As Gary pointed out the other day in his Quick Tip, a simple ruler can come in really handy on the jobsite and you probably have an old one from a combination square lying around somewhere. But is the Paolini Pocket Rule from Woodpeckers better solution?
As a finish carpenter, I have an apron pocket assigned for a small combination square. (In addition to whatever else finds its way in that pocket) But I notice that after tightening the ruler in the base over and over again, inevitably the day comes when the ruler no longer tightens in the base and it's time for a new combo square. So it was that as I was digging around in my tool box, I found a couple of loose steel rulers. Now I'm not one to throw something out if it has a purpose, but what can...
Johnson has come out with a couple of new torpedo levels designed to meet the specific needs of tradesmen. These 6-inch and 9-inch levels are not your typical plastic torpedo levels but instead are machined out of solid aluminum and offer other professional features.
A couple of years ago Johnson Level first introduced their bamboo levels. Bamboo is advantageous to use for a number of reasons including strength and sustainability, so is it any wonder that they have decided to introduce a line of T-Bevels and Try-Squares that use the fast growing grass?
Kreg has come out with a new layout tool that just might be good enough to replace your combination square for good. Why? Everything I use my combination square for the Kreg Multi-Mark can do, but it can also do so much more.
Remember those car commercials a few years back advertising that "wider is better"? I guess what applies to cars may also apply to tools. The LaSquare uses this very idea and brings us a "wider is better" combination square that features a 2-inch wide foot.
The 360 Laser Line technology that Bosch has developed has always been impressive to me. It offers much of the benefits of a traditional rotary laser but because it has less moving parts, it can be manufactured at a fraction of the cost. Not to mention that it is super handy to see the line all around the room. Bosch is now moving this same 360 technology to their CST/berger brand and have introduced the LL20 Exterior Self Leveling Line Laser.
Hat tip to Jay over at CopTool for discovering this one. It turns out the 2012 Bosch Tool Catalog is now available at select tools stores and available online, and hidden inside its paper-thin walls are a few exciting new tools. Jay discovered a new Bosch Laser that is specifically designed to check the levelness of floors as well as a new Bosch wet tile/stone saw. Too bad it looks like the floor level cannot be used on walls. When doing wall paneling, a flat wall is a must and making a wall flat is the hardest part. ...
Update: Website and additional photos added.
Early next year Swanson Tools will be launching a new professional line of hand tools called Savage. Now I always figured Swanson tools were already for professionals, so I guess this new line of tools will be for more professional professionals, not just your everyday run of the mill professional.
When we are looking for accurate and repeatable measurements, we often turn to the trusty story pole. Though, our story pole usually consists of just a scrap piece of wood that is either cut to the right length or has measurement markings drawn on it. After all, being able to use the scraps we already have on hand, is what makes the story pole great. But what if you are doing a lot of measuring, and you need something that is going to be able to handle the abuse that goes along with production work? ...
