Woodworker's Journal 2011-35-1, страница 51

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In the photo at left, the author's left arm (with Milwaukee's old reliable Sawzall) was begging the photographer to hurry up, while his right (with their new Hackzsall) was feeling no pain. The 14.4-volt DeWALT (at right) won't even fit inside this cabinet to replace the magnetic catch, but their new 12-volt driver fits easily — and throws some helpful LED light onto the job.

tools operate over a much wider range, depending on if you are driving a screw or drilling with a hole saw."

For small cordless tools previously, 3.6 volts was about the maximum because it took three 1.2-volt NiCad cells to reach that power level; pack more 1.2-volt cells into it. and you quickly got a big, heavy tool. Li-lon cells multiply the power significantly, but do it in the same space.

"With lithium-ion, you are able to cram three times more energy into the battery without making it larger, so now you get rot only die benefit of small size but also enough power to use the tool all day," says Bender.

Asa result, a compact tool with three lithium-ion cells can often be the same size and weight of those little 3.6-volters. Combine three lithium-ion cells — with average voltage of 3.6 and maximum voltage of 4 volts per cell — and you get the current crop of compact tools rated at 12 volts max power.

But why settle on 12 volts, as all the manufacturers seem to be doing? Christine Potter, director of cordless tools at DeWALT, notes that 12 volts

hits that just-right sweet spot. 'Twelve volts is the optimal voltage for a large portion of fastening applications," Potter says. "Two cells, or 8 volts, would not be enough voltage (power) for professional fastening applications. On the other hand, four cells or 16 volts approaches the performance, size and weight

of 18 volts. Thus, three cells creating 12 volts results in the ideal performance and ergonomics to complement 18-volt products."

Cordless Options

It's no secret that drivers and drill/drivers have led the way in this category since Bosch introduced that First 10.8-volt PS20 driver a few years ago. Although the batteries are the same today, Bosch and other manufacturers now cite the maximum voltage of 4 volts per cell when rating the power of these tools. (The label on the current PS20 battery has been changed to reflect this 12-volt rating.)

With Porter-Cable joining the party recently, virtually every major manufacturer offers a driver, drill/driver and impact driver. The reaction has been very positive.

"1 have a corded, very powerful drill 1 use for heavy jobs — a Milwaukee Hole Shooter," says A ndy Barss, a woodworker in Tucson, Arizona. "I like it a lot, but what really opened my eyes were two of the Bosch 10.8/12-volt drill/drivers. 1 have one. my wife the other, and they're incredibly useful. 1 put up a whole dust-collection system with mine."

Because they share a similar battery design — a triangular slick that slides up into the handle — most drill/drivers look and feel about the same. The new crop of "12-Volt MAX" tools from DeWALT has gone in a new direction with flat battery

packs, as has Kyobi's One+ line. They're still 12-volts made up of three individual lithium-ion cells, but they're arranged side-by-side instead of in a triangular bundle. The configuration — a standout in this class — makes it possible to set them securely upright.

On the heels of the drill/driver tide, other 12-volt compact tools arc beginning to appear, beginning with reciprocating saws. Milwaukee's "Hackzall" led the way, followed quickly by Hitachi's CR10DL and Ryobi's One+ Hybrid saw, both of which feature an adjustable handle. Porter-Cable's "ClampSaw" also has an adjustable handle, as well as a unique modified shoe that clamps to the workpiece.

Other new cordless offerings are a bit rarer — some represented by only one company — such as DcWALT's DCT410S1 12-Volt Max inspection camera and DCT414S1 infrared thermometer. Dremel has adapted lithium-ion technology to their signature rotary tool to introduce the Dremel 8200. Also from Dremel is the 8300 Multi-Max oscillating tool, a 12-volt cordless take on the venerable Fein MultiMaster. Bosch and Craftsman also offer cordless oscillators with the PS50B Multi-X and Nextec Multi-Tool, respectively.

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Bosch made the first of the current crop of compact drivers. Although the battery hasn't changcd, Bosch now uses a 12-volt nomenclature, similar to De WALT's, for tools in this class, instead of the 10.8-volt rating it used earlier.

RIDGID's 12-volt drill/driver is dwarfed by an older Makita with the same voltage.

Woodworkers Journal February 2011

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