Smart new tools for homeowners

Powerhouse circular saw

Milwaukee has recently upped the ante for powerhouse cordless tools. Until now, 24 volts were top of the heap when it came to power. Unfortunately, all that power also came at a price: weight. That’s what makes the new 28-volt lithium-ion-powered circular so great: it has lots of power, but it’s lighter. In fact, the saw’s 28-volt battery weighs approximately the same as an 18-volt battery. It comes with an aluminum shoe and a built-in fuel gauge, and it spins a 6 1/2″ blade. Approximately $570. Visit milwaukeetool.com or call 800-729-3878.

Built-in dust collection

On the surface, the Ryobi BS1001SV is a 10″ bandsaw in a compact and convenient benchtop-size package. Even if you look a little closer, you may still miss the saw’s truly ingenious design. That’s because its built-in dust collection system is driven by the saw’s lower pulley, which means that although it’s effective enough to make for almost dust-free sawing, you’ll barely be able to hear it working. Other features include a built-in LED work light and a large, easy-to-adjust tension adjustment lever. Approximately $250. Visit www.ryobitools.com or call 800-323-4615.

Cord-free nailer

Sure, it shoots a wide range of 16-gauge finishing nails, anything from 1 1/4″ to 2 1/2″. But the true beauty of the DeWalt DC616KN is that it can shoot nails as fast as you work, and it does so without an air hose. It’s powered by a 18-volt battery and features an easy-to-adjust, six-position, numbered depth gauge and a pair of trigger-activated LED lights to make things a little brighter in low-light conditions. There are several other models in the line, including one with an angled nail magazine for tight work areas, and lighter 12- and 14-volt models for those times when weight is more important than battery power. Approximately $600. Visit www.dewalt.com or call 800-433-9258.

Battery-powered planer

It’s hard to imagine a tool that benefits as much from cutting the AC cord as the Ridgid R848 power planer. An 18-volt battery provides the power, so there’s no fussing with cord length and no tangles as you work. Spiral-cut blades make for smooth, fast work and an automatic rear kickstand keeps the blades elevated when you set the tool down. The large dust bag keeps things tidy. Approximately $300. Visit ridgid.com or call 800-474-3443.

Smooth operator

Although the Bosch 3725DEVS random-orbit sander hasn’t made huge technical leaps forward, seeing its refined performance in action makes it worthy of note. The engineers at Bosch have obviously focused their efforts on making small but important improvements, such as the sander’s impressive dust-trapping abilities, allowing it to capture particles as small as 1/2 micron in its integrated pleated filter. Add the supple polyurethane backing pad, which is designed to last up to five times longer than other pads, then toss in the thumb-operated, variable-speed dial and the ability to remove the auxiliary handle (not shown) for work in tight quarters, and you have one smart sander. Approximately $200. Visit www.boschtools.com or call 877-267-2499.