13 must-have tools for 2008

Putting together this year's most innovative tool picks was more challenging than usual because there has been such a bountiful crop of great gear coming from manufacturers lately. There were two common traits shared by the tools included in this year's group. The first is price point. Judging by the price tags we've seen lately, it's obvious many tool manufacturers have been busy trimming their prices. I mean, who would have imagined that less than two years after this hot battery technology was rolled out we'd see lithium-ion power assembled in a four-piece kit for $350? And the trickle-down of seriously high-tech tools into the average DIYer's toolbox is also quite remarkable. Take the Ridgid SeeSnake for example: just a few years ago, this kind of technology was available only to contractors who could afford to shell out several thousand dollars for a drain-inspection camera. Now that same technology is available for about $250.

Snake Charmer Camera

Everyone we showed the Ridgid SeeSnake to instantly thought of about five ways they could use this cool little micro-inspection camera for their next reno project. Check out the insides of your walls to locate wiring, plumbing or studs. Peek under your floors, into ducts or down your drains. You name it, and the high-resolution camera at the end of the 3'-long cable sends what it sees to a 2 1/2" colour screen. Improve the view with two LED lights on the camera lens that are adjustable with a dimmer dial. And if the standard cable isn't long enough, optional extensions are available. Ridgid SeeSnake: $250, www.ridgid.com or 800-769-7743

Portable suction

If you've ever used a shop vacuum for anything other than a brief cleanup, you already know they aren't exactly a joy to use. Sure, they're powerful, but if you try to move one around anywhere other than a wide open space, you'll usually topple it over at least once during your travels. In fact, they're so awkward to manoeuvre that I rarely ever use them anywhere else but in my workshop. All that will change when you get a hold of the new Ridgid WD2450 vacuum. Why is it better than its predecessors? First, there's no cord! It's powered by a battery-either the 18-volt nickel cadmiun or the 24-volt lithium-ion that come with Ridgid drills and other cordless tools. Second, it's a wet/dry vac, which means it's the right tool for cleaning up all kinds of stuff-inside the shop and even inside your house. Grab it and take it easily to wherever your messes abound. Ridgid WD2450: $130, www.ridgid.com or 800-474-3443.

The Perfect Paint Brush

Good trim paint brushes can be hard to find. At least, they were until the new Styletto line of brushes appeared on the market recently. Their unique tapered shape makes them perfectly suited for painting details such as trim, moulding, window frames and the cutting-in of the corners of a room. They can make short work of painting around toilets and other fixtures too. But the brushes are more than just an efficient new shape: they have a comfortable wood handle, stainless-steel ferrules and polyester bristles, making them suitable for both latex and oil-based paints. Another great feature: they're Canadian-made. Styletto brushes: $10 to $15, www.styletto.com or 800-363-9396.

 

 

Rolling toolbox

Every collection needs a display case. And the Stanley Fat Max rolling toolbox is suitable for holding your favourite DIY tools. This toolbox has two medium-size bins, a portable tool tray and a large lower bin for bulky items such as power tools. And since it's on wheels, it's easy to move from job to job. But the best part is, unlike a conventional toolbox, the hinged compartments are tiered to allow easy access to all four storage areas at the same time. The handle telescopes for easy manoeuvring and a large latch locks the compartments, preventing them from opening. All in all, it's a very mobile organizer. Stanley Fat Max: $100, www.stanleytools.com or 800-263-6292.

Affordable combination

Not only does the new Ryobi line of cordless tools have a distinctive look, but they're also unique for their price! At $350, the four-piece Ryobi combo kit brings the benefit of lithium-ion cordless power-twice the run time and 20 per cent lighter than 18-volt nickle cadmium power-at a price that makes it reasonable for the average DIYer to upgrade their tool kits. Since most other lithium-ion kits are in the $600 range, these tools are bound to be popular. And if you're not quite ready to give up on your old blue 18-volt Ryobi cordless tools, the new lithium-ion battery is fully compatible and will be available separately with a charger for about $100. Ryobi combo kit: $350, www.ryobitools.com or 800-525-2579.

Beck & Call

With its rubber keypad and roll-bar style antenna, the General Electric 27420GE9 shop phone is specially designed for life in the shop or any place that doesn't have a jack. Simply plug the small, black accessory box into a power outlet and a phone jack inside your house, then plug the base station into a power outlet outside and you're good to go. The 900-mhz phone has an extra-loud ringer and flashing light for noisy environments, as well as all the usual options you'd expect from a cordless phone, including caller ID, call waiting, speaker phone and adjustable volume. The base includes a radio and a backlit digital clock. General Electric 27420GE9: $100, www.home-electronics.net or 800-448-0329.

