April 29, 2009
APC SurgeArrest Power Saving Surge Protector - Review
Anyone who was reading this site back in December knows that we had a little power outage and anyone who has read the site since knows that we've made a career out of bitching about it (see here and here). Well why stop now? What follows is a review of a surge protector, which, admittedly is a bit outside of our area of expertise (and by 'a bit' we mean 'a lot'), but before you click back over to your favorite celebrity gossip site, you should know that we found that the item had an intriguing feature that translated very nicely into the workshop setting.
Continue reading: "APC SurgeArrest Power Saving Surge Protector - Review"
April 28, 2009
Tools.com?
We've seen references in a few places about the launch of a new site called tools.com. Currently the site is nothing more than a placeholder with some extensive legal disclaimers and a place to leave your email address so you can be notified when the site officially launches. The tag line, "the right tool at the right price," makes us to think it's some sort of retail/price comparison site, maybe with a reader ranking system like over at Tool-Rank and ToolCritic or possibly some kind of auction site. Judging from the detailed legal disclaimers, it's either backed by a little coin or someone has a kickass legalzoom.com account. We're also pretty intrigued by the line, "Our site is not directed towards children 13 years of age or younger..." Sweet.
No matter what it is, 'the best thing to happen to tools since electricity' is quite a claim, particularly after watching an episode of Hot for Tools. So head on over to tools.com and log in to get alerted when the site launches. Or if you don't want to, we've done it and we'll probably post something here when it all goes down.
Tools.com
April 27, 2009
Ridgid LCDPak and MiniPak for the SeeSnake
Ridgid recently increased the capabilities of their SeeSnake with the release of two new monitors for the system. The big selling point on these two new items seems to be the fact that they can be powered by both standard AC or with Ridgid's 18-volt li-ion battery. This feature obviously translates into a much greater degree of portability and ease of use.
The LCDPak is the larger of the two new monitors. It's got a 10.4" color LCD display with 640x480 resolution and ten levels of light adjustment. The LCDPak can run for about five hours on two 18-volt batteries, but can also operate for a shorter time on one if need be.
The MiniPak is a smaller version and can also be run off of both power sources. It has a 5.7" color display and only takes one battery to get to the five hour mark.
Keep in mind that these monitors are part of the SeeSnake system and aren't necessarily sold with the SeeSnake camera hose. They are also high-powered pieces of digital equipment and are priced accordingly. As stand-alone items, the LCDPak and MiniPak retail for $2,600 and $2,000 respectively. It ain't cheap, but that's not to say it's not handy either (hellooo double negative). We've played around with both the Ridgid and Milwaukee hand held versions of the inspection camera and quickly saw how these larger models could be helpful. They're not really items for the homeowner, but someone in the trades could put them to good use.
MiniPak at Ohio Power Tools
LCDPak at Ohio Power Tools
Here's a video with more information on the LCDpak:
April 24, 2009
Lenox Blades Cut Car in Half
Apparently as part of Lenox's trade show demonstrations they've been cutting cars in half (more pictures here). From the looks of it, they're just cutting the roof and the stripped out floor of the car, not the doors or any of the exhaust system underneath. So in a functional sense, when you think about the amount of metal being cut, it's impressive, but not too surprising that a high-quality recip blade is up for the task. But from a showmanship perspective it's a different story. You've got to love the amount of effort involved just to make a cut that takes ninety seconds. Watching this makes us wonder if the $500 trade-in on the old Jeep is worth it, or if we should keep the vehicle around for blade testing purposes.
Here's a video...
Lenox blades at Amazon
April 23, 2009
Nail Jack Purchase of Irwin Factory Falls Through
We just got wind of the bad news that Nail Jack's attempt to purchase the Nebraskan tool factory that Iriwn left behind upon moving manufacturing to China is not going to happen. It looks like it came down to a money issue. According to a story in the Omaha World Herald, Michael Foley, co-founder of Nail Jack finally reached the breaking point on how much money to put into the purchase, forfeiting the $70,000 he already put down. Ouch.
The story is here and we have to warn you that it's not very cheerful. But if you're looking for something positive to read, you should check out our review of the Nail Jack (here).
As always, we'd like to thank Tool Crib for keeping us up on this story and for introducing us to the Nail Jack. Their latest post on the factory purchase is here.
April 22, 2009
Goldblatt Blade Runner Drywall Cutting Tool
Over the years, there hasn't been much innovation in the area of cutting drywall. The standard utility knife works fine even if it does have a few drawbacks. But now there's something called the Goldblatt Blade Runner on the market which looks like it might offer some advantages over the traditional "score, flip, snap, and score" method of cutting sheetrock and blue board.
