THIS week, A Ryobi goes up in smoke, Hilti is fighting with DeWALT again, and we get our first look at the coolest circular saw we’ve ever seen. This is your #PowerToolWeekInReview.
Tool Review Zone | Dewalt Atomic 20V Compact Bandsaw
Clint over in the tool review zone got his grip on a brand new DeWALT, Atomic 20V Compact Bandsaw, and don’t let the adorable exterior fool ya. This little beast is exactly as powerful as we’ve grown to expect from the Atomic 20V Series. Clint specifically finds favor with the creative blade guard, which not only protects your fingers but also does a decent job of collecting metal shavings, keeping them out of your clothes and eyeballs. Overall he seems pretty happy with the new bandsaw, and couldn’t find any major negatives.
And as long as we’re in The Tool Review Zone, every Tuesday Clint shares a tool tip, this week he focused on the best way to hang a battery charger, something we did on an early episode of Maker Break. And just like us, he ran into the issue with Makita chargers missing the holes for hanging, but instead of screwing the base directly into the wall like we did, he had a different solution….
That’s a little harsh, but yeah, we feel your pain, Clint.
Workshop Addict | Ryobi HP Recip
Next, we head over to Brian at the Workshop Addict, where he once again decided to see if Ryobi’s “value pro” line is really worthy of a place in a pro’s truck. This week he took the new Ryobi HP Recip Saw into a bank at night and decided to start cutting up their desks, as a joke maybe. I don’t know. But as soon as he gets started, the problems begin. First, the blade pops out during his opening. Then, after pushing the tool HARD through the desktop, the smoke starts. Not something you want to see in the first few minutes with a new tool.
Now if that was the motor or electronics the tool would have quit, but it didn’t, leading commenters to speculate whether it was bearing oil that burned up, or maybe melted seals. Either way, the saw kept cutting through its own smoke. Brian didn’t leave us with a final answer as to the source of the smoke but promised an update.
Tools and Stuff | Unnanounced Makita XGT 5″ Circular Saw
Wanna see a really cool freak’n tool? How about a new Makita XGT Circular Saw that you’ve never seen before, and can only find on eBay in Japan? Check this out.
That is the Makita 40V XGT 125mm Circular Saw. That’s a 5” blade. And Tools and Stuff had the same initial reaction to it that I had. This tiny wonder isn’t just a small and powerful saw, it is absolutely packed with fascinating quarks and features, starting with that crazy polished aluminum base that looks too good to use. But it’s not just pretty. The base is actually key to its most unique feature. The blade side of the base actually detaches, allowing you to get the blade closer to a wall. Plus, it can reverse the bevel by 15 degrees, allowing you to angle the blade even further into the wall.
Combined this gives you the unique ability to undercut flooring. And of course, it’s incredibly powerful thanks to the XGT 40V platform, it’s incredibly light thanks to its size, and it even comes in the elusive Makita Black. Once again, Tools and Stuff and I are on the same page here, who thinks this is a pretty cool saw. Now unfortunately we can’t get these things in the States, unless you’re willing to ship it in from Japan, and don’t mind the Japanese manual.
