I had got the ryobi palm/cordless router a few years ago and i will agree, adam, that it is a very useful tool, i've even found it useful for doing things i would have needed sharp chisels and a lot more time and effort for. its basically a portable mill i can get into tight spots and the bit wont constantly break like a rotary saw bit will.
I am watching Adam handling that router and I am screaming inside. He puts his hand right at the top of the bit. He puts the router on a table by a bit down. Ok, at some point he removes the battery, so the thing actually can't be switched on accidentally. But still. There are things that you just never do. It's like with gun. You just don't look into the muzzle. I have cut my fingers while just handling a router bit. I have destroyed finished surface by dropping a bit on it. I have not damaged a bit by accidentally hitting it with something hard (so it would chip and shatter when the router is started), but I totally can imagine that. Please, Adam. Even though you don't like routers, handle them with care (actually even more care) so they won't have to dislike you back.
My shop also has a little hardware store in the next room. For speed builds, it is a deal breaker to have everything in stock (and know where to find it.)
A long time ago in a wood shop far away, I was on the editorial staff of a nationally published woodworking magazine. Roundabout 1998, we would always come up with an ‘interesting’ article for the issue coming out at the end of March. Keep in mind, dead tree media was about the only news most people got so we were actually very careful about any fake news but we weren’t above having a little ‘nudge and a wink’ fun. One of the editors came up with the idea to slap a screw gun battery on top of an old trim router. He painted it up to match no brand in particular and heralded the dawn of a new routing age. Little did we know the utter crap storm we’d stirred up when after the issue hit the stands, we got calls from EVERY power tool maker wanting to know about this tech. To see Adam actually hoist one of these things up and run it on camera is my personal Star Trek moment.
I do a "bit" of laminate work at my job, the Dewalt cordless laminate trimmer was my 3rd purchase after screw guns and an oscillating tool. Makita has a way better set of bases and I regret my decision. Makita has a better system.
@@jackbrady6600 There are a lot of aftermarket bases that fit the big brands, maybe look there. I saw one that was compatible with Milwaukee, DeWalt AND Makita for trim router, apparently it was pretty well made too and much more stable.
I love my battery DeWalt router. I recently added a bigger base to it with handles for other applications. I may buy a second for it's practical use for easy trim applications as it was intended to avoid switching the bases.
German mechatronics technician here. There are two tools that i've come to love. 1) the Jokari wire stripper (Pro 4)because it has less tendency to bite the copper than Weidmüller or Knipex strippers. It is also a LOT cheaper than the other two. On the downside it doesnt deal as well with large gauge wires, or ribbon cables. 2) Knippex Pliers Wrench: if a monkey wrench and a pipe wrench had a baby you'd get this thing. Can be used as adjustable spanner, a pipe wrench that doesn't leave marks. Thanks to the reduction lever it multplies your grip strength and can be used to flaten or straighten out stuff. Also a pair off Engelbert Strauss work trousers.
@@MatthiasDuyck The stripper is really just a choice of preference, so results may vary. And as i told you before there are some things where the expensive strippers are better, but not many. Tell me if you like it.
My favorite tool has been an ultrasonic cleaner and jars. The jars is the crucial bit. Put the solvent in a jar with a lid, put the jar in the ultrasonic cleaner, and fill the cleaner with a water bath. Now I can switch between solvents without worrying about mixing issues. I found that NASA had also had the same problem I had, and this was something they studied. Yes, you have to be careful of flammable solvents, but you have to debe careful regardless of how you use them. Game changer for me
I use plastic zipper sandwich bags. I don't think the glass will properly 'couple' the waveforms with the solvents inside. Of course, not all solvents will work with zipper bags, but I mostly use isopropyl and such for degreasing (I should probably check for compatability with mineral spirits instead).
@andrewh.8403 I haven't had problems. Both glass and plastic jars work fine as do zip lock bags. Glass just works with most solvents. If I remember correctly, there were other you articles and a NASA report going over all different containers affect the ultrasonic.