The Blade Runner's big draw is that it cuts both sides of the sheet at the same time, eliminating the need for the second cut, which in our experience is usually results in a ragged paper-shredded line.
The Blade Runner is actually two pieces, each of which looks sort of like a computer mouse. When not cutting, they are separated by two legs which retract when they come in contact with a piece of sheetrock. At this point, the two halves stay aligned with powerful magnets, ensuring that the top and bottom piece are cutting the same spot. Because the drywall is being scored at exactly the same spot on both side, the cut doesn't need to be all that deep. Essentially, just the paper needs cutting, the rest will break off with a quick snap.
This looks like a nice idea, particularly after watching how it handles curves and arcs (video below). If this tool is what they say it is, we don't see any reason why it wouldn't speed things up considerably, which is funny to think about seeing as the Irish sheetrockers, at least up here in the Northeast, already work at a pace that threatens to collapse time. With the Goldblatt Blade Runner in hand, they might cause some serious problems.
The Goldblatt Blade Runner costs about $90.
At Amazon
April 21, 2009
Toro Dingo 300 Series
If you've got about $14,000 sitting around, we suggest looking into getting a Toro Dingo. We recently saw one in action and have decided that from now on all of our bottle recycling money will be routed into the "Dingo Fund." The Dingo is an all in one personal hydraulic machine that, given which of the 35 attachments is on it, it can tackle a huge variety of tasks. Whether it's trenching, drilling a hole, tilling, or just moving a pile of dirt, the Dingo is going to be way better at it than you, your bad back, and your pathetic shovel.
Here's a video of the Dingo in action (skip to about 1:10)
More info at Toro
Cool Tools is Looking for an Editor
Cool Tools (the website, not the TV show) is currently looking for an editor to take over for at least a few months while Kevin Kelly finishes up his book. This is a good opportunity for anyone out there who reads sites like Tool Snob and thinks that they could do a far better job of it because running a daily website is totally easy.
If you're a writer with an interest in all of the odd little items that make life easier, you should consider applying. Not only would it be a good experience, but Cool Tools would be an great site to be associated with. Don't fool yourself though, there's a decent workload associated with the position. Posting every day takes a lot of time, especially at first.
There are details on what they're looking for, how much you'll be paid, and how to apply here.
April 20, 2009
Bosch Full Force Pneumatic Nail Guns
If the tool industry was an above ground pool, last week Bosch was the 300 pound man cannonballing into the center of it. While the company is doing a lot that is impressive, the waves and splashes mostly emanate from the release of their new line of pneumatic tools.
This is a wonderfully aggressive move for a couple of reasons. First, until now, Bosch hasn't shown any interest at all in the pneumatic category, seemingly content to leave that arena to Hitachi, Paslode, Bostitich, Senco and all of the other companies known for their quality air tools. Secondly, because they're bosch, they're not going to simply release a line of tools that is equal to or even slightly above the competition, they felt the need to throw the long ball and redesign the category from the ground up.
The chief advancement of the new Bosch nailers has to do with something as seemingly boring as resetting the nailing piston. If you take a look at the framing gun you have out in the garage, the first thing you'll notice is how bulbous the body is. This is because when you pull the trigger the firing piston not only shoots the nail, but it also directs some of the air into something called a 'return chamber,' which then becomes pressurized and causes the piston to reset. Bosch and their engineering mentats saw a way to remove this return chamber completely by having the release of the trigger set off a second, smaller blast of air that does the job of resetting the piston. The two chief benefits of this development are 1) air is no longer wasted in the return chamber resulting in a stronger gun (10%, according to Bosch) and 2) without the added bulk of the return chamber, the guns can be slimmed down considerably (20% smaller, according to Bosch).
We were lucky enough to get our hands on these new nail guns and we have to admit that they are very impressive. The majority of the size reduction seemed to have taken place in the width of the tools, giving the line a very sleek and streamlined feel. And from what little we got to test them out, we really liked what we saw in the power department.
Bosch is leading off the line with the release of two framers, one full head and one clipped head. May will see the release of two wheelbarrow compressors, and the rest of the current lineup will hit in July; an angled finish nailer, a straight finish nailer, a coil roofing nailer, a narrow crown stapler, a brad nailer, and three hand-carry compressors. Our guess is that it won't be long before we see a 23-gauge pinner as well.
