It’s a slow day today. Well, not really – I’m extremely busy doing some cleaning, trying to plan out reviews and coverage for the next couple of months, and researching a bunch of things.
Here’s a sample of what I’ve been looking into: how to move heavy tool cabinet down basement stairs, how to paint wood paneling with good results, best basement click-together tiles, which floor vapor barrier to go between asbestos tiles and basement tiles, how to insulate rim joists (the consensus seems to be in favor of rigid board insulation), how to ensure garage walls and ceilings are up to fire-rated codes, and that’s just off the top of my head.
But it’s a slow down in how I couldn’t figure out which new tool preview, review, or other in-progress or queued post to run for this afternoon. So… there’s just the one review from earlier for today. Hopefully you’re not too disappointed.
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I might do some flooring work, some painting work, or at least prep, and definitely some Spring cleaning. Yes, I know it’s Summer and almost Fall, but I’m a bit behind on my decluttering.
Some hex keys and a wrench will see some action as I attach the handle and casters to a new tool cabinet test sample that just came in.
I’m also eager to take on the “make your own ‘Stacks’ challenge” that I threw your way. For that I’ll need a saw and… something else. I’m not being vague to be mysterious, I’m being vague because I haven’t a clue as to what method I’ll use to make my own desktop charging cable stop. Maybe wood, since that’ll be easiest, or acrylic, since that’ll look sleekest.
I think I might build a quick 2×4 workbench. That’ll be a good opportunity to test out some new cordless saws.
So will you be using any tools this weekend, and on what? If not, consider taking our “Stacks” challenge and make a desktop charging cable tamer of your own design!
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Art
I’m working on three small projects this weekend, painting, faucet install, and setting up a bench grinder. Painting “tools” not so “tool-like”, the standard rollers, extension pole, step ladder. The bench grinder, not very tool intensive either. Just using a newer (but not the brushless) 12v Bosch drill driver (use it so much more than my older, bigger, and heavier 18V DeWalt), DeWalt 18V circular saw, measuring tape, carpenter square, various drill bits / forstner bits, socket set and closed end ratchet wrenches. Just involves making a base to attach it and a sharpening jig to. The setup is to sharpen my way-overdull wood turning tools. Simple plumbing, just the Knipex 10″ pliers wrench, 8″ adjustable wrench, faucet wrench, and a pull saw to cut down a drain extension.
It’s funny after reading how many tools I use for these over-simple projects.
Chris
Building a set of custom built in bookcases for a client
10″ dewalt table saw
12″ dbcm sliding dewalt chop saw
M18 fuel 71/4 circular
M18 fuel impact
M18 fuel hammer drill
Dewalt plate joiner
Porter cable compressor
Dewalt Angled 15ga finish gun
Ryobi router with Freud bits
An assortment of hand tools
Moxy
Building a double level storage bed for my wife – Been working on it when I can for over a month. Hope to finish this weekend. I don’t have a table saw which has set me back in terms of time but I have been using the Kreg RipCut and it does exactly what it says it will do. I couldn’t have gotten along without it.
Derek
How do you like the Kreg RipCut? I’ve been thinking about getting one, but have heard cutting the last foot of a board is really hard with it.
Moxy
As long as you support the last foot – I’ve been using it just fine. The trick for me is making sure the side support guide stays flush until the blade exits the material. I put pressure on the last inch or two of the guide because it will still be making contact with the material after the blade has finished it’s cut. So far that seems to work just fine. Would a table saw be better? sure – but a table saw isn’t $35.
Derek
Awesome thanks. I’ll have to pick on up. They’re down to $25 too on Amazon right now. I’m going to build a bunch of cabinets soon that this should really help with.
Scott
I’ll be refinishing a pair of dressers using the brute force method of sanding rather than using nasty stripper chemicals. I’ve got a Bosch random orbit sander that I’m happy with and a nice assortment of mirka sanding discs.
As for your plans: I’d love to see a write up on basement floor tiles because that’s somewhere on my to do list.
Stuart
I’ve spent a lot of time researching this, and it seems that vapor barrier plus whatever snap-together tiles that are designed to go in a basement on top of a cement floor. Will check again with manufacturers when getting quotes.
