Another outstanding LumberJocks Woodworking Awards event is over. The results are in and it’s time to officially announce the winners. The winning projects were selected from the record breaking 151 total submissions in an online voting held from February 1 to February 7. 252 votes were cast during this period. And here are the winners…

1st: Owenusa - Earthquake Box 
2nd: Rj - Dislplay Table   
3rd: Andy - Eye Candy
4th - 10th: See Here 

Armor Professional Work Wear makes work pants (mostly for painters) that have additional pockets for knee pads. Sounds like a simple gimmick that you might think, big deal, at first glance. I was lucky enough to demo a pair and was very impressed. The construction of the pants was very solid, material was a heavy weight but still comfortable. The knee pads are flexible squares that simply slide in and out of the knee pockets so it’s very easy to take them out for wearing them around the house and then put them in when it’s time to work. Not to say they are a problem to leave in because you really don’t notice the knee pads just walking around.

The knee pads will not replace a true knee pad for those laying flooring or other such work but for just doing projects around the house or general construction work you wouldn’t believe how they change the way you work. Our shop has concrete floors but when you are wearing these it changes the way you work by allowing you to get down under projects like second nature. I also showed them to a cable installer and he thought they were the greatest invention since sliced bread because in addition to added support, these would help keep his knees from getting muddy/wet outside.

The background story on these pants in also pretty interesting one. It is all about professional painters but I think they are ideal for anyone who has a favorite pair of work pants, which I would bet is everyone who reads coptool.com. Cost is $35 (white) & $40 (tan) per pair. Here is a YouTube on these:

New as of today you can now take advantage of this great Bosch Power Tool deal for either a Free 18V Battery BAT609 ($77 value) or 18v Flashlight. The deal is a Mail-In Rebate but it applies to almost all the kits even the inexpensive kits that are only $179 (like the 36618-02). The BAT609 is the SlimPak battery but unlike other systems the slim battery will work with any of the tools. There are also some new 18v tool coming down the pipe for Bosch so you can be confident this system will grow. Checkout all the Bosch 18 Volt Lithium Tools on OhioPowerTool.com.

I recently sat through an hour plus presentation on new building code compliance for “Cracked Concrete” and the different products available from Powers Fasteners. As you can imagine this was a thrilling endeavor but unlike the name might suggest, it had nothing to do with fixing cracks in concrete. Instead it was all about what different types of concrete fasteners that meet the new codes for use in buildings today (even more exciting than you thought right). Powers does however make a great product for fast setting crack repairs in concrete floors and roads called PowerPatch. Also World of Concrete 2010 is only a few days and I need to bone up on my product knowledge.

The Concrete PowerPatch Kit ($153, Ohio Power Tool) is a 3 step process where an equal part A & B are mixed together then 3 times part C (aggregate) is added. The mix is incredibly fast acting and can be ready for road traffic in as little as 15 minutes. This product is idea for repairing heavy traffic sprall, patching bridge deck, walk-in freezer floor (cures in 60 minutes at 10°f), airport runways or patch prior to coating applications. The area does need to be very clean and dry before applying. Checkout the video below for more information:

I just watched the Web Cast for the launch of RIDGIDConnect given by Jay Gatz, VP of Strategic Planning and there were some statistics I found interesting in their research. Of those currently using video inspections equipment 60% are already recording digitally on DVD or other media, 51% currently use laptops on the jobsite, 65% said they needed to save the recordings for a year or more and 40% said they needed to share the recordings with other people. It looks like pricing for the service will run between $49 - $129/month which could be worth it for many reasons. Obviously if some 40% are still recording inspections onto VHS this service will not be for everyone but seems like it would be the next logical step in improving efficiency. Checkout the full Ridgid Press Release Below the video:

The days of waiting any amount of time to see what is new and hot from a trade show appear to be over. Today is the last day of the 2010 IBS show and already there are plenty of YouTube videos, twitter feeds (#ibs2010) and blog posts from the show. Of course there will be plenty more to come but this is a good start. We were going to attend but had to choose between this show and World of Concrete Feb. 2-5, which we will be attending in 12 days, stay tuned.

