March 16, 2010
200th Anniversary of the Circular Saw
As the story goes, one day in 1810, Tabitha Babbitt, a Shaker woman, looked at a couple dudes working a pit saw (one account says it was her brothers) and thought to herself, 'there's got to be a better way to build this mousetrap.'
From the vantage point of our nice, heated, indoor-plumbing-equipped homes, a pit saw is a pretty crazy idea. Dig a pit, roll a log across it, position one man above and one man below, get a two-man saw, and have at it. The forward thinking Tabitha didn't like the process due to the wasted energy and effort with all the digging and the sawing (Not to mention the awkward moment when it was decided which guy was going have to work in the hole all day).
According to a nice little account over at the York Saw & Knife website,
Babbitt discovered how to solve the problem using her spinning wheel.
She mounted a tin disk with notches along its circumference. Being pushed into the spinning disk cut the wood with much less effort than a pit saw. Her idea was enlarged and adopted for use by the local saw mill. Use of the circular saw became a common practice here. Because of her Shaker religion, Babbitt did not apply for a patent for her invention.
We snagged the image from the York website as well.
There are actually a number of other origin stories for the circular saw, but we like this one the best because it all happened in the little town where Tool Snob HQ is currently located. We've even been by the graveyard where, we believe, Tabitha resides.
Read More in: Distractions
March 15, 2010
ToolRider GSR Suspension Rig - Review
There are two main factions in the tool belt world; the leathers and the nylons. It's sort of like the carpenter version of the Sharks and the Jets. Us? We usually dodge the question by opting for the simple nail pouch with a separate hammer loop. Our quasi-supervisory role at work doesn't allow us to spend too many days fully tooled up. But on those days when we're forced to do it, we go for the old leather belt that we have. In our opinion, there's something about them that just feels more...well...authentic. But we don't have anything against the nylon belts, it's just that we've never really found one that we've been all that into. They seem a little too modern and futuristic for us.
But we're open-minded folks so we jumped at the chance to review the the nylon ToolRider GSR Suspension Rig when Rooster (also makers of McGuire-Nicholas rigs) offered to send one on.
Continue reading: "ToolRider GSR Suspension Rig - Review"
Read More in: Benches, Stands, and Storage | Clothing | Safety
March 12, 2010
Skil 3600 Flooring Saw
Yesterday we were talking to our good buddy Hal from over at Extreme How-To and he asked if we had heard of the Skil Flooring Saw. We hadn't, so on his recommendation we came back to the shop and looked it up online and...well...this one looks pretty cool. Really cool, in fact.
What Skil has done here is analyzed what exactly is needed for cutting tools on a flooring project and done two things with the information; gotten rid of all the excess and combined the 'needs' into one tool. Skil's line of thought is, 'why bother with a 10" miter saw and a 10" table saw when all you're doing is cutting 3" wide boards?" They've got a point.
So their setup looks something like a tile saw. The blade is tiny and can either be run along the track for crosscuts or secured in place for rips. It looks like there's a also an adjustable miter fence and, in a wonderfully simple move, Skil made the base of the tool 1-1/2" high, so your outfeed can be taken care of with a 2x. From the looks of the video over at the Skil site, the tool is light too. The guy doesn't seem to have any problem hauling it around in one hand. While this may be good for mobility, we're curious how it affects rip cuts. Are there rubber gripping pads under the saw to prevent sliding, or do you have to screw the unit down to stabilize it? (UPDATE: We just got word from some people in the know that the saw does indeed have rubber feet as well as mounting holes for screw-mounting to a workbench).
Skil has a micro-site set up for the tool here.
The Skil Flooring Saw won't be available until May 1st, but it's already showing up on retailer sites for the $190 range.
At Amazon
Read More in: Power Tools
March 11, 2010
Bosch Nailkiller Auger Bits
Showing absolutely no sensitivity towards the nail community, Bosch has dubbed their latest auger bits, "Nailkillers." Frightening stuff if you're a nail. But if you're a carpenter or electrician who is sick of chewing through $15-$30 auger bits every time one hits a screw, it's really not so bad.
According to Bosch, these bits last 9 times longer than the average non-killing, peacenik, flower-child auger bit. In their press release, Bosch states that, "Independent testing of the Nailkiller bits revealed that a 1" Nailkiller bit was capable of driving through up to 301 hidden nails, versus only 33 for the current market leader, when used with a right-angle drill."
That's a serious difference (and a lot of mourning nail families).
The bits are just now becoming available and vary in length from 7-1/2" to 24" and diameters from 1/4" to 1-1/2".
According to Bosch, the bit will be available online at Tyler Tool, but it looks like the website hasn't yet been updated accordingly.
