Wouldn’t it be awesome to be able to use ordinary screwdriver bits with your favorite Leatherman multi-tool? Well, you can! Not only does the bit driver extender allow for improved fastener access, it can hold Leatherman’s special flattened bits and standard 1/4″ hex screwdriver bits.

Leatherman’s larger multi-tools, such as the Skeletool, Charge, Surge, and Wave models, feature bit adapters designed for Leatherman’s proprietary thin-profile screwdriver bits. Bit kits are available, and while they’re actually quite well made, standard hex bits are easier to come by and cheaper to replace.

The bit driver extension is 3.25″ long and fits a number of other Leatherman tools and knives. Here’s a complete list of the tools you can use this with. It is available with a silver or black oxide finish.

Buy Now(via Amazon)

If the ~$10 or so seems a bit high, you can probably grind down the sides of any spare bit holder you have laying around.

Dewalt recently announced a new line of SDS Plus drill bits that they’re calling Solid Rock Carbide. These new bits are designed with twice as much carbide than standard SDS Plus drill bits, which should decrease downtime caused by tip or flute breakage. (I wonder how these bits will compare with the new carbide-head Bulldog Xtreme bits Bosch recently announced.)

The new Solid Rock Carbide SDS Plus bits can better withstand difficult drilling applications, meeting users’ demands for greater bit durability. The bits are manufactured using a welding system that affixes a solid piece of carbide to the tip of the flute. With solid carbide leading the cutting action, bit durable should be greatly improved.

These new bits will be available in a range of sizes (3/16″ to 1/2″) and lengths.

Depth and Dust Control

Dewalt Depth Setter DWA5537DS

Dewalt also recently announced a new adjustable depth setter (DWA5537DS) and dust collector (DWA500DC) that are designed to work with their SDS Plus drill bits. Used together, the components form a depth and dust control system that works well for installing drop-in anchors.

The adjustable depth setter can be used with Dewalt’s 3/8″, 1/2″, and 5/8″ SDS Plus bits, corresponding to common drop-in anchor sizes 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″.

The flexible dust control attachment fits tightly flush against the application material to create a debris and dust collection area. It fits over the depth setter to further minimize dust and to provide a cleaner workspace.

Available later this month, the depth setter will be priced at $40 and comes with a 1/2″ Solid Rock Carbide bit. The dust control shroud will be priced at $20, and can only be used with the depth setter attachment.

Gorilla Glue has updated their 2oz bottles with a new anti-clog air-tight cap. Why are we excited about this? Because we’ve had our fair share of cured-glue-clogged caps. It’s not a pleasant feeling to get everything ready for a repair or DIY project only to find out that the bottle of glue is practically unusable.

The new 2oz Gorilla Glue cap features:

• ergonomic wing nut grip for easier opening and closing
• air-right precision seal to lock out air and mositure
• stainless steel pin that fits into the tip of the nozzle

This is something you’ll want to look for in-store to ensure you get a bottle with the new cap and not one with the old style. In cases like this is’t best to see what you’re buying.

Gorilla Glue via Amazon

If you’re a regular Amazon shopper, you’re probably aware of their Subscribe & Save program, where you can save 15% off certain items. You subscribe to receive a certain consumable product, such as razor blades or toothpaste, at set intervals (1-month, 2-months, etc), and in return you save 15% on each order.

It looks like Amazon is now testing this pricing model on select power tool accessories, such as MK Diamond saw blades, Irwin reciprocating saw blades and SAIT carbide grinder burs.

The power tool accessory Subscribe & Save selection is a bit limited at the moment, but there’s definitely potential for expansion if it works out well. Don’t forget that you can cancel the Subscribe & Save subscription at any time. There are no commitments, obligations or fees, and you can cancel the subscription at any time, even after the first order.

Subscribe & Save orders always ship free as well.

Buy Now(via Amazon)

Every now and then I’m reminded of a great little adapter Dewalt makes, the DW0521 quick connect impact driver conversion chuck. This little gadget is a 1/4″ hex to 3/8″ keyless chuck adapter that allows you to use ordinary drill bits with a 12V or 18V cordless impact driver.

The impact driver conversion adapter features all-metal construction and the keyless chuck has a single-sleeve design for quicker hand-tightening.

Buy Now(via Amazon)

More Info via Dewalt

Street price for these adapters is $30-36 or so. There’s also a Hitachi model available at about the same price. Although they’re marketed as being designed for impact drivers, they should work well in cordless screwdrivers’ 1/4″ hex bit adapter as well.

Carry one of these with Dewalt’s impact clutch adapter, and you might need your cordless drill/driver even less.

The Green Leaf Wonder Winder is a hand-cranked extension cord winder and basket. It mounts to the wall, and accommodates 75-feet of 12/3 gauge cord, 100-feet of 14/3 gauge cord, or 150-feet of 16/3 gauge cord.

