Tool Snob

Gojo Hand Medic - Review

2013-05-15T10:43:00Z

For the most part my hands look like they belong on someone who is 150 years old. They're usually scratched, cracking, freakishly dry and the cuticles are nothing more than shredded scraps of dead skin. Moisturizing isn't really in my daily program, so my hands tend to stay in disaster format. I'm also in the process of tiling 500 square feet of finished basement, so with all the thinset and water, things have even gotten worse. My hands look almost mummified. A couple weeks ago, Gojo sent us some of their Hand Medic to try out and we tasked it against our nearly destroyed hands. Here's what we thought.

Off and on we've used skin care products in the past. Our go-to is Bag Balm because we're into the sheepy smell and the old-fashioned naturalness of it all. The drawback is that it leaves a pretty oily finish on our hands so if I put it on and pet the cat, all of a sudden it looks like I'm turning into a werewolf. I've also tried Eucerin, which is heavy-duty, but also oily. Other products have come and gone with varying degrees of success.

So here come Hand Medic. Gojo's product has the consistency of loose yogurt and spreads on the hands very easily. Maybe it's a comment on how dry my hands are, but it absorbs quickly. Best of all, it doesn't leave any gooey film on the hands. The directions say to apply it 3-4 times a day. There's no way I'm going to do that just because I can't handle anything with that kind of regularity. When it comes to this kind of thing, I usually only use it when I need it. Still, Hand Medic delivered some good results. After a hard night of tiling, I woke up with lizard hands and after two applications of Hand Medic, I won't say they were like newborn hands, but they were in much better condition. At least good enough that I didn't feel awkward shaking someone's hand.

Another thing that I liked about Hand Medic is the 'dude-ness' of it. The packaging isn't all, "you're hands will feel years younger!" or "For the softest hands around!" It's just simple black and white and it's not going to look silly kicking around the cab of my truck. It sort of has the general aesthetic of the Swiss Army Company. Basic and effective. It is also nearly odorless. There's a very slight medicinal smell when you're putting it on, but other than that, nothing. Big improvement over the 'lavender, tropical peach' stuff WOTS (Wife of Tool Snob) is always trying to sell me on.

So I'm a fan and I'd recommend this to anyone with scratchy, parchment paper hands.

At Amazon

Wagner Smart Power Roller System - Review

2013-05-14T11:13:00Z

If you've ever been to this site before, you know my thoughts on the act of painting. I truly loathe it. Of all the different things I've done in the construction world, it's by far the worst. I'd rather put on a roof in the middle of August than paint a single ceiling. The only way I can really deal with painting is if I paint angry. I put on Funhouse and Raw Power and turn the volume way up. If I didn't do that to get all fired up, I'd pass out from the drudgery and boredom of it all.

So months and months ago, Wagner contacted us and asked if we wanted to check out their Smart Roller System. Since my recently gutted house hardly had any paint on the walls and with the addition was coming along nicely, I said "yes, I have the perfect testing ground." So they sent it. But then I ended up changing my work schedule all around and the roller system sat in a box by my desk for a seriously long time (sorry Wagner and thanks for the patience). But things finally progressed to the point of painting, so last weekend, I spent about 15 hours with the Roller Max in my hand and, oh boy, it's a doozie.

The concept is simple, it's a little pump system that delivers paint directly to the roller. It comes with a base unit that secures the paint can while a little tube sucks the paint out and up the hose where it leaks out the into the roller. The rate of flow can be adjusted between 1 and 9. There is also a splatter guard and a smaller roller that can be used for edging and tricky little spots like in between ganged up windows.

When I first heard about the the tool I thought that it sounded kinda gimmicky and a little too good to be true. My experience with it contradicted both those thoughts; it's not a gimmick and sometimes good things are true. This thing is great (but not perfect) and in certain situations it can save you bundles of time and leave you with a very nice finished product.

So normally when I roll out a ceiling, it's a freaking disaster. The snow blindness of the white on white makes me lose my mind and I work each roller-ful of paint until the thing is screaming for mercy from me pressing it against the ceiling so hard. I don't like stopping to re-fuel the roller because I lose my place in the ceiling. The Wagner roller changes all of this. Now, you can be painting as long as you can keep your arms over your head. I absolutely flew through the work with the Wagner in my hands. And I never lost my place or had to adjust my eyes back up to the ceiling.

It's also great because you can constantly tweak the flow of paint. If the consistency is getting a little low, just tap the button to juice up the roller and away you go. This allowed me to always have the coverage that I wanted. Too much paint...roll it around some more. Too little paint...hit the button. Simple enough so that even I could handle it.

It's also really easy to tote around the jobsite. The base unit has a little handle that doubles as a roller stand when it's time to go and take a break. The handle, combined with the long hose, were enough to get me around with no problems. The hose could be a little more flexible. A few times it ended up twisting around like an old phone cord, but after a few seconds of untangling, it was fine again.

The edging roller comes with a cap on one side that has three small brushes, presumably to clean up the edge as you roll. I didn't have too much success with this piece and opted to flip the cap piece down and just roll the edges at a slight angle. I was doing ceilings first, so I didn't really care if some paint got on the walls. I don't think I'd use this feature if I was trying to be really precise because it didn't seem to get the paint close enough to the edge.

Because the paint is pumped up through the handle, the unit is not compatible with a standard roller extension (i.e. a broom handle). It comes with an 18-inch extension which is good for low ceilings, but a bit of a pain for taller ones. I could comfortably handle the low finished basement at 7-feet, but was straining with the addition ceilings at 9-feet.

The clean-up process also needs to be addressed. It ain't quick, that's for sure. First, you need to purge the system of paint and then you need to clean the individual parts. Because it has a perforated core to allow the paint to soak through, the roller head is part of the system and needs to be cleaned after each use (unless you're doing the same color the next day and you just wrap it in Saran wrap). Have you ever tried to clean a roller head? It's like the little item can somehow hold 1/2-gallon of paint. I ended up taking everything out and working it all over with a garden hose. Even then, it took a while until everything was clean. I can't imagine using an oil paint in this thing and having to deal with thinner for the clean-up.

I also want to note that while in use, the Wagner is a really clean system. I didn't use the splatter guard, because there wasn't anything in the way of splatter. There were also no drips to deal with. The paint that is splattered on the base unit in the pictures is because I was using the tool with a 5-gallon bucket of primer and just had it propped up over the bucket with the hose in the mixing hole and it kept falling off and splattering paint everywhere. I should have just gotten an empty gallon paint can and dumped the primer in there in order to properly use the Wagner system, so that one's my problem, not theirs.

But any complaints aside, this is a great tool and one that will save you tons of time and lessen the emotional strain of painting. If you're just going to do a small room, it's probably not worth it, but if you've got a lot to do, it really makes sense. It's a cool system and I've never been so happy while painting (even though I still did listen to Funhouse and Raw Power).

At Home Depot

...and if you have a large painting project...
Funhouse at Amazon
Raw Power at Amazon

GearWrench Giveaway

2013-05-13T02:36:34Z

OK, so we're going to hold open the GearWrench contest until Friday (info on how to enter here). On Saturday we'll pick our winners, so if you entered, check your email by early next week. What usually happens is that there are a few people who we contact but never hear back from and sorting the whole mess out and choosing alternate winners holds things up for everyone else.

