This might not be official just yet, but the people over at the Guinness Book of World Records are currently looking into claims that The Torch flashlight from Wicked Lasers is the most powerful flashlight in the world. The Torch comes in with 4100 lumens of light, which is 100 lumens brighter then the previous record holder.

How many times have you said to yourself , “Gee, I wish I could cook an egg or start an fire with my flashlight”? I know, I say it all the time too. All this and more is possible with The Torch. Not only does its 100 watt halogen bulb put out an amazing amount of light, but it also puts out quite a bit of heat. You can turn night into day, and cook breakfast at the same time. Check out the video below if you dont believe me. The flashlight uses a 14.4 volt battery that produces about 15 minutes of light, so I hope you don't plan on being lost for too long. At $300, it is not a tool for the everyman, but I am sure it has a place on a rich mans shelf.

[:cicn:] Wicked Lasers

There was a time when you could walk into just about any workshop or garage in the US and find some pegboard hanging the wall. But now, for some reason it doesn't seem to be a popular choice. I guess people have turned to drawers and cabinets for there storage needs. For those of you that still like the pegboard but are looking for something a bit cleaner, take a look at systems offered by Wall Control.

Wall Control offers a complete line of metal pegboards and kits for any number of applications. You can get the board in your choice of galvanized or power coated metal and because it uses standard peg spacing, you can use hooks and accessories you already own. The use of 20 Gauge Steel in a board has a number of advantages, the first being a board that is 10 times stronger then conventional pegboard; other benefits include being easier to clean and being magnetic. Typical pegboards can not be mounted onto flat surfaces such as drywall, because of the lack of clearance for the peg hooks, but Wall Control built their boards with a flange on all sides to make mounting on flat surfaces possible.

I have not used the Wall Control system for myself, but it looks like a solid system. Considering that it is made of 20 gauge steel and made in the USA, a price of around $40 for two 16” x 32” doesn't sound that bad. Of course if you want more, you can always buy one of their kits that includes hooks and other accessories.

Wall Control - [:cicn:] Amazon

A recent review from Popular Mechanics puts the new Ridgid JobMax multi-headed tool against its competition, in all forms. If you remember, the 12 volt cordless JobMax can use one of five interchangeable heads to perform a number of tasks that typically require the use of five separate tools. The JobMax seems to fair well in its head to head battle, beating the other brands in all but in one test. Some of the testing results are quite surprising considering the type of tool and its price point. Of course with the good also comes the bad, but you can read all about it in the full review over at Popular Mechanics.

Popular Mechanics

The latest block plane from the guys over at Bridge City Tool Works looks like it came straight out of the movies. But what you see is not movie magic, it is the next generation in hand tools.

The CT-17 looks simply amazing, but it is more then just a pretty face. Its greatest feature is its two-in-one functionality. Not wanting to be average, Mr. CT-17 can transform between a regular block plane and a low angle block plane. It doesn't look much like a helicopter, but the CT-17's design was inspired by the efficiencies of helicopter components. If this is the result we can expect, I think we need more tools designed after aircraft. The photos don't do the tool justice, so be sure to check out the video after the break.

The CT-17 dual angle block plane is part of the Commemorative Tool series, which means it is limited edition. This also means you will pay a limited edition price of $860. If you can afford one, then you can probably afford two. So if you want to send me one, I have no objections.

[:cicn:] Bridge City Tool Works