That’s why, for all that goes into branding power tools, its rare that a tool company changes its name. This past spring, however, Hitachi announced that it would be doing that very thing, leaving “Hitachi” behind and becoming Metabo HPT. On October 17, the company’s name change became official for the North American market.

But, if you’re a loyal and invested Hitachi user, have no fear, reassures Joe Leffler, senior vice president of sales, marketing and general management of the new Metabo HPT. “Our name, whether Hitachi or Metabo HPT, still represents the same people, the look, the performance, the feel and the experience provided to the end user. All these will go unchanged, and all you will see is simply our name change.”

Here’s the short explanation for why a name change was necessary: Leffler explains that when Hitachi Koki Co. Ltd. partnered with KKR, a leading global investment firm, in April 2017, it was determined that the power tool division would no longer be part of Hitachi Ltd.

“Transitioning to Metabo HPT, we now have complete control to determine our direction in the market and the freedom to move faster,” Leffler says. “Within North America, we did extensive research and testing. We determined that building off an established brand like our sister company, Metabo, by renaming to Metabo HPT, would allow us to equally drive value to the different customer segments we both resonate in.”

Metabo HPT tools will be available in North America, wherever Hitachi power tools are sold. The transition has already begun, and it will continue to roll out in 2019. Current Hitachi-branded tools will be sold alongside Metabo HPT tools for the same model until supplies are gone, and some products may even be labeled with both names. Then, at some point next year, those tools will continue forward only as Metabo HPT.

“The tools will carry the same model numbers, same design, same warranties and same battery compatibility,” Leffler says. “The only thing changing as we transition will be our name to Metabo HPT.”

Outside of North America, other power tool markets have known the brand as Hitachi Koki Power Tools. So, instead of Metabo HPT, the tools will be called HiKoki elsewhere, where the “Koki” reference has an established familiarity and understanding, Leffler explains.

While Hitachi’s current product line continues under the new moniker, Metabo HPT is also launching a brand-new 36-volt platform of products called MultiVolt to celebrate the transition. The heart of MultiVolt is a 4.0 Ah lithium-ion battery that powers its new 36-volt offerings, which so far include a brushless 10-in. miter saw, 7-1/4-in. circular saw, a reciprocating saw, 1/2-in. hammer drill, triple impact driver, SDS rotary hammer, two 4-1/2-in. angle grinders and 1/2- and 3/4-in. high-torque impact wrenches. More MultiVolt tool options are forthcoming.

As the name suggests, one thing that makes MultiVolt unique is that the battery not only powers 36-volt tools but also is backwards-compatible to Hitachi/Metabo HPT 18-volt cordless tools. In these applications, it generates 8.0 Ah instead of 4.0 Ah, giving 18-volt tools extended runtime.

Another standout development of MultiVolt is an AC Adapter (model ET36A), which retails for $149. It looks like a slide-style tool battery with a 20-ft. power cord attached to it. Clip the AC adapter onto any MultiVolt 36-volt tool, and it can be plugged into 120-volt outlets for “corded” use, when that’s most convenient. Then, when situations take you away from outlet power, switch to a MultVolt battery instead, to use the tool “cordless.”

But, while MultiVolt batteries are backwards-compatible to 18-volt tools, the new AC Adapter isn’t: it works only on 36-volt MultiVolt tools.

The company considers MultiVolt to be game-changing in the industry, because it gives you the ability to choose either cordless or corded operation without sacrificing portability or performance. Metabo HPT also points out that the ultra-efficient brushless motors in MultiVolt tools enable the adapter to be used with long extension cords or from a generator with no power loss to the tool.

Currently, only the new 10-in. miter saw has a packaging option that includes the AC adapter. Most of the other tool offerings are sold bare or with two batteries and a charger. But, there’s an incentive to get onboard with MultiVolt: if you buy a bare tool, Metabo HPT gives you the option to pick either the AC Adapter or a MultiVolt battery and charger kit for free with your tool purchase. And, through the end of December, if you buy a MultiVolt tool and register it online, you can get an additional battery for free (a $99 value) by filling out and submitting a rebate form.

Leffler says, so far customers are responding positively to the new name as well as the MultiVolt battery, adapter and tool family.

“As we change our name to Metabo HPT we are launching technology that changes how power tools will be used on the jobsite,” Leffler says. “This new platform of MultiVolt tools resonates across every trade professional in the industry. We’re changing what’s expected of power tools. It’s an exciting time … Expect nothing but incredible innovation with durability at its core as we emerge as Metabo HPT.”

