Measuring & Marking
September 3, 2010
Craftsman Accutrac Laser Measuring Tool
One time we were at a fishing derby that was held at a golf course. The ponds were stocked with fish and everyone just stood around them with their lines in the water (excitement level: zero). So every time someone would catch a fish, all the other people around that pond would rush over to that area and cast their lines at the spot where the fish was caught. It was pretty strange to watch.
Anyway, that, in a nutshell is sort of how we view the tool industry (or, really any industry for that matter). The tool companies are the fishermen, the bait is the product, and you all are the fishys. Let's explain further; there's Bob the fisherman who baits his line with a nice, big worm (a.k.a. shiny new product). He throws it out there where it floats for a bit (on the shelves at Home Depot). Then along comes the fish (you) la-de-da-ing along and you're attracted to the product, you sniff around it, and decide it's worthy, and you take a bite (drop some cash for it). The fisherman is ecstatic and pulls you in (possibly gaining a long term product buyer). Now, at this point, the other fisherman look over and say to themselves, "what the hell did that guy just do? Whatever it is, we've got to do the same thing!" So they run over the same spot and find a similar worm and toss their lines in, hoping to get a similar fish.
Continue reading: "Craftsman Accutrac Laser Measuring Tool"
July 19, 2010
Starrett Full Line Catalog #32
If you're like us, there's a whole lot you're completely in the dark on. And because of that fact, it means that, like us, you probably only think of Starrett as "that company that makes those really nice combo squares." They don't do anything else, do they?
Well, as it turns out, they do. In fact they do enough to result in a densely crammed 566 page catalog (and we mean densely). Starrett just released their latest Full Line Catalog and sent us one to peruse and the amount of tools and equipment in it is head-spinning. Judging from the catalog, Starrett is a company determined to measure, or have the ability to measure, everything on the planet (including the rate at which a head spins).
The catalog has everything from electronic gauge amplifiers (p. 215) to micrometer depth gauges (p.66) to gauge blocks (p.355-401), and thank heavens, they also have a selection of optical comparators (p.419-428). If you're not ready for it, it's all a bit overwhelming.
And all the way back on page 245 is our combination square. It's funny but previous to seeing the catalog, we thought the combo square was the highest achievement of the company, but now it seems almost like an afterthought and even a little out of place when compared to the massive torrent of machinist measuring devices and electronic micro-gauges. There is also another section in the back devoted to jobsite and workshop tools (pages 429 to 466) that has things like rafter squares, levels, and tape measures of every variety you could ever imagine.
The catalog is available online and if you have the time, it's worth flipping through. There's no doubt you'll be impressed.
Visit the Starrett site here or go directly to the catalog here.
Starrett tools at Amazon
The press release on the catalog release, if you're interested, is after the jump.
Continue reading: "Starrett Full Line Catalog #32"
June 30, 2010
Bosch Vs. DeWalt
There are a lot of ways to measure tool companies against one another; length of warranty, availability of parts, number of tools in their cordless lines, etc. But we think one of the more important ways is by the quality of pen that they give out at their annual press events. We recently acquired a DeWalt pen at such an event and put it head to head against our Bosch pen we got at an event in the summer of '09.
Ergonomics
The Bosch pen has these three rubberized nubs at the tip, presumably for the thumb and first two fingers. While writing with the pen, our fingers didn't always land comfortably on the nubs making for grip that felt slightly 'off.'. In contrast, DeWalt has encircled the entire lower half of the pen with a rubberized area (save these little yellow hash marks) and has smartly placed a divot on the top side where the first finger lands.
Advantage: DeWalt
Aesthetics
Bosch opted for more of a modern shape, giving their pen tapered ends. The body of the pen is metallic blue with a silver nose and a silver central ring. The pocket clip transitions once again to silver with a graceful angle and curved return back over the pen body. It's a sharp looking pen, one that smells of elegance. The DeWalt pen has less of a rear taper (hardly any at all actually) and the yellow DeWalt color is a tad loud. In addition, the pocket clip sits on the pen in an unremarkable and quite pedestrian fashion.
Advantage: Bosch
Usability
To reveal the tip of the Bosch pen, you have to give the body a quarter twist. It's a silent operation and very smooth. The DeWalt is more old-fashioned with the rear click button. It's a loud click, but it's a solid, satisfying sound.
Advantage: Bosch (if you're sneaking up on someone)
DeWalt (if you're trying to alert someone that you're choking)
Ink Quality
We traded off pens while completing pages 1390 to 1456 of our memoir and we discovered that the Bosch is a smoother ride. This is caused by the release of a consistent and very, very slightly excessive amount of ink. The downside of this is that we noticed some 'blobbing.' The DeWalt glide is a bit stiffer, but the ink lines, while a tad lighter, are more even. Both pens are black, which is good because blue ink would have led to immediate disqualification.
