The Collegiate Handyman

Tools for the New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 14:22:00 +0000

Upcoming M12 Circular Saw - Milwaukee

With the new year comes new tools, gear, and projects to think about. Here's the first of three posts on what I'm planning for 2015.

Read on to see the tools I'm most excited for this year.

Milwaukee M12 Fuel Circular Saw

I’ve been itching for Milwaukee to release a small circular saw ever since I bought my first M12 tool about two years ago. Since that time, I’ve been constantly checking the Tool Guyd blog, my main source of new tool news, for any hints from Milwaukee. Well, they’re finally release one in February 2015! This will be a brushless model that’s touted to be comparable to competitors’ 18 volt saws. Perhaps best of all, it has the cutting capacity to go through 2x material in one pass. It sounds like they’ve been taking their time to ensure this is an amazing tool. Needless to say, I’m excited! Link to product page.

Milwaukee M12 Vacuum

A cordless vacuum doesn’t sound all that exciting, does it? Well, having owned a Black and Decker 18 volt vac for a couple years now, I can say that they’re very useful tools. Unfortunately, my model has an internal battery that I believe is the older Ni-Cd technology. The runtime seems to be only about 10-15 min and then I’m searching for the charging cord. This upcoming Milwaukee model should give me the benefit of more power and swappable batteries. Link to product page.

Knipex Pliers Wrench

Is it a pair of pliers? Is it a wrench? Well, it’s both. This one has been on my wishlist for a while now and I think the only thing stopping me from buying one is the price. Sure, at $50 it’s a bit spendy, but plenty of reviews out there claim it’s worth every penny. What sets it apart from some similar pliers is the 10x leverage coupled with parallel jaws, thus the ability to function well as a wrench in addition to pliers. I'm hoping these will replace two tools in my tool bag. Link to product page.

Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker

Sharpening knives is an art that seems to take a lot of patience to master - not to mention money. There are tons of sharpening systems out there that claim to do away with various spendy sharpening stones while lowering the skill requirement. This certainly sounds appealing, but many of those gadgets are most likely gimmicks; however, the Spyderco Sharpmaker is well-regarded in the knife enthusiast community and looks to be a winner. I can see a lot of benefit from having something like this for my EDC / tool knives as well as kitchen knives. Link to product page.

Some Kind of Socket Set

Now I’ll be the first to admit that mechanical projects are not my strongpoint. Granted, over the last few years I’ve learned a lot about cars and I can do some pretty basic maintenance and repairs; however, I don’t think of myself as very mechanically inclined. Perhaps as a result, I don’t have much in terms of a socket set. I’m halfway keeping an eye out for a small set that I could store in my car if I ever needed to fix something on the road. This is something everyone should have, even if it’s only used for looking like you’re at least trying to fix the problem as the tow truck is on its way.

Well, that's it in terms of tools I'm seeking out in 2015. What are you interested in buying this year?

Found Pocket Knives, Victorinox Budding Knife

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 05:10:00 +0000

My wife and I recently bought a new-to-us car. While we were cleaning out the old car to sell, I came across these three pocket knives in the very-full glove compartment (along with some hand warmer packets from the late 1980s). We figured these knives must have come from her father when he had the car years ago. I thought they were pretty interesting and worth a quick post.

A little background would help here. My wife's family are orchardists, so it was no surprise her dad would forget a tool or two while he used the car to drive through apple orchard rows. I think I had probably came across one or two of these knives while searching for something else in the glove compartment years ago, but I didn't think twice about it.

Here's the first one. It has a long blade at about 3.5" with a skinny handle. It looks like it could be a good 25 years old and surprisingly it's made in the USA; however, I have no idea who the manufacturer is. One side has the Chevron gas logo with "Ortho Fertilizers." The reverse side has information for a local orchard supply store. I imagine the long blade would come in handy for cutting large bags of fertilizer, compost, etc. I can't picture myself using this one very much. It seems a little ridiculous with such a long blade and skinny handle.

Next up is a familiar looking multi-tool. The overall length is about 3.5" and features a knife, bottle opener / screw driver, and a corkscrew. Tweezers can be found hidden away in the handle. The build quality on this one seems pretty low. The handle scales are plastic and there is a bit of slop to the tools when deployed. I don't think I'll be giving this one an EDC test drive either. If I were to carry a SAK-type multi-tool, I'd opt for one without the corkscrew (sorry for all the acronyms there). I may just throw this one in the bag we keep our tent in so we'll have it in case we need it while camping.

This last knife was a bit of a mystery. Right off the bat I could tell it was of higher quality than the other two. I noticed the familiar shield logo, and sure enough, it's made by Victorinox of Swiss Army Knife fame; however, this didn't look like any SAK I was aware of. That strange hump on the back side of the blade seemed odd. At first I thought it was perhaps some kind of package opener that you could use to cut packing tape without having to deploy the knife. But the rest of the blade also seemed a little odd.

Upon closer inspection, I noticed the well-used blade was flat on one side, i.e. only tapered down to the cutting edge on one side. I've seen "chisel ground" blades on other knives, but I couldn't figure out the purpose here. It took about 20 minutes of Googling before I caught a lead. This is a Victorinox budding knife. It's meant to be used for grafting fruit trees. Well duh! My father-in-law is an orchardist after all.

I'll leave it to you to find out how these knives are use to graft trees. I'm sure Youtube can help. In the meantime, I plan on giving this back to dad when the in-laws visit this weekend.

Gerber Crucial Review Update

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 21:12:00 +0000

I bought the Gerber Crucial for myself about two years ago. At the time, I was searching for a multi-tool that was fairly compact and had the ability to deploy most, if not all, of the tools without fully opening the tool. My intent was to EDC (every-day carry) it. On paper, the Crucial fit my needs; however, I only found myself carrying it on and off.

