The Makita BDF452HW 18-volt cordless drill is 8-1/2-in. long and received a very good comfort rating and an excellent torque rating. It has a very good battery life and a charge time of 25 minutes. The Makita BDF452HW was the second lightest and most comfortable drill in this tool test. It had the second-best battery life, the third-best charge time, and the best torque of all the drills. Because this drill had strong scores across the board and was reasonably priced, it received ratings of “best overall” and “best value.”
The Makita BDF452HW 18-volt cordless drill is available from www.makita.com.
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Festool Rotex FEQ-Plus Random Orbital Sander
The Festool Rotex is a top-of-the-line choice. On its coarse setting, it removed stock nearly twice as quickly as the second-fastest model. But that speed doesn’t mean you’ll have to wrestle with it. It’s no huge task to control it with two hands, and its long body gives you plenty of room to find a sweet spot while holding it.
This tool is designed for convenience. The battery and pins are easy to load, and the safety lock operates with the same finger you use to pull the trigger. The depth of set is adjustable, there’s a work light, and there’s a hook for hanging the tool on your toolbelt. A gauge lets you keep track of when you’ll need to recharge.
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