Cool Gadgets

1.4.2009.

This is one of that special devices that I would not miss to buy. Western Digital HD TV is a personal media box to watch your favorite movies in digital formats on your HD TV. In short, you could easily play downloaded movies in HD using this device. It also supports full HD up-scaling and comes at a affordable price of just 100 dollars.

The things that I like very much about this device are :

1. Wide Format Support (Including the popular MKV & Apple’s MOV)
2. No Storage Capacity. You could easily plug in your portable HDD / USB stick for the files.
3. Full HD Support up 1080p.
4. Upscaling std vidoes to HD videos.
5. Have regular RCA output in addition to HDMI interface.
6. Comes with a Handy Remote.

You can read more about this at WD offical website:

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?DriveID=572

Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

Watch Your Favourite Movies in HD with Western Digital HD TV

2.1.2009.

Gone are the days when stitching was considered to be a boring pass time. At least, not for the takers of this ultra expert sewing machine.

This big one features a 7-inch HD LCD display and a camera centric hole near the needle. Now no more excuses if you mess up the embroidery.

You can gift stylish Brother Quattro 6000D sewing machine to the sewing expert at your home. Pricing and details of this giant will be put up here later. Keep watching this space.

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Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

Hi-Tech Sewing Machine

1.1.2009.

Share your food; Share the same refrigerator space. Electrolux has come up with an outstandingly designed fridge that allots separate place to keep your food. So who needs it?

If you have shared your room with somebody, you would need no explanation. How many times did you smell the fish in your ice cream? This whole new concept lets you share your favorite food in your own territory in the same refrigerator. Isn’t this cool?

Each module will have enough space to keep bottles, frozen food, fruits, vegetables and anything else. Now you can find your food where you kept it and exactly the way you kept it. The greatest advantage of this fridge is that it stands as tall as a normal fridge only. Lots of space utilization, at the same time granting everyone privacy.

So when are you and your friends going to get one?

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Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

Electrolux Says Share Your Food

23.12.2008.

This could be absolutely the best gift for your wife – A beautifully crafted high quality leather hang bag which has an attached TV in it. Young girls can easily pass your time while traveling with this companion bag. Of course there may be some starring eyes around.

BagTV is from London and features a 7 inch screen with integrated DVD/MP3 player and digital photo viewer. It is best suited for long journeys as the battery will last for 2.5 hours. It gives you the freedom to transfer your pictures and videos from your pc. If you still have more of them, plug them in with a SD card.

This stylish hand bag with TV comes in 7 vibrant shades and comes with a price tag of L 295.00. Now you can carry all your entertainment in your bag itself.

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Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

Watch TV on the Move with the BagTV

22.12.2008.

Isn’t it fun to give your loved one some extra surprise? The fake boxes or gotcha boxes can turn this Christmas night very interesting. The specialty of these boxes is that they are dressed up to contain some fake gadgets.

The Gotcha box is the brain child of the Onion group. These fake gift boxes appear to contain some useless gadget invented ever or never, say something like USB toaster. Once your loved one gets the wrapper off the box you can catch the perplexed look on the face – With a weird smile, why on earth only this.

But your actual Christmas gift could be something really valuable and one which is wished for, say an iPhone. The weird smile soon may turn into a big hug. Isn’t this an easy way to double the surprise by spending an extra $7.99?

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Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

Surprise Gift Boxes for a Hilarious Christmas Night

22.12.2008.

Christmas is that time of year when everybody loves to send and receive gifts. How about some unique, Christmas themed gifts to send your loved ones? We present you the top 15 Christmas themed gadgets released in 2007 / 2008. Let us help you make this Christmas the best one ever!

15. Solar Powered Christmas LED Lights

Colorful lights are the integral part of any holiday celebration. What if you don’t have to pay for the electricity? This Christmas lights use solar energy to charge during the day and then shine all night long. A light sensitive switch turns the LEDs on only when it’s dark, so you never have to worry about turning the lights on or off.

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14. Christmas Trees of 3 Kinds

Decorative Desktop USB Christmas Tree

This special decorative Christmas tree blinks every while, changing its color to green, red, blue and purple. Boost up your festive mood by plugging this joyous Christmas tree into your computers USB port.

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USB Fiber Optic Christmas Tree

Another USB powered Christmas tree; this time uses fiber optic cables to produce lights. The Fiber optic cables are carefully crafted to look like a Christmas tree. Just plug it into USB port on your computer and experience a beautiful glow at the tips of the branches.

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Wireless Christmas tree

Here is another Christmas tree that is technologically advanced and goes beyond the desktop space. This tree is powered by radio frequency sensitive lights that get its power wirelessly from the transmitter placed at center of the tree. No more wires required for individual lights. Just place them on the tree branches and they will light up in different colors.

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13. Merry Christmas Scrolling Display

Once you have your tree set up, next thing you would need is Christmas tree ornaments to decorate it. This ornamental LED display will scroll holiday messages including Merry Christmas; Home for Xmas, happy holidays etc.

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12. Recycled Eco Friendly Christmas Ornaments

Recycled Eco Friendly Christmas Ornaments

These are new kind of Christmas tree ornaments cut from the old printed circuit boards, CDs and other recyclable materials. The advantage of these ornaments is that they all have light reflecting surfaces that many folds reflect the low light from your Christmas lights.

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11. LED Candles

These special geeky candles have inbuilt LED lights that changes color from blue to red continuously, giving you an awesome festive mood.

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10. Color Changing Gift Boxes

If you are looking something new for this gift season, then these gift boxes are the one for you. They have LED lights in it that changes its colour from red, blue, green and white. Order yours now.

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9. USB Santa Boot

Christmas season is the winter season. You don’t need to go out in the snow to feel the cold. Sitting in front of computer for long can freeze your legs. For those in the festive mood who want some warmth at the feet, here is a pair of Santa booties. This is USB powered and will keep your feet warm. The only disadvantage is that you have to unplug it if you want to move around. Those rest less souls can also go for a battery operated version.

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8. USB Snowbot

Having a lively snowman at your desk would fill the atmosphere with the festive mood. Think Geek has come up with a robotic snowman called snowbot. Snowbot can make some sounds to enhance the mood. Snowbot is designed to rotate its robotic arms and scan the vicinity. Powered by USB this snowbot would be a perfect addition to your desk for this Christmas.

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7. USB Snowman

Here is the non melting cute snowman that would adore your desk this Christmas season. Perfectly designed to raise you to holiday mood, the snowman wears a unique hat and scarf. The happiness on his face glows with changing lights. This USB powered cool looking snowman can be a perfect gift for your dear one to brighten her mood.

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6. Digital Photo Santa Keychain

The new Santa digital photo keychain make sure that Santa is with you during this Christmas. The USB Santa keychain features 8MB of internal memory to store your celebration pictures through out the year. The photos will be cropped to 96×64 when they are transferred from PC to the key ring.

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5. Christmas Cake USB Hub

There are a big bunch of folks who celebrated this Christmas season with a yummy cake like 4 port USB hub. This special Christmas gadget houses 4 strawberry shaped thumb drives each of 1GB capacity. It turned out to be so popular with its delicious looks.

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4. Santa Claus Optical Mouse

This Christmas season Santa finds a space in the mouse too. The tiny Santa floats in the liquid filled area in the bulbous end of this special optical mouse. The mouse buttons and central scrolling wheel is as functional as ever. This damn cute floating Santa embedded optical mouse comes for $18.

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3. Santa Webcam

The tiny web cam embedded in a Santa toy shows to your friends and family how intense your festive mood is. This cute Santa web cam is really cool with its 640×480 resolution and a refresh rate of 30 fps. This Santa cam has USB 2.0 connectivity and is USB powered.

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2. USB Drumming Santa

The drummer Santa is a Christmas special desktop toy that can take you to holiday mood. The cute Santa Claus drums along with the beat of Jingle Bells, The First Noel and Silent Night. Sits on the top of the snow, this desktop decorator is powered via the USB port. To make it colorful he has tiny LEDs blinking on the drum while playing. If you think that was too much of a holiday mood you can switch off the drums by a single click and get back to work.