@@stephenjohnson4955 It's the opposite. Glass and metal are good transmitters for the ultrasonic waves. Plastics absorb the energy and decrease the effectivity, significantly.
@@garrettgreen9667another fun fact is that solid material such as steel or Pyrex is more effective at transmitting ultrasonic waves than meshed materials. The mesh actually disrupts the waves more than solid material will
As a hand tool focused woodworker with a small shop, agree that cordless versions of basic tools (router, orbital sander, jigsaw) get way more use because of the convenience.
Also pin nailer. On any small wood assembly pin nailer is invaluable. Nothing else can really do what it does, while for larger assemblies there are many fastening options.
Wago connectors are great. One thing I never see mentioned about wago connectors is that the smaller gauge ferrules fit perfectly inside and that has become my go-to for working with stranded wiring smaller than 16 gauge. I'll strip the wiring, crimp a ferrule on and it fits perfectly in the wago. Easy to remove and reuse as well without mangling the stranded wire.
Pro tip for brass lined grippers, you can solder copper or brass fittings to them to make a custom gripper for one part that you need to make several of. When your done you heat them up and take off the fitting. I use silver bearing solder. Works on brass vice jawes as well.
The framing hammer has so many uses it's almost mythic. Lumber hook, beam nudger, chisel driver, nail puller, rough hatchet (really rough), wedge, shim, lever, fulcrum, board separator, pick/shovel, strap breaker, concrete form vibrator, arm extension, depth guage, pry bar, demo tool, paint can opener, hole punch .... Heck, in a pinch you can even use it to drive nails.
Something I'd like them to do (that might get harder to do over time) is a very small recap of previous years tools, how they've held up and upgrades that have been made since they were exhibited in the favourite things videos.
Not only that, but I have found with printers that aren't more than 99.99% properly tuned, the 100% infill means a slight amount of overextrusion will cause the excess material to buldge out the sides, or upward, compounding into poor surface finish (or a nozzle strike and layer shift). Sometimes, it even means zero layer adhesion/bonding in the z-axis within the infill. Not sure if I understand the printer kinematics enough to accuratly describe why I think this is, but the careful failure analysis I had to do from a failed part [foolishly, mea culpa] used on a pressure vessel unquestionably showed this to be the case. I have not worked with the Bambus, but maybe they are that last significant digit of accuracy without manual tuning. I'm also not a fan of Matterhackers. Their fiberglass tape they used to attach filament to the center of spools ruined many of overnight prints at my company by jamming the extruder (which no filament runout sensor beyond Prusa's loadcell will detect). I also recall it being stupid expensive. Stick with other brands like Atomic Filament, 3DFuel, or even PrintedSolid's Jesse line (excellent value!).
@@stephenjohnson4955 This won't be an issue if you tune pressure advance (linear advance for Marlin), extrusion rate (rotation distance or e-steps), and calibrate the flow rate in your slicer. Search for "Andrew Ellis 3D printer tuning guide" for the best way to setup your printer for accuracy.
The Hakko desoldering tool is a big investment but has been worth its weight in gold for me. No more frustrating desoldering with suckers or wicks. Makes desoldering fun and has saved me countless hours. Hakko is also the only soldering tool brand I would stand behind, their products are top shelf.
Thank you Adam (and Tested Team) for all that you do to share, educate and help people create what inspires them. I will forever be grateful to you and the MB crew for what you did, do and continue to do for the creative, DIY and Hobbyists community. I will one day have a west coast trip where I have the time to swing by and ring the infamous shop door, to thank you in person (….provided I can find the shop the third time around)
This year I got my first 3d Printer (Resin, for printing higher detail models and minis), my first soldering iron (Pinecil64) and a (marketplace special) Airbrush. The Tested videos have brought me so much joy, and being able to finally start making things on my own has been amazing. I have a Filament 3D printer on my list next, so I can print larger things like helmets and weapons from Star Wars and Blade Runner to scale. Adam's shop is a dream space for me.