We also want to thank GearWrench for suggesting the contest and supplying the goods. It's very cool and all of you winners won't be disappointed with the quality of the ratchet.

Also, if you don't win (and even if you do), we're going to have another contest next week, so keep an eye out.

Noden Adjust-A-Bench

2013-05-08T11:31:00Z

My old pal JW (aka producerboy), just sent me an email proudly announcing that he was waiting for his Noden Adjust-A-Bench to arrive in the mail. "What the hell's an Adjust-A-Bench," I thought. A few clicks later, I was staring at a very cool piece of equipment.

The Adjust-A-Bench is a work table with telescoping legs that allow it to be set at a variety of heights. Actually, they're not really legs, but rather two nested frames made of 1/8-inch thick powder-coated steel. To adjust the table top, just grab a side and raise it up, then do the same with the other side. You can also set the sides to different heights if you want. Here's a video with some details and explanation:

This all means you can set the table height depending on what you're doing. If you're assembling a large cabinet, set it down low. If you're routing something, set it up higher. You can also set it to the height of your table saw and use it as an outfeed support. Or maybe you're just really tall like I am (6'5") and am sick of living in a short person's world and like to set your table up high.

You can purchase an entire table with a maple top, or just the legs if you already have a work surface that you like. The legs are around $430 and the whole package is going to set you back a grand. For the amount that someone would use this, it seems like a good price. It's also been vetted with great reviews in all of the woodworking magazines.

At Adjustabench.com

Racor PHL-1R Ceiling Storage Lift

2013-05-07T11:08:00Z

Last week we reviewed the Overhead Crate Storage System which we think is pretty cool. It utilizes the space in between the joist bays of your garage or basement and fills them with easy to access storage containers. Now we want to call your attention to a different larger method for stowing stuff up high: the Racor Ceiling Storage Lift.

This one is a lot bigger than the Overhead Crate and takes a much higher ceiling to use. It's basically a platform on a lift system that can be raised and lowered at your convenience. The 4x4 platform can hold 250-pounds. In other words it can hold all of your Christmas decorations, all of your Halloween decorations, your kid's artwork that you refuse to get rid of, and the canoe that you never use.

The lift is operated by a hand crank or it can be operated by a drill. The max on the raise/lower is 8-feet.

The lift is priced at around $150. Seems like a fair price to us.

At Amazon

HomeHacks.com and HomeFail.com

2013-05-03T12:07:00Z

Our good friend Marc who runs the great site HomeFixated, has just launched two more websites making him, in technical terms, an internet mogul. He sent us info on his new projects and they're definitely going to appeal to anyone who reads our little tool blog on a regular basis.

The new sites from Marc are:

www.HomeHacks.com

Features clever tips and tricks that will help you: be a better chef, make things spotless with ingenious cleaning tricks, turn you into the life of the party with clever tricks, repurpose household items, and enhance your sex life (no guarantees on the last one). You can also expect more construction/tool/woodworking hacks to appear there in the coming months.

www.HomeFail.com

The tagline for the site is "Where DIY meets WTF" (oh yes I did!), but really this site is showcasing the world's worst craftsmanship and the worst judgment when it comes to construction and home "improvement". If you don't laugh (hysterically) at some of these pics and videos, you are a made of stone!

Personally, our tastes run closer to HomeFail than HomeHacks, but that's just us. Our entire house is a HomeFail, so maybe that has something to do with it. But go and check out the sites, they're cool.

Hilarious/Terrifying Things We See In Our House: Part Eleven

2013-05-02T11:40:00Z

It's pretty sad when you can mine your house for gags as much as I've been able to.

This time it's the siding.

This may be one of the worst siding jobs ever done by human hands. Sure, it's mostly straight and the courses are kinda parallel, but look at the seams between the shingles. Look at how many of them line up with the course above or below them...it's almost like someone wanted to get water into the building envelope. There is one side of the house that I didn't photograph where a single seam runs down eleven consecutive courses.

I had a siding guy over to price out re-doing everything and he looked at the house and actually started laughing.

Oh and what's up with that cap flashing on the lower window in the first picture? And those ugly shutters...as soon as I strip this side of the house, they're going right in the dumpster.

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hammer Drill/Driver - Review

2013-05-01T11:48:00Z

We've been holding on to this review for a while. We've had the new Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hammer Drill/Driver for months and months and we kept thinking we'd find its breaking point, but no such luck. We've tried hard to bust it up, wear it down, and simply burn it out. But we can't, it's a champ. A real heavyweight. Maybe the most powerful 18 volt drill we've used. There is no stopping it.

To form the guts of the tool, Milwaukee has combined the sauce of their new PowerState Brushless Motor, their Red Lithium battery, and something called RedLink Plus (the electronics system that holds it all together). So aside from being good at coming up with funky space-age names for all of their components, Milwaukee has also created a monster of a drill. It's big, it's bulky, and it's powerful.

If you're unfamiliar with brushless drills, I'll direct you to this Popular Mechanics article to get an overview (written by me of all people). If you don't have the energy to click over, here is the Cliff's Notes version: more efficient motor.

When it comes to actually working on site, I don't really care about RedStatePowerLinkLithiumRedRed. I'll just take their word for it. But whatever it is that makes this drill go, it's pretty aggressive. It's got power up the wazoo and like I said, we never found anything to really slow it down. In the course of putting down a sleeper system over a concrete slap, we used the drill to install over 100 3-1/4" tapcons through PT 2x4s. Lugging around the big corded rotary hammer is a drag once you realize you don't have to do it. This also became the go-to drill for mixing thinset and Durabond. It's like it has all of the power of corded drill.

It's big and heavy though. I'm overloaded with drills, so when it came to smaller tasks like installing door hardware or drilling small holes for a cabinet install, I left the Milwaukee in the truck. But when it came time for strength to take a front seat, this was the drill to use.

It's also really durable. I didn't do any specific durability tests, but during it's time in the field, it was knocked, dropped, tipped, and kicked. The accent paint is coming off here and there, the rubber bumpers are a little rubbed down and the body has a few scuffs, but nothing that has come even close to affecting the way the tool performs.

Other than the weight, the only drawback we could find in the tool is that the outside of the chuck has close to zero gripping power. It's made of metal and there are these vague, sorta lines etched into it, but they're barely there. So if you're tightening up on a bit with an un-gloved hand the chuck is going to lock in and there's a high chance that you'll be on the receiving end of a palm burn that you're going to feel for hours.

The tool comes with a cool dual charger that can take Milwaukee's 12-volt batteries as well the the 18s. It's a nice feature and if you haven't gotten into Milwaukee's massive 12-volt catalog, it's time to take a look.

Milwaukee has also decided (finally) to do something about their cases. The Fuel comes in a blow-molded case, but it has more open space than their standard cases which drive us completely bonkers. This time around, the charger cord doesn't have to be set perfectly into the 'cord space' for the case to close. You can toss the items in there and shut the case. Its nice at the end of the day.

So this drill is a freak. It's like Lou Ferigno in drill form, or like Jesse Ventura from Predator (early Jesse, not bizarre political Jesse). We've got a few drills on site and whenever things got ugly, this is the one that the guys would go for.

