Another day — another winner: Daniel.

Daniel’s project: “I have a very small shop, so I am planning to build a covered area extending from the entrance so I can work on projects that require ventilation — painting, parts cleaning, etc. — and dirty projects — sanding/grinding — outside without getting wet.  (I live near Seattle.)”

Well, Daniel, hopefully this one will last just as long.

If you didn’t win — don’t despair; you’ve only got 22 more days to win!  Just post your winter project (that’s make use of the Fuego) as a comment on this post for another chance to win.  (And remember, though you can only win once — you can post projects as often as you’d like.  So if yours wasn’t selected yesterday or the day before, don’t be afraid to give us a new take on it — or maybe link in a picture or two!)

Contest Details [Toolmonger/RIDGID]

Wow! You Toolmongers make it difficult to choose — again you submitted a lot of great projects.  We did manage to pick a winner, though: Michael.

Michael’s Project(s): “Restoring the early 1800’s post and beam barn behind my shop, a greenhouse for cold weather greens for my patient wife, and adding to the ever-expanding treehouse I’m building with my boys.  All three of these projects could benefit from the flexibility of a circular saw.  For two of these projects I’ll be on a ladder — or in a tree — which makes it difficult to use a miter saw (or a table saw).” 

Michael’s also a furniture maker, and here’s some of his recent work:

If you didn’t win — don’t despair; you’ve got 24 more days to win!  Just post your winter project (that’s make use of the Fuego) as a comment on this post for another chance to win.

Contest Details [Toolmonger/RIDGID]

It was a tough choice as you threw some awesome projects our way, but we’ve selected the winner for Day 1: Jorge Barrios.

Jorge’s project: “I just finished my first-ever project, a workbench to go in my first-ever garage in the first-ever house we bought. The pros on tv make it look so easy, cut here, measure like so, nail it up, sand and voila, a spanking new dresser or entertainment center. It’s not that easy, I didn’t finish my workbench in 30 minutes, not including time for commercials. It took me a little over a month of casual work inbetween other more pressing demands on my time. I didn’t own any tools until very recently. I had a hammer, a couple of screwdrivers and some bungee cords when we bought the house. I skulk around Craigslist all day long looking for tools, that’s how I scored a table saw (it was free!), an old router ($20), 10 clamps of varying sizes (only $23!!!), miscellaneous router bits, nail punches, doohickeys, doodahs, geegaws, and whatchamacallits. I am preparing for christmas by leaving various tool catalogues floating around the house where my wife can’t fail to notice the tools I need (want) circled in red crayon and stained with drool.

“In any case, I am the proud owner of a new house that needs alot of TLC, and I decided I needed a workbench to work on, not only for house projects, but also to learn the art of fine woodworking and furniture making, something I’ve wanted to do for many a year. I loaned books from the library and read up on how to build a sturdy workbench, eventually deciding to spend my lunch money on a good top made from red oak 1×3s and go cheap on the legs using construction-grade lumber. The top is a laminate held together with glue and biscuits. It took a long time to assemble and it nearly killed my knees, as I was working on the floor. I planed it by hand and sanded it with a random orbital sander, assembled the legs and added a woodworking vice. It came out quite nicely, if I say so myself, for my first project. In fact, two of my buddies like it so much that they’ve asked me to build’em one each, which I am more than happy to do (at cost) now that I know how to get it done. My wife has requested a few trellises, a garden bench, new raised flowerbeds, a composting bin, a shed for the trashcans, a potting table and a few cutting boards. She now thinks I am handy around the house and humors my mess in the garage. A circular saw is on Santa’s list, I have been good. A circular saw would make me make my wife happy, and what could be better than that?

“It’d make me happy as well.”

Jorge’s workbench:

If you didn’t win — don’t despair; you’ve got 24 more days to win!  Just post your winter project (that’d make use of the Fuego) as a comment on this post for another chance to win.

Contest Details [Toolmonger/RIDGID]

RIDGID’s gone back-to-basics with a quality “compact” 6-1/2″ framing saw targeted squarely at the jobsite — no fancy lasers other bling, just an easy-to-use, durable saw.

Astute readers will recognize this as the saw we’re giving away.  RIDGID was kind enough to send one over for testing, and despite the fact that it was about two degrees above absolute zero here yesterday, we unboxed it and gave it the once over in the shop.  Read on past the jump for our hands-on review.

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We received a very interesting phone call from RIDGID a couple of weeks ago generously offering up twenty-five of their spankin’ new Fuego circ saws for us to give to Toolmongers during the month of December.  Those give aways start — today!

Here’s the deal: Post a comment to this post and tell us what winter project you’d attack with a circ saw.  We’ll select our favorite tonight and post the project tomorrow.  If yours isn’t selected, don’t depair — just comment on the winner post tomorrow with another idea for another chance to win.  We’ll give away one Fuego each day through Christmas.

So, bring on the projects below — and let us heat up your winter projects with 25 days of Fuego!

PS: Look for our hands-on review of the Fuego later today.  We actually did some testing yesterday, but we’re still writing and organizing photos this morning.  Want a sneak preview?  It’s a cool working-man’s circ saw.  More soon.

