January 27, 2010
DIY Books Recalled
The publishing company Oxmoor House is recalling a number of electrical how-to books due to the fact that they contain, "errors in the technical diagrams and wiring instructions that could lead consumers to incorrectly install or repair electrical wiring, posing an electrical shock or fire hazard to consumers." There's no more information available as to exactly which drawings contain the bad advice, which is too bad because some of these books have been on the shelves since 1975. Thankfully though, there have been no injuries resulting from the errors.
One of the books, Complete Home Wiring, is sitting on our desk right now. We even reviewed it way back in the first month of this site's existence. In that review, we applauded the book for its, "helpful pictures and charts." Apparently what we should have written was, 'deadly pictures and charts."
If you have one of the books, listed below, you are to visit www.sunsetrecall.com for instructions on how to return it for a full refund.
An article on the recall is here, the recall press release is here, and, again, if you have one of the books, go here to return it.
The books are:
- AmeriSpec Home Repair Handbook
- Lowe's Complete Home Improvement and Repair
- Lowe's Complete Home Wiring
- Sunset Basic Home Repairs
- Sunset Complete Home Wiring
- Sunset Complete Patio Book
- Sunset Home Repair Handbook
- Sunset Water Gardens
- Sunset You Can Build -- Wiring
A big thanks to reader Dar for bringing this to our attention.
January 26, 2010
Goldblatt G05138 Dust-free Hand Sander
Nothing is quite like the dust produced when you sand joint compound. We can say without hesitation that we loath it. It gets on our clothes, in our hair, up our nose. Everywhere. And then someone comes along and pats you on the shoulder and all of a sudden it looks like a bag of flour exploded. The stuff is wretched, and that's why we're in favor of tools like Goldblatt's Dust-Free Hand Sander.
It looks like this kit comes with a sanding pad, a hose, and a few couplings for the various vacuums out there. Obviously it's not just for joint compound, it can be used for wood as well, but it's with the drywall tasks where we would find the best use for it.
The whole kit costs a whisker over $20, which is nothing compared to what you'll save on laundry detergent, shampoo and cans of Endust.
Amazon
January 25, 2010
Insulate and Weatherize - Review
If you read the site with any regularity, you know that our 1915 farmhouse has some insulation issues. And when we say 'insulation issues,' what we really mean is that large portions of it simply aren't insulated at all. Over the past few months we've been trying to tighten things up, but our efforts have been a bit random and unfocused. Thankfully, though, Taunton recently sent us a copy of Insulate and Weatherize which we immediately read cover to cover. The bad news is that our situation is way worse than we thought, but the good news is that we now have an informed and comprehensive plan of attack.
It's tough to characterize what's in this book, but it goes way beyond insulating and weatherizing. The best way we can explain it is that it's a complete guide to efficiently conditioning the air and water within the four walls of your house. The book takes you through all of the major areas of your house (attic, basement, living space) as well as all of the major systems (water, heating, cooling) and describes every possible way that heat can be lost as well as how to contain that heat. The whole time it's a great split between hands-on tutorials and big-picture thinking. If you want to know the best way to insulate the ceiling of your basement, it's in there, but if you're just looking to understand how heat transfers from one material to another, it's also in there.
So when you read the title of this book, don't think that it's all 'R-values' and 'rigid vs fiberglass.' It's not. It's much, much more and anyone looking for a deeper knowledge of the way that their house works would be well served to read it.
And if you're one of those people, like us, who loves leaky, drafty old houses, this book will become an essential part of your library.
At Amazon
January 22, 2010
Sears Blue Tool Crew at IBS
Since the Tool Snob travel budget only covers trips to the liquor store, we couldn't make it to this year's International Builder's Show out in Vegas. Thankfully, though, the Sears Blue Tool Crew is there with video cameras and they'll be releasing videos of the event in the upcoming days. So far there are three, one of which is an introduction, and the other two talk exclusively about (you'll never guess) Craftsman Tools. According to their Sears, they are going to branch out into other brands in the upcoming videos. But as far as the Craftsman tools go, there are some interesting items featured in the video, including the MiterMate (which we're currently testing out and so far have A LOT of thoughts on, our review will be up soon) and the Versatrack storage system. Actually, it's funny but with all the big budget items on display, one thing that really caught our eye was the Edge Utility Cutter, which is a set of snips that uses a standard utility blade.
