Sinceย DeWaltโs founding they have primarily been about power tools, butย expect to see many new innovations hitting the market soon in theย areas of hand tools. Thatโs right โ hand tools. So how big of a deal is this for the company? Well, just look in the job site trailer or the back ofย almost any contractorโs van and we are pretty sure that you will seeย the familiar yellow and black of DeWalt. With many contractors thatย are either well-vested in DeWalt tools or using them continuously onย their jobs, we are pretty sure that these guys will be excited aboutย the new line of hand tools. From a marketing standpoint, it appearsย that DeWalt is making a smart move to offer new products that augmentย their current offerings. With their expansion into hand tools looksย like a pretty smart direction to go. And letโs face it โ people like yellow and black.
Lookingย at todayโs contractors and craftsman, DeWalt realized that, not onlyย do they have a faithful following, but that there are many new guys toย the business that are looking for real job site performance in theirย hand tools. While we were up at the DeWalt 2011 Media event a fewย weeks ago, we got to put our hands on many new DeWalt 20V Max cordless toolsย and hearย discussions from managers and engineers on how they took a hand toolย concept and made it worthy to bear the DeWalt name.
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Oneย of the first things that jumped out to us was a the DWHT51138 15-ounce Framing Hammer. Up to now, the only way you could have aย framing hammer that weighed less than a pound was a titanium-headed model like what Stiletto offers. The key to the DeWalt modelย is that they figured ways to shave weight by eliminated unneeded bulkย in the head. The way they approached this was to use three separateย steel forgings that are then MIG welded together. The face, claw andย handle are separate pieces that are joined together and make theย entire hammer surprisingly lightweight. The benefit of the threeย pieces is that they can be individually heat-treated for theย properties that are required. While we were doubtful at first, weย gave it a try and found that we could easily drive a 16D framing nailย with a few solid whacks. DeWalt claims that it hits with the power ofย 28oz framing hammer. Just like the titanium hammers, you can expectย to be able to tackle most framing applications and not feel fatiguedย at the end of the day. For the guy needing a new trim hammer thereย will be a smooth-faced 14oz version โ and if you still like a woodย handle, they will also have a 17oz forged-head version too. The 15-ounce Framing Hammer will run you about $60 which is aย significant savings over that titanium model you were dreaming about.
Noticeย the chisel in the photo above? Now this is not just anyย chisel, but one that you can use for a myriad of chores that rangeย from fine mortise work, demolition, or using it like a spokeshave.ย The upper edge of the chisel is hardened and wide so that it canย withstand impact on the top edge of the blade. The serrated edgeย provides fast cutting so that you can use it much like a knife. Theย DWHT16065 Side Strike Chisel will cost you about $15.
We next checked out the new DeWalt tape measures and chalk reels.ย Knowing that Stanley Black and Decker is the parent company ofย DeWalt, we figured that the DeWalt tapes would simply be re-brandedย Stanly FatMAX tapes for sure. We were quickly assured by Toddย Langston, the director of brand marketing for Stanley Black andย Decker, that there was absolutely no โbrand slappingโย as he put it. While the DeWalt products are built using some sharedย technology gained from the long history of Stanley Tools, the DeWalt products are unique and specifically designed for the professionalย user. Both their price point and features put it in a market where users that do construction work for a living will be particularly interested inย them. The new DWHT33385 25 Foot Short Tape looks like it will deliverย durability for contractors. Standard features include a 13 footย standout, an oversized end hook, a durable casing with rubberย overmold, and a rubber covered thumb slide lock that was one of theย best that we ever used. To help extend the lifespan of the tape,ย there is a patented 3M thermoplastic film adhered to the first sixย inches of the blade. This same tape will be available in 16 and 30ย foot lengths as well. In addition to these tapes, there will be threeย different 100โฒ tapes and a new chalk reel. The DWHT33385 25 Footย Short Tape will cost around $25 once it hits the shelves.
Noย tool line would be complete without a knife, so DeWalt came up with aย few items here as well. Theย first we laid eyes on was the DWHT10035 Folding Retractable Utility Knife. Atย first it seemed like an oxymoron to say folding and retractable inย the same sentence, but follow us here. This new knife has on-boardย blade storage, an all-metal body, and easy blade changes (plus with theย retractable blade, you can now have precision variable cutย depth). If you donโt need the compact folding knife, DeWalt will alsoย offer a more tradition model, DWHT10046 that has much the sameย features. Both knives can be had for around $10 each.
Thereย will also be a comprehensive line of adjustable wrenches and pliers.ย The adjustable wrenches will feature solid handles verses theย standard I-beam cross sections that we are used to. The claim is thatย they are more comfortable to hold (we agree) and are easier to apply pressure onย in extreme situations. The jaws also are more precise โ with lessย wobble and side to side play. Expect these to cost from $13 for theย 6โณ size, up to $35 for the 15โณ. A wide range of pliers willย be introduced as well and will include aviation snips, compoundย action pliers and specialty pliers as well. All of the new pliers willย feature forged chrome vanadium steel for strength and durabilityย along with handle designs and coatings that are designed forย increased user comfort.
Nowย if you are going to be loading up with a bunch of new hand tools, youย will undoubtedly need somewhere to store them. DeWalt has youย covered. Their new DWST24070 Power Tool Case with Tote is aย two-in-one tool box that gives unique storage options for tools andย small accessories. Power tools, hand tools and small parts, such asย drill bits, can be be organized in the power tool case with plenty ofย customization possibilities. In addition to this new tool box, DeWaltย has put together what they are calling their ToughSystem. This systemย is a series of various-sized storage containers that will fit largerย size tools and accessories in tough waterproof boxes that can beย stacks and organized easily. The boxes are made from a 4mm thickย structural foam product that is nearly indestructible. There areย various inserts for tools, along with a central locking mechanism toย make sure they are secure once you close them up.
Withย over 100 new SKUโs, DeWalt is launching their hand tool line with a significant variety of products. In addition to the tools we alreadyย looked at, they will also have screwdrivers, electrician-specificย hand tools, hack saws, hand saws, pry bars and much more. You willย start to see these in stores on online beginning July 2011.
