Entries from Stuff tagged with 'recommended'
Corona Aluminum Handle Bypass Loppers Review
These are the best loppers I've used. I've broken the handles on a couple of wood handled loppers over the years, but the aluminum handles on these are both stronger and lighter and can get wet without cracking and... read more.
Milwaukee Magnum 1/2" Drill Model 0234-6 Review
Mikwaukee Holeshooter... How do I love thee? Let me count the ways: Built like a rock (compare to the newer model 0300-20 which is clearly "value-engineered" and it shows) Never ever needs charging Regular old-fashioned keyed Jacobs chuck. A... read more.
Fein Turbo III Shop Vac Review
$300 for a shop vac? Well yes, but it is worth it. I've heard my share of screaming shop vacs, and even home vacuums, but when you hear, or don't hear the sound of this machine it is well... read more.
Forrest Woodworker II Table Saw Blade Review
I am far from trying out all of the possible table saw blades, but after putting this blade on my saw it is hardly worth bothering looking further. There is nothing to complain about. Out of the box the... read more.
Macbook - Connect to everything, mini-review
It is amazing to me how much the purpose of a laptop has changed over the past few years. These changes shaped my choice of a new laptop and I ended up with a bottom-of-the-line Macbook. When I first... read more.
Mail order tools from Lee Valley
I generally like to buy things from nearby. It strengthens the local economy and is easy to take something back if there is anything wrong with it. But I make an exception for a couple of companies. Lee Valley is... read more.
Hewlett Packard 42s Calculator
It used to be said that calculators would create a generation of people who could not do math, and maybe that is correct, but in contrast this calculator really rewards those who understand mathematics. It is the Hewlett Packard... read more.
Bessey K Body Clamp Review
These clamps are great. The reason is simple. The wide square jaws stay parallel and don't bend out of square like some cheaper clamps - for example the blue Record clamps I bought which are almost useless because they... read more.
Stanley vs. Steve - Battle of the Planes
This #4 Bailey plane is a refugee from sometime before WWII. I'm not sure exactly when it was made, but it is one of a large number of cast-iron planes which were common before the age of power tools. Of... read more.
Ridgid 2610 6 inch Random Orbital Sander Review
Pictured is a Ridgid 2610 6 inch Random Orbital Sander (ROS). As with a large number of things nowadays, it isn't really made BY Ridgid, but is actually made in West Germany by Metabo. It is very nearly the same... read more.
Japanese Ryoba Handsaw
If you haven't tried a Japanese two-sided (what is called a ryoba) saw, you should. Particularly if you are working with softwoods. There are a number of advantages over Western pattern saws: The ryoba has a rip saw on... read more.
Channel lock pliers vs. Ridgid Offset Hex Wrench
Selecting the right tool for the job is almost as important as knowing how to use the tool. The wrong tool can cause more damage than you intended. So in that line, this tool review is about two tools which... read more.
Iwata HP-BCS Airbrush Review
Choosing an airbrush is difficult as each different airbrush involves a compromise of one sort or another. For example, go with a very precise high end airbrush like one of Iwata's "Custom Micron" series and get both precise lines... read more.
How to use Visegrip pliers
A couple people have shown up here searching wondering how to use vise grips. So here you go: Close the pliers Loosen the knob at the back to the point where the jaws are open approximately as large as the... read more.
How to sharpen with Japanese Waterstones
I already wrote about some of the history behind Japanese water stones, but how to use them is perhaps a more common question. The answer is a bit tricky. It depends... The first thing it depends on is the type... read more.
Setting Things Straight - Stabila 187 Level Review
I've used bad and good levels. Some with broken or misadjusted vials, some "I-beam" levels which catch stuff in the flanges and the brand I finally settled on is Stabila. I haven't found anything better. I prefer the 187... read more.
Vise Grip Pliers
This pair of vise-grip pliers has been with me for about 20 years and were old when I got them. Vise-grip pliers were first patented in 1924 and have been made in various configurations ever since. Sometime in the... read more.
If I had a hammer... Estwing Framing Hammer
No one seems to use framing hammers that much anymore. Air-powered nailers can tack things together more quickly and without disturbing the work by banging on it. But the framing hammer should not be forgotten even if it is not... read more.
Milwaukee Close Quarter Drill
One of the tools I've liked for a long time is the Milwaukee close quarter drill. Some people might call it a "right angle drill" but the bit is really at an angle (55 degress) to the body which allows... read more.
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