Comments on: 25 Cool Tools, Gear, Gift Ideas!

By: jake

jake — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 23:55:54 +0000

The Allex Cardboard Scissors have been absolutely wonderful for cardboard and clamshell packaging. Thank you Stuart and Fred very much for recommending them.

By: HC

HC — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 18:20:42 +0000

I like this stool. 400lb capacity. https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200937683_200937683

By: Stuart

Stuart — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 15:04:30 +0000

In reply to John. Thanks! That looks interesting, but I'm not sure how practical it would be, even for bike maintenance.

By: John

John — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 12:52:23 +0000

Stuart,
In reading about the Engineer twin wrench driver I came across this:
UNICHE Stepless Bicycle Ratchet Mini Tool with Reversible Function. Multitool Repair Kit Road & Mountain Bikes. Handy Wrench Tool for Bicycles + Home. Include 7 Hex bits, Extension bar, Flat4 and PH1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BKQHB7G
I hope you can get your hands on one and will consider a review. Seems really useful and well made.

By: William Adams

William Adams — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 04:34:38 +0000

In reply to John. A similar ratcheting design is the Silca T-ratchet --- I have the version w/ a torque bar and the setup is one of my favourite tools ever.

By: fred

fred — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 14:32:33 +0000

In reply to Wayne+R..

My smallest hemostats (for hobby work – not surgery) are also called “mosquito clamps”

https://www.amazon.com/XTRM-CRAFT-Mosquito-Hemostat-Stainless/dp/B098TT9PL3

While not having the same grip-strength – DeBakey Bulldog Clamps (more like cross-locking tweezers) are made in even smaller sizes:

https://www.amazon.com/G-S-DEBAKEY-BULLDOG-CLAMP-STRAIGHT/dp/B00WEGOHHK

By: Matt+the+Hoople

Matt+the+Hoople — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 13:04:26 +0000

In reply to fred. I have that Mora chisel knife. It is great for general woodworking tasks. As for the boat, Mora makes a bright orange serrated version of the companion that we keep on our boat for cutting lines and such. Wonderful knives for the price. Craftline line is a steal.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 01:42:53 +0000

I bought a Mannkitchen Pepper Cannon during the kickstarter campaign, so I didn’t pay full price, but man that thing is solid and very well made. Best pepper grinder I have every used.

By: fred

fred — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 22:57:23 +0000

In reply to William Adams.

It was a gift to a niece who is into biking. Not sure about anything else. But I can say that the price that I paid for it at a place called Condor Cycles – was about the same as I would have paid on Amazon (even after I got the VAT back). So, while I can recommend London and the UK for visiting – don’t go if all you want is a bargain on a Brooks bag.

By: fred

fred — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 21:51:57 +0000

In reply to Ball_bearing.

The Vim RBF400K – is clever. You get 3 pieces:
1) A 6-inch-long ratchet with flex head and 1/4 hex drive – plus 1/4 hex socket at the back end of the handle
2 Vim’s ADT14 plug that converts 1/4 hex to 1/4 square drive
3) Vim’s ME14 – 4 inch long by 1/4 hex magnetic bit extension that can be used as a sliding T-Bar or extension handle for the ratchet or an extension for a bit/socket

By: Ball_bearing

Ball_bearing — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 19:44:42 +0000

In reply to John. The VIM RBF400K, and the Prestacycle Pro T-handle ratchet offer those capabilities. Ratcheting side, inline bit holder at the end of the handle, and with the extensions, the option to use them as T-handles for extra torque, and reach. The VIM also has a locking flex head design. They lack the nice grippy coating. The price is just five to ten dollars more than the engineer twin wrench, but might be worth it for the extra features.

By: KokoTheTalkingApe

KokoTheTalkingApe — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 18:43:23 +0000

Nice list! IMO gift lists should be a little extravagant, especially if the money gets you something that works better, rather than just a brand name.

I’d add Knipex pliers-wrench and Cobra pliers. Expensive but actually worth it. A pair of each in 5″ or 7″ would be great, or a pair of pliers-wrenches in different sizes.

The Veritas DX60 block plane Stuart already posted would make a dandy gift too, but it’s spendy. Planes from Lie-Nielsen would also be good.

By: fred

fred — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 18:11:03 +0000

In reply to MM.

There seem to be lots of other “kant twist style” clamps. I’d trust the originals and Strong Hand – no experience with the other knockoffs. The big ones do get pricey:

https://www.amazon.com/Kant-Twist-T-Handle-Cantilever-Clamp-K120T/dp/B07SBXBV2X

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 18:08:37 +0000

Thanks for the article. I did enjoy it. I bummed my first forceps (hemostats) off my dentist some 50 plus years ago for fishing and have a variety of them still. I can’t see 150 for a fidget toy but got sucked in by the cardboard shears. Merry Christmas all.

By: William Adams

William Adams — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 17:40:56 +0000

In reply to fred.

I’ve been considering getting one for my bike setup for a while — how is it working out in terms of usage?

What loadout do you have in it?

By: John

John — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 17:08:22 +0000

I like the engineer twin driver for the simple reason that I think it’s great to have 2 different driver bits at-the-ready. All too often, I need to switch back and forth between two different bits, and it’s frustrating to have to swap out bits, or even switch tools.
It would be extra great if they made a ratcheting version. That I would snap up immediately.

By: MM

MM — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 15:24:05 +0000

In reply to fred. The Kant-Twists are great too! Strong Hand also makes something similar they call the "Shark".

By: fred

fred — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 15:16:25 +0000

In reply to MM.

We had a mix of welding clamps from Bessey, Kant-Twist, Strong Hand (Valtra), and Urko.

In my home shop I have some Strong Hand exopandos that come in handy from time to time:

https://www.amazon.com/Expand-Pliers-Reverse-Action-Clamping-Pressure/dp/B000VH805E

and a Jointmaster:

https://www.amazon.com/JointMaster-Degree-Angle-Clamping-Throat/dp/B01FWK27MQ

By: fred

fred — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 15:07:29 +0000

In reply to Farmerguy.

On my last sojourn to the UK I bought a Brooks bicycle tool bag as a gift to bring back. Probably more luxury than practicality – but still quite nice:

https://www.amazon.com/Brooks-Saddles-Challenge-Honey-Large/dp/B00CQICMSM

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 15:03:49 +0000

“in a pinch it can be used as a small hammer” – I mean, pretty much anything can be used as a small hammer, can’t it? Probably things that cost less than $150 too.