I received a Craftsman 17588 4-pc. Nextec® 12-volt Cordless Combo to review this week and I wanted to give you my first impression.

BUY IT HERE: Craftsman 17588 4-pc. Nextec 12-volt Cordless Combo

I was looking forward to seeing this kit because it has a new circular saw and mouse style sander.

NEXTEC 4 Tool Combo Kit

Who it’s for:

Homeowner:
Condo Owner:
Apartment Living:
Hobbyist:
Crafter:
Handyman:

Someone who already owns a NEXTEC multitool or auto hammer.

Anyone who is looking for a good drill, and electric screwdriver, a sander and wants to cut some wood for birdhouses, outdoor furniture and minor repairs.

What’s in the box: The kit features a 24 LED lamp, a 195 in. lb. Drill/Driver, a 3 3/8 inch circular saw, mouse style sander, two lithium batteries and charger. All neatly organized in a nice case.

Specs:

Light: 24 LEDs. Heavy duty lens cover. Head rotates 135 degrees. Soft grip handle. Weighs only .7 lbs with battery. 5 hour run time.
Drill/Driver. 195 in. lbs. with two speed gearbox and 18 position clutch. Variable speed. 3/8 inch chuck. Accepts drill shanks up to 3/8 inch and 1/4 hex bits. 2.2 lbs with battery.Plenty of power to use a 3/4 inch spade bit.
Sander: Mouse style. Compact ergonomic design. Counter balanced for easy, smooth sanding. Built in “fuel gauge” work light and recessed ON/OFF switch. Hook and loop pad with dust extraction holes.
Saw: Compact In-Line Design.  3 3/8 inch blade. 0-45 degree bevel, quick-clamp depth adjust, LED light, fuel gauge.  Large, accessible spindle lock, soft-grip handle

My Review:

Opening the box I found a nice case. It has the same styling as the cases for the Auto Hammer, multi-tool and other NEXTEC tools. Everything has it’s own spot and is held in place with easy to use Velcro straps.

The Saw: Of course I grabbed the saw first. I really wanted to try the saw. Most of these little saws are poor quality and low power. I had too see if this saw was better. The first thing I noticed was the balance. The saw is compact has a nice in-line design. It is very easy to line up the cut mark with your mark on the wood. The next feature I noticed is the soft-grip handle. It will fit large and small hands. The blade guard and depth gauge are easy to use and work just like a larger 7 1/4 inch circular was. You can quickly and accurately set the depth of cut using the quick-clamp lever.

I really like the spindle lock. It is easy to use and big enough for my fat fingers.

It has a LED light and a 0 to 45 degree bevel adjustment. And last but not least, a fuel guage. The LED glows green, yellow and red to tell you the charge in your battery.

The Saw, First test.

I took an 1 x 12 pine board to try the first cut. The saw easily cut through the board. The saw only runs at 2400 rpm so it doesn’t cut as fast as a “Skill Saw” but it does the job just as well. It just takes a little longer. Most of these little saws from other retailers are under powered and stall out if pushed too hard. This one didn’t.

I then grabbed a good piece of 3/4 inch plywood. This time the saw’s current limiter shut the saw off when I pushed it too hard, but I quickly got used to the saw and I was able to make a good cut without bogging the saw down.

Finally I made three cuts in 1/2 inch plywood and a couple using 1 X 6 cedar. Everything went well. I can recommend this saw.

Sander: I own three sanders. A three inch stationary belt, a quarter sheet, and a large anvil (mouse style) All are corded. Every once in a while I would like a small sander to quickly sand something.

The sander in this kit is just what I would have designed if it was up to me. It’s small, lightweight, a powerful. It is easy to hold and doesn’t make your hand go numb. You can sand large areas and still get into corners. I really like the counter-balancer. It is so much smoother than my quarter sheet sander.

I’m not going to create a video of the sander yet.  Trust me on this:  It’s great!

Drill/Driver: I have used this drill/driver before. It’s is remarkably strong for such a compact size. It has all the features of the more expensive drill/drivers (two-speed, 18 position clutch, variable speed trigger) yet only weighs 2.2 lbs.

Here are two videos showing the drill in action.

I made a video of how powerful the drill is:

Here is another video showing the drill:

Light: My wife immediately stole the light and put it on her nightstand. It’s small, lightweight and is bright. The batteries don’t discharge like conventional Ni-cads so it will hold a charge for up to a year. I like that it will stand up on the battery and you can pivot the head to shine where you need it.

I will add more videos of the saw and sander later.

To read more and purchase this kit:Craftsman 17588 4-pc. Nextec 12-volt Cordless Combo Yes, I will make a small commission when you buy through this link.