Customer Reviews
Bits are cheap, tool design is innovative, see video
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2DMYZLOKSNSHY Amazon vine ate my original video review so take 2 is presented here. It actually worked out for the better since in take 2 you get to see the tool fail in 2 ways:
#1 - fail to feed a bit - you select a bit, close the action, and nothing pops out at all
#2 - jam - you select a bit, try to close the action, and the bit bites the plastic magazine preventing you from closing the action, so you recycle the action to unjam it.
It's not a revolver - it behaves more like an automatic. The feedsystem relies on gravitational and magnetic forces to pull the bit into the tube alligned properly so as not to jam. Your grip may affect its reliability in feeding, but its not a big issue - it just happened to have these 2 failures in this footage, despite being used extensively with no failures.
I really do like this tool for its innovative design, however in the attempt to cut costs, it was (like everything) made in China. This isn't always bad - see my review on vine's lowenpro video camera case - made in china also but it would give G***i a run for their money!. In this case though the bits are made from pot metal (melted down cars from the usa) then plated to look tough. The plating flakes off and conducts electricity which is a serious problem around PC boards that are bare like a motherboard in a desktop PC. Those flakes get in between small parts and the board smokes and dies. Smoking is very bad for electronic devices! I chose to use a higher quality set of bits with my screwdriver that are not plated but have a phosphated finish on tool steel from Taiwan.
My only other complaint is shared with other non-metalic tools including high quality nutdrivers - they pass the torque through a weak point - the plastic handle in this case. This handle, unlike a nutdriver, is mostly hollow for holding the bits, so it lacks the strength of a nutdriver handle.
My cautionary words are simply this - YOU HAVE ONE PAIR OF EYES! ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES!. The bits can break, the plastic can break, and depending on the torque applied a fragment could fly into your eye destroying your stereo vision. Never use extension wrenches or breaker bars to force it - put the bit into a steel 1/4" wrench if you need more torque.
Enjoy the video - you can see the tool malfunction (I honestly didn't expect it but kept on going with the script and ad-libed my way through the problem) and you can see alternative bit sets including a 100 pc set I bought for $16 made from tool steel in taiwan - best part is that all 100 pieces are for tamper proof fasteners so you can get into almost anything with them. For going cheap on the 48 piece bits I'm deducting one star. I've run manufacturing plants in Suzhou, China and I know these bits likely cost 1cent each to make, plus 0.01 cent each to handload into the case, or 48.5 cents which for an extra buck could have been done with toolsteel and no plating.
Lights, action camera.
Convenient but expensive
The main feature of this product, the 6-bit autoloading, is most useful for a situation where you don't have room to store 6 individual screwdrivers. In that context, the small autoloader is a nice upgrade from my 2-bit Stanley that I used to keep in the kitchen drawer (and I keep the large autoloader upstairs in the desk drawer). I haven't yet had to go to the garage for any simple screwdriver tasks since receiving my KR Tools Autoloaders -- wall plates, sunglasses, and computers are all handled by the autoloaders' preloaded assortment of bits.
In addition, having Phillips bits down to 000 is handy since many glasses require bits that size, yet you probably don't have screwdrivers that small unless you have a set of jeweler's screwdrivers.
There are 48 bits total, though only 36 are unique (the 12 bits that are preloaded into the two screwdrivers are repeated in the set of bits that are housed in the case). The machining of the bits doesn't appear to be very precise, and the chrome plating on one or two was flaking off even though brand new. I did torque test one of the larger flat heads and found that I couldn't bend it with moderate manual twisting in a vice, so they are somewhat harder than they might appear. One other minor quibble with respect to the bits is that they are held in place through magnetization, which is a dual edged sword. Magnetization helps to pick up a dropped screw, but you probably don't want to use this on your watch.
If I ever do come across a job that requires one of the esoteric Torx, square or hex bits, I'll have to make a trip to the garage. At which point, I will have lost the convenience factor that is this tool's main value proposition. And the price tag for this pair of screwdrivers, cool though they may be, is pretty high. If reducing the assortment of bits and the LED light could have shaved 30% to 50% of the price tag, it would have been well worth it.
Bottom line is that while I like this product, I think it costs too much. I am therefore deducting one star from my overall rating.
P.S. Be sure to hold the autoloader vertically with the bit at the top when swapping bits. You pretty much have to do this to see which bit you're selecting, but I've noticed that the autoloader sometimes jams if you hold it horizontally or bit downwards.
Great holiday gift potential here!
