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Over the years, the editors at Popular Woodworking have taken a look at various tools on the market to compare all of their qualities and help our readers pick the best ones for them. As a bonus to our online visitors, we have provided a number of the more recent reviews here for you to enjoy.
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 Download Adobe Reader
The Tool Reviews listed on this page are PDF files. To view them, you will need to download Adobe Reader on your computer, which you can get (for free) by clicking here. Also, many of these files are rather large and may take some time to download.
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Lithium-ion Drills
In December 2005 (issue #152), we tested 14.4-volt drills and used the results to determine if moving up from a 12v drill was worth the investment. In that test, each battery was either Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) or Nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH). Today there’s a change in battery power. Gone from the headlines are the Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries – replaced by a Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery. Of course, that meant we had another test to run.
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Download the Lithium-ion Drills PDF
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Festool TS55EQ
This plunge-cut saw from Festool is a joy to use on sheet goods. It runs on a straightedge guide rail (available in several lengths), and you simply plunge the saw into the workpiece for perfectly square cuts, every time.
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Download the Festool TS55EQ PDF
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Hybrid Table Saws
Hybrid table saws burst onto the woodworking scene almost as fast as hybrid cars rocked Detroit. They’ve plucked a few characteristics from the contractor saw, as well as some features of the cabinet saw to establish their own identity, and price point, in the middle of the pack. So, will these saws have the same Detroit-type impact on woodworking? We test the premium hybrids on the market to find out.
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Download the Hybrid Table Saws PDF
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Test Driving Exotic Infill Handplanes
You can spend thousands of dollars on a handplane-but should you? We put 10 of the world's best and most expensive planes to a hands on preformance test with some surprising results. These beautiful planes didn't just walk into our shop, many of the makers of these supertools came to visit as well, and we present a complete report on this once in a lifetime gathering.
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Download the Test Driving Exotic Infill Handplanes PDF
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Trim Routers
Born in the plastic laminate industry, these small routers are ideal for many general woodworking applications. We take a close look at what's on the market and help you decide which one is best for your woodworking needs and budget.
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Download the Trim Routers PDF
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Safety Glasses
Your Mom was right when she told you to be careful about your eyes. We investigate the latest in eye safety. Today's safety glasses are lighter, stronger, more comfortable and even more stylish than before. There are even affordable solutions for those who need prescription lenses.
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Download the Safety Glasses PDF
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Handsaws: East vs. West
Western saws are pushed, Japanese saws are pulled. More woodworkers buy Japanese saws, but are they getting the most useful tool for their money? Find out the real differences, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and review what's available in your price range. Includes a comprehensive list of sources and resources.
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Download the Handsaws: East vs. West PDF
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Metal-bodied Jack Planes
Is there one hand plane that can do it all? The venerable jack plane can quickly trim doors, fit drawers and eliminate edge-sanding forever. Learn how to sharpen the iron, fine-tune the plane and use it to your advantage. We look at old versus new,and help you pick the best plane for your needs.
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Download the Metal-bodied Jack Planes PDF
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14.4v Cordless Drills
Cordless Drills have become more powerful and more affordable. How do the newer drills compare to previous year's 12-volt models? Is there a drill that stands out from the pack? We put the newest crop of drills through real-world tests and find the answer.
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Download the 14.4v Cordless Drills PDF
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Metal-bodied Spokeshaves
After years of having only poorly made tools to choose from, woodworkers now have some excellent new spokeshaves at their disposal. We help you understand the lingo and how to use these tools, then we examine 7 spokeshaves to tell you which are our favorites.
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Download the Metal-bodied Spokeshaves PDF
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13" Portable Planers
In the 2 years since we reviewed portable planers, several manufacturers introduced 13"-wide machines, some of which even have two feeding speeds. So it was clear that it was time to take another look. We tested 7 premium machines to find out which one belongs in your shop.
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Download the 13" Portable Planers PDF
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Orbital Jigsaws
There are a bunch of quality saws out there, but not all of them can pass our test. We selected a dozen jigsaws that have orbital cutting action (meaning the blade moves forward during the upward cut, then returns to a straight up-and-down motion on the return cut) to see which is the best for you.
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Download the Orbital Jigsaws PDF
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Shop Aprons
It's a rare day when your neighbor dashes over after hearing about your new 600-denier Cordura nylon shop apron with fully adjustable straps. In the realm of woodworking, shop aprons just aren't exciting. But they can be compulsory for people who like to have certain tools within reach at all times. We tested 7 popular designs that cost less than $50 looking for the best.
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Download the Shop Aprons PDF
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12-volt Drills
After testing 16 professional- and consumer-model drills, we know that 12 volts is enough for woodworkers. But there are still lots of quality tools to choose from. So we put a bunch to the test for you.
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Download the 12-volt Drills PDF
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