September 30, 2008
CreteSheet
"It's such a fine line between stupid and clever."
Although these words weren't spoken about the CreteSheet, they might as well have been. The CreteSheet is a new instrument for mixing concrete on the go. It requires no tools and is advertised as being able to mix an 80 lb bag of concrete in about 90 seconds, much faster than the traditional mixing bucket and a shovel method.
The CreteSheet is nothing more than a single sheet of durable plastic with four handles (seriously). To use it, just pour the dry mix in the center, add the appropriate amount of water, grab the handles and alternately lift them up and down, mixing the concrete. Then, when it's to the consistency, simply pour it where you want to. This process can be done with one or two people.
In theory this is great, and, according to the testimonials on the website, it works in practice too. It actually reminds us of GE's new Caulk Singles in that it's a quick, tool-free way to complete an oftentimes tedious process. But this still doesn't stop us from thinking that the whole thing is incredibly silly. It's likely that it works, but we're not sure we want to be seen doing some sort of jiggle dance out in the yard or on the job site.
The CreteSheet costs about $20.
At Amazon and CreteSheet.com
September 29, 2008
September 26, 2008
Bosch PS50 Multi-X Oscillating Tool Arrives for Review
The last time we were this anxious for something was when Star Wars: Episode I was released. Back then, our hopes were crushed like an ant trapped under an excavator tread ("Mee-zo ruin Star Wars"), so we're hoping this time things are different. At first glance, the situation looks positive; the tool feels good in the hands, the case is top-notch, and there's a great removable blade storage system. No floppy-eared, comic sidekicks in sight.
We're going to dig into this one (and the new Dremel oscillating tool, which showed up a few days ago) this weekend and we'll have some thoughts up for you soon.
PS50 Cutting Kit at Amazon
PS50 Carpenter Kit at Amazon
September 25, 2008
Rainwater Pillow
The Rainwater Pillow is a new and fairly strange rainwater collection and storage system capable of holding thousands of gallons of water, as opposed to the 50 that a rain barrel can hold. Because of its giant pillow shape, it is designed to fit in a crawl space or under a deck, so there is no digging or drilling necessary like there would be for a cistern. This feature and its sheer water holding capabilities move the product toward establishing a convenient, long-term water source (unfortunately, not one for drinking). This is a far cry from the small-time "water a flower bed" action that a rain barrel can provide.
The pillows are available in kits which come with the pillow, filter, pump, fittings, and other necessary items. The 1000 gallon pillow kit costs $2500, the 2000 gallon kit costs $3500, and the 3000 gallon kit costs $4200.
More info at rainwaterpillow.com
September 24, 2008
Bobs Rule
Naming something after yourself takes a little bit of nerve and a somewhat bloated sense of self-importance. Barring any family traditions, we even think it's odd to give a child a 'Jr.' name. Well now that all pales in comparison with this guy named Bob who has created a whole new measuring system, based solely around the unit now known as, you guessed it, a 'Bob.'
There is quite a bit of information on the Bobs Rule website explaining not only the problem with both the metric system and the standard U.S. system (feet and inches), but also the reasons why the Bob is better. The Bob is essentially 1/24th of an inch, which,
allow[s] us to take advantage of the largely forgotten 1/24" and elevate it to its rightful place as a core unit of measurement.
Indeed.
But the joke may be on us. Maybe the new measurement will catch on, not only with woodworkers, but with the rest of the world as well. You never know, someday we may be find ourselves asking a barkeep for 2 and a half Bobs of whiskey, with just a quarter Bob of water on top.
Drop us a line if any of you have gone as far as to get one of these rulers and used it. Lord knows we've all seen the ads in Fine Homebuilding.
At BobsRule.com
September 23, 2008
How to Build a Deck, Part One
Our good pal Mark Clement has got a great deck building video up over at Builder TV. Like all of Mark's work, we like it because he sticks to the basics but at the same time he's very thorough with all the little details, like correct flashing placement, that first-timers might miss.
