The Lab Equipment Store has the Celestron 44302 Handheld Digital Microscope for $51.74, and it’s so sweet. The details are a bit thin as both the Lab Equipment and Amazon listings have an entirely different picture than the Celestron site, but it looks to be a fairly high-resolution (compared to the “toy” ones, anyway) digital microscope that has 10X, 40X and 150X magnification with a built-in illuminator.

Why do you need a microscope in the shop? Three reasons, really: I use several optical ones for finding and removing insanely painful and tiny metal splinters in my finger, checking the edge of tools when I sharpen them, and on a mount for aligning and inspecting work on my milling machine and lathe. A digital microscope would allow me to view objects on my laptop instead of through a tiny eyepiece. I’ve been looking around for a good digital one and this might be it.

Celestron 44302 Handheld Digital Microscope [scimedlabequip.com]

Discount Paint has the Hyde 09170 Dust Dog Drywall Vacuum Pole Sander for $19.70.

The pole sander is used to manually sand drywall while collecting the dust in a shop vac. The 09170 doesn’t come with the pole, though — the cheapest price we found for the 01975 kit with the pole was $58.85, which is a lot of money for a telescoping pole alone. So supply your own pole and save money!

Hyde 09170 Dust Dog Drywall Pole Sander [DiscountPaint]

Hermans Central has the Stanley 42-287 Aluminum line level for $1.00.

It mounts on a line stretched between two points to determine level. It slides back and forth to each end. It has a flat base for stand alone use — just a dead simple tool for next to nothing.

Stanley 42-287 Aluminum Line Level [hermanscentral.com]

Coastal Tool has the DeWalt D180004 Door Lock Installation Kit for $27.50. It may look like a medieval torture device but it’s a godsend when installing hardware to fresh door installs. For just under thirty bucks you, too, can get your doorknob to work without a string of profanities.

The kit allows you to drill the holes on the front and side of the door while maintaining alignment. It uses a simple clamp to hold it on the door and comes with the needed saws (there are three different kits for different doors and locksets). It’s mostly made of high-impact plastic so it won’t break the first time you drop it — maybe the second, but not the first.

Door Lock Installation Kit - D180004 [costaltool.com]

You might think the E-Z Mark butt gauge should be featured in a Sir-Mix-Alot video, but it’s much more useful than that. Its real world application is for laying out hinge locations so they can be mortised into the door frame or door.

Just line it up to any door frame or door itself and give it a good whack with a hammer. The score will line things up perfectly for the hinge and you get a pro-looking install out of it.

Grady’s Hardware has the E-Z Mark 4″ Butt Gauge for $5.20, so if you like big butt-joints and can not lie, this is the place to find one.

E-Z Mark Butt Gage [Grady's Hardware]

Bending over to carry sheet goods in an uncomfortable position is less of an issue with a Stanley panel carry and Amazon has them in stock for $5.00 now. It’s one of those little things that make a big difference.

You have full control over the balance of the load and better visibility along the way. Add to that the strain you’re not putting on your back anymore from crouching over and trying to fit under a doorframe during the carry and it adds up to a bunch of saved hassle.

If you carry a bunch of sheet goods or are planning a big job five bucks will prevent a lot of pain.

Stanley #93-300 Panel Carry [What’s This?] [Amazon.com]

Amazon has the best deal we can find on a 7/8″ cutting diameter Magnate round nose router bit: $18.14, although it’s the same price on the Magnate website.

I happen to need one for an upcoming project so I spent some time looking around on the web. It’s hard to filter out the length vs. the cutting diameter or radius (7/16″), but I think this is the least expensive available. Any comments on the quality of Magnate bits is welcome!

Magnate 806 Core Box Router Bits - 7/16″ Radius; 1/2″ Shank Diameter; 3/4″ Cutting Length [What’s This?][amazon.com]

Midwest Hunters Outlet has the 3oz. bottle of Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil Gun Stock finish for $3.53. It’s not something you’ll need all the time but it does come in handy if you’ve got a less-than-perfect stock lying around at home.

