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I thought I would share with you some of the tools that I think are so great that they deserve to be placed on a separate list for extra recognition. These tools have become my personal favorites, and some I even use daily on the job. Not all of these tools have come out with a perfect score, but they are all great tools that fill a gap or solve a problem. Some tools might not even make the list until months down the road, until I have discovered or realized their greatness, and others I will know right...

One of the most requested tools I see talked about online is the cordless miter saw, and when Makita announced their first 36V lithium-ion tool I always expected them to come out with a 36V miter saw. Well I guess that for now I am still left waiting because Makita chose to go with 18V to power their new LXSL01 cordless miter saw. Though I can't say that I am disappointed with their decision, because their 18V line is super popular and already having 18V batteries will be a plus, if not a must. ...

We didn't make it to the National Hardware Show, but the good thing about the tool blogging community is that we all share with each other. Lucky for us, and you, Homefixated and Tools In Action were both on hand to cover the latest tools to be announced and they have some of their greatest finds on their respective websites. For those of you that prefer the visuals, TIA has you covered with a bunch of videos. Those of you who prefer the written word with a bit of wit, Homfixated is your place. Just love tools? Visit both...

Makita has added yet another tool to their ultra compact line. Makita's new entry to their line is the Model WT01 3/8-inch Impact Wrench. These are a little less common then your standard impact driver, but they have the same general function. The advantage of the impact wrench is its ability to handle sockets without the need for adapters. The WT01 offers 1,000 in.lbs. of torque in a tool that is only 6-3/8" long and weights only 2.1 lbs. The impact wrench uses a Makita-built motor that provides veritable speeds of 0-2,300 RPM's and 0-3,000 IPM's....

Hard hats never seem to stay where they belong (on your head, not on the floor), and there has never really been a good way to help hold them on. The Japanese use chin straps with their hats, but we Americans are far too cool to allow ourselves to wear such a useful yet funny looking safety device. Thankfully the Hat Grabber is a solution Americans can use without compromising their fashion dignity. Best of all, the Hat Grabber is made in the USA. Go U.S.A. I just got my review sample in yesterday...

The F-style clamp has been a tool in my arsenal for as long as I can remember; for quick clamping needs I also turn to my Vise-Grip or Lock-Jaw clamps, but whenever I need greater clamping capacity, the F-style is the clamp I turn to. The F clamp is great in a lot of ways, but they also have their shortcomings. Thankfully, Rockler has come out their own version that seems to fix some of my dislikes. From a side view the clamp looks just like any other, but when you look at it...

Why buy individually when you need bulk supplies? Duo-Fast agrees, and is now selling their cordless framing fuel cells in convenient 12-cell bulk packs. Now it is easy to head to the store and make just a single purchase instead of twelve. "The DUO-FAST fuel cells are based on proven ITW technology that has been around for 25 years," said Jacek Romanski, National Marketing Manager for DUO-FAST Construction. "We are providing contractors with the convenience of buying in bulk or one at a time if that's all they need." Even if...

Utility blades never seem to last long enough, and now finally somebody is doing something about it. Stanley has launched a new utility blade that uses carbide to help strengthen the edge of the blade. They use some cool new laser technology that deposits tungsten carbide powder onto the edge of every blade, then use diamond wheels to grind on a razor sharp finished angle. This new procedure is said provide the blades with an edge that outlasts the competition by more the five times, but still remains flexible. "The introduction of the new...

Being a good construction worker often requires a lot of tools, but taking all of those tools to the jobsite everyday then bringing them home again can be a pain. The other option is to leave your tools on the job in a lockable jobsite box. The second method is what many of us use, but if you are a one-man-band, moving, loading, and unloading a large jobsite box can be darn near impossible. Though thanks to the Vault by Rescue 42, any one person can enjoy the safety of a jobsite box. The...

Drilling into concrete is no major ordeal, that is, unless you drill too far and hit a post-tension cable. If you do that, you might as well just quit your job on the spot. Of course a simple preventative measure is to use the depth stop that came with your rotary hammer, but those often get lost, then all you have is a piece of tape on the bit to mark your depth. Bosch has a better way; their new precision stop bits take all of the guess work out of drilling, and feature...