Whether we’re talking about the ability to actually see what you’re working on, safely use power tools, or spot imperfections before it’s too late, good lighting is more than critical, it’s essential.

Over the last several weeks I’ve been testing out some of Milwaukee’s newest offerings in their personal lighting line. This series of battery powered headlamps, flashlights and an extremely versatile personal floodlight were a highlight of their new tool unveiling event earlier this year. And ever since I laid eyes on them I was eager to give them a try as I suspected they’d all be real winners.

Now that I’ve had some serious hands-on time with these new products, I can confirm that many of these lighting options should be a “must add” to quite a few people’s holiday shopping lists this year. So if you’re looking for that perfect gift to round out your tool obsessed family member’s stocking, the TL;DR of this post is simple. Everything we've been using have been pretty fantastic, I really like all of them, and I think they are completely worth buying!

There are two primary options of personal lighting, an alkaline battery headlamp and pen light, and a series of USB rechargeable lithium-ion lights based on the Milwaukee REDLITHIUM platform. I’ve liked using all of these lights, but I’m going to focus on the rechargeable line for this review.

Headlamp

My past relationship with other headlamps has been somewhat contentious. The headlamps I’ve used in the past seem to die at the worst possible time and without warning. If they provide enough light it seems like they’re way too big and heavy (which means uncomfortable), or their battery life is insufficient. And even worse, it seems like the lightweight and compact headlamps are never really quite bright enough, like a frustrating dream where you just can’t quite get the light you need. (You’ve had these dreams, right?)

Well this Milwaukee headlamp has addressed all of my major disappointments in prior headlamps, and made some significant improvements where I didn’t even know they were needed.

Let's get one thing out of the way, this is technically a hardhat headlamp but it's really far more versatile than that. It’s meant to be clipped to hard hats on job sites (via the elastic band and a few provided plastic clips), but that doesn’t really apply to us DIYers. The only drawback about this is that the backing on the headlamp is a harder rubber and not a nice and comfortably padded foam to rest against your forehead. The rubber works fine against your forehead, but I also overcame this by wearing a backwards baseball hat when I was using the headlamp. Problem solved.

So far my favorite uses for this light has been when using it to provide ample light while cleaning out our shed in otherwise pitch black darkness after the sun had set...

...lighting up a completely darkened crawl space while doing some electrical work...

...providing a bright light on trim painting without any shadows from my own body/head in front of a worksite light, making it much easier to cut in with accuracy...

...attaching it to my jigsaw to provide better light to cut by (kind of a hack but extremely useful), and really highlighting the details of our window sash that still needed to have paint removed or damaged mortise and tenon pegs that needed to be dug out.

I even used it as my headlight for biking home in the dark, but had to turn down the brightness a bit so I didn't blind other riders or cars on the road.

It seems like every time I turn around I’m popping this thing on my forehead to get a better look at my work.

During use, the headlamp (and actually all of the REDLITHIUM personal lighting options) will flash several times when the battery charge/time remaining goes below 50%. Beyond convenience and or warning, I assume this is so you know when you should turn around if you’re hiking in the woods with this light on. If it’s at or below 50% right when you turn it on, it will flash immediately to alert you to the low charge. And when it finally reaches the end of its charge, it does not slowly dim away, instead it gives a final few flashes and shuts off immediately.

The charger port is covered with a rubber cover to keep any dirt out, and the power button and mode button are rubber and located on the opposite side of the headlamp. When charging, the small battery LED shows red, orange, flashing green, and then solid green to indicate the level of charge the battery has achieved. This is a great way to know just how far from a full charge you may be when you need to grab it off the cord and go. When charging you're looking at a full charge in about two hours and a 50% charge in under 30 minutes. 

Compared to the smaller 3x AAA battery powered headlamp to its left, you can see that the larger headlamp is certainly heavier, but also offers over 50% more lumens (475 on the brightest settings compared to 300 for the smaller headlamp). There are five different brightness settings, and the brightness you choose will allow the headlamp to run anywhere from two hours to an astounding 31 hours on a full charge, just depends on how bright you need the light to be.

This is really a fantastic headlamp and I haven't been able to find anything that would dissuade me from recommending it. The only thing I can say is that if you're using this near your spouse, resist the urge to look at them if they are talking to you, as it will surely give them a headache if they keep having to stare into this extremely bright light. Trust me. I speak from experience.