This particular tool may not seems as exciting as a new anti-vibe hammer or a sweet high-tech cordless drill — until you’re trying to clean up the shop.  We have one of these in our shop, and it makes quick work of whatever crap we’ve managed to fling everywhere.

It’s the first one we bought, and it’s been going strong for a couple of years now.  Our guest in the last podcast said he’s been through a couple of different brands and keeps coming back to this one.  What’s your experience been?

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Just in time for the holiday season, RIDGID’s released a new lightweight circ saw which they call the Fuego.  As we in Texas already know, Fuego is Spanish for “fire,” and fire = good.  Or, fuego = bueno.

Though we haven’t laid our hands on one yet, we can say that this saw is interesting for a number of reasons.  It’s light (8 lbs).  It’s powerful (12A/6100 RPM).  It’s practical (see the rest of the article).  And if you’re concerned about durability, we have four words for you: free lifetime service agreement.

One other interesting fact: RIDGID’s been kind enough to offer up twenty-freakin-five of these saws for us to pass on to fellow Toolmongers in the days leading up to Christmas.  Check back later this week for the details regarding the giveaway — “Heat up your winter projects with the 25 days of Fuego!”

Read on past the jump for lots more about the Fuego.

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Eli, the winner of our comment-based RIDGID combo kit giveaway, took a few minutes to write in and let us know how they work:

“I’ve been using the set almost since the moment I got it last Friday, but today was the first day I used them at work.  Very pleaseing experience.  You really made Christmas come early.  In the picture I’m cutting out some studs above a fireplace to frame in a bookshelf nook for a client’s antique globe collection.  I used both the trim saw and the recipro saw.”

Check out this Friday’s “The Week in Tools” podcast for more from Eli regarding his take on RIDGID tools (and others).

According to many homebuilders, PEX tubing is the way of the future — replacing more difficult to work with copper tubing and bringing additional health benefits.  But whether you agree or not, one thing’s certain: we’re starting to see more and more PEX used in new homes.

RIDGID’s released a set of interchangable jaws for their Compact 100-B Press Tool — which many contractors already use for copper with different jaws — designed specifically for crimping fasteners to PEX tubing.

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RIDGID’s really charging the market lately, not only offering their killer “lifetime service agreement” on power tools, but also releasing some pretty slick innovations — like this right angle impact driver.  Its shape allows you to fit it into all sorts of tight quarters — and still deliver 700+ in-lbs of torque once it’s there.

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Ever wish Craftsman offered their lifetime warranty on power tools, too?  Looks like Ridgid wants to make a name for themselves, and they’re doing it by offering one of the sweetest power tool deals around.  They call it their “Lifetime Service Agreement.”  It’s free, and — get this — it even covers normal wear items like batteries.

Think that’s hot?  Try this formula: Ridgid’s new 24V XLi lithium-ion tool line + free batteries for life = best. deal. ever.

As a guy I knew in college once said after telling me how his roommate came home the night before with identical Sweedish twins, “That #(@$ just doesn’t happen.”

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There’s a great article in the current issue of Woodworker’s Journal (the August issue) about bargain priced miter saws.  They review the gamut and select eight that they recommend.  Most of them were less than $300, and the list includes the:

• Bosch Model 3912
• Craftsman Model 21235 Professional
• Delta Machinery Model 36-322L
• DeWalt Model DW715
• Hitachi Model C12FCH
• Makita Model LS1221
• Ridgid Model MS1250LZ
• and the Ryobi Model TS1551

Of course, you’ll want to read the article for the details.  They point out numerous feature differences between the eight they selected, and it’s quite informative.

And if you don’t have a miter saw in the shop, go get one.  They’re incredibly useful even in a small home shop or garage as they take most of the pain out of wood projects!

[Via Woodworker's Journal]

When the word caulk comes up in a project, the same visions spontaneously appear in our minds: poking nails and wire into a tube and caulk oozing unevenly out of the tip of that tube. To the rescue comes Ridgid’s 18-volt adhesive/caulk Gun.

The 18-volt adhesive/caulk gun can apply caulk, adhesives, or sealers from either 10.1 or 30 oz. tubes. There are no special fittings or attachments needed to go from one size tube to the other. What piqued our interest, though, is the adjustable speed control that allows for consistent bead application (something horribly lacking in our caulking projects) which enhances the quality of the work and means less cleanup. It also features a locking-off button to prevent any accidental start-ups that would lead to drips.

Priced at $149 and available through Home Depot, the 1R84040 is not for the casual caulker.

Ridgid 1R84040 18v Adhesive/Caulk Gun [Home Depot]

Truthfully, we have a hard time finding a place for the wet/dry vac in our shop.  It’s handy to roll it around, but when we’re done with it, it just takes up space.  Maybe the new RIDGID Stor-N-Go Cleaning Station is the answer for us (and you).

It’s essentially a standard 5.0 peak HP wet/dry vac, but instead of rolling around it mounts directly to the wall.  It comes with 7′ and 14′ expandable hoses, which you can put together to reach 21′ from the mounted unit.  It also detaches from the wall mount to become portable via a large carrying handle.

As with most RIDGID products it’s a Home Depot exclusive, and they’re listing it at $99.97 available now.

Stor-N-Go Cleaning Station [RIDGID]
Stor-N-Go Cleaning Station [Home Depot]