International Woodworker's Fair Coverage at Woodworker's Journal

We just discovered that Chris Marshall from Woodworker's Journal was at the IWF this year and he brought a video camera. Jay from CopTool picked out the non-uber-woodworkery videos and posted them up, with some commentary, here. If you're interested in the full compliment of videos in all of their clamping, dovetailing, and biscuit joining glory, you should head directly over to Woodworker's Journal IWF page. Here's a video on the Porter-Cable pocket hole system (discussed here) that should whet the appetite...

By the way, we've spent some time hanging out with Chris Marshall and not only is he a great writer and extremely knowledgeable, but he's a really great guy as well. It's worth following him over at WJ.

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Vote for the Ugliest Room

A couple weeks ago, we told you about the Sears Ugliest Room Contest. Well, the top ten finalists have been chosen and they're ready for your votes.

We looked them over and the photo you see is the one we voted for. A lot of the others just need a paint job and a little redecorating. No big deal on those. One guy even says that his room is ugly in part because the carpet is gone but the tack strips are still there. Um...hello...take a pry bar and pry them up. It takes about 3 minutes and your laziness immediately excludes you from the $3,500 makeover prize.

But the one we like is just straight-up ugly. And It's the kind of outdated ugly that you need a little money to fix. It's also the kitchen, which makes things ten times worse. An ugly bathroom can be ignored for at least a few years (we should know), but an ugly kitchen makes you feel like a loser. Imagine waking up on a Saturday morning, slightly hung over and you've got to go make coffee in this kitchen. Brutal. This species of ugly can only be ripped out and replaced, Mike Holmes style.

Vote for your favorite, or rather, least favorite here.

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Um...yeah...maybe you didn't hear us...*ahem*...Win a Free Siding Gun from Tool Snob

Maybe it's the end of summer and you're all running around getting pencils and Trapper Keepers for the kids, or maybe you're on that final week of vacation time, but either way, a lot of you seemed to have missed the whole thing about us giving away a Duo-Fast Siding Gun.

So far, one week in, we've gotten a staggering five (5) entries. Now, we've got our analytics program and know for sure that a little more than five people visit the site on a daily basis, so we'd like you to stop for a second and think about that Christmas feeling that you'd get if a box with a free siding gun showed up at your doorstep.

OK, now why don't you revisit our post which describes how to enter the contest. It's easy and it's here.

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Win a Duo-Fast DF225C Coil Siding Nailer from Tool Snob!

The nice folks at Duo-Fast are supplying us with one of their new coil siding nailers to give away to a lucky reader. The new gun is lightweight (lighter, as far as we can tell, than any other pro-grade siding nailer on the market) and takes plastic-collated nails to reduce the nasty, rusty staining that can happen with metal-collated nails. It's got a street value of about $370.

We've had one for a while now and have been testing it out for an upcoming review (hopefully to be posted before the contest is over) and so far, it's been a champ.

So to enter, leave a comment at this post telling us two reasons why you should be the one to get the nailer. We'll choose the winner based on who we think is most deserving, or who makes us laugh, or who, at that moment, we think is the most sincere. It's a crapshoot, really, what exactly we're looking for, but we'll know when we find it, so just be yourself. We'll do the drawing on Tuesday, September 7th, the day after Labor Day.

More information on the tool is at Duo-Fast and the press release on the gun is after the jump. If you don't have the patience to wait for the contest to end, but you want one of these nailers oh so bad, you can pick one up at Amazon.

Continue reading: "Win a Duo-Fast DF225C Coil Siding Nailer from Tool Snob!"

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Scotch 'How Tough is your Tape?" Contest

We've always been of the opinion that 98% of our problems can be solved with Duct Tape and/or a length of bailing twine. Scotch, the makers of Tough Duct Tape seem to think that there are a lot of you out there with that same old Yankee mentality. And right now, the further down the duct tape rabbit hole you are, the greater the chance of you winning the grand prize in their "How Tough is your Tape?" contest.

Scotch is looking for pictures of all of the insane ways you use their duct tape, from holding together the tractor engine block to supporting the half-broken tree limb that hangs over your house.

The grand prize winner will get a trip for two to Vegas to hob-nob with some NASCAR folks. There are also some cash prizes for the silver and bronze medalists.

If you're looking for contest inspiration, go here.

More information here.