Check out Milwaukee's site for more information complete specs on their USB Rechargeable Hard Hat Headlamp. Currently on sale in many stores for $59.00.

Rover Floodlight

The second of these mighty little lights may surprise you. It’s called the Rover personal flood light and consists of eight LEDs in a compact and easily carried plastic case.

This little light has been the buzz of many HVAC, electrical, and plumbing pros since its release due to its ability to light tight spaces in creative ways. What that means for the hobbyist is exactly the same. This light is perfect for lighting under the sink, in dark corners of the basement, or in those hard to reach areas in the attic.

One of the coolest features of this light is the relatively strong magnet built into the end and side of the plastic case. This allows you to easily place it on duct work, your electrical panel, or anything else made of metal, and know that it will stay put.

Like the headlamp, the charging port is covered by a little rubber gasket when not in use. It seems sturdy and not likely to tear off after use.

The light this little floodlight puts out is clean and crisp, but also relatively warm for an LED. This is thanks to something Milwaukee calls "TRUEVIEW." It aims to provide crisp and natural light so you're getting a true and accurate look at the area you're lighting.

Check out Milwaukee's site for more information complete specs on their USB Rechargeable Rover Pocket Flood Light. Currently on sale in many stores for $59.00.

Flashlight

Finally, the USB rechargeable flashlight rounds out the current line. This compact but extremely solid aluminum LED flashlight is what you’d expect based on what I’ve said about the headlamp and the Rover. It’s the brightest of the USB rechargeable options at up to 700 lumens, charges quickly, warns at half charge and low charge, and allows you to recharge via a standard USB power cable.

Beyond the similarities it shares with its siblings, this flashlight is rugged, waterproof, dust proof, drop resistant, and has a convenient twist and lock to access the USB charging port when you need it, but to keep dirt and debris out of the port when not in use.

If you’re anything like me, this flashlight will end up rolling around in your toolbox until you need it and keeping the charging port free of crud is a must.

When in use this flashlight has three different power settings: a high, low, and flash/alert, and does an amazing job lighting even distant areas. The rubber power button on the back is solid and easy to use with a very positive feel. You won't accidentally end up turning the light on or off.

This flashlight has replaced the prior flashlight in my toolbox because it's compact, brighter, tougher, and USB rechargeable. One very minor issue I noticed is that the power button on the back end means you can't sit the flashlight on its end on the ground or a flat surface. However, if you twist the back as if you're going to charge it, the end slides over the power button and you can sit it on its end without issue.

Check out Milwaukee's site for more information complete specs on their USB Rechargeable 700L Flashlight. Currently on sale in many stores for about $69.00.

Accessories

While these lights come with a Milwaukee branded anodized USB cable for charging, I’m finding that I’d prefer the ability to quickly swap batteries when they get low, rather than needing to plug in the light for a recharge.

Although we didn’t receive any extra batteries or a charger to test, it seems like a no-brainer to pick one up if you’re going to be using any of these lights regularly. That way you can keep your spare battery charged and when you’re running low, just quickly swap them out. I've seen the battery charger kit with an extra battery in several stores for about $40.

Overall these lights as accessories address many of the shortcomings of prior personal lighting solutions I've used. No more dealing with dead batteries and hunting for replacements, no more low and fading light, and no more breakage after a minor drop. Now that we've been using these lights for a good while, we can absolutely say we're fans.

Like I said earlier, these lighting solutions would make a pretty killer addition to your holiday shopping lists. What better way to make someone's Christmas morning than by putting a 475 lumen headlamp, 445 lumen Rover, or 700 lumen flashlight under the tree? And maybe they could double as a way to add a little extra up light to the Christmas tree if you're feeling creative. And remember, a better method for lighting can only help the overall success of a project, so we think it's a winning combo all around.

Did you enjoy reading this post? Want to learn more about our first-hand experiences with other tools, devices or items used throughout our renovation? If so, check out our complete list of product reviews in our Toolbox Tuesday section. 

Note: We were provided samples of the tools to try but we weren't compensated for this review. We simply want to share good products when we see them, and hope that learning from our experiences and/or mistakes can help save you time, money and frustration.

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With all of the new and improved cordless tool options on the market these days, how are you expected to make a decision on which tools are the best to add to your arsenal? More importantly, can you and should you decide on a single brand and not deviate?

