Tool Blog

Jobsites are full of many hazards, and one of those hazards could be waiting to find a home in your truck tire. I am talking about a single nail or screw that has fallen out of someones toolbag or a dropped screw box, something so small that can ruin your day if it ends up in the wrong place. If you are lucky you end up with only a slow leak and have a way to inflate your tire. Porter-Cable has announced a new High-Pressure/High-Volume Inflator that can not only run off of a...

I just remembered that Garrett Wade is offering a 15% off promo code that is good site wide, so I thought I better share it with you before the code expires tomorrow. I will be the first to admit that Garrett Wade's prices are not always the lowest on the net, however, they do offer a great selection of tools that can be harder to find at other locations, and most of there tools are priced similar to other online stores. They also carry many of the lesser-known tools I write about on TR, like the...

2x4 Basics, the company that brought us the simple 2x4 shelving system, is ready to prepare us for a season full of fireplace use. They make a number of systems that make use of easily accessible 2x4s, and one of those systems turns 2x4s into a handy firewood rack. Oddly enough, or maybe just showing smart business practices, the 2x4 Basics fireplace rack components appear to be the same as those used in their shelving system. The components are made of durable structural resin and come with a lifetime warranty. Assembly of the fireplace...

How would you like to win a $200 Tyler Tool store credit? Yes, I like to ask questions with easy answers. Just scroll back and look at some of my past new tool articles, because I know there have been a few tools that you have seen that have somehow got a hold on you. Wouldn't it be nice if you could just shop, without having to worry about whether you should have spent the money on something else, possibly more important? Well, that is what is so great about a store credit from Tyler Tool, you have no...

Usually when you need some extra heat, it is because you are in a cold remote area. Sometimes there is power nearby, but if their isn't, your forced air heater is pretty useless. Mr. Heater wants you to have a truly portable forced air heater, and has accomplished it with their HERO model. HERO delivers 35,000 BTU's of propane burning heat and can be used an entire workday (8 hours) on a single charge of its built in battery. While the battery does make the unit more portable, it can also be charged and...

When we are looking for accurate and repeatable measurements, we often turn to the trusty story pole. Though, our story pole usually consists of just a scrap piece of wood that is either cut to the right length or has measurement markings drawn on it. After all, being able to use the scraps we already have on hand, is what makes the story pole great. But what if you are doing a lot of measuring, and you need something that is going to be able to handle the abuse that goes along with production work? ...

We often find ourselves using duct tape outdoors to repair camping equipment and other outdoor gear, so doesn't it just make sense for Gorilla Tape – who boasts about being able to withstand harsh UV rays, cold winters, etc. – to offer their tape in a camouflage variety? Well, that it just what Gorilla did, and it looks like they did it right. If you have ever looked at a hunting supply catalog, you have probably noticed that just about everything they sell is covered in a camo pattern by Mossy Oak, and there...

What do you use if you want the delicate touch and control that comes with a hand saw, combined with the precision you get with a powered scroll saw? Up until now I would not have had an answer for you, but thankfully for those interested, I came across the Precision Saw from Knew Concepts. Knew Concepts is becoming a well know name amongst people looking for high quality fret saws and when you just look at their tools, you can see why. Not only do they impress with their no-flex titanium fret saws with quick tension cam-lever, but...

Before there were loud but powerful electric routers, there were quiet and serene hand powered router planes. If you ever watch Roy Underhill on his woodworking show, you have seen how valuable these tools were, and still are. Sure powered routers can cut fast, but sometimes you just want the light touch that can come with hand powered tools. In an episode of Rough Cut, Tommy Mac demonstrated how the router plane easily cleaned up a dado cut with a router, without the need for any jigs or templates. Lee Valley has just introduced...

As kids we all loved to go to Toys R Us to walk the seemingly endless number of toy filled isles. As adults, Tools R Us offers us the same kind of euphoria we experienced as children, only this time with More Power. Tools R Us has a huge selection of power tools from all of the major brands, and for those of you brand loyal shoppers, you will find that Tools R Us is divided into sections based on brands. If you like yellow tools, it is pretty easy to spot the section of the...