A few months ago I reviewed Timberland’s Pro Helix work boot. Although they took some breaking in, the boots proved to be quite comfortable to wear. But not everyone needs a hard-toe protective boot, so I decided to review the soft-toe version of the boots.

Hard Toe vs. Soft Toe

These days many work boot and safety shoe makers have turned towards space-age alloys and composites to shed weight without compromising the level of protection a traditional steel toe cap provides.

Hard-toe boots provide more protection than soft-toe boots, but sometimes it’s not necessary. Maybe you just need a higher quality boot with no-slip grip and an anti-fatigue sole.

Timberland Pro Helix Soft Boots Summary

These soft-toe boots were tested in DIY and work situations where hard-toe boots were not needed. Like the hard-toe version I previously reviewed, this version required a short break-in period. Total wear time adds up to about 4-weeks.

The boots proved to be comfortable enough for all-day wear, and seem to be durable enough for long-term use. That’s one thing I’ve always liked about Timberland boots and footwear – they are extremely slow-to-wear. They can sometimes cost a little higher than other brands’, but they always deliver.

My only real complaint, other than the minorly inconvenient break-in period, is that the boots only come in brown. A little over 10 years ago, I bought a pair of nice blue Timberland 6-inch boots. And the following year I remember seeing green boots. While I’m not saying that there should be a line of pastel-colored work boots, today’s brown is as boring as yesterday’s tan.

Bottom line, these are nice boots if you’re looking for a soft-toe option. They’re a little pricey at ~$125, but if they follow the tendency I have experienced with other Timberland boots, the added cost is justified with added longevity.

Timberland Pro Helix Work Boots via Amazon
Timberland PRO Helix Work Boots via Timberland

Here are more details about the Timberland Pro Helix work boot lineup.

Thank you to Timberland PRO for unconditionally providing the review sample. Our policy for review samples is to donate or give them away, or to retain them for benchmark and comparison purposes.

Simpson Strong-Tie offers a DIY workbench hardware kit that is based off of their RTC24 3-way right angle steel brackets. Although a Strong-Tie workbench requires more effort to build than a 2×4 Basics workbench, there are two main advantages – greater load capacity and the ability to customize the height of the workbench.

The Simpson Strong-Tie hardware kit (KWB1) comes with 8 steel brackets,  200 Strong Drive self-drilling screws, and plans to get you started. Construction is as simple as with the 2×4 Basics brackets – cut your 2x4s, work surface and shelving down to size, and then screw everything together.

Buy Now(via Amazon) ($40-$65)

One of our workbenches is constructed using these RTC24 brackets, although we purchased the brackets and #8×1.25″ self-drilling screws separately. Overall the workbench has stood up very well to abuse, and is topped with a 1-1/4″-thick IKEA countertop.

Here’s a PDF from Simpson Strong-Tie that shows a few of the example setups you can build using the RTC24 brackets included in this kit. Note that some of the examples are built using multiple kits.

This 2×4 Basics workbench and shelving system kit comes with four heavy duty and rigid plastic legs, and 3 pairs of Shelflinks brackets. Construction is relatively simple, with only three main steps required – plan your work table dimensions; cut your 2x4s, work surface and shelves down to the desired size, and screw everything together.

The legs can support workbench spans of up to 4-ft wide and 8-ft long, and loads of up to 1000 pounds per shelf. You can use the shelving brackets to create a tiered work center, or for a separate shelving unit up to 8-ft long.

Buy now via Amazon ($65-$100)

Husky’s new 22″ plastic tool box has a wider body than most others I’ve seen, making it great for bulky items and even power tools. It features a one-handed latch, a comfortable rubberized handle, and a removable plastic tool tray.

I’m currently working on a group of tool box reviews, and so I brought the Husky along to my parents’ house, hoping for a second opinion. After checking them all out, my father pointed to the Husky, declaring it his favorite. A little while later, he even asked me to buy him one.

