Hand Tool Reviews

I purchased a similar 16" reel mower by Great States because I have a very small lawn and didn't want the hassle, cost, noise and environmental problems from the gas mowers I grew up with.

It took about 30 minutes to put together, with some detergent to slip the handlebars on and some elbow grease to get the nuts and bolts fastened.

When I started cutting with my mower for the first time, my neighbor saw what I was doing and rushed over saying, "you'll rip the blades of grass with that thing. You can borrow mine (big, gas-powered rear-bagger) until you can afford a REAL lawn mower."

I politely declined as he went into the house shaking his head, thinking I was nuts.

The mower cut pretty good - I had to do a few spots over again, because the cut was uneven, and it does a poor job of edging. I cut the tall grass around the tree in front of my house and edged around the sidewalk and my garden with a pair of hand shears. That took about 15 minutes.

When I was finished, I hung the mower up in my garage.

Using the reel mower was an adjustment after growing up with a big gas mower at my parents' 1960s suburban home, but my lawn is small, and I hate the hassle, noise and cost of the gas mowers (not to mention the environmental issues), I'm planning on keeping the reeel mower, but I would also recommend a good weed whacker and some grass shears.

I have a small patch of lawn for a front yard, and a large patch for a backyard. I just HATED dragging out the big noisy gas mower for the front.

I am still a bit taken aback at the price on reel mowers... but after using it, I understand.

This is no flimsy hunk of aluminum and plastic. This is a nice heavy chunk of metal. The blades will stay sharp for years. It made short work of my lawn and was NOT tedious to push around. The reel spins smoothly and is pleasant to listen to... compare it to the din of gas mowers.
I've already had a neighbor ask me where I got it.

I gave this mower only 4 stars instead of 5 because:
1. The T handle was difficult to attach to the reel. I had to whack at it with a hammer to get it into the correct position on the reel.
2. It does NOT work well on taller grass. Anything too tall just gets rolled over. (Incentive to keep the lawn in check.)
But these negatives do not outwiegh the positives.

Overall, I'm glad I got it!

I have used conventional, gas-powered, walk-behind rotary mowers my whole life. Having just recently moved to a townhouse with a smallish lawn that is in relatively good condition, I decided to experiment with a reel-type mower.

I was not expecting much, but was EXTREMELY pleased with the results. I believe this type of mower can give you a BETTER cut than you can get with your common gas mower.

On my lawn, at the 2 1/2 inch height setting, pushing the mower takes little effort. The sound this machine makes is sweet and satisfying: a sharp, whispery, snickering sound. Cutting with this instrument feels more PRECISE than with the common gas mower. You are manicuring your grass, not just ripping it to a shorter height.

The other benefits are just gravy: it costs next to nothing, it hangs in your shed, it is very light, it is safer, it takes no gas, requires no starting, and you could mow at night were you so inclined.

There is a certain simple sophistication about this kind of mower. If you have the right kind of lawn situation, getting this machine is a no-brainer.

These clamps came in handy during my recent kitchen remodeling project. I'm sure they'll be put to good use in the future as well. Easy clamping and release mechanism.

Thes clamps are simple to use and work great for any home project.They are durable and have plastic jaws so they woun't
damage the item u are trying to grip or hold together.

I have used these clamps for a few years on picture frame restoration. The small clamps are wonderful for holding small areas while glue is drying.
The only negative is the yellow pads tend to fall off as the tool ages. We have stuck picture frame bumpers on them and that seems to work fine if the pads are lost.

We love you product...but would like to know if you sell parts for this product. We have owned two of these hacksaws and have broken the front part that holds the saw blade in. Do you have this part for sale?

LOVE THE ITEM!! THIS IS THE 2ND ONE I HAVE PURCHASED!!

You can't find one any better. The tension adjustment is awesome and locks tight. No other hacksaw comes close. One word of advice, Do not over-tighten the tension adjustment. This will result in broken parts. The saw I have now is 6 years old and still in good working order. Even if it does look pretty rough, there's NO RUST. It has a set of 90 degree pins that you will usually use and a set of 45 degree pins for use in close quarters. Stop looking, this is the one.

