It’s been a busy week here at Toolmonger. If you’ve been spending time in the shop — you should! — and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts, which our readers helped to select:

Father’s Day Gift Ideas: A Quality Knife
Here’s our (now) annual post recommending a pocket knife as the prime gift for Father’s Day.  For many reasons, it’s an awesome gift.  We’re not recommending that you (necessarily) pick up a 6″ hunting knife for him, but more a simple, basic, but quality pocket knife that he can carry every day — even in the office.  It’s a long-lasting gift that keeps on giving.  ‘Nuff said.

Festool’s Two-In-One Sander
This new sander’s exciting feature: it can switch between random-orbital and pure rotary modes on the fly — perfect for removing lots of material on a first pass, then switching to orbital mode for finishing work.  It also mates up perfectly with Festool’s legendary dust-collection rigs.

Deck Mate Screws: The Best For Deck Construction?
A reader turned us on to these screws at Maker Faire, but when we posted it here many readers expressed different opinions.  The quick consensus: used with the “special” driver, they’re good stuff, but a waste of money if you use a standard phillips in ‘em.  There were lots of votes for square-drive, too.  Check the comments for details.

MAC Expands Their Spherical Socket Line
If you’re a MAC user and you’ve begun using their spline-type spherical sockets — they’ll handle a variety of fastener heads ranging from six- and twelve-point to inverse Torx and even half-rounded — you’ll be excited to know that they’ve expanded the 1/2″ and 3/8″ drive lines significantly.  See your local truck to get ‘em.

Sparkfun Electronics 
This supplier provides all kinds of interesting electronic components — the ones you’re not likely to find at your local supply house.  Examples: GPS and cellular gear, and a 24-bit color LCD just like the one in Sony’s PSP.  You’ll definitely want to add these guys to your “little black book.”

Help us choose next week’s Top 5!

We’d appreciate your help in choosing next week’s Top 5, which’ll be featured here, elsewhere, and in the podcast as well. While you’re reading TM this week, look out for the “Interesting Post” button at the bottom of the article:

When you see an article that piques your interest, click the button once. You’ll return to the same page, but TM’s software’ll score your click for future reference. We’ll check in on the totals before selecting next week’s Top 5.

It’s been a busy week here at Toolmonger. If you’ve been spending time in the shop — you should! — and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts, which our readers helped to select:

Makita’s Shear Wrench
This is just the specialty tool you need to wrench down shear-type fasteners.  Even if you don’t have any need for it, it’s a fascinating tool and worth a look.

Toolmonger’s Maker Faire Coverage
We attended Maker Faire 2007 in San Mateo, CA last weekend, and readers voted a good chunk of our live (and later) coverage into the top five this week.  If you missed any of our coverage, check out the link above or listen to this week’s special episode of Tool Talk where we talk about our Faire experiences along with lots of audio from the show.  We’ll have more details later, but as of right now we’re planning to attend Maker Faire in Austin on October 20th and 21st, too.

JLC Online’s Take On Small Drywall Finishing Projects
This awesome article over on JLC online covers many of the skills you’ll need to do simple drywall finish work on your projects.  They start with the tools and materials you need and run you through a pretty thorough how-to.

The Joist Jaw
This little tool grabs hold of joists and holds them properly in place while you attach them.  Think of it as a helper that always shows up on time and must only be paid once.

The Wonder Winder: Easy Extension Cord Storage
A visitor to our station at Maker Faire recommending this inexpensive cord winder from Harbor Freight, and it seems to be a hit among readers who’ve tried it.  Check out the post’s comments for details.

Help us choose next week’s Top 5!

We’d appreciate your help in choosing next week’s Top 5, which’ll be featured here, elsewhere, and in the podcast as well. While you’re reading TM this week, look out for the “Interesting Post” button at the bottom of the article:

When you see an article that piques your interest, click the button once. You’ll return to the same page, but TM’s software’ll score your click for future reference. We’ll check in on the totals before selecting next week’s Top 5.

