Judging by the tools, manufacturers seem to favor the workers who want more power. The last time this magazine looked at 14.4-volt drills was in 1999, when the most powerful tool produced 330 inch-pounds of torque in the low speed setting. This time around, the top performer put out 484 inch-pounds. But that increase in power comes at the cost of some added weight. The current crop averages 5 pounds apiece, which is a half pound heavier than the models we tested in 1999. And the heaviest 14.4-volt tools outweigh some 18- and 24-volt models.

Hamilton recommends keeping above-ground fuel tanks full whenever possible to reduce air intake. Tank filters should be changed at least twice a year, and tanks should be drained three to four times annually. Also, tanks should sit six to eight hours after fuel delivery before equipment is fueled to allow contaminants to settle.Hamilton says that premium diesel fuels have additives that force water to the bottom of the tank. "But tanks must slope to a drain, and the drain must be opened regularly to remove it," he says.

And while caution should be exercised while working on any firearm, the venerable Colt Single-Action may be the most prone to screwdriver dings. There are three different screw sizes on the Peacemaker and unless you''ve got a screwdriver that truly fits the slots, the possibility of damage is real. Hardware store screwdrivers won''t do.Enter Bill Laughridge of Cylinder & Slide Shop. Handgunner readers know him as a custom gunsmith, but his operation also offers quite a few specialty parts. It turns out that Laughridge performs a lot of work on the old single-actions, so his specialized screwdrivers are based on practical experience.

Though light in weight, Airbor magnetic drill has a powerful 1.6-hp air motor and 1,600-lb magnetic holding strength. With its extra rack, stroke length is extended to 10 1/4 in. Annular cutter capacity is up to 2 1/16 in. diam. Geared chuck adapter converts the unit to a standard drill press. The Slugger Air Force pneumatic drill, at 24 lbs, 6 1/4" high, is useful for confined area drilling. The drill''s features include a permanent magnet that turns on or off by air power, a cutter capacity of up to 1 1/16" diameter x 3/4" depth and the ability to use ShortSlugger cutters and frame cutters. These cutters'' geometry allows the operator to drill multi-layered truck frames in a single pass.

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