlet for me to stay out of my Grandmother’s hair and away from trouble.
This deep desire for the ability to inherently “draw on the walls” has since translated into adulthood and now, my home.
I have been a first time homeowner for almost two years now and have begun the slow process of getting into the grove in decorating my home to my personal style and taste.
I love vintage inspired decorum and will go for anything that is a little adventurous…like chalkboard paint.
My initial plan for this project was to break up one of the two tall, white walls that separate my kitchen from my living room with a simple chalkboard “menu” where I was to write the week’s dinner plan.
After a couple of months of a swatch of black paint on my white wall, my inner six-year old started to think how great it would be to paint both walls, ceiling to floor in the chalkboard paint and turn that area into a place where anything goes.
As a novice DIYer, this project was perfect for me. It took about 30 minutes to complete and involved very little prep time. However, since you are dealing with black paint, I recommend laying down tarp in your painting area to protect your flooring from paint splatters. (Click the photo on the left to enlarge. You can see that it’s perfect for lists and doodles! Just be sure to leave at least 24 hours before you start chalking the wall.)
You can get chalkboard paint from your neighborhood hardware store and for those that are feeling really adventurous, you can get a magnetic paint to turn your wall into a bonafide schoolroom chalkboard.
As for me, I bypassed the magnetic paint and kept my walls as a place where my visitors can leave messages and I can post my grocery list and doodle.
For those on the conservative side, this paint is also perfect for labeling. In my case I took some plain storage canisters and turned them into identifiable holders for my flour, sugar and baking powder.
Whether you are doing an entire wall, half of a wall or labeling recycling containers or kitchen storage, chalkboard paint is a great way to shake things up and give your household an eclectic and fun look for all ages.
Follow Erin as she covers hardware and industry related news in North America on Twitter: @NRHA_Erin For a more personal look at social media marketing and shopping the independents follow her personal Twitter: @ErinCouch
Today we were visited by Mike and John from Ridgid Tools. Such is the draw of the Toolstop Podcast that it took John 13 hours to get here. Listen to the podcast to find out if it was worth it!
In the podcast we discuss Ridgid’s toolmaking traditions, we analyse the benefits of their pipe wrenches and their fairly recent divergence into tech tools such as their SeekTech and and SeeSnakes. We also mention their fantastic social media presence, including their forum and Facebok Page.
Steve Webb - Steve explains what PDP (Premier Diamond Products) do and we ask him to share some funny anecdotes from the world of diamond drill bits
Mark and Neil ponder over Chelsea’s changing fortunes in the Premiership
Remember to subscribe in iTunes to make sure you never miss an episode, and while you’re there, please right a review! Reviewing the Toolstop podcasts on iTunes is an excellent way to help other people find us.
Sometimes Makita get things right. Get things very right.
Other times, they get things just a little bit wrong.
And there are occasions like with the BSS611R-ID 18v li-ion triple pack that they get it very right. And just a little bit wrong. All at the same time.
Here we’ve got Makita at their very best. We’re not just talking about their fantastic lithium-ion battery technology nestled within these 18v packages of power. We already know how the batteries are going to perform.
We’re also not just talking about the fact that the BHP453 combi-drill in this triple pack will drill upto 13mm diameter holes into steel and masonry and 36mm into wood. It’s not even the BTD140 impact driver’s huge 3200 blows-per-minute nor the fact that BSS611 circular saw is going to munch its way through 57mm thick pieces of wood at 90°.
No, it’s not the performances on these tools that Makita have got right; that’s just what Makita does. We almost take it for granted.
So, what – if anything – have they got wrong? Watch the video.
What they’ve got wrong this time – and it doesn’t happen often – is leaving the BHP453 out of the picture on the box! Yes, no big deal. But think how much the box will be worth; a collector’s item, surely!
