Here’s an idea we’re surprised more manufacturers haven’t thought of: a portable fan that’ll run off your tool batteries.  Ryobi’s P3300 portable fan is just that — a two-speed (1200/1400 RPM) fan that runs (a claimed) 6 hours on a single 18V “One+” series Ni-Cd battery charge.. 

It’s been an especially hot summer all over the country, and we’re sure you (like us) have been seeking any way at all to stay cool.  If you’re inside in the shop, you’ve probably got a couple of fans around.  But what if you’re out in the field — or even just in the driveway — where you’re out of reach of easy power?  Or what if you want to drag the fan around with you under the car?  This looks like the ticket.

We wonder how long it’ll be before we see other manufacturers adding this to their cordless lines.

We couldn’t find pricing for you yet, as the P3300 seems to have just barely hit the Ryobi website.  (In fact, the 360-degree view feature doesn’t seem to have been implemented yet.)  We can, however, tell you that you’ll find it at Home Depot — and probably only at Home Depot.  We’d also bet that it’ll be reasonably priced.  Say what you will about Ryobi, but don’t accuse them of overpricing.

The P3300 18V Portable Fan [Ryobi]

(Saturday, August 12th, 2006) Sure, it’s Saturday, and you should really be rebuilding a motorcycle in your living room or making a treehouse with the kids instead of watching TV.  But if you’ve got some down-time this evening there are a few things worth checking out.

All times are central

• Flip That House: Neil’s Hip Highland Park Flip (Discovery Home, 6 p.m.)
• Extreme Machines: Tanks (Science Channel, 7 p.m.)
• Mythbusters: Diet Coke and Mentos (Discovery, 7 p.m.)
• Extreme Engineering: Venice Flood Gates (Science Channel, 8 p.m.)
• Trading Spaces: Sedona: Rock Top Road (TLC, 9 p.m.)
• Trading Spaces: Austin: Emerald Forest Circle (TLC, 10 p.m.)
• License to Grill: Wine & Cheese Party (Discovery Home, 10 p.m.)
• Mythbusters: Diet Coke and Mentos (Discovery, 11 p.m.)
• Extreme Engineering: Venice Flood Gates (Science Channel, midnight)

We couldn’t pass up License to Grill’s Wine & Cheese Party episode.  C’m on!  Grilling and “wine and cheese” go together like apples and battleships.  We’ll tune in just to see how Mr. Rainford pulls it off. 

Now would also be a good time to check your local PBS programming, keeping an eye out for This Old House, Ask This Old House, The Woodwright’s Shop, and Hometime. We can’t list program times because PBS programming is all done locally, but many channels run this programming.   And hey, if you happen to catch one, how about dropping a comment about it or any other PBS shows you find to be tool-centric?

Our insomniac’s suggestion: Pimp My Ride (MTV, 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m.) or Practical Woodworker (RFD-TV, 2:00 a.m.)

When we first saw this shovel, we could just picture the inventor staring at a front end loader’s bucket thinking, “Hmmm…” 

As you can see from the photo, it’s a normal shovel but with forged high-carbon steel teeth added to facilitate cutting through difficult root structure or rocky soil.  Truthfully there’s not much to really tell you about it, but it looked like such a great idea to us we thought we’d pass it on anyway.  If the soil’s hard where you live — like it is where we live — this shovel looks very useful.

We found it from a number of retailers online starting at just south of $50. 

Street Pricing [Froogle]

It’s been a busy week here at Toolmonger, and we’ve been splitting our time about evenly between the shop and the keyboard.  If you’ve been busy in the shop as well this week and haven’t had time to keep up with Toolmonger, we recommend checking out the following posts when you have a chance:

The ProVision “Eagle” Fiber Optic Scope
This is easily one of the coolest tools we’ve seen in some time; It’s a fiber-optic-lensed camera with a lighted, shielded head that’s small enough to fit through a plug hole and let you look at the inside of your engine’s cylinders.  We can think of dozens of uses in the shop and around the house, and at around $225 it’s something you can actually afford.  (Sure, that’s not pocket change, but think of how handy it’d be!)

