I recently found this useful little slide chart (close cousin to the slide rule) that converts metric to US units on the fly, and vice versa. It converts back and forth between feet and meters, pounds and kilos, gallons and liters, as well as a few other common units. If you don’t want to fill your head with conversion factors, this will save you the trouble.

There are two identical items under the Skill Tech and Empire Level brands — that means it’s likely manufactured by some third party company. Does anyone know know who made them? They each cost about five bucks.

Street Price [Google Products]

I don’t usually need to make measurements beyond 10′ when I’m wood-working, but recently I started a project that sent me to the local big box in search of a 12′ tape.  Most of the 12’ tapes I wanted couldn’t be bought stand-alone, and a lot of the others I wouldn’t dare try out in the shop because they’re so crappy.  But one tape stood out from the rest - the Komelon Self Lock.

The Self Lock gets its name from the self locking action on the tape itself. Just pull out to the desired length and the tape stays out until you press the button located on top of the unit.  I found only one drawback: when you wind the tape back in from more than nine feet, the end of it will whip back and slap your hand if you’re not careful.

Aside from that, it makes a sturdy addition to the workforce. Lightweight and compact, the 12′ model serves well for smaller measurements; the Self Lock also comes in 16’ and 25’ lengths.

Street pricing starts at $4 for the 12′ and goes up to $8 for the 25′.

Self Lock Tape [Komelon]
Street Pricing [Google Products]

A thing of beauty is a joy forever, and these beautiful levels are guaranteed to be accurate within .015 of an inch for three years. Handmade from quality hardwood stock in Ben Wheeler, Texas, Crick’s levels cost about twice as much as the standard offering from other manufacturers. Of course, they’re also better looking than most.

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While 40′ probably doesn’t sound “short” to you (or me!), most framers call any self-wind tape like this one a “short tape” — distinguishing it from the soft, hand-cranked types that extend 100′ or more. In the past, short tapes have been 25′ long, or maybe 30′ for some of the newer ones. But with taller-peaked roofs becoming ever more popular in today’s McMansions, some runs now exceed 30′. That’s why Stanley’s now offering a whopping 40-footer.

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Looking for an easy “starter set” gift for relatives who’re just starting to get their hands dirty? Stanley’s making it easy by combining their products into quite functional tool kits. Pictured above, for example, is their FatMax Xtreme kit, which includes a 25′ tape, a marker, a utility knife, a rip claw hammer, a box beam level, a chalk box, a FuBar, a demolition driver set, and an auto trigger clamp — all in a handy open-mouth tool bag — for $250. Other sets range lower and higher in price.

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“Never have torn pants from your tape measure again,” reads FastCap’s Speed Clip product page. Maybe I’m a bit insensitive to some men’s plight, but I’ve never ripped my pants grabbing my tape. Still, clipping and unclipping a tape measure to your pants can sometimes be a real pain in the ass. This heavy-duty clip secures to your pants or belt and accepts just about any tape measure, holding it at the ready.

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Cheap-ass Dealmongers, start your engines! Our friend Mike from ReadyMade sent in this “Bargin of the Month” promotion from True Value Hardware. If you’re willing to suffer through a mail-in rebate — and they don’t run out of stock — you can snag the following tools for free:

• a 25-foot Stanley LeverLock Tape measure ($5)
• an Irwin ProTouch retractable Utility knife ($7)
• and a 77-piece Black & Decker drill and screwdriver accessory set ($3)

These promotions are available in-store only so the cost to you is your time and a stamp — and some serious patience.

Bargin of the Month [True Value]
25-Foot LeverLock Tape Measure [Stanley]
ProTouch Utility Knife [Irwin]
77-Piece Drill and Screwdriver Accessory set [Black & Decker]

Just like a Transformer, the BDSL30  level is “more than meets the eye.” Black and Decker’s new 24″ 3-in-1 “Gecko Grip” level crams power and speed into a compact little offering. The fun part: it’s basically a normal 24” level with a torpedo level that slides into one end.

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When you’re working with scaled drawings, converting the dimensions from drawing to real world isn’t always easy. A new option — transparent scale ruler overlays — offers a handy DIY alternative that promises to make the job easier.

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For a limited time, Rockler has several All-In-One clamp lengths on sale. To refresh your memory, an All-In-One can be used as a clamp, a fence, and edge guide, or an adjustable T-track. All-In-Ones are accurate, reliable, and can endure a fair amount of abuse.

And at $26.24, the 50″ clamp gives you the most bang for for your hard-earned buck. But bigger isn’t always better. Personally, I prefer the 36″ clamp – on sale for just $24.50 – since it can be used with greater ease on small tables and mobile project centers. Of course, if you’ve got some excess scratch, you could always buy both.

All-In-One Clamps [Rockler]
All-In-One Clamps [E. Emerson Tool Co.]

This pocket book is a great resource for anyone working in a shop. It’s designed for metal workers and machinists, but the information contained within comes in handy in lots of situations. Best of all, it’s durable enough to survive in a shop environment, and every page is coated in a glare-free laminate that resists tearing and won’t get all filthy.

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C. H. Hanson, manufacturer of the Chalk Hog, now offers something called the Angle Snap — a chalk line jig designed to simplify complex layout on sheet goods like plywood, sheet rock, or OSB. With built in positive stops for fast placement on edges and corners, it works with any standard chalk line to mark angles simply and accurately.

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It’s easy to introduce error when you’re transferring measurements from a board face to its side — even when you use a square. But with Bend Rules from Incra, you don’t have to worry about introducing any error when transferring measurements because their rule wraps around the edge of the board. Their rules also feature corner slots that extend to both the face and the edge of the board so you can mark both sides simultaneously.

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At first glance the Trim Gauge looks like a simple tool for repetitive measurements, but after a little reading, I was floored at the sheer number of applications for this tiny little tool. You can, for example, lock it in place to set the reveal of windows and door trim, adjust height of power tools, or transfer measurements. Unlock the thumbscrew and it’s a depth gauge, too. And it also features horizontal and vertical spirit levels (integrated into the back side) so you can check for level and plumb. Collapsing to four inches long, this multi-function tool fits easily in a tool pouch or pocket.

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Traditional cutting and routing guides like this one only work when applied close to the edge of a workpiece and are not accurate enough for lenghty cuts. E. Emerson Tool Company’s All in One Clamp escapes these flaws: you can secure it on any surface with parallel opposite edges. To use it as a cutting guide, you can either push your tool directly alongside the sturdy straightedge or attach it to a separate jig that glides along the built-in T-track.

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Sears is offering a deal right now on this Craftsman digital multimeter with auto-ranging and non-contact voltage detector.  It’s listed at $40 but when you add it to your shopping cart the price drops to $25, a handsome $15 savings. Besides auto-ranging, the multimeter features non-contact voltage measurement from 100 to 600 VAC, AC/DC voltage measurement with a 0.5% accuracy, resistance measurement, diode and continuity testing, and a back-lit LCD screen. It also comes with test stand, rubber holster and test leads.

82314 Digital Multimeter [Sears]

Komelon forms its SS Gripper tape measure from stainless steel to resist rust — perfect for underground worksites, harbors, or other wet and humid environments. And Komelon doesn’t just claim corrosion resistance — they tested the blade in a 5% NaCl (read: salt), 95°C environment for up to 72 hours and proudly display the results on their website.  You can also replicate this test yourself by exposing the tape measure to the air for one minute during summer in Houston.

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