Welcome back power tool fans, this week the Makita 40v impact isn’t here yet, but it is elsewhere and Bosch has a new mini bandsaw you’re all gonna want. This… is your Power Tool Week In Review!
Tools and Stuff – Makita 40V Max Brushless Impact Driver
Makita still has yet to bring their new 40V power tools to the States, but they’re finally showing up overseas. Fortunately Tools & Stuff got their hands on several, and decided to see how they hold up against Big Red. That’s the new Makita XGT 40V Max Brushless Impact Driver, challenging the formidable Makita XDT16, and Milwaukee’s own M18 FUEL Hex Impact Driver. On paper, that new Makita XGT 40V looks tough to beat. Claiming the highest RPMS. But we all know that speed isn’t everything. The three tools are put through a wide range of tests, and the results… well they’re definitely worth seeing. Head over to Tools & Stuff on YouTube and see for yourself.
Makita Tools – 18V x2 (36V) LXT Cordless Mower
Speaking of Makita, they can’t seem to stop making mowers, and none of us are complaining. They recently announced the new XML-09-PT1, which I think we can all agree is a super sexy name, which is an 18V X2 LXT 21” Self Propelled Commercial lawn mower. This is not your neighbors mower, unless he’s a landscaper I guess. This new mower features a commercial grade aluminum deck, and can cut non-stop up to 2 miles using a total of 4 18V LXT 5.0Ah batteries. While the battery bay holds those 4 batteries, it only uses 2 at a time in the X2 36V configuration. If you’re a landscaper, or like to play one at home on the weekend, this might be worth checking out. You can find it at makitatools.com
Workshop Addict – Bosch Portable Bandsaw
Are you tired of wielding gigantic band saws all over the place? Well Brian at Workshop Addict thinks Bosch has a solution.
This is the Bosch GCB18V-2N, 18V 2 and ½” Compact Portable Bandsaw. Brain liked just about everything this bandsaw has to offer, and noted that most tools designed to be lightweight, tend to be poorly built, but not this one. For the full review head over to Workshop Addict on YouTube.
Shop Tool Reviews – DeWALT Flexvolt DCG418
If you haven’t yelled about power tools recently, you don’t need to, because Tim has us ALL covered. Fortunately for us, this week he’s yelling about a serious cordless grinder from DeWALT. Tim gives a thorough overview of the DCG418, the 3 horsepower Flexvolt grinder from DeWALT, then puts it to the test by cutting through 8″ c channel steel. Now Tim tends to make everything looks easy, but he had this to say when he was done. For the full review, visit Shop Tool Reviews on YouTube.
Construction Junkie
So this week Shane reported on two construction accidents, which are downers, but as he puts it, when dozens of people are injured from a jobsite incident, it’s important for us all to learn from it in order to avoid similar circumstances in the future. First up, 6 Atlanta Construction workers were injured after a parking deck collapse… Twice. In 2 days. The project is located at Emory university in Midtown. You can see in this video, the results of the first collapse. Fortunately no one died in either incident.
Then a few days later, he reported on another crane accident in Austin, TX, where 22 Construction Workers were injured. If you work on a jobsite, you’re part of a complex system that relies on each other, to keep each other safe. It’s important that you don’t forget that.
In lighter news, JCB decided it was a good idea to restore this 1963 JCB 1 Backhoe loader. And they were right. In a video they shared last month, they shared a story of a construction company that’s been buying their equipment for over 60 years, and had this vintage backhoe loader just sitting in storage, waiting for someone to pick it up, restore it, put it on stage, add a smoke machine and make a pair of men cry. Mission accomplished JCB. The video is actually a ton of fun to watch, and you can find it along with the rest of your construction industry news, at Construction Junkie.com.
Instagram Favorites of The Week!
Kiefer also known as the toolaholic somehow found a way to make emptying a toilet interesting with the DeWALT 20v cordless vac.
Montreal Sparky got to show off Milwaukee’s new M18 8” metal saw. Did he like it? Well, he said “the logic board, the battery and the brushless guts, all working in beautiful harmony.” I think that’s a yes!
And finally, Travis from Tools by Design continued his love letter to EGO’s 56v 650 CFM blower stating it blows the competition out of the water! I am sure the pun was indeed intentional.