Often on the jobsite I see perfectly good building materials being thrown away simply because it is not worth the effort to either save it, or sell it. Of course throwing good build materials away is not the best answer to this problem. This is where DiggersList comes in; DiggersList is a online classified that was born to help solve this wasteful problem. They offer the building community a place to buy and sell new or used building materials, tools , jobsite equipment, etc. all at discount prices. You get the stuff you need for cheap, you sell the stuff you don't need, you help prevent waste, and you help free up those landfills. A win – win – win - win.

DiggersList initially was only available to a limited area, but its success has pushed the people behind the website to go National ahead of schedule. They have a newly designed website that is easier to navigate, and uses geo-location to find the deals in your area. DiggersList is also working closely with the Habitat for Humanity ReStores, to not only help promote what they have to offer, but to also accept donations for the charity.

DiggersList

You have to hand to those German engineers over at Festool, they have added one of the coolest features ever to their new jigsaws coming out in June. The new Festool Carvex jigsaws use the power of stroboscopic lights to visually freeze the movement of the blade to make seeing where you are cutting super easy. Normally you would have to start cutting to see where the front of the blade is, and this can cause issues when you need accuracy.

If freezing time wasn't cool enough, Festool also brings a tool-less interchangeable base system to the Carvex. You can use any of six different bases that each tackle a specific task. They have a guide rail base that works with the Festool rail system, a hard phenolic base, an angle base that folds down the middle, a metal cutting base, a low-friction base, and a felt base that provides protection for you work surfaces.

The Carvex has a ton of other cool features that I should also mention, bullet style.

• Brushless Motor
• Blade brake (I have never seen this in a jigsaw before)
• Zero clearance anti-chip insert
• Triple blade guidance system for 90-degrees cuts in material as thick as 4-3/4"
• Dust extraction ready (as expected)
• Thermal and overload protection
• Available in corded or cordless (18V)
• Available in barrel grip or d-handle

The corded Carvex models cost $350, but the pricing for the cordless models have yet to be announced. These new jigsaws also use the new Systainer T-Loc boxes.

Festool has a whole page set up for the Carvex, so be sure to check it out.
Festool Carvex

When is a spork not a spork? When it is a titanium super spork. As you can see, the spork still has the required spoon and fork combination; however, this version puts them on opposite ends instead of the usual hybrid. The titanium part also puts this well above the norm. You might also notice that one side of the fork has been sharpened into a knife. This sounds like the perfect jobsite tool for your lunchbox, but I am sure its titanium strengths can also be put to other uses. Mini prybar?

The spork is only 17cm(6.69") in length, weighs only 17g(.6oz) and costs around $13.

Light My Fire – [:cicn:] Spork - Amazon

OK not really, but they are offering a limited edition Festool first aid kit. Every contractor should carry a first aid kit and it also happens to be the law, so you might as well be medically prepared in style. The kit contains all of the common supplies required for emergency first aid, and has been certified to be ANSI/OSHA compliant. The important stuff is all housed in a Systainer 1, complete with red and white first aid emblem latches; too bad Festool didn't use the new T-Loc Systainer.

Contents listed below. One question though, does Festool use German engineered bandages?

The price of the first aid Systainer is $89.00 and supplies are limited. If you are interested be sure to check with your Festool dealer.

Qty. Description

100 - 1" x 3" Adhesive plastic bandages
3 - Knuckle fabric bandages
3 - Fingertip fabric bandages, large
1 - 2" Conforming gauze roll bandage
1 - 40" Triangular sling/bandage, with 2 safety pins
6 - 3" x 3" Gauze dressing pads
1 - 5" x 9" Trauma pad
40 - Antiseptic cleansing wipes (sting free)
1 - First aid/burn cream pack, 0.9 g
1 - 4"x5" Instant cold compress
1 - 1/2" x 10 yd. First aid tape roll
1 - 4-1/2" Scissors, nickel plated
1 - 4" Tweezers, plastic, one time use
4 - Exam quality gloves, 2 pairs
1 - 4 fl oz squeezable bottle with eye wash solution
1 - First Aid Guide
1 - Festool SYS 1 Systainer with red latches

via Festool Blog

ToolsInAction has the scoop on what is possibly the new 20V Max lithium-ion line from DeWalt. They somehow got a hold of a flyer that pictures what appears to be a new line that will be released later this year. I believe DeWalt announced their 12V line back in June of last year, so if they are following the same timeline, we have a few more months to wait. The flyer shows 3 drills, 2 impacts, a reciprocating saw, and a circular saw. The new line looks a lot like their 12V line, and uses a similar slide-in battery.

