Tool Snob

Websites We Like: There I Fixed It

2009-07-10T09:44:11Z

Imagine if you were allowed to fix things using only duct tape and bailing twine. While the end results would likely be functional, in another way it would be a total disaster. It would display your cleverness, but also your complete ignorance of acceptable standards and fine craftsmanship. There I Fixed it is a website devoted to people who happily walk this path of creative solutions.

Check out thereifixedit.com.

Bosch R2-P2 Driver Bit - Review

2009-07-09T08:15:00Z

In order to exist on our jobsite in any functional manner, we need to have on us, at all times, eight different driver bits. It's a total nightmare, but that's just the way it is. We have all sorts of screws for all sorts of different applications and during the course of a day, we're involved with just about every aspect of the site. We need a P2, P3, 5/16" nut drive, 3/8" nut drive, 1/4" nut drive, R1, R2, and the Timberlok Spider Bit. We used to carry them around in an Altoid tin, but now we just have them in a pocket. It's a complete pain in the ass to have to constantly switch out bits.

So anything that takes even one of these bits out of the equation is something we're going to love. Enter, the Bosch R2-P2 Driver bit. Very simply, it's a bit that can drive both P2 screws and R2 screws. If you're unfamiliar with the terminology, Ps are Philips bits and Rs are Robertson bits (aka: square drive).

We got our hands on one of these dual bits and used it quite a bit. We ended up losing it somewhere along the way, but in the time we had it, it held up great and it took some of the bit-searching agony out of our day. We lost it before we got a chance to work it to death with the impact driver, so we can't comment too much on the strength of the bit, but because Bosch makes it with something called S2M steel, it likely would have lasted longer than normal.

There's not a whole lot more to say about the driver bit other than that it worked and that for a brief shining moment, we had one bit where we now once again need two.

We can't find these for purchase online, but they'll likely show up at Amazon and Ohio Power Tool.

Woodworker's Journal: How to Build a Bamboo Fly Rod

2009-07-08T09:01:00Z

To us, a lot of woodworking magazines kind of blur together. In a way, they're sort of like cooking magazines; you get one or two for a year or so and you've got enough to carry you through for quite a while.

This is why we applaud Woodworker's Journal for the cover story in their latest issue (which just showed up on the doorstop). How to Build a Fly Rod...now that's an interesting project. It's refreshing to see a woodworking magazine take on something that's not, well, a cabinet or a workbench. Sure, we're generalizing here, but come on, a fly rod!

It's a cool project, and by the way, far too complicated for us, but if you've got the time and the interest, it looks like a hell of a way to spend about 4,000 hours of your time.

The article is available online here.

Woodworker's Journal also features articles by Chris Marshall, who we've met a number of times and can vouch for the fact that he's a really great guy. We can also say that he's a madman behind the wheel of a super-charged go-cart (as is Jude from Toologics), but that's another story...

Subscribe to Woodworker's Journal at Woodworker's Journal or Amazon

Gator Zip Sand-BLOCK

2009-07-07T09:38:34Z

Gator, a company intent on advancing every single aspect of the sanding world, has released yet another grit-tastic innovation (our reviews of the Zip Sander, Micro Zip Sander, and Sanding Sponge Holder). Their new Sand-Block seems to take the best characteristics of sandpaper and sanding sponges and combine them into one single mighty sanding warhorse. Sounds good to us, but from the picture it looks like the edges don't have any grit on them, which is too bad seeing as we use sponge edges to sand little molding profiles and things like that. But still the longevity of sandpaper compared to sanding sponges makes us likely to go out and pick up a few of these.

Click through to read ye old presse release:

DAYTON, OHIO, June 2009 - Ali Industries is shaking up the sanding world again. Following their 2008 introduction of the award-winning Zip® Sander and Zip® Sponge Holder, the company is introducing the first new thing in sanding sponge technology in years: the Zip® Sand-BLOCK sanding sponge.

This new sanding sponge is a completely new technology that provides the convenience and versatility of a sanding sponge with the performance of sandpaper. The Zip® Sand-BLOCK sanding sponge is made with a premium quality grit and backing, which means faster sanding than a regular sanding sponge and longer sponge life. The premium sandpaper is attached to high quality foam that is durable and comfortable.

"The way traditional sanding sponges are made has always meant that they cannot perform as well as good quality sandpaper," said Gary Carter, Director of Marketing for Ali Industries. "What we've done is put the sandpaper on the sponge, not the grit or grain in the sponge. So you get everything you like about sanding with a sponge, but the performance of sandpaper."

All kinds of people - from do-it-yourselfers to professional contractors - use sanding sponges because they are easy to use and easy to replace. You can rinse them out when they load up, and when one wears out you just pick up another one and keep going. They can be used for dry or wet sanding and rough to fine sanding on wood, metal, fiberglass, drywall and paint.

The same is true of the new Zip® Sand-BLOCK sanding sponge. Even better, you can use it with the Zip® Sponge Holder, which features a rigid, durable plastic holder base that snugly grips the sanding sponge. Its ergonomically shaped handle design, is soft and squeezable, and keeps the user's hand from coming in contact with the sanding sponge, offering a comfortable, effective sanding experience that eliminates the scrape and wear on a user's hands.

