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ToolGuyd > Tool Science 101
Stiletto TiBone 3 Titanium Hammer Nail-Starting Closeup

Editorial

Let’s Talk About Modern High Velocity Hammers

Jan 7, 2021 Stuart 83 Comments

Why are lighter high performance hammers claimed to be as hard-hitting as heavier hammers? Read More

Cordless

Dewalt Cordless Power Tools, UWO, and Torque – Here’s What it all Really Means

Apr 13, 2019 Stuart 81 Comments

I have been avoiding this for a while, but here’s a long take at Dewalt’s UWO and what it means. Read More

Milwaukee Shockwave Matrix Carbide Screwdriver Power Bit

New Tools

Breaking Down Milwaukee Tools’ Matrix Carbide Steel

Jan 18, 2019 Stuart 29 Comments

What does “Matrix Carbide Steel” even mean? Read More

Vacuum Hose Size Comparison

Editorial

Vacuum Hose Size Comparison

Aug 8, 2018 Stuart 21 Comments

When comparing vacuum hose sizes, did you know that a 2-1/2″ hose has 4X the cross section compared to a 1-1/4″ hose? Read More

Milwaukee Packout with melted Kaizen foam

Editorial

Why Clear-Lidded Organizers Shouldn’t be Left in the Sun

Jul 20, 2018 Benjamen 51 Comments

Follow down the rabbit hole as Ben and Stuart investigate reports of Kaizen foam melting in clear-lidded tool boxes. Read More

Bosch ProCore 18V 7Ah Battery Pack

Cordless

Revisiting What an Amp-Hour Means for Cordless Power Tool Batteries, and Other Tidbits

Mar 2, 2018 Stuart 43 Comments

So, you want to know more about cordless power tool battery packs? Read More

Milwaukee M18 TrueView LED Lantern Beam Pattern

Cordless

Milwaukee LED “TRUEVIEW” Technology Explained

Oct 3, 2014 Stuart 8 Comments

Here’s a look at some of the technical figures behind Milwaukee’s TRUEVIEW LED claims. Read More

Milwaukee Scissors Iron Carbide Edge

Tool Science 101

Milwaukee “Iron Carbide” Cutting Tools – What Does This Mean?

Jul 3, 2014 Stuart 7 Comments

So what’s the deal with the “iron carbide” cutting edges on Milwaukee’s new heavy duty scissors? Read More

Wright WrightGrip Anti Slip Wrench Design

Mechanics' Tools

This Why Anti-Slip Wrenches are Awesome

Feb 6, 2014 Stuart 19 Comments

We came across a video review that does a great job of demonstrating the effectiveness of anti-slip wrenches. Read More

UL Requirement for Max Power Cordless Drill Handles

Cordless

Why Powerful Drills MUST Have Auxiliary Handles

Jan 31, 2014 Stuart 19 Comments

We took a detailed look at why more powerful drills must come with auxiliary handles. Read More

Dewalt 12V Max Battery Pack

Cordless

Power Tool Brands Don’t Make Their Own Batteries

Jan 29, 2014 Stuart 48 Comments

Here are a few thoughts about cordless power tool battery packs. Read More

Energizer L91 Lithium Battery Capacity Temperature Curve

EDC, Pocket, & Multitools

Which Batteries for Flashlights and Tools in Cold Weather

Jan 28, 2014 Stuart 11 Comments

If you plan to use a flashlight or battery-powered device outside in the winter, you will probably want to power it with lithium batteries. Read More

Maxxeon LED Worklight Beam Uniformity

Flashlights & Worklights

What is a Lumen, What is Lux, and More LED Flashlight Technical Mumbo Jumbo

Jan 10, 2014 Stuart 36 Comments

Have you ever wondered what a lumen was? We covered that and more. Read More

Thermal Image of Spectre

Editorial

Thermal Image of a Ghost!! (A Brief Primer on Infrared Reflections)

Jun 4, 2013 Stuart 2 Comments

What the heck did the thermal imager capture – is that a ghost? Read More

Porter Cable 20V Drill Thermal Image

Cordless

Thermal Image of a Cordless Drill

Jun 4, 2013 Stuart 4 Comments

Here’s a thermal image of a compact cordless drill, along with an explanation of why the motor heats up and what happens if you push it too far. Read More

Cordless

Cordless Power Tool FAQ: What Does “Ah” Really Mean?

Feb 8, 2013 Stuart 119 Comments

Now seems to be a good time to discuss a battery’s Ah (amp-hours) rating and what it really means. Read More

Tool Science 101

Tool Science 101: Chrome Plating Part 2 – Cleaning

Jun 29, 2009 Stuart Discuss

A few weeks ago, we published a brief introductory post about chrome plating. To satisfy reader demands, we have decided to follow up that post with a more detailed series of posts about the different steps involved in a typical chromium plating process. This post, part 2 of the series, briefly describes the cleaning and […]

Mechanics' Tools

Tool Science 101: Chrome Plating Part 1 – Introduction

Jun 18, 2009 Stuart 5 Comments

As you might be well aware, most mechanics’ tools such as ratchets, sockets, and wrenches, are chrome (chromium) plated. This layer of chrome, although extremely thin, greatly enhances the properties of these tools.

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