Tool Review: DeWALT DW304PK Reciprocating Saw

Reciprocating saws, sometimes called sawzalls (a trademark of the Milwaukee brand), saws alls, recipro saws and sabre saws, are great tools for construction and demolition.

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By no means am I a professional tool reviewer. This is a review from an "average Joe" for all the DIYers out there.

Description
Since the saw can change blades, reciprocating saws can be outfitted to cut through just about any material, including wood and steel. This makes them very handy in demolition work where wood planks with nails or screw must be quickly cut.

So How Good is the DeWALT DW304PK Reciprocating Saw?

Priced right around $100, the DW304PK is DeWalt's entry level saw. It comes with a nice carrying case and an instruction manual. I have to admit that I toss most tool cases into storage because I find them to be, for the most part, junk, but I really do like this case. It is large enough inside to fit the saw with a long blade installed and the cord without trying to figure out how they managed to get it all to fit from the factory.
The DeWalt DW304PK is, for the most part, a fairly basic saw, but it does have some nice features:

10 Amp motor
4 position blade clamp
Tool-less blade changes
Variable speed trigger
7 lb. weight

Motor
The DeWalt's 10 Amp motor is powerful enough to cut through everything I have used it on so far. There have only been two times the saw has struggled, once when I was using the saw to quickly "disassemble" an old couch that I did not want to carry down a dangerous flight of stairs and once while cutting through a thick trunk of a shrub. The reason the saw struggled on the couch was because some of the fabric got caught in the blade clamp and started to clog the saw. The saw struggled on the trunk because the trunk was just too thick for the blade. Neither of those examples were the fault of the saw, but were my fault in the use of the saw.

Blades
Two of the features I really like about this saw regard how the saw uses blades. The first is its keyless blade clamp. Changing the blade is extremely easy and fast. The second blade feature is the 4-position blade clamp. This clamp allows you to install a blade with the serrations (cutting edge) down, up, to the left, or to the right. I have made use of this feature many times; often when working with the reciprocating saw, I would find one position in which I had the most control of the saw, but that position would not always be optimum for cutting if it were not for this clever feature. Now, I can hold the saw in the most comfortable position without sacrificing cutting efficiency.

Ergonomics and Saw Control
Being the entry level, "lite" saw offering, the DeWalt DW304PK weighs in at a respectable 7 lbs. I would not call it light or heavy, but manageable. It is light enough to be used over the head for short periods of time without leading to arm fatigue but heavy enough to let you know it is well built and not flimsy.

The variable speed trigger is useful, but I usually end up squeezing the trigger all the way down as I am using the saw. It takes a little practice to get good at accurately controlling the speed, but I have not found it to detract from the overall usefulness of the saw.

Summary
I think this is the perfect saw for any homeowner or DIYer who needs a reciprocating saw for those occasional demolition or construction tasks. It is moderately inexpensive, has a sturdy build quality, and is very simple and straight forward to use.

What I Like

1. Rugged and durable build quality
   
2. Keyless / Tool less blade change
   
3. 4-position blade clamp
   

What I Dislike

1. Probably not powerful enough for professional use
   

My Rating
I rate on a five star scale.
1 star = Poor, I would not buy and would probably not use even if given to me.
2 stars = Marginal, there are better products out there in the same price range. I would only consider getting this if it were extremely discounted and I did not plan on using it very much, otherwise I would suggest passing.
3 stars = Acceptable, if this product were on sale and I needed it, I would buy it. It functions as it should and will probably last a few years. It is probably not good enough to be my primary tool of choice, but excels as a back-up.
4 stars = Good, this tool is worth retail price if you need it. It only has a few minor drawbacks that are easily outweighed by its strengths.
5 stars = Nearly Perfect, this product is exception with few minor, if any, flaws. It is built well enough to pass on to the next generation of DIYers and will not disappoint them.

The DeWALT DW304PK Reciprocating Saw gets

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Tool Review: Chicago Electric 10" Compound Slide Miter Saw 90891

Power miter saws make quick work out of cross cutting boards and, you guessed it, making miter cuts. In today's market you can find miter saws with many features that extend their capability far beyond simple miter cuts. The Chicago Electric 90891 is one such saw. It is a sliding compound miter saw, but what exactly does that mean?

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By no means am I a professional tool reviewer. This is a review from an "average Joe" for all the DIYers out there.

