I have been keeping my eyes open for a long-pattern flex ratchet for a while. I’m just a DIY’er, so I cannot justify spending big bucks for a brand like Snap-On or MATCO, but I still wanted something USA-made and good quality. I picked up this Armstrong Maxx 11-994 ⅜”-drive ratchet because it appeared to have the specs I was looking for. Plus, it was priced at around $60 (via Harry Epstein), placing it within my budget.

The first thing that struck me about this ratchet is its length; the ratchet is quite long at 11.5 inches.

Taking closer look at the ratchet head, you can see that the joint is held together with an adjustable machine screw. Some people prefer a screw to a pressed pin, as it allows you to tighten the joint if it starts to loosen up. You can also see the locking lever in this picture. You can lock the ratchet head in a total of nine different positions.

The handle has an hourglass shape that fits the contour of your hand. I found it to be quite comfortable.

This ratchet has a 60-tooth mechanism that is held in place with a snap ring. The ratchet head also has a seal around the gear which helps prevent dirt from entering the ratchet.

The mechanism features a single pawl that engages 11 teeth at a time. This is one of the designs used by Apex Tool Group, the parent company of Armstrong. You’ll find a nearly identical design used in other ratchets made by Apex, such as the Craftsman thin-profile ratchets and certain GearWrench ratchets.

The head of the Armstrong ratchet is pretty thin (left), especially compared to another one of my favorite ratchets, the Wright 3490 (right). The Armstrong is about 1 inch thick. At ~1.33 inches tall, the Wright is considerably thicker.

The longer length of the Armstrong ratchet provides extra leverage that allows you to apply a lot of torque when needed. I had no problem removing the lug nuts on my truck, which are torqued to 100 ft-lbs.

The flex-head mechanism comes in handy when you need to access fasteners in tight spaces. I’m not a huge fan of normal flex ratchets without locking mechanisms. I find such ratchets to be too hard to control when I’m really pulling on the handle – a sure recipe for busted knuckles. The locking mechanism on the Armstrong completely fixes that issue. It securely holds the head at the set angle, so you don’t have to worry about the ratchet flexing and slipping when you don’t want it to. You can also unlock the mechanism and use the ratchet like a standard free-flexing head if you prefer it that way.

I used the ratchet while replacing the serpentine belt tensioner on my girlfriend’s VW Beetle. The tensioner is located in a very cramped area in the engine bay of this vehicle, exactly the type of use I bought the ratchet for. The locking flex mechanism made it easy to remove the bolts holding the tensioner to the engine.

The locking mechanism seems quite strong. I was not able to overpower it and slip the joint to the next angle position. A few times I did bump the locking lever on something and unlock the head unexpectedly, but this was a pretty rare occurrence.

The locking mechanism does allow for a small amount of movement back and forth. I made a video to show the movement in the flex mechanism when it’s locked.

At around $60, this is the most expensive ratchet I’ve purchased to date. It has some impressive qualities, including a 60-tooth design, and a sturdy locking mechanism. I think the Armstrong offers a lot of value.  From what I can tell, you’ll likely have to spend considerably more money to find the same quality and features in another brand.

Buy Now (via Harry Epstein Co)
Buy Now (via Amazon)

Comparable locking flex head ratchets

• Matco 88-tooth – $136
• Snap-on FX80 – $133

Note: We searched for but couldn’t find locking flex head ratchets by Blackhawk, Cornwell, Proto, Wright, or Williams.

Ed. Note: Stephen noticed is a bit of play in the flex head, even when locked. We asked Armstrong about this, and they told us that the grooves are machined and that a bit of play is normal. There is a brief discussion about the movements, measurements included, over at the Garage Gazette forum, and it looks like some copies of the ratchet have less play in the joint than the one reviewed. Does a bit of play detract the quality or performance of the ratchet? In our opinion, absolutely not.

Tool Skool discovered a very neat invention over at the 2012 National Hardware Show – an aluminum bracket designed to quickly create furniture out of 3/4″-thick lumber. These brackets, called 4LTX for their ability to create L, T, and X-shaped joints, can be used to build shelving and furniture of nearly any size and shape.

As soon as I saw the product demonstration video I thought of Rockler’s new I-Semble brackets, which I find to be quite appealing. But unlike that design, 4LTX brackets can be used with different board widths. These brackets are made from 5052-H32 aluminum and can be secured to 3/4″ wood materials with screws or nails.

4ltx brackets are reasonably priced – $6.50 each or $42 for 8. If you plan on making a LOT of furniture, you can buy a bulk pack of 125 pieces for $500.