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1. USB Santa Claus

And here is the topper, Santa himself with a pile of data storage. This USB flash drive Santa is available in different sizes-64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB and 8GB. This USB Santa Claus has a read/write speed of 8MB/s and 7MB/s respectively on a USB 2.0 connection. This Santa drive feature a status indicator LED and shock-moisture proof casing. Also promises to keep all your data safe for another 10 years.

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Happy Holidays!

Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

Top 15 Christmas Gadgets to Celebrate this Season

20.12.2008.

Sounds funny? Well it is not. Technology has advanced so much that you can charge your gadgets with the solar power. Yeah but you need to have a converter.

solar charger sun glasses

The inventors of Infinite Energy: SIG Sunglasses solve the puzzle. The pair of lenses of this sun glass protects your eyes from harmful rays. Apart from that they contain dye solar cells. These cells are the converters that absorb solar energy and transforms to electrical energy to power the gadget connected.

solar charger sun glasses

This is indeed a simple concept. The Infinite sunglasses are inexpensive, light in weight and good looking. Also it protects your eyes from sun rays. This concept really exploits the use of source of infinite energy available on earth.

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Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

Charge Your Gadgets by Taking a Stroll in the Sun

18.11.2008.

Down with fever can make you totally out of the world. A gentle touch by a loved one, on the forehead can surely make you feel better. And with this in mind, a new thermometer has been designed that reads faster and more precise than human brain.

Lunar Baby Quick Accurate Digital Thermometer

Lunar Baby Quick Accurate Digital Thermometer

A mild, short lasting touch on the forehead will read the temperature. Once done it beeps and flashes to let you know that it is so easy now. The designer Duck Young Kong has done a marvellous job with this quick reading thermometer.

Happy will be the kids that there wont be any more intrusions in the body.

Source…

Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

Touch Sensing Thermometer Reads Fast and Accurate

12.11.2008.

Rememeber AIBO? The cute robot dog from Sony? Well this one is another robot dog, not from Sony but hpi, the Japanese Robot Makers.

G-Dog

We dont know if it can play foot ball. But it is assured that it comes with a remote controlled interface. And sure you can play some wacky tricks with this cumbersome doggie.

The G-Dog as it is called, is the newest in the family of G-Robots from hpi. It has an overall dimension of 375 x 135 x 90mm and weighs 570g.

This robotic doggie is all set to be realeased this month. You can make him your friend by spending 550€.

Source…

Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

G-Dog – The Ugly AIBO

14.4.2008.

Samsung is the inventor. Yes it is a very new kind of door lock. The peculiarity comes with the integrated touch screen. Details on what all this fancy at the same time secure door lock can do after the jump.

Touch Screen Door Lock.

The touch screen pad remains senseless until you press the start button. Once done, the lights switch on and the numbers are then made visible on the screen. Tempered glass covers the touch screen to protect it. Wondering if it can be inserted into your main door?

Touch Screen Door Lock Numbers Visible

Yes it very well can be. It is very thin around 2.1 cm. Hence can be integrated to any door of any make. This new door features a heat sensor that sets out an alarm in case the temperature exceeds 55 degrees.

Named as Luce, this smart door lock is all set to hit the gadget market. Will be updating on pricing right before that.

Source…

Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

Touch Screen Door Lock is the Real Beauty at Your Door Step

13.4.2008.

Get ready to do wonders with colour. Here is a digital brush with a natural palette! Yes with this you can pick the colour of your hair to make your digital paintings realistic. Or even the pattern of your tie to turn the background very artistic. But how?

I/o Brush Treats World as a Palette

I/O brush is the wonder boy. You can use the brush to pick up textures, colours and patterns from anything and then paint it onto a digital canvas. So how does it work?

The inside of brush has a camera, lights, touch sensitive optic strands. When the brush comes in contact with a surface, the optic strands sense it and lights up the bulb. Once the frame is clear the camera takes a snapshot and stores it in an internal memory. And you can retrieve it onto the digital canvas whenever you are ready to paint.

The I/O brush is now in its conceptual phase. Surely the artists of tomorrow can make real use of it.

Source…

Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

I/O Brush Picks Colour from your neighbourhood

12.4.2008.

This is indeed funny. Are you often perplexed about what your dog wants? Some brilliant dog lovers have come up with a gadget to solve this problem. Read on for more on it.

LED Dog Tail Communicator

The LED Tail communicator, as the creators call it, tells you what your dog is trying to say. The Tail Communicator measures a dog’s WPM, or wags per minute, and translates that enthusiasm into a message a string of words that hover in the air like one of those LED-arm clocks.

This tail communicator is designed by James Auger and Jimmy Loizeau as part of the designers’ Augmented Animals project. And presently it is in concept phase and is being displayed at Modern Museum of Art in NYC for the Elastic Mind exhibition.

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Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

What dogs want?

11.4.2008.

Ultimate madness! May be the creators wanted everybody to feel the same. The ball shaped toy lets you know the goofy expression while you are struggling to catch it. If you found it interesting read on.

TosPom

Named as TosPom, this gadget toy clicks your snap when you are playing with it. Throw it to the other player and the ball-shaped camera captures pictures of the catcher along with his goofy expressions. The in-built display allows you to view the picture taken.

You can continue taking pictures of each other as you keep tossing the ball. I will call this nothing but the height of madness. Surely the cartoonic expression of your face cant be captured otherwise.

Check out the video:

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Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

The Catch and Click Toy

11.4.2008.

Yes! It is very much possible. A few scientists in UK have thought out of the box to change the conventional touch pad designs. What follows is the juice of the Newscientist report.

This new system reads your fingertips to see what you are touching. The system cam peeks at your fingersnsails and produces clear images. It can sense your touch and the force applied, even on a 3D surface. This is all done by evaluating the blood pressure underneath the nails as caught in images.

This technology could very well be implemented to build touch pads for the future. It is pretty simple and cheap to produce.
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Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

Futuristic Touch Pads Could Take You To Stone Age

10.4.2008.

The future of e-readers are going to be colourful and bright. The start up called FirstPaper from Media giant Hearst Corp. are pouring in money and effort to make it happen. This may be with a colour version of energy sipping e-ink in Sony reader.

LG Philips FirstPaper E Reader

Reports say that this may be based in Linux. The team is speculating that it should be offering tough competition to the market rulers, Sony Reader, Amazon Kindle and Ectaco Jetbook. Surely the price factor also has to be counted seriously.

E-Paper

Who will not buy it if it is as flexible as newspaper and can turn pages by touching the screen? Ofcourse the wireless capabilities has to work well too to make things really happen.

Source…

Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

FirstPaper E-Reader with Flexible Colour Touch Screen

10.4.2008.

Programmable tattoos are entering a new level. Now you can display a persistent image of your choice that could be used for social communication. How is it done?

It uses hair-sized nanotubes embedded in the skin to display an image. They could be a reliable substitute for writing reminders on your palm making it trendy. And the nano tubes are not creepy as they are at the size of human hair.

Programmable Tattoo Working

Let me guess that the working of the tattoo can be comprehended only by geniuses. These programmable tattoos are developed by scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. And they could soon be the trend setters of the future.

Source…

Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

Programmable Tattoos Changes with Your Mood

9.4.2008.

Cool! Isnt it? Surely this is going to be the future. 3D printing or rapid prototyping can transform a blue print on your computer to a real object. Sounds impossible? Not anymore.
3D Printer Can Create Real Objects

This technology creates a real object by building up a succession of layers. The raw materials are bonded together by fusing it with laser or by using alternate layers of glue. Doesn’t the technology sound to be new?

Actually it dates back to mid 90s. And the futurists then even predicted that it could be a common stuff found in every home. Not yet until its price fall down to $500. Presently they find use in industry to develop parts for devices such as aircraft engines, spaceships and hearing aids.

The analysts now even predict that this rapid prototyping technology could be grown up to create self replicating printers that can be redesigned with upgrades. Of course the new printer may not be able to assemble of its own but can produce all necessary parts except for the chips and lubricating grease.

This could be a breakthrough in technology since we will be able to make high end graphic cards and sound cards at home. What we have got to do will be torrent the CAD files of the same.

