Tools

  Like many hobbyists, I rely on a good soldering iron.  I’ve been soldering since the 3rd grade, and I’ve had quite a few soldering irons over the years.  I’m currently using a Weller soldering station that I’ve had over 20 years (still going strong), so when I had a chance to try a new Weller [...]

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You’ll be able to remove bottle caps with ease when you own the Sears Craftsman Bottle Cap Wrench Bottle Opener. This specialized wrench has the same look, quality and durability as your favorite Craftsman tools with the Craftsman name. It’s made in the USA and is priced at $14.99.

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What do you EDC?  EDC stands for everyday carry, and it consists of the items that you carry on your person every day, the things you can’t live without (or at least think you can’t).  Many people do this without even consciously thinking about it, and most who do include at least one tool in [...]

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PocketMonkey from Zootility Tools is a multi-tool that stores in your wallet. It’s made of 1 mm thick stainless steel, weighs an ounce and fits in a standard sized credit card slot in your wallet. PocketMonkey features 12 tools including: a smartphone stand, bottle opener, flat screwdriver, micro screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, door latch slip, letter [...]

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Did you know there is a tool designed specifically for opening split rings? You know, the rings you use to hold your keys? I didn’t either till I read about it on one of my favorite sites: EDC Forums. The Xuron 496 Split Ring Plier will save you from pinched finger tips and broken nails. [...]

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I am extremely skeptical of the “as seen on TV” items you find in the stores these days. But I was in need of something to help me carry and install many very heavy and awkward sheets of glass. The professionals use specially designed, relatively expensive suction cups to lift glass panels and stone slabs. [...]

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The All-In-One Laser Level (BDL100AV) from Black & Decker makes it easier than ever to hang pictures, paintings, shelves, or mirrors.  It can also be used to space any items evenly apart on a variety of surfaces.  Let’s give it a closer look.

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I live in the woods of Southern Indiana and often find that I need to trim low hanging limbs on the trees in my yard. I’ve resorted to using a saw before, but most of the time, we’ll wait till we have a lot of limbs to trim and will ask Jeanne’s brother to come [...]

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This Digital Voltage Meter for iPhone from ThinkGeek doesn’t reduce the number of gadgets you carry, so it doesn’t lighten your load.  It does add to your feature set, though, because the free app from the iTunes store lets you capture data in a variety of ways and display it, email or post it to [...]

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Wallets were designed to carry cash, but who knew they’d make a great ‘toolbox’ too. Check out all these stainless steel credit card sized tools from Touch of Ginger. Priced from $8-$16, there are lots of different tools to choose from. Need a comb? Guitar picks? Dice? I guess they aren’t really tools, but they [...]

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I am sure all of you have had a moment where you’ve been in a pinch to find tools to hang a picture, tap in a nail that has stuck out on a piece of trim, or needed to get a quick measurement.  These are some of the projects the Kelvin.23 can help with.

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The Kelvin 23 is a toolbox for your hand. It includes a hammer, level, measuring tape, LED light, and even a 16 bit magnetic screwdriver. It’s available in Black or Pink and is priced at $29.99

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Fish Finders, to those who don’t know, are these electronic mechanisms that either assist greatly in not having to stop by the fish shop on the way home or are a blasphemy on the sacrosanct sport of fishing. Depends on who you talk to. Electronic gardening equipment quite possibly could be seen in the same [...]

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The PIRANHA from PocketToolX looks like a great addition to your EDC gear. It made from a single piece of stainless steel and is able to perform several jobs. It has a bottle opener, pry tips, scraper tip, open and box wrenches, and includes a full sized double-ended Phillips/flathead bit. The PIRANHA is available for [...]

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They may look like an alien instrument of torture, but they are really a pair of stainless steel tweezers for your EDC (Every Day Carry) gear. PockeTweez tweezers are precision made and super sharp. They fold up into a small 2.5 inch long package that makes them perfect for your keychain, gear bag or pocket. [...]

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Now this is cool.  I’ve been to Italy several times and the ingenuity of the ancients is truly remarkable.  Colosseums, aqueducts, and now this.  I dental colleague of mine had a post on his dental blog about this awesome gadget, yes, GADGET, found in the Mediterranean area, dating from the Middle Roman period, that’s 200-300AD! [...]

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I have wanted an impact hammer/driver for a long time now….for years, if not decades. Several of my construction buddies have them and I have marveled at how effective they are at driving screws and bolts into very dense materials. I have used a standard cordless drill on MANY projects, fighting/stripping countless screws in the [...]

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Crafty geeks will appreciate the new Dremel Trio multi-tool. It can sand, cut and rout materials including wood, plastic, drywall, sheet metal, wall tile and more without switching tools. It has a non-marring base and is capable of a speed range of 10,000 – 20,000 rpm. I think this tool might come in handy for [...]

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We’ve all seen Leatherman tools with a wide variety of useful blades and tools, but did you know that they also offer a multi-tool designed specially for soldiers? It’s the Leatherman MUT and has tools to help a soldier (or civilian gun enthusiast) work on his/her firearm. Some of the tools include a replaceable firearm [...]

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I suppose for many of us who write for or read this fine blog our fascination with ‘gadgets’ probably started with our first “Swiss Army Knife”.  My  ‘junk box’ still has most of the ones I’ve owned over the years, but my answer to the question “How many gadgets is enough” will always be the [...]

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