However, they’re joined briefly by Stuart Deutsch of the excellent Toolguyd blog. Stuart says the following of Toolguyd; “I launched ToolGuyd because I wanted to provide a tool “guide” that could help others user their tools better and make more informed tool-purchase decisions. My intentions were to discuss my favorite tools, how to select the proper tools for a particular job, stuff like that. The blog has evolved from then as its visibility attracted more readers and the attention of tool manufacturers.
Today, DIYers and pro tool users are most interested in news about the latest and greatest tools, so we place more emphasis on newly released and upcoming tools. We do occasionally receive review samples from manufacturers to test out, and I work hard to review the tools in as comprehensive, objective and honest manner as possible. What’s the point in a review that cannot be trusted?
Our reasons for occasionally linking to Coptool and other tool blogs vary, but here is a good example - http://toolguyd.com/2010/09/a-sneak-peek-at-milwaukees-new-m12-multi-tool/. Jay attended a media event and took photos of Milwaukee’s new oscillating multi-tool. I felt that our readers would be interested in the photos, so a few weeks later I posted them with Jay’s permission. Yesterday I directed readers to another blog that I follow, Bolty.net, because they put together a nice tutorial on wire-tapping. One more example – a few months ago Jay broke the news about Bosch’s new L-Boxx configurations, and you guys posted an excellent overview of them http://toolguyd.com/2010/06/first-bosch-l-boxx-tool-case-combos-announced/.“
The guys also chat about the massive new consignment of Draper tools that arrived today, Toolstop’s new check-out system, and the football.
“I have experienced that the DMF10 is unreliable detecting wooden structures behind the wall for some reason. Works better with “knock on wood” technique. Mains voltage and metal works just fine…
The only ‘problem’ I have encountered with the tool is that the audible signal is at far too high a pitch for older users thus limiting the ease with which it could otherwise be used, having to rely purely on the visible signals.
Since I purchased my Bosch DMF10 Zoom, I have not been able to use it. I purchased it for DIY work on my house, but it does not seem to work. This is because all of the plasterboard in my timber framed house is backed with a thick layer of foil, this stops the tool from working.”
And we got the message. So did Bosch. While many of the issues you were having with the DMF10 Zoom were covered by RTFM, it was obvious that it wasn’t the most popular detector we’d ever come across.
But this is Bosch we’re talking about. They invented German technological efficiency*, so when the GMS120 Professional multi-material cable detector landed on our desk, nestling comfortably in its efficient little protective bag, we wondered if this, the latest piece of professional tech kit from Bosch would be, well, efficient.
* Bosch didn’t actually invent German technological efficiency. Rudolf Diesel may have done that. But we’re not actually sure.
The point is, Bosch seemed to have been listening (and that’s why it’s important for you to let us know what you think of the tools you’re buying/using. We make sure the manufacturers hear about it. Seriously).
Bosch claim that it’s the most reliable detector in it’s class. Of course, they’re going to say that, so we’re keen to know how they back it up.
Firstly, they’ve set the device up so that it’s automatically calibrated as soon as you turn it on. This mean that objects are going to be found without application errors (although we still recommend RTFM…).
Even deep lying objects are going to be found, up to 120mm. That’s around 5 inches in old money.
The GMS120 also benefits from a multi-coloured LED. This isn’t for cute decorative purposes. It’s to help you “see” when you’re close to underlying objects. Which is exactly the purpose of the tool. Hence, at a glance you’ll be able to discern when you’re right over a stud or an electrical cable.
The LED lights encircle a marking hole at the top of the device. This allows you to mark on the wall where that nail has to go. We think this is a great idea.
Another great feature is the “Centre Finder” scale. As you can see in the video, the backlit LCD screen will prominently display when you’re right over the middle of the underlying material.
What about the audible signal? Will our older friends be able to pick up on the frequency? Neil and I consider ourselves young uns, so we can’t comment on the auditory capacity of our elders. However, we have to say that it’s loud. If you’re having problems hearing the signal on the GMS120 then it’s maybe time to give Puretone a call.
