When the proud day finally comes, and your son/daughter/mother/girlfriend loved one is finally moving out, what tools do they need?  Whether you donate some of your extras or head off to the big box in search of a tool kit, you’ll have to decide which tools are the essentials for someone moving out on their own.  From previous posts, we obviously all agree that they’ll need a knife, at least a utility knife — but what about wrenches, pliers, and other handy life-saving tools?

Let’s say you’re limited to what can fit in a small tool bag, like the size of an overnight bag, or an average-sized men’s boot.  What critical tools go with your loved one, to get them through the shock of not being able to borrow yours?  And which tools do you wish would fit in the boot?  Let us know in comments.

I’m looking to replace our old Grill Master with something a little better. It’s lasted 10 years, with a burner replacement about three years ago. But since the burner replacement, it’s never heated evenly — burning one side of a steak while the other’s barely warm. I’d like to spend my money on a grill that’s going to last and can heat evenly.

I’ve been looking around, and most of the grills tout stainless steel construction, but they’re 430 stainless steel — a lower grade of stainless steel that’s ferrous and rusts easily. I could see spots where the Home Depot employees had tried to scrub out the rust. I’ve determined that the larger grills in the $300 to $400 range are garbage, and I don’t want to pay $800 for a grill with real 304 stainless steel.

So I’m looking at a nice portable grill like the Weber Spirit E-210. Weber’s been around awhile, and parts are easy to find — unlike my Grill Master. Two stainless steel propane burners heat porcelain-enameled “Flavorizer” bars and 350 sq. in. cooking grates. The grates aren’t cast iron, but it can be retrofitted. It does have cheap stainless steel doors, but they really aren’t critical to the function of the grill, like the top or tables.

I’d like to tap into the vast pool of Toolmongers’ knowledge: Does anybody own a similar Weber model or have any suggestions for a quality portable grill? Let us know in the comments.

Spirit E-210 [Weber]
Review [about.com]

It seems like we visit the local guys less and less now that they’ve built Home Depot and Lowe’s stores on every corner — or even just blocks away from each other. But we can think of numerous items that the big box retailers just don’t stock.

What’s your experience? Have the big guys finally steamrolled the locals flat, or do you still have a mom-’n-pop alternative in your neck of the woods? Let us know in comments.

(Thanks to adiything for the great CC-licensed photo.)

Have you heard of BlendTec’s (in)famous tests where they blend unusual items to show the strength of their industrial blender’s tines? For shock value, they’ve pureed items like an iPhone, a Guitar Hero controller, a Chuck Norris action figure, and a copy of Halo 3. The idea’s that if the BlendTec can handle this crap, it can certainly churn up a ‘rita or two.

But you’re not chefs. You’re Toolmongers. And no one breaks s#!$ like Toolmongers. So here’s our challenge: If you had a $500 budget, what would you buy/assemble/build to destroy tech items efficiently (and entertainingly) — something that’d make the BlendTec look tame? You know, fill in the blank: “He brought a BlendTec to a (blank) fight.”

Let us know in comments, and just to make it fun, we’ll send a Stanley stud finder to the reader who posts our favorite solution.

PS: Please don’t sue us Mr. Norris. Or BlendTec. Your name and likeness is wholly used here as satire. Really.

Blending S#!$ [BlendTec]

It might be too late to do any good, but we’d still like to help out our friend Joe Brown over at Wired who asked us to pass on this question. He writes:

“My father claims to be a woodworker, but rarely ever builds anything. (He’s actually quite skilled, but he says he’s waiting for retirement, when he’ll actually have the time to work on projects. **cough cough bulls#!$ cough**). So every year I get him a woodworking-oriented Christmas present with the goal of inspiring him to get in his (awesome) shop. I’ve bought him tools, a subscription to Fine Woodworking, and last year I designed and built him a workbench. (We actually built it together, which was a ton of fun.) But this year I am out of ideas. Can you, or your readers, think of a really cool gift — tool, book, ANYTHING — that will motivate him to get his ass in the shop?”

Let us (and Joe) know in comments.

(Thanks, karen.fromthelbc, for the great cc-licensed photo!) 

I need to hit up the Toolmongers for advice on working with RG6 CATV coaxial cable.  Firstly, if I need to splice two segments, how should I do it?  It needs to be weatherproof; are there specially rated connectors for outdoor use?

