DeWalt Impact Connect Makes Cutting Pipe Faster And Easier

For plumbers, HVAC techs, and anyone else who works with piping, it can be a struggle to find a cutting tool that balances speed and convenience. Cordless Pro-grade pipe cutters can be pricey and manual solutions take up time and energy. DeWalt aims to fill this gap with the Impact Connect Pipe Cutter. We dove deeper to see what this attachment brings to the table.

DeWalt Impact Connect Pipe Cutter Attachment: The Big Deal

Instead of releasing a dedicated cordless pipe cutter, DeWalt designed the system to attach to your existing impact driver. It leverages the power and rotational impact of your tool to cut pipe faster than manual methods to limit fatigue on the job.

There are two versions. The DeWalt Impact Connect PVC/PEX Pipe Cutter Attachment (DWAPVCIR) cuts material up to 2 inches in diameter. It makes clean, efficient cuts in PEX, PVC (up to Schedule 80), and other plastic piping or conduit. In terms of speed, it’s up to 6 times faster than manual cutting.

The second version is the Copper Pipe Cutting Attachment (DWACPIR) and comes with a 1/2-inch and a 3/4-inch cutting wheel. There’s also a 1-inch cutting wheel you can purchase separately. It’s rated for use with type K, L, and M copper pipes.

Additional Features

Both use a Quick-Change brace that allows you to switch between cutting and driving applications in seconds. Weighing a little over 3 1/2 pounds, it adds some heft to the end of your impact driver, but attaches to the base of the tool and helps support the weight.

As for maneuverability, the attachment has 360° rotation to help work around awkward angles and has a large hook window.

If you happen to own another brand’s impact driver, don’t worry. It works with DeWalt 20V Max impact drivers as well as Pro-grade impact drivers from other brands.

DeWalt Impact Connect Pipe Cutter Attachment Price

Both versions retail for $119 as an attachment only. Currently, there are no kit options available. DeWalt backs your purchase with a 3-year warranty.

Editor’s Note

Converting your impact driver into a pipe cutter is a really big deal, and not just for plumbers. Electricians. Irrigation specialists, HVAC techs, refrigeration techs, and many others can take advantage of Impact Connect.

Don’t miss the value proposition, though. With cordless solutions from brands such as Milwaukee running well over $200, DeWalt’s price tag makes it an awfully attractive way to relegate your manual cutters to the backup squad. It’s also no surprise that it’s a 2022 Pro Tool Innovation Award Winner.

Kenny Koehler, Pro Tool Reviews’ Managing Editor

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Crescent Vortex Bit Holder Claims 500 Times Greater Bit Life

Impact drivers make many of our screwdriving jobs easier. The problem is the violent impact that makes them so effective also beats up bits. Impact-rated bits help, but those are best in metal-to-metal fastening and some of us want a do-it-all bit. The Crescent Vortex bit holder is cracking that nut.

Pros

• Much longer bit life
• Improves bit life when driving in any material
• Strong magnetic hold on bits

Cons

• Extends tool length
• Bits can be hard to pull out

Crescent Vortex Bit Holder | The Big Deal

As we watched multiple brands push to create the perfect screwdriving bit would be, most didn’t focus on a bit holder. In reality, it’s a brilliant place to start. By putting an intermediary between the tool and the bit, you have a lot more freedom than metallurgy and physical shape alone offer.

The Crescent Vortex bit holder starts with a typical 1/4-inch hex shaft that pairs with your impact driver. On the other end, a 1/4-inch hex receiver magnetically holds the bit in place.

Inside the silver housing, the shock absorption takes place in what Crescent calls its Dual Impact Zone.

When you combine that with an impact-rated bit that has its own impact-absorbing properties, Crescent’s testing data shows up to 500 times the life of the bit alone.

The middle section spins freely, and you can hold it to stabilize the drive while the tool does its work.

If there’s a downside, it’s that the bit holder extends the overall length of your impact driver. In some of the tightest spaces, you might have to go back to a direct connection. A more minor consideration is that the magnet is nice and strong, but can make some bits tough to pull out.

Crescent Vortex Bit Holder Price

You can pick up the Crescent Vortex bit holder at Lowe’s for $9.98. Considering how much longer the life of your driver bits will be, it pays for itself pretty quickly.

