BuffaloFeeds » Toolmonger » December 20, 2007

Toolmonger (8 unread)

Get Centered With A Transfer Punch

Posted: December 20th, 2007, 12:31pm MST by Benjamen Johnson

A transfer punch fits snugly in an existing hole and precisely transfers the center of the hole to another surface when you strike it. You could just use a pencil to mark the hole; but then the holes don’t always align perfectly, which can be a huge PITA. When your holes absolutely, positively have to line up, grab a transfer punch set.

Because they’re designed to precisely fit in the hole, these punches are straight along the entire length, not tapered like most punches. This set from Grizzly includes 28 4-7/8″ long punches for hole sizes ranging from 3/32″ to 1/2″ by increments of 1/64.” The punches are slightly undersized so as not to bind in the holes.

You can get the Grizzly set or one like it for about $11 at many tool shops.

Transfer Punch Set [Grizzly]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
Preview: Stanley’s New 40′ “Short” Tape

Posted: December 20th, 2007, 11:54am MST by Chuck Cage

While 40′ probably doesn’t sound “short” to you (or me!), most framers call any self-wind tape like this one a “short tape” — distinguishing it from the soft, hand-cranked types that extend 100′ or more. In the past, short tapes have been 25′ long, or maybe 30′ for some of the newer ones. But with taller-peaked roofs becoming ever more popular in today’s McMansions, some runs now exceed 30′. That’s why Stanley’s now offering a whopping 40-footer.

Besides it’s length, it offers a number of features included on most newer Stanley tapes, such as an 11′+ standout, a Mylar-polyester film coating the entire blade and increasing durability, a top-forward blade lock, and a thermo-plastic rubber soft grip.

We’ve had one of these in the TM shop ever since they entered testing, and we can attest to its durability. (We’ve dropped it many, many times and it still looks pretty new.) The only drawback is weight: this is one heavy-ass tape. If you’re not going to regularly measure distances longer than 25′ or 30′, we’d totally recommend going with a shorter tape. But if you are working with longer distances, this is much easier to use than a two-person-minimum crank type.

The 40′ tapes are on their way to big-box shelves now and should appear soon. If you need one more quickly, check out the links on the Stanley site for mail-order options.

40′ Self-Retracting Tape [Stanley Tools]
Glove Winner: Entertainment Center

Posted: December 20th, 2007, 11:13am MST by Sean O'Hara

Anyone who offers to build an entertainment center for someone else is either a true friend or completely unaware of the commitment they’re taking on. (I speak from experience.) So hats off and beers up to Toolmonger photo pool member djakbar56 for taking this one on and finishing it!

He built the center with 3/4″ oak plywood, 1.5″ solid oak trim, particle board base (inside only) and aluminium rails to keep all the gear in place. He then covered it in Minwax Special Walnut 224 Stain and Semi-Gloss Polyurethane finish to give it the “living room fresh” look.

Toolmonger’s Photo Pool [Flickr]
Lee Valley Now Offers Gloves In All Sizes

Posted: December 20th, 2007, 10:33am MST by Benjamen Johnson

Work gloves generally come in a small selection of sizes for men, with a few women’s sizes thrown in for good measure. To my continued shame, I sometimes find myself wearing pink or pastel-colored women’s gloves because the men’s gloves don’t fit my hands very well. No more! Lee Valley now sells an affordable line of Work Gloves in sizes children to extra large, all in the same neutral green.

You can find your glove size by measuring around your hand just below the knuckles — the number of inches is the glove size. I measured my 3-1/2 year old daughter’s hand, and it was 4-1/2″ so the size 5 would probably fit her. The sizes range from a 5 for children to 10 and 11 for extra-large hands. So if Junior or Little Miss is looking to wear gloves just like Daddy or Mommy, now they can.

Pricing starts at $4.50 for the kid gloves and goes up 50 cents for each size until you reach $6.50 for the extra large pair. Throw in an additional buck and get their double palm gloves for $7.50 in the large and extra large sizes.

Gloves From Lee Valley [Retailer]
Street Pricing [Google Product Search]
Reader Question: Facts About Coax

Posted: December 20th, 2007, 9:59am MST by Rick Reimundez

I need to hit up the Toolmongers for advice on working with RG6 CATV coaxial cable. Firstly, if I need to splice two segments, how should I do it? It needs to be weatherproof; are there specially rated connectors for outdoor use?

I want to get a starter tool set for crimping and/or using compression connectors on RG6. I don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, but on the other hand I’m tired of using the crappy twist-on F-Connectors. Any of you Toolmongers out there know where I can get a cool stripping/crimping kit online that’s good enough for occasional, non-pro use and will last beyond my first crimping job?

