September 25, 2009
iRobot Roomba Pet Series - Review
VS.
If you read this site with any regularity, you might be familiar with our feline co-pilot, Marlowe. But what you probably didn't know is that there is another cat living at Tool Snob HQ named Grover. If they were humans in college, Marlowe would be the guy with the Jimmy Buffet tickets and Grover would be the kid who spends all of his time in his dorm room doing weird oil paintings and listening to The Cure. He's an odd little duck. But personalities aside, Grover also has the amazing ability to shed his gray and white fur at will. And it's apparently something he wills quite a bit. We bought one of those Furminator brushes and even after weekly sessions, each one harvesting enough hair to make a third cat, we still have problems with pieces of Grover all over the house.
It is with all this in mind that we were overjoyed when iRobot agreed to let us test out one of their pet series vacuums for a couple weeks. Could the spooky little frisbee have enough stamina to keep up with Grover?
Continue reading: "iRobot Roomba Pet Series - Review"
September 24, 2009
Black & Decker MSW100 Ready Wrench
Our socket set is a mess. It's fine when it's sitting in our shop and we're the only ones using it, but the instant it enters the construction site, pieces start disappearing. It's like there are ratchet-eating elves living under the excavator or something. And oddly enough, it's always the most common sizes that vanish, so it doesn't take long for the kit to be rendered practically useless.
Black & Decker has come up with a new tool that might help the situation. The Ready Wrench is an interesting looking item that's sort of one-stop shopping for the 16 most popular socket sizes. Each end of the tool has a rotating piece with 4 different socket sizes. It looks like they get to the 16 number by including both SAE and the similar metric size, which actually aren't identical, so there's likely a little slop in 1/2 of the sizes.
This looks like a potentially handy tool. Probably more of a space-saver than anything else, or something for the DIYer who has no need for a complete wrench set. It reminds us of the space-age HK1 Adjustable Wrench that we reviewed way back in February. While the HK1 has a wider range of sizes (it's fully adjustable), the B&D looks easier to use on the fly.
The Ready Wrench costs about $30, which could be worth it if the tool has some durability to it.
At Amazon
September 23, 2009
Krenov Scholarship Fund Drive at Tool Crib
We mentioned the passing of James Krenov the other day. At the time we didn't get into any details on his life, but one of the things he is known for is that he founded the Fine Woodworking Program at the College of the Redwoods.
So in memory of the self-described 'stubborn old enthusiast,' Tool Crib is donating $5 to the scholarship fund for every comment and newsletter comment that they get (until Oct 15th). They've got a cap of $300, so it would be nice to make sure that they hit that mark, which would mean that some young woodworker might get a chance to go to a great school. For more information on how to activate the donation, click here.
In addition to the scholarship drive, Tool Crib has put together a marvelous compendium of Krenov links. If you've never heard of him and are wondering why we're making such a big hooplah, you can learn more about him there.
We snagged the image from the College of the Redwoods Fine Furniture page (here).
September 18, 2009
Bosch 18-Volt Litheon Impactor - Review
Bosch recently added an 18-volt impact gun to their Litheon line and we've had our hands on one for about three months now. We skipped any staged testing protocols (i.e. how many 3" lag screws can it drive) and just brought it to work. So for the last 14 weeks we have treated this tool in such a way that we now understand what red-headed step-children have to go through. Instead of carrying the gun down a ladder, we threw it. Instead of packing it up in its case, we lobbed it in the back of the truck, instead of putting it under a tarp, we left it out in the rain. If this thing is going to be a job site gun, it's got to survive basic training. So on to our thoughts...
First, the Bosch comes with a few practical features, but thankfully, nothing audacious or gimmicky. It's got an LED, a nice little bit holder at the base of the handle and a belt clip that can be placed on either side of the handle (with just the removal of one screw), depending on the task at hand, or whether you're a righty or a lefty. The belt clip is nice, but it's one of those things that will hop off your hip going down a ladder or crouching over. It's handy for a quick holster, but nowhere near as secure as a Prazi Monster Hook, so we would still recommend picking up one of those or something like it.
And as for day-to-day functionality, the Bosch Impactor is really a top-notch gun. It laughed at our rough treatment and easily and consistently drove 6" Timberlok screws into wet 4x6s. It's shorter and stubbier than our old Makita, and it feels better in the hands.
