Stanley’s FatMax Xtreme Fubar is their heavy duty multi-tasked pry bar. By now, most people are already familiar with these tools after seeing them at any home improvement or general goods store (e.g. Target), so I’ll skip the details. I just wanted to point out that it’s currently on sale for $24.31 with free shipping on orders […]
Craftsman Nextec Auto-Hammer Revisit
A television commercial promoting the Craftsman Nextec Auto-Hammer has aired recently – no doubt targeting Father’s Day gift shoppers, so we’ve decided to revisit it. Although it may still seem a bit gimmicky, the Auto-Hammer is innovative enough that it deserves the attention.
5 Great Tool Gifts for Under $10
With Father’s Day on approach, everyone is asking themselves and others “what to buy?” Well, how about something useful. These five items are less than $10 each and are affordable enough to throw in with larger gifts. Bucket Boss Mug Boss Paired with a spare 10-12oz mug, the Mug Boss provides for nifty desktop organization […]
Gearwrench Indexing Nail Puller
Gearwrench has recently (and quietly) released a new tool – a 12″ indexing nail puller. This tool combines the efficiency and ease of a cat’s paw puller design with the convenience of a pivoting lever arm with 180° of swing. This indexing puller is intended to be used in tight quarters and between closely spaced beams, and likely performs […]
Beta Tools Now Available via Small Parts & Amazon!!
As promised a few weeks ago, Small Parts is now selling Beta tools! You can purchase these fine Italian-made tools from Small Parts’ website, or their shop on Amazon (which we find easier to navigate). I am VERY excited about this – can you tell? Oh, and if any one reading this should win the lottery, my birthday’s coming up (not […]
There’s Nothing Like a Good Dead Blow
The main advantages of a dead-blow over a standard rubber mallet are the reduction of recoil and increase in striking control. The dead-blow excels in loosening stuck or stubborn parts, and also comes in handy when a breaker bar cannot provide enough leverage to turn a fastener by itself. Stanley’s 21oz Compo-Cast is my dead-blow of choice, […]
The New Leatherman Freestyle – Preview
Leatherman’s new Freestyle is due to be released in May, and we are very excited. Leatherman’s Freestyle is based off of their Skeletool design, but whereas the Skeletool is a full-size tool, the Freestyle is slightly smaller and lighter, making it a more pocket-friendly tool. Full-size knife? Check. Full-size pliers? Check. “I want one now” […]
Grip-On Bunion Relief Pliers?!!
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.
Sog Kilowatt – a Charged Up Pocket Knife
The charged up Sog Kilowatt is a quality liner-lock pocket knife for anyone who might need to strip wires or cables at a moment’s notice. The Kilowatt features a 3.4″ blade, a zytel handle, a conventional 12-24ga wire stripper, a spring-loaded wire stripper, and a “hole stripper.” The Kilowatt’s electric-centric aesthetics are well matched to the functions of […]
Fixed-Blade Knife for Shop Use?
Just thinking aloud: are there any legitimate home or shop uses for a fixed-blade knife? Knives like these are great for camping and other outdoor activities, but what else can they be used for?
Streamlight Stylus Pro – New Colors!
We are absolutely thrilled at having just discovered that Streamlight is releasing three new Stylus Pro flashlights. In addition to flat black, Stylus Pros are now available in red, silver, and blue. Since my Stylus Pro is used as a tool for a total of 10 minutes a day, and carried as an accessory for 10 hours, a bit of color might […]
Leatherman’s $40,000 Multitool
The Charge Del Rey multitool is the crème de la crème of Leatherman’s new Argentum collection, and is priced at a whopping $40k. Renowned artist and silversmith Adrian Pallarols crafts the handles of each Charge Del Rey from 18 karat gold sourced from the Argentine Andes. Only 25 of these masterpieces will ever be produced, so if you want […]
Titan 61pc Bit Set
Almost nothing is as frustrating as having to take a break from a project to go and out and buy a missing insert bit size or style. For that reason, a general application bit set, such as Titan’s 61 piece set, is great to keep around. The selection of bits in Titan’s 61 piece bit […]
Wiha 40 Piece Cushion Grip Screwdriver Set
Wiha’s 40 piece cushion grip screwdriver set includes just about every driver style that one could ever need. Wiha’s 3K handle style is comfortable, durable, easy to clean, and reliable. Similarly, the tips on these drivers are very hard, durable, and accurate. We have been using a smaller set of these 3K drivers for a few years […]
Kershaw Unusual Shotgun Shell Knife
Kershaw’s Shotgun Shell Knife is one of the most unusually designed knives that we’ve ever seen. This knife features a 2″ plain-edged non-locking blade made from AUS6A stainless steel, and also includes a small tapered file. The handle is constructed with polished brass bolsters with rosewood inlay, and is crafted to resemble a shotgun shell. This compact knife […]
PB Swiss Tools Insider Bit Driver Review
The PB Swiss Tools Insider driver is a pocket-friendly screwdriver that can carry up to 8 insert bits in a removable cartridge. Don’t let its modest size or appearance fool you – the high quality Insider is very well designed and can handle most manual driving tasks with ease. Take a look at our in-depth review of the […]
Craftsman NEXTEC 12V Auto-Hammer
Craftsman released its new 12V NEXTEC series of compact power tools before the winter holidays, and performance reviews are starting to roll in. One of the more innovative tools of the Nextec series is Craftsman’s new Hammerhead Auto Hammer. The Auto Hammer’s compact size makes it well suited for areas too tight to swing a traditional hammer, as […]
Kobalt 26pc Palm Ratchet Set
While browsing for something over at Lowes.com, I noticed Kobalt’s 26 piece palm ratchet set. From the looks of it, this set is intended to be highly portable, and includes a small selection of sockets and insert bits. Best of all, the set is priced at $15. We are quite eager to give Kobalt’s palm ratchet a try, but […]
Stanley Quickslide Utility Knife
I’ve been using Stanley’s Quickslide utility knife for about two years now, and it’s still my favorite go-to knife. The Quickslide is a great knife because: i) the blade extends and retracts quickly and easily, ii) blade changes are also quick and easy, and iii) it is super-compact and can be carried comfortably in a pocket or clipped securely […]
Gearwrench Magnetic Extension Review
If you find that you often need to use tape, putty, or shims to hold fasteners inside of sockets, then you will definitely want to consider Gearwrench’s new magnetic drive accessories. Gearwrench’s new magnetic lineup includes 6″ extensions, universal-joint adapters, and drive-size adapters, all available in 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″ drive. In this review, we put Gearwrench’s 6″ magnetic extensions to the test – read on for a detailed […]