Small spenders take note: Ryobi has added lithium-ion power to their low-buck One+ system, dramatically increasing the line’s potential and raising the bar significantly for affordable cordless power tools. You’ll find several combination sets on store shelves now — all featuring the new batteries plus a retina-burning, high-visibility green color scheme.

For today’s test, we snagged a four-piece set — the “Ryobi One+ 4-PC Lithium Power Tool Kit,” which includes a charger, two batteries, a drill/driver, a reciprocating saw, a circular saw, and a worklight. Wondering just what $300 buys you in a four-piece li-ion combo? Read on past the jump to find out.

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Just like your high-school wood shop teacher taught you: the table saw must be respected, because a moment of inattention can lead to a serious injury — unless you’re cutting with a SawStop. The SawStop employs sophisticated electronics to detect the difference between wood, flesh, and, apparently, hot dogs — and it turns what could be a serious injury into a nick or a cut.
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As if you weren’t already getting great bang-for-your-buck from your Ryobi tools — now they’re offering reconditioned tools through their official web distributor, at about 30% off retail prices. I’ve purchased a few items from them, and they were all in like-new condition. The only thing distinguishing these from brand-new is the “RECON” branding somewhere on the tool. They even carry a one year warranty.

If you have the One+ system, you can pick up some very nice additions for cheap, like the 18V angle grinder for $28 — nice!

Reconditioned Ryobi Tools [Gardner Inc.]

Congratulations, everyone! Our tools now come equipped with laser beams — we’re officially in the future. Many drill presses, circ-saws, miter saws, and even some wacky hand tools now feature lasers for precision work. It seems manufacturers are anxious to put as many laser beams on their products as possible. I’m sure we’ll see a hammer that shines a laser on the head of a nail by year’s end. But do these high-tech beams of light really help?

I recently acquired a jigsaw that had a laser on it. I thought is was a bit weird, since lasers shoot straight and jigsaws are meant to cut curves — but I tried it out. Although it seemed to work at first, I wound up watching the laser instead of the blade, and my cut started to wander.

My Ryobi drill press also sports a laser. Although the laser crosshairs can be useful, I have to realign it almost every time I use the darn thing. On the other hand, I used to cut granite commercially on a large wet-saw, and my cuts would’ve been horrible had I not had a laser to align them.

So, are laser alignments hot or not? Do you have a tool with a laser? Which one? Do you use the laser, or does it just get in the way? Let us know in comments!

Saws With Lasers [Google Products]
Drills With Lasers [Google Products]

Enlarging a hole can present a tricky problem, whether it’s an existing hole that needs enlarging, or somebody made an “oops” and used the wrong size hole saw. How do you center the hole saw at the same location and keep it from wandering? This question drove the engineers at Starrett to develop the Oops Arbor.

As long as the new hole is 3/16″ larger than the old hole, you can use the Oops Arbor to pilot the larger hole saw with a second hole saw the size of the original hole. The Oops Arbor’s 1/4″ shank replaces the normal pilot bit for most hole saw mandrels and accepts both 1/2″ and 5/8″ threaded cutters.

You can get the Oops Arbor for as little as $6.  What’s it worth to be the hero next time somebody makes an Oops?

Oops Arbor [Starret]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What's This?]

Bosch is expanding their SpeedWave line of wheels with the addition of a 7-1/4” blade with a diamond arbor knockout — it works well with an angle grinder, and also with any worm-drive circular saw.

It features the same highlights as other blades in the line, including a wave-shaped ridge along both sides of each segment, to reduce blade friction and drag. The streamlined design also helps clear dust faster for better overall performance. Though they’re designed for cutting cured and reinforced concrete, brick and masonry materials, and roofing tile, they’ll also get through wood without much difficulty.

No confirmed word on what the new 7-1/4” blades will run — but looking at the 7″ variety as a guide, numbers north of $100 aren’t out of the question.

SpeedWave Diamond Blade [Bosch]

First thing after purchasing a shiny new circ-saw, most guys toss the blade in favor of a higher quality rig. Talk to any framing guy or contractor, and that’ll almost always be true. Skil’s new contractor series blades might actually entice you to try a few cuts with it.

The new blades incorporate a thin-kerf design which results in a faster cut versus fat-body blades.  “J”-hook expansion slots allow the blade to dissipate heat during cutting, which helps the blade run straight and true. The anti-stick coating also reduces heat, friction, and binding, for smooth, easy cutting.

It’s not earth-shattering news, and you can certainly find other blades out there right now that fit this description — but it’s nice to know that you might not have to blow $12 on a new blade right out of the box when you purchase a new Skilsaw this year.

Skil says these will ship to stores this month, and they should be priced competitively with others in the same class.

Skil [Corporate Site]

L.C. Miller’s air-powered hacksaw, the Tigair, offers all the quick-cutting convenience of a reciprocating saw, without some of the recip saw’s shortcomings.  For instance, it won’t get damaged if it bogs down; it makes fine burr-free cuts with a common hacksaw blade; and you can even operate it underwater or in flammable environments.

At about 2″ wide, 6″ tall, and 16″ long, the Tigair packs a lot of power in a small package –  it runs at speeds up to 1,200 spm.  It cuts with standard high-speed hacksaw blades or modified reciprocating saw blades, and it weighs about 5-1/2 lbs, so you can maneuver it easily, even one-handed.  The Tigair requires 6-1/2 cfm at about 90psi, so you can power it with a moderately sized air compressor.  L.C. Miller doesn’t list a price, but if you’re interested you can request a quote.

The Tigair [L.C. Miller]

Jeff Snell has all-but-solved the problem of how to keep your saw blade perfectly aligned when hand-cutting joints. He invented the AngleMag, which uses four neodymium magnets housed in a super-low-friction glide to hold any backless saw, such as a Japanese pull saw, at an exact cutting angle.