The Bottom Line

In the time we’ve been using the Crescent Vortex bit holder, it’s clear to us that our bit life is greater. We still break them from time to time, but we’re getting far more drives out of each one whether we’re working in wood, wood-to-metal, or metal-to-metal connections.

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Changing a Drill Bit Is Easier And Faster Than You Might Think

Learning how to change a drill bit is very similar whether you have a Milwaukee, DeWalt, Black & Decker, Craftsman, Ryobi, or another brand of drill. However, there are several types depending on how you’re using the term “drill”. No matter what type you have, this guide can teach you what you need to know.

Editor’s Note: If you want an even more comprehensive artile, check out what we wrote on how to use a drill.

How to Change a Drill Bit on a Drill with a Keyless Chuck

By far the most common type of drill chuck today is a keyless chuck. Chances are, the answer to your question is in this section. Unlike your dad or grandpa’s old drill that had a funky-shaped key clamped to the cord, keyless chucks require no tools at all.

Keyless chucks tighten and loosen by simply spinning the chuck’s outer housing. As you’re holding the drill with the chuck pointing away from you, spinning it counterclockwise tightens the jaws around your drill bit, and spinning it clockwise loosens it.

When you’re installing a bit for the first time, loosen the chuck (clockwise) until it’s just wide enough to slip the drill bit into it. Then tighten it (counterclockwise) until you feel it begin to resist and then tighten a little more.

Some drill chucks have a ratcheting mechanism to help. If your drill does, you’ll feel and hear it clicking as the jaws tighten around the bit.

To remove a drill, bit, simply turn the chuck clockwise until you feel it release the bit.

Pro Tip: If you change a drill bit and it wobbles funny when you pull the trigger, it might not be centered between the jaws. Loosen the chuck and make sure all the teeth are engaging the bit as you clamp them back down.

How to Remove a Stuck Bit From a Keyless Chuck

Sometimes, a drill chuck can be so tight on a drill bit that it’s difficult to loosen it. In this case, your best bet is to grab a pair of adjustable pliers (Channellocks). Set them to a width that grabs the outside of the chuck and use the additional leverage from the handles to loosen it.

It can be helpful to lightly clamp the drill in a vice to give you an extra hand.

Three warnings, though. All-metal chucks are pretty durable, but you can damage plastic ones with your adjustable pliers if you put too much force on the chuck.

Similarly, you can damage the housing of your drill if you decide to put it in a vice and apply too much force.

Finally, never, ever try to loosen the chuck by clamping it in a vice and pulling the trigger. With the force of some of today’s drills, even the strongest Pros don’t have the hand strength to keep the drill from whipping around and hurting their wrist and elbow.

How to Change a Drill Bit on a Drill with a Keyed Chuck

Even though most modern chucks are keyless, there are some keyed models running around. The overall principle is similar, though.

First, set the tip of the drill’s key into the matching hole on the chuck. You might have to give it a little turn so the teeth are able to slip together. From there, turn the key clockwise to loosen the chuck and counterclockwise to tighten it.

How to Change a Drill Bit on an Impact Driver/Impact Drill

Some people refer to an impact driver as an impact drill. 10 years ago, we might have argued that it’s the wrong term. However, today there are 1/4-inch hex shank drill bits specifically designed to work with your impact driver. Technically, that makes it an impact drill.

Instead of a chuck, an impact driver has a collet at the front. To change a drill bit, pull the outer part of the collet out to release the bit that’s in there. You also pull it out to install a new one. Easy peasy.

Some impact drivers have upgrades that make the process even easier. There are designs with one-hand bit insertion that let you slide the bit in without having to pull the collet.

There are also collets with active bit ejection. They have a spring that pushes the bit out when you pull the collet so you don’t have to put your hands on a hot drill or driver bit.

Did you learn what you came for? If we didn’t answer your question, please leave us a comment and we’ll do our best to answer it for you!

Want to know more about the drill and impact driver we featured in this article? Check out the details on Milwaukee’s 4th generation M18 Fuel Hammer Drill and Impact Driver!

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Stuck Screws and Damaged Heads Are No Match For Gearwrench Bolt Biter Screw Extractors

Screw extractors have been around for a long time and they do a great job of getting you out of a jam. So how do make them better? Gearwrench Bolt Biter screw extractors take a shot in a couple of big ways.

