July 13, 2011
Porter-Cable is now in the oscillating tool game and honestly it's a tool that wouldn't have interested us a whole lot except that it has a funky quick change feature that looks to solve one of the key hassles with oscillating tool, the blade change-out. PC sent us one to check out and we've been absolutely pounding on this thing at work, trying our best to break its spirit. Here's how it did...
Continue reading: "Porter-Cable Oscillating Tool - Review"
Read More in: All Reviews | Oscillating Tools
July 11, 2011
CNC Machines live in that mysterious world of the professional metal shop. You've got to be a pretty intense dude to have one of these things in your garage. What they are is automatic cutting systems that work through a computer program. Draw something in a CAD program, load it over to the CNC machine and it carves or cuts out the shape. These things are usually massive and some of them are even encased in a large chamber with a constant oil spray to lube up the cut.
So anyway, Torchmate, a well-respected name in the CNC world has recently released a smaller version of their popular machine. This new one, the 2x2 has a much smaller bed and is intended to be a user-friendly version of their larger machines, one that will hopefully appeal to the average Joe hobbyist. They were nice enough to send us one to play around with for a while and we happily agreed.
Continue reading: "Torchmate 2x2 CNC Prototyping Machine - Review"
Read More in: All Reviews | Power Tools | Router Tables | Routers
July 7, 2011
Small paint sprayers definitely have their place (particularly picket fences and railing systems), but they do have technological drawbacks; one of the biggest being the inability to point one up or down.
Looks like Wagner has thought this problem through and the result in their EZ Tilt sprayer. Basically the straw that sits in the paint (and moves it through the sprayer) is flexible enough to follow gravity as the sprayer is moved around, meaning you can now spray up and down and not worry about the spray putterring out.
There are three models available, each with more features. The smallest of the these is going to cost about $100 and is at Home Depot.
We reviewed some other small Wagner sprayers here if you're interested.
More information at wagnereztilt.com
Read More in: Painting
July 6, 2011
Paslode is celebrating 25 years of cordless with a new Facebook promotion. All you have to do is go to the Paslode Facebook page and click on the "25y in cordless" listing - found in the left hand column - and it will take you to the Celebration Page, there it asks when did you first start using a Paslode cordless nailer; you click on the year, it pounds in a nail. Everyone who tells Paslode when will get a T-shirt or a Hat and a chance to win a Paslode nailer.
The Paslode Facebook page is here.
...pretty cool...
Paslode gear at Amazon
Read More in: Promotions
July 5, 2011
Here ye go...
We just looked at this and realized that we reviewed a whole ton of stuff this month. It's almost impossible to pick out a single one that we liked above the others, but if we had to (and, honestly, we have to), we'd go with the Blaklader work pants (review here). They bring work pants to a whole new level. We'd recommend them to anyone.
A lot more coming this month...
Air Tools
All Reviews
Benches, Stands, and Storage
Clothing
Distractions
Glues and Adhesives
Hand Tools
Lawn/Garden
Levels
Measuring & Marking
Monthly Roundup
Power Tools
Promotions
Routers
Read More in: Monthly Roundup
July 1, 2011
We're on the verge of renaming the site LevelSnob.com, given the sheer amount of levels we've covered in the past few months (and will be covering in the next few). The latest is Bostitch's Box Beam Clamping Level, which allows you to clamp the tool along a piece of wood, sort of like a magnetized level and a metal stud. Bostitch sent us a sample a couple months ago to check out and we've used it at home and on the site enough to draw some conclusions. Those conclusions are....(ahem)...
Continue reading: "Bostitch Box Beam Clamping Level - Review"
Read More in: All Reviews | Levels
June 29, 2011
In our recent post on The Perfect Bungee, we noted our total devotion to the ratchet strap. There just isn't a better, more secure way to tie down your stuff. We've held down some pretty substantial lumber runs with a single ratchet strap.
The one drawback to the ratchet strap is storage. For a while we tossed them in a tupperware container under the front seat, but it always turned into a spaghetti mess and when we needed a strap, we always had to spend ten minutes trying to free the appropriate pieces. Then, we devised a way to fold and tie up each piece after use, but it takes some effort and most of the time it's not effort we're interested in. So here comes the Strap Sack...
Continue reading: "Strap Sack - Review"
Read More in: All Reviews | Benches, Stands, and Storage
June 27, 2011
Well this is kind of an oddball. We've never seen a level quite like it. It's the Checkpoint U6 and it's a U shaped item, about the size of a nice skipping stone that is capable of taking level readings on six different angles; 0, 90, 45, 22.5, 30, and 60. It has a v-groove all around it, as well as a series of magnets, so it's perfect for steel pipes and conduit.
It's one of those tools that exudes the aroma of quality. Maybe it's the solid weight, maybe it's the look of precision machining, we're not sure, but whatever it is, just holding the tool justifies its $35 price tag.
It's a cool little item, but we don't have a whole lot more to say about it than that. Works as advertised...high quality...compact...there you go.
It's probably not a tool for everyone, the general carpenter probably won't have much use for it, but if you do a lot of work with pipes and want a pocket-sized reference, this is the way to go.
Available in a variety of colors at Amazon
Read More in: All Reviews | Levels
June 24, 2011
Stabila, one of the leading names in high-quality, high-durability high-price levels has recently released an itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini level. This one is really small, as in keychain small.
It's about $20 which might seem like a lot for something the size of a Matchbox, but when you take into account Stabila's stellar reputation (which we wholeheartedly vouch for), it makes sense. This level may be small, but it will last a lifetime and unless you're really careless with it, it'll probably stay accurate. Go here for a look at how the innards of a Stabila measure up to the competition. More info on the micro level at Stabila.
At Amazon.com
Read More in: Levels
June 23, 2011
Pretty crazy, but it's true. For Festool's June sweepstakes, they're giving away the combo that, for us at least, put them on the map. It's a big ticket giveaway too, the retail on these two fellas is over a grand. Entering is easy.
If you're thinking of not entering, just think...someone has to win...
All the info on the tools and how to enter is here.
CT 26 Dust Extractor at Amazon
TS 55 Track Saw at Amazon
Read More in: Promotions
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