Hand Tool Reviews & Buying Guides

July 30, 2012 0

CST/berger LL20 360-degree Exterior Line Laser Preview

When we re-sided an historic home here in Central Florida a few years back (and we’re getting ready to do so again) we needed a long-distance, powerful laser. We didn’t have one, but we needed it. When we visited the Bosch U.S. facilities for their press event this summer, we were pleased to see CST/berger introduce a new solution suitable for these smaller exterior leveling construction jobsites. What we liked about the LL20, aside from the fact that it reminded us a lot of half of a Bosch GLL3-80 360-Degree Line Laser, was its simplicity of use – well, that and it looked like it could take a fall down a flight of stairs and keep on working.

Kershaw Tiger-Stripe Blur 1670BLKTSX Folding Knife Review

July 20, 2012 0

Kershaw Tiger-Stripe Blur 1670BLKTSX Knife Review

by Clint DeBoer

We already reviewed the Kershaw Blur folding knife 1670BLKST nearly a year ago. That line comes in multiple colors as […]

July 9, 2012 0

Kobalt 27-Piece Xtreme Access Socket Set Review

by Clint DeBoer

The new trend in sockets, which Kobalt has fully embraced with its 27-pc Xtreme Access Socket Set, is the universal SAE/Metric spline drive that fits 6 & 12 pt, spline, star, square and even most rounded sockets. But Kobalt also utilized a new 4-in-1 solution that has the ratchet surrounding the socket, leaving the center open. Why is that important? With the center open , your bolt can pass right through, letting you use the same socket for both shallow and deep applications. Combined with the specialized drive system, this 27-piece socket set covers nearly all the bases for most general socket use.

July 3, 2012 0

Klein Tools Multi-Bit Screwdrivers Review

by Ben Parker

We’ve used Klein Tools for years and the company seems to have been setting the standard for electrician’s tools as […]

June 25, 2012 0

Craftsman LED Lighted Pliers Preview

by Clint DeBoer

Craftsman has put out a new line of Lighted Pliers which feature an LED light that shines directly on the […]

Milwaukee 10" Torpedo Level 48-22-5009 Preview

June 19, 2012 0

Milwaukee 10-inch Torpedo Level 48-22-5009 Preview

by Clint DeBoer

Milwaukee’s new 10″ Electrician’s Level will retail for $30 and has a neat function whereby you can “hang” it on a double-gang wall switch and level them out by allowing the switches to protrude through the level itself. So in addition to a four vial level with rare earth magnets to hold it to steel studs, conduit or duct work, the 10″ Electrician’s Torpedo Level is a specialized tool for making sure your switches are perfect – before you fasten the plates. But not only switches… flip the torpedo level around and you can also position it onto a double-gang outlet to line those up as well.

Milwaukee 10" Reaming Torpedo Level 48-22-5109 Preview

June 19, 2012 0

Milwaukee 10-inch Reaming Torpedo Level 48-22-5109 Preview

by Clint DeBoer

Milwaukee has a couple of new torpedo levels. We already looked at their 10″ Electrician’s Level ($30 retail) and now we’re taking a good hard look at their 10″ Reaming Level. This new torpedo level has two ways in which it can be used to ream or de-burr PVC. The first is used for reaming the inside of PVC pipe from 1/2″ up to 1″. But it can also ream pipe by placing the level flat against the end of a pipe and using the grooves on the torpedo to clear off 1.5″, 2″, 2.5″, 3″, 3.5″, 4″, 5″ and 6″ PVC pipe. That is extremely versatile and should make for a pretty innovative tool that can save tons of time in the field. Anytime you can grab one less tool or shave off minutes from a repetitive job, you’re going to save money. At $24, the Milwaukee 10″ Reaming Torpedo Level should pay itself off in a few days.

June 6, 2012 0

DeWalt DWHT43003 Torpedo Level Preview

by Clint DeBoer

DeWalt added a new torpedo level to their hand tool line, the DWHT43003 Torpedo Level. This small 9″ level has integrated solid block vials that should be both accurate and durable. When you’re tossing around a small level, the last thing you want are vials that shift or break when you throw it into a tool bag or the back of your truck. The top and bottom surfaces of the level are milled – a feature that DeWalt claims contributes to its 0.0005 inch/inch accuracy. Additionally, the center vial is magnified so it’s easy to read. To keep it affixed to metal studs and pipe, the new DWHT43003 Torpedo uses the more powerful and long-lasting rare earth magnets. A V-Groove base lets you affix the level to rounded pipe like copper, EMT and PVC. This may not be the most exciting tool DeWalt debuted this week in New York, but it’s a great product that should find its way into a lot of tool bags.

May 10, 2012 0

Rockler Universal Fence Clamps with Clamp-It Review

by Clint DeBoer

This won’t be a long review, mostly because the tool under scrutiny is so easy to use. Rockler introduced its Universal Clamp-It Kit several months ago. This is a clamp set designed to give you a “third arm” when assembling frames, drawers, or any two pieces of stock wood at 90 degrees. Anyone who’s done this type of work will recognize that clamping a perfect 90Â° angle can be a pain without the right jigs and clamps. Rockler’s new Clamp-It and Fence looks to be a good “one person” solution that simplifies the process of tightly and securely joining stock.

April 17, 2012 0

USB Receptacle – FastMac U-Socket Review

by Clint DeBoer

In the past 85 years, not much has happened to the electrical outlet. At least, nothing groundbreaking except for perhaps a new form factor to give it a facelift (think Decora-style outlets). One thing that has changed is that more and more devices require power. I remember when a home was filled with blenders, vacuum cleaners and those gigantic televisions – and not much else as far as table-top appliances and devices went. But now we’ve got all manner of electronics and portable electronics. And that’s where FastMac’s U-Socket gets real practical. With iPhones, iPads, Kindles, and all the other gadgets we use, your wall outlet could start looking like it’s giving birth to a host of adapters and USB chargers. I don’t know about you, but it would be nice to have a cleaner and more organized way to charge your devices. Apparently not FastMac, who invented the U-Socket, agreed. The U-Socket marries the standard wall receptacle with a pair of 2.6A (2600mA) USB outlets.