In terms of ergonomics, the GMS120 feels very good in the hand. Using it one-handed up against the Toolstop office wall was easy and the button layout is both intuitive and tactile. The screen looks good too, with what seems to be a fairly expansive viewing angle. And Bosch have used an easy-on-the-eye font for the display, including the hard-t0-ignore “Centre Finder” scale.
All in all, we get the impression that Bosch have picked up on the feedback for the DMF10 Zoom and have turned out a worthy successor in the GMS120 Professional.
We’re really excited about this. Toolstop Ltd is now the exclusive UK distributer of legendary tool company Ridgid’s products.
Why are we so excited about this?
Firstly, and this is fairly simple and obvious, we only want to work with – and distribute – the very best tools possible. So, we’re now part of Ridgid’s 140-country-strong professional distribution network. That means we get to offer you Ridgid tools at competitive prices, plus you’re plugged in to Ridgid’s support and repair infrastructure.
Secondly, we’re now able to deal with a broader range of tradespeople, particularly those involved in drainage and plumbing. And, factoring in the first reason for our excitement, we’re able to bring those tradespeople the best tools possible.
“Since 1923, Ridgid has remained the symbol of certainty to dedicated professionals of the expert trades…This is why every tool that bears the Ridgid brand is engineered to the same high standards of quality, strength, and endurance as was that first heavy duty pipe wrench more than 80 years ago.”
Big claims from Ridgid, but one of the reasons we’re stocking Ridgid tools is because they don’t just talk the talk; they walk the walk.
Part of that is borne out by their ethos. Basically, Ridgid know that when you’re using a tool on the job, how well that tool performs directly reflects on your professional reputation. In other words, if you want to be the market leader you’re going to want to choose the market leading tool to do the job.
Makes sense, no?
Also, how well the tools perform that you use to carry out your work directly impacts your profits; efficient tradespeople means more jobs, higher revenue and increased customer satisfaction. And in this economic climate those are key ingredients.
Ridgid tools are warranted to be free of defects in workmanship and material. What that means is the tool isn’t going to pack up because it hasn’t been made properly, or from substandard materials.
The warranty lasts for the lifetime of the tool, except electrical tools and electrical components. Then you’re going to get a one year warranty from the date of sale.
We got a sense of pride from the Ridgid guys before agreeing to be their official UK distributer, pride in that millions of Ridgid tools go to work around the world every single day. That’s hundreds of thousands of jobsites, construction sites, power plants and any number of harsh environments. And that statistic drives their innovation and their dedication to producing the best tools possible.
Because Ridgid offers their warranty, because they stand by the workmanship of every tool, because they recognise that your efficiency on the job site is very much about the quality of the tool in your hands and that your efficiency directly corresponds to your profitability, means we’re delighted to be able to offer you Ridgid tools, not to hire*, but to buy!
What are your favourite Ridgid tools? Also, any questions for Ridgid? They’re coming on the Toolstop Podcast next week.
Let us know in the comments.
* traditionally in the UK Ridgid tools were offered by hire companies. But let’s face it, why continually shell out hire fees when you can own the tool?
Bosch’s cashback offer! Basically, buy a Bosch tool, fill out the form, send it off, Bosch send you back a cheque that you can spend on a quality gift item for your spouse. Here’s an example.
Two brand new products: replacing the Bosch DMF10 Zoom (here’s what you guys had to say about it and here’s our response) we now have the Bosch GMS120 professional multi-material detector. Video coming soon! And also from CEL the new PowerHandle AC (not currently available, we had a prototype!). This is going to turn your Power8 Workshop into a corded toolkit, and we discuss why this may be useful for you.
Ridgid are now in the UK! This is a Toolstop exclusive; basically there’s no other retailer in the UK from whom you can buy Ridgid tools. We’re really excited about this as Ridgid is legendary. More on that soon.
