Halloween tools, edition 2025

It’s been a while since I last had a chance to say something positive (or negative) about the tools I use. Having a deadline is always motivating – and this time, the deadline for my review is Halloween 2025. There’s nothing particularly special about the date, but with Christmas being the next major event on the calendar, it’s now or Christmas. The tools I’m reviewing in this post have all been in use for quite some time, and I feel ready to share a few thoughts about their performance, build quality, and features that matter to me.

DeWalt DWS773-GB is a very compact and robust mitre saw. I bought it mainly because of the design of its sliding arm, which appears to be extremely rigid. In theory, that should help achieve more accurate cuts. Another feature that appealed to me was its compactness. In my small workshop, every inch of storage space is precious. The saw has carry handles for easy transportation, though they are not in plane with the base, so they can’t be used as extensions. The head lock function allows the head to be fixed, restricting the sliding motion for trim applications. There’s also onboard storage for the blade-changing tools. To start the saw, multiple buttons must be pressed simultaneously – a nice safety feature, and safety is always the number 1 priority. I have two blades for this saw: one for construction work and another with fine teeth for woodworking. The latter also has a negative hook angle, which improves both safety and cut quality. These are the main advantages I like about this saw. Unfortunately, it also has quite a list of disadvantages. The mitre scale isn’t accurate, especially on the left, where the 45º mark is off. I even marked it in red to remind myself of that fault. The 45º mark on the right-hand side and the 0º position are accurate, at least according to my squares. The hold-down clamp is useless and has never worked properly. The saw also lacks a depth stop, which would be handy for some projects. Overall, this saw isn’t perfect, but it does the job and is easy to store. It’s good enough for my needs, and I’m going to hold onto it.

Bosch Professional GSR 12V-35 FC, with attachments: GFA 12-E, GFA 12-B, GFA 12-W and GFA 12-X is a small cordless and brushless drill/driver offering 35 Nm of torque. I have several attachments for it, all of which have been used, but I mostly rely on the hex bit holder and the drill chuck. It can handle drill bits up to 10 mm in diameter, but to accommodate drill bits with larger shanks, I purchased an additional chuck that accepts bits up to 13 mm in diameter. The two-speed selector and clutch are also features I use frequently. I’m very happy with this tool. It’s slightly longer than the GSR 12V-35 HX driver I used in the past, but it’s also more versatile. The last attachment I bought for it was the drill chuck, and now it’s the one I use the most. Who would have thought? It’s just so handy and lightweight, and for most of my projects, I don’t need a full-size 18-volt drill anyway.

Rotary grinder Bosch Professional GWG 12V-50 S steps in where an angle grinder would be too large or too aggressive for the job. I mainly use it for grinding and sanding. It’s particularly handy when installing flooring or scotia beading, especially for sanding flush scotia returns. The speed can be adjusted in two ways: with the variable speed trigger or with the five-speed mode switch, which works as a speed limiter. The sanding pads are available in various grits and are suitable for both wood and metal. There are also other attachments available on the market, such as nylon brushes, but one thing to keep in mind is that the collet is 6 mm, not 1/4 inch. Other features of this tool include a battery charge indicator and a spindle lock. When the spindle lock is engaged, the grinder won’t start. Safety features like these are what I always appreciate in Bosch Professional tools.

Klein Tools ET140 Pinless Moisture Meter is designed for non-destructive moisture detection in drywall, masonry, softwood, and hardwood. It works very accurately with wood – even before and after planing, it shows different readings, which proves it’s doing its job. It also performs well with drywall. I can’t confirm whether it works properly with masonry, though. I’ve never had accurate readings from my masonry walls – or maybe they’re just always damp! That would be the first of two disadvantages of this meter. The second is that the display panel is prone to scratching. It doesn’t affect readability, but it might make resale difficult in the future. If someone can live with those minor drawbacks, this is an excellent moisture meter.