Our one gripe with the tool is that the nose of the gun has a protective rubber sheath on it, which is great and prevents surface marring in tight spots, but the piece is removable and somewhat loosely fit. On more than one occasion, the piece would come slightly loose and snag on something (one time even causing the gun to hop off our hip and fall onto a finished floor). Why not just make the piece permanent? This might sound like nit-picking, but with Bosch so close to making a perfect impact driver, this loose flap of rubber really bothered us.
And as always, Bosch provides a great case with the tool, capable of holding extra batteries and bits and with enough room left over for a few hand tools as well.
We also had the opportunity to check out the difference between the Bosch slim pack and fat pack Litheon batteries. Obviously, the fat pack are going to be stronger (they were) and last longer (they did), but it all comes at the cost of a heavier unit (and a more expensive one). Both batteries held charges for quite some time, but the fat pack were tremendous on this front. Sometimes we would go a few days on one battery. Keep in mind, we weren't doing production work, but still, under the same load, we would have had to hit up the Makita charger at least three or four times. The way we see it, there is really no way you'll ever find yourself in a situation where you're standing around holding a dead battery, waiting impatiently for the other one to charge.
The bottom line here is that this is a fantastic tool. It's durable and powerful, and to be honest, this tool integrated itself so well into our life that we forgot we were reviewing it. If Bosch keeps the battery line alive, this is a tool that you could potentially have for a long, long time. But this kind of quality doesn't come cheap. The Bosch Impactor costs anywhere from $250 to $380 depending on the package you get. You can get the gun with either 2 fat pack batteries or two slim pack batteries. Our opinion on this is that if you're going to be working the gun pretty hard, the fat pack are worth it, but if you're an electrician or someone who won't be using it full time or for particularly strenuous tasks, the slim packs should do you fine.
Bosch Litheon Impactor with 2 Slim Pack Batteries at Amazon
Bosch Litheon Impactor with 2 Fat Pack Batteries at Amazon
September 17, 2009
James Krenov RIP
James Krenov died a week ago yesterday. His Cabinetmaker's Notebook, sort of a Zen and the Art of Cabinet Making, was a book that really hit home with us when we first read it, and still to this day, it provides inspiration and clarity.
Around originality there is no doubt a law of diminishing returns; nowadays there has to be. Though maybe we are drowning not so much in the original as in the imitation, in just things. For many of us originality is a pressure; we are being pushed around by people wanting something new, different. Then there's the other pressure of doing the new without borrowing too much from the old, or at least without getting caught at it. Students are forever running to libraries to get various books - on peasant art, Scandinavian modern, Shaker, Colonial, Indian - one this and one that. They fill their heads with all these images, and then frantically try to come up with something of their own. As though you put these ingredients in a kettle, add water, stir, and cook for two hours. What do you get? Pottage. Pea soup.
There's a nice rundown of his life over at Fine Woodworking (here).
Cabinetmaker's Notebook at Amazon
September 16, 2009
Striker Carbide Utility Score - Review
Striker is a pretty new tool company and so far they've released a number of items that we've been impressed with (mini LED light, utility knife) and one that we were less impressed with (mechanical carpenter's pencil). Lately, we've been testing out their new carbide utility score, which, aside from basically two parts (the flip out blade and the blade holder) is exactly the same as the utility knife.
Because we were fans of the utility knife (it's going on six months as our go-to knife), it's no shocker that we liked the carbide score as well. The same large handle is there, as is the durability and easy flip action. So far we've diced up two bathrooms worth of cement board and it's been a great tool to have. Like the knife, it has a rasp on the side of the blade, so shaving off a whisker is not a problem. There's also a nice belt clip. The overall look of the thing is pretty cool and just about everyone on site who is under the age of 25 makes sure to tell us so.
It's a nice tool and way better than those el cheapos that are usually available at hardware stores. The Striker costs about $20, so if you're a pro, it's worth it to get a tool you'll be proud of.
At Amazon
September 15, 2009
DeWalt DW030 Distance Measurer
It looks like DeWalt is expanding their empire and getting into the digital measurement category. Thus far, we've seen nice products come from both Bosch and Milwaukee, so it was really just a matter of time before Big D got in on the game.
The following press release hit the desk the other day...
