Popular Woodworking 2006-04 № 154, страница 30
Tool Test DeWalt DW718: Excellent With Minor Demerits When it comes to miter saws, it's fair to say we're some of the toughest customers around. We have things we'd like to change on even our favorite saws, and that's probably because we demand cabinetmaking precision from a carpenter's tool - and we use the things so darn much ever since we sold our radial arm saw. The good news here is that the DeWalt DW718 is the best 12" miter saw I've ever used. The bad news is there are still a few more tweaks I'd like to see. First, the good stuff. Woodworkers rejoice: This is the easiest miter saw on which to square the blade to the fence. You don't mess with the fence; you simply loosen four screws and shift the miter scale that includes the stop detents. Genius. And speaking of the fence, one of the other major advancements with this saw is that the fence sits in a shallow rabbet on the saw's table. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is. Unlike many other saws that have passed through our hands, the fence on this saw is flat on both the left and right side of the blade. That's a big deal for accuracy. And speaking of the blade, it's good. DeWalt has made signifi cant leaps in blade technology in recent years and this blade is a keeper, not a junker. It cuts smooth and does not deflect in heavy cuts, like in other saws. So what would I change? The dust collection is quite poor - a common defect in miter saws. The throat plate is difficult to adjust - I recommend you make your own zero-clearance plate. And I personally wish there was a safety switch, though my shop-mates disagree with me. Bottom line: This saw has as much crosscut capacity as you could want (16" with a special setup) and is accurate enough for the most demanding woodworker. In the world of miter saws, that's high praise in our shop. — CS For more information, circle #182 on Free Information Card. SPECIFICATIONS DeWalt DW718 Sliding Miter Saw Street price: S649 Max miter: 50° right, 60° left Max bevel: 48° left and right Max baseboard height: 6V2" Performance: 0000 J Price range: $SS$S DeWalt: 800-433-9258 or dewalt.com Craftsman 14.4v Cordless Drill - Our New Best Value! When we ran our 14.4-volt cordless drill test in our December 2005 issue, Craftsman was in the process of reworking its cordless line and did not have one of the new models available during our testing. We're glad to be able to update our information after testing Craftsman's 14.4v professional drill. Compared to the other 11 drills in the test, the $160 price of the Craftsman drill is lower than all the competition save the Skil drill ($79.99). The Craftsman drill is powered by a 1.7 amp hour NiCad battery (with a one-hour smart charger) and weighs in at 4.8 pounds, making it lighter than all but two other drills in the test. The drill shares many features with the other drills in the test: A 1/2", single sleeve chuck; multi-position clutch; two-speed motor with variable-speed control through the trigger and an integral brake. We ran the Craftsman through the same tests used in the December test: Driving a 1" spade bit through 13/4"-thick poplar and sinking V4" x 112"-long lag screws in the same poplar boards. The December test results ranged from nine to 25 holes and six to 164 lag screws. The Craftsman posted a decent number in the hole-drilling competition (17), putting it in sixth place. But when it came to lag screws, this drill outperformed all but one of the competitors with 124 screws sunk on a single charge. Impressive! When running the hole test, we also checked temperature readings at the motor and battery to gauge user comfort. With a reading of 160° at the motor and 123 0 at the battery, the Craftsman posted lower than average _■ temperatures. Another good sign. During testing, the drill proved comfortable, well balanced and reasonably sized for a 14.4v drill. I would have preferred a chuck with jaws that closed a little tighter and a ratcheting (locking) chuck would also be a nice addition, but considering the price and performance, this drill earns our new Best Value Award in the test. PW — DT For more information, circle #183 on Free Information Card. SPECIFICATIONS Craftsman 27084 14.4-volt Drill Street price: $160 Speed: 0-350/0-1,400 rpm Stated torque: 410 in./lbs. Weight: 4.8 lbs. Performance: ••••O Price range: $$ Craftsman: 800-549-4505 or craftsman.com 28 Popular Woodworking April 2006 |