Scotch Tough Tape at Amazon

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Sears Ugliest Room Contest

Do you have plaid furniture on a plaid rug (with plaid wallpaper)? Do you think that fuchsia and fever dream green are a great color combo? If so, and if you have no problem announcing to the world that the local Sunoco station has better decor than your house, Sears has just launched their Ugliest Room Contest.

All you have to do to enter is submit a photo and grovel for 100 words. Sears will then choose the top ten which they'll post up for open voting. If your domicile of disgusting is one of the three chosen grand prize winners you'll be the recipient of a room makeover (paint, supplies, labor, color consultation, a $500 gift card, and a $1000 community donation).

...if only they could have seen our freshman year dorm room..

More info at Sears

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Owens Corning "That's My Roof!" Contest

Owens Corning is running an interesting contest promoting their Duration Series Designer Colors Collection shingles. Not surprisingly, the shingles come in a variety of colors (listed here with more information).

To enter the contest you need to have pictures of your home before and after your Duration shingles went on (yes, you need to re-roof your house in order to enter). Once submitted, your photos are posted on the site where they are voted on and finally a panel of judges determines the winners (the votes play a role but are only one aspect of judging).

A monthly winner will be chosen who will be the recipient of a $500 check and when it's all done, a grand prize winner will be announced who will be reimbursed for the cost of their roof.

To enter, get more information, or just browse some of the entries go to thatsmyroof.com

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Last Call on Free Bosch Lasers

Today is the final day to get your entry in on the big-mega-uber-larger-than-life Bosch laser giveaway.

Tomorrow, at the crack of dawn, we're going to notify our winners via email and request mailing addresses, so keep an eye on the inbox. Also tomorrow, we're going to pick the random winner out of the names left over.

To check out the rules and to find out how to enter, go here.

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We're Still Taking Entries for the Bosch Laser Level Contest

You've got until next Monday, a week from today, to get your entries in. Details on the contest here.

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Win a Bosch GLL2-80 Dual Plane Laser Level from Tool Snob

If you keep up to date on all things Tool Snob, you're aware that we're big fans of the Bosch GLL2-80 Dual Plane Laser Level. We dig the fact that it combines a massive amount of functionality in such a small package. Because of this, it's become our primary on-site level (our review is here).

But Bosch isn't satisfied with just having our feedback, they want yours as well. So they're going to send the GLL2-80 laser to 10 Toolsnob.com readers to use for one month. In return, all you have to do is send us photos and/or video clips and a brief write-up of your experiences with the tool to share with Bosch (and we'll post it up here on Tool Snob). Here's the cool part; if you're into the tool and want to keep it after the test, it's all yours...and that's a $320 value!

So how it works is this:

1. You convince us that you should be one of the 10 reviewers.
2. Bosch sends you a level.
3. You use and abuse it.
4. You email us your thoughts (with some pics and maybe even a video).
5. Your review gets posted up on Tool Snob.
6. DIY Network gives you a TV show because they're so impressed with your tool reviewing skills.*
7. If you like the GLL2-80, you get to keep it.

To get your name in the hat, email us at newstips(at)toolsnob.com and tell us a bit about yourself, your level of experience, the types of projects you do, and why you should be considered. Please title your email, "Bosch Giveaway" so it's easy for us to sort through the entries. Be as concise as possible, 100 words should do you fine.

Because of the nature of the tool, we want to hear from contractors and serious DIYers. Basically, the kind of people who are going to be able to fully evaluate this tool, appreciate its high points and put it through its paces. If you're a DIYer, feel free to send us a photo of your gutted living room to show you're legit.

We'll be taking entries for about two weeks and we'll choose our 10 testers on July 20th. The units will be sent out soon after that.

If you're not chosen, don't sweat it because Bosch is giving us an additional laser to just plain old give away. We'll do that at random from the names that are left once the ten testers are chosen.

So good luck and get your entries in.

* step six is purely a hypothetical pipe dream, but you never know....

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Big Tool Sale at Sears

This Sunday, June 13th, Sears is having a big Father's Day/Summer kick-off sale which looks like it includes 10% off just about everything (on top of other great deals). Not only is this sale going on in their brick and mortar stores, but online as well. There is more information here. At the link you can also....

1) Enter your zip code to get a flier of the deals that will be happening at your local Sears store.

