Last month we posted an update to our review of C.H. Hanson’s Precision Ball Level. In our experience, the ball level worked exactly as advertised, and looked to be very solidly made. In our update, we discussed a slight design flaw that made new levels susceptible to damage under certain conditions – perhaps careless handling at […]
Hands-on Review of Dremel’s New Cordless Rotary Tool
Dremel’s new 8200 cordless rotary tool is powered by a brand new 12V-max Li-ion battery, making it the fastest and most powerful cordless tool of its kind. The 8200 is not exactly compact, but its battery allows it to be used for many jobs where a corded tool would be inconvenient or impossible to use. We are avid fans […]
Bosch Power Box 360 Jobsite Radio Hands-on Review
A few weeks ago, we talked about Bosch’s new Power Box 360 music/power center, and how it claims to “re-define” jobsite sound. The new Power Box 360 features four speakers and a subwoofer, modern media connectivity options, and quite a few snazzy features. While that sounds great on paper, how does the Power Box 360 […]
Kobalt 17 Gallon 1.5HP Compressor Review
A few weeks ago I met up with Brian, a ToolGuyd contributor, and I spotted a Kobalt compressor (model 236005) in his shop. This unit is no longer available for sale at Lowes, but I’ve recently seen quite a few of them for sale on Craigslist and ebay, and carbon-copy units are still available at other retailers. […]
Milwaukee M12 Cordless Drill a Solid Performer
Steve from over at the ShopNGarage blog & forum recently reviewed Milwaukee’s M12 cordless drill and driver. The review was overwhelmingly positive, confirming our expectation that the M12 3/8″ drill is a very solid performer. As we also noticed in our own review of Milwaukee’s similarly featured 3/8″ right angle drill, Steve mentions that the drill’s chuck felt […]
Porter Cable 18V Li-Ion Cordless Drill Review
A few weeks ago, we received a Porter Cable 18V Li-ion cordless combo set to review. Since then, we have been putting the tools through a rigorous review process, starting with the cordless drill. Seeing as how the drill will be many users’ most frequently used tool, we spent quite a bit of time evaluating its […]
Dewalt Magnetic ToughCase Review
Dewalt’s new magnetic ToughCase is designed to be a highly portable storage case for larger drill bits, saw blades, and other bulky accessories that can be difficult to stow away. Right away, I must tell you that I absolutely love Dewalt’s various tool and accessory storage cases. They’re tough, well-built, and usually have extremely secure […]
Five Exotic Hand Tools Reviewed
I wrote an article over at Popular Mechanics reviewing five exotic and uncommon hand tools you’ll probably never see at your local big box hardware stores. These handy tools will likely be discussed in greater detail here on ToolGuyd in the future, but for now, check out my reviews over at PopMech! Attack of the Exotic, Off-Brand Hand Tools via […]
Bucket Boss Rear Guard Tool Sheath Review
Bucket Boss’s Rear Guard Tool Sheath is a small utility pouch that is great for carrying a a few tools around hands-free. The Rear Guard can be attached to an ordinary pants belt, and also has a flap that can be inserted into a back pocket for extra stability. I’ve been using a Rear Guard for quite some time now […]
Porter Cable 18V Cordless Tool Combo Kit Review I
Towards the end of 2008, Porter Cable revamped their 18V cordless tool lineup and came out with all new tools and combo kits. Since then, we’ve been a little hesitant to embrace these new tools for several reasons, but ultimately decided that they’re worth a fair and objective evaluation. We’re going to kick off a series […]
American Hammer 8oz Brass Hammer Review
Reader JD was kind enough to share a very detailed review of a recently purchased 8oz brass American Hammer with us. If you recall, American Hammer is currently holding a direct-sales promotion and has heavily discounted many of their hammers.
Spiral Supports Fine Tunable Shelf Support Pins Review
Spiral Supports are a brand new shelf support pin of a unique design that is claimed to provide perfect shelving every time. These shelf pins are quick and easy to adjust, and can be used to eliminate the wobbling or trembling associated with slightly misaligned support pin holes in cabinets and shelving. Even if you can […]
Safety Goggles Review: Radians, Dewalt, Uvex
Some hobbyists and DIYers risk eye injury and occasionally forego wearing safety goggles, with the most common excuse being that they’re uncomfortable to wear. While safety glasses can sometimes be an appropriate alternative, and are certainly better than nothing, there are times when goggles are required. The goggle styles discussed in this mini-review are exceptionally […]
Channellock 412 V-Jaw Pliers Review
We’re a huge fan of Channellock products, so when they offered us the opportunity to review their new 412 V-Jaw pliers, we couldn’t refuse! As mentioned in our recent preview post of the 412 pliers, Channellock introduced this smaller 6.5-inch version of their V-Jaw pliers for use on small tubing and round stock. We found that […]
Campbell Hausfeld Angled Finish Nailer Review
A few months ago, we talked about our positive first impressions of Campbell Hausfeld’s new finish nailer, which is part of a new line of Campbell Hausfeld nailers choc-full of features and designed to provide great results while being easy to use. It took us a little longer than we anticipated, but we now have enough experience with […]
Systainer Polystyrene Compartment Trays
A few weeks ago, we ordered a few Tanos Systainer storage trays from Lee Valley. These polystyrene compartmentalized storage trays are designed to fit into Systainer boxes, but we intend to use these trays in a few drawers to hold loose parts and tools.
Dewalt’s Impact Ready Drill Bits – a “Boring” Review
Dewalt recently released a whole slew of new Impact Ready bits and accessories, including twist drill bits and hole saws. We had the opportunity to give these new drill bits a spin, and as you will soon see in this review, we think they’re absolutely fantastic.
Ryobi Auto Hammer Hands-on Review
Ryobi’s cordless Auto Hammer is designed to drive nails up to 3-1/2″ long, operate in tight spaces, and eliminate manual hammering entirely. In fact, Ryobi claims that with their new Auto Hammer, hammering has never been easier. With claims like these, we just had to put the tool to the test! For a detailed overview of […]
Hands-on Review of the Craftsman MiterMate Miter Saw
There are quite a few questions about the new Craftsman 21226 MiterMate miter saw that we set out to address with a full no-holds barred hands-on review. Is the MiterMate gimmicky? Overly complex? Awkward and clumsy? Or is it as innovative and functional as Craftsman advertises? Keep reading for our full review of the MiterMate, or […]
Quick Review of Superior Tool ST-2000 Pipe Cutter
I needed to make two cuts in a length of 1″ Schedule 40 galvanized steel pipe, and did not have the tools available to do so. There are many hand and power tools that would have been appropriate for a job like this: an angle grinder, chop saw, metal cutting circular saw, snap pipe cutters, rotary pipe […]