As a plumber, you will want to be as effective and efficient at the job as possible, so you can keep your customers happy and maximize your profits, right? Well, in order to do that, there are a few tools that you must be able to wield with confidence and precision, including the following: The Read more
Milwaukee
As a plumber, you will want to be as effective and efficient at the job as possible, so you can keep your customers happy and maximize your profits, right? Well, in order to do that, there are a few tools that you must be able to wield with confidence and precision, including the following:
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The Almighty Wrench
No plumber’s toolkit is complete without a wrench—or several, because size and type do matter here, folks. From adjustable wrenches to pipe wrenches, these are the bread and butter of plumbing. They twist, turn, tighten, and occasionally serve as an impromptu hammer (though we didn’t officially tell you that). Treat your wrenches like a knight treats his swords; keep them clean, dry, and ready for battle.
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Plunger: The Suction Cup of Destiny
The humble plunger. Often underestimated, never overvalued. This tool is your first line of defense in the war against clogs. Be it a rebellious toilet or a slow-draining sink, a good old-fashioned plunger usually puts things right. Plus, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as that ‘pop’ when the clog clears. Ah, the sweet sound of success!
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Pressure Washing Equipment: The Power Player
Sometimes, a job requires pulling out the big guns—or in this case, the big hoses. Pressure washing equipment isn’t just for cleaning driveways or stripping paint; it’s a game-changer for blasting through tough clogs in main sewer lines. It’s like the pressure washer is saying, “I find your lack of flow disturbing,” before restoring order to the galaxy… or at least to your pipes.
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Hacksaw: The Rough Rider
When you need to cut through metal or plastic pipes, screws, nuts, or bolts, a sturdy hacksaw is your go-to. It’s not the prettiest tool in the shed, but when you need to make a cut, it’s your best friend. Just remember to keep extra blades on hand because nothing dulls the mood quite like a dull blade.
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Pliers: Grip It Good
Pliers are like your hand’s stronger, tougher older brother. They twist, pull, pinch, hold, and occasionally rescue smaller tools that have fallen into the abyss behind the sink. Locking pliers, especially, are indispensable for those moments when you need an extra hand.
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Torch: Light It Up
Not just for late-night horror stories, a good torch (or soldering torch, if we’re being technical) is essential for any plumbing work involving copper pipes. Whether you’re sweating a joint or just trying to see in the dark confines of an under-sink cabinet, a torch brings light and heat to the job.
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Toilet Auger: Go Deeper
Sometimes a plunger just won’t cut it. That’s when the toilet auger, aka the plumber’s snake, slithers in. Designed specifically for toilets, this tool lets you reach deeper into the drain to clear out those particularly awkward clogs that lie beyond the reach of traditional tools.
Equip yourself with these tools, and you’ll be ready to tackle just about any plumbing problem that flows your way, and that means your business will be all the better for it!
Save $500 during the RLS Summer Tool Promo If you’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity to start using RLS press fittings – or to upgrade your RLS tool or jaw set – now is the time. RLS is offering $500 discounts on several of their tool and jaw sets. With RLS fittings – the Read more
Save $500 during the RLS Summer Tool Promo
If you’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity to start using RLS press fittings – or to upgrade your RLS tool or jaw set – now is the time. RLS is offering $500 discounts on several of their tool and jaw sets.
With RLS fittings – the original HVAC/R press fittings – you get reliable flame-free joints in seconds. The company’s proven track record, with more than 20 million fittings installed since 2015, is unmatched in the industry. The RLS double circular press results in two 360˚ metal-to-metal connections, creating a permanent mechanical joint every time. Plus, with RLS press fittings, there’s no flame, no fire hazards, no brazing materials, no burn permits, no fire spotters and no nitrogen purging.
Visit your local RLS distributor/wholesaler to take advantage of $500 discounts on the following tool and jaw sets:
Klauke 19kN Tool and 5-Jaw Set
Includes the Klauke 19kN press tool, 2 lithium-ion batteries, a battery charger, 5 Jaws (3/8″, 1/2″, 5/8″, 7/8″, 1-1/8″) and the accessory kit (depth gauge, press gauge, tube cutter, deburring tool, abrasive pad, wire brush and permanent marker) in a hard plastic carrying case.