In addition, the new Zip® Sand-BLOCK features the popular Gator® Finishing System, which uses a number-coded and color-coded sandpaper identification system, making it easy for the first time do-it-yourselfer and the seasoned woodworker to use the right sandpaper grit every step of the way. Step 1 is color-coded green for stripping and includes 80 grit; Step 2 is color-coded orange for sanding and includes 120 grit; Step 3 is color-coded gold for fine finishing and includes grits of 220 and 320.

The Zip® Sand-BLOCK sanding sponge can be found nationwide at select retailers for around $7.00 per two-pack. To learn more or find a retailer near you, please visit www.zipsander.com or call 1-800-255-4748.

Rockwell LogJaws (JawHorse Accessory) - Review

2009-07-07T09:16:00Z

At first glance, we thought the LogJaws were about the silliest thing we'd ever seen. We're huge fans of the JawHorse, and use it all the time, but who would really need to clamp a log at waist height? Definitely not us, and we heat with wood.

To use the LogJaws, you first have to invest in the Rockwell JawHorse, which we think is a good idea no matter who you are. So if you don't have one and you're interested, our review of that tool is here. But simply put, the JawHorse is a workstation centered around a large clamping jaw and Rockwell makes a number of add-ons for the unit, including these, the LogJaws.

What the LogJaws do is give the JawHorse the ability to clamp a log or really any other oddly shaped item that's going to have problems in the parallel clamps that come standard with the JawHorse. The LogJaws sit higher than the regular clamps and have these mean looking teeth that are perfect for sinking into a nice chunk of rotted oak. The LogJaws attach very easily to the JawHorse, just a few screws and it's done. Maybe two minutes max.

We discovered quickly that the LogJaws really are great for clamping cut logs, branches and other bits of tree debris. But where exactly do you go from there? What sorts of things can you use it for? The JawHorse sits too high to use it for your utility, "need to fill the woodshed before the first snow" log cutting. We just don't think it's worth it to haul one end of a 100 lb log into the jaws just so you can cut 18" off of it and then have to reposition the whole thing. But if you're only going to be cutting smaller branches and kindling, then it'll work great. We actually see the LogJaws as more for the wood carving/woodworking crowd. And in fact, we used it to make some nice tree limb coasters (directions here).

The LogJaws also have these little brackets that flip out and allow you to clamp your chainsaw bar so you can easily sharpen your chainsaw, saving valuable knuckle skin.

In a way, the LogJaws sum up the glory of the JawHorse; you can get the basic unit, which is extremely useful, and then you have the ability to customize it, in order to suit your niche needs. The LogJaws aren't for everybody, but if you're one of the people who it is for, you'll love it.

The LogJaws cost about $40 which puts them on the lower side of things when compared to most of the other JawHorse accessories.

As an aside, if you are a wood carver, we suggest checking out our reviews of the Arbortech wood carving tools, the Mini-Grinder and the Power Chisel.

At Amazon

Milwaukee M12 Power Port - Review

2009-07-06T09:15:00Z

We used to own a Jeep Cherokee which had its ups and downs, but would always charge our cell phone even with the engine off and the keys out of the ignition. Now we drive around in a Tacoma which is great but the truck kills the outlets as soon as the engine is off. We're pretty good at keeping our phone charged either at home or during the commute, but sometimes (like the other day) we forget and arrive at the site with the battery not fully charged. The point of this story is to relay how we became fully dependent on the M12 Power Port the other day. If we didn't happen to have it on us, we would have been completely screwed.

The M12 Power Port is a simple affair, about the size of a bulky remote control. It has an indicator light to let you know if the battery still has some juice and a little flip down door to protect both the USB port and the DC port from dust and dirt when it's not in use. To use the item, just plug in your cell phone, iPod, whatever and the 12-volt battery starts transferring the charge.

But back to our story. It was one of those end of day "how come the condenser stopped working?" things where we had to call the HVAC guys and the electricians multiple times and do all sorts of coordination and troubleshooting. During the first call the phone went dead. After a quick hustle to the truck to get the Power Port, we were back in action and resolved the situation. If we hadn't had the Power Port on hand things would have gotten ugly.

So what does this all mean? Well, the M12 Power Port is not going to be your full time charger. Why would it? You would constantly need to charge a battery in order to charge a battery. But what it is is a nice insurance policy, a safety net. The price is right too. If you already have a Milwaukee M12 tool with batteries and charger, the Power Port is only going to set you back about $25, which isn't a whole lot for something that you'll use in an emergency. It would probably be nice on a camping trip too, but we're going to keep ours in the glove box.

At Amazon (tool only)

Craftsman Wants Your Ideas

2009-07-03T09:37:00Z

Correction 2: This is the first Innovation Showcase. Previously, Craftsman had invited inventors to submit ideas, but this is the first time that they're offerring the opportunity to come out to the Sears HQ and actually present them in person (which is much cooler). Sorry for representin' and then misrepresentin'.

Correction: This ain't the first Innovation Showcase. Thanks to ToolDork for the smackdown.

This year Craftsman is going to hold their first Innovation Showcase in which you, the average wood butcher will be able to present your tool ideas to them for possible marketing and inclusion into the Craftsman line. It's a great opportunity for all you inventors out there. The press release is as follows....

