Layout & Measuring

The Anker 757 PowerHouse 1500W portable power station normally sells for $1,399.99, but I was able to partner with Anker, and they are offering ToolRank readers a special Black Friday / Cyber Monday discount of $420 OFF when you use Coupon Code TOOLRANK757 during checkout. This offer expires on December 10th, 2022.  In case you have missed it, you can read my full review of the Anker 757 PowerHouse right hereright here.

A few weeks ago I posted on Facebook about my super simple method for growing hydroponic tomatoes with no electricity; and though this is not tool related, enough people seemed interested about it that I figured I would write up a full article explaining my Kratky hydroponics setup.

I have always looked at the Festool MFT (Multi-Function Table) as great little work table, but not practical for jobsite use. I just never liked the idea of having to carry it around on the jobsite along with all of my other tools. But Timothy Wilmots' modified MFTC (Multi-Function Tool Cart) looks like an ideal way to transport both the MFT and your tools.

When you are working with exotic woods it is not always easy to find matching dowel stock. You might be able to find something from a specialty store online, but if you are in a hurry, good luck finding it at your local store. The best way to find dowel stock to match your project is to make your own

All to often I see news reports about tools that are stolen from a jobsite. These tools are required for a person in construction to do his or her job, and a loss of tools can be very damaging. Below I have put together a list of tips – some obvious, some not – on how you can prevent tool theft and how you can recover stolen tools.

We have seen circular saws used as table saw replacements with the Eurekazone tracksaw system, and now there is a new system from PUPS (Portable Universal Power Station) that can turn a circular saw to an accurate miter saw.

We have seen a couple of combination miter/table saws now enjoying freedom in the U.K., one from Bosch with a table mounted on top of a miter saw, and one from Makita that flips to transform. Now it is DeWalt's turn to join in on the fun with their very own flipping combination transformation miter/table saw.

In an effort to better organize my home workspace I decided that I needed to get some of my non-work tools out of boxes/bags and into places where I could more easily access the ones I use most. My solution was simple, and probably the same solution that many of you use, pegboard. A full sheet of pegboard is cheap, and with the right hooks and attachments, you can organize a good portion of your tools. Next all I needed was pegboard hooks. Lucky for me, my Father had a box full of them that he let me dig...

Actually I am only telling you a half truth. The latest bits from Lee Valley will give you a square hole and does use a drill, but there is more to the story. This new tool is actually a fancy square hole punch that uses a drill bit to remove most of the wood material. For those of you wondering, yes, it functions almost exactly the same way as an electric mortise machine.

Do you need a trailer that you can just pull up to the job site and get right to work without having to unload all your tools. The problem with most trailers is the limited access to your tools. If you need something in the back, you have to unload everything in front of it.