14:32 Adam I would HIGHLY suggest instead of doing 100 percent infill on parts to make it feel solid, you either combine it with or replace that with doing multiple walls. You will simultaneously save filament while getting more structure out of your prints. Most print profiles do 2 walls as a standard, and I was always told anything that will be housing stress or being drilled into to have at least 4 walls, MINIMUM. I have some 3d printed shelves that hold some spare tools that have 6 walls, and they are sturdy.
I've been enjoying videos using denser materials to void fill 3D prints ... Like concrete, to make a sturdy base. I'm sure sand would work too for some applications. Haven't done it myself yet but it's on the cards (plus just learning about adding mass and what that can do for the function of an object). I did immediately think when he said 100% infill that I'm sure I've heard that isn't the most effective way to do things - my biggest lesson on all this was to throw out injection molding mindset and embrace fdm printing for what it actually is and how it works. Make stuff geometrically chonky. Build things in my head in layers.
I love the addition of magnets to my scale modeling work desk. I've added strips of magnets along the edge of my desk and a second magnetic strip along my primary work light. Having tools I use daily like my assortment of go to files always within easy reach, always easy to see and sort. It's awesome! And they never clutter my work area as as soon as I'm done with them, I put em back on the magnet. Really happy with how magnetic storage is making my work more efficient and more enjoyable.
Rare earth magnets on a cordless drill/driver is life changing. Hold all the screws you need to drive. Hold alternate bits that you need to swap between (eg. pilot hole drill and driver bit). Grab screws you're unscrewing with one hand while you hold the workpiece in place with your other. So useful.
It sincerely makes me happy seeing how much joy you get out of new tools, toys and consumables. As someone who does home renovations as my primary source of income and loves making things in all manners from woodworking to 3d printing and all sorts of stuff in between I deeply understand that joy of finding something. My family and friends don't get how much excitement I get from getting new little things like wagos or yesterday my favorite brand of clamps that were already on sale for the holidays had a super sale on a few sizes of parallel clamps and they were down to 15$ ea for 30" guys when they are regularly like 50$ ea and it just doesn't compute to them how someone can get so excited about something like clamps lol. My only regret was I noticed the sale right at midnight and got a couple but was probably going to get 2-3 more in the morning but by 7am they had sold out. But I hope I never lose that feeling because I know so many guys who are stuck in their ways and hate any sort of change or innovation. Before I had my own company I did a bunch of union work and also worked with an older guy who was a great dude but it literally took me almost a year to prove to him that cordless tools work as well or better than corded in most applications. He seriously didn't think that my cordless jigsaw was as good as his 20 year old corded one that was on its last legs lol. But I have met all sorts of people who absolutely hate things like wire nuts or shark bite fittings or even hard wax wood finishes. I am not saying any of those absolutely replaces any need for the tried and true methods but so many just hate the idea of something new.
I have my Knipex pliers for 40 years and they still do the job. I never buy cheap tools again in my life, no headaches and you save money on the long run.
@TheElrondo If it's a weekend project that you wouldn't do again for a long time, you can go cheap. If you use it often, it saves money to buy quality.
With the exception of their strippers/crimpers. We tried another pair after the first was disappointing, and it wasn’t any better. My bil & I are HVAC techs. He is almost exclusively Knipix now, and I have a few of their tools and use them daily. But Southwire stripper/crimpers from Lowe’s worked better than the Knipex for us. YMMV
My new favorite tool is a Phrozen Sonic Sabre Cutter, an ultrasonic knife that I'm using to remove supports from 3D resin prints. It just glides through the little nubbins and puts much less stress on delicate parts. I was on the fence, as it isn't cheap, but was an early Black Friday special from Amazon.
