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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The Inchworm is an EDC (Every Day Carry) tool from TEC Accessories that you keep on your keychain. It’s a 3 inch long 6Al-4V grade titanium rod of 3/16″ diameter with grooves cut at 1/8″, 1/2″ and 1 inch increments with a bead blasted matte finish surface. Having a small ruler always at your fingertips [...]
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Have you seen A Christmas Story? Remember the “oh fudge!” scene when Ralphie is helping his dad change the flat tire and dropped all the lug nuts in traffic? Ralphie could have been spared having his mouth washed out with soap if only his dad had owned a MagnoGrip wristband! The MagnoGrip wristband from ThinkGeek [...]
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Not only do I love pocket tool kits, I have a real need to carry a variety of tools with me at work. Not just the pliers and screwdrivers common on most multi-tools, but other tools as well. I was pleasantly surprised by Doc Allen’s Versatool.
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Many things we review here at The Gadgeteer are devices somewhere between tech-toy and tech-gadget or accessories meant to protect, carry or power those devices. All perfectly well and good, mind you….most of those (still) make my tech-geek heart a flutter. But, other than iPod speakers or noise isolation earbuds, few assist me in my [...]
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ThinkGeek has some handy, credit-card sized tools that you can carry with you in your wallet. These wallet tools are made of stainless steel, and as ThinkGeek says, are “perfect for your inner MacGyver.” ThinkGeek has the hex-head spanner wrench for metric bolts 6-14 mm, guitar plectrums, ice scraper, and a bottle opener. Prices are $6.99 [...]
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I wouldn’t consider myself someone who collects lots of tools. But I do have enough tools that it has gotten a little out of control in our garage. It has reached a point where I have to question myself about where that tool is that I am looking for. So I jumped at the chance [...]
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Everyday carry fans will love the Screwpop tool. It’s a 4 in 1 keychain tool shaped like a key, that has a Phillips screwdriver tip #2, flathead screwdriver tip #2, 1/4” hex. nut driver, and a bottle opener. At only $4.95, it would make a great little stocking stuffer.
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Dremel. My all-time favorite power tool, just the name gets my creative juices flowing. I have owned several of these tools and was excited to be offered the chance to review this edition along with their EZ Lock mandrel system.
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This looks like the ultimate utility knife. The SpeedPak from Clauss, uses replacement blade cartridges. Carry a cartridge in your pocket and when needed, just pop it into the knife. This seems easier and safer than messing with individual blades. Each cartridge holds 10 Titanium Bonded double-edged blades that are 3x harder than steel and [...]
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Every once in a while, I stumble upon a product that makes me say to myself, “Yeah! Why didn’t somebody think of that a long time ago?” The Ratcheting Hex Wrench from ProTool Manufacturing is one such product. Each tool contains a full set of either standard or metric hex wrenches that can be folded [...]
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Here’s a nice looking pocket knife from Garrett Wade that combines 2 stainless steel blades with a 6″ folding precision rule graduated in 64ths, as well as a metric scale. It’s 3/8″ thick, weighs 0.8 oz. and folds to a length of 3″.
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If your gadget tastes lean more toward the utilitarian, you may be happy to learn that Gerber, famous for their knives and multi-tools (and not baby food), have added a number of new items to their multi-tool family, including the Crucial multi-tool and the Curve keychain tool. The Crucial (pictured) is a butterfly-opening pocketable tool [...]
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I love receiving gadgets in the mail or buying them at the store. But I hate wrestling hard plastic clamshell packages to get to the yummy gadget goodness inside. Last year I reviewed the Zibra Open It! and it was love at first snip. Now the same people (I think) have a new product on [...]
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English tradesmen in the 1880′s invented the original multi-tool called the Harp Tool. Bricklayers, long shore men and the like carried Harp Tools, named for their shape resembling the musical instrument. Inside the harp would be implements specific to the trade or craft. The Spyderco Byrd 8-Tool Harp includes: a Phillips-head screwdriver, slotted-head screwdriver, saw, [...]
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Ok, it’s not really a can opener, but it looks like one. Sorta. Kinda. The Zipit is a motorized plastic clamshell package opener from ThinkGeek. It’s an interesting concept, but I think I still prefer the manual Zibra Open It shears. These might be good for people with poor hand strength though.
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I love the whole idea behind the “multi-tool”, a gadget that usually combines a knife blade (or two) with several different types of screw drivers and in some cases adds a set of pliers. However, most multi-tools have one thing in common: even though they are more convenient than carrying a small toolbox, they are [...]
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