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I happened upon this sweet pawnshop pickup from reader bradjustinen in the photo pool recently. Though it’s not a tool everyone needs, it does go to show that perseverance pays off in spades.  Brad said this about his find:

You have to find the right pawnshop. You’ll never be able to negotiate with a single-owner pawnshop. There are plenty of pawnshops around here that won’t budge. Look for chain stores. Around Seattle we have PawnXChange — they’re all over the place, and there’s no owner there to be stingy. Try to find 20 pawnshops in your area and then decide which ones are best. Even still, most tools are overpriced, but with frequent visits (1-3 times a week) you WILL find steals, and when you do, try to talk the price down. Make up some story about how there’s something wrong with it that you’ll need to fix, etc.

Remember, unsuccessful negotiations will eventually turn into a successful negotiation. Today I picked up a like-new Ingersoll-Rand Recip. Saw for $20, talked down from $30. ($90 Retail)

Don’t ask for a discount — tell them what your max price is, and let them decide. I told the guy I didn’t need it, but for $20 I’ll find a use for it. He took the bait. Well worth the breath that it took to say “I’ll give you $20, but that’s it, I really don’t need it”.

We’ve had similar experiences on the pawnshop circuit.  Like Brad said, the best thing you can do is find the best ones in your area — but above all, be patient.  You might not find deals your first few times, but much like going to the junkyard, once you hit it right, you hit it big.  Great find, Brad.

Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]

Throw away the apple crate and cardboard box, and get yourself a Rousseau 2850 miter saw stand kit — ok, maybe that’s just my workshop setup. At 39″ tall, it stands at a comfortable working height for the average user. The large 19″x31″ platform will support all sizes of miter saws and planers, and easy fold-down wings give support for long lengths of lumber. Two larger storage shelves hold your accessories.

The Dynamite Tool Company has the lowest listing at $95. Amazon sells it for a few bucks more, but they’re offering free shipping.

Miter Stand [Rousseau]
Rousseau 2850 [Dynamite Tool Co.]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What's This?]

Most people see a chainsaw as a utilitarian tool of destruction. However, others see a chainsaw as Monet saw a paint brush or Michelangelo saw a mallet and chisel — that is, as a tool of expression. The RedMax G3200CV, a lightweight saw with a 12″ bar meant specifically for detail carving, qualifies as just such a tool.

The saw’s bar narrows to a tight radius for doing very detailed work. The chain, also specifically meant for detail work, features fine, closely-spaced cutters. The saw’s 31.8 cc two-stroke engine puts out 1.8 HP.

The manufacturer, Zenoah Komatsu, gave noted chainsaw sculptor Brian Ruth (a.k.a. Master of the Chainsaw) the chance to demo the saw in Japan. Brian liked it so much, he brought it back to the states where he sells it exclusively through his company, Chainsaw Masters International. You can get the RedMax G3200CV for $380.

G3200CV [MastersOfTheChainsaw.com]
Video Of Brian Ruth Carving [YouTube]

Irwin recently released what they call “the first circular saw blade specifically designed to cut through vinyl siding.” As part of their Marathon line, it sports 120 symmetric, 60-degree teeth that Irwin claims eliminate chipping and cracking on both push and pull cuts.

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DeWalt has introduced the DW718, the next step in the evolution of their line of miter saws. It boasts the largest cutting capacity of any of DeWalt’s current sliding miter saws.

The 12″ blade can cut 2″ by 16″ at 90 degrees, and cuts up to 2″ by 12″ on a 45 degree angle. With its double bevel capacity, you can cut compound angles on crown up to 11-1/4″. DeWalt also has created an optional laser guide to increase accuracy on these mammoth molding cuts.

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If you’re a licensed arborist, please look away — but if you’re an occasional gardener who maybe has some branches to lop off, then check out this $4 saw at Northern Tools. The saw’s constructed from a painted steel frame and comes with the blade and a blade guard.

36″ Bow Saw [Northern Tools]
Street Pricing [Google Products]

There probably isn’t an angle this saw can’t reach — and with Tools-Plus selling it for $188, there are probably very few reasons for me not owning one right now. This Porter Cable “Tiger Claw” variable angle reciprocating saw boasts 180 degrees of adjustability on the rear gear housing and 360 degrees on the front housing. Both gear housings adjust smoothly on ball bearings, with 13 position stops in the rear and 12 positions in the front — that should just about cover every conceivable angle.

An 11.5A variable 0-2900 SPM motor powers the saw, which has a cutting stroke of 1-1/4″. A detachable “Quik-Change” front shoe, to utilize more teeth in the cutting action, and “Quik-Change” keyless blades make this saw truly variable.  You also get blades, a heavy-duty case, and a one year limited warranty.

Tiger Claw [Porter & Cable]
Porter Cable 9750 [Tools-Plus]
Street Pricing [Google Products]

Silky makes some of the sharpest and most convenient folding pull saws you can buy, for anything from yard work to trim carpentry. My bleeding thumb can attest to the sharpness of at least one of their saws, the general purpose Gomboy 210.

Silky impulse-hardens their blades’ teeth to create a point that’s harder than a file without reducing the flexibility of the saw’s back. And to prevent binding, they grind down the saw back to be less thick than the teeth. One downside: you can’t resharpen the blades, but replacement blades are readily available.

The saw cuts aggressively, but smoothly. With the rubber-coated handle, you can draw the blade without much effort, even one-handed. Silky treats all the metal surfaces for rust resistance, and they package the knife with a plastic case to protect it from the elements.

Street pricing on the Gomboy 210 is about $30. Check out Silky’s corporate site to see the variety of different styles — just watch your fingers.

Silky [Corporate Site]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?] (B000658GXC) [What's This?]