New Ideas

Accessory cases are customizable

Milwaukee® Tool has introduced customizable accessory cases for drilling and driving sets designed for use in PACKOUT™ storage solutions. The cases reportedly are optimized to fit inside all PACKOUT organizers and feature fully adjustable rows. A user can customize a case by adding and removing individual rows. The cases are available in six designs: small, small compact, medium, medium compact, large and large deep. Cases and accessory rows are sold separately to help contractors meet various on-the-job needs. Accessory rows also can be removed from a case and attached to M12™ and M18™ Drills and Impacts for on-tool storage. The cases are constructed with heavy-duty materials to withstand harsh job-site environments and include reinforced latches for durability and secure closing.

Shingle color is nontraditional

BP Building Products of Canada has added Morning Mist to the available colors for its Mystique asphalt shingles line. Designed as an alternative to traditional solid gray shingles, Morning Mist is a multitoned pale gray shingle consisting of a mix of gray, white and brown. The new color reflects consumers’ reported preference for more saturated, earthy shingle tones that are less uniform than monochromatic color schemes. Mystique double-layer laminate shingles are designed with oversized tabs and feature 3D shadow bands for a sharp look.

Exposed panel looks like standing-seam panels

McElroy Metal has introduced Modern-Rib, an exposed fastener panel said to simulate the aesthetic of standing-seam panels. The fastener panel adds sophisticated styling to residential roof systems and post-frame structures with a 3/4-inch rib. Modern-Rib is available in silicone modified polyester, as well as PVDF/Kynar 500® coatings. The 36-inch striated panel comes in 29-gauge Galvalume,® 26-gauge Galvalume, 29-gauge G-90 bare and G-100 painted in lengths up to 48 feet.

Jig saw blades have bidirection teeth

Diablo Tools has introduced a range of jig saw blades to fit barrel-grip and top-handle corded and cordless jig saws. Designed with ultrahard cutting edges said to provide a longer life than standard blades, the jig saw blades cut through wood, metals and plastics and can be used for specialty applications. The jig saw blades feature bidirection teeth and bimetal blades for ultrafine top and bottom finishes and an optimized body design for precise straight, angled and curved cuts. The blades also feature a plunge tip design that reportedly enables faster and easier plunging. Diablo Tools’ carbide teeth jig saw blades are durable and feature Perma-SHIELD® nonstick coating to reduce heat and pitch buildup. The blades’ aggressive tooth geometry reportedly delivers fast cuts and features an enhanced carbide tip for extreme impact resistance.

Miter saw delivers more power

DEWALT® has made available its 60V MAX Brushless 12-inch Double Bevel Sliding Miter Saw (DCS781) designed to provide 20% more power. The miter saw’s Regenerative Braking Technology is said to extend runtime by redirecting lost energy back into the saw’s battery while the bevel-drive transmission reduces power losses that may occur with belt-driven designs. Using a DEWALT FLEXVOLT® DCB609 battery, the saw can make up to 255 cuts in pressure-treated 4- by 4-inch timber. The saw also can capture up to 94% of dust. The miter saw’s CUTLINE™ LED blade-positioning system reportedly provides accurate cut line indication while the controls make miter, bevel and trench cuts easy. The saw is available as an individual unit or kitted.

Lap tape for cold weather applications

CertainTeed® has introduced Arctic Edge™ Flintlastic® SA Cold Lap Tape. The use-as-needed auxiliary tape is designed to enhance Flintlastic SA adhesion in temperatures between 35 and 49 F. Intended for use with low-slope residential and commercial applications, Arctic Edge is installed during normal roofing applications to increase adhesion at critical interfaces, including perimeter details, sidelaps and base/interply endlaps. Arctic Edge reportedly replaces metal primers, eliminating labor delays associated with longer cold weather cure times. The tape can be installed using a hand-held applicator or a stand-up applicator for longer stretches of side lap application and can be stored and saved for up to one year.