So check out the videos here and make sure to check back throughout the week for more.
January 20, 2010
Lowe's How-To
We just saw that Lowe's has a nice selection of how-tos over at their site. A lot of the times, these things are really basic and pretty uninteresting, but the projects at Lowe's range from simple (build a sandbox) to complex (installing wall tile and dividing a room). Along with the hand's on knowledge, there are also some nice articles like Understanding Heat Transfer and Choosing a Color Scheme.
Check out a list of articles here.
January 19, 2010
Dremel 8200 Cordless Rotary Tool
It's amazing how much mileage Dremel has gotten out of the rotary tool. Each year seems to bring a new and improved version each with significant advancements over the previous models. The company would be deemed completely insane if it weren't for the fact that each tool really is that much better than the last. So it's not like these guys are coasting on a single tool (well, they sort of coasted on the Golf Cleaning Kit), instead they're seemingly on some sort of frenzied quest to create the perfect rotary tool.
Late last year they released the 4000 corded rotary tool (our review here), which suprised us with its jobsite-ready power (we used it yesterday, in fact). So if 2009 was the year of the corded upgrade, 2010 must be the year of the cordless. Which brings us to the new 8200.
It appears that the 8200 is the companion cordless to the 4000. The removable nose has the same look as the corded version and the new tool can handle all of the Dremel accessories, including the new detailer's grip and the sanding guide.
The 8200 is powered by a removable 12-volt li-ion battery that, according to Dremel, gives the tool a speed of cut that's twice as fast as any other cordless rotary tool out there. The battery recharges in 1-hour.
The 8200 will be available in April and will range from $100 to $140, depending on the kit.
The press release is after the jump.
Continue reading: "Dremel 8200 Cordless Rotary Tool"
January 18, 2010
Artillery Tools has a New Website
We just checked out the Artillery Tools website and saw that it has gotten a much needed facelift. The new site is a lot easier to navigate and has a nice product page, making it easy to build your own destruction bar. They also sell pre-assembled bars or complete sets.
If you're in the market for a high-quality demo bar, we recommend looking at the Artillery. It's a small company built solely on the enthusiasm and determination of founder/inventor Joe Skach. If you call to place an order, it's likely Joe will be the one answering the phone.
Our review of the Artillery Bar is here
The new Artillery Website is here.
January 15, 2010
Grizzly Industrial 2010 Catalog
The new Grizzly catalog showed up the other day brightening up an otherwise cold and gray week. It's currently sitting on our desk and in about a week it will migrate to the nearest bathroom where it will likely spend the year.
If you've never looked through one of these things, you're missing out big time. This year's offering is a full 675 pages of tools, accessories, milling machines, router bits, guitar making materials and every other tool related item under the sun. The prices are generally good and there are some real steals with the Grizzly tools.
The crazy part is that the catalogs are free. All you have to do to get one is go here and sign up.
January 14, 2010
Arbortech Project Plans
We were just wandering around the interweb and saw that Arbortech, makers of the fantastic Mini-Grinder and Power Chisel have a number of project plans posted up on their site. Of course, the plans are geared toward their unique woodworking tools, but they could also be completed with traditional tools as well. We tend to like these kinds of presentations and Arbortech's project selection goes beyond the standard "spice rack" variety and into territory that's a little more unusual.
Some of the plans are in .pdf format and some are videos on youtube, like this one...
Check out the plan page at Arbortech.
Our review of the Mini Grinder is here.
Our review of the Power Chisel is here.
January 13, 2010
DeWalt DWS535 Worm Drive Circular Saw
DeWalt is on the verge of releasing a new worm drive saw and at first glance it looks like a real monster with a number of practical features to assist the day to day framer.
What we like best is something called the Toughcord cord retention and protection system. We assume that this is a reinforced connection between the cord and the body of the tool, which likely stemmed from the developers visiting jobsites and watching ladder-bound carpenters raise and lower their saws with the cord. We see it all the time (and have been known to do it on occasion). Now, thanks to DeWalt, you'll not only be able to comfortably hold the saw's weight with the cord, but you'll probably also be able to swing it around like a bullroarer.