Editor’s Note: Check out our article on how to use a screw extractor if you’ve never done this before.

Gearwrench Bolt Biter Screw Extractors | The Big Deal

When it comes to removing stuck fasteners, Bolt Biter is the name to look for from Gearwrench. Initially focusing on bolt extractors (hence the Bolt Biter name), we’re excited to see an expansion to screw extractors.

The main thing is a tapered side design that helps each extractor seat into damaged screw heads. Combined with side and tip cutting edges that bite in better, you end up with more consistent engagement with the fastener.

As we’ve seen with other Bolt Biter accessories, the screw extractors have a bi-directional design. If you don’t have a choice but to reuse the damaged screw or you’re dealing with an odd reverse thread screw, you’re able to use the extractor to bite down in either direction.

One other point worth noting is the metallurgy. Gearwrench uses S2 steel along with a heat treatment process that results in these extractors lasting up to 50 times longer than other designs.

Additional Highlights

• 1/4-inch and 7/16-inch hex shaft options
• Compatible with ratchets, wrenches, or power tools
• Hi-vis laser markings
• Black oxide coating

Gearwrench Bolt Biter Screw Extractors Price

Look for 4- and 10-piece sets at your favorite Gearwrench retailers starting in mid-April 2022. The 4-piece set contains extractors for M5 – M16 (≤ 1/4 – 5/8-inch) and runs $24.99. The 10-piece set adds a 5th bit, getting you to M20 sizes (3/4-inch) plus drill bits to open up the fastener heads. That one retails for $69.99.

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Skil 20V Compact Drill And Hammer Drill Reach New Levels Of Compact

Skil’s PWRCore 20 system is kicking off its next-generation of compact tools with a renewed emphasis on “compact”. We’re taking a deep dive into the Skil 20V Cordless Compact Drill and Hammer Drill to see just how much improvement there is.

Skil 20V Cordless Compact Drill Performance

On the performance side of things, these drills use brushless motors that pack 500 RPM in low gear and 1800 RPM in high. The hammer drill adds 7500 BPM in low and 27000 BPM in high when you’re working in hammer mode. The torque maxes at 450 in-lbs.

Compared to the previous versions, that’s not much different. The low gear gains 20 RPM and that’s about it. Considering the goal was to work on the size, it’s not a big surprise to see the speed and torque in a very similar place.

So what can you do with that kind of performance?

Quite a bit. All of your standard twist bit drilling and screw driving tasks are easy to perform. Even jumping up to 1-inch spade bits or 2-inch hole saws is on the menu. Almost all of your home repairs and weekend projects are well within the scope of what these drills are capable of. If you’re wanting to go up to something like a 2 9/16-inch self-feed bit for rough-ins, Skil’s heavy-duty model is still your go-to for the highest performance.

Skil 20V Cordless Compact Drill Design

Size and Weight

The big deal for these drills is the size reduction. The drill measures just 6.1 inches from tip to tail and the hammer drill is 6.6 inches. That’s an inch shorter!

The weight is down as well. Bare, the drill weighs 1.9 pounds and the hammer drill is 2.0 pounds. That’s a 5-ounce drop for the drill and 7 ounces lower for the hammer drill.

Considering we’re talking about the compact class, Skil made really impressive improvements in both size and weight, putting these drills more on par with the size of 12V tools than 20V.

LED Light

It seems like we talk about LED lights on Skil products more than any other brand. Most brands stick an LED on the foot and call it a day, but Skil keeps raising the bar. In this case, they mount an LED light strip on the foot and add a diffuser to soften the light. It’s something you’ll appreciate when you’re drilling into a white wall. There’s also an on/off button so you can set the drill down and keep using it as a work light for up to 10 minutes.

Additional Highlights

• Ratcheting 1/2-inch chuck
• 17 clutch settings
• Includes reversible belt clip
• Bit holder on the back of the foot
• Tether point under the bit holder
• Kitted PWRJump charger charges the battery from 0% – 25% in just 5 minutes!
• Works with any Skil PWRCore 20 batteries

Skil 20V Cordless Compact Drill Quick Comparison

Skil 20V Cordless Compact Drill Price

The best place to grab the next-gen drill and hammer drill is on Amazon. The drill runs $99 and the hammer drill is $129. Both are kits that include a 2.0Ah battery and an upgraded PWRJump charger, and the tools come with a 5-year warranty. The batteries include a USB-A port on the back so they can double as a power supply.

