With battery technology improving, portable power tools are getting more powerful, lighter and more compact and vibration reduction continues to lead the way.

Many masons, even those that work in companies using the latest CNC technology, take a very traditional approach to working by hand – and sensibly so. Even now, a mallet and chisel can still be the quickest way to achieve the desired result.

Even so, there are not many masons these days who do not use power tools to take some of the slog out of their work and speed it up.

Under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 manufacturers have also modified their tools to help reduce vibration exposure for users.

Used properly and with due regard to vibration exposure limits, power tools might expose the user to less risk of vibration injury (HAVS – hand arm vibration syndrome) and the risk of white finger than using a mallet and chisel, although that can be a moot point.

Flex, a favourite of the stone industry both in the workshop and onsite, has new and re-released offerings under its new Chinese owners, Chevron (see page 25).

Makita had promised a number of new and updated tools in January, although as we went to press details were still not available. It might be worth asking your preferred stockist about them.

Fein had a major upgrade in January following the launch of its fully automatic two-speed magnetic core drill, the KBM 50, in November.

It now introduces 20 drill/drivers, combi drills and impact machines in 18V and 14.4V versions based on batteries with capacities of 4Ah and 2Ah with SafetyCell Technology single cell monitoring and separate communication cable with emergency stop function protecting the battery and tool from damage resulting from overload, overheating or total discharge. For switching between drilling and driving there is a QuickIN chuck and driver bit holder.

As well as the ever-improving batteries, Fein has used its in-house expertise in motor construction and electronics at its Schwäbisch Gmünd-Bargau factory to produce tools it is confident to back with a three-year warranty.

The flagship of the drill/drivers is the ASCM18 QX, with a four-speed brushless PowerDrive motor Fein says is 30% more efficient than comparable DC motor, with speeds of 400-3850rpm. The right speed and torque are selected using the patent-pending four-speed arrangement and accelerator with a maximum torque of 90Nm.

Metabo has also had a major launch that means it now offers cordless impact drills with the ‘Quick’ mode-change system with either brushed or brushless motors.

The new brushless motors are headlined by the 18V cordless drill/drivers BS 18 LTX BL Quick (BL demarks brushless) and the cordless impact drill SB 18 LTX BL. They achieve 600rpm in first gear and 2050rpm in second, producing a maximum torque of 44/90Nm. The Power X3 torque adapter can triple the power for extreme applications and with Quick, you change between screwdriving, drilling and impulse mode at the touch of a button.

Brushless motors run more efficiently than brushed motors, so require less energy, while any unused energy from the Metabo motor is fed back into the 5.2Ah batteries, increasing run-time. And these tools are light: The impact drill weighs 2kg and the drill/driver 1.9kg.

Two LED lamps light up as soon as the machines are picked up, putting some light on your work even before the spindle starts turning. A multifunctional monitoring system guards the motor, switch and battery pack, so if they become too hot the motor will shut down. There is also continuous monitoring of the current, so if the drill gets jammed the kick-back protection saves your wrists. It comes with a three-year warranty.

In the workshop, many masons use pneumatic tools because they are reliable, have good longevity and allow a mason to work in a familiar way. Aloisi, Bon Accord, Ingersoll Rand, Weha – the names are familiar. And now, new for 2014, is F&K (Frolich & Klupfel) air-powered pistol grip hammers from British handtool maker G Gibson & Co in Leeds. MD Craige Timmins says they are similar to the Italian Cuturi pneumatic hammers that he sells but with a pistol grip.

While traditionalists prefer to stick with the bottle-shape guns, a growing number of those craftspeople who have given pistol grips a go are converting to them, especially as the vibration reducing technology in the handle is said to mean they can be used for longer before reaching the legal limits. Craige says the smaller guns can be used all day without exceeding the limits. They also have a variable control trigger, allowing more control over speed while cutting. There is a variety of sizes and they are used with conventional 5mm, 7.5mm, 12.5mm and 16mm shanked tools.

An alternative to pneumatic hammers is the Gelma Woodpecker electromechanical hammer. This involves a motor driving a rotary driven shaft that provides a cam-activated strike within the handle, again using tools with standard-size shanks.

The Gelma is an alternative to having the whole compressor setup associated with air tools. It is best suited to the smaller carver / mason because it is not as powerful as the larger pneumatic hammers, but it is easy to use, even on the finest detail, and is simple to set up – you just hang the motor somewhere convenient and plug it in.

It is essentially a workshop tool because it runs on 240V, not the 110V needed for most site work. It is, nevertheless, eminently portable. Its low vibration means it can be used for a full day at a time without exceeding the vibration exposure limits, according to Craige Timmins, and also that it is particularly quiet.

Sculptor Carrie Horwood of Cats Eye Carving bought herself one and says she now uses it all the time. You can read her views about it on her blog at www.catseyecarving.co.uk/2012/07/the-woodpecker.

Bon Accord has been promising a low vibration version of its pneumatic hammer for a few years now and MD Bill Donald says it is at last almost ready to go into production with a patented system for reducing vibration.

Ghines has come up with a handy attachment for angle grinders for putting regular bevels on to the edges of stone. It is called EasyBevel and can be used to add a 45º bevel from 0.1mm to 10mm.

It is made of wrought aluminium with stainless steel guides and wearing elements. The front guide is scratch-resistant PVC with a finely adjustable tool depth gauge to control the width of the bevel.