Tool Blog

ThisIsCarpentry.com recently published a great article on a DIY cabinet jack system that I just love. If you have ever installed upper cabinets, you know you need some type support system to help you to get those cabinets exactly where you want them. For your everyday homeowner, you can get away with using a simple ledger board, but we pros need something that will not damaged the walls and can be used over and over again. There are many options including things as basic as 2x4 kickers all the way up to multi-hundred dollar cabinet lifts. But sometimes the...

Some people just refuse to wear gloves and rely on their egos to protect them, but I am not one of these people. I have nothing to prove to anyone and have never planned on entering the worlds toughest hand contest. I have always been an advocate of hand protection, so when Snap-On said they had some gloves for me to test out, I was all for giving them a go. When shopping for a pair gloves, I look for a few things that are on the top...

Time is money. So when you find a product that saves you a ton of time, even though it might cost a little extra, you know it is still worth it. The SpeedTape from FastCap is one of these great money saving products. SpeedTape is a double-sided tape that is specifically designed for quick and easy veneering and laminating. I first used SpeedTape on a large paneling job at a new church project here in SoCal. Most of the panels were cut to size at the shop, but the ones that required a custom fit...

DeWalt might have been the last of the big name manufacturers to release a line of 12-volt ultra compact lithium-ion tools, but when they entered they landed with a rather large thud. While the other brands have released a tool here and a tool there, DeWalt has come out with a full line of seven tools all at once. The new line includes: 1/4” Screwdriver ( DCF610S2), 3/8” Drill/Driver ( DCD710S2), 1/4” Impact Driver ( DCF815S2), 3/8” Impact Wrench ( DCF813S2), LED Work Light ( DCL510), Inspection Camera ( DCT410S1), and Infrared Thermometer ( DCT414S1)....

I did not know this up until a few months ago, but we lost another great American company last year. The failing economy has claimed a lot of businesses, and back in December 2009 Perry Scaffolding closed their doors for good. It is hard to think that a company that had a foot on just about every jobsite I have ever been on could not survive, but unfortunately stuff like this just happens. Sure there are other US manufacturers that produce great scaffold systems, but what about the person that wants to add to their existing Perry...

Summertime, and the livin' is easy... Well if it is so easy, then you should have plenty of time to build and enter the summer woodworking contest over at LumberJocks. A two week vacation with nothing to do except sit at home could get you into trouble. The next thing you know, you are breaking into your neighbors house, digging up their basement, and getting blown up. I think you would be much happier doing something productive – plus you can win great prizes. This time the task is to build something with Fluidity: ...

I just got some weird news from our buddy Nate over at CPO Outlets. Starting July 1st, SKIL will no longer sell or ship their X-Bench Portable Workstation to the state of California. Due to a new environmental law passed in the state, the X-Bench no longer meets the California standards. This is all because of the MDF top that is part of the X-Bench, and its use of formaldehyde. To make a long story short, during aftermath of the disaster that was hurricane Katrina it was determined that formaldehyde could “leak”...

A little over a year ago it was announced that RBI Hawk would be closing their doors. It is always sad when a small company goes out of business, especially a company that makes their products here in the USA. Not only do we lose an American company, but it puts a lot of people out of work. However, there is good news. Just when people in the scroll saw communities were feeling low, in swoops Bushton Manufacturing to save the day. It didn't take long for Bushton to pick up where RBI left off,...

These last few years have been all about the oscillating multi-tool. You talk to just about anyone, and they either own an oscillation tool or they want to own one. Bosch knows how popular they have become and especially love how popular their own Multi-X has become. One problem facing the Multi-X is the rather small list of accessories. Sure they have most of the basics covered, but people love to have options. Bosch has announced a whole new lineup of accessories that pretty much cover everything that we know to be possible with a...

Have you ever found yourself using your keys as a pry bar in a moment of desperation? I know I have. This is not one of the best ideas, that is soon realized when your keys no longer work; but we work with what we have. The Micro Widgy Bar is the smallest pry I have ever seen, with a length of only 3”. If I had it on my key ring, my keys would be in much better shape – Live and learn. The Micro Widgy is the little bro to the...