The original PanaVise set a new standard for “work holding devices.”  It’s leaps and bounds more versatile than the common bench vise.  What separates it from the rest is its split-ball mechanism, which allows the head to tilt 180 degrees from vertical, turn 360 degrees on its axis, and rotate 360 degrees within the mount — all with the release of a single knob.

I use my original PanaVise every day.  I adore it — so much so that when I found a semi-local dealer, I bought another.  Pictured above is my new rig: the model 376 “extra-wide-opening head” mated with a 305 “low-profile base.”  I could’ve bought just the head, I suppose, and used it with my existing base.  But having two complete vises opens all sorts of doors in terms of bench work.  Read on past the jump for some serious hands-on experience with it — and lots of pictures.

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Here’s yet another example of why you should educate your kids about your power tools — then put them away under lock and key.  From what I hear, this poor guy showed up at a friends’ place and found his kid remodelling. 

But does he stop the kid?  Nah — just whips out his cameraphone and shoots some video to post to YouTube.

With friends like that…

James writes: “This precision screwdriver is available from Husky in both Torx and Phillips/slotted versions.  It’s hands down the handiest screwdriver for working on electronics and small items.”

We’ve been featuring a number of multi-bit screwdrivers lately — to the point where I think I’m going to have to pick one up soon.  I’ve always relied on sets, but this looks like a great solution.

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Virtually unknown outside the telecomm industry, spudgers are at least as handy as needlenose pliers when working on something small — especially electronics.  They’re available with various tips and handle styles, usually in bright colors. More pictures below the cut.

Spudgers come in handy for all kinds of small work. The wire tip is perfect for setting DIP switches, removing jumpers, scratching corrosion from hard-to-reach contacts, straightening wire after unwrapping, and cleaning fingernails.  The plastic end dresses wiring blocks, places labels, smooths labels, peels labels, pries cases open, snags wires from crowded harnesses, and twists trimmer potentiometers.

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“Tool explosion” is out name for what happens when you’re in the middle of a project and tools are lying everywhere around the shop.  Yeah, you know it happens to you, too.  We coined the phrase while I worked on the Yukon engine swap.  I’ll give you one guess why.

The MagMat from Craftsman is a 12 in. square flexible PVC mat embedded with neodymium iron-boron magnets.  It can hold up to 20 lbs. of tools/other metal objects like bolts on its surface.  Maybe it’ll help control your tool explosion.

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(Friday, January 26th, 2007) Another fun filled Friday! Lots to watch, including 4 season 2 episodes of How It’s Made.

All times are central.

• Chop Cut Rebuild: Parts Start to Fly (Speed, 6:00 p.m.)
• Dirty Jobs: Vexcon (Discovery, 7:00 p.m.)
• How It’s Made, Season 2: Episode 14 (Science, 7:00 p.m.)
• How It’s Made, Season 2: Episode 15 (Science, 7:30 p.m.)
• Toolbelt Diva: Toy Chest (Home, 8:00 p.m.)
• Classic Car Restoration: 1965 Mustang Restoration, Pt. 4: Wiring, Brakes and Chassis Upgrades (DIY, 8:00 p.m.)
• Toolbelt Diva: Fireplace Facade (Home, 8:30 p.m.)
• Trick My Truck: Wes Adier’s 8 Seconds (CMT, 7:00 p.m.)
• Classic Car Restoration: Salvage Parts and Exhaust System Upgrades (DIY, 8:30 p.m.)
• How It’s Made, Season 2: Episode 28 (Science, 9:00 p.m.)
• Holmes on Homes: Floor Fiasco (Home, 9:00 p.m.)
• Classic Rides: 1948 Indian Motorcycle Restoration, Pt. 4: Fuel Tank Restoration  (DIY, 9:00 p.m.)
• How It’s Made, Season 2: Episode 3 (Science, 9:30 p.m.)
• Holmes on Homes: Doozy Jacuzzi (Home, 9:30 p.m.)
• Classic Rides: Metal and Paint Prep (DIY, 9:30 p.m.)
• Unique Whips: Beauty & the Beemer (Speed, 10:00 p.m.)

Enjoy.

It’s got a name that only the Home Shopping Network would love, but the Glass Master Pro is useful for getting to all of your windshield, even if you’re short. That might make it worthwhile, even if the propaganda site does use the word “amazing” a hundred freakin’ times. They’ve also got the full-on “now you can clean crap you had no intention of cleaning anyway” video, which is amusing.

The spade design on the cleaning head is good for corners, and the pivot bar on the stick allows you to clean one-handed while sitting in a front seat like a normal person instead of cramming your fingers down in a space where they’re obviously not meant to be.

