Jul
02
2007
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Written by Ben Jackson
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Monday, 02 July 2007 |
 Quick. Can you guess the number one cause of power tool failure is? If you guessed "broken power cord", you are spot-on! Broken power cords are very common because:
- Power cords are oftentimes accidentally cut when sawing
- Tools are dragged around by their cords
- Falling tools are sometimes "caught" by their cords, which causes the cord to absorb all of the intertia of the fall.
Power cords are easily the most common power tool part that either fails or is damaged. For safety reasons, a damaged cord should always be replaced immediately. And by "replaced immediately", we don't mean "wrap the damaged part with electrical tape".
Fortunately, most manufacturers are starting to recognize this and are designing their tools with a power cord that's easy to replace in the event of failure. Milwaukee developed the "Quik-Lok" system to make replacing a broken power cord as simple as twisting the old one off and twisting a new one on. However, the end of the cord that connects to the tool uses a special proprietary connector meaning that the downside to this approach is that you have to have a spare Quik-Lok cord handy.
Bosch took the same idea, but made it better. Several saws in the Bosch line are equipped with the "Direct Connect" system and do not have a built-in power cord. Instead, they are designed to attach directly to an extension cord. How smart is that? Now, you can use as long of a cord as you need for your job and if you accidentally chop it in half or otherwise damage it, it's easy to obtain a replacement. It's a simple idea, but a great one!
The cord connector is locked in with a spring-clip, so you can be well-assured that it won''t accidentally get disconnected mid-use. The cord also loops around the back part of the tool to help protect the connectors from being damaged should the saw get dropped or dragged.
The Bosch Direct Connect system is available on select Bosch Reciprocating Saws, Wormdrive Saws, and Circular Saws available from ToolKing.com
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Jun
26
2007
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Written by Toologics.com
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Tuesday, 26 June 2007 |
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"How-to" videos are a great way to learn how to do something. For many, it's easier to learn by observing somebody doing something rather than just reading a guide. The problem with how-to videos is that they are generally much more difficult to find than normal DVD movies. Public libraries are a great source of how-to videos, but their selection is limited.
As the advent of the internet has revolutionized almost all aspects of our lives, it's also
a great place to find how-to videos. Recently, a few companies are starting to emerge that concentrate solely on how-to DVDs.
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Jun
26
2007
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Written by Toologics.com
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Tuesday, 26 June 2007 |
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Electric lawnmowers have been around for a long time, but have generally always been second to basic gas-operated models. It's not that they were a bad idea-the technology just wasn't quite there yet.
 The July 2007 issue of Wired Magazine evaluated four different
modern electric lawnmowers. While none of the tested models were able to achieve the perfect 10 score, an interesting model produced by Sunlawn scored an impressive 8/10.
The rechargeable Sunlawn EM-2 strongly resembles an old-fashioned push mower, but features a powerful motor that makes cutting grass and weeds a breeze. It's lightweight too-even with it's batteries installed, it weighs only 39 pounds so it's easy to use and move.
Even then, it could probably still be made lighter. The EM-2 utilizes two Sealed Lead-Acid batteries as a power source. We're curious to see what Lithium-Ion batteries can do for lawn mowers like this. Lead-acid batteries were actually invented well over a hundred years ago, so it seems like newer technology may be able to make cordless lawnmowers more powerful and lighter yet.
Wired's one caveat was the small grass catching bag, which they felt was insignifigant for larger mowing jobs. They suggested just ditching it and letting the clippings fall to the ground.
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Jun
25
2007
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Written by Toologics.com
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Monday, 25 June 2007 |
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We're very proud to announce that ToolKing.com
has launched a brand new (and much improved) version of their Web store! Take a look at the screen-shot on the left, or better yet, visit the new site .
The new store is a huge improvement over the previous store. Some of it's many new features include:
- Vastly improved search functionality
- Faster load time
- Modern "clean" feel
- One-page checkout
- Designed in accordance with Web2.0 philosophies
And this is only the beginning! Because the system that runs the store is much better than our previous system, we'll be constantly implementing new features to make your ToolKing.com experience better than ever!
Even though Tool King's look has changed, you can still expect the same great prices, wide selection, and helpful support that you've always received. In fact, over the coming months as we continue to grow and expand, you'll receive even more of that!
Please check out the new ToolKing.com and let us know what you think! Discuss this article on the forums. (0 posts)
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Jun
22
2007
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Written by Toologics.com
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Friday, 22 June 2007 |
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 Attendees to the AWFS show in Las Vegas will be treated to possibly one of the wackiest races they've ever seen. Participants in the July 20th championship event will compete against each other using Belt sanders.
But this isn't just your father's old-school belt sander race. It's the
National Belt Sander Racing championship! Competitors in the race have
proven themselves to have the fastest sanders in regional competitions
and have moved on to demonstrate their power tool prowess on a national
stage.
Utilizing both tricked out and "stock" belt sanders outfitted with extra-long cords, the competitors race their sanders against each other on a specially-designed 75 foot wooden track. Even though it sounds strange, belt sanders have fast and powerful motors that can get that belt moving very quickly. With the right amount of traction on the racing surface, it's easy to see how they could scoot across the track in a short amount of time. Steering is limited to bumping off of the track's walls.
If you're attending AWFS, you can see the races for free, although seating is limited.
Discuss this article on the forums. (0 posts)
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