Sog’s Fusion series of knives includes several funky theme-based designs. Each lockback knife has a 3″ blade, an overall length of 7.5″, and several themed doodads and accessories.
Home Depot & Klein’s Exclusive Retailer Agreement
The Home Depot (THD) and Klein Tools recently announced Home Depot to be the exclusive home improvement retailer of Klein’s hand-held tools. Under the agreement, “…Home Depot will offer Klein’s complete line of durable, high-quality electrical tools and will be the sole home improvement retailer of all existing and future product lines.” This explains why […]
Brown Dog Welding’s Incredible Hardware Sculptures
Photo by izthistaken (Matt Trombley) Josh Welton, the skilled artist and craftsman behind Brown Dog Welding, uses his talent to turn ordinary hardware and scrap metal into elaborate models and sculptures. The incredible motorcycle model shown above is a great example of what he can do. Brown Dog Welding is a welding and fabrication shop […]
Two Innovative New Campbell Hausfeld Compressors
A few weeks ago, Campbell Hausfeld announced several snazzy new nailers. The innovation did not stop there – CH recently announced two new compressor systems: a 26 gallon unit that has been dubbed the “ultimate portable compressor”, and a wall-mountable 8 gallon unit that can be equipped with up to two add-on 8 gallon tanks. […]
You Know You’ve Got it Bad When…
You know you’ve got it bad when while watching the new Transformers movie you wonder which types of tools the Autobots use to repair themselves. If they adapted themselves to use Earth hardware, would they choose SAE or metric?! I thoroughly enjoyed the new movie, especially when the heavy construction equipment started coming to life. […]
Tool Science 101: Chrome Plating Part 2 – Cleaning
A few weeks ago, we published a brief introductory post about chrome plating. To satisfy reader demands, we have decided to follow up that post with a more detailed series of posts about the different steps involved in a typical chromium plating process. This post, part 2 of the series, briefly describes the cleaning and […]
Tool Science 101: Chrome Plating Part 1 – Introduction
As you might be well aware, most mechanics’ tools such as ratchets, sockets, and wrenches, are chrome (chromium) plated. This layer of chrome, although extremely thin, greatly enhances the properties of these tools.
Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish
Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish is great for giving aluminum wheels and parts a brilliant shine. It can also be used on brass and several other polishable alloys to a similar effect. Or, you can use it as I do – to polish aluminum computer chassis components. Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish can be found in many […]
Kershaw Onion Leek Pocket Knife
So I received my new Kershaw Onion Leek pocket knife the other day. I needed (wanted) a new pocket knife, and spent quite some time narrowing down the options. It was a tough choice to make, but I ultimately chose the stainless steel Leek since it seemed to best fit my needs. Following is a partial […]
Channellock’s New Code Blue Screwdrivers & Nutdrivers
Channellock recently announced a “new and improved” series of Code Blue screwdrivers and nutdrivers. Each screwdriver has a 3-sided handle grip, straight-thru steel blade, and a magnetic tip, while the nutdrivers have full hollow shafts and the same high-torque grip. The color scheme and grip design of these drivers look rather appealing – if the drivers feel as […]
Xuron Precision Pliers, Shears, & Scissors
Xuron produces superb precision tools – we love their pliers, shears, and scissors. Xuron tools are durable, comfortable to use, provide exceptional performance, are very affordable, and are made in the USA. Our favorite Xuron tools are their non-serrated short nose pliers (pictured above), fiber cutters, and tweezer nose pliers. We are also huge fans of Xuron’s flush-cut micro shears (also […]
DIY Gone Bad – Car Loses All Four Wheels
Apparently it’s quite common for Europeans to switch between winter and summer tires. Well, one driver in Switzerland was changing his tires but happened to use the wrong lug nuts to secure the wheels to his car. That’s a mistake he’s never going to make again – as soon as he drove back onto the motorway, he lost […]
Skil’s New Skilsaw – High Performance & Outstanding Value
Skil has just released the new HD5687 Skilsaw, marketing it as the ultimate combination of unmatched performance, lightweight design, and unbeatable value, and is designed to tackle any project at the jobsite. Sounds good to us! The new Skilsaw is priced at $89, placing it right in the middle of Skil’s current circular saw lineup. First off, we […]
C.H. Hanson’s Innovative New Precision Ball Level
C.H. Hanson just released their precision ball level – a 24″ level which uses a rotating ball compass design. One of the level’s main selling points is that it eliminates some of the guesswork normally associated with reading a traditional bubble level. While greater ease of use is a good thing, we are even more impressed […]
Stanley FatMax Xtreme Fubar on Sale
Stanley’s FatMax Xtreme Fubar is their heavy duty multi-tasked pry bar. By now, most people are already familiar with these tools after seeing them at any home improvement or general goods store (e.g. Target), so I’ll skip the details. I just wanted to point out that it’s currently on sale for $24.31 with free shipping on orders […]
Craftsman Launches Standalone Online Tool Store!
Sears’ Craftsman brand has launched its own stand-alone online store!! Perhaps this is the beginning of an autonomous Craftsman that I have been dreaming about for years? Here are my observations thus far: The Craftsman store seems to be based off of Sears’ shopping engine The Craftsman store only offers for sale Craftsman products (duh) […]
Campbell Hausfeld Releases New Nailers
Campbell Hausfeld, well known for their beefy compressors and air tools, is releasing a new line of pneumatic nailers. These new nailers are designed to provide professional results as easily for first-time users as for pros by being easier to operate, easier to control, and easier to handle. CH has included some pretty nifty features […]
Craftsman Nextec Auto-Hammer Revisit
A television commercial promoting the Craftsman Nextec Auto-Hammer has aired recently – no doubt targeting Father’s Day gift shoppers, so we’ve decided to revisit it. Although it may still seem a bit gimmicky, the Auto-Hammer is innovative enough that it deserves the attention.
Doctors Use Household Drill for Surgery
A few days ago in Austrailia, a doctor used a household drill to bore into a 13 year old’s skull to relieve pressure on his brain due to a blood clot. The drill was sourced from the maintenance closet since the hospital was not equipped with any neurological drills. Now I’m wondering, what drill was […]
Pocket Ref – The Ultimate Guide to Everything
Okay, so calling the Pocket Ref an ultimate guide to everything may be an exaggeration, but not by as much as you might think. The Pocket Ref is packed full of indispensable information for construction workers, engineers, scientists, travelers, and pretty much everyone else. While a majority of the book offers technical details, there are also many useful general-interest tidbits such as a […]