Save a Ton This Holiday Season With Milwaukee Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals

2022 promises to deliver some of the best Milwaukee Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday deals we’ve ever seen. Many of these discounts—but not all—remain valid throughout the week and even to the end of the year. We pay close attention to several retailers. Online, we find Home Depot, Ace Hardware and Acme Tools, but Milwaukee also has many in-person authorized retailers. Avoid Amazon, though—there are no authorized dealers there and you might not be getting authentic products.

Need some shopping ideas for tools and gear? Check out our Christmas Tool Gift Guide!

Want even more? Check our other Black Friday sale pages!

• PTR’s Best Black Friday Page
• DeWalt Deals
• Makita Deals
• Ryobi Deals
• Ace Hardware Deals
• Acme Tools Deals
• Home Depot Deals
• Lowe’s Deals

Milwaukee Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals at Ace Hardware

Milwaukee 10-Piece Screwdriver Set
$34.99 $19.99 – Save $15.00

Milwaukee Packout Rolling Tool Box + FREE Packout Medium Tool Box
$139.99

Milwaukee Gen 3 M12 Fuel Hammer Drill/Impact Driver Combo + FREE Bare Tool
$229.00

Milwaukee M18 Fuel 16-Inch Chainsaw + FREE 6.0Ah High Output Battery 2-Pack
$329.00

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Quik-Lok String Trimmer and Leaf Blower Combo + FREE Edger or Pole Saw Attachment
$449.00

Milwaukee Black Friday Deals at Acme Tools

Milwaukee Spot/Flood Headlamp 2104
$39.97 $29.97 – Save $10.00

Milwaukee Tools PACKOUT Compact Tool Box
$98.00 $69.97 – Save $28.00

Milwaukee M18 Random Orbit Sander (Bare Tool)
$170.00 $129.00 – Save $41.00

Milwaukee M18 ROVER Dual Power Flood Light, Bare Tool
$256 $149.00 – Save $107.00

M12 3/8 in. Crown Stapler Kit
$268.00 $189.00 – Save $79.00

Milwaukee M18 1/4″ Hex Impact Driver Brushless Kit with XC
$354.00 $199.00 – Save $155.00

Milwaukee M12 5-Tool Combo Kit
$349.00 $199.00 – Save $150.00

M12 FUEL 3/8″ High Speed Ratchet Kit
$402.00 $199.00 – Save $203.00

Milwaukee M18 5.0Ah Battery 2-Pack and Charger Starter Kit + FREE 5.0Ah Battery or Bare Tool $249.00 $199.00 – Save $50.00

15pc Ratcheting Combination Wrench Set – SAE
$259.97 $209.00 – Save $50.97

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/2 Mid-Torque Impact Wrench with Friction Ring Kit
$737 $459.00 – Save $278.00

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3/8 Mid-Torque Impact Wrench with Friction Ring CP2.0 Kit
$559 $329.00 – Save $230.00

M12 23 Gauge Pin Nailer Kit
$438.00 $279.00 – Save $159.00

Milwaukee M18 Fuel 7 1/4-Inch Circular Saw 6.0Ah High-Output Kit
$418.00 $299.00 – Save $119.00

Milwaukee M18 FUEL Oscillating Multi-Tool Kit
$579.00 $329.00 – Save $250.00

Milwaukee M18 2-Speed Grease Gun 2CT Kit
$528.00 $369.00 – Save $159.00

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2 Gallon Compact Quiet Compressor (Bare Tool)
$614.00 $379.00 – Save $235.00

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/2 Compact Impact Wrench with Friction Ring Kit
$667.00 $409.00 – Save $258.00

Milwaukee Tools M18 FUEL 10″ Pole Saw Kit with QUIK-LOK
$678.00 $449 – Save $229.00

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/2 Mid-Torque Impact Wrench with Friction Ring Kit
$737 $459.00 – Save $278.00

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/2″ High Torque Impact Wrench with Friction Ring Kit
$790 $479.00 – Save $311.00

Milwaukee Black Friday Deals at The Home Depot

Milwaukee 25-Foot Compact Tape Measure 2-Pack
$41.97 $19.97 – Save $22.00

Milwaukee M18 2 x 5.0Ah RedLithium Battery Starter Kit with Charger + FREE 5.0 Battery, Charger, or Bare Tool
$299.00 $199.00 – Save $100.00

Milwaukee Packout 3-Piece Rolling Combo
$309.00 $218.94 – Save $90.06

Milwaukee Gen 4 M18 Fuel Hammer Drill/Impact Driver Combo Kit + FREE 5.0 Battery, Charger, or Bare Tool
$399.00

Milwaukee M18 9-Tool Cordless Combo Kit
$1168.10 $599.00 – Save $569.10

If you spot any more Milwaukee Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals that we missed, please leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you and keep this page up-to-date with the latest sales.

Why Buy Milwaukee?

Milwaukee has an obsession with innovation and a hyper-focus on tradesmen. Beyond general construction, no other brand meets the cordless needs of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades the way Milwaukee does. Milwaukee has an impressively loyal following of dedicated fans. Whether you’re looking for power tools, hand tools, storage, or even outdoor power equipment, you’ll usually find Milwaukee at or near the top of many professionals’ recommendation lists.

Check out all of our Milwaukee review articles here

The post Best Milwaukee Black Friday Deals 2022 appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Gone are the days when Ace Hardware Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals included a mail-in rebate. In 2022, the best deals are instant. We listed the prices everyone gets, however, Ace Rewards members save even more, plus they earn points toward further discounts. The account is free, so if you plan to shop at Ace Hardware, go ahead and sign up.

