Tool News
November 2008
BernzOmatic - Changing the Shape of the Fuel Cylinder Industry with Higher Capacity, Environmentally-Friendly Alternative Recyclable Fat Boy™
Designed to Meet User Preferences by Holding More Fuel in a More Compact Cylinder
BernzOmatic®, a leading global manufacturer of hand-held torches and accessories, today announces the introduction of Fat Boy™, an environmentally-friendly fuel cylinder that features 20 percent more fuel than standard fuel cylinders.
Fat Boy propane cylinders, the latest innovation from BernzOmatic, meet the environmental demands of today’s consumers. The cylinders include patent-pending Green Key® technology, which is a simple device that, when inserted into an empty propane cylinder, releases all remaining fumes, effectively depressurizing the cylinder so it can be recycled by the consumer’s local steel recycler.
The new Fat Boy cylinders contain 20 percent more fuel than standard 14.1 oz. cylinders, providing users with longer run times. Additionally, the cylinders have a 25 percent height reduction for greater accessibility in tight spaces.
“The launch of the Fat Boy cylinder was driven by extensive research into user preferences. While users generally regard this as a commodity product, we have identified some opportunities to add value to the product. Specifically, adding fuel capacity and making the product recyclable really stood out as improvements that the torch user valued. This product will forever change the shape of the fuel cylinder industry,” says Nick Morrisroe, Vice President of Marketing for BernzOmatic.
Fat Boy propane cylinders are available for $4.99 at Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, The Home Depot and industrial supply centres across Canada.
Two New Sliding Compound Miter Saws Mark 20th Anniversary of Hitachi's Original
Hitachi Power Tools today announced two new 8-1/2-inch slide compound miter saws, the C8FSE and C8FSHE. Twenty years after developing the first sliding compound miter saw, Hitachi continues the tradition of innovation with quality engineering along with additional features of today, such as the LED work light and laser guide featured on the C8FSHE. Built with accuracy, power and convenience packed into the two lightest saws in their class, these are the perfect fit for contractors, trim carpenters and fine woodworkers alike.
Twenty years ago, the benefits of the radial arm saw and the miter saw were combined in the first sliding compound miter saw, Hitachi’s C8FB. A standard miter saw is accurate and portable, but the length of a cross cut is limited by the size of the blade. A radial arm saw has a large cutting capacity and is versatile in its applications, but the weight and space it demands makes that tool a permanent, immovable fixture.
In 1988, Hitachi’s engineers took the best features of both tools to create the original and revolutionary sliding compound miter saw. Like a radial arm saw, dual rails allow the power head to slide forward and back for increased cutting capacity. At the same time, the innovative frame retains the accurate bevels and miters of a miter saw with its tighter tolerances, added safety, and portability.
When using a miter saw on-site, trouble-free mobility is a must. At 31lbs (C8FSE) and 32lbs (C8FSHE), these are the lightest in their class, making them the most portable 8-1/2” slide miter saws on the market. Both the C8FSE and C8FSHE are powered by 9.5Amp motors and have a no-load speed of 5,500RPM to smoothly handle the toughest cutting applications.
These saws can stand up to job-site travel and tough high-volume tasks, while retaining the accuracy suitable for fine woodworking and finish work. Hitachi’s thumb-actuated positive stops allow for quick adjustments to the most common miter angles- 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, and 45° to both the left and right. A bevel range of 48° to the left and 5° to the right allow for precise compound cuts. A pivoting section extends the length of the fence and a large table provides a stable guide and sturdy support. Materials are held firmly in place with a table-mounted clamp for efficiency, accuracy and safety.
These saws can handle materials up to 2-9/16-inches high, such as crown molding lying flat, and 12 inches deep in a 90° cross cut. Both saws are loaded with features for user convenience, including the best-in-class dust collection system for a cleaner workspace. The vertical handle is covered in Hitachi’s vibration absorbing elastomer for a secure and comfortable grip surface. A splinter guard behind the fence reduces tear-out for clean, finished cuts and easily accessible carbon brushes will help your saw perform for years to come.
The C8FSHE contains additional features for making the perfect cut the first time. A fully-adjustable LED work light illuminates the table from any angle for bright visibility. Hitachi’s exclusive laser marker system can be activated before the blade is in motion for exact alignment and predictable blade placement. As long as your measurements are right, your cuts will be, too!
The Hitachi C8FSE and C8FSHE 8-1/2” sliding compound miter saws each come complete with an 8-1/2” TCT saw blade, dust bag, vice assembly, box wrench and a sub fence, as well as Hitachi’s industry leading 5-year warranty. These are the ideal sliding compound miter saws for trim carpenters, framers and woodworkers who demand precision and reliability.
New STANLEY® FatMax® Blades are the Sharpest, Strongest and Longest-Lasting STANLEY® Blades Ever
The Stanley Works is proud to introduce five new FatMax® Utility Knives and a new STANLEY® FatMax® Blade to help pros and do-it-yourselfers with all their heavy-duty cutting projects. The new FatMax® Knives feature new innovative features including a blade wiper which can help prolong the life of the blade, a blade-clamp button designed to reduce blade wobble, a rubber grip for hand comfort and a high visibility yellow finish. Stanley has also introduced a new STANLEY® FatMax® Blade, the perfect complement to this family of knives, which are 35% sharper, 20% stronger and last 75% longer than previous STANLEY® 1992® blades.