For more than 80 years, Craftsman has supplied customers with the most innovative tools on the market. For the first time, Craftsman is hosting a showcase where innovators can present their most unique product ideas for possible Craftsman merchandising.
Craftsman is looking for tool innovations in the hand tool, power tool, lawn & garden and tool storage categories. If you have an idea that you think will make the cut, send a brief description (100 words or less per product) that indicates which category your idea(s) falls into and the market need it fulfills, to the below email by July 13, 2009. Products do not need to be in finished form and you can submit as many as you like. All correspondence will be completely confidential.

If determined a good fit for Craftsman, you could be invited to register for the Showcase, where you will have 30 minutes to an hour to privately present the product(s) at Sears' headquarters in Hoffman Estates, IL to a panel of judges from the brand management, product development, and product management teams. Your product could be chosen to be put in development by Craftsman.

All participants are responsible for their own travel accommodations, shipping and/or transportation costs.

Submit product description to Louise Chang, Craftsman Innovation Showcase Coordinator, at lchang1@searshc.com

More information on Craftsman Tools at Craftsman.com.

June 2009 Monthly Roundup for Tool Snob

2009-07-02T08:49:00Z

June was good to us here. We got to go out to the Milwaukee HQ and check out all of their new items due out this year. Our impressions of the event are here. We also ran a couple contests (more of that on the way) and we were able to review a few new items. On that topic, the best of the bunch and the tool of the month is the Wagner TurboRoll. It was something that we initially chuckled at, but once we got to using it, we were quite impressed. If you've got some big summer painting projects, we think you should look into it.

We already have a handful of review half-written for July and a few new items just showed up today, so keep checking back for those.

Tool of the Month

Wagner TurboRoll

All Reviews

Air Tools

Benches, Stands, and Storage

EZY Hang Door Lifter

Bits and Blades

New Tools From Milwaukee

Books

Outside the Not So Big House - Review

Building Materials

Big Ass Fans Survive Big Ass Tornado

Clothing

Summer '09 Baseball Hat: Dead-On Tools

Cordless

Distractions

Guides

Tool Crib's Harbor Freight Buying Guide

Hand Tools

Newborn U-Lite Caulk Gun - Review

Lithium-Ion

Measuring & Marking

New Tools From Milwaukee

Monthly Roundup

May 2009 Monthly Roundup for Tool Snob

Painting

Plumbing

New Tools From Milwaukee

Power Tool Accessories

AusAngle Saw Guide

2009-06-29T09:27:55Z

Yet another interesting item out of Australia. This one appears to be a mini track saw with a miter gauge. If it works as advertised, it has a lot of the functionality of a sliding compound miter saw but with a much longer cut. While it can't do crown molding, the basic kit can slice up to about 3-1/2'.

It looks like it just attaches to your circular saw and you're ready to go. There's no information on saw compatibility (do Australian saws have different footplates than US saws?).

The AusAngle basic kit costs $299 ($240 US) which is a more than fair price considering that a decent miter saw is at least that. Rail extensions are available as well.

There is a little more information and photos over at AusAngle.com.

Here's a video of a guy making a bunch of cuts. Looks handy.

Wovel 2: Electric Buglaoo

2009-06-26T09:44:30Z

It looks like the bizarre snow shoveling device that we told you about last winter, the Wovel, has been updated. Although shoveling snow is about the last thing we want to think about this time of year, it's tough to deny breaking news in Wovel technology.

Wovel 2.0 is lighter, and smaller and can fold up for easy storage and quick portability. Yes, that's right, now you can Wovel on the go! There's more information and tons of Woveltastic videos over at wovel.com.

At Amazon

EZY Hang Door Lifter

2009-06-25T09:21:37Z

Our Austrailian invention connection has just emailed us about another interesting item that should be hitting the marketplace at some point soon. This time it's a device to assist with hanging doors. The EZY Hang Door Lifter is basically a jack that raises your door to the appropriate height in order for you to install the hinges. It looks like a much better version of what we usually end up cobbling together out of plywood scraps and a flatbar. Probably the nicest feature of the EZY Hang Door lifter is that it has one jack on each side, so slight adjustments can be made to the door once it's airborne.

The EZY Hang Door Lifter has a maximum lifting height of 25mm, which to us Americanos translates into just under one inch. There is no word on the maximum weight it can hold, but it sounds like it can handle just about any standard solid core door. We're curious about non-standard doors though. Yesterday, we spent the day hanging a 360 lb door (no joke) and something like the EZY Hang would have been helpful.

There is more information at ezyhangdoorlifter.com

Summer '09 Baseball Hat: Dead-On Tools

2009-06-24T09:23:00Z

Every summer, we burn through a baseball hat. We don't wear it every day, but it's a nice item to have in the truck for keeping the sun off our face, the sweat out of our eyes, and the rain off our noggin. This summer's fashion selection is the blue cap from Dead On tools.

It's good because not only are we spreading the word about a tool company that we really like, we're also walking around with the American Flag/Skull and Crossbones combo on our forehead. Can't beat that.

We would also like to note that we never wear the hat backwards, and we never, never never hip-hop it off to the side like Michael Phelps does.