Hands-On: The Worx Revolver Assault Reciprocating Saw
Besides a 10 amp serviceable motor and a cast-aluminum gearbox, this recip saw features a handle that rotates up to 60-degrees to give you the best-angled grip for the job.  At first the revolving handle might look a little gimmicky, but our hands-on showed otherwise.  We were impressed with the Assault, though it was a bit heavy.  One reader commented that he’d rather see the bright colors (green, in the case of Worx) on the “dangerous” part of the tool (the nose) instead of the back of it (the grip).  (He was talking about all power tools, not just the Worx.)  Check out the post for some great pix you won’t see in the ads.

Book Review: Welding Fabrication & Repair — Questions and Answers
Industrial Press really has their, um, stuff together, and they publish some of the most useful technical books around.  This one’s no exception.  A sequel to their introductory Welding Essentials book, this one follows the same easy Q&A format but extends to cover some of the practical concepts required to make functional items (and fix them!) with your welder.  It’s a fun read, and it’s a killer reference manual.  As we said in the original post, our copy is already well worn.

A Quick Comment on the Craftsman Lifetime Warranty
As one astute reader pointed out, this isn’t a quick comment.  So please pardon our misnomer of a title and give it a read anyway.  The gist of what we’re saying is that a) the Craftsman warranty is not going away, but b) it does leave a lot of room for the company to interpret the wording.  Based on the imperial ton of email we received about this post, we’re probably going to put together some more in-depth posts about different tool companies’ warranties and how they’re handled in real life.  Look for it a bit down the road.

Offset Wrenches: When You Need One, You Need One Bad
THe short version: If you don’t already own a set of offset wrenches, get one.  You can get by for a long time without them, but when you end up needing one it’ll be a true showstopper.  We found a good-looking set from S-K, but we’re still looking for the “extreme-offset” version we borrowed from a friend.  When we find it, you can count on us posting it.

We’ve got some fun material for you next week, including a shop tour of Unique Performance, the people who manufacture the Shelby GT-500E of “Gone in 60 Seconds” fame.  We’ll introduce you to some of their talented staff and the tools they use to build those fabulous cars.  Of course we’ve got morehands-on tool reviews coming, as well as some heads-up posts on tools coming out later this year.

See you then.  In the meantime we’re going to get back to this #(@*% Porsche…

We’ve heard good things about Irwin’s new Fast Release locking pliers – sold under the Vise-Grip name, of course – but this week we got to spend some time with a set in person. 

In short: they’re a neat innovation for a tool that’s been around for scores of years and has found a place in toolboxes everywhere.

Unboxing

First off, we should mention that besides the new Fast Release mechanism, these are essentially the Vise-Grips you’ve come to love.  They’re made of a high-grade heat-treated alloy steel and feature Irwin’s no-slip ProTouch grips. 

We’re big fans of the ProTouch grips, by the way.  We’ve tested a couple of other Irwin tools with them, and each time we’re surprised at how comfortable they are and at how well they clean up.

Of course, What sets these Vise-Grips apart is the Fast Release mechanism, which eliminates the trigger-style release assembly used on most other locking pliers.  To release the Fast Release pliers, you simply pull outward on the grip.

The particular model we checked out was the long-nose version, though almost all of the Vise-Grip line is now available in Fast Release versions – including their locking clamps.

In Use

Latching the Fast Release Vise-Grips is just as easy as older versions.  As you squeeze the handles you can feel the “over-center” bump that indicates the pliers are locked.  It requires a bit of pulling force to release them, but not as much as you’d think.

The major advantage to the Fast Release system comes when you’re locking and unlocking the pliers in a tight environment – especially when you’re dealing with an obstruction near the handles since you don’t have to worry about how to fish your finger down in there to release them.   It’s less significant, but still important, that they can’t pinch your fingers as the trigger-style pliers sometimes can.

Summary

These are slick pliers.  If you use your locking pliers in tight spaces, or you’ve had some bad experiences with pinching, the Fast Release Vise-Grips are probably just the ticket for you.  We found the set we checked out especially handy when trying to hold a small part in place in an engine compartment where releasing a trigger-style set would be difficult at best.

We found Fast Release Vise-Grips online starting at around $22 for a set of two, but don’t take our word for it with pricing – go check it out yourself.  Irwin offers an incredible number of different packages ranging from single tools to 15-piece sets in all sorts of styles.  It’s hard to nail down a specific price with all those options.

Vise-Grip Long Nose Fast Release Locking Pliers [Irwin]
Street Pricing [Froogle]

If you haven’t seen a set of these before, we’re not surprised; Offset wrenches aren’t a common find.  They’ve been around for a long time, but you can go a long time in the shop without having a burning need for one.