The press release is after the jump. It's worth browsing because there is quite a bit more to these bits. Or if you don't know how to read, Bosch has set up a nailkiller microsite here.
Continue reading: "Bosch Nailkiller Auger Bits"
Read More in: Bits and Blades
March 10, 2010
David Ellison: Farm Tables
Here's a great video that we first saw over at Lumberjocks. It's of a guy who's living the dream. He gave up the corporate world and now he makes farm tables. Not bad, eh?
The video has a soothing quality to it, sort of like Bob Ross' Joy of Painting.
Thanks to the wonderful people at The Sheep's Company for initially sending us the video.
Read More in: Distractions
March 9, 2010
Rockwell SoniShear - Review
Now that most of the big players have their oscillating tools on the shelves, the first phase of the oscillating extravaganza of '09 is coming to an end. At the moment, it looks like we've just entered phase two: accessories. This era will likely be marked by companies releasing all manner of accessory, each more creative (and strange) than the last. We recently checked out Fein's orbital sander attachment and we were very impressed. Today, we just finished up our testing of Rockwell's new SoniShear. The function of this attachment is to turn your SoniCrafter into a pair of shears. When Rockwell said they'd send us one, we really didn't know what to expect.
When we first saw it on youtube, we thought that attaching it to the SoniCrafter was going to be a hassle, like we had to take apart the head of the tool or something. As it turns out, that's not the case at all; it fits on just like any other attachment.
Once it was on, we started a cuttin'. We began with the terrible blister pack that it came in and the SoniShear zipped right through it at an impressive speed. Then we went to corrugated cardboard and had the same results. After that was a thin strip of poplar. Here, not so much. The SoniShear couldn't handle the 1/8" bulky wood. It wasn't from lack of trying either, we actually loosened the whole attachment while we were jamming the thing into the wood (note: no where does Rockwell say that the SoniShear is able to cut wood, we just wanted to push the accessory). So you can't cut wood, but how about aluminum flashing? The SoniShear had no problem here, but the bulk of the tool made things a little awkward, so we'd probably stick with tin snips in the future. We didn't get around to cutting carpet, but from what we saw, the SoniShear would have no difficulty with that material.
There's no question that it's easier on the hands then regular snips or shears. It's also no problem cutting curves. But with the accessory offset from the tool body, there are going to be times when the tool isn't going to fit where you want it. It's a minimal concern and shouldn't stop anyone from taking a closer look at the SoniShear.
It's inexpensive enough at $25 that it sort of falls into the, "eh, why not?" category. Unless you're lined up to remove a carpet, there's probably no reason to go running out to get one, but if you see one at the store and you've got some cash in your pocket, why not have it on hand in your arsenal? It'll definitely come in handy at some point.
And because the SoniShear wraps around the body of the tool, it is incompatible with the other brands of oscillating tools.
We also just noticed that Rockwell has cleaned up their website a bit, check it out here.
It'll be available at Amazon and Rockwell Tools
Read More in: All Reviews | Bits and Blades | Oscillating Tools
March 8, 2010
Acme Tools Launches New Retail Website
In 1999, Acme Tools sold their online department to Amazon and since then, they've apparently been concentrating on expanding their brick and mortar stores in Iowa and Minnesota. But now it seems that they're back in action.
We checked their prices and they're in the range of most other online retailers. The site does have a couple cool features like a 'what's new' area and a standing gift guide. You can also 'shop by trade,' which is nice.
Acme Tools
Read More in: Promotions
March 5, 2010
Milwaukee Announces New Line of Hand Tools
So where do you go after you completely dominate the 12-volt market? Hand tools, apparently. Milwaukee has just announced the first four tools in a new line of non-powered, non-voltage tools. And, as always with Milwaukee, they are geared for tradesman.
The first tools announced are two utility knives, a drywall keyhole saw, and a 11-in-1 screwdriver. Of these, the one that interests us the most is the 11-in-1. It seems that in the past few weeks there has been an explosion of the Klein 10-in-1 at the jobsite. All of a sudden, everyone's getting one (and telling everyone else to get one). So at least in our area, Milwaukee seems to be hitting the market at the right time.
For more information on these tools, check out Milwaukee's hand tool page here.
Read More in: Hand Tools
March 3, 2010
And the Winners Are.....
We've done our random drawing and have come up with the grand prize winner of the Craftsman MiterMate. First, we took all of your comments and gave each one a number and wrote those numbers on little pieces of paper and spread them out on the floor. Then, we plopped Tool Snob Jr. in the middle of it and the piece of paper he selected was the winner. Although he was momentarily distracted by Sullivan, the giant teddy bear, he soon got down to business and picked a winner. To make sure that the whole event was on the up and up, the drawing was monitored closely by Marlowe, the official sweepstakes observer.
