New Tools Introduced By Rockwell at 2010 IBS

Rockwell Launches New Tools at 2010 IBS

One of my favorite exhibits at this year’s 2010 International Builder’s Show was the Rockwell (manufacturers of the popular Jawhorse) booth. Rockwell has been the biggest surprise for me this in terms of well built, useful, new tools. The Rockwell booth was full of great new products and lots of folks rolling up their sleeves creating dust and trying them out. Below is a short summary of some of the exciting new tools they just announced.

Multi-Function 12-volt H3 Hammer Drill

The H3 was by far my favorite tool at the show this year. Anyone that’s used a rotary hammer drill knows they are typically quite heavy (up to 20 lbs!) and they take up lots of room in the truck or job box. Would you believe this all new H3 is only 3 lbs and runs on 12-volt Lithium-Ion battery? That’s right….you heard me correctly…..3 lbs! You might be thinking it’s just a pretty small impact driver. However, you’d be VERY wrong.

The H3 is a true hammer drill with an SDS Plus quick chuck and the ability to change chucks and convert it into a conventional drill and power screw driver. I was able to test the H3 at the show by drilling 5/16″ holes into masonry blocks with ease. This hammer drill is very comfortable and well balanced. Hopefully we’ll get our hands on one soon and really test it!

According to Rockwell, the rotary hammer drill’s impact rate is 0-4800 blows-per-minute (bpm). In drilling mode, the tool operates at a no-load speed of 0-900 rpm. Its drilling capacity is 3/8 in. in wood and concrete and 5/16 in. in steel. The H3’s powerful 12-volt lithium battery drills up to 15,¼-in. holes in 4800 psi concrete on a single charge.

SoniShear

The all new SoniShear is an attachment for the popular SoniCrafter. The SoniShear attaches to the SoniCrafter and allows you to cut a wide range of materials including: corrugated board, plastic packaging, leather, carpet, canvas, netting, vinyl sheet, paper, rubber matting and other common materials. Because of the Microsonic^TM high-frequency oscillation, the SoniShear is able to cut smooth curves and straight lines.

12V SoniCrafter

We’ve tested and reviewed the SoniCrafter and really liked the capabilities of it. So we’re not all that surprised to see Rockwell release a cordless version, the 12V SoniCrafter. This version works with the entire line of 12V LithiumTech power tools that Rockwell offers. This is another tool we’re hoping to get our hands on and test so we can compare to the other cordless multi-tool that we tested last year.

Circular Saws with BevelTrac

Another tool that caught my attention was the BevelTrac feature for their latest generation of corded and cordless circular saws. BevelTrac is similar to some of the popular track saws on the market. You lay the BevelTrac on the work piece with the front rubber edge flush to the cut line, set the circular saw on the track and cut a nice straight line just where you wanted it.

I really want one of these!!

VERSACUT

Rockwell also introduced a unique new compact, portable trim saw. According to Jeanne White, Rockwell’s product manager; “It’s a great free-hand saw – now add the optional Miter Station and the Guide Rail Track System and you have a precise cutting machine capable of duplicating the performance characteristics of an expensive plunge-cut track saw at a fraction of the cost”.

18V Compact Hammer Drill and Jigsaw

Rockwell has expanded its affordable Compack^TM cordless tool line with two new compact, ergonomic powerhouses—a 1/2-in.18V Hammer Drill and an 18V Jigsaw. The muscle behind these lightweight contenders is the high-performance SuperCell^TM Ni-Cd battery pack that has twice the charging life of competitors’ NiCd batteries. SuperCell battery packs weigh only 1.8 lbs and take up to 50 percent less space than conventional Ni-Cd battery packs. The SuperCell battery pack recharges in just one hour.

Where To Buy Rockwell Tools

All of these tools are being rolled out shortly including online retailers and local lumber yards. If you’d like to buy them online you can check out Amazon and Rockwell Tools Direct.

Todd Fratzel

I'm full time builder for a large construction company in New Hampshire. I run their design-build division that specializes in custom homes, commercial design-build projects and sub-divisions. I'm also a licensed civil and structural engineer with extensive experience in civil and structural design and home construction. My hope is that I can share my experience in the home construction, home improvement and home renovation profession with other builders and home owners. I'm also the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Tool Box Buzz. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, suggestions or you'd like to inquire about advertising on this site.