Another smart feature is the extra wide rafter hook, built with beefy engineered lumber in mind. There's also a 53 degree cutting bevel.
There's no word on price yet, but given the price of the competition, we would expect something in the $200 range.
When it's available, it'll be at Home Depot
As always, the press release is after the jump if you're interested...
Continue reading: "DeWalt DWS535 Worm Drive Circular Saw"
January 12, 2010
Milwaukee M12 Cordless Grease Gun
Milwaukee has just announced the release of a new cordless grease gun, the latest addition to their ever-growing 12-volt line. Looking at a picture of it, about 20 unprintable jokes instantly pop into our head and although we're sure it's a handy tool, we have a hard time taking it seriously. Thankfully, Jay over at CopTool is far more mature than we are and has a very nice summation of the new item here.
The press release is after the jump.
$200 @ Ohio Power Tool
Continue reading: "Milwaukee M12 Cordless Grease Gun"
January 11, 2010
Milwaukee M12 Radio - Review
We have mixed feelings when it comes to jobsite radios. On one hand we like having a little background music while we work, but on the other hand, we can't stomach the musical tastes of most other people. Really, how many times can the human mind listen to 'Slow Ride' before there's some mental damage (and don't get us started on sports radio or 'wacky morning DJs')? So we always get a little nervous when we see a sub contractor getting out of their truck with some massive, John-Cusack-from-Say-Anything, boom box.
But like we said, we're not opposed to music at work, so when Milwaukee sent us one of their 12-volt radios to test out, we were predisposed to like it. And as it turns out, we did like it, but there are some caveats. We were into the fact that it's very small and stripped down (no cd player, no race scanner, not even a battery charger). All it is is a radio (with 10 presets), a weatherproof compartment for an MP3 player, and a clock. That's it. Basic and small. Minimal bling.
Oddly enough, we had just won an iPod Touch at the company xmas party, so we thought we'd give it a whirl in the Milwaukee. Strapping the mp3 player into the compartment turned out to be a little tricky. In order to prohibit the iPod from moving once it's in, there's a little elastic strap that holds it in place. Because the elastic is so tight, wedging the iPod in is quite difficult and the compartment leaves minimal room to access the power button on the top left of the iPod. Also, the elastic runs across the center of the screen, so using the Touch was also a bit of a pain. Our general thoughts on these drawbacks are that once the iPod is in, it's in. You're not going to be taking it in and out all day long, so we would rather have the iPod well protected and have the twice a day hassle of the tight elastic. We just have to get used to the idea of playlists and shuffle.
So once the iPod was in, we got some tunes going and discovered that the sound is pretty good. Not mindblowing, but really solid. Definitely good enough for a job site, in fact, better than is really needed for a job site. But if you're the type who can talk at length about the subtle production values of Johnny Cash's American Recordings, you're not going to be satisfied.
As we mentioned before, the M12 radio does not having charging capabilities, which is a standard feature on larger radios. It can run off a 12-volt battery or off the AC adapter, but sadly, it will not charge your battery when it's plugged into the wall. This is unfortunate, but our guess is that the miniature size of the radio would be sacrificed were this the case. We've had the radio on site for about a week and so far we've gotten an average of about 7 hours of iPod time per full 12-volt battery. Since we're down with the Milwaukee 12-volt system, we always have at least one battery kicking around so it works out for us.
The radio is also durable. We dropped a few 2x4s on it by accident (they hit hard enough to eject the battery from the back of the radio), and the radio didn't even take on a mark.
We also tested out the weatherproofing of the compartment door by bringing the radio to the sink and giving it a good hose down with the hand sprayer. After a nice drenching, we opened the door and the iPod area was bone dry. It's nice having the confidence that it can handle snow flurries or a light drizzle.
For our needs, this radio is right on target. We like not having to lug around a massive piece of equipment and it's loud and clear enough for our needs. For the low price of $100 it would be tough to ask for anything more.
At Amazon
January 7, 2010
Home Fixated Gets a Make Over
Home Fixated, one of our daily stops in the DIY/tool blogging world has recently undergone a full site redesign. The new look is much easier to navigate through and since they're always giving stuff away, we suggest you taking a look for yourself.