Knipex Parallel Jaw Plier... the tiny one #86 03 125. I literally got them as a joke from a coworker (aviation mechanics) and they have become my favorite tool and is in my pocket 24/7 next to a pen and a stubby ratcheting screwdriver (SGDMRC11AG). They fit in all spaces and can perform 80% of my daily tasks
the small and medium size of the parallel pliers are really good. Not as expensive and heavy as the big ones, but still able to do a lot because the jaws open like an Anaconda's mouth.
Wago benefits . 1. joining stranded wire (ex. light fixture) to solid wire-way easier than wire-nuts. 2. Bigger junction box with 3-4 conductors per leg (including multiple ground wires running everywhere) - ditto. 3. Clumsy guy (or gal) on a ladder hanging a light or fan- put Wagos on each leg first-now only single, simple lever connections need to be made while on ladder. 4. Three conductor Wagos work great for pigtails, giving choice to leave pigtail on device (no unscrewing) and just release it at the Wago. 5. For extra protection- use inline Wago with large heat-shrink tubing. 6. Connections can easily be opened and closed multiple times, often not so easy with 3-4 conductor 14- or 12-gauge solid copper in a wire-nut. 7. Finally, want to check voltage on a leg? Lever connecters have probe ports for sure contact without disturbing connection. Only downsides- higher cost (for bulk work) and maybe think about continuous duty, high current installations (18-20 amp?) as a Wago may run marginally warmer than a properly installed wire-nut connection.
Adam, one of my jobs that I have the privilege of doing is working on ambulances. I can tell you and everyone that leaver nuts and the wire strippers are an absolute game changer. I have been working part time in the auto repair arena for most of my adult life and dabbling in making things. Your channel has inspired me to do more. Thank You Sir!! The new torch set will be added to my workspace very soon.
My favorite and most used tool in my shop is my Milwaukee battery powered angle die grinder. I keep a 3" rotolock abrasive attachment on it. I use it for everything. Crafts, woodworking and welding projects.
I too have a love of good wiring tools. I'd add that wire ferrules with good ferrule crimpers is another must have. If you work with 18 AWG or smaller, putting a ferrule on the wire before inserting it into whatever is a game changer.
As a retired ET I have to agree. At my second job, I was introduced to the Phoenix line of products. As a builder of prototypes, with all that entailed, they were a lifesaver. It made connecting/disconnecting things together trivial. The crimper is probably very expensive, but it should last a lifetime. Another subject is the wire strippers. In a mil-spec environment, you are forbidden to use bladed strippers. It's either the type he showed, or thermal strippers.
I work at a very tiny Ace Hardware, and shortly after seeing your first video on the lever-nuts, I had a chance to use them in replacing some light fixtures for my mom. When I got back to work, I immediately added them to our inventory, because I knew how much better they worked in so many different areas than twist connectors. And with like 5 schools within a mile of the store, I'm sure some of the local robotics teams will be able to put them to good use!
@Theforth09 - how do you recommend handling cartridges that aren't fully used up? Leave the mixing tip on the cartridge and let it harden, then replace the tip when ready for next use?
@ChuckYoung-l9g each of the cartridges on our website come with 2 mixers. Remove the used one and recap the cartridge and store ina room temp area till ready to use again. You want to avoid the 2 parts mixing.
I am loving Adam’s “hardware store” in the cave. Its totally inspiring, almost overwhelmingly so! You're constantly surrounded by cool stuff to make something out of nothing!
