PutnamEco

It is good, I don't think it is as good as the ReaderDigest book though, no chapter on tools One of my favorite tile books is Tiling Planning, Layout, and Installation. Not that much on pretty pictures or fancy graphics but a lot of solid technique.

I read on another blog that they did a comparison between some other brands and Channellock and the author of the article said that Channellock came out on top. I wish I had a better idea of what models they were comparing and exactly what they were using as their test subject. I would like to see a real comparison on neutral ground with an impartial group of judges.

HD themselves put out a pretty good book, entitled Home Improvement 1-2-3. It is a pretty good book that is filled with "Homer-isms".

It looks like Black & Decker is offering a spin on the battery adapter idea with a modular tool system called the Matrix. Offering three bases with a bunch of attachments.

I often buy books at yard sale and when our local libraries sell of there old stock. There are a few How-to type books that I believe stand above the rest. One of the most common types are the Black & Decker series I find they are pretty good and do not really stray into the WTF were they thinking type of instruction common in some other series of how to books. One of the consistently better series is Taunton presses For Pros by Pros series. One of the series that your are a lot more likely to pick up on some of the finer tricks of the trade type information than just a basic how to. If I was to recommend an all in one book it would have to be the Reader Digest Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual.They cover a remarkably broad range of subjects and has a decent section on tools. For an interesting set on construction I would recommend Audels Carpenters and Builders Guide even though they are old a lot of the same techniques still apply. If your just looking for something entertaining to read, with a a construction theme, House by Tracy Kidder should fill the bill. If you guys want any recommendations just ask, I read a lot.

Bosch tools are very common here in the states. Their roto hammers are probably the most commonly used, I see them on just about every jobsite. Metabo on the other hand are fairly rare. Our large retailers just don't normally carry them. Advertising, I'm sure plays a large part in this. Stanley Black & Decker and all their brands are the only ones we are likely to come across advertisements for unless we are looking in trade or hobby type media, and even then Stanley Black & Decker rules the roost. With all the differing types of construction here in the sates, I don't doubt that there is a lot of crossover in building techniques. I would hazard a guess that even though our residential construction style is different, our commercial building styles will have a lot in common.

I would much rather build a toolbox using some cool tools. Books like the Anarchist Cookbook give real Anarchists a bad name.

Sometimes it is the little differences that make all the difference, I have had a couple pliers fail on me by coming apart. You loose a nut in the mud, your going to have a bad time.

I may pick up a single tool, their larger size, as on occasion I do come across 3/4" square nuts. Most of the other items they claim to fit are just not things I run into often at all.

That was my first thought as well, I usually prefer 3/8 drive for 18v tools because the sockets are usually thinner walled and able to fit into tighter spaces. It's not like I would be using it to bust loose lug nuts. I know I will be giving Bosch a close look when it comes time to upgrade to a newer 18v set, as long as they loose that funky angled handle on their hammerdrill.

That is a whole different subject. LOL. The Anarchist's Toolbox is nothing like that.

I don't have any of Channellocks pliers with their new bolt less joint, do you recall how the joint felt, was it an improvement?

I was just browsing around Channellocks website and Amazon.com and got to thinking about some of the new style fit everything box style ratchet wrenches and was wondering what everyone opinion was on them. I have a couple of Gearwrenches Quadbox wrenches and they work pretty well. I would really like them in an offset wrench but that would interfere with their ability to incorporate all 4 sizes in the same tool. Over on amazon,(couldn't find on Channellocks website) I found Channellocks offering a Uni-Fit 4-In-1 Ratcheting Wrench set that claims to fit SAE, Metric, External Torx, Spline, Square, 6-Point and 12-Point Fasteners plus Rounded Hex in SAE sizes: 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4-Inch Metric Sizes: 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19mm Which is a lot more than my Gearwrench set claims to. So, what I'm thinking is that this may be to good to be true, but I find myself wondering if Channellock would put out a tool with that much of a compromise. What do you think?

Have you tried their newer Griplocks? They look like they incorporate some nice features. I don't have many offset pliers and have to think about remedying this.

From Bosch, The Art of Power Tools. Some nice slow motion action shots of power tools

The new Bosch impact driver has a hybrid chuck combining 1/2" square drive and 1/4" hex. Looks very interesting.

While fetching some links for the previous post I was reminded of another of Lost Art Press book, This time a book that embrace both old and new, The Anarchist’s Tool Chest, by Christopher Schwarz. The blurb from the publishers website describes it best A very interesting read for fans of either tools or woodworking. .

Speaking of vintage books a lot of them are being republished. I book that I enjoy reading and rereading again is the The Complete Home Handyman's Guide edited by Hubbard Cobb, This book is filled with a lot of Yankee ingenuity that is hard to find in this day and age. Kind of make me a little nervous though about some of the way they used to do them, Take this recipe for paint for example, 100lbs of white lead 4 gallons pure linseed oil 2 gallons pure turpentine 1 pint liquid drier Makes approximately 9 gallons. They recommend two coats. With all that lead in the mix it is no wonder we have some of the laws we do these days, something I think about often when working on old houses, that and the amount of asbestos that I have run across. This book has been recently republished, although there is nothing like an original copy to get the zeitgeist of the era. Another vintage book that has bee republished with some additional commentary (and a DVD) is The Joiner and Cabinet Maker An interesting tale of a young apprentice carpenters journey complete with the projects he undertook. I find this a fascinating look into how things were done, with the added bonus that the methods and projects can still be useful today.

Speaking of good books for the younger generation, The Dangerous Book for Boys would fit into this as well

An excellent book. It really sucks that the younger generation are not properly encouraged to make things these days Popular Mechanics has a series of these that are available today. There is a copy of The boy mechanic : book 2: 1000 things for boys to do available to peruse at Archive.org

In Brazil you can go to Walmart and buy a Ferrari........................... Tablesaw. as a matter of fact there is a whole line of Ferrari power tools, They look like they be might almost be as good as Black & Decker. I get the same feeling from seeing these tools that I get from seeing what Snap-on offers in Walmart.

That is the sound of tools wearing out. The electric clutches can go through many more cycles without fear of wear. Even Milwaukee is starting to switch over to electric clutches now I actually prefer right angle impact drivers like the Makita BTL061Z. Dedicated tools are usually better but often times not as handy. Especially when you have to throw yet another tool in that contractor bag rather than just slip a small accessory in your tool belt. You might really appreciate this if you had to work at height where space and weight start to become serious considerations.

Some of the Asain hand tool manufacturers are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the not to distant future, if they ever figure out how to market there tools successfully here in the States. Check out this set by Toptul , and know that they could probably bring that set in here for less than a hundred dollars.

The Chinese being such prolific manufacturers, I have to wonder why we they haven’t brought in some of their domestic brands to us here in the United States. Some of their tools I'm sure would appeal to some people here. Like Shuangmu line. I would probably try one of their saws if it was priced reasonably. They do on occasion come up with some interesting ideas, like mini circular saws . If they can build tools for Milwaukee and the like I just don't understand why we don't have any Chinese brands available.

Vonder makes a laminate flooring cutter I think some might find interesting