Advantage: DeWalt
Bottom Line
These are both fine pens, each with some good points and some not as good points. We are of the opinion that there's room in the world for both pens. The Bosch is the one that we would bring to the client meeting; it's sleek, professional looking, and the amount of ink dispensed lets us write faster and makes it easier to transcribe the wild demands of the client. The DeWalt, on the other hand, goes in the truck. It's what we fill out our construction log book with. It's bright yellow, so we won't lose it, and when we're stressed out because the stone stair treads were just delivered and they don't fit the metal pans, we can just sit and furiously click the pen while we figure out what to do.
Update: We just got word that Milwaukee is currently developing a 12-volt fountain pen for release in August of 2012.
May 20, 2010
Kreg KMA2900 Multi-Mark Multi-Purpose Marking and Measuring Tool
It seems like the new thing for tool companies is to crush as much functionality as possible in as small a package as possible. If this is the new standard for what a good tool is, Kreg has a struck gold with the Multi-Mark Measuring and marking tool.
It's a bevel gauge...no it's a try square...no wait...it's a combo square...or maybe a torpedo level...or possibly a carpenter's ruler? Actually, it's a bit of all these things and it actually looks incredibly handy. It's also only $20, which seems like a steal.
When you boil it down to the basics, the Multi-Mark is a bevel gauge with a ruler for a blade. The try square ability comes when the blade sets into a groove which positions it 90 degrees to the handle.The long edges of the body also have a 3/16" rabbet, making it perfect for positioning door and window reveals.
All of this makes the Multi-Mark a one stop casing tool. Never having actually seen one or used one, we can't be 100% sure, but from afar, this one looks like a real winner.
And like we said $20 seems like a deal for this interesting little item.
At Amazon
April 5, 2010
Measuring, Marking, & Layout: A Builder's Guide - Review
Recently, Taunton Press sent us a few books to check out. One, Insulate and Weatherize, we reviewed here and now we've gotten to the second book, Measuring, Marking, & Layout: A Builder's Guide by John Carroll.
The book is sort of like having some old and experienced carpenter at your disposal (minus the coffee breath). It takes you through foundation work to floor, ceiling, and wall framing, to roofs and stairs, and then finally masonry. At each stop there is a thorough explanation of all of the layout considerations as well as extremely helpful drawings and diagrams. The book has a lot of math, particularly the roofing chapter, but in many cases, Carroll gives alternate (and more simple) methods on how to solve particular problems, which is nice if your math skills, like ours stopped developing sometime shortly after the third grade. All in all, it's a nice split between the principals of layout and the nitty-gritty hand's on stuff.
Luckily for the reader, Carroll gives "measuring, marking, and layout" a wide definition, so there is a lot of general building information included as well (things like how to straighten floor joists).
The book is successful and if you're a serious DIYer who wants to take it to the next level, this is a good place to start. For an established contractor, it's not only a good reference to have around, but there's so much information packed into the book, that there's bound to be something in here you haven't thought of.
At Amazon
November 5, 2009
Black & Decker TLD100 Thermal Leak Detector
Now that we've moved to a drafty old house, we have the dream of getting our hands on one of those thermal imaging tools in order to have the nauseating experience of actually watching all the heat escape from our windows, floorboards, and walls. Unfortunately, even the most basic models are in the $1,500 range. But, interestingly enough, we saw that Black & Decker has another tool in their Energy Saver line called the Thermal Leak Detector (read our thoughts on their Power Monitor here)
Obviously B&D's $50 tool is going to be pretty rudimentary when compared to the ultra-pimped out professional models that come with tv screens, but still the smaller tool might be a good option for someone interested in doing some investigating into their house. In a way, the Thermal Leak Detector is just a laser thermometer that knows enough to give you an over/under. To operate it, you set a base temperature and then, as you shine the light around the room, it lets you know when there is a deviation from that temp. So when you're taking a reading from your wall (70 degrees) the light is one color and as you move it over your window casing (20 below zero), it changes to another color. You can also set the number of deviation from one to five to ten degrees, so the light doesn't change at every slight temperature change.
Like we said the Thermal Leak Detector is about $50 and it available in select stores.
At Amazon
October 28, 2009
DeWalt DW030P Distance Measurer - Review
Laser beams. First they came for our levels and now it's our tape measures. Like some invasion of little red dots, lasers are being incorporated more and more into today's job sites. And with anything that is 'being incorporated more and more into today's job sites," it's not surprising that DeWalt is right there. The big yellow company has just released a new laser measuring tool, the DW030P and they were nice enough to let us test one out.
