Last week, I had the great fortune of traveling to New York City for the debut of Lowe's expanded Kobalt Tools line. Although the home improvement giant has offered Kobalt tools for years (Kobalt started in 1998 as a brand of mechanics tools), the line has now been expanded to include a variety of professional-grade cordless tools, designed to give users a more efficient and effective work experience.
One of the coolest parts about the event (besides seeing the tools and catching up with old friends, of course!) was getting to test the tools during a building competition. We split into teams of 5 and were instructed to build what everyone at the event called a "cornhole" but I know as a "bean bag toss." (Anyone else out there call them bean bag tosses? Or is it just me?)
Each team had to build two sets, and I'm proud to say that our team came in second place! But I digress - back to the tools!
Last week, I had the pleasure of traveling to Baltimore for DeWALT's new product launch. I had a basic familiarity of the brand, but it was fascinating to dive more into the company's history, methodology and what they're doing to produce functional, innovative tools that help people work better and faster. Plus, I got to indulge my inner DIY freak in the company's testing area (mitre saw, anyone?)
We saw lots of great new products during the two-day event, so I thought I'd pick out a few of my favorites. I'd say the biggest news from DeWALT is the launch of their new 20 volt MAX cordless line, which will be available later this summer. The new line was created from several trends, including a continued growth in the 10.8 and 12 volt categories, as well as the ongoing evolution of lithium ion technology.
DeWALT has made a sizable commitment to investing in the company's cordless line and, over the last three years, has doubled their engineering resources for cordless development.
Benefits of the 20 volt MAX line include unprecedented performance, ergonomic design and innovative features, according to a DeWALT presentation.
My personal favorite? The 20 volt MAX lithium ion compact drill/driver, which has been completely redesigned from the ground up. Features include an ergonomic handle, LED work light, compact size, high-speed transmission and a 1/2-inch ratcheting chuck. I love the compact size, but also think the line's impact driver is a must-have for your collection.
Your tool collection isn't just a great thing to have when you're pursuing your latest DIY project--it's an investment, and that means regular upkeep of your tools will help them last for decades.
I speak from experience, as I was fortunate enough to be able to use several of my grandpa's tools while helping my mom attach the stand to a new TV. His workshop is where I learned to use and appreciate tools, and I felt privileged to still be able to access his carefully organized collection.
So how can you ensure your tools last for generations? Well, besides keeping them organized and investing in quality tools, you'll want to regularly clean them in order to prevent rust build-up.
In this economy (and don't even get us started on gas prices!), saving money is becoming increasingly important--and besides, who doesn't love a bargain? Finding discounted tools can be a great way to expand your collection without breaking the bank.
As a starting point, you can always check with your favorite local hardware store to see what sales or specials they might be offering. After that, you can turn to the magic of the Internet to help you score a great bargain.
One such site? One Tool A Day, which offers just one tool for sale every day (hence the name.) Each tool is discounted a certain amount (excluding shipping), and a limited quantity are available. Today, for example, the site is offering a Ridgid CG-100 Micro Gas Sniffer, normally priced at $257.95 and discounted to $225. Of course, it's up to you to decide if your tool collection will be woefully incomplete without a gas sniffer--just call us the enablers!