Klauke 19kN 8-Jaw Set
Includes 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″, 5/8″, 3/4″, 7/8″, 1-1/8″ and 1-3/8″ jaws in a hard plastic carrying case.
Klauke 32kN 8-Jaw Set
Includes 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″, 5/8″, 3/4″, 7/8″, 1-1/8″ and 1-3/8″ jaws in a hard plastic carrying case, plus a depth gauge, press gauge, abrasive pad, wire brush and permanent marker.
RIDGID 24kN 8-Jaw Set
Includes 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″, 5/8″, 3/4″, 7/8″, 1-1/8″ and 1-3/8″ jaws in a hard plastic carrying case, plus the accessory kit (depth gauge, press gauge, tube cutter, deburring tool, abrasive pad, wire brush and permanent marker).
The jaw sets listed above can be used with most popular press tools, including RIDGID, Milwaukee, Dewalt, Rothenberger and many others. To see the full RLS Tool & Jaw Compatibility Matrix, click here.
Discounts are available on purchases made through 7/31/2024 at participating authorized RLS wholesalers in North America. Get complete details here.
Grenada, Miss. — Milwaukee Tool is excited to announce construction on their newest facility in Mississippi. Located in Grenada County, Mississippi, Milwaukee’s latest expansion will accommodate the company’s growing power tool accessories and power tool business, and will also serve as a centralized repair facility. The new location will create more than 800 new jobs, and Read more
Grenada, Miss. — Milwaukee Tool is excited to announce construction on their newest facility in Mississippi. Located in Grenada County, Mississippi, Milwaukee’s latest expansion will accommodate the company’s growing power tool accessories and power tool business, and will also serve as a centralized repair facility. The new location will create more than 800 new jobs, and is planned to open in mid-2023.
“We’re thrilled to, once again, expand our footprint in the state of Mississippi, where we’ve been able to recruit some of the best talent in the country,” said Steve Richman, Milwaukee Tool Group President. “Our success is the result of our talented people and the culture we’ve created; it is unparalleled in the industry. We are committed to investing in new talent, and the right opportunities to continue meeting the needs of our distributor and user partners with the speed and agility that defines who we are as a company.”
Milwaukee® is investing more than $60 million into advanced technology and manufacturing equipment at their new 563,000-square-foot Grenada location. The facility will house critical accessory manufacturing capabilities, and will join the company’s other service hub in Greenwood, IN, as one of Milwaukee Tool’s main axis points for service operations.
Milwaukee Tool, which employs more than 10,000 people in the U.S., has continually expanded their footprint domestically and globally as their company experiences incredible double-digit growth. In Mississippi, the company has invested more than $209 million in domestic expansion projects over the last 5 years and employs 4,400 people.
More About Milwaukee’s Growth & U.S. Investments
Milwaukee Tool is a global company with manufacturing, distribution, and operations presences across North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company has designed, engineered, and manufactured products in the United States for nearly 100 years.
In the last year, Milwaukee® has invested $216 million in domestic expansion projects. In addition to this new Grenada location, the company’s other domestic presences include Greenwood, Olive Branch, Clinton, and Jackson, MS, as well as in Brookfield, Menomonee Falls, Milwaukee, West Bend, Mukwonago, and Sun Prairie, Wis., Cookeville, Tenn., Chicago, Ill., and Greenwood, Ind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdGqczxo-iY Being the first to get my hands on the new M18 Brushless Threaded Rod Cutter was an honor. The all thread cutter (2872-20) delivers clean, burr-free cuts for threading nuts on by hand. It also has the power to cut through 1/4”, 3/8” and 1/2″ mild steel or 1/4” and 3/8″ stainless steel threaded Read more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdGqczxo-iY
Being the first to get my hands on the new M18 Brushless Threaded Rod Cutter was an honor.
The all thread cutter (2872-20) delivers clean, burr-free cuts for threading nuts on by hand. It also has the power to cut through 1/4”, 3/8” and 1/2″ mild steel or 1/4” and 3/8″ stainless steel threaded rod in seconds.
The new tool features a unique design with a 1-1/2” built-in trim length and one-handed center grip for making uniform, controlled overhead cuts. This also offers users the clearest line of site for the most accurate cuts. Not only is the tool optimized for overhead cutting, but it can also be laid flat on its back for pre-fab cutting as seen in the video.