DEWALT, a leading manufacturer of industrial power tools and accessories, launches a laser distance measurer (DW030), providing users with a quick and efficient way to estimate space on the jobsite. The DW030 can be used by estimators, foreman, superintendents, plumbers, electricians, general contractors, HVAC, and industrial maintenance professionals to measure distance, square footage and volume.
DEWALT built the DW030 with a compact design and rubber over-molding for easy grip and operation. Additionally, the unit has large, clearly marked buttons that allow users to quickly and accurately select between units, area, distance and volume buttons. For added ease of use, the DW030 has a backlight display for improved visibility on jobsites.
The DW030 is built to withstand a six foot drop and is resistant to water and dust, providing users with a unit that can endure jobsite abuse and various weather conditions. For improved accuracy, the DW030 measures distance from the back of the unit, which means users do not have to calculate the size of the laser into measurements. Additionally, a flat bottom design provides added stability while measuring from set positions.
September 14, 2009
Fein WS 14 Angle Grinders
While flipping through the latest issue of Popular Mechanics, we saw an ad for Fein's new line of grinders with what looks like at least one never-before-seen feature.
From what we can tell the WS 14 series is a very high-quality line of grinders (good durability, power, etc.), but it's the WS 14 T's that really interest us. This is what the Fein website has to say about those,
The "switchless" FEIN Tip Start operating system with Auto Stop provides needed safety in case of an emergency. The disc slows down as soon as the touch pads are released. The service life of this angle grinder is extended even further by the innovative optical fiber switching system and the dust-proof placement of the four touch pads.
'Switchless Tip Start?" Any ideas? Do these touch pads operate as the on-switch? We searched around a bit to see if 'tip start' is a generic term and we found this at a Dodge Nitro forum:
Tip Start: A feature that allows the driver to crank and start the engine by turning the key to the start position and then releasing it. The vehicle electronics will then take over the cranking and starting process to ensure that proper engine speed is attained, to release the starter motor at the appropriate time, and to prevent double starts.
Not really sure how that would apply to a grinder...
It also looks like the new Fein grinders utilize the same chuck system as the more recent MultiMasters, with the flip-up lever at the rear of the head as opposed to the strange little spanner wrench that all other grinders require.
No word on pricing for this new line, but we will say that the older Fein grinders are in the range of $325 for a 5" model. Putting this in perspective, we've got a great Bosch grinder that we've had and abused for a few years now and it cost us less than $100. Our best guess is that these new grinders will be in the $500 range.
September 11, 2009
Rotate-A-Blade
Reader David sent us this video of the Rotate-A-Blade saying that the tool is like a Stanley knife on steroids. He's pretty much right on. The first minute of the video is pretty boring and we almost clicked away, but then the blade goes into the perpendicular position and BOOM you've got a scraper. Pretty innovative design.
This video seems to be the only information available on the knife. According to youtube, the guy who posted it up (PROTOTYPER1), put up a similar one two years ago. Maybe the product is finally coming to market.
September 10, 2009
Tools We Keep in the Truck
There are very few tools we keep in the truck at all times. The small space behind the seat is prized real estate and not to be wasted on redundant tools that are easy to come by on a job site. Instead, we reserve this spot for those special tools, the ones that can do things no other tool can. The ones that, when you need them, you need them. Over the past few months, we've narrowed down our repertoire to a select few. They are as follows:
Hitachi 12-Volt Right-Angle Impact Driver (our review here): This tool is worth it's weight in gold, which, oddly enough, isn't all that much because it's so light and compact. It has a clearance that is so small it can fit anywhere and while it's powerful enough to drop a 2" screw in a 2x4, where this tool shines is with the small fussy tasks, like working up in a shade pocket or behind a fan coil unit.
Fein MultiMaster (our review here): With the expiration of Fein's oscillating tool patent, the market has been flooded with other models by everyone from Craftsman to Bosch to Dremel to Rockwell. But the funny thing is that even though there are now a ton of oscillating tools on the market, the Fein still has no real competition. This isn't to belittle the others, we've tested out the majority of the new tools and they're fine, it's just that the MultiMaster is nearly a work of art. Once you hold one, you'll know what we're talking about.