It’s been a busy week here at Toolmonger.  If you’ve been spending time in the shop – you should! – and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts, which our readers helped to select:

Tool Quality, New vs. Old School
Think your old school pro tools kick the crap out of today’s junk?  Think again.  Sure, old pro tools measure are better than lots of new consumer-grade stuff, but 100 years of R&D yields some benefits.  Of course, that doesn’t mean the old stuff isn’t cool as hell.

The Work of Bruce Herbert, Tree Carver
Bruce Herbert sculpts with a chain saw.  How cool is that?  Besides that, we understand he’s a first class guy.  Check out this post and the link to his site for lots more about him.

Xtreme Power From An Xtremely Yellow Box
Besides looking like a jaundiced Johnny 5, this box also distributes power at the jobsite, turning a 50A 125V or 250V power drop into more usable 20A 125V outlets.

The Minwax Project Planner
Ever wonder what that stain’ll look like on your furniture project — or better yet how the finished project’ll look in a room painted like yours?  Minwax recently added a kick-ass project planner to their website to help you out.

Fasteners On The Cheap
Need a crap-ton of fasteners and don’t want to pay squat for ‘em?  This place is for you.  Look elsewhere for that one-off specialty screw, but if you’re building a deck — or doing a driver test at Maker Faire — you can get screws (and other stuff) cheap in 5,000 count quantities.

Help us choose next week’s Top 5!

We’d appreciate your help in choosing next week’s Top 5, which’ll be featured here, elsewhere, and in the podcast as well. While you’re reading TM this week, look out for the “Interesting Post” button at the bottom of the article:

When you see an article that piques your interest, click the button once. You’ll return to the same page, but TM’s software’ll score your click for future reference. We’ll check in on the totals before selecting next week’s Top 5.

It’s been a busy week here at Toolmonger, but we did get to spend some quality time in the shop.  If you’ve been spending time in the shop, too, and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts, which our readers helped to select:

It’s Just Cool: Peeping Norm
While it’s not about a tool per se, it seems that this post got some of you just as hooked on watching the New Yankee cam as we are.  We enjoy the shows, too, but there’s something about seeing Norm and friends actually do the work — complete with mistakes — in real time that keeps us truly addicted.

Engineer’s Squares: Accurate And Easy On The Eyes
Accurate to +/- .00005″ per linear inch, these shiny steel squares come in various sizes as well as sets which include a wood presentation case.  They’re pretty inexpensive, too, at just $30 for a four-piece set.  Check the comments on this post for some great reader suggestions of other similar finds.

This Flatback Tape Bends Over Backwards For Accuracy
Minus the curve that lets you extend standard tapes out one-handed, this tape can fit around curved furniture.  Also, because it lays flat against the object you’re measuring it’s much easier to make accurate marks.  You’ll never miss that standout.

Hands-Free Project Lighting With The DREMELite
Wish your Dremel had a project light?  Here’s your answer: this little device replaces the bezel just behind the chuck and lights your work via two bright white LEDs.  And it requires no batteries!  Instead, it’s powered by a small internal generator that spins with the tool.

Gardening, Rambo-Style
This K-Bar-looking garden implement is quite practical for cutting tough roots and is guaranteed to scare the crap out of your neighbors. 

Help us choose next week’s Top 5!

We’d appreciate your help in choosing next week’s Top 5, which’ll be featured here, elsewhere, and in the podcast as well. While you’re reading TM this week, look out for the “Interesting Post” button at the bottom of the article:

When you see an article that piques your interest, click the button once. You’ll return to the same page, but TM’s software’ll score your click for future reference. We’ll check in on the totals before selecting next week’s Top 5.

It’s been a busy week here at Toolmonger, but we did get to spend some quality time in the shop. If you’ve been spending time in the shop, too, and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts, which our readers helped to select:

Dealmonger: 28 LED Flashlight
We get it: you love flashlights — especially LED flashlights.  At under $4 for 28 LEDs, this light totally puts the smackdown on other lights when it comes to LED-to-price ratio.

Dealmonger: A Makita Variable-Speed Reciprocating Saw for $60
If you don’t already own a reciprocating saw, you should keep your eyes out for deals like this one and pick one up soon.  They’re useful for all sorts of tasks, and you won’t know what you’re missing until you own one.  And at $60, why not?

