Dyson makes great uprights — just ask Sean.  He says that nothing (at least nothing legal for sale over-the-counter) gets dog hair out of carpet better.  Now Dyson’s entered the handheld arena with their new Root 6, described as “the only handheld that doesn’t lose suction.” 

But when a friend described the Root 6 to us as a “mini shop vacuum,” we knew we had to find out what it’d really do — or not do — even if it meant a sacrifice.   

A note to readers: Don’t do this to your Root 6.  Really.

(more…)

Sean and I carry pocket knives every day.  Well, every day we’re not going to the airport, in which case we ship one in our checked luggage so we can have it on the other end.  Think of them as the ultimate man’s security blanket.  There’s just something comforting about having your good ‘ole pocket knife with you.  We use ‘em, too.   From slicing open the mail to cutting wire and digging stuff out of the shop vacuum filter, we use ‘em hard. 

So when Case suggested that we put aside our beloved daily-carrys and try out some of their new stock for a few weeks, we jumped at the chance.  Then it sank in.  Remember when Charlie Brown hid Linus’ blanket?  Yeah, that’s us.

Then the package arrived, and we opened it up to find two shiny-new W.R. Case Red CVs.  How do you get the attention of a couple of tool writers?  Send ‘em two knives with chrome vanadium blades and red bone covers.  Half our shop is red and/or CV.  Nice.  Instantly it was out with the old and in with the new.

Now after two weeks of daily use and abuse, we’ve got lots to say.  Read on to see how they fared.

(more…)

What can we say?  We’re big Foose fans, both for his incredible work and his incredible art.  Some people can draw pretty pictures of cars, but how many of them can actually build the car such that it looks just as crazy as the illustration?  Foose.  That’s about it.

So when we heard about MAC’s Foose-branded special edition tool kit, we had to see it.  And see it we did.  Wow.  We’re totally blown away.  So many celebrity collectors’ kits are just completely impractical; They’re either designed in such a way that the prettiness wears off if you use them or they’re full of tools for which you have no need whatsoever.  While it’d have been so easy for MAC to just slap Foose’s hot-item name and graphics on a kit and shove it out the door, they really put some time into selecting the tools.

Let’s get that out of the way right up front: The selection of tools in this kit is so well thought out that it’d make a killer starter kit for anyone looking to get into automotive work.  The tools themselves are absolutely first class quality, too.  This is the ultimate Christmas present for your tool-loving spouse or friend.

Update: Some readers asked where exactly these tools are manufactured.  They’re manufactured overseas to the same spec as the MAC tools manufactured here in the US, and the ones we saw at the facility were there for quality control checks, which are performed here.  We’re speaking with the actual engineer in charge in the next day or so, but the early word seems to be that they were sent out mainly because they didn’t want to tool up for the one-off special finish.  My take?  This is a helluva deal for some great tools.  They look and feel just like the other MAC tools we’ve used, and we can attest that they’re quite durable.  More soon.

(more…)

We’ve owned a number of portable jump start units, but we were really impressed with Husky’s new offering — which not only serves as an effective starter, but also adds a 400W inverter, an air compressor, and a 12V power outlet.  If you’ve been thinking about buying one of these, read on for our hands-on impressions and lots of photos — this unit impressed us, and it’s quite affordable.

(more…)

Installing or removing a serpentine belt is one of those tasks that can really ruin your day.  It’s such a simple task, yet it always seems to take a lot more thinking and grunting than you’d expect.  This tool won’t help you interpret the squiggly little diagram covered in years of grease to figure out how the belt goes in, but it will save you a lot of grunting.

(more…)

When we first looked at the XL Pass-Thru, we thought, “That’s pretty cool.”  Once we had one in the shop, however, we revised our opinion significantly — upward.  This is an incredibly useful tool that’ll pull your acorns out of the fire and make life easier.  Really.

The concept beind the XL Pass-Thru is pretty slick.  At its core, it’s a ratchet/socket set that’s driver from around the ring instead of the center.  Think of it as the “rimfire” of sockets.  But there’s more.  Lots more.

(more…)

It’s rare that we really gush about a product, but this is going to be one of those times.  We’ll probably be embarassed about it in the morning, but tonight we’re gonna unabashedly tell you: these gloves rock the house.  They’re easily the most comfortable and useful welding gloves we’ve ever used.  We think our name (in the post title) is better, but Hobart calls them their “Premium Form-Fitted Welding Gloves.”

(more…)

The X-Workhorse is a cool little portable table designed to hold benchtop power tools — like a miter saw — on the jobsite.  It derives its name from the way it folds: Rather than folding the legs into the table top, the solidly-constructed sides rotate around a vertical center point creating an “X” shaped base.  The top is removable and snaps onto the side when the table’s folded for storage.

