Popular Woodworking 2005-04 № 147, страница 30
Tool Test All-new Fein Cordless Drill When we reviewed all the 12-volt drills on the market more than a year ago, we knew Fein had a new one headed our way. Well, it's here and the results are positive. The new drills are available in 9.6, 12, 14.4 and 18 volts, but we always test the 12-volt model because that's what we consider to be the right balance of power and weight for a woodshop. The ABS 12-volt drill is available in a 2.0-amp/hour (Ah) NiCd or 3.0Ah NiMH battery configuration. We opted to test the 3.0Ah drill - for more power, of course. To test this drill, we went back to our previous 12-volt review and decided this drill was in a class to compete for top honors. So we compared it to the 12-volt, 3.5Ah Panasonic. I'll cut through the suspense: The Panasonic still holds top honors, but the Fein is a close second compared to the other competitors in the review. We re-ran our V2" spade bit boring test in 1V2"-thick poplar. The Fein finished out at 103 holes on a charge, while the Panasonic made 131. Must be the extra .5Ah. We didn't have any wrist-j erking torque problems with the Fein, and the charge ran steady right up to the last hole drilled. The motor did heat up in the workout, but not excessively so and not surprisingly. It has a good steel V2" single-sleeve chuck with a nine-position clutch, two speeds and a 20-min-ute smart charger that has a trickle charge to keep the battery ready to use. Fein also included a good bit set to put the drill to use. Beyond the performance difference, the drill is taller, longer and slightly heavier than the Panasonic, making it more cumbersome in your hand (well, my smaller hands). It's also still slightly more expensive than the Panasonic ($20 more for the 3.0Ah version). All-in-all, Fein's new drill is impressive and outshined almost all the other drills we've tested. It's a good drill. — David Thiel For more information, circle #169 on Free Information Card. SPECIFICATIONS Fein ABS 12 Drill/Driver Street price: 3.0Ah: $200, 2.0Ah: $180 Batteries: 2 - 12 volt Torque: 274 in./lbs. for both RPM: 0-400, 0-1,400 Weight: 4.5 lbs. (3.0Ah) Performance: ••••O Price range: $$$$$ Fein: 800-441-9878 or feinus.com Drill Doctor Drill Bit Sharpener I've always considered drill bits to be disposable items. You buy an inexpensive 29-piece set and use them until there are too many missing, or they're too dull to use. The thought of spending $100 for a machine to keep those disposable items around didn't impress me. But after seeing how simple it is to put a fresh edge on a drill bit with the Drill Doctor I've changed my mind. I'm going to spend a little more effort keeping my bits in good shape. It seems other woodworkers also are being won over. The company is quickly approaching its two-millionth Drill Doctor sold. Drill Doctor bit sharpeners are available in a variety of prices, ranging from $75 to $130. We chose the DD400 model, priced at $100, to test as middle of the range and with a feature we wanted to try - the ability to create and sharpen split-point bits. But first the essentials: The Drill Doctor simply is a 1.75-amp universal motor with a diamond sharpening wheel that spins at 20,000 rpm. The magic comes from the alignment process. A drill bit (sized from 3/32" to V2") is locked in the chuck, aligning the bit's cutting flutes in the process. The chuck is then inserted into the sharpening hole, and the bit and chuck are rotated against the sharpening wheel. Half a dozen turns and you're done. The DD400 will sharpen high-speed steel, carbide, cobalt, titanium nitrate-coated and even carbide-tipped masonry bits. Well that's nice, but do you really have enough bits to justify the expense? How about if you can improve inexpensive bits? The DD400 allows you to take a standard twist bit and reshape the tip to form a split-point bit. This allows the bit to bite faster and not wander at the beginning of the cut. I've paid extra for new bits that will offer that feature, but now I'll buy less expensive bits and make my own. The Drill Doctor is simple to use and will give you new respect for your drill bits - whether they're affordable or not. — DT For more information, circle #170 on Free Information Card. SPECIFICATIONS Drill Doctor DD400 Street price: $100 Bit sizes: 3/32" - V2" Bit angle: 118° Wheel: #180-grit, replaceable diamond Performance: ••••o Price range: $$$$ Drill Doctor: 800-597-6170 or drilldoctor.com 28 Popular Woodworking April 2005 |
