Tool Blog

I have been a fan of the Flexeel hoses from Coilhose since the first day I started using them. They were a huge step up in hose technology; improving the hose in just about every way possible. Now comes along the Flexzilla hose line from Legacy to show that it wants to be the next big thing in hose tech. With a name like Flexzilla the hose better deliver some amazing features. Legacy claims their Flexzilla hose has zero memory allowing it to lay flat even in the most extreme weather conditions....

Way back in August of 2008 I reviewed the Final Cut Saw Blade with Sanding Disks. Final Cut, if you do not remember, is a blade that uses specially made sanding disks that are attached to its sides. These disks do the unique task of sanding your material at the same time it is being cut, thus saving you a step in your building process. These disks offer a much smoother cut while cutting in just about any application, and I also noticed a few other advantages while using the disks during my previous testing....

You heard me correctly; this is some truly socking news coming from both companies. The Craftsman name is so linked to Sears, it almost hard to picture it inside of another store. It is almost like pouring Coke into a Pepsi cup, it is just wrong. Starting in May of this year, 100 select Ace stores will begin selling Craftsman products. My guess would be stores not near current Sears stores. The Ace stores will carry Craftsman hand tools, portable power tools, compressors, vacs, and tool storage; so pretty much everything. Then starting in...

I have worked with a few union carpenters and cabinet installers over the years, and one thing I have learned is that they love their work carts. I am not talking about those little plastic carts, I am talking about a complete workshop on wheels. For the most part they convert some other type of cart to fit their needs, but in some cases they build their own. So it is not surprising that Portable Carpentry Workshop (PCW) was designed by a union carpenter to meet all of the carpenters common needs;...

I typically do not cover landscaping tools, but there is a first for everything and I know people have an interest in anything that will make life easier or more enjoyable. The grass in my yard is starting to come out hibernation and getting to the point where it needs to be cut. Probably like many of you, mowing is not something I enjoy; for some reason I do not like pushing a mower when it is 100 degrees in the summer. The WeedEater One riding mower looks like it was designed...

These last couple of years we have seen a large amount of growth in the way of 12 volt cordless tools. 12 volt tools are nothing new; just a few years ago they were pretty much the top of the line. Of course men being men, we needed more and moved towards higher powered tools as they have become available. Now with lithium ion technology, batteries are much smaller then they once were. Because of this, manufacturers are now able to bring us even more tools in the more compact 12 volt battery. One thing to...

Typically you would have to be up late at night, watching corny infomercials, to see a cordless tool that makes use of swappable heads. I know this, during my insomniatic nights I have seen such a tool. However the new JobMax line from Ridgid actually looks promising. The JobMax makes use of Ridgid's existing 12V Lithium-ion battery, but in a completely new form factor that allows for the use of multiple heads. The concept is nothing new, but in the past you were limited on the amount of tool heads. Now that...

You remember the Dust Deputy system I wrote about in the past; It is the cyclone that mounts onto a standard 5 gallon bucket, and acts as a pre-filter for your dust collection. Everywhere I look I see the Dust Deputy getting great reviews; people seem to love it. Now, not wanting to miss out on all the fun, Festool owners have come up all kinds of contraptions that allow them to mount their Deputies to their Festool Dust Extractors. One contraption consists of a cutting up a rather expensive Festool Systainer, mounting the Dust Deputy,...

Here is another simple to enter Twitter giveaway for you guys and gals. Sears is giving away a great starter package for any woodworker, homeowner or DIYer. The total value of the prize is worth over $700 and consists of: One (1) Craftsman 10” Laser Miter Saw (#21236) One (1) Craftsman Digital Miter Gauge (#29939) One (1) Craftsman 30 pc Router Bit Set (#26366) One (1) Craftsman Bar Clamp (#31484) One (1) Craftsman Base Plunge Router (#17540) One (1) Craftsman 10” Table...

Tools Of The Trade magazine, Lenox Tools, and a number of other sponsors have teamed up to offer the Site Commander Ultimate Work Truck to one lucky winner. The Site Commander is more then just a tool hauling truck; it includes almost everything you would need to be a mobile office, including a total of three computers. My favorite part of the truck is the tricked out on-board Segway X2, and the crazy built in computer work stations. The total prize is valued at over $100,000 because not only are you getting...