For the last year I've been looking to upgrade some of my more dated 14v and 18v tools to newer cordless versions, but all of the options felt overwhelming. The more I looked the more it felt like I had to choose a tool brand battery I liked best and stick with it for all of the tool purchases. How did this happen? How did the choice of a battery platform begin driving all of our decisions? It just seems foolish.

After much deliberation and tool nerd reflection, I've finally made a decision, and I'm surprising myself. In the end I'm going to go with multiple battery brands so I'm not locked into a single format! Hear me out before you say that it's ridiculous (and possibly too expensive).

Over the last several months I've been able to attend and cover several tool and utility brand events on behalf of Charles & Hudson and ToolCrave.com (check them out to see my Milwaukee recap and DeWALT recap post event summaries). This has allowed me to get a glimpse into some of the latest and greatest hardware offerings and future plans from brands like Milwaukee ("Team Red") and DeWALT ("Team Yellow"). It also allowed me to pick the brains of a bunch of tool pros, journalists, and tool brand staff that are also real tool junkies. The whole time I had thoughts regarding my own decision in the back of my mind, so I was also using these events as an opportunity to improve my education to make my own choice.

The new Milwaukee one Handed Hackzawl on the M18 platform coming in October

If you look in our basement today you'll often see a mess, along with a good number of tool brands scattered around my shelves. From Makita to DeWALT, Milwuakee to Hitacchi, and so many brands in between. But when it comes down to it, my few battery powered tools are DeWALT or GreenWorks. This wasn't a conscious decision, it's just how it happened. I had a DeWALT 18v hammer drill, so when I needed a battery powered jigsaw I bought an 18v DeWALT jigsaw. I didn't put much thought into the tool beyond the battery, but today I understand that's a flaw in my thought process. Apparently it also caused me so much angst that I was unable to keep the basement organized. Yeah...that's the ticket.

Don't worry, I hate myself for the basement looking like this

The good news is that our mess of a basement is way cleaner now that I spent some quality time with it last weekend.

Still some work to do, but so much better. Okay, back to batteries.

I was too focused on which battery I had rather than the tool that I needed. What I should have been doing was looking at the tool I needed and then figuring our which features of which brand would work best for me. If the tools were nearly equal between brands, then I could go with the one whose batteries I already own, but as soon as I started to diversify my battery decision, I wouldn't be stuck having to go with a lesser preferred choice simply because the tool I wanted didn't fit the batteries I already had.

DeWALT's new line of cordless nailers with low profile 20v batteries

In fact, I was talking with Kyle, the owner of Rural Renovators (@rrbuildings on Instagram, he's building some awesome post and beam structures and sharing the process) who put it best when he said, "Choosing sides really doesn't help anyone, I prefer Team Best Tool." After all, there's little reason to focus so heavily on a single brand of tool that you ignore all of the benefits that tools from another brand can bring you.

Milwaukee's M12 has a great USB charger accessory that can charge USB devices or be charged by USB

When it comes down to it different tool brand batteries will have different strengths. For example:

Milwaukee has some of the best tool and battery combinations on the market when it comes to power and run time. They also maintain backwards compatibility with their old tools so your new batteries will work with older tools you might have. They also have plenty of tools you can't find in other brands. But their tools do tend to cost more than the competition as they have historically targeted the trades more than the DIYers.

Cordless Soldering Iron and Heat Gun that I really want

DeWALT has some of the best flexibility with their 20v line, including standard and low profile sizes. They also added their FlexVolt options last year to power tools like their cordless table saw, miter saw, new air compressor, track saw, and framing saw. Even if you absolutely love Milwaukee, many of these tool options just aren't available under the Milwaukee nameplate right now. There's even some level of cross compatibility in the 20v line among tool brands that are owned by the DeWALT parent company (MacTools, Porter Cable, Craftsman, Black + Decker), so keep that in mind.

DeWALT's FlexVolt battery powering their new Track Saw

More consumer friendly or entry level brands that are less focused on the pro market, like Ryobi, Porter Cable (now that they're under DeWALT/Stanley Black + Decker) and GreenWorks, will focus more on the basic and purpose built tool needs and budget friendly aspects of the market. If you're more concerned with building your basic tool inventory, and less worried about specialized tool compatibility, features like remaining charge indicators or bluetooth, battery power, and the more niche accessories that the batteries will work with, then these brands may well be for you.