Description
Sliding miter saws have the blade assembly mounted on some form of sliding mechanism so that the blade can make broader cuts. In a way, this feature turns a miter saw into a miniature radial arm saw. Compound miter saws let you adjust the bevel of the cut in addition to the miter angle.

So How Good is the Chicago Electric 10" Compound Slide Miter Saw 90891?The Chicago Electric 10" Sliding Compound miter saw is priced right around where most non sliding, non compound miter saws from the major tool brands are. That can be expected since Chicago Electric is the name Harbor Freight puts on its power tools, and Harbor Freight generally imports the least expensive tools it can get from China. You will usually find people who either love the inexpensive prices at these stores or hate the generally poor quality of imported tools sold at Harbor Freight. But this is a review of the miter saw, not the store where it came from.

Brand new, this saw will cost $100-130. Used ones can be found at discounted prices; I found my near-new saw for a little more than half retail price. You definitely get a lot of saw for your buck, but what we need to determine is if the saw works well.

Ease of Use
Starting with the ergonomics and ease of use, this saw performs well. The vertical pistol grip handle of the saw is comfortable and I prefer this style of handle as opposed to a horizontally mounted handle. The "trigger" and the safety thumb trigger are spaced perfectly for my medium sized hands.

Changing the miter or bevel angle is easily accomplished by using the large plastic knobs. The included work clamp features the same type of plastic knob which makes it comfortable and easy to use.

The weight of the motor is not a real issue. The motor/blade unit smoothly pivot down, though the spring in the hinge area may be a bit stiff. I would prefer the spring to be a little softer so it would not take quite as much effort to lower the blade.

To use the slide feature of this saw you simply loosen a bolt (that has a comfortable plastic knob, like all the other adjuster bolts) and the whole saw's arm, hinge, and motor unit slides back and forth on two rails. It takes very little effort to slide the saw, which I like.When the saw is completely extended forward on its rails, the center of balance is a little too far forward for the saw's base to handle. If you are going to use the saw's sliding feature, you should bolt or clamp the saw down to a stable surface. What is nice about the base is that it includes pre-drilled holes to use to bolt it down.

The miter adjustment has positive stops at 0, 22 1/2, and 45 degrees. I really like this feature and wish all tools that have miter or bevel adjustments used accurate positive stops. Unfortunately, the bevel adjustment on this saw does not have positive stops, except at 0 and 45 degrees, which happen to be both the miter and bevel range of angles this saw is capable of cutting.

The included out-feed support rails are marginally useful, but the plastic stop is not. The amount of play in the stop is alarming, even when it is fully tightened down to the rail. That is not too much of a problem though since the out-feed rails are really too short to begin with. Like all miter saws, this can easily be remedied with the purchase or creation of a dedicated miter saw stand.

Operation
First of all, the 90891 has a strong enough motor to cut through any wood that will fit. No complaints there.

The blade leaves a clean cut almost all the way through the wood, but creates a lot of splinters and tear-out at the rear of the cut. I think most of this is caused by the large gap in the fence for the saw's clearance. Most of the tear-out can be eliminated with the use of a sacrificial auxiliary fence. I really would like to be able to completely eliminate all splintering, but I have not had any luck. Another factor may be the large opening in the lower blade insert. If this insert were narrower, the wood piece would have more support from underneath and would splinter less when cut.

The biggest criticism I have of this saw is the excessive play in the motor/blade unit's hinge. While lowering the blade to make a cut, I can wiggle the blade side-to-side about 1/16". Because the movement originates in the blade's pivot point, it can create a slightly angled cut.

Summary
For the most part this is a good saw. The movement in the blade really keeps the Chicago Electric 10" Compound Slide Miter Saw 90891 from being an excellent saw. It works very well for making quick cuts where dead-on accuracy are not important or if you are going to true those cuts on a table saw or other tool. The compound angle cuts are also very useful when working with crown molding.

What I Like

1. Compound cutting capability
   
2. Sliding feature
3. Easy to use
4. Inexpensive price
   

What I Dislike

1. Free play creating non-square cuts
2. Excessive tear-out and splintering
3. Blade guard needed to be adjusted in order to correctly work

My Rating
I rate on a five star scale.
1 star = Poor, I would not buy and would probably not use even if given to me.
2 stars = Marginal, there are better products out there in the same price range. I would only consider getting this if it were extremely discounted and I did not plan on using it very much, otherwise I would suggest passing.
3 stars = Acceptable, if this product were on sale and I needed it, I would buy it. It functions as it should and will probably last a few years. It is probably not good enough to be my primary tool of choice, but excels as a back-up.
4 stars = Good, this tool is worth retail price if you need it. It only has a few minor drawbacks that are easily outweighed by its strengths.
5 stars = Nearly Perfect, this product is exception with few minor, if any, flaws. It is built well enough to pass on to the next generation of DIYers and will not disappoint them.

