Every year, a bevy of new woodworking tools are introduced to the market. Some are really innovative ideas, while others seem to be merely keeping-up-with-the-Joneses type efforts. They may not be bad tools, but in some cases, there's no real "wow" factor. Just like many years, though, in 2010 there were some really impressive offerings. Although this isn't an exhaustive list, here are some of my thoughts on the best woodworking tools of 2010 (in no particular order).
1. Bosch GCM12SD Sliding Miter Saw
(c) 2010 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.
Sliding miter saws have been around for years. The Bosch GCM12SD Sliding Miter Saw has rewritten the rules. This miter saw, using the patented Bosch Axial-Glide system is incredibly smooth, and with sealed bearings on the slide mechanism, this slider miter saw should glide as smoothly for years to come as it does the day you pull it out of the box. Learn the benefits of the Bosch GCM12SD Sliding Miter Saw in this woodworking review.
2. Rockwell BladeRunner RK7320
(c) 2010 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.
The Rockwell BladeRunner RK7320 bills itself as The Ultimate Cutting Machine, because it can cut wood, ceramic tile, PVC, aluminum, steel and more. Think of the Rockwell BladeRunner as essentially a scroll saw that uses common T-shank jigsaw blades. The result is a very effective tool for cutting almost material you might need to cut on a construction site. Learn about the advantages and drawbacks to the Rockwell BladeRunner RK7320 in this woodworking tool review.
3. Bosch NailKiller Auger Bit
(c) 2010 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.
If you've ever ruined an auger bit by hitting a nail that you didn't know was in the board, you'll appreciate the Bosch NailKiller line of drill bits. These bits, available in a variety of diameters and lengths, are designed to chew through hidden nails, rather than having the nail eat up the bit. Learn more about these Bosch NailKiller bits in this woodworking tool review.
4. DeWalt DCF610 Cordless Screwdriver
(c) 2010 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.
The DeWalt DCF610 Cordless Screwdriver is a lightweight yet surprisingly powerful cordless screwdriver. With a 12-volt max lithium-ion battery pack, the DCF610 is strong enough to drive 3-inch deck screws with ease. Special features include a three-light LED on the front of the chuck for illuminating the work surface plus rubber bumpers on each side to prevent case scratching. Learn the advantages of the DeWalt DCF610 Cordless Screwdriver in this woodworking tool review.
5. Duo-Fast Floormaster 250BN Finish Nailer
(c) 2010 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.
The Duo-Fast FloorMaster 250BN Finish Nailer is a hardwood flooring finish nailer with a special feature: detachable 45-degree no-mar tips for precision blind nailing into hardwood flooring. This 16-gauge angled finish nailer can be used as a regular finish nailer as well, by simply switching out the no-mar tip. Learn the advantages and drawbacks to the Duo-Fast FloorMaster 250BN Finish Nailer in this woodworking review.
6. Final Cut Circular Saw Blade
(c) 2010 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.
The Final Cut Saw Blade, available in 7-1/4 inch, 10-inch and 12-inch sizes, is a patented saw blade with a sanding disk attached to each side of the blade. This provides a few benefits: the cut is sanded as it is cut, kerf marks are sanded and kick back is nearly eliminated. In this woodworking review, learn about our test of the 7-1/4 inch Final Cut Circular Saw Blade.
7. Bosch PB360S Power Box
(c) 2010 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.
The Bosch PB360S Power Box is a durable workshop or job site power center that combines four AC outlets, a single DC outlet and an amazing 360-degree sound system with subwoofer. This new Power Box is a considerable improvement over the original Bosch Power Box, yet maintains some of the best features of the original, such as the nearly indestructible aluminum roll cage. Learn the advantages of the Bosch PB360S Power Box in this woodworking tool review.
8. Porter-Cable 343VSK
(c) 2010 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.
The Porter-Cable 343VSK Random Orbit Sander is a 3.0-amp, 7000-12,000 RPM variable speed random orbit sander that uses 5-inch, 8-hole hook-and-loop fasteners. This random orbital sander sands quickly and has a very good dust collection system. Learn the advantages and drawbacks to this random orbit sander in this woodworking review.
9. DeWalt Magnetic Tough Case
(c) 2010 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.
The DeWalt DWMTC15 Magnetic ToughCase is a heavy-duty storage case designed to keep bits and bit holders at your fingertips. This case includes a pair of strong, heavy-duty magnets in the lid that will attach the open case to steel surfaces, for easy access to the inside of the case. The compact design of the DWMTC15 Magnetic ToughCase makes it easy to fit into a pouch in a work belt too. Learn the advantages and disadvantages of the DeWalt Magnetic ToughCase in this woodworking tool review.
10. Bosch PS41 Impact Driver
(c) 2010 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.
With the Bosch PS41 12v Max Impact Driver, the engineers at Bosch have come up with an impressive tool. This 12v Max lithium-ion impact driver has 930 inch-pounds of torque, enough to handle 80% of the workload of a standard-sized impact driver. However, the PS41 measures less than 5-1/2 inches in length and weighs about 2-1/8 pounds. This makes it ideal for working in tight spaces. Learn the advantages and drawbacks to the Bosch PS41 12v Max Impact Driver in this About Woodworking tool review.