Because of the brushless technology and the electronics, this is a pricey drill. Amazon has it for about $350. It's a lot to lay down, but if you do make the purchase, you probably be pretty happy with yourself. This thing's a badass and it can take a beating.

At Amazon

GearWrench 120XP Flex Head Ratchet - Giveaway

2013-04-30T11:52:00Z

GearWrench has been nice enough to set aside 10 (ten, diez) of their new 120XP Flex Head Ratchet for us to giveaway here at the site.

They also sent one a couple weeks ago and we're nothing but impressed with the thing. It has an adjustable head with six positions, a 3/8" drive and a nice long handle - 11-1/2" from pivot to tip. The rubberized grip is comfortable and the action on the pivot is nice and firm. The head of the tool has a low profile and the toggle switch is even recessed a little, making this a great tool for tight spaces.

The scene stealer, though, is the ratcheting action. The 120 in the name of the tool comes from the number of 'stops' in one complete revolution. This is done with this double pawl mechanism, so there are actually two locking mechanisms in the head of the tool. If you click it slowly enough, you can hear the difference between clicks. Our pal Stu from ToolGuyd, took one apart and posted up this video of the gears in action:

So yeah, I've got ten of these to giveaway. To get in the mix for the random drawing, just leave a comment at this post explaining:

1. Why you like the looks of this tool.

2. Your most recent DIY disaster. I'm in the middle of a 2 year renovation and need some support group help. There must be others out there like me....

Either question is fine and doesn't affect the outcome. The drawing is completely random.

If you don't like the looks of the 3/8-inch flex head, GearWrench has the following which should be available at fine tool retailers everywhere:

• 1/4" Drive Flex Head Ratchet in full polish or cushion grip

• 3/8" Drive Flex Head Ratchet in full polish, stubby and cushion grip

• 1/2" Drive Flex Head Ratchet in full polish

• Two-piece cushion grip Flex Head Ratchet Set, with a durable foam storage tray

• Four- piece full polish mixed ratchet set, which includes ¼", 3/8", and ½" drive 120XP full polish Flex Head Ratchets and 3/8" drive 120XP full polish stubby Flex Head Ratchet in a durable foam storage tray

Overhead Crate Storage System- Review

2013-04-22T11:33:00Z

So what to do with all of our stuff? It's a constant question here and with the garage being pulled into the big renovation, it's something we've been thinking about a lot. The shop is going to get a major overhaul and storage is the number one concern. We're definitely going to use some of those Racor Snap2It hooks (reviewed here), and there will certainly be shelves for the daily use tools, but what about everything else? If there's something we only use a few times a year, there's no point in it clogging up valuable shelf space. Well, a while back, we were contacted by Overhead Crate and it just so happens that they have the perfect solution.

What they've done is discovered a way to utilize the void in between the ceiling joists of your unfinished basement, or in our case, the garage ceiling. What was once dead space can now be wonderful, blissful, zen-like storage space. It's really simple and one of those, "why didn't I think of that," solutions. The Overhead Crate is a three-part system; the storage box, a pair of dowels, and the two hanger pieces. All you need to do to get going is to attach the hangers to your joists and then run the dowels through the appropriate spot in the crate. From there, you can easily place and remove the crate from the track. When it's up in the joist bays, it's secured and out of the way.

Overhead Crate sent us a sample and once we got it up we really started liking it a lot. We loaded the crate with all of our random sanding gear and popped it up on the hangers. We still have easy access to it, but it's completely out of the way. We even found out that the Overhead Crate forced us to be a little more organized. Things can get a little cluttered around here and if the sanding box is just sitting on a shelf, we're just going to be tossing things in it, whatever. But the crate adds a dimension of, "Ok, now we have to put this thing away, let's take 2.3 seconds and make it right."

So there are three different versions available; collapsible plastic crate, rigid plastic crate (like the kind you put file folders in), and a cardboard box. They are priced from $34 down to $20, depending on the box style. The collapsible crate is nice and solid and can hold heavy items like power tools. The recommended weight limit is around 25 pounds, but that has more to do with getting the crate up and down as opposed to the crate's durability. The system is designed for 16oc, 2x8 or larger framing. The shop ceiling is 2x6 24oc, but if you have a little know-how you can pretty much make anything work. Install took maybe 5 minutes.

It's a fantastic solution because it no only gets stuff out of your way, but it also utilizes a regularly unused space. Take something like the five years of tax returns that you should be holding on to. Are you ever going to need them? Probably not....so shove them up in between the joist bays. Also, if you have a corner of an unfinished basement as your workshop, storage is going to be an issue, so why not put things up in the ceiling.

We have plans on more crates; one for little boxes of screws, one for sharpening gear, one for pneumatic finish nails, the list could go on forever.

If you're the hardcore DIY type, you might look at this thing and think, "hey, I could build that." And you're probably right. But there are a lot of people who either don't want the hassle or don't have the time. This product is perfect for them.

More info and purchasing information at OverheadCrate.com

Old Makita Circ Saws, Good For Everything But Framing And Finish

2013-04-17T23:55:12Z

Everyone should have at least one of these things. I'm lucky enough to have three. These saws have seen it all and as long as I can keep replacing the cords, which seem to get severed a lot, they'll be getting handed down to Tool Snob Jr. in about 20 years. They are long since past the days of being used as a normal jobsite saw and are now well into their second careers as 'special forces.' The footplates are a little bent up and the bevel on one of them is immovable. I keep one outfitted with a masonry blade, and two with wood blades, but it's hardly wood that they're cutting, more like multi-layer asphalt roofs and concrete-coated form work. I don't care what happens to them and they don't seem to care what I do to them. It's a relationship that works.

I don't use them all the time, but when I need them, they're golden. It wasn't too long ago that I had to trench my basement slab out for some plumbing and the Makita was there to do the work. Who wants to use their nice woodworking saw for that kind of abuse? But that's the life that these saws live. They fill in the cracks and because they're the ones that take the hits on the dirty work, they keep my other saws nice, clean, and sharp.

The big one on the right, that's the roof cutter. If that saw was a person, it would be Leonard Smalls from Raising Arizona. I have no idea on the quality of current day Makitas, but these older ones are real monsters.

Makita Circ Saws at Amazon

RoboReel - Review

2013-03-10T15:09:00Z

Who knew we'd ever refer to an extension cord as intelligent? But oddly enough, that's the best way to describe the RoboReel. Even calling it an extension cord is a gross over simplification, it's more of a one-stop power system for your shop. Great Stuff, the makers of the Reel sent us one to check out a while back and we've had it in the mix for the renovation as well as general shop use. It's easily the most feature-riddled power cord we've ever put eyes on.

After a few days of testing, we abandoned the RoboReel name for the (we feel) more appropriate, "Orb of Power." As cyber-future as "RoboReel" is, we didn't think it captured the full Sauron-clutching, epic scope of the item. At the most basic, the RoboReel is a 50' 12 gauge cord with a self-winding feature. The body of the unit - where the coiled cord is stored - looks like a Pixar robot and can swivel in a complete circle with no damage to the cord. This means you can hold the cord and run wildly in circles around the unit and it will easily move around with you. This feature is particularly useful if you mount the RoboReel on the ceiling of your shop because it allows you 360 degrees of unimpeded cord motion.