Okay, so my father  likes the tool box, and wants one for his hand or garden tools. No big deal, right? Wrong, it’s a huge deal. My father very rarely asks me to buy something for him. The last thing he asked for was a LensMate filter adapter for his Canon SX camera, and that was almost 19 months ago. This video will show you why he likes the design so much:

If anyone has any questions about what it can and cannot hold, don’t hesitate to ask. It holds cordless tools no problem, with the exception of circular saws unless you leave out the plastic tray.

Pros:

• Roomy interior
• Metal latch
• One-handed opening
• Quick closure
• Reasonably well-thought out removable tray
• No gimmicks of unnecessary frills
• Well-balanced and comfortable to carry
• DOES NOT TIP OVER! (This is the feature that my father raved most about)

Minor Cons:

• One-handed opening is not “one-touch”
• Only available in one size

Summary

In all, this is a very nice box that is hard to find fault with. It is very well designed, inside and out. That it requires one hand to open and not just one-touch is a minor gripe. The latches on this box are a leap ahead compared to other tool boxes in the Husky’s price range.

If you’re looking for a new tool box, be sure to check out the Husky in-store. I still have not made up my mind as to whether it’s my favorite of all the new models that just came out, but it’s definitely high up there. I also cannot say whether it will hold up to professional use, but it definitely feels to be robust enough for heavy DIY use.

The Husky 22″ tool box can be purchased from Home Depot for $25. Note that right now it looks to be an in-store-only item. It appears that Keter is the OEM, so we might eventually see other brand names on the same tool box.

The sample featured in this review was purchased at retail.

One of the items that will be heavily discounted is the Craftsman Nextec right angle impact driver, which we reviewed a little over a year ago. Our friends at Sears know that we’re quite fond of the RAID driver, and offered to send one over for us to give away! To enter to win one of these neat drivers, simply leave a comment in reply to this post.

Craftsman Nextec Right Angle Impact Driver

Only those with contiguous USA addresses are eligible to win, and the winner will be randomly selected 12/17.

Details of the super sale:

1. Coupon Book - printable & online $5 off $50 and $10 off $100 coupon codes for Shop Your Way Rewards members
2. Crazy-good deals. Remember that Craftsman 118 pc Mechanics tool set deal from the other day? Well, right now the price is at an all-time low!
3. Save More Green Deals – In addition to these individual deals, there will be many more great tool sales promos, now through 12/13 11:59CT.
4. If you’ve got a Sears card, you’ll get 5% back, some exclusionsapply.
5. Shop Your Way Rewards – earn points that you can redeem as credit towards purchases. (We’ve been taking advantage of this lately to shave a few bucks off of each order.)
6. Coupon codes: SEARS5OFF50 for $5 off $50 or REALJOY for free shipping on $99+ orders

More Save More Green Details Here
Sears Tool Dept. Deals

Update2: Lowe’s is offering FREE SHIPPING on ALL online tool purchases 11/24-11/28!

Update3: Full-page images of the Lowes Black Friday Ad is at the bottom of this post!

We scoped out Lowe’s Black Friday 2011 deals and filtered out the top tool deals we thought you would be most interested in. Prices go into effect Nov. 24th at 12:01 am.

It is our experience that it is best to beat the Black Friday rush and to order special sale items online for delivery or free in-store pickup when available.

To best prepare for Black Friday, be sure to check out our Sears Black Friday tool deals and Home Depot Black Friday tool deals pages as well!

Werner 6-foot Fiberglass Stepladder – this is your standard type II fiberglass step ladder with 225lb weight capacity. It’s lightweight, durable, and the perfect size for home improvement projects and general purpose use.

Stanley LED Tripod Flashlight - we bought two of these a few years ago, and they’ve been absolutely fantastic. They fold up for storage and can be deployed rapidly for hands-free illumination. These flashlights have been most handy during power outages, lighting up the hallway and bathroom. Price comparison via Amazon.

Skil 10-inch Table Saw - this is your basic homeowner-grade table saw. If you’re willing to potentially have to adjust it out of the box, this can be an okay portable table saw to start out with. If you need a table saw for more than one or two projects, take a look at the much better but more expensive Bosch GTS1031 or Dewalt DW745 models.