Cheap-Ass Tools: Husky’s Nail Apron
Sean says this cheap-o nail apron kicks the crap out of the old canvas kind, and any nail apron is better than none if you’re planning on doing any roofing work.  The more you walk around, the more likely you are to fall off the roof — so carry your fasteners with you!

A Quick-Protyping Material — No Ovens Required
This material from ShapeLock becomes malleable at around 160 degrees F then returns to a hard, nylon-like state at room temperature.  It’s perfect for mocking-up shapes quickly — and without the use of molten material or ovens.  This strikes us as one of those items you should keep around the shop. 

Mark On Wet And Oily Surfaces With Stanley’s New Marker
Sometimes it’s the little things that make all the difference on the jobsite — like this new marker from Stanley complete with a non-slip TPR coating and the ability to mark on wet and oily surfaces.

Help us choose next week’s Top 5!

We’d appreciate your help in choosing next week’s Top 5, which’ll be featured here, elsewhere, and in the podcast as well. While you’re reading TM this week, look out for the “Interesting Post” button at the bottom of the article:

When you see an article that piques your interest, click the button once. You’ll return to the same page, but TM’s software’ll score your click for future reference. We’ll check in on the totals before selecting next week’s Top 5.

It’s been a busy week here at Toolmonger, but we did get to spend some quality time in the shop. If you’ve been spending time in the shop, too, and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts, which our readers helped to select:

A Tool Only Hog Owners Will Appreciate
Surprise, surprise: apparently others appreciate Harley-Davidson niche tools, too. This transmission neutral-light specialty tool appealed to many TM readers — and should definitely be a part of your ‘kit if you’re planning on any DIY hog transmission surgery.

Norm’s Kick-Ass New Yankee Chop Saw Table
We loved this DIY chop saw stand we caught on New Yankee Workshop, and think it’d make a great project for the home wood shop. It’s not as portable as the high-dollar pre-made aluminum versions, but this one’s a lot cheaper, and there’s always the thrill of answering the question “where’d you get that?” with “I made it.”

Ladder-Dok Saves Gutters
What’s worse than cleaning out gutters? Trashing your gutters in the process. This small steel frame slips inside your gutter to transfer the weight of your ladder directly to the house, saving costly gutter damage.

How-To: BBQ South African Style
TM reader Freddie sent us this great primer on how South Africans get the BBQ on. They call it “braai,” but you can think of it as open-pit BBQ with a twist. Don’t miss this how-to complete with pictures and recipes.

Save Time In the Wood Show With Ten Gauges In One
Whether you’re measuring dovetails or checking the diameter of a dowel you’re turning, this ten-in-one gauge has it all — but is a little pricey.

Help us choose next week’s Top 5!

We’d appreciate your help in choosing next week’s Top 5, which’ll be featured here, elsewhere, and in the podcast as well. While you’re reading TM this week, look out for the “Interesting Post” button at the bottom of the article:

When you see an article that piques your interest, click the button once. You’ll return to the same page, but TM’s software’ll score your click for future reference. We’ll check in on the totals before selecting next week’s Top 5.

It’s been a busy week here at Toolmonger, but we did get to spend some quality time in the shop. If you’ve been spending time in the shop, too, and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts, which our readers helped to select:

One Collapsible Barrel, 30 Gallons Of Yard Waste
These “Kangaroo Barrels” proved quite popular among readers who like the way they fold up for storage and drain excess water from grass clippings. And with street pricing as low as $15, there’s no excuse not to haul around that excess water weight.

Edge Without Gas Engine Hassles
Today is Earth Day, and what better way to show your respect for the environment than ditching yet another un-regulated, pollution-spewing gas-powered lawn tool. Hound Dog’s “Steppin’ Edger” replaces gas-power with foot-power to do the same job — even better in some circumstances.

Cheap-Ass Tools: An $8 Canvas Tool Bag
It seems Toolmongers love cheap, handy ways to carry tools around — and this bag qualifies on both counts. This simple canvas bag would make a great carrier for a car toolkit where spaces is at a premium. And, as we mentioned, it’s cheap.