Here is a link to my original review from about 20 months ago. I actually thought quite highly of the tool at the time. So, why didn't I regularly use it for EDC? It's hard to say. A while after I bought the Crucial, I ended up getting a Kershaw OD-2 pocketknife. The OD-2 is very compact (I've actually temporarily lost it a couple times) and I think that's part of the reason why I ended up carrying it more than the Crucial.

Anyway, my intent with this post isn't to philosophize on why I use particular tools. I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the Crucial today and see how well it's held up. I've carried it more regularly in the last few months and I've actually used it for a variety of tasks - while at the time of the original review, I hadn't had a chance to fully put it through the paces.

Gerber Crucial shown with pliers deployed.

My original review has a bit of detail on all of the tools, but in a nutshell, the Crucial has: a partially-serrated knife, phillips and slot head screwdrivers, pliers, wire cutters, and a carabiner / bottle opener.

Gerber Crucial (propped up on yellow bottlecap).

As for the uses I've had for the Crucial lately, I've done the regular, mundane tasks - cutting with the knife, opening bottles, etc. but also some more interesting projects. For example, while visiting out of town, I offered to help my friend change his car's fuel filter. He didn't have many tools easily accessible, but I had the Crucial in my pocket! I used the Phillips driver to loosen a couple hose clamps, and the pliers to remove the two fuel lines (which were really stuck on there). The Crucial worked great for this task, and it was pretty handy to get the entire project done with just a multi-tool.

I do a fair amount of projects / DIY-type things away from home. I'm either helping a friend with a project, or just making use of their garages (having adequate space and creating too much noise with tools are challenges when working in our apartment). I like to pack light for these projects away from home. I always try to pack my tool bag with only the tools I anticipate I'll need for the particular project. Of course, I invariably forget tools now and then; therefore, I try to at least make sure I have the Crucial in my pocket. It's saved me a trip back home to pick something up more than once.

Pros:

Deep-carry pocket clip. This tool is fairly large and heavy, but at least the deep-carry clip helps to keep it low in your pocket.
The carabiner bottle opener actually works really well, and the gate usually catches the cap once removed - which is pretty cool.
The Phillips screwdriver works well. Also, you can flip the driver out 90 degrees and use it like a T-handle driver for extra torque.

Cons:

There's some play between the two pieces (handles of the pliers) when closed - particularly noticeable when using the knife.
The slot head screwdriver is difficult to open. There's no problem with the Phillips, so I'm guessing it's just a poor fit / quality control issue.

Bottom line:
Overall, I still think the Gerber Crucial is a good choice for a multitool. It has most everything I need, nothing I don't, and it's easy to pocket / EDC. I neglected to EDC this for quite some time since I bought it, but it has since found its way back into my rotation. I think the big appeal for me is that I can have the functionality of a multitool, without having something that is so large it needs to be carried in a pouch on my belt.

TSA to Allow Pocket Knives on Planes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 04:12:00 +0000

The Transportation Security Administration, you know, those guys that make you take off your shoes at airports and don't have the common decency to at least put a rug down, has some good news for handymen and women today. Starting April 25th, they'll allow small pocket knives in carry-on luggage on planes. Here is a link to their press release.

Also...

They'll now allow previously prohibited sports equipment, such as pool cues, golf clubs, and hockey sticks. Does this sound like a hijacking attempt waiting to happen? Well, don't worry. Now Casey Jones is free to protect our airlines once again.

Joking aside, I think this is pretty good news. If I were a frequent air traveler, I imagine I would have "donated" plenty of pocket knives to the TSA over the years, including my beloved Swiss Tech Utili-key (centered in the title picture of this post). Come April 25th, you won't have to worry about that anymore.

DIY Wooden Sunglasses

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 04:29:00 +0000

I'm generally the kind of person who takes good care of their things, except all bets are off with sunglasses. That's why I'm a big fan of cheap ones. My usual go-to sunglasses are actually "safety shades" as I like to call them. They can be found at the local big box home improvement store for $5-10. Of course, they aren't very stylish.

I recently bought a couple pair of "aviator-style" sunglasses from Amazon for just a couple bucks each. From a distance, a long distance, these could be passable as stylish... I guess; however, I wanted to replace some of the cheap plastic on them with wood. Read on to see how I did it.

Ok, I tricked you. This isn't much of a how-to guide. Basically, you just need the right size wood, a coping saw (it has a thin blade for detail cuts), some sandpaper, and a drill. I'd really recommend you get a coping saw if you don't have one. They are very handy and this project is a good excuse to go buy one. It shouldn't be more than $10-15 for a basic one.

For the wood, I used some that I had been holding on to for years. In fact, I think I had it leftover from a shop project in high school. You can check the local big box home improvement store to see if they have any wood thin enough. They probably carry 1/4" strips in poplar, maple, and / or oak, but that may be too thick for your preferences. The wood I used is about 3/16" thick. If you have the right tools, you could also resaw thicker wood to your desired thickness, but that's beyond this blog post.

To make the arms, just remove a stock arm, trace it onto your material, and get to cutting. Once one is done, use that one to trace the second, not the original arm you first traced with. That way they'll at least be the same shape. It also helps to use some double-stick tape when you get to sanding. You can hold the two pieces together and sand them at the same time. It's quicker that way, and you also ensure they end up looking the same.

Once the arms are done, you'll need to do some notching to get them to connect to the frame. Take your time with this step and go bit by bit, checking along the way to make sure you don't remove too much material. I didn't do a very good job here and it looks a bit sloppy.