Besides just holding power tools, it also has small rubber feet on the top to hold a piece of plywood (or whatever you’ve got that’s flat) to create a portable workbench.  That’s where the advantage of the “X” shape really comes into play with the strength it brings.  Even though the X-Workhorse is made mainly of lightweight aluminum and plastic, the box indicates that it’s rated to hold 750 lbs — something we definitely had to see for ourselves. 

So, when Husky sent us an X-Workhorse to review, we thought we’d try something none of the other reviews we found around the ’net did: putting almost 1,000 lbs. on it.

(more…)

Over the years there have been surprisingly few changes in basic fastener head design.  In fact, the last widely accepted design change was pretty much the Phillips-head design — in 1936!

In 2001, LOX decided to try and take on the industry standard, offering a new design of “fastener recess” — the part of the fastener’s head that your driver’s bit grabs to drive it.  Their “offset-square” design offers 12 points of contact. which they say lessens your need to “bear down” on the driver to keep the fastener engaged — and reduces stripping. 

Of course, never being one to believe what we hear, we put some LOX screws to the test.

(more…)

When we first saw the AutoWrench, we thought, “Pretty cool.  Looks a little flimsy.”  It’s packaging promised it’d stand up to a pretty beefy 225 ft-lbs of torque, so we had to find out for ourselves.  We constructed a simple test rig and pushed it all the way to failure.

Read on for our results complete with lots of photos and even a video — a Toolmonger first — of the first test to failure.

(more…)

So it was: the people cried out to Dremel, “make us a tool that is compact, yet powerful — one with which we can comfortably perform very detailed work, and, oh yeah, one that sounds like a freakin’ seriously cool-ass jet engine when you turn it on.”   Yea, Dremel did make such a tool and said onto the people, “Behold, all ye of DIY ilk, we deliver onto you the Dremel Stylus.”  And the people saw that it was good.  Then, a little later, Toolmonger came along to agree.

Seriously, though the Stylus has received a ton of press — visit Google to see what we mean — we thought you’d like to hear about it from a Toolmonger perspective.  It’s the newest member of the Dremel line, and besides the fact that it looks like Captain Kirk’s phaser – which, lets face it, is pretty cool  – the Stylus is literally packed with features that’ll make your DIY projects bristle with detail… when you finally manage to put it down and the dust settles.

Read on for lots more info on our experiences with the Stylus.

(more…)

We’ve heard good things about Irwin’s new Fast Release locking pliers – sold under the Vise-Grip name, of course – but this week we got to spend some time with a set in person. 

In short: they’re a neat innovation for a tool that’s been around for scores of years and has found a place in toolboxes everywhere.

Unboxing

First off, we should mention that besides the new Fast Release mechanism, these are essentially the Vise-Grips you’ve come to love.  They’re made of a high-grade heat-treated alloy steel and feature Irwin’s no-slip ProTouch grips. 

We’re big fans of the ProTouch grips, by the way.  We’ve tested a couple of other Irwin tools with them, and each time we’re surprised at how comfortable they are and at how well they clean up.

Of course, What sets these Vise-Grips apart is the Fast Release mechanism, which eliminates the trigger-style release assembly used on most other locking pliers.  To release the Fast Release pliers, you simply pull outward on the grip.

The particular model we checked out was the long-nose version, though almost all of the Vise-Grip line is now available in Fast Release versions – including their locking clamps.

In Use

Latching the Fast Release Vise-Grips is just as easy as older versions.  As you squeeze the handles you can feel the “over-center” bump that indicates the pliers are locked.  It requires a bit of pulling force to release them, but not as much as you’d think.

The major advantage to the Fast Release system comes when you’re locking and unlocking the pliers in a tight environment – especially when you’re dealing with an obstruction near the handles since you don’t have to worry about how to fish your finger down in there to release them.   It’s less significant, but still important, that they can’t pinch your fingers as the trigger-style pliers sometimes can.

Summary

These are slick pliers.  If you use your locking pliers in tight spaces, or you’ve had some bad experiences with pinching, the Fast Release Vise-Grips are probably just the ticket for you.  We found the set we checked out especially handy when trying to hold a small part in place in an engine compartment where releasing a trigger-style set would be difficult at best.

We found Fast Release Vise-Grips online starting at around $22 for a set of two, but don’t take our word for it with pricing – go check it out yourself.  Irwin offers an incredible number of different packages ranging from single tools to 15-piece sets in all sorts of styles.  It’s hard to nail down a specific price with all those options.