2) Get a chance to win $1000 in Sears gift cards. To enter, it looks like you only need to tell some friends about the event.

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DeWalt ToughCase Winners

We realized yesterday that we never announced our ToughCase winners. Well, we did our pickin' and this is what we got. The winners are as follows.

Laurie: I want a DeWalt Tough Case so I can give it to my husband for Father's Day (June 20) and his birthday (June 10). Our son is graduating from high school, and will be going to college in August. My husband and I promised each other that, in order to save money, we wouldn't buy each other any gifts. Well, come on! It's Father's Day AND his birthday!! How can I leave him empty handed?! Plus the Tough Case sounds like a really good idea because my hubby loses everything, and I am sick and tired of him asking me where his lag bolts, drill bits, screws, bolts, etc have gone. I'm sure whatever it is he is looking for his somewhere in the abyss known as "the garage", but until my adorable husband realizes that I think it'd be great to lend him a bit of a hand by giving him a Tough Case.

Bill: I want a DeWalt ToughCase because my 3 1/2 year old son saw it and told me "You need that daddy. It has magnets that are really strong and I can help you work... Yeah yeah that sounds really good. But daddy you have to keep away from the tv cause the magnets will hurt the tv and mommy will get mad... And watch out for the cabinet cause it is metal and the magnets will suck you in and you'll go BANG and then you'll be stuck! Yeah... Can we get one?..." I replied " we shall see...". And I got back... "Well can I have one then? I promise I'll be good (suck up smile)"

Lyndon: I want a DeWalt ToughCase because it will help me save my marriage. My wife leaves items like barrettes, bows, combs, brushes and other girly items in my truck. My friends and coworkers see these items and give me a really hard time about my "secret" life. The Dewalt ToughCase will give me a hiding place for these items. I can quickly place the items in the ToughCase and then stash it behind the seat attached to the back of the truck cab with the heavy duty magnets. If I don't get the ToughCase it's my wife or my friends. I really don't want to lose my wife. Help save my marriage please!!!!

Lucas: I want a DeWalt Toughcase because I am an idiot and didn't get my wife anything for mother's day. I believe that a Toughcase will be a wonderful jewelry box for her and when she doesn't like it and throws it out, I will gladly use it. Thanks for you consideration.

Mike: I want a DeWalt ToughCase because I once went to prison for beating a mime to death with my nail bag. The nails flew everywhere and it took the cops and I an hour to pick them all up. They were nice about it and even said they wouldn't have arrested me at all if I hadn't done it in the middle of a street fair. It was just a mime, after all. The DeWalt ToughCase would have not only made my job easier, it would have also saved our devoted law enforcement officers some tedious labor.

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Sears Dad's Making a Difference / Unsung Heroes Contest

If you've ever wanted your name to be on the banner that hangs across Main St., this could be your best chance. During the month of June, Sears will be taking entries in their Dad's Making a Difference Contest with the grand prize winner walking away with $30,000 in materials and labor for a community project as well as $3000 in Craftsman tools. If you win this one, you'll definitely be asked to sit on the fire truck at the next 4th of July Parade. There will also be ten other winners of just the $3000 in tools.

To enter you need to submit a short essay (250 words) and a photo. According to Craftsman,

Nominations should focus on how the deserving dad uses his tools and talents for the benefit of a project in his hometown. Entries will be accepted from June 1 through June 30. From July 14-30, Americans can cast their votes for which deserving dad will receive a visit from the Blue Tool Crew with the tools and resources to bring their projects to life like never before.

There's more information and the complete rules at searsunsungheroes.com .

We've also posted up the press release after the jump. There's some good information there as well.

Continue reading: "Sears Dad's Making a Difference / Unsung Heroes Contest"

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10% Off Father's Day Gift Set at Channellock

If you've been paying attention, last week we ran a contest giving away a nice set of Channellocks. We picked a winner (some dude named Jeff), so if you're one of the millions of people who didn't win, all is not lost! Channellock has been cool enough to pass on a coupon code for 10% off the prize gift set. The code is CP3Q1. Just enter that at check-out (at the Channellock Website), and you should be all set. More information on the set is here.

Again, the coupon code is CP3Q1 and it's valid at the Channellocks website until Father's Day.

A big thanks to Channellock for helping out with the giveaway and for supplying you, our readers, with the coupon.

Check out the gift set here.

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