Hydraulic Impact Driver – Should You Have One In Your Kit?

When you hear the term “Hydraulic Impact Driver “you either know exactly what I’m talking about or you wonder if it’s some weird industrial tool hooked up to hydraulic hoses like a giant concrete saw. Well, I can assure you that if you do any work indoors, you should take a closer look at this tool.

What Is a Hydraulic Impact Driver?

So what is a hydraulic impact and how is it different from a regular impact? First off, a regular impact has three main parts a hammer, anvil, and a spring. As the hammer portion turns, if there’s resistance on the anvil, the spring loads up until it releases and the hammer strikes the anvil in the direction of rotation delivering that impact force into the fastener. The hammer and anvil mechanism is all metal so it is pretty loud when activated in quick succession. Check out this video excerpt from ToolStop where a Bosch employee demonstrates the impact mechanism.

A Hydraulic Impact is different in that it uses oil to build up pressure, when the pressure is high enough, pawls get pushed out on the anvil mechanism so that the hammer grabs them as it rotates. Then the pressure decreases, and the pawls retract until the pressure builds again. This results in a much quieter operation.

Benefits of a Hydraulic Impact over a regular

The first and biggest benefit is that they are half as loud as a regular impact. The new Dewalt boasts a 57% decrease in sound over their regular impact when driving 3″ screws into a pressure treated 4×4. That is a significant number. I can guarantee that all of us tradespeople will have some hearing loss over our careers, using a quieter tool when possible only makes sense.

The second benefit is the hydraulic mechanism due to the way it’s constructed, has more sustained torque. A regular impact is like hitting the end of a wrench with a hammer, a hydraulic impact is like putting a cheater pipe over the wrench and giving it a bunch of half-second tugs. Both will tighten the fastener, but one has torque on the fastener for a longer duration.

Killer Applications for Hydraulic Drivers

The obvious applications are anything indoors. MEP Rough-ins, steel stud framing, accessories (mirrors, grab bars, soap, paper towel dispensers, etc), device-ing out, and even doors and hardware. It isn’t just new construction either. Remodeling of existing occupied spaces can always benefit from decreased sound and vibration.

I do a ton of healthcare remodeling, hospitals, clinics, etc. Places that have to stay open even during construction. They always appreciate reduced noise and vibration, especially considering many places have normal sound levels rivaling the local library.

The last killer application is casework (cabinetry). Any time your head is close to the fastener being driven, the quieter the tool, the better it is for you in the long run.

Limitations of Hydraulic Drivers

There are some applications where hydraulic drivers are not the best choice. Longer and larger diameter fasteners like concrete screw anchors (TitanHD) and timber screws are hard for hydraulic impacts (and regular impacts) but in these cases, I usually switch to an impact wrench anyway.

The other area that hydraulics suffer from is extreme cold. I’ve had two Milwaukee Surge hydraulic drivers over the 8 years they’ve been out. The first one only lasted like 3-4 months because I left it on the job in the double digits below zero and I think the oil was too viscous and leaked out when I started using it for the day. I’ve never got an official confirmation from the brands that cold is detrimental for these types of drivers but I’ve read other reports online of similar scenarios.

Who makes Hydraulic Impact Drivers?

Up until a few months ago, Makita and Milwaukee were the only brands that made hydraulics. The drawback to this was that there has been no updates to these tools in the 8 years since they’ve been out. Now Dewalt just released theirs and it boasts quieter operation, less vibration, and more power than the Makita and Milwaukee. I don’t know if this new release from Dewalt will trigger updates to the Makita and Milwaukee.

What I do know is that if you’re on Milwaukee M18 or M12, Makita 18V LXT, or Dewalt 20V a hydraulic impact driver should have a spot in your tool kit.

Where To Buy (ACME Tool)

Milwaukee M12 Surge Bare Tool

MilwaukeeM18 Surge Bare Tool

Makita 18V LXT Bare Tool

Dewalt 20V Quiet Hydraulic Impact Bare Tool

Hydraulic Impact Driver – Should you have one? is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Gas to Battery Power Equipment Trend

Hey guys, as I was putting the finishing touches on our chainsaw head-to-head video, I was thinking about how far battery technology has come since I started using cordless tools. That stream of thought brought me down a rabbit hole to think about how landscaping industry is now experiencing an increase focus on the integration of battery-operated equipment across the job site. With this shift has come continued development in advanced technology, driving the discussion of gas tools vs. battery-powered tools.

This is an editorial, not a tool review, it’s my hope that I stimulate some conversation and comments about the future of power tools, battery technology and outdoor power equipment.

Performance | Power | Runtime

In order for us to even have this conversation we need to agree battery tools need to match gas in performance, power, and runtime.  When I think about performance, power, and runtime we’re now at a time in our lives where cordless tool technology batteries are as powerful as corded or even gas-powered tools.

