Tool Blog

Lenox Tools posted a video on YouTube of some clever new hole saws they have designed. What is the one problem that we all face with hole saws? It is getting those darn hockey pucks out of the saw. We spend more time trying to empty the saw then we do using the saw. Manufacturers try to solve this problem by adding slots or holes to the sides and bottom of the saw, but they never do a good job. Finally Lenox came up with something that might actually work; they added a slot to the side with steps...

I was perusing the Bosch website the other day and came across a new table saw, the GTS1031 compact 10" worksite table saw. The GTS1031 is much different than your typical portable jobsite table saws and was specifically designed to be more compact, light weight, and portable. Many people simply do not need the full ripping capacity that a typical jobsite saw offers, and the 18-inch capacity that the GTS1031 offers is more than enough. The GTS1031 weighs in at 52lbs, which is 8 lbs less than their full sized jobsite saw, but is not as...

Stanley emailed out a survey today with questions regarding a possible new modular shelving system. From what I gathered from the survey, people can simply buy one of their 4-shelf (plastic) or 5-shelf (metal reinforced plastic) units from the system and use it alone, or combine it with the modular add-ons. The add-ons include Drawers, Doors and side panels that form a cabinet, and Storage bins. The system does not require tools to assemble, which makes the modular design even better. I am happy to see a Made In USA logo on the packaging, but these haven't hit stores...

Bosch is bringing us a smaller more compact cross-line laser with their new GLL2-40. I have the older GLL2-50 laser that I purchased when it first came out, and judging by the photos, the GLL2-40 appears to be quite a bit smaller. After a quick look at the specs I can see that the GLL2-40 is smaller in length, width, and height. The smaller size does come in handy in many cases, but the small size of the laser does indeed come at a cost to the laser's accuracy. The GLL2-40 has an accuracy of ±1/8-in...

We have seen a few small CNC routers in the past, the CNC Shark that Rockler sells, and the DIY build kits, but the Torchmate 2x2 CNC machine has a unique feature that sets it apart. The Torchmate 2x2 is the first CNC that I have seen that can do both CNC routing and CNC plasma cutting on the same machine. Torchmate likes to call it a prototyping machine, and because of its small size and its multiple functions, I would have to agree.

“Carpenter's Pencil” is a horrible name for those rectangular pencils commonly used on jobsites. Sure they have the advantage of being easier to hold, their shape prevents them from rolling, and the lead is strong, but as a finish carpenter they are absolutely useless to me. There is no way I can make an accurate line with lead so thick. Yes it can be sharpened to a point, but that doesn't last long. Carpenter's pencil? No, more like a framers pencil.

Are you tired of being told you can only cut up or down with your reciprocating saw? Most reciprocating saws use a blade clamping system that allows the blade to be inserted facing up, or more commonly, facing down. This simple feature lets users better position the saw so that the handle is out of the way when cutting up to a wall or to the floor. DeWalt doesn't seem to think 2 positions is enough for some users and has a saw with four blade clamping positions. These additional positions really come in handy when...

Have you ever dreamed of being just like Jack Bauer but the closest thing you have to a real gun is a 12V cordless driver? Yeah me too. But now thanks to the Pro-Fit Carry Systems Holsters, we can dream a little more accurately.

Makita has announced some new 12-volt max tools, and pretty much completes an upgrade to their entire 12V line. Of course they could still always expand on their line, and that would be just fine with us. Some of the new tools we have seen already, such as the FD02W Drill/Driver and the SH01W Circular Saw that make up the LCT307 kit. The other new tools in the line seem to only have minor updates over the previous models. Power wise the specs appear to be the same as previous models, so it probably doesn't make...

Congratulations to Gaberiel Keway, winner of the Johnson Digital Level It is always fun to start off a new month with a new tool giveaway. This month, Johnson Level has provided us with one of their new 48" Glo-View Digital Levels. This level has the same Glo-View vials as the Johnson level I reviewed back in September, but it also has a digital read-out. Johnson just sent me this same level for review, and I am already loving how simple the digital portion of the level is. ...