The RoboReel plugs into the wall to power first the winding unit and then, after a button is tapped, the extension cord. The wall plug has a dust protected GFCI reset button in case you get a little too excited at the other end and try to run three table saws at the same time (we know this for a fact).

To extend the cord, simply grab on to the receptacle ball and pull it out. It has a nice easy release with no changes is resistance. The ball end has three plug-ins, a power button, and three slick little lights that indicate whether or not the ball has power to it. If there is no power and the base unit is plugged in, just press the button at the ball and it's live. To retract the cord, press the button again and watch as it slides out of your hand and makes it way back to the orb. It makes a pretty quick flight and it politely slows down just before it gets fully home and nestles just against the orb body. It's a cool thing to watch the first few times and the grace of it is one of the high points of the item. Other retractable cord systems are spring-loaded and with those, it's an all or nothing deal. The cord is either whipping back to the unit at face-slapping speed or it's stationary. With the RoboReel, you can even set the distance at which the ball shifts to the lower speed.

There are a number of safety features as well. First there's the current protection (already mentioned), then there's a sensor that detects if the cord is over-heating and kills the power. Also, if the cord gets severed, the power to the unit cuts. And as we implied, the mechanized cord retraction is safer than spring-loaded ones.

Not having to deal with wrapping up a cord is nice, having a built-in three tool outlet is nice, the added safety is nice, and feeling like you own something robotic is nice too. It's all really good. Tool Snob Jr. (age 4) also likes it and has spent at least one afternoon repeatedly extending the cord and then chasing it back to the base unit.

So we really dig this thing and our only hang-up is the price. Amazon is selling it for $280. Yikes, that's a lot of coin. We have no illusions about the costs of the technology or the sturdy manufacturing involved in this thing, but getting close to three bills is one heck of a pill to swallow. It's tough to justify that kind of purchase when a nice 12ga cord can run you about $30 (1/10th of the cost). So it's sort of like if Festool made an extension cord, lots of finesse, lots of features, lots of style, lots of money.

It's also worth mentioning that Great Stuff has incorporated the same reeling technology to a pneumatic hose system as well as a garden hose system.

At Amazon

Win Free Festool Gear From Festool Products and Tool Snob

2013-03-08T01:50:00Z

Our pals over at Tool Nut, a great online tool retailer, also operate Festool Products. We've gotten to know them over the years and they've become our go-to source for Festool gear and whenever we post about a Festool item, we happily link over to them (even though they're Jets fans).

They're doing a little community outreach and have offered to supply a few cool items for us to give away to you guys. Two Festool T-Shirts and Two Festool Hats. Pretty sweet.

So there are two ways to get your name in the running:

1. Answer this question in the comment section: If you could get any Festool product which one would it be and why? Kapex, Track Saw, 18-Volt Drill? Check them all out at festoolproducts.com.

Or...

2. In the comments, let us know if you can think of a funnier sports moment than when Mark Sanchez sacked himself and fumbled off the ass end of his own offensive lineman. If you don't believe us, check it out here:

Oh man, was that hilarious.

So after maybe a week, we'll choose some names out of a hat and be in touch with the winners.

Get all Festool'd up at Festool Products.

Muck Chore Cool Boots - Review

2013-02-25T12:04:00Z

Right now my backyard looks like a meteor made entirely out of mud smashed into it. Over the past 2 months, I've had big excavators, little excavators, skid steers, concrete trucks, lumber delivery trucks, and everything else heavy and massive come through. To call it muddy is like saying Siberia is cold...it's a correct statement, but it only hints at the extreme nature of things. It's not cute, little splashy mud puddles, but rather the kind of thick muck that can trap a boot and makes walking nearly impossible because you put your foot down in one spot and by the time it's done slooshing down to solid footing, it's about two inches from where you started. It's a total mess.

So I was practically doing cartwheels when I was contacted by Muck Boots and they offered to send on a pair of their new Chore Cool Boots for me to review. Oh man, that was a good day around here. So that was about a month and a half ago and in that time, I've done all sorts of work back there in Degobah and here are my thoughts on the boots.

If you go online to learn about the boots, you'll find that the main selling points are that they are waterproof and that they are lined with a moisture wicking fabric, making them idea for high summer (as the foot begins to sweat, the fabric rapidly pulls moisture away from skin as the lining absorbs and spreads the moisture back out across the boot). Yes, these two points are true, but they don't really encompass the full extent of these boots.

What the interweb won't tell you is how all-around kickass these boots are. They're fantastic. Easily one of the best boots I've ever worn. They're as comfortable as any leather boot I've put on and even though they're nice and snug on the feet, they slip on and off very easily (there's even a little nub a the heel to help 'toe' them off). In the cold weather they've kept my feet warm and in the warm weather, they've kept my feet cool. I can definitely vouch for the waterproof aspect as well. I've worn them pouring a foundation, shoveling out after a blizzard, and wading into a pond to get Tool Snob Jr. the perfect skipping stone. Dry toes on all three occasions.

I can also vouch for the durability of the Mucks. They're made with a Vibram soles, like all fine work boots and didn't even show a dent after a day of stomping a shovel into a semi-frozen pile of dirt.

These boots have made my life exponentially easier over the past few weeks. If these hadn't shown up, I'd have been working in my leather boots and it would have been a bad scene. I probably would have the flu by now, after weeks of cold, wet feet. If you spend time in the muck and grime, do yourself a favor and get a pair of these (or at least go and try them on). they're great for jobsite chaos, trips to the barn, or walks in the woods.

At Amazon

Prolong SPL100 - Review

2013-02-15T01:26:52Z

So Prolong has a product called SPL100 which is made with something they call AMFT (Anti-Friction Metal Treatment). At first glance, it seems like a WD40 type lube, something you could spray on just about anything to make it better. The Prolong website says that it can...

lubricate, penetrate, and prevent corrosion, free sticky mechanisms, displace moisture, stop squeaks, and reduce friction and wear on all metal surfaces. It cleans and protects metal surfaces, tools or any metal equipment exposed to water or weather.

Prolong sent us a few cans and spray bottles of the stuff to try out. We've used it in a number of applications, one in particular had an interesting result.

My house is just two years shy of being 100 years old. You know how a tree trunk gets a new ring each year? My house seems to get a new squeak. One particularly unbearable one is the upper hinge at the office door. It's actually more of a voice than a squeak. "Squeak" implies a small sound. This is more like the growl of a grizzly bear. Every. Time. You. Open. The. [Expletive deleted]. Door.

I've tried wax, dry lubricant, spray silicone, and WD40. All temporary fixes, none lasting more than a couple weeks. I thought I'd add the Prolong to the list of failed products, so I put a few drops on the hinge, not even bothering to take out the pin. I gave the door a little back and forth to work the lube in and walked away.

Then a few hours later, Mrs. Tool Snob asked, "what's up with the office door?"

"Huh?"

"It's closing...all by itself. It's never done that before."

So I went and checked it out and sure enough, the door was a) not squeaking b) moving freely c) closing on its own. The Prolong not only stopped the noise of the rubbing metal, but it also freed up the entire hinge which no product had done in the past. I had no idea that the door's natural state was to swing closed.

