ToolGuyd » Unusual or Whacky

Pipe Cutter & Wrench USB Flash Drives

Stuart — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:30:57 +0000

Novelty USB flash drives are nothing new, but these are the first we’ve seen that are designed to resemble common hand tools. You now have a choice between a pipe cutter and wrench memory thumb drive.

If you’re really into having a tool-related flash drive, it shouldn’t be too difficult to integrate one into plastic toy tools.

USB Pipe Cutter Flash Drive via USB.Brando
USB Wrench Flash Drive via USB.Brando

Duct Tape, Does a Melon Good

Stuart — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:30:39 +0000

Ever squeeze a melon to check for ripeness only to have your finger pierce its flesh? Thankfully Duck branded duct tape came to the rescue! The downside is that the neon blue melon bandage was a bit too bold to hide from my wife. She found my coverup to be amusing, but guess who had to cut up the melon that night…

Here’s the “before” picture:

You can buy all kinds of Duck branded duct tape from Amazon and other online retailers, but you’ll save a few bucks by going to a local store.

Pliers in the Sky in England

Stuart — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:30:46 +0000

I thought you might enjoy this image of pliers floating in the sky in England. It looks like a Google streetview driver briefly left pliers on top of his camera while mapping a neighborhood.

Check out the blunder here, or via the story on Geekologie.

Oh, and please feel free to share any clever captions you come up with to describe the image.

Channellock Diagonal Cutters Spotted in Brother Printer Ad

Stuart — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:14:18 +0000

I was doing some online shopping when I came across a flash advertisement for Brother printers that featured what looks to be a pair of Channellock disagonal pliers. Cool. I whipped out a pair of Channellock cutters, and compared the two, finding that the cutters in the ad were most definitely modeled after the Channellocks.

You know you’re a tool enthusiast when you reload a webpage five times to get a good screenshot of a tool depicted in an ad. A year ago, we spotted a Proto wrench in a video game. In this case, the cutters were not labeled as Channellock, but the shape of the tool and the blue comfort grip handles gave it away.

Shop for Channellock Pliers via Amazon (which happens to be where I spotted the ad)

DIY Gone Bad – Car Loses All Four Wheels

Stuart — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:00:30 +0000

Apparently it’s quite common for Europeans to switch between winter and summer tires. Well, one driver in Switzerland was changing his tires but happened to use the wrong lug nuts to secure the wheels to his car. That’s a mistake he’s never going to make again – as soon as he drove back onto the motorway, he lost all four tires simultaneously, coming to an immediate halt.

What the news article does not mention is where the tire change took place – the wording implies that this was all done on the side of the motorway.

Reuters Link

We had been holding out for more details – or at least a photo of the car, but it looks like the story’s dead. The following unrelated video shows what the incident probably looked like.

Tool Chest Dresser

Stuart — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:42:41 +0000

This Step2 child-sized tool chest dresser is perfect for the little ones in your home that want to have a toolbox just like dad’s (or mom’s). If you ask us, its size makes it better suited for use as a night table or as a toy box.

The tool chest dresser retails for about $95 including shipping.

Step2 Tool Chest Dresser via Amazon

Grip-On Bunion Relief Pliers?!!

Stuart — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:00:34 +0000

I was browsing Grip-On’s catalog the other day, and found mention of this unusual tool. Grip-On’s bunion relief pliers can be used to spot-stretch all types of footwear to accomodate bunions, corns, and other painful bumps on the feet.

In case you’re wondering, no, this is not an early April Fools Day joke.

Ikea Car April Fools Day Joke?

Stuart — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:10:51 +0000

A new website popped up and appears to be announcing the release of an Ikea car. This is probably an elaborate April Fools Day joke, but the effort that went into either disassembling a spoof vehicle, or sourcing and arranging all those various loose parts together, is impressive nonetheless.

Then again, it could also just be CGI…

Roulez-Leko.com

Edit: As mentioned in the comments, the announcement was revealed to be for Ikea’s new carpool-sharing system, and the photo that was passed around with the rumor is from an older unrelated advertisement.

Still, it is not too farfetched to imagine a DIY car, especially with smaller vehicles like the Smart Car hitting the road.

Proto Wrench Found in Video Game

Stuart — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:00:22 +0000

As you can see, we spotted an adjustable wrench in a video game and promptly took a screenshot. It is not unusual for video game designers to add tools and other everyday items to scenes for added realism. What is unusual about this wrench is that the designers of Fear2 labeled it a Proto 708S – a real designation.

This may not be the first instance where real brands and product numbers were used, but it’s the first that we’ve been made aware of. If you come across a similar instance in a video game or similar unexpected place, let us know – we’d love to hear about it!

Fear2
Proto 708S Product Page

Tool Misuse Do’s and Don’ts

Stuart — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:00:37 +0000

There are times when it is acceptable to misuse a tool, and other times when it is not. For example, if you are caught off-guard and need to open a can of paint, it is okay to go ahead and use a cheap flat head screwdriver. The following are a few tool misuse do’s and don’ts.

DO NOT use power tools in the kitchen. A drilled roast is not the best way to woo dinner guests.
DO use power tools when baking, but only if you’re Chef Duff Goldman, owner of Charm City Cakes and host of Ace of Cakes on Food Network.
DO NOT use a hammer or dead-blow mallet in lieu of a proper meat tenderizer.
DO use any tool at your disposal if it enables you to cook with lava.

This should not need saying, but DO NOT use power tools in the bedroom. If you need further convincing, take a look at this recent news article about a mishap involving a “modified” saber saw.

Lastly, check out this video on youtube of some very unsanitary and unappetizing power tool “cooking.”

Know of any other tool misuse do’s and don’ts? Tell us about them either with a comment, or contact us!

Brilliant Improvisation or DIY Disaster?!

Stuart — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:46:45 +0000

For the first time since infancy, I am at a loss for words. Is this vehicle the result of an improvised a/c repair? A DIY disaster? Or could this be a fixer-upper that has seen considerable progress?

What would a classified ad for this vehicle look like? I can see the headline now: Barbie-pink pickup with spacious elbow room, environmentally-friendly “air conditioning,” and keyless entry. Bonus seat covers included.

Sears’ Win a Room (Garage?) Makeover Contest