Need some shopping ideas for tools and gear? Check out our Christmas Tool Gift Guide!

WANT EVEN MORE? CHECK OUR OTHER BLACK FRIDAY SALE PAGES!

• PTR’s Best Black Friday Page
• DeWalt Deals
• Makita Deals
• Milwaukee Deals
• Ryobi Deals
• Acme Tools Deals
• Home Depot Deals
• Lowe’s Deals

Best Ace Hardware Craftsman Black Friday Deals

Craftsman V20 Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Combo
$129.00 $99.00 – Save $30.00 with Ace Rewards

Craftsman V20 10-Inch String Trimmer and Leaf Blower Combo
$139.00 $89.99 – Save $50.00 with Ace Rewards

Craftsman C20 Cordless Pruner Kit
$129.99 $99.99 – Save $30.00 with Ace Rewards

Craftsman V20 4.0Ah Battery 2-Pack
$149.00 $99.00 – Save $50.00 with Ace Rewards

Best Ace Hardware DeWalt Black Friday Deals

DeWalt 20V Max Atomic Brushless Drill/Driver Kit
$169.00 $99.00 with Ace Rewards – Save $70.00 ($119.00 without Ace Rewards)

DeWalt 20V Max Atomic Brushless Impact Driver Kit
$169.00 $99.00 with Ace Rewards – Save $70.00 ($119.00 without Ace Rewards)

DeWalt 20V Max Brushless Compact Drill and Impact Driver Kit
$229.99 $149.00 with Ace Rewards – Save $80.00 ($209.00 without Ace Rewards)

DeWalt FlexVolt 6.0Ah Battery 2-Pack
$259.00 $189.00 with Ace Rewards – Save $70.00

DeWalt 20V Max Cordless 4-Tool Combo Kit
$349.00 $279.00 with Ace Rewards – Save $70.00

DeWalt 8 1/4-Inch Compact Jobsite Table Saw
$419.99 $319.99 with Ace Rewards – Save $100.00

DeWalt 12-Inch Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw
$599.00 $349.00 with Ace Rewards – Save $130.00 ($479.00 without Ace Rewards)

Best Ace Hardware Milwaukee Black Friday Deals

Milwaukee 10-Piece Screwdriver Set
$34.99 $19.99 – Save $15.00

Milwaukee Packout Rolling Tool Box + FREE Packout Medium Tool Box
$139.99

Milwaukee M18 Brushless 14-Inch String Trimmer Kit
$249.00 $199.00 – Save $50.00

Milwaukee M18 Drill and Impact Driver Combo
$209.99 $149.00 with Ace Rewards – Save $60.00 ($199.00 without Ace Rewards)

Milwaukee Gen 3 M12 Fuel Hammer Drill/Impact Driver Combo + FREE Bare Tool
$229.00

Milwaukee M18 Fuel 16-Inch Chainsaw + FREE 6.0Ah High Output Battery 2-Pack
$329.00

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Quik-Lok String Trimmer and Leaf Blower Combo + FREE Edger or Pole Saw Attachment
$449.00

Best Ace Hardware Outdoor Black Friday Deals

Charbroil Big Easy 16000 BTU Oil-Less Turkey Fryer
$179.99 $149.99 – Save $30.00

EGO 650 CFM Leaf Blower Kit (Add to Cart for Sale Price)
$249.00 $199.00 – Save $50.00

Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Propane Grill
$639.00 $549.00 – Save $90.00

Traeger Pro 575 Wood Pellet Grill with WiFire
$899.95 $699.95 – Save $200.00

Traeger Ironwood 885 Wood Pellet Grill with WiFire
$1599.95 $1399.95 – Save $200.00

The post Ace Hardware Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals 2022 appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

So this year I finally decided to hack our Christmas tree stand so I could use a power tool to secure it. I have no idea why I didn’t do it sooner. In any case, I finally had my fill of painstakingly twisting the L-style bolts into the base of the stand. I was dead-set on improving the way this stand worked. This year would be different. This year I’d use a power tool to make that Christmas tree stand impact driver ready. Never again would I suffer under the poor design of America’s (old school) tree stand standard!

This hack worked, by the way…read on to see exactly how to do it yourself.

Hacking the Christmas Tree Stand – The Details

• Supplies: Eight (8) 1/4″ x 5″ hex tap (fully threaded) bolts (zinc plated, or stainless if you can find them)
• Tool: You favorite impact driver with a 7/16″ socket
• Time: 5-15 minutes
• Cost: Around $4

Make That Christmas Tree Stand Impact Driver Ready

I’d go into vast and excessively descriptive details about what to do next to make that Christmas tree stand impact driver ready, but I think it’s fairly obvious. On L-style bolts, you simply remove them and replace them with the new 1/4″ x 5″ hex taps, being sure to seat them partially—readying them for being fully seated into the tree.

With other types of bolts, like fancier eyebolt systems, you may need to cut or saw through the bolts in order to remove them. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Once you have the new bolts inserted, you can replace any plastic end caps designed to cushion the tree from having the bolts sink into the wood, however, I’ve found that this is really not an issue—and certainly not worth any effort to reclaim the caps or deal with the hassle. Taking the impact driver I rough-seated the stand onto the tree outside the house and then brought it in, letting my wife hold it upright as I sank the bolts into place. If you overdrive the bolts, just back them out or compensate with the opposite side.

