Tape measures are great, but for anyone who's done layout work or estimated for a significant construction project, you aren't going to get much joy out of dragging out a physical tape 200 feet tape measure. The new Johnson Level and Tool 40-6005 Laser Distance Measure is a tool that takes the walking and dragging out of the distance measuring game. It's super compact in size, yet it has an incredibly useful range. But that's all common features of a technology that's commonplace now. Where Johnson attempts to distinguish itself is in its flexibility and speed. The Johnson Level 40-6005 can handle taking measurements from as little as 2 inches out to its maximum of 230 feet. On top of that, it's lighting quick, thanks to a fast on-board processor that delivers results faster than just about any other similarly-priced laser distance measure we've used. Accuracy is also an astounding +/- 1/16 of an inch - even out at long distances. And, just to make sure that you are on target, a built-in laser pointer shows you exactly where you are aiming. Now let's break down the features a little at a time.
Getting a quick and accurate bead on the temperature differential around an AC duct or a door can be a lifesaver for air mechanical technicians and energy efficiency specialists. While there are a lot of tools on the market that can help you do this, it's nice to be able to reach for a familiar name - particularly when your shop is already equipped with compatible batteries and chargers. Recently Porter-Cable launched the PCC581B Infrared Thermometer, which comes as a bare tool, making it a great choice if you're already vested in their 18V cordless platform. And if you're not, Porter Cable also offers a 9V-powered version, the PCC582B. Both of these infrared thermometers incorporate a tri-color beam that indicates temperature changes visually along with the digital readout. When you pull the trigger, the thermometer takes a reference temperature reading while it projects a circular green beam onto the surface at which it is aimed. The projected beam colors change when a difference in temperature is detected as you scan it across an area. A blue beam identifies a cooler spot, and a red beam indicates a hotter area.
It's important to take responsibility for your actions - and that equates to actions that lead to failure of products you've developed. This is particularly important when those products cause injuries or property damage. But, what if your product is only suspected of being the culprit - and investigations turn out the truth that it wasn't really your fault at all? This is what apparently happened when the owners of Larry's Upholstery dropped their case against Black & Decker. It turns out that an investigator discovered that the company's power tool equipment did not, in fact, cause the fire that burned down the business in 2008.
For some, a hammer isn't all that important. If you're serious about tools, however, or a framer by trade, a hammer is an extension of your arm and something you use almost all the time. With that being the case, issues like weight, features, and balance become very important. In fact, when you're striking nails almost non-stop, it's possible to actually calculate the time-is-money factor, and you'll see that your choice of hammer becomes something that could net you literally hours of labor-savings over the course of a year. It was with that mentality that we turned our fascination to Hart's line of Mill-faced Steel Framing Hammers.
Home Depot has always been in the business of providing services to its customers. There's carpet installations, kitchen cabinet and countertop installation, plumbing, AC, electrical and more. But today, the home improvement warehouse chain announced that it acquired Redbeacon, a website-based company that connects consumers with contractors for their home maintenance, repair and remodeling needs.
You've heard of a pain in the neck, but Dante Autullo took it a little higher by accidentally shooting a 3-1/2" framing nail INTO HIS BRAIN. Now what makes this story even more interesting is that Dante didn't even realize he had shot the nail into his brain when the incident happened. He thought it flew by his head. The only mark was apparently a small puncture wound and the real truth (and subsequent panic) didn't occur until 36 hours later when an X-ray showed the nail lodged in his skull cavity. It wasn’t until he felt nauseated the next day that his fiancé took him to an immediate care center for a checkup. Adding to the irony, Dante's fiancé had already known him to be accident prone, stating at one point in the article "she wanted to marry [him] before he hurt himself too badly."
Craftsman is taking on the big boys - or at least the big boys who like to listen to tunes while they work. Last week at CES, Craftsman revealed a couple new tool chests that really got our attention. The first piqued our interest because it was coated in a completely matte black finish. That's right, black as the night sky in a Kansas... you get the idea. The main thing Craftsman was about, however, was its other rolling tool chest. The big one with the speakers on the front. The new Contour Powered Series of tool rolling chests feature a power tool recharging station that can recharge up to four tools or personal electronics devices.
The Kershaw Compound 1940ST is a partially serrated knife that features the company's Speedsafe assisted open and a durable glass-filled nylon handle with pocket clip. The knife is a tad unusual in that the handle tapers down to a very thin, just 5/8-inch depth at the base of the handle. With a partially serrated blade, the Compound 1940ST is perfectly suited for both slicing and cutting tougher cords or rope. We liked the weight of the knife and the way it fit snugly and deeply into our pocket, with only the smallest amount peeking out - so as an every day carry (EDC) knife this may be an excellent choice for you.
This week Lista announced that it has merged with global leading tool and storage manufacturer Stanley Black and Decker. Stanley's Vidmar division, like Lista, is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of a wide range of storage products. Lista is a Massachusetts company well-known for its excellent storage cabinets, mobile cabinets, workbenches and accessories. While Stanley Vidmar manufactures and markets similar modular cabinets, the company felt that the two complemented each other - with Stanley supplementing Lista's existing offerings in particular. The merger of these two leading companies and brands will establish a newly formed Stanley Storage and Workspace Solutions group. This group will be responsible for sale and support of both Lista and Vidmar products. That means that in the not-too-distant future you will be able to use the complete Lista offering alongside a powerful new complement of Stanley products, such as STAK, VLM and much more.
While the thought of a "portable" miter saw is appealing, carrying one around by hand is not my favorite past-time. I'd rather use a dedicated miter saw stand. We've used a bunch of these over the years, and when DeWalt announced it had put out a new gas-assisted model, the DWX726, we thought we'd give it a try to see how they might have improved upon what was already on the market. First and foremost, the job of a good miter saw stand is to support the saw, while also providing a consistent feed and support for the work material. There are two basic types of miter saw stands, the compact fixed stand (with or without roller feeds) and the heavier-duty rolling stand that is made to be a more permanent yet portable solution. DeWalt has both, but the new DWX726 promises to be both robust and highly portable.
With the rise of cordless finish nailers, Senco takes a different approach by using a sealed nitrogen cylinder and a lithium-ion battery to keep them powered. Recently we had the chance to try out the FN55AX Fusion F-18 Cordless 18-Gauge Brad Nailer. We found that this nailer packs in a pile of useful features, has plenty of power, and will keep up with pneumatic nailers. More and more we are turning to brad nails for our finishing projects because of their great holding power combined with the very small head size. A smaller head size means less patching and putty when you are done. There is a lot to like with this nailer and it comes in near the top of our list of must-have tools.
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