Berkeley, California’s always-forward-thinking library offers a lot more than books — and we’re not talking about medical weed. In fact, their Tool Lending Library offers hundreds of tools which Berkeley residents can check out just like books and videotapes.

The library’s tools range from simple fare like staple guns and drill bits to more difficult-to-find items like a surform plane and a spokeshave. Would-be gardeners without a tool budget can also borrow lawn mowers, garden spades, and even pitchforks.

Just remember to return everything on time. Holding on to the library’s 50′ electric drain snake beyond your allocated three days will run you $15/day — still cheap compared to rental, assuming you can find one.

(Thanks, Ingorrr, for the great CC-licensed photo.)

Tool Lending Library [Berkeley Public Library]

If you don’t know, ask. I ask lots of questions — because I don’t know everything — and my inquisitive nature recently led to a badass experience at the metal yard we frequent.

Last week I started chatting with the the gentleman working the counter at the steel yard. When I mentioned we were building a rig to break some tools, he told me the steel yard crew is really hard on their tools, so they’ve found a great supplier for big ticket items like magnetic drills. I immediately asked, “What’s a magnetic drill?,” and he rewarded my question with a delightful demonstration of the tool.

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The casual griller often picks up whatever makeshift tools he finds lying about to conduct the summer’s grilling operations. Toolmonger, of course, supports grilling in any manner, with any tools you deem worthy. However, sometimes you want more — sites like barbecuegrilltools.com can help you gear up for those special meat-cooking occasions.

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I pick up a lot of my tools secondhand — garage-sale specials — and those slick molded cases are usually long gone by the time I get my hands on ‘em. But if I ever want a case, Carry Cases Plus offers plastic, blow-molded cases in a variety of sizes. They’ll protect anything from high-priced power tools to your collection of antique hand planes.

The cases come in three levels of quality: Standard, Infinity, and Defender. Build quality and internal protection increase with price. Sizes range from the smallish 7.5″ x 8.125″ x 3.53″ to models that are 26-inches long. You can order cases either empty or with your choice of internal foam padding. For a fee, they’ll even custom-cut foam inserts from submitted CAD files.

Prices range from about $10 for the smallest cases to $80 for large models with well-protected insides.

Carry Cases Plus [Official Site]

Speedy Metals offers over 5000 shapes, grades, and sizes of various kinds of metal. They have a “no minimum order” policy, so if you need an inch of 1″ copper rod, you can get an inch of copper rod. They’re a great source for small-project metal when local (and many on-line sources) are reluctant to — or just plain won’t — sell small quantities to individuals.

And Speedy doesn’t charge cutting fees on large orders. But for a small fee, they’ll provide custom bending, drilling, and simple machining. Most importantly, though, Speedy Metals is an outfit that’s friendly to the needs of DIY guys and gals. They offer their stock through their site or via their eBay store.

Speedy Metals [Official Site]
Speedy Metals eBay Store [eBay.com]

I’ve mentioned Parts Express before off-handedly when recommending that you take a stab at building your own speakers, but I recently had the opportunity to interact with them again — and thought it worth my time to recommend them as a great source for in-wall speakers.

I was looking to ditch the bulky speakers in my bedroom in favor of some in-walls, but most of the ones I found were either uber-pricey or required massive wall mods for proper installation. Once it occurred to me to check out Parts Express, the job simplified dramatically. I ended up ordering five Dayton Audio branded speakers — two fronts, two rears, and a special center channel — all of which are designed for installation in standard 2×4 walls and cost less than $300 shipped.

Operating in tandem with a Sony subwoofer I borrowed from a sub/satellite system I owned years back, these sound great — and look great, too. (Thankfully my crown molding was white anyway, so the speaker grilles look perfect. If yours aren’t, though, they’re paintable.)

Anyway, if you’re considering this kind of project, Parts Express is worth a look.

Parts Express [Corporate Site]

Recent talk of cable ties and velcro gripping straps around the Toolmonger offices makes me think it’s a good time to share my favorite source of cable management tools and supplies: CableOrganizer.com. Appropriatly named, CableOrganizer carries a wide variety of cable and wire management products – as well as a nice selection of Klein tools and other specialty items.

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If you’re looking to order safety equipment or metal fabrication supplies, Airgas.com should be one of your first stops. I came across Airgas when I was searching for a hard-to-find pair of sweet new safety goggles and somehow ended up making a rather large order. Their prices are decent, but most importantly the selection is vast and shipping is prompt.

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JustToolKits.com sells — wait for it – just tool kits of all kinds. They’re an outfit that supplies industry-specific kits for professionals. Tradesmen can spend years putting together a kit that fits their needs, but Just Tool Kits provides a head start for folks starting a new trade — or even dedicated handymen that just can’t sleep at night knowing that their toolbox isn’t complete.

