Cheap cordless drills are one of the most popular tools for gifts. Just about everyone who lives in an apartment, condo, or house can use one for hanging pictures, drapes, assembling furniture or home improvement. You want a no-frills drill that can get the job done, but you don’t want to pay a lot for it. But the problem when you buy a cheap cordless drill for less than $50 they only last about 2 years. These cheap drills are heavy and nicad batteries that come with them never stay charged.

Over the last two years lithium-ion battery powered drill/drivers have become very affordable. Yes, they cost about $20 more than that cheap drill you bought two years ago but they have advantages you can’t get with your old drill. These new batteries will hold a charge for over a year so you will always have a drill ready to use. The Craftsman NEXTEC cordless drill is the most affordable and best value of all these drills.

The great thing about a Craftsman NEXTEC is you can buy an affordable drill and the battery and charger will work on a good selection of other cordless tools…tools that will make your home owner tasks much easier. You can buy a drill for a present this year and then have plenty of ideas for additional gifts for other occasions. The NEXTEC line uses a 12 volt lithium-ion battery.

Craftsman has expanded the NEXTEC 12 volt cordless tools considerably in the last few months. They have also updated many of the tools to include a battery monitor and add convenience factors like tool-less blade changes on the Multi-tool.  The original tools have all proven to be very good, but if you want all the latest features buy the G2 NEXTEC tools. It is time to review everything that is in the line.

New Craftsman NEXTEC Tools!

Craftsman Nextec G2 12V Drill/Driver

Craftsman Nextec G2 12V Drill/Driver This is the new drill.  It is an upgrade from the 17586 and now has 260 in lbs. of torque!  This is plenty to perform most drilling and driving tasks around the home. Couple this drill with an impact driver and you can tackle just about any task that needs a hole drilled or a fastener installed or removed. This kit includes the drill/driver, battery, Quick-Boost charger and carrying case.

Craftsman 17586 NEXTEC 12.0V Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver

Craftsman 17586 NEXTEC 12.0V Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver This is the lithium drill that is becoming the most popular home-owner/hobby drill on the market.  It is 195 in lbs strong, lightweight, and full featured. It come with the a battery and standard lithium charger. (charges in 30 minutes) This 3/8 drill and the G2 have 2 speeds, clutch, reverse and built-in light. I own this drill myself and it is the one I always pick up first. (I own and or test about 20 different drills a year)

Free NEXTEC Drill With RAID There is a great promotion going on right now.  Purchase the NEXTEC right angle impact driver with battery and charger and Sears will give you a drill.  The drill is the same as the one above but comes without a battery or charger.

Craftsman Nextec Model 01430 Cordless Drill/Driver

Craftsman Nextec Model 01430 Cordless Drill/Driver If you have plenty of batteries and chargers (you really only need two batteries and one charger) here is the bare tool of the drill I own.

Spare NEXTEC Battery

Spare NEXTEC Battery  One of the best features of the NEXTEC line is the battery, This lithium battery only cost $25 retail and will drive hundreds of screws per charge.  It charges to 25% capacity with the quick-boost charger or fully in 30 minutes.  It holds a charge for over a year so it is always ready doesn’t self-discharge or develop a memory like the battery in your old drill.

Craftsman Nextec Rotary Tool I just wrote a review of this new tool. Finally, A great cordless rotary tool! If you have a “Dremel” on your Christmas list seriously look at this new tool. I had a chance to demo one and it is the on the top of my Christmas list.

Craftsman NEXTEC R.A.I.D.

Craftsman NEXTEC Right Angle Impact Driver You need a drill/driver and you don’t know it yet, but you also need an impact driver.  This NEXTEC R.A.I.D. looks weird and looks different than the other impact drivers out there, but has become my favorite.  It actually has more driving power than all the large 18 and 20 volt drill/drivers on the market. You can buy bits for all the different screws, bolts and fasteners you will find around your home and garage) If you do woodworking, home repairs and small engine repairs buy one…you’ll be glad you did!

Craftsman NEXTEC Impact Driver

Craftsman NEXTEC Impact Driver The “regular” version.  Most of the impact drivers on the market look like this one.  Small, powerful and once you use it.. .indispensable.

Craftsman Nextec Impact Driver Model 61189 Tool Only

Craftsman NEXTEC G2 Hammerhead

Craftsman NEXTEC G2 Hammerhead How do you make the wildly popular cordless electric hammer better?  Make the head so it angles!  If you use nails or just the upper half of a hammer handle :) this is the tool for you.

Craftsman NEXTEC Auto Hammer

New Lower Price! Craftsman NEXTEC 12-volt Hammerhead Auto Hammer Original Auto-Hammer. Still a winner and even better at $79!

Craftsman NEXTEC G2 Multi-Purpose Work Light

Craftsman NEXTEC G2 Multi-Purpose Work Light This light is bright! You can hang it a dozen different ways and if that’s not enough it has a built-in magnet.

NEXTEC LED Worklight

Craftsman NEXTEC LED Worklight My wife saw this when I got one in a kit last year and the next thing I knew it was on her bedstand.  This little palm-sized light is bright, stands by itself, runs for about 8 hours on a battery charge and the battery will hold a charge, ready to go for over a year.