PS: This is not fiction, NASA scientists have already created a self replicating robot that could be used for space missions.

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Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

3D Printer can Clone your iPhone

8.4.2008.

Yuck! I don’t wish to think about it again. My last presentation went bad as my gadgets were down on battery. I wish if I had got to know about this 4-port USB car charger before. Wondering how could it have helped me?
4 Port USB Car Charger.

With this USB car charger you can charge upto 4 gadgets at the same time. This would really save a lot of our time. Just plug it into your cigarette adapter. And Now you’ve got four USB ports for recharging any gadget.

It costs just $12 and is very cheap compared to the loss that I had with my presentation.

Source…

Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

Now it is 4 Gadgets Breathing for a Life in Your Car

7.4.2008.

Yes! It is all about real wall papers. The speciality is that it is a photo of your choice which is getting magnified. That too with out any loss in clarity. These custom wall papers could be anything like your last holidays in Bahamas or the nature fresh cherries that ripened in your back yard the last spring season. More about these spectacular wallpapers after a sample show.

Myfotowall Real WallPapers

Brilliant Job! This service is from Myfotowall.

This is what they say:

We can print your digital photograph, up to a maximum of 1600% (16x) larger, then the original printable size, with no discernible loss in printed quality…The inks used to produce your myfotowall, are UV cured, and are lightfast for up to 3 years. This means that a myfotowall, hung in an internal room within a house, will last for at least 3 years without any fading…The print quality is firstly determined by the quality of your original digital photograph. The enlargement will show no discernible loss in print quality, from that of the original printable quality, on a like for like printed resolution of 150dpi.

The service is offered at L45.00 per square metre. It may appear to be a little expensive yet it is worth the money.

Source…

Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

Print Wallpapers for your Bedroom from Your Photo Collection

6.4.2008.

Yeah! A Black coloured Bluetooth transmitter. This is about a tiny Bluetooth transmitter that fits in your tooth. This could be the creepiest of all Bluetooth headsets in the town. Why?
Dental Insert Microphone

It goes into your mouth and sits on your tooth. To get it working what you have to do is stick it into a small crevice in your tooth like a filling. It bears no battery and is powered by even smaller solar panel. How it works?

It picks up the vibrations in your teeth and transmits. That is indeed a brilliant way to catch what you say. But who will like to have a small thing sticking in your mouth. Often toothpicks may put some trouble as well.

Source…

Originally posted at: Cool Gadgets - Your guide to the Coolest Gadgets.. Visit our website for more interesting posts.

Bluetooth Tooth is Painted Black

Tool Snob

14.2.2010.

Sears has just kicked off a new sweepstakes, the end result of which is a massive load of tools going to one lucky person. In order to enter the sweepstakes all you have to do is to set up a Twitter account and follow the Sears Blue Tool Crew (http://twitter.com/BlueToolCrew). One winner will be randomly selected February 26th. The eligibility period runs from Feb 11th to Feb 18th. It looks like only new followers during that time will be entered, so if you're already following, you're out of luck.

The big momma prize consists of:

One (1) Craftsman 10" Laser Miter Saw( # 21236). Approximate retail value ("ARV") of $129.99

One (1) Craftsman Digital Miter Gauge (# 929939). ARV of $79.99.

One (1) Craftsman 30 pc Router Bit Set (#926366). ARV of $109.99.

One (1) Craftsman Bar Clamp (#31484). ARV of $19.99.

One (1) Craftsman Base Plunge Router (#17540). ARV of $89.99.

One (1) Craftsman 10" Table Saw (#21807). ARV $299.99

ARV of all prizes is $729.94.

We love the all or nothing vibe of this contest...no second place, no runner-up, just one completely dominant winner laughing at everyone else. Sort of like Thunderdome.

If there ever was a reason to join Twitter, this is it.

Official rules are here.

Tool Snob

12.2.2010.

Rockwell seems to be maintaining its position as the company to watch with their new H3 Multi-Function Hammer Drill. According to the company, this 3lb tool is capable of drilling 1/4" holes in concrete. The fact that it's a mini SDS hammer drill is only part of the appeal though. Rockwell was smart enough to make it an all-in-one by including a 3-jaw chuck and a 1/4" bit holder.

With those adapters comes the ability to switch the tool from hammer mode to straight drilling mode. The tool is powered by a 12-volt li-ion battery that is part of Rockwell's 'Free Batteries for Life" program (no, really, it's true, free for life), and the charger comes with a USB port so it can also power up a cell phone or an iPod if you need it in a pinch.

We're constantly wishing we had an SDS/3-Jaw adapter for our rotary hammers because it would mean that in some circumstances we wouldn't even have to unpack the drill. But here, in the smaller package, it makes that much more sense. If this tool is as good as it looks on paper, it should join the JawHorse in Rockwell winner's circle.

The tool has a look similar to Metabo's BHE20 Rotary Hammer, which must be what Rockwell is getting at when they refer to the H3 as 'Euro-Styled.'

This looks like a great tool and it will be sold in the spring for around $180 at Rockwell and Amazon

The press release is after the jump if you're interested.

MULTI-FUNCTION 12-VOLT H3 HAMMER DRILL GEARED FOR PERFORMANCE
Charlotte, N.C. -- The Rockwell® H3 Hammer Drill is ideal for anyone who has the need to drill a few holes in even the toughest concrete but doesn't want to lug around a 20-plus- pound rotary hammer drill.

Before the Rockwell H3 came along, users were forced to choose between lighter weight hammer drills or true rotary hammer performance. Not anymore, the Rockwell H3 is a true rotary hammer drill with an *SDS Plus® quick chuck, packed into a 3 lb., 12-volt lithium-ion tool.

Ultra-compact, lightweight, powerful and Euro-styled, the H3 hammer drill is one of the latest tools in Rockwell's extended family of 12-volt lithium-ion power tools, which includes a drill/driver, screwdriver, impact driver and SoniCrafter.

This 3-Function Rotary Hammer Drill is a real time saver when it comes to drilling in concrete or brick. It makes jobs like installing concrete screws, gutter brackets, mail boxes and conduit clamps a snap. The H3's unique 3-in-1 quick change chuck system gives the user flexibility to immediately switch between using the tool as a rotary hammer drill, conventional three-jaw drill or power screwdriver. Insert the traditional three-jaw chuck into the tool's collet, and it converts from hammer drill to conventional drill. Insert the SDS Plus bit-holder, and the H3 is now a powerful screwdriver. A dial switch on the body of the tool lets the operator switch from hammer to drilling mode.

The rotary hammer drill's impact rate is 0-4800 blows-per-minute (bpm). In drilling mode, the tool operates at a no-load speed of 0-900 rpm. Its drilling capacity is 3/8 in. in wood and concrete and 5/16 in. in steel. The H3's powerful 12-volt lithium battery drills up to 15, 1/4-in. holes in 4800 psi concrete on a single charge. That's no lightweight task for a tool that only weights in at 3 lbs.

LithiumTechTM batteries are lighter weight than, and characteristically outperform, their NiCd counterparts. These batteries last longer and feature a greater number of recharges. There also is no memory effect, so the battery can charge anytime. In fact, with a 30 minute recharge time, they reach 75 percent of their charge after 15 minutes. LithiumTech batteries also are recyclable, which keeps their components circulating and out of landfills.
The LithiumTech 12V Battery Charger is unique, as well. This innovative charger features a built-in USB recharging port. So don't worry about losing power on your cell phone or MP3 player. Recharge it right on the job site.

The Rockwell H3 12V Lithium 3-Function Rotary Hammer Drill is part of Rockwell's Free Batteries for Life program, which reinforces the company's confidence in the quality of its batteries and cordless tools. Registered users never need to worry about buying new batteries because Rockwell will replace them free for the life of the tool. The Free Batteries for Life program reduces the overall cost of owning a Rockwell cordless tool by 40 to 70 percent.

The Rockwell H3 12V Lithium 3-Function Rotary Hammer Drill (#RK2513K2, $179.99) is available at rockwelltoolsdirect.com and other online Websites, including amazon.com. It also is expected to be available through various local retailers such as Menards and independent hardware stores and lumber yards starting in early spring 2010.