Once you set things up, all you need to do is pull out as much cord as you need for a project. When you’re done and ready to stow the cord, press the rewind lever and use the hand-crank to draw the extension cord back into the hanging basket.

While we’ve never used this ourselves, we’ve seen the Wonder Winder pop up in catalogs and shops everywhere, usually with gushing reviews. The extension cord winder is currently priced at less than $20.

Buy Now(via Amazon)

Have any of you tried out the Wonder Winder?

We’ve seen magnetic drill bit holders of all kinds – ones that stick to machinery, some that attach to tools, and even ones that you wear on your wrist. Last week we received an email about the Drill Sergeant, a interesting new drill-mounted bit holder.

After first hearing about the Drill Sergeant, we had a quick chat with its designer, who says that the final product resulted from many revisions until it was just right. Their goal was to make a useful bit holder that doesn’t get in the way, and it looks like they succeeded.

Drill Sergeant Mounted to Cordless Drill Battery

There are three models of Drill Sergeant available, the original, which has 2 barrel magnets and a wide catch-all magnetic strip, a smaller micro version, and the Pro, which has 4 barrel magnets and a shorter catch-all space. The barrels feature strong rare earth magnets at their centers and can hold 1/4″ hex bits (or smaller drill bits) from both sides, meaning that the original can hold 4 bits and the Pro 8.

To install the Drill Sergeant, first attach the sticky-backed loop-sided Velcro to your drill or driver. Then just stick on the hook-sided Velcro, which is sewn to a nylon elastic top layer, presumably with the magnetic elements locked in between.

Drill Sergeant Mounted to Rotary Tool

We like the idea of the Velcro-attachment method, since it potentially allows for the same Drill Sergeant to be used with different drills and drivers. It’s also good to know that the holder is removable should it interfere in any way during a project.

To be perfectly honest, I’m not usually fond of these types of accessories. But, the Drill Sergeant definitely looks interesting and well designed, and I can think of a few recent times it would have come in handy.

The Drill Sergeant is made in the USA and can be purchased via Etsy or Amazon. The Original model is $14 and the Pro model $16.

Pro via Etsy
Original via Etsy
Original via Amazon

I remember reading the same post, and when my search efforts failed, careful meditation (or luck) refreshed my memory and I tracked down the original article.

$5 for a 1/8″ Twist Drill? Only in America describes what John, from Bridge City Tool Works, observed in a Chinese factory 11 years ago. He saw cheap bench grinder motors being wound with scrap copper wire, and drill bits being coated to make them look like they were properly hardened.

Factory workers were mixing in good (or at least better quality in comparison) drill bits with junky pot metal bits. Why? Because these many-piece drill bit sets were so low-priced that American consumers continue to let them get away with it.

John’s post is an interesting and illuminating read. It is important to realize that not all import bit sets are going to be be similarly comprised of a few good bits and many garbage bits. But there’s only one sure way to be sure you don’t get stuck with only 4 good bits out of 115 – spend more upfront and buy better brand-name bits.

First, check out the Bosch Multi-X oscillating tool homepage. Then, ideally after learning a little about the tool, look for the button that says “free blade offer” (it has a yellow background as shown), and fill out the request form. While you’re still on the page, also check out the “intro” tab, which contains a video that shows some great usage examples.

Please, please, PLEASE don’t request a blade if you don’t own an oscillating multi-tool or plan to own one in the near future. If you’re looking to buy one, check out this great deal Amazon is running right now on these Bosch multi-tools – $106 after $20 auto coupon (reg. price is ~$150)!

Actually, that’s a heck of a good deal, $106 is about $45 off the regular price!

Buy Now(via Amazon)

To repeat, NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY to get the free blade. We don’t know which blade you’ll get, but our guess is that it will be a straight wood-cutting blade.

Looking to buy new Dewalt tools or accessories this season? Now through Dec 24th, Amazon is offering a $25 off $100 coupon!

The coupon is good on Dewalt cordless power tools, corded tools, drill bits, screwdriver bits, saw blades, miter saws, table saws, and a couple of other types of tools.

Pelican just announced a new addition to their lineup of hard-shelled cases – the 1460TOOL, a medium-sized mobile tool chest. The 1460TOOL tool chest is designed for mechanics and technicians who do a lot of field work, and features two fully customizable trays, reinforced stainless steel support brackets, and Pelican’s signature heavy-duty polymer case construction.

The two trays are extra-deep and lift up out of the tool chest for quick and easy access to tools and equipment. Adjustable and removable dividers make it easy to customize the trays to hold tools, parts and accessories.

The attached lid opens up a full 180°, and in addition to helping add a wide stable base for the popped-up tool trays, it works with the tray system to form a seal that secures all parts inside to keep them organized when the case is closed.

From the looks of it, there is also a large open compartment at the bottom of the tool case that can be used to hold larger or bulkier items.

Pelican 1460TOOL in yellow

MSRP will be about $340, and the 1460TOOL will be available through Pelican’s distributor network starting in November. Color options are black, yellow, and red.