Craftsman NEXTEC True Finish Sander

Craftsman NEXTEC True Finish Sander This is a “Mouse” style sander that is cordless and has a built-in counter balancer that makes it a breeze to use.  No more numb hands. I have one of these and it is the FIRST sander I pick up when I am woodworking.

Craftsman NEXTEC G2 VOLT Vacuum

Craftsman NEXTEC G2 VOLT Vacuum ”Dust Busters” are so 80′s This powerful little vac comes with attachments so you can pick up litter on the floor, clean the crumbs off the couch and dust the blinds and furnace ducts.  It comes with a hose so it will get where no other household hand vac can go.

Craftsman NEXTEC G2 Cordless Inflator

Craftsman NEXTEC G2 Cordless Inflator  Blow up balls, balloons, bicycle tires, lawn tractor tires, and basketballs.  It’s cordless so you don’t have to be within 6 feet of your car lighter! It has a neat preset feature.  Set the pressure you want and it automatically shuts off when it gets there.

Craftsman Nextec G2 Multi-Tool

Craftsman Nextec G2 Multi-Tool By now you know if you need one of these or not.  The G2 now features tool-less blade changing and variable speed. It does the work of over $500 worth of tools … jamb saw, grout removal tool, rasp, detail sander, paint scraper, keyhole saw and flush-cut saw.  This new tool comes with a battery, case and Quick-Boost Charger.

Craftsman 17438 Nextec Cordless Multi-Tool

Craftsman 17438 Nextec 12-volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Multi-Tool ENERGY STAR Still a good tool. At $79 a great value. I just used mine this morning to clean the underside of my mower deck, sand between rungs on an antique chair and scrape excess dried glue off cutting boards I am making for Christmas presents.

Craftsman Nextec Multi-Saw Model 14299 - Tool Only

Craftsman Nextec Cordless Multi-Saw Model 14299 – Tool Only This is a cordless sabre saw. It works great for cutting drywall etc, but lacks a blower to keep the cut line clean. I use it, but not very often. If I was a hobbyist I would use it more.

Craftsman NEXTEC Circular Saw - Tool Only

Craftsman NEXTEC Circular Saw – Tool Only This saw cuts 3/4 inch deep.  It cuts slowly and will use up a battery in about 8 feet.  I have about 20 other hand and powered saws so I don’t have much use for this. If I just did small woodworking hobbies or if I needed a saw to cut modern trim ……… On second thought, don’t buy this. Every tool line has a dud and this is the NEXTEC DUD! If you want a small saw I suggest buying a corded one.  The new Dremel SM20-02 120V Saw-Max Tool Kit is a great choice.  Yes, Craftsman sells the Craftsman 10872 Mini Circular Saw and I own one, but I like the Dremel better.

Combo Kits:

Here are some NEXTEC combo kits:  These can be great deals if you want multiple tools.

Craftsman NEXTEC Drill and LED Light Combo Kit

Craftsman NEXTEC 12.0 Volt Drill and Impact Combo Kit

Craftsman 17588 4-pc. Nextec 12-volt Cordless Combo

Craftsman Nextec 6-tool Combo Kit with Storage Tool Box

I made a few videos using NEXTEC Tools over the last year. Here is one showing a few of these tools and I go into the NEXTEC Right Angle Impact Drive in Detail

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWkYEKHFoQo

Yard Tools:

Last, but not least.  Craftsman also make a line of cordless yard tools that fit the NEXTEC battery.  I like each one of them for small yards and gardens.  But, these items are out of stock right now and won’t be back until spring.

Nextec 3-In-1 Garden Tool

Nextec 3-In-1 Garden Tool

Nextec Grass Trimmer and Edger

Nextec Grass Trimmer and Edger

NEXTEC Replacement Flail Pack

NEXTEC Replacement Flail Pack

Craftsman NEXTEC 2-in-1 Pole Pruner

Craftsman NEXTEC 2-in-1 Pole Pruner

Nextec Hedge Trimmer

Nextec Hedge Trimmer

We all have or need a Dremel style tool (rotary tool).  These rotary tools can do hundreds of tasks from polishing to cutting to trimming your dogs nails.

Announcing the Craftsman NEXTEC Cordless Rotary Tool.  Finally...a good quality cordless rotary tool for the homeowner and hobbyist!

Buy Here From Sears: Craftsman Nextec Rotary Tool

New Craftsman Cordless Rotary Tool

I had the chance to take one of these out of the box at my local Sears and stick a wood rasp in it. I took it over to the store’s Innovation Station and gave it a quick, five-minute workout.  I was impressed with the speed control, work light, weight and feel of the tool.

I was mainly interested though in the power of the unit.  Most cordless rotary tools are much weaker than their corded counterparts.  This tool however was strong!  A lot stronger than I expected! This rotary tool is easily as strong as my Dremel 4000 corded tool!

The first thing I will do after I get one of these is to purchase a Milescraft Chain Saw Sharpener attachment for it.  With a couple of batteries I will be able to cut firewood all day long out in the timber.  I’ll also get the lawn mower blade sharpener kit and I’ll be able to sharpen my mower blades right on the mower!  Of course that’s if I can get it away from my spouse.  She’s a big crafter and having a rotary tool without a cord….

