Tools of the Trade articles from January 2004

Tools of the Trade archives from January 2004

Ten years. Pure tools.(Editor's Note)
January 1, 2004... "A good tool becomes an extension of your hand and mind--transforming labor into a trade." A little more than 10 years ago, editor Clayton DeKorne wrote those eloquent words in the premiere issue of a brand new magazine called TOOLS OF THE...

Training Day.(Mail Call)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... I really enjoyed your article "Training Day" (September/October 2003, page 38) on finding qualified workers for construction. As a company that is always seeking new employees, it is great to know of what others are doing to recruit, find, and...

Paint sprayers.(Mail Call)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... As a subscriber I look forward to the different trade items and product reviews with each issue of your magazine. You could imagine my surprise when I saw an HVLP sprayer on the cover. I thought the article was well written and I agree with the...

Call Back.(Mail Call)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... There was an error in our coverage of the PLS and Leica laser distance meters in September/October 2003 Tool Test of laser distance meters ("Light Speed," page 66). We did not mention that both units have 2x magnification telescopic...

The master: the dodge ram toolmaster completes its 2003 national tour and sweepstakes.(News)
January 1, 2004... Neil Reznikoff's faithful old work van just can't quite compare to his new ride. Reznikoff, of Rochester, N.Y., is the grand prize winner of the 2003 Dodge Toolmaster Sweepstakes. He's now the proud owner of the Dodge Ram Toolmaster, a...

Auto-feed Screwgun.(Hot Finds from STAFDA)
January 1, 2004... Senco's DuraSpin collated screwdriver is now available in a 24-volt cordless version. The 3,000-rpm DS300-24V screw system drives fasteners from 1 1/4 inches to 3 inches, has a fastener capacity of 50 screws, and weighs 10.8 pounds. It features...

Laser level.(Hot Finds from STAFDA)
January 1, 2004... Stabila's new LAX 100 self-leveling laser shoots cress-hair plumb and level lines, has a built-in micro-height adjustment, and is protected by a rugged roll cage. The level's head pivots manually for quick positioning, and the self-leveling...

Cordless impact driver.(Hot Finds from STAFDA)
January 1, 2004... Panasonic's EY6506NQKVV 12-volt cordless impact driver combines a compact size, good balance, and light weight (3.2 pounds). It offers 867 inch-pounds of torque and variable speed from 0 to 2,800 rpm. A 3.0-amp-hour NiMH battery and 45-minute...

Shingle Saw Pro II: Roof Mates' Shingle Saw makes cutting Shingles a snap.(First Test)
January 1, 2004... Roof Mates' Shingle Saw is the best thing to happen to roofing tools since hook blades. It cut everything I tested it on--in every application-better, faster, and cleaner than with any other cutting tool I've used. Invented by career roofer Rob...

Workstation.(Hot Finds from STAFDA)
January 1, 2004... The T3 miter saw workstation features the same unique adjustable aluminum extrusion system that TracRac uses in its truck racks. It easily adjusts in length, comes with extension lumber supports and adjustable stops, and adapts to all models of...

Happy tool-year! Tool companies reveal breakthroughs for 2004.(News)
January 1, 2004... Judging by the number of new tools and accessories I saw in November at the annual Specialty Tool and Fasteners Distributors Association (STAFDA) show in Atlanta, 2004 is going to be a very cool tool year. STAFDA's annual trade show has become...

Hall of Fame 2004: honoring the people behind the tools.(News)
January 1, 2004... Each year, TOOLS OF THE TRADE pays tribute to the people whose insight and effort over the years have helped to create or inspire the tools we use today These are the pioneers whose inventions and ideas not only revolutionized the tool world...

Top-down sundecks: framing sundecks from the top down gets you up and running.(Site lines: dispatches from the field)
January 1, 2004... Raised sundecks are one of the few projects I know of that can be built from the top down. Oddly, building them this way is fast and efficient because the deck's ledger board and band joists (the "box") serve as control points for laying out...

Tools for speedier, easier deck installations.(Deck Builder's Toolbox)
January 1, 2004... Building decks is no walk in the park: Digging post holes, driving lag screws, nailing joist hangers, notching 6-bys, and screwing decking takes its tool on your tools and your body. Having some deck-dedicated tools can cut time off your next...

Pipe dream: a plumber's guide to speedy rough-ins.(Site Lines)
January 1, 2004... Completing a job quickly is every contractor's dream. In my 25 years as a Master Plumber, I've learned four key elements to doing better, faster work. Using the fight tools, developing a focused crew, and hiring GCs who are good to work with...