Tool Snob

11.2.2010.

...And the innovations keep a coming. This time it's Ridgid adding some heat to the 12-volt world. It looks like what they've done is made a universal lightsaber base with a number of attachment heads that dramatically alter the function of the tool. From what we can tell, the attachments they have now are:

Right Angle Impact Driver

Right Angle Drill

Ratchet Head

Oscillating Tool

AutoHammer

This is a cool idea making us think you'll be able to buy all of the parts separately, but at the moment it looks like there are only combo kits available.

There's not much definitive pricing info at the moment. The tools were released at the IBS show last month, and the Home Depot website is behind the curve. They have a graphic showing the JobMax tool available in a kit with Ridgid's 12-volt drill selling for $200 (which is a good price considering the drill alone is $140), but any purchase links they have are dead.

The Ridgid website mentions two different kits; one of them with the JobMax and the drilling/driving attachments and the other with the JobMax, the oscillating head, the AutoHammer head and the 12-volt drill.

Sorry about the dinky image, but it's all we could rustle up.

More info at Ridgid here and here.

Tool Snob

10.2.2010.

If you're unfamiliar with metal connector nailers, they're essentially nail guns for joist hanger nails. Obviously, they're not for the casual DIYer, or even the serious DIYer. They're for framing crews and construction sites. They differ from framing guns in that they're usually shorter (so they can fit in a joist bay) and the tip of the nail hangs out of the nose of the gun a little so you can place it in the joist hanger hole. Like we said, not everyone needs one, but if you've ever built a deck, you can quickly see the value of the tool.

Paslode has recently released a new version of their gun. This one is specifically designed for 1-1/2" nails, the most commonly used size. It also looks like it has an adjustable exhaust and the same aluminum housing that we saw on their framer. There's no word on price, but something like this is going to be at least $200.

Paslode even has an interesting calculator so you can see how much money you'd be saving with a metal connector nailer here.

Tool Snob

9.2.2010.

Have you ever been using an orbital sander and all of a sudden you realize that you've gradually gotten to the point where you're putting about 90% of your body weight on it? It seems to happen to us all the time. We're not sure why, but it's our natural tendency to really lean into it. We know that it doesn't improve the efficiency of the tool, but we end up there anyway. Apparently we're not the only ones with this problem because Skil has recently released a new orbital with something called Pressure Control.

Pressure Control is some sort of warning system that lets you know when excessive pressure is being put on the tool. From the image, it looks like there are a number of warning lights, sort of like the Homeland Security threat level system. The sander probably makes some kind of noise too. Maybe an electrical pulse as well.

In all other respects, this looks like a regular old orbital; it has a vacuum attachment, a filtered bag, a nice grip, etc. It costs about $40 which sounds like a good price.

At Amazon

Tool Snob

5.2.2010.

For most of us, a can of WD-40 is all we need. It acts as a lubricant, a penetrant, a cleaner, and, for some, a deodorant. It's sort of a 'one can fits all' product. But for those who are really into their lubes, sprays, and foams, or for those rare occasions when the WD just won't cut it, WD-40 (the company, not the product) has just released a line of eight specialized items geared toward the heavy-duty and the hardcore, and, thankfully for us, they sent us a few cans to check out.

The new products are:

Industrial Grade Silicone

Industrial Grade High-Performance PTFE Lubricant

Industrial Grade Dry Lube PTFE Formula

Industrial Grade Multi-Purpose Lubricant

Industrial Grade White Lithium Grease

Industrial Grade Contact Cleaner

Industrial Grade Penetrant

Industrial Grade Degreaser

Reviewing things like this isn't easy. It takes too long and is too tedious to rust a couple bolt/nut combos together just to test out the Blue Works Penetrant against the leading brand. So we just put the cans on the shelf and used them as needed. Of the products, we tested out the Penetrant, the De-Greaser, the White Lithium Grease, and the Silicone.

The one we ended up using the most was the silicone, which had no issues assisting us with a gummed up slider and a couple sticky windows, as well as a few stuck wrenches. The White Lithium Grease, we put right in the truck (our old boss once said, "every old truck needs a can of white lithium grease under the driver's seat), and the penetrant did actually help loosen a rusty nut.

We liked the products and the cans have a cool look about them. The Blue Works website has a boatload of information on each one, including the MSDS sheets and scientific-sounding test results that firmly establish their dominance against other brands. We take a lot of those types of manufacturer's tests with a grain of salt, but WD-40 has a great reputation, so even if their products aren't 50 times better than the competition, they're at least 5 times better.

So now when WD-40 isn't doing the job or you're looking for something a little more specialized, you now have a place to go.

There's a boatload more information (including the MSDS sheets) over at blueworksbrand.com

Tool Snob

4.2.2010.

Our normal reviews go something like this: we find an interesting tool or get a press release on something new; then we query the manufacturer (or their PR company) and beg and plead that they send us a sample to test out; if they are kind enough to take pity on us and do so, it arrives at the shop and we spend a few weeks giving it the once over; we then sit down and write a Pulitzer-worthy review of said tool (making sure to comply with new FCC regulations and let you know that the tool came from the manufacturer). Well, this time it's different. We didn't just get our hands on our two Bosch Bulldogs, and we didn't get them from Bosch. We paid for them outright and to be honest, it's some of the best money that we've ever spent on any tools.

It's easy to review the precision or functionality of a tool, but when it comes to durability we usually combine 'general feel' with 'previous experience with that company's tools' and add in a few drop tests, and come to our conclusions. Here, that's not the case. We've had one of these tools for about five years and the other one (the dirty one) we had on an aggressively brutal jobsite for about 18 months. We can only say that these tools are phenomenal and that if you're thinking about getting one, just go ahead and do it. There were days when we treated these tools so poorly, you'd think that we hated them. They've been dropped, tossed, kicked, stepped on, and one of them was even lost in a snowbank for a short period of time. As far as tools go, they're like the paperboy from Better Off Dead; always there, ready to go, non-stop (minus the annoying voice).

In addition to the unreal durability, there's the power/size ratio which, in our eyes is perfect. If you're a carpenter, you really don't need some massive hammer drill, but you still want the ability to chip concrete and spend a day driving tap-cons. This tool does all that, and it doesn't take up that much room in the back of the van.

They cost around $200 and there are a couple different versions with different handles and features, but they've all got the same ass-kicking quotient.

At Amazon

Tool Snob

3.2.2010.

YYYYYYEEEEEEEEHHHHHHAAAAAAAWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!

Part one is here.

Tool Snob

2.2.2010.

First off, January 2010 is not the first month of a new decade, it's the first month of the last year of the current decade. So there's no 'dawn of a new era' vibe going on with this post. And it's going to be another year before we do any kind of mega-retrospective.

Our Tool of the Month is actually a book. The more we think about it, Insulate and Weatherize should be on the shelf of anyone who is even remotely curious about their house. It's not only very informative, but it is very engaging, which is quite a compliment about it book on insulating.

Tool of the Month

Insulate and Weatherize

All Reviews

Insulate and Weatherize - Review

Milwaukee M12 Radio - Review

Bits and Blades

Liberate Blades for the Fein, Bosch, and Dremel Oscillating Tools

Books

DIY Books Recalled

Insulate and Weatherize - Review

Cordless

Dremel 8200 Cordless Rotary Tool

Demolition Tools

Artillery Tools has a New Website

Hand Tools

Artillery Tools has a New Website

How-To

Lowe's How-To

Arbortech Project Plans

Lithium-Ion

Dremel 8200 Cordless Rotary Tool

Milwaukee M12 Cordless Grease Gun

Milwaukee M12 Radio - Review

Monthly Roundup

December 2009 Monthly Roundup for Tool Snob

Oscillating Tools

Liberate Blades for the Fein, Bosch, and Dremel Oscillating Tools

Our House

Crazy Details in our New House: Part Three

Power Tools

Dremel 8200 Cordless Rotary Tool

DeWalt DWS535 Worm Drive Circular Saw

Promotions

Sears Blue Tool Crew at IBS

Grizzly Industrial 2010 Catalog

Home Fixated Gets a Make Over

Win a Snowblower from Craftsman

Radios

Milwaukee M12 Radio - Review

Recalls

DIY Books Recalled

Sanding

Goldblatt G05138 Dust-free Hand Sander

Tool Snob

1.2.2010.