I like the Craftsman Nextec Rotary Tool offers the power and freedom to tackle any project, anywhere. The tool’s variable speed control allows you to set the speed of the tool anywhere from 5,000 to 30,000 rpm to match any of the 40 included accessories bits to the task at hand.  In addition the NEXTEC Rotary Tool is completely compatible with all 1/32-inch -1/8-inch shank accessories allowing you thousands of cutting, grinding, sanding and polishing options.  It also looks like it will handle most threaded attachments.

The major feature though that sets this rotary tool from the others is it uses the inexpensive and reliable NEXTEC lithium-ion batteries and the new NEXTEC Quick-Boost Charger.  No need to have yet another charger cluttering up your work bench. These Lithium-ion batteries deliver longer life and run-time with fade-free power.  The Quick-Boost charger means never having to run out of battery.  If you do use up a charge or forgot to charge it the last time you used it the Quick-Boost charger will give you a 25% battery charge in 3 minutes!  Plenty of charge to do most of those little tasks you need this rotary tool for.

The NEXTEC battery and Quick-Boost charger included in this kit is compatible with all your NEXTEC multi-tool, Auto-hammer, Cordless Drill, impact driver and a rapidly growing line of cordless homeowner tools.  At $25 retail these batteries are the most cost-effective on the market.  I do a lot of woodworking and small projects around the house and the NEXTEC tools have quickly become my go-to tools.  I especially like the Craftsman NEXTEC 2-in-1 Pole Pruner and the Craftsman 17586 NEXTEC 12.0V Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver

OK, you’ve never owned a rotary tool and you don’t have a clue what you would use one for around the home.  Here are just a few things we use it for.

• Carving and engraving: We use high speed cutters, engraving cutters, structured tooth carbide cutters, tungsten carbide cutters and diamond wheel points. we use it to drill holes in stained glass.
• Cleaning and polishing:  Rubber polishing points, polishing wheels and polishing brushes. We use these bits for taking old paint and rust off of metal furniture or cleaning up tools and grills.
• Cutting jobs: I use cut-off wheels to cut off rusted bolts. I also have cutting and shaping wheels, diamond wheels, cutting bits and rip and crosscut blades. I use these bits for cutting through wood, metal, ceramic and more.
• Grinding and sharpening jobs use grinding stones, grinding wheels, chain saw sharpening stones, abrasive wheels and abrasive points. Carbide bits tend to work best on metal.
• Routing jobs: I use router bits for small detail and finish work. There are straight router bits, keyhole router bits, corner router bits, groove router bits and more.
• Sanding jobs: I use sanding bands, sanding discs, flapwheels, shaping wheels and finishing and detail abrasive brushes. I use flapwheels to distress paint on furniture to make it look old and worn.
• Small drilling jobs:

It is one of those tools that can do just about anything.

Order Here From Sears: Craftsman Nextec Rotary Tool Have it shipped to you home or pick it up at your local Sears!

New 12 volt Lithium Cordless Drill/Drivers. The Best of the Best For Christmas!

12 volt is the new 10.8 volt. 12 volts is not better, it just represents the voltage nomenclature you are familiar with. If you live in Canada or Europe these are still labeled 10.8.  But most of these new lithium Drill/Drivers are stronger than your current 14.4, 15.6 and 16 volt tools!  For example the new Craftsman Nextec 12V Drill/Driver boasts over 260 in/lbs of torque and has all the features of a full-size cordless drill!

Don’t let the small size fool you! All of these cordless drills will have plenty of power for you around the home, apartment or acreage. Inch/lbs is the real measure of the power of the drill and is the standard rating for them.  Many interior construction and remodeling contractors are switching to these because they can get into tight spaces and they are so much lighter and easier to use than the old Nicad cordless tools. Cabinet makers and installer especially like them for their compact design.  They can now use power tools to install cabinets!  I regularly use these 12 volt tools for woodworking.  They don’t take up much room on my workbench and have all the features and power I need to do this rewarding hobby.  Buy the brand you are used to or if you want my opinion, buy Craftsman.  In my opinion the Craftsman cordless lithium drills gives you the best value for the price for this Christmas season.

Plain and Simple: Don’t waste your money on a drill that uses Nicad batteries.  Today’s Lithium-ion powered tools are affordable, lightweight and more dependable than tools that use a Nicad battery.  The new Lithium-ion batteries are a huge improvement over Nicads.  They don’t self-discharge. Even if you only use your drill two or three times a year they will be charged and ready to use.  They don’t get a memory. You can leave them on the charger and/or charge them back up every time you use them without worrying about the battery going bad. They last 3 to 4 times longer and will give you many years of daily use.

I am only including drill/drivers with chucks.  These drill can use all of the drill bits and driver bits you currently have.  I will write about the 12 volt tools that use the 1/4 locking hex chuck in another article. (Like the Rockwell 3RILL)

Black & Decker

BLACK & DECKER 12-Volt Lithium Drill/Driver

New, Lightweight, and Compact!

I want to start out with the drill I don’t really recommend.  Black & Decker makes some great products and this drill is built well, but it has some shortcomings over all the other drills in this article.