Moving Trees? Skip The Shovel, Use A Tree Spade!
This small version of the massive spades you see in use by landscaping crews might be a bit expensive to own, but they’re available for rent at a price that’ll make you think twice about ever digging a mid-sized tree out by hand again.

Mystery Trailer Adapter With “Beep Tester”
Readers loved the idea of a device that’ll tell you whether your trailer wiring is working when you don’t have anyone around to stand behind the trailer and holler when the lights are on. If only the manufacturer would return our calls and explain how it works…

Help us choose next week’s Top 5!

We’d appreciate your help in choosing next week’s Top 5, which’ll be featured here, elsewhere, and in the podcast as well. While you’re reading TM this week, look out for the “Interesting Post” button at the bottom of the article:

When you see an article that piques your interest, click the button once. You’ll return to the same page, but TM’s software’ll score your click for future reference. We’ll check in on the totals before selecting next week’s Top 5.

It’s been a busy week here at Toolmonger, but we did get to spend some quality time in the shop.  If you’ve been spending time in the shop, too, and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts, which our readers helped to select:

Preview: A Bag From Stanley That’s Not Just For Technicians
This technicians’ bag from Stanley looks perfect for creating a project-based tool kit for home and should be on shelves soon.  If you can’t wait, though, look for a similar version from Husky available now.

A Saw Guide That Goes The Whole Nine
Most circular saw guides we’ve owned have been too short to handle a full sheet of plywood, but this one extends to a full 100″.  Its two segments also come apart for shorter cuts — up to 52″.

Reader Favorites: Vise-Grip Locking Wrenches
From time to time readers write in to share their favorite tools, and Eschoendorff — a long time reader and commenter — sent in a picture of these.  For those not familiar, Vise-Grip’s “wrenches” features an odd-shaped cavity in the jaws that works great for grabbing fasteners.  In many cases they can even remove fasteners without damage.  Lots of comments in this post provide additional insight, so check it out.

Bed Bugs With Rubber Teeth — For Stowing Cargo
Readers loved these cargo blocks complete with rubber “teeth” spaced perfectly to fit into truck bed liner grooves.  Their unusual shape allows them to grip everything from boxes to wheels, and they’re cheap — around $20 a set.

Hot or Not? Lifetime Tool Warranties
You’ll want to check out the comments on this post yourself, but in short: tool quality is more important than a warranty, but they do tend to go hand-in-hand.  Some readers offer great insight, though, such as how to read warranties for “ambiguity.”  Good stuff!

Help us choose next week’s Top 5!

We’d appreciate your help in choosing next week’s Top 5, which’ll be featured here, elsewhere, and in the podcast as well.  While you’re reading TM this week, look out for the “Interesting Post” button at the bottom of the article:

When you see an article that piques your interest, click the button once.  You’ll return to the same page, but TM’s software’ll score your click for future reference.  We’ll check in on the totals before selecting next week’s Top 5.

It’s been a busy week here at Toolmonger, but we did get to spend some quality time in the shop.  If you’ve been spending time in the shop, too, and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts, which our readers helped to select:

Hands-On: GearWrench’s 75-Pc. Tap And Die Set
This set’s star performer is a ratcheting T-handle wrench that eliminates the hand-over-hand shuffling normally required to spin taps 360 degrees.  We put it through its paces and had a lot to say about it — as did readers.

Hands-On: Stanley’s FatMax Mobile Project Center
Tired of carting around your old wood-and-steel clamping table?  This model from Stanley handles plenty of weight, but weighs half as much — and sports wheels, on-board power, and the ability to convert into a two-wheel dolly to boot.

Swisher’s Boot Brush
You’ll find these brushes mounted on big-rig trucks everywhere; no trucker in his right mind wants to track mud and crap into his home.  These are great for mounting outside your shop or house to keep dirt out of your home, too.

Hands-On: Dremel’s Multi-Vise
We tried out Dremel’s new combination clamp-and-vise and gave it a thumbs-up.  Its best feature: you can remove the clamp and mount your Dremel rotary tool in it instead. 

