The excellent angled grips on this router ensure that your wrists remain straight, which leads to greater control. The dust collection is far and away the best of the bunch. It left just a few chips in the mortises I routed, and it was flawless when routing edge profiles. The Festool also has the smoothest plunge, the best plunge lock, and easy micro and macro height adjustments. The edge guide is superb and the ratcheting spindle lock works very well. Finally, it was one of only two routers that have an automatic spindle brake, a nice extra when you have a lot of stopping andstarting to do. On the down side, the drop-down dust shroud can make it hard to see the bit on deeper plunges. Also, the accessory kit that contains the edge guide and guide bushing system adds $300 to an already lofty price.

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Festool Rotex FEQ-Plus Random Orbital Sander

The Festool Rotex is a top-of-the-line choice. On its coarse setting, it removed stock nearly twice as quickly as the second-fastest model. But that speed doesn’t mean you’ll have to wrestle with it. It’s no huge task to control it with two hands, and its long body gives you plenty of room to find a sweet spot while holding it.

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Craftsman Random Orbit Sander

While this sander is among the least expensive models in the test, its performance ranks among the best. The stock removal was excellent, and dust collection was solid when used with a vacuum. It handles really smoothly, too, and has a tall body that fit my hand nicely whether I was holding it from above or around the waist.

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Milwaukee M12 23-Gauge Cordless Pin Nailer

This tool is designed for convenience. The battery and pins are easy to load, and the safety lock operates with the same finger you use to pull the trigger. The depth of set is adjustable, there’s a work light, and there’s a hook for hanging the tool on your toolbelt. A gauge lets you keep track of when you’ll need to recharge.

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