Aside from the monthly giveaways and great tool reviews there are also sections for coupons, videos and how-to.
Check out Home Fixated here.
January 6, 2010
Crazy Details in our New House: Part Three
"If a 1/8" caulk joint is good, then a 1-1/4" caulk joint must be better"
That seems to be the philosophy governing the construction behind the shower in the master bath. There's really no other way to explain the massive blob of waterproofing that surrounds the shower pan. Our best guess is that it took about two full tubes of caulking to complete. It's so thick it looks like it was applied with a trowel or maybe a frosting knife. And it doesn't just stop with the pan, it's also slobbered in around the faucet and fixtures as well.
And to top it all off, we just noticed a leak appearing in the living room ceiling, just below the shower. So it looks like the caulk joint might not even be effective. Awesome.
January 5, 2010
Liberate Blades for the Fein, Bosch, and Dremel Oscillating Tools
A while back, we reviewed some oscillating tool blades that were sold under the name of Yaeger Blades. Soon after the review, the company went dark, which caused us to get a lot of emails that went along the lines of, "WTF? Why can't I access their website?" As it turned out the fellows at Yaeger were in the process of redesigning their blades so as not to infringe on any patent issues with Fein.
We just got the email the other day that Yaeger Blades 2.0 is up and running. The new company is called Liberate Blades and you can access the website here. According to Liberate Blades,
The redesign allows for incremental angling of the saw blades just as the OEM blades do, which is not seen in any of the other aftermarket oscillating saw blades. Even though the connector opening is round the unique design allows the blades to lock into place no mater which machine they are being used with. Additional changes have been made to attach the blade to the connector which provide amazing consistency in the manufacturing process, which equates to a better product for customers.
The new blades are compatible with the Fein, Bosch, and Dremel tools. The cost is $10-12 per blade, which is a good savings when compared to the $15 or so that the Fein blades are sold for (assuming the quality is exactly the same). Liberate blades are also available in a 10 blade variety pack for $105.
At Liberate Blades
January 4, 2010
Win a Snowblower from Craftsman
At our last house we had this massive snowblower that was actually more of a "snow cannon." We really loved the thing and always enjoyed blasting snow onto our neighbor's yard. But, because of the tricky driveway, we sold it with the house and now we're left with a much smaller hand-me-down blower that works fine, but it takes a little longer and our chest doesn't hardly puff up at all when we're using it.
So here comes Sears with a chance to win a Craftsman snowblower. To enter to win, you need a Twitter account (which immediately disqualifies anyone over 35 years old). First, you need to go to Craftsman's Snowblower Finder in order to find the right model for your needs, and then you log on to Twitter and follow @BlueLGCrew and tweet in the following:
Following @BlueLGCrew and went to http://bit.ly/6KxG5t to find my ideal #searssnowblower - model XXXXX - I'm entered for a chance to win it!
Don't forget to replace the "XXXXX" with your model number AND follow @BlueLGCrew. Once you've done that, you'll be entered for a chance to win the model number you tweeted.
The contest is ending on Jan. 13th.
Small print official contest rules are here and the press release is posted after the jump, if you're interested.
Continue reading: "Win a Snowblower from Craftsman"
December 2009 Monthly Roundup for Tool Snob
This post puts a cap, not only on December, but 2009 as well. It was a good year, filled with all sorts of interesting things, which we're trying to get to in a post later this week. But for now, let's take a look back at the final month of '09.
December's Tool of the Month is Fein's orbital attachment for the MultiMaster. We liked it, not only because of its functionality (right up there with a traditional orbital), but also because it proves that Fein isn't just going to coast along on the notoriety of their great oscillating tool.
And speaking of oscillating tools, we put together a chart on which accessories fit which tools. That's here.
Tool of the Month
All Reviews
Bits and Blades
Cordless
Distractions
Glues and Adhesives
Hand Tools
Lithium-Ion
Monthly Roundup
Oscillating Tools
Our House
Power Tool Accessories
Power Tools
Promotions
Sanding
Sharpening
Work Lights
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Rockwell SoniShear - Review