Hot or Not? Plastic Miter Boxes As An Economy Option
In short: if you’ve got cash to blow, a metal box will last longer.  But if you’re looking to make miter cuts on the cheap, this’ll get the job done — often for under $5.

Honorable mention:

The Best Notebook I’ve Ever Owned
This post just barely missed the top 5 this week, so we thought we’d mention it here, anyway.  After going digital years ago, I eventually came (part way) back to paper, keeping my contacts and calendar in a cell phone while carrying a small notebook for “idea jotting.”  I found the perfect notebook two years ago, and here it is.

Help us choose next week’s Top 5!

We’d appreciate your help in choosing next week’s Top 5, which’ll be featured here, elsewhere, and in the podcast as well.  While you’re reading TM this week, look out for the “Interesting Post” button at the bottom of the article:

When you see an article that piques your interest, click the button once.  You’ll return to the same page, but TM’s software’ll score your click for future reference.  We’ll check in on the totals before selecting next week’s Top 5.

It’s been a busy week here at Toolmonger with all the madness of hands-on week.  We also spoke to a really cool guest for next week’s podcast: famed knifemaker Ed Fowler.  Don’t miss it!

If you’ve been spending time in the shop, too, and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts, which our readers helped to select:

Hands-On: Bosch’s 10.8V Litheon Impactor
In one of our most thorough hands-on posts to date, we put the spurs to Bosch’s tiny new impact driver with excellent results.  With over 800 in-lbs of torque in a package the size of a small cordless screwdriver, this is going to be the tool to have when it hits shelves later this year.

Hands-On: Husky’s 26-Gallon Vertical Air Compressor w/6 Tools
Here’s a perfect starter compressor for the home shop.  For under $300 you get a quality compressor (that’s portable and not too larger) along with six air tools.  We checked ‘em all out and passed on the results.

Hands-On: Hobart’s AirForce 250A Plasma Cutter
This little self-contained 110V-powered plasma cutter is a great option if you’re working in your garage where a big-ass acetylene tank probably isn’t an option.  It’s also perfect for making all those “inside” cuts that are so difficult with the band saw.  Plus, it’s easy to store and requires only a 20A circuit to operate.

Beam Compass Heads: Draw BIG Circles Like a Pro
These compase heads screw onto the end of whatever stock you’ve got laying around the shop — wood, metal, plastic, whatever — to make a compass limited in size only by the stock.  Need a 16′ circle?  Grab a 2×4.

Greenlee’s Cable Anchor: Eight Cables, One Nail
This anchor was designed to simplify cabling of new homes, but we can think of dozens of uses for a device that’ll hold eight cables in place with one fastener and allow removal and re-installation of the wires.  (Apparently you could, too.)

Help us choose next week’s Top 5!

We’d appreciate your help in choosing next week’s Top 5, which’ll be featured here, elsewhere, and in the podcast as well.  While you’re reading TM this week, look out for the “Interesting Post” button at the bottom of the article:

When you see an article that piques your interest, click the button once.  You’ll return to the same page, but TM’s software’ll score your click for future reference.  We’ll check in on the totals before selecting next week’s Top 5.

It’s been a busy week here at Toolmonger.  We’ve been testing tools like madmen preparing for Hands-On Week.  Don’t miss our daily hands-on posts covering all sorts of stuff you’ll want to see for yourself.

If you’ve been spending time in the shop, too, and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts, which our readers helped to select:

Empire’s 1240 “Fat Boy” Framing Square: Double Think for Durability
This aluminum framing square is 3/16″ thick — about twice as thick as standard squares — to help survive drops from the roof and other mishandling.  While some craftsmen prefer plastic or lexan for lightness or steel for strength, an thick aluminum square provides a little bit of both.

Tie-Rod Coupler: Mechanic, Un-Strand Thyself
Ever tried to tried to push a car with a broken tie rod onto a trailer — or even out of the road?  The broken wheel always turns sideways, stopping the car and sometimes damaging bodywork.  This coupler holds the rod together temporarily to help you out.  Don’t try to drive it, though.

The Rock-It Drum Dolly: All Gain, No Pain
Readers loved this four-wheel dolly with a rounded side to help you roll 50-gallon drums from vertical to horizontal, especially at under $60.

