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 @ 30-ft, while the GLL2-50 is ±1/4-in @ 100-ft. So it would seem as though the GLL2-40 is in no way meant to be an upgrade to the 50, but rather another option in the Bosch laser lineup.

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 you are cutting something flush to a perpendicular surface. Eg. flush cutting a pipe that is sticking out of the floor.

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.

We knew a corded version of Bosch oscillating multi-tool would be coming eventually, then we saw it a few months back when it hit the European store shelves. We had our hopes high thinking it would be coming soon to the US, then we found out from CopTool back in December that Home Depot had an online exclusive to sell the tool. That is right, you could only get the MX25E if you ordered it from HD online. But now finally the wait is over. Next month the MX25E will be available for everyone at tool dealers and home centers nationwide.

There are a few different tool vests on the market today that I know of, a couple from Occidental Leather and one from Blaklader, but the vest from Vest-Tech appears to be the most thought out. The Vest-Tech goes with a different design versus the other two and has mostly smaller pockets along the chest that can handle your hand tools. At the top is a pocket for your notepad and a protected safety glasses pocket.

Moving to the back of the vest along the bottom is a hammer loop, a few screwdriver loops, and a tape measure bracket. Above the hammer loop is a larger pocket, and even a pocket for an included 2-liter water pouch. They thought of everything and added a hole that a fall protection harness ring can pass through. If the vest itself is not enough storage for you, they have additional pockets that can be clipped onto the bottom of the vest. The Vest-Tech is pretty much a one-size-fits-all, but they have built the vest with a number of adjustment straps.

The [:cicn:] Vest-Tech can be purchased in Orange or Black for around $130, and the side bags cost between $20 and $30.

Most of us can get away with using a cheap $5 halogen light to illuminate a room on the jobsite. But the light options for people working in areas that might be explosive, like near a gas leak, are a little harder to come by. The Magnalight Explosion Proof Metal Halide Light is what you need if you find yourself in an explosive situation. The metal halide light only draws 70 watts at .58 amps, but provides a 400 watt equivalent of light. It runs off of standard 120 VAC and comes with 100 feet of 16/3 SOOW cord ending in an explosion proof straight blade plug.

"More and more, gas companies continue to demand lightweight, first responder hazardous location lighting that they can use to repair gas mains onsite. The lightweight tripod can be collapsed, folded up and stored in the truck's tool box. The 70 watt metal halide casts a powerful beam and has a handle that allows the operator to carry and store the explosion proof light easily. Unlike some of our larger, more powerful wheeled tripods with larger 400 watt metal halide lights, this explosion proof light is designed to be lightweight, portable and easy to move around." said Rob Bresnahan with Larson Electronics' magnalight.com

The Magnalight is no joke and is priced at over $1800. I guess hobby gas leak repair men will have to search for cheaper lighting options.

[:cicn:] Magnalight

I just happened to notice on the Legacy website that they are now selling a Pro version of their Flexzilla hose. Legacy likes to use the line, "If it's not ZillaGreen, it's not Flexzilla", and you might have seen these green air hoses in catalogs or online; but what makes these hoses so special? Well according to Legacy, these hoses will remain flexible at -40 degrees to 150 degrees, and have zero memory which allows them to lay flat right where they fall.

These hoses sound to good to be true, so what could Legacy have done to account for the need for a Pro version. The change is as simple as the hose fittings. Legacy took a page from their competitor's Flexeel hoses and upgraded to using field repairable compression style fittings. These fitting allow the user to repair a cut hose with only a couple of wrenches. These fittings can also be used with the non-pro hoses. I can not be 100% on this, but the Flexeel compression fittings might also work, and they should be easier to find right now.

The Pro version seems to cost right around the same as the regular version at $30 for 1/4"x50', so there is no reason not to go Pro, if you can find it.

Flexzilla Pro
[:cicn:] Flexzilla Pro - NailZone