This is the first of a series of deck-building videos and covers the start of the project up to the installation of the ledger board. If you're thinking about putting a deck on, this video is a great place to start. There's a good deal of information packed into its ten minutes.
Watch the video here.
September 19, 2008
Milwaukee M12 Copper Tubing Cutter
Milwaukee is in the process of releasing two very innovative products in their M12 lineup; the Hackzall, which we talked about in an earlier post and the Copper Tubing Cutter, which we're going to go on about now.
The Copper Tubing Cutter is a great little item that cuts through 3/8" to 1" copper tubing. It's simple to use, just put the mouth of the tool over the pipe and pull the trigger. There is no size adjustment, because the tool does that for you. The cutter is nice and small, so it only needs about 1-1/2" of clearance around the pipes. There is also a built-in LED light, so you'll avoid the hassle of trying to hold a flashlight when you're working behind the water heater.
According to Milwaukee, the Cutter can make around 200 cuts on a single battery. This, combined with the longevity of Li-Ion batteries, makes for a tool that needs very little upkeep. Even plumbers aren't making 200 cuts in a single day.
The Cutter is not the first of it's kind. Superior Tools has had something similar, The UltraCut, out for a while (theirs only cuts up to 3/4" tube and does adjust size automatically), but the battery compatibility with the rest of the M12 line and the Milwaukee name will definitely make this a popular tool among tradesmen.
It appears that the cost is going to be about $200 for the tool, a case, 2 batteries, and a charger. It's a lot for the DIYer, who likely won't use it all that much, but for the plumber or HVAC guy, it's a steal
At Amazon and Ohio Power Tools
September 18, 2008
Top Ten Tools
We stumbled upon this interesting article at a site called Sippican Cottage. The writer describes his top ten tool list the following way:
These little tools matter. It's not that I can't get along without them. It's more like I'd lay down on the floor and die if they were taken away from me.
It's a great list and we admire his generally old-fashioned attitude toward things.
Read the list here.
September 17, 2008
Ridgid Twist Handle 7" Angle Grinder
Has anyone out there every used a 7" angle grinder? We have and it sucked. It was so heavy and so hard to control and move around that we ended up hanging the tool from the rafters with bungee cords to take some of the weight off our arms.
So we're happy to see that Rigid has just released a new 7" grinder with a twist handle. If the handle feature adds even a little more control to the picture, it's one for the positive column.
We didn't find any info on cost or availability, but it's likely to be on the shelves at Home Depot, right next to all of the other Ridgid tools.
At Home Deopt
September 16, 2008
Beer Can House
...And we thought Keith Walendowski was worthy of praise. How about John Milkovisch? In 1968, Mikovisch, sick of mowing his lawn, started covering is backyard with decorative bits of metal, rock, redwood, and concrete. With the lawn completely covered and his artistic star wanting to shine brighter, Mikovisch then began to re-side his house with crushed beer cans.
When he was done, it was estimated that over 50,000 beer cans were used. If you look at the picture above, it becomes clear that Mikovisch wasn't just buying them and pouring them out. He might have one of the best muffin-tops we've ever seen.
Mikovisch passed on in 1988, but his amazing legacy lives on. His Beer Can House just underwent a seven-year, $400,000 restoration (we're not kidding) and is now open to the public on the weekends.
Visit the official site of the Beer Can House.
New York Times article about the house here.
September 15, 2008
Paslode Roofer's Choice R175-C Coil Roofing Nailer - Review
Roofing is probably the toughest job in residential construction. You're up and down a ladder all day long, carrying heavy bundles of shingles and equipment; when you're working, you're usually bent over; you're rarely standing on a flat surface (which is murder on the calves); when you are standing on a flat surface, it's likely that you're dealing with the face-melting chemicals involved with rubber roofing; and if you happen to have the misfortune of working up in the Northeast, there are about five days a year where the weather is perfect for working up on a roof all day. Roofing beats the tar out of clothes and tools (not to mention knees and lower backs), so you've got to have a roofing gun that you can trust. It's with this idea in mind that Paslode created their new Roofing Coil Nailer, the R175-C.