Also you will notice DeWalt is calling this line 20V Max, which probably means it is actually an 18V battery line like all the other brands. I am not a fan of companies using naming games and fuzzy math to try and get an edge. The same thing happened when Milwaukee called their 10.8V tools 12V Max when Makita and Bosch already had 10.8V tools out. All this did was create a bunch of confusion.

One more thing to take note of, at the bottom of the flyer are the words "Bostitch – New 15 Gauge Finish Nailer Changes the Game for Trim Carpenters". The rest of the flyer is cut off so it leaves us with our imaginations. Cordless? Where is the rest of the flyer?

Update: I got word from an anonymous source that the release date for these is set for September. I guessed June as the announcement date, so I might not be too far off.

via - ToolsInAction
DeWalt

It is no surprise that many, if not most of the tools sold in stores today are knockoffs that are made in China. But it might surprise you to learn that for just a few dollars more you can get the originals that all of these cheap tools are copying.

Original Estwing 16oz Hammer - $20 (made in USA) - Amazon ($27)
Name brand Chinese copy - $17

Original Shark Corp. 10-inch Prybar - $17 (made in Japan) - Amazon
Name brand Chinese copy - $15

Spring Tools Hammer-less Nailsets - $10 (made in USA) - Amazon
Name brand Chinese (hammer required) Nailsets - $8

Original Channellock 12-inch Tongue and Grove Pliers (made in USA) - $16 - Amazon
Name brand Chinese copy - $14

These are just a few examples of the original tools only costing a few dollars more then the tools made in China. After reading about what goes into Chinese OEM tools, it does seem like a no brainier to spend a little extra to get a tool you know will last. Not to say that all Chinese versions will not last, but why chance it? Plus you would be supporting countries and businesses that actually care about their workers. The original tools are becoming harder to find, and big box stores are mostly selling the Chinese knockoffs, but if check the smaller hardware and tool stores you will have better luck. Amazon also comes to the rescue and sells all of the Original tools listed above. If you have any examples of your own, please share them in the comments below.

Cheap plastic $300 lasers not good enough for you? Yeah, I called $300 cheap; what else would you call it when it is going up against a $5000 laser that is the Cornerstone Classic. The Cornerstone Classic is a three-pane line-laser, similar to the Bosch GLL3-80, but way more advanced. No plastic here; the Cornerstone Classic is machined from 7075 aircraft aluminum, 360 brass, and 440c surgical stainless steel. The CC is self leveling, but does not uses a pendulum design like the others on the market, instead it is leveled electronically via precision brushless DC motors. This leveling mechanism is said to give the laser an accuracy of ±1/32" @ 100 feet.

To say the Cornerstone laser is fancy is an understatement and the specification page uses words like "orthogonal " and "azimuthal " just to make sure you know it. Did we mention the laser also has exotic wood grip accents? You have a choice of Bubinga, Zebrawood, Purpleheart, Birdseye Maple, Walnut, Teak, Rosewood, or Thuya Burl. Fancy. Like mentioned above, the basic Cornerstone Classic Laser Kit costs $5000. This includes the laser, a carrying case, tripod adapter, targets, USB 110V wall charger, Charger Adapter, LensPen (for cleaning), Instruction card, CD, and other warranty and calibration information.

Origin Laser Tools – via Tool Snob

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 in it. These steps give us a leverage point that can be used to pry out the pucks.

Update 3/22/2011: I received an email today from Lenox letting me know that these will be officially launched this Friday. This is why they are sill unlisted on their site.

Lenox

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 light as the comparable DeWalt saw with 16-inch capacity. Looking at the photos might explain some of the weight; It looks like most of the saw is made up of roll cage, and they even have a roll cage to protect the controls.

The GTS1031 might be small, but it looks like it still has the power of a full-size. It is powered by a 15amp motor that actually delivers higher RPMs than the full-sized Bosch 4100, 5,000 RPMs vs 3,650 RPMs. As mentioned above, the saw has a rip capacity of 18-inches on the right, with a 7-3/4-inch capacity on the left. The saw uses a Squarelock™ Rip Fence for "maximum trueness" and can be locked at a "finger's touch"? Another feature worth noting is the on board tool storage, which stores the rip fence, blade guard/riving knife, miter gauge, included push stick, and wrenches.

Online pricing puts the Bosch GTS1031 10-inch Table Saw between $380 and $400. A stand for the saw is also available.

Bosch Tools

Update 4/7: Video added.

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 yet, so we will have to wait and see if this is true. There was no hint as to what the pricing would be, or when we can expect to see these.

Side note: Anyone else notice what looks to be a Makita case on the bottom shelf?