The Chicago Electric 90891 10" Compound Miter Saw gets

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Chicago Electric 10" Sliding Compound Miter Saw 90891

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Tool Review: Firestorm FS200SD / Black & Decker BDTS200 10" Table Saw

Are bottom-of-the-line bench top table saws a worthy investment for the homeowner and DIYer?. Maybe, but maybe not. Read on to find out if this saw will work for you.

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By no means am I a professional tool reviewer. This is a review from an "average Joe" for all the DIYers out there.

Description

Table saws come in five basic designs:

Bench Top - Small and portable saws often sold as introductory table saws.
Contractor - Heavier duty motor and larger table than bench top. Motor usually drives a belt to turn the saw blade.
Hybrid - Motor from a contractor's saw with the design of cabinet saw
Cabinet - Large motor requiring 220 volt, 3 phase wiring (will not work with your standard household wiring). Has large table and is extremely heavy.
European - As large and expensive as a cabinet saw, these saws use a sliding table to move the work piece to the blade.

The Firestorm FS200SD and its identical twin, the Black & Decker BDTS200, are low-end budget bench top saws. The small table of this saw limits its use to small boards. You will not be able to rip full sized (4'x8') sheets of plywood on this saw without some serious modification or help. If you are planning on ripping long boards on this saw's scant table, I would suggest using an out-feed support jig. You can purchase one that is basically a roller mounted on an adjustable shaft, but a frugal alternative - which would probably be what you want if all you can afford is this table saw - would be to clamp an old paint roller to a saw horse.

Another quick and easy jig you can make for any table saw is a miter gauge extension. Simply take a straight board about 2"-4" tall and 8"-18" long and affix it to the front of your miter gauge so that one end protrudes past the blade. Then, with the blade set to its maximum height, run the miter gauge through so that the blade trims the wood extension. Now, when you place a board to cut on your table saw you can line up the cut mark with the edge of the miter gauge extension and you will know exactly where the cut will be made.

So How Good is the Firestorm FS200SD / Black & Decker BDTS200 Table Saw?As I mentioned before, this saw is priced as an introductory saw. At Lowes, it could be found for anywhere from $80-$130. That is very inexpensive for a table saw, but is it worth it to shell out that kind of money or are you better off if you save your pennies and put them towards a different table saw? Read on for more information that will help you make that decision.

The saw comes in a large box with the motor, blade assembly, and table pre-assembled. You have to assemble the stand with the provided hardware and instructions. It should take about half an hour; or, you can forgo the stand and clamp the saw on a workbench or table.

The table is made out of aluminum and, combined with the plastic housing, is very light. The stand also includes two wheels making this a back-friendly tool to move around the work shop.

Black & Decker included a rip fence that can be mounted in the integrated fence rail and can be adjusted to about 12" to the right side of the blade and 9" to the left. The fence locks in place by a cam lock activated by pushing the lever at the front of the fence down. (Fig. A) With a bit of coaxing the fence can lock down square to the blade, but do not expect it to keep square. I was able to move the back end of the fence about 1/8" from side to side even after the fence was locked in place. (Fig. B)

A miter gauge comes with the table saw as well. It fits into non-standard t-slots milled into the table top surface. (Fig. C) You can adjust the miter gauge by loosening the bolt on top and rotating the gauge. There are no stops at common angles, so you will have to be very careful when setting the angle.
The saw blade that comes with the table saw is a generic carbide-tipped blade designed to be sufficient at most cuts. It actually leaves a smooth edge and performs better than I would expect with such an inexpensive saw. It can be easily changed to accept any blade up to 10" You can also use a stacked dado blade (up to 1/2" wide) with this saw, though you will have to make, buy, or remove a blade insert.