The last step is to drill the holes. Again, be careful for best results. Also make sure that you use the right size drill bit. Oh, and you get bonus points if you don't lose the screws. Of course, I lost them and ended up using a couple of wire brads trimmed to length.

Well there you have it. They certainly don't compare to professionally-made wooden sunglasses, but these are cheap and you can take pride in making them yourself. I'm leaving mine natural, but you can certainly paint or stain them any color you want. With the right equipment you could also burn designs into the arms.

Sipik SK68 LED Flashlight Mod

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 05:53:00 +0000

I've been interested in LED flashlights for a while now. It was about a year and a half ago that I got my first high-power LED flashlight, meaning, it doesn't use multiple 5mm LEDs like the previous lights I've featured here on my blog (see my LED flashlight roundup for those). These newer lights are much more powerful and use a single LED of a different variety.

The Sipik SK68 is widely regarded as a budget light. In fact, you can get it for less than $10; however, that doesn't mean that it's poor quality. I'd say it's one of the best "bang for your buck" lights out there right now. I actually own a few of them. So, it wasn't long before I started tinkering and modifying them.

The Sipik SK68 is a single AA battery light. It takes 1.5V alkalines or 3.6V lithium-ion batteries - the latter of which makes it much, much brighter. It's notable feature is a zoom ability, meaning the beam can be adjusted from "flood" to "throw" by adjusting collar on the end. It's also a compact light, measuring about 3.5" long and 1" in diameter.

Here is the SK68 disassembled.

For my modification, I wanted the power from a 3.6V AA-sized battery, known as a 14500, but in a smaller size. For that, I decided to use a CR2 photo battery. It's only 3V, but it's a huge improvement over a 1.5V AA battery, and half the length; however, it's also a bit wider than an AA, so I had to not only shorten the battery tube, but also bore out the tube a bit.

Here's the finished product. It's about an inch shorter than the original.

Here you can see the inch-long chunk I cut out of the battery tube. You can also see that the tube wall is fairly thick. I used sandpaper wrapped around a drill bit to bore out the tube. That took a while, but it was a simple process.

That's pretty much it. The light was pretty good before, but now it's just as bright and even more compact.

Old Stanley No. H1249 Hand Plane

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 05:42:00 +0000

The last time I visited home, I mentioned to my dad how I had recently helped some friends install trim for a couple of windows. I told him the job would have been a lot easier if I had a hand plane to make fine-tuned adjustments to the fit of the trim. With that, he jumped up and ran out to the garage to give me this old plane he no longer had a use for.

I must say, it doesn't look like much now. It's dirty, a little rusted, and generally tarnished all over; however, looks can be deceiving as it's basically in great shape. Aside from a little cleaning, all it needs to be brought back to life is a bit of sharpening.

I actually remember using this plane as a kid, but I didn't quite understand how to use it correctly at the time. I recall the blade was as dull as ever all those years ago. Probably the first thing I will do to rehab this tool is sharpen the blade.

One of the cool things about this old plane that I now appreciate as an adult is that it was made in the USA! As more and more tools are now being made in other countries, namely China, it's nice to see a tool that was made here in America.

It took some internet sleuthing but I was able to figure out who made this plane. There are no labels aside from a spot where an old sticker used to be. The only other identifying mark is "No. H1249" on the blade. Fortunately, that was enough info and an Ebay listing tipped me off that this plane was made by Stanley.

I'm pretty excited to get this plane back into good working order. I think it's awesome that this antique tool will soon be working like new. It's also pretty cool to know that I'll be taking good care of it and it can easily last another 30+ years.

Fiskars Cuts+More 5-in-1 Utility Scissors Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 04:11:00 +0000

How many of you have a pair of safety-scissors you "borrowed" from grade school 15 years ago? Come on, raise your hands. Are you really still using those? I think it's time you grew up and bought a pair of adult scissors. Kick-butt adult scissors, if you will.

The Fiskars Cuts+More multi-purpose scissors are just what you need. They aren't just scissors, they also feature a bottle opener (kinda silly, IMO, but why not?), a knife, a light-duty wire cutter, and the sheath has a sharpener and box tape cutter. Yes, these come with a sheath.

Speaking of the sheath, let's get that out of the way so I can focus on the scissors themselves. The sheath fits snugly over the blades and lets you cut tape on boxes without the risk of cutting yourself (or the box contents). It also has a blade sharpener built right in. Do these need a sheath, probably not, but it's a nice feature and I'm sure the sharpener will come in handy.

On to the scissors; they work well. They'll cut everything from fabric to thick cardboard. They come apart for easy cleaning and to use one blade as a knife. Sure, it's not the most comfortable or effective knife, but it works. I'm sure the bottle opener feature works too, but I probably won't every find myself using it. After all, bottle openers are pretty much everywhere these days.

I was in search of a good pair of utility scissors when I purchased these, and I couldn't expect more from them. The street price is right around $10, so they're a great deal too.

Ace Hardware Bag Sale!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 01:00:00 +0000

This weekend my local Ace Hardware store had a bag sale, that is, just about anything that fits in a standard-size paper grocery bag is 20% off!

Check out what I picked up:

- Gorilla Tap duct tape. I don't think you should ever be in a situation where you need duct tape and don't have any.
- Kreg pocket hole wood screws. My fiance got me a Kreg Jr. pocket hole kit for X-Mas. These extra screws will come in handy as I put it to use.
- A pack of cable ties. Generically called zip ties due to the sound they make, these are nearly as handy as duct tape.
- An assorted pack of wood screws. I was going to buy a small parts organizer, but then I noticed they were selling basically the same organizer, but with screws in it, for just a couple bucks more.

