With digital calipers you can take quick measurements of any number of things. Unfortunately, most digital calipers only display in metric and decimalized Imperial units — not fractions. That’s fine if you’re good at on-the-fly conversions, but what if you’re not? Several manufacturers offer digital calipers that’ll display fractions, for error-free measurements.
(Tuesday, February 19th, 2008) There’s a new Dirty Jobs clip show tonight — they’re usually pretty good, surprisingly.
All times are central.
Enjoy.
This week our friends over at Wired and Gizmodo mentioned Hammacher Schlemmer’s new $80 “60 second charcoal starter.” Tool Talk listeners know that we’ve adopted a cheaper but just as effective way of gettin’ the grill goin’ around the Toolmonger shop: a Bernz-o-Matic MAPP gas torch.
We originally picked up the torch to sweat some copper pipe, but after a great peanut-butter-meets-chocolate moment one Friday when we couldn’t find a lighter, we’ve used it exclusively to light the grill. And grilling at least once a week — we love our Friday steaks down here in Texas — we’ve been using it for over a year on the original gas bottle. But hey, even if you grill a lot more than we do, a replacement bottle is just $8 at your local big box.
Of course, you’ll want to be careful. You can burn yourself (and everything else) with it. And watch out: it scared the crap out of a Yankee guest a couple of weeks ago — though he did enjoy his steak.
MAC Tools is partnering with Challenger Lifts to produce a range of “professional grade” two-post lifts priced just right for newly-opening shops — and low enough to tempt even an amateur like me.
Toolmonger photo pool member resq47 shows off his new, almost-completed workbench. It’s constructed largely from Douglas fir 4×4’s and Borg Chicom HW ply. We dig it because he wisely used his space and the tools he had available to make a sweet addition that’ll do him proud for years to come.
Of course, if it doesn’t do him proud, he can rip it apart and build another one that will — also a mode of thinking that we’re big fans of.
Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]
This week Hitachi announced their entry into the hotly-contested lithium-ion-powered micro driver market, the DB10DL. Driven by removable 10.8V batteries, it’ll deliver 88 in-lbs of torque — just a little more than that claimed by the ever popular Bosch PS20. Of course, we don’t yet know the speed at which Hitachi measured, but our guess is that they produce similar output.
Pick a project, any project, and photo pool member bradjustinen is ready to go at a moment’s notice. After building this sweet storage rack, brad displays his tools like pieces of priceless art hung in the Louvre. Ok, maybe it’s not the same thing, but let’s see the Mona Lisa install a new vanity in the guest bathroom.
There’s no reason not to be proud of your tools or display them where you can get at them easily. We say this is a classic case of form meets function.
Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]
Not satisfied with the mere five ounce weight of their new Skeletool, Leatherman is planning the release of an even lighter and more stripped-down multi-tool, the Freestyle. The Freestyle is heavily based on the Skeletool, and it’ll feature a 420HC straight blade, lightweight pliers with wire cutters, a combination Phillips/flat driver, and a hybrid bottle opener/carabiner.
We mentioned a while back that the Hobart Handler 210 was going to be available soon, and now it is. One the newest models in the Hobart line, it looks like a sweet unit.
The 210 plugs into a standard 230V outlet and delivers up to 210A of power, which will weld 3/8″ mild steel and up to 1/4″ thick aluminum. It sports a 30 percent duty cycle — which means for every 10 minute period, the welder can weld for three minutes of it without stopping to cool down. This may seem like a limitation at first, but it’s actually not bad if you’re on location. Plus, the 210 comes loaded with flux-core, so no bottles are needed straight out of the box.
At around $850, it’s more expensive than some of the other models in the line — but the extra MIG capabilities do set it apart.
Handler 210 [Hobart]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
(Monday, February 18th, 2008) There’s a MythBusters Marathon, and tons of automotive shows for your President’s Day.
All times are central.
Enjoy.
(Sunday, February 17th, 2008) See how they make BMW’s tonight, once you’re done in the shop.
All times are central.
Enjoy.
(Saturday, February 16th, 2008) As always, Friday brings us woodworking on DIY and a Dirty Jobs mini-marathon.
All times are central.
Enjoy.
In their Hot Buys section, Sears is deeply discounting a few select tools for their President’s Day Sale. The sale runs through Tuesday the 19th, but notice that the socket sets are half-off only this Friday and Saturday. So if you need to fill out some empty 1/2″ socket spaces in your toolbox, you’d better get crackin’.
Hot Tool Buys [Sears]
When there’s nothing else to do or you’re between projects, you can amuse yourself by making something that will better the shop. You don’t have to think about finish-out — unless you’re into that — and you accomplish something positive in the meantime. Reader and Flickr pool member “schnaars” had this to say about his latest project:
I spent all week in various meetings and needed to do something physical. I’ve been meaning to add a shelf to my work bench to clean it up a bit, so I banged it out tonight.
Great job, and we give schnaars high scores for the old-school Stanley planes. We have shelves that are very similar both in construction and in what they carry — we just wish we had planes like that on our shelves.
Toolmonger Flickr Pool [Flickr]
Campbell Hausfeld is recalling several compressor models after 11 fires were reported. The recalled compressors pose a fire hazard due to improper motor coverings that can ignite during use. The affected products include certain Campbell Hausfeld and Husky compressors sold between July 2005 and November 2007.
We talk to tool guys all the time who seem to have a connection to a certain tool, and we’ve found that two factors breed loyalty more than any others: comfort and feel.
Dovetail joinery can be one mark of excellent craftsmanship, but woodworkers have been joining with ‘em for hundreds of years. You can always spice dovetails up a bit by varying the distance between the pins and tails — but if you really want your project to be noticed, you should check out Leigh’s Isoloc joint templates. Isoloc templates allow you to create curved and rounded fingers that are only possible with a router.
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