Getting a brushless drill kit for less than $100 that’s backed for 5 years? That’s a heck of a value in today’s economy.

The Bottom Line

Skil set out to make their 20V cordless compact drill and hammer drill even more compact and they nailed it. Both are significantly smaller and lighter without dropping any of the performance we enjoyed in the previous versions. Combined with a price tag that offers excellent value, we give the Skil PWRCore 20 Compact Drill and Hammer Drill two enthusiastic thumbs up for homeowners and DIYers.

Specifications

• Model: Skil DL6293B (drill), HD6294B (hammer drill)
• Power Source: Skil PWRCore 20 battery (20V)
• Chuck: 1/2-inch
• No-Load Speed: 0 – 500/1800 RPM
• Max Torque: 450 in-lbs
• Blow Rate (Hammer Drill Only): 0 – 7500/27000 BPM
• Head Length: 6.1 inches (drill), 6.6 inches (hammer drill)
• Drill Bare Weight: 1.92 lbs
• Hammer Bare Drill Weight: 2.03 lbs
• Warranty: 5 years

The post Skil 20V Cordless Compact Drill Review: PWRCore 20 appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Extend Your Runtime With The Ryobi 40V Backpack Power Supply

Back in 2021, Ryobi made a noticeable jump in performance with their 40V lawn care lineup. In 2022, the design teams brought out innovation we didn’t expect, such as a joystick-controlled zero-turn. We asked the question back then… is Ryobi going to target the professional market? We’re getting closer to an answer as we take a look at the Ryobi 40V Backpack Power Supply.

Using the Ryobi 40V Backpack Power Supply

How it Works

Unlatching the cover, there’s room for three Ryobi 40V batteries inside and you can use just one or two if you want. This can be anything from 2.0Ah batteries to the big 12.0Ah packs. Each port powers your tools independently, so you can mix and match different battery capacities. All three ports are also active and automatically switch from one pack to the next, starting with the pack that has the greatest charge.

From the backpack, a cable connects to a dummy pack that you slide in place of a standard battery. LED indicators on the back of the pack show you the remaining charge in each of the batteries under the cover.

The backpack is also a sequential rapid charger—but the dummy pack doesn’t connect to a charger. There’s a charging block that comes in the box, providing 295 watts of charging power. It connects to the side of the backpack and to a standard 120V wall outlet. Total, the cord offers just under 13 feet of reach.

Harness

The harness features shoulder and chest straps along with a padded hips strap to shift the weight of the backpack to your hips. Ryobi did a good job making the harness fit a wide range of body types and we were able to easily (and quickly) find a comfortable fit.

On the right hip strap, there’s a guide for the cable. It’s not reversible, though. Considering the cable comes down from the center of the power supply and can easily go on the right or left side, adding a cable guide on the left is something to consider down the road.

If it makes charging easier or you want to clean the straps, you can remove the harness from the power supply. Just release the latch on the top and tilt the power supply forward to remove it.

Additional Highlights

• Gasket offers some water and dust protection
• Dummy pack has a belt clip for when you’re switching tools
• Works with all Ryobi 40V batteries

Who It’s Good For

The big draw for using this power supply is to have the runtime of three batteries on your back and gain longer runtime. It also lets you use higher capacity batteries than you normally would. No one wants the weight of a 12.0Ah battery on a chainsaw, but when you’re cleaning up after a hurricane, it sure is nice to have the runtime of them.

Whether it’s long runtime for a single tool, quickly switching tools to cover a large property, or using one power supply to hit multiple properties, those are the scenarios where buying this makes sense.

Ryobi 40V Backpack Power Supply Price

The power supply runs $449 at Home Depot and doesn’t include batteries. It has a 5-year warranty on the unit and 3 years on the charger.

The Bottom Line

With products like the Ryobi 40V Backpack Power Supply and others on the horizon, Ryobi is creeping into the professional lawn care space. Whether you’re looking for the runtime to cover multiple yards or you have a large property to maintain, having the capacity of three batteries on your back can make your work more efficient.