It has only one speed and it’s slow (about 600 rpm) While this is ok for mounting curtain rods, it lacks the speed to quickly and efficiently handle other tasks. For a few dollars more you can buy a full featured drill like the Craftsman 17586 NEXTEC 12.0V Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver

Buy Here From Lowes:
BLACK & DECKER 12-Volt Max. Lithium Ion Cordless Drill/Driver LDX112C

Buy From Sears: Sears only sells this drill at the Full-Line (Mall Stores) If you want to buy this little drill from them you will have to go to the store.

Bosch:

Bosch 12-Volt 3/8" Cordless Drill/Driver

This Bosch 3/8 inch drill has a price that goes with the high quality you expect from them.  This drill is more expensive than the Craftsman drills and it has no more features than they do, but if you are a Bosch fan, this is the 12 volt you need!. This full-featured drill has a 350 low speed for power fastening and a 1350 high speed for drilling and light fastener tasks.

The keyless chuck stays tight and the the 20 clutch settings allow you to set a screw in any type of wood. Bosch boasts this drill is the lightest weight of all these drills.

Buy Here From Lowes:
Bosch 12-Volt 3/8″ Cordless Drill/Driver PS31-2A

Craftsman:

Craftsman Nextec 12V Drill/Driver

Craftsman G2 Lithium. This drill is new.  The Generation 2 (G2) NEXTEC has over 260 in/lbs, and features the new quick charger. If you want the latest and best from Craftsman this is the one!  This drill rounds out an already great and affordable line of Craftsman NEXTEC tools.  The other tools that fit this battery include the multi-tool, auto-hammer, sander, two lights, air compressor, impact driver, trim saw, sabre saw, grass trimmer, hedge trimmer, multi-gardening tool and the great R.A.I.D. (right angle impact driver).

Buy here from Sears: Craftsman Nextec 12V Drill/Driver. Order this drill on-line for the best deals and pick it up at your local Sears (or have it shipped to your home)

Craftsman 17586 NEXTEC 12.0V Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver

Craftsman 17586 NEXTEC 12.0V Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver. 

Sears struck a home-run with this drill last year and it continues to be the best value on the market.  You can regularly get this drill, battery and charger for less than $60!. The batteries fit the growing line of NEXTEC home-owner tools so you don’t end up with an orphan drill that has batteries that will be hard to get in a few years.

Buy Here From Sears: Craftsman 17586 NEXTEC 12.0V Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver

DeWalt:

DeWalt 12V 3/8 in. Drill Driver Kit

New From DeWalt. Lightweight, Powerful, Compact: This drill has the highest capacity battery of all the 12 volt drills.  The battery also fits a growing line of great contractor tools.

Buy Here From Sears: DeWalt 12V 3/8 in. Drill Driver Kit

Buy Here From Lowes:
DEWALT 12-Volt Max. 3/8″ Cordless Impact Driver DCD710S2

Milwaukee:

Milwaukee M12 12 Volt Drill/Driver

Amazon has the best price for Milwaukee! Free Shipping, Fast Delivery: Don’t bother going to Home Depot, Amazon has the best deals.

This is part of the M12 line. This battery fits many contractor grade tools. If you are a Milwaukee tool fan this is the 12 volt drill you need to round out your tool kit.

Buy Here From Amazon: Milwaukee 2410-22 M12 Drill/Driver

Panasonic:

Panasonic EY7441LZ2S 14.4-Volt Drill

The Best of the Best! This drill is the one industrial users buy. This is the most expensive 12 volt drill! But it also has more power than most 18 and 20 volt cordless drills on the market.  If you use your drill every day, all day long you will appreciate the quality and dependability of this drill.

Buy Here from Amazon: Panasonic EY7441LZ2S 14.4-Volt Drill

Porter Cable:

PORTER-CABLE 12-Volt 3/8 Cordless Lithium Drill/Driver

If you are a Porter Cable fan this is the 12 volt drill for you.  The quality you expect from Porter Cable.

Buy Here From Lowes:
PORTER-CABLE 12-Volt 3/8″ Cordless Lithium Drill/Driver PCL120DDC-2

Rockwell:

Rockwell 12V Lithium Drill Driver

This is a great, powerful drill for the money. Free battery replacement for life!

Buy Here From Sears: Rockwell 12V Lithium Drill Driver

Craftsman just announced that they are greatly expanding the Craftsman NEXTEC 12 volt Cordless power tools in May 2011 so this is a good time to go over the entire line. In anticipation of this I am going to give you my quick review of all the NEXTEC tools available now.  The Craftsman NEXTEC QuickBoost Charger will hit shelves in May 2011 and will be followed shortly by a NEXTEC 12-volt 3-in-1 garden tool, string trimmer, hedge trimmer, vacuum, digital inflater, work light and second generation “Hammerhead” Auto Hammer.

I like tools. I like “Tim the Toolman Taylor” tools.  Bigger is better! More Power! Oo-OoO! So when Craftsman sent me the NEXTEC Cordless 12 volt Power Tools last spring I used them, wrote a couple of articles on these cute little tools and then promptly put them down in my basement workshop.  They were nice, lightweight tools. They had plenty of power, but I still went back to my “big” tools. I basically forgot about them.