I want to get a starter tool set for crimping and/or using compression connectors on RG6. I don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, but on the other hand I’m tired of using the crappy twist-on F-Connectors. Any of you Toolmongers out there know where I can get a cool stripping/crimping kit online that’s good enough for occasional, non-pro use and will last beyond my first crimping job?

I found these online:

DataShark Cable TV “F” Compression Bundle Via Amazon [What’s this?]
F-TYPE 2Ghz VIDEO COUPLER F/F [Cables-to-go] 
Paladin SealTite Pro Compression Cable Kit Via Amazon [What’s this?]
Paladin Compression Crimp Bundle Via Amazon [What’s this?]

It seems to me that I can just pick up the first two and be done with it. Do you have experience with any of these?  Are the Paladin kits worth the extra dough?

Of course, we can’t forget the Harbor Freight option:

Coax Cable Tool Kit [Harbor Freight]

Your help on this in comments will be much appreciated.

Our friend Mike over at Popular Science lives in Manhattan, which means he doesn’t keep a car. And though he’s managed to jam a workbench in his micro-kitchen, getting wood from the ‘Depot back to the apartment is, um, a challenge. (Imagine renting a ‘Depot truck, loading it up, driving it through downtown Gotham, unloading it, and returning it. This isn’t just a hassle. It’s an ordeal.)

Recently he’s heard of internetlumber.com and is thinking about giving it a try, but asked us if we’d pass a question on to you: have you used internetlumber.com (or others like it) and had a positive experience? Or have you found other alternatives for small-scale lumber delivery?

Internetlumber.com [Corporate Site]

Long time friend-of-Toolmonger Joe Brown now lives in San Francisco. And according to him, Cali landlords are less forgiving the New Yorkers when you tear down your Moto Guzzi in your living room.

Bastards.

So he’s looking for some shop space to rent. He writes: “I went on Craigslist, and there ain’t s#!$. I emailed everyone who is renting out garage space, and got the same response every time: PARKING ONLY. I even have a buddy who is willing to go in on a larger space with me, and I’d love to set up some kind of co-op for people who need a place to work on their cars, but I think I just don’t know where to look.”

Obviously most residential-district garage owners are scared shop work’ll burn the place down. But I can’t believe that there’s not some kind of shop-space collective in the Bay Area, considering the other great opportunities I’ve heard of, like TechShop and The Crucible. Do any of you West coast Toolmongers have some helpful advice?

(Thanks, Andrew Ciscel, for the great cc-licensed photo. And yes, we know that’s not Joe’s Guzzi. It’s a Bimmer. It’s a stock photo.)

Update: Reward! We’ll send the first person who clues Joe in on space he rents something nice. And not gloves nice. Like tool nice.

Our friend Megan Miller over at PopSci is getting married — sorry, guys — and she called the other day to say that she’s skipping Saks and Macy’s to register at Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Sears instead. It seems that all those years of apartment living left her almost tool-less, and her husband-to-be’s tools were recently stolen.

Her question to Toolmonger readers: what should she add to her registry to make sure she assembles a decent tool kit for apartment/home maintenance and general around-the-house work?

If you’ve got a moment, add your suggestions to comments. Next week we’ll collect up all the results and post the final list. And to show our appreciation for your help, if you’re the first one to recommend an item or set of items (by brand and type) that makes the list, we’ll send you a pair of gloves.

I posted this a few days ago over on FullOnCustom, but apparently the car guys aren’t into work trucks. Here’s the deal: the exhaust system on my F150 — yep, the one in which we replaced the heater core a while back — is fine, but the chrome tips someone installed before I got it are so rusted through that they’re about to fall off. I’m happy with the exhaust system, so I just want to have some new tips tacked on.

What should I expect to pay for them, and do any of you have recommendations as to sources? Let me know, if you would, in comments — here or on FullOnCustom.

Note: Yeah, that’s a stock photo. My F150 is a ‘97 three-door with a camper shell — like I said, a work truck.

Reader Question: What Exhaust Tips For an F150 Work Truck? [FullOnCustom]

Fjr writes: “I’m looking into renting some garage space for a shop to take on some light metalwork and such.  I haven’t seen the garage yet, but I’m told it has a dirt floor.  And judging from the neighborhood it was probably built in the ’50s.  Do you Toolmongers have any idea what to do with the floor?  Should I build a full-fledged floor, just level the dirt real good and lay down a couple of layers of water-resistant plywood, or pour some concrete?  Any tips or input are appreciated.”

