One of the greatest tools that is used by both professionals and homeowners alike is the simple yet handy tie down strap. Without these, many expensive antiques and building supplies would have been lost to the poor knot tying skills that plague those of you that slept through knot tying 101. We Scouts have nothing to worry about.

Ratcheting tie down straps are great and all, but how often do you find yourself reaching for one, only to find it in a tangle. Or what do you do with all of the excess strapping after you have secured your load. The Strap Sack is the solution to both problems. After attaching the Strap Sack to your strap, you have a storage bag that is always there when you need it. Use it to store the strap when it is not in use, or better yet, use it to keep the excess strapping from blowing in the wind. They can be purchased in a number of different colors at a price of $15 for a set of 4. They also have a larger version for 2" straps for $12.99 for a set of 2.

[:cicn:] Strap Sack

There once was a time when small trim saws were sought after tools, but it seems as though they died off as people moved to bigger (better?) saws. Well, Makita is bringing the compact trim saw back; this time in a 12V lithium-ion form. So why are trim saws so great anyways? It is as simple as size and weight.

With the new Makita SH01W 12V cordless saw you only get a maximum cutting depth of 1-inch at 90-degrees, and 5/8-inch at 45-degrees, but when you are cutting sheets goods, this is plenty. Of course you can also cut drywall, pegboard, particleboard, and much more. At a weight of only 3.3 lbs you can keep this in your toolbox and always be ready in case a cutting need appears. Makita says the saw can make approximately 70 cuts of 1/2" x 12" plywood at 90-degrees (basically 70-feet). This is obviously not enough for production work, but seems ideal for maintenance workers, cabinet installers, and other people with light duty cutting needs.

I mentioned that the saw can be purchased as a combo kit, so also included is the Makita 12V cordless drill-driver (FD02W). This little drill uses a Makita-built motor that provides up to 200 inch-pounds of torque, with two variable speed settings (0-350/0-1300 RPM), and 18 clutch setting for your driving needs. Like most Makita tools it also features a LED surface light. The FD02W weighs in at 2.2 pounds and is only 7-7/16" long.

The combo kit (LCT208W) can be purchased now for around $200, and includes the 3-3/8" saw, 3/8" drill-driver, one battery charger, and two 12V lithium-ion batteries. Also included is a tool holster, a 20 tooth carbide tipped blade, #2 Phillips bit, and a contractor storage bag.

[:cicn:] Amazon

In a somewhat weird move that seems to mirror what big brother Bosch has just recently done with the OIS adapter, Dremel has announced that they are also releasing a universal adapter for their oscillating accessories. This is weird because these companies (which are both owned by the same parent company) will be competing with each other for oscillation blade sales. This seems odd to me, but I am sure they know what they are doing. It could be as simple as greater availability.

The Dremel Multi-Max Universal adapter will allow all Dremel Multi-Max blades and accessories to be used with all current oscillation tools on the market, including Bosch, Craftsman, Fein, Masterforce and Ridgid. One notable advantage the Mulit-Max accessories have over other manufacturers blades is the Quick Fit blade design. Quick Fit allows users to adjust or completely remove blades and accessories without having to remove the screw on the tool. This feature alone cuts quite a bit of time off of installation.

Dremel has already started selling their universal adapter, which can be found in most hardware stores and home improvement centers. Suggested retail is $4.99, so it is cheap enough to get you out of a jam when you need some blades for your non-Dremel.

Congratulations to Gaberiel Keway, winner of the Dremel Trio.

Dremel is sponsoring the prize for this month tool giveaway, and this time up for grabs is the new Dremel Trio. The Trio is a step in a new direction for Dremel by offering a tool that will plunge cut into your material. It uses special multi-purpose side cutting bits that allows the Trio to make cuts in any direction, in a variety of materials. You will also notice a handle that can pivot 90-degrees so that the user can be comfortable in any working condition. For more information visit Dremel.

Entering the giveaway is simple and we give you three options, here is how.

• Leave a comment anywhere on the Tool-Rank Blog. Any comment will do, but if you want to say thanks to the sponsor, that would be nice.
• Facebook users can enter by leaving a comment on the ToolRank Facebook page.
• Twitter users may also enter by following ToolRank and tweeting the following message (as shown):

• You may enter this specific giveaway up to three times (once per method). Additional entries will not be counted.
• Contest is open to anyone in the 48 Contiguous United States (including the District of Columbia), 18 years of age or older.
• One (1) Winner will be chosen randomly. Winner will receive one (1) of the prizes listed above.
• If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Use a valid email address.
• Prizes may look different then those pictured above.
• Entries can be submitted until Thursday November 30 2010, at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
• Complete giveaway rules can be found here.

Thanks again to the prize sponsor, Dremel.

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