Then, I went into my local Sears around Thanksgiving and I saw customers literally buying the NEXTEC Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver as fast as the store personnel could put them out. What was really strange to me is these NEXTEC 12 volt drills were flying off the shelves, but no one was buying the DeWalt DCD710 12V MAX lithium drill from the display right along side the NEXTEC’s. I knew is was a nice little drill, but I didn’t think everyone else liked it that much. The same thing was happening with the Craftsman NEXTEC 12.0 Volt Right Angle Impact Driver was selling well but no one was buying the Dewalt DCF815 12V MAX 1/4 impact driver right next to it.

(During the winter I move into a room in the basement. It’s small, only 10 X 10 ft so I don’t have room for a lot of stuff.  My router, a workbench with a wood vise, a few hand tools and a set-up table.  There is no room for my table saw, miter saw, jointer and drill press.  I end up cutting my wood out in the unheated garage, bringing it downstairs, fitting it up, going back out in the garage to drill the holes or joint an edge, back down stairs……you get the picture.)

Well, while I was getting the room ready for the winter I found the NEXTEC tools and decided to take a good hard look at them again.

I decided that I would use these tools exclusively in my downstairs workshop this winter.

What I like:

Weight. The NEXTEC tools weigh only half of even my lightest cordless drill. My old 18 volt DeWalt “compact” drill/driver weighs in at a light 6.2 lbs.  The NEXTEC 12 v weighs in at only 2.2 lbs.

Size. Easy to handle even for small hands.  And it doesn’t feel too small in big hands, like the little cordless screwdrivers.

Power. Don’t get hung up on volts.  More volts does not mean more power nowdays. Has as much power as the old 15.6 tools and I think a lot more power than the old 7.2, 9.6, 10.8 and 14.4 tools. It even has more drilling and driving power than the C3 19.2 volt Model 17191.

In the rest of this article I will give quick review of each tool:

BUY HERE: NEXTEC 12 v Lithium Tools

Craftsman NEXTEC 12.0V Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver Model 17586

What I like: It costs less than half of DeWalt DCD710 12V MAX Drill. It weighs less at only 2.2 lbs. with the 12.0 Volt Lithium-Ion battery. It will fit in your hand and easily slip into the pocket of your work apron. This is the most powerful drill on the market for the weight. It has 195 in.-lbs. of Torque which is plenty for most of the tasks around your home. It has a 2-Speed Gearbox and a 3/8-Inch Single Sleeve Keyless Chuck. A lot of guys thin they need a 1/2 inch chuck, but if you look at the wall at your nearest hardware store 95% of the drill bits and screwdriving bits will fit in this drill. 18 Position Adjustable Torque Clutch. Integrated LED Work Light. 30-Minute Quick Charger

It will easily handle a 3/4 inch spade bit which is about the largest hole size you will need for repairs around the house.  It does wimp out using the new 3/4 Irwin Speedbore Max bits but these bits are very aggressive and many drills won’t handle these.

I do a lot of woodworking.  I use a tapered pilot bit to pre-drill the holes in wood so I don’t split the wood and this drill is just perfect for that.  I keep the pilot bit in this drill and the screw driving bit in an impact driver.  Life is good!

What I don’t like: I really like this drill and about the only thing I would put on it would be a battery charge indicator. It would be nice to know when the battery is about to run out.

BUY HERE: NEXTEC 12 v Lithium Tools

Craftsman NEXTEC 12.0 Volt Right Angle Impact Driver Model 17562

What I like: Even though Sears states this has only 700 in lbs of torque a bunch of us feel it has as much power as the Dewalt DCF815 12V MAX 1/4 impact driver (900 in lbs) for a lot less money.  We grabbed the R.A.I.D. and the DeWalt at the local Sears and put them through a little impromptu test at the Innovation Station.  We also liked the right angle drive. It will get into places the other drills can’t.

What I don’t like: The right angle takes a little practice to get used to. When you first use it…use both hands until you get the feel for the impact driver.  After that you will enjoy using it.

Craftsman 17428 Nextec 12-volt Cordless Compact 1/4” Impact Driver Model 17428

What I like: Same weight and feel as the Model 17586 Drill/Driver.
What I don’t like: Could use a battery meter.

BUY HERE: NEXTEC 12 v Lithium Tools

12-volt NEXTEC Multi-Tool Model 17438

What I like: Multi-tools are quickly becoming the go-to tool for cutting, sanding, grout removal and scraping. This lightweight tool can easily do the work of a trim saw, jamb saw, drywall saw, detail sander, rotary grout tool, carbide cutter and paint scraper. The Craftsman NEXTEC is one of the lightest of the bunch and it will accept the industry standard Fein attachments (Most of the other brands use their own proprietary mounting.) This gives it the most versatility of all the mulit-tools out there. It has plenty of power to do all these tasks around the home. The batteries last about 20 minutes during continuous use, charge in 30 minutes and you can get a second battery if you need one for less than $25.
What I don’t like: Eventually I would like to see quick release blade changing. It only takes 30 seconds to change the tool now, but I want to do it faster!