Very true Adam routers should be used with care because of their bite . As a healthcare provider in the ER that bite is also easy to spot lol “were U using Ur router today young man??? “ however as a wood worker on my day off the router has sooo many functions a little creative thinking and throwing rules to the wind one of the best tools to have and without having to worry about a cord I think will either increase use and or allowing even more flexibility
This DeWalt router is the single reason that I chose the DeWalt 20 V system. It’s literally my favorite power tool I’ve ever owned, I use it on just about every single woodworking project. It’s just such an incredibly great piece of kit
_[NOTE: YT's automoderation system has removed my first attempt, because it thinks I'm a shill or something. I've tried to mitigate it, and so the "Ch" in their name needs "annel" added. Also the "-C" needs to be replaced by "sy".]_ You can buy battery adapters these days. TorqueTestCh has shown off some, made by someone on Et-C, and they include the necessary resistance (resistor) on the specific pin(s) to "trick" the tool into running full speed (it thinks it has a genuine battery). TTC is a great resource, literally making the big name tool companies become more honest with their labeled specs. Or in the cases where they won't give a crap (like Chinese knockoff things; flashlights, etc), they at least allow us to make an informed decision when buying! They occasionally test more than just power/hand tools, too. What's great is they then send those tools out to people who subscribe to their taking tables (note: they *do* tell us the same info each episode), and then if the tool breaks they let us know! To come back to the adapters, it's let them test certain power tools with the better batteries from other companies, to see if the tool has anything more to give. In other words, test the tool to it's full potential and determine if the power quality battery is holding it back.
_[NOTE: YT's automoderation system has removed my first attempt, because it thinks I'm a shill or something. I've tried to mitigate it, and so the "C" in their name needs "hannel" added. Also the "-C" needs to be replaced by "sy". _*_Attempt #4, breaking up the comment into paragraphs..._*_ ]_ You can buy battery adapters these days. TorqueTestC has shown off some, made by someone on Et-C, and they include the necessary resistance (resistor) on the specific pin(s) to "trick" the tool into running full speed (it thinks it has a genuine battery).
Well, I've tried to comment this 4 times, but YT's automoderation system doesn't want me to share useful info anymore, treating me like I'm a shill or a spammer 😮💨😞 I'll just say that TTC (Torque Test
2 part glues are nice, BC they usually have longer storage life once opened... if you need their very best properties use them fresh... but usually its fine to use very old 2 part glues
That was a great recap and reminded me of my favorite new things this year. I invested some time and energy to build myself a tiny livingroom workshop, consisting of a custom shelf made out of 20x20mm aluminium extrusion and some pallet wood as well as a used solid oak sewing table. this tiny workshop space recently got an upgrade with a second light, wich is a normal ikea desk lamp, but instead of standing upright on the desk i mounted it to a wall mount monitor arm horizontally to one of the uprights of the shelf. now it swing freely 20cm over my head to the position i need it while painting or sanding. Thank you for your constant inspiration.
I'll add companions to the brass pliers. That would be Teflon instead of brass, and parallel travel pliers where the teeth are replaced with surfaces that remain parallel.
I think Adam has talked about parallel action pliers before, but I don't know if he realizes that you can get the brass lined ones also in parallel action
I just got a ryobi wet/dry vacuum top. It fits on any 5 gallon bucket. Great size. The interchangeable nature works great for the farm. So now I’ve got a bucket of used chicken feed. Instead of mice. I’ve got a bucket of metal filings. I’ve got a bucket of saw dust and jars of saw dust in different colors. It’s a recyclers dream machine. I’ve been wanting to make linseed oil and rust barn paint for a while. This makes it easy.
Some time ago, Adam recommended a Japanese pull saw, which I purchased. I absolutely LOVE it! It's certainly not the most "exciting" or expensive tool, but it's a joy to use. Straightest cuts I've ever made!😃
I do a good bit of work on my own vehicles, lawn mowers, snow blower, etc. The best new tool I have gifted to myself recently was a set of different sized extended length hose grip pliers. They make it so much easier to reach in places, get a grip on a rubber or braided metal hose and work it on or off of it’s fitting. I got them at Harbor Freight (I know, real mechanics don’t use tools from HF) with a coupon for less than $9 for the pack of three sizes. They seem to be holding up pretty well and I have definitely gotten my moneys worth out of them already. Thanks Adam, I love the channel and keep up the amazing work!