Paslode has a lot to say about this new gun. They claim that it has 20% more power than most of the guns on the market; that it can blast out 8 nails per second; and that,
Continue reading: "Paslode Roofer's Choice R175-C Coil Roofing Nailer - Review"
September 12, 2008
Bosch PS50 Multi-X Oscillating Tool
Finally it's here! Bosch's long awaited entry into the oscillating tool world, the PS50 Multi-X. We've been looking at Euro-Bosch's pmf 180 e multi for over a year now, thinking that when they released it in the states, we'd be getting something identical, but that doesn't seem to be the case at all.
First, the new PS50 sits on Bosch's compact 12-volt battery system (much like the PS20 that we reviewed yesterday), so, if we're not wrong, this is the first battery powered oscillating tool out there. This also makes it a nice compliment to Dremel's corded oscillating tool due out in October (which isn't all that surprising actually, seeing as Bosch owns Dremel). Oscillating tools might be the most versatile tools in the market, so a cordless version only makes it more portable, more hassle free and just easier to use.
Continue reading: "Bosch PS50 Multi-X Oscillating Tool"
September 11, 2008
Bosch PS20 12v Max Pocket Driver - Review
A while back Bosch unleashed their 10-Volt, Lithium Ion-Driver to much acclaim; it was pretty powerful and very compact. But then, some other companies released similar tools that were more powerful by two volts. These new 12-Volt tools clearly out-matched the 10-Volt Bosch, so now, Bosch's 10-Volt has been upgraded to a 12-volt capacity.
Nope.
When Bosch released their original tool, they called it a 10-volt, because that was the nominal voltage. When the other companies released their 12-volt tools, they decided to pick the name based on the maximum voltage, even though the batteries were pretty much the same. So, you see, Bosch's 10-volt is, and always was, in the same class as their competitors' 12-volts. So, not wanting to get continually screwed by shoppers who rightly assume that 12-volts is more powerful than 10-volts, Bosch has recently re-released their 10-volt as a 12-volt. So those of you who own the 10-Volt, don't hang your head thinking that your tool has already been outdated, because it hasn't. Well, it sort of hasn't. The Bosch 12-Volt Max has an increased speed and torque, both about 25% higher than the previous model. But our point is that the battery is the same.
Continue reading: "Bosch PS20 12v Max Pocket Driver - Review"
September 10, 2008
Marvin Ultimate Replacement Casement
Casement windows are great until it comes to cleaning time. Unless you have an extra elbow in your arm, there is simply no way to clean the outside of the window without getting the ladder out and trampling the rose bushes. A leading window manufacturer, Marvin, has just released a product that solves this problem. With the use of a clever hinge, their Ultimate Replacement Casement is capable of opening up and then swinging back on itself, exposing the outer face to someone standing inside. An amazing window can look like junk if it's not clean, and with this interesting hinge solution, it looks like Marvin has solved a complaint that has been around for as long as the casement.
Watch the window in action here (you don't see the hinge until about 3/4 of the way through).
September 9, 2008
DAP Kwik Seal 3.0 - Review
DAP has recently released their Kwik Seal 3.0, a sort of super caulk that apparently excels in virtually every category when placed head to head with traditional silicone. It's supposed to dry faster, be tougher, and fend off mold. We got our hands on a tube and gave the kitchen sink a much overdue caulking and here's what we thought.
Probably the coolest thing about Kwik Seal is its drying time, or rather its skin-over time. All it takes is three hours and the caulk can withstand water. To us, this meant applying the Kwik Seal in the early afternoon and still being able to use the kitchen sink for dinner. Under normal circumstances, with a normal silicone, the sink would have been off limits until the next day and we would have had an excuse not to do the dishes.
