Popular Mechanics (South Africa)
THE COMPLETE CORD LESS ARSENAL
Drills you expect. They’ve been cordless for decades. But a planer? A drill press? A table saw? Along with improved lithium-ion technology that lets maufacturers pack more voltage into smaller batteries, brushless motors are more efficient in how they use that electricity. Your favourite tools can now be used miles away from an outlet. Even somewhere like here.
} MILWAUKEE MITRE SAW
Equipped with a 250 mm blade and a 4 000 r/min motor, this 18 volt saw can crosscut a 50 x 300 plank, mitre a 50 x 200, or crosscut a piece of 150 mm baseboard standing vertically. It can also make you forget you’re not plugged into the mains. About R23 000
MAKITA RANDOM- ORBIT SANDER
Three speed settings means you can sand through almost anything. You’ll wear out before the battery. R1199
BOSCH PLANER
Weighing in at only 3 kg with a 14 000 r/min motor and solid carbide blade, this planer leaves a smooth finish on any thing from construction lumber to a cactus. R1 699
RIDGID BRUSHLESS VACUUM
This 18 volt wet/dry hand vacuum can be used as is or when you attach the nozzle and floor tool as an upright vacuum for larger spaces.
STOUT BAND SSAW
Stout’s excellent cordless band saw has a throat capacity of 60 mm and can now be attached to an accessory stand to convert to a stationary machine. R1 495
STIHL TSA 230 CUTOFF SAW
Even a reciprocating saw pales by comparison to Stihl’s cutoff machine. The 5,4 kg saw is powered by a brushless 36 volt motor and its 225 mm diameter wheel cuts steel and cast iron. Or switch to a diamond grit wheel and use the accessory water tank to cut concrete. R8 125. Additional battery and charger cost R3 650
RYOBI LANTERN
A 4 amp battery gets you 330 lumens of light for 48 hours. Plus, it can charge your phone through a 1 amp USB port. R507
RYOBI BLUETOOTH STEREO
Excellent sound quality and a convenient 2 amp USB port that uses the stereo’s 18 volt battery to charge your tablet or phone. R1 878
CRAFTSMAN DRILL DRIVER
A two speed gear box, 12 mm chuck and 21-position clutch to limit driving torque. Plus, it comes with two 19,2 volt batteries. R775
DEWALT TABLE SAW
This 23 kg saw is powered by a single 60 volt bricklike lithium-ion battery. It’s a capable cutter, with a rack and pinion gear fence for impressive accuracy. The battery is backwards compatible with any of Dewalt’s 20 volt tool line. R10 499
MILWAUKEE DRILL PRESS
A magnet in the base of this Milwaukee drill gives you 907 kg of holding force – enough to grip any magnetic surface and become a drill press. The holemaking capacity of 40 mm is plenty for most jobs. About R37 000
BOSCH JIGSAW
This saw can make any curved or straight cut in wood or composite, aluminium, plastic or steel. When it’s time to change that smoking hot blade, just press the lever and out it pops. R1 550
MILWAUKEE GRINDER
Cut and grind with a 115 mm wheel with a high-torque 28 volt DC motor. Overload protection and soft start also make this brute safer to use by decreasing the likelihood of kickback or stalling. R7 450