Plenty of real mechanics use HF tools, they're just overshadowed by the people who are fanatical about Snap-On. I love half a mile from a HF and their Quinn and Icon tools are fantastic.
At Harbor Freight, I found some 6" metal brakes with magnets that you put in the jaws of a 6" vise, and they're PERFECT for making small complex brackets for motorcycle stuff. I have never seen them anywhere else.
Per your advice, I bought a Leatherman (this one is a Skeletool), and it has saved me so much time looking for things in the garage and when I am out and about, I always have it ready for whatever.
Just a homeowner, not an electrician, but any time I'm replacing an outlet or a light I replace the wire nuts with Wago's. They're so easy to use and they make the box so much cleaner. The amount of loose wire nuts I've found in my house so far is horrifying, especially when joining stranded and solid wire.
Just finished your book: Every Tool is a hammer. Loved it thanks for putting it out into the world. On the topic of Methacrylate glues. They are great. I’ve been using them primarily for metal for over 20 years. This year I glued some 1” angle iron tabs to some aluminum panels and sent them off them to be powder coated. Guess what, all 50 tabs made it through the powder coating oven! Good stuff!
Thanks Adam, if you like brass lined pliers check out the "Bernard" style parallel pliers with brass lined jaws, they often come with clip on plastic covers too !
I keep meaning to point this out, but EMA / Plastruct must have at one time sold plans for those wood shelves. My old employer (now closed) was a professional model shop, and we inherited the entire shop set-up from Monsanto Chemical Company in 1988. Part of the haul we got were multiple wood shelves identical to those you got from ILM.
Buster was the one who recommended the bamboo cotton swabs to Adam. What a guy. A national treasure. Always on time, and never a complaint. A true man of the people.
One tool I recently bought was a Wen 1/2 x18” band file. It was like $35 and I use it all the time. I bought some good ceramic belts for it and it works great for all kinds of stuff
I just used it to make a comfortable seat for 2 of my motorcycles. It removed foam at a good rate without gouging or going too fast, and was perfect for shaping curves.
Equidistant measuring tool. Mine are made by trend. It's a tool that gives you equal spacing between 6 or 7 points at a time and you can lock it in that setting with bowtie nuts. I make furniture and when I build park benches where there might be 15 or 20 lats that need to start from the middle and need precision mortises cut this is the tool I do my layout with. Saves time.
Dude i was so excited when i learned about that style of wire strippers, and then so bummed when they didnt work well for small wires! Now im excited again woooo!
I just use plain black ASA for pretty much all 3D printing I do, sometimes polycarbonate. I don’t do 100% infil unless it’s needed. That’s kind of expensive for ASA. Thanks for the tips on MMA glue and Bambu swabs, though. Both were very timely for upcoming projects! Glad to hear the Mrs. is joining you! That’s awesome!
I've upgraded my kit based on Tested recommendations including the Knipix wire strippers, a TS80P USB soldering wand (both game changers! I do a lot of Arduino stuff) and a Proxxon rotary tool. I know Adam has upgraded his but the Proxxon is just perfect for my home office workspace and it's never disappointed me. I'm definitely getting some of those lever nuts, particularly for mocking things up where I often want to experiment with configurations a lot.
I'm grateful this Thanksgiving that Adam shares his time with us. It's made a positive and happy impact on my life. And I have a ruler tattoo to boot! My only tattoo... a functional upgrade. 😊
The Bernzomatic tool 😘😍 Thank you Thank you Thank you. I had to get rid of my big torch because it just didn’t feel safe in my studio. The one you demonstrated will be perfect! Also loved your description of what pliers do 😂. Really impressed with the soft touch brass ones.
Hi Adam! Huge fan here. The cable peeler is something i picked up 20-23 years ago and my collagues were laughing at them. They never had the guts to admit how wrong they were and just kept working with pliers. Wago is another great one! I used a ton when building my house and workshop.