I love the Ace bag sales. They seem to do them a couple times a year and they always get me to come in and buy something. Generally, it's a good idea to try to buy things that don't typically go on sale, such as hardware.

Drill Bit Roundup - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 05:20:00 +0000

This will be the first in a series of two posts focusing on the wide range of available drill bits. I'm going to start out with the more common types of bits, and move on to some more specialty items in my next post.

I used some macro filters on my DSLR camera to capture these up-close pictures. I apologize for the sawdust on a few of these. I didn't bother to clean them off beforehand.

Twist Bit

Twist bits are the plain vanilla of drill bits. They are cheap, available in a huge range of sizes, and work for most materials. Every handyman should have these in his arsenal.

Brad Point Bit

These are somewhat similar to twist bits, but they have a sharp point at the tip that helps you align your hole and also keeps the bit from "walking." Don't try to use these on metal.

DeWalt Pilot Point Bit

Similar in function to a brad point bit, DeWalt's pilot point bits help to center the hole exactly where you want it. Compared to brad point bits, I find these to be somewhat more useful since they can be used on metal.

Masonry Bit

These masonry bits have a hard metal tip that acts like a rotating chisel to break apart brick, concrete, and other similar materials. They are best used in drills that have a hammer function. I don't find myself using them very often, but they make a huge difference when drilling into masonry!

Well, that does it for the first part in the series. Stay tuned for the next one!

Smith's Pocket Pal Knife Sharpener Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 17:49:00 +0000

The Smith's Pocket Pal is pretty self-explanatory - it's a pocket-sized knife sharpener. To use it, simply draw your knife blade through one or both of the two replaceable sharpening blades. There is a carbide side to shape the knife blade, and a ceramic side to give it a nice, sharp edge. Not shown in my pictures is a fold-out tool for sharpening serrated knife edges.

How well does it work? Well, I haven't used it too extensively since I received it as a Christmas gift a couple years back, but that's because most of my cutting needs are done with utility knives with disposable blades that aren't meant to be sharpened; however, I recently used it to sharpen a few kitchen knives as well as a pocket knife.

My results were a little mixed. The kitchen knives were hit or miss. Some seemed to sharpen up nicely while others didn't seem to have much effect. This could certainly be at least part to the poor shape some of those knives were in. Also, the quality of the knife might make a difference (the knives that didn't sharpen very well were older, cheaper ones from my college days).

As for the pocket knife, I noticed a big improvement after sharpening. I got this knife years ago as a teenager but the blade had always been pretty dull. Now, with a sharp and actually useful edge, I may start to carry it around with my on my keychain.

Overall, I think the Smith's Pocket Pal is a handy little tool. For less than $10, I think it does a good job for the price. I admittedly don't know very much about knife sharpening (there's practically a whole science behind it and professional sharpening stone sets can cost hundreds of dollars), but I'm generally happy with the results from this very simple process.

Happy Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 04:29:00 +0000

Happy Halloween from the Collegiate Handyman!

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be DIY-ing any kind of costume this year.

Leave a comment if you have made a costumer or carved a special handyman-themed pumpkin this year.

Here's my Frankenstein monster:

My Thoughts on Harbor Freight

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 03:09:00 +0000

I was browsing the Toolmonger blog and found a post they had done on a Harbor Freight tent sale. If you aren't familiar, Harbor Freight is a tool store chain that focuses on... ahem, low-cost tools. Well, I had happened to have also gone to a Harbor Freight tent sale this past weekend. My friend and I were looking for a heat gun to be used for stripping paint on his kitchen cabinets. Harbor Freight recently had one for about $8 in their ad, so I thought we'd check it out.

As I was browsing the miscellaneous collection of low-cost tools in the parking lot tent, low and behold, I came across a lonely heat gun in a pile of other tools! This one was obviously a return, but it had a very appealing price of just $3.00. As I was about to walk into the store to purchase it, a Harbor Freight employee asked how much it was, took a look at it, and said I could have it for just a buck as he printed off a new price sticker. Score!

Now, at this point I should have had one of those buyer beware moments, but hey, for a buck, where could I go wrong? I took it home and fired it up, literally. As soon as I plugged it in, twin jets of flame and smoke shot out the side vents like a hot rod. I promptly unplugged it and tossed it in the driveway where it couldn't do any harm. Needless to say, I got a lemon.

Sadly, I wasn't shocked to find myself disappointed with a power tool bought at Harbor Freight; however, I was a bit surprised to think that they hadn't even tested this returned item to see if it even worked (or would self destruct for that matter).

My point of this post isn't to bash Harbor Freight and their low cost tools. On the contrary, they can fill a very specific purpose for the DIYer and professional alike, if you keep a few things in mind. In retrospect, I realize I broke one of my three cardinal rules of shopping at Harbor Freight, specifically the third one:

1. If thou can get a power tool at Harbor Freight for less than the cost of renting it , get it at Harbor Freight. It might not last very long, but if it survives your project and you never need it again, then you came out ahead.

2. If, despite cheap designs and low-cost construction, it's something that they can't possibly mess up, get it at Harbor Freight. Generally good examples: peg board hooks (how can you mess up bent pieces of wire?), demolition tools (sledge hammers, crow bars, etc.), and bungee cords (NOT the kind for bungee jumping!). Generally bad examples: measuring tools, safety equipment, and power tools you expect to use frequently.

3. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. I think this one is self-explanatory.