I bought my first set 10 years ago and absolutly loved them. Three years ago I bought the exact same bags, but now the belt is a three piece belt instead of a one piece. I was also dissapointed that they cost a little more, but the craftmanship was not as good as the first pair. I still believe that they are the best set of bags on the market.

I have owned the original occidental leather belt for 15 years and decided to retire it in favor of occedental's beltless system. I was saddly dissapointed. I ordered the oxy lights awhile ago and found love again!! It's laid out just like my old set, but a noticeably lighter, especially in damp conditions. I prefer the firmness of a leather belt over codura when it comes to hanging other tools from the belt. One last note, spring for the extra $ and get the sheep skin lined belt, you will not be dissapointed.

After seven years of thrashing these bags,they are still holding up great!These bags are the most durable,user friendly set you can find.Don't let the nylon construction worry you!These bags are riveted and the corners are reinforced with leather.They've been cooked in the heat of the desert and soaked and frozen solid where I work in the Sierras,but they still are soft and undamaged.Get a load off your back with a set of Oxylights Pro Framers!

The best thing about this utility knife is its feel in your
hand. The "FatMax" style makes for a much more comfortable
knife to hold than your standard utility knife, which in
situations of heavy use (cutting tar shingles, carpet, etc.)
can give you serious hand cramps (the standard one can, not
this one). The other nice thing about this knife is also
what makes it less practical than other utility knives: its
fixed blade. The fixed blade means that the razor won't
suddenly disappear inside the handle when you're applying
serious pressure, the way it does with standard utility knives.
But the fixed blade also makes it hard to put in a tool belt
(and dangerous too!). Stanley has done an admirable job of
dealing with this problem by making it pretty easy to remove
the blade and store it in the handle (you don't need a screw
driver to do this, unlike with [say it with me now] standard
utility knives). All in all, a good knife to have in the tool
box for certain situations, but probably not the one you'll
want with you all the time... unless you don't mind lots of
accidental cuts.

This knife is thicker and has a soft rubber grip on it. Not to mention that the thicker knife feels much better in my hand. Changing blades is relatively easy and effecient. I would also reccomend purchasing a bucket boss utility knife sheath for carrying it. It has a plastic liner and easily holds the larger knife.

The comparable retractable-blade model has the same excellent ergonomics and while the quick swivel-change is slightly slower than the stanley 10-788 instand-change model (because you turn the center dial rather than just push a button), it is about half as heavy, which helps when you already have a lot of tools in your bags. The best improvement on utility knives I've seen on the market.

The Stanley 12-951 Contractor Grade Spokeshave is a good first spokeshave. It is easy to fine tune and easy to use. I was a bit disappointed in the sharpening of the blade and it had a rough sole plate, but with a little bit of work it is a nice piece. If you are looking to do your first work with a spokeshave and don't want to spend a lot of money on it, this is the tool for you.

I found this product very useful in the preliminary stages of guitar neck shaping, it did a good job in the roughing in of the shape, and I also found it good for shaping the guitar body as well.

This tool is a must have. Buy it. You'll never see these at the local stores at a reasonable price anyways. And, the kids at the stores will think you're from Mars if you ask for this. A great tool to have in the box if needed. Order the extra blade when you buy this. It's a lifetime tool.

1 1/4" wide Fat max tape measure.

Pros:

- My Fat Max stands out unsupported to about 10' 3". Even though not the 11' claimed, it's still several feet longer than 1" tape measures. This is the important advantage of this tape, especially when working alone, because measuring takes less time and less effort.

- Case has a rubber coating around most of it, making it easier to hold onto, although that black case can get hot if it's been in the sunshine.

- Tape end has the normal bottom "hook" but also has a double top hook, for grabbing that other end.

