Milwaukee 7120-21 3/4- to 1-3/4-Inch Coil Roofing Nailer

This coil roofing nailer is one of seven new heavy-duty air-powered nailers from the venerable Milwaukee, and the whole series is another testament to the red label’s unflagging quality. At the top of our list is how incredibly light Milwaukee’s nailers are, even fully loaded, and their compact size makes them a cinch to tote and use, especially in awkward positions. But a close second is the clever inclusion of a magnet that holds onto the nails... 

Indian machine tool industry on the rise

India has been one of the buzzwords in the machine tool industry for the past month or so as a number of new investments have been announced. These investments include investment plans of at least eight international companies in the industry. According to a report by Indian business daily Business Standard, the US-headquartered MAG Industrial Automation Systems has set up a subsidiary, while Heller from Germany, and MAUS and Rosa Ermando from Italy,... 

Steel City … here we come

Scott Box wouldn’t mind if Murfreesboro acquired the nickname Steel City. That would mean the power tool and machinery manufacturing company he helped form and headquartered in Murfreesboro less than two years ago had made its mark in the competitive tool market. Steel City Tool Works, founded in 2005, is a privately held company with an investment group led by Box and Mark Strahler, both long-time executives in the machinery industry, who grew... 

Makita LXT600 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless 6-Tool Combo Kit

For the tool hound, this is nothing short of happiness in a big box. The pair of 18-volt lithium-ion batteries power each of these gorgeous tools: hammer drill/driver, impact driver, circular saw, recip saw, and angle grinder/cutoff saw, as well as an impressive work light. The 1/2-inch hammer drill/driver puts 560 inch-pounds of torque in your hands, but it’s incredibly lightweight and compact. It’s got three speeds for great efficiency... 

Peter Brotherhood Expands Aftermarket Division

Peterborough-based engineering company Peter Brotherhood Ltd has expanded its Aftermarket Division and opened a new purpose-built engineering service centre dedicated to providing after sales services. The new centre, also based in Peterborough, will service, repair and refurbish reciprocating and rotating machinery manufactured by Peter Brotherhood as well as by other companies. The 500 sq m (5,380 sq ft ) building has been fully equipped with state-of-the-art... 

Spartan gets 6-year tax break on new machinery

Spartan Steel Coating has been given a 50 percent property tax break for six years on a $13.5 million investment in new machinery at its plant in Frenchtown Township. The township board voted 7-0 to approve the industrial facility’s tax exemption Tuesday afternoon following a brief public hearing. The six years starts in 2008. Dave Brandau, operations manager for the firm, said he was surprised the firm didn’t get the full 12 years allowed... 

DeWalt D55155 15 Amp 2-3/4 Horsepower 4 Gallon Oiled Single Hot Dog Compressor

At just a foot high and less than two feet wide out of the carton, this compressor was quite a bit smaller than we expected, so to be fair, we quickly lowered our expectations. The joke was on us, though, because this little powerhouse just doesn’t quit, and we learned that you can’t judge a compressor by its size. We should have known better when the first thing we saw was the word “Emglo” emblazoned in black on that famous DeWalt... 

Porta-Nail 421P Pneumatic Floor Nailer with Both Line Nailer Shoe and Face Nailer Shoe

If you invented the perfect hardwood flooring nailer, you’d make one tool for both face and tongue nailing, pneumatic power, superior fasteners, a generous magazine and flexibility for different flooring thicknesses. Porta-Nails beat you to it. With a simple hardware change (two nuts and a screw), the 421P becomes a face nailer or angle nailer, saving you time and exertion on those first and last few rows of face-nailed flooring and speeding... 

Milwaukee 7120-21 3/4- to 1-3/4-Inch Coil Roofing Nailer

This coil roofing nailer is one of seven new heavy-duty air-powered nailers from the venerable Milwaukee, and the whole series is another testament to the red label’s unflagging quality. At the top of our list is how incredibly light Milwaukee’s nailers are, even fully loaded, and their compact size makes them a cinch to tote and use, especially in awkward positions. But a close second is the clever inclusion of a magnet that holds onto the nails... 

Makita MAC700 The Hotdog 12.4 Amp 2 Horsepower 2-1/2 Gallon Oiled Single Hotdog Compressor

This one’s a bit of a paradox: The do-it-yourselfer might pass by this compressor in favor of an oil-free, no-maintenance model, but it’s actually one of the best on the market for the homeowner, hobbyist and weekend warrior. There are three factors that made us form this opinion. First, it’s the quietest compressor we’ve ever encountered. It’s a remarkable departure in a genre of tools that normally force you to suspend conversation while...