Now how about price? The Full Force guns are hitting the market as top of the line items and therefore aren't exactly being given away. As a reference point, Amazon looks like it will be selling Bosch's 15-gauge angle finish nailer for about $225. The Senco and Porter-Cable, both quite high end are going for just a hair less than $200. Most other models average out to a price of about $150-$170. So the Bosch are definitely more expensive, but it all comes down to that crucial cost/save analysis. From what we saw (and felt) of these tools, $25, $35, $65 isn't a whole lot of additional investment for what you're getting in return.
Like we said earlier, it's a bold move by Bosch and one we suspect will pay off in the long run.
Bosch Full Force Pneumatics at Amazon
Here's a video we found that does a nice job of describing how Bosch removed the air chamber...
April 17, 2009
April 16, 2009
April 15, 2009
April 14, 2009
Gator Micro Zip Sander - Review
Ali Industries is at it again with their little bath toy sanders. We've already reviewed the Zip Sander and the Sponge Holder and how it's the Micro Zip Sander's turn.
The Micro Zip is exactly what it sounds like: the Zip Sander's 'mini-me.' Where the Zip Sander sat in the palm, the Micro Zip is sort of a three-fingered operation. As with the other sanders, this one is made of foam and sits very comfortably in the hands.
The Micro Zip is a helpful little item when it comes to the fussy little inside corners, odd edges, or areas where there is very little clearance, such as the floor underneath our baseboard heaters. In this last case, the Micro Zip boldly went where no oscillating tool could go and successfully assisted with our current flooring project. There's no question that the Micro Zip was easier on our hands that the old-fashioned method of the block wrapped with sandpaper, but because of the way that the hand sits on the sander, it was also easier to apply pressure. We wouldn't say that the Micro Zip Sander is an absolutely necessary tool, but it is one that makes sanding a little easier.
There's really not a whole lot more we can say. It works well, it's sort of silly looking, and it doesn't cost all that much. There you go.
The Micro Zip project pack which comes with 30 sheets of color coded sandpaper costs about $10.
At Amazon
April 13, 2009
April 10, 2009
Veto Pro Pac LT-XL Portable Office
We just noticed that Veto Pro Pac has a tool bag that's part carpenter, part supervisor. Like their other tool bags, this one is built around the idea of storing tools vertically for easier organization, but the LT-XL devotes half of its storage space to office items, even having room for a laptop computer.
The LT-XL looks like it has all of characteristics that mark the other Veto Pro Pac tool bags; the solid durability, the magnetic handle, as well as the completely outrageous price. The LT-XL will set you back $225 (and no, the computer is not included).
At Veto Pro Pac and Amazon
April 8, 2009
50% Off All Orders Over $100 at Dead On Tools
While we were doing a little research for our review of the Dead On Annihilator the other day, we saw that Dead On is offering a whopping 50% off on all orders over $100. There's not a whole lot more information than that, pretty much all that we know is in the above image. No indication of how long the promotion will last.
Aside from the Annihilator, they make some really nice hammers and also a cool selection of clothing and accessories so it's not going to be too hard to hit that $100 mark.
At Dead On
April 7, 2009
Dead On Annihilator Wrecking Bar - Review
"9 out of 10 gutless thieves prefer stealing the Annihilator over other leading wrecking bars"
So how cool is this tool? Well it's so cool that it only spent three days on the job site before some spineless, worthless, piece of doggie doo-doo stole it. Because it was sitting right next to two traditional crowbars, the theft is actually a testament to the Annihilator's curb appeal. Why grab a simple wrecking bar when you can get something that looks like it kills ghosts?
The good news is that in those three days, we gave the tool a workout and were really starting to grow fond of it. As you can see from the photo, the Annihilator has a lot going on. There's the hammer end, the nail puller, a wrench, a chisel, an axe, a stud straightener, and the always important bottle opener. It's really a one-stop destruction machine and in the fast-paced world of demo, it was nice not to have to keep switching off tools. The only way we could see improving on the Annihilator is if it was equipped with a LoJack or better yet, some kind of remote detonation device.
The Annihilator comes in two sizes; 18" and 14". The 18" is obviously the larger of the two and offers more leverage and swinging force. We unfortunately couldn't photograph this size because the one that we had is now residing in the hands of a slimy, dishonest, lazy scrap of human debris. We could photograph the 14" though and while it is definitely smaller, it can still do some serious damage. They both fit the hand nicely and unless you're a full time carpenter or a serious DIYer, the 14" will probably do you fine. It's worth noting that the jaw of the 14" model is wide enough to grab a 2x4.
