This is just a reminder to everyone that we tablulate the weekly Top 5 votes tomorrow, so if you haven’t yet made your feelings known, now’s the time.  For latecomers (or those who’ve forgotten):

Help us choose this week’s Top 5!

We’d appreciate your help in choosing next week’s Top 5, which’ll be featured here, elsewhere, and in the podcast as well.  While you’re reading TM this week, look out for the “Interesting Post” button at the bottom of each article:

When you see an article that piques your interest, click the button once.  You’ll return to the same page, but TM’s software’ll score your click for future reference.  We’ll check in on the totals before selecting next week’s Top 5.

Even More Information for The Curious [Toolmonger]

PS: If you don’t already subscribe, be sure to check out our free Tool Talk podcast where you can hear Sean and me run down the top five in person.  We also bring in guests from time to time and answer any questions you call in.

Hitachi’s press release on the their new 7-1/4″ “pro-grade” circular saw touts the inclusion of “patented Internal Double Insulation (IDI) technology” which they claim reduces vibration and wear to estend the saw’s life by 200%.  The core of IDI is a process that intertwines the saw’s aluminum housing with an injection-molded inner nylon core — but most Toolmongers will stop after reading “aluminum housing.”  All-metal housings are all too rare now-a-days.

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I stumbled upon this interesting utility tote on Irwin’s website while I was looking for utility knives.  I like the unusual combination of bag and fixed handle; it looks very sturdy, and I imagine that the solid handle wouldn’t bunch up around your hand when you load the bag heavily like a standard soft handle would.

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The photo above is of tmib_seattle’s home-built gas forge — something I’ve been considering for some time.  My father was into blacksmithing, and you’ve heard his (and my) friend Ray Robinson on the Tool Talk podcast before talking about how to get started.  The problem for me is that my shop space isn’t condusive to coal burning.

This is definitely the answer, especially if you’re into bladesmithing as the space inside is a bit small for table tops and such.  I’ve seen some commercially-made models that are more portable, but tmib_seattle’s looks more solid and usable.

Check out the Toolmonger Flickr pool for photos of the forge in operation and pictures of some of his other tools, including a sheet-metal brake and an English wheel.  And if you get the chance, sign up and drop us some pictures of your favorite tools and projects.

Toolmonger’s Flickr Pool [Flickr]

(Thanks, tmib_seattle for sharing your pictures, and hopefully you can stop by and tell us a little more about your forge in comments.)

It looks like DeWalt recently issued upgraded versions of their 4-1/2″ (pictured) and 6″ angle grinders recenty, featuring a new grip and a “dust ejection system” designed to keep debris out of the motor — a feature Metabo’s been touting for years.

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Brad posted a picture of this tool to the Toolmonger Flickr photo pool hoping that some of you Toolmongers could help identify it.  My first guess: it’s a stake to hold a rain gauge or other apparatus in the ground.

Have a better idea?  Share with us in comments!

The Larger Photo [Flickr]

If we had to lay a quarter on the most common first-serious-project for the new Toolmonger, we’d bet on the workbench.  To us they seem like an extension of ourselves — a place where we’ll spend countless hours working on other projects.  While a store-bought bench can bring instant productivity — and often sturdy manufacturing techniques beyond the beginner — we almost never seem to find one set up perfectly for our workspace and needs.

But enough touchy-feelie stuff.  Here’s the question: is it better to buy a workbench or to build your own?  (Just to be clear, a vote for “hot” means you approve of store-bought benches, “not” means you’d rather build your own.)

Let us know your opinion in comments.

(Thanks Kelly Sue for the great cc-licensed photo.)

My carpet is getting a bit old, and while searching for some information about installation — I’ve never done it before — I came across this post by Matt Weber over at Extreme How-To.  Unlike most articles which feature lots of pictures — but very few that actually show the work in progress – Matt’s post includes very descriptive drawings that give you the low-down on everything from installing the underlay to cutting carpet properly, forming quality seams, and using a carpet stretcher.

If you’ve been thinking about maybe saving a few bucks by installing your own next time, it’s worth a look.

Covering Your Ground: Carpet Installation [Extreme How-To]

A powered chain hoist — like this 2-ton model from Milwaukee — makes heavy lifting tasks around the shop easy.  Attach it to a rolling frame (or a shop crane) and you can pick up almost anything in the shop up to 10′ high at 8′/min.

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Sears is offering this 5.0 amp variable speed/orbital scrolling sabre saw featuring Laser Trac (read: it’s got a laser in it) for $40 until June 2nd.  The saw’s features include an adjustable laser line, 360-degree manual scrolling, a five-position orbital action level setting, a base that adjusts from zero to 45-degrees, and tool-less blade changes using both U and T-shank blades.

Craftsman Orbital Jigsaw [Sears]

(Thursday, May 31st, 2007) Tonight: new episodes of American Chopper and Wrecks to Riches!  See Paul Sr. box a kangaroo, Mikey get eaten by a croc, and (maybe) some motorcycles…

All times are central.

