The Hingmy

Small die grinders (or small rotary tools) are a fun to use. Well built ones are like pens that write in wood. The Black&Decker RTX rotary tool is a challenger in a niche dominated by the Dremel company. Always wanting to support healthy competition we had to get the RTX into our shop. Let's take a look, if the cheaper challenger can take it to the king of rotary tools.

The Black&Decker RTX Rotary Tool
The RTX immediately manages to impress with its compact ...

To make the arcade cabinet come to life we need to install a few pieces of software on the PC contained within. This will take some time to complete, but once the work is done the cabinet will be able to play just about any title from the golden years of the arcade.

You can use these instructions to turn your PC into an Arcade simulator. The keyboard won't offer the same experience as an arcade joystick, but the games will run ...

We do not get to test a lot of screw drivers in our shop. Screw guns are one of just a few tools that are exclusively used by the trade. The DeWalt DW272 has all the right properties to make it last in the demanding world of construction. It looks though, and roars mightily. Let's see how well the DW272 performs under close inspection.

The DeWalt DW272 Screwdriver
The DeWalt DW272 was engineered to be the ultimate drywall screwdriver. Every component of the tool is strong enough to complete this mission, but not over-engineered ...

DeWalt recently release a new compact reciprocating saw. The DWE357 takes the established reciprocating saw design and shrinks it down to 14.5" of length. With the motor installed at an angle this saw can go where few other saws can. Let's take a look at what the DWE357 can do and if it is a better reciprocating saw.

The DeWalt DWE357 Recip Saw
DeWalt created the DWE357 to fill a niche in the reciprocating saw ...

Sticking with our principle of reviewing tools that people actually used, we took a look at the Black&Decker RP250 plunge router this week. This entry level router looks like a full-featured router, but cost a lot less than the competition.

A lot of novices will find themselves looking at the RP250 wondering if it is a good first router for woodworking. Always wanting to warn our readers about potential lemons, we decided to review the RP250 for you. Lets take a look what the B&D RP250 can and cannot do, and if it is worth your ...

We have been trying to get our hands on a Milwaukee Tool 2453-22 cordless impact driver for some time now. In our opinion it is the most exciting new impact driver that is coming out this year. Instead of going big, Milwaukee created a smaller, full-featured impact driver. Let's see what brushless motor technology can do for driving screws.

The Milwaukee Tool 2453-22 Cordless Impact Driver
The 2453-22 is part of Milwaukee's next generation of power tools. It is equipped with a brushless motor, a digital control unit, and an electronic drive ...

Drilling perfectly perpendicular holes is a common woodworking and carpentry task. Big Gator Tools offers what is probably the simplest jig for getting a perfect result every time. The V-DrillGuide is so versatile in its application, that it should be in every woodworker's toolbox.

The Big Gator V-DrillGuide
As the name suggests, ...

A few weeks ago we reviewed the DeWalt DW618, an excellent fixed base router. One way to purchase this tool is too buy the DW618PK kit, which also includes a plunge base. At under ~$200 this kit is an excellent choice for novices and professionals alike. Naturally we had to decide for ourselves, if the plunge base matches the excellent quality of the fixed base. Let's take a look.

The DeWalt DW618PK Router Kit
The DW618PK router kit is part of the DW618 router system. DeWalt has created a single motor unit that fits into several base options. The DW618PK kit includes the motor unit, the plunge base, and the ...

The Porter Cable PC13CSL came to us heavily recommended by many hobbyists. It is supposed to be a great circular saw at an even better price. Off course talk like that got us interested. Let's take a look if the PC13CSL is indeed as great of a buy as people say.

The Porter Cable PC13CSL Circular Saw
The PC13CSL is an entry level circular saw from Porter Cable. It has none of the value-add features of the full-priced saws, but it is very much capable of making accurate cuts. The motor is generously sized at 13 amps. At this power level the saw is capable of cutting through most materials at speed. At 5,000 rpm the saw is ...