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Crescent NailSlicer Circular Saw Blade Delivers Great Cuts In Tough Conditions

The Crescent NailSlicer circular saw blade impressed us when we got to see some initial demos against Diablo. Now that we have them in our hands, we wanted to decide where it fits as an all-around framing blade.

Crescent NailerSlicer vs Diablo Tracking Point Framing Blade

To get an idea of Crescent’s performance, we decided to run it against the Diablo Tracking Point framing blade. Considering Crescent’s claims of extreme durability, Diablo’s Demo Demon might be a better comparison. However, that blade is 50% more than the two we tested, which are both under $10.

Keeping in mind that we wanted to see Crescent’s potential as our primary framing blade, gauging its performance based on price is what we decided to go with.

By now, you may have seen Crescent’s demo where they run both the NailSlicer and Diablo’s in a rip cut with stainless steel nails. There’s no question Crescent’s design lasts much longer in such an abusive test. Again, that’s a test of $10 blades and Diablo’s Demo Demon would likely have fared better.

Initial Cuts

For this review, we were more interested in the tracking, speed, and smoothness of the cut. So we charged up some batteries and got out our trusty Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2732 circular saw to run both blades through a series of cross, miter, bevel, and compound cuts.

As we cut, both blades were impressive across the board. Cutting freehand, there was very little difference between the two, save for Diablo staying on track slightly better when making long, fast cuts. Their Tracking Point really does make a difference in that scenario.

Compressing the Lifespan

To simulate some wear, we fired 10 galvanized framing nails into the end of a 2 x 10 and made a single cut through them with each blade. Both of them sliced through each nail easily with no hesitation, and I couldn’t see any obvious damage to either blade’s teeth.

When I ran back through the same cuts I did previously, I noticed a slight bit of chatter in the Diablo blade that wasn’t there before and I had to be a little more intentional to keep the teeth right on my cutline. It was still better than cutting with a cheap stock blade by a long shot, though.

On the other hand, the Crescent NailSlicer circular saw blade was as smooth and accurate as it had been before cutting through the nails.

Crescent NailSlicer Circular Saw Blade Price

At the moment, you can get Crescent’s 7 1/4-inch 24T framing blade for $9.98. There’s a 6 1/2-inch 24T that’s a little more at $12.98. If you’re working with other saws, it also comes in 5 1/2 and 8 1/4-inch sizes.

If you need even more durability, there are demolition blades available in 6 1/2, 7 1/4, and 8 1/4-inch sizes. Lowe’s is the best place to get these blades locally. Acme Tools has a full range of sizes and styles online.

The Bottom Line

Crescent’s NailSlicer framing circular saw blade cut just as well as Diablo in our testing. Where it sets itself apart is with its more durable tooth design that lasts longer in tough cutting situations. Considering both 7 1/4-inch blades hit the $10 price point, it’s an easy call for us to recommend Crescent as your primary framing blade.

Learn more at Crescent’s website.

The post Crescent NailSlicer Framing Circular Saw Blade Review appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

The Nexpow G17 Jump Starter Puts Real Power in Your Hands

I still remember the days when a dead car or truck battery meant having someone pull up alongside you and running cables between the vehicles. While that certainly still works, new products like the Nexpow G17 2000A Jump Starter make that method a thing of the past—and boy, talk about convenience.

How The Nexpow G17 Jump Starter Works

The Nexpow G17 jump starter (and others like it) works using an internal Lithium-Polymer battery with quick discharge capabilities. This lets it deliver up to a maximum of 2000 amps. That’s 3 to 5 times better than their 2nd generation model.

This jump starter is capable of reviving up to a 7.5L gas engine or 6.5L diesel engine as many as 20 times. It features heavy-duty clamps and cables that are built to withstand extreme temperature swings from -4°-140°F and heavy electrical current. Keep in mind, the G17 isn’t limited to just cars and trucks. Use it to start up motorcycles, ATVs, riding lawnmowers, boats, and PWCs too!

Startup Procedure

Step 1: Insert the jumper cables into the G17’s EC5 interface. Be sure that the internal battery has at least a 25% charge prior to attempting to jump a battery.