For example, Milwaukee power tools came in “tops” on our last Top Handle Chainsaw head-to-head. They started launching outdoor power equipment in 2017 and then really started ramping things up in 2021 when they came out with a battery powered mower. Fast forward to 2023 and its clear they’re making a huge push toward OPE with over 2 dozen tools, such as:

1. Several chainsaws – top handle, 14 inch and 16 inches
2. dual battery blower
3. 21-inch self-propelled dual battery mower
4. M18 hatchet 8” pruning saw.
5. Brush cutter
6. String cutter
7. 8” and 18” Hedge Trimmer
8. one- and two-gallons sprayers including a 4-switch tank, gallon backpack sprayer.
9. Quick LOK power head and attachment system, which I personally have and use, and it has a little chainsaw a string trimmer and edger a hedge trimmer and extension pulse. I love it because it is an all-in-one system.

Do you guys see where I’m going here, none of this stuff was available five or six years ago. But here we are with the ability to buy tools that can absolutely cut the cord from electricity and even get work done without gas power.

Gas To Battery Trends

So, the next question is OK Milwaukee, and all these other power tool companies, are making cordless tools for outdoor power equipment but are they powerful enough for a pro landscaper, or arborist to transition from gas to battery powered equipment in their industry.

We’d be foolish to think the power tool companies are not trying to achieve this. Especially when we see news on the increase in requirements that enforce emission-free and low noise equipment in municipalities, homeowners’ associations, hospitals, resorts, and businesses in efforts to curb air or noise pollution. This trend has encouraged power tool brands to expand their product lineups into the Outdoor Power Equipment space.

Staying Ahead of the Trend

As a Pro landscaper looking to stay ahead of this trend you are going to have to explore alternatives to their gas-powered products. Battery-operated equipment is the obvious solution here, as they have already introduced solutions that are fully compliant with these emerging regulations.

Even when operating in non-regulated areas, trends away from gas continue to grow as battery-powered alternatives create substantially less noise output and zero emissions, allowing operators to start work earlier and avoid exposure to fumes. And let’s not forget the popular arguments for using batteries over gas. [less noise, easier to use, less maintenance]

Adopting Battery-Powered Equipment in the Landscaping Industry?

Across the United States, there has been an increase in requirements that enforce emission-free and low noise equipment in municipalities, homeowners’ associations, hospitals, resorts, and businesses in efforts to curb air pollution.
Battery-operated is now powerful enough and offers solutions that are fully compliant with these emerging regulations.

Less noise output and zero emissions are the biggest wins of battery tools. Allowing operators to start work earlier and decrease their exposure to high pollution levels. Additional benefits of gas-free products include the elimination of pull starts, engine maintenance and the mixing of gas and oil.

What do landscapers need to consider before adopting battery-powered equipment?

• Cost
• Power
• Runtime
• Recharging Capabilities
• Same battery Platform

Cost

Probably one of the biggest issues facing professional landscapers and arborists is cost. Investing in battery-powered equipment is expensive, especially if you try to do it all at one time. The ROI is just not there – I think Pros need to slowly integrate battery tools into their arsenal to keep the costs down.

This is one area where I think professional contractors and landscapers need to consider looking at a manufacturer that can offer a single battery platform to get all the work they need done. By investing in a single battery platform with an interchangeable battery system, landscape maintenance companies can save money on long-term tool and gas maintenance.

Cost of Ownership

It’s no secret electric equipment is much more expensive than gas powered tool. This is primarily due to the cost of batteries, but I look at it as comparable to pre-paying for fuel. Yes, there is a higher up-front purchase price, but thats not the only factor. There is also facility infrastructure concerns to ensure charging capacity, and mobile charging.

A Pro landscaper I know recently compared cost of ownership between a gas and battery  zero turn mower. He determined that over a 5 year period the battery zt mower was approximately $500 cheaper to operate and took  approximately 2500 hours to  reach break-even on your investment.

Here are  the costs and credits that he used in his side-by-side comparison calculation:

Cost Of Ownership | Cost To Compare:

• Purchase price
• Infrastructure upgrades for charging
• Incentive credits for battery tools
• Loan costs
• Fuel costs
• Costs of repair
• Tax depreciation on infrastructure and tool
• Life of tool

That answered that question, that electricity is definitely cheaper than gas.  The biggest drawback for battery tools, is and has always been, runtime and charging.

Recharging Capabilities | The Future Of Charging

This is the biggest hurdle for battery power tool companies. Runtime has always been an issue with cordless tools and in order to get the job done throughout the day you need to have enough batteries to get the work you’re doing done, or you need to be charging throughout the day.

Charging cordless tool batteries is easy if you’re a contractor like me and you’re parked on a job site all day with electricity, but when you’re a mobile contractor like a professional landscaper it’s harder.

To make charging efficient for mobile crews, Pros need to make it happen on-the-go. Meaning they need to take their power with them.  Solar charging systems is not as reliable, affordable or efficient enough for mobile vehicles to rely on so most Pros either need to look at inverters or large battery storage chargers.

Many Pros already utilize battery inverters, and these units cost around $1.00 per watt to operate chargers in the field.

I think the next evolution will be battery storage systems. This is where the next big innovation in cordless tools for outdoor power equipment will come from. Tool companies will be looking at solutions to charge batteries on the go. Some companies, like KRESS with their Cyber tank system, are already doing it, and its pricy.

Tool companies will need to offer large battery storage systems that are capable of recharging multiple batteries on the go throughout the day. These units will be big, heavy, and most likely mounted in trailers and trucks. These units will need to be robust, waterproof, inverter capable, have GPS location in case it’s stolen and be able to recharge batteries fast.