Sealey Power Products is on the agenda too. We’ve just taken in a huge stock of Sealey products. You may remember we paid them a visit in January. Again, more on Sealey very soon.
iTunes! Toolstop are ranking very highly the iTunes store’s “shopping” category, but we need you to get involved by rating our podcasts. Easiest way to do that is log into the iTunes store and search for “toolstop”. Or click: Toolstop Video Podcast, Toolstop Audio Podcast.
If you’ve got any feedback on Neil’s sound effects, let us know in the comments
“Do you own the most powerful 18v combi in the world, the ST 18 LTX? Do you use a jigsaw? You’ve been asking Metabo for a cordless version for some time…and now we have delivered.” So says the blurb in the Metabo brochure for their STA LTX QUICK Li PowerPlus jigsaw. Power tool companies are, let’s face it, known for
their love of hyperbole, throwing out adjectives like “powerful”, “robust” and “mighty” along with claims like “world’s first”, “best in class” and “very special features” as if they were sweeties at a 6 year old’s birthday party.
However, we don’t mind if the product matches the hype and as we’ve already seen from the latest crop of cordless power tools from Metabo (see our post on W 18 LTX PowerExtreme grinder), their 18v range is aiming at the professional, high-end part of the market.
Let’s start with the battery. Metabo are offering a 3 year warranty on the battery. That’s a lot of confidence in a lithium-ion battery. Perhaps the reason for this confidence lies with, among other things, the ESCP (Electronic Single Cell Protection).
ESCP is Metabo’s built-in battery health checker. Although, instead of simply looking at the general health of the whole battery pack, ESCP looks at each individual cell, monitoring it’s condition and status while it’s working and while it’s charging.
Metabo have also built an array of checks and balances into the batteries. For example, deep discharge protection, overcharge protection and monitored overload and overheat shut-off, along with fan cooling the batteries as they charge are processes that will enable the lithium-ion batteries to work harder and longer.
At least that’s Metabo’s claim. However, we’re sure that slapping a 3 year warranty on the batteries amounts to them putting their money where their lithium-ion technology research and development is.
- cutting depth in wood: 135mm, non-ferrous metal: 35mm and sheet metal: 10mm
- pendulum stroke levels: 4
A key feature is the Metabo QUICK blade change system. Simply put, flick a lever and the blade will eject without you having to touch it. No more burnt fingers.
We were impressed with the ease with which it cut through our piece of wood, particularly the smooth finish we were left with thanks to the 4 levels of pendulum action (see video). Of course, the on/off blowing unit keeps the cutting line clear, and the LED job light does what you’d expect; light up the job piece. Being able to see what you’re working on is, of course, essential if you’re going to do the job right.
Metabo are obviously proud of the STA 18 LTX QUICK Li, and we can understand why. With it’s features, the excellent battery and the versatility of the tool, we can see this one being a hit with joiners, kitchen fitters and anyone who’s already bought into Metabo’s 18v lithium-ion battery range.
We’d love to know your thoughts of it, let us know in the comments, send us a message on Twitter or on Facebook.
Today on the Toolstop Podcast, we present the 1st of our 5 Xmas gift ideas, ranging in price from £18 to £300. There’s something for that DIY/professional who has everything.
