Woodworker's Journal 2002-26-3, страница 42
Craftsman 18-volt Drill/Driver, 51/2" Trim Saw & Worklight Kit Craftsman's mid-voltage combo kit includes a drill/driver, 5V2" circular saw and worklight. The trio shares a pair of Ni-CD batteries and a one-hour charger. While Craftsman may not be leading the pack with cordless drill/driver innovations, this drill includes most of the solid features you'll find on pricier pro-series drills. The tool has a keyless chuck, 24-position clutch and two-speed gearbox. Like Ryobi's drill, it has a bubble level on top, but Craftsman also includes a handy wrist strap. I liked (he trim saw for the same features I saw on the Ryobi saw. The motor is quiet and provides plenty of power for cutting through 2x4s in a single pass. Even at 45°, the blade has a 11»" depth of cut for bevel-cutting lx lumber. The black saw base has scale markings highlighted in white, making them easy to see. Aside from color, the base matches the Ryobi saw, with all the same helpful cutting gauges. A ripping guide and thin-kerf blade are standard equipment. Priced at a smidgen under $200, Craftsman is bundling respectable value for the money. A handy worklight just sweetens the deal. Porter-Cable 19.2-volt Drill/Driver & 6" Saw Boss Kit With almost a century of tool making under their belts, the folks at Porter-Cable know a thing or two about building high-quality tools. This mid-range combo shouldn't tarnish the company's good reputation a bit. The drill/driver can handle larger drilling tasks, thanks to a 1/2" keyless chuck, two-speed gearbox and 20-position clutch. My testing wasn't comprehensive by any stretch, but I can tell you that this drill will drive a 1" spade bit repeatedly through hardwood or softwood with power to spare. 'lite drill's T-handle configuration with rubber ribs provides sure grip, even with its rather sizable battery on board. The Saw Boss circular saw offers almost 1/2" more cutting capacity than the smaller trim saws in this article, so it won't come up short when bevel cutting 2X material. The saw's motor has plenty of power for slicing through thick Craftsman 11314 Street price: $199 Battery: two 18-volt (Ni-CD) Phone: 800-932-3188 www.sears.com/craftsman Drill/driver: 3/8" chuck Max. torque: 330 inch/lbs. No load rpm: 0-350,0-1300 Weight: 5.2 lbs._ Circular saw: arbor 3/8" Blade diameter: 5 'A"_ Max. cutting D. ® 90°: 1V Max. cutting D. @ 45°: 1 Ye" No load rpm: 4,200_ Weight: 6.9 lbs._ TOOL REVIEW Craftsman 11314 18-volt but the weight isn't the least bit unwieldy. A few extra ounces can probably be attributed to the metal tranny, which provides 23 clutch positions and three — rather than two — speed settings. DeWalt is the first manufacturer to offer a three-speed transmission. It's designed to increase drilling and driving speeds while providing more torque. I'll admit that when I shifted to the highest speed setting, the tool drove screws incredibly fast. The drill delivers all this torque and speed through a ratcheting Jacobs chuck. DeWalt says the chuck holds bits twice as tightly as other chucks, and it tightens with one hand. The 5:i/s" trim saw is a bit lean on features but not really lacking. At 90°, the saw has a 1%" maximum depth of cut, and it sliced through 2x lumber without difficulty. Pivot the saw base all the way to 50°, and there's plenty of tooth to spare for cutting lx stock. The motor was burly without being loud, but I was surprised that it had no electric brake. A thin kerf blade comes with the tool. There's a bevel gauge on the saw base with large, easy to read markings, but the base has no other gauges. It also isn't outfitted for holding a ripping guide, which would be a helpful accessory to include with the kit. Although this combo sells for more than twice the price of the Ryobi, DeWalt's performance reputation should make it a good buy whatever your needs may be. 60 June 2002 Woodworker's Journal |