Our 40V GreenWorks hedge trimmer, we also have a string trimmer.

There are also certainly more pro-centric tool brands that spring to mind, but don't let their sometimes hefty price tag deter you if you're a dedicated DIYer. A Festool purchase will sometimes cost you double or more than a competitor's tool, but if it's something you'll be using almost every day, like a track saw for many wood workers, sometimes the price is secondary to form, function, and quality of the tool and its features.

Bottom line is that there's always going to be some give and take no matter what you go with. Advancements in brushless motors to extend battery life and increase tool power, more versatile charging stations, and niche accessories will tend to set the bigger names apart from the smaller, but it all comes down to what you need and matters to you.

DeWALT's bluetooth enabled batteries to help with security and future capabilities

So the end result of my journey in making a tool purchase decision is a realization that I'm going to have many different battery brands on my charging station. I'll likely have primarily DeWALT with their 20V and FlexVolt lines (especially with the cross compatible DeWALT owned brands like Porter Cable, Stanley, Black + Decker), along with a fair number of Milwaukee M12 and M18 Fuel batteries. My existing GreenWorks yard tools will stay with us, and I may end up adding a few Festool options that I've been thinking about for many years.

The key to this whole toolbox transition is going to be keeping an eye out for specials or discounts where I can pick up extra batteries as a part of the tool purchase for not much more than the bare tool would cost itself. Taking this approach will allow me to add to the inventory of batteries for each brand, making it less of a task to add a tool that I need.

Milwaukee's new cordless stapler with the M12 battery

What I've learned is that there are just too many instances where one brand will have a tool that I would really like, but if I'm 100% on a single battery of a different brand, I'm stuck. There's just no need to add this level of angst to the purchase process. 

I'll be sharing the various new items I'm planning on picking up over the next several months and will also be doing some basic reviews of each. But one thing is for sure, you won't hear me doing any trashing of Team Red or Team Yellow, because my workbench will likely be all colors of the rainbow before too long. Now where can I find those Team Purple batteries?

So what do you think? Does my justification of multiple battery brands make sense, or are you still squarely in the "Team <InsertColorHere>" camp? What about your workshop? Do you have a particular brand that's more prevalent then others? Or are you hoping to move one way or another in your future purchases? Would love to hear your thoughts.

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But the thing is, the cliched dozen long stem roses, box of chocolates, or flashy jewelry you typically see given on Valentine's Day just doesn't tend to play well with the home project enthusiast you likely call your significant other. Don't worry, we've got your back. 

If you're looking for a perfect gift or two for Valentine's Day that won't break the bank but is sure to make your renovation partner's heart smile, we've got a great list of 10 tools for under $10 that will surely make you the construction Cupid of your relationship. 

1. Stanley 10-Inch Molding Bar

While your love may be the glue and nails that keep you and your significant other inseparable through all of your renovation projects, all you really need is a good pry bar to come between the bad molding and other items you need to demo in your life. This 10" Molding Pry Bar has been a staple in my tool bucket since day one, and has been responsible for the majority of our various hand demolition projects. You've got the flat pry bar on one side, and the cat's paw nail puller on the other. It really can't be beat for a handy demolition tool. 

2. Paint Brush Comb

Life and relationships can be messy, but few things are messier than a paintbrush full of paint. This paint brush comb can make your post paint project brush cleaning process many times easier, freeing you up to spend more time cleaning the other messy parts of your life. Best of all, using this brush cleaner helps keeps your brushes useful longer, which saves on money and time in the long run, a sure fire way to make one of life's most common messes and little less messy. 

3. Magnetic Torpedo Level

Approaching your partner with a level head in all situations is an important item that very few of us are particularly good at all the time. However, hanging a level picture on the wall, or making sure a table leg is plumb is far more achievable when you have the right tool at hand. This handy torpedo level makes any quick level check job easy, and it's shock resistant body helps protect the sensitive bubbles from getting knocked out of whack. 

4. Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver

While getting your partner to change their ways may be a more difficult item to tackle, getting a tool that can adapt in any situation and change quickly as needed is far more doable. This ratcheting screwdriver is an absolute must as it is completely flexible in the situation it's needed. It beats the pants off of a traditional screwdriver as you can set it to work as a traditional fixed driver, or into a tightening (righty-tighty) scenario, or loosening (lefty-loosy) scenario. This is one of the single tools I reach for most commonly when I'm working on projects around our house. And best of all, I didn't even use the obvious "screw" metaphor when relating this to Valentine's Day. 