But when you do finally come across that need it will indeed burn, and the virtues of the offset wrench can make your project go from nightmare to possible – as we found out recently trying to remove a water pump from an ‘89 Porsche 944S2. 

Offset wrenches are just normal normal box-end wrenches with a bend on each end that helps them reach deeply countersunk nuts or bolts that you can’t get at with sockets or standard wrenches.

The kit shown here offers two sizes on each wrench and they’re available in standard or metric sizes.  It’s from S•K Hand Tools, and it’s available at a street price of around $110. Not cheap, but if you need them you need them pretty bad.

Offset Wrenches [S•K Hand Tools]
Price Search for Offset Wrenches [Froogle/Google]

PS: Time to ‘fess up.  The set we used was borrowed from a friend, and was significantly cooler than this set.  It featured an almost 90-degree offset, which was absolutely perfect for fitting into the deep pulley we were dealing with.  A lesser offset wouldn’t have handled the job.  We’re still looking for the details on the set we used, and when we find it we’ll pass it on — right as soon as we order one for ourselves.

(Friday August 11th, 2006) We haven’t recommended it in the past, but tonight we added HGTV’s I Want That to the mix since the “powerful pruner” they’re talking about is indeed Black & Decker’s Alligator Lopper — a truly cool tool that we mentioned a while back and will probably do a hands-on with sometime in the near future.  It’s a cross between a chainsaw and a pruner — essentially a chainsaw with a completely covered blade and an innovative safety switch system to keep both your hands in the right places when you operate it.

All times are central

• How It’s Made: Episode 34, fresh cut flowers, adhesive tape, tofu, and lottery tickets. (Discovery, 6:00 p.m.)
• While You Were Out: Annapolis: The Good Ship WYWO (TLC, 6 p.m.)
• How It’s Made: Episode 10, holograms, package printing, skin cultures and canned corn. (Discovery, 6:30 p.m.)
• Trading Spaces: Los Angeles: Willoughby Avenue (Discovery Home, 7 p.m.)
• Toolbelt Diva: Good Fences… (Discovery Home, 8 p.m.)
• Pimp My Ride (MTV, 8 p.m.)
• Pimp My Ride (MTV, 8:30 p.m.)
• Toolbelt Diva: Pool Rehab (Discovery Home, 8:30 p.m.)
• Rides: Westside (Discovery HD, 9 p.m.)
• The Practical Woodworker: Episode 8, All about finishes and finishing (RFD-TV, 9:30 p.m.)
• Trading Spaces: San Diego: Duenda Road (Discovery Home, 10 p.m.)
• American Chopper: Bill Murray Bike 1 (Discovery HD, 10 p.m.)
• I Want That!: Powerful Pruner, Sock Cop, Car Chip, Flying Dog Treats (HGTV, 10:30 p.m.)
• Pimp My Ride (MTV, 11 p.m.)
• Toolbelt Diva: Good Fences… (Discovery Home, 11 p.m.)
• Pimp My Ride (MTV, 11:30 p.m.)
• Toolbelt Diva: Pool Rehab (Discovery Home, 11:30 p.m.)

We’ll have to check out Toolbelt Diva’s “pool rehab” episode.  We had the, um, “opportunity” to completely overhaul a 16″ x 32″ concrete in-ground pool many years ago and it was an experience.

Our insomniac’s recommendation: Pimp My Ride anytime from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. — it’s an overnight Pimp-in’ marathon.

We’ve used more than a few reciprocating saws.  In fact, we have a couple we own, and we’ve got a couple in the shop right now that we’re testing for Toolmonger.  Worx, however, really caught our eye with their new Assault recip — the latest release in their Revolver line of moving-handle tools.

Unboxing 

The assault arrives in a molded plastic form-fitting case that also includes a well-thought-out section for carrying blades.  The “blade box” has a piece of foam in it that prevents the blades from rattling around when you carry it from job to job. 