Wood Worker’s  Journal (YouTube) – One of our favorite woodworking personalities Chris Marshall, is currently on hand at the 2010 show and already has a dozen plus videos up on YouTube. Get more info and read recent blog posts from Chris Marshall.   

 Bob Villa, On The Level (Blog) – I’m sure Mr. Villa himself is held up in a Las Vegas hotel room tweeting and trying to knock these blog posts out each night after the show before making his way onto the strip for a little R&R… Ok maybe not but “On The Level” still offers a nice look at some of the new innovative consumer products from the show.

IBS2010 Video Booth (YouTube) – On the IBS2010 home page they have a link to YouTube (bottom of every page), apparently at the show they set up an almost live Video Booth where you can go in and talk about the show and be almost famous.

Sears Blue Crew (YouTube) – If you are interested in some of the new craftsman products these guys have several videos up already from the “Garage of Innovations” set up just outside the convention center. They also stopped by the Bosch Booth, Rockwell and a few others for a quick update on new products.  

These are just a few of the different online media sources for info from the 2010 International Builders Show and many more will be popping up over the next few days.  

Still waiting for a good strong metal bit that can cut harder metals...

You may remember the 10” Makita LS1016L we took a look at several months ago. This saw added cut capacity while cutting the actual overall tool profile, making it much friendlier to use. I was really impressed at the time and the obvious question was when does the 12” come out? Chris over at Tool-Rank.com  tipped us off today and has all the stats up on his site as well. It looks like it shares many of the innovative features of the 10” but the capacity is obviously larger, up to 8” crown molding (nested). I look forward to getting my grubby little paws on one of these soon because it could be a serious contender for my next miter saw.  

Its official today Ridgid has available the new 100’ microREELs which are the big brothers of the SeeSnake microDRAINs (30’). With the addition of the new line comes many different options to configure both systems so to keep things strait the microDRAIN also picks up model number D30, while the microREEL can also be referred to as the L100.

The microDRAIN now also has an optional 512Hz Sonde for locating the camera head, these models will be designated D30S. The case can be configured for use with microEXPLORER or traditional SeeSnake Monitors. There is also an option to simply purchase the Drum Only with either the D30 or D30S configuration, which will work with any of the microREELs. The microDRAIN camera head is still slightly smaller and more flexible so a better option for P-Traps and smaller lines with tight turns. (Popular models 32663, 34233, 33103, 34618)

The microREEL comes standard with a 512Hz Sonde but does have an option for a reel counter; these models are designated as L100C. Similar to the microDRAIN you can get a case that will work with the Explorer or traditional SeeSnake Monitors. The microREEL will also switch between microREEL drums and microDRAIN drums in a matter of seconds so the unit is extremely versatile. (Popular models 35133, 35183, 35143, 35188)

Ohio Power Tool has many of these new models in-stock and can answer specific questions on specifications and pricing. Call 800-242-4424 or email your questions to sales@ohiopowertool.com. Complete systems can run between $2,000-$4,000 which is significantly less than a system in the past and can pay for themselves fairly quickly. If you are interested in more info on the microREEL, checkout the short video below:

When setting this up there were several guys in and out of the workshop and I heard a couple of comments like, oh yeah I saw that on the infomercial. That was to be expect I suppose however one of the guy had actually said his mother asked if he wanted a Jawhorse for Christmas and if someone’s mom is asking about it for a Christmas present, I’m going to assume all the Coptool.com readers have at least heard about it. Also several other fellow bloggers have already done reviews on this: ToolSnob, HomeFixated (see their video below), Stu’s Shed, LumberJocks, Toolguyd, Toolmonger, etc.

Having seen the infomercial myself it seemed like the Jawhorse could potentially be a very handy piece of hardware however I don’t fully believe anything I see on TV. I just saw the movie Avatar and can no longer tell the difference between what’s real and what is CGI. So when this Jawhorse came in the mail I was pleasantly surprised that the box seemed to weigh a ton. Not so heavy you can’t carry it, but beefy metal construction (no plastic) with solid springs. The best way I can describe it would be to say it feels like if it fell off a moving truck I’m pretty confident it would still work fine. It was also fully assembled and set up in seconds, right out of the box. Because there are already so many other reviews on the Jawhorse itself I’m going to dive in on the 2 accessory kits I also had a chance to review. Checkout our 20+ review photos.