One brand even makes 12″x12″ plastic-bottomed carpet tiles. If water damage should happen, tiles can be removed one by one.
Vapor barrier isn’t necessary from what I read, but a foamy one can give better (and quieter) results.
Tiles go from $2 a square foot, to around $5-ish, about the same as garage tiles.
Many brands distinguish them differently, perhaps because basement tiles are rated at lower load capacities since they don’t have to support cars.
Joe
“One brand even makes 12″x12″ plastic-bottomed carpet tiles. If water damage should happen, tiles can be removed one by one.”
My brother works installing floors and a while back he had a job installing industrial carpet tiles with plastic bottom. He gave me the left overs and I can tell you that I installed some in the bed of my truck when moving delicate stuff (can be removed, they are nor glued down)…they have been out in the rain, sun, basically the elements and they hold up pretty good. I would say they would hold up well in a basement.
They are 24X24” here’s the type he gave me. http://www.caldwellcarpet.com/shaw-wired-carpet-tile.htm
will
yes my m12 fuel drill and my dewalt 886 impact along with my 391 circular saw. I am going to build my own furniture and I started with an end table. I’m done with buying furniture that falls apart if you move it. Oh and this site would be even better if it had a forum. No other site seems to have the traffic or comments this one does.Great job btw, keep it up!
Stuart
Maybe that will be one more of my weekend tasks. Readers before said they weren’t interested in a forum, but I still have in mind to test out a Q&A and sharing platform. It’ll allow for community-driven discussions or project logs, or maybe it’ll be ignored and I’ll abandon it in 6 months. Either way, it has been on my to-do list for a while now.
will
Forums on some other sites are pretty popular. They may not be as popular as a sports site forum or video games forum, but that’s only because tool guys are too busy using their tools . Anyways I think even people who are opposed to a forum will find them useful for sharing their experiences and just talk tools!
Stuart
The argument is that there are already so many tool-related forums and communities.
My implementation wouldn’t be to create a separate forum, but maybe to create a ToolGuyd community forum, if that makes sense.
Benefits include ability to display photos and images (probably via free photo hosting service like Flickr, Photobucket, etc.), or to continue a branch-off from a post discussion.
Another idea I had was to have brand-specific feedback discussions, or things like that.
Sometimes it’s too involved for me to mention a minor tool deal or promo, but through a community/discussion portal, it would be quicker and easier.
Yea… I’m definitely going to work on this today or tomorrow.
I’ll also set it up through a different server, and so if it doesn’t work out I just close out that other server and there’s no residue to affect regular operations.
will
I love that idea, you can’t review or talk about every product or deal. Tool users love to talk tools and share their experience good or bad.
I know reviews are great but they are usually with a brand new tool, I want to hear how that tool holds up over 3,4,5 + years. I mean most mid to higher end tools have the power to drill holes or sink lags but can they hold up to the rigors of everyday jobsite use?
I do notice that this site does have more reader feedback than most so this is definitely a feature that will get used imo. Goodluck!
Pete
I owned and ran a forum for a couple years. I used ‘sparklit’ and would definitely recommend them. I set my forum up in a weekend.
Mainly my interest in the sport moved on and i shut it down. IF the forum isnt moderated well enough and people post dirty pictures you as the website owner can get into some trouble.
will
yeah there are some idiots on the internet Pete but even though I’m new to the site I don’t think there are that kind of people here. Maybe a full forum isn’t the answer but I like Stuarts idea of letting people post tool deals and just talk about tools.
Yadda
If the weather cooperates I will be doing yard work. I have a new electric extension chain saw that I need to use on some small limbs on my live oaks and tons of potting, lawn mowing, trimming, blowing…. the more I list the more I’m thinking maybe I should be doing a rain dance…
richard
I’ll be using my new inverter welder to make a few repairs to a small trailer and my log splitter re-build. I may also break out my new Kango/breaker drill if i have time i need to breakup an old concrete feeding trough in a barn conversion I’m working on
John
Since you again brought up the (so-called) “stacks” challenge, I’d like to see someone come up with better branding. A similar product that another reader mentioned, CableDrops, is brilliant branding. (You have to see a photo of the product to appreciate the double entendre.) “Stacks” is just terrible, in my opinion. There are so many things with the “-stacks” name out there (and, despite the overuse of the name, one assumes most have some ‘stacking’ function, unlike the cable stops we’re talking about here). So, hopefully a ToolGuyd reader can come up with something better.
