Have you seen any new tools that you would like the ToolGuyd Community to know about?
I’ve recently seen some new (or at least somewhat new to me) tools or accessories that are either variations on a theme or IMO oddball in some way or the other. Most are probably Old Hat to those who use them – but I had not seen them in use.
Ones that seem (to me at least) to fit in this category include:
In my viewing area - this weekend’s Ask This Old House - What Is it Segment - had this item:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Super-Rope-Cinch-4-Pack-ROPECINCH-4PK/203481056
I just read that the Milwaukee “Cheater Bar Pipe Wrench” will be shipping to stores this week:
Wow, many of those tools are completely new to me too!
Great list!
Since I already posted about the Milwaukee cheater pipe wrench, I figured I’d mention it again next once it starts shipping or is available for review.
Yes - I had seen variants on all of the items I listed - but not exactly the same ones
The Gedore clamp pliers sort of works on the same principle as hand screw clamps that have steel rods added to holes drilled into their tips.
http://www.shopnotes.com/files/issues/106/10-best-handscrew-tips.pdf
The Primefit hose manifold seems more compact than the in-line one from Dewalt that I’ve used:
The EZ-Kleen gizmo for paint rollers - seems a substitute for the Shur Line one I have:
The Raimondi levelers - seem pricey - but they would have application beyond just tile work. Our Tile sub used some Raimondi tools like their leveling system on some fussy jobs:
One of the pleasures of watching my kids growing up was the excitement as they learned to ride a bike and then progressed form a little tykes bicycle with training wheels to a BMX to a Mountain Bike and/or road bike in various sizes and styles. Not so nice was having a pair of bikes stolen – but that too was a life lesson.
From early on, I decided that I would maintain their bicycles, adjust and fix them as I did mine. What I found was that they were much more complicated that the old Columbia Bike and even the Peugeot that I rode as a kid myself. It seemed that with every new bike – there was a different set of running gear (bless or curse you Shimano and Campagnolo) .Changes in freehub/freewheel, different cone wrench size, changes in the bottom bracket, plus variations with the crankset, brakes, chain pitch, derailleurs, headset, spoke nipples and even pedals – kept me on my toes and often required a new tool for maintenance.
Like these (which is newer than any I had to purchase):
and
and
One constant – was the chain drive – even though some of the chain configurations (e.g. Hyperglide) changed a bit.
Last weekend I saw a Bike with a belt drive and had a chance to talk to the owner a wee bit. It seems she uses it mostly for commuting to work and really like it. That got me thinking that folks like Park must have new tools for this – and here are 2:
and
Eh, I’ll stick with a good ole taut line hitch - the plastic construction on that makes me a bit leary.
A tool I’ve just discovered in the past year but really REALLY like using is a set of Kant Twist clamps. I use them for welding but they are also used in the woodshop for easily securing thing which I cant allow to slide around.
The copper clamp pads rotate around and each face has a groove at a different angle for holding rod and steel shapes securely.
I store mine overhead in a corner of one room in my shop:
There are other clamps that use a cantilever sort of principle for tightening. The ones I have are made by URKO and I have one each in the 10 inch (404C10), 16 inch (404C16) and 24 inch (404C24) sizes. They are made in Spain.
I also hang them overhead:
Spotted these Stanley locking pliers @ Lowes, looks like a play on the Milwaukee style adjusting knob with a niffty lock switch… the prices are of the items on the pegs below but they were priced $14-$24ish
https://goo.gl/photos/zm8fNsAd7Nf6de959
https://goo.gl/photos/cbnSHbrtNAeFQZw46
https://goo.gl/photos/NogZjnPvGG4ZykCv8
https://goo.gl/photos/iBbpRtiGQyuiqmZz7
I found no signs of them on Amazon.
I saw those at Lowes the other day too. The feel of the finish is strange, hard and rough. I’m not sure if it is a grip thing. I’m not saying it’s bad, just different. They also seemed lighter than they should be, but my point of reference is the pairs of Vise Grips that have been handed down to me.
There is nothing like a nicely coped joint for trimming out corners - especially irregular ones.
