The top tools of 2009

The greatest innovations often combine all of the pros of two classic items to make a truly great invention. This is true of the DeWalt Tracksaw. It combines the precision of a tablesaw with the portability of a circular saw. Already available (and very popular) in Europe, the tool hit the Canadian shelves this winter. This 12-lb. saw on a track does it all: cross-cut, mitre and compound mitre cuts all with a zero-clearance cut with no tearout. It’s an excellent tool for cutting large sheet goods and other onsite work. The Tracksaw has some accessories you may not want to live without: an extra-long track, clamps for hanging it vertically and even an attachment that lets you hook up your handheld router to the track. It comes in both corded and cordless models, with the former priced at $600.

DeWalt Tracksaw DWS520K: $600, www.dewalt.com or 800-433-9258

Pin nailers were one of the top must-have tools last year. To be the envy of all your tool-toting friends, why not buy the best of the best? The Grex pin nailer was given four and a half stars out of five in a recent CHW tool test (October 2008, page 26). Its flawless magazine and comfortable grip are the key ingredients; then some bonus features are added to the little package. First, the small tip makes it easy to complete intricate work. Then comes the unique lockout feature that overcomes a top problem when using pin nailers: the tools leave such a small mark on the wood surface, it’s easy to think you’ve driven a nail when really the magazine was empty. With the Grex auto-lockout feature, the tool shuts down when there are half a dozen pins left. The only downside is price, coming in at double the average cost of most other pin nailers.

Grex pin nailer: $355, www.grexcanada.com or 905-838-4887

In today’s busy world, we all want every task done better and twice as fast as before. With those ideals in mind, Final Cut, which cuts and sands your wood at the same time, was introduced. Final Cut is a sanding disc that attaches to a tablesaw or mitre saw blade via an adhesive backing. (Or you can buy a blade with the disc already attached.) Once in place—as the slogan says—just cut, sanding is a bonus. Trim and moulding comes off the mitre saw with a smooth edge, ready to be installed; boards come off the tablesaw with a finish-ready edge. How does it work? A Final Cut disc is wider than the blade kerf, so as the blade cuts, the disc sands and polishes, making a smooth cut every time. And while you’ll have to spend a few dollars on the discs, you can save some money by buying cheaper saw blades with fewer teeth.