Tools

From the great guys at toolsnob.com

Dremel has once again advanced and improved their rotary tool, this time with a model referred to as the 4000. It must be quite an item to warrant the jump from the 400 series. From the hundreds to the thousands? Ten times the series? What exactly can this thing do?

Mr. Dude note:  Anything that was originally developed for knives and then used for tools gets high marks on our manly scale!  What a great idea!

Organizing your home garage or workshop isn't always as efficient or affordable as it appears to be. Try repurposing a magnetic knife strip to keep small bits in line.

The hardest things to keep organized in your garage/workshop are the things you use most often. Screwdrivers and drill bits fall into that category around our home, and no matter how much we think we are returning things to their proper place, screwdriver and drill bits are easy to lose.

It looks like DeWalt is expanding their empire and getting into the digital measurement category. Thus far, we've seen nice products come from both Bosch and Milwaukee, so it was really just a matter of time before Big D got in on the game.

We've been using this rather simple yet amazing timer for over the past week (see us using it at Single Serve Coffee in a recent review), and are wondering why someone didn't invent this timer sooner. Well - Pyrex did. Yes the same company that makes all those dishes makes this digital timer and clock. How does it work?

Reader David sent toolsnob.com this video of the Rotate-A-Blade saying that the tool is like a Stanley knife on steroids. He's pretty much right on. The first minute of the video is pretty boring and we almost clicked away, but then the blade goes into the perpendicular position and BOOM you've got a scraper. Pretty innovative design.

Mr. Dude Note: The guys at toolsnob.com put together a list of tools they can't do without on a job.  Seems pretty reasonable to me.  I'd add on there a fistful of zip ties too.

There are very few tools we keep in the truck at all times. The small space behind the seat is prized real estate and not to be wasted on redundant tools that are easy to come by on a job site. Instead, we reserve this spot for those special tools, the ones that can do things no other tool can. The ones that, when you need them, you need them. Over the past few months, we've narrowed down our repertoire to a select few. They are as follows:

Hitachi 12-Volt Right-Angle Impact Driver (our review here):

Earlier this year (much earlier...the spring, actually), Rockwell hopped into the lithium ion market with the release of a drill/driver and an impact gun. From what we can make out from the product description and price, these are in that mid range between the hard-core contractor tools and the more inexpensive, strickly-homeowner tools. In other words, there's some durability for an affordable price, sort of a Porter-Cable/Ryobi vibe.