We had 2 older Bosch Barrel-Grip Jig Saws (1584VS) equipped with Collins Coping Foot (#88756) that once you got the hang of it did a pretty good job - with just some minor touch up needed. Collins makes some different models for Bosch, Carvex etc. Here is a link to one:
So nothing new here - but I just saw a more elaborate setup - called the Scribe Master - that claims to be a more production oriented jig - to mount on a miter saw stand:
With mounting kit:
http://www.amazon.com/Scribe-Master-SMMKP-Quick-Mount-Kit/dp/B00GIIINBG/ref=pd_sim_sbs_469_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=416Cb4rMkcL&dpSrc=sims&preST=AC_UL160_SR160%2C160&refRID=0CAPKHC6HZHXWDY6YAKN
and carrying bag
http://www.amazon.com/Scribe-Master-SMCBP-Cope-Pro-Bag/dp/B00GIIEJBO/ref=pd_sim_sbs_469_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=318wEDsg2uL&dpSrc=sims&preST=AC_UL160_SR160%2C160&refRID=0CAPKHC6HZHXWDY6YAKN
and recommended router bit
http://www.amazon.com/Scribe-Master-SMC02-Router-Bit/dp/B00GIIAYLI/ref=pd_sim_sbs_469_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=21PUrCE7ARL&dpSrc=sims&preST=AC_UL160_SR160%2C160&refRID=0CAPKHC6HZHXWDY6YAKN
your investment would be up around $500 - - IMO a pretty costly piece of gear unless you do an awful lot of copes per day.
Woodpeckers has a new “One Time Tool”
Stainless Steel Triangles allowing you to measure and mark angles. A 3 piece set costs $200 - but they are sold individually as well.
My go to tool for laying out angles is a Starrett Combination square - with a protractor head:
http://www.amazon.com/Starrett-PR-1224W-Reversible-Combination-Protractors/dp/B000VDRVCQ
I have several Starrett combination squares with different blade lengths - that the protractor head will fit:
So this is a one-time tool I’ll probably take a pass on.
very nice…just cant justify the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ my Swanson treats me well,
Amen
Swanson and other speed squares do fine for rafters and the like. I guess that Woodpeckers is trying to market this as a more precise layout tool for octagonal window frames and the like.
There are also lots of variants on the speed/rafter square idea - here’s a link to a few adjustable ones:
Fastcap makes some nice measuring tapes, lifting devices and other miscellaneous do-dads.
Recently they sent me some emails about some new items:
One is a rope cinching device:
Another is what they call a Beau Clip
http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=56450&idcategory=28
Stuart sent me a link and asked me what I thought of the Beau clips. They seem rather specialized, I couldn’t really think of a good use for them except maybe access panels. I can’t see why you’d want to put removable panels up in an everyday situation, but that’s probably my lack of imagination.
I haven’t seen the rope cinch (at least no the FastCap one) before.
I saw both of those this week. The rope cinch seems pretty cool.
The beau clip is actually very similar to a product we use in production on commercial millwork projects daily.
Starhanger Blue Zero
They actually have a whole line of panel hanging products, aimed primarily at the commercial millwork industry, but also very useful for a variety of projects.
We use the Blue Zero and the Star Lock most often, as we can machine for them on the CNC very efficiently and just put in the hardware on the panel, and the mating screw on the sub panel and they line up without any measuring.
They are also very easy to install manually with just a drill as well. I have used them for many personal projects as well.
The snap in type fastener is not anything new, and has been used in different forms for marine type fasteners for years.
Here is a company with a very comprehensive system:
http://www.fastmount.com/
FastCap is a great company that does a great job helping everyday woodworkers bring their inventions to market. A lot of their products are aimed at cabinet makers and full time woodworkers.
@ Benjamin
My post was not meant as an endorsement - but just that I had recently seen these by way of 2 promotional emails from Fastcap. The rope “Bow Tie” showed up in my email this morning. While I’ve used figure 8 's and so called Figure 9’s and other rope/paracord securing devices from folks like Nite-Ize - my usual expedient is to just form a loop with a figure-8 knot or a bowline on the bight at one end of the rope - loop the standing end around the item to be secured - run it through the loop (as in a running bowline) - cinch it tight and tie it off with a couple of half hitches.