The result? You get a tree stand that lets you use your power tool instead of your fingers. You can’t beat it and, in all honesty, this is how they should all be built-in my opinion.

The post Hack Your Christmas Tree Stand to Use a Power Tool appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Hilti Nuron TE 4-22 Raises The Bar For SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer Power

The Hilti Nuron TE 4-22 compact rotary hammer caught our eye for a couple of reasons. First, this is the first compact rotary hammer we’ve seen from Hilti with both Active Torque Control (ATC) and Active Vibration Reduction (AVR). Both features play a more serious role in larger rotary hammers like the Hilti TE 30-22. However, we like seeing “trickle-down tech” that helps when doing smaller jobs as well. We wanted to know whether this new Hilti compact rotary hammer would prove a good value for Pros looking for a lighter-weight solution for drilling smaller diameter holes.

Hilti Nuron TE 4-22 Cordless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer – The Big Deal

Hilti Nuron technology offers several performance and design advantages. Chief among them is the advanced battery technology that brings with it more power and runtime. With more reasonably-sized tools like this one, you really do get some impressive results.

Looking at Hilti’s cordless TE 4 options, the previous model (TE 4-A22) matches the TE 4-22 on a number of specs. It lacks both ATC and AVR, however. And while the 22V Nuron platform moves away from 36V batteries, it doesn’t seem to decrease power or runtime potential. Even the single-row B 22-85 Nuron 22V battery provides enough power to drive this tool.

Compared with the TE 4-A22, Hilti maintains the speed but tweaks the impact power to 1.7 ft-lbs. Couple that with the safety features we already mentioned, and you have a very capable, yet compact rotary hammer. With this increased power comes increased drilling up to 1-inch diameter holes. The older TE 4-A22 topped out at 23/32″. We do note that the corded TE 7 can tackle holes up to 1-3/32″—the same as the Hilti TE 6-22.

Check out how the Hilti Nuron TE 4-22 compares to the TE 4-A22 and the corded TE 7:

Nuron Benefits

There are many benefits to Hilti’s Nuron system, and you can read more about them in our deep dive here. For now, here’s a quick list of what you can expect:

• Beefier electrical connections, 21700 cells, and better cooling delivers higher current potential and higher performance
• Nuron batteries collect data from the tool and deliver it to the cloud when on a charger
• Battery level indicator lights up when you pull the trigger
• Battery health indicator

Additional Features

• Wide drilling range
• Quick-release depth gauge
• Compatible with TE DRS-4/6 onboard dust removal or TE DRS-C vacuum connectors

Hilti Nuron TE 4-22 Cordless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer Price

The Hilti TE 4-22 runs just $349 as a bare tool (or less than $20/month for Hilti Tools on Demand pricing). While that only saves you $20 off the price of a TE 6-22, it also gets you a more compact tool. When drilling overhead or on walls, that can make your day a lot better. Hilti also offers their 20-2-1 warranty program: a 20-year warranty, a 2-year free service, and a 1-day repair/maintenance turnaround.

Hilti offers its tools a la carte, so you can custom build your kit exactly how you want it. Here’s a breakdown of the batteries and chargers:

Compatible Batteries

• 2.5 Ah (B 22-54): $84.00 each (not recommended due to limited power and runtime)
• 4 Ah (B 22-85): $114 each (best balance of weight, performance, and runtime)
• 8 Ah (B 22-170): $174 each (additional weight, performance, and runtime)
• 12 Ah (B 22-255): $204 each (not recommended due to weight)

Compatible Chargers

• Hilti C 4-22 (91W) Compact Charger: $39
• Hilti C 6-22 (241W) Fast Charger: $84

Hilti Nuron TE 4-22 Cordless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer Specifications

• Model: Hilti TE 4-22
• Power Source: Hilti Nuron 22V battery
• No-Load Speed: 1050 RPM
• Impact Energy: 1.7 ft-lbs
• Hammer drilling diameter range: 3/16-1 in.
• Bare weight: 5.4 lbs
• Price: $349 bare, $799 kit (2 batteries, charger, and 3 bits)

The post Hilti Nuron TE 4-22 Compact SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Looking For Stihl Black Friday Deals? Wait Until Small Business Saturday

If you’ve been looking around for news on the best Stihl Black Friday deals, you may be a bit disappointed compared to what you’re seeing from other brands. But it actually makes sense. Stihl relies on its dealer network to provide the best sales and service experience in the industry. All of those dealers are small businesses and it’s understandable that Stihl is more focused on Small Business Saturday.

Need some shopping ideas for tools and gear? Check out our Christmas Gift Guide!

WANT EVEN MORE? CHECK OUR OTHER BLACK FRIDAY SALE PAGES!

• PTR’s Best Black Friday Page
• DeWalt Deals
• Makita Deals
• Milwaukee Deals
• Ryobi Deals
• Ace Hardware Deals
• Acme Tools Deals
• Home Depot Deals
• Lowe’s Deals

Best Stihl Black Friday and Small Business Saturday Deals

Because of Stihl’s business model, each dealer may have different sales going on. It’s easy to check without leaving the house, though. Just go to Stihl’s website, select your favorite local dealer, and click the Special Offers tab to see what they have available right now.

At the moment, the only deal running from our local dealer is a $30.00 discount on a PPE kit that includes a helmet, chaps, safety glasses, work gloves, and a Stihl duffel bag.