If you look in any carpenter's tool bag, there's likely to be something in there made by Channellock. The reason for this popularity is that most people are in the know that the company is one of the premier manufacturers of gripping, grabbing, and holding hand tools. We have a few of their tools kicking around; one in the tool bag, two or three in the shop, and (we think) one under the passenger seat of the truck. They're reliable and durable and that's really all we ask for out of a hand tool. So when Channellock sent us their new 6.5" V-Jaw pliers, we figured there was a good chance that we were going to like them. And, not surprisingly, we did.

What Channellock has done is miniaturized their popular V-Jaw pliers to make it easier to handle smaller round stock; things like 1/2" copper and small diameter PVC. That's all fine and it does work nicely for those uses (it's a perfect fit for 1/2" stock actually), but coming from a carpenter's perspective, and not a plumber's, we also found other good uses for it. In the past couple weeks, the 6.5" pliers helped us pull nails, fish a hard-to-get wire from a wall, and handle a sharp metal edge on a chimney liner. It wasn't long before we moved its status up to one of the coveted exterior pockets on our tool bag.

In our opinion, everyone needs at least one pair of pliers (and honestly, three or four extras don't hurt). For your first set, get the regular, big old kind that everybody has, but if you find yourself having a hard time with smaller materials or you just want some variety in your tool chest, the 6.5" Channellocks should be at the top of your list.

They're also made in America (Meadeville, PA) which is nice.

The little pliers cost around $13, a fine price for a high quality hand tool like this.

At Channellock

Tool Snob

27.1.2010.

The publishing company Oxmoor House is recalling a number of electrical how-to books due to the fact that they contain, "errors in the technical diagrams and wiring instructions that could lead consumers to incorrectly install or repair electrical wiring, posing an electrical shock or fire hazard to consumers." There's no more information available as to exactly which drawings contain the bad advice, which is too bad because some of these books have been on the shelves since 1975. Thankfully though, there have been no injuries resulting from the errors.

One of the books, Complete Home Wiring, is sitting on our desk right now. We even reviewed it way back in the first month of this site's existence. In that review, we applauded the book for its, "helpful pictures and charts." Apparently what we should have written was, 'deadly pictures and charts."

If you have one of the books, listed below, you are to visit www.sunsetrecall.com for instructions on how to return it for a full refund.

An article on the recall is here, the recall press release is here, and, again, if you have one of the books, go here to return it.
The books are:

AmeriSpec Home Repair Handbook

Lowe's Complete Home Improvement and Repair

Lowe's Complete Home Wiring

Sunset Basic Home Repairs

Sunset Complete Home Wiring

Sunset Complete Patio Book

Sunset Home Repair Handbook

Sunset Water Gardens

Sunset You Can Build -- Wiring

A big thanks to reader Dar for bringing this to our attention.

Tool Snob

26.1.2010.

Nothing is quite like the dust produced when you sand joint compound. We can say without hesitation that we loath it. It gets on our clothes, in our hair, up our nose. Everywhere. And then someone comes along and pats you on the shoulder and all of a sudden it looks like a bag of flour exploded. The stuff is wretched, and that's why we're in favor of tools like Goldblatt's Dust-Free Hand Sander.

It looks like this kit comes with a sanding pad, a hose, and a few couplings for the various vacuums out there. Obviously it's not just for joint compound, it can be used for wood as well, but it's with the drywall tasks where we would find the best use for it.

The whole kit costs a whisker over $20, which is nothing compared to what you'll save on laundry detergent, shampoo and cans of Endust.

Amazon

Tool Snob

25.1.2010.

If you read the site with any regularity, you know that our 1915 farmhouse has some insulation issues. And when we say 'insulation issues,' what we really mean is that large portions of it simply aren't insulated at all. Over the past few months we've been trying to tighten things up, but our efforts have been a bit random and unfocused. Thankfully, though, Taunton recently sent us a copy of Insulate and Weatherize which we immediately read cover to cover. The bad news is that our situation is way worse than we thought, but the good news is that we now have an informed and comprehensive plan of attack.

It's tough to characterize what's in this book, but it goes way beyond insulating and weatherizing. The best way we can explain it is that it's a complete guide to efficiently conditioning the air and water within the four walls of your house. The book takes you through all of the major areas of your house (attic, basement, living space) as well as all of the major systems (water, heating, cooling) and describes every possible way that heat can be lost as well as how to contain that heat. The whole time it's a great split between hands-on tutorials and big-picture thinking. If you want to know the best way to insulate the ceiling of your basement, it's in there, but if you're just looking to understand how heat transfers from one material to another, it's also in there.

So when you read the title of this book, don't think that it's all 'R-values' and 'rigid vs fiberglass.' It's not. It's much, much more and anyone looking for a deeper knowledge of the way that their house works would be well served to read it.

And if you're one of those people, like us, who loves leaky, drafty old houses, this book will become an essential part of your library.

At Amazon

Tool Snob

22.1.2010.

Since the Tool Snob travel budget only covers trips to the liquor store, we couldn't make it to this year's International Builder's Show out in Vegas. Thankfully, though, the Sears Blue Tool Crew is there with video cameras and they'll be releasing videos of the event in the upcoming days. So far there are three, one of which is an introduction, and the other two talk exclusively about (you'll never guess) Craftsman Tools. According to their Sears, they are going to branch out into other brands in the upcoming videos. But as far as the Craftsman tools go, there are some interesting items featured in the video, including the MiterMate (which we're currently testing out and so far have A LOT of thoughts on, our review will be up soon) and the Versatrack storage system. Actually, it's funny but with all the big budget items on display, one thing that really caught our eye was the Edge Utility Cutter, which is a set of snips that uses a standard utility blade.

So check out the videos here and make sure to check back throughout the week for more.

Tool Snob

20.1.2010.

We just saw that Lowe's has a nice selection of how-tos over at their site. A lot of the times, these things are really basic and pretty uninteresting, but the projects at Lowe's range from simple (build a sandbox) to complex (installing wall tile and dividing a room). Along with the hand's on knowledge, there are also some nice articles like Understanding Heat Transfer and Choosing a Color Scheme.

Check out a list of articles here.

Tool Snob

22.1.2010.

It's amazing how much mileage Dremel has gotten out of the rotary tool. Each year seems to bring a new and improved version each with significant advancements over the previous models. The company would be deemed completely insane if it weren't for the fact that each tool really is that much better than the last. So it's not like these guys are coasting on a single tool (well, they sort of coasted on the Golf Cleaning Kit), instead they're seemingly on some sort of frenzied quest to create the perfect rotary tool.

Late last year they released the 4000 corded rotary tool (our review here), which suprised us with its jobsite-ready power (we used it yesterday, in fact). So if 2009 was the year of the corded upgrade, 2010 must be the year of the cordless. Which brings us to the new 8200.

It appears that the 8200 is the companion cordless to the 4000. The removable nose has the same look as the corded version and the new tool can handle all of the Dremel accessories, including the new detailer's grip and the sanding guide.

The 8200 is powered by a removable 12-volt li-ion battery that, according to Dremel, gives the tool a speed of cut that's twice as fast as any other cordless rotary tool out there. The battery recharges in 1-hour.

The 8200 will be available in April and will range from $100 to $140, depending on the kit.

The press release is after the jump.

This spring, the Dremel® brand is unplugging high-performance corded rotary tool technology and, for the first time, making it portable in the new Dremel 8200 cordless rotary tool. The tool combines the best of both worlds - the performance of a corded tool and the convenience and flexibility of a cordless tool - making it ideal for outdoor or on-the-go projects that require cutting, sanding, grinding, carving, engraving, routing, cleaning, polishing and more.

"As the market leader in rotary tools, the Dremel brand wants to deliver the high level of performance our users have come to rely on in a corded tool, but in a cordless package that gives them the freedom and range needed to complete any do-it-yourself, woodworking or hobby project," said Brian Benes, Dremel product manager. "Thanks to continued innovations in technology and insightful feedback from Dremel enthusiasts, we believe the Dremel 8200 is unlike any other cordless rotary available - it's better."