When I say fast, I mean 10-15 minutes fast, for example as a landscaper you should be able to charge your batteries between one lawn and the next lawn.

Think about recharging electric cars, it’s the same principle. These battery systems will be designed to charge at night off your 110 voltage and Pros will then use that larger battery to charge smaller batteries, DC to DC fast charging during the day.

Better Batteries | Longer Lifespan

For this to be a viable solution, tool companies are going to need to re-think their battery re-charging cycle life. In this scenario landscape Pros will be discharging batteries fast and need to recharge them fast. Batteries cycles will add up fast, and for this to be successful battery longevity needs to last longer. To do this they’re going to have to increase their recharge cycles to at least 3000 or more for pro users.

Same Platform | All Tools On One Battery

Same battery platform tools are appealing to contractors. There’s a ton of OPE companies like Greenworks, Toro and EGO doing this, and many power tool companies like Dewalt, Makita and Milwaukee are doing this.

Milwaukee for example, has over 250 tools on their M18 battery system and 125 on the M12 system. By purchasing tools from a single brand with an interchangeable battery system, businesses can maximize runtime and versatility in operation to increase efficiency in application. For users in the Milwaukee M18 battery system, this provides compatibility between outdoor products as well as common power tools.

In considering the shift away from traditional gas solutions, landscapers must consider the versatility, efficiency, and power provided by battery-powered technology as to best maximize their long-term investments.

Benefits of Battery over Gas

The benefits of a battery too over gas tool are:

1. Reduced noise levels: benefit property owners while landscapers work around their homes and buildings.
2. Ease of use; the elimination of pull starting, and priming engines. Battery-powered equipment eliminates the time it takes to start a gas engine with a simple push-button start. But that’s not it either, what about dealing with starting engines in cold climates, and mixing of gas and oil. Battery-powered equipment has no exhaust systems, so users do not have to deal with emissions blowing into their face or heat build-up on exhaust pipes, both commonly noted frustrations.
3. Less Maintenance: Gas equipment required you to have to deal with dirty air filters, spark plugs, snapped recoil starters, and clogged or dirty carburetors, while battery-operated equipment requires no engine maintenance.
   What to Consider Before Adopting Battery-Powered Equipment

Conclusion

I think the benefits of cordless technology for outdoor power equipment is obvious, but it still comes down to runtime and power. Can these tools provide the power needed to get the job done, with enough runtime to when the professional landscaper arborist over? I believe they can, but I think recharging and unfitting cost will be their biggest hurdles.

The growing innovation with outdoor power tools, battery-powered technology will allow battery-powered equipment to outperform traditional gas solutions and meet the needs of the professional.

As landscape maintenance companies look to make equipment purchasing decisions, they should consider adopting a long-term plan to slowly adopt battery-operated technology.

Can Cordless Tools Replace Gas Tools? is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Upfitting a work Van With Makita 40V Cordless Tools

I started my carpentry career of with Makita tools – back then the miter saws were called “chop” saws and they were corded. At that time Makita was the go-to company for woodworkers and carpenters. Many of my first tools of the trade were Makita brand. 25+ years later I’m still using Makita.  This past year I added a new work van to my company, and I wanted to stock it with Makita XGT 40 Volt Tools. XGT stands for Next Generation Technology.

Before I show you my XGT tools let’s talk about why I think they’re  a good choice:

Launched in 2019, the XGT was designed to deliver more power, for more demanding applications, without sacrificing run time. They’ve also been able to make the XGT tools as compact as their 18-volt line – compact tools are a must-have for me.

Additionally, I’ve noticed that the 40V tool line has been performing extremely well, top score or top 3, in our ToolBoxBuzz Head-2-Head tests such as the reciprocating saw, impact drivers, track saw, and compact miter saw testing.

To be clear the XGT line is a premium Pro-grade line of power tools, and performs and is priced accordingly. These tools are designed to be used daily and withstand the harsh job site environment that is tough on tools.

Makita XGT 40 Volt Tools In Van

To get my van stocked and be able to work effectively I focused on the following Makita XGT 40 Volt Tools:

• Track saw and track, model GPS01.
• Circular saw, model GSH01
• Planer, model GPK01
• Reciprocating saw, model GRJ02
• Grinder, model GAG13
• 2 Impact drivers, model GDT01
• Hammer drill driver, model GPH01
• Hammer Drill, model GRH07
• Compound miter saw, model GSL02.
• Miter saw stand, model WST06.
• Router, model GTR01

Battery Charging

I permanently installed 1 double, and two single battery chargers to the rear racking in my van. These chargers plug into a commercial-grade power strip and are fed by a shoreline that I plug in at night or on a job site.

I use StealthMount battery clips to store the batteries so I can reach them without entering the am. I have a 40v to 18v converter for charging my 18-volt drywall cutter – a must-have tool in remodeling.

The Makita XGT 40 Volt Tools and batteries come with a built-in program, providing digital communication between the battery and tool while attached to the charger.

The XGT batteries are designed to include impact-absorbing padding and robust outer casing built to a IPX4 level of splashing or spraying water from any angle protection.