5. 8-oz. Stubby Claw Hammer

Not everything in life needs to be a complete renovation and overhaul, and sometimes you just need to hang a picture on the wall to make your significant other's eyes light up. When life doesn't require your 16 ounce hammer, why not grab this little guy that will do the job just as well. The molded grip on the hammer and appropriate balance makes this the perfect convenient tool for those little jobs around the house.

6. Powerlock 25-Foot by 1-Inch Measuring Tape

If your partner is truly ready to make sure your relationship can go the distance, you'll definitely need some way to measure it, so why not do it in 25' increments using this no-nonsense tape measure? Sometimes it's the tried and true devices that seem to work the best, and this tape does it's one job and does it well. The metal body is rugged and will stand up to abuse while ensuring no confusion on measurements, and the classic tape body design is tried and true on the job site.

7. 8 Inch Pencil Holder / Divider Scriber

Accommodating the undulations in life without panic is key to a long and happy relationship, and accommodating the undulations in floors, walls, or ceilings by first scribing and then cutting your trim to accept these irregular surfaces is key to a successful woodworking/moulding project. This simple pencil scribe will help you disguise the gaps and irregular surfaces in your projects like a pro.

8. Cushion Grip Nail Set, 3-Piece

Making sure you've really driven the point home during an argument is a natural part of a partnership, but you must do it with delicate poise to ensure you're not doing unnecessary damage. Hey, we all fight, and there's no shame in that. The good news, using this three piece nail set tool set in your projects will allow you to always drive the nail's point, and the head, just where you need it to go without messing up the surface with unsightly hammer marks. 

9. 16 oz Brass Plumb Bob

We already covered the ways you can keep a level head (and project) in your DIY life, but sometimes making something plumb is just as important. Besides, what's a Valentine's Day without something shiny and gold? This brass plumb bob is one of those tools that comes in handy more than you'd realize once you have it on hand. Just run a string through the top and you've got yourself an indispensable tool you'll wonder how you've lived without.

10. DeWalt Safety Glasses

We all know the saying, "Love is blind." But, maybe that's just because Love wasn't wearing the right safety equipment when they were using their circular saw or air nailer. Don't be like love, and buy yourself this great set of stylish and practical safety glasses. Whether you've got sawdust falling in your face, or something being deliberately thrown in your direction, these glasses will make sure you don't end up blind like Love too often is.

And there you have it. Our top 10 items for under $10 that are sure to make your DIY loved one swoon this coming Valentine's Day. After all, there's no better way to the heart of a passionate DIYer than through the gifts of practical tools. And the best news of all, if you give these gifts to the one you love, maybe they'll even use them to build something special for you.

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As many of you may know, I'm a bit of a tool junkie. Whether I'm researching, using, or wishing I had a particular tool, I've become tool obsessed over the last few years.

I'm not exactly sure when it happened, but at some point my Christmas list experienced a metamorphosis of magnificent proportions.

While I once wished and hoped Santa would bring the latest and greatest in GI Joe play sets, the coolest new video game tech gadget (Nintendo power glove), or the Star Wars action figure set I was certain would likely complete my life...

...at some point, roughly coinciding with the purchase of our home, my holiday wish list quickly began looking like the inventory list of a tool store in search of that item that might just let me complete a project.

Tape measures and hammers turned into saws and routers, and a hungry tool monster was born, always looking for that perfect tool to make life just a little easier, and project results just a little bit (or a lot in many circumstances) better. Besides, there's just something about a new tool bag or crate straight from the box that get's me all giddy. Unlike toys, a brand new, clean, and unblemished tool holds so much potential! 

So when we were recently asked by Rockwell Tools to review an item in their arsenal of "Tools for People that Rock" campaign, we were naturally intrigued. We don't do a lot of sponsored posts on our blog, and that's primarily because I really only want to share things we really and truly believe in. However, I was very impressed with the tools Rockwell has in their product line, and when I looked over the list Rockwell offers, one in particular caught my eye. Their Sonicrafter 20V MaxLithium cordless oscillating multi-tool looked to be a portable cordless wonder.