Continue reading: "DAP Kwik Seal 3.0 - Review"
September 8, 2008
ThumbSaver Magnetic Nail Setter
This is sort of silly, but probably useful from time to time. It's a handle with a little magnetic shaft on it, meant for assisting with the first stage of hammering, also known as the stage where you're most likely to obliterate your thumb.
We see this tool being useful in cramped spaces, where you can't get your hand to hold the nail. We've all got some trick for this situation, ours is our needle nosed pliers. We've managed to get along fine without the ThumbSaver for this long, so we're not sure there's any justification for cluttering up the tool bag with yet another little hand tool. But you can make your own choice. Also keep in mind that it's magnetic, so stainless steel won't hold.
Bonus pack, including standard and mini sized ($12.99) At Amazon
Standard Size ($7.99) at Amazon
September 5, 2008
DeWalt Top Finish Carpenter Contest
DeWalt is apparently looking for the world's greatest finish carpenter and they're willing to load up a lot of people with prizes in order to do it. It's a unique contest in that it's done in two stages and it seems particularly susceptible to huge amounts of fraud.
To enter, you first have to log on to DeWalt.com and set up a profile. Then you have to choose a project category; built-in cabinets, custom stairs, or mantles as well as send them some images of other work that you've done (do this by Sept 24th). At this point, DeWalt will narrow the field down to 17 contestants, who they will ship a ton of tools to, in order for you to complete the project. Then, after eight weeks, you've got to send back pictures of the project. DeWalt then chooses one grand prize winner and showers them more tools, some Carhartt gear and race tickets.
And as far as the idea of fraud goes, we would like to direct DeWalt to the above picture of a staircase we just built.
Everything you need to know about the contest is here.
September 3, 2008
How to Patch Drywall, Part Two
We were at Home Depot the other day and in the paint department we saw an interesting item. It was a little drywall patching kit that consisted of one small piece of aluminum step flashing and one piece of drywall joint tape. It was selling for $2.50 or so.
It's an idea that we've never heard of, putting the flashing over the hole; taping the whole thing and then mudding it smooth. The profit margin for a piece of aluminum and tape has got to be huge, but if you don't want to deal with the extra materials, then it's probably worth it.
We also have absolutely no recollection what the product was called, so we're really no help at all.
DIY Storage Helpers
Storage and organization is a constant problem for us and we're guessing many of you as well. Just the other day, we spent a good deal of time dealing with the giant pile of tools, fasteners, and lumber that had accumulated over the past weeks. It's no fun to do and we always have to deal with a vague sense of failure when we do it. Is it that tough to put things away when you're done with them?
The trick is, obviously, to have a place for everything (and everything in its place), instead of some hazy "I sort of keep these over here, and sometimes (but not all the time), I put those over here," concept of organization. With this in mind, our pal Mark Clement has come to the rescue with a nice article on tool organization. In it, he leads us through the construction of a workbench, a cart, a tool belt hook, and a bracket for cord storage. As always with Mark's articles, it's informative, clearly written, and accompanied with some nice photos.
We also highly recommend Sandor Nagyszalanczy's (say that five times fast) Setting Up Shop if you're looking for a far more detailed look at the principals behind good shop organization.
Read Mark's article here at Extreme How-To.
September 2, 2008
August Monthly Roundup
We're not huge fans of August. It's too hot to do much outside and we just find ourselves overbooked all the time. There's a lot of living crammed into August. We prefer the mellower months of October and November when we start preparing for the winter and we're not sweating through three shirts a day.
We only reviewed one tool this month so it's no shocker that Ze-Vo EndCuts gets the Tool of the Month. It's a gimmie, but even up against tough competition, it would still get the prize. If you've never heard of it, we highly recommend it.
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Craftsman 10" MiterMate - Review
