Back in May, I wrote about Campbell Hausfeld's new line of Pneumatic Nailers. Their goal was to produce a nail gun for your average Joe that could give results of a seasoned pro. To do this, they have added some interesting features to their model CHN70699 finish nailer which are not found in other nail guns. These features include: a built in laser, warning lights/sounds and even a stud finder. The CHN70699 can fire nails ranging in size from 1" up to 2-1/2" and uses standard angled 15 gauge finish nails. The operating pressure range is between 70 and 120 psi. I have found that running at around 100 psi works for most nail guns.

The packaging is the first thing we see when purchasing a new tool (unless we buy online), so it should look good, right? Such is not the case with the CHN70699. The packaging looks like something you would find in a toy store, with a (see inside) window and an extra details flap. Not the best first impression, but we can look past that.

Introduction

It is always fun to test out tools for review, but it is especially fun when you know the tool you will be testing is something you need, or will make life easier. Such is the case with the Work Sharp 3000. Like me, I am sure a lot of carpenters have tools such as chisels and hand planes that get used and abused at work on a daily basis; but how often do those tools get the good sharpening they need to perform at their best. In the past I have used everything from belt sanders to mini grinders to try and get a half decent edge on a chisel, but have never even come close to a true square sharp edge. Even brand new chisels do not have a nice clean sharp edge that will last, that is unless you are spending the big bucks on chisels.

I don't know that there has been a single type of tool that has been more popular at a given time, then the oscillating tool is today. The main reason behind this, is the fact that most of these tools have all come out at around the same time. Rockwell, unlike Bosch and Dremel, is relatively unknown, but has a few things that are helping them out. One being the popularity of their JawHorse which I have seen discussed in a number of tool related message boards, another is their infomercials. Which is also how the Fein MultiMaster was first sold.

The Rockwell SoniCrafter is right up there with the more expensive Fein MultiMaster in terms of power. The MultiMaster is listed as having 250 watts, and the SoniCrafter is listed as having 2.3 amps. We multiply the amp times the volts to get the watts. 2.3 amps x 120 volts = 276 watts. This is probably the peak output, so I am going to call them even at 250 watts. I have never used the MultiMaster, so I can not do a side by side, but the specs seem to be pretty much equal with the same oscillation angle of 3.2 degrees, and a similar speed range of 11,000-20,000 oscillations per minute.

The SoniCrafter feels really solid in my hands, and is well balanced. It is comfortable to use with either hand or both at the same time. I was actually surprised at how well the body of it is built, and doesn't feel cheap in any way. The location of the variable speed dial is near the back of the tool, which does make it almost impossible to adjust with one hand. I assume it was placed in the rear to prevent accidental adjustments.

The little things make me happy. The 10 foot cord is really nice, and in my opinion should be the minimum size included on most power tools. 6 foot cords don't cut it. In addition to the good size cord is a built in hook and loop tie that will keep that long cord manageable. One of my complaints about the Dremel was the lack of a good Allen wrench holder. This is not a problem with the Rockwell as they have a holder built in to the back of the SoniCrafter.

The 72-piece SoniCrafter kit I am reviewing also comes with a dust extraction kit, that can also be purchased separately later if you buy one of the smaller kits. As seen in the photo, the dust kit attaches to the bottom of the SoniCrafter using a clip, and is held in place by the sanding pad at the other end. It comes with a couple different size fittings that allow you to fit it to your vacuum or dust extractor. It works surprisingly well for sanding, picking up most of the dust. This is probably due to the tight fit of the dust attachment against the back of to sanding pad. The Dust attachment can be used while cutting, although it doesn't work as well and it will limit your cutting depth. Only taking a few seconds to remove and attach makes it easy to switch between tasks. Continued After Read More

Over the past couple weeks I have been testing out the new Bosch Multi Construction Drill Bits, and so far I am really liking them.

Being a finish carpenter, I have on a number of occasions had to install cabinets, and vanities over tiled walls. The problem with this is that you need one drill bit to drill through wood, and another to drill through the tile. The Bosch Multi Construction Bits really make it easy to drill through both materials at the same time. Another problem I have is attaching wood backing to concrete walls with concrete screws. Usually I have to pre-drill the wood, hold the wood in place then drill out the concrete. The Multi Construction bit removes a step and saves me some time. Overall the Bosch Multi Construction Bits live up to their name. I only found the bits to be lacking when it comes to drilling through metal.

These bits are on my list of tools you should try.

Bosch Multi Construction - Amazon