Keep in mind that Ace Hardware and Acme Tools are national Stihl dealers, so you can view current prices and see what’s on sale. However, you won’t be able to order online for delivery—you need to visit the local store.

Read Our Stihl Product Review Articles

Stihl Black Friday and Small Business Saturday Deals may offer incredible opportunities to hop on board one of the top brands in outdoor power equipment and check off the folks that have been really good on your shopping list.

If you spot any outstanding Stihl Black Friday or Small Business Saturday deals, please leave a comment below and help your fellow readers out. We’d love to hear from you and we’ll keep this page as up-to-date as possible.

The post Best Stihl Black Friday and Small Business Saturday Deals 2022 appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

When EGO Commercial debuted its latest outdoor power tools, they included a string trimmer, blower, hedge trimmer, several pole saws, and more. Behind all of these, however, lies the EGO Commercial Charging System…and it’s pretty groundbreaking. Manufacturers are releasing many different systems for charging battery-powered commercial outdoor power equipment. However, rather than go with an expensive 30-amp (or higher) charging solution with limited pack capacity or a gigantic custom trailer, EGO designed a scalable 120V solution that charges up to 96 batteries overnight.

Yes, you heard that correctly…at least, that’s what we’re being told. If EGO does what it claims, next year should see the release of this system, and it can ensure your lawn crew has everything it needs for a full day on the job.

EGO Commercial Charging System – The Big Deal

The power and expandability of the system come from the design. A single EGO Commercial Power Hub connects to a 120V 15A outlet. From there, the system connects to one or more battery banks that hold three EGO 56V ArcLithium batteries each.

And when we say “or more” we mean a LOT more. You can, in fact, connect up to 32 battery banks to a single EGO Commercial Power Hub head unit. That equates to 96 batteries that you can charge overnight!

EGO Commercial Charging Station

So what if you need to top off batteries and can’t wait for an overnight charge? In that case, EGO Commercial rolled out another interesting system. A docking station with a large battery lets you charge up to 14 individual 56V batteries, two at a time. While we await more details (and final specs) on this power supply, we’d estimate its capacity somewhere in the neighborhood of 35Ah.

A Combined or Hybrid Approach

So what if you wanted to use a hybrid approach? EGO thought through that and came up with a couple of scenarios that make sense to us. First, you could simply charge a combination of individual batteries and larger charging station packs overnight. Then, the next day, you’d have access both to those charged batteries, and the ability to recharge as many packs as you planned using the EGO Commercial charging stations.

The result gives you a way to get more battery runtime out of fewer overall packs by maximizing those onsite chargers. This works well for recharging expended handheld tool batteries, for example, while you continue working with fresh batteries.

Recharging an Entire Landscaping Trailer

The second obvious approach involves outfitting a full landscaping trailer with batteries and chargers. You could then plug in the entire trailer each night. The only concern here would involve reducing heat in the trailer during those summer months.

Since both the Power Distribution charger and the 3-battery docks can be daisy-chained, a single 120V 15A power source can get you up and running for the next day’s work. Again, you could use a combination of simple 3-battery docks as well as those larger dual-battery power supplies. That would give you the ability to continue charging handheld tool batteries throughout the day.

Additional Features

• Charge up to 240Ah of batteries overnight (estimated based on currently-known specs)
• Compatible with all EGO 56V Arc Lithium batteries
• Supports 2.0–12Ah 56V batteries

EGO Commercial Charging System Pricing

EGO has not yet disclosed pricing for the Power Hub, 3-battery dock, or power supply recharging dock. We look forward to getting that information in 2023 and we will update this article when it becomes available.

EGO Commercial Charging System Specifications

• Voltage: 56
• Input Voltage: 120V
• Input Current: <15A
• Charge time: Less than 12 hours for up to 96 batteries

The post EGO Commercial Charging System appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Having reviewed tons of DeWalt Tools, we already appreciate the brand for its powerful and ergonomic cordless products. On the corded side, the brand makes powerful saws and rotary hammers. Because of this, we love it when the brand offers steep DeWalt tool deals and sales and discounts to Pros.

What Kind of DeWalt Tool Sales and Discounts to Expect

Based on past history, DeWalt offers some of the best tool deals and sales and discounts to Pros and consumers. We’ve seen them give away a free 5Ah or 6Ah battery pack with various tool kit purchases. They frequently discount their 12V Xtreme line of tools. Other times, DeWalt offers tool discounts on various 20V cordless power tools to make room for new or upcoming products.

The company has offered 10% off LED lighting products and we’ve even seen discounts on their popular mechanics tools sets. While these specific DeWalt tool deals change from week to week, we try to stay up to date so you have the latest info.

Of course, you always want to peruse the latest featured DeWalt tools and products to see if an online retailer can beat in-store pricing at The Home Depot. More often than not, we see incentives and discounts that match or beat home improvement warehouse pricing.

Latest DeWalt Tool Deals and Sales at Acme Tools

Based on our research, the following represent the latest DeWalt tool deals and sales and discounts available—both online via the Internet and in-store.