1 – King Dick screwdrivers – good value, 1 screwdriver for all screws – 2 versions available with or without an insulated screwdriver, price from £18 (video) 2 – 10.8v Bosch Monster Kit – current price £300, but contains everything you’ll ever need for work around the house for the DIY of professional (video) 3 – Makita 8391DWPETK – 18v combi drill which comes with 101 piece accessory set for less than 130 quid (video) 4 – Black & Decker AS36LN auto select screwdriver with magnetic screw holder. Coming with a 31 piece bitset for less than 30 quid (video) 5 – Bosch Ciso Secateur – take the strain out of pruning with this cordless power secateur. At 39.95 it’s great value and comes with a holster and spare blade (video)
I recently watched a couple of joiners cut off part of my house using an ageing Makita reciprocating saw, so I was keenly interested on how the new Makita JR3070CT recip saw, with added AVT, would perform when Neil and I visited Makita at their Milton Keyne’s base. The reciprocating saw is one of the most essential pieces of power tool hardware, that’s why you’ll find it in the tool kit of millions of professional around the world. There are applications that only a recip saw can handle, so it’s obviously important to buy a one that’s going to:
be robustly constructed so that it lasts a long time
can handle the jobs you’re going to throw at it (and this is where good blade selection is vital)
offer sufficient power
How does the Makita JR3070CT stack up? Well, here are some vitals:
130mm cuts into pipe (maximum)
255mm cuts into wood (maximum)
up to 2800 strokes per minute, controlled via a variable speed trigger
1,510 watt motor
Of course, we all like extra features on our power tools, so the Makita JR3070CT is, again, worth our consideration:
tool-less blade change; no more burnt fingers while changing blades. The Makita JR3070CT virtually spits it out with the press of a button (see video)
ultra-low vibration via Makita’s AVT (Anti-Vibration Technology). Despite pushing out upto 2800 strokes per minute, the JR3070CT only transfers 8.5m/sec(2) back to you. In real world terms, that means you’re going to be able to use the tool for longer without any discomfort
orbital action which will allow you to cut at higher speeds
variable speed. There’s no point in cutting at such a high speed that you effectively destroy the work piece. Therefore, the 2800 strokes per minute can be dialed down should your work piece demand a bit more tenderness as you cut it
Obviously, Makita swear by their reciprocating saws, and we were suitably impressed with the JR3070CT when we saw it in action. Not least because of the cool looking blades, shaped after the Japanese Bullet Train. And that reminds me, the saw’s safety shoe can be adjusted up and down allowing you to choose which part of the blade is active during the cut. This allows you to get longer life-spans from your blades.
Ever wondered which is better, a Bosch grinder or Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney? We have and we think the grinder wins. Here’s why.
Reason #1:
A Bosch grinder can sit on the bench for 90 minutes and still deliver a dazzling performance everytime.
Reason #2:
Your Bosch grinder won’t go off and write, not one but, two autobiographies of it’s life. Instead it focuses on the actual job at hand; grinding.
Reason #3:
Your Bosch grinder could actually make Sir Alex Ferguson cry. Wayne Rooney only makes him want to cry.
Reason #4:
Unlike Wayne Rooney’s recent form on the pitch (and we’re not going to comment on his “affairs” off of it) a Bosch grinder creates sparks all the time. Every time.
Reason #5:
Unlike Wayne Rooney, you can leave your Bosch grinder alone for the night without worrying about it going off and fiddling with someone else’s battered, old grinder.
Reason #6:
Unlike Wayne Rooney, a Bosch grinder is ideal for getting rid of unwanted old slag. Old welding slag, that is.
Then it’s the Bosch GOP10.8V-LI Multitool. This is one of the most versatile products you can have in your toolbag. It grinds, cuts, sands and scrapes with ease.
Next up is the Dewalt DW304PK Reciprocating Saw. We think this is hard to beat when it comes to cutting capacity, stroke length and power.
The penultimate candidate for the award is the Metabo KGS216 216mm Compound Mitre Saw. This mid-range mitre saw has come on to the market and within a year has become one of the leading in it’s price bracket.
Last, but not least, we have the Hitachi NR90GC2 Gas Framing Nailer. Using similar technology to Paslode, this nailer has become a firm favourite on the job site.
Get your vote in now by selecting your top tool below. Voting closes on the 10th December 2010 and we will announce the winners and present the prizes the week before Christmas.
A whole pile of new Metabo power tools landed in the Toolstop ‘hub’ the other day, so we’ve had a great time unboxing them, slotting in the lithium-ion batteries and running them through their paces.