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We’ve decided to extend our Submit a Tool, Win a Tool offer, and we’re offering up some of the smaller post-test tools hanging around the office.  This week we’re going to send one to our favorite tool submission.  If you’ve got a minute, drop us a line using the Submit a Tool form and let us know what’s in your shop that we should have in ours.

Submit a Tool [Toolmonger, of course]

Reader Sizod submitted this planishing hammer today, writing: “How can you not get into metal work with prices this cheap?”  By cheap he means $130.

So we couldn’t help but mash-up a couple of categories and ask all you Toolmongers out there: Would it be worth $130 to get a little hammer time in on this cheap-ass tool?  Or shan’t we touch it?

Let us know in comments.

Pneumatic Planishing Hammer [Harbor Freight]

While it’s still cold out and the grass is still brown, now’s a great time to start drooling over a new mower for next season.  And if you’ve got more than a postage-stamp’s worth of land — like I wish I did — you’ll need a rider, and the ultimate riders are hydrostatic “zero turn radius” mowers like this one from Troy-Bilt.

I’m sure you’ve seen these used by pros, but for just $2,400 you can have your own.  Before you start laughing, take a quick spin down to the local big-box and check out what you’ll pay for a crappy standard mower with an engine that’ll only last a season or two.

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Kythri writes: “These nifty dynamo flashlights have been out for a while, but this latest from Dorcy is awesome.  I bought a simple 3 LED 2-pack at Costco a couple years ago, but all mine does is switch between constant light and blink modes.

“About a year later, again at Costco, I bought a 2-pack of the upgraded ones (you can never have too many flashlights, especially ones that don’t need batteries!).  The upgraded model adds a alert siren and AM/FM radio, complete with a hidden telescopic antenna.  Niftier and niftier!

“At Sears about a month ago, I saw the Dorcy model.  It does everything above, but it also has a Cigarette Lighter-style adaptor that plugs into the flashlight, and gives a 12VDC output.  Obviously, I wouldn’t expect it to power much more than a cellphone, like they advertise, but it’s definitely a great addition.  I’ll undoubtedly be picking up some of these for my wanna-be ’survival’ pack.”

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You know crap like this happens all the time, but how often do you end up with someone videotaping it?  (Careful, BTW.  As you might expect, the audio on this isn’t SFW.)

I remember once when I was a kid it had snowed quite a bit — which means about five or six inches here in Texas — and my Dad decided that rather than trying to clear our whole (long-ass) driveway, he’d just jump in his ‘82 Camaro and go like hell until he hit the street.

As those of you up North already know, more and more snow compacted under the car until it lifted the wheels off the ground — and that’s where it stayed for the next four hours while he dug petrified concrete-like snow from under it.

At least the Camaro still has a bumper.

Call me a weenie if you will, but I actually like to use insulated screwdrivers even for things like installing a light switch.  Sure, it should be off, but why take the chance?

The one pictured above is from Wiha, who makes some seriously sweet screwdrivers, but you can also find them at pretty much any hardware store for cheap.  Even if you’re not an electrician, there’s really no reason not to have at least one medium Phillips and one medium standard around the house.

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Phillip writes: “Only the biggest Toolmongers have a set of these.”  And he’s correct.  Seriously — the three piece (single place setting) set above is made of 18/10 “drop forged” stainless steel and comes in a blow-molded “heavy duty” ABS plastic box.

Hey — you could put it right next to your Craftsman bottle cap wrench.

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I swear by my 2 AA Maglite.  When I was playing in a band, I used to carry one around in my gig bag.  (Ever try fixing your rig on a dark stage?)  Later when I was recording I carried one in my gear bag for the same reason.  I also keep one in the truck’s glovebox.  I love the fact that they’re as durable as the big ones, but much more portable.  Now they’re available with factory-installed LEDs.

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We’re sure you’re familiar with RIDGID’s power tools by now, but did you know they also make a few hand tools?  We were specifically impressed with their aluminum pipe wrenches — great for working on pipes over your head where it hurts to hold the wrench up.

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(Thursday, January 25th, 2007) A new American Chopper tonight, although the title works for any episode of the show.

All times are central

• Chop Cut Rebuild: Down and Dirty (Speed, 6:00 p.m.)
• Overhaulin’: The Boss is Back (TLC, 7:00 p.m.)
• Classic Tractor Specials (RFD-TV, 7:00 p.m.)
• American Hot Rod: ‘40 Woodie 1 (TLC, 8:00 p.m.)
• Rock Solid: Stone Mason 911: Stone Step Repair (DIY, 8:00 p.m.)
• Rock Solid: Travertine Patio (DIY, 8:30 p.m.)
• American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior 2 (TLC, 9:00 p.m.)
• 10 Things You Must Know: Kitchen Cabinets (DIY, 9:30 p.m.)
• Unique Whips: Tennis Star & Fabolous Car (Speed, 10:00 p.m.)

Enjoy.