Used for finishing and touching up gun stocks, Tru-Oil is a mix of linseed oil and fillers. You could also use other types of finish on gun stocks, like some folks do. However, stocks normally have certain classic looks — and this is one of them.

Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil [midwesthuntersoutlet.com]

Micro-Tools is selling this 6-piece (including the handle…) Moody nut driver set for $15.  When you have to drive tiny nuts, you want tiny nut drivers. In the past I’ve made do by using the hexagonal hole in setscrews held in a pin vise, so a dedicated set of micro nut drivers feels like a great luxury. This set includes 5/64″, 3/32″, 7/64″, 1/8″, and 5/32″ drivers.

Moody 6pc. Nut Driver Set [Micro-Tools]
Street Pricing [Google]

BuyWeld.com is selling a 5-pack of Milwaukee 24tpi Sawzall blades for $5.28.  The 4″ long blades can cut metal or any thin material.  I used one just the other day to cut a hole all the way through both sides of our foam-core steel door for a cat flap.

5-Pack of Milwaukee 24tpi Sawzall Blades [BuyWeld.com]
Street Pricing [Google]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

Tool Discounter is selling this OTC Battery Service Tool Kit (part #516508) for $40.  The kit includes a heavy-duty battery terminal puller, 4-way battery post cleaner and reamer, angled battery nut pliers, GM 5/16″ battery terminal ratchet wrench, extra-long 5/16″ terminal ratchet wrench, 10mm battery terminal ratchet wrench, and side terminal battery brush — everything you need to properly handle your battery maintenance needs.

OTC Battery Service Tool Kit [ToolDiscounter.com]

Milwaukee is currently offering a free tool with the purchase of some of the combo kits in their M12, M18, and V28 power tool lines. Depending on availability and the tool line you’re purchasing from, you can choose from such freebies as extra batteries, add-on wet/dry vacs, a Sawzall, and many more items.

This special rebate offer runs through June 30, 2009, and you can find more details on Milwaukee’s website.

Offer Details [Milwaukee]

Finding King is selling this set of 12 watchmakers broaches with a pin vise and “broach vise” for $28.18.  Watchmakers broaches are a type of reamer, tapered with a pentagonal cross section, used for enlarging small holes in watch movements — very handy when you need to ream a tiny hole out just a small bit.  Finding King doesn’t list the sizes of the broaches, so if you need a particular size it’s probably best to check with them beforehand.

Set of 12 Watchmakers Broaches [Finding King]
Street Pricing [Google]

AirBomb is selling a 16oz. tub of Phil Wood Hand Cleaner for $6.80.  A friend who’s a professional bike mechanic sent me a tub of it recently, claiming it was the best hand cleaner he’d used. After several weeks I have to agree — it’s mild, relatively unscented, yet cleans grease and dirt as completely as any hand cleaner I’ve used before.

16oz. Tub of Phil Wood Hand Cleaner [AirBomb]
Street Pricing [Google]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

Amazon is selling these Black & Decker 3.6V Cordless Power Scissors for $9.  The small, lightweight scissors can cut cardboard, carpet, fabric, and other soft materials quickly and easily.  They come with a charger, and they’re eligible for Amazon’s free shipping if you find another $16 worth of stuff you want to buy.

Via Amazon [What’s This?]
Cordless Power Scissors [Black & Decker]
Street Pricing [Google]

Wholesale Tool is selling this 2-7/8″ wide imported sine vise with 3-1/2″ jaw opening for $89.  In conjunction with a gage block it’ll help you set set an accurate angle when holding a workpiece for precision grinding or layout.  You can find better deals on similar imports by trawling eBay, but Wholesale Tools seems to have the lowest price otherwise.

Sine Vise [Wholesale Tool]
Street Pricing [Google]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

Wholesale Tool is selling this import 7-1/2″ Adjustable Bevel for $6.  Made of brass, wood, and steel, it’ll help you set and copy angles when laying out woodworking projects.  Don’t expect it to be as well-finished as a vintage tool, given the price and import status.

7-1/2″ Adjustable Bevel [Wholesale Tool]
Street Pricing [Google]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]