Dewalt DC970K-2 18V Drill Driver - while this is an outdated and lightweight design, you’ll have a hard time finding a better 18V cordless drill for the money. Price comparison via Amazon

14-Gallon Shop Vac - this wet/dry vac has a 14-gallon capacity and 4.5 peak HP motor. Its power cord and hose length are a bit short, but can be upgraded with an extension cord and improved hose should the need arise. One warning – at $29, these vacs will sell out quickly. Be prepared to order yours online at midnight if they’re made available online.

Rockwell 72-piece Oscillating Tool Kit - this kit has almost everything you could ask for from an oscillating multi-tool. If you want tool-free blade change, check out Porter Cable’s oscillating multi-tool. Here is a price comparison via Amazon.

Porter Cable 3 Tool 18V Combo Kit - $69 gets you a compact drill/driver, impact driver, flashlight, charger and a single NiCd battery. At first we thought this must be a price mistake, but the deal looks valid and real. If you think you’ll need a second battery, they’re on sale tool.

Maglite LED Flashlight 2D – there should be at least 1-2 of these flashlights in every home for general purpose use and power outages. Although these are not the brightest LED flashlights around, and they lack some advanced features that you’ll probably never use (e.g. SOS and strobe modes), these 2D Maglites offer rock-solid durability and great performance.

We plan on buying one for every family household this year to replace the 2AA LED models that everyone seems to have lost from 2 years ago. Price comparison via Amazon.

Kobalt 227pc Mechanics Tool Set – while we could do without the 12pt sockets and hex keys, this set is a great value. It offers 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″ ratchets, a reasonable selection of sockets, and wrenches in the most popular sizes. It’s not a complete tool set, but it might be a great set to build off of.

Kobalt Double-Drive Screwdriver – for a more detailed look at this tool, head on over to our Kobalt Double Drive information center, which has links to our preview, review, and giveaway posts. Alternative gift ideas are mixed in at the end as well since this is an unconventional/innovative DIY tool design that not everyone will like.

Kobalt Screwdriver, Tape Measure, Utility Knife Set – for $10, you get the three basic tools every homeowner should have. This is also a great backup set for those of us that have a hard time keeping track of where our favorite tape measures are.

Dewalt 75-piece Drilling and Screwdriving Set – from the looks of it, this set has quite a few duplicate screwdriver bits and not a lot of variety. That’s okay, the 14-piece drill bit set, bit holders and large tool bag make the kit more than worth its $20 sale price.

Skil 10-inch Miter Saw – having used inexpensive miter saws in the past, we’re not fond of them. If you want to buy for many projects, expand your budget and order a Hitachi or Dewalt saw from Amazon. But for rough every now and then miter cuts, this one should suffice. We doubt that you will find a better price on a name-brand miter saw, but if you do, let us know!

Campbell Hausfield 2-Gallon Air Compressor – $59 gets you a 2-gallon air compressor, combination nailer/stapler, recoil hose, inflation kit, starter brad nails and staples, and a couple of other accessories. It’s a lightweight kit, but seems to have decent reviews. Price comparison via Amazon.

For your convenience, we uploaded the tool-related portions of the ad-scan. Here they are, starting on page 2:

Gorilla Glue just came out with a new camo-version of their tough and sticky Gorilla Tape, featuring Mossy Oak Break-Up Infinity camouflage, which is apparently America’s #1 camo pattern.

Gorilla Tape is a premium all purpose tape that adheres to most surfaces, even those that other tapes won’t stick to. From what we’ve seen, it does seem to be a step above other tapes in terms of toughness and adhesive power.

The tape also features a UV and water-resistant outer layer, matte finish, permanent adhesive layer, and a thick fabric layer. It is 1.88″ wide and comes in a 12yd roll. The camo tape is not yet available online, but should soon appear at Lowe’s, Home Depot, and other hardware stores.

Check prices or purchase Gorilla Tape via Amazon

I’m a city boy, so I don’t have much need for camo, which tends to stand out in the urban jungle. Then again, I don’t need zebra, tie-dye, plaid, or fluorescent blue, pink, and green tape patterns either, but I have these tapes in the toolbox anyways.