Looking at some new Ridgid Plumbing & Locating gear for 2010? Checkout the Spring Fling 2010 Mail-In rebate flyer good for purchase made from now until March 31. Some of the deals are better than others but across the board there are some nice freebies including 9.5mm Micros, Explorers and 18v Monitor Batteries. The 4^th page of this flyer also highlights some of the 100’ microReel, more info on those to come shortly.

For more information on this promotion or any Ridgid plumbing products visit OhioPowerTool.com, also feel free to email questions to sales@ohiopowertool.com or call at 800-242-4424.

Announced officially today Milwaukee Tool has come out with a M12 Grease Gun 2446-21XC (Ohio Power Tool, $199). This is a new category for Milwaukee and will go up directly against the Lincoln Lube 12V PowerLuber 1244 (Ohio Power Tool, $199) which has been the most popular cordless grease gun for several years. When compared head to head, Milwaukee vs Lincoln Lube the 12 volt Milwaukee has several advantages. The two kits cost about the same however M12 2446-21XC offers higher pressure with 8,000psi, a battery that can dispense 7 tubes, almost double the lincoln (although 1244 includes 2 batteries vs 2446-21XC kit with 1) and possibly most significantly the Milwaukee M12 battery is shares with 20+ other tools while the Lincoln 12V battery can only be used on the one tool.

The Milwaukee grease gun also offers many innovative new features right down to the basic design of the tool, which has a base and more supportive tube enclosure. Hopefully this new design will prevent some of the damage we see every day with cracked handles and housings. Lincoln does offer an 18 volt PowerLuber 1844 (Ohio Power Tool, $267) which can pump 8-10 tubes per battery and has 2 speed transmission, high volume & high pressure but even their high pressure option is only 7,500psi. The higher pressure is required for some applications, also very useful in cold weather or clearing clogged zerk fittings.        

Overall I think the Milwaukee Grease Gun 2446-21XC Kit (also available as tool only 2446-20XC, $129) will be a very popular item if for no other reason than there are already so many Milwaukee M12 tools and batteries out there. As the M12 line grows it makes the case stronger for all the other existing tools, also this is the first tool we have seen a kit include the M12 XC high capacity battery but it gives me hope on expanding the line further in the future. Read the full Milwaukee press release below:

At first I thought this website was all about tricked out garages that cost more than $100,000 to build, which also would have been a cool website. However that is not the case for www.100kgarages.com  which is actually a site dedicated to the small fabricators across the country.

The idea is that a network of small and medium size fab shops all connected together would allow any crazy eyed individual within the network to have the capacity of a large manufacturing plant at their finger tips. For instance if you prototyped a product (you don’t even need your own equipment, checkout www.columbusideafoundry.com in Central Ohio) and wanted to sell a million of that product through a website, you could load the plans on the network and those from all over with capacity could manufacturer the product. This helps the person who needs manufacturing capability and also those with down time, to utilize their equipment and make a few extra bucks.

So far the network is centered around the Shopbot CNC router machines which makes sense but could, in the future, be applied to CNC Mills, Laser Cutters, Water-Jet, etc. There are endless possibilities to the technology and as it develops, new possibilities will continue to arise. The website www.ponoko.com brings everything together with material suppliers, creative folks and even buyers.     

The new IR 259 essentially replaces the 258 as their mid-level ¾” gun for Ingersoll Rand. However there is nothing mid-level about this tool. It’s smaller and lighter than any other gun in its class. The gun delivers an impressive 1,050 ft lbs torque in both forward and reverse and only requires a 3/8” air inlet hose, unlike many others which require ½” inlets hose. The new design has better weight distribution, easier to switch from forward and reverse and I imagine easier to service and repair from the looks of the large bolts on the front.

The new Ingersoll Rand 259 ($299.99, Ohio Power Tool) is very competitively priced, offers variable control trigger and is assembled in the US. Although, is assembled in the US what we really get excited for these days? All around this is a great gun at a great price and it looks pretty cool as well.