Cool Tools, lesser known tools that can improve your life

Pearl Sutton wrote:

Pearl Sutton wrote:

David Wieland wrote:My favourite tool for sharpening bladed tools, at least those used outdoors is the Speedy Sharp (speedysharp.com/). Although the company touts it for kitchen knives as well, I think it's a little too aggressive for those and prefer a diamond stick or water stone. But a Speedy Sharp can't be beat for pruners, loppers, axes and the like.

Thank you! I just ordered one. I'm very interested to see if I get along with it!

Update:
For assorted reasons I ended up getting two of a different brand of the same type of thing.
I haven't used it for my outdoor tools yet, but what I have tried it on, and absolutely LOVE it for, is my scissors! INCLUDING my sewing scissors, and those have to be perfect or they snag the fabric. I was not sure it was wise to try that tool on them, but ooooh, it worked nice!
I'm debating more of them so I have them in various places in the house for use.
Thank you! I am VERY pleased with them!

I'm involved in the bushcraft and sword community and for sharpening stuff I use a Worksharp MK2 knife and tool sharper that sort of resembles a belt sander. They have since replaced it with the Ken Onion Edition Elite Sharpener which is more than twice the price because he's sort of a celebrity in the knife community. The original works great and I never needed to upgrade to the Ken Onion. It works on swords, knives, axes, shovels, scissors, pruners, and so much more.

Worksharp MK2 knife and tool sharper



Ken Onion Edition Elite Sharpener version

Devin Lavign wrote:  It works on swords, knives, axes, shovels, scissors, pruners, and so much more.

Personally if I have such discretionary funds, I would get this instead and build a wooden jig
to match my hardware or go freehand. It is more versatile.

With my poor brain-muscle coordination, I prefer to clamp the machete/sword/axe/knife
to something rigid and move the stone/belt/strop .

I like to browse hardware at an actual brick and mortar business rather
than poring over a website even the ones that have pan-and-zoom pictures.

I can look for features like extra mounting holes for an angle grinder
or stuff I can modify to my needs.

Here is a freebie that costs next to nothing. I have seen many ideas
and modifications for the 5-gallon bucket.       What's another one?

In keeping with my universal suggestions for improving almost
anything, IE add a hole, add an inspection port/handle/hook/scratches,
add cheese/mayonnaise/bacon, add test points, add a circuit break(where
you can insert a coil to measure current with a clamp ammeter), add
paint(or brush a marker pen/pencil across bas relief text to make them
stand out). . . . . . here is an example of a hole. A non-existent "tool"
that improves the 5-gallon bucket by addressing the lack of a handle
detent.

All the buckets I have seen have handles flopping by the side. None
stand tall and proud to permit a rope with a grappling hook, lowered
from  the balcony to snag them.

Here I have used a bit of string/cordage. If you must know, the
knot at the top is the woodland zip tie which has replaced the
constrictor in my arsenal because the knot still works suspended
in mid air like when you tie up a bundle of twigs/branches.

At the bucket end, a few wraps around the rim and a few loose
overhand knots.

A bonus video - I doubt they teach this in the scouts.

Speaking of buckets, I really like Bucket Grips.





They are grip handles that easily attach to standard 5 gallon buckets. Which makes carrying them a lot easier.

They can be found here https://www.bucketgrips.com/

I just learned about these and haven't tried them yet, but they look revolutionary. It's a ratcheting strap where the strap isn't fixed, so you can use any webbing and you can move the ratcheting system to where you want it.



found here https://niteize.com/camjam-ratchet-strap-system-large

I also learned about Roller Cam & Rope Roller. When you don't need a ratchet strap but still want to hold something.



can be found on Amazon here https://www.amazon.com/Roperoller-Tightening-Rollercam-Technology-Accessory/dp/B0D9PB2X2N
or from the company here https://rollercam.com/collections

I've thought of a couple more uncommon tools that I've found quite useful: a garden spork (https://tool-garden.com/shop/krumpholz-garden-tool/spade/1381-gaertnerspork/) and a root-cutter transplant spade (https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/garden/garden-care/spades/75490-radius-root-cutter-transplant-spade?item=pg117).

I bought the spork (not to be confused with the spoon-fork eating utensil) many years ago from Lee Valley Tools, but unfortunately it's no longer in their catalog, which is why I linked to a European site (better for European permies at least). I've found the spork to be especially useful in chopping kitchen compost into the outdoor bin, especially after I sharpened the tines. I haven't treated it kindly, so it's quite weathered now but still strong.

The spade is very heavy-duty, which is not something you can say about traditional transplanting spades. Again, after sharpening it can cut through some pretty tough roots and then lever a heavy plant out of the ground without bending, as a light spade would likely do.