- Although I don't make a habit of dropping tools, this one seems pretty tough. (Although some reviewers have had their Fat Max's break open on falling?)

- Highly rated in Fine Homebuilding magazine.

Cons:

- Costs much more than 1" wide tape measures of the same length.

- About 1/4 bulkier and is heavier than a 1" wide tape measure of the same length. 3/4" tape measures are lighter still. The Fat Max might be awkwardly large for someone with small hands.

- Even with the belt clip removed, the Fat Max is an inconveniently tight fit in my tape holster, whereas 1" wide tape measures of the same length fits with ease.

- Due to the curvature of the tape it "rides" further above the surface than narrower tape measures, so you have to press the tape down to get that last bit of accuracy in the reading. Narrower tape measures are easier and quicker to read accurately, since you don't need to press the tape down as often.

- Width of the tape measure isn't shown on tool, so you have to remember the width and add that, for inside readings.

- Bottom and top "hooks" should be longer or have micro grippers like some other tape measures. Although usually OK, it too easily slips off what I'm trying to hook it on - this is particularly frustrating when that spot is far away, and is partially caused by how much you have to arc the tape for it to stand out so far. I.e., the tape may be at the wrong angle to grab easily.

- The sliding blade lock takes too much effort. I can do it with one thumb, but have to press with serious oomph to lock or unlock it, and I'm 6/4 and weigh 260 lbs. I'd say it takes triple the effort over any of the 1" measures I own. Doesn't work near as well as the Stanley Power Lock, Leigh, or Craftsman measures, for example.

- Tape seems to crease sooner than narrower tapes, which means it will wear out faster. This is probably due to the width of the tape being less flexible to twisting, and the very fast rewind rate which can whip the tape, causing damage.


Not really a con, since it's not expected, but it doesn't have a lifetime warranty like Craftsman tape measures (not sure if other brands have such warranties). I've seen construction workers bring a bag full of worn-out Craftsman tape measures into a Sears store and walk out with free replacements!

Summary:

For any project where long tape standout is important, this is a good choice. For almost any other purpose, I reach for a 1" or smaller tape measure because they are lighter, smaller, quicker to read, and the blade locks works better.

you're not going to find a better tape anywhere this is THE TAPE

This tape is a monster for the toolbelt and I keep it in an unused nail pouch due to its width. Besides that I couldn't be happier. It is long enough for framing layout and its 11' standout makes it indespensible for working alone or on a ladder. All three sizes of the FatMax have the 11' foot standout which is the dealmaker. Get the size best for your purposes. The width makes it stable even in winds on the roof working by myself. Nice wide tape with very clear scale to read without bending over. Definitely a wise purchase for the experienced framer or the weekend warrior. Be sure to slow the tape upon reeling it in as the speed it can come back at can do damage to the tape long-term not to mention any wondering fingers that get pinched in the end motion. Great tape and will do it again if this one ever wears out! Buy this tape!

i hate yellow...bought this to replace an brushed aluminum one like the picture that had spent to much time falling off the roof...and they sent me a yellow one...I hate yellow...love the level though...did I say I hate yellow...jerks...fix the picture...

I've own the 2', 4', and 6' versions of this level for a few years now. They became very popular at the job site when I brought them in recently due to their weight... my co-workers were VERY happy with the fact that they weigh seemingly almost nothing. This is compared to the Stabila levels that are used there now. The Stabila cost three times as much, weigh more, and the accuracy level difference isn't noticeable. It's also very convenient to have the full length of the level as a straight edge... Stabila's has magnets (which collect garbage and effect accuracy) and vials to interfere when needing to use them for marking.

The only downside is the flimsy construction of the end caps. They snap into the level and both my 4' and 6' levels had at least one end break to where they no longer stay in. They're glued in now, but I still think these levels are worthy of a full five-star rating.

I have the 2', 4', and 6' Fat Max level so you can imagine I am pleased with the brand. Why?:

1. The weight. Because this is made out of aluminum it is very light. This comes in handy when you are working up on a ladder or overhead. Other levels I've used, made out of wood, tend to be heavy and awkward to use.