Vise-Grip Long Nose Fast Release Locking Pliers [Irwin]
Street Pricing [Froogle]

We’ve used more than a few reciprocating saws.  In fact, we have a couple we own, and we’ve got a couple in the shop right now that we’re testing for Toolmonger.  Worx, however, really caught our eye with their new Assault recip — the latest release in their Revolver line of moving-handle tools.

Unboxing 

The assault arrives in a molded plastic form-fitting case that also includes a well-thought-out section for carrying blades.  The “blade box” has a piece of foam in it that prevents the blades from rattling around when you carry it from job to job. 

  

OK, seriously.  Let’s just get this out of the way right now: When we first opened the case and saw the Assault, it looked more to us like an alien weapon than a normal powered hand tool.  (Think of it as a Decepticon-green colored plasma rifle from Halo.)  But when you pick it up it all starts to make sense.  Let’s run down its features:

The Assault’s most noticeable feature is the Revolver handle — a system that allows you to rotate the grip up to 60-degrees to find the most comfortable form-factor then lock it down.  This doesn’t sound like a big deal when you read about it, but believe us when we tell you that it is a big deal in person.  When you’re working with your recip saw high above you or down near the ground — and who doesn’t?  That  is why they make a ”demolition” blade, right? – a standard grip forces your arm, wrist, and elbow into funny angles.  Besides just being uncofortable, Worx research suggests that these type of awkward postures also increase the incidence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. 

   

To position the handle, you simply unclamp the release mechanism, rotate the handle to the desired position and re-clamp it.  The mechanism has a lot of teeth, so you don’t have to wiggle it or anything to get it to clamp back down.  In the full “up” position, the handle approximates the shape that you’re used to on a standard recip saw.  In the full “down” position, it’s much easier to use down low.  Once clamped, there’s no vibration or “play” in the Revolver system; It’s as if the tool had been constructed the way you just set it.

The Assault also lets you adjust its “orbital action” to increase it for faster cuts in wood.  There are four settings, dialed in via a locking switch on the side of the tool.  According to Worx, the zero setting is best for metal while the one, two, and three settings are better for softer materials.

The blade is installed using a keyless clamp system that’s handy as hell.  We’ve lost the “key” for more than one recip saw and ended up searching the hex-wrench set to find a match when we needed the saw in a hurry.  On the Assault you just push the button next to the mount, insert the standard-format blade, and release the button. 

The Assault’s front shoe is also adjustable with a button larger than but similar to the one on the blade clamp system.  The shoe can extend to a number of different lengths to help stabilize and orient the tool while cutting, and can even be removed if necessary.

Two bright white LED lights hide in the nose of the Assault to provide lighting when you’re cutting in the dark.  A rubberized switch in the top of the Assault turns them on and off, though they only operate while the saw is running.

The body of the tool features a rubber-coated die-cast aluminum gear case. The rubber coating makes the Assault easy to hold and control, and (ok, this is a bit miniscule, but) it also emits a crazy-good “new tool” smell when you open the box .  The body’s shape also makes it easy to keep a good grasp on the tool.

The Assault’s 10 AMP motor is servicable, and removing a screw on the side of the motor’s bottom protrusion from the tool provides access to its replaceable brushes.  Pulling the trigger actuates the Assault’s variable speed motor control system, varying from 500 to 2,700 no-load strokes per minute.  A nearby button locks the trigger in the on position for long continuous use, and another squeeze of the trigger releases it.

Worx seems quite to be quite detail-oriented as the 10 ft. power cable comes with a velcro cable-tie. 

The one drawback to the Assault: It’s a bit heavy, weighing in at nearly 10 lbs.

In Use

Here’s where the Assault really shines. We took the sample tool out to the shop and gave it a go on metal, wood and some other materials.  We were surprised at how little vibration we felt in the handle compared to other corded recip saws we’ve used.  The Revolver rotating handle does indeed simplify many cuts, and we found ourselves moving the handle around a little each time we picked up the tool to use it.

We tried the Assault out on some 11-gauge square tubing and it performed admirably, plowing right on through it like butter with the included metal blade.  The Assault uses blades of standard type, so if you’ve already got a few blades around (like we do) you’ll be able to use them. 

By setting the shoe out as far as possible for each cut we made we were also able to reduce vibration and kick even more.  Combined with the rotary handle, this makes for a very comfortable-to-use tool.

Summary

We were very impressed with the Worx Assault, both in terms of the features it offers and its performance in common use.  Worx clearly paid a lot of attention to detail in its design, incorprating lots of practical features such as the keyless blade clamp, adjustable shoe, and a serviceable motor.  The Revolver rotary handle is much more useable in person than it appears on the page, and can help take the hurt out of a long cutting session.  If you use a corded recip saw in demolition, take note.  This could help make your hands stop hurting.

