Abstract:
Hand-held power tools with an external composite sleeve having a forward portion and a rearward portion and defining an axially extending cavity. The power tools also include an internal metal housing having a substantially cylindrical body with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart, longitudinally-extending front posts that project radially outward from the cylindrical body. The metal housing resides in the composite sleeve. The front posts can be closely spaced to or abut an inner surface of the forward end (e.g., front cap) of the sleeve. In a front exhaust configuration, the front posts and sleeve cooperate to define a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart gap spaces, a respective gap space bounded by adjacent posts, an outer surface of the cylindrical body and the inner surface of the sleeve.