Buy In Bulk

If you're looking for a deal in the power-tool aisle of your hardware store, look no further than the stack of cordless combo kits. These kits give you great value for about half of the cost of buying each tool separately. A case in point is the five-piece professional-grade Hitachi 18-volt kit. These tools are powered by the latest in battery technology, lithium-ion. But the latest combo kits are more than just a good set of batteries-they're great tools too. The Hitachi 1/2" hammer drill cranks out 570 in.lb. of torque and the impact driver cranks out a whopping 1,330 in.lb. The kit also includes a lightweight 6 1/2" circular saw, a recip saw that features tool-free blade changes and a flashlight that can be switched between a fluorescent area light or a battery-saving LED beam. Hitachi 18-volt kit: $850, www.hitachipowertools.com or 800-970-2299.

 

 

Keep it simple

It's all in the details with this drill/driver combination tool. The sturdy Mastercraft Maximum Drill Drive System is made from aircraft-grade aluminum and was designed with jet speed in mind. Add a bit, drill the needed hole, then simply pop the driver part over the bit. Spring-loaded catches allow you to fit the driver over the 1/4" hexagon-shanked keyless chuck with ease. Now you're ready to drive the screw in place. The system also features a removable magnetic tip to hold the screw, allowing you to keep both hands on the drill when working in tight spaces. Mastercraft Maximum drill drive system: $30, www.canadiantire.ca or 800-387-8803.

Dog's Dinner

This thing will eat anything! With its 20' power cord and 14' hose, the 19-L Dirt Hound DH0500 vacuum is ideally suited for garage-duty cleaning. And when it's not cleaning, this tool won't clutter your now-tidy garage floor. The wall-mount bracket keeps the vac up out of the way and, should you need to get it a little closer to the action, its top-mounted handle makes it easily portable. The vac hose can also be connected to the exhaust port for blowing, and the generous muffler keeps the decibels down to a reasonable level. Dirt Hound DHO500: $130, www.dirthoundvacs.com or 888-240-0148.

Power hungry

The monstrous 325 ft.lb. of torque (that's foot-pounds not inch-pounds) put out by the Milwaukee 28-volt 1/2" impact wrench is more than enough power to spin a rusty lug nut off your car. Actually, that's enough torque to drive your car! And making the tool even better is that fact that behind all that torque is a 28-volt lithium-ion battery, which means it has the power, speed and run time to take on just about any job you throw at it. That said, the tools weighs 6.5 lb., so you aren't likely to be throwing it around much. But if you need something with enough torque to drive large lags, break big bolts loose and do it all without a cord, this is the tool for you. Milwaukee impact wrench: $700, www.milwaukeetool.com or 800-729-3878.

 

 

Fiery idea

Here's a potentially life-saving test-where's the nearest fire extinguisher? If you can't put your hands on it in a few seconds or, worse yet, you don't have one at all, the new Tundra Fire Extinguishing Spray is for you. The fire-extinguishing spray won't put down a raging inferno, which is probably why they stop short of calling it a fire extinguisher, but it is small and inexpensive enough to keep one in any area you might need it. The spray-can design is also completely intuitive to most people, so they won't be slowed down as they try to figure out how the thing works when time is at a premium. Tundra fire extinguishing spray: $20, www.firstalert.com or 800-323-005.

Cool Light

Take a nice, cool break from super-hot halogen lights. The DeWalt DC022 features a 38-watt fluorescent bulb that casts an even light that's cool to the touch. It won't light up a whole room, but the articulating hinged arm can be positioned to shine right where you need it. An added bonus: the DC022 can be powered by the same batteries as DeWalt's cordless power tools. Also, when plugged in, the light can charge the batteries and provide power to other tools through a GFCI-protected plug. DeWalt DC022: $200, www.dewalt.com or 800-433-9258.

Drivin' a Porsche

Judged simply as a tool, the Porsche p7911 hammer drill is solid but largely unremarkable. Sure, it will drill stone, wood and metal, but, unlike a good book, this tool really should be judged by its cover. The hammer drill's casing is a sleek mix of shiny aluminum and matte carbon fibre, giving this tool a big boost in the looks department. The handle/trigger combination is unique too; it's positioned so that you instinctively pick up the tool in an upside-down fashion, and once you get a grip on it, the position feels quite natural and well-balanced. The drill was developed as a co-operative project between Porsche Design and power-tool maker Metabo, and, as with the sports car, the P7911 looks and feels like a finely tuned combination of aesthetics and quality. Plus, it's a Porsche-who doesn't want to drive one? Porsche P7911: $680, www.metabo.ca or 905-761-0023.