Versatility

The Dremel 8200 features a variable speed range of 5,000 to 30,000 rotations per minute and is the only cordless Dremel rotary tool compatible with all Dremel accessories and attachments, including the high-performance MultiSaw and Planer attachments. In addition, an enhanced design with 360-degree grip zone with soft grip enables added comfort and stability. A separate on/off switch, which retains speed settings for ease of use, and sliding speed-switch were strategically placed so as not to interfere with the grip. The sliding speed-switch features easy-to-read speed markings for accurate settings. An innovative shaft lock mechanism lets users lock the output shaft quickly when changing accessories.

Performance

The Dremel 8200 is the highest performance cordless rotary tool available, featuring a new, high-performance motor that facilitates maximum performance at all speeds. By combining this motor with the 12VMAX Lithium-Ion™ battery, the 8200 has a speed-of-cut that is two times faster than the leading cordless rotary tool. A new, one-hour charger is the fastest charger ever offered by Dremel and provides less downtime between projects and more time using the tool to complete them.

Portability

The Dremel 8200 does it all, unplugged. Providing corded performance in a cordless package, users are able to complete projects in the places they find most convenient, whether it be a workroom, garage or the backyard. A battery fuel gauge on the tool allows users to keep track of battery life remaining before a charge is needed.

The Dremel 8200 will be available beginning in April 2010 at most hardware stores and home improvement centers nationwide. The Dremel 8200 comes with a two-year warranty and will retail for a suggested retail price range from $99 to $139 USD. In Canada, the Dremel 8200 kits will retail for a suggested retail range from $129 to $169 CAD.

For additional editorial information and high-resolution images, please visit the Dremel electronic press kit at www.dremelepk.com.

About Dremel

Since inventing the high-speed rotary tool more than 75 years ago, Dremel has become the trusted name in high-speed rotary tool technology, providing creative solutions for hands-on professionals, homeowners, craftspeople and artists alike. The Dremel brand's leadership in design and manufacturing has made it the top selling rotary tool in the world, a reflection of the company's commitment to innovation and quality.

Today, as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation in Mount Prospect, Ill., Dremel continues to build upon this legacy with a full line of high-performance rotary tools and rotary tool attachments and accessories, specialty tools and an oscillating tool and oscillating accessories, delivering the perfect solution for almost any job. Regardless of what the task may be, users quickly realize they can depend on the Dremel brand to provide the satisfaction of a job well done.

For information on Dremel products, project ideas and problem-solving tips, visit us at www.dremel.com or call Dremel at 1-800-437-3635.

Tool Snob

18.1.2010.

We just checked out the Artillery Tools website and saw that it has gotten a much needed facelift. The new site is a lot easier to navigate and has a nice product page, making it easy to build your own destruction bar. They also sell pre-assembled bars or complete sets.

If you're in the market for a high-quality demo bar, we recommend looking at the Artillery. It's a small company built solely on the enthusiasm and determination of founder/inventor Joe Skach. If you call to place an order, it's likely Joe will be the one answering the phone.

Our review of the Artillery Bar is here

The new Artillery Website is here.

Tool Snob

15.1.2010.

The new Grizzly catalog showed up the other day brightening up an otherwise cold and gray week. It's currently sitting on our desk and in about a week it will migrate to the nearest bathroom where it will likely spend the year.

If you've never looked through one of these things, you're missing out big time. This year's offering is a full 675 pages of tools, accessories, milling machines, router bits, guitar making materials and every other tool related item under the sun. The prices are generally good and there are some real steals with the Grizzly tools.

The crazy part is that the catalogs are free. All you have to do to get one is go here and sign up.

Tool Snob

14.1.2010.

We were just wandering around the interweb and saw that Arbortech, makers of the fantastic Mini-Grinder and Power Chisel have a number of project plans posted up on their site. Of course, the plans are geared toward their unique woodworking tools, but they could also be completed with traditional tools as well. We tend to like these kinds of presentations and Arbortech's project selection goes beyond the standard "spice rack" variety and into territory that's a little more unusual.

Some of the plans are in .pdf format and some are videos on youtube, like this one...

Check out the plan page at Arbortech.

Our review of the Mini Grinder is here.
Our review of the Power Chisel is here.

Tool Snob

13.1.2010.

DeWalt is on the verge of releasing a new worm drive saw and at first glance it looks like a real monster with a number of practical features to assist the day to day framer.

What we like best is something called the Toughcord cord retention and protection system. We assume that this is a reinforced connection between the cord and the body of the tool, which likely stemmed from the developers visiting jobsites and watching ladder-bound carpenters raise and lower their saws with the cord. We see it all the time (and have been known to do it on occasion). Now, thanks to DeWalt, you'll not only be able to comfortably hold the saw's weight with the cord, but you'll probably also be able to swing it around like a bullroarer.

Another smart feature is the extra wide rafter hook, built with beefy engineered lumber in mind. There's also a 53 degree cutting bevel.

There's no word on price yet, but given the price of the competition, we would expect something in the $200 range.

When it's available, it'll be at Home Depot

As always, the press release is after the jump if you're interested...

DEWALT, a leading manufacturer of industrial power tools, launches a new Worm Drive (DWS535) Circular Saw with user-driven innovations and field-proven durability enhancements, resulting in an improved jobsite solution for framers, concrete formers, and other professional circular saw users.

Featuring DEWALT's Toughcord™ cord retention and protection system, a sturdy magnesium shoe and rugged control levers and handles, the new Worm Drive Saw offers users the increased durability they demand on the jobsite. This model includes a true worm drive mechanism for longer life and higher torque. The new Worm Drive Saw also has a class-leading 53-degree bevel capacity with DEWALT's patented bevel detent system, enabling the user to set common cut angles quickly and accurately.

For even greater productivity, the DWS535 features an extra wide saw hook for modern engineered lumber up to 2 1/2" thick and a top-access spindle lock that is easy to actuate, engages immediately, and eliminates oil leaks. Additionally, the Worm Drive Saw has dual ports in the shoe to work with DEWALT's new DWS5100 Dual Port Rip Guide for accurate rip cuts up to a 14 1/2" capacity.

"The advanced features and durability enhancements of the DWS535 Worm Drive Circular Saw are a direct result of countless interviews with users and extensive field testing," said Jon Bigden, Product Manager for DEWALT. "We are confident that the DWS535 represents a major step forward for worm drive circular saws."

In addition to the DWS535, DEWALT will also be offering a model (DWS535T) that features a Twist Lock plug.

Tool Snob

12.1.2010.

Milwaukee has just announced the release of a new cordless grease gun, the latest addition to their ever-growing 12-volt line. Looking at a picture of it, about 20 unprintable jokes instantly pop into our head and although we're sure it's a handy tool, we have a hard time taking it seriously. Thankfully, Jay over at CopTool is far more mature than we are and has a very nice summation of the new item here.

The press release is after the jump.

$200 @ Ohio Power Tool

MILWAUKEE, WI - Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation expands its LITHIUM-ION system with the new M12™ Cordless Grease Gun. With up to 25% more pressure and run-time than the competition, the 2446-21XC is capable of delivering over 8,000 PSI max operating pressure for heavy duty applications and dispenses up to seven grease cartridges per battery charge.

"While most grease fittings require low operating pressures, our user research has unveiled a need for a grease gun that can deliver the high pressure needed for heavy machinery, cold weather and clogged grease fittings," says Paul Fry, Director of Cordless Tools for Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation. "Heavy construction, manufacturing and agricultural equipment can have anywhere from a dozen to over a hundred grease fittings that should be greased regularly. The 2446-21XC delivers the highest max operating pressure in its class to get even the toughest jobs done and eliminate as much down time as possible."

In addition, the Grease Gun is the only tool in its class with a system of compatible tools offering the user greater utility in drilling, fastening, lighting and cutting. The 2446-21XC also comes standard with a high capacity LITHIUM-ION battery that can provide up to 2X the performance in the user's other M12™ tools. Other features include a lightweight, ergonomic handle design for added user comfort during prolonged use and an on board hose storage and shoulder strap loop for greater convenience and less mess.