More info about 1460TOOL Case via Pelican
Shop for or Compare Pelican Cases via Amazon

Pelican 1460TOOL in red

For reference, the 1460EMS, which looks to have heavily inspired the 1460TOOL, has a similar MSRP, and a street price of about $220 (check price via Amazon).

If you don’t think the 1460TOOL can handle your mobile tool carrying needs, check out the 0450 Mobile Tool Chest, a flexible multi-drawered user-configurable rolling tool vault.

Pelican 0450WD Tool Chest via Amazon | More info via Pelican

A while back we talked about the Panasonic TS2, a rugged camera suitable for jobsite use. A couple of months later, the Pansonic Lumix TS3 came out, and we ordered one for general purpose and workshop use.

Let me tell you, the camera is downright amazing. While we have not yet put its impact-resistance to the test, we showered it in water, sawdust, and shavings of all kind with no ill-effect. This is downright one of the toughest and most durable gadgets we have ever seen.

When it came out, the Lumix TS3 was priced at about $360-$380. Back in June we paid about $335 for the camera, and it has dropped in price a few times since then. A few days ago, Amazon announced a new limited time promotion on select Panasonic cameras, and the TS3 dropped down in price from ~$300 to $270.

Although primarily marketed towards hikers and outdoors enthusiasts, we found the TS3 to be great for jobsite and workshop use as it is nearly impervious to dust and debris.

Our only minor complaint is that videos are not stored in the same folder as photos, requiring us to delete the internal playlist after every couple of imports.

Check price or purchase via Amazon

Painter’s Pyramid Grabbers are new triangular project-gripping support pads, similar to Loc-Blocks and Bench Cookies, but quite a bit thinner and smaller. These PP Grabbers are non-slip and can be used with Painter’s Pyramids, which slip right on over them.

At about $4 per pack of 4, it might be hard to pass these up. Certain applications, such as keeping a sharpening stone or small workpiece from sliding around a table, can certainly benefit from the Grabbers’ small size.

Bundles of 4 Grabbers plus 4 Painter’s Pyramids will be priced at about $7.

Right now you can buy them via Amazon separately or as part of PP’s VersaSpin rotating work platform, but other retailers are expected to carry them soon. You can also order them direct from PP.

More info via Painter’s Pyramid
Painter’s Pyramids via Amazon, in case you haven’t seen them before, are also available with screw-down tabs.

Have you ever went to plug in a new device or appliance, only to find that the cord was just a few inches too short? Or how about when a plugged-in AC adapter obstructs access to an adjacent wall or power-strip outlet?

There are quite a few workarounds, but the cheapest solution I’ve found are these Stanley 1-foot-long power cord extensions. The extenders feature 3-prong male and female plugs, are built with 16-gauge wiring, and are UL-rated for 15A/125V/1875W.

A 3-pack will set you back less than $10.

Stanley Cord Extenders via Amazon

Back in June, I had the opportunity to try out Dewalt’s new DWS780 12″ sliding miter saw, an impressively nice saw (more on that later). What really stood out and amazed me was its integrated XPS (crosscut positioning system) work light module, which performed far better than any miter saw laser system I have ever seen.

Dewalt’s integrated XPS work light is not an entirely new concept, as an add-on XPS module first appeared a couple of years ago, and this was my first time seeing it in action.

Let’s talk about lasers

Some miter saws feature built-in laser systems, and for those that don’t you can often purchase an add-on accessory. Lasers must be perfectly calibrated, or else their line positions may be off, throwing off your cut accuracy. Laser line width is also often fixed, and may not match up with the thickness of your saw blade.

How does the XPS system work?

In a nutshell, the XPS module projects LED light along both sides of the blade, forming a shadow of the blade on the workpiece. As the saw blade is lowered towards the workpiece, the width of the shadow sharpens, darkens, and closely matches the thickness of the saw blade’s kerf.

Right Before Cut

Position your cut-line to the laser-like shadow, and you will have perfect alignment every time. Changing to or from a thin-kerf blade? No problem, the width of the shadow is created by the saw blade, so the shadow will thin or thicken accordingly.

Cut In-Progress

Whoever it was that came up with this design definitely deserves recognition. I imagine that a bit of trial and error and design engineering went into developing this feature, but the underlining concept is beautifully simple.

During our brief time with the saw, it was clearly evident that the XPS work light feature can help users make very accurate cuts with minimal effort.

Dewalt DWS780 Miter Saw via Amazon (with built-in XPS module)
Add-on Dewalt XPS Module (compatible with several Dewalt miter saws)

Added note: In the comments below, Joel brings up a good point – how effective will this be outdoors in harsh sunlight? Will the LEDs and shadows be completely washed out? I have looked into the matter, and was told that some users rotate their saw stands until they are in position to block some of the incident sunlight with their bodies.

A couple of more photos:

Closeup of shadow across wider workpiece