  

OK, seriously.  Let’s just get this out of the way right now: When we first opened the case and saw the Assault, it looked more to us like an alien weapon than a normal powered hand tool.  (Think of it as a Decepticon-green colored plasma rifle from Halo.)  But when you pick it up it all starts to make sense.  Let’s run down its features:

The Assault’s most noticeable feature is the Revolver handle — a system that allows you to rotate the grip up to 60-degrees to find the most comfortable form-factor then lock it down.  This doesn’t sound like a big deal when you read about it, but believe us when we tell you that it is a big deal in person.  When you’re working with your recip saw high above you or down near the ground — and who doesn’t?  That  is why they make a ”demolition” blade, right? – a standard grip forces your arm, wrist, and elbow into funny angles.  Besides just being uncofortable, Worx research suggests that these type of awkward postures also increase the incidence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. 

   

To position the handle, you simply unclamp the release mechanism, rotate the handle to the desired position and re-clamp it.  The mechanism has a lot of teeth, so you don’t have to wiggle it or anything to get it to clamp back down.  In the full “up” position, the handle approximates the shape that you’re used to on a standard recip saw.  In the full “down” position, it’s much easier to use down low.  Once clamped, there’s no vibration or “play” in the Revolver system; It’s as if the tool had been constructed the way you just set it.

The Assault also lets you adjust its “orbital action” to increase it for faster cuts in wood.  There are four settings, dialed in via a locking switch on the side of the tool.  According to Worx, the zero setting is best for metal while the one, two, and three settings are better for softer materials.

The blade is installed using a keyless clamp system that’s handy as hell.  We’ve lost the “key” for more than one recip saw and ended up searching the hex-wrench set to find a match when we needed the saw in a hurry.  On the Assault you just push the button next to the mount, insert the standard-format blade, and release the button. 

The Assault’s front shoe is also adjustable with a button larger than but similar to the one on the blade clamp system.  The shoe can extend to a number of different lengths to help stabilize and orient the tool while cutting, and can even be removed if necessary.

Two bright white LED lights hide in the nose of the Assault to provide lighting when you’re cutting in the dark.  A rubberized switch in the top of the Assault turns them on and off, though they only operate while the saw is running.

The body of the tool features a rubber-coated die-cast aluminum gear case. The rubber coating makes the Assault easy to hold and control, and (ok, this is a bit miniscule, but) it also emits a crazy-good “new tool” smell when you open the box .  The body’s shape also makes it easy to keep a good grasp on the tool.

The Assault’s 10 AMP motor is servicable, and removing a screw on the side of the motor’s bottom protrusion from the tool provides access to its replaceable brushes.  Pulling the trigger actuates the Assault’s variable speed motor control system, varying from 500 to 2,700 no-load strokes per minute.  A nearby button locks the trigger in the on position for long continuous use, and another squeeze of the trigger releases it.

Worx seems quite to be quite detail-oriented as the 10 ft. power cable comes with a velcro cable-tie. 

The one drawback to the Assault: It’s a bit heavy, weighing in at nearly 10 lbs.

In Use

Here’s where the Assault really shines. We took the sample tool out to the shop and gave it a go on metal, wood and some other materials.  We were surprised at how little vibration we felt in the handle compared to other corded recip saws we’ve used.  The Revolver rotating handle does indeed simplify many cuts, and we found ourselves moving the handle around a little each time we picked up the tool to use it.

We tried the Assault out on some 11-gauge square tubing and it performed admirably, plowing right on through it like butter with the included metal blade.  The Assault uses blades of standard type, so if you’ve already got a few blades around (like we do) you’ll be able to use them. 

By setting the shoe out as far as possible for each cut we made we were also able to reduce vibration and kick even more.  Combined with the rotary handle, this makes for a very comfortable-to-use tool.

Summary

We were very impressed with the Worx Assault, both in terms of the features it offers and its performance in common use.  Worx clearly paid a lot of attention to detail in its design, incorprating lots of practical features such as the keyless blade clamp, adjustable shoe, and a serviceable motor.  The Revolver rotary handle is much more useable in person than it appears on the page, and can help take the hurt out of a long cutting session.  If you use a corded recip saw in demolition, take note.  This could help make your hands stop hurting.

One caveat:  For most people who work with a recip saw regularly, the extra weight won’t make much of a difference and is easily offset by the comfort of the rotary grip, rubber-coated casing, and smooth operation.  But, if you’re small of frame and don’t lift much, you might want to seek a lighter model.

Street pricing starts around $130, and it’s available via home imrpovement and hardware stores as well as via a number of outlets online.