I’ve been impressed with the tough XGT construction and water-resistant design. To me that equates a durable and built-to-perform tool platform!

bottSmartvan Racks | Tool Storage System

I feel that tool storage systems and being organized save time and are as important as the tools that are used to get the job done. A lot of contractors don’t consider the time saved from being organized.

I installed a bott Smartvan shelf rack system which is a fully customizable storage system that comes with vehicle-specific mounting brackets. It is designed to be installed as a DIY project and doesn’t require drilling into the vehicle frame.

I have the bott Smartvan racking system in 2 vans now and love it. I’ve enjoyed the flexibility of the system as it allows me to easily switch things around as I determine my workflow in the van.

Growing My Makita XGT 40 Volt Tools

There are 125 Makita XGT 40 Volt tools but they still don’t have everything I need as a carpenter. There’s no table saw yet, multitool, right angle impact or a complete line of finish nailers.

They do have a pin nailer and vacuum, two tools that I don’t have yet. Regarding the vacuum, most of the XGT dust-creating tools I have are Auto-Start Wireless System (AWS) compatible so, once I pick up a vacuum, I can connect and use it with my miter saw, track saw, grinder, and router.

The Auto-Start Wireless System utilizes Bluetooth technology for wireless power-on/off communication between tool and dust extractor. To operate the AWS, you need to add an AWS transmitter in the tool.

After pairing the tool to the vacuum via Bluetooth, the vac turns on and off whenever the saw or tool is turned on. I’ve tested this AWS system several times and am impressed. An AWS-equipped vacuum will be my next purchase.

Final Thoughts

Alright, let’s circle back to my choice for stocking 40V XGT tools in my van. I’ve been a big fan of the Makita LXT 18/36-volt tools.

Jumping from the LXT line to the XGT made sense to me since I was starting from scratch, and I can get the same or better power with just one battery.

Makita also is building out its XGTx2 [80cv] line of tools. This configuration is going after high-output power and gas tools, such as:

• 14” cordless power cutter
• Brushcutter
• Vacuums
• Demo and Rotary Hammers

I’m sure we’ll see Makita use the XGTx2 configuration on any high-output tool that needs extra power and runtime.For me, the XGT line will give me and my business a pro-grade, powerful, full-featured tool with better runtimes.The way I look at it I just upgraded my Chevy to a Mercedes.

Makita XGT Toiols | Van Upfitting Video

Makita XGT 40 Volt Tools is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Coping Molding – GRID Apprentice Program

Hi guys I’ve partner with Milwaukee’s GRID apprentice program to walk you thru how to cope molding. Now if you’re an apprentice and want to learn more tips and tricks like this, please click the link in the description below to take you to the GRID website.

GRID Apprentice Program

It’s free to sign up, and you’ll have access to exclusive promotions and contests, you’ll have the ability to network with other apprentices from across the country, and you can check out industry articles and videos to help you kick-start your career.

Coping Molding

One of the more popular questions I’ve received from GRID members is about coping.

Coping is for inside corners, it’s a wood joinery technique where one molding is cut square cut and rests in the corner, while the other piece is back cut to fit the contours of the adjoining molding’s face.

Benefits to Coping Inside Corners

There are a few reasons why carpenters have always coped inside corners.

1. Wood swells and shrinks with seasonal changes.
2. Coped joints help cover irregularities more effectively and don’t open up as mitered joint does.
3. If a coped joint opens up, the crack will be obvious when viewed parallel to the uncoped piece and nearly invisible viewed parallel to the coped piece.
4. Coped miters also don’t require glue or caulking.

Mitering inside corners is not a preferred way to install the molding. The problem is most walls are not 90-degrees. When less than 90-degrees the molding shows a gap at the rear, when the corner is wider than 90-degrees  the result is an ugly front gap.

Coping the molding is done by cutting out the molding back 45 degrees and allow us only to have the joint touch at the front edge – tighter gap – especially with variances

Coping Molding Two Tips

To cope a joint, is to cut precisely along the profile of the molding, but not at the customary 90 degrees. Instead, the goal is to remove enough material at the back of the workpiece that it can slide over its mating section for a perfect fit.

Coping is a little fussy, and takes some practice, here are 2 tips:

Fit The Cope Then Cut To Length

If you’re coping or mitering a joint on a piece of base, chair rail or crown, make sure that joint fits well before you cut the other end to length. I usually leave my molding piece long a few inches, cut and fit the cope, and then cut the other side to fit. This ensures that if I make a mistake and have to recut the cope or miter, I have room to do it.

Work Left To Right

As I work my way around a room, especially when running crown molding, I’ll sometimes end up with a piece that needs to be coped with on both ends, a challenge for even the best carpenters. If that happens try to plan my installation so that this last piece of trim is in the least conspicuous place. Wherever possible, I orient the coped pieces so that people entering or using the room won’t have right-angle views of them.

Coping Saw

Coping can be accomplished with a specialty handsaw, called a coping saw, or a jigsaw with a Collins foot.

A coping saw has a large frame loop that lets you cut and around the molding. While it’s considered user preference, I recommend setting the blade teeth set forward to cut on the push stroke.

This video will focus on the coping saw method and we can cover the Collins jig another day.

