Archive for the 'Holiday Season' Category

Reader Question: What Do You Want For Christmas?

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

Halloween is just days from Thanksgiving, which means we’re actually starting to see some Christmas goods hitting shelves around these parts. And you know what that means: It’s time to start digging for the boxes of house lights in the storage unit — and time for us to start thinking about our holiday gift guides.

Obviously we have some favorites that we hope will end up in socks and boxes this year. It’s been a great year for tools in many ways! But before we start the list, we’d like to know what you want to find under the tree in a few months. Let us know in comments if you will, as long as you don’t mind us maybe borrowing your favorite want this year to add to our own, both personally and professionally.

(Thanks, Hendrick’s Photos, for the great CC-licensed photo. And we hope Dennis liked his toolbox and other tools.)

Posted in Holiday Season, Reader Question | 17 Comments »

Possible New Year’s Resolutions For Toolmongers

Thursday, January 1st, 2009

I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions — why wait till the new year when you can start today?  Also, making resolutions just for the sake of making resolutions usually means you’ll end up breaking them sooner than later. But if you’re looking for some last-minute resolutions to make this New Year, you could do worse than picking one from this list.

I resolve to:

  • Spend more time in the shop.
  • Involve my kids in more projects.
  • Bolster the economy by buying more tools.
  • Finish my projects in a timely manner.
  • Remember to wear my safety equipment
  • Evaluate tools based on merit not brand.
  • Buy the best tool I can afford.
  • Participate more on Toolmonger!

Have a happy New Year!

Posted in Holiday Season | 6 Comments »

Next Year’s Project: The Leg Lamp

Tuesday, December 30th, 2008

After the massive orgy of greed that is the ending of the season, and with a belly full of way too many homemade cookies, I started picking through the collection of stuff that had accumulated in the office while we’d attended to other tasks like eating and goofing off.  Amongst the pile was this great article from Woodcarving Illustrated about the Leg Lamp.

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Posted in Holiday Season, TV/Media, Woodworking | 10 Comments »

Merry Christmas From Your Friends At Toolmonger

Thursday, December 25th, 2008
tm-xmas.jpg

As you might imagine, we’re taking today off to spend some time with family and friends. We’re looking forward to unwrapping some sweet tools under the tree, and we hope you are, too.

It’s been a great year here at Toolmonger, largely because of you, our readers. We crank out content every day because we love reading your comments, listening to your calls, and learning new things about tools. Hanging out at Toolmonger is sorta like hanging out at a friend’s shop — which just happens to contain all the tools and knowledge of thousands and thousands of readers.

So thank you for taking the time to read and comment, and please accept a heartfelt Happy Holidays! from everyone who makes TM happen.

Posted in Holiday Season | 2 Comments »

How-To: Build A Reindeer And Sleigh For $15

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008

Many of the project sites we look at take a Julia Childs approach to their holiday wood projects — you know, using materials you don’t have, tools you can’t afford, and plans you couldn’t draw up even if you were a rocket scientist. So to combat this effect we put together a reindeer and accompanying sleigh that you can assemble with a few simple tools and under $15 worth of lumber — in under a day.

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Posted in Craftsman, Features, Holiday Season, How-To, Power Tools, Projects, Saws, Sears, Winter/Outdoor, Woodworking | 1 Comment »

It’s Black Friday

Friday, November 28th, 2008

It’s officially “that time.”  If you’re reading this early enough:  Go, now, before the throng of people in the above image forms at every nearby shopping location and the carnage begins.  Today, chain stores all over the place mark down the gear you want to prices you can pull the trigger on.  It’s Black Friday.

On this day and this day only, old ladies and small children alike are imbued with superhuman strength, the ability to stiff-arm their fellow man without regard for their well-being, and an all-out sixth sense for marked-down goods.  You know — the holiday spirit.

Kidding aside, if there are any cheapskates –- like me -– out there, post up a pic or two in the Flickr pool, or let us know you scored in comments.  We always love to hear the word on the street.

Posted in Events, Holiday Season | 6 Comments »

Happy Thanksgiving And Save Room For Bargains

Thursday, November 27th, 2008

Before we succumb to the tryptophan coma which awaits us on this glorious occasion, we’d like to take a moment to offer our thanks to all of you out there who’ve helped Toolmonger grow to what it is today.

We could produce a big list, but you know who you are:  the daily readers, our favorite commenters, the guys (and gals) who bust us when we miss the point (or the fine print), the tool companies that understand that not all toolaholics are over 60 and not everyone gets their tool news from Popular Mechanics, the other (much more famous and significant) writers who’ve taken us under their wings, the friends and family who’ve helped out with tool testing (and some of the crazy stunts we’ve dreamed up), and the family that puts up with our long hours working on Toolmonger instead of getting a “real” job…

You’re Toolmongers, all of you.

Thanks.

Also remember that tomorrow is one of the best deal-grabbing days of the year.  Already Black Friday hunters are formulating their battle plans for the morning’s assault on high prices and the limited supply of sweet deals to be had.  If you’re short of a plan, check out yesterday’s post on Lowe’s posted bargains.

Posted in Holiday Season | No Comments »

A Reminder: Don’t Take The Bait

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

Brightly colored Christmas trees are already up in the big boxes and local shops this year, displayed in rows, their breathtaking light displays winking back at you from across the store.  It’s enough to give you holiday buying fever –- as it was intended to.  Just keep your head, and remember you don’t need to spend yet.

If you’re in need of some new holiday swag and there’s any way you can limp through this year and wait until December 26th, do it.  The same 7-1/2’ tree with the $150 price tag will go for about $20 after Xmas. In fact, everything else’ll be slashed, too.  Don’t fall for the glitz and glitter — $50 after the season will get you an entire attic full of light-up crap.

Posted in Editorial, Holiday Season | 4 Comments »