Milwaukee Hackzall (our review here): Of the tools on the list, this is the one that has elicited the greatest response from the rest of the site. It has been affectionately dubbed, "the turkey carver" and it's constantly getting borrowed by carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and anyone else who needs to make a quick, no-hassle cut. The only downside to the tool is that it comes with the single worst case in tool history.
Milwaukee 12-volt Power Port and Flashlight (our reviews here and here): This is sort of the emergency kit and hangs out under the passenger seat next to the first-aid bag. It's always good to have a flashlight on hand and the Power Port is good for a quick cell phone charge here and there (the truck stops charging when the engine is off).
...and those are the ones we keep close at hand. Granted, we've been in the finish phase of the job, so these are all detail oriented tools, good for the small fussy stuff. It's likely they'll get cycled out during the framing of the next job, but for now they're there, constantly getting us out of trouble.
HItachi Right Angle Impact Driver at Tool Barn
Fein MultiMaster at Amazon
Milwaukee Hackzall at Amazon
Milwaukee Power Port at Amazon
Milwaukee Flashlight at Amazon
September 8, 2009
Rockwell LithiumTech 18-Volt Combo Kit
Earlier this year (much earlier...the spring, actually), Rockwell hopped into the lithium ion market with the release of a drill/driver and an impact gun. From what we can make out from the product description and price, these are in that mid range between the hard-core contractor tools and the more inexpensive, strickly-homeowner tools. In other words, there's some durability for an affordable price, sort of a Porter-Cable/Ryobi vibe.
For their lithium line, Rockwell seemed to have snagged Ryobi's colors, which is a bit strange. So if you prefer a darker color palette, they have a Ni-Cd line available called ComPak which looks like it's also worth checking out. Both lines fall under Rockwell's insane 'free replacement batteries for life' program.
At Amazon
Read the Lithium Tech press release after the jump..
Continue reading: "Rockwell LithiumTech 18-Volt Combo Kit"
September 3, 2009
Ridgid Explorer vs Milwaukee M12 M-Spector AV
Jay over at CopTool has just posted up a nice review of of the two most popular inspection cameras on the market, the Ridgid Explorer and the Milwaukee M-Spector. The upshot of his review is that the Ridgid Explorer seems to have the better selection of features, but that it costs almost three hundred dollars more. But this isn't to say that the Milwaukee is a bad tool at all, because it's not. It has it's own set of advantages such as battery compatibility with other M12 tools, a longer battery life and a built-in microphone.
Check out CopTools review here.
(Image gratuitously snagged from CopTool)
Ridgid Explorer at Ohio Power Tool and Amazon
Milwaukee M12 M-Spector at Ohio Power Tool and Amazon
September 2, 2009
Midi-Lathe Reviews at Woodworker's Journal
It seems like every six months or so we get all hepped up with the idea that we're going to buy a mini lathe. The image of sitting in the shop and turning out chess pieces takes us to this euphoric fantasy land full of woodworking know-how and competence. During these giddy little daydreams we forget the fact that we know absolutely nothing about these tools or how to use them. We know even less about what makes one good. We've done some research in the past and have always come back to the Jet. It seems to get good reviews....right? Well, thankfully this month's Woodworker's Journal has a run down on four top models (the Jet included).
Author Chris Marshall does a fantastic job explaining the features on each model and what to look for when investing in one of these interesting tools. Chris is pretty much a fan of all of the tools, but he calls out the Delta 46-460 for special praise due to its strong motor, reverse setting for sanding, and the 10" tool rest.
It's an interesting article and if, like us, you dream of owning one of these things at some point, it's worth hunting down and reading. It not online yet, but it might be at some point in the future.
Also, check out our thoughts on WWJ's article How to Build a Fly Rod here.
Subscribe to Woodworker's Journal at Woodworker's Journal or Amazon
Check out the Delta 46-460
September 1, 2009
August 2009 Monthly Roundup for ToolSnob
Aside from getting a new pair of boots, August was a relatively quiet month. We even took a few days off from the site to work on the house (more on that in the coming month). But still, we managed to test out a few tools in the broiling heat and of those, the Craftsman Propane Trimmer was the one we liked the most. We're currently testing out a number of interesting tools (including some attachments to the trimmer), so we hope to have some nice reviews up in September. But in the mean time, here's your chance to peruse the glory that was Tool Snob in August...
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Megapro 13-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver - Review