First look via Tool Skool
More Info (via 4LTX)

(Check out Tool Skool’s site for additional NHS coverage. There are a ton of great previews over there!)

Something about the Filson twill tool bag screams out to me, although I’m not yet sure if it’s the sexy clean design or $245 price tag. This USA-made bag features a spacious interior with 4 full-length pockets and rearrangeable inner panels, and it’s also got 4-full length pockets on the outside. It’s no Veto Pro Pac, but it sure does look better.

The utility bag is made from 22-oz 100% cotton oil finish twill with 100% genuine bridle leather, and is sized at 15″W x 8″H x 6-1/2″D. A double layer bottom, 7″ handles, leather straps, and brass fittings complete the package.

I have to say, the Filson Twill Utility Bag does look reasonably rugged. One review on Filson’s site complains at the lack of a zippered closure, but there are plenty of users who prefer the open form factor.

Buy Now(via Filson)

Over the years we’ve heard some great things about GoodYear rubber air hoses. They’re flexible, oil and abrasion-resistant, and can handle a maximum working pressure of 300 PSI.

These made-in-USA rubber air hoses are a huge step above cheap generic-branded PVC air hoses, but they won’t hurt your wallet.

Buy Now(via Amazon)

The other day someone challenged me to find precision screwdrivers that don’t suck and are made in the USA. Oh, that’s easy – Moody screwdrivers easily fit both criteria.

Set 58-0390 comes with 8 screwdrivers and is well configured for general-purpose use. If you don’t know which tip sizes you need, this is a good place to start. Moody’s catalog features many additional sizes and tip styles.

This set includes: slotted .080″, .100″, .125″, .141″, .156″; Phillips #00, #0, #1; and a vinyl storage pouch.

ESD-safe handles ensure that you won’t fry sensitive electronic components while working on computer parts or devices. The handles are also grooved for improved finger-tip gripping.

Buy Now(via Amazon)

Moody is not exactly a household name, but their tools are well-known among industrial users and some DIYers. We have had good experiences with Moody tools, except for a diamond scribe that broke after a couple of months of light use. Moody does have a “no-hassle lifetime replacement warranty,” but that doesn’t help if we cannot find the broken tool.

Wilde recently came out with new flush-fastener slip-joint pliers in 6-3/4″ and 8″ sizes. What makes this model different from other flush-joint pliers is that the pivot is completely field-serviceable. To adjust the pliers, all you need is a small hex key.

Overall, the pliers are well-built, and I was particularly pleased with the quality of the coarse-toothed jaws. I don’t use slip-joint pliers very often, but when I do I’m pretty hard on them. These pliers may look simple and plain, but they seem to be up to the challenge.

These pliers are extremely inexpensive at under $10, and they’re made in the USA!

Buy Now (via Harry Epstein)

There are more photos of the pliers at the ToolGuyd Facebook page, and I wrote a longer review over at Makezine.

The other day we discussed and pointed to several DIY metal-bending brake designs. But if you’re looking for a quicker solution that’s still inexpensive and easy to use, an off-the-shelf brake may be a better option. We have had very good experiences with BAC Industries’ Mighty Mini Bender.

BAC’s Mighty Mini Bender is an 18″ brake that can form 90° angles in aluminum up to 16 gauge thick, and mild sheet metal up to 18 gauge thick. It mounts easily to a bench, but you can also clamp it down for temporary use. The brake requires 2 small C-clamps to use.

The Mighty Mini Bender looks better in online product photos than in person, but it hasn’t let us down yet. But we don’t care that it looks a little rough around the edges, as long as it performs well.

If you plan to work with larger workpieces, BAC also makes a 30″ brake, the Mighty Brute Bender, and a 40″ brake, the Mighty All Purpose Bender. Both of these models are more robust than the 18″ Mini Bender, but they are also substantially more expensive. The 30″ brake has the same thickness limits as the 18″ version, and the 40″ model can handle aluminum up to 18 gauge and mild steel up to 20 gauge thick.

Buy Now(18″ Brake via Amazon)
30″ Version (via Amazon)

18″ Brake via Enco (The regular price is quite high, but the brake goes on sale every now and then.)

These BAC sheet metal brakes are made in the USA. (March 2012.)

More Info via BAC

ESEE knives has quietly announced their new Candiru fixed-blade knife. The Candiru is smaller than the hugely popular Izula neck knife, and also features a slightly different blade and handle profile.

(There will also be a new ESEE Laser Strike, and new love-it or hate-it “venom green” color scheme.)