How To Cope Molding

1. Set miter saw to an inside 45 degrees, in the direction that the an inside corner would run
2. Trace the profile to make the profile more visible.
3. Use a fine-tooth coping saw – cut the bottom corner square
4. Continue to cut along the moldings profile edge with a slight 45-degree, back-angle. This is a technique called back-cutting. The back cut ensures that there is no interfering material so the profile fits tight. The goal here is to cut the profile back to reveal the front edge of the molding profile. This will allow an adjacent molding to touch the front edge.
5. Cut off the waste along the way, at sharp turns in the molding profile. Then restart the cut and follow the profile.
6. When done the coped molding should have a sharp profile edge.
7. Slide molding into the profile of the other molding
8. Adjustment to the coped fit can be done with a back file, sandpaper or a utility knife. A grinder with a sanding disc can also be used in some applications.

Coping your inside molding joists is a superior, professional and practical approach to molding installation.

It takes some practice and certainly muscle memory, but the result is worth it! Try them out and get some reps in.   Remember to practice, discuss, and experiment with new skills and techniques to help you learn and develop.

Coping Molding – GRID Apprentice Video

Coping Molding is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Please Take Our Reader Survey

Hey guys, Rob Robillard here from Tool Box Buzz.

While I am usually here to share some information with you — be it tool reviews, or carpentry tips, or DIY projects — today, I want to flip the tables.

Today, I want to hear from you. Why? Because everything we do here on this YouTube channel and on our website is for you guys.

I mean, yeah, the beer and pizza and bad jokes with the guys are fun — but really, we are trying to create content that you will find useful, and that might help you on the job site or in your own home.

A few years ago, we did a brief survey and we found it so incredibly helpful.

I swear this is true: we created content based on what you wanted. We changed how we approached that content. And it helped us to refine our overall approach. It was just. so. Helpful.

In the years since we’ve grown, and we recognize that the interests and challenges of our audience — you — may have evolved, or changed somehow. And we want to know.

We Want To Hear From You

What would you like for us to focus on here? What kind of stories or videos or photos? How can we improve?

We’re here for you. All we ask is that you take less than 5 minutes to help us meet your interests better. We promise we’ll read it, and will respond. 

We’re always trying to improve, and the only way we can do that is with your input.  Thanks so much. I hope you all had a safe Thanksgiving and are looking forward to a happy holiday season.

Take Survey Here

2021 ToolBoxBuzz Subscriber Survey is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Echo Power Equipment Announces New Products for 2021

I was fortunate enough to have been invited to the Echo Incorporated online media day where they announced their new products for 2021. The theme for the day was “The Game Has Changed” and I couldn’t agree more. This theme speaks to the challenges facing the tool manufacturing industry as a whole during the current pandemic. What Echo has realized is that the landscaping and property management trades are in exceptionally high demand. Additionally, homeowners who are forced to be at home are focusing on their outdoor spaces more than ever. These same homeowners are investing in high-quality tools to maintain those spaces. In order to meet market demands, Echo is working to make their manufacturing processes as efficient and safe as possible.

Despite all the setbacks associated with the current Covid pandemic, Echo is driving forward with innovation. A total of 13 new products are scheduled for release for the 2021 season. The new tools range from chainsaws to backpack blowers, power inverters, as well as trimmers, and other products as well. The Echo website has a full listing of all the new offerings. Here is a spotlight of a few of the stand out products.

Echo CS-7310P Chainsaw

At 73.5cc, this is the most powerful professional-grade chainsaw Echo has ever released in North America. This is also Echo’s first venture into the 70cc pro class. The saw features a 4-stage air cleaning system. It also has a whole host of pro-grade features such as factory dual felling spikes, adjustable oiler, spring anti-vibration system, captive bar nuts, and a decompression valve, just to name a few.

During the Q&A session with the product managers, I was told that this saw was tested and evaluated by professional logging crews in the Pacific Northwest, Wisconsin, and Maine during development. This is a true professional-grade saw and designed for demanding full-time use. With an MSRP of around $800.00 depending on bar length, this saw will be an excellent value in its class.

Echo PB-9010T Backpack Blower

The world’s most powerful backpack blower. I repeat, the world’s most powerful backpack blower. The PB-9010 features a 79.9cc professional-grade 2-stroke engine. This engine is capable of producing 1,110 CFM of airflow at a speed of 220 MPH at the nozzle. That’s insane! The output this backpack is capable of is traditionally only found in wheeled walk-behind blowers. With a dry weight of 26.7 pounds, the blower should still be manageable.

This blower is designed with professional users in mind, but it is still a great option for homeowners. Leaf cleanup sucks. Especially if you have a large piece of property. A backpack blower like the PB-9010 will make fast work of any cleanup job and get you back to doing something you enjoy. With an MSRP of $599.99, this is again an excellent value in its class.

Echo EGi-3600LN Inverter Generator

The Echo new product announcement included a low noise 3,600 max wattage inverter generator. The EGi-3600LN features a 212cc engine and a running wattage of 3,000 Watts at a 50% load. The inverter features auto-idle technology, electric starting, and the ability to be run in parallel with another inverter to increase wattage. Most importantly it is quiet for use in close quarters.