2. The rubber ends. This is helpful when doing finish work so as not to damage your finished product by scratching or dinging.

3. The large grab holes. They are perfect and helpful when carrying the level up a ladder.

The Stanley Fat Max products are great so I think you'll be pleased with this item.

The addition of the fulcrum on the pry bar is a useful innovation. Like all the other pry bars on the market nowadays and unlike my now misplaced Sears pry bar acquired in the 70's, the prying ends of this tool are rather blunt and therefore difficult to prize in between joined pieces without damaging them. This was remedied with a grinder and belt sander but it would be nice if someone would produce a well ground tool like those of yore.

I bought this recently to replace a regular flat bar that I had banged the end off of. The "wonder" of this bar comes in the unique bend mid-way through the handle, which enables the wonder bar to act like a lever and fulcrum together. This serves several purposes, and you will wonder how you ever got by without it. Got a stubborn nail that won't come out even with a big tug with a framing hammer? Simply hook the nail head on the wonder bar and step on the other end and either the nail will come out or you'll rip the head off. Need to lift a panel or sheet up a fraction of an inch or more? Just insert one end under the sheet and step on the other to raise it to the desired height...or flip the wonder bar over and the angle of the bar will make it work like a wedge to raise the panel as high as you insert the wedge. The only disadvantage to the "wonder" shape is that it tends to vibrate if you smack one end while trying to dig out a nail with the other...but pry bars were never meant to do this anyway (that's how I banged the end off my previous ply bar)-- use a claw hammer or regular nail puller for these tasks and your wonder bar for everthing else. I don't trust Stanley with anything with moving parts (I'm no fan of their tape measures) but the wonder bar is a great tool.

I bought this tool because I was going to need both a pry bar and a wallboard lifter for the remodeling project I was starting. This product really is a wonder. I wonder how I could have completed the tear down part of my project without it. The unusual shape allowed me to pull wallboard down and nails out one handed with out ever needing an extra pry block. This was great when I was 8 feet up on a ladder. I also used it to remove both crown and base molding. I have not used it as a wallboard lifter yet. But if it as good at helping me build the walls as it was at helping me tear them down, it deserves it's name.

I recently bought this set of screwdrivers and they are great... the grip is AWSOME! but yesterday i broke of the tip on a flat head.. so i took it back to the store and they replaced the whole set.. It's a great set..

Stanley has introduced a number of FatMax tools in the last few years. Frankly, I think some of the FatMax tools are just marketing gimmicks, but the screwdrivers are some of the best I've ever used. What makes these screwdrivers special is the tri-lobe grip (FatMax grip) which makes them easier to grip and easier to apply torque. You can buy cheaper screwdrivers at your local hardware store and they are likely to have simple round or square handles. I have many of these ... screw drivers which I now use for opening paint cans. The FatMax screwdrivers are so much more comfortable that I will search my shop for one before I'll resort to using a cheapy screwdriver. The tri-lobe handle design has been in the Stanley product line for over 15 years and I would say that it is as important an innovation as some of the stuff Stanley did with hand planes over a hundred years ago.

Previous to buying the Stanley 6pc. FatMax Screwdriver Set I had used everything from a coin (quarters were a favorite) to a nail file or a knife for my screwdriving needs. Once in a while I'd buy a cheap supermarket screwdriver which survived only one or two uses before it self-destructed. Well those days are over. Now I can hold my head high when someone asks to borrow a screwdriver or when I have to use one in my home for I know that this new set will not disentegrate after a couple of uses. I've used most of the six in this set and not only have they NOT self-destructed but they exhibit a glossy, high-tech look what with the chubby black handles and black tips. This is a great set for anyone who has spent a lot of money over the years on cheap screwdrivers and/or is tired of breaking off the tips of their expensive Henkel knives. This set would make a great Christmas gift for the tool-impaired man or woman in your life.