Hand Tool Reviews

OXO International is one of my favorite kitchen and now tool production companies. Why? Because everything they design has the consumer in mind. Featuring it's "Good Grip" enhancements, OXO has been awarded the Tylenol Arthritic Award.

You don't have to be hurting to appreciate this well crafted (10 oz.) hammer. In fact, it just might keep you from feeling hammering pains! The soft side grip gives you just the right amount of control, while absorbing some of the shock to your hands. A clever MarGuard feature truly protects against markings from walls and wood while removing even the most stubborn nail.

I have complete trust in OXO International and own many of their products (see reviews if you like)--and THAT is rare to say about a company these days! A great balanced hammer for small to towering tasks at a good bargain price.

OXO International is one of my favorite kitchen and now tool production companies. Why? Because everything they design has the consumer in mind. Featuring it's "Good Grip" enhancements, OXO has been awarded the Tylenol Arthritic Award.

You don't have to be hurting to appreciate this well crafted (10 oz.) hammer. In fact, it just might keep you from feeling hammering pains! The soft side grip gives you just the right amount of control, while absorbing some of the shock to your hands. A clever MarGuard feature truly protects against markings from walls and wood while removing even the most stubborn nail.

I have complete trust in OXO International and own many of their products (see reviews if you like)--and THAT is rare to say about a company these days! A great balanced hammer for small to towering tasks at a good bargain price.

I'm a long time fan of OXO GoodGrips kitchen and garden tools, I recently improved my car washing chores by buying an OXO Car Wash Brush. When I heard they were coming out with a whole line of tools for the home I had to try them. This hammer is probably the first real advance in a basic carpentry tool in 100 years. You have to see, feel and try one to appreciate how well engineered and designed this tool is. It is a pleasure to hold and to use, intelligently designed for those of us who are not in the Carpenter's Union. Non-slip, soft handles, mar-guard to ease the task of pulling nails and picture hooks, a little "give" in the shaft to prevent wrist injuries from unforgiving old-fashioned hammers. I like this so much I want the whole collection.

I have been a general contractor for years. Gone are the days of leaving the job site and having the wind rip off my felt. I have spent nights wondering if my tarps or felt are going to blow off during a storm. This gun shoots down the buttons with great ease. The buttons seem at first to be expensive, but the time saved especially in windy areas makes it worth wild. The only recommendation is keep the gun clean and well lubricated. It has been my experience, you need to keep the buttons from getting damaged or wet. Furthermore, if the buttons get to hot, the tape holding them together tends to stick to the nose and inside track. All in All, I will buy another when needed.....

I have been a general contractor for years. Gone are the days of leaving the job site and having the wind rip off my felt. I have spent nights wondering if my tarps or felt are going to blow off during a storm. This gun shoots down the buttons with great ease. The buttons seem at first to be expensive, but the time saved especially in windy areas makes it worth wild. The only recommendation is keep the gun clean and well lubricated. It has been my experience, you need to keep the buttons from getting damaged or wet. Furthermore, if the buttons get to hot, the tape holding them together tends to stick to the nose and inside track. All in All, I will buy another when needed.....

This tool is a winner. I've installed 60 squares of 30 lb. roof felt with it and it has worked perfectly. It's easy to load, never jams, and saves a lot of time. The only thing that would make it better is if it were hoseless.

The greatest inventions are alwsys the simple ones. This tool does a better job at $25 than expensive mortise and tenon makers costing hundreds and in some cases thousands of dollars. The basic idea is brilliant and works great. Just be sure to really clamp the jig down hard.

The only improvement that I can imagine is a way to clamp the jig on varied pieces. For 3/4" stock the current setup can't be beat. To use it on other thicknesses is not as simple and easy.

This thing just flat out works.

Four legs with twenty-four mortises. That's my count on the Mission buffet I'm building. To complete this project in a reasonable amount of time, the BeadLOCK Kit has been a timesaver. After only one practice cut, I went to work. Excellent results when you follow the instructions. Suggest users not clamp the tool using the Irvin-style squeeze clamps. Not strong enough and the drill guide can and will move. C-clamp or a vise is recommended to prevent massive headaches. Prices vary so shop for the best deal. Simple idea that really does work as advertised.

