On The Level Newsletter - Tools & More Tools

Published: Tue, 08/25/15

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On The Level - Straight advice from the pros
From the editors of Tool Box Buzz, Home Construction Improvement and A Concord Carpenter
IN THIS ISSUE  Volume 3

Todd Fratzel: FLIR C2 Compact Thermal Imager
Rob Robillard: Milwaukee M18 Jobsite Fan
Phil Benevides: SDS-Plus Bit Showdown
Jeff Williams: RIDGID Gen5X Combo Kit

The first hint of fall weather struck this week with temps dipping briefly into the 40s at night. It's a brisk reminder to finish up all those summer projects. If you've hit a roadblock with your project and need an assist, use the links to the right and hit us up on Facebook or Twitter for some advice from pros.
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Todd Fratzel
FLIR C2 Compact Thermal Imager
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Thermal Imagers are a key tool in the investigation of water leaks, insulation issues, and locations of heat fluctuating utilities. They can be useful to a wide range of contractors with a low cost of entry. The prices of today's cameras are less than what it used to cost to hire a specialist for just a couple hours.

The FLIR captures both a normal image as well as a thermal image making the delta areas easier to line up with real world features.
Read More - FLIR C2 Compact Thermal Imager
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Rob Robillard
Milwaukee M18 Jobsite Fan Review
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A fan can really be a life and timesaver out on the jobsite. Use it to blow dust away from the cutline of the partner saw, ventilate a hot crawlspace or attic in the summer, or even speed up the drying of paints and glues.

Fans have been around for ages but what makes the newest crop of them special is that they'll run on both battery packs and AC power.
Read More - Milwaukee M18 Jobsite Fan Review
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Phil Benevides
SDS-Plus Hammer Drill Bit Showdown
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Let's face it, there's nothing cool or sexy about rotary hammer bits. They are an accessory that many of us may not think much about; we just need them to do their job, do it well, and last a fair amount of holes.

We took a couple brands to the quarry and punched holes some old bridge deck and compiled accurate and tangible results to help you decide what bit to buy the next time you're in the market.
Read More SDS-Plus Hammer Drill Bit Comparison
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Jeff Williams
RIDGID Gen5X Kit Review
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The successor to the highly lauded X4 line is finally here and we put the spurs to it. The new RIDGID Gen5x combo kit carries on the torch using the same battery interface but with new motors to deliver more power.

RIDGID continues their "diamond in the rough" image with this kit. Serious tools for a reasonable price.
Read More - RIDGID Gen5X Combo Kit Review