Cool Tools, lesser known tools that can improve your life

I agree that Speedies qualify as durable goods -- they last a loooong time. I only have one that's showing a bit of wear, and that's because I was abusing it trying to thin out the edge on a CPM S30V blade.

EDIT: I should add that everyone has their own system and their own preferred methods. That's fine -- there is no single "right way." A sharp edge that gets the job done is what matters.

Here's another buyer's-remorse-I'm-over-that-now tool, An HSFTOOLS F2W thermal camera.

I've wanted one for years, but, well, cost.  That said, I decided to bite the bullet and dropped the $300.00, after doing a lot of looking around.

Now, I can look at our ceiling, in the 105 F heat, and see where every 2x4 of each truss is. That thermal bridging thing (heat carried in and out of a house by way of those 2x's that seem like they should work like insulation, but don't).  I can see the major heat leaks at each light can. I can see that 3-1/2" of insulation is 12", or more, less R38 insulation I should have. Both for comfort in the most severe weather and for adding to the life of the HVAC and heat pump system.

I can look at that house and shop power panel and see the one breaker (or more) is running hotter than I like, so the connections at the breaker and the outlets downstream should be checked for solid connections, to minimize fire risk.

I can look at an outlet and see if it's running hot and in need of attention.

I can look at powered electronics boards and see if there is a hotspot developing.

I can look at a motor, electrical or gas, and see if it's running hotter than it should be.

I can see where insulation is lacking in exterior walls.

I can look into my backyard on one of those nights you cannot see your hand in front of your face and see the wildlife, or undesirables infiltrating by territory.

I can use the imager to find water leaks (cooler spots).

AND there is that whole, "how is your Rocket Stove working" thing

. . . .




https://www.amazon.com/HSFTOOLS-F2W-Thermal-Resolution-Carrying/dp/B0D8WC31Y9/ref=asc_df_B0D8WC31Y9?mcid=d02b7a38d90239a88c2ca9ab410b2034&hvocijid=1398380972963075953-B0D8WC31Y9-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1398380972963075953&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033649&hvtargid=pla-2281435180218&psc=1

Here's a lesser-known tool that comes in handy for tightening (or loosening) nuts and bolts when away from the shop, barn, garage, or wherever you keep wrenches. It's the descriptively titled Pocket Wrench (https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/hand-tools/wrenches-and-ratchets/72640-pocket-wrench). I keep mine in the greenhouse, beside the garden, when it's not in my pocket.

So I got a chance to sharpen some of my oscillating tool blades.



I tried to upload this a few days ago but my phone WiFi hotspot was not enough to do it. Setting up the Tiger’s Teeth sharpener was actually  longer than sharpening. Changing the main sharping spindle the belt was a little fiddly, but they do provide good access port to get to the belt.



Over all sharpening wasn’t too bad, a lot of the blades I sharpened were in pretty bad shape and some damaged and missing teeth. Some of the blades were toothed with opposing teeth. When I sharpened them I just did one side.





So the post sharpening was a little ruff due to some of the things I mentioned plus my inexperience.





All the wood blades did well in testing even the hardwood ones. I didn’t test the metal blades since I don’t have metal to cut and any cutting of metal WILL damage the blade.

I like the Tiger's Teeth sharpener, I think it is way better than the POG sharpener. With the price of blades it is well worth the price.

David Wieland wrote:Here's a lesser-known tool that comes in handy for tightening (or loosening) nuts and bolts when away from the shop, barn, garage, or wherever you keep wrenches. It's the descriptively titled Pocket Wrench (https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/hand-tools/wrenches-and-ratchets/72640-pocket-wrench). I keep mine in the greenhouse, beside the garden, when it's not in my pocket.

I just learned about these Knipex parellel action pliers



https://www.youtube.com/shorts/h0X8yMQLkl0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wyHmK9rHQs&ab_channel=Engineer%E2%80%99sPerspective

They allow you to hold things really well. It's like a combination of Vise-Grips and channel locks

* edit to add picture of pliers since youtube links weren't working

Oh, yeah!
Id always heard about these from other electricians that swore by them, so when they showed up at the reuse Hub.
Now they live in my purse, along with the 6 in one screwdriver!

I have the set, and the "Cresent" replacement. Once you get past the sticker shock, which is after a few uses, you couldn't go back.

William Bronson wrote:Oh, yeah!
Id always heard about these from other electricians that swore by them, so when they showed up at the reuse Hub.
Now they live in my purse, along with the 6 in one screwdriver!

William Bronson wrote:Oh, yeah!
Id always heard about these from other electricians that swore by them, so when they showed up at the reuse Hub.
Now they live in my purse, along with the 6 in one screwdriver!

I think those are the Cobra's, the ones I pointed out act more like a crescent wrench replacement. They have a different jaw that has no teeth so it won't mar things, but they way they work is supper strong.