As for price, the Annihilator isn't cheap, but it isn't all that expensive either (this is assuming that you're buying it and not stealing it). The 18" retails for around $40-$50 and the 14" is a bit less expensive than that. It might sound like a lot, but when compared to the $75 Fubar it's really not that bad for a high quality demo tool.
The bottom line is that if we were pilfering losers who still lived with mom, we'd probably lift this tool too. And if the asshead who now possesses the Annihilator is reading this, we honestly hope that you do something stupid and break your nose with it.
18" Annihilator at Amazon and Dead On
14" Annihilator at Dead On
April 6, 2009
We Have a Winner!
We put all the names into a hat and the winner of the $200 Home Depot gift card is someone who goes by the name of "Kevin." According to his entry, he's going to use the card to rent a floor edger in order to refinish a pine floor that he discovered under a carpet. It's funny, but we're in the middle of the same process (in our case the floor is fir) and we ended up renting a 4 pad orbital floor sander from Home Depot just this past Sunday. We toyed with the idea of saving the cash and using a belt sander and orbital (it's only one room, right?), but we quickly discovered that it's just not worth it to deal with the struggle. The floor sander had the floor completely prepped in about an hour and a half.
So keep the Home Depot rentals in mind as you plan your summer projects. It might seem unnecessary at first, but once you start to figure in your time spent doing things in a half-assed fashion, you realize that renting the right tool is the way to go.
Anyhoo, thanks to everyone for entering.
Check out Home Depot's rental page here.
Tool Blogs That We Read...
We spend a fair amount of time reading about tools, and some of that time is spent on the other tool blogs. We like to see what they're covering, what they think is interesting, and how we can sabotage their sites so that Tool Snob is the last one standing in the brutal Thunderdome of tool blogging.
So here's a list of the sites that we hit up at least once each week to see what else is going on in the world of tools.
Toologics - This is the tool blog for the online retailer Tool King. At first, we were a bit suspicious of the whole 'associated with a retailer' thing, but we quickly learned that Jude and the other writers there are all very fair and honest.
Tool Crib - These guys cover a lot of woodworker-type tools (stationary table saws, etc.), but also things like this cool little game. Their posts don't happen everyday, but when they do, they're worth reading and very thorough. Tool Crib is also a retailer, but that's a fact that doesn't seem to have any impact on what they write or how they cover tools.
ToolMonger - This site has been around the longest and as far as sheer number of posts go, they pummel the competition. Not everything they cover is going to interest you, but they just cover so much that there's bound to be something that you're going to read. It's worth going through the archives for the hands-on reviews. They haven't done many of them lately, but they're great to read.
CopTool - Another retailer blog that has earned its credibility. CopTool is the blog side of Ohio Power Tools (an advertiser on this site). Because Ohio Power Tools deals mostly in the heavy-duty tools (Milwaukee, Bosch, etc.), that's what the blog tends to cover.
Tool-Rank - This one started up not too long ago, but it found its legs real quick. In addition to the articles covering tools, they're promoting their ranking system, where they're trying to get users to rate the tools that they own with the end result being a giant database of user reviews. If you're into that sort of thing, there's also ToolCritic.com.
Professional Power Tools - This site is run by a bunch of contractors out of the Chicago area. Their reviews are very thorough featuring both text as well as video. For the most part, it looks like they stick to the heavy-duty tools you're likely to see on a construction site.
There are also a couple new guys that we think might be worth watching...
ToolGuyd - This one just got going last December and features tool news and other odd bits.
Tool Talker - Another one that is just getting started, Tool Talker is the blog side of Tools Plus, an online retailer. So far there's less than a dozen posts, but what we've seen so far, we like.
So those are the tool blogs that we check out. We didn't include other great sites like Charles & Hudson and The Hardware Aisle, because they primarily cover other aspects of the DIY world.
April 5, 2009
Last Chance to Win $200 from Home Depot
Today is the final day we're accepting entries for the $200 Home Depot gift card that we're giving away (with the help of the fine people at HD, of course). Details on the contest are here.
April 3, 2009
Striker Mechanical Carpenter's Pencil - Review
Striker, an innovative company that we've become fans of on the merits of their magnetic LED light and their folding utility knife has just released a mechanical carpenter's pencil. The pencil uses Dura-Lead, also a Striker product, that, according to them, is "10% thicker than the average carpenter pencil lead." Dura-Lead has little grooves on one side that are specific to the mechanism of the Striker Pencil.
The Pencil is a pretty simple affair; click the top to open up the jaws and release the lead, let go of the top to close the jaws and set the lead in place. In order to test out the pencil, we just put it in our pocket and brought it to the job site for a few weeks.