It has now been a few weeks and the door is still closing all by itself. It's a satisfying result and I'm interested to see how long it is before I have to juice up the hinge again. But as it stands, the Prolong has already outlasted the competition and with far better results. The SPL100 is an industrial product and something tells me that a squeaky door is on the low end of its capabilities.

Actually, as I was wrapping up this review, I reread the Prolong press release and came across this description of the AFMT....

AFMT chemically bonds to metal surfaces in the engine to generate a protective layer that prevents metal-on-metal grinding - the cause of unwanted friction and increased heat.

Cool stuff. I might never hear that door squeak again.

At Amazon

...Oh, So That's What "Reinforced Fibers" Means...

2013-02-06T03:01:28Z

OK, this is a little odd. The other day, I drenched my Ansell ActivArmr Heavy Laborer Gloves (reviewed here), so I plopped them right next to the woodstove to dry them out. Well, apparently, one of them somehow found its way to the woodbox and seemed to have hitched a ride on a log right into the stove. I spent better part of the morning looking for the lost glove and when I opened the stove to start a fire, I saw its devastated remains among the ashes.

But what remains is what's interesting. I've long heard that many high quality work gloves are woven with some heavy duty additives, but I've never actually seen what it looks like. Well guess what? When you burn the rest of the glove off, you're left with something that looks like a very delicate chain mail hand. It's pretty cool looking. Ansell says that their glove is woven with Kevlar and stainless steel. Since Kevlar does burn and melt, I have to assume that what's left is 100% stainless.

Ansell Gloves at Amazon

Hilarious/Terrifying Things We See In Our House: Part Ten

2013-01-31T15:41:10Z

I removed the foundation to my house and all I got was one lousy teeny-tiny plaster crack in the corner of the kitchen.

We actually built the addition against the house first (with its own foundation) and that helped brace the main house while we did the demo, so in this picture the entire foundation under the south side of the main house is gone.

Festool DF700 Domino XL - Review

2013-01-22T02:15:00Z

We've hit rock bottom on our own selfishness. And the thing is that we almost feel bad about it. Almost.

One of the things about reviewing tools is that you get to keep a lot of them. But trust us, the bloom falls off the rose pretty quickly there. What sounds like heaven gets cumbersome mighty fast. One new recip saw is great, but does anyone need five or six of them? A long, long time ago Festool said they would send us one of their Domino XLs to test out, but that we'd have to send it back when we were done. They gave no time limit and said that we should keep it as long as we saw fit. No problems there. A very cool attitude on their part. So we kept it...and kept it...and kept it. Every time we sat down to write the review, we'd think, "oh wait, this means that we'll have to return the tool...maybe it would be best if we ran the review next week....or maybe the week after that." So here we are months and months later (getting close on a year), slightly ashamed and feeling like we took advantage of Festool's kindness, but we're still crouching over the tool, coveting it like some hell mutant from Dante's Inferno.

The Domino XL is a heavy weight joining tool. It's competitors are the biscuit cutters, but that's like saying Anna Karenina's competitor is a Hello Kitty coloring book. We've used the DeWalt cutter and the Porter-Cable cutter and have really liked them both (the PC review is here) and we need to note that we've never used Lamello's cutter, which is the primo brand on the market, but from everything we can tell, the Domino XL is really in a completely different category.

If you're unfamiliar with the Domino series of tools (the XL is the second, larger version), they differ from biscuit cutters in a number of ways. First, they don't use biscuits, they use dominos, little pieces of wood that are the shape of dominos or teething biscuits. They are much thicker than biscuits and are available in a variety of lengths, so the sturdiness of them far surpasses the biscuit. Secondly, the Domino cuts with a spiral blade that extends from the front of the tool and waves back and forth while it cuts. These blades, which look like badass drill bits, can be swapped out easily to accommodate for different sized dominoes. Beyond that, the Domino can be adjusted and tweaked every which way until Sunday and a host of other features ensure accuracy and consistency. So all of the manic design functions that we've come to expect of Festool tools are indeed a part of the Domino XL.

The most telling project that I did with the tool was a bathroom vanity for our powder room. I milled down some of the Chestnut framing that was demoed during the renovation and used that material. The project had to go quickly because the plumber was scheduled. Because of that, I did kind of a half-assed job of milling the lumber, so things were mostly straight and square. I was a little worried when I started assembling because I've been around long enough to understand that if things are a little off in the beginning, then they're going to be a lot off at the end.

So I used the Domino to fit the pieces together. The one step that I took great care in was placing the domino slots. I made sure to do it at all at the correct angles and in all the correct places and said a prayer that the dominos would do the straightening and alignment work for me. When it came time to actually glue the pieces up, I discovered that the strength of the dominoes kept everything in line and created such a sturdy connection that I didn't have to panic about making sure everything was square because it already was. As long as the domino went in correctly, it all worked out. All of the play that I was used to in a biscuit was gone (although there is a setting that adds play if you want it).

The Domino took so much pain out of the cabinet making process that I really came to admire the tool for everything that it offered. The tool is large (what do you expect from the XL name), but since that's a symptom of its capabilities, it's not a problem. If you want smaller, the original Domino is available.

We should probably make a small note here at the end that this fella is going to cost you $1200. Gulp. The actual dominoes aren't exactly free either. But if your serious (at at that price, we mean really serious) about your woodworking and you're in it for the long haul, this is a tool that is definitely worth looking at. It's a steep price for sure, but the accuracy is off the charts and it does make it easier to create a better finished product.

So here we are, about to press "publish" knowing full well that it means we have to head over to the shop and box up the Domino and then call the UPS man.

At FestoolProducts.com. Get dominoes here.

By the way check out the killer sink and fixtures we found on Craigslist. I had to rebuild the faucets because the gaskets we all junk, but other than that, it all worked out great.

Ace Instant Savings

2013-01-04T12:59:00Z

We've been fans of Ace Hardware ever since the King of Football started shilling for them way back when we were in high school. It's a great store. They've got tools, paint, bird seed, plumbing stuff, electrical, free popcorn, toys, ice melt, you name it. We've got one of those rewards cards and it's really saved us some serious money over the years.

We just got word that Ace is altering their Rewards program so that savings are now instant rather than having to deal with them through the mail. All the details, along with where to sign up, are after the jump.

In the meantime, here's a video of Madden at his best. I remember this play like it was yesterday. If you watch closely, you can see the running back's mouth guard get ejected from his helmet. Seriously hard hit. If someone did that today, it would probably be a 15 yard penalty and a $30,000 fine.

Today, Ace Hardware, the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the industry, proudly announces the launch of Instant Savings, a program exclusively for Ace Rewards members that allows them to receive valuable discounts instantly, right at the register.

No longer will Ace Rewards members have to redeem rebates through the mail and wait the four to six weeks it typically takes for those to be processed. Ace's most valuable customers can now receive Instant Savings on their purchases right at checkout.

Customers can find the featured Instant Savings offers by looking for the Instant Savings logo on products advertised in Ace's circulars and throughout the store at their local neighborhood Ace Hardware.

To receive Instant Savings offers, customers must simply present their Ace Rewards card at checkout or ask the cashier to lookup their Ace Rewards number by providing their phone number or last name and five-digit zip code.