The Revolver Assault Reciprocating Saw [Worx]
Street Pricing [Froogle]

We heard about this last week, but wanted to get a few more details from Unique Performance before we passed it on.  You’ve heard of the GT-500E (the ultimate production “resto-mod”) and/or the Foose Mustang?  They’re both produced by Unique Performance, located in the Dallas area.  Not only do they have an incredible shop — which we’ll be featuring here on Toolmonger next week — but they’re also organizing a blowout to which the public is invited.

The shindig takes place on October 14, 2006 at Unique Performance’s facility at 13950 Seniac Drive in Farmer’s Branch, Texas.  Chip Foose will headline the event, and Unique’s press release indicates others have been invited as well including Caroll Shelby — the Caroll Shelby — Kid Rock, A.J. from Overhaulin’, and some various sports stars.  We know Rock doesn’t sell cars (and why), but maybe he’ll play a bit, yeah?

Starting at 10 a.m. and running until 3 p.m., the event is co-sponsored by Sam Pack’s Auto Group, a Dallas area Ford dealer — and exclusive North Texas dealer for the Foose Stallion Mustang – with a portion of proceeds benefitting the Progeria Research Foundation and Holy Angels.  Admission to the public is free, and classes are planned for numerous makes and models of vintage and contemporary performance vehicles including cars and motorcycles.  Some of the “proceeds” will be generated by those who sign up for a special corral limited to 100 hentrants that will include a private meet and greet with Chip Foose as well as a photo with him.

So, mark your calendars.  We certainly’ll be there.

Unique Performance [Corporate Website]

(Thursday August 10th, 2006) There’s precious little to watch tonight.  We hope you have something TiVo’d, otherwise you may want to rent a movie.  If you’re headed to the video rental shop, we suggest The Worlds’ Fastest Indian, The Sand Pebbles, or if you want to be creeped out, The Machinist.

All times are central.

Tonight:

• How It’s Made: Episode 18, Hydroponic Lettuce, Construction Wood, Fishing Flies (Discovery 6:00 p.m.)
• How It’s Made: Episode 9, Steel, Apple Juice, Aircraft Landing Gear, Cosmetics. (Discovery 6:30 p.m.)
• Classic Tractor Specials (RFD-TV, 7:00 p.m.)
• Chop Cut Rebuild (Speed, 7:30 p.m.)
• Pinks: Gainesville (Speed, 9 p.m.)
• Pinks: Arizona (Speed, 9:30 p.m.)
• Unique Whips: Bullet Proof (Speed, 10:30 p.m.)
• Pimp my Ride (MTV, 10:30 p.m.)
• Pinks: Arizona (Speed, 11:30 p.m.)
• Unique Whips: Bullet Proof (Speed, midnight)

Our insomniac’s suggestion: Sports Car Revolution ar 4:30 a.m. on Speed.  We used to know some of the guys from over at Grassroots Motorsports magazine years ago, and they’re first class people.  Too bad this show (that they’re involved with) is shoved on at 0-dark-30.  Try TiVo-ing it.  It’s worth your while.

We mentioned GM’s Performance Parts division briefly in part one of Project Garage’s Yukon engine swap, but we didn’t get into the serious details.  In part two, we’d like to do just that, and hopefully let you in on what seems to us to be a too-closely-kept secret:  GM offers some great engines and a great service team to back them up.  If you’ve been considering installing a GM engine as part of late-model engine swap (like our Yukon), or if you’re looking for a great late-model engine for your ultimate ‘rod, these people should be high on your list to call.

We bet you’re thinking the same thing we thought when we first started researching the project: Buying performance parts through a standard dealer is a pain.  They rarely know a lot about the parts you’re interested in because they don’t sell very many of them.  Indeed, though you can purchase parts from the GM Performance Parts catalog from any GM dealer, most dealers aren’t intimately familiar with these parts from the road-less-traveled and won’t be able to help you.

However, GM has established a network of “authorized dealers” — 300+ dealers who’ve committed additionally to have at least one person at the dealership who’s trained and up-to-date on the catalog and its application — to assist you.  Furthermore, each of the authorized dealers has access to a support team back at GM Performance Parts headquarters who can answer their questions should your questions stump them. 