The DW030P is about the size of a point and click camera and the most basic function of it is to measure distance. To do this, just point the laser at an object and press the distance button and you get a static reading of how far that object is from the back edge of the tool. There is also a 'unit' button so you can choose how you would like the measurement to be displayed (meters, feet and inches, or just inches). If you hold down the distance button for three seconds, the DW030P goes into tracking mode and now displays the laser measurement as it moves. If that alone were the capabilities of the DW030P it would be pretty interesting, but there's actually quite a bit more.
The DW030P also has an area button and a volume button. To use these, just click the appropriate button and start recording distances. After two distances with the area button, you get the total area in whatever unit you have it set on, and likewise with the volume button after three measurements.
On top of all this, the DW030P can add and subtract distances from one another. Just click a distance, then hit the '+' or '-' button and click another distance. You can do this as much as you like and the DW030P keeps a running tally.
So that's what it does, but the question is, "is what it does actually useful?" Well, yes and no, but mostly yes. At first, the DW030P frustrated us because we were trying to use it like a tape measure, which is really impractical. You're not going to use this tool casing out a window or laying out 16"oc studs on a plate. First, it's not really designed for that, and secondly, even though it measures to the accuracy of 1/16th of an inch, any good carpenter keeps a little over/under going in his head with each cut. The DW030P can't indicate if a perfect cut is actually 3'-2 3/8" shy, it'll just tell you, 3'-2 3/8". It does help with inside corners though, giving accurate measurements without trying to read a bent tape measure.
But, the daily grind of carpentry aside, this tool did turn out to be an incredible time saver in a number of other departments. Doing a quick take off on materials, for example. The area button gave us an exact measurement of a number of walls, allowing us to figure exactly how much blueboard was needed to cover them. It was also a dream for doing a quick as-built of some soon-to-be-buried conduit. What is normally a two man job with the 200' tape measure, turned into a five minute click, click, click. And really with any measurement that involved a length more than that of our standard 25' tape measure, we called on the DW030P (it has a range of about 100')
There were a few things about the tool that we didn't like. First, the distance is measured from the back of the tool, right? So we're not sure why the back end of the tool isn't at right angles to the sides, or why there isn't a mark showing the exact point of the center line (where the laser projects from) on the rear edge. For a tool that can measure to the 1/16th of an inch.....We would have liked to have been able to put the tool on its side and be confident that the laser line is parallel to the surface the tool is on.
Also, DeWalt gives a nice instruction manual with the Distance Measurer, but for some reason, they've made it the size of their other manuals, which is about five times the size of the carrying case for the tool. This kind of items deserves a quick reference guide. There's plenty of room in the case and we wished they would have enclosed one.
But these complaints aren't that big of a deal and so they shouldn't get in your way of considering this tool. Like we said, there were a number of job site situations where the DW030P was a real time saver. We also just bought a house and found it to be helpful in that process as well. Would the table fit in this room? click...click...nope. Is the real estate agent lying about the square footage of the finished basement? click...click...yup. Also this tool would be very useful to a niche market like realtors or interior designers. No more slinging a tape measure over someone's furniture in order to get the dimensions of a room.
So all in all, we grew to appreciate the DW030 and what it did for us. We just first had to get over the fact that it isn't trying to replace the tape measure.
$130 at ToolUp and FAO
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.
August 28, 2009
Personalized Stanley FatMax 25' Tape Measure
Since everyone at the job site seems to have the 25' Stanley FatMax Tape Measure, it's not shocking that we somehow always end up with someone else's at the end of each day. We just saw that Stanley offering to personalize one for you so this sort of thing doesn't happen. The personalized tape costs about $32, which puts it at about $12 more than the one that we get at the local hardware store every six months, which is a pretty steep increase. In addition, the name looks like it's on the sticker part of the tape, which is exactly the part that we've usually destroyed by the end of the first week. Lately, we've had luck 'personalizing' our tape with a can of neon marking paint.
At Finlay Direct
August 10, 2009
Black & Decker EM100B Power Monitor
The Black & Decker Power Monitor allows you to observe your home's electricity consumption in real time. To set it up, you just have to clamp a little sensor on to your electricity meter and do a quick calibration at the monitor and off you go.
The monitor keeps an ongoing projection of your monthly bill which means it actually tells you your usage in a dollar amount. There's also a feature that tells you the power consumption of individual appliances. According the Black & Decker, use of the Power Monitor can result in habit changes which can knock as much as 20% off your electricity bill.