Learn more about Metabo HPT and MultiVolt by clicking here.

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Unclasp the top, and there’s a deep cavity of built-in storage inside. Beneath this storage bin is a shallow pull-out drawer for storing frequently used tools and parts. Both the storage bin and pull-out drawer can be customized and outfitted with the tools and accessories necessary to tackle whatever job you have planned.

Constructed of durable nylon resin, the stool measures 14-1/2 in. wide x 10-1/2 in. long by 13 in. tall. The storage compartment is 5-1/2 in. deep. The pull-out drawer measures 8-1/2 in. wide x 9 in. long x 2-3/4 in. deep. The step stool has a weight bearing capacity of 324 lbs. and can store up to 28 lbs. of tools and accessories.

Other features include an integrated handle that lies flush in the lid for easy transport, a locking metal clasp to secure the stool’s contents and sturdy rubber feet. The top has a brushed surface for sure footing.

The WORX Storage Step Stool (item WA4214) is available now at worx.com and sells for $39.99.

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Tim Inman: There was good research done on this very question back in the early 1980s by the Forest Products Research Station in Madison, Wisconsin. The brief result was to show that any finish is about as good as any other for what they referred to as “Moisture Excluding Effectiveness.” One coat was also about as good as three. I have sealed drawers with shellac many times. I think you will get along fine. Be sure to sand those drawers as smooth as a new baby’s skin! I used a nylon stocking as my “Inspector” tool. After all, I didn’t want my customers snagging theirs on my work!

Chris Marshall: Shellac is also a good choice for those drawer interiors because it won’t impart a lingering odor after it dries. Tung oil and other oil-based finishes tend to have a smell to them for quite some time after they cure. You don’t notice it so much on open surfaces that get plenty of air circulating around them, but close a drawer that’s freshly finished with an oil-based product, then open it and take a whiff, and you’ll see what I mean. I’ll make one suggestion about shellac, too: if it’s a new finish for you, practice first before applying it to those drawers. The first coat is easy, but brushing or wiping on multiple coats can lead to a sticky situation and brush lines, because each new coat of shellac partially dissolves the coat underneath. Polyurethane doesn’t do that.

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Pressing the button on the left side of the top edge releases the drawer which pops out about half an inch because of a back wall spring. The tricky part, at least for me, was the releasing mechanism.

I used two pieces of 1/4 inch oak veneered MDF board with matching cut outs for the face side. A concealed spring holds the plunger up and, yes, you guessed right, a modified Popsicle stick for the lever. I also added a cross pin on the plunger, not shown, so it can’t be removed. These boxes will be sent for Christmas gifts and I hope they enjoy them. Oh, the part shown was my test pieces and not used for the finished boxes.

– Don Radke

See the Gallery Below:

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“Seems like the old adage of ‘with age comes wisdom’ is true. After using my Craftsman contractor saw without the guard in place for the better part of 25 years, I recently invested in a SawStop cabinet saw with overhead dust collection. I was fortunate to never have an accident or even a near-miss, but having a neighbor lose several fingers in a table saw accident made me recognize the importance of safety. Just like me, he was always careful, but in one unfortunate moment he was maimed for life.” – Tom Atha

“Some while back, I got tired of putting the guard on and taking the guard off. Hassle, so I left it off. Then, after a while, I got too confident or comfortable or stupid and slipped – luckily, only a bit. Another half inch and I’d be missing my right thumb, instead of just a piece, which healed and is now all right.” – Pete Moffitt

“I still have my 1980s Shopsmith, but I will never, ever use it again in its table saw mode. I now own and operate a SawStop table saw. In table saw mode, the Shopsmith’s blade did come loose and, had I not had the saw blade guard installed in its correct place, the blade would have come off the spindle. In my case, the headstock needed maintenance that I couldn’t do myself, and it was vibrating more than it should have. This vibration is what caused the saw blade arbor (with the blade secured to the arbor) to come loose.” – José E. Martinez

“When my daughter was young, she and her friends would play in my basement. My shop is in a portion of the basement, so to keep her and her friends safe, I added a switch that controls all the equipment in my shop. The switch is set very high, high enough the she could not reach it. As a matter of fact, my wife had a difficult time reaching it. The only thing that could easily be turned on were the lights. All machinery was off with the switch off. The only live outlet was to my tool chargers and that was also out of reach to small ones. Safety was critical to me.” – Gerry Anger

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