As we discovered, calling one of the authorized dealers yields a totally different experience, superior even to that of many custom parts shops.  We called up a Dallas, Texas area dealer who was part of the program when we were first seeking an engine for the Yukon.  We had a difficult situation for a variety of reasons:

• We had a 1995 Yukon that depends on its computer for more than just engine managment.
• We weren’t willing to give up fuel injection.
• We have to pass emissions testing and yearly vehicle inspections (which are moderately difficult here in metropolitan Texas).
• We required a daily-driveable vehicle.
• And, most of all, we wanted more power.

They eventually sold us their H.O. 350 in “base” configuration — no intake manifold or fuel system — along with a carefully-selected intake manifold that fit the Yukon’s non-Vortec throttle-body injection.  The engine’s rated at 330 HP in base configuration.

GM Performance Parts indicates that they have an even better solution for 1996-1998 model Yukons (and similar vehicles): an emissions-legal 383 producing 425 HP with an almost completely bolt-in experience.  Neat stuff, and not nearly as expensive as you’d think.  (They did indicate that there are five states in which the 383 isn’t legal.  Though it’ll pass emissions “sniffer” tests, these five states require that an engine be of the same displacement as the one it replaces in order to be legal.  A stroked/bored 350 doesn’t qualify.  Luckily, Texas isn’t one of those states.  If you need to know what they are, ask a GM Performance Parts authorized dealer; It’s just one of the very interesting things they can tell you.) 

GM Performance Parts also recently re-created their website completely to provide signficantly more information about the program.  We checked it out — link below — and discovered it to be true.  The new website is now the program’s preferred first-point-of-content and can direct you to the authorized dealer closest to you. 

When you call, be sure to ask for a catalog.  Not only does it include some of the most drool-worthy engines you’ll see — such as the Corvette Z06’s LS7, producing 505 HP and gobs of useable torque — but it’s a who’s-who of engines you’ll see installed in mega-rods on TV.  Also, be sure and ask (or check the website) about the GM Performance Parts Mobile Show — a semi-truck-based show that travels from city to city stopping at authorized dealers to give you a chance to see some of the rarer engines first-hand and learn about the product line.

GM plans to release additional improvements to the website in October, including an “engine configurator” that’ll allow you to select from hundreds of engine components (pistons, rods, heads, etc.) to assemble you’re dream engine, then instantly see the exact performance you can expect from your specific combination.  Incredibly, they’re not using simulation to determine the numbers; They’re actually assembling each of the 3,600+ combinations, dropping them on the engine dyno, and testing them.  So, when the configurator says your combination’ll make X-many horsepower, you can bet that some poor guy(s) had to actually build it to see.  (And if you’re an out-of-work engine builder, well, you now know where to call.)

Pricing is quite reasonable — considering what you’re receiving — and their basic 290 HP 350 small-block starts at around $1,700.  We paid around $3,000 for our 330 HP H.O. 350.  GM indicated to us that their engines range from $3/HP to around $17/HP, so they offer products for almost any budget.

We’ll be back next week with an update on the Yukon.  We’ve been busy fabricating upper engine mounts and locating a few of the harder-to-find parts, all of which we’ll tell you about in the update.

GM Performance Parts [GM]

While trying to push and maneuver your ratchet into a space it was never designed to go, have you ever wished you could remove the handle and just use the ratchet head itself?  Yeah, S-K thought that, too.

Their Thumbwheel sports just that kind of handle-free operation for turning nuts and bolts in tight spots.  It features a completely enclosed ratcheting mechanism which is easy to remove and replace for cleaning by a pinching wire lock system that holds the mechanism in its sleeve.  The Thumbwheel, like other S-K Professional Series ratchets, features a hardened pawl and hardened teeth for durability and long life, plus a knobby grip for some extra cranking power.

The Thumbwheel is widely available on the web and can be found in sets with extensions that go for around $30 – or by itself for $15.  Though the set looks nice, if you already have extensions buying just the Thumbwheel itself might be the way to go.

Thumbwheel Ratchet [S-K HandTools]
Street Pricing [Froogle]

What’s the best way to find out about tools?  From your project contacts — the people who use them.  That’s how we find out about them: from the people we work with, pros in the industry, and, of course, you! 

We’re pretty big fans of MAKE (in both print and blog format), so we were stoked to hear about their new Tools-N-Tips section which consists of “tools and tips that MAKE authors and fellow readers love the most,” all of which come from their massive list of writers, contributors, and readers.  They’re also going to publish a bi-weekly newsletter featuring the best of the tools and tips submitted recently.  We’re going to sign up, and we suggest that you do as well.