A brushless motor and an M18 2.0Ah Battery allow this tool to deliver over 400 nut-ready cuts per charge, reducing the need to file the threaded rod before applying the nut. The die includes 3 different cutting sizes, which can be changed by rotating the dies, allowing users to cut the most common sizes of threaded rod. Milwaukee’s REDLINK™ electronics allow the tool’s jaw to auto-retract back to home after each cut so users are ready for the next cut right away.
All these features work together to prevent burrs, chips, and sparks – all common frustrations when using non-dedicated tools to cut threaded rod.
Are you ready to ditch the gas can and forever say goodbye to pesky 2-stroke engines that, for no matter how hard you try, never seem to run right come springtime? The big three tool manufacturers have hit the summer of 2017 running with cordless string trimmers, blowers, hedge trimmers and even chainsaws that operate Read more
Are you ready to ditch the gas can and forever say goodbye to pesky 2-stroke engines that, for no matter how hard you try, never seem to run right come springtime?
The big three tool manufacturers have hit the summer of 2017 running with cordless string trimmers, blowers, hedge trimmers and even chainsaws that operate on the same batteries you have in the shop or on the job.
Banking on the more power is better philosophy; these cordless yard machines are delivered with large capacity battery packs. The same batteries running high demand tools like right angle drills, rotary hammers and saws.
Whether you’re tired of finicky small engines or have better things to do with your time than make that last minute run to the gas station just so you can mix up a gallon or two to trim out the yard, these tools are definitely worth looking twice at.
Here is a quick rundown of my own experience with the Dewalt 60V, Milwaukee 18V and Makita 36V OPE. Watch for additional reviews as more tools are arriving weekly here at The Hub.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL String Trimmer
New product/tool design engineers are always tasked with designing the next best thing, the fastest or most powerful tool that will turn heads and ring in sales. One guiding principle in design is the “KISS” method. Standing for “keep it simple stupid” but it’s not necessarily a negative connotation in the final production model of the M18 string trimmer.
With a simple safety locking throttle trigger, high/low speed selection and a single 9.0Ah battery pack this trimmer is as simple as it gets. Oh yeah, and its extremely powerful. The 14”-16” cutting swath and straight shaft are perfect for clearing thick overgrowth or manicuring your 9th hole-like lawn.
I only wish my video turned out a little better but you’ll have to take my word for it, this 18V tool is a beast when considering power and runtime. You’ll want to have a 9.0Ah battery but you’ll only need one to finish your yard. I trim about an acre and can complete the job on about 2 bars.
Dewalt 60V MAX String Trimmer If you’re familiar with the new FLEXVOLT tool lineup from Dewalt then take a look at this trimmer. Running on a single 60V 3Ah FLEXVOLT battery, this cordless trimmer has a ton of power upfront and decent battery runtime. Motor placement is different than all the others in this category in that it’s placed directly at the head/end above the line spool. Like the other two here the 60V MAX uses full-sized trimmer line, which absolutely rocks when comparing these trimmers to early models of electric/cordless trimmers. I have run this trimmer thru some pretty tough paces and have been thoroughly impressed with its power. I’m a little concerned with the amount of debris buildup on the motor housing but I believe most of that is from using it to clear heavy overgrowth in the field out back. Typical yard usage would likely not cause such buildup and therefor not pose a problem to the motor itself.
Makita 36V String Trimmer
If you’ve got a couple Makita 5Ah batteries and enjoy a tool truly designed with the user in mind then look no further.
The Makita XRU09 string trimmer has an outer rotor brushless motor direct drive system which provides for high power and high torque. The engineers included nearly all the bells with this one giving it two speeds and even reverse. You might be wondering “why reverse” and the answer is simple really. When clearing tall grass or weeds in heavy overgrowth areas the head of any trimmer will likely be wrapped up over time; the reverse rotation setting allows for quick clearing of the trimmer head and in my opinion that simple genius in design. They added a switch and circuitry to run the motor backwards for a short duration, why didn’t the others do that? I personally like the ergonomics of this trimmer best. Its also smoother and powerful enough to handle all my trimming needs over nearly and acre of yard and landscaping. Videos are still in the making.