And so the winner of the MiterMate is Beth who wrote in with this entry:
I absolutely need this. I currently have to borrow my cousin's husbands mitre saw, and granted he doesn't use it, neither do I, because it's broke, and I can't just go around returning broken miter saws to people, and saying things like 'it was this way when I found it', and by found it I mean dropped it.
Mostly I need to finished the molding and trim in the front room of my mothers house, before she gets back and sees that I ripped out all the old stuff.
So when I think do I need a mitersaw? The question is really do I wish to continue to be a member of this family and have a roof over my head?
Both answers are yes.
Thanks Toolsnob, I keep you in the heart of my toolbar, in the web browser of my life.
When we initiated the contest, we said we would choose another winner based on originality and creativity. As it turns out we chose two. These guys will be getting a random tool from the shop.
The first runner-up was David, who, if he won the saw, offered to devote 1-3 minutes each day to world peace. We're sorry that you didn't win the grand prize, David. It looks like Bono will just have to carry a little more weight on his shoulders.
The second runner-up was Bobby, who delivered his entry in the form of a haiku. We were stunned with his evocative words and are in the process of nominating him for the Bollingen Prize. Dim the lights and read the poem for yourself:
a mitermate saw!
while rebuilding my old shed
in spring would help much.
Simple. Elegant. Beautiful.
And while those were the winners, we do want to say that we were immensely impressed with the quality of all the entries. With very few exceptions, they were great fun to read and we're honored to have such clever and crafty people visit our website. We also feel 100% of your pain with your old houses, in-progress renovations, and angry spouses. If we could, we would have given a MiterMate to each one of you. Honestly.
We would also like to thank Craftsman for suggesting the give-away in the first place.
Read More in: Promotions
March 2, 2010
Dremel 8200 Cordless Rotary Tool - Review
It's funny, but each time Dremel releases a new rotary tool, we think to ourselves, "man, this is the best Dremel evah!" Then they release another one and we think, "Whoa, now this is the best Dremel the world has ever seen!" And on and on. Last year they released their new corded 4000 series tool and we loved it for it's strength and all around 'Dremely vibe.' Well, now they've released the cordless 8200 which seems to be a companion to the 4000. We were happy that they let us check out a pre-release sample. Oddly enough, we got it in our hands, played around with it for a bit and thought, "Hot damn! Now this might be the greatest Dremel we've ever used!"
The 8200 operates in a range of 5,000 to 30,000 rpm with the adjustment made with a slider on the back of the tool. Above the slider is a battery fuel gauge so you can keep an eye on how much juice you've got left. It's a feature that we think should be standard in li-Ion tools and it's nice to see Dremel getting on board with it.
Because we're carpenters and not hobbyists, we would have liked to see this tool come with two batteries instead of just one. Were that the case, the 8200 would be fully jobsite ready, but the extra battery would also tack on at least $50 to the price and it would be something that isn't used by a lot of the people who buy Dremels and use them sporadically in the garage workspace and won't mind the 1-hour charger.
(Update: We're dopes. Dremel does indeed offer an 8200 with two batteries. It's the 8200 2/28 and it will be retailing for $140. It also includes a cutting guide, a right angle attachment and 28 accessories. Sounds ideal to us. A thank you to Dremel for pointing out our error.)
In general, the cordless aspect of this tool is fantastic. It makes the use and set-up of it that much easier. And it's powerful too. According to Dremel, the 8200 has a speed of cut that is twice as fast as the leading cordless rotary tool. We didn't verify this, but we did use the tool to cut metal, plastic, and stone and thought it was right up there with the 4000.
The one thing we're not fond of with the tool is the case. Because the tool we got was an advance copy, the case we got may or may not be the one that is being sold with the tool. We have no reason to think that the production case will be different, but you never know. As our friends at Milwaukee are aware, we can get really hung up on tool cases. The blow-molded jobbies that some companies use drive us crazy, and while the Dremel case does have plenty of room for accessories, there is also this panel piece that creates an odd space for loose accessories to hide behind. And getting them out is like getting a pick out of a guitar. Dremel accessories are very tiny and some of them break down into even tinier pieces, so why make a case like this? No comprende.
But that's just our hangup and all of you who read that last paragraph with glazed over eyes can just walk away knowing that Dremel has made yet another great rotary tool.
it's also worth noting the we received a marketing sample, so the 100% finished "in the store" product may (or may not) have a look that is slightly more polished.