Although some are calling the Candiru a neck knife, it looks more like a boot knife or compact utility and survival knife. The ESEE Candiru knife also comes with a low-profile Cordura sheath that will definitely improve its carryability. That’s the one issue I have with my Izula – it’s a bit too large and indiscreet for every-day-carrying (EDC) in an urban or office environment.

Photo by Jeff Randall

Photos by Jeff Randall

Official specs are not yet available, but it looks like the Candiru blade may be under two inches in length. The Candiru knife will be priced at about $45-50, sheath included. Optional Micarta and G10 bolt-on handles will also be available at launch, for about $17. There won’t be an official Kydex sheath, but an injection-molded plastic sheath option looks to be in the works.

In case you’re not familiar with this style of skeletonized knife, handle scales are optional. Many users prefer to wrap the handles with inexpensive paracord for improved grip and a personalized look.

Like ESEE’s other knives, the Candiru is made in the USA. And if you’re wondering what Candiru means, it’s the name of the parasitic “vampire fish” native to the Amazon River that is known for allegedly swimming up and invading human urethras.

Release Date: ~March 2012

Woodpeckers recently announced new 7″ and 12″ bevel gauges that combine modern engineering with a classic design. The new bevel gauges are one-time-tools, but we hope that Woodpeckers opts to make them permanent additions to their measuring and layout tool lineup.

These bevel gauges feature stout stainless steel blades, CNC-machined aluminum bodies, stainless steel hardware, and a vise-style sliding blade-lock thumbscrew.

I had a chance to handle (and drool over) the 7″ bevel gauge at a recent Woodworking Show, and my goodness, it felt fantastic. I’m a regular fan of Woodpeckers’ USA-made tools, but the bevel gauge felt even better built and looked more elegantly designed than I expected.

The Woodpeckers bevel gauge absolutely puts to shame the <$10 Empire model in my tool box. The plastic-handled gauge I’ve been using has a large thumbscrew on the front near the pivot, making it impossible to flip over and prone to slippage. The Woodpeckers design, on the other hand, features a locking thumbscrew at its end, enabling the tool to be used on either side.

Notice that the blade is asymmetrically positioned between the two sides of the handle. I feel that this was done so that you can use the gauge with a wider range of workpiece thicknesses.

Price is $70 for the 7″ bevel gauge, and $100 for the 12″. There’s also a handy laser-etched angle reference plate for $40. Ordering deadline is March 5th, with an approximate early-May 2012 shipping estimate.

Buy Now (via Woodpeckers)

The FastCap Square N Tape, invented by Tom Noon, is a small plastic square that you attached to your tape measure. The Square N Tape is 3″ wide and provides a 90° straightedge, notches at 1.5″ and 3.5″ for ripping 2x2s and 2x4s out of larger boards, a mark at 1.5″ for single-stud layout, and angular markings at 22.5° and 45°.

You can attach the Square N Tape to a tape measure with the pre-applied self-adhesive disc, or ample amounts of hot glue. On the front of the square is a white erasable notepad area.

The Good

The Square N Tape worked exactly as advertised. We received two samples, one to attach to our own tape measure, and one that came pre-attached to a FastCap PS-25 Pro Carpenter tape measure.

The smooth plastic body slides along boards with ease, and the notched V-grooves are easy to find with a pencil. Small grooves that indicate 1.5″, 22.5° and 45° marking locations were also easy to find and align as well.

The FastCap PS-25 tape measure is a decent tape measure, so most of the Square N Tape testing was done with the pre-attached combo. Using the Square N Tape was pretty easy and with a really short learning curve. After getting used to it, the combo did prove to be more convenient than pulling out a try square or speed square to make short right angle markings.

The Not So Good

There are two downsides to the Square N Tape. First, all 4 of our 25′ tape measures were too big to mate with the Square N Tape without modification. I don’t even see how hot glue can be used to create a strong and aligned match-up. Our 16′ Stanley PowerLock might fit, if I can find it.

Unfortunately, the useful height of the Square N Tape does impede the unlock action of the FastCap tape measure. Well, it does not really impede the lock itself, but it makes releasing the tape with one hand quite a physical challenge. Bringing in a second hand to help support the tape is a quick remedy, but the attachment shouldn’t interfere with normal operation of the tape measure.

Conclusion

Without a doubt, the Square N Tape is a handy device, and it does have potential to be a real time-saver. However, I could not attach it to any 3rd party 25-foot tape measures, and could not get comfortable with the FastCap tape measure and Square N Tape combo.

Despite its flaws, I still like the Square N Tape, or at least just the Square part. It feels relatively sturdy, does everything it says it can, is incredibly lightweight, and is made in the USA.