This is the type of gift you give to someone who doesn't really have any tools. It's handy to put in your glove compartment, kitchen drawer or for a college student.
This is not a gift for a contractor/carpenter/mechanic by trade.
The concept is great and I recently used this while installing a outlet-mount surge protector (a surge protector that screws into the faceplate of the electrical outlet). I had to squeeze behind my large TV to get to the dark corner of my living room. I had looked at another electrical face plate and saw that it was a simple Phillips screwhead.
Upon installing the surge protector, the included screw was a flathead. I know this was a minor/trivial task, but let's re-enact what happens in real life if I didn't have the 6 in 1 Autoloader.
The re-enactment:
1. Look at faceplate and see that I need a Phillips screwdriver.
2. Grab a Phillips screwdriver and then squeeze in behind the tv to get to the face plate.
3. Can't see too well, climb back out and search for a few minutes for a working flashlight
4. Climb back in and prop flashlight on wall and begin to take screw out of face plate, knock flashlight over and re-prop it and continue taking screw out, bump the flashlight with my knee in the tight corner and re-prop the round end of the flashlight against a wall that it rolls and falls over on
5. Finally, I've taken the screw out and announce manly-success and grunt like Tim Allen
6. Reach for the surge protector and realize the embedded mounting screw is a flathead and I'm holding a Phillips
7. Climb back out, go find a flathead screwdriver
8. Climb back in and realize the flathead screwdriver is too wide for the hole for the surge protector - need a screwdriver that is 1mm smaller in width
9. Climb back out and go find a smaller flathead screwdriver, but grab 3 extras just in case
10. Climb back in and wah-lah, I have a flathead screwdriver that fits, knock over flashlight and re-prop against wall. Firmly mount the outlet-mount surge protector in place, and though there were a few lost battles, the war is won.
11. Climb back out and realize I forgot to get the flashlight. I say heck with it and the batteries it rode in on.
Now here's what really happened with my Autoloader 6-in-1:
1. I have my Phillips and flathead tips all built into my Autoloader, I simply pull and turn the handle to the tip that I need, no running out to the garage.
2. It got a little dark, so I slide the 'Autoloader-tip-flashlight' over the Autoloader and wah-lah, bright LED lighting exactly where I use the tool and NO KNOCKED OVER FLASHLIGHTS.
3. I don't forget anything behind the TV because all the tools came out of a really nice canvas carrying case.
4. Unfortunately I did burn less calories by being more efficient...
Overall this is a great toolset for household chores, but if handywork were my profession, I'd have an arsenal of expensive tools...and a big toolbelt. ;-)
UPDATE: 12-23-2009: I consider myself a handyman and this Autoloader tool really saved the day today and I wanted to chime in: So today I'm on vacation and painting a vaulted wall that's 20 feet and has 6 windows with blinds. I wrestle an 18-foot extension ladder into place and grab my trusty Autoloader. I remove the highest blinds and I see that the mounting clips are Phillips screwheads, no problem, I remove a set. I move to the next window and repeat - but this time, one of the screws is a flathead - no problem, I adjust my Autoloader and wah-lah, one of the mounting clips is removed. I go to the next clip and it's 2 Phillips screwheads, but one looks a lot different. I remove the regular screw and notice the Phillips bit is too narrow for the different screw - no problem, I adjust my Autoloader and I remove the last mounting clip I can reach.
Why is this even meaningful? Because it saved me from climbing up and down an 18 foot ladder probably half a dozen times today fetching different types of screwdrivers. Who knew the mounting clips would be different? I sure wasn't expecting it, but with my trusty Autoloader, no problem - I was prepared!
About the Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
In
1924 Milwaukee Electric Tool introduced the Hole-Shooter, the first
lightweight, portable, one-handed 1/4-inch capacity drill, and the
company has been dedicated to producing innovative, heavy-duty electric
power tools that meet the needs of professional users ever since.
Milwaukee's
product line has grown to include more than 500 tools and over 3,500
accessories. Milwaukee uses state-of-the-art technologies and
sophisticated manufacturing techniques to ensure that quality is built
into each of its tools, resulting in durable and reliable professional
products.
What's in the Box
6524-21 Sawzall
the Hatchet Reciprocal Saw; 10-foot, two-wire Quik-Lok cord; two Super
Sawzall blades, and impact-resistant carrying case.
Only 13-1/2" in length, the Hatchet is perfect for tasks in tight spaces. View larger.
The Hatchet is tough enough for tackling heavy-duty tasks. View larger.