• Get a DeWalt 20V 10-Tool Combo Kit for $599!!! – LINK
• Buy TWO select DeWalt Tools and Get a FREE battery 2-pack starter kit (ends 12/31) – LINK
• SAVE $100 on the DeWalt 8-1/4″ Jobsite Table Saw ($299) – LINK
• Buy a DeWalt Tool Kit and receive a bare tool or battery of your choice FREE! (ends 12/31) – LINK
• Save 35% OFF the DeWalt 20V 3-speed Oscillating Tool Kit ($129) – LINK
• Free Dewalt 20V Starter Kit with purchase of select bare tool (ends 12/31) – LINK
• Get a FREE DeWalt battery or bare tool with this 2x battery kit – LINK
• Save up to $75 on select orders of $199+ w/Code: FALL75 – LINK
• Grab the DeWalt DWS715 Miter Saw for just $199 (Save 33%) – LINK
• FREE Work Stand with the Purchase of DWS716 miter saw ($349) – LINK
• Check out discounts on the NEW DeWalt 20V High Torque Impact Wrenches – LINK
• Get the DeWalt 20V Biscuit Joiner for $279 (save $195) – LINK
• Save $40 off a DeWalt 20V Brushless 4-Tool Combo Kit ($479) – LINK
• DeWalt DWFP55126 6 gal 165 PSI pancake compressor for $179 – LINK
• Find more DeWalt Tool Deals at Acme by clicking the button below!

Best DeWalt Tool Deals at Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, ToolNut, and Others

We’ve also found some pretty exciting deals on DeWalt tools and combo kits at other retailers like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, and the ToolNut. These are some of our favorite DeWalt deals going on right now:

Best DeWalt Tool Deals at Home Depot

• Buy a DeWalt 20V 6Ah and 4Ah Starter Kit ($199), get a free power tool – LINK
• Get a FREE power tool when you buy a $399 DeWalt 20V 4-tool Atomic kit (ends 1/29) – LINK
• Get TWO FREE power tools when you buy this $599 DeWalt 20V 4-tool kit (ends 1/29) – LINK
• SAVE $100 on a DeWalt 15A double bevel sliding compound miter saw for $549 – LINK
• Get the DeWalt 15A 8-1/4 in. Compact Jobsite Tablesaw for $299 – LINK
• DeWalt 20V Max Powerstack Compact Battery Starter Kit for $169 – LINK
• Get the DeWalt DCF850P1 impact driver kit for just $189 – LINK
• Save $90 on a DeWalt 2x20V 5Ah battery pack ($149) – LINK
• Get the DeWalt Atomic 20V Cordless Oscillating Tool Kit w/4Ah battery for $149 – LINK

Best DeWalt Tool Deals at Lowe’s

• Get a FREE DeWalt Grinder when you buy the 20V Power Detect 2-Tool Brushless Combo Kit – LINK
• Buy a 2x5Ah DeWalt starter kit for $199, get a FREE 4.5-in angle grinder or 5Ah battery – LINK
• Get the DeWalt Power Detect 20V Max 7-1/4-in Cordless Circular Saw for $199 – LINK
• Buy the DeWalt XTREME 12V 2-tool Brushless Combo Kit, Get a FREE Circ Saw or Recip Saw – LINK
• SAVE $100 off the DeWalt 8.25-in Portable Corded Table Saw ($299) – LINK

DeWalt Discounts and Deals at Ace Hardware

• Get $100 OFF DeWalt 15A 8-1/4 in. compact table saw – LINK
• Pay just $129 for the DeWalt 20V DCBL722B 125mph/450CFM handheld blower – LINK
• 2-Pk DeWalt 20V XR DCB205-2 20V 5Ah Batteries, now $239 (Ace Rewards Exclusive) – LINK
• Save $60 off DeWalt 20V Brushless 2-tool Compact Drill and Impact Driver Kit, now $149 – LINK
• DeWalt 20V Brushed Recip Saw for $119.99 (Ace Rewards) – LINK
• SAVE $100 off the DeWalt 15A 8.25-inch table saw, now $319.99 (Ace Rewards) – LINK
• SAVE $20 off a DeWalt 20V 5-in. Brushless Random Orbit Sander ($99) – LINK

Deals on DeWalt Tools at ToolNut

• Save up to $350 OFF select DeWalt cordless power tools and kits – LINK
• Buy the DeWalt 20V Atomic 1/2″ ratchet, get a FREE compact Powerstack battery – LINK
• FREE DeWALT 20V MAX XR Compact Battery w/purchase of DCF787B impact driver ($137) – LINK
• Buy a DeWalt DCG413R2 4.5″ 20V Brushless Angle Grinder Kit, get a FREE tool or battery – LINK
• FREE 20V Max Starter Kit w/select 20V Max power tool purchase (exp 12/31) – LINK
• See even more DeWalt DEALS at Toolnut – LINK

While these deals represent some of our favorites, all of these retailers certainly have much more going on than we’ve highlighted here. Click the buttons below to explore more DeWalt deals and discounts!

Other Considerations

When shopping for the best DeWalt tool deals and sales you want to focus on the right platforms. DeWalt FlexVolt technology represents the line’s most powerful products. Having some DeWalt Atomic Tools on hand can save you some weight and make for great tools for daily use.

The post Best DeWalt Tool Deals and Sales for November 2022 appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Arc fault circuit breakers (AFCI) may still seem new to homeowners who haven’t dealt with electrical codes in a while. They’re the result of research in the industry on how home fires start and what might prevent them. Some studies* reveal that electrical wiring issues account for over 150 home fires across the United States each day. An arc fault breaker differs from a GFCI outlet or circuit breaker in that it detects slow electrical leaks. A slow leak typically occurs when wiring is compromised but not completely shorted.

A good example of this would be when a nail punctures a wire behind a wall and a small electrical current begins to build up heat. Another occurs when a wire nut loosens and a small arc allows the temperature to build between the wire and nearby ground. This can even happen when an outlet or switch connection becomes loose.

