Videos

What’s New in My Tool Box

Donald shows us his recent tool purchases

In this video I’m going to give you a preview and a quick overview of some of the tools I’ve ordered in recently. Most of these haven’t been tested yet, but I thought you might like an early look. And for what it’s worth, most of the tools here are under $10. Let’s go through it, and you can find Amazon links for these down in the description.

Komelon Measuring Tape, 1-Inch X 25Ft ($9)
First up, the Komelon Gripper Speed Mark 25ft tape measure. This one cost me just under $9 on Amazon. I’ve been buying up a few different tape measure options for a comparison video I’m working on. No spoilers, but this is one of my favorites so far. It’s well built, and the measurements are extremely easy to read. You also get fractional measurements written out. At $9, it’s an easy one to recommend already.

TEKTON 6268 Tarp Clips, 4-Piece (4 for $7)
Next I have these tarp clips from Tekton. These came in a 4-pack for around $7. These came in handy recently when I was trying to cover up my go kart with a tarp and some bungee cords. The tarp was oversized for the car, so the eyelets around the edge of the tarp were useless.

My friend Brian had a set of these around, and they allow you to clamp a temporary grommet anywhere on your tarp for a perfect fit. Keep them with your bungee cords. Really convenient.

Stanley 93-301 14-Inch Yellow Panel Carry Handle ($8)
Next up, an $8 Panel Carry Handle from Stanley. I haven’t tested this, but if you’ve ever tried to carry around a full 4×8 panel of plywood, it’s super awkward to grip unless maybe you’re 7 feet tall. This handle is specifically made to extend your grip just enough to make it easier. It’s made of plastic, so I’m not sure how well it’ll hold up. But it’s name brand, and at $8 I figured it was worth a shot.

Home Right C800369 Roller Cleaner and Handy Painters Tool ($5_
This one is a real wild card. It’s a painters tool and roller cleaner I picked up for $5. With the painters tool you can comb paint out of brushes or squeegee the paint out of rollers with the ring part. This other part fits onto a faucet and is supposed to act as a shower for rollers. I’m skeptical, for willing to give it a shot for the price.

Rust-Oleum Automotive 260510 12-Ounce 2 In 1 Filler and Sandable Primer Spray ($15)
Here’s the splurge item on the list. It’s a filler/primer spray paint that costs $15 a can. I’ve used this specifically for getting a smooth finish on 3D prints. The filler gets in the grooves and holes and the primer gives a foundation for more paint. This one specifically calls out that it’s sandable. It’s really meant for car body work. You can put it down on rusty metal. It’s probably overkill for what I’m doing with it, but it works.

Fiskars Fingertip Craft Knife ($4)
Now, the cheapest item here, surprisingly, is this $4 fingertip craft knife from Fiskars. It’s meant for fine details, stencil work, block printing. By looping it around your finger, you get just a little extra control over a conventional x-acto knife. You can also relax your grip a little, which could be nice for extended work.

Copper Tape 2 in x 7 yards – Teegan Tapes ($8)
http://teegantapes.com/ 25% off code
This copper tape was a total impulse buy. I got a discount code that brought this $8 tape down closer to $5. What’s cool about this stuff is that you can use it in electronics or musical projects to shield components from radio interference. You’ll see this stuff inside electrical guitars or stompboxes. It’s also good for paper circuit experiments because it’s conductive.

Crayola 12 Count Black Original Bulk Markers ($5.41)
Finally, on the recommendation of writer Austin Kleon, I got a 12-pack of black Crayola markers. I never knew you could get these in single-color packs. This is a little like an anti-Sharpie. The line it lays down is almost like a watercolor. Austin uses them for notebook art. I got them in for a scribbling robot project I’m working on.

So there you go, a quick look at some of the new tools. I’m sure some of these will get a more in-depth look later on. Be sure to check the links in the description to learn more.

-- Donald Bell 08/21/18

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