Chris
July 13, 2011
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Even though I have never used them, I still believe Rockler's Bench Cookies are one of the best tool inventions for woodworkers and finish carpenters. I always assumed I would pick up a set, but thus far I have not needed them; but now thanks to Fastcap, I might not ever own a set. Why? Because Fastcap's new TracPad lets you make your very own router cookies brownies. I always thought the Rockler cookies were a tool that could easily be DIY'd with some pieces of a router mat, a few blocks or circles...
Chris
July 11, 2011
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If I could afford it, the one Festool at the top of my list is the Domino joiner. The Domino takes the idea of the biscuit joiner, but instead of using thin football-shaped pieces of wood, it uses small wooden tenons that fit into a Domino-cut matched mortise. Tenons have been used for thousands of years so we know they are strong, and the fact the the tenons run perpendicular to your wood rather then parallel to it like biscuits, is sure to make a difference. Festool is giving us a chance...
Chris
July 07, 2011
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In 1872 J. Robinson patented the first butt-locking sliding t-bevel, and ever since, his model has been the paradigm to all other models. It is an invaluable tool for people of all trades and can be used to easily duplicate and transfer any angle you can find; with a little help from a protractor, these angles can even be identified. The only downside to the t-bevel is that it can not be used to accurately set 90-degree angles. Almost 140 years later Patrick Leach comes along and sets a new paradigm with his new sliding t-bevel that...
Chris
July 05, 2011
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Need a hose clamp, but the ones you have are too big? Or maybe they are not big enough? The Clamptite might be the ideal solution to all of your custom hose clamping needs, or maybe just a cheaper solution for all hose clamping. The Clamptite is a fancy little contraption that allows its users to make custom hose clamps out of basic wire. This design also allows you to match the size and type to your needs. Needs a copper hose clamp? Use copper wire. The Clamptite sounds like a really cool product,...
Chris
July 01, 2011
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Often it is the simple things in life that make us happy. In the case of tools, often the simplest tools are the handiest and the ones we turn to the most. But can a simple adjustable hook really be a go-to tool? Well, I can't answer this, but the Crown Hanger System sure looks like it would be a huge time & money saver. Have you ever tried to install crown molding by yourself? It is almost impossible unless you have some kind of device to assist you. Some manufacturers offer fancy poles...
Chris
June 28, 2011
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Swanson, the makers of the ever popular Speed Square, have come out with a new layout tool that does it all, or almost all. Their new Speed bevel has all the features and looks of their classic Speed Square, but with a little transformer magic, turns into a T-bevel. With a little more transformation you have a try-square; in total the Speed Bevel offers 5 different layout tools in its one small fold-able package. Heck, the fact that you can fold down and make a Speed Square smaller, is all it took to sell me on...
Chris
June 27, 2011
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You know I love lasers, they automatically make everything cooler, and the Johnson 40-6616 tiling and flooring laser square is no exception. This cool little squaring laser projects two lines across the floor that are 90-degrees apart, thus making it ideal for the flooring trades. But you don't have to be one of the flooring trades to get good use out of this tool; the 40-6616 works great for anyone needing to make squaring lines on the floor. Though the 40-6616 uses new technology like lasers, the tool itself is very simple in design...
Chris
June 24, 2011
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Are you a Pro and want to show off your great work, or are you a Not So Pro that needs a bit of help but still likes to give it a try? It doesn't really matter, because Bosch has a contest for both types. Bosch and Joe the Pro are running a contest looking for photos showcasing the work you have done. If you are one of the chosen, you win a new Bosch Power Box 360 radio. All you have to do is head over to contest page on Facebook and enter using...
Chris
June 24, 2011
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In an effort to better organize my home workspace I decided that I needed to get some of my non-work tools out of boxes/bags and into places where I could more easily access the ones I use most. My solution was simple, and probably the same solution that many of you use, pegboard. A full sheet of pegboard is cheap, and with the right hooks and attachments, you can organize a good portion of your tools. Next all I needed was pegboard hooks. Lucky for me, my Father had a box full of them that he let me dig...
Chris
June 21, 2011
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I am a fan of small lightweight air compressors and have been using a small 1-gallon for years now on the jobsite. So when I got news about a new 1-gallon from Porter-Cable, the excitement began to flow; that is until I realized that the new C1010 compressor from Porter-Cable is the same as the D55140 from DeWalt. Not that there is anything wrong with the DeWalt, it's just that the new compressor is not really new. The specification for both units are almost identical, with the C1010 coming it at 71 decibels, which...