The STANLEY® FatMax® Snap-Off Knife is available in three sizes (9mm, 18mm and 25mm) and offers a continuous sharp edge with its snap-off blades. All three sizes feature a blade wiper to remove debris from the blade, which can help prolong the life of the knife. A stainless steel barrel resists rust and a removable blade snapper allows for safe and easy use when snapping off dull blades. The cartridge holds six replacement blades for the 9mm and 18mm models, and four in the 25mm model.
The STANLEY® FatMax® Retractable Utility Knife features a blade wiper to remove debris from the blade. This reduces the need for cleaning the blades by hand and is designed to extend the life of the utility knife. A push-button blade door allows for quick blade changes and easy access to the five standard utility blades stored inside. The thumb pad is ergonomically designed to provide a correct cutting angle. The suggested retail price for the STANLEY® FatMax® Retractable Utility Knife is $14.99.
The STANLEY® FatMax® Fixed Utility Knife features a steel wear plate designed for longer life and reduced wear on the nose of the knife. Like the STANLEY® FatMax® Retractable Utility Knife, this knife features a push button blade door for quick blade changes and storage for five standard utility blades. It also has a thumb pad ergonomically designed to provide a correct cutting angle. The suggested retail price for the STANLEY® FatMax® Fixed Utility Knife is $12.99.
The new line of FatMax® Blades are heat treated for increased blade flexibility and feature an induction hardened edge for outstanding blade sharpness and extended blade life. When these blades are bent, they return to their original shape and maintain their sharp edges. This durability and flexibility are designed to enable people to increase their productivity by working longer between blade changes and to save money by using fewer blades. STANLEY® FatMax® Snap-Off Knives will range from $7.99 to $14.99.
All FatMax Knives are available across Canada at home improvement and general retailers.
Hitachi's Four New Gas Nailers for Hassle-Free Finishing
Hitachi Power Tools introduces four new gas finish nailers to the market. A combination of HXP lithium ion battery technology and a gas fuel cell offers the convenience of a cordless tool with the power of a pneumatic! Lightweight and loaded with features for performance, user comfort, and safety, these nailers are ideal for a variety of installation applications with freedom from the restrictions of an awkward air hose and a cumbersome compressor. The NT65GS gas finish nailer applies 16-gauge fasteners from a straight magazine. The angled 15-gauge gas finish nailer, NT65GA, the angled 16-gauge gas finish nailer, the NT65GB, and lastly the NT50GS, 18-gauge Brad nailer allow for easy maneuverability in tight corners and spaces.
Time is money and gas nailers save both! Without bulky pneumatic attachments, the user can easily move around the jobsite, saving time in the set-up, during use, and in cleanup after the job has been completed. These gas nailers from Hitachi hold fasteners up to 2-1/2” in length and each have a capacity of 100 nails. Double-actioned nail feed and a reciprocating piston system drive an intermittent cycle rate of two nails per second and a 1,000 nail per hour continuous rate to rapidly compete tasks.
Dry fire lockout prevents blank activation when the nail count comes to an end. This valuable feature serves to alert the user to replace nails, prolong tool life with fewer empty drives, and minimize possible damage to a work piece. A detachable, no-mar nose cap also protects delicate work surfaces and costly materials from indentations or scratches. The cap can be conveniently snapped onto the body of the tool for easily accessible storage.
Compact and lightweight for optimal balance, maneuverability, and minimal user fatigue, these nailers are ideal for overhead and extended-use applications. A soft elastomer handle provides a comfortable hold and ensures a secure grip. The variable-position belt hook can be installed on either side of the nailer for right or left-handed users. A quick-clear nose with tool-less jam release allows simple nail extraction in the event of a jam during use. With the tool-less depth of drive dial, the user can achieve flush fastening into various materials with every fastener for a professional finish.
Hitachi’s 0.6-oz finish nailer fuel rods have a long life of 1,200 shots each. When a cell is spent, the nailer can instantly be reloaded by inserting a new top-loading fuel rod without waiting on a compressor to complete a cycle! When one of the 3.6V lithium ion batteries runs low, an indicator light alerts the user of the battery status to prevent unexpected downtime. In only an hour, a battery can fully charge using the AC/DC charger. Adaptors make charging possible in a standard wall outlet or in an automobile on the way to a job.
These gas finish nailers provide unobstructed mobility on a jobsite and are ideal for installing molding, door jambs, baseboards, window casings, chair rail, and cabinetry and for other fine finish applications.
Hitachi’s NT65GS, NT65GA, NT65GB, NT50GS come with two 3.6V Lithium Ion batteries, an AC/DC charger with automotive adaptor, carrying case, safety glasses, no-mar tip and hex bar wrenches. Fuel rods (728981) are sold separately.