It's weird how Waco's are a new thing in the US. Here in Finland we've been using them for maybe 25 years now basically in all hose wiring. Twist lugs were a thing in the 80's :)
we move slow when it comes to UL ratings. I presume it's expensive. Also tradies are hard to change habits. Those Wagos are super satisfying to use and way easier on my aging joints. I also trust that connection way more. But I think they're much pricier at scale.
@@thefirebuilds Well we don't use lever waco's. It's a simpler model where you just push it in and it locks on place. Should be a lot cheaper. Obviously it doesn't work for braided wires but we don't use them for house wiring
@@samik83 We have push-in versions of these too, but you don't use them for maker projects, or anything else, where there is a possibility might want to remove the wire without having to make it shorter.
Same with wire strippers... how can someone like Adam not have come across these? They're very common in Denmark, and I assume they're available everywhere.
@@thefirebuilds Exactly! Imagine telling an old school building inspector that these are all the rage with hobbyists and DYIers and he should watch the youtube reviews lol. We have soooo many state and local laws that we can't just adopt new standards overnight if we even choose to at all. Looking at you Metric system
@@CubeRhinoDevyou didn’t ask me, but if you have a popular brand of battery tool, just get the router they make. In this case get Milwaukee over harbor freight.
I had picked up the DeWalt router last week, where has this been all my life? For quick light jobs it is fantastic. I used it with to match the 1/4" plywood backing for a bookshelf to the outer edge frame of the book shelf. No cord to wrestle with, no handle without a lock-washer (I routered the top of two my fingers in high school when my shop teacher put the handle back on without a lock washer. I held with on hand while I moved the cord out of the way, as I was bringing my hand back to the handle, the router rotated and flipped the blade side up and caught my fingers in an instant.).
My favourite tool is a universal spanner, I work in polyurethane fabrication and engineering and constantly undoing nuts and bolts on projects of various sizes where a shifter won't fit, having something thin that's able to undo bolts at multiple sizes without the tool ever leaving my hand or having to stop for sockets etc comes in clutch everyday and boosts production love from aus
I broke my hand this year and had to find new lighter tools to achieve my tasks. I dipped my feet into a new to me tool line, and I have to say, I love the Milwaukee M12 power tool line. That huge battery and how heavy it can be on the router you showed was all I could think about the whole time you were talking about it.
He was using a ridiculously large battery on that router. I put a PowerStack 1.7Ah on that same router and it makes it so much easier to work with and still offers a lot of power. Unless the router is mounted into a table, you’re likely to use it for short bursts and don’t need to have a giant (long endurance) battery hanging off the top of it.
I feel that way about the dewalt 12v line. I can carry a driver, an impact, a sawzall, an oscillating multi-tool, and all my regular hand tools in 1 bag and do whatever work I need without killing my hands and shoulders. These new little tools pack a punch!
I got a few m12 tools on Black Friday a couple years back thinking they would be a good "house" set. I find myself using them 4x more than the m18 versions of the same thing. Goldilocks tools for so many things.
My favorite tool(s) from this year are the Klein Knect and modbox systems. I’m not an electrician, but these systems have completely changed how I think about tools/storage. I love that now all my tools are compatible with each other, take up WAY less space than my old toolbox, and are all impact rated. Other than the Klein stuff, I’ve also gotten some Knipex Cobras that saved me with an emergency plumbing job, and a new Gerber MP600 Pro Scout multitool that lives with me now.
Adam you are my spirit animal! I recently discovered the same thing and found my color of choice and started printing with 100% infill! Love all your suggestions!
Adam. On your floor mats in front of your paint cabinets, (and anywhere else), take a blade down the edge and make a clean cut. Those tabs are not necessary there haha. I ran duct tape down the length of the seams and cut along the underside on mine too. So the sections are all 1x4 tiles taped together. Keeps them together better and still able to disassemble when needed. And the cut finished edges are much more easy on the eyes.
