The Consumerist recently ran a string of posts discussing the troubles one person had in trying to exchanged rounded Craftsman sockets. Some of the replacement-denial excuses given by Sears associates conflicted with previously stated official policies, and one even seems to have been outright fabricated. Brian, a lifelong Craftsman user, unsuccessfully tried to exchange nine rounded […]
Sog Kilowatt – a Charged Up Pocket Knife
The charged up Sog Kilowatt is a quality liner-lock pocket knife for anyone who might need to strip wires or cables at a moment’s notice. The Kilowatt features a 3.4″ blade, a zytel handle, a conventional 12-24ga wire stripper, a spring-loaded wire stripper, and a “hole stripper.” The Kilowatt’s electric-centric aesthetics are well matched to the functions of […]
Plano Waterproof Storage Containers
About one week ago, there was a thread on the Garage Journal forums asking about how one would bury their tools if faced with an unforeseen disaster. Without a doubt, I would definitely use Plano’s waterproof containers for the task if I had enough on hand. These Plano containers are water resistant, durable, and fairly inexpensive. These features make them a good […]
Fixed-Blade Knife for Shop Use?
Just thinking aloud: are there any legitimate home or shop uses for a fixed-blade knife? Knives like these are great for camping and other outdoor activities, but what else can they be used for?
Streamlight Stylus Pro – New Colors!
We are absolutely thrilled at having just discovered that Streamlight is releasing three new Stylus Pro flashlights. In addition to flat black, Stylus Pros are now available in red, silver, and blue. Since my Stylus Pro is used as a tool for a total of 10 minutes a day, and carried as an accessory for 10 hours, a bit of color might […]
Lee Valley’s Wire Management Hooks
We found these wire management hooks over at Lee Valley, and their simplicity betrays their utility. Sure there are cheaper or elaborate options out there, but at less than $3 apiece, these hooks offer the perfect balance between economy and efficiency. Lee Valley is an awesome store that I always hesitate to order from. You see, every time […]
Tool Misuse Do’s and Don’ts
There are times when it is acceptable to misuse a tool, and other times when it is not. For example, if you are caught off-guard and need to open a can of paint, it is okay to go ahead and use a cheap flat head screwdriver. The following are a few tool misuse do’s and […]
Leatherman’s $40,000 Multitool
The Charge Del Rey multitool is the crème de la crème of Leatherman’s new Argentum collection, and is priced at a whopping $40k. Renowned artist and silversmith Adrian Pallarols crafts the handles of each Charge Del Rey from 18 karat gold sourced from the Argentine Andes. Only 25 of these masterpieces will ever be produced, so if you want […]
Brilliant Improvisation or DIY Disaster?!
For the first time since infancy, I am at a loss for words. Is this vehicle the result of an improvised a/c repair? A DIY disaster? Or could this be a fixer-upper that has seen considerable progress? What would a classified ad for this vehicle look like? I can see the headline now: Barbie-pink pickup […]
Titan 61pc Bit Set
Almost nothing is as frustrating as having to take a break from a project to go and out and buy a missing insert bit size or style. For that reason, a general application bit set, such as Titan’s 61 piece set, is great to keep around. The selection of bits in Titan’s 61 piece bit […]
Wiha 40 Piece Cushion Grip Screwdriver Set
Wiha’s 40 piece cushion grip screwdriver set includes just about every driver style that one could ever need. Wiha’s 3K handle style is comfortable, durable, easy to clean, and reliable. Similarly, the tips on these drivers are very hard, durable, and accurate. We have been using a smaller set of these 3K drivers for a few years […]
Kershaw Unusual Shotgun Shell Knife
Kershaw’s Shotgun Shell Knife is one of the most unusually designed knives that we’ve ever seen. This knife features a 2″ plain-edged non-locking blade made from AUS6A stainless steel, and also includes a small tapered file. The handle is constructed with polished brass bolsters with rosewood inlay, and is crafted to resemble a shotgun shell. This compact knife […]
PB Swiss Tools Insider Bit Driver Review
The PB Swiss Tools Insider driver is a pocket-friendly screwdriver that can carry up to 8 insert bits in a removable cartridge. Don’t let its modest size or appearance fool you – the high quality Insider is very well designed and can handle most manual driving tasks with ease. Take a look at our in-depth review of the […]
Craftsman NEXTEC 12V Auto-Hammer
Craftsman released its new 12V NEXTEC series of compact power tools before the winter holidays, and performance reviews are starting to roll in. One of the more innovative tools of the Nextec series is Craftsman’s new Hammerhead Auto Hammer. The Auto Hammer’s compact size makes it well suited for areas too tight to swing a traditional hammer, as […]
3 Preemptive Tips for a Cleaner & Safer Shop
We decided to do some winter cleaning today, and only after we got started did we realize how abysmal we let our working conditions become. So, we took a break from the agonizing process to share a few quick tips that we should have been following all along, and will try to adhere to for next time.
Kobalt 26pc Palm Ratchet Set
While browsing for something over at Lowes.com, I noticed Kobalt’s 26 piece palm ratchet set. From the looks of it, this set is intended to be highly portable, and includes a small selection of sockets and insert bits. Best of all, the set is priced at $15. We are quite eager to give Kobalt’s palm ratchet a try, but […]
Stanley Quickslide Utility Knife
I’ve been using Stanley’s Quickslide utility knife for about two years now, and it’s still my favorite go-to knife. The Quickslide is a great knife because: i) the blade extends and retracts quickly and easily, ii) blade changes are also quick and easy, and iii) it is super-compact and can be carried comfortably in a pocket or clipped securely […]
Gearwrench Magnetic Extension Review
If you find that you often need to use tape, putty, or shims to hold fasteners inside of sockets, then you will definitely want to consider Gearwrench’s new magnetic drive accessories. Gearwrench’s new magnetic lineup includes 6″ extensions, universal-joint adapters, and drive-size adapters, all available in 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″ drive. In this review, we put Gearwrench’s 6″ magnetic extensions to the test – read on for a detailed […]
Update – Obvious Soft-Handled Vise-Grip Country-of-Origin Info
The other day, ToolGuyd described one way of checking the country-of-origin of a pair of soft-handled Vise-Grips. Well, it has come to light (thanks Elroy) that there is a MUCH simpler method that requires simply checking looking at the adjustment screw.
Montezuma Portable Toolbox
Montezuma’s portable toolboxes are compartmentalized in such a way that every tool and accessory is visible and within immediate reach. These extremely well designed toolboxes are well suited for both portable and static tool storage and organization. In addition to great functionality, these toolboxes also have a superb look and feel to them!