I found these online:

DataShark Cable TV “F” Compression Bundle Via Amazon [What’s this?]
F-TYPE 2Ghz VIDEO COUPLER F/F [Cables-to-go]
Paladin SealTite Pro Compression Cable Kit Via Amazon [What’s this?]
Paladin Compression Crimp Bundle Via Amazon [What’s this?]

It seems to me that I can just pick up the first two and be done with it. Do you have experience with any of these? Are the Paladin kits worth the extra dough?

Of course, we can’t forget the Harbor Freight option:

Coax Cable Tool Kit [Harbor Freight]

Your help on this in comments will be much appreciated.
And For Little Susie… A Chainsaw?

Posted: December 20th, 2007, 9:17am MST by Audra Heaslip

This season, give your little girl a chainsaw – a chainsaw ornament, that is — with pink Swarovski crystals and a pink ribbon to match. Or, if a chainsaw doesn’t seem just right, maybe a circ saw or a power drill are more her thing.

You gotta admit, Gloria Duchin’s handcrafted pewter ornaments are a great gift for your little Toolmongerette. Here’s the cool part: they come with red ribbons too, sans the pink crystals, so you can look manly when you give it to your shop buddy. But I’m giving the pink one to a very large, bearded friend who could double for Paul Bunyan. Hey, it takes a real man to decorate his tree in pink.

Pricing runs about $10 each, though I found ‘em at the local big box for under $2 each in the Christmas section.

Pretty Tool Ornaments [Gloria Duchin]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
Dealmonger: Sears $5 Off $5

Posted: December 20th, 2007, 8:42am MST by Stuart Deutsch

Between now and January 22nd, get $5 off any $5 tool or lawn and garden purchase at Sears. Sears outlet stores are excluded, as are clearance and closeout products. Don’t forget to read the fine print before you head out of the house.

A strong word of caution: Grab the pdf from the site while you can, before it gets pulled by Sears. In case you’re not as computer savy as you are with tools, right-click the URL and select “save target as…”.

The “one coupon per purchase” clause doesn’t forbid several purchases during the same visit. But individual store policies may vary, and Sears has been known to terminate promotions that were being abused.

You can use the coupon on sale items or even non-Craftsman tools which almost never go on sale, such as a Klein 5-in-1 screwdriver which is $7 before discount. Also worth considering is a 4-in-1 laser level and measuring combo kit which comes with a free tripod. These laser units have gotten terrible reviews and complaints of dried out bubbles, but for $15 after coupon, you can hardly go wrong.

$5 off $5 Coupon [Sears]
Klein 5-in-1 Screwdriver [Sears]
4-in-1 Laser Level Combo Kit [Sears]
TV Tonight: Cool Tools and Big Screens

Posted: December 20th, 2007, 8:00am MST by Nick Carter
(Thursday, December 20th, 2007) Tonight the very enthusiastic Cool Tools BRINGS US 2 NEW EPISODES! (All caps because the host is always freaking out with his dial at 11!!!) And a new episode of How Do They Do It explores two of man’s most wanted items: big screen TVs and Ferraris.

All times are central.
- How It’s Made: Episode 8, suits of armor, street light poles, bent hardwood and membrane switches (Discovery, 5:00 p.m.)
- Holmes on Homes: Best Laid Plan (Home, 5:00 p.m.)
- Build It Bigger: Deepest Tunnel (Science, 5:00 p.m.)
- How It’s Made: Episode 5, ambulances, dining room tables, diatonic accordions and acrylic awards (Discovery, 5:30 p.m.)
- SEMA 2007 (TLC, 6:00 p.m.)
- How Do They Do It?: Cruise Liner, Satellite, Suspension Bridge (Science, 7:00 p.m.)
- Wrecks To Riches: Chevy El Camino (TLC, 7:00 p.m.)
- Classic Tractors (RFD-TV, 7:00 p.m.)
- How It’s Made: Episode 6, Nails and staples, safety glasses, fabrics, bicycles (Science, 7:30 p.m.)
- How It’s Made: Episode 35, carbon fibre masts, fortune cookies, IMAX projectors and roller chains (Discovery, 8:00 p.m.)
- American Chopper: Christmas Sleigh (TLC, 8:00 p.m.)
- Cool Tools: Clean Up (DIY, 8:00 p.m.)NEW
- How It’s Made: Episode 45, pistons, paint rollers, parachutes and chimneys (Discovery, 8:30 p.m.)
- Cool Tools: Ergonomics (DIY, 8:30 p.m.)NEW
- MythBusters: Air Plane Hour (Discovery, 9:00 p.m.)
- How Do They Do It?: Episode 4, fresh drinking water in the desert, large LED TV screens, and Ferrari sports cars (Science, 9:00 p.m.) NEW
- American Chopper: Make-A-Wish-Bike (TLC, 9:00 p.m.)
- How Do They Do It?: Episode 3, electricity and the world’s largest floating cranes (Science, 9:30 p.m.)
Enjoy.