NEXTEC 12-volt Lithium-Ion Hammerhead Auto Hammer Model 11818

What I like: I don’t use nails very often anymore. I use screws for most of my woodworking tasks, but the other day I put a few more lights in the basement and the Hammerhead was the right tool to nail the outlet boxes into the rafters. It only took 30 seconds to nail the box into the beam and NO BENT NAILS!
What I don’t like: This was the first of the NEXTEC line so it is ready for an update. Craftsman is coming out with a new version of this about May 2011.  I will wait to give you my viewpoint then. Stay tuned……

BUY HERE: NEXTEC 12 v Lithium Tools

Craftsman NEXTEC 12.0V Lithium-Ion True Finish™ Sander Model 61326
What I like: This is a “Mouse” size sander but it has two big advantages over all the other sanders like it on the market. One, it is cordless! The battery lasts a long, long time. Two, It doesn’t make your hand go numb! The built in counter balancer cancels out the hand numbing vibration you are used to.
What I don’t like: NO ONE knows about this sander! It comes in one kit and you can get the “bare” tool online but very few people realize how nice this sander is.

Craftsman NEXTEC 12.0V Lithium-Ion Circular Saw Model 61325

What I like: This is the one tool in the NEXTEC line that I really don’t like. It has enough power to cut even hard maple, but the design is all wrong. The base plate “shoe” is too big for the saw, The saw mark on the shoe is too far away from the blade. It doesn’t have a laser guide, the light is in the wrong place, the blades are too thick and there is not enough of a selection of blade styles.  Every tool line has one dud…and this is the one in this line.
What I don’t like: Oops, I already told you what I don’t like.

Craftsman 14299 Nextec 12-volt Cordless Multi-Saw Model 14299

BUY HERE: NEXTEC 12 v Lithium Tools

What I like: I use this saw a lot for the size, power, and versatility. It has a lot of power for the size and is really handy for those quick cuts. It uses standard jig saw blades which come in all sizes and styles.
What I don’t like: It doesn’t have a “blower” to keep the sawdust away from your cut line.

Craftsman NEXTEC 12 volt LED Worklight Model 14298

What I like: This is a great work light and flashlight for the house. It will run continuously for hours on one battery and the battery stays charged for over a year if you don’t use it. The head swivels and stays where you put it so under the sink work is easy. It stands up or lays down all by itself.
What I don’t like: My wife saw it, and immediately stole it to put on her nightstand! Now if it only came in decorator colors!

Craftsman 12 Volt Nextec Compact Lithium-Ion battery Model 11221

What I like: You can buy additional batteries for less than $25. A lot of power for the size. (as much as your old 14.4 batteries) Will hold a charge for up to a year. With the new charger Craftsman just announced will recharge to 25% in less than 3 minutes.
What I don’t like: The 1200 mah size is quite adequate but I can’t wait for the next pack.

A Taste of New Items coming this spring!

This video has a very short segment showing you the new cultivator, hedge trimmer, string trimmer and inflator.

Craftsman NEXTEC Quick Boost Charger

httpv://www.youtube.com/user/craftsman#p/u/10/4zndCP_cd3c

Summary: The Craftsman NEXTEC 12 volt Cordless power tools are great for homeowners. They are lightweight, strong and easy on the wallet to buy. They work surprisingly well for the size and cost a lot less than other brands. I highly recommend these tools.  BUY HERE: NEXTEC 12 v Lithium Tools

Craftsman NEXTEC RAID 12.0 Volt Right Angle Impact Model 17562 Review

Update: When you get through with this post go here: Tools For Christmas – Impact Drivers.  I have a few updates for you and lots of videos showing the Impact Driver in action.

Affectionately called R.A.I.D. Has 700 in.lbs. of torque, more than enough for all your around the home tasks. It quickly drives, drills and fastens into tight spaces, and it’s designed to take the pressure off your wrists. As part of the Craftsman NEXTEC line it uses the same 12 volt lithium battery and charger as your NEXTEC autohammer, multi-tool and drill.

The kit includes battery, charger, four drilling, driving accessories and a storage case.

Buy Here: Craftsman NEXTEC 12.0 Volt Right Angle Impact Driver Order it online. Pick it up at your nearest Sears or have it shipped to your home.

My Review:

I am very impresses with this new $99 impact driver. It rivals the $400 Panasonic Drivers for the smoothness of the speed control, and has plenty of power for all the tasks around your home. I used this impact driver at the “Innovation Station” at my local Sears to drive a bunch of different sized screws, lag bolts and spade bits. It takes just a minute to get used to the right angle feature and from then on…..it is very intuitive to use. This tool will become an indispensable part of your home repair kit.

Is This the Right Impact Driver For You and do I even need an Impact Driver?

Impact Drivers are the new tool for homeowners.  They make all you screw-driving tasks easy.  I haven’t stripped a Phillips screw since I got an impact driver.  They are faster than a drill/driver and it will quickly become your favorite tool.  Will it replace your drill/driver?  No, impacts only use 1/4 inch hex shank bits and there are certain size drill bits that don’t come in the hex version.

I have the pistol grip version of the NEXTEC impact and it is the one tool that is always on my bench.  This new right angle version is much more ergonomic and natural to use.

