Drill test – 3/8-in. holes: 34 Drill test – 3/4-in. holes: 13 Driver test – 3-in. screws: 67 Driver test – 4-in. screws (inches driven): 2-1/2 in. Street price: $175 Batteries: 2 amp-hours
As a cabinetmaker and carpenter, I preferred the Bosch tools. They performed with the best of the more affordable kits yet are the smallest of the lot. The impact driver is especially tiny, allowing it to fit easily in a tool belt or shop apron. The driver also has three LEDs and a battery indicator. The drill sports a locking chuck. The only drawbacks to the Bosch tools are the fatter handles that come with stick-style batteries, and a chuck on the driver that requires you to slide a sleeve forward to change bits.
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Festool Cleantec CT 26 E HEPA Dust Extractor
The clear winner here is Festool’s CT 48 Dust Extractor. It has amazing capacity relative to its size, and unmatched suction power. It packs in a number of subtle but very helpful design touches, like a clever foot brake and easy hose and cord storage.
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.
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.
With its graceful curves, cabriole legs, and ornamental back splat, a Queen Anne side chair is a bucket list build for many woodworkers. Dan Faia had a very specific Queen…
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