Tools of the Trade articles from July 2003

Tools of the Trade archives from July 2003

We're in bad hands. (Editor's Note).(liability insurance)
July 1, 2003... Are you paying more for "insurance" but getting less and less coverage for your money every year? How many companies are still willing to even give a quote on a policy? Do you understand your coverage, how vulnerable you are, and what kind of...

Insurance advice against tool theft. (Mail call: readers sound off).(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2003... I read Tom Lalsey's letter in this months issue about his "Double Rip-Off" (Mail Call, May/June 2003). I can't respond to his question about tracking chips, but I am able to comment on his insurance dilemma with some authority. Not only have I...

Computer-less in Texas. (Mail call: readers sound off).(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2003... I continue to be annoyed and frustrated by all of you folks out there who assume the whole world runs on computers. It will obviously come as no surprise to you that some of us out here continue to do quite well without e-mail and all the rest...

Buying American. (Mail call: readers sound off).(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2003... I read your Editor's Note on "Tools Without Borders" (March/April 2003), which spoke about tools that are manufactured outside of the United States. While I agree that the quality of the tools will probably not suffer, there is a larger issue...

Going once, going twice: eBay's surprising success with tools and equipment. (News).
July 1, 2003... If you think Internet auction house eBay is all Beanie Babies and baseball cards, it's time to pay another visit. eBay, which allows users to buy and sell items via online auctions, has hit it big in the construction sector, where contractors...

Get connected. (News).(Nextel Direct Connect)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Whether you're calling for an armload of studs from the other side of the jobsite or connecting with your pro supplier to update an order, Nextel Direct Connect offers instant communication that has become an indispensable time and money saver...

Drop zone. (Product Focus).(durable drills)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... It isn't the fall that hurts a tool--it's the sudden stop when it hits the ground. And while a lot of manufacturers like to boast about how tough their tools are, Bosch has taken the durability game to a new level: The company has been dropping...

OSHA's big four. (Safety First).(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)(causes of jobsite injuries and deaths)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is focusing its attention on what some call the "Big 4" causes of jobsite injuries and deaths: falls, trench and excavation accidents, electrocutions, and workers being struck by or...

Zero-defect stucco: best practices for long-term quality. (SiteLines: dispatches from the field).
July 1, 2003... Unbeatable for strength and durability, stucco provides protection from extreme weather with minimal maintenance. In fact, in some climates it's reasonable to expect 50 years of beauty and duty from properly applied stucco. What can cause a...

Handle with care: tips for moving and installing glass and mirrors. (SiteLines: dispatches from the field).
July 1, 2003... Every time you move a piece of glass, you risk breaking it. Since picture and clerestory windows, mirrors, and shower doors are often custom items, they take time to re-fabricate if they get broken. Smart, safe--and slow--are the key words for...

Safe sites: tune up your crew's scaffold safety. (SiteLines: dispatches from the field).
July 1, 2003... If you take your scaffold setup for granted--better think again. OSHA has put unsafe scaffolding on its "Most Wanted" list of safety violations in an effort to reduce the 79 deaths each year caused by bad setups. Fall protection, access,...

Launch time 2003.(Advertisement)
July 1, 2003... Cooper Hand Tools Lufkin Pro Series measuring tapes feature the Dura-Life five-rivet end hook, which positions rivets away from the center of the tape, providing more durability. The 1-inch-wide blade lasts five times longer than other...

Diamonds in the rough: if you have to cut concrete, masonry, and steel, here are four tough cut-off saws that can do the job. (Cut Off Saws)(Cover Story).
July 1, 2003... Long before I became a builder, I used gasoline-powered portable cut-off saws in the Air Force for crash and rescue recovery work to cut through automobile and airplane wreckage and buildings. I left the Air Force long ago, but not the saws....

Pressure points: need big air? We tested five compressors that will keep you moving. (Compressors).
July 1, 2003... For large jobs, I run from four to six framing nailers per crew, and I need a compressor that keeps up as those carpenters are nailing like crazy. Whether we're gang-nailing, sheathing or sinking mills into LVL, when the compressor tank is...

Roofing nails. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).(Advertisement)
July 1, 2003... Maze Nails now offers hot-dipped galvanized wire-weld coil roofing nails that qualify for federal building projects. The nails undergo the Stormguard double hot-dipped process and carry a lifetime warranty against rust. The coils fit all of the...

Recip saw blades. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).(Advertisement)
July 1, 2003... Lenox Lazer 1-inch-wide heavy-duty metal-cutting recip saw blades from American Saw & Mfg. Co. cut pipe, structural steel, and stainless steel. According to the company, the blades' tooth design increases blade life and cutting speed, and the...

Stud sensor. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).(Advertisement)
July 1, 2003... New to Zircon's StudSensor line, the StudSensor Pro SL-AC locates wood and metal studs as well as hot electrical current. The unit has StudScan mode, for scanning to 3/4 inch, and DeepScan, for reach to depths of 1 1/2 inches. The tool features...

Siding carrier. (Product watch: keeping you on top of the latest tools and accessories).(Advertisement)
July 1, 2003... This fiber-cement siding carrier from Pacific International Tool & Shear allows users to move up to five pieces of 5h6-inch lap siding around the jobsite. Load the carrier on a table, center the boards, and grip the carrier with both hands; the...

We just love tools. Is that a problem? (ToolHounds).(making of a tool expert)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... This guy knows tools from the inside out--literally. As a principal and vice president of Orco Construction Supply, headquartered in Livermore, Calif., Hal Look can tell you what tool you need if you visit one of his stores, but what really...