Small inverter type generators such as this are crucial on many construction job sites. However, they are just as valuable to homeowners as well. From power outages to camping and RV use, an inverter can be a lifesaver. Additionally, inverter technology makes it safe for charging sensitive electronics and other appliances. The MSRP on the Egi-3600LN is right around $1,000.00.

Other Echo New Product Announcement

Echo also expanded their high-quality Red Armor line of oils for small engine equipment as well as developed a Pump Guard treatment for preserving seals and valves in pressure washers. Other new products include power washer accessories, a stand-alone fire pump unit, new hedge trimmers, string trimmers, and other equipment as well.

The Game Has Changed

Our recent Best Cordless Chainsaw Head-2-Head was Tool Box Buzz’s first time working with Echo Incorporated. However, I have used Echo power equipment for most of my life. My Grandfather first introduced me to their tools and I grew up using his. Echo has always had an image in my mind of being tough as nails, mainly because Granpa wasn’t big on preventative maintenance and the tools just wouldn’t die!

The Echo new product announcement gave me a deeper look into their company as a whole. It showed me that they are dedicated to providing high-quality products and are passionate about what they do. Since 2017, Echo has launched 82 new products including 20 in 2020. With 13 more already scheduled for 2021, Echo is proving themselves to be one of the biggest innovators in the industry.

I look forward to seeing how the current new releases perform and we will be bringing more coverage of Echo products here at Tool Box Buzz.

2021 Echo Power Equipment New Products Announcement is a post from Tool Box Buzz

What do you build when you give a tool as a gift?

The gift giving season is fully underway and the pressures to give a memorable and thoughtful token is the battle that many of us face. For tradesmen, contractors, woodworkers, hobbyists, homeowners, parents, etc… tools are often the de facto gift of choice. However, these tools are often never something that you would go out of your way to spend money on. They are usually something that you don’t need or that you scoffed at as you walked past it at the home center. They usually aren’t the same color scheme or quality as the tools that you are accustomed to working with. They are almost never on the same battery platform you run…if they even have a battery. But in my honest opinion none of this matters. Tools are the ultimate gift. It doesn’t matter if they came from the bargain bin at the hardware store or if they are a cutting edge new release. They are all good and I would like to share with you how I came to this realization.

I grew up in awe of my father’s skill as a carpenter and general know-how of just about anything construction related. He had worked most of his life in the residential construction world, later becoming a developer/builder and then later on shifting into the heavy civil and commercial side of construction. I spent weekends going to supply houses with him and visiting job sites. Rough framed houses became playscapes and I would often get invited to join the framing crew for donuts if I was brave enough to climb the makeshift ladder to the top floor. I loved every bit of it. Dad also lived several states away for most of my life and was constantly traveling for work.

The Old Man was a bit of a wild one back in the day.

When holidays and especially Christmas came around I made it my mission to find the perfect tool for my dad that would be worthy of his talents. Looking back on it now, they were honestly all probably shit. But I didn’t care. I believed in my heart that whatever tool I had picked was the ultimate gift. Something that he would use daily. Something that would produce a quality of work never seen before. Dad always put up the good front and acted super appreciative when he received the gifts. But I would usually find the tools in like new unused condition years later in a cabinet or closet.

One year I decided to pull out all of the stops. I was at Home Depot and saw a Christmas special on a DeWalt Ni-Cad 18V combo kit. It was a drill/driver and a circular saw with a couple of batteries. I knew Dad didn’t own any cordless tools and thought this kit would be the absolute pinnacle of gift giving. I couldn’t afford it on my own, so Mom ended up helping me buy it.

The OG. If you know, you know. Guys who ran these hammer drills had sculpted forearms.

When I gave the set to Dad his reaction was not what I was anticipating. He was almost skeptical of it. Maybe because he had been unimpressed by any cordless tool up until that point. Regardless, I was still proud to have given him that DeWalt set.

Maybe a month after Christmas he called me. I didn’t get to see him very often or talk to him over the phone, so I was excited. He called to tell me about how he had used the tools that day on a job. I remember it to this day. He was hanging rafters and a couple had been cut too long but he was already on the ladder trying to hang them. His helper passed the circular saw up to him and he trimmed them in place and then hung the saw off his belt and kept moving. He couldn’t believe the power that little battery saw had.

This started a tradition of him calling me and telling me about something he had done using the tools that I had bought him. It became a ritual that I eagerly awaited and cherished the memories. I remember most of the conversations and most of the stories to this day. Unfortunately, Dad died two years ago pretty unexpectedly and our tradition came to an end.

Me and the Old Man from a while back. He loved that damn flip phone.

This is why tools are the ultimate gift. It’s not about what brand it is or how fancy it is. It’s about the memories you build with that tool after receiving it. If you are the one receiving that tool, use the damn thing. Make it a point to use that tool as often as you can and include whoever gave it to you in the process. That is how you make a long lasting and memorable connection with a gift. I don’t care if it’s from the dollar store, you can find something to do with it.

Check out our Holiday Gift guides for this year if you need a little inspiration:

• Holiday tool Gift Guide
• Ridgid Tool Gift Guide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilgtszZrukk

Most of us really don’t need more stuff in our lives. But a tool is different. If you are here looking for gift ideas, you are off to a good start. If you receive any tools this year as gifts, make sure you get out there and build some memories.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and hopefully it resonates with you as well. Merry Christmas to you and everyone around you. Myself and the rest of the Tool Box Buzz Crew look forward to continuing to bring you great content and maybe some ideas for gifts as well.