With the introduction of the new grease gun and plans to grow the M12™ cordless platform in the future, MILWAUKEE® continues to expand its leadership position in the sub-compact category. The M12™ platform will continue to offer innovative solutions in power, productivity, and portability.

Specifications (2446-21XC)
Over 8,000 PSI max operating pressure
Up to 7 cartridges per battery charge
2.6oz/min flow rate at 1,000PSI
7.2 lbs
14" long
36" Flex Hose w/ Spring Guard

Includes 2446-20 grease gun, 36" Flex Hose w/ Spring Guard, Grease Coupler, (1) M12™ XC LITHIUM-ION Battery, 30 minute charger, and carrying case

Tool Snob

11.1.2010.

We have mixed feelings when it comes to jobsite radios. On one hand we like having a little background music while we work, but on the other hand, we can't stomach the musical tastes of most other people. Really, how many times can the human mind listen to 'Slow Ride' before there's some mental damage (and don't get us started on sports radio or 'wacky morning DJs')? So we always get a little nervous when we see a sub contractor getting out of their truck with some massive, John-Cusack-from-Say-Anything, boom box.

But like we said, we're not opposed to music at work, so when Milwaukee sent us one of their 12-volt radios to test out, we were predisposed to like it. And as it turns out, we did like it, but there are some caveats. We were into the fact that it's very small and stripped down (no cd player, no race scanner, not even a battery charger). All it is is a radio (with 10 presets), a weatherproof compartment for an MP3 player, and a clock. That's it. Basic and small. Minimal bling.

Oddly enough, we had just won an iPod Touch at the company xmas party, so we thought we'd give it a whirl in the Milwaukee. Strapping the mp3 player into the compartment turned out to be a little tricky. In order to prohibit the iPod from moving once it's in, there's a little elastic strap that holds it in place. Because the elastic is so tight, wedging the iPod in is quite difficult and the compartment leaves minimal room to access the power button on the top left of the iPod. Also, the elastic runs across the center of the screen, so using the Touch was also a bit of a pain. Our general thoughts on these drawbacks are that once the iPod is in, it's in. You're not going to be taking it in and out all day long, so we would rather have the iPod well protected and have the twice a day hassle of the tight elastic. We just have to get used to the idea of playlists and shuffle.

So once the iPod was in, we got some tunes going and discovered that the sound is pretty good. Not mindblowing, but really solid. Definitely good enough for a job site, in fact, better than is really needed for a job site. But if you're the type who can talk at length about the subtle production values of Johnny Cash's American Recordings, you're not going to be satisfied.

As we mentioned before, the M12 radio does not having charging capabilities, which is a standard feature on larger radios. It can run off a 12-volt battery or off the AC adapter, but sadly, it will not charge your battery when it's plugged into the wall. This is unfortunate, but our guess is that the miniature size of the radio would be sacrificed were this the case. We've had the radio on site for about a week and so far we've gotten an average of about 7 hours of iPod time per full 12-volt battery. Since we're down with the Milwaukee 12-volt system, we always have at least one battery kicking around so it works out for us.

The radio is also durable. We dropped a few 2x4s on it by accident (they hit hard enough to eject the battery from the back of the radio), and the radio didn't even take on a mark.

We also tested out the weatherproofing of the compartment door by bringing the radio to the sink and giving it a good hose down with the hand sprayer. After a nice drenching, we opened the door and the iPod area was bone dry. It's nice having the confidence that it can handle snow flurries or a light drizzle.

For our needs, this radio is right on target. We like not having to lug around a massive piece of equipment and it's loud and clear enough for our needs. For the low price of $100 it would be tough to ask for anything more.

At Amazon

Tool Snob

7.1.2010.

Home Fixated, one of our daily stops in the DIY/tool blogging world has recently undergone a full site redesign. The new look is much easier to navigate through and since they're always giving stuff away, we suggest you taking a look for yourself.

Aside from the monthly giveaways and great tool reviews there are also sections for coupons, videos and how-to.

Check out Home Fixated here.

Tool Snob

6.1.2010.

"If a 1/8" caulk joint is good, then a 1-1/4" caulk joint must be better"

That seems to be the philosophy governing the construction behind the shower in the master bath. There's really no other way to explain the massive blob of waterproofing that surrounds the shower pan. Our best guess is that it took about two full tubes of caulking to complete. It's so thick it looks like it was applied with a trowel or maybe a frosting knife. And it doesn't just stop with the pan, it's also slobbered in around the faucet and fixtures as well.

And to top it all off, we just noticed a leak appearing in the living room ceiling, just below the shower. So it looks like the caulk joint might not even be effective. Awesome.

Tool Snob

5.1.2010.

A while back, we reviewed some oscillating tool blades that were sold under the name of Yaeger Blades. Soon after the review, the company went dark, which caused us to get a lot of emails that went along the lines of, "WTF? Why can't I access their website?" As it turned out the fellows at Yaeger were in the process of redesigning their blades so as not to infringe on any patent issues with Fein.

We just got the email the other day that Yaeger Blades 2.0 is up and running. The new company is called Liberate Blades and you can access the website here. According to Liberate Blades,

The redesign allows for incremental angling of the saw blades just as the OEM blades do, which is not seen in any of the other aftermarket oscillating saw blades. Even though the connector opening is round the unique design allows the blades to lock into place no mater which machine they are being used with. Additional changes have been made to attach the blade to the connector which provide amazing consistency in the manufacturing process, which equates to a better product for customers.

The new blades are compatible with the Fein, Bosch, and Dremel tools. The cost is $10-12 per blade, which is a good savings when compared to the $15 or so that the Fein blades are sold for (assuming the quality is exactly the same). Liberate blades are also available in a 10 blade variety pack for $105.

At Liberate Blades

Tool Snob

5.1.2010.

At our last house we had this massive snowblower that was actually more of a "snow cannon." We really loved the thing and always enjoyed blasting snow onto our neighbor's yard. But, because of the tricky driveway, we sold it with the house and now we're left with a much smaller hand-me-down blower that works fine, but it takes a little longer and our chest doesn't hardly puff up at all when we're using it.

So here comes Sears with a chance to win a Craftsman snowblower. To enter to win, you need a Twitter account (which immediately disqualifies anyone over 35 years old). First, you need to go to Craftsman's Snowblower Finder in order to find the right model for your needs, and then you log on to Twitter and follow @BlueLGCrew and tweet in the following:

Following @BlueLGCrew and went to http://bit.ly/6KxG5t to find my ideal #searssnowblower - model XXXXX - I'm entered for a chance to win it!

Don't forget to replace the "XXXXX" with your model number AND follow @BlueLGCrew. Once you've done that, you'll be entered for a chance to win the model number you tweeted.

The contest is ending on Jan. 13th.

Small print official contest rules are here and the press release is posted after the jump, if you're interested.

SEARS BLUE LAWN & GARDEN CREW OFFERS RELIEF FROM SHOVELING SNOW WITH SNOW BLOWER SWEEPSTAKES

Twitter Followers of @BlueLGCrew Can Enter to Win a Craftsman Snow Blower

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (Jan. 4, 2010) - Are you ready to retire the snow shovel but didn't get the snow blower you wanted over the holidays? Sears and the knowledgeable specialists from the Sears Blue Lawn & Garden Crew are offering a sweepstakes to win the Craftsman snow blower that best fits your snow removal needs.

If the weather outside has already been frightful this winter and you've made a New Year's resolution to find a new snow blower, you can get the information you need by becoming a follower of the Sears Blue Lawn & Garden Crew on Twitter. Simply visit www.twitter.com/bluelgcrew and follow @BlueLGCrew; you'll be kept in the know on all the latest snow blower information and can find a link to the Sears Lawn & Garden homepage on www.sears.com, which includes an interactive snow blower buying guide.

