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Festool – New to KMS Tools

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Over the last couple weeks, there has been a huge buzz around KMS tools about our new line of woodworking related power tools.  Festool is a German made high-end professional tool manufacturer centered around woodworking.  The idea behind Festool’s “Faster, Easier, Smarter” slogan is selling you into a family, not just a tool.  Festool sports an industry leading 1+2 Year Warranty (first year they pay for all of the shipping, the following two, you pay for one way).  The Festool family revolves around four key pillars most tool companies overlook: Dust extraction, Multifunction Tables, Guide Rails & Systainers.

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Bosch introduces new Cordless Drill Family

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Today our Bosch rep came in with an armload of new Bosch 18V cordless tools packed into their L-Boxx Store Cases.  All of the new drills are much more compact than the last generation, as well as boasting industry leading specifications.

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Warm fuzzies and Canuck’s Place Fundraising

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What started out as a combination of a joke and a friendly competition turned into what you are seeing here.  On Wednesday afternoon, KMS Tools & Equipment Ltd’s General Manager Ryan Hare stated he did not have a Vancouver Canucks Jersey to wear to work during the Playoff games. Somewhat jokingly the offer of a Canucks ladies pink jersey was given. As a challenge he stated that if $200 was raised, he would wear one for the day and be photographed. The funds raised were to be split 50/50. 50% to the KMS Christmas Party fund and 50% to Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. After some internal fundraising and a bunch of laughs, KMS Car Parts manager Richard Pridham upped the ante by saying for $500 raised he would join Ryan. In a thought that this wasn’t possible, he also offered his Dad (Stan Pridham, the owner of KMS Tools & Equipment Ltd.) into the equasion if $1000.00 was raised.

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DeWalt announces 18V/20V-Peak Slide-On Style Li-Ion Battery System

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At DeWALT’s annual Yellow Fusion event, they have unveiled a new 18V slide on Li-Ion battery system. For all of you guys already out there with their 18V system, they will not be dumping the current 18V Li-Ion and Ni-Cad XRP system. This is a very smart move for DeWALT in my opinion. Their current system was great as a stepping stone from their old XRP Ni-Cad system to Li-Ion and allowed customer to get all of the benefits of Li-Ion without having to replace the tools like other manufacturers have done. The down side to this is that their old pod style batteries suffered from contact problems due to the small size of the terminals they used. Going to a slide-style battery will fix this problem and provide even better ergonomics not available with a pod-style battery.

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Makita SH01 10.8V/12V 3-3/8″ Trim Saw

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A couple weeks ago we finally got the new Makita 12V Li-Ion trim saw in. Makita has been around in the 10.8V/12V Li-Ion category for a while now but they seem to really be treading lightly with this line. For the rest of this article, I’ll be calling it 12V as Makita has now switched over to the 12V stickers like everyone else.

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Milwaukee’s New Red Lithium Batteries

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Red Lithium is Milwaukee’s name for their new M12 (12V) Li-Ion batteries. Red Lithium means 40% longer run-time, 20% higher speed, 20% more torque, 50% more charge cycles per battery and much greater durability in cold weather.

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The history of the Milwaukee Hole Shooter

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In 1918, A.H. Peterson, a young well-known tool and die maker was asked by Henry Ford to create a lightweight drill for Fords automotive production lines. A.H. Peterson came back to him with the hole-shooter; a lightweight, high-powered and durable 1/4″ drill. This five pound drill would become the benchmark of all drills to follow. Up until that time, only the strongest ape men could use a “hand-held” drill as most were very heavy and cumbersome.

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