My first Head to Head day with the crew. Carrying on a legacy of playing with tools.

What It Means to Gift a Tool is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Create Systems For Increased For Productivity

Let’s get right to the point. In the construction industry, it is imperative to have systems in place to increase productivity and ultimately, profitability. From bookkeeping to personnel time management, systems will ease frustrations of day-to-day operations and provide customers with the best possible product and experience.

One of the goals for my company this year was to increase the productivity of my daily operations to allow more time spent growing the business and with my family.  To accomplish this, I incorporated some systems to ensure that each day ran as smoothly as possible. I began this process by evaluating the issues that hamper our daily productivity.

Time Commitments Elsewhere

When I leave a job site, the productivity of my employees goes down by about 25%. This isn’t due to my physical absence but rather the reduction in employee productivity. While many may say I need new employees, business owners understand this is a common scenario.  Employees stay more focused when a supervisor is around. In order to improve this situation the goal was to reduce my time away from the jobsite.

One of my duties as a business owner is meeting with potential new and current clients. This includes bidding new jobs, walk-throughs with current customers and checking on subcontractors at various sites.  While I do TRY to accommodate every customer, there must be an agreement on mutual meeting times that are most convenient to my operation. If the time that works for the potential client simply isn’t a good time for me, I politely tell them that we need to reschedule.  I always try to dedicate a few hours a week to meet with new prospective clients.  This allows me to be proactive in time management and not be at the whim of everyone’s schedule.

When managing subcontractors, I check on each job as early as possible in the morning to ensure there are no issues that need to be addressed. Dedicating this time allows me to get in the right frame of mind for the work day.

Material Runs

Material runs are another task that pulls me away from job sites. Nothing kills momentum on a project quicker than having to pull off when you realize you won’t have the materials needed to finish.

As far as building material goes, I HIGHLY recommend getting an account and finding a good salesman at a local lumber supplier. I can’t count the times my salesman has personally brought me a few boards or some flashing tape so I can stay focused on the job at hand. Having to run to the local big box store simply does not make sense.

As far as consumables, (fasteners, glue, shims, etc), the fix for this was simple. I needed a way to track inventory in my tool trailer and make sure that I had everything necessary to finish the job.

I opted for a storage system that allowed easy access to check inventory and a white board that everyone writes down when items need to be restocked. This allows quick access at the end of the day to the inventory on hand and allows time to purchase what is necessary before work begins.

Tool Trailer Trips

As every contractor knows, it sucks when you don’t have the tool you need handy. This is the sole reason we wear tool bags. Keeping the tools we use most often on us at all times is imperative and it happened to be the first lesson I learned when starting in the trades. If anyone was caught not wearing their tool bags at any point within the day, we had to buy the whole crew coffee and donuts the next day.

This same principle should be applied to all tools. Throughout any given day, I would send someone to grab a tool that was already out or have to quit in the middle of a project to go find the right tool. More often than not, it was buried underneath other tools or put in the wrong spot. There had to be a better way.

Enter portable, modular storage boxes. These have been a great improvement for our productivity. Being able to quickly grab every tool we might need for that job without having to make multiple trips has seriously improved our productivity and my overall agreeableness.

A fringe benefit of the boxes is the time savings of getting out and rolling up the tools every day. This system has saved me at least 30 minutes each day by not making a ton of trips to put away individual tools. Over the course of a year, this alone has paid for all the boxes.

Daily Grind

The last major “time sucker” of our days was crew members physically wearing down each day. I noticed that all the guys would get sluggish an hour or two before lunch time and around 2:30 pm. I decided to break the day into parts. We take two 15-minute breaks at 9:45 am and 2:30 pm. This allows me to discuss any potential issues they are having on a job and gives us more times to “shoot for”. For instance, “Try to get that bedroom base trim finished up before lunch.” or “Let’s get the roof sheathed before afternoon break.” With more manageable goals and a little competition to finish before a given time, our productivity has been soaring.

Final Note

While every company is structured differently, having systems in place will undoubtedly improve your productivity and bottom line. So, take note of your deficiencies and try to incorporate ways that address these issues. The systems employed in my company have made this our most profitable year ever, and I guarantee they will work for your company as well.

Making Your Construction Company More Productive is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Klein^® Tools ‘State of the Industry’ Survey

June 16, 2016 (Lincolnshire, IL) – Klein Tools (http://www.kleintools.com), for professionals since 1857, today announced an additional round of results from its second-annual ‘State of the Industry’ survey. Over the course of two years, the survey asked more than 400 union and non-union electricians about their project preferences on job sites. This year it found higher percentages of electricians who prefer to work on high-tech installations, and home technology remains the most widely viewed residential trend by electricians.

High-tech Installations

The Klein Tools’ State of the Industry survey found preferences towards working on industrial projects, office buildings and commercial properties have stayed relatively the same since last year. There was a noticeable increase, however, in the number of union electricians, and electricians with 10 to 19 years’ experience, indicating they prefer to work on high-tech installations.

