Bosch JS5 Orbital Jigsaw

With the exception of Milwaukee's testosterone-addled 36-volt system, the current trend in tools is towards lighter more compact models, and with that in mind, Bosch has just released the JS5 Jigsaw, a smaller version of their exceptional line of jigsaws.

The JS5 has a tool free blade change, an ergonomic handle, and an anti-splinter insert. It comes with an on-board adjustable dust blower, and a dust extraction system as well as a 4-position switch that controls the orbital action of the cut.

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Maxus X-Lite Aluminum Compressor - Review

An air compressor is essential to anyone who goes beyond the basic levels of the DIY world. With the right attachments, they can serve a lot of purposes; they can power any number of nail guns, inflate anything from car tires to rubber rafts, and even act as a blow gun to get fine dust off of a workplace. There are a few drawbacks though; one is that they tend to be big and bulky items. Over the past few years, smaller 1-2 gallon models have come out, but they're still pretty heavy, although far lighter than the 4+ gallon contractor models. The other issue that the compressor owner is constantly dealing with is the corrosion of the tank. This manifests itself in a blast of rust water every time the compressor is drained (which is supposed to be daily, but we all know how that goes).

To address these two common complaints of compressors, a company called Maxus has recently released the X-Lite line of compressors. The difference between these and other compressors is that the tanks are made of aluminum, thus, in one maneuver, solving both of the aforementioned problems. It's true that hindsight is 20/20, but this seems like a no-brainer. How come no one thought of this before?

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Black & Decker 36" Accu Mark Level

This is either an interesting idea or the gimmick to end all gimmicks. For the sake of all the people who made it one of the number one holiday sellers at Amazon, we hope it’s the former. The Accu Mark is a 36" level with two interesting features that separate it from the pack.

First, they have something called Geko Grips which are spring loaded pads that allow the level to be easily held against a wall with one hand, while you mark the wall with the other hand. The other new features are two gauges that slide up and down the length of the level. They are supposed to help with marking preset hanging holes, the kind that are usually found on the backs of those Pier 1 shelving units. The way it works is that you place the level against the back of the picture/shelf/whatever and line up the gauges with the hangers. Then when you place the level against the wall, you know exactly where to put the hangers.

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Stanley MaxLife 369 Tripod LED Flashlight

Stanley has a new flashlight out that should be a big hit with anyone who has ever tried working in an unlit crawl space. The flashlight has three tri-pod legs that fold out of the body allowing it to be set it upright and the articulating head means you can point the light wherever you want. Because it’s a battery-operated flashlight (9 AA batteries!), it's much more convenient than a standard electric work light, seeing as there are no extension cords to deal with.

The flashlight sells for about $25 which is a good deal, considering the innovative tri-pod design and the fact that any good mag-light is going to be in the $20 range anyway.

Stanley offers this flashlight in a number of other sizes and colors (purple?).

At Amazon

Tool Christmas Tree Lights

Because hanging a Sawzall from your tree just isn't an option.

$14.80 at ChristmasPeople.com

Thanks to the crew at SuperCoolPets for the find.

Wagner Paint Crew Plus - Review

Paint Sprayers exist in that terrifying realm of contractors only. But now, Wagner, makers of the great PaintEater, have produced the Paint Crew Plus for the DIYer who wants to take advantage of the wonders of paint spraying.

The Paint Crew Plus (PCP) has the general look and feel of a pressure washer. It has the same two-wheel dolly set-up, complete with a telescoping handle. The machine is easy to roll around, and when it comes time to carry it up a flight of stairs, it's relatively light. It has a removable hopper, 25' of hose, and a roller head that attaches to the sprayer. After some minor assembly (putting the wheels and handle on), we were ready for action.

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JacPac

UPDATE: Our review of the JacPac is here.

We saw this when we checked out DIY Network's new show Cool Tools (it's on the video called "Power, Tunes, & Clean"). The JacPac, made by a company called Supplierpipeline, is a portable pneumatic power source that is so compact that it can clip on your belt. It even comes with a hose, so all you need is the gun and you're ready to go.

It doesn't use air, like a regular compressor, but rather CO2, which can be had at any reputable paintball center. It costs about $5 to fill the tank and according to Supplierpipeline you should be able to shoot 500 brads/staples out of a single canister. The whole unit weighs about 5lbs, so it'll hardly even be tugging at your pants.

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Ryobi 4-Piece Lithium-Ion Power Tool Kit - Review

Lithium-ion batteries are a big deal right now. They last longer, charge quicker, and are half the weight of other batteries. But the catch is that they're quite a bit more expensive. There has been a lot of talk lately about Ryobi and their new line of inexpensive li-ion tools. But are they any good? Bad tools for a good price are still bad tools. Well, we spent all week using and abusing the 4-piece set and we're here to report back our findings. For the review, we're going to look at each tool individually and then wrap things up with some thoughts on the set as a whole.

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Amazon's December Tool Deals

Amazon's got some serious deals going for the Month of December.

• Save up to 45% on Black & Decker VPX items - 7-Volt Screwdriver - was $108, now $59. Flashlight - was $59, now $20. Also, the starter kit is down to $90 (from $100).

  
  

• Free Makita Brad Nailer with Compressor Purchase - The compressor is a nice big 4.2-gallons with 2.5 hp. It sells for $245. The brad nailer goes for $90 and looks like a nice item (we actually had no idea that Makita sold brad guns).

• 2 Free Blades with a DeWalt 7-1/4" Circular Saw - Just like it says.

• Free Shipping on Miter Saws - These things are heavy, so this can translate into some serious savings.