We’ll report back when we receive our first Tools-N-Tips email, and if you catch something over there that we missed, drop us a line.

Tools-N-Tips [MAKE]
TNT Sign-Up Page [O'Reilly -- look through the list and you'll see it]

A quick example: As of this moment, TNT is featuring 3M’s dual-lock reclosable fasteners.  That’s something we probably should have told you about as we have some in the shop downstairs.  Great stuff — check it out.

When it comes to pulling freeze plugs from your vehicle’s engine the old-school shade-tree guys will tell you to just knock ‘em in with a hammer and pull ‘em out however you can manage. 

That’s a bit on the risky side as far as we’re concerned as the plug could get stuck in an area it really shouldn’t be in, such as the interior of your block.  And what if you need to re-install the plug?  (Ok, sure, you should probably install a new one.  But what if you have to re-install it?)

As far as installation is concerned, the shade-tree knowledgebase is also specific: hammer in a circular pattern to try and get an even seat on the plug.  Or, we’re told, you can just wuss out and take it to a shop and let them do it — assuming, of course, that you can easily move the vehicle, and that the people you take it to aren’t of the “knock ‘em in” persuasion.

We thought that there must be a better way, and as it turns out, there is: a freeze plug puller/installer kit.  The set we found comes with a puller tool that consists of a threaded screw on a bracket that can be turned using a socket to pull the plug, 7 different sizes of installer caps that fit into the plug on one end, and a large metal shaft (on the other end). The shaft allows you to position the plug at the correct angle to seat the plug properly even from above when the engine’s still in the bay, and a striking surface at the end of the shaft lets you lay on the pressure with a hammer.

So, if you find yourself needing to do a few plugs in the future, you could save yourself a few hundred bucks at the repair shop with a kit like this one.  They’re a bit tricky to locate, but some hunting about the web will generate a few leads with a list price of around $60.

Price Search: Freeze Plug Puller/Installer Kits [Froogle]

(Wednesday, August 9th, 2006) Four back to back episodes of How It’s Made, two episodes of Mythbusters that you’ve probably already watched four times — as well as one new one: Diet Coke and Mentos –  and proof positive that Canadians are completely insane with a new episode of Junk Brothers.  We’re not lying; Those hosers are certifiably insane by any standard.

All times are central

• I Love Toy Trains: Richard Kughn’s Train Layouts & Collections (RFD-TV 1:30 p.m.) Repeat 11:30 PM
• How It’s Made: Episode 20, Carpet, Drinking Water, Laser Eye Surgery, Acoustic Guitars (Discovery, 6:00 p.m.)
• How It’s Made: Episode 8, Trucks, Adhesive Bandages, Computer Circuit Boards, Liquors (Discovery, 6:30 p.m.)
• How It’s Made: Episode 24, Aluminum Pots and Pans, Artificial Limbs, Peanut Butter, High Intensity Light Bulbs. (Discovery, 7:00 p.m.)
• How It’s Made: Episode 46, 3D Commercial Signs, Hardwood Floors, Corrugated Polyethylene Pipe, Mattresses. (Discovery, 7:30 p.m.)
• Chop Cut Rebuild  (Speed, 7:30 pm)
• MythBusters: Diet Coke and Mentos (Discovery, 9:00 p.m.)
• MythBusters: Bullets Fired Up (Discovery, 10:00 p.m.)
• Junk Brothers: The Bed Frame and the Guitar (HGTV, 10:00 p.m.)
• Unique Whips: Bullet Proof (Speed, 10:30 pm)
• MythBusters: Penny Drop (Discovery, 11:00 p.m.)

Our insomniac’s recommendation: Unique Whips (Speed, 2:00 a.m.)  or Junk Brothers (HGTV, 2:00 a.m.).  OK, maybe Chop Cut Rebuild (Speed, 4:00 a.m.).

We saw this in use last week clearing debris after a storm, and we thought it looked like a good idea.  (We were right.)  Stanley’s folding pocket saw takes a folding hand held approach to your fieldwork cutting needs. 

When closed, it looks like a large — 8″ in the closed position — pocket or razor-bladed knife.  Only when the you open the blade and start sawing something quickly apart does it dawn on the casual observer that the object in question has just been sawed in half, not cut.