Hot or Not? Fast Orange Hand Cleaner
The overall take on this common shop hand cleaner is “hot,” though some readers recommended Lava Pro, Goop, and others.  Be sure to check out the comments for some great suggestions on how to get the dirt out after a day of hard work.

Double-Claw Chain Shortener: Rope Flexibility, Chain Strength
This little device gives you some of the flexibility of rope when using chain as a tie-down by connecting two links together, shortening the chain.  Readers agreed on two things: 1) Get a good one (like this) and not a cheapie from HF or elsewhere, and 2) be careful when using these.  Look in comments for a link to a great safety site with more information.

Help us choose next week’s Top 5!

We’d appreciate your help in choosing next week’s Top 5, which’ll be featured here, elsewhere, and in the podcast as well.  While you’re reading TM this week, look out for the “Interesting Post” button at the bottom of the article:

When you see an article that piques your interest, click the button once.  You’ll return to the same page, but TM’s software’ll score your click for future reference.  We’ll check in on the totals before selecting next week’s Top 5.

It’s been a very, very busy week here at Toolmonger getting the new podcast out, working on getting it listed in iTunes, and – thankfully — grilling out since the weather’s beautiful right now down here in Texas. 

If you’ve been spending time in the shop, too, and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts, which our readers helped to select:

Hot or Not? Portable Compressed CO2 Regulator/Tank for Nailers
A few companies are now offering small, high-pressure CO2 tanks with appropriate regulators designed to power low-volume pneumatic tools like nailers, and it seems as though a) readers (on the whole) like the idea, and b) some have even tried their own similar solutions with SCUBA gear.  Check out the comments on this post for more information.

How-To: Replace a Light Fixture
If you’re tired of the crappy fixtures in your bathroom, check out this post in which Sean walks you through the easy job of replacing ‘em step-by-step.  It’s just an hour or so’s work, and the results are awesome — especially if you find the kind of sale on light fixtures Sean did.

Test To Failure: Stanley’s Demolition Screwdrivers
Ok, we’ll admit it: as some commenters point out, we didn’t actually test these all the way to failure.  Why?  Mainly because they’re so tough that we’d have had to do something utterly absurd — like putting them in the vise and using a 5′ pipe on ‘em — to actually break ‘em.  We did drive one clean through a 2×4 — handle and all — with little or no damage, and we pried on everything we could find around the shop.  These are screwdrivers designed to do everything you’re not supposed to do with screwdrivers, and you should have a set.

Hands-On: Cub Cadet’s 4×4 Utility Vehicle
Just think: you’ll be the only rancher in the area with a utility vehicle powered by a 3-cylinder Caterpillar diesel — unless your neighbor’s got $9,000 to spend, too.  Seriously, though, this is a really cool — and really capable — UV.  It’ll haul 900 lbs. in the bed and tow 1,300, and even look good in the process.  Check out our hands-on experience with it, and don’t miss the pictures of the “pimped out” special edition version.

How-To: Convert a Battery Drill to Wall Power
This link to a great post over on Instructables definitely got some attention this week.  Check out comments to see some of our readers’ concerns about the process.  Heads up, manufacturers!  As you can see from the popularity of this post and others like it, this is something Toolmongers want!

New Podcasts!

If you haven’t yet checked out our new Tool Talk podcast, give it a listen.  Podcast listeners get to hear about lots of other stuff we’re doing in the shop, most of which doesn’t make it onto the blog.  It’s a weekly affair now, and the next one’ll be out Monday.

Help us choose next week’s Top 5!

We’d appreciate your help in choosing next week’s Top 5, which’ll be featured here, elsewhere, and in the podcast as well.  While you’re reading TM this week, look out for the “Interesting Post” button at the bottom of the article:

When you see an article that piques your interest, click the button once.  You’ll return to the same page, but TM’s software’ll score your click for future reference.  We’ll check in on the totals before selecting next week’s Top 5.

It’s been a very, very busy week here at Toolmonger, but one thing made us happy: We got to spend some time in the shop.