"There is no doubt that The Helpful Place is getting a lot more helpful to our best customers," said John Surane, Senior Vice President, Merchandising, Marketing, Advertising & Paint, Ace Hardware Corporation. "We have made it even easier for our customers to shop with Ace by delivering more value and convenience for them. We constantly look for ways to add value for our customers, and Instant Savings is a major new exclusive benefit to our Ace Rewards loyalty program that does just that."

Instant Savings is just one of the benefits of being an Ace Rewards member. The program is free and will continue to provide exclusive member benefits such as 10 points for every $1 spent, a $5 Reward for every 2,500 points earned, money-saving coupons and sale reminders, along with helpful tips and content.

To sign-up as an Ace Rewards member and take advantage of Instant Savings today, visit http://bit.ly/AceRewards or stop by your local participating Ace Hardware store. Sign up is free and easy.

Volvo SfinX (and other concept vehicles)

2013-01-03T16:18:00Z

Very cool stuff. Volvo has some concept drawings and video up of some theoretical construction machines. There is a vague release date of the 2020s on the site. Check out the video below the fold. Looks like they should be mining for Spice on Arrakis

Skil iXO Vivo Power Corkscrew - Review and Giveaway

2013-01-03T01:15:00Z

Skil has recently hit the scene with a drinking tool. The Skil power corkscrew has been available in Europe for a couple years now (see our original coverage here) and it's now available in the states. Bosch owns Skil and in Europe, green Bosch is their DIY brand (read: Skil), so in all likelihood, the two items are exactly the same. Skil sent us one to check out and we were pretty interested in it. If it has to do with wine drinking and it flew in Europe, it has to be good, right?

Right?

Turns out, maybe not so much.

So it's a pretty complete set; you get the 4-volt driver, the corkscrew attachment, a foil cutter, a wine stopper, and even a set of five driver bits if you want to take some time out from getting sloshed to hang a few pictures or something.

To operate the item, just place the corkscrew head over the top of the wine bottle and activate the driver. Easy as that. Once the cork is out you can remove it from the tool by just putting it in reverse.

To test this item, we brought it to a buddy's Christmas party and gave it an aggressive workout. How did it do? Not so well. It got a lot of laughs, but but they weren't, "ha, ha, this is awesome," it was more like, "ha, ha, this thing is ri-donk-ulous." It really strained pulling the corks out, leading us to believe that 4-volts just ain't enough power to get the job done. One tester cut his finger getting a cork out (probably more attributed to the BAC of the tester rather than the tool itself). At about 11pm, someone suggested that it should come with a holster.

We really wanted this to effortlessly pull out corks left and right. Using a power tool to open a wine bottle is a little....well....corny. It's kind of a gimmick. The sort of thing you do in front of the boys to get a laugh. But if this thing worked with a flawless zip and effortlessly tugged out each cork, we'd have something to work with. But it doesn't, so what we're left with really just boils down to an expensive gag gift. We wish that Skil had not only used a stronger tool, but that they also altered the design of the gun a little to make it less "construction-y." Drop the Skil red in favor of a sleek black on grey, reshape the handle a little so it's a step or two away from a standard drill. That sort of thing.

We actually thought about this review for a while, mulling over the thought, "well, maybe we're missing the fact that this corkscrew comes attached to a pretty nice 4-volt driver...maybe this is a lighthearted way to package a tool." But we keep coming back to the fact that the corkscrew attachment doesn't work too well and we just can't get over it.

But the good news is that we're giving one of these away. To enter the contest, just leave a comment at this post saying whether or not you think this is a fair review. Feel free to rip us one too, we can take it and it won't affect whether or not you get chosen as the winner.

Or you can just buy one for $50 at Amazon

Arbortech TURBOPlane - Review

2012-12-18T12:49:00Z

We were impressed with Arbortech way, way back when we first saw their AS160 AllSaw at a tradeshow in May of 07. Then we got a chance to test some of their woodworking tools out and loved those too. The Mini Grinder and Power Chisel, still now, are tools that we feel we've only scratched the surface of their potential. Recently we were contacted by the company again, this time to take a look at their new TURBOPlane. What is the TURBOPlane you ask? Read on...

The TURBOPlane is a grinder disc that is designed to plane the wood off rather than aggressively sand it off (which is all a traditional grinder pad does). This planing action allows for a tremendous rate of material removal, a smoother finished surface, and less dust. The accessory is also shaped so that it can be easily used a create a concave surface, like a sculpted bowl or something. Maybe a wooden hat, if you're into that sort of thing.

Because of our long-standing love affair with the angle grinder (we think it's the most versatile tool on the market), we were predisposed to love this item. And no surprise, we did. Anything that adds a dimension to the angle grinder is a big positive for us, but this is a serious item. Even if we didn't have a grinder fetish, we'd be into it.

The above image is what the TURBOPlane can do to a piece of Mahogany in about 2.5 seconds. Yeah, no kidding. Then once we moved on to a 2x8, all bets were off (see below image). The grinder was the teacher and the wood was the student. Total domination.

The planing blades make the disc move and jerk in a manner that's different from a standard grinding disc, so it takes a little getting used to, but once that happened, we felt we had total control over the tool and could either take off just a skim or dig into a chunk depending on what we wanted.

This thing would be good for obviously the wood sculptor, but the carpenter as well. Because it creates less dust than a grinder, it would be good for all of those 'skimming' and 'flattening' tasks that people do on crooked and twisted studs. Also ideal for any kind of curved work or rough rounding.

The blades can be sharpened when they get dull, which is a good thing seeing as the cost of the TURBOPlane is $139. Sounds like a big number, but this thing is quality and if you're serious about your grinders and their capabilities, it's probably worth it.

UPDATE REGARDING SAFETY

Ok, so like I said, we have a grinder thing around here and because of that we have a lot of grinders. Because grinders are so versatile, each one has taken on a particular task. The Fein is for our heavy metal working, the Bosch is the one we use for masonry, and the Makita is our designated wood grinder. Our other ones just fill in wherever. Each one is outfitted the way we like for the particular task...the guard is at a certain position, the side handle is either on or off, and the tool case is loaded with the accessories for the job at hand.

We tested the TURBOPlane out on a few of the grinders and at the end of the day, we put it on the Makita. Because it's our wood grinder, it doesn't have a guard and it doesn't have a side handle. That just happened to be the tool the item was on when we photographed it. This is a pretty savage accessory, spinning planer blades and all, so we don't recommend using it without the standard grinder safety equipment.

Arbortech saw the review and (rightly so) was like, "whoa, dude! Seriously, you gotta put a guard on that mutha! (we're paraphrasing here). They also passed on some additional safety information as follows:

For safety reasons we recommend a metal guide is fitted; a side handle fitted (for control) and a guard that can be rotated 45º. We recommend setting the blade up so that it is proud of the guard i.e. so that I can lay it completely flat and plane the wood. This can be achieved by using spacers (which can be an extra spindle nut) under the blade. Most grinders are fine for this though we have found a couple with spindles too long or too short. We have in some instances found it easier to simply grind the guard back a little to expose the cutting face of the blade.