• How It’s Made: Episode 37, radiators, hatchery chicks, phyllo dough and cross-country skis (Discovery, 5:00 p.m.)
• Holmes on Homes: Window Well to Hell (Home, 5:00 p.m.)
• How It’s Made: Episode 33, crayons, wooden kayaks, lawn mowers and gold chains (Discovery, 5:30 p.m.)
• Overhaulin’: Juvenille Delinquent (TLC, 6:00 p.m.)
• Chop Cut Rebuild: Parts Go In (Speed, 6:00 p.m.)
• American Chopper: On The Road - Europe - Part 2 (TLC, 7:00 p.m.)
• Classic Tractor Specials (RFD-TV, 7:00 p.m.)
• American Chopper: Australia 1 (TLC, 8:00 p.m.)
• Wrecks To Riches: Plymouth Satellite Roadrunner (TLC, 9:00 p.m.)
• Don’t Sweat It: Museum Art Hanging System, New Bar, Shower Doors (HGTV, 10:30 p.m.)

Enjoy.

We just wanted to remind you about our RIDGID pneumatics giveaway.  RIDGID was kind enough to offer up a set of pneumatic tools for giveaway to one of our loyal readers.  Sometime in June we’ll select a winner from all of you who post valid comments here on Toolmonger since the giveaway started.

So, when you post a comment here, you’re not only sharing your experience with other Toolmongers around the world, you’re also adding a chance to win!  That’s good all ’round, yeah?

Toolmonger’s RIDGID Pneumatics Giveaway [Toolmonger]

I asked you to show me your tools, so I figured I’d better show you mine first.  This old Milwaukee portable band saw is a total lifesaver when you need to cut steel outside of the shop — or when you need to make a cut that’ll never fit into your standard saw.  My Dad picked this up used at a flea market about fifteen years ago, and I inherited it a few years back.

I’m always surprised at how few people actually own one of these.  I understand that there’s a stand available to turn it into a sort of mini-standard-band-saw, but Milwaukee wants about as much for the stand as they do for the saw itself.  Maybe I’ll get around to building my own at some point.

Anyway, now that I’ve shown you mine, you can show me yours via our new Flickr photo pool.  (You can see more pics of the portable band saw there, too.)

We set up a Flickr group to give all you Toolmongers a chance to show off your favorite tools, your projects, and your shops.  We kicked things off by adding some additional photos of our Guitar Hero controller project from a while back, and we’ll try to hit the shop tonight and snag a few more photos for you.

But you’re the stars of this photo group.  We want to see what you’re working on and what tools you’re using to do it!  Got a favorite drill that’s taken a beating and still works?  You grandfather’s hand saw?  A new tool you bought yesterday and haven’t had a chance to use yet?  Shoot a quick picture and upload it. 

We’ll select some of our favorites from time to time and feature them in posts here on Toolmonger, but you can always see all — and comment on — all the photos in the Toolmonger Flickr pool.  And you’ll also see the five most recent photos in center column here on the blog.

Sharing your pictures with us via Flickr is easy.  If you’re already a Flickr member (it’s free) you simply join the Toolmonger group and you can add your photos at will.  If you’re not a Flickr member, you’ll need to sign up, but relax — they don’t ask for a lot of personal information and the service is easy to use.

If you have questions or concerns, just drop us a line and we’ll do what we can to help out.  In the meantime, we look forward to getting a look at your shop and tools!

Welding is a skill that’s incredibly useful and a lot of fun, too.  We’ve written quite a bit about it — including a few projects you might want to try — but today I ran across a great “getting started” guide from the people over at Custom Classic Trucks.  Like us, they’re enamoured with the MIG/wire process, which is way, way easier than stick welding.  So if you’ve tried stick welding and hated it, you might want to give wire welding a chance.  Try it — you’ll like it!

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Need impact wrench power in space way too small for the big gun?  You need a “butterfly impact wrench” like the one pictured above from Campbell Hausfeld.  It’s a 3/8″ drive model that delivers 75 ft-lbs of torque — about all you should apply to 3/8″ drive sockets anyway — yet measures only 3.8″ wide x 2.1″ high.

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From the Carroll County Times:

Tom Miley, technology education teacher and adviser of the woodworking club for the New Windsor Middle School Community Learning Center, said that rather than have the after-school students make another trinket, he wanted to offer a bigger project.

Apparently Mr. Miley’s “bigger projects” included two Adirondack-style chairs and three wooden wishing wells, which the New Windsor Middle School students built successfully over the last five weeks.  The students’ work will be auctioned at the New Windsor Fire Carnival starting June 4th to benefit the local volunteer fire department.  The auction ends June 8th, one day before the end of the carnival.

We always enjoy stories of the people who take time to introduce young people to the art of working with their hands, so if you’re in the New Windsor area, why not drop by and bid on the furniture?  You’d not only help a good cause, but you’d also help show some enterprising middle school students that woodworking is a skill that lasts a lifetime.

Students Make Furniture [Caroll County Times]

(Thanks to KiltBear for the great cc-licensed photo above, which isn’t one of the kids’ chairs, but is a great example of an Adirondack used as it should be.)