paul
For us maintenance techs in the hospitality industry my so called weekend is Tues and Weds sooooo this weekend my arsenal of Milwaukee M12 tools packed in Ridgid toolboxes and a Milwaukee backpack is to bring part of a newly renovated five star resort back online. From hanging hair dryers to installing disposals in the villas, Milwaukee drills, drivers, impacts and more will make my “weekend” a whole lot easier and more efficient. So for ya’ll who don’t have the traditional weekends off to spend with friends and family, my bag of Team Red will make me more efficient and get me out of some jams that the subcontractors have left behind. I love the Milwaukee backpack and my two new Fuel hammerdrill and impact are the envy of the others guys who have to share and struggle with the 12 volt Team Yellow that the resort bought a few years back. Im not a Milwaukee fanboy, I own a few 20V yellow tools at home, but the M12 meets my needs perfectly from assembling patio furniture to retrofitting (demolishing) stubborn faucets in the villas… thank you Milwaukee, Knipex, Klien, Ridgid toolboxes for being my “weekend” wingmen 🙂
paul
PS.. Stuart… I suggested a review of your choice of a handheld rivet gun. Any insight? Thanks for doing what you do so well
Stuart
Powered rivet gun, or hand-squeezed pop riveter?
For the first, I’ve seen some suggestions over the years and it’s still on my to-do list to look into it further.
For the second, I’ve used Arrow (always a safe choice) and I like Stanley’s their heavy duty model. Some places still say it’s made in the USA, but I bought mine 6-1/2 years ago and it was imported. Still a great tool though. I take out the spring to make it smaller for storage.
tim
Yesterday I picked up a pittsburgh pro long handle 3/8 flex ratchet from hf to supplement my snap ons at home, changed the plugs and a coil pack in the gfs trailblazer and the secondary air valve and pump and have to say I’m not upset about the purchase.
It will compliment the tools I keep in my truck quite nicely.
Pete
Their extendable ratchets are my go to. I have yet to break one. Once had 500lbs of weight on the 1/2″ drive and it didnt break. I beat the 1/4+3/8″ ratchet up almost daily and have yet to break it. Only issue ive had is screws falling out-lifetime warranty so a simple swap at the store and i was back in buisness.
T
Many of them will be applied to a 930 , a 280se 4.5 and probably a 450sel. After getting home, the mower needs some tinkering, garage roof lost a few shingles last week. Need to borrow brother in law’s post hole digger attachment on his bobcat and get a new mailbox frame installed for the neighborhood. I hate tools sometimes, lol.
Jason
I need to organize my tools that’s the big thing its really bad right now!! The other thing is trimming up a big hedge with my Ego hedge trimmers.
BikerDad
I’ll be using my new Motion Pro Ringer 45mm Fork Seal Driver to replace the fork seals on one of my motorcycles, as well as a fluid doohickey for getting the right amount of fluid in them. Then I’ll put the forks back on, reassemble the rest of the bike, and very gingerly take it out for a test ride on brand new tires that I mounted previously. If all is good, then it’s time for an oil change. Oh, I’ll be replacing the front brake pads sometime during this whole process.
Once the bike is squared away, I’ll unmount my Cycle Hill tire changing rig from the plywood platform I’ve got it bolted to and put it onto a much slimmer roll on base.
So, wrenches, sockets, impact driver, specialty fork tools, screwdriver, T or Y handle hex driver, motorcycle lift, air compressor, those are some of the tools I KNOW I’ll be using this weekend. And that’s just Saturday.
Hopefully, Sunday won’t involve any tools, simply because I should be on the road, in the first day of an 8 day riding vacation.
Jerry
Put some finishing touches on a flatbed I built on my old ugly beater work truck, and try to complete a sprayer rig for the back of it. This will probably require my Esab welder, DeWalt or Ryobi drill, some drill bits, driver bits and my DeWalt impact driver, along with various hand tools (mostly vintage USA made Craftsman) to bolt down sprayer parts and get my ‘free’ Briggs engine going, the one I plan to use to power the sprayer pump.
