Tool Comparison

Makita and Milwaukee achieve professional quality through different approaches. Separating power-focused from efficiency-focused engineering.

Budget Ryobi vs mid-tier DeWalt tools. Different duty cycles and construction create different price points.

See what you actually give up choosing budget Ryobi over professional Makita. Where the performance gap matters and where it doesn't.

See what separates Ryobi and Milwaukee tools despite sharing the same parent company. How different engineering creates different workshop experiences.

Makita and DeWalt tools in real workshop use. See how motor design and weight distribution create different experiences.

Lie-Nielsen reproduces vintage Stanley designs in bronze and ductile iron. Veritas creates original designs with innovation focus. Both make premium planes that work immediately without tuning.

Bailey planes use a three-piece frog that adjusts with screws. Bedrock planes mount the frog directly to the bed with full-width contact. The frog design creates the main performance difference.

Rabbet planes cut rabbet profiles from flat stock using fences and depth stops. Shoulder planes trim existing joinery with blades extending to the body edges for corner access.

A 1950s Stanley No. 4 costs $40 to $80 and often outperforms new $60 planes. Premium new planes run $250 to $400. The price gaps create distinct value propositions.

Cordless grease guns cost 3-5x more than manual ones. Discover when that money buys genuine time savings versus when a manual gun works just as well.

Jack planes bridge surface irregularities at 14 inches long. Smoothing planes follow contours at 9 inches. The length difference determines what each plane actually does to wood.

A 12-degree bed creates a 37-degree cutting angle. A 20-degree bed makes 45 degrees. That eight-degree difference determines what each block plane cuts cleanly.

Let's dive into the world of corded and cordless belt sanders. We look at the power delivery and design differences with this comprehensive comparison.

This is a comparison of belt sanders and orbital sanders. We take a look at the differences between these two power tools with this detailed guide.

This is a detailed comparison of rasps and files. Learn how to understand the tooth differences between these two shaping tools.

Hand-stitched rasps cut with random tooth patterns punched individually. Machine-cut rasps use uniform milled rows. The tooth formation determines cutting speed and surface finish.

Shinto saw rasps stack thin saw blades with offset teeth instead of using solid rasp bodies. The blade-based design creates different cutting action than conventional rasps.

Here's what marking gauges, marking knives, and pencils each do differently in woodworking, and when each tool makes sense.

Here's what pins and wheels each do differently in marking gauges, and how those differences affect the lines you're actually making.

This is a deep dive into three curve-cutting saws. What blade tension, frame depth, and manual versus motorized power actually mean when you're cutting intricate patterns with fret saws, coping saws, and scroll saws.

Two saws that look identical but serve different purposes. What frame size, blade gauge, and intended materials reveal about fret saws and jeweler's saws.

Handheld jigs rely on your steady pressure while clamped jigs lock in place. Here's what that difference means for hole alignment and joint accuracy.

Impact drivers and collated screw guns both drive fasteners, but the mechanisms work differently and the productivity gap widens dramatically on large decking projects.

This is a comparison of laser level types. Learn how rotary and line lasers work differently for construction with this technical breakdown of range, visibility, and applications.

This is a technical explanation of laser detector function. Learn how laser receivers detect invisible beams for construction work with this breakdown of sensors and detection range.

This is a detailed comparison of laser visibility science. Learn how green and red laser wavelengths affect construction work with this analysis of brightness, cost, and battery life.

An examination of power specifications in electric and cordless planes, exploring what amp ratings, voltage platforms, and RPM figures actually indicate about cutting performance.