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KwikPro turns the traditional cordless-tool format on its head

KwikPro turns the traditional cordless-tool format on its head
The KwikPro Gold Diamond set, with remote-control power handles
The KwikPro Gold Diamond set, with remote-control power handles
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The KwikPro two-way fitting system allows drills to be used in a pistol-grip fashion, or end-on (in parallel with the handle) to accommodate work in tight spaces
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The KwikPro two-way fitting system allows drills to be used in a pistol-grip fashion, or end-on (in parallel with the handle) to accommodate work in tight spaces
The KwikPro hard-case
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The KwikPro hard-case
The KwikPro Gold set, with eight tool heads which make 10 complete tools
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The KwikPro Gold set, with eight tool heads which make 10 complete tools
The KwikPro Gold Diamond set, with remote-control power handles
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The KwikPro Gold Diamond set, with remote-control power handles
The KwikPro two-way fitting system allows drills to be used in a pistol-grip fashion, or end-on (in parallel with the handle) to accommodate work in tight spaces
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The KwikPro two-way fitting system allows drills to be used in a pistol-grip fashion, or end-on (in parallel with the handle) to accommodate work in tight spaces
The KwikPro sets were designed to fit completely into one case
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The KwikPro sets were designed to fit completely into one case
The components of the KwikPro Gold set
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The components of the KwikPro Gold set
The components of the KwikPro Silver set
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The components of the KwikPro Silver set
The KwikPro tool belt
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The KwikPro tool belt
The KwikPro tool belt
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The KwikPro tool belt
KwikPro's SlideDrive system is built around the powered handle
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KwikPro's SlideDrive system is built around the powered handle
The remote control functionality of the KwikPro Gold Diamond set
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The remote control functionality of the KwikPro Gold Diamond set
The remote control functionality of the KwikPro Gold Diamond set
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The remote control functionality of the KwikPro Gold Diamond set
KwikPro's SlideDrive system
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KwikPro's SlideDrive system
View gallery - 14 images

A British engineer with a long career in electric vehicles and hovercraft has created the space- and weight-saving KwikPro system, which he hopes will revolutionize the way tradespeople work – and get around. The 10-piece array of trade-worthy tools fits into just one case, because the motor is in the handle, not the head.

By putting the motor into a universal powered-handle which the tool-heads clip onto, design engineer Robert Fowler is able to offer a full set of tools which is not only portable and economical, but could significantly speed-up the time spent on all manner of complex jobs.

And since the muscle is in the handle, subsequent add-on tool-heads should be considerably cheaper than their conventional cousins, where each tool "skin" contains its own (costly) motor.

KwikPro's SlideDrive system is built around the powered handle
KwikPro's SlideDrive system is built around the powered handle

"Shifting loads of power-tools in lots of separate cases to different job-sites wastes time, energy and money, and can also increase the danger of accidents and injuries," says Fowler. "KwikPro sets are practical one-case solutions which make it easy for power-tool users to speed-up the time it takes to get the tools they need to and from job-sites."

Now, the whole motor-in-the-handle thing may seem enough of a revolution to some, but Fowler is a true boffin, and he clearly wasn't done coming up with ideas. Not content with a clip-on head which looks and behaves like a regular cordless tool, Fowler has designed the drill-heads with a two-way fitting system, allowing them to be used conventionally in a pistol-grip fashion, or end-on (in parallel with the handle) to accommodate work in tight spaces.

The KwikPro two-way fitting system allows drills to be used in a pistol-grip fashion, or end-on (in parallel with the handle) to accommodate work in tight spaces
The KwikPro two-way fitting system allows drills to be used in a pistol-grip fashion, or end-on (in parallel with the handle) to accommodate work in tight spaces

But wait, there's more. This last feature is the weirdest, but still ingeniously practical, once you get your head around it. The motor handles in the "Gold Diamond" KwikPro tool set are kitted out with a remote-control feature, intended to assist with difficult-to-access jobs – or possibly just for fun. The remote system means you can control one complete tool with a separate handle, or control two working tools in tandem using just one trigger. It's hard to do this feature justice with words alone, so KwikPro created an animated sequence on its Kickstarter page to demonstrate it.

The remote control functionality of the KwikPro Gold Diamond set
The remote control functionality of the KwikPro Gold Diamond set

KwikPro is currently proposing three, 18-volt, tool sets. The KwikPro Silver features one motor handle, four tool heads (which can make up to five tools), a charger and two 2,000-mAh batteries. The Gold and Gold Diamond sets are heavier-duty than the Silver, and comprise two motor handles, eight tool heads, a twin-charger and three 4,000-mAh batteries. Each set also includes a Batman-esque tool-belt which the system clips onto and a hard-case that stores it all.

After thousands of hours making drawings, models and prototypes, Fowler has taken to crowdfunding to raise the capital needed for the tooling and parts required for manufacture, as well as the all important certification testing.

Could Robert Fowler become the James Dyson of the DIY set? The Clive Sinclair of the cordless-drill? He just might if his Kickstarter campaign is successful, but with a June 5 deadline and only £1,700 (US$2,200) of the £38,500 ($49,895) goal pledged so far, we'll have to wait and see.

Pledges begin at £169 ($220) for the KwikPro Silver Set, with an estimated shipping date of February 2020, should all go to plan. Fowler's pitch video for his invention can be below.

Sources: KwikPro Power Tools, Kickstarter

KwikPro: the world's most versatile power tools

View gallery - 14 images
6 comments
6 comments
Gizmowiz
This is not a new idea. Several tools are already made this way with interchangeable heads with the motor in the handle.
Rich Bos
Black and Decker and Craftsman already a have a consumer version of this on the market (B&D still makes it Craftsman does not I believe)). There were interchangeable between brands as they were made by the same company. B&D calls it the Matrix and Craftsman the Bolt On.
EH
It's a really cool, incredibly useful, reasonably-priced idea, I'm surprised it hasn't taken off already. Maybe it would help to talk up its mechanical design and durability, for instance whether it has seals to keep out the drywall dust etc.
I'd like to see a similar system adapted to hobby-price CNC tools, using the (perhaps even auto-) tool-changing and remote control capability. Perhaps swapping the gearhead between the motor and the various tools would allow using high-speed tools such as milling heads, router bits and Dremel(TM)- style bits using the same motor. The KwikPro set as it is could be adapted to an existing CNC positioning system, but having an integrated design of the positioning system, other actuators and sensors could result in an inexpensive but more-than-factory productive general-purpose fabrication machine. Best of luck to Mr. Fowler.
Nik
More parts, more wear and tear, more loose connections? Probably like a lot of others, I'll wait and let consumer testing decide.
Buzzclick
When this kind of multi-toolkit concept comes around there's almost always a compromise. It's a little late in the game, and putting "PRO" in it's branding means that these tools will at best be bought by home tinkerers, and they better be cheaply priced. I'll stick with my Milwaukee and Makita tools thank you very much.
ChairmanLMAO
when it can interchange with the vaccuum cleaner run the wifees blender and charge from 20 different sources then maybe...