Each year, manufacturers dazzle us with new tool innovations and battery technology. We want more run-time, more power, and more overall tool longevity. By and large, major tool manufacturers are delivering those things. Today, the best cordless drills far exceed the capabilities of corded tools. Professionals are beginning to regard their 18V tools as their […]
There’s probably no more useful saw for remodelers, plumbers, electricians, and homeowners than the reciprocating saw. It’s hard to imagine a jobsite without one. But that was the reality before the introduction of the Milwaukee SawZall—the trademarked name that became synonymous with reciprocating saws—in 1951. You might have already read our best corded reciprocating saw article. Regardless of […]
Every trade has its preferred tools. While many trades use mostly “general” tools like saws and drills, professional electricians have some favorites. These tools come uniquely tailored for the job. That’s because they have to measure what can’t be seen, in units difficult for the non-Pro to understand, in quantities that can be downright deadly. […]
We’ve been looking at some non-traditional uses for our core tools. Some are legit Pro-level while others just make the weekend a little easier or more fun. Today, we’re taking a creative look at the tougher-than-nails flat bar or pry bar. It’s a demolition tool used for pulling and prying things apart. It literally takes […]
Everyone has looked through old pictures and been struck by their own lack of clothing judgment. How did we ever think bell bottoms were cool (or “all flannel, all the time” if you’re a child of the bell-bottomers)? This brings us to popcorn ceilings. They are like the bell-bottoms of ceiling finishes. We may still […]
Circular saws have traditionally fallen into the two distinct yet similarly serpentine-sounding categories of sidewinder and worm drive. The categories generally differ in motor orientation and design, weight, torque, and RPMs. Perhaps most significantly, a worm drive saw was traditionally left-side blade and a sidewinder positioned itself with a right-side blade. Today, manufacturers produce saws that blur the blade orientation distinction. Of […]
Ditch the pencil and grab your best utility knife. If you’re a tradesman or just particularly handy, then you naturally value resourcefulness. Sometimes we don’t have a tool at hand and need to improvise because the situation demands it. That happens when you use a square nose shovel to remove shingles…or you Today, we’re taking […]
Unless you’re whittling a piece that you chopped from a tree, all the wood in carpentry projects came into contact with a circular saw blade at some point. Even the best circular saw blades can suffer from neglect. We know when the blade gets dull but how are you caring for circular saw blades between the […]
Cutting in-place soil pipes might be an unpleasant job but it doesn’t have to be difficult. All of these methods work, other things being equal, but soil pipe access might eliminate some of them. The age and condition of the pipe might affect the method you use for cutting it as well (it gets even more […]
Most of us are guilty of using the wrong tool for the job—either out of necessity or laziness. Still, there’s something satisfying about using the right tool for the job. Often, using the right tool helps bring about the best possible result. When drilling, accessories matter—possibly even more than the tool you choose. Knowing the […]