The controls for the saw on all on the front. The large, prominent wheel raises and lowers the blade. To tilt the blade (up to 45 degrees) you have to unlock the lever and then manually lift the blade assembly (using the blade height adjusting wheel as a handle helps) to the desired angle.
The on/off switch is a small toggle switch low on the base. I would much prefer a larger switch within easy reach. The small switch can cause a problem if you ever need to shut the saw off in an emergency.
Some other miscellaneous features and points about the Firestorm saw include a convenient miter gauge holder on the side of the saw. There are also threaded bolt holes on the right hand side of the table that you could use to build your own table extension. This tool comes with a dust collector bag which can help keep your work area clean, however sometimes I think the spinning blade actually sucks some of the dust out of the bag and spews it out into the air over the table saw. This saw seems to make a lot more dust than my other table saw.

Summary
Although the Firestorm FS200SD / Black & Decker can make a decent cut I think its small size and non-standard accessories severely limit its functionality. A good circular saw will be a much more useful tool for cutting large pieces of plywood and a good power miter saw will do just as good of a job cross cutting boards.

Woodworkers often say that the table saw is the center of the work shop. That may be true for the larger table saws, but this saw will probably be relegated to the side lines.

What I Like

1. Light weight and portable
2. With some fine tuning you can get straight cuts
3. 15 Amp motor has plenty of power
4. Table top is true and flat
5. Included blade works well
   

What I Dislike

1. Fence could be more accurate
   
2. Built-in rail system does not allow aftermarket fence and rails
   
3. Non-standard t-slot miter slots
   
4. Cheap miter gauge
5. Plastic housing
6. Small on/off switch located too far away from work area
   

My Rating
I rate on a five star scale.
1 star = Poor, I would not buy and would probably not use even if given to me.
2 stars = Marginal, there are better products out there in the same price range. I would only consider getting this if it were extremely discounted and I did not plan on using it very much, otherwise I would suggest passing.
3 stars = Acceptable, if this product were on sale and I needed it, I would buy it. It functions as it should and will probably last a few years. It is probably not good enough to be my primary tool of choice, but excels as a back-up.
4 stars = Good, this tool is worth retail price if you need it. It only has a few minor drawbacks that are easily outweighed by its strengths.
5 stars = Nearly Perfect, this product is exception with few minor, if any, flaws. It is built well enough to pass on to the next generation of DIYers and will not disappoint them.

The Firestorm FS200SD / Black & Decker BDTS200 Table Saw gets

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Tool Review: Firestorm 5" Random Orbit Sander

What type of sanders should I have and what is the difference between the types of sanders? Is the Firestorm random orbit sander worth getting? Read on to find out if this is the sander you are looking for.

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By no means am I a professional tool reviewer. This is a review from an "average Joe" for all the DIYers out there.

Description
There are several different types of hand power sanders available on the market today. Here is a quick summary of the types of hand sanders and what they are used for:

Detail: These are used to sand in tight areas, such as corners or oddly shaped pieces of wood like carvings or detailed furniture.

Palm: These sanders come in two basic shapes, the square and the pointed. Their purpose is very similar to the Detail Sander except they are a little bigger and can sand more wood faster. They typically use either a 1/4 sheet or 1/3 sheet of sand paper that can be attached either by hook and loop or adhesive backing. When using a palm sander, it is important to go with the grain of the wood to avoid leaving marks.

Random Orbit: These sanders use circular pads that usually attached to the tool by a hook and loop system. The sander rotates the pad in a circular fashion, but also adds a second random motion to the pad. This special random orbit motion allows the user to sand wood in any direction without leaving sanding scars. Random orbit sanders require special sanding discs that have a ring of holes in them for dust collection. When installing a sanding disc, it is important to line the holes in the disc up with the holes in the sander's pad. This type of sander is very versatile and should not be overlooked.

Belt: These sanders use a belt of sand paper stretched between two rollers. They remove wood very quickly and are great for rough sanding. Their straight sanding path limits their use to sanding with the grain of the wood only, and their large and flat sanding footprint restricts their use to large pieces of flat wood.

The Firestorm (Black & Decker) 5" Random Orbit Sander, like all random orbit sanders, is a very versatile sanding tool. It is small enough to do a lot of detail sanding, yet powerful enough to remove wood quickly for fast rough sanding. Sanding discs are readily available in hardware stores and, when purchased in bulk, are quite inexpensive. Although you can find discs in just about any grit, the most common I have seen have been 40, 80, and 120.