The blade folds up into the handle just like a pocket knife, which is a clever –- and obvious now that we think about it — way to solve a few issues that crop up with normal hand saws:  The folding blade removes the risk of accidentally slicing you or your pocket when it’s  stowed there.  And, when the blade is out and in use the pivot locking mechanism of the knife makes the saw free from accidental blade closing since the motion used to saw is not in the direction that the blade would close — handy if you’ve grown attached to your digits.

It can use a standard saber or reciprocating blade, which gives you a pretty wide selection of available blade types and tooth counts.

Its price and the ability to change the blade to what might suit you makes for a versatile saw to have on the job site, and the folding pocket saw is widely available on the web and at your local home center for around $11. 

Folding Pocket Saw [Stanleytools]
Street Pricing [Froogle]

We’d just like to make a quick comment regarding the “rumor” that goes around every so often regarding changes in the Craftsman warranty.  We pretty regularly receive emails from readers relating Craftsman warranty experiences and asking about changes in the warranty, and we’ve recently seen some mention of it again on the web.  It’s sort of funny to us that most bloggers seem to a) hear the rumor and worry, then b) call up Sears PR and ask if the warranty is going away.

As they’ll tell you —  it’s not.  It’s very unlikely that Sears will ever change or remove the Craftsman lifetime warranty. 

However, “Is the warranty going away?” isn’t really the question we (as toolaholics) should be asking.  Here’s what the warranty actually says, by the way:

Craftsman hand tools are guaranteed forever.  If any Craftsman hand tool ever fails to give complete satisfaction, return it to Sears for free repair or replacement.  This warranty gives you specific rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.  Other Craftsman tools are covered by limited warranties.

What we should (as toolaholics) be asking is, “What leeway does this provide stores — or Sears itself — in terms of interpreting the warranty’s wording, and how is the application of the warranty changing over time?”

First and foremost you’ll notice that the warranty says “repair or replacement” not “give you a new tool off the shelf.”  Granted, many stores will indeed just grab a new tool off the shelf for you when you come in with your very worn, broken Craftsman hand tool.  However, they’re certainly not required to.  Some stores keep a cabinet full of “repaired” tools which they’ll trade out to you whenever possible. 

Note: We shouldn’t have to tell you this, but since the individual salesperson will likely have the opportunity to either give you a “repaired” tool or a new one, you’ll definitely increase your chance of receiving a new tool by being nice.  Seriously, try it.

But what if you really read the above warranty statement like a lawyer billing hourly?  What’s a “hand tool?”  Is a hammer a hand tool, or are we just talking about mechanics’ tools?  While we haven’t done the specific research to be able to tell you exactly which tools have been included and excluded over the years, we do know from first hand experience that Sears has indeed varied the definition of “hand tool” from time to time.  And one can’t help but notice the proliferation of ”Companion” and other-branded tools on Sears’ tool shelves.  We’ve even heard that Sears uses tool color (to some extent) to help identify which Craftsman tools are lifetime-warrantied and which ones aren’t.

Also, note that the warranty doesn’t say anything at all about how long they’ll take to provide you your repaired or replaced tool.  Our experience has always been that they do so on the spot, but there’s certainly no written requirement that they do so. 

So, in summary: The Craftsman lifetime warranty isn’t changing.  The application of it, however, varies, as does the locus of tools covered under it.  If you’ve got a box full of Craftsman tools, you’ll want to pay attention to this.  And, if you’re considering the purchase of a Craftsman tool, it never hurts to check around a bit to make sure that the tool you’re purchasing is indeed covered under the lifetime warranty.  (Or, if not, find out the specifics of the particular limited warranty under which the tool is covered.) 

With that kind of information in hand, you can actually shop smart, comparing apples to apples — or warranties to warranties.  It’s important to note that there are now a number of different consumer “hand tool” lines available which offer lifetime warranties, each of which apply the warranty in slightly different ways — i.e. which tools they cover, how you go about getting your “replacement or repair,” and so on.

Remember, it’s like ‘ol Joe says, “Knowing is half the battle.”

From Reader Comments: According to one reader who worked at Sears, ratchets are the only tools Sears commonly offers as a repair instead of an exchange.  That’d also make sense to us as all of the emails we’ve received regarding replacement with used tools were about ratchets.  Check out the comment for more info.