I've been a tremendous fan of oscillating tools since I picked up my first one about eight years ago. Its tremendous versatility can be seen in the hundreds of different cutting, sanding, grinding, and polishing attachments. Whether I'm working on detailed cutouts or need to cut a quick hole, an oscillating tool is sure to do the trick.

However, the fact it's a corded tool means I always need an outlet nearby, the blade change process requires an Alan wrench and several minutes of trying to secure the screw while holding the blade still, and I have to make sure the attachment I'm buying works for the brand of tool I have. These are all inconveniences that I'd rather not be bothered by.

As a result, I've actually been looking for a good cordless oscillating tool for some time, and with the purchase of our second home, my need for duplicates of essential tools like this really jumped up on the priority list.

So in steps the Rockwell Sonicrafter 20v Litium-ion oscillating multi-tool and 27 piece attachment kit Rockwell sent us to review. This great handheld tool set includes five cutting attachments.

The 20v MaxLithium battery offers a substantial charge that will keep the tool operating at the desired adjustable speed until the batter is drained, rather than slowing as the charge is lost. It also obviously means I can work freely and untethered, no longer bound by the reach of the tool's cord.

Overall the tool feels solid and well made. It's just over three pounds with the battery installed, and the battery weight really offers an excellent balance while using the tool. When switched on, two LEDs on the sides of the tool's body light your work area rather well.

But the absolute best part of this tool is its quick change and locking clamp "Hyperlock" that allows you to change from a blade to a sander to a paint scraper to any number of other attachments with only a flip of a lever and a twist of your wrist.

I was initially skeptical the lever system would be able to hold the blades securely in place. I've often had issues with the blade moving on my other oscillating tool, no matter how much I tighten the lock nut. But it seems Rockwell has the formula for keeping the blade in place with only minimal effort. Their materials state it has a holding force of one ton. 

If you're not sure whether or not you need an oscillating cutting tool in your tool box, trust me when I say that you absolutely do. It's so versatile that there's a use for it in almost any project. And if you've already got another tool and a whole truckload of attachments, the Sonicrafter has a "universal fit system" that allows you to use the blades of other manufacturers with this tool. The only caveat, you must use a set screw to fix it in place. No twist and lock action when you're not using Rockwell attachments.

Being a true tool nerd, I couldn't wait to break it out of its packaging and give it a spin, but I needed a quick place to give it a try. Then I had an idea.

We're doing a little exploration behind drywall at the new house and I suspect that the original plaster is lurking just behind the layer of sheetrock that a previous owner hung. Being a naturally curious chap, I wanted to see what kind of shape the walls were in, but there was no good place to start the drywall demo on the ceiling. Before we had the tool, we made a small hole and then just started ripping away at it. Granted, I could have done a much cleaner job, cut with a utility knife, then sawed away, but I was impatient.

Now I'm not one to typically tear away, but that's just what we did on that poor ceiling. The end result of ripping down drywall, as can see above, is often a torn paper covering that is both unsightly and difficult to repair.

But using the oscillating tool to cut a more even and straight line in the drywall was just what the tool doctor ordered. In under a minute I had adequately cut back the drywall covering enough to see that the ceiling plaster is actually in pretty great shape. Perhaps this is something we can bring back out and repair throughout the room? At the very least, I have a decently square opening that will allow me to either open up more of the ceiling, or prepare a patch piece to repair eventually. But between you and me, I plan on using my new tool to cut out a lot more of this drywall and expose the rest of the plaster. And since the tool is precise and small, I'll be able to do all of the work without further damaging any of the fragile plaster.

This was just one of many projects this tool has been mentally slated for. And while this goes nowhere near showing the ridiculous number of uses this tool has in projects, I was able to get a good feel for the tools power, comfort, and ability to work its way though material. Overall it felt really good, and I'm looking forward to using it more. However, It did require me to pull it out of the packaging and use it, but as much as it looks great clean, every tool tends to look just a little bit better once it's covered in a little demo dust and project progress. Don't you think?

Reader Reward

We liked the cordless Sonicrafter so much that we asked Rockwell if they wouldn't mind offering one as a giveaway to one of our readers. Being fans of all DIYers that rock, they were more than happy to do a giveaway. So whether you're looking to round out your own tool collection, or to score a pretty spectacular gift for the tool lover in your family, this great tool will surely do the trick.