Taking a walk around large home improvement stores, you can probably even figure out which items will be heavily discounted after Black Friday. Here’s a clue – look for products that are stacked up way higher than usual. 20 plastic toolboxes on a shelf, a dozen small stepladders when the other models are only stacked 3-4 deep, a wall of wet/dry shop vacuums – these are tell-tale signs.

With this in mind, here are 5 tools that you should not buy right now unless you need them urgently. Chances are that they will be on sale 4-6 weeks from now, and if not, they probably won’t increase in price.

1. Wet/Dry Home and Shop Vacuums

Starting on or around Black Friday, many major retailers will heavily discount one or two wet/dry shop vacuum models. Sometimes these models are special editions with extra-short power cords or few accessories, but others are fully-featured ones. Unless you need one of these heavy duty vacs immediately, wait to see which ones retailers will be putting on sale.

2. Cordless Power Tool Upgrades

If you need a new cordless power tool for a project, go ahead and buy it now. But if you already have something to use in the meantime and are only looking to upgrade, wait. Last year Amazon offered a $25 off $100 discount at the same time as a free battery or accessory promo on Dewalt 12V Max tools (link to expired deal), and there were frequent Bosch and Milwaukee deals as well. Quite a few home improvement stores had enticing promos as well, offering free batteries, accessories, and even add-on tools with certain purchases.

3. Cheap Hand Tools

We’re not fans of cheap hand tools, especially the ones that pop up around major gift-giving holidays, but some can be suitable for casual homeowner use. Many of these types of tools pop up on sale in-store only as retailers look to pull shoppers into the stores where they can more easily entice them to spend more.

4. Socket Sets

Sears and Lowe’s will most likely offer decent deals on smaller Craftsman and Kobalt socket sets. Both brands of sockets and mechanics’ tools are well suited for homeowner, DIY, and even some professional use.

This can be a tricky type of product to buy on sale, though, since specifications and components can vary greatly. We prefer 6pt sockets, so we avoid buying sets for our own use or as gifts that are largely composed of 12pt sockets which won’t see much use.

Don’t look at the number of tools included in the set to gauge its value – look at the number of sockets. Sometimes the added accessories are 60 screwdriver bits and hex keys that you already have plenty of. Because of this, smaller sets can sometimes be a better buy than larger priced sets.

5. Simple Utility Knives

For the past few years, most major home improvement stores that we visited in November and December had pallets full of inexpensive utility knives that they were practically giving away. You will often see aluminum-handled folding utility knives, but there are usually a number of standard knives on sale as well.

Other items that we expect to see on sale everywhere are AA batteries, home stepladders, inexpensive plastic sawhorses, and LED flashlights.

What else would you add to this list?

Hagar Tools just released the Benchmark portable work table, and a couple of accessories to go along with it. The table’s frame is constructed from extruded aluminum and steel, and those green supports you see are made from ABS, a tough but lightweight plastic. ABS is usually easily machined as well, so you can probably mod the cut paths if possible.

The Benchmark looks to be a completely different than the other portable work tables on the market today. An array of gaps and channels on the table surface allow for saw blade clearance wherever you need it. Benchmark says that all surfaces are available for clamping. This looks to mean that you can clamp workpieces to either the top or sides of the crossbeams. That could come in handy!

Standard Model

Accessory-wise, there are adapter plates to which you can attach plywood boards and various types of stationary tools or jigs. Riser pegs allow you to support workpieces above the table surface. Tool trays and a power tool cord whip are included with the Pro model, and are optional add-ons for the standard model.

The standard model is currently priced at $350, and the Pro model $450. Both work tables have an 80″ x 37.5″ footprint and 64-1/4″ x 37-1/2″ work surface (~5×3 ft). When folded the unit is 6-1/2″ tall, and when unfolded the tabletop surface is 32-3/4″ off the ground.

I have to say, the crossbeam and surface configuration looks very appealing to me. The only thing I’m not in love with is the unit’s price, but I don’t think I could put together a comparable aluminum and ABS DIY cut station for substantially less using off-the-shelf parts. Thumbs up to Benchmark/Hagar for a great design!