I sent a note to the inventor, describing my difficulties matching the Square N Tape to 3rd party tape measures and using it comfortably with the FastCap tape, but have not received a response. I thought that maybe I was missing something or handling the Square wrong, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

The Square N Tape is a neat and useful design, and although I personally could not get comfortable with it, your experience might be better. It’s priced at $6 separately or $15 with a FastCap tape measure.

Buy Now via FastCap

We’ve been tipped off that Channellock wholesale prices will be increasing in a couple of months, and it is expected that distributors will raise retail prices accordingly. We trust our information source, but stress that we have not yet confirmed the price increase with Channellock.

Channellock prices have more or less remained the same for several years, and so a sudden across-the-board increase should not be all that surprising. The increase may also be in response to a significant hike in steel and raw material pricing.

You can buy Channellock pliers at Amazon, home improvement centers, industrial suppliers, and independent retailers. There’s no need to go crazy, but if there’s a particular tool you’ve been meaning to pick up, you might want to do so before the rumored increases go into effect.

Thank you to our tipster for the heads-up!

Hooks and picks are great for cleaning, removing, and manipulating small parts, and many times these are the only tools that can get the job done properly. These Ullman picks and hooks may be small, but they are sharp, strong, and durable.

I’ve used this set to separate wires, remove O-rings and gaskets, toggle hard to reach micro-switches, clean/scrape grooves, retrieve small parts, clear swarf from a drill bit, and accidentally give myself new scars.

Buy Now(via Amazon)

A 4-piece set should be enough for most common tasks, but 6-piece and 8-piece sets are also available.

New Becker Knives (USA-Made)

• Becker Machax
• Becker BK15 Short Trailing Point Knife
• Becker BK16 Short Drop Point Knife
• Becker BK 17 Short Clip Point Knife

The Machax measures 14-11/16″ overall with a 9-3/8″ blade, and looks to be quite appropriately named. It is roughly shaped like a machete, but with a handy axe-like-profile at the tip of the blade. MSRP is $135.67, although street pricing is expected to be considerably less.

The short knives, which might sometimes be described as tweener knives, are slightly scaled-down versions of larger Becker knifes. The BK15 resembles the BK5 Magnum Camp Knife, the BK16 the BK2 Companion Knife, and the BK17 the BK7 Combat Utility Knife. These new short versions look to save on size and weight, making them even more appealing for outdoors utility and tactical carrying.

Each Becker Short knife features a 1095 Cro-Van steel blade and is bundled with a MOLLE compatible sheath and extra set of brown Zytel handle scales. ETA is April 1st, 2012, and MSRP is $107.49. Again, expect for street pricing to be substantially lower.

I for one am a bit excited about the Becker BK16 Short drop-point knife. I purchased a BK2 Becker Companion knife a couple of weeks ago, and while I am greatly impressed with its quality, it’s a bit too much for my needs.

New Ka-Bar Zombie Knives

• Zombie Chop Stick Machete
• Zombie Mule Folder

The new Zombie Chop Stick Machete is 14-5/8″ overall with a 8″ blade, and comes with a black nylon sheath and extra set of handle scales. It should be available now, with an MSRP of $79.41.

The Mule folder is a carryover from the Ka-Bar line and is now offered with the Zombie-green handle. Straight and serrated edge versions will be available March 1st, 2012, and MSRP is $69.96.

Ka-Bar Combat Kukri

The USA-made Kukri is 13-3/8″ overall and has an 8-1/2″ blade. ETA is April 1st, 2012, and MSRP is $113.36.

Additional Ka-Bar and Zombie additions and upgrades are planned for 2012. Thus far upgrades of the Ka-Bar K2 folding knives have also been announced.

Expect to see these knives via your favorite Becker and Ka-Bar dealers.

Ka-Bar and Becker Knives via Amazon

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

Imperial Blades, an independent oscillating multi-tool blade manufacturer, recently announced their new universal T340 bi-metal titanium-coated Storm saw blade. They say that it can cut almost anything, from wood to decking screws.

There are three more points that make these blades highly attractive to us – they’re made in the USA, they supposedly beat out all others’ competing blades in comparative longevity testing, and they have universal arbors.

So… these new Storm oscillating blades are ultra-durable cut-anything blades that can be used with almost any multi-tool. Sweet!

Buy Now(via Amazon)

3-packs and 10-packs are also available, and drop the per-blade costs by quite a bit.
More Info via Imperial Blades

We plan to take a closer look at Imperial Blade and their oscillating tool blades when we have a chance. Hopefully these Storm blades perform even half as good as they look.