These hats are currently only $8 which is a great price for a nice hat from a cool company. You only have to pass on coffee break for three or four days and you'll be able to budget for one. It's a good way to support a little independent company without shelling out $40 for their Annihilator Wrecking Bar.

At Dead On

Check out our review of the Dead On Annihilator here.

Bosch SPS10-2 4-Volt Pocket Screwdriver - Review

2009-06-23T09:18:00Z

Bosch has been one of the leaders in the 12-volt li-ion market and it seems that now they're branching off into the even smaller 4-volt category. We have no idea if they're going to get into tools other than their Pocket Screwdriver, and for the purpose of this review, we don't really care. We're here to review the SPS10-2 and that's what we're going to do.

As you would expect, the tool is pretty tiny with just the basic features. There's a forward/reverse switch, a little LED, and the 1/4" hex magnetized chuck. The tool has the slightly rubberized grip as well as that durable Bosch feel, so it looks like it has the ability to take a nosedive off an 8' step ladder and still be working.

Unlike most other 4-volt screwdrivers we've seen, Bosch has made the batteries removable, so it operates just like a full-sized drill. This translates into no lost time while the battery charges, making it suitable for tradesmen. Bosch's 4-volt battery looks like a shrunken version of their 12-vol and it actually uses the same charger, so if you've already bought a tool or two of their 12-volt line, the 4-volt screwdriver should fit nicely into your repertoire. Two smart moves by Bosch.

But how about power? How far are 4-volts going to get you? Honestly, a lot farther than we thought. This little screwdriver has some stones to it. While it struggled, it was able to sink a 2" drywall screw into a 2x4. It's not what the tool is meant for, but it's nice to know that you can hang a piece of sheetrock in a pinch.

But in a day to day sense, this is a finisher's tool, a touch-up tool. Not something you're going to be using for construction, but something for the final stages, when you're polishing the stone and making everything just right.

So it's the perfect tool for the cabinet guy or the carpenter trapped in the punch list phase of construction when it seems like all you do for days on end is go around, tighten hinges, adjust outlet covers, and straighten cabinet doors. And with the Bosch 4-volt, it really doesn't matter how cramped the space is, the tool is so little, it'll likely fit.

All in all, this is another nice tool by Bosch and when you think about it, the $60 that it's being sold for is a pretty nice value. Skil's ixo2 is currently going for a hair over $50 and that's with the on-board battery which means that when the battery's charging, you're waiting. Like we said earlier, with the Bosch, you can still work while you charge. This means nothing to someone who is looking for something to toss in their kitchen drawer, but to someone who needs efficiency in the work day, it means a lot.

The 4-volt screwdriver comes with two batteries, a charger, and the nice canvas carrying case similar to the that the Bosch 12-volt driver comes in. As mentioned, it costs about $60.

At Amazon

Power Tool Drag Racing: The Results

2009-06-22T20:52:39Z

The dust has settled over Columbus and the results of their first Power Tool Drag Race are official. To see the winners and losers in both photo and video form, check out the event's website. For a more descriptive view of what went down, go to CopTool for the round-up.

Outside the Not So Big House - Review

2009-06-22T09:34:00Z

If you're thinking about some landscaping projects this summer, you might want to check out Outside the Not So Big House by Julie Moir Messervy and Sarah Susanka.

A lot of landscape books are simply portfolio pieces, little more than pictures of what other people have done. But the authors here understand the simple fact that every house is different and has different 'needs,' so along with the stunning photography showing you how nice things can look, they also provide a lot of information on how to think about your specific property to better improve it. It's like stepping into the brain of a very good landscape architect.

Their goal here is to bring all of the aspects of your property into a single idea and theme. To show us how this can be done, the authors walk us though a wide variety of successful projects, representing a wide array of house styles as well as landscapes. In doing so they discuss how to gain a new vision of your property and how to design a landscape that flows seamlessly from the interior to the exterior.

It's impossible to cover even a fraction of the ideas presented in this book, and there's no question that, after reading it, you'll have a completely new view of your house in relation to its surroundings. It's far headier than the average landscaping book, but well worth the effort to read and consider.

At Amazon ($15 paperback)

Hot For Tools: How to Hang a Door

2009-06-19T09:05:00Z

Erica and her two assistants are at it again. This time she's teaching us how to hang a door. Nevermind that Erica manages to boil down the difficult process into about 3 steps, each of which seemingly takes 30-seconds. The details here are sort of besides the point. We're not so sure that the Hot for Tools videos are really about learning how to fix up your house. Maybe we were tipped off by the fact that one of the tags for the video is "boobs."

For her next episode, we hope that Erica demonstrates how to use the Bosch Brute Jackhammer. That, we would like to see.

And now, on to Erica....

Power Tool Drag Racing: Columbus, Ohio

2009-06-18T09:49:00Z

If you live in Columbus, Ohio, or even if you live within a thousand miles of Columbus, Ohio, you should go to the Power Tool Drag Races this weekend. They're being held at the Columbus Idea Foundry from 4 to 6. If you want to enter your own dragster, you still have time because registration ends this Friday. If you don't have the time, but want to enter next year, they're holding a workshop on how to make your own tools into drag racers. How cool is that?