One caveat:  For most people who work with a recip saw regularly, the extra weight won’t make much of a difference and is easily offset by the comfort of the rotary grip, rubber-coated casing, and smooth operation.  But, if you’re small of frame and don’t lift much, you might want to seek a lighter model.

Street pricing starts around $130, and it’s available via home imrpovement and hardware stores as well as via a number of outlets online.

The Revolver Assault Reciprocating Saw [Worx]
Street Pricing [Froogle]

When we first saw the recently released FatMax Xtreme Box Beam Level from Stanley, we knew that we had to get our hands on one. Once we did, we weren’t disappointed.

A couple of things jump out at you when you first see the Xtreme, the most notable of which is the large, redesigned center vial.  (In previous models the vial had a top enclosure and was 20% smaller.)  With the new layout you can see the position of the bubble from (in our experience) as much as 15 feet without even squinting.

The construction of the level boosts a new box-beam design that Stanley claims to be five times stronger than previous models.  You can feel its ”sturdiness” by simply picking it up.  It exudes strength at every corner. The machined leveling surfaces are quite smooth and polished to a mirror finish.  Add to that the silver finish and bold sturdy handle/handles and the Xtreme tends to stand out visually in a crowd of otherwise brightly painted levels at the store.  Some of our friends who saw it couldn’t put it down because they “just liked holding it.”  Of course we — and many of our friends — are facinated with shiny things, so there you go.

Dual purpose, sturdy rubber end caps adorn the Xtreme, and both protect the level against falls and bumps but also are removable so that the levels can be connected to one another for those long surface reads. The Xtreme also uses rare earth magents –- which are roughly twice as powerful as the normal strip magnets -– to provide a more stable experience. Like it’s predecessor in the Stanley line, the Xtreme has Block vial accuracy of 0.0005 in/in with a lifetime accuracy warranty on the vials.

Stanley has obviously put some thought into the design of this level, and it really shows.  From the enlarged vial to the grips and fit and finish, the Xtreme Box Beam Level looks to be a well rounded (figuratively speaking), feature rich contender.  It’s widly available both on the net and at your local home center. 

Sizes range from 24” – 48” and are priced quite competitively concidering the value they bring at around $30 for the 24” model and $50 for the 48” model.  We understand larger versions are on the way.

Stanley FatMax Xtreme Box Beam Level [Stanleyworks]

Everyone has need of a utility blade at home or at the office for one use or another.  Irwin’s new ProTouch Retractable Blade Knife is aimed at that kind of total all-purpose utility. Coupled with 6 of Irwin’s “Unbreakable” Bi-Metal blade system, the ProTouch makes for a handy addition to the toolbox.

Other than the beefy appearance and rubber grip — the one that gives it the ProTouch name — the ProTouch looks a lot like any other of its competitors.  However, like many other things in life, it’s the inside that counts. The ProTouch puts a new twist on the half-split blade change design by adding a spring loaded hinge and pushbutton lock. The knife splits in half, hinging at the rear.  A spring located on the inner right portion of the case pushes the case open at the release of the button lock on the side of the knife.

Upon opening, the kinfe reveals a storage area and access to the inner workings. You can, however, load the knife through the front opening as well.  The blade is neatly secured into the magnetic slot which holds it firmly with two clips that prevent sliding.  To close the knife, press the halves back together and push the button lock back into place.

Like many other utility knives the ProTouch has a blade storage area in the rear portion of the handle.  The blades are held in place by a metal clip and a small stop on both ends to prevent the spare blades from wandering into places they’re not supposed to go, which we find a great deal more desirable than the old school “throw them in and hope for the best” approach.

  

In use, we found that the angle of the blade applies more cutting force where it’s needed and makes for a very clean quick cut, even through thick material.  It seems as if it’s just easier to cut with this particular knife.  The locking mutli-position slider on the top of the blade is easy to use and feels firm.  When gripping the blade, even in a gloved hand, the knife feels comfortable and easy to control.

We enjoyed the ProTouch, and found that it delivers a good solid feel and a few welcome surprises under the hood.  We’re still putting the Blue Blades to the test and intend to report back to you soon with our experiences.  We can tell you in the short run that they cut at least as well as other blades we’ve used, and we’ll know more about durability as time marches on.

Considering that you receive quite a number of blades with the knife as well, the $11 asking price is well worth the investment.  We’re happy to add one to our ‘kit.

Pricing on the street is often as low as $9 according to our research.