Beyond that, I may fix up a little fence using hand operated post hole diggers. I have a couple pair, and since I will be doing a few holes in muddy ground, I will likely use the ones I modified by replacing the carbon steel blades with ones I made out of Stainless Steel.
Grant
I haven’t decided what project I am doing this weekend. Either install flooring in my rental property or fix a couple siding planks on the same property. I will use my cutter and depending on the project I will also use laminate or osb, glue, caulk, nails, and spacers. Most likely I will be installing flooring because I feel comfortable doing it after watching this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jvAV5TanIM
Kent hanson
Installing s new back door for a friend so Ridgid drill and impact, stabila 4′ level, new Milwaukee screwdrivers for the hardware.
glenn
We will be finishing the steel and form work for a concrete pool that we started this week. Will be using an M12 circular saw, M12 bandsaw, M12 drill And various hand tools.
glenn
And an M12 impact driver and a Paslode framing nailer.
Billy Davis
I have started working on my mower trying to build a bracket to hold the grass catcher to the mower deck. I need a good economical plasma cutter. Recommendations?
Adam
Today, just hand tools. I’m going to be installing a new kitchen faucet in a few hours.
Tomorrow, probably my M18 Fuel drill, along with a Makita chopsaw. I’m helping my dad frame a doorway and a window for a new room we’re building on his house.
Brian
I’m in the same boat as Scott above who is sanding with a Bosch random orbital sander. Unlike him, I’m sure, I’m unemployed so I spend my week instead of weekend around the house. I’m sanding all the paint from all the wood surfaces of the exterior so we can get some windows and/or window sills and frames replaced. The I will contract a guy to do all the stucco repair and contract a guy to repaint the house.
Stuart, thank you for this website! Two weeks ago I didn’t have a random orbital sander and I did a search on your website and found the Bosch. I’m very happy with it. Thank you!
tim
Also breaking out my long retired floor sanding equipment for a friend tomorrow so add clarke super 7r, clark ez-8 (no 220v power) clarke obs-18 and rotary sander to that too.
Jimmie
This weekend’s project is perhaps a little odd. In an effort to prolong the life of some wooden fence posts which are beginning to decay on top, I’ll be “painting” the tops with a very thin epoxy similar to what you’d use on a canoe hull.
This will completely fill in any exposed voids and I should prevent further decay. Since the tops are slanted, though, I can’t just make a form and pour a layer of epoxy on top (this epoxy is thin like pancake syrup so it’ll just flow down the slope and make a mess) so I have to brush it on in multiple coats.
As for tools involved, I’m using some chip brushes from Harbor Freight. I knew if I held onto them long enough I’d eventually find a use for them.
Nick
Building more of my combat robot this weekend. Breaking down tools by task:
1. Fitting titanium body panels together: Cordless Dremel with assorted carbide burrs, Dewalt orbital sander to clean up the titanium for welding.
2. Power wiring harness: Weller 60W soldering iron, Erem flush side cutters (amazing!) Panavise and a small Kantwist clamp to hold connectors, box cutter for stripping insulation, scissors for cutting heatshrink tube.Ancient Bosch heat gun for shrinking the tubing.
3. Weapon motor mount: Bandsaw for roughing out the aluminium stock. Wonky old tabletop mill, upgraded with DRO, Tormach quick change tooling and new 3 phase motor with VFD. Tooling needed is a fly cutter, boring head, slitting saw, #30 drill bit, 10-24 tap, Mitutoyo caliper and a sharpie pen for marking out, files for de-burring.
4. Electronics module assembly: all the tools from task 2 plus nut driver, crimper from Molex connectors.
5. Repair the mill’s rusted-up coolant pump: Harsh language and steel capped boot if I can’t scrape out all the rust!
James
Philips head screwdriver flat head screw driver and needle nose pliers to change out a regular out let with an outlet with usb ports.
Travis
I used my Bosch 12v Impact and screwdriver to put together a bicycle, install a new air filter element, and adjust the carburetors on my motorcycle. I use my Bosch 12v tools more than anything else it seems.
Greg
I know it’s not in keeping with the great tools the rest of y’all used, but my big project for the weekend was borrowing the Fusion Splicer from work to splice some fiber optic cable at church. I did use a few random hand tools to make it all look nice, though.