Product Info via Benchmark

Most of the time when I’m preparing to cut a large sheet of plywood down to size, I lay spare 2x4s or 1x4s on the floor and place the plywood on top. This ensures that the plywood is properly supported and won’t pinch or bind the blade. It looks like Benchmark took this common practice to the next level.

With limited shop space, I am always on the lookout for feature-rich and effective portable work support products. In regard to cutting plywood sheets down to size, Workmates are tool small, Skil’s X-Bench is no longer made, the Vika TwoFold offers no clearance for saw blades, and the Festool Multifunction Table seems to lose much of its versatility when used with non-Festool tools.

Saw horses, even modernized and more flexible ones such as Dewalt’s work stands, also typically require extra support when cutting larger wood boards or plywood sheets. More recently, I have been testing out the new Rockwell Jawhorse Sheetmaster, which also works quite well for the job.

Bottom-line, the Benchmark is unlike any portable work table, support, or clamping system that I’ve seen thus far. Pricing is a bit steep, but if you break down a lot of sheet goods and could use a versatile cutting support station, the efficiency of these tables will be an easy sell.

Update: We provided more information about the full-unit HEPA certification update in a new post.

That’s right, all Festool CT dust extractors are now fully HEPA certified, and meet or exceed the EPA’s lead paint regulations. Festool is also sending out free updated component kits to current CT 26 and CT 36 dust extractor owners that include a HEPA-rated filter and certification documentation.

If you recall, I purchased a CT 26 dust extractor a few months ago. I have already applied for the updated kit, which took hardly any time. Festool asks for basic contact information and the serial number of the CT model, and you’re good to go.

Here’s the Q&A page addressing the new CT HEPA Dust Extractor compliance, and here is the Free HEPA filter claim form that current eligible customers will need to fill out before 3/31, 2012.

Festool CT Dust Extractors via Amazon

Even more info via Festool

A few months ago, we briefly introduced Blaklader Workwear, a Euro-brand of tough work clothes. Blaklader sent over a pair of workpants for us to check out, and I’ve made my best effort to evaluate it in a fair and consistent manner.

Over the course of a few weeks, I wore the Blaklader workpants in rotation with my usual pants. Carhartts one day, jeans the next, then chinos, shorts, hiking pants, etc. I wore the pants while testing tools, helping out colleagues and friends with home improvement projects, working on my own projects, and even out to a shopping mall.

Let me tell you – work clothes are tough to review! Everyone has different fit and style preferences, making it difficult to make general recommendations about clothing. I tried my best to scrutinize and judge the pants from every angle I could.

Pockets, Pockets, Everywhere!

Wow, these pants have a LOT of pockets, sized to fit quite a few tools and accessories. The Bantam pants we tested have an extra flap of utility pockets on each side that can be tucked into the pants’ front pockets if you don’t need them.

Utility Pocket and Bellowed Front Pocket

You can use the reinforced utility pockets to hold tools, fasteners, or hardware.

Fabric and Construction

One thing we noticed right away – these pants are built very, very well. From the weight of the fabric to the stitching, the Blaklader Bantam pants feel secure and durable. Blaklader claims that their pants will last 2-1/2 times longer than other brands’ work pants. While we cannot really put this claim to the test, the Bantam pants do give off a better sense of ruggedness.

Kneepads

One of the things to love about Blaklader pants is the built-in kneepad pockets. You take the cushiony foam or gel inserts, push them up into the kneepad pockets, and you’re set. No tight straps, no bulky bands, just simple and effective knee padding for jobs that require you to work from down low.

Kneepad Pocket

Design – Subtle Design Features

The designers over at Blaklader did a GREAT job with these work pants. Aside from great construction and build quality, we noticed a few subtle features that made us absolutely love the Bantam pants.

Kneepad Placement

When inserted, the top of the kneepads settle in just above the knee. When dropping to one or both knees, I found it necessary to pull the pants legs up slightly to center the kneepads over my knees. This quickly became habit, so it’s not a complaint, but a bit of praise. Because of the seemingly thoughtful placement, I could walk around freely without feeling the kneepad on top of my knee. It’s there, but you won’t feel it until you need it.