This is the first annual Columbus race and we hope that all of you who are able to go make it out for the event. It looks like a lot of fun, and the more people who show, the better the chance of it becoming an institution. Just think, someday you can tell your grandkids, "I was at the very first Columbus Power Tool Drag Race..."

Prizes for the event are being supplied by the great Ohio Power Tool and other sponsors include C.H. Hanson and Skil. There is more information on the Drag Races at the official site (http://www.powertooldragracescolumbus.com/).

In the spirit of the races, we'll send a tool to the first person who correctly identifies the movie that the above image came from. Just leave it in the comments.

Big Ass Fans Survive Big Ass Tornado

2009-06-18T09:22:00Z

If you haven't heard of Big Ass Fans, they're a company that makes the very small fans used to cool down computer micro-processors. We're kidding. They actually make the largest freaking fans you've ever seen. They're so big they look like they fell off the top of a Blackhawk helicopter.

Anyway, not only are they very cool and very massive, they're also very durable. The above picture was taken at a shoe factory in Missouri after a tornado ripped through and took the ceiling off (click the pic to enlarge and get all the details). It's impressive, you'd think the fans would be the first things to go.

Big Ass Fans aren't just for industrial use though. It seems that they're catching on in the residential market as well. They're really a low energy way to move air around the house. It looks like they also help with LEED accreditation. Not to mention that Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips has one in his living room.

To learn more, check out the Big Ass Fans website here.

Wagner TurboRoll - Review

2009-06-17T09:23:00Z

The Wagner TurboRoll isn't the first self-feed paint roller, but it's the first (we've seen, at least) that uses the same vacuum system found in a syringe to both store and release paint. It's an interesting idea and one we looked forward to testing out. Is it effective? It is more trouble than it's worth? Is it a gimmick? We gave it a good run it out in order to answer these questions.

The TurboRoll consists of a roller, a little fill port, a long tube which is the stem of the tool, the handle, and the plunger. The handle has a forward and reverse on it which feeds the plunger through the tube forcing paint to the roller. The TurboRoll also has a manual override, so if the automation is for any reason not practical, you can toggle back to 'old school.'

Assembly
Putting the TurboRoll together was a snap. Taking all of about five minutes, the pieces easily screw or click together. We were expecting something much more difficult, but nope, really easy. Wagner also includes a quick start guide if, for some reason, the simple process is too much for your mental bandwidth.

Filling the tool with paint is where things get interesting. The TurboRoll comes with a plastic lid that fits snugly on a paint can and has a port hole where this special straw fits through. When placed on a can of paint, the straw is pressed to the bottom of the can and because of notches in the bottom of the straw, the paint that is drawn up the straw always comes from the bottom of the can, so you'll never have to readjust the straw to access the paint. It's worth noting that the lid fits around the outside edge of the can, so if you're using an old can of paint with a lot of build-up in the lid ridges, you should still have no problem.

At this point, we moved the plunger all the way forward and then stuck the fill port over the straw, making an airtight seal at the connection. Then, we reversed the plunger and as it moves, the paint got suctioned into the tube. Just like having blood drawn. It's strange to watch actually.

Use and Abuse
So then we set up a few sheets of plywood and pressed the plunger forward. The first thing we noticed was how much paint disappeared into the roller without any sign of it on the roller. But soon enough, the paint began to spot out of the roller, and then within moments the roller was completely covered (but not to the point where it was soaking and dripping).

Then we got to painting and here is where we began to really be impressed with the TurboRoll. The roller left a very even path of paint and when it began to run out, one small push of the plunger had it going again. So we painted and painted and painted only stopping for a moment here and there to stick the TurboRoll back on the straw and suck more paint into the tube, a process that took maybe 30 seconds.

Clean-Up
When we had painted enough that we were satisfied we'd seen the tool hit its stride, we started the clean-up process. The TurboRoll manual says to get a bucket of soapy water (we were using a latex paint) and, once the roller is removed, to suction the water into the tube a few times, then remove a part, suction water in a few more times, remove a part, suction water in a few more times, etc, until the whole thing is cleaned. We found that the described process got things about 95% clean and with any paint project, if you want to reuse anything if you stop short of %100 you're going to end up throwing everything out.

So we ended up finishing the clean-up process with a garden hose and a few extra 5-gallon buckets, just to make sure that all the parts were thoroughly cleaned, especially the roller (which is not the same as a roller you can get at any store). Then, we put everything in the sun and within an hour or two it was all dry and ready to be packed away.

After our cleaning experience, we would shy away from using the TurboRoll with oil paints, just because of the sheer volume of thinner that you'd need as well as the mess we made. Water, we can hose off the driveway, thinner, not so much.

Final Thoughts
So the bottom line on the TurboRoll is that we really liked it due to the negatives it takes out of using a paint roller. Even with the extended clean-up time, the time and hassle saved during painting is a tremendous benefit. There's the obvious benefit of not having to continually stop in order to roll more paint on the roller, but there is also another major plus that we hadn't considered until we used the tool, and that's the lack of paint-filled containers to kick over while you're working. When using the TurboRoll, you only need a single can of paint with the lid and straw, and the lid fits tight enough that if you do kick it over, you've got a bit of time to get it upright again before you've got paint everywhere. When you're normally rolling out paint, there's the paint can (with the lid off or resting on top), and then the roller pan, a nice paint-filled shallow plastic container that just begs to be stepped on.