The ProTouch Retractable Knife [Irwin]
Street Pricing [Froogle]

We’ve got a massive drawer full of pliers in the Toolmonger shop, including a good many tongue-in-groove pliers.  They’re particularly handy because they’re adjustable to fit even large items and the long handles let you get a good purchase on what you’re gripping.  (Ironically, it seems that in many cases a firmer grip, while still biting into the object more than a softer hold, actually does less damage because you’re less likely to slip/rotate and machine in gouges.)

When we tried out Irwin’s new Vise-Grip-branded GrooveLock pliers, we thought just what you’re probably thinking: Decent quality pliers are decent quality pliers, right?  We were thoroughly (and happily) surprised.  While the GrooveLocks fill the same role as a set of standard tongue-in-groove pliers, they function quite differently, and are significantly easier to use.  Read on to find out what’s so different about them and why you’ll want to own a set (or three).

Unboxing

The GrooveLocks come in a partial package so you can feel the nice molded rubber grips when you’re shelf-shopping.  They’re the same thermal plastic rubber (TPR) ProTouch grips shared with a number of other hand tools in the Vise-Grip lineup, and they make the tool very comfortable to hold in your hand.  The grips are larger than they seem in photos, and their molded shape is designed to encourage you to hold them in a way that keeps your fingers out from between the handles (where they can get pinched).

The majority of the tool is forged from chrome nickel steel and incorporates a black oxide finish.

The GrooveLocks’ most noticeable feature, though, is the ratcheting adjustment system.  Unlike standard tongue-in-groove pliers where you adjust them by moving the handles out and slipping the tongue in the groove, the GrooveLocks’ adjust with a button release.  To adjust the jaws, you simply push the button and slide them to the desired position.  They slide freely as long as the button is depressed, and lock into the closest groove when released.

It’s worth noting that the GrooveLocks grooves are much smaller than those you’re used to as they’ve been relieved of the additional machining required for a slip-adjustment mechanism.  In fact, the 12″ version we tested had 19 grooves — about twice as many as other similar pliers.  This means you can adjust the GrooveLocks much more accurately.

Irwin also touts their “metal injection molding” (MIM) metal forming process which is used to create the GrooveLocks’ internal mechanism.  They claim MIM gives them the ability to mold small and complex-shaped metal parts with improced surface finish, close porosity, and high final density.  What this means to you is that the GrooveLocks’ mechanism is quite strong and should last for quite a while.

GrooveLocks feature an “all-purpose” jaw that’s shaped to grip flat, square, and hex shapes more accurately than a simple curved-with-teeth design.

Read on to see how the GrooveLocks performed for us in everyday use.

(more…)

The whole US is currently experiencing a massive heat wave, but we seem to be getting more than our fair share of it down here in Texas.  The heat in our shop’s been almost unbearable as the outdoor temps have rised to over 100 degrees F every day this week.  (We even hit 106 one day.)  We went in search of a way to take the hurt out of the heat and ended up trying out one of AdobeAir’s Mobile MasterCool series portable evaporative coolers.

Operational Theory 

All coolers work by transferring the energy from the hot air to somewhere else or converting it to some other less-annoying form.  In normal household A/C units, a coolant such as Freon is used in a closed system, sapping the energy from hot inlet air to evaporate the coolant, then releasing the heat outdoors as the coolant re-condenses.

Evaporative coolers — or “swamp” coolers as you may have heard them called — work on the basic principle of cooling by the evaporation of water.  Evaporative coolers are very simple machines.  They consist of a fan which draws hot inlet air through an “evaporative pad” — a piece of porous material which is constantly soaked with water via a pump and reservoir.  Energy is removed from the hot air as it evaporates the water.

As with all coolers, the heat must go somewhere.  Unlike closed-system Freon-based units where the heat is “moved” to another location, evaporative coolers simply blow out the resulting water vapor along with the cooled air.

This leads to the basic limitation of evaporative coolers: the source (inlet) air must be dry enough (low enough in humidity) to allow for evaporation.  If the water in the evaporative pad can’t evaporate, no cooling occurs. 

This means that the more humid the air is around the cooler, the less cooling it’ll provide.  If you live in a very humid area such as Florida or Houston, you’re going to see far less performance from an evaporative cooler than you will if you were to live in, say, Arizona.  It also means that you can’t use an evaporative cooler in a sealed-off environment.  As the cooler operates, it’ll continue to add humidity to the air until the air is too humid to allow evaporation — at which point it’ll cease to cool.

With this in mind, read on to take a look at the MasterCool MMB12 — one of AdobeAir’s mobile “spot” coolers.

(more…)