First up;
Sparks fly
It’s the Metabo W 18 LTX Li PowerExtreme Grinder. A couple of things stand out about this grinder. Firstly, the battery. Metabo have slapped a 3 year warranty on these batteries, and they’ve got the technology to make that warranty sensible. Plus the battery pack is rotatable, meaning you can adjust the angle of the battery while it’s slotted into the grinding. That allows you to gain access to tight, awkward spaces. Metabo have also programmed their batteries with ‘ESCP’, their own brand of cell protection. Basically, your batteries are going to run longer per charge, they’re not going to over cook and they’re going to have a longer working life.
Metabo claims their batteries will give you more cuts than any other professional grinder on the market. They say, “that’s 17 more cuts than the worst result from the 5 major pro competitor’s products we’ve tested”.
Another feature that stood out to us as we tested the grinder was the ability to change the guard, meaning you go from having a 115mm grinder to a 125mm with just a flick of a quick release lever. Metabo have also fitted a Metabo Quick Nut for tool-free disc changing. Maintaining the tool is easy due to the ‘Easy Access Carbon Brushes’, so you’ll be able to service the tool yourself. These grinders aren’t cheap (what professional tool is?), the ability to look after them and prolong their work-life is vital.
Grinding and cutting can be dangerous. Metabo have programmed the motor in the W18LTX PowerExtreme with an overload cut out. If the grinder’s put under too high of a load it’ll simply stop. To start it up again you need to physically turn it off and then back on again (watch out for this in the video). This doesn’t only help protect you, it protects the motor of the grinder.
This safety feature is coupled with a thermal overload cut out. The motor has a thermal sensor fitted and if the grinder gets too hot while you’re working with it, it’ll slow down with a red LED light displaying on the handle. Basically, you need to remove the grinder from the work piece, keep it running so that the air passing over the motor cools it down. You’re then able to get working again. Again, this protects you and the machine.
And finally, just listen to the motor in action; Metabo claims it doesn’t sound like a battery powered grinder but more resembles, to the ear, it’s corded cousins.
On this landmark edition of the Toolstop power tool podcast, we invited DeWalt, Bosch and Makita to join us in the studio for a round-table chat about all things power tool.
Unfortunately, DeWalt weren’t able to be represented, but we were joined by;
We thoroughly enjoyed our chat about the recent developments we’ve seen from both power tool companies (Makita and Bosch), including lithium-ion battery technology, the fact that power tools are getting smaller at the same rate they’re gaining power, the favourite tools of each of the guys and the sort of tools they’d recommend you on the job site should be adding to your kit.
We’d love to know your thoughts on what John, Tony and Malcolm had to say, leave a comment here!
On this landmark edition of the Toolstop power tool podcast, we invited DeWalt, Bosch and Makita to join us in the studio for a round-table chat about all things power tool.
Unfortunately, DeWalt weren’t able to be represented, but we were joined by;
We thoroughly enjoyed our chat about the recent developments we’ve seen from both power tool companies (Makita and Bosch), including lithium-ion battery technology, the fact that power tools are getting smaller at the same rate they’re gaining power, the favourite tools of each of the guys and the sort of tools they’d recommend you on the job site should be adding to your kit.
We’d love to know your thoughts on what John, Tony and Malcolm had to say, leave a comment here!
Toolstop were nominated in the “Large On-line Retailer of the Year” category of the Scottish Retail Excellence Awards. Sadly, we lost out to M&Co, but were were highly praised for our website and social media presence.
click to enlarge
Congratulations to M&Co, you may have won this time, but our blog is still better…!
I woke up this morning, logged onto Twitter to find that it’s all kicking off about the Hulk! Disney-owned Marvel are throwing a bit of a strop [link points to Reuter's story] at Evolution power tools, the maker of the RAGE saws and the Hulk compactor. It seems the problem is primarily to do with Evolution’s US iteration of the Hulk air compressor.
“Marvel describes that particular shade as “confusingly similar” to the one used for its Green Goliath, and the logo as “nearly identical” to its own Hulk products.”
