Archive for the 'Allied' Category

FlipGrip: Flip, Grip and Pinch

Monday, March 26th, 2007
flipgrip.jpg

As tired as I am of gimmicky multi-tools, Allied’s latest offering — the FlipGrip dual jaw multi-tool — still caught my attention. Apparently “flip grip” means that the grip flips back to expose a dual-headed set of pliers at the center pivot point.

The pliers look fairly useable and are much less ridiculous than some others I’ve seen.   The Flip Grip also carries the standard array of saws, bottle openers and blades as well as a bit compartment in one of the handles that holds four screwdriver bits of various sizes.

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Posted in Allied, Multi-tools | 4 Comments »

Finds: 25′ Tech Tape

Tuesday, March 13th, 2007
techtape.jpg

The term “designer tools” to me usually means steel – more specifically, shiny steel.  Tool guys dig shiny steel like nerds dig laptops and online gaming.  It’s a fact of life that some tool makers are finally coming to recognize.  When they produce things like the 25` Tech Tape they must have been thinking, “brush the steel and they will come.” 

I think the “tech” in the tech tape is a good way of trying to say that it won’t hold up to hard use out in the shop.  The Tech Tape is nothing more than a normal (and probably unremarkable) 25′ tape enclosed in a shiny steel wrapper.  The problem is that the chrome approach works and I want one. 

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Posted in Allied, Measuring | 9 Comments »

Finds: Yet Another “Complete” Home Tool Set

Sunday, January 21st, 2007
completehometoolset.jpg

I was out today on a “shopping trip” (read: drooling on tools that aren’t in the budget right now) and I came across this “complete home tool set” from Allied. Now, before everyone cranks up the email campaign let me first say that I know this isn’t anywhere close to “complete” by any Toolmonger’s definition. 

Why do companies put the word “complete” on tool kits anyway?  It’s like throwing down the gauntlet in front of tool guys everywhere?  What’d they forget? 

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Posted in Allied, Household | 4 Comments »