If you grade lots, pour concrete, or set foundations, the best rotary laser levels turn a two-person job into a one-person job and remove the guesswork from a 200-foot pad. After testing 10 models over several weeks on real job sites — pouring pads, digging footings, setting fence posts, and hanging drop ceilings — we … Read more
A total station is an electronic surveying instrument that combines a theodolite (for measuring angles) with an electronic distance measurement (EDM) device, capturing highly precise angle and distance data in a single unit. When our team set out to find the best total stations for surveying in , we compared ten current models on accuracy, … Read more
When I tore out a bathroom wall last spring, my old corded recip saw died halfway through the second stud. That frustration pushed our team to spend the next three months testing every worthwhile reciprocating saw we could get our hands on. We cut through framing lumber, drywall, cast iron pipe, embedded nails, and PVC. … Read more
I have spent more weekends than I care to admit hunched over a stubborn concrete slab, trying to coax it into breaking apart. After my third bathroom remodel and one too many arguments with a tile thinset, I started keeping a demolition hammer in my garage full-time. That single decision saved me a contractor bill … Read more
Anyone who has tried drilling into cured concrete with a regular drill knows the frustration of watching a bit slowly turn to dust. Standard hammer drills simply cannot keep up with masonry, reinforced concrete, or demolition work. After spending 30 days testing seven top-rated rotary hammer drills across job sites and DIY projects, our team … Read more
Three summers ago, I tried to cut through a 4-inch patio slab with a wood-cutting circular saw. The blade smoked, the concrete laughed, and I nearly threw the saw in the lake. That mistake sent me down a months-long rabbit hole testing the best concrete saws I could get my hands on, and the lineup … Read more
I spent the last three months running 10 chop saws through rebar, square tubing, sheet metal, and angle iron in my garage shop. I timed how long each cut took, counted sparks, and replaced more abrasive blades than I want to admit. The best chop saws in fall into two camps. Abrasive chop saws grind … Read more
If you cut metal for a living (or even just for serious weekend projects), the difference between a regular chop saw and a proper cold saw shows up the moment you finish the cut. A true cold saw uses a slow-spinning toothed blade and a stream of cutting fluid, so the steel comes off the … Read more
After spending months testing ironworker machines across multiple fabrication shops, I can tell you this: the right ironworker transforms your metalworking capability overnight. Whether you’re punching holes in structural steel, shearing angle iron for trailer frames, or notching brackets for agricultural equipment, a quality ironworker replaces four or five separate tools in a single footprint. … Read more
I spent six weeks in my workshop bending everything from 24-gauge galvanized ductwork to 18-gauge mild steel panels. I have made folded seams, Pittsburgh locks, and full four-sided boxes. After testing ten of the most popular models side by side, I can tell you exactly which best sheet metal brakes actually deliver on their promises. … Read more