I have used a variety of different mortaise and tenon cutters and systems including chain mortisers, mortaiseur a bedan in France that cost $40,000, and mortaise cutters on drill presses. This is the best and simplest system I have ever seen for cutting and placing floating tenons. From the first joint I made that only took five minutes the joint was tight and straight. It is absolutely the most accurate mortaise and tenon system I have ever seen and also the fastest. I encourage all woodworkers to try this system as it is a major breakthrough tool.

Exceptionally nice product. Very well made and as a bonus, it is made in the US. Extremely satisfied with this tool pouch. In fact, other tradesmen who have seen it, want to order one.

As a professional Electrician I wear a tool belt 8 hours a day. After 3 or 4 hours my back starts to hurt. The Pocket Caddy allows me to carry my most used tools comfortably all day long. I can carry a pair of linesman's pliers, channel lock's, strippers, and a 10 in 1 screwdriver. I hardly know it's there. I can bend over at the waist now also. My back thanks you.Note: I was easily able to add a tape thong, which is the only thing that I found lacking in this neat little pouch.

The Pocket Caddy is perfect for those situations where tasks require only a few tools, say pliers and a couple of screwdrivers, you don't want to be bothered with a tool box and even a tool belt would seem like overkill. Just slip the Pocket Caddy in your jeans and you are ready to go.

I have found that I can even keep the tools I will most likely use in it full time as it fits easily into an outside pocket of my tool bag without fear of it falling out. It also snaps onto my tool belt when I need more tools, although heavier belts might require that some will have to drop it in a pouch on the belt.

Lastly, it appears to be an extremely well crafted product and should stand up to lots of heavy use. I don't anticipate taking advantage of the lifetime guarantee.

Very good belt, very comfortable then broke in. But if you can buy a size smaller , because it will strech out a lot.

I am impressed. This is a top quality tool belt. I am a carpenter with over 25 years experience and have been looking for this for a long time. Well built and laid out. Worth every penny.

I have a love/hate relationship with tool belts. I find them somewhat useful but not as useful or comfortable as they should be - Until now.

Occidental seems to be the first company who thought about how you use a tool belt system. They call it "Hand Specific Design". The idea is that a right hander uses certain tools with the right hand such as a hammer and some tools with the left hand like nail sets. The bags are built accordingly. (They have lefty bags as well.

The Pro Trimmer has an oustanding feature I have never seen before - its smaller than normal bags without sacrificing the design philosophy or quality of construction.

I use my tools a LOT - but I don't like a lot of tools or fastners on my belt - its too heavy. The slightly smaller size also makes it much easier to get a drill holster on along with both bags in place - try that with full size bags and a 36" waist!

I borrowed one of these and loved it - the first carpentry bag I can say that about. I like it so much I went out and bought one. A bit expensive but worth every dollar. The quality is excellent and well worth the money.

This is the first tool belt I own that will be used on virtually every job.

This is hands down the most time saving tool I have ever used. I just got it last week and I already don't know how I ever got along without it. I put 62 nails in a joist hanger this afternoon in less than a minute. If you have never used this gun you do not know what you are missing. No more smashed fingers trying to hold those little joist hanger nails. I used to use a palm nailer to do my hangers, but no more except in those tiny hard to reach areas where this gun will not fit. The only drawbacks I can forsee with this gun are the price of the nails and the weight of the gun itself. It is fairly heavy. Other than that, I will never be without this gun again.

We run 2 framing crews all year long in British Columbia, Canada. When one first uses this tool, it must be reminiscent of the first carpenter who ever used an air nailer. Of course, like every nailer, it does'nt fit into every hanger application,...(about double regular air nails), and I'm still trying to find galvanized strip nails, but it just about paid for itself on the first job, and we now would no more be without it than the spikers. If you're putting on more than just a few hangers in a year, it's definately worth it.

I am a contractor who has been looking for years for an answer to those finger-busting,time-consuming teco nails.This gun is the answer!It shoots teco nails in all of the hanger holes I have encountered.It saved enough labor cost to pay for itself in 1 or 2 custom jobs.Thanks Paslode!