The TurboRoll is obviously heavier and a tad more awkward than the standard roller, but we had no trouble maneuvering it around. The controls are simple (two buttons; plunger forward, plunger back), and there is also a manual override so if your batteries run out, you can keep going.

The TurboRoll costs about $50 and to us, it's worth it if you're going to be doing a bunch of painting and you're willing to put some time into a thorough clean-up process.

At Amazon

Duo-Fast DF350S Framing Gun - Review

2009-06-16T09:06:00Z

Duo-Fast has recently released a new framing nailer to the market. The body of which bears a striking resemblance to the latest Paslode framer (our review here). Paslode and Duo-Fast are both owned by the global company ITW so there is some serious cross-pollination going on. But still, with the similarities, there are some differences between the tools.

One thing that we really like about the Duo-Fast is that there's no flash at all to this tool. No little gimmicks or gadgets that are going to break or cause problems. It's just a framing gun meant for the heavy abuse of framing crew nailing. In our tests, it consistently sunk nails into everything we tried, including some LVLs and other scraps of engineered lumber that we had in the shop. The gun is relatively light at 8 lbs and thankfully, it takes paper collated nails. If you're been reading the site for a while you know our thoughts on plastic collated nails and how annoying they are when little bits of plastic shoot out and hit you in the face.

The gun has a durable metal rafter hook that we liked, although we wished that it could be rotated around and back into the tool when not in use like the Paslode's (which is plastic). There's also a mean looking toe nail claw which had us driving nails at some pretty extreme angles. Also, the rear exhaust of the gun is covered with a metal plate so the gun can be used to knock around studs for small adjustments.

But like the Paslode, we had problems with the toggle between sequential and single shot. With these guns, the trigger actually has to be removed and reset in order to switch firing mode. This is done by pulling off a nearly microscopic washer that holds the trigger pin in place. Once the trigger pin is removed, you set the trigger to the new position and replace the pin and washer. If you drop the washer on a job site, we figure there is a solid 75% chance of never seeing it again.

All of these features (except the trigger toggle) lend the gun to professional use. This is a gun for someone on a crew who is going through hundreds and hundreds of nails in a day and needs something that can be dropped, kicked, and tossed in the back of a truck.

The DF350S costs a little over $300 which seems to us to be on the high side of things, but the gun does seem quite durable and likely to last quite a while.

At Amazon

New Tools From Milwaukee

2009-06-15T09:30:00Z

Last week we were lucky enough to go out to the Milwaukee Tools HQ to get a glimpse at some of the new releases they've got all geared up for this year. As one of our favorite tool companies, they didn't disappoint with the sheer variety and usefulness of their new tools and accessories.

A few of the highlights of what we saw were...

18-Volt Cordless Bandsaw - They're still putting the finishing touches on this one, but were nice enough to let us try it out and, honestly, it's the kind of tool that makes us wish we had taken up plumbing instead of carpentry. It's got a whole lot of power but it's light enough to easily work with both above your head and in tight spaces. Having an awareness of how people will be using it, Milwaukee has made the shoe retractable, so the tool is able to cut a pipe that's already attached to a wall. It's one of those tools that makes your chest swell a bit when you hold it. There will also be a corded version available and both will be hitting the market probably in October.

Shockwave Driver Bits - This is one of those ideas that, once you hear it, you wonder why it took so long for someone to think it up. Driver bits built specifically for impact drivers. Anyone who spends time on a job site these days (like we do), knows that impact drivers are taking over. That said, they really do a number on driver bits so Milwaukee has tailored this new line to withstand the abuse. In addition to other features, the new bits have a slight degree of flexibility in order to handle the added intensity of the impact driver.

Cordless Tubing Cutter - Much like their copper pipe cutter from last year, this one is a real niche tool. We tried it out and it had no problem slicing up pex and pvc. It has a great feel and possibly the power to do a little topiary sculpting as well.

Testing and Measurement Tools - This is a new area for Milwaukee, but judging from what we saw, they're going to quickly establish themselves in the market. Of the tools, the most interesting is the Sub-Scanner which is sort of like an amped up, battle-crazed stud finder. It can be used to find studs and pipes in walls and ceilings, as well as rebar in concrete. The cool thing about it is that it lets you know the exact depth of what it is you're finding, so if you only have one option for placing that pipe hanger, you'll know that only a 2" screw will work because of the rebar that's hidden in the wall.

Those are just some of the highlights and by no means a complete overview of what we saw. Milwaukee is also rolling out some nice 12-volt LED flashlights, a 12-volt power port, a very cool looking mini-radio, oh and about a thousand new grinders.

Follow the action over at Milwaukee Tools.

Milwaukee tools at Amazon

We Have Two Winners!

2009-06-15T09:00:00Z

We did the old random draw and came up with "Bill" as the winner of the Home Depot Gift Card and "John" as the winner of the Skil 4-Piece Combo Kit. They've both been contacted and the prizes will be shipping out this week.

We want to thank both Home Depot and Skil for assisting with the contests. Both companies were great to work with and very generous with their prizes.

We also want to high-five all of our readers who entered. It's you people who are the reason why we're here in the first place, so we're happy to give a little something back now and then. This year, we've already had a few contests, and we're hoping to have more in the near future. So thanks again.

