It is not everyday that a completely unique product comes along and the GripSharp certainly is one of them. It is a combination pencil grip and a pencil sharpener. The GripSharp slips right over the tip of any standard size pencil, and offers additional comfort and the convenience of a pencil sharpener that is always at hand.

I just received a couple samples yesterday and you can look forward to a review in the near future. If you can't wait, you can pick up a GripSharp directly from their website for $2.89. They are available in black, blue, green, red, and yellow.

GripSharp

Building your own CNC router doesn't sound like a project your average DIYer or tinkerer can do; after all building CNC machines is not something that is common knowledge. However the kits from BuildYourCNC.com make the process very simple. For as little as $2205 you can purchase a kit that will allow you to build a 2 foot x 4 foot CNC router. This kit comes with all materials needed to completely build your CNC router from the ground up. All that is required is the CNC/design software. A 4x8 kit is also available for $2975.

The building process looks simple enough and if you have ever put together furniture from IKEA, this is probably something you can handle. They also make it super easy to assemble by offering the complete building instruction for free on video on the Internet. Ironically, the parts for your router kit are made from a CNC router made from the same kit. Another nice option if you already have one of their smaller CNC kits, or know someone with a CNC router - you can purchase the CNC g-code files for a fraction of the price, and mill your own.

People like us don't usually need an excuse to buy new power tools, but Makita always makes it a little harder to resist the buying temptation by offering great tool promotions. Now until the end of this year you can get the brand new Makita 3-Speed Impact BTD144Z free after mail-in-redemption, when you purchase a qualifying cordless tool.

Qualifying tools include: 5 3/8" Metal Cutting Saw BCS550, 7/8" SDS-PLUS Rotary Hammer Kit BHR240, 3/8" Angle Drill Kit BDA350, 1/2" High Torque Impact Wrench Kit BTW450, or Portable Band Saw Kit BPB180.

If that wasn't enough for you, Makita is also giving away ten 15 piece 18-volt LXT lithium-ion combo kits. WOW! What a great prize one of these would be to win. This contest also ends at the end of this year, so be sure to enter today.

Makita Promos
Makita - Amazon

The Lenox Hackman cut an entire double decker bus in half recently in Fradly, UK using a Lenox T2 blade. If you can guess how long it took the Hackman to cut through the bus, you could win some great gear from Lenox, including a 9 piece Plumbing/Electrician kit, a HACKMAN World Tour T-shirt and a Koozie. All you have to do is give your answer to Lenox on their Facebook page in the HH:MM:SS time format. Contest ends September 30th, 2009. Good Luck.

Contest details