If you’ve been spending time in the shop, too, and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts, which our readers helped to select:

Gorgonz’ Exhale Cold Weather Gloves
These gloves have a small one-way vent which you can blow in to keep your hands warm.  Readers liked the gloves’ other features, but weren’t really sold on the valve.  Be sure to check out comments for some great suggestions on similar cold-weather gloves.

Cheap-Ass Shop Flooring
This really inexpensive interlocking flooring from Costco (and some other sources as well) really caught everyone’s attention this week as a low-cost option to the standard tool-store type.  It looks to be great for use around a work bench or anywhere where you’ll stand for long periods of time.

Loctite Power Grab on a Roll
On shelves in the next few months, this tape-looking product from Loctite is all adhesive.  The backing simply holds it in place until you peel it off.  Loctite’s sold Power Grab in tubes for years, and it’s quite popular among the construction set for attaching indoor and outdoor trim.  This format should make its use even easier.

Hands-On: The YellowJacket 5-Outlet Adapter
We take a look at YellowJacket’s five outlet adapter, which plugs into the end of an extension cord, then locks to the cord to prevent accidental disconnection.  The verdict: It won’t work for all gauges of cable, but it’s a handy addition to the shop kit.

Hot or Not? WD-40
WD-40 is a common in shops as duct tape, but we asked readers how they view the product in light of new penetrants and lubricants.  The consensus: Hot, but not for penetrating and lubricating.  Check out the comments on this post for some great suggestions on how (and how not) to use WD-40 — as well as tips on what does penetrate and lubricate well.

Help us choose next week’s Top 5!

We’d appreciate your help in choosing next week’s Top 5, which’ll be featured here, elsewhere, and in the podcast as well.  While you’re reading TM this week, look out for the “Interesting Post” button at the bottom of the article:

When you see an article that piques your interest, click the button once.  You’ll return to the same page, but TM’s software’ll score your click for future reference.  We’ll check in on the totals before selecting next week’s Top 5.

It’s been a very, very busy week here at Toolmonger, but one thing made us happy: We got to spend some time in the shop.

If you’ve been spending time in the shop, too, and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts, which our readers helped to select:

Hands-On: Irwin’s Self-Adjusting Wire Stripper
This tool (which is new to the Irwin line, but not new to any old-hand electronics buff) proves to be a winner.  We tried it out on a variety of wire types and posted lots of pictures to help you get a feel for it.  (And if you’re still using a manual stripper — or one that requires you to pick the right hole – you should definitely check out a self-adjusting model.  They rock.)

Cheap-Ass Tools: REALLY Cheap LED Lights
It wasn’t enough when a reader found a 2-pack of 9-LED aluminum flashlights for $6.  Another reader blew that out of the water with 10 keychain LED lights for $4.70 shipped.  These would make great gifts — or even parts for a project.

Preview: Milwaukee’s V4 Cordless Screwdriver
If you’re a fan of the classic two-position cordless screwdriver form factor but’ve been holding out for li-ion extended runtime and shelf charge, you’ll likely find your match with Milwaukee’s new V4, which features a single-cell version of the same lithium manganese battery set used in their famous V28 and V18 sets.

Preview: Dremel’s Multi-Vise
Think of this new Vise from Dremel as a big version of an electronics guru’s “third hand” designed to hold small bits of wood and other items you might wish to modify.  It clamps to most workbenches and features a 360-degree tilt-swivel base and a bar clamp up top.

Finds: An Inexpensive Paint Respirator
Why not pick up one of these before your next rattle-can paint job?  The life you save may be your own.

Help us choose next week’s Top 5!

We’d appreciate your help in choosing next week’s Top 5, which’ll be featured here, elsewhere, and in the podcast as well.  While you’re reading TM this week, look out for the “Interesting Post” button at the bottom of the article:

When you see an article that piques your interest, click the button once.  You’ll return to the same page, but TM’s software’ll score your click for future reference.  We’ll check in on the totals before selecting next week’s Top 5.

It’s been a very, very busy week here at Toolmonger, but one thing made us happy: We got to spend some time in the shop.