Free Percocets at Tool Snob!

2009-06-12T19:06:00Z

...and by 'percocets' we mean, 'Skil 4-Piece Combo Kit' and '$100 Home Depot Gift Card.'

Don't forget, today is the last day to enter the contest for the Home Depot Gift Card, and tomorrow is the last day for the 4-Piece Skil Kit.

Details on how to enter are here (for the HD gift card) and here (for the Skil kit).

Tool Crib's Harbor Freight Buying Guide

2009-06-12T08:54:00Z

This is great. Our pals over at Tool Crib have compiled the ultimate Harbor Freight buyers guide. It's a massive list of what tools are worth buying (for maybe one or two uses) and which ones to avoid like the plague. The article is split into the following chapters...

1) Developing Your Harbor Freight Shopper Philosophy
2) Top Ten Things NOT to Buy at Harbor Freight (Humor)
3) Derogatory yet Slightly Loving Harbor Freight Nicknames
4) My Harbor Freight Prediction: Prices Way Up Soon... End of the HF?
5) The List: Good Enough, the Bad, and the Abysmal
6) Harbor Freight Tips and Tidbits
7) Harbor Freight Resources Used in this Article

That pretty much says it all. It's fantastic stuff and a good example of why the internet was invented in the first place. If you have your own harbor freight stories, you're encouraged to leave a comment at Tool Crib. It might make it to the next update to the guide.

Check out the Harbor Freight Buyer's Guide here.

Paslode Unveils New Website

2009-06-10T08:31:00Z

Paslode has recently redesigned their website and anyone who ever tried to navigate around the old one knows how welcome this change is. There would be times when we would be looking for information on a tool and we'd simply have to give up. Seriously, it was like they were playing Space Invaders and all the other tool companies were playing Half-Life. But now, after the redesign, the site is really top notch; it's easy to navigate, there's a ton of information on the tools, and it just generally looks alive (as opposed to the old one which looked like it had been sprayed with Round Up). Three cheers for Paslode!

The site also has a blog as well as an invitation for you to become a member of the Advisory Board.

At the moment, you can even win a CF-325 Cordless Framer (our review here) if you help them name the blog.

Visit the site and experience the glory at Paslode.com

Check out our reviews of Paslode tools here.

Websites We Like: TeddBenson.com

2009-06-09T09:05:00Z

Tedd Benson has been a major force in the revival of timber framing. He's written books, appeared on This Old House, and most importantly, involves himself deeply in the actual construction of these aesthetically unique structures. We've been fans for quite a while and even reviewed our favorite of his books as one of our first posts on the site (here). There was also a time not all that long ago, when we were on the verge of heading to New Hampshire to beg for a job at his company, Bensonwood.

The other day, a carpenter/writer pal of ours pointed us to Benson's blog (www.teddbenson.com) and it's as impressive as the man's timber frame portfolio. Not surprisingly, Benson has a very thoughtful approach to the ideas of shelter, family, and generally how we live (and how little we really need in order to get by). The posts are lengthy, engaging, and well worth the time to read and consider.

If you're interested in more information on how the age old craft of timber framing collides with the computer era, we suggest reading this nice article from Tools of the Trade (written by the aforementioned carpenter/writer pal).

Check out Benson's blog here. Also, the Bensonwood portfolio is well worth a perusal.

Books by Tedd Benson at Amazon

Win a Skil 4-Piece Lithium-Ion Kit at Tool Snob

2009-06-08T09:29:00Z

Earlier today, we reviewed Skil's new 4-Piece Lithium-Ion tool kit and found it to be a great set of tools at a great price. We'll now, we're offering a way to get one at 100% off. We're going to give away the kit that we used for our review to one lucky reader. It's dusted with sawdust,and you'll have to get new recip blades because we toasted the ones that were included, but other than that, brand new.

To enter to win, leave a comment at this post (don't worry, your email remains private) saying what you would build with the kit. The contest is just in time for Father's Day and we'll be randomly choosing a winner from all of the entries on Saturday, June 13th. Also, don't forget to enter to win the $100 Home Depot gift card as well. Details on that one here.

To learn more about the Skil Combo kit, our review is here and the Skil site is here.

Skil 18-Volt Lithium-Ion 4-Piece Combo Kit

2009-06-08T09:07:00Z

Skil recently released a 4-piece Li-Ion combo kit and in addition were nice enough to let us test one out. The kit includes 2 batteries, a drill/driver, a circular saw, a reciprocating saw, and a charger. All put together it can be packed comfortably into the carrying bag. For the review, we're going to look at each tool separately and then close with some general thoughts on the kit as a whole.

Drill/Driver- First off, this thing really impressed us. We put it head to head with the Ryobi li-ion and it kept up without any problem. The Ryobi felt a little more durable, but when it came to driving screws or drilling holes, the Skil was right there. The tool has a number of interesting features such as level vials, very nice bit storage, and a handle that can screw into either side. We've never really used the side mounted handles that come with drill/drivers, but if you want to have the option, it's there. The drill also has two speeds and a 20 position clutch.