My father had a similar problem at one point.  He’d built a great 40′ x 40′ shop building for wood and metal work, but he also wanted a blacksmith shop.  There was a small shed on the property behind his large building, but he wanted a concrete floor.  He ended up jacking up the building with high-lift jacks, “inserting” three feet of height into the building, and pouring a concrete floor in the process.  I was skeptical, but it came out great.

What do you think?  Let us know in comments.

(Thanks Irish Typepad for the great CC-licensed photo.)

Over the years we’ve heard dozens of ways to sharpen a knife ranging from leather to stones — even to numerous crazy contraptions.  And clearly the exact method will vary based upon what type of knife you’re sharpening.

But let’s assume for a moment that you’re sharpening a simple medium-sized drop-point pocket knife blade.  What’s your favorite method?  Let us know in comments, and be sure to explain why you do it the way you do.

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

Our friends over at Lifehacker — if you’re into being productive in your personal and private life, you should check them out — have been asking their readers what gadgets they carry in their “go bag.”  TM reader Brian points out that this would be a fun question for Toolmongers as well. 

So here it is: What do you carry in your toolbox (or toolbag)?  Let us know in comments, and feel free to upload pictures to Toolmonger’s photo pool as well.

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

Toolmonger’s Photo Pool [Flickr]

TM reader Streets writes: “I’m looking to buy my first table saw, and I’ve run into the essential problem that comes with every new tool purchase: do I go cheap and eventually upgrade, or do I go big now and run the risk of paying for bells and whistles I don’t really need?   I’ve seen a lot of table saws for $100 – such as the Delta at Lowe’s with a stand, etc. — but the table is small and I know it’s not for me.  There’s also a Black and Decker Firestorm for $159 with a bigger table, but I don’t know if that’s a good buy.  Ideally, I’d just drop $500 to $700 on a big stationary model that I would never outgrow, but chances are it’s not the best buy for a guy who is an occasional weekend woodworker.”

What do you think?  Let us know in comments.

(Thanks, BarelyFitz, for the great cc-licensed photo.)

TM reader Kythri writes: “I’ve got a 1999 Ford Explorer, and a 2002 Crown Victoria.  As such, I have two key-fob remote controls for the keyless entry and two big PATS (Passive Anti-Theft System) “computer-chip” keys to lug around.  I suppose that I could create two keyrings (duplicating things like my house and shop keys), but I’m looking for something that allows me to carry one set of keys, and have everything I might need (including both cars on it).  I’ve seen those mini air-fitting looking deals (male + female coupling), but don’t really care for those.  Any other ideas?”

Actually, I’m running into a similar problem.  It’d be even nicer if there was a way to integrate a garage door opener as well.  If you’ve got suggestions — even if they’re only partial — let us know in comments.

(Thanks, Dhaval Jani, for the great cc-licensed photo.)

Kid_entropy posted this sweet pic of his Nighthawk 750 in the Flickr Pool.  His ’Hawk’s got some exhaust pipe issues that need fixing – most notably the lower pipe assembly which has a bit of a rust problem.  We tossed out a few solutions in the Tool Talk Podcast #19, but if any Toolmongers out there know of cheap solutions for rust covered pipes – speak out in comments!

Also note the sweet-ass blacked-out windshield.  I love the fact that he hasn’t done anything to the Hawk’ that impairs normal driving while still adding a kick to the overall vibe.  A tip-o-the-hat to you, sir.

Toolmonger’s Photo Pool [Flickr]

TM reader LJDobie writes: “I restore 80s and 90s autos, and something like this plastic welder from Harbor Freight sounds like it’d be great for fixing borken door clips or similar things, or even patching up the fenders on my ATV.  Have any of you used it?  Do you know exactly how it works?”

The last time I did any “plastic welding” it was with one of those kiddie construction kits that included a “welding gun” that spun plastic rods quickly to generate heat.  Wow — that sounds really dangerous now that I say it to you, though at the time it made perfect sense.

So have you used one of these “real” plastic welders?  Let us know about it in comments.

Plastic Welding Kit [Harbor Freight]