Beyond this giveaway, if you're interested in possibly winning other tools from Rockwell's line, Rockwell has a promotion going on right now that's a "Give one, Get one Sweepstakes." You can win the whole suite of Rockwell's tool lineup for yourself, as well as a whole set for someone else. You can enter on their sweepstakes page.

Also, as part of our review, Rockwell is offering readers of Old Town Home 15% off any purchase you make on their website through December 31, 2014 using coupon code HOMESWEETHOME15. The code is valid on any purchase from RockwellTools.com

Details

• PRIZE: One Rockwell 20V MaxLithium Sonicrafter Oscillating Multi-Tool w/ Hyperlock - (a $159 value)
• GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Sunday, December 14th at 11:59pm EST.
• AND THE WINNER IS: One lucky winner will be chosen by random.org and announced on Monday, December 15th, so be sure to come back then to see if you're the winner.
• PRIZE REDEEMABLE: The winner will be asked to provide their home address and the tool will be shipped directly to them.
• TO ENTER: Comment on this post with the words “TOOLS THAT ROCK”, and tell us a little bit about projects you'd like to use this tool on, or who you'd like to give it to as a gift. (One comment entry per person please.) 
• WHO'S ELIGIBLE: This Reader Reward is open to participants in the United States only.

Please see our complete terms & conditions page for more details. This post was made in partnership with Rockwell Tools. While they donated a tool for our review, our projects, thoughts, and opinions are solely our own. 

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Usefulness of Pocket Screws

Frequent commenter and wonderful supporter of our blog "Threadbndr" asks:

This is a great question, mostly because I feel like I have a decent perspective on it and have "seen the light" as far as pocket holes are concerned. I'll apologize in advance for the long winded response.

Quite honestly, there's been a bit of an epidemic of "pocket-holers" as I like to call them. But I also think it's high time many of us, as ardent and capable DIYers (even those of a self described "intermediate" level, grew out of the pocket hole crutch.

I, like many DIYers, was an eager adopter of the "Pocket Hole Technology," after seeing Tommy or Norm use it on This Old House. Whether they were assembling a face frame for a cabinet, or securing a miter in a long run of molding, I was intrigued and wanted to try it.

I picked up a Kreg pocket hole set and began pocket holing everything. I was a pocket hole master. The jig, drill bit, and screws is an absolutely great tool, and one that almost any DIYer should include in their toolbox, hands down! 

I can say, without a doubt, I absolutely love my pocket hole jig and I probably use it monthly if not weekly. The problem is, it really wasn't the right tool for everything I ended up using it for.

Pocket hole screws are a wonderful way of joining to prices of wood, as long as you don't mind the hole it leaves, and you don't mind the gaps that can easily appear through the growing and shrinking of wood. Pocket holes are perfect for things where the holes themselves are always and forever concealed. A perfect example of their ideal use is in the construction of cabinet boxes. You can use the pocket holes to secure almost the whole thing, and you can do it in a way where you will never see the hole, even if your head is inside of the cabinet. However, not all uses are quite as ideal.

One of the places I used, or rather abused, pocket hole screws is in the construction of our garden gate. I use pocket holes to join all of the pieces of lumber along their edges. This left a whole lot of holes on the exterior of the door that I then need to fill with epoxy wood filler, let dry, them sand them smooth.

It worked, sure, but the results were less than ideal. The pocket holes can only hold the wood together so well, and the gaps left behind allow water between the board which has resulted in a fair amount of warping over the years. Additionally, though sanded smooth, you can still see the outline of the epoxy and holes all over the outside of the gate. And finally, when you have thick material, and you are only pocket holing one side, and the joined boards tend to cup towards the side of the pocket holes.

The pocket holes for our door worked, but if I had used a different tool the job would use been done faster, would have looked better, and I wouldn't be thinking about building a new door today. But I was a young DIY newbie at that time and simply didn't know better.

So, the big question, what tool should you use? Unfortunately, there's not a simple "one size fits all" answer. The tool you should select depends heavily on the job you are doing.

In terms of the performance of biscuit joining versus pocket screws, here's my take on it. This tool is one of my favorites and makes short work of joining two pieces of wood in a permanent and extremely strong bond. As you may remember, I used a biscuit joiner when joining several pieces of butcher block to make our new counter tops. 