In my experience, Harbor Freight has a pretty lenient return policy (although I think I was on the wrong end of that policy this weekend), and they do say their hand tools have a limited lifetime warranty. That being said, I'm generally not a fan of the store. My mantra is more of "buy a quality tool that will last a lifetime," not buy it once, replace it over and over.

Oh, and back to the cabinet paint stripping project. After the first heat gun went up in flames, we got a new one from Ace Hardware for about $20. It worked fine through about half the project, then it died as well (less dramatically, thankfully). Ace replaced it no questions asked, and the third try was the charm.

In closing, remember these much quoted and very wise words, "you get what you pay for."

Tool Repair VS a Disposable Culture

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 05:12:00 +0000

Ah, utility knives. They're an essential tool for any DIYer or professional. Perhaps the biggest benefit they provide is their use of replaceable blades. With most knives, certain cutting tasks, like drywall, can quickly dull a good blade. The same holds true for utility knife blades, but when they get dull you can just toss them and get a new one. Plus, the blades are cheap!

Actually, this post isn't so much about utility knives as it is about the concept of disposable items. I see disposable items, such as utility knife blades, as having a place in a handyman's arsenal; however, the knife itself shouldn't be disposable! Case in point, I got my first folding utility knife (like a folding pocket knife but takes utility knife blades) about 8 years ago as they started to get popular. I liked it due to the smaller profile and being able to clip it onto a pocket or utility belt.

One day, I was using my utility knife to cut wood to trim up a dovetail joint for a good fit. Well, I guess it was more than the knife could handle. Two of the tiny screws on the blade holding mechanism completely stripped out under the pressure and shot clear across the room! Considering I was in a messy garage and these were practically the size of eyeglass screws, finding them would be hopeless (I doubt they would even work if I could find them).

So, here I am left with a pretty much useless tool. Without the screws, the knife couldn't hold the blade. I contemplated tossing it in the garbage like I've done with so many old worn out blades, but I decided to keep it instead. Sure, I could go buy a 5-pack for $20 a the local big-box store, but I'm the kind of guy who likes to fix things instead of tossing them out.

I guess I'm glad I kept it, because I eventually did fix it. About two years later, I was learning to weld with my future father-in-law. I was having tons of fun welding old horseshoes into wine racks when it dawned on me I could take a shot at fixing this old knife I had been hanging on to. The next time I visited I took the knife and hit it a few times with the welder. It worked!

I didn't bother doing a very good job of cleaning up the welds, but it's held up fine in the last two or so years I've been using it. Plus, no more screws to break and throw away!

I could probably dedicate a few series of posts to the saying "they just don't make it like they used to" or the concept of a disposable culture that we've largely become here in America. I could also probably do a few posts on made in China items and how that's often associated with cheapness (it's not so simple, but China just happens to be the place where the cheap, disposable things we buy can be made the cheapest). But I'll leave those for another day.

I don't want to be preachy, but I think there's a lot to be said about the ability to fix something, especially tools, as opposed to throwing them away and buying a new one.

Oh, one more thing. Aside from those of you who have been around tools for a long time, how many of you knew hardware stores sell replacement hammer handles for use when they break? They do, and they're cheaper than a new hammer (well, not always I guess)!

Here's my post on a broken hammer repair.

Gerber Crucial Multi Tool Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 21:18:00 +0000

Update, April 2014: Click HERE for my thoughts on the Crucial two years after purchasing it.

Until recently, I haven't been a big fan of multi tools. You see, my first experience with these types of tools was years ago when I got one as a teenager. It was a cheap knockoff of a Leatherman multi tool. Due to the poor quality and the fact that I had to completely "open" the tool before I could use it (which was not a smooth process), I never gave it much use.

Recently, I've noticed that multi tool designs have made a lot of progress. For example, many now allow you to access the majority of the features, such as the knife, while the tool is in a "closed" state. In my opinion, this makes them much more useful.

The Gerber Crucial multi tool has been on my wishlist for a few months now. For starters, most of its tools can be used while the overall tool is closed. The small size as well as the featured tools also caught my attention.

I found a good deal on the Crucial a couple weeks ago so I decided to get one. Now, before I get to my review, I need to bring up a pet peeve of mine. In looking at other reviews, some people dinged the tool for not having certain features. First of all, with any multi tool, you shouldn't buy it if it doesn't have the features that you personally need. If you need a corkscrew, don't give this a bad review. Instead, look for a tool with a corkscrew! Second, multi tools inherently involve a compromise between size and functionality. You can't have all the features imaginable and expect the tool to be small. Likewise, small tools might just focus on basic features.

Anyway, I would classify the Gerber Crucial as a small multi tool. When closed, this version features a 2 1/4" partially-serrated knife, Phillips and slotted screwdrivers, and fold-out carabiner (doubles as bottle opener). Aside from the carabiner, all of these tools lock into place. When opened, you get pliers (includes wire cutter). A removable pocket clip included as well.

Overall, I think this is a great implementation of what it's designed to be. For the most part, everything works well. My minor gripes involve the questionable usefulness of the carabiner and that the slotted screwdriver is difficult to deploy. I absolutely love how easy the knife is to open and use, all while the tool is closed.

Some reviewers have questioned the functionality of the Phillips screwdriver. In order to make everything fit, the screwdriver blade is flattened on one axis. I tested it out with a variety of screws, including sheetrock screws and a variety of wood screws. As with any multi tool, you're probably better off with a regular old screwdriver, but I don't think the flattened Phillips tip is going to pose a problem.

Pros:

Overall high-quality feel
Knife and other features are accessed while tool is "closed" and the action is very smooth.
Tool should not accidentally open or come apart.
Clip is removable.