I especially like the speed control.  The model I tried at the store’s “Innovation Station” was exceptionally good throughout the whole speed range of the tool.  In fact, I feel it is comparable to the speed control of the Panasonic Impact Drivers.   ToolGuyd posted a review of the R.A.I.D. demo model that Craftsman sent him and he stated, “Although its variable speed trigger seems to skip slow speeds altogether, it offers reasonable control of the medium-high speed range.”   After reading his review I went back to my local Sears, took a new one off the shelf and tried that one out.  The one I took directly out of the box was just as smooth and responsive as the RAID I tried at the Innovation Station.  Manufactures will sometimes send us tools that are pre-production or early models and may not be the exact model that you buy in the store.  I am wondering if that is the case with the RAID ToolGuyd recieved.

Key Features and Benefits:

700 in. lbs. of Torque. DIY’ers can use it for assembling a bicycle, hanging pictures, and quick repairs. Carpenter’s will use it for cabinet installation, cabinet construction, and furniture making.  Mechanics will like it for changing headlights, trim screws and other small screwing tasks.

Versatile: The high speed impacting mechanism provides the power to drive long screws and lag bolts into wood, plastic, metal, and delivers maximum torque in both forward and reverse.

0-2100 RPM and 0-3400 BPM: (beats per minute) This combination transfers all the power to the job, not your wrists like a drill/driver does.

Compact Right Angle Design: You will really like the weight and feel of this Driver.  It weighs only 2.2 lbs with the battery and the right angle design makes it very comfortable to use.

Industry standard 1/4 inch quick connect: You can change screw bits, 1/4, 3/8 sockets and drill bits fast.  The hex collet keeps the drill bit from turning in the impact driver. (A common problem with drill/drivers)

Variable Speed Trigger: The variable speed trigger switch is one of the smoothest I have used.  It has great control all through the whole range of movement.  It is better than almost every other impact I have used.

30 Minute Charge Time: The 1.3 amp Hour Die-Hard NEXTEC battery charges quickly.  The lithium-ion battery gives you much better service than the old nicad batteries of just a year or two ago.  Smartchip technology prevents over-discharging, over-charging and high temperature discharge failure.

Integrated LED Work Light:  Located right where you need it in the front of the impact driver, the light illuminates when the trigger is pulled.  You can see well inside that cabinet, under the sink, or just about any indoor drilling driving task.

Buy Here: Craftsman NEXTEC 12.0 Volt Right Angle Impact Driver Order it online. Pick it up at your nearest Sears or have it shipped to your home.

Accessories:

Sears has a full line of hex bit tools. Myself I also use the Milwaukee Shockwave Impact Bits and Drills. You can get them quickly from Amazon.com

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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHUOzv0U-rk

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:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDt8IqVMkr4

Here is another video showing the drill:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynCAQdyrs3c

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.

In a previous post Impact Driver – It’s not what you think. I showed you what an impact driver is and a few examples of the drivers available. Impacts have been getting a lot of press lately and many of you are wondering if you need one. In this article I am going to compare an impact driver to a drill/driver and let you decide which one is best for you.

I have two reasons for this post.  First to show you the difference between an impact driver and a drill/driver.  Second to show you how well the newest lightweight compact units can work for you.

The new lithium tools are so much lighter and smaller than tools of even two years ago that many people don’t believe these tools can possibly be strong enough to do real work. Because of that I choose two of the smallest and lightest lithium tools available for this comparison.

Small & Light Weight

The  Craftsman NEXTEC 12 Volt Lithium Drill/Driver Model 11812 and the  Craftsman NEXTEC 12 Volt Compact Impact Driver Model 17428 are about as light as you can get.  The drill/driver and the impact are about half the weight of the 4 year old DeWalt drill in the picture below.   The 12 volt lithium batteries in these tools are interchangeable with the Craftsman Hammerhead Auto Hammer and Multi-Tool.

Thank you Sears for letting me use a 11812 and 17428 for this comparison. I own a NEXTEC multi-tool, but not these. I am still using the 16 volt Craftsman lithium drill/drivers I bought a year and a half ago.

Tools Used

I used my own spade bits, ships auger and Milwaukee Quik-Loc Bit set. If you like any of these tools you can order them at the end of this article.

I threw my Dewalt “Compact” into the picture so you can get a size comparison.  The Dewalt was a light drill four years ago and weighs in a 5.8 lbs.

Let’s begin.  The first video shows the NEXTEC Drill/Driver boring a hole using a 1/2 inch auger bit.   Ships augers are designed to cut fast and at slow speed so the drill is in the low range.  As you can see 185 inch lbs is plenty of power to drill this hole.

If the YouTube Video is not showing, click on the link to see it.

Ships Auger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDt8IqVMkr4

The second video is another test for the drill.  I intentionally over-drove the screw into the wood to again show you the power of these small drills.  This drill has a clutch that you can adjust so you can drive a screw and have the drill stop before it damages the wood like it did in this example.

Drill driving a screw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzF5bQO5Ehc

This next video shows a comparison between the drill/driver and the impact driving screws.  While the drill/driver does the job, you can see the impact driver is faster and you have complete control setting the screw. If you are building a deck or other job where you have a lot of screws to put in the impact driver is the way to go.