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Harbor Freight is holding a three-day “red tag sale” today through this weekend, offering some even crazier deals/steals than normal.  Some of my favorites include:

One-Inch Impact Wrench: Maximum torque of 1400 ft. lbs.  three speeds forward, three speeds reverse. Lightweight, durable cast aluminum housing. $90.

12-Ton Hydraulic Pipe Bender: Bends six different diameter pipes from 1/2 to two inches. Bending bars can be adjusted to distances of 8-1/2, 11-1/4, 12, 16-3/4, 19-1/2 and 22-1/4 inches. Includes a 2-inch diameter 12 ton jack. $60.

Auto-Darkening Welding Mask: Lens darkens instantly for arc, MIG or TIG welding. 1/20,000 second switching speed. Variable shade control from #9 to #13. High/low sensitivity adjustment. UV/IR protection. Uses solar power with lithium battery reserve. $60.

To get these prices, print out and clip the coupons or pick up the flyer in-store.

Red Tag Sale Coupons [Harbor freight]
Store Locations [Harbor Freight]

Amazon.com is pretty much the name in on-line retailers. You can buy books, videos, and even power tools there, but did you know that they have an Industial and Scientific material store as well? It’s been open for a little more than a year, and you can find some pretty crazy stuff there.

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TM reader Frank writes: “I found a really cool store: nutsandbolts.com.  I just bought their largest assortment of grade eight nuts and bolts, and it’s awesome.  Now I’ve got a better selection of grade eight hardware than my local Lowe’s.”

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If you need to find the service manual for your Holley 2140 Centri-Quad carburetor or the wiring diagram for a 1957 Buick, you need to visit the Old Car Manual Project.  They’ve got a whole mess of service manuals, brochures, and owner’s manuals – everything from a 1915 Chalmers to a 1985 Caprice.  And if you have a manual that they don’t have, you can scan it and contribute to the cause.

But here’s the ultimate tool-geek use for an ancient car manual: they make great desktop wallpaper.

The Old Car Manual Project [TOCMP]

TM reader William clued us in to this interesting source for mad scientist gear and oddities.  It reminds us a little bit of a miniature Edumund Scientific mashed up with that stuff you find in the back of Popular Science.

Our favorites: a great selection of glass bottles, bearings, batteries, microswitches, and even some crazy-ass military mittens.  Neat stuff.

American Science & Surplus [Corporate Site]

TM reader Steve writes: “The Tool Tlak podcasts have been (happily) woodworking-heavy lately, and I wanted to add this to your suggestion to visit your local hardwood supplier.  Here on the west side of LA there are a few dealers, but I have been generally unhappy with their selection and prices.  I could drive and go find stuff – and love to do so – but I’d rather spend my weekends building.  During a recent remodel, I wanted a custom vanity that was really more furniture like  — I built my kitchen cabinets as well, but they were MDF boxes on toe-kicks essentially.  I found this website that offers a huge selection of woods, great descriptions, and excellent value, especially compared to my local suppliers. 

“Their best deals are on their ‘Project Packs’ (20 bd.ft.) and ‘Craft Packs’ (10 bd.ft.) which are value priced and include shipping.  My 20 bd.ft. of Bubinga was about $250 including shipping, it arrived very well packed (stacked and wrapped in cardboard and shrink) and was an excellent board selection.  You can contact them if you have special needs and they guys there even have a great sense of humor.”

“I know most Toolmongers (including myself) would rather hand-pick their boards, but these are guys that I can trust to do it for me when I don’t have that luxury.”

Woodworker’s Source [Corporate Site]

Need a King Dick?  (Take you mind out of the gutter people!  I’m referring to the British tool manufacturer.)  British Tools & Fasteners has a plethora of tools  — made in England, of course — as well as fasteners in all Brit flavors such as British Standard Fine, British Standard Whitworth, British Standard Taper Pipe, Cycle Engineers Institute, and British Standard Brass to name just a few.

If own old British cars (like me), then you know all about trying to find correct fasteners state side.  Bookmark this site!

British Tools & Fasteners [Corporate Site]

Need some corners, knobs, or handles to finish out a project?  MyKnobs.com is your friend, despite its, ahem, questionable name.  I always start my hardware search at the local big box stores, but when their modest selection doesn’t meet my needs, this is my next stop.  Let’s say you’re looking for a 19th century French-style hanging handle, or a set of freaky 6” aluminum pendant knockers.  That’s when you need MyKnobs.com’s 120,000 choices.

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