What I really like about random orbit sanders is that you can lead them across the surface of the piece of wood in any direction you want to. I find that it makes keeping an even coverage of the work area easier which results in fewer sanding "hills and valleys" in the wood.

If you need to get into tight corners, random orbit sanders will not be of much use due to their circular shape. Also, if you need to remove a lot of wood very quickly a belt sander will probably be of greater use. However, if your budget only allows to have one sander, I would recommend a random orbit sander above any other.

So How Good is the Firestorm 5" Random Orbit Sander?

Priced at around $35, the Firestorm sander is very inexpensive. But, like the Skilsaw I reviewed earlier, this is one inexpensive tool that is not a cheap tool. The Firestorm has a motor that has plenty of power for any sanding job. Built into the sander is a brake that will stop the sanding disc too much pressure is applied. This brake features is nice because it helps prevent damage to the tool, the wood, and it reminds the user to let the tool do the work.

The Firestorm sander has a jug style handle, a palm sized top, and a comfortable neck. Having three convenient and ergonomic places to hold onto the tool is an extremely welcome feature. It ensures that no matter what position you may be in relation to the sander, you will still be able to comfortably control the tool.

Included with this sander is a small dust collection bag. By directing some of the sanding dust into the bag, the Firestorm helps keep the work environment a little bit cleaner, which is especially helpful when working in the house. It would have been nice if the dust collection was a standard size to attach to a shop vacuum or shop dust collection system, but you may be able to find an adapter to do just that.

A couple of other things I like about the Firestorm are the 12' long power cord and the sealed on/off switch.

I have really liked using this sander with one caveat: it seems as if the pad which the sanding discs attach has become less capable of getting a tight hold on the paper. On more than one occasion I have had a sanding disc fly off the pad. The hook and loop system is very similar to Velcro, and the pad on the sander would get clogged with remnants from old sanding discs. After cleaning the pad by gently running a soft wire brush through it, I was able to get the discs to stick a little bit better. I am not sure if this is an issue with the sander or the sanding discs I have been using.

Summary
I would have nothing negative to say if I had not had problems keeping the sanding discs attached to the sander though I think this is a flaw with the discs I am using. Over all, this has been a valuable tool with a lot of nice features and a frugal price tag.

What I Like

1. Price
2. Three comfortable places to grip the tool
   
3. Ample sanding power
   
4. Sealed on/off switch
   

What I Dislike

1. Non-standard dust collection port
   
2. Sanding discs do not stay attached very well
   

My Rating
I rate on a five star scale.
1 star = Poor, I would not buy and would probably not use even if given to me.
2 stars = Marginal, there are better products out there in the same price range. I would only consider getting this if it were extremely discounted and I did not plan on using it very much, otherwise I would suggest passing.
3 stars = Acceptable, if this product were on sale and I needed it, I would buy it. It functions as it should and will probably last a few years. It is probably not good enough to be my primary tool of choice, but excels as a back-up.
4 stars = Good, this tool is worth retail price if you need it. It only has a few minor drawbacks that are easily outweighed by its strengths.
5 stars = Nearly Perfect, this product is exception with few minor, if any, flaws. It is built well enough to pass on to the next generation of DIYers and will not disappoint them.

The Firestorm 5" Random Orbit Sander gets

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Tool Review: Skilsaw 7 1/4" Circular Saw, Model 5400

Are circular saws worth having in your tool collection? Is the Skilsaw 5400 any good? Read on to find out if this is the saw for you.

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By no means am I a professional tool reviewer. This is a review from an "average Joe" for all the DIYers out there.

Description
Circular saws are real work horses and are good at ripping and cutting large boards and panels, like full sheets of plywood. Sure, a mid to high end table saw may yield better results but will cost 20-40 times as much a this Skil saw. The main use for a circular saw is making straight cuts through wood products no more than 3" thick. Not every DIY weekend warrior has a cabinet, radial arm, or panel saw, but you will not need any of these expensive tools to cut large panels or boards.

It can be difficult to cut straight lines free hand, but you can make a simple jig that will assure accurate cuts every time.

To construct the straight cutting jig you will need one board 4' long and at least 2" wider than the distance between your circular saw blade and the edge of the saw's foot plate, another board 4' long by 1"+ width, and some nails or screws:

1. Fasten the narrower board (green) to the wide board (blue) as shown in the picture. Make sure they are square to each other.
   