Drill/Driver and Impact Driver Comparison

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynCAQdyrs3c

This next video shows a comparison between the drill/driver and the impact removing screws.  Here is where the impact really shows it’s speed.  Watch how fast it removes the screw.  With speeds up to 2400 rpm the impact makes short work of this task.   I have also found that when using an impact to remove screws I don’t break as many off as I do using a drill/driver.

Removing Screws

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xik-lbWgS00

This last video shows a drill/driver and the impact driver using a spade bit.  As you can see the drill is faster.  Everyone runs their drill on high speed when drilling with a spade bit but using it this way takes a lot of power and I know of more than one drill that was “smoked” because the spade bit got stuck in the hole.

If you notice the drill stops part way through and I have to let go of the speed trigger and try again.  THIS IS A NORMAL SAFETY FEATURE FOR LITHIUM DRILLS! Instead of over loading the drill motor and burning it out, the new lithium drills will shut off before that happens.  Usually you just release the trigger and try again and the drill will finish the job.  If the bit is stuck and you repeat this a few times most of the lithium batteries will shut down completely.  Don’t bring them back to the store ………………. just let the battery sit for a while and put the back on the charger.  It will reset and you are ready to go again.

Using a spade bit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHtRiOTR9eE

I can’t wait for spring so I can move out of the basement and into my workshop.

In the comments below tell me your experiences with impacts and how they work better for you.

Order the tools used in this article here:

NEXTEC Impact Driver

Craftsman NEXTEC 12 Volt Lithium Drill/Driver Model 11812

Craftsman NEXTEC 12 Volt Compact Impact Driver Model 17428

Irwin Speebor Max Spade Bit Set, 6-Piece

Milwaukee Quik-Lok 38-Piece Hex Shank Drilling and Driving Bit Set

Craftsman 12-Volt NEXTEC Multi-Tool Review

Item 00917438000 Model 17438

I bought the Craftsman 12-Volt NEXTEC Nextec Multi-Tool two months ago to test out and review.

I used the saw blade to trim a 1 X 6 out in the yard.  I used the carbide blade to clean out the grout so I could replace a 6 X 6 tile that I put in wrong.  I used the scraper blade to remove some double sided tape so I could put in a new door weather seal.  I used the sanding pad to sand a leg on an adirondack chair before I painted it.  I used the rasp to change the angle on a chair leg brace.  I did all this without dragging out a cord, a sander, an angle grinder, a wood file, a putty knife, a circular saw or a hammer and chisel.  I did all of these tasks easily and in a lot less time than it would normally take.

I did all these tasks with just one tool!

There are a lot of similar multi-tools on the market.  The Craftsman Multi-Tool is not the first and it is not the best, but it is the best value at only $99.  And it’s cordless!

It is similar to the Bosch PS-50, Fein Multimaster, and Dremel Multi-Max. The Craftsman multi-tool is like the others and is even compatible with the Fein accessories but it’s a lithium-ion cordless multi-tool for only $99 (The Dremel Multi-Max is corded for $99). And bonus, like the Fein Multimaster, it comes with an integrated dust bypass vacuum adapter so you can hook it up to your shop vac or dust collection system.

I don’t consider the Craftsman Multi-tool as a heavy-duty tool.  In fact the tool will get hot around the battery area if you use it on too large a task.  It is just a great tool for those special small jobs that I have all the time.

It is a great “around the house” tool.  It works exceptionally well for those small to medium jobs around the house.  If you need a tool like this to work for you all day long or have a large project like painting an entire house you really should buy a heavier tool like the Fein Multi-Master Tool Kit

NEXTEC Multi-Tool Features

The Craftsman 12-Volt NEXTEC Multi-Tool comes in a handy carrying case along with a 30 minute quick charger and six attachments. The Multi-Tool is powered by a 12-volt Lithium-Ion battery. Some of the key features of this tool are:

15000 OPM/ 2.8 oscillation angle
LED work light
includes 6 accessories
Soft-grip Handle
Compact Ergonomic design
Integrated dust bypass with vacuum adapter
Powerful, compact motor
Secure accessory mount
Powered by 12 Volt Lithium-Ion battery
30-minute quick charger with LED charge indicator: Quickly charges the battery and features a charge indicator that visually indicates the charging status.
Compact ergonomic design: ultra compact for use in tight spaces
Lithium-Ion Power: Lighter weight, better performance and longer shelf life.
Weight: 1.8 lbs with battery

Accessories

I recommend buying an extra battery.  If you already own an Craftsman Auto Hammer or any of the NEXTEC Line you already have a spare.  You can order spare battery and blades here Nextec Lithium Tools or pick them up at your local Sears.

Final Thoughts

The Craftsman 12-Volt NEXTEC Multi-Tool performed very well when using it the way it’s meant to be used. This tool is not a replacement for the heavy-duty plug in versions like the Fein Multimaster. It is a great cordless multi-tool that will work very well around the house. The price really makes the Craftsman Multi-Tool shine!

Where To Buy Craftsman NEXTEC Multi-Tool

You can buy the Craftsman NEXTEC Multi-Tool at Sears. Here is a link to buy it, pick it up at your local Sears or have it shipped right to your door:

Nextec Lithium Tools

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