I like the light weight of this pipe wrench. The tool is plenty strong.

Everyone know that Rigid makes excellent equipment. These 18" pipe wrenches are no exception. They are lightweight and durable. I was a field engineer working on industrial furnaces for a while and trying to carry all of the tools you need everywhere you go can be quite cumbersome to say the least.

I have never had any problems with them (I own 2 of them) and have done just about everything with them. If you have to use them a lot it won't take long to notice how much easier it is to do a job when your tools aren't weighing you down. If you need 18" pipe wrenches give these some serious consideration.

Rigid has made the best pipe wrenches for decades. The Aluminum models are every bit as tough as their cast iron counterparts, only lighter. You do have to be more careful with aluminum if you are working around a torch, it can get heat damaged more easily.

I have used this 18" wrench for over 15 years, building and disassembling chemical loading systems of galvanized pipe. Mine has a little less paint on it, but the jaws are still sharp. The jaws are replacable, but I've never had to do that. I have also used this wrench for home plumbing projects, but it is a little large when working in a sink cabinet. I use it mainly as a "holder" in that duty, turning the fittings with a 10" wrench.

Rigid wrenches will not fail you if you give them a little respect!

This is a great product, and you can get it, along with any other products on Amazon up to $500 Free! Participate in a special promotion and get a free $500 Amazon Gift Card at this web site: nocost4u.info/amazon

Love it, love it, love it! I've had this hand vac for about 6 weeks, and I've used it for everything from getting up cat hair from my sofa, cleaning out pantry shelves, picking up dirt that the cats pulled out of potted plants and this vac hasn't disappointed! Long charge life is also a plus. Haven't found a down-side yet.

This is the second Shark I have purchased and I love it! It is a great hand held vac! It is a must have for moms with small children. It cleans up quickly!

Been looking for these, Amazon had them. I want a tape that stays out until I want it to retract, this is it. I use a tape every day on the job, all the others are too fat and bulky.

Nothing fancy, but it does the job great. Small size, no problems, use it all the time without problems. I recommend it highly.

I own a small metalworking shop. This particular tape measure has been used everyday for the past 6 +/- years. To this day it pulls out easily, locks and holds the tape then "zips" back into the case when unlocked. Even after being dropped and abused.

Being bright green also helps to quickly target it, especially when it gets misplaced.

I wouldn't trade my little tape for anything.

Looking for a small 12' tape? You just found the best.

Having owned two of these pry bars for years, I must say this is a must-own tool if you plan on doing any sort of extensive renovation - especially if it requires any sort of ripping-out, tearing-down, or prying-loose activities. I have beat on this bar with a hammer, used it to pry loose uncountable objects, pulled thousands of nails with it and I cannot fathom an occasion when it would break.

Extremely useful and quite indestructible!

For those of us that work sitting on their backsides all day, there is nothing quite like going home and destroying something at night to take out some tension. The pry bar is the perfect tool for this task.

The 12 1/2" pry bar may be a bit too short for the largest jobs, but this size is a perfect size for the majority of jobs. Whether ripping out drywall, removing molding, pulling stubborn nails, or popping tiles, this is the tool. The tool is angled differently at each end. One end is for popping items like nails. The other end is better for prying tiles, for example. Because of the different angles, you gain different levels of leverage.

This is the tool for home (destruction) improvement.

This pry bar goes by many names in my field. The workders call it a 'wonder bar,' while most carpenters refer to it as a 'flat bar' and roofers call it a 'shingle bar.' By any name, it is a great tool for any home improvement worker or home owner. I have been using this tool for over 20 years. While both ends are beveled, myself as well as other workers, have found that grinding back both ends sharper to produce a longer bevel makes the performance even better for taking out and removing roof shingles and flashings. I have even used this tool to chisel out bad pieces of decking. The curved end of the bar can be placed over the head of a gutter spike and struck with a hammer to remove the spikes without damage to the gutters. The bar also comes in handy when on a steep roof or working around chimneys and dormers. The bar can be placed between the space in 1-by decking to help support your foot on a steep pitch roof. It is made of fine quality steel that will last a lifetime.