At Amazon

The Right Brush - Review

2012-12-06T13:09:00Z

The paint brush. A timeless tool that has remained unchanged since the days of cave painting when some thick-headed caveman first wrapped the hairs from an ox tail around the end of a stick*. What is there to improve upon with a tool this basic? There's the part you hold and then there's the part that paints. On the simplicity/genius scale, it's right there along with the wheel.

So we were a little shocked when we got a glimpse of The Right Brush. What is this? A paint brush with a pistol grip? Oh, the scandal! But, faced with painting our entire house (every single room.....four walls and the ceiling....entire trim package), we happily agreed to test out the item. If The Right Brush could take even a sliver of pain away from the mind-numbing, spirit-crushing, hand-cramping, neck-aching, arm-hurting, paint-drip-frustrating, soul-destroying act of painting, then we would love the tool until the end of days.

So they sent us one. How did it do, you ask?

First a bit about the intent of the tool. Not surprisingly, the unusual design of the handle is meant to increase both comfort and control. The handle is sized well and there's even a contoured area for the thumb to rest in. While the handle is definitely shaped for one particular hold, it's not formed so aggressively that holding it other ways is uncomfortable.

The brush was designed by a man named Mark Wholey who labels himself as a "sculptor and inventor" at the Right Brush website. His artistic bent explains some of the pull quotes over at the site:

You are making something beautiful. I believe the tools you are using should be beautiful as well, for the hand, the eye, the job and give that intangible feeling of satisfaction.

and

I made it to be a sensuous brush to hold, even grow fond of. To mimic the act of painting. Not to throw away.

"Beautiful" and "sensuous" aren't exactly words used regularly to describe hand tools. But for all of the artistic visions, Wholey has done his homework on his design. The website not only has the standard 'testimonials' page, but also a page devoted to a URI physical therapy study that was done on the brush. You can read it here, but the jist of it is that a regular brush forces your wrist into an unnatural position, where The Right Brush lest the wrist sit in a more normal, relaxed fashion. Interesting stuff.

The brush also has a small hook on it, so you can hang it off the edge of your paint can. It's a nice touch. We need to note that you cannot open a beer with the hook. How do we know this...?

So we've used the Right Brush quite a bit over the past number of months and...well...we can't really tell much of a difference. The brush is comfortable to hold (but not as easy to shift around as a traditional brush), and that's cool. But we were expecting a situation where we'd go, "oh wow. This thing is really comfy. It feels like angels are petting my hand!" No such luck, we didn't feel anything different or any particular relief. We don't doubt all of the research or testimonials at the site, but we also don't have any record of wrist problems, so maybe we're not the target audience. To us, it was a high-end brush with a funny handle. Maybe to someone older or with carpal tunnel it might afford some relief.

The Right Brush costs $13 and can be purchased at TheRightBrush.com.

*Total fabrication. Not based on any fact at all.

Red Wing 4216 Work Boot with Boa Closure System - Review

2012-12-04T13:02:00Z

UPDATE: We realized that we failed to mention the most impressive thing about the Boa and that is the fact that the 'laces' never loosen. We really like our boots to fit snug around our ankles and these deliver the good all day long.

***

As soon as we put on our first pair of Red Wing 606s, we were hooked. To us, they're the ideal work boot; durable, comfortable, and completely devoid of 'features.' We like the old fashioned feel of them. It's little that a few pieces of leather and a really nice sole. Perfect for our simple sensibilities.

But Red Wings also can swing the other way towards the hi-tech and they've just introduced a pair of boots, the 4216s, that utilize the Boa Closure System in lieu of laces. It's a funky set-up and it looks pretty strange. If you're a snowboarder, you're already familiar with it because it's been used in that industry for years. But now it's taken it's first foray into the world of construction. Red Wing sent us a pair to check out and because of our undying devotion to the 606s, we were pretty excited about it.

We've had the boots here for a while and we've come to our conclusions....

So we love the Boa and overall the boots are really nice. The 4216s are a little more tricked out than we tend to like, but they're solid no matter how you look at them. They have a non-metallic toe cap and quite a bit of added padding. Red Wing suggests them for oil/gas workers, or those who deal with heavy machinery all day, but they'd really be good for any construction. The quality of these boots is up to snuff, even though the country of origin is China (and in the past we've had some bad experiences with boots from there). In the boot world, we're light duty folks, but we'd wager that heavy duty folks would find what they were looking for here.

The Boa is sort of bizarre and takes some getting used it. It's a dial at the head of the book and if you twist it, the thin laces (which are actually stainless steel wires) tighten. To loosen the laces, just pop the closure forward and the tension is released. It's a quick system, but not as quick as we imagined when we first read about it. You still have to sit there and twist the closure four or five times. It's certainly easier to do with frozen fingers and once you get used to it, you can do it without even thinking about it.

So the bottom line is that we really liked the Boa, and the boots are pretty slick too. We're hoping that the Boa spreads to more of their boots.

The Red Wings cost about $180 which is well within the price range of a quality work boot.

At Dodd's Shoe

When Excavators Attack

2012-12-03T18:40:22Z

This is the current condition of the corner that was originally pictured here.

Hilarious/Terrifying Things We See In Our House: Part Nine

2012-12-03T14:00:00Z

No turning back now. The renovation has officially entered phase two (although it feels like phase 239) and the back yard has a crater in it. Even though this is a pretty big milestone, there are times when it honestly feels like this is never going to end. Onward.

Bosch JS572EB Barrel-Grip Jig Saw - Review

2012-10-31T12:47:00Z

A long time ago, probably over a year, Bosch sent us one of their JS470EB Jigsaws to check out. We used it, we used it again, and we used it some more after that. It has basically been our primary jigsaw since it showed up. But we never wrote a review of it. We kept meaning to, but whenever we were in front of the computer, we would think about the tool and say, "eh" and move on to the next thing. It was a nice tool, but there was nothing about it that made us think, "yeah, yeah, yeah, now this is a jigsaw!" It was just sort of there. We're generally fans of Bosch jigsaws, so when the company recently released a new series, we thought we'd take one of those for a spin to see if we'd have a different reaction. They sent us the new JS572EB. Oh and did we ever have a different reaction.

(First, we need to note that the two jigsaws are in different 'classes,' the older one we have is less expensive and less "blingy" than the newer one tested.)

So we've been using the JS527EB for a couple months now and it's been great. It brings us back to the days well over ten years ago when we got our first Bosch jigsaw. We don't remember the model, but it was the first one that didn't need a 24" screwdriver shoved down the hole at the top of the handle in order to loosen the blade. Instead it had that annoying spinning top piece that clicked when the blade was tight (and seemed to also click when the blade wasn't tight). But anyway, we loved that old saw for a lot of reasons, and this new one is a worthy descendent.

The tool has 4 orbital blade settings and a really nice LED (switched at the top of the handle). It also has a tool free blade swap-out and a tool free foot plate adjustment. We're really big fans of the easy plate adjustment. We backcut most of our scribes, so it really makes life easier to be able to set an angle in a few seconds, rather than a minute.

Even though it's smaller than the other model, it's very comfortable to use and plenty powerful. With a fresh new blade, it didn't have any problems with any tasks that we threw at it.