Step 2: Connect the color-coded jumper cable leads onto your vehicle’s battery. Remember, the red clamp always corresponds to positive and the black clamp always corresponds to negative.

Step 3: Press the red button on top of the pack to activate the jump starter and proceed to start your vehicle as you normally would. Once the vehicle has turned on, immediately remove the jumper cable leads from your battery and then disconnect the cable from the Nexpow jump starter.

Safety Tech

As with many portable jump starters in this category, the Nexpow G17 includes some helpful features to keep you safe and prevent accidental damage to your vehicle’s battery. The features protect you from reverse polarity, battery overload, excessive current, and high temperatures. Its onboard indicator notifies you immediately of incorrect use by sounding an audible buzz and flashing lights.

Nexpow G17 Jump Starter Design

Size and Weight

One of our favorite features of these portable jump packs is their extremely compact profile, especially compared to a Pro-level jump starter! It weighs a mere 2.2 pounds and measures 9 inches from tip to tail. Everything you need to get started fits into a convenient storage case that easily stows in a vehicle’s trunk.

USB Outputs

The blue USB output port on the Nexpow Jump Starter can charge mobile phones and even some laptops. It operates at either 5V/3A, 9V/2A, or 12V/1.5A. Another 5V 2.1A USB port provides fast charging for phones. The single USB-C port serves as the input charging port for the Nexpow G17 jump starter, but can also output 5V/3A.

LED Flashlight

The onboard LED work light has 3 modes—flashlight, strobe, and SOS. This multi-purpose flashlight is great for outdoors, indoors, camping, and emergencies.

Nexpow G17 Jump Starter Price

The Nexpow G17 Jump Starter retails for $79.99 from Amazon and comes with a 2-year warranty as well as a 30-day no-questions-asked return policy.

Click here to learn more about Nexpow!

Specifications

• Model: Nexpow G17
• LED Lighting Modes: Torch Mode/SOS/Strobe
• Peak Current: 2000A
• Engine Capacity: Up to 7.0L Gas / 6.5L Diesel 12V engines
• USB-A Output Capacity: 5V/3A, 9V/2A, 12V/1.5A
• USB-C Output Capacity: 5V/3A
• Dimensions: 9 x 3.4 x 1.2 inches
• Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Warranty: 2-year
• Price: $79.99

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Bora NGX Clamp Edge Guide System Features Solid Concept with Room for Improvement

So you’re looking for an inexpensive way to get more from your circular saw. Using a track system to get accurate cuts is a great way to avoid the expense of a dedicated track saw or table saw. The Bora NGX Clamp Edge system is one option.

Bora NGX Clamp Edge Design

Clamp Edge Saw Guide

The foundation of the Bora NGX Clamp Edge system is the guide, or track if you prefer. Thinner than standard track saw rails, the saw plate glides over this guide to help you keep your cuts straight.

We checked our rails out of the box and they were good and straight from side to side. There was a little bit of a bow from front to back but it didn’t have any effect on the accuracy of our cuts. Considering that the very sheet goods tracks like this are designed to cut also bow, it’s not a big deal.

Saw Plate

The saw plate attaches to the bottom of your circular saw’s shoe and makes it fit on the guide. Three points of contact hold your saw in place.

We tried a couple of different saws on the plate—DeWalt’s FlexVolt Advantage and the Ridgid Octane circular saw—and were able to fit both correctly. It takes a little work to get it right, but the plate clamps give you plenty of adjustability to secure them.

To make sure your saw is square to the plate, there are tick marks to help you gauge the distance from the clamp rail. They’re effective, but black or white marks would help them stand out much better.

The plate material is also somewhat flimsy and relies on the rigidity of the circular saw’s shoe to stabilize it. That comes into play when you’re making your cut. If you put much pressure on the saw to the left or right, you can introduce a little bit of bevel to the cut.

By design, the clamping side of the plate is flush with the rail base and rests lightly on your material. The grid design on the bottom was able to put light scratches on our material. It’s no big deal for rough cuts, and you can cover it with painter’s tape for a quick fix if you need to avoid scratches.

Because the guide construction is tool plastic running along an aluminum track, it’s not as smooth as dedicated track saws. One upgrade might be to add adjustable tension nylon rollers as you see on track saw shoes. Using it in its current design, you can go with a dry lubrication spray to decrease friction.