However, the Evolution “Hulk” we tried and tested in the video below was a tangy orange colour.
Following on from last week’s ramble-fest with DIY Donny, we’re bringing you a quick highlight edition featuring some of the stuff we’ve covered on the podcast over the past year or so, including some of the fun and interesting people we’ve met along the way. This week we hear from;
Next week on edition #50 we’ll be joined in the study by representatives of Bosch, Makita and DeWalt for a celebratory podcast about all things power tools.
Bosch have continued to innovate throughout 2010 and in their Q4 series of new power tools they haven’t disappointed. In this instance we have their new screw driver, the GSR MX2 Drive. Among other features, it has a 2-speed gear box operating from the 3.6v power pack. The video demonstrates how the gear box works, but according to Bosch, you start in 2nd speed (which has a variable speed of 0-580rpm) then switch to 1st speed (steady speed of 150rpm) as you meet resistance. This gives you a smooth, non-stop gear shifting. Just watch the video if you want to see it in action!
This driver is perfect for tight spaces not only because of the short head length but the LED job light. Of course, the GSR MX2Driver is powered by Bosch’s workhorse lithium ion battery technology.
Download the m4v version. All of our videos are available on iTunes. The element of this mitre saw that puts it in the position of being able to (attempt) to answer the question is the blade. It’s a tungsten carbide tipped blade that can – and does, as the video demonstrates – cut through wood, aluminium and steel. It also makes short work of wood with nails/screws in it. And you’ll notice that it leaves the metal cool enough to touch immediately after the cut.
Today on the podcast Mark and Neil are joined by newspaper columnist, radio presenter and star of Sky TV’s “Celebrity Parent SOS” DIY Donny.
Download the podcast. We admit to rambling a bit on this edition of the podcast, but hopefully you’ll find it as entertaining and enlightening as you always do…
You may also want to check out the Toolstop eBay shop, which you can find here! You never know, you may just pick up an absolute bargain power tool.
Last week Craig Farrell and I caught an early flight to Birmingham as invitees to Bosch’s Innovation Roadshow. A one-day event, the purpose was to showcase the brand new corded and cordless tools across the entire range from Bosch. We saw their new cordless jigsaw, job site radios and measuring tools.
We’ve put together a series of “60 Seconds With…” these new Bosch power tools for professionals, the first of which you can find here.
Download the m4v and ogv versions of the video. These are the long waited for jobsite radios, featuring either 20 or 50 watts via 4 surround sound speakers, plus the industries only subwoofer on a jobsite radio. Not only that, Bosch have packed in a digital, multimedia station allowing you to play your mp3 player or even music via SD or MMC cards. The GML 50 features backlit buttons and it’ll charge your 14.4v or 18v batteries when attached to the mains. Both radios can be powered by battery.
I have to say, I was truly impressed by the power of these radios and they truly are 360 degrees, with a speaker on four sides of the cube, plus a beefy subwoofer underneath. They have to be heard to be believed!
We asked Makita’s Colin Woolmer to run through a demo of the features of the Makita MLT100 table saw. Colin is ideally placed to talk with authority about this saw as he owns one! During our trip to Makita last month he talked enthusiastically about the saw and the purposes he’s put it to. All of our videos are available via iTunes. Get the m4v or ogv versions of this video.
Features:
Two pole slide system for raising and lowering blade for the most efficient and smoothest adjustment of the blade depth
Aluminium die cast, precision machined table top remains flat and true for out of the box accuracy
Powerful motor delivers 4,500rpm and electric brake for maximum productivity
Large cutting capacity (91mm at 90° and 63mm at 45°)
Toosltop are one of the biggest distributers of power tools in the UK. We blog about the latest power tools, plus we bring you exclusive video footage from Makita, Bosch, DeWalt and more. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
This is a guest post by Erin Couch, the sales and marketing manager for the 
Today we were visited by Mike and John from 
