2008 Editors' ChoiceTools of the Trade Staff

Source: BUILDING PRODUCTS Magazine

Publication date: 2008-05-09

Even with the slowdown in the construction industry, tool companies continue to generate new products at a record pace, expanding the universe of choices for tool buyers in every price range and market. These include jobsite solutions that go beyond traditional tools, bringing new technologies and capabilities into play.

Every year, editors from Tools of the Trade, a sister publication of Building Products, scan this incredible universe for the best of the best to honor as Editors' Choice Award winners. This year's 13 stand-outs deliver innovative solutions to typical situations and successfully combine design and performance to meet the needs of their professional users.—The staff of Tools of the Trade

Makita. The BHP452 (pictured) and BHP452HW 18-volt lithium-ion hammerdrill/drivers offer 18-volt power at a lighter weight. The 4.2-pound BHP452 comes with a 3.0-amp-hour battery. The BHP452HW has a 1.5-amp-hour battery, which means less runtime but a lighter tool weight of 3.6 pounds; this tool also can be used with the 3.0-amp-hour battery. Both tools deliver 450-inch-pounds of torque. Price: BHP452HW kit, $214; BHP452 kit, $289. 714-522-8088. www.makita.com.

Base Mate. The Base Mate ladder stabilizer attaches to most wood, aluminum, and fiberglass extension ladders to provide a stable, extra-wide footprint that self-levels on most surfaces. The device is easy to operate, the company says: Tap the release lever and let the weight of the ladder drop, and the foot slides into position. The hardened steel leg exceeds Type 1A ladder requirements. Base Mate adds less than 7 pounds to the weight of the ladder. Price: $80. 604-512-1238. www.basemate.ca.

Long View Enterprises. The Ridge Runner truss platform features foam-padded knee saddles and metal footholds that allow a ridge setter to work hands-free to reach, guide, and brace the next truss and release the crane strap, increasing efficiency, speed, and safety, the firm says. Working with a pair of platforms, a framer leapfrogs units as he sets and braces each truss, moving down the line. The device is made of powder-coated aluminum and features onboard storage for truss ties and a tool hook. Price: $650/pair. 920-349-3281. www.theridgerunner.biz.

The Hain Co. A jobsite version of the company's factory component-manufacturing technology, the Folding Measuring System is a high-tech, portable miter saw cutting station that uses electronic controls near the saw to automatically set one of a series of automated board stops to within 1/32 inch. Computer skills are not required to operate the machine, which includes a user interface of a large-character LCD, numeric keypad, rotary dial, function buttons, and LED indicators. Price: 12-foot, $5,000; 6-foot, $2,800. 530-295-8068. www.haincompany.com.

Max USA. In a recent framing nailer product test in Tools of the Trade, the SN883RH Superframer reigned supreme as the lightest, the smallest, the most powerful, and the "king of ergonomics," as well as being extremely well-engineered. The tool also earned praise for an anti-double-fire mechanism that allows for bump-firing or single-firing without adjustment, the ability to countersink nails into LVL at only 100 psi, a magnet that holds the last nail to save nails and prevent jams, a self-cleaning filter, and a lockoff switch. Price: $314. 800-223-4293. www.maxusacorp.com.

Steel City. The company's 10-inch riving knife cabinet saw is now offered with a granite top, which provides a flat surface that will not warp or rust, the company says, and helps absorb vibration for smooth cuts and accurate blade alignment. The saw is available with a 1.75-hp or 3-hp single-phase, 230-volt, dual capacitor TEFC motor and a 30-inch or 50-inch industrial T-square fence system with legs. Other features include a 12-inch granite extension wing and a miter gauge. Price: $1,300-$1,500. 877-724-8665. www.steelcitytoolworks.com.

Worksharp. The Worksharp WS3000 tool sharpener adjusts to grind and polish consistently at four common bevel angles, and works with plane irons and chisels up to 2 inches wide. Sharpening also can be done freehand on the top of the wheel or from below with a see-through slotted wheel. Sandpaper disks provide the abrasive, and you can quickly swap out the wheels to change grits. Price: $199. 800-597-6170. www.worksharptools.com.

10C Technologies. The Crew Charge universal battery charger system can recharge different brands, voltages, and types of batteries—including nicad, lithium-ion, and NiMH—simultaneously. Special adapters for each type of battery and many brands fit into the charger for 15-minute charge times. The company says its Low Heat charging system extends battery life and revitalizes older batteries. Price: $399; adapters, $35 each. 800-984-3086. www.10ctech.com.

DeWalt/Ford. The Tool Link computerized radio frequency identification system scans the truck for tools identified with special labels and reports what's there on a dashboard computer screen. This system boosts contractors' abilities to track their tools, saving time and trouble. Part of Ford's Work Solutions integrated computer stations, the system will be available in the automaker's 2009 pickups and vans. 800-392-3673. www.fordworksolutions.com.

Ridgid. The R82007 Micros 12-volt subcompact drill features a 3/8-inch drill chuck, so it has the ability to take standard drill bits, not just 1/4-inch hex shanks. The key to fitting a chuck on a super-short drill is the patented Chutch system, which combines a keyless chuck, an 18-position clutch, and a gearbox into a single assembly. The tool offers best-in-class 120 inch-pounds of torque. Price: $129. 800-474-3443. www.ridgid.com.

Muck-truck. The self-propelled Muck-truck mini dumper offers versatile hauling, powered by a 5.5-hp Honda engine and four-wheel drive. The Muck-truck's standard, easy-empty dumper attachment offers 6 cubic feet of space, with capacity to carry up to 550 pounds of cargo up a 38-degree slope. The skip is interchangeable in seconds for use as a flatbed or conversion into a vacuum or snowplow. Price: $2,600. 772-621-3951. www.mucktruckamerica.com.

3rd Hand. When the 3rd Hand blade-guard control lever is installed on a wormdrive saw, the operator uses the thumb on his trigger-finger hand to lift the guard out of the way for rips, cross-cuts, and steep angle cuts where guards typically get hung up. This frees the other hand to guide and control the saw through the cut instead of reaching to lift the guard. The device, which fits a number of wormdrive saws, was developed by a contractor under the watchful eye of an OSHA inspector. Price: $40. 805-445-1066. www.the3rdhand.com.

SawStop. The manufacturer has incorporated its blade brake safety device into a 10-inch table saw. The blade-braking technology detects the difference between wood and flesh by sensing moisture content; if an operator's finger or hand touches the blade, it stops in less than 5 milliseconds, leaving the user with just a nick. The 10-inch contractor saw features a 1.75-hp motor, 40-tooth blade, miter gauge, true riving knife, low-profile blade guard, and blade shroud. Price: $1,500. 866-729-7867. www.sawstop.com.