• Free shipping on other selected items (the ones that say "Free Super Saving Shipping," like this Dremel Rotary Tool Kit).
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Cool Tools on DIY Network

The DIY Network has a new show dedicated entirely to tools. It's called Cool Tools and it's on Thursday's at 9 and 9:30. They've got a webpage up with some clips of the show and there's a longer promo for it here.

One of the videos (Power, Tunes, & Clean), is their choice of the five best tools of the year. It's worth watching just to check out the JacPac, a pneumatic power source that clips onto your belt.

Be warned though, host Chris Grundy acts like he's been mainlining Red Bull, so you might want to wait until after that first cup of coffee before you check out the videos. Watching him use the JacPac to lay down a bead of caulking is pretty intense.

We scrapped our cable months ago, so if any of you have seen this show, drop a comment and let us know what you think.

JacPac at Amazon ($100)

Leatherman Skeletool

Since everyone needs a Leatherman, why not distinguish yourself from the pack by getting freakiest looking one that exists. What the Skeletool actually is is a pared down version of a Leatherman, equipped with only the most used tools. Because it's not weighted down with files, scissors, and other little used items, the Skeletool weighs only 5 oz., making it the lightest full-sized multi-tool out there.

The main feature of the Skeletool is the outside accessible blade, meaning you don't have to open the tool up to get at the blade. The Skeletool also has a screwdriver with interchangeable bits (and onboard bit storage). And since the point of this tool is to boil things down to the essential, there's also a bottle opener on it.

The Skeletool is available in two models. One is tungsten-coated and retails for about $80, and the other, which is all stainless steel, sells for about $60. This might sound like a lot, but we speak from experience when we say that Leathermans are great and worth whatever you have to pay for them. If you'd prefer a more normal looking one, they can be had for anywhere from $40 and up.

Check and see what the fellas at The Hardware Aisle had to say about the Skeletool.

Tungsten-Coated Skeletool at Amazon
Stainless Skeletool at Amazon
Other Leatherman Tools at Amazon

Skil 14.4-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Drill/Driver - Review

A little bit ago, we reviewed Skil's 18-Volt Lithium Ion Drill/Driver. We found it to be a nice tool for the casual user, but probably not for the contractor. Now we've gone and taken a good look at the Skil 14.4-Volt Drill Driver and can report that the tools are basically identical, except that the 14.4 is a little more affordable, lighter, and a little less powerful.

Like the 18-Volt Drill, the 14.4-Volt has the strange battery design with the exposed terminals. But this time, we took our heads out of the sand and realized that this serves a purpose. With the charging terminals located at the bottom of the battery, you are able to charge the battery with the tool attached. So there's a purpose to it, but does it make sense? Even in a really rushed situation, we've always had time to take the battery off the charger and plug it into the tool, so it can't be a time-saving issue. But maybe this is more for saving workbench space, so if you're someone with limited room, this could be a good thing.

Continue reading: "Skil 14.4-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Drill/Driver - Review"

Proxxon Oscillating Detail Sander - Review

We're big fans of the Fein MultiMaster. In our opinion, it's one of the best tools to come around in a long time. And we thought that it stood alone, with no other tool like it. We've been hearing about the Bosch PMF 180 E Multi, a similar tool that's available in Europe and may or may not be coming to the states, but what we didn't know about was the Proxxon Delta Sander. It's the Mini-Me of the MultiMaster and we were lucky enough to get a chance to test one out.

The basics of the tool are the same as the Fein. There's the oscillating head with interchangeable blades, sanding pads, files, scrapers, and polishers. If you're familiar with the Fein, then all the controls will be familiar to you. The accessories change out the same way, with a little hex key, and there's a little dial to control oscillation speed.

Continue reading: "Proxxon Oscillating Detail Sander - Review"

November 2007 Monthly Roundup for Tool Snob

November was busy around here. The holiday shopping season is cranking up, so there are a lot of good deals to be had. To make shopping a little easier for you, we made up a Holiday Gift Guide so you can make sure you're matching up the right tool with the right person.

December's looking to be a banner month around here; we've got reviews coming for a host of tools including Ryobi's 4-Piece Lithium-Ion Set, Proxxon's Delta Sander, Wagner's Paint Crew Plus, a few more items from Skil, and the Maxus X-Lite Compressor.

The November Tool of the Month was an easy choice for us. The Skil 7.2-Volt Power Wrench really impressed us with it's versatility, it's ease-of-use, and it's affordability. It's a great little tool for anyone and, for good reason, it's bound to be a huge seller this holiday season. Go and get one for Dad, he'll dig it.

Tool of the Month
Skil 7.2-Volt Lithium-Ion Power Wrench

Reviews
Skil 7.2-Volt Lithium-Ion Power Wrench
Skil 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Drill/Driver
C.H. Hanson Slide Square

Holiday Shopping (some deals still active)
2007 Tool Snob Holiday Gift Guide
Huge Black Friday Tool Deals
Tool Deals on the Internet
Big Bosch Promotions

New and Interesting Tools
Craftsman ASX Tool Storage System
Festool Trion PS (and PSB) 300 EQ Jigsaw
Husky 2 Nailer/Compressor Kit
Triton Superjaws
Redback Maxistrike 20 oz Rip Hammer
Ryobi AIRgrip Laser Levels and SonicTape
Gutter Sense
SawStop 10" Contractor Saw

Contests
Home Depot $25,000 Gift Card Contest
Comforts of Home Holiday Contest

Tool News
Popular Woodworking's Best Tools of 2007
Ryobi 12-Volt Lithium Ion Drill in Stores
Vermont American turns 60

Distractions
Barbara K Crystal Jeweled Tool Kit
World's Greatest Hammer