As a follower of @BlueLGCrew, you're also eligible to win the Craftsman snow blower model of your choice from the Sears Blue Lawn & Garden Crew. Just use the snow blower buying guide at www.sears.com to find the Craftsman snow blower model number that best suits your situation. After you answer questions about your snow clearing needs, the buying guide offers a variety of models at different price points. Once you've picked your favorite model, simply tweet: "Following @BlueLGCrew and went to http://bit.ly/6KxG5t to find my ideal #searssnowblower- model [your five-digit model number]. I'm entered for a chance to win it!" (http://bit.ly/6KxG5t is a shortened URL for the Sears snow blower buying guide.)

The sweepstakes runs Jan. 4 through Jan. 13. For official contest rules, visit http://blogs.mysears.com/2009/12/can-you-tweet-your-way-out-of-the-snow.html. If you are not currently a member of Twitter, sign up is quick, easy and free at www.Twitter.com.

In addition to the Sears online step-by-step snow blower finder, Sears.com now offers a click-to-talk feature, so you can speak directly with a Sears Blue Lawn & Garden Crew member. Snow blower specialists are on call to review recommended models and help you find the store closest to you with the model you want. You can also download an informative podcast that walks you through the process of comparing snow blower models.

Sears and the knowledgeable specialists from the Sears Blue Lawn & Garden Crew have everything you need both online at Sears.com and in-store. With a wide selection backed by the Sears Craftsman Value Guarantee, the Sears Blue Lawn & Garden Crew is ready to help keep your driveway and sidewalk clear all winter long. Visit the Lawn & Garden section of www.sears.com for more helpful information from the Sears Blue Lawn & Garden Crew.

For more than 80 years, Craftsman has developed innovative products. Craftsman was ranked as the most trusted tool brand in America in the 2008 Harris Interactive Equitrend Brand Study. For more information on the Official Tools of NASCAR and additional Craftsman products, log on to the new www.craftsman.com.

Tool Snob

4.1.2010.

This post puts a cap, not only on December, but 2009 as well. It was a good year, filled with all sorts of interesting things, which we're trying to get to in a post later this week. But for now, let's take a look back at the final month of '09.

December's Tool of the Month is Fein's orbital attachment for the MultiMaster. We liked it, not only because of its functionality (right up there with a traditional orbital), but also because it proves that Fein isn't just going to coast along on the notoriety of their great oscillating tool.

And speaking of oscillating tools, we put together a chart on which accessories fit which tools. That's here.

Tool of the Month

Fein Orbital Sanding Attachment for the MultiMaster - Review

All Reviews

3-In-1 No Rust Shield - Review

DAP Seal 'N Peel Removable Weatherstrip Caulk - Review

Fein Orbital Sanding Attachment for the MultiMaster - Review

Craftsman Professional 12-Amp Scrolling Reciprocating Saw - Review

Bits and Blades

Oscillating Tool Accessories: What Fits What?

Fein Orbital Sanding Attachment for the MultiMaster - Review

Cordless

Bosch 3-Mode 18-Volt Impact Driver

Distractions

Tape Measure Ninja

12-Story Building Falls Over

Crazy Details in Our New House: Part Two

Glues and Adhesives

DAP Seal 'N Peel Removable Weatherstrip Caulk - Review

Hand Tools

Personalize Your Stiletto Hammers

Black & Decker AutoSwitch

3-In-1 No Rust Shield - Review

Craftsman evolv

Under the Roof Hang and Level Picture Hanging Tool

Screwpop 4-in-1 Keychain Tool

Lithium-Ion

Bosch 3-Mode 18-Volt Impact Driver

Monthly Roundup

November 2009 Monthly Roundup for Tool Snob

Oscillating Tools

Oscillating Tool Accessories: What Fits What?

Fein Orbital Sanding Attachment for the MultiMaster - Review

Our House

Crazy Details in Our New House: Part Two

Power Tool Accessories

Granberg Mini Mill G555B

Power Tools

Craftsman Professional 12-Amp Scrolling Reciprocating Saw - Review

Bosch 3-Mode 18-Volt Impact Driver

Promotions

Ready Wrench Winners Announced!

Gift Ideas Over at Amazon

One Last Chance to Win a B&D Ready Wrench

Craftsman's 25 Days of Holiday Deals

Sanding

Oscillating Tool Accessories: What Fits What?

Sharpening

3-In-1 No Rust Shield - Review

Work Lights

Black & Decker AutoSwitch

Milwaukee LED Upgrade Kit

Tool Snob

30.12.2009.

We just noticed that Stiletto, the makers of some oddly expensive hammers, has found a way to add on an additional $14.99 to the price of their tools with a personalized engraving service. To be honest, the engraving price strikes us as more than reasonable and as long as you're sacrificing your child's college education to purchase a hammer, you might as well make sure no one steals it.

You can personalize a brand new hammer, or get the work done on a Stiletto that you already have.

More information is at Stiletto.

A variety of Stiletto hammers are available at Amazon

Tool Snob

29.12.2009.

Black & Decker has released a number of energy saving and monitoring products as part of their Energy Series. We've already covered the Thermal Leak Detector and the Power Monitor so now we're moving on to the last of the line, the Black & Decker AutoSwitch.

The AutoSwitch is a unit that you place over an existing light switch which converts it to a motion sensor light. The unit has a switch, so there's still a manual override and you also have the ability to set it to a sensitivity of 1, 5, 15, or 30 minutes.

If you're the type who comes home from vacation and realizes that you left every light in the house on for over two weeks, then it might be a product worth looking into.

More information at Black & Decker

$25 at Amazon

Tool Snob

24.12.2009.

When 3-in-1 sent us one of their No-Rust Shields to test out they had no idea that we would put it in an unwinnable situation, a situation so brutal that there was absolutely no chance for success. We felt that the one way to test this little tool was to break its spirit, totally demoralize it, and then punch it in the face. If you're not familiar with it, the No-Rust Shield is a little gizmo that you put in your tool box or your gang box or your tackle box (or wherever) and it prevents rust from building up on the metal in that space. It's meant for normal day-to-day levels of moisture, not the 98% humidity that we subjected it to. So, we essentially knew that the item was doomed from the start, but we thought the manner in which it let out its dying breath would be indicative of its quality as a tool.

According to 3-In-1, the No-Rust Shield (NRS) works by (we're not joking here) sending out "metal-seeking vapor phase corrosion inhibitors" which form a layer of protection around whatever metal it is that you're trying to protect. Sort of like midi-chlorians of the tool world.

For our test, we took two Ziploc bags and put about 1/2 cup of water in each. We then put a handful of nails in each bag and in one bag we placed the No-Rust Shield (NRS). We closed up the bags and positioned them in a way that neither the nails or the NRS was exposed to direct water. That was about two months ago.

We watched the test diligently for about two weeks. At that point, the control nails were fully engaged with rust and the NRS nails were just starting to show signs of falling victim themselves. We had big plans of taking a ton of photos of the progression, but it was at that point that (honesty alert) we completely forgot about our test. And then we were driving home from work the other day and, "isn't there something I should be remembering now....oh yeah." So we revisited the corner of the shop with the bags and at first glance, it looked like the NRS had completely succumbed to the rust and the game was up, but upon closer inspection, there were still patches of untouched metal on the NRS nails. Very interesting. We pulled the nails out and took some photos.

The water was now rusty in both bags, so we filtered it out and dried the results. We took some photos of that too. So, as you can see, there is a difference in the results. The NRS works. Not under impossible conditions, but it does work. If our results were translated into a box of nails or a box of router bits, we're convinced that the items would stay rust free. Or at least rust free for the 90 days that the NRS lasts for. Thankfully, the NRS also has a strip that turns red to indicate that when it's time to get a new one.

Honestly, our test was barbaric to the No-Rust Shield. We created a situation that is so unlikely and so brutal that it would really never be a real-life situation. If you're someone who is going to take the time and effort to purchase a No-Rust Shield, you're not going to be the type to store your tools in a bucket of water. But even with the punishing test, the No-Rust Shield displayed its effectiveness by putting up a good fight, even if it ultimately shared the fate of Tennyson's Light Brigade.

The No-Rust Shield goes for about $5 and is available at Amazon

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ponedjeljak, 15. veljače 2010.

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