Cordless power tools, revered for their mobility, are getting more powerful and useful in commercial settings every day, due to advancing technology. The gap is quickly closing with regards to power and useful life between corded tools and their cordless counterparts. Cordless tools also come with the added benefit of reducing trip and falls, as there’s no electrical cord laying on the job site.
Milwaukee Tool has recently released the first to market cordless braking grinder, the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Braking Grinder. The M18 grinder is equipped with a rapid breaking feature that completely stops the blade in under 2 seconds, as well as a kick-back reducing clutch as an extra safety precaution. To reduce the fatigue of the user, Milwaukee has added an anti-vibration handle.
“While existing cordless braking grinders are effective as cut-off tools, this product is the ONLY cordless solution that can effectively grind, cut and surface prep,” said Andrew Plowman, Director for Milwaukee Tool Corporation in a press release.
By using an advanced Lithium battery technology, Milwaukee claims to be able to keep charge 4x longer and provide 20% more power. The grinder is also tool free, meaning adjustments can be made and accessories can be replaced without the use of a wrench by using a FIXTEC nut, keeping you productive on the job site.
The M18 braking grinder is available as both a kit, which includes the grinder, (2) battery packs, (1) charger, (1) FIXTEC Nut, (1) T27 Wheel Guard, (1) T1 Wheel Guard, and a carrying case or as a bare tool.
Those that follow tool news may have heard about a new Makita tool platform that launched in several other countries a few months ago and have been waiting for the news of it finally being released in the United States. Well, the wait is over, as the teal tool brand has finally announced the release of their 40V and 80V XGT system in the US.
For many construction superintendents and project managers across the world, tablets are becoming one of the most important tools on the job site. They’re great for looking at plans, taking pictures, making notes, and running your favorite construction apps. Carrying a tablet does take up at least one of your hands, however, so it can be a hindrance if you need to help a co-worker lift material or climb a ladder.
Tape measure, wheel measure, and laser measures are all great tools for their own situations, but why isn’t there one that can do all three of those jobs? That doesn’t have to be a question anymore, because there’s a new smart measure hitting the market that can do it all.
Why should Luke Skywalker and the gang get to have all the fun with lightsabers? The time has finally come for grown men and women to show how much of a true fan of the Star Wars Empire they with a set of 3 lightsaber screwdrivers. Sure, they might not be as comfortable and rugged as our favorite traditional tool manufacturer’s versions are, but, I ask you this: can you current screwdrivers strike fear into the dark side?
The best part of any construction job is making a mess. The worst part is cleaning up. With all the talk of robots entering the job site and doing all the fun stuff for us, why in the world have we not been pouring money into robots that will clean for us?! Makita may have answered our prayers, as Makita Japan has released an automated robotic vacuum that can handle the odd materials in your workshop or job site.
Accidents happen when you least expect them and many times they’re caused by tools and equipment you use every day on the job. All it takes is a split second before disaster can strike, so every one of them counts. That’s where technology can step in and prevent major injuries before they happen and that’s exactly what Bosch is hoping to accomplish with the pending release of their new flesh detecting table saw.
Steel workers have one of the most dangerous jobs on a construction site and, while safety has significantly improved in the past few decades, it often comes with a productivity decrease or cost increase. Depending on the job site, the use of ladders or lifts could be a safety hazard itself.
iPin is releasing a new product that will use your phone's headphone jack as an accessory port. The product will allow your phone to become a full-on laser measuring device. The iPin Spatial Ruler allows the user to measure the length between any two points in a shared photo, or the distance from your phone to some far away point.
Milwaukee Tool has had a busy year in 2015. They’ve expanded many of the M18 Fuel Power Tool lines to drilling and driving products, released an industry first cordless breaking grinder, released a new 3-in-1 heated ripstop jacket, and released the start of their powerful new tool reporting and customizing application One-Key. Milwaukee has already released phase one of One-Key, the inventory management portion (which you can learn more about here) and have released a set of One-Key enabled crimpers that allow tool reporting, which is phase 2.