Cons:

Slotted screwdriver is a pain to open.
If carabiner is deployed, the knife opening/closing is rough (possibly even dangerous), but the carabiner doesn't totally obstruct the knife blade.

Worth noting:

The Phillips screwdriver is an unusual design but it appears to work well on most screws.
Usefulness of carabiner is questionable.
Knife is for right-handed people.

Bottom line:
I'm a big fan of the Gerber Crucial. For me, the size and features are just about perfect. The few cons don't amount to a big issue. If this tool has the features you want, I'd highly recommend the Gerber Crucial.

Buying options:
Gerber Crucial Multi Tool - Green

Garage Renovation with SketchUp

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 04:50:00 +0000

Today I'm starting the first of what I expect will be a few posts about a project I'm working on to renovate a friend's garage. Here's a little background. My friends (husband and wife) bought a house a couple years back. It is a bit of a fixer-upper. I've helped them with a few odds and ends, such as fixing part of a staircase, hanging curtains, and, of course, painting. Well, now they're onto the garage.

They have a pretty simple two-car, detached garage. Basically, the current plan is to create a more usable space in one of the bays (they only park one car in the garage) by building some cabinets and a workbench. I'm currently using Google SketchUp to create a rough drawing of a concept I'll be running by them.

Here it is so far:

As you can see, my drawing hasn't progressed very far. Although to be fair, this only took me a few minutes. Personally, I think SketchUp is a great tool for everything from simple relaying of concepts all the way to planning out fairly complex projects.

Bosch TW12AL Jigsaw Blades and Case

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 03:40:00 +0000

This Bosch jigsaw blade set caught my eye last winter. It looked like a good way to keep my various blades both organized and protected. Well, it took a few months, but I finally decided to buy it.

Bosch TW12AL Jigsaw Blade Set on Amazon.

Let me tell you, this is the Holy Grail of jigsaw blade cases. It has individual blade compartments (prevents blades from rustling around with each other and dulling), magnets to hold them in, and the quality is rock solid. Due to the design, I bet you could run this over with a truck and it would survive (don't ask me for a replacement if you try that and it actually breaks!).

Oh, and the blades are fantastic too. This set comes with a good assortment of wood-cutting blades (no metal-cutting in this set), ranging from thick to thin, and fine to aggressive. This will prepare you for pretty much any wood cutting task I can think of.

As far as value is concerned, I think it's a great deal. The case is just about worth it alone, and the blades make it a no-brainer. Bosch makes great blades and they have a few other sets available, but as far as this case and blade combination, I don't think you'll find a better offering.

Bucket Boss Brand Mug Boss

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 04:16:00 +0000

This last Christmas I bought a few gifts for my DIY-type friends. Well, I sort of lost track of what I was getting for whom, and I ended up with an extra Bucket Boss Brand Mug Boss. This is essentially a miniature version of their popular Bucket Boss storage solution, except this goes on a coffee mug instead of a 5-gallon bucket.

Bucket Boss Brand Mug Boss

I gotta say, this is a pretty clever gift idea. Best of all, it was just about $5. I think it would make a great stocking stuffer, or a good gift for any time of the year, for that matter.

Gifts for the DIY-er Who Has it All

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:01:00 +0000

Giving thoughtful, and more importantly, useful gifts can be hard. Heck, I started writing this post because I was straining my brain trying to think up some gift ideas for someone. I'm sure you've had this problem too. Well, I'm here to help. If you're looking for a great gift for a DIY-type person, one of the items below may be just what you need.

The running theme here is that these items should appeal to most every DIY person. I've picked some of my favorite, most useful tools that I either have, or would like to have. Also, they aren't very expensive! Note, I'm providing Amazon.com links because I'm borrowing their product pictures.

Milwaukee Fastback Utility Knife. $10-15

Probably most-every DIYer has a utility knife, but this one has a few added features, such as a gut hook, wire stripper, and easy one-handed opening, that many other knives don't have. I also like the look of the ergonomic handle.

ITP A3 (3-Mode) LED Keychain Flashlight. ~$20

I've had this flashlight for about a month and a half now; it's amazing! I'm very impressed with how much light can be produced from a single AAA battery. Also, it's tiny. The overall size is about as big as a AA battery, but maybe 3/4" longer. It easily fits on my key ring without it getting in my way. Go ahead, call me nerdy for having a keychain flashlight, but I've realized about 75% of the time I need a flashlight, I don't have one handy. Well, now I do. One of these days I'll put up a review on the blog.

Klein 10-in-1 Screwdriver. $10-15

I've written about this screwdriver before, and yet, here it is again. Why? Well, it's a great screwdriver! I've had mine now for over seven years. It's one of those tools that I always know where it is when I need it. I go for it every time I need to drive a screw.

Swiss+Tech Utili-Key. ~$10

HERE is another item I give a lot of praise on the blog. I don't like carrying a pocket knife (in fact, I can't at my day job), so this is the next best thing. I have no doubts about it deserving a precious spot on my keychain, which I like to keep as light as possible (no pun intended).

Smith's Pocket Pal Knife Sharpener

Knife sharpeners can be really expensive, but that doesn't mean they have to be. This one isn't very fancy, and it doesn't look like much, but it does a fine job of sharpening. I used this on my kitchen knives and it worked great. I imagine this could be a good gift for a hunter, too.

General Gift Ideas

Drill accessory kits can be a good gift. I suggest trying to find what the recipient doesn't already have, such as various types drill or driver bits (e.x. spade bits, hole saw, auger, step, etc.).
Tool storage isn't very exciting, but it can be well-received. Look for things like tool boxes with added features, such as small pieces storage.
Be careful when considering power tools. Personally, I always put a lot of thought and research into the power tools I buy, as they can be a big investment. A power tool give can backfire if it isn't what he or she needs, has been dreaming about, or has incompatible batteries.

