powertool review sites, please

January 22, 2006 6:26 PM

Power tool reviews. I'm in the market for some power tools, but I can't seem to find a decent review site to help me decide...

I'm looking to pick up a couple of power tools: specifically a pancake air compressor for some roofing and interior trim work, a 10 or 12 inch miter saw and perhaps a decent router. Problem is, everything I pull up on Google leads me either to Epinions or some other not particularily comprehensive review site. Any favorite power tool review sites out there?

posted by Chrischris to Shopping (7 answers total)

I'm a fan of Fine Homebuilding for tool reviews as they are so thorough and seem to have a fair testing methodology. They have an annual tool review issue, but I don't know if the same information is available online.
posted by jeanmari at 6:56 PM on January 22, 2006

Fine Homebuilding has forums too, which often have discussions of tool choices - or you can ask.

Also, Amazon's Tools & Hardware department has lots of user reviews.
posted by nicwolff at 7:10 PM on January 22, 2006

Consumer Search has a collection of some.
posted by sixpack at 7:14 PM on January 22, 2006

Fine Woodworking is a good source, plus Taunton Press puts out a yearly magazine, Tool Guide 2006, that has a great collection of tool reviews, I'm sure you can find it in a bookstore in the magazine section.

I've found that most online reviews lack some sort of structure, ie. don't test a lot of tools, or poorly tested.
posted by nkeown at 11:18 PM on January 22, 2006

Great question! As a relatively new homeowner, I know in short order I will be needing the answers here.
Saw a Ryobi mitre saw on sale at Home Depot in the "impulse buy" aisle next to me. Must check it out...
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 9:23 AM on January 23, 2006

You need to pay for access (which I have), but Consumer Reports (Home & Garden, esp) has been worth every penny.

This Do It Yourself site also has some good forums, with some helpful folks lurking in all the topic areas.
posted by tpl1212 at 10:26 AM on January 23, 2006

As noted above, The Taunton publications have great reviews. On a personal note, for routers I would recommend the DEWALT DW621 : 2 HP (maximum motor HP) EVS Plunge Router (small and light but powerful and takes up to 1/2" shanks), the Bosch 2.25 HP Combination Plunge & Fixed-Base Router Pack (or not the pack but the second base sure is handy) and while I've not used one specifcally, any router by Festool. (Actually I recommend any tool by Festool, especially the sanders and the "D" handle drills.)
posted by Dick Paris at 10:40 AM on January 23, 2006