Why Were AFCI Circuit Breakers Created?

AFCI circuit breakers were originally designed out of a direct response to a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report conducted by UL in the early 1990s. It identified a specific electrical problem in residential wiring systems that had caused a high number of residential fires. Less than 7 years later, AFCI protection became a requirement in the National Electrical Code (NEC) in 1999.

According to a 2017 National Fire Protection Association report, between 2010 and 2014, U.S. municipal fire departments responded to 45,210 home structure fires involving electrical failure or malfunction. These fires caused an average of 420 civilian deaths, 1370 injuries, and $1.4 billion in direct property damage per year.

Why Traditional Circuit Breakers Don’t Suffice

Since small arcs differ from huge amounts of electrical energy rapidly going to ground (as with a short), a typical circuit breaker will not detect the leak. You can think of arc faults as sparks or small amounts of electrical energy that generate heat but not a large amount of energy flow. Obviously, they can quickly consume nearby wood and plastic to create a fire.

The design of traditional circuit breakers doesn’t allow them to detect arc faults. They only trip when a lot of energy suddenly flows to ground or passes through the circuit due to a short. They also fail to extend protection to connected electrical cords or extension cords plugged into wall outlets.

How an Arc Fault Circuit Breaker Works

These new arc fault circuit interrupters function more like “smart” breakers. They actually contain small filters and logic devices. This lets them detect an arc before it produces the heat and sparking that can cause a fire. Once it does, it shuts down the circuit—instantaneously. Even a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) doesn’t have the capability to sense arcs, so homeowners shouldn’t mistakenly add these, thinking that they will provide the same level of protection.

Interestingly, the technology has found success in upstream AFCI outlets like Leviton AFCI receptacles. These let you integrate AFCI technology after the breaker panel and also protect downstream outlets in a room or area.

Editor’s Note: Be sure to read our article on the Klein AFCI/GFCI outlet tester

Updates on NEC Requirements for AFCI Usage

As noted above, the new arc fault circuit breakers first showed up in section 210-12 of the 1999 edition of the NEC. As of 2002, the code required them in residential homes for any bedroom circuits. Bedrooms presented the main source for dangerous and life-threatening arcs according to research at the time. Some municipalities then took it one step further, requiring arc fault protection on all circuits which feed residential living areas.

As of January 2008, only “combination type” AFCIs meet the NEC requirement. The 2008 NEC requires the installation of combination-type AFCIs in all 15 and 20-amp residential circuits with the exception of laundries, kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and unfinished basements, though many of these require GFCI protection.

The 2014 NEC added kitchens and laundry rooms to the list of rooms requiring AFCI circuitry, as well as any devices (such as lighting) requiring protection.

2008 and 2014 marked the most drastic NEC expansion on the usage of AFCIs. They are now required in virtually every living area. This includes bedrooms, family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, sunrooms, kitchens, dens, hallways, laundry rooms, and more. The NEC also expanded the rules for arc fault circuit interrupters. They are also required in college dorms and hotel/motel rooms featuring permanent cooking appliances.

AFCI Breaker Recommendations

Arc fault breakers are similar in size to regular circuit breakers. They simply replace any circuit breaker that feeds a bedroom. Arc fault breakers include a separate neutral wire which connects to the Neutral bus bar in the panel. They cost anywhere from $25–$50 (the cost varies depending upon which panel box you have).

Quite possibly, arc fault breakers present the cheapest fire insurance you can give your home.

We recommend consumers consider replacing their existing breakers with arc fault circuit interrupters even if they aren’t doing anything that requires an inspection. It takes just minutes. If you’re uncertain as to how to safely accomplish this, please consult a licensed electrician.

As an invention, the new arc fault circuit interrupter breaker actually has the potential to save lives. While it costs homeowners a little more upfront, the insurance it provides makes it well worth the small investment.

*See this CPSC report on AFCIs

The post What is an Arc Fault Circuit Breaker? NEC Requirements Explained appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

It’s not uncommon to want to run 120V electrical wiring underground. You may want to send power to your shed, workshop, or garage. Another common use is running power to a lamp post or an electric gate motor. In either case, you should be aware of a few underground wiring requirements in order to meet most current building codes. We show you how to install underground electrical wiring from one location to another.

How to Install Underground Electrical Wiring – How Deep Do I Bury the Wire?

The first question we always get asked is “How deep do we bury the wiring or cable?” That’s a great question. And the answer is that it depends on what wire you use and whether you run it within a conduit or not. Since most people ask the question so that they can meet a particular desire for maximum burial depth, let’s start there. Breaking it down by how deep you bury the underground electrical wiring when you install it, we have the following options:

24-inches Deep Burial Depth

• Use direct-burial underground feeder cable at 24-inches deep (or more). You don’t need to use conduit at this depth with UF cable, however, you do need to provide PVC conduit on your vertical feeds starting at 18-inches.

18-inches Deep Burial Depth

• You can run THWN-2 conductors inside of PVC conduit at just 18-inches deep in the ground. This protects the wire from damage in the event someone digs overtop of the cable. THWN-2 is basically water-resistant THHN (Thermoplastic High Heat-resistant Nylon-coated wire)

12-inches Deep Burial Depth

• At 12-inches deep, you can run direct-burial feeder cable wire that is GFCI-protected. Protect it with PVC where it pops up at the house, garage, or shop.