Unfortunately, during that time there wasn't much that impressed us about the Striker. We found that the stick of Dura-Lead kept breaking inside the shaft, which meant that we had to constantly struggle to get these little chunks of it to stay in the jaws of the pencil. The lead also wasn't that dark and it was difficult to get anything close to a precise mark out of it. Striker says that you can rub the lead on sandpaper in order to get a point, but we found ourselves missing the ability to whip out our utility knife for a quick on-the-go sharpening.
One thing that looks good about the pencil is that the Dura-Lead comes in a variety of colors (black, red, and white). We only tested out the black, but we could see the other colors coming in handy, particularly with a tricky bit of framing layout.
After using the Striker Pencil and the C.H. Hanson Super Pencil, we're becoming convinced that improving on the good old fashioned carpenter's pencil is a pointless exercise. How can you beat something works just fine and is literally given away at any decent hardware store? The only way we'd really recommend this pencil is if you were a buck or two shy of getting free shipping at Amazon, then it's probably worth checking out.
Striker Pencil at Amazon ($2.29)
Striker Pencil with Dura-Lead Combo Pack at Amazon ($3.49)
April 2, 2009
JLC LIVE New England '09
This was the first year in quite a while that we didn't head down to the JLC Rhode Island Trade Show. We're not sure if we just got used to it over the years, but thinking back, the past few times just weren't all that exciting. While there is usually at least one or two interesting new tools, taking the day off from work and trekking all the way there just didn't seem worth it this year. A pal of ours went and he confirmed our thoughts with, "yeah, it was alright. Same as last year."
But, if you're curious about the show, AceToolOnline has a few photos that give a gist of what it's like (essentially, a ton of dudes milling around like 300 goldfish in a one gallon tank).
Check out the photos here.
There are also going to be shows in Southern California and the Pacific Northwest. For info on these shows, visit JLC Live.
Porter-Cable Introduces Two New Corded Tools
Next month, Porter-Cable is releasing two new corded power tools, a 3/8" drill and a 6-amp jigsaw. These tools are part of a larger roll out that includes two new batteries and seven new cordless tools. They'll all be available at Lowes and other retailers.
From the press release...
3/8-inch Drill
With a high-output, 6.0 amp motor capable of 0 to 2,500 revolutions-per-minute (RPM), the PORTER-CABLE 3/8-inch drill (PC600D) is designed to provide the speed needed for a variety of drilling applications. The high-torque gear design makes the drill ideal for metal and wood fabrication, pilot hole drilling in deck building or frame construction, and other applications requiring the extended run-time of a corded drill.
The lightweight, hand-held drill incorporates a range of professional features, including:
a variable-speed trigger for application-specific speed control; a two-sleeve, keyless chuck for quick bit changes; a belt clip for securing the tool; and a six-foot-long, high-grade cord.
The PC600D will be available in April 2009 for a suggested retail price of $44.97.
Jigsaw
The PORTER-CABLE jigsaw (PC600JS) is outfitted with a high-output, 6.0 amp motor capable of 0 to 3,200 strokes-per-minute (SPM) and offers a four-position orbital setting, encouraging productivity and user-controlled cutting performance across a range of materials and projects.
For accurate bevel cutting, the cast shoe has detents at 0, 15, 30 and 45 degrees. The jigsaw also includes a shoe cover to protect the shoe when not in use and to protect softer surfaces when cutting. Additional features include an on-board LED light for increased visibility of the work piece and cutline; tool-free bevel adjustments and blade changing; a seven-position speed dial for fine adjustments; and a six-foot-long, high-grade cord.
The jigsaw is ideal for cutting plywood, sink cutouts, scrollwork, art projects, shelving, as well as cutting designs into dimensional lumber. The PC600JS will be available in July 2009 for a suggested retail price of $79.97.
April 1, 2009
March 2009 Monthly Roundup for Tool Snob
After February's Reviewapalooza, we took it down a few notches and only ended up reviewing one single tool this month, and even that only happened a few days ago. While we're a bit embarrassed by the lack of reviews, it does make choosing the Tool of the Month quite a bit easier. This month the award goes to (wait for it....wait for it....) Striker's Folding Utility Knife! Congratulations knife, you just won a one-person race! In actuality, it's a nice knife and would have at least been a contender no matter what it went up against.
We're looking to get to some more reviews this month (the tools are starting to pile up a bit), so stay tuned for our thoughts on a selection of knives, demo bars, brad guns, and on and on....
There are also only a few days left to enter to win the $200 Home Depot gift card that we're giving away in a random drawing next Monday. Details here.
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Megapro 13-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver - Review