Saturday night cruisers: pickup trucks that can haul--and haul-ass.
January 1, 2004... To some of us, the word "truck" means "transportation" "towing," and "toolbox" and nothing more. But for many others, their pickup trucks not only go home with them after work, they go out to play as well. Pickup manufacturers have wised...

Loading zone: maximize your work truck with these great aftermarket features.
January 1, 2004... When was the last Lime you took a close look inside your pickup truck? I mean, really looked? How about the truck bed? If you're like a lot of us, it's probably not a pretty sight. Papers strewn among loose nails, power tools tossed carelessly...

Lock & load: coil nailers will keep you framing, instead of reaching for nails.(Tool test: coil framing nailers)
January 1, 2004... I wouldn't trade my coil flaming nailer for a strip nailer if you made me. Coil flaming nailers carry so many nails that sometimes it feels like whole days go by before I have to reload. Even in rapid-fire applications like running sheathing, I...

Speed bump: new nailer rules change your bump-fire options.
January 1, 2004... If you just bought a pneumatic nailer and wonder why it won't bump-fire, check the tags and labels on the box. Changes to industry safety standards announced last May have changed the way heavy-duty nailers are configured, catching many tool...

Hammerdrill.(Product watch: the latest tools & accessories)
January 1, 2004... The in-line design of the 12524-03 24-volt cordless hammerdrill allows you to apply maximum force on the drill bit for faster drilling horizontally in harder materials and, for drilling vertically, has extra length to make jobs easier and...

Drill/drivers.(Product watch: the latest tools & accessories)
January 1, 2004... The company has introduced three cordless drill/driver kits and two cordless hammerdrill/driver kits with Grip-To-Fit, a system of three removable, interchangeable grip inserts that allow handles to be customized to fit each user's hands. The...

Drills.(Product watch: the latest tools & accessories)
January 1, 2004... Part of the company's new line of professional power tools, the X2 series of 1/2-inch cordless drills comes in 12-, 14-, and 18-volt models. The drills feature a two-speed transmission and maximum torque levels ranging from 365 inch-pounds for...

Impact wrench.(Product watch: the latest tools & accessories)
January 1, 2004... The 6917DWDE 12-volt 3/8-inch impact wrench is the most compact in its class with a length of 6 5/8 inches, the maker says, and features a magnesium alloy hammer case for added durability. The tool offers variable speed from 0 to 2,300 rpm,...

Hammerdrill/drivers.(Product Watch)
January 1, 2004... The SF 180-A 18-volt cordless cam-action hammerdrill/driver can drive a range of anchors and screws into a variety of materials. The tool runs on a 2.0-amp-hour Nicad battery or a 3.0-amp-hour NiMH, which provides 50 percent more run time than...

Impact wrench.(Product Watch)
January 1, 2004... The 9078-20 18-volt, 3/4-inch cordless impact wrench offers 325 foot-pounds of torque, the highest of any cordless impact wrench, the maker says. The tool features a variable speed range of 0 to 1,350 rpm, an impacting mechanism that delivers...

Impact drivers.(Product Watch)
January 1, 2004... The WH12DM2 cordless impact driver is the most powerful and compact available, the maker says, delivering 1,060 inch-pounds and measuring 6 1/4 inches long. The unit weighs 3.5 pounds and includes a 2.0-amp-hour Nicad batter3 variable speed...

Right-angle drill.(Product Watch)
January 1, 2004... Expanding options for 18-volt tool users, DeWalt has added a right-angle drill to its line of 18-volt cordless tools. Ideal for tight spaces, the tool measures 4 1/2 inches long, weighs 4.7 pounds, and has a multi-grip trigger for easier...

Recip saw.(Product Watch)
January 1, 2004... This 19.2-volt reciprocating saw (model 11427) features a 4-pole motor, variable speed from 0 to 2,500 strokes per minute, a 1 3/16-inch blade stroke, and adjustable pivot shoe. The tool's 1.4-amp-hour battery charges in one hour and has an LED...

Yes, this is his day job.(Tool hounds: we just love tools. Is that a problem?)
January 1, 2004... Michael Devlin isn't your average carpenter. Take his clients, for starters: ZZ Top, Kiss, John Mellencamp, Bette Midler, Aerosmith, and (his current employer) Ban Jovi. His commute is unique--Wembley, Giants Stadium, Tokyo. Then there's the...