Well hopefully this gave you a few good gift ideas. If you would like to share yours, or have any questions, feel free to post a comment and I'll be sure to respond.

Review: Swiss Tech Micro 6 in 1

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 04:53:00 +0000

I'm a pants pocket minimalist. I don't like carrying around anything other than my wallet, cellphone, and keys; however, I also like tools (obviously), so the idea of carrying around pocketable multi-tools is appealing, specifically ones that can fit nicely on a key chain without adding much bulk. It can be handy to always have a knife or screwdriver, for example, on me when I need it.

For the last few years, my only key chain tool has been the Swiss Tech utili-key. HERE is my old review from 2008. I absolutely love the utili-key. It took me a while to start frequently using it, meaning, I would forget it was there in my pocket. Of course, in a way, that's what I was hoping for. Now I find myself using it a few times a week.

As for the Micro 6 in 1, I got this tool as a belated birthday present a few months ago. Does it live up to the high bar of the utili-key? Well, the short answer is that I'm still not sure.


Swiss Tech Miccro 6 in 1, along with their utili-key.

As you can see, the Micro 6 in 1 doesn't take up a whole lot of space on my key chain; however, it does add a bit of weight and it's about as thick as four keys. I like how the pliers lock onto the key chain when the tool is closed. Occasionally, the handles (screwdrivers) will sort of partially open on their own. This can be annoying, but it doesn't happen frequently enough for me to worry about.

Swiss Tech Micro 6 in 1 opened.

Here it is opened. The six uses are screwdrivers (Phillips and slothead), a wire cutter, 1/8" rule markings on the sides, pliers, and... uh... I can't seem to find the 6th use. Maybe someone can tell me what it is in the comments (OK, I could just go look it up, but if I can't see it when I'm holding it in my hands, it must not be that useful).

All of the uses seem to work adequately. Keep in mind the retail price on this is under $10, so I don't have huge expectations. For this things I've used it on, it's fine. Sure, there are other tools that have these features and work better, but not many have this good of a balance between small size and usefulness.

I've only had this in my pocket for a few months now. I haven't used it all that much, but I plan on giving it more time to prove its place on my keyring.

Update: In the last few days, the arms have really seemed to loosen up. In fact, it's fallen off my key chain a few times now. For the time being, at least, I'm going to keep it on the bench until I figure out what to do with it.

Macro Pictures of Tools

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:58:00 +0000

I finally got a tripod for the DSLR today! Now I can use my macro lenses! Well, they're technically just filters; I'm cheap. Anyway, I took a few test shots I thought I'd share here.

Click for larger views.

Brand unknown pliers I found at a garage sale. They are in need of some rehab.

Eklind SAE hex keys. Kind of dusty.

These macro filters are going to be a lot of fun now that I have a tripod. Prior to this, they were pretty much unusable, as any camera shake would cause blur. More to come in the future. Also, I hope to rehab those pliers sometime, with some nice before and after pictures, of course.

Milwaukee M12 Tool Deals

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 02:53:00 +0000

I think I'm going to be a big fan of Milwaukee's M12 line of tools. A few weeks ago, I bought the 3/8 inch drill on a pretty good sale (it came free with the electrical fork meter for $99). I love that drill. It doesn't have the power of my 18 volt drill (obvsiously, 12 < 18), but it can easily handle 90% of my drilling needs.

Since I bought the drill, I've been looking for a good deal on the impact driver. Yesterday, I noticed some of Milwaukee's M12 line of power tools had a bit of a price drop, including that driver. I almost pulled the trigger, then I noticed an even better deal!

I did some checking, and here are some pretty good deals I've found. I don't know how new these deals are, but they aren't bad. If you're in the market for M12 tools, take a look here at Home Depot, as well as places like Amazon, Buy.com, and Google's shopping search tool. Note, these seem to be sale prices, but they aren't advertised as sales with Home Depot. Compare them to the "tool only" versions and you'll see how good of a deal they are.


M12 hammer drill, impact driver, and free multi-tool!

First, the kit I just bought. This comes with the 3/8" hammer drill, impact driver, and a free multi-tool, all for $199. I haven't gotten a good chance to try everything out, but I'm trying my best to think up some projects I can use these on this weekend. This is a great deal for $199. It comes with two Red lithium batteries, which are the newer model that promises even better performance. Here is the LINK. Oh, and make sure you are getting the one with the free multi-tool!
Update: As of October 23rd, it looks like the deal is no longer available online. It may still be available in stores, however.

Next up, we have the impact driver by itself, HERE for $99. Again, make sure you're getting the right one. This one is the full kit with two batteries, charger, and a case. They are also selling the "tool only" version, with you guessed it, just the tool, for the same price!

Similar to the deal above, HERE is the Hackzall kit for $99. Again, this is the kit with case, batteries, charger, etc. This is the same price as the tool only version, so be careful (I'm not writing much about this because I'm trying to resist buying one!)

Drill Accessory Case Comparison 2 - Three From Milwaukee and a Skil

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:55:00 +0000

A few years back I did a COMPARISON of a few drill bit / insert bit cases I own. For girlfriend-scrutiny purposes, I like to keep the actual number of cases I own a mystery; however, I can say that it's more than five and less than 15. Anyway, I have a few more to compare today.

Last time, I inevitably came to the conclusion that you can't judge contents by their case, and vice versa. Also, we can't judge case contents by their brand. Unfortunately, everything is hit or miss. A brand might hit the nail on the head, so to speak, with one case, and completely miss the boat with another.