This saw impressed us over and over. It was particularly helpful cutting 45s on 17" pine boards for a wainscotting project. The boards were way too big for a miter saw (and they're wonderfully warped), so we made the cuts with the jigsaw. The 45s weren't all perfect, there were spots where the blade wandered some, but these were 17" boards, so perfect wasn't in the cards as far as we were concerned. Still, to get about 90 percent there is a real achievement of blade stability.

This tool was also our first experience with the L-BOXX, Bosch's new modular storage cases. We've always liked the Systainers that are synonymous with Festool, but always had a problem with the fact that they're far more woodworker than construction worker. They're thin, fragile and have sort of a tin man vibe...clanky and hollow. The L-BOXXes are the far superior of the two in both usability and durability. (We should note that we've yet to use the DeWalt versions, but it looks like they're pretty durable too.) The Bosch case has a honeycomb pattern on the underside of the lid for a whole lot of additional stability, but best of all, there is a handle on the short side so the case can be carried like a suitcase (an omission that has always driven us bonkers about the Systainers). The plastic insert for the specific tool looks fairly sturdy and has lots of room for additional blade storage as well as the cord. Also, the jigsaw insert is so custom to the tool that there is a slot designed to hold jigsaw blister packs. Nice move guys. Smart.

Is this the greatest jigsaw ever? Who knows? Is it a tool that is far superior to any other jigsaw that we've ever used? Yeah, pretty much.

At Amazon

Bosch DareDevil Spade Bits - Part Two

2012-10-29T12:34:00Z

So during our renovation, we had to drill 30 3/4" holes through this 8-1/2" beam. It wasn't easy and it wasn't fun. It also would have been impossible if it wasn't for the Bosch DareDevil Spade bits.

Way back in mid-2009, we reviewed the bits and at the time, our workshop tests showed them to be stellar. Well, over the years we've used them quite a bit more and we've always liked them, but doing battle with the Beam of Doom put them in a whole new category for us. They are primo...top of the line...the end all...the One Ring of drill bits.

We bought pretty much all of the leading brands spade bits to try to get through this beam and the Bosch was the only one that could do it with any consistency at all. The others would wear out after one or two holes, but the Bosch kept on ticking. We drilled out the holes with an impact gun and because we were working in a tight joist bay. We also had to set up a leverage system to get enough pressure on the back of the drill. So we ended up with a 2x4 pry bar drill press kind of thingy. Pretty harsh conditions and we don't really blame the other bits for under-performing (well, we sort of do actually). We went through maybe six or seven regular bits to one Bosch bit. We finally gave up and drilled the final 20 holes with the Bosch.

We also feel the need to give yet another high-five to Bosch for creating the impact gun that we used during the process. We originally reviewed it waaaay back in September of 2009 and since then, it has become our go-to impact gun.

So if you're at the end of your rope with trying to get a hole drilled, go for the DareDevil bits. We can't imagine anyone being disappointed.

At Amazon

Duo-Fast DF150-CS Cap Stapler - Review

2012-10-03T12:40:00Z

When we put on house wrap, it's with a hammer tacker. The process is not a particularly pleasant one, but since we've been around the business, it's always been done that way, so we ignore the fact that it's a pain, and just suck it up like everyone else does. If that's the way it's done, then that's the way it's done.

Well, not so fast...(actually, not so "Duo-Fast".....ha ha ha....eh?). Last year, Duo-Fast, makers of many pneumatic tools that we like released a cap stapler designed for roofing felt and house wrap. If you've never seen one of these things, it's a little strange. It's like a crown stapler Frankensteined up with a coil siding nailer. The staples are shot just like normal, but there is a secondary system that feeds the caps up to the nose of the gun.

Duo-Fast sent us one of these to check out and it showed up (thankfully) just as we were about to start putting up the Tyvek on the exterior of our renovation. So we put down the forever-jamming hammer tacker and tried out the cap stapler.

The verdict is that it's a pretty sweet tool. It's very light, which is good because you'll be using it at arms-length quite a bit. The rotating exhaust vent has a nice loose feel to it. There is also a belt-hook which is essential for a tool of this nature. It comes with a straight coupling attached, which is nice, but we would have preferred a swiveling one. With this tool being passed from hand to hand on staging, anything that helps prevent a twisty coil hose would have been appreciated.

Loading the staples is just like with any other gun and loading the caps is basic as well. So basic, in fact, that we never opened the directions when we set the gun up. If we can figure it out, anyone reading this can as well.

The trigger has both styles of firing. Installing house wrap requires fast, repetitive work, so we set it to bump fire. The action is fast, but not perfectly fast, so we had to slow a little to hit a rhythm that the gun could keep up with. That's one advantage of the hammer tacker: you can go as fast as your manic ADD mind allows (as long as your arm can keep up). The cap stapler had nice clean results and the overall look of the finished product is pretty cool.

The caps and staples do sit proud of the wrap by a solid 1/16 to1/8". The unevenness will get lost in the siding application, but if you're on a job with zero tolerances or some kind of freaky metal siding that telegraphs through any oddities, this will be something to consider. Oh, and there were a couple of times when we had to revisit a few caps with a hammer in order to persuade the staples a little deeper into the sheathing.

At around $275, it's not a tool for Joe Homeowner to pick up for small little things here and there. This one's at the contractor level and we see it being a good find for anyone from a roofing contractor to a lone wolf carpenter who tackles the occasional siding job. This is the kind of tool that is going to save you time and give you nice looking results. Time is money and nice looking results are referrals. Win, win.

At ShopDuoFast.com

Uffy TH-T-CZ10 23 Gauge Pinner - Review

2012-10-02T15:28:00Z

Couple weeks back, we reviewed a nice brad gun from Uffy. Now, we're going to turn our attention to one of their 23-gauge pinners, a tool with the roll-off-the-tongue name of TH-T-CZ10. They sent us this fella a while ago and we've been using it off and on and putting it head to head against our other pinners.

Our verdict on the Uffy brad gun was that it was extremely durable and perfect for either the hardcore professional or someone so clumsy they drop their tools every five to ten minutes. As for the pinner, there's not a whole lot more to say. It really falls in the same category: rugged, solid, pretty badass.

As with the brad gun, Uffy has designed the pinner for brutal, all-day-long, repetitive use. There is no plastic on this fella, just metal. It's basic too, with the only frill being the adjustable exhaust. The gun can shoot pins 1/2" to 1-3/16".

At first the design of the safety trigger was a problem for us, but after a few uses the awkward feel went away. Our Cadex pinner has a safety trigger underneath the real trigger, so you pull the lower trigger away then pull the real trigger. The Uffy is different, it has the two reversed, so you have to nudge the safety trigger forward in order to get your finger in there and grip the real trigger. This design is better for the production work that the Uffy is designed for and, like we said, after a bit, we got used to it.

In all of our use and testing, we didn't run across anything that the pinner failed at. It's a small gun, much smaller than our Cadex (but the Cadex has a much larger nail capacity, up to 2" so it's not really apples to apples). But regarding power, the Uffy was great. It's a nice tool.

We did have the same issue as we had with the brad gun, namely the lack of accessorizing. The tool comes with no case, no fitting, nothing, just the bare tool in a cardboard box.

So, it really boils down to the durability thing. It's a strong tool and at $150, it has a reasonable price tag for what you're getting. Just don't forget to set aside a few bucks for a toolbox to go with it.

At Uffy