Circular Saw - We were as impressed with the saw as we were with the drill. It's only a 5-3/8" but it can make it through a 2x4 with little difficulty, so it should be able to handle most around the house and summer project type tasks. The saw has nice visibility and a flip up line gauge in the front to help make a straighter cut. It's also extremely light.

While cutting some rough plywood, we found that the bevel gauge is actually a cut-out of the footplate. This makes the tool that much lighter (by not having an additional piece for the bevel gauge), but the cut-out on the foot plate doesn't have a rounded edge, so it caught on rough wood from time to time. It wasn't really a big deal, but just part of the trade-off for having such a light saw. Other than this small quibble, we really enjoyed using the saw.

Reciprocating Saw - Of the four tools, this is the one that we were the least impressed with. We don't know if it's the fact that we've been using the Makita 15-amp so much and that's made our perspective is impossibly skewed or what. Regardless, we had a few issues with the recip saw. First, we had problems with the tool-free blade clamp, which was difficult to work (it's tough to line the blade hole up with the tool 'dowel'). Also, the saw seemed to drain the battery very quickly. Like we said, we've been using the largest, most aggressive recip saw on the market, but the blade clamping system is awkward no matter how you slice it. Of the four tools, it was the recip saw where the discrepancy between the DIY and the pro tools felt the greatest, which is probably because sheer 'bad-ass-ness' is the cornerstone of any recip saw and that comes at a high price. Less so with the others.

But the recip saw did gain some ground with us when we discovered the on-board blade storage. It's a fantastic idea and something we hope catches on with recip saws.

Flashlight - This is really the unsung hero of the kit. It's a pistol grip style light and projects a pretty bright beam a good distance, making it nice for night-time raccoon/deer spotting as well as crawl space work. With the battery attached, it can easily sit upright and with the pivoting head, you can really direct light anywhere you want to (including straight up). If you're sitting there thinking that flashlights are a waste of space in a kit like this, you're completely wrong. We can just about guarantee that it will be the most used item of the four.

Overall, this is a fantastic set of tools for the money. If you're starting up your DIY career and want a nice kit that all runs off the same battery, this is the one for you. It's a great set because it's really complete and all said and done, the tools are nice and functional with useful features. Perfect for all of those summer projects that you have lined up. The Skil 4-piece set will cost you about $250, whereas pro-quality combo kits can run up to twice that or more.

On a side note, the Skil li-ion batteries are backwards compatible with all older Skil Ni-Cd tools, and are available separately with a charger. So if you're satisfied with your current Skil tools, but want to upgrade the battery, that's a possibility as well. A battery and a charger costs about $100.

More information on the tools at the Skil website.

Skil 4-piece Combo Kit at Lowes and Amazon

Win a $100 Home Depot Gift Card from Tool Snob!

2009-06-05T08:48:00Z

Remember how dad stayed up all night to build your fifth grade science project? Remember how he took years off his life by teaching you how to drive? Remember when he didn't kill you after you melted all of your crayons on the radiators? It's time to repay the old man, and there's really no better way than giving him a wild spending spree at Home Depot.

The way we see it, there are a few ways to go about this. First, you could go to any Home Depot and buy a gift card. Second, you could go to the Home Depot website and order up the card. The third way, and the most rewarding with the least amount of effort, is to leave a comment at this post telling us the items you would get your pops with a $100 Home Depot gift certificate and if you're the lucky winner of the random drawing, we'll have said $100 gift certificate heading your way with plenty of time to spare for Father's Day. The gift certificate is being very generously supplied by Home Depot and they will be mailing it direct, so there won't be the ridiculous delays that happen when we mail something out.

So that's it. That's all you have to do....just leave a comment on this post telling us how you or your dad would chew through $100 at Home Depot and we'll pick a random winner in a week...next Friday (June 12th).

What would we use the certificate to buy? We're of two minds with the whole gift certificate thing. There's something that really bothers us about paying to replace our everyday tools; things like tape measures, screwdrivers, adjustable wrenches, etc. So when we get a gift certificate, our first inclination is to use it for those items. Spending $30 of our own money to replace a tape measure really irritates us for some reason. But then we start thinking about it we usually end up using gift certificates for some odd splurge, some tool that we don't have and we really don't need. But why not own a 23 gauge pinner or a RotoZip?

So help dad out and tell us what you'd get him or what you think he should get. You just might win a $100 gift certificate.

Also, if you decide to get your own Gift Card, there are three new designs. One of which looks like it's made out of duct tape and comes with a free 3/8 drill bit.

Order a Home Depot gift card here.

Some Interesting Articles from Around the Internet...

2009-06-04T09:23:57Z

Once again, we've run out of time to post anything original, so here are a few articles written by others that caught our eye. We figured you're sick of excavator videos.

Steampunked R2D2 (at b3ta.com)

Six Top DIY Project Kits You Can Buy (at Popular Mechanics)

How To Build A Mentos And Diet Coke Booby Trap (at Instructables)

Crown Molding: Mitering vs. Coping. Which Do You Do? (at Fine Homebuilding via Rob Yagid @ Twitter)

Buy the House from Ferris Bueller (at Charles & Hudson)

Win a Gutster at Extreme How-To (at Extreme How-To)

Poison Ivy FAQ (at Poison Ivy Info Center) please don't ask why this is top of mind