I was out of commission yesterday due to a headache that would not go away, but today I am back and I bring news of a snow blower giveaway.

Craftsman is going to be giving away one snow blower to a single user who will be randomly selected from all eligible entries. Unlike most giveaways where you might win a pre-selected prize, in this giveaway you get to choose which model snow blower you would like to win (with a retail value up to $1,130) . You can find your desired snow blower using the Craftsman Snow Blower Finder tool located on their website.

To enter is simple:

1. You need to have a free public Twitter account.
2. You need to add @BlueLGCrew to your list of people you follow.
3. You need to tweet the following message.

Following @BlueLGCrew and went to http://bit.ly/6KxG5t to find my ideal #searssnowblower – model XXXXX - I'm entered for a chance to win it!

You will need to replace the XXXXX with the model number of the snow blower you would like to win.

Be sure to read the complete contest rules and check out the Craftsman Snow Blower Finder. Contest ends January 13, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. ET

P.S. Remember to follow Tool-Rank on Twitter

It is hard to believe but the year 2009 has come to an end. I am sure many of us have had a hard time this past year, none the less 2009 has been full of some great tool news and some unexpected news.

In 2009 Bosch entered the pneumatic fastening tool market with a rather large splash. They didn't just enter with a couple tools to test the waters, they entered with a full line of nailers of every size and a line of compressors to go with them. Maybe a bit of a risk, but I am sure Bosch was counting on their new Full Force Technology to help them take away a bit of the market share. Full Force Technology, which you can see in my video overview has significantly reduced the size their nailguns and at the same time increased the tools overall power.

Some other huge news in the tool industry was the Stanley merger with Black & Decker. This combines two big names in the industry into one power house. Stanley, known for their hand tools will bring: Stanley, FatMax, Bostitch, Facom, Proto, Mac Tools, Sonitrol, Stanley Security Solutions, Best, and Vidmar. Black & Decker brings the power with: Black & Decker, DeWalt, Porter-Cable, Emhart Teknologies, Kwikset, Baldwin and Price Pfister.

Now what did you think was hot in 2009. Here are the top 10 viewed articles of 09 in order.

1. How to use Fein attachments in the Dremel Multi-Max
2. Run Your Own Backyard Sawmill
3. Rockwell SoniCrafter Oscillating Tool Review
4. Turn your Circular Saw into a Track Saw
5. 2 new 12" miter saws from Milwaukee
6. Fein MultiMaster Patent Expire Is Fine With Us
7. Makita's New Ultra-Compact 3-Piece 10.8V Combo
8. Cadex CPB23.50 23 gauge pin nailer
9. Makita Has A New 10” Slider With Twice The Rails
10. Makita's New 2705 10" Contractor Table Saw

Here are the top 5 viewed user reviews of 09 in order

1. Dremel 1.5 Amp Multi-Max Oscillating Kit - 6300-01
2. Werner NXT1A06 6 ft. step ladder
3. Milwaukee 12 Inch Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw - 6955-20
4. Bosch 18 Volt Litheon Compact Tough Drill Driver - 36618-02
5. Bosch Digital Laser Range finder Kit - DLR165

It looks like interest in oscillation tools was high on everyone's list in 09. Will it slow down in 2010 or will people's interest shift to the next hot tool? Like... maybe the Senco Fusion cordless nailers.

Anyone looking to put out high quality woodwork knows the importance of precision tools. One easy way to make sure your work is at its best is by using tools that are square, level, and flat. Now it would be nice if all our tools came perfectly set from the manufacturer, but the fact is they don't, and the shipping process would most likely ruin the factory adjustments anyway.

The DigiAlign from iGaging is a simple tool that takes a lot of effort out of adjusting just about any shop tool with a miter slot and even some without. The idea is to use the DigiAlign to help you correct any alignment issues between your miter slot and your saw blade, router bit, etc.

Lets take a table saw for example: First you would want to use the DigiAlign to make sure your miter slot is parallel with your saw blade, then you would also want to check your miter slot with your rip fence. You can hardly beat the accuracy of .001” the DigiAlign offers.

If you are up for a fun filled day of adjusting, you can pick up the DigiAlign for around 50 dollars.

iGaging
[:cicn:] DigiAlign - Amazon

Stanley has had pretty good success when it comes to flashlights, so it comes at no surprise that they have added yet another flashlight to their line. This new model loses the popular tripod found on many of the Stanley lights, but gains a nifty clamping system. The clamp opens up to 4 inches, so you should have no problem clamping onto 4x4 lumber and should also work on smaller items.

The Stanley 95-891 uses a 3-watt LED light, so in theory the light should be pretty bright. The flashlight also has the option to use either 2 or 4 C-cell batteries, which will determine the run time time of either 15 or 30 hours. A light is no good unless you can point it where you want it; Stanley knows this and built the 95-891 with a 360 degree rotatable head which also can be tilted 120 degrees. You can purchase the Stanley for around $30 both in stores and online.

Stanley Tools
[:cicn:] Stanley 95-891 Flashlight - Amazon