Tool Blog

When I say cheap and mean the best kind of cheap, FREE. If you are reading this, it is probably pretty safe for me to assume that you own a computer. If you have the same luck that I have with hard drives, it is also very likely you have a couple dead or retired ones around the house. Inside these hard drives are a couple very powerful neodymium magnets aka rare earth magnets. With these magnets you will be able to detect metal studs from behind drywall and other materials. You can also use these magnets...

People now more then ever before are looking for tools at a great price. They want to be able to finish those jobs at home without paying someone to do the job for them, but they might not have the proper tools. Skil has a new 7-1/4 inch circular saw out that might be just what you are looking for. The new HD5687 from Skilsaw has a good bit of power at 15 amps, a nice long 8-foot cord, and weights in at only 10.8 pounds. Some key features include: ...

The level has been around for hundreds of years, and its design has not changed much; until now. C.H. Hanson has taken a little bit of aviation technology and incorporated it into their new level design by replacing the standard vial with a 2-toned black and white self leveling ball. "It might be an understatement to say there have been very few changes in the level category over the years," said Walt Sedlacek, C.H. Hanson vice president marketing and product development. "But now with the introduction of the Precision Ball Level, there...

Lights on a level might seem like a gimmicky idea to some, but if you have ever done any leveling in a room with poor lighting (like just about every jobsite I have been on), you know what a pain it can be to read the vials on your level. The problem is then amplified if you are leveling against a dark wall. To solve this problem, I have used the light from my cell phone to shine on the vials in some situations where extra light was needed. Stanley FatMax...

The Work Sharp sharpening system has been a good option for anyone looking for a powered sharpening system on a budget. We usually don't think of $100 as a budget price, but when the competition is selling for $350 - $600, $100 is a great price. One of the things the Work Sharp system was missing that the competition has, is the ability to sharpen knives. This is a problem no more with the addition the the Sharpening attachment for the WS2000. For around $35 the knife attachment uses abrasive belts up...

Are you still using a hammer to drive your nails? Well stop. Pneumatic nailers are easier and faster to use, and with advancements in technology, they are becoming more and more affordable for even the lightest users. Plus, your purple thumb will thank you. Campbell Hausfeld is a huge name when it comes to air tools. They make just about everything air tool related and they have just announced 3 new air nailers. "After extensive consumer research, we set out to totally redesign the tools so they make it just as easy...

I would like to say thank you to all of the troops that have served us well over all the years, and to those serving us today. Thank you to those that have made it through OK, and especially to those who have died in the line of duty. Happy Memorial Day. Photo from July 4th a few years ago.

SKIL has a contest for the pros and the winner will receive a custom SKIL Chopper built by Big Dog Motorcycles. SKIL wants to hear how you have used your worm drive SKILSAW to over come the obstacles you have faced while building your projects either on the jobsite or even at home. The grand prize is a custom SKILSAW Big Dog K-9 Chopper awarded at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Oct. 2009, at the Bank of America 500 NASCAR Race. Even if you dont win the grand prize, dont feel bad. 10...

How often do you actually finish a tube of caulking, adhesive, or can of spray foam in one day? I know I rarely do, especially if it is for a home project, or for a quick repair at work. So what do you do with that partially used tube? If you just let it sit, the tube will dry up. I am simple and use whatever I can find to plug the tube, like a screw or some masking tape. If this is a problem you have on a regular basis, you might want...

E-books are becoming more and more popular because of devices such as the Amazon Kindle. With a clever play on words, a little bit of design and some fancy laser equipment, you get the Amazon Kindling. A very cool more flammable version of the popular e-book.