Guide Clamps

Bora has two styles of clamps that come in the Deluxe Set we’re reviewing. One is for standard straight cuts and another style you can use straight or for cutting angles.

We LOVE the concept of the locking handle clamp. To use it, set your guide, pull it so that the fixed end butts up against the far end of your material, and then snug the clamp up to the opposite end. Push the handle forward and it locks the guide down securely.

It holds well and prevents any guide movement. However, we noticed that it pushes against the side edges of the rail enough to kick them out slightly. As we slid the plate toward the clamp, it created additional friction that we had to force our way through to complete the cut. We found that our results were a little better by setting up to start on the clamp side so the extra friction was at the beginning of the cut.

Reinforcing the guide on the clamp end and switching to a rubberized design on the pieces that kick out to the side could help with the next version.

We switched over to the other track clamps and that eliminated the stickiness concern. The issue we ran into was that on a 4-foot cut across sheet material, there wasn’t enough room on the guide to use them. Other lengths are no problem—it’s just when you’re right on the edge of the guide length.

Bora NGX Clamp Edge Guide Pricing

You can piece together your Bora NGX Clamp Edge system the way you want or start with pre-configured sets that add more value. We tested the NGX Deluxe set and it runs $179 and the Premier Set (includes the T-square attachment) runs $199. Here’s what you can expect to pay for other components:

• 50-inch Clamp Edge Guide Extension: $50
• 100-inch Clamp Edge Guide (2 pieces): $95
• 36-inch Clamp Edge Guide: $50
• 24-inch Clamp Edge Guide: $45
• Saw Plate: $45
• T-Square Attachment: $25
• Non-Chip Strip: $18 (with saw plate: $50)

The Bottom Line

Conceptually, we love what the Bora Portamate NGX Clamp Edge system is working to accomplish. In its current form, it can undoubtedly help DIYers make more accurate cuts in sheet goods and avoid the expense of a table saw or a dedicated track saw. A few tactical improvements can elevate the system and make it the best add-on track system out there.

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Charge More Batteries Faster With The Milwaukee M18 Packout Six Bay Rapid Charger

Milwaukee’s Packout storage system has an add-on for just about everything you can think of. Now, with the introduction of the Milwaukee M18 Packout Six Bay Rapid Charger, keeping your M18 batteries juiced up has never been easier. Check out the details and see if this charging station can reduce downtime and keep your team productive.

Milwaukee M18 Packout Six Bay Rapid Charger: The Big Deal

This charger features six total charging ports compatible with all M18 batteries. It simultaneously charges two batteries at a rapid charge rate, one on each side at a time. Once a battery is charged, it automatically moves sequentially to the next available pack on that side.

In total, it takes three hours to charge six M18 RedLithium XC 5.0 battery packs. This rate, according to Milwaukee, is 40% faster than its other standard rate chargers. Milwaukee’s Super Charger is still the go-to for the fastest single pack charge times, but this is a better solution for crews working with a larger number of tools.

Another major draw here that sets this charger apart from the rest is its compatibility with the Packout storage system. Its base attaches to the detents on any Packout box, letting you transport and store all the power you need for a day on the jobsite. It’s a 1/2-size base, so you can fit two of these on the top of your Packout stack if you have the need.

With the Packout mounting plates, you can also mount this charger onto a convenient spot in your garage, workshop, or wherever you need wall-mounted charger access.

Moreover, this charger features RedLink Intelligence, which optimizes the charge rates based on the type of battery and the temperature. This can help minimize charge duration while maximizing the lifespan of your batteries.

Additional Features

• USB-A port provides charging capabilities for personal devices like phones and tablets
• Side storage caddies for small personal item storage
• Cord wrap clip
• AC power source
• Carrying handle

Milwaukee M18 Packout Six Bay Rapid Charger Price

This charger hits Milwaukee retailers in October 2022. It sells for $249 as a bare tool and includes a 5-year warranty from Milwaukee.

Specifications

• Model: Milwaukee 48-59-1809
• Length: 15.1 in
• Width: 9.76 in
• Height: 12.12 in
• Weight: 7.91 lbs
• Cord length: 6 ft
• Power source: AC electrical outlet
• Material: Plastic

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