• This year, 42 percent of union electricians say they prefer working on high-tech installations, up from 31 percent in 2015.
• The survey also found 51 percent of electricians with 10 to 19 years of industry experience said they prefer working on high-tech installations, a significant increase from 24 percent in 2015.
  • In comparison, 29 percent of electricians with less than 10 years’ experience said they prefer working on high-tech installations, and only 24 percent of electricians with more than 20 years’ experience said they prefer working on high-tech installations.

“We’re seeing increased interest from younger electricians and apprentices in high-tech systems. They see opportunities to work on the latest technology as a way to gain experience in an area of future growth and like the challenge associated with learning a complicated skill,” said Mark Klein, president of Klein Tools. “It’s great to also learn many experienced electricians are taking a fondness to more advanced systems and want to keep up-to-date on their craft. This allows electricians with varying levels of expertise to learn from each other on the jobsite and advance the entire industry as technology continues changing the way we operate.”

Multi-Family and Smart Homes

The Klein Tools’ State of the Industry survey also found electricians are seeing more smart or “connected” homes in residential areas. Technology in homes is the most popular trend viewed amongst electricians—over open living spaces, home additions and multi-family homes. However, multi-family homes have significantly increased since 2015.

• Nearly one-half of electricians, 48 percent, are seeing more smart or connected homes in the residential area—just slightly down from 56 percent in 2015.
  • One-third of electricians, or 31 percent, are seeing more multi-family homes in the residential area, up significantly from 25 percent in 2015.

“This tech-focused residential data aligns with what we’re seeing in the industry,” said Mark Klein, president of Klein Tools. “Contractors are calling for more technicians who are skilled in newer, more digital-tech focused systems, and technicians are doing their best to keep up with this developing trend. Klein Tools is working with its partners to ensure younger electricians are trained in the old and news models so they are prepared for all types of scenarios on the job site.”

The Klein Tools ‘State of the Industry’ survey was conducted by Russell Research, an independent survey research firm, which conducted 201 online interviews from January 20 – 26, 2015, and 200 online interviews from January 27 – February 5, 2016, to secure a nationally significant representation. Forty percent of respondents were union members and 60 percent were not.

Electricians Have an Increased Interest in High-Tech Installations is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Editorial – Cordless Finish Nailers

The most recent entry into this category is Milwaukee with several new battery powered brad/finish nailers. With those new releases there have been several articles and videos on the internet regarding Milwaukee finish nailers and run time tests – problem is RUN TIME tests are flawed.

Before designing a run time test we should ask ourselves how many nails the average trim carpenter uses in a given day. A box of finish nails is often 500 to 1000 fasteners. I don’t know many trim carpenters that will shoot an entire box in a day.

So the real question with these new nailers is: Does RUN time even come into play? With increased battery sizes and performance, it’s hard to imagine that run time will be a deciding factor in which nailer you purchase.

In addition, most of the tests we’ve seen so far are seriously flawed with regard to the use of bump mode. These tools are NOT designed to run at a sprinters pace….trim carpentry is slow and methodical craftsmanship not guerilla warfare! That is why these tools are really designed to operate at a normal fastening rate for FINISH carpentry, NOT framing.

Rapid fire run-time testing is NOT realistic. This might make a fun video but anyone using a finish nailer in this fashion isn’t a PRO and likely isn’t successful in his or her business. PRO tradesmen wouldn’t abuse their tools in this fashion so we fail to see any good reason to evaluate the tool in this way. The one exception would be that this is a good way to see how manufacturers have designed their tool to shut down if the overuse could cause damage to the tool. Having that type of built-in protection certainly is nice piece of mind for your investment.

Frankly, the results don’t really tell us much. Some of the recent posts we’ve read seem focused on bashing the new Milwaukee nailers based solely on rapid fire bump testing. We certainly don’t agree with this assessment and think you should be careful with those type of reviews.

Here’s What You Should Be Considering

Is the nailer well made, durable, and performs to the level that makes your work efficient and trouble free. Does the cordless nailer compliment the existing battery platform you’re already using for other cordless tools? Does the nailer use readily available fasteners that you can pick up at your local lumber supply house?

We’ve tested many of the current cordless nailers available on the market. In a recent article we compared some of the best cordless finish nailers on the market and found them to be future of finish nailing and likely the beginning of the end for pneumatic finish nailers.

Rob recently did a review of the new Milwaukee Cordless Brad Nailer and had great things to say about it. I’ll be reviewing this new tool as well here on TBB very soon with an eye on comparing it to the recent head to head we did on cordless nailers. Based on both of our initial assessments of this new tool we really feel that some of the other reviews and videos are misleading. Many of the cordless nailers we’ve tested are well built and perform very well. We certainly didn’t make our judgements of those nailers by who could shoot the fastest!

The bottom line is this, don’t believe all they hype you see/read from folks that don’t make a living with these tools. Do your home work, take the time to think about how you use the tools and then find reviews and videos that address those concerns. We certainly don’t have all the answers, but I can assure you we work hard to provide honest feedback about tools we use to make a living.

Video Editorial – Cordless Nailer Evaluation

Here are some thoughts from Rob as well:

Battery Operated Cordless Nailers – Be Informed is a post from Tool Box Buzz