#cordless tool

It’s ideal for fine detail and crafts—handy and precise, but not built for heavy lifting. Imagine they’re hunched over a tiny model or trying to tidy a stubborn grout line, only to be thwarted by a clumsy, noisy tool that’s more sledgehammer than scalpel. It’s frustrating, time-consuming and often leaves delicate work ruined — which is exactly the problem this little gadget aims to fix. Enter…

An electrician using power tools faces daily health risks which can be overlooked or underestimated. Eric Streuli of Bosch brings these risks out into the open and explains how tool design and technology can make the trade professional’s life safer without slowing them down.

Dust

When installing electrical equipment and wiring, electricians cut into many different materials using a variety of drills, angle grinders, saws and multi-tools. Each time, they generate dust – and none of it should ever be thought of as harmless.

We would all avoid breathing in something like asbestos, if we knew it was there, but danger lurks in many everyday materials. For instance, concrete, stone, brick and slate all release silica dust, which can irreversibly damage health and shorten lives.

Respiratory diseases caused by unhealthy working environments kill around 12,000 people each year in the UK, according to a 2017 HSE report. They include conditions such as chronic bronchitis, mesothelioma and even cancer. Today, a staggering total of 147,000 people suffer from breathing or lung problems caused by or worsened by work – and about 18,000 new cases are added annually.

But don’t imagine that a dust mask is the answer. A PPE (personal protective equipment) approach should be the last resort – used only after the better safety options have been exhausted.

If dust can’t be avoided, it should be removed close to its point of origin using a vacuum cleaning system with the appropriate filtration level. Bosch has developed specialised cleaners for every situation, often building in automatic filter cleaning and other convenience features. Cleaners in the Bosch Click & Clean range can be directly connected to compatible power tools for immediate dust removal.

Some tools, like the Bosch GBH 18 V-26(F) Professional Rotary Hammer Drill, can even be fitted with an integral dust extractor. This compact unit becomes part of the tool, simply slotting into place when needed. Bosch solutions also include hollow drill bits, through which dust can be extracted, and angle grinder dust extraction guards with built-in vacuum cleaner outlets.

A recent focus group with electricians, conducted by Bosch found that dust is a hot topic. When asked what features could make their lives easier, dust collection on cordless tools was a key finding.

Vibration

Looking at the types of tasks they have to complete, it’s clear that electricians are amongst the two million people in Britain estimated by HSE to be at risk from hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAV). Nerve damage builds up slowly but eventually becomes permanent and leaves sufferers unable to work. Vibration white finger and carpal tunnel syndrome, which are conditions related to HAV, were cited in 695 new Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit claims in 2016.

Effects on power tool users depend on how strong the vibrations are and how long they are exposed to them. The maximum length of time for which a particular tool may be operated safely each day can be worked out with a useful calculator on HSE’s website.

Reducing vibration, to extend that safe time, has been a key design aim for Bosch. Vibrations can be dampened – and comfort improved – through anti-vibration handles. The Bosch rotary hammer is one of a number of Bosch tools featuring advanced Vibration Control.

Unseen obstacles

When a drill bit, grinding disc or saw blade is jammed by something hidden in the work material, rotation instantly transfers to the tool itself. This is known as ‘kickback’. It can result in arms being twisted, torn and broken. Even worse, it may redirect the tool’s cutting edge onto the user.

Before working on any material, scanning it for unseen obstacles like nails, pipes and cables is a good precaution. Even so, there may still be deeply concealed obstructions and resistant materials. For immediate protection, Bosch offers Electronic Rotation Control (ERC), or KickBack Control, whose acceleration sensors trigger an instant power shutdown when any abrupt blockage is detected.

So far, 25 Bosch Professional Power tools have been equipped in this way. Examples include the rotary hammer already described, as well as the GSR 18 V-60 Professional FlexiClick Drill Driver and the GWS 18 V-125 SC Professional Angle Grinder.

Safeguard your greatest assets

The challenge with cordless soldering is getting a good battery operated soldering iron.   Until now, battery operated soldering irons did not hit the mark.  The New Milwaukee M12 Soldering Iron dominates this space with a unit that heats up to over 200 degrees in 20 seconds and holds the heat for use in multiple situations.  This battery operated unit outperformed many of our corded units that we rely on weekly.  Milwaukee Tool added a few options that make this unit stand out.  First, the heat indicator tells you when the tool is warming, ready-to-use, and cool, allowing the user to concentrate on their work.  Second, there is a 3 position pivoting head with an LED light that lets you work in the most comfortable position for the situation.  With a 2.0 Ah battery, we were able to solder for about 25 minutes.  Larger battery options would increase this time significantly.

Milwaukee M12 Soldering Iron Kit 2488-21

2488-20 Features

Heats Quickly, Maintains Optimized Temperature

Ready-to-Use & Safe-to-Store Tip Indicator

3-Stop Pivoting Head for Unmatched Access

18 Second Heat Up Time

Green LED Indicates Operating Temperature Reached

Red LED Indicates Tool is Off and Still Hot

3-Stop Pivoting Head: Delivers Unmatched Access

Tool-Free Tip Change: Easily Switch Between Chisel and Pointed Tips

LED Work Light

Compatible with all M12 Battery Packs

Shop Changing Soldering Iron

As we go over in our YouTube video, we have a very large soldering stick that is commonly used for most items that can be done on a bench.  This super large iron gets very hot and completes the job of soldering wires together in seconds.  With that said, it has many downfalls as it has no way to be set down without burning what it has been set on.  The large iron takes 10 minutes to heat up and over 45 minutes to cool down.  When we compare it to the Milwaukee M12 soldering iron, the speed of soldering is different, but the convenience of the Milwaukee is huge!  The 20 seconds of heat up time until use and ability to set the unit down without burning something makes this unit a no-brainer for use.

If you were to include the warm-up time in the use of each tool, the Milwaukee will complete almost any job faster than the larger corded unit we have.  This is a huge step forward for anyone wanting a quality soldering iron.  The ability to go cordless, change head positions, have an LED light and be able to work for a significant time on a small battery makes this soldering iron well worth every penny they want for it!

M12 Soldering Iron Specifications

Warranty  5 Year Limited Warranty Length  10.060″ Weight  0.480 lbs Height  1.385″ Width  1.136″ Compatible Batteries  Compatible with All M12™ Chargers Compatible Chargers  Compatible with All M12™ Chargers