I suppose this was to be expected. First, Sears recently launched the standalone Craftsman.com store. Then, they reinstated a rolling Craftsman Club promo period – did you notice that the past few promos were 4-5 weeks long each? Well, now they’ve launched a new rewards program where purchases earn you points that can be redeemed […]
The Tools We’re Buying
We’re about to place an order for a few new tools and wanted to share our selection and reasoning with you. First off we’re picking up Channellock’s 8-Inch Wide Adjustable Wrench (808NW). We spoke favorably of their extra-wide Code Blue version a few weeks ago, but could not justify a 65% increase in price for a 1/3″ […]
Gearwrench Roto Ratchet
Gearwrench’s Roto Ratchet is a flex-head swivel ratchet with a pivot through its drive head. This design enables the Roto Ratchet to be positioned perpendicular to a fastener to apply maximum torque, axially aligned for rapid spinning, or any angle in between. Gearwrench’s Roto Ratchets are available in 1/4″ and 3/8″ drive sizes, and a set of both […]
Clever Marketing Images of Swanson Speed Square
We just wanted to share with you the clever marketing images we found on Swanson’s website. Keep reading to see three more.
Power8 Full Cordless Workshop
The Power8 Workshop is the first cordless bench top [tool system] in the world, a unique and innovative new product [that] provides a full portable workshop in one armoured case. The main feature of this system are the cordless tools that can be separated and reconfigured into benchtop tools using a common base.
Swanson Speed Squares
Swanson Speed Squares can be used as a try square, miter square, protractor, line scriber, and saw guide. In other words, it’s a pretty handy layout tool that should be found in every home and shop. At the very least, it makes an excellent straightedge. We’ve been using an orange Swanson Speedlite square for about […]
Channellock Product Videos via YouTube
As we were working on a recent post about Channellock’s adjustable wrenches , we discovered several entertaining and insightful Channellock product videos. The clip above features Channellock’s adjustable wrenches. To view the other Channellock videos, check out their YouTube channel. Channellock YouTube Channel
Swanson Mini Surface Level
Swanson’s mini surface level is suitable for two-axis leveling tasks that do not quite require extreme precision. This type of level is extremely easy to use – hold or fasten it to a workpiece that needs to be horizontally parallel, and then adjust the workpiece until the level’s bubble is perfectly centered. Although this level […]
Victorinox American Flag Swiss Army Knife
Check out this Victorinox Swiss Army Classic Knife with an American Flag motif. It is slightly more expensive than those with the standard design and color, but it’s cool enough to overlook. Victorinox American Flag Swiss Army Knife (via Amazon) Product Details via Victorinox Note: To view this product on Amazon, you have to select the […]
Other Noteworthy Blogs to Check Out
We just wanted to give a brief shout out to a few other noteworthy tool blogs that you may want to take a look at.
PB Swiss Household Screwdriver
The PB Swiss Household Screwdriver is a cute flat head screwdriver with a 5.5mm tip, (right smack in the middle between 3/16″ and 1/4″,) and a very comfortable soft-textured “Swiss Grip” handle. With its useful tip size and truncated shaft, the appropriately named Household Screwdriver is well suited for many common driving tasks. With its small […]
New WD-40 Trigger-Pro Non-Aerosol Spray
WD-40 recently released a new easy-to-use non-aerosol spray can designed to offer more control and less mess. The new WD-40 Trigger-Pro non-aerosol delivery system better meets the needs of industrial users since the format makes the recyclable steel cans much easier to dispose of. The WD-40 Trigger-Pro’s leak-free non-overspraying nozzle has three settings – a wide spray, a […]
Channellock’s Wide Adjustable Wrenches
I had the opportunity to use a Channellock adjustable wrench today, and it was an impressionable experience. The Channellock adjustable had very little play in the jaw, was relatively smooth to operate, and felt robust and sturdy. To top it off, the Channellock packed a huge jaw capacity into a small package. The adjustable […]
Sog Fusion Themed Knives
Sog’s Fusion series of knives includes several funky theme-based designs. Each lockback knife has a 3″ blade, an overall length of 7.5″, and several themed doodads and accessories.
Home Depot & Klein’s Exclusive Retailer Agreement
The Home Depot (THD) and Klein Tools recently announced Home Depot to be the exclusive home improvement retailer of Klein’s hand-held tools. Under the agreement, “…Home Depot will offer Klein’s complete line of durable, high-quality electrical tools and will be the sole home improvement retailer of all existing and future product lines.” This explains why […]
Brown Dog Welding’s Incredible Hardware Sculptures
Photo by izthistaken (Matt Trombley) Josh Welton, the skilled artist and craftsman behind Brown Dog Welding, uses his talent to turn ordinary hardware and scrap metal into elaborate models and sculptures. The incredible motorcycle model shown above is a great example of what he can do. Brown Dog Welding is a welding and fabrication shop […]
Two Innovative New Campbell Hausfeld Compressors
A few weeks ago, Campbell Hausfeld announced several snazzy new nailers. The innovation did not stop there – CH recently announced two new compressor systems: a 26 gallon unit that has been dubbed the “ultimate portable compressor”, and a wall-mountable 8 gallon unit that can be equipped with up to two add-on 8 gallon tanks. […]
You Know You’ve Got it Bad When…
You know you’ve got it bad when while watching the new Transformers movie you wonder which types of tools the Autobots use to repair themselves. If they adapted themselves to use Earth hardware, would they choose SAE or metric?! I thoroughly enjoyed the new movie, especially when the heavy construction equipment started coming to life. […]
Tool Science 101: Chrome Plating Part 2 – Cleaning
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 […]
Tool Science 101: Chrome Plating Part 1 – Introduction
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.