6-inches Deep Burial Depth

• If you use galvanized EMT (metal electrical conduit) with individual conductors inside, you can bury it just 6-inches deep. The idea here is that the EMT can withstand a shovel or other significant potential cause of shorting the wiring.

How to Install Underground Electrical Wiring: General Notes on Burying Wire

If you ever want to use rigid metal conduit or even EMT in place of PVC, you can. Typically, we use gray 3/4-inch PVC for a single line. In addition, while the required burial depths listed above should be generally accurate—check local building codes first. You want to be absolutely certain you’re in compliance before you get started. We typically prefer using PVC conduit when running power to a remote location underground. That gives you a lot more protection over direct burial cable in the long run.

In the end, just understand your options and take the safest or simplest route depending on your situation. If you can get away without conduit and the wiring is in an area that isn’t liable to get in the way of future digging, then direct-burial cable might be best. If you’re running through the middle of your yard, a PVC or metal conduit might seem the better choice—even if it’s overkill.

How to Install Underground Electrical Wiring Step By Step

We don’t provide a ton of steps to installing underground electrical wiring. Installing the wiring or conduit takes a lot of work—but not a lot of detailed instructions.

Call Before You Dig!

Don’t forget to plan ahead and call before you dig. You don’t want to hit any buried water lines, electrical lines, sewage drains, or anything else. In most municipalities, they will check your property within a day or two for free and when you call. Marking out critical lines with flags before you start really saves you a lot of hassle and headaches. Don’t skip this step!

Digging the Trench

We’ve dug a lot of trenches using shovels. Don’t do it if you value your time. If you have someone you desperately want to torture, or you’re only going several feet, then using a trenching shovel works just fine. If, however, you need to go a good amount of distance with your buried electrical cable, we recommend renting a trencher.

You can rent a 24-inch trencher in most places for less than $200 a day. You can even pay less if you only need it for a few hours. It saves you countless hours and hassle, so if you can afford it, grab one at your local tool rental store.

Using the trencher, plan your course and dig the trench where you plan to run your direct-burial cable or PVC pipe.

Cut Your Ingress or Egress Holes

Cut your egress and ingress holes from the starting point (for example, your electrical panel) to the end of your run.

It helps to use what’s known as a PVC conduit outlet body (LB).

These make it easy to feed wire into a building (either the source or the destination garage or shop). You just remove the plate using the two screws and feed the wire as needed without having to worry about making a sharp right-angle turn at the point of entry.

Pro Tip: Use a heat gun to bend PVC conduit if you need to make a bend to get up against the house, garage, or workshop with your pipe.

Feeding Your Wire

Many times you can simply push your cable through minimal runs of PVC conduit. If needed, you can use a metal fish tape or even vacuum a pull line through the pipe and use that to pull the wires through a long run.

Finish Off Your Connections and Conduit Fittings

After pulling your wire, make your connections to the electrical panel and finish your conduit fittings. That includes securing the plates on your PVC conduit outlet bodies. Test your run, and pat yourself on the back for a job well done!

Final Thoughts

Nothing beats getting much-needed power to a shed or garage. Attack this type of project with gusto and reap the benefits. As always, consult or use a licensed electrician if things seem to be beyond your level of expertise.

The post How to Install Underground Electrical Wiring (to a Garage, Shed, or Shop) appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

So you’ve got some items to hang, but you don’t want them eventually falling off of your wall and shattering into a million pieces? Some type of drywall anchor will likely be your best friend. Commonly, you’ve got your plastic sleeve anchors, your self-drilling threaded anchors, molly bolts, and toggle bolt anchors. All of them accomplish the same general task by expanding and biting into or gripping the drywall. If you’re wondering how to use or install drywall anchors, we’ve got the basics covered for you.

Which Drywall Anchor Should I Choose?

Generally, your drywall anchor selection will revolve around the weight of the item you wish to hang. While there are actually many types of drywall anchors available, some are more common than others. For the sake of brevity, we’ll stick with some of the more common types.

• Less than 10 lbs: plastic sleeve anchor
• 10 to 25 lbs: self-drilling threaded drywall anchors
• 25 to 50 lbs: Snaptoggle, molly bolts, or traditional toggle bolts
• Over 50 lbs: Snaptoggle, toggle bolts, or screw into an actual stud

There are some drywall anchors rated for 100 pounds or more. Use these with discretion and test them prior to hanging expensive items from them.

How to Use a Drywall Anchor

Installing A Plastic Sleeve Anchor

• With a pencil, mark the point where you want to hang whatever it is you’re trying to hang.
• Drill/make a pilot hole. You can use any variety of tools to accomplish this, though you need to make the pilot hole smaller than the width of the anchor. If a pilot bit doesn’t come with the set, the packaging will tell you which size to use.
• Stick the anchor in the pilot hole and tap it into place until the head of the anchor flushes up with the wall. A rubber mallet is best, but a small finish nailer will also work.
• Use a screwdriver to set the screw. You can use a drill, but go slow so you don’t overdrive it.

Installing a Self-Drilling Threaded Anchor

• Mark your hanging point.
• With a rubber mallet or hammer, lightly tap the anchor into the wall until you get to the threads.
• Use a screwdriver to screw the anchor into the wall until the head of the anchor is flush with the drywall. Again, if you opt to use a drill go slow and be careful.
• Set the screw to the depth you want with the same screwdriver or drill.