Bellowed Pocket Construction

The front and back pockets are designed so that tools, especially pointy ones, are directed outwards rather than inwards. Not only does this make loaded-up pockets feel less bulky, it makes me feel more secure in knowing that a pointier tool won’t likely poke a hole inwards towards my legs.

At first sight I considered that this feature was a way to expand pockets to hold additional gear, but they don’t really add much volume to the pockets. When checking the product literature, I realized that this is what Blaklader describes as bellowed pockets, and as observed, one of its main purposes is to prevent carried gear from cutting into the wearer’s legs.

Left Leg Pockets

Style and Appearance

With the utility pockets hanging out, these are unmistakably work pants. But remove the kneepads, tuck the utility pockets into the front pockets and remove most larger tools from your pockets, and you can probably pull these off as cargo pants in public. The tucked-in utility pockets aren’t at all as bulky feeling as one might think.

Fit-wise, the pants are just about on the money. The waist sizing is ever so slightly smaller than I’m used to, but variation between brands is expected. The pants have a very relaxed feel to them, and I never noticed any tightness, bunching, twisting, or constriction. Thumbs-up for a great fit.

Conclusion

Blaklader’s Bantam pants are quite different from any other work pants on the market today. They may look a little unusual, but they are very comfortable to wear and sport handy features designed for heavy duty work wear.

I’m a fan of the multiple pocket options, durable material, rugged construction, and reliable design. It took quite some time for me to be absolutely sure, but I love these pants and highly recommend them.

If lighter weight cotton pants aren’t for you, Blaklader also offers heavier weight work pants.

Blaklader’s website has a list of their current USA distributors. Of the dozen or so authorized web dealers, our first stop would be McFeely’s.

Check prices or purhcase via McFeelys
More info via Blaklader

Thank you to Blaklader for providing the sample for this review unconditionally. Review samples are typically returned, donated, or in some cases retained for further testing or benchmark and comparison purposes.

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

I am as picky about the disposable nitrile gloves I use as I am about the tools in my toolbox. For some applications, ordinary off-the-shelf gloves suffice. But when dealing with harsh or hazardous chemicals, I’m definitely a name-brand glove kind of guy.

The first thing I noticed about Microflex’s MidKnight gloves is that they definitely look more bad-ass compared to ordinary run of the mill gloves. Not only do they look good, these gloves offer better-than-usual specs. The glove material is 5.5 mil thick at the fingers, and 4.7 mil thick at the palm, offering high tear resistance. At 9.6″ long (on average across the sizes?), MidKnight gloves are also a tad longer than generic branded gloves.

Not only does the glove’s color give it a unique look, in my experience they offer improved contrast that helps small tears or rips stand out better, compared to blue, silver, or purple gloves.

You can find these gloves for $12-16 plus shipping for packs of 100, or if you go through gloves quickly, a case of 1000 will run you $120 or so.

Microflex MidKnight Gloves via Amazon
Product Details via Microflex

If only these had come out a month sooner, I likely would have ordered them over this pair of JessEm featherboards.

The Woodpeckers featherboards are compatible with 1/4″ track, and can be used with 3/4″ x 3/8″ miter channels with optional hardware.

The new featherboards are priced at $33-36.

Woodpeckers Featherboards via Woodpeck

This Nebo Redline LED flashlight is a fantastic yet inexpensive light. It throws out an incredible amount of light, and is quite stylish without looking too much like a tactical flashlight. This is probably why the Redline has earned nearly 200 favorable reviews in just a few months.

As mentioned in my recent new gear preview, I picked up a Redline for myself, and I also like it a lot! Looking to share the love, we’ve decided to give away three Nebo Redline flashlights.

There will be 3 ways to enter and thus 3 ways to win:

• Leave a comment in reply to this post about flashlights or other EDC gear.
• “Like” ToolGuyd on Facebook and leave a comment or question somewhere on the wall.
• Sign up for our new newsletter! We’re working on the first issue right now, and if it works out well, we’ll send out updates on a bi-monthly or monthly basis.

[mailchimpsf_form]

This giveaway will end the night of June 11th, and is open to anyone in the USA or Canada. 3 winners will be selected at random the following day.

Nebo Redline Flashlight via Amazon