In our reader's case, biscuit joining may be the better option to repair her split cabinet doors, assuming the split is along an already existing seam in the wood and you have a flat face to work with.

It makes slotted cuts in either piece of material, then you glue and insert little wooden "biscuits" in those slots and clamp the joint together. When the glue dries the little biscuits swell as they absorb the water from the glue, which cements them in the materials they are joining. As long as you have a good set of clamps, and a few hours to wait, you are in good shape.

The end result is a joint that is ridiculously strong, extremely clean, and completely invisible. I absolutely should have used this approach to join the pieces of lumber for our garden gate, and I often think about rebuilding it in this way.

Beyond a biscuit joiner, another great approach is through the use of mortise and tenons. This is the tried and true approach to woodworking that has been around for thousands of years (no joke). On our recent vacation to Vienna, during a trip to a local museum I was admiring the mortise and tenon construction of ancient Egyptian sarcophagi (I had to look up the plural of sarcophagus). Yes, I'm a nerd like that.

A mortise is a hole cut in one piece of material that accepts a tenon in another piece of material. The mortise and tenon form a joint made up of only the materials being joined, possible a peg or stay, and maybe some glue (depending on the situation), which creates an extremely strong bond and reliable connection of materials that is completely concealed, and leaving you without holes to deal with after the fact.

The mortise and tenon is tried and true, but it does require a lot of patience and the right tools. From mortising machines or jigs attached to drill presses, to dado blades and/or tenoning jigs to cut your tenons on the table saw, it's a major undertaking for the novice and occasional DIY woodworker. But good news, technology has created an easier alternative.

Today you can buy these great tenonning jigs and pre-made loose tenons. Using your normal drill you attach the jig to the material, drill using the guide to a max depth, then insert the beaded tenons into the mortises along with a little glue.

Photo Credit: Woodworker's Journal

You're left with a joint that is at least as strong as the biscuits if not stronger. You can pick this jig and the tenons up on Amazon or from Rockler.

This may also work really well for joining purposes, and is probably a better option than the biscuit joiner if the split is not consistent. You would be able to drill into either side of the doors, taking care to line up your holes, then pop the tenons into either side and camp the doors together.

There are actually several other similar technologies worth looking into, all with the same benefits and advantages over pocket holes.

Beyond what I've discussed above, there are also countless other approaches in woodworking to join materials together (though most will not apply to split cabinet doors). From dovetails to relief cuts, rabbets, and dados, there are a ton of options for almost every situation. Each one requires tools, jigs, and know how (or at least a curiosity and willingness to try something new), but with each approach you are rounding out your skill set as a DIYer. I actually own a dovetail jig and the necessary router bits that we bought back when I was working on the office desk. I made the drawer for the desk using half blind dovetails (half-blind are the ones were you can see the dovetails when looking at the side of the drawer, but not the front). I absolutely love how they turned out and can't wait to use it on something else in the future. It's just a matter of finding the right project to use it on.

I hope this helps to answer the question, though I'm sure it provides a more complex answer than you would anticipate for a simple question. I guess I should actually summarize with a more simplified response, below:

Though pocket holes and their accompanying pan head screws are great in many situations, and are easy to work with, there are many other options for accomplishing the same or similar end results using alternate tools or approaches. Many times, these alternate options are actually much better suited for the project, and are completely within the realm of the intermediate DIYer, leaving fewer holes to either fill or ignore, and resulting in a stronger bond than pocket holes offer.

For your cabinet doors, I'd look into the biscuit joiner if the split is even and consistent (like the edge of two pieces of wood), or look into the tenons and mortising jig if it is more of a puzzle to put them back together. If you were to use a pocket hole you will end up with large holes on the backside of the doors that you would need to then fill, sand, and paint. You also will end up with the potential for the split to keep showing up in that spot since the hold of pocket holes isn't as strong as glue to wood.

What do you think of my advice to our question? Are you an abuser of the pocket hole approach as I once was? I think the first step is admitting you have a problem, that's when recovery can truly happen. Let me know what you think, and if you have any preferred methods for joining materials.

Disclaimer: Ask Old Town Home is meant simply as a friendly bit of advice and is provided free of charge. It is your responsibility to fully research any and all items related to projects or suggestions to ensure proper safety and code precautions and regulations are fully followed. In other words, any advice we provide is just our opinion, and our opinion is only worth the price we charge for it. :-)

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