Anchoring With Molly Bolts

You’ve generally got two choices when it comes to molly bolts, or “hollow wall anchors”: pointed and un-pointed. The dull-tipped un-pointed anchors require you to drill a pilot hole into the drywall. Pointed tip styles don’t need a pilot hole; you can just tap these into place with a hammer. You might also find molly bolts with barbed heads. These barbs grip the surface of the drywall and keep the anchor from spinning in its hole.

• Mark the point where you’d like to hang stuff.
• If a pilot hole is needed, drill one. Check the package to find out the size you’ll need for the pilot hole.
• After insertion, tighten the bolt in the sleeve of the molly. This will cause the legs to expand out and grip the other side of the drywall.
• Once you tighten down the molly bolt, back the screw out of the sleeve and hang directly from the head of the screw.

Installing a Toggle Bolt Drywall Anchor

When you’ve got heavier items to hang, but can’t find a wall stud to hang it on, toggle bolt anchors can save the day. Of course, there are a few things to be aware of before getting started. For one thing, you’ll have to drill a hole that allows for the toggles to pass through. This will require a hole that exceeds the width of the screw head, so toggle bolts can really only be used in conjunction with a bracket that will cover the hole. Also, while these drywall anchors can support a fair amount of weight, your softish drywall will fail if you put too much weight on it.

• Mark your hanging point.
• Drill a hole big enough to allow for the toggle bolt to slip through when in its folded position. The manufacturer instructions on the side of the box of toggle bolts should give you the necessary specs for drill bit widths.
• Put the bolt through the bracket you’ll be attaching to the wall. Then, thread the toggle onto the bolt with the tips facing the screw head.
• Squeeze the toggle closed and jam both the toggle and bolt through the wall. When the toggle clears the backside of the drywall, it will open up and grip the wall.
• Tighten the bolt until it’s snug.

Installing Snaptoggles

Even better than Molly bolts or toggle bolts, we love Snaptoggles. The reason is simple—you can remove the bolt and reinsert it as needed. This presents a huge advantage over traditional toggle bolts. They also install easier than Molly bolts in our opinion, though they have a couple of steps:

• Drill the correctly-sized hole.
• Slide the Snaptoggle’s metal channel through the hole.
• Hold ends of straps together and pull with one hand until the metal channel rests behind the wall.
• Ratchet the cap along the straps with your other hand until the flange of the cap is flush with the wall.
• With your thumb between the straps at the wall, push your thumb side to side, snapping off the straps level with the flange of the cap.
• Voila—place your item, insert the machined bolt, and tighten until snug.

What if the Drywall Anchor Hole is Too Big?

Sometimes you accidentally overdrill the drywall anchor hole. When this happens, you have several options:

• Pick up a larger drywall anchor
• Proceed with a washer if using a standard toggle bolt
• If using a threaded anchor, and the bolt or screw seems too small, grab a larger one and see if you can get a secure fit

Of course, you can avoid most of these problems by ensuring you follow the directions for recommended bits. We also recommend drilling as straight as possible and not “reaming out” the hole when you drill. This keeps everything at the intended size. If you drill too large a hole, you risk allowing the drywall anchor to spin when you insert the screw.

What Size Pilot Hole is Best for Drywall Anchors?

The great thing about drywall anchors is they pretty much tell you exactly what size hole to drill. For our recommended Snaptoggle and FlipToggle anchors, a 1/2-inch drill bit is needed. For self-tap drywall anchors, you can forgo the drill bit altogether.

Pay attention to the back of the packaging, and pick up the best drill bit at the store when you get the drywall anchors.

How Deep to Drill Pilot Holes for Drywall Anchors

When dealing with any kind of drywall anchor that requires pre-drilling, you really only need to worry about a couple of things. First, are you near a stud or simply drilling into a drywall cavity? Second, are you drilling into an exterior block wall or is there some other potential obstruction?

Typically, you only need to get through the drywall—which lends itself to a very simple and quick process. If, however, you have to deal with a stud, you may want to opt for an anchor that can also dig into the wood as needed. You want to make sure your hole depth matches the drywall anchor with at least an extra 1/8-inch to account for any protrusion of the screw out the back.

When dealing with exterior block walls, we recommend trying to pick up at least one side with a furring strip. We’ve found that 3-inch long Tapcon screws provide excellent hold for block walls, provided you follow the instructions and install them correctly.

Random Fun Drywall Anchoring Facts

• Your drywall will fail before the vast majority of drywall anchors will. The point here is that you probably shouldn’t use drywall anchors to mount your new 65″ UHD TV to the wall. You’ll want to find the wall studs for that project, or you will eventually face a very sad day.

• Drywall anchors come in a variety of lengths. It will benefit you to know how thick your drywall actually is so that you can plan accordingly.

• Drill bit measuring guides exist. If you don’t know the size of your anchor, you can use a drill bit measuring guide to match up sizes. You’ll want your pilot hole to be just a bit smaller than the anchor you plan to throw in it.

• Want to anchor into both drywall and studs, but don’t want to buy a whole separate box of anchors? Drywall and stud anchors exist, and they’re awesome. Also, inadvertently running into a stud with these won’t ruin the anchor.

• Many other varieties of drywall anchor exist, and some of them are better versions of the ones listed here. Take these Driller Toggle Anchors from Cobra, for an example. They work similarly to the toggle bolts we talked about but don’t require a pilot hole. The point is, explore the drywall anchor section of your hardware store. You’ll likely find some more streamlined approaches to some of the classic designs.

If you have any tips, tricks, questions about how to use a drywall anchor, feel free to leave it in the comments section below.

The post How to Use and Install Drywall Anchors: Tips from the Pros appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.