If you’ve been spending time in the shop, too, and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts:

Preview: Bosch’s 10.8V Impactor
If you liked the Pocket Driver and the I-Driver, you’re going to love Bosch’s “Impactor.”  It’s not much bigger than the Pocket Driver, but delivers a whopping 800 in-lbs of impact torque to drive even the toughest fasteners.  And like Bosch’s other 10.8V tools, it’s light and compact.

Test to Destruction: Crimp Terminals
We put the hurt on a variety of crimp terminals with a spring scale to determine which ones make the strongest physical connections — and why.  As Nate says in the post, the results may not surprise you, but there’s a twist that just might.

Cheap-Ass Tools: HF’s Heavy-Duty 4×6 Bandsaw
If you’d like a bandsaw but don’t want to shell out the big bucks, this is your ticket.  Not only does it work pretty well — especially considering its sub-$200 price tag — it also has a cult following on the web which you can tap into to “pimp out” your saw.  Also, check out these other bandsaw-related posts this week.

Don’t Cheap Out on Spring Compressors
If you’ve ever thought of saving a few bucks on suspension work by swapping out your own struts, you’ll want to give this post a read.  While you’ll find lots of cheap spring compressors available, you might want to think twice before trusting your life and well-being to a $25 two-piece unit.  We give you some better options.

Finds: The Dual-Action Ratchet from Spec Tools
If you spend a lot of time working in tight spaces, this tool could mean the difference between getting the fastener off and just wishing you could.  It’s a squeeze-lever activated ratchet that requires zero swing angle to turn a bolt.

It’s been a very, very busy week here at Toolmonger, but one thing made us happy: We got to spend some time in the shop.

If you’ve been spending time in the shop, too, and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts:

The Drill Holster
If you can live without a Batman-style tool belt, these great leather drill holsters’ll let you totally go Clint Eastwood all over that deck project.  (They come in nylon, too.)

The “CoBolt” Lever Action Center Cutter
These pint-sized bolt cutters multiply your hand force twenty time to cut the most stubborn wire.

Redwing Boots
What’s more basic than a good pair of boots?  A reader calls our attention to the great experience he had at the Redwing boot factory store, and lots of commenters agree.

Black & Decker’s Low-Cost Laser Level
We picked out this cheap laser level as an alternative to the high-dollar ones for simple tasks. 

Black Ice Sandpaper
More consistant grit makes this sandpaper the bomb for wet sanding — or so they claim.

Also, we just posted this week’s The Week in Tools podcast, which is a special “laid back” edition where we invited our friend Joe Brown from PopSci back for a discussion of moving, loading the Yukon with a come-along, and, of course, tools.

Between upgrading Toolmonger’s hosting, building the GH controller, testing tools, and (oh yeah) writing, it’s been pretty crazy this week around the Toolmonger offices

If your week’s been crazy, too, and you haven’t had a chance to keep up with Toolmonger this week, we suggest you start with these posts:

Why I Love Super Glue, by Sean
If for no other reason, you should check this out just to see what crazy crap Sean does with super glue.

Reader Find: Sperry Circuit Breaker Finder
Let this be the last time you reset every clock in your house to find out which breaker the Christmas tree’s on.

How-To: Build Your Own Custom Full-Sized Wireless Guitar Hero Controller
Still pissed off because you couldn’t get your Toolmonger fix over the last few days while we were down due to massive traffic?  Check out this post to find out why.

Finds: Stanley Brad Nailer
Install trim and build picture frames the fast and clean way.  You’ll never go back to a hammer.

Finds: Sta-Bil Fuel Stabilizer
Before you park that jet-ski, boat, or project car for the winter, add a little fuel stabilizer to prevent varnish buildup — and the stench.  Trust us, it’s a good idea.

Next Week

The 25-Days-of-Fuego give away continues as we give away a brand new RIDGID Fuego circ saw [review] each day until Christmas.  We’re also currently testing iRobot’s Dirt Dog — a Roomba for the shop, according to the people at iRobot.  We’ll know shortly. 

Don’t forget to check out this week’s podcast — Joel Johnson guests this week to tell us how the Funde Razor event went — and if you’ve got a minute, tell us about your favorite tool via the Submit a Tool link.  You know, we showed you ours, now you show us yours.  Fair’s far, right?