Last week, we highlighted a construction summer camp for 7th and 8th graders in Indiana which allowed several young children gain knowledge of different construction trades, as they converted an old shed into a concession stand for their school. We recently learned about another summer camp, aimed at middle and high school females in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Read moreCool Tools: These Lightsaber Screwdrivers Will Help You Flaunt Your Star Wars Fandom on the Job Site
ThinkGeek
Why should Luke Skywalker and the gang get to have all the fun with lightsabers? The time has finally come for grown men and women to show how much of a true fan of the Star Wars Empire they with a set of 3 lightsaber screwdrivers. Sure, they might not be as comfortable and rugged as our favorite traditional tool manufacturer’s versions are, but, I ask you this: can you current screwdrivers strike fear into the dark side?
Read moreDeWalt Just Unleashed Revolutionary New Line of Batteries, 60V & 120V Tools
Speculation has been ongoing for weeks about DeWalt’s impending “World’s First” announcement that they’ve been teasing and today was the day the announcement was made. In an effort to give cordless tools the same power of corded, the tool giant announced the release of 20V/60V flexible voltage batteries and a new line of cordless 60V and 120V tools. The best part? The new ultra-powerful batteries are compatible with your favorite 20V tools that you already own.
FLEXVOLT, touted by DeWalt as the “World’s first battery that automatically changes voltage when you change tools,” will bring unprecedented power to cordless tools, especially workhorse tools like miter saws and circular saws. Perhaps most importantly, two 60-volt batteries ($149 to $199 on Amazon) can be used in tandem to extend the life and the power of the batteries. This system will be used in 120V tools, the first of which to be released is the 120V cordless/corded miter saw. The exciting new line of tools includes:
120V Cordless/Corded Sliding Miter Saw ($499-$799 on Amazon)
All tools will incorporate the brushless motor technology that has made many tools so much more efficient in recent years. With the brushless motor technology combined with the new batteries and FLEXVOLT accessories that were also announced today, you can expect up to twice the run time vs. standard DeWalt tools. The accessories that DeWalt will release so far include circular saw blades engineered for low vibration, reciprocating saw blades with a finish that helps to reduce heat, and a self-feed pilot bit for faster cuts.
DeWalt had Twitter abuzz today due to the major announcement, which was in conjunction with the DeWalt media day. Several other tools and accessories were announced as well, like this new DeWalt Toughbox for safe jobsite storage.
Coming soon, a new place to store your #dewalt tools on the job #worldsfirst pic.twitter.com/KpA9YUQiaR
— Electrical Business (@EBMag) June 21, 2016
And this 60V chainsaw…
@BIM2theBone @JamesMBenham Check out this 60V cordless chainsaw from @DEWALTtough #flexvolt #worldsfirst pic.twitter.com/OCiPYkTmLX
— Rob McKinney (@conappguru) June 21, 2016
And this cordless dust extractor vacuum:
So THIS is how you make a #cordless dust extractor vac @DEWALTtough #worldsfirst #flexvolt #vacuums pic.twitter.com/QJCufS9rS3
— Pro Tool Reviews (@ProToolReviews) June 21, 2016
It was certainly an exciting day for DeWalt tool lovers. It’s even more exciting that you won’t have to replace your existing 20V tools to upgrade to the new batteries, unlike the last time DeWalt upgraded their batteries from 18V to 20V MAX.
FLEXVOLT will be made available to the public in the fall of 2016. To find out more about FLEXVOLT, visit flexvolt.dewalt.com.
Featured
Cool Tools: Makita’s Robotic Workshop Vacuum is the Invention We All Deserve
The best part of any construction job is making a mess. The worst part is cleaning up. With all the talk of robots entering the job site and doing all the fun stuff for us, why in the world have we not been pouring money into robots that will clean for us?! Makita may have answered our prayers, as Makita Japan has released an automated robotic vacuum that can handle the odd materials in your workshop or job site.
Read moreNew Milwaukee Bucks Arena Construction Site to be Sponsored by Milwaukee Tool
Rendering via the Wisconsin Entertainment and Sports Center
Naming rights for professional sports venues are a big deal, so much so many of the businesses that own naming rights become synonymous with the team. As far as we can determine, though, no construction job site has ever been sponsored by a company in exchange for naming rights…until now.
Read more[VIDEO] Historic Riviera Casino in Las Vegas Imploded After Fireworks Show
Las Vegas knows how to throw a party, even for an old rundown building in its last few seconds on Earth. The city can’t just demolish a historic casino with some boring old explosives, they have to put on an epic fireworks show beforehand with a 10 seconds countdown made out of fireworks. That’s right, there’s so much entertainment in that city that a normal implosion isn’t good enough for them. We don’t mind though, the video below had our eyes peeled for 5 minutes.
Read moreHow Building Green Can Help Your Company and the Customer
[Guest Post] Green innovations have served to change the construction industry in many ways. Building green is the way of the future, so adapting can have benefits for both construction firms and the customers that will use the new buildings. While materials may cost more and it may take a little effort to acquire certifications for green building, having the ability to offer green building expertise can help construction firms stand out. Operating from a green building can also help clients in several ways.
Read moreSummer Construction Camp Teaches Kids Tricks of the Trades
If you’re like many American families, summer vacation is full of beaches, pools, sports camps, and hopefully this awesome construction amusement park that also has an area strictly for adults to play around with heavy machinery. Perhaps lost in the shuffle is the fact that construction camps also exist and they can teach kids real world skills that can help them their entire lives.
Read more[VIDEO] Guy Builds An Electric Skateboard Powered by Power Drill
When you pack as much raw power in a compact battery powered drill, people are bound to get creative with how they use them. Electric skateboards and “hoverboards” have been all the rage with teenagers and young adults that past couple of years, but many can break the bank, like the popular Boosted Board, which can run you up to $1,599.
Read more[VIDEO] 60 Foot Wheeled Crane Crashes into Occupied University Building in Australia, Trapping Operator
It was a scary moment in Queensland, Australia’s Griffith University College of Art building last week as a wheeled crane suddenly tipped and crashed into the top levels. Firemen rushed to the scene to help pull the 35 year old crane operator out of the cabin, as he became stuck. According to the Daily Mail, the operator only suffered minor injuries and was later taken to the hospital in stable condition. Thankfully, no other injuries were reported inside or outside of the building.
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Those that follow tool news may have heard about a new Makita tool platform that launched in several other countries a few months ago and have been waiting for the news of it finally being released in the United States. Well, the wait is over, as the teal tool brand has finally announced the release of their 40V and 80V XGT system in the US.