2. Position the circular saw on the jig as shown in the picture. The bottom board should extend a little past the blade. Run the saw along the guide while cutting the bottom board to the correct width.
3. Now all you need to do is line up your cut marks with the edge of the bottom board and you will have precise cuts every time! (Remember to add the thickness of the jig to the thickness of the board you are cutting when setting the saw's blade height)
   

So How Good is the Skilsaw 5400 Circular Saw?
There is no denying that this is a budget saw. It was the least expensive one at Lowes where it retailed for about $30 in 2008. But do not let the inexpensive price scare you off. A lot of times a cheap tool is just that, cheap, but I prefer to call this a base model saw. Its low price reflects its simple design and lack of pizazz (if a power tool can have pizazz) instead of cheap craftsmanship and materials. More expensive models come with laser sights, better blades, and if you pay enough, completely different methods of spinning the cutting blade. However, with a straight edge and steady hand you do not need laser sights. The blade it comes with is adequate, not great, but adequate. Different blades are readily available, so it is hard to knock too much off for the included blade.

Adjusting the blade height is as simple as unlocking the adjuster via a lever, changing the height, and relocking it by tightening the lever. An indicator shows you what height, in inches, your blade is set to. Here is where a more expensive saw would have the nice feature of set height points for the most commonly used heights so you could easily and repeatedly set the height without having to eyeball the ruler line and the adjuster. But, considering this is a budget saw, it is hard to complain about the lack of features that, though nice, are not absolutely necessary.


The saw can also be adjusted to cut up to 45 degree angle beveled cuts. The bevel adjustment is very similar to the height adjustment in terms of simplicity and short comings.


Changing blades is also simple. There is no spindle lock on this model, so you must use a block of scrap wood to act as a brake for the blade. With the blade blocked by the wood, an included wrench is used to loosen the spindle nut.

The saw has plenty of power to cut through any wood I put in its path, as long as the blade is sharp. It is loud when being used due to its direct drive motor, so be sure to wear proper ear and eye protection.

The included blade is suitable for fast cutting 2x4s and plywood. However, if you want a cut that will leave a really nice and smooth surface, I would recommend buying a 60+ tooth carbide tipped blade.

Summary
This was one of the very first power tools I purchased when we moved into our first house. For a while it substituted for a table saw and power miter saw. Even now that my tool collection has expanded, I still find uses for the circular saw. The Skilsaw is a very sturdy power tool considering the budget price tag. It may lack some of the features of the more expensive saws, but what can be expected from the low end offering? This saw does its job well enough and, in my opinion, is worth having in any DIYer's tool box.

What I Like

1. Price
2. Simplicity of design and use
3. Blade and Foot Plate are square to each other
   
4. Plenty of power
   

What I Dislike

1. Included blade is only adequate
2. Would be nice if the height adjustment locked into standard heights
   

My Rating
I rate on a five star scale.
1 star = Poor, I would not buy and would probably not use even if given to me.
2 stars = Marginal, there are better products out there in the same price range. I would only consider getting this if it were extremely discounted and I did not plan on using it very much, otherwise I would suggest passing.
3 stars = Acceptable, if this product were on sale and I needed it, I would buy it. It functions as it should and will probably last a few years. It is probably not good enough to be my primary tool of choice, but excels as a back-up.
4 stars = Good, this tool is worth retail price if you need it. It only has a few minor drawbacks that are easily outweighed by its strengths.
5 stars = Nearly Perfect, this product is exception with few minor, if any, flaws. It is built well enough to pass on to the next generation of DIYers and will not disappoint them.

The Skilsaw 5400 Circular Saw gets

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Tool Talk

Tools are at the heart of any DIY project. Without tools, we simply cannot get anything done. See, tools are more than simply "man toys", and can be used by anyone. Read below to explore these toys, I mean tools, in greater depth.

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Below you will find tool reviews, jig plans, and other tool related information

Tool Review: Skilsaw 5400 Circular Saw

Tool Review: Firestorm 5" Random Orbit Sander

Tool Review: Firestorm FS200SD / Black & Decker BDTS200 10" Table Saw

Tool Review: Chicago Electric 90891 10" Compound Sliding Miter Saw

Tool Review: DeWALT DW304PK Reciprocating Saw

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Relevant Sites
There is a lot of information about all aspects of tools on the internet. Here are some external links in addition to those at the bottom of this web site that may help you in any tool internet quest you may be on:
Old Wood Working Machines
Craigslist

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