The 8200 isn't available until April, but when it is, it will sell for $100 to $140 depending on the accessory package that comes with it. It's not there now, but it will likely be at Amazon
Read More in: All Reviews | Cordless | Lithium-Ion | Power Tools | Rotary Tools
March 1, 2010
February 2010 Monthly Roundup for Tool Snob
Another good month is in the bag here. Between watching the Olympics and trying to wrap up a project at work, we managed to deliver some tool news and reviews. In our opinion, the most interesting things going on this month were the Rockwell H3, the Rockwell VersaCut, and the Ridgid JobMax.
The Tool of the Month has to be the Craftsman MiterMate. While it's a little awkward to use in certain circumstances, it shows Craftsman's willingness to take risks and at the same time add a little spice to the boring old miter saw. Also, we'll be announcing the winners of our MiterMate giveaway later this week. Oh, and make sure to check out InspectApedia if you have any curiosity about how your house works.
Tool of the Month
Air Tools
All Reviews
Bits and Blades
Cordless
Demolition Tools
Distractions
Glues and Adhesives
Guides
Hand Tools
Lithium-Ion
Monthly Roundup
Oscillating Tools
Power Tool Accessories
Power Tools
Promotions
Repair and Service
Sanding
Read More in: Monthly Roundup
February 26, 2010
Columbia River Knife and Tool - Li'l Guppie Multitool
Well, you can either get the Leatherman Skeletool or the, um, Li'l Guppie. While it doesn't exactly have the most badass name, it does look pretty useful. Its got a knife, screwdrivers, an LED, and an adjustable wrench. Oh, and of course it has a bottle opener. There's also a carabiner which makes it ideal for clicking it onto a backpack or a belt loop.
So if you're looking for something other than the traditional looking multi-tool, the Guppie might fit the bill. Just make sure to tell everyone it's called the Piranha or maybe the Japanese Fighting Fish.
$20 at Amazon
Read More in: Hand Tools
February 25, 2010
Websites We Like: InspectAPedia.com
It's unreal how much useful information is sitting over at InspectApedia.com. It's essentially a compendium of all the knowledge that a home inspector has when he shows up at the dilapidated shack that you're looking to buy. the site is decidedly low-tech and it's pretty easy to get confused with the left navigation (we use the site map instead), but it's really all about the info...the gobs and gobs of mighty info.
So if you're really interested how the parts of your house work (or why they don't), just click over and wander a bit. If you're the curious type, it could be hours before you come up for air.
Here's a taste:
Check out the main page here, or just go to the site map here.
Read More in: Guides
February 23, 2010
Final Cut 7-1/4" Blade
A couple years ago, we reviewed something called the Final Cut Saw Blade. It's really nothing more than a piece of sandpaper stuck to a saw blade. At first, it sounds pretty goofy, but it actually works pretty well, not only with making a nice, smooth cuts, but also with preventing kick-back and blade binding.
After releasing 10" and 12" blades, Final Cut has moved on to the next inevitable step, the 7-1/4" blade. Now, you can have that same sanding/cutting action with your standard old circ saw.
Read our review of the larger size blades here.
The blades cost $20 and will be available at finalcutblade.com
The press release is after the jump.
Continue reading: "Final Cut 7-1/4" Blade"
Read More in: Bits and Blades
February 22, 2010
DeWalt DCS370 18-Volt Cordless Bandsaw
DeWalt just hit the scene with a cordless bandsaw and when compared to other models out there, it's a lighter tool, but the trade-off is less cutting depth.
Milwaukee's new cordless band saw cuts at a depth of 3-1/4" and weighs 10.25 lbs and Makita's cuts at 4-3/4" and weighs 14.1 lbs. According the the DeWalt press release, their new tool cuts to a much smaller 2-1/2" and weighs 'less than 10 pounds,' which in press release talk usually means something in the range of 9.7 to 9.9 lbs. We're actually not too confident comparing these weights anyway. Makita's site calls out that their 14 lbs is with the tool and battery while the Milwaukee just lists their number as 'tool weight.' There's no indication how DeWalt is weighing theirs.
Regardless of all that, the DeWalt does have a smaller cut depth, and because of this, it's likely on the lighter side of things. If you're an electrician or HVAC guy and you want a compact cordless bandsaw to compliment the big corded one in the van, it would be worth it to go to Home Depot and take a look at this one.
There's no word on pricing yet, but the Milwaukee goes for about $400 and the Makita $450, so we'd like to think that the DeWalt will be in the $300-$400 range.
The press release is after the jump.
Continue reading: "DeWalt DCS370 18-Volt Cordless Bandsaw"
Read More in: Cordless | Lithium-Ion | Power Tools
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Craftsman 10" MiterMate - Review