This time, I'm going to review three cases by Milwaukee, and one by Skil. Don't worry, there is enough variety to keep this comparison interesting, despite only two brands between four cases. Also, I'm going to avoid mentioning the quality of the contents. Well, I'll do the best I can.

First up, I have a case of spade drill bits from Milwaukee.
Milwaukee 4220175 8 pc Flat Boring Bit Set

Pros:
The case is solid. Bits fit firmly, but easily snap into place. There is enough room for even large fingers to remove the bits. Rubber on the outside is slightly gimmicky, but it does help keep the case from sliding around when placed on smooth/wet/slanted surfaces.
Cons:
When closed, the two halves of the case can shift around with a bit of pressure, but this isn't a big issue by any means.
Verdict:
This is a near-perfect case. Hmm, maybe I should have ended with this one...

Next I have a pretty standard Milwaukee drill bit set.
Milwaukee 48-89-2800 14pc Thunderbolt Black Oxide Drill Bit Set

Pros:
Again, Milwaukee does a great job here with a drill bit case. Bits securely slide into place and can be removed without too much effort. The case doesn't feel cheap, and the sliding lock has a picture of a drill bit on it so you can tell at a glance what the contents are (this is actually helpful for me and my 5-15 cases). The two holders for these bits can even rotate up for easier access.
Cons:
Again, nothing major to complain about. The one thing worth mentioning is that this case holds 14 bits, and only 14 bits. It would have been nice if the case was either slightly larger, or had another smaller bit holder for more bits.
Verdict:
Overall, this is a great case, but I feel Milwaukee is missing out on an opportunity to add more storage for savvy users. I've noticed most of their cases are somewhat modular. They aren't all interchangeable, but I wish Milwaukee would sell individual bit holders to help users make custom cases.

The third case from Milwaukee is a set of insert bits.
Milwaukee 48-32-4401 29-piece Shockwave Impact Driver Bit Set

Pros:
On the right side of the case, the bits fit snugly, yet are easily removable/replaceable (see a pattern here?). The case closes firmly, and it features rubber pads on the outside as well as a general picture of the contents on the locking slider.
Cons:
Unfortunately, the left side of the case features a poorly executed storage compartment. First of all, there are three vertical sections with no dividers. That means all of your bits, screws, parking meter change, whatever, will be sliding around. Even worse, the leftmost section gets almost completely blocked by the hinged door! I love the idea, but it just doesn't work.
Verdict:
This case makes very poor use of internal space. The right side seems to have wasted room between the bits, and the storage compartment is a joke. I like what they were going for, but frankly, I wouldn't buy this one again (ok, maybe I would because mine came bundled with that 14-piece drill bit set for a good price).

Lastly, I have a Skil case containing almost every bit imaginable.
Sorry, but I couldn't find a link at this time.

Pros:
This tri-fold design is the first I've ever seen for a case, and it works pretty well. Overall, it's no thicker than the last Milwaukee set, but it has 50% more space (by my unscientific estimate). It feels fairly sturdy. Drill bit sizes are printed next to their storage locations.
Cons:
I love the innovative design, but many of the bits are difficult to remove/replace. This case may have a great variety of drill/insert bits, but actually using them can be a pain. Also, the hinge on the back is huge! I'm sure this is due to the tri-fold design, but it does make the case wider than most when closed.
Verdict:
This one is a toss up. I like the overall design but the bit holders could be a lot better. If you're not as picky as I am about these things, then this is a great product.

Conclusion:
Milwaukee is generally regarded as a professional, high-quality brand, and it shows with two of their three cases here, but the last one is big letdown. Meanwhile, Skil, which in my experience is often overlooked or at least not well known for drill accessories, has a really innovative case design.

My "Newest" Drill

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:01:00 +0000

I found one of my very first tools the other day. It's a drill from my childhood. At first glance, it may not look like much, but it does have some nice features in common with even the best modern drills:

- Keyless chuck.
- All-metal gears.
- Long lasting battery (needs to recharge only once per day!)
- Variable speed.
- Best of all, no plastic pieces!

Sadly, the chuck is a little worse for wear, but I think I could get it working again.

I actually used to have another drill like this, although that one was about twice the size. It worked pretty well for certain applications. Sometimes I enjoy using self-powered hand tools when I get a chance. There's something relaxing about it. Well, for a few minutes anyway.

Home Depot Special Buy of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 04:34:00 +0000

Home Depot recently started doing a "special buy of the day" program. It looks like it's similar to all those other deal of the day type sites.

Today, they have a toilet on sale. Now I'm not very current on my toiled prices, but it looks like this could be a good deal. Personally, I'll be waiting for tool deals.

Here is the link to the Special Buy of the Day.

Has anyone seen any good tool deals on here, or any other DotD-type sites?

Update:
A couple weeks back they had a deal on a Milwaukee M12 XC (that's eXtended Capactiy) battery. This has twice the juice as the normal batteries. I picked one up for about $40, while the usual going rate is $70 or so. My guess is they were trying to unload their stock of these, as it looks like they've replaced them with the newer "Red" lithium type.

I didn't like that I couldn't just go to the store and pick it up, as is the case with some online purchases. It's frustrating to have two Home Depot stores within 15 miles of me and having to wait a good week and a half for it to arrive in the mail. Complaints aside, I feel like I got a good deal.

Below is a running list of notable items. Many of the items thus far haven't been very appealing to me, such as outdoor furniture, plumbing fixtures, and tile, but it looks like there were some pretty good deals.

Notable items:
Milwaukee M12 XC battery - $40
Ridgid 12v Jobmax (refurbished) - $50 (if I recall correctly)