Although we see the benefits of this device, we're pretty sure that it would drive us crazy in no time. By the end of the first month we would start assigning cost amounts to every household task that uses electricity. "Well, if I don't toast my bagel this morning, I'll be 12 cents ahead of my projected electricity bill." "Honey, do you really need to blow-dry your hair this morning, if you don't, we could save 19 cents?" "Maybe if we turned the TV off during commercials, we could save 6 dollars this year." There are some things we're better off not knowing.
We checked the Amazon reviews and although most are very positive, there is some incompatibility with certain types of electrical meters. Amazon has a chart of which ones are compatible and which aren't.
The Power Monitor costs about $100, which, if what they say is true, it's money that could be made back in no time.
At Amazon
August 3, 2009
Ryobi TEK4
It looks like Ryobi has a new 4-volt battery on the market and a number of interesting tools to go with it. Rather than looking at the 4-volt battery system as a smaller version of the 18 and 12-volts, they're looking from the bottom up, treating it as more of a pumped up AA battery. This thinking results in some unique tools that have uses beyond home improvement.
A handful of these new tools are measuring devices, an area that both Bosch and Milwaukee have recently moved into as well. With their new system, Ryobi has an infrared thermometer, a distance measure, and a multimeter. They also have a plumb/cross laser lever, a LED flashlight, and a portable power source, which is similar to the Milwaukee 12-volt Power Port that we're big fans of.
In the 'things we've never seen before' category, Ryobi is offering a 4-volt camera, noise suppression headphones, a motion sensor with an alarm, and a digitally keyed lock.
It's all very interesting and with Ryobi's placement at the giant orange store, this is likely to be a winner of a line. Hopefully, Ryobi's ability to serve up a quality tool at a great price will avoid these items from becoming VPX'd.
More information on Tek4 at Ryobi
TEK4 Tools at Home Depot
July 17, 2009
Modified Square
If this one doesn't provoke the, "um...what the hell is that?" response, we don't know what will. This freaky measuring and marking tool is called The Modified Square and it looks like a traditional framing square that's been caught between dimensions. Once we got over the bizarre look of it and did a little research, it does seem like it could be a handy item for a carpenter.
The Modified Square website lists a large number of things that the tool can do, including; the "[ability] to square pipe and structural steel in wet dock. Due to the inability to use a level on water, provides pipefitters squaring in two moves." We have no idea what exactly this means, but we can understand, "great for notching out 2x4s and trusses, stair stringers, framing, layout of double corners."
The Modified Square costs about $25. For more information, check out the website.
At Modified Square
June 15, 2009
New Tools From Milwaukee
Last week we were lucky enough to go out to the Milwaukee Tools HQ to get a glimpse at some of the new releases they've got all geared up for this year. As one of our favorite tool companies, they didn't disappoint with the sheer variety and usefulness of their new tools and accessories.
A few of the highlights of what we saw were...
18-Volt Cordless Bandsaw - They're still putting the finishing touches on this one, but were nice enough to let us try it out and, honestly, it's the kind of tool that makes us wish we had taken up plumbing instead of carpentry. It's got a whole lot of power but it's light enough to easily work with both above your head and in tight spaces. Having an awareness of how people will be using it, Milwaukee has made the shoe retractable, so the tool is able to cut a pipe that's already attached to a wall. It's one of those tools that makes your chest swell a bit when you hold it. There will also be a corded version available and both will be hitting the market probably in October.
Shockwave Driver Bits - This is one of those ideas that, once you hear it, you wonder why it took so long for someone to think it up. Driver bits built specifically for impact drivers. Anyone who spends time on a job site these days (like we do), knows that impact drivers are taking over. That said, they really do a number on driver bits so Milwaukee has tailored this new line to withstand the abuse. In addition to other features, the new bits have a slight degree of flexibility in order to handle the added intensity of the impact driver.
Cordless Tubing Cutter - Much like their copper pipe cutter from last year, this one is a real niche tool. We tried it out and it had no problem slicing up pex and pvc. It has a great feel and possibly the power to do a little topiary sculpting as well.
Testing and Measurement Tools - This is a new area for Milwaukee, but judging from what we saw, they're going to quickly establish themselves in the market. Of the tools, the most interesting is the Sub-Scanner which is sort of like an amped up, battle-crazed stud finder. It can be used to find studs and pipes in walls and ceilings, as well as rebar in concrete. The cool thing about it is that it lets you know the exact depth of what it is you're finding, so if you only have one option for placing that pipe hanger, you'll know that only a 2" screw will work because of the rebar that's hidden in the wall.
Those are just some of the highlights and by no means a complete overview of what we saw. Milwaukee is also rolling out some nice 12-volt LED flashlights, a 12-volt power port, a very cool looking mini-radio, oh and about a thousand new grinders.
Follow the action over at Milwaukee Tools.
Milwaukee tools at Amazon
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)
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Megapro 13-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver - Review