I make my own by using loose cotton or steel wool on bamboo skewers. I learned this little trick when I worked in a conservation lab at a museum. All you need do is lay the skewer on the surface of the cotton or steel wool and let it grab a few strands while twirling the skewer. The cool thing is you can build up as much as you need for any particular use/job. There is a little learning curve but very soon you will be twirling your own swabs like a conservation pro. Really works great!
Great idea--it would also allow you to select the grade of steel wool. I've never seen a steel wool Q-tip, but it sounds useful. I'll have to give it a try.
Good and on a similar wavelength. I discovered Wago a few years ago and I also often put 6-sided crimped ferrules on various signal and small-current wiring. Might not be necessary, but there's a useful max size that will fit into a Wago and these have a recess to accommodate the curved part of a crimp. Especially useful for semi-permanent or test rigs. Try the crimp ferrules if you've not used them. I went with the CK-style automatic wire strippers and bought OE. Plenty of knock-off there, too. The KNIPEX might be better for very short lengths but I like the CKs. I also have the DeWalt router and the kit I got also came with the plunge base. Bit of a faff to swap it between trim and plunge, but I'm not being paid for my router work and a single kit with both applications is fine. It also has good dust extaction (if you 3d print to match your hoses) and has very good lights as you show. On the pliers front, try parallel pliers, if you don't have any? They were TOT's revelation tool a few yesrs ago, but I've been using them for many years for mousing shackles and working with stainless steel welding wire. They are also great at securely holding all sorts of parts (with parallel sides, obvs).
I love my automatic wire strippers. One of our students (now a head of department at ABB Switzerland) and went on a long, long rant about all the time he wasted not having those earlier. They're just magic!
My cordless router changed my whole workflow. It’s unlocked a whole bunch of things for me. I can pack it up with my set of bits so easily. Mine has one wrench which is so easy. I have the Hercules one from Harbor Freight and it holds up to scrutiny really well.
Bernzomatic stand with the hose and gun is so fking awesome. If you use torches a lot this is a MUST HAVE it made me so happy to see you put that on here 😃
i have a pair of irwin wire strippers igot at sears decades ago. they are awesome i use them regularly they save so much time. adam do you have a zip gun? they tighten and flush cut zip ties. they tighten to adjustable setting. very nice.
I made a rod parter for 4 mm brass and stainless steel rods. There is barely enough leverage to cut the steel, but the brass cuts very easily. Nice for making pins with flat ends of any length over a few mm. Pro rod parters cost thousands to buy but I made one for around 500 with removable cutting bits (which were half the cost). Just happy to have designed something and save money, so it is my favorite tool now. It looks like a prototype but it works for my case.
I love parallel pliers. They aren’t too graceful when I use them because they’re close but if I have a job where even distribution is needed they are a luxury.
I first used the Infinity Bond MMA 310 type glue over 20 years ago when 3M came out with it. In plastic fabrication it "glued" together non-glueable plastic like P.P. and P.E. The glue joint was stronger than the material. They would/could not tell me how it bonded. I believed from hints it was molecular level bond.
@@BenFenner This was back in the 90's for me. The shop I worked in did not like the cost of over $20 a tube. A short shelf life so we could not stock it. We only used it to guarantee an electrically sealed plastic weld joint. I do remember the cured material was very abrasive and so hard it dulled carbide and tool steel scrapers used to clean up joints.
Methacrylate chemistry has been used for microscopy since the 1960s. The monomers are low viscosity and penetrate dense materials and once polymerized can be sliced in slices of less than a micrometer in thickness. Had to use a diamond knife.
Just so you know: the producer of the best wire nuts - WAGO makes different ones for different types of cables. Not only size, direction and amount of wires but also different ones for wires that are made of many small wires or wires that are made out of one single copper piece.
Adam, I've always admired your true talent for creating! What I wouldn't give to explore your shop! I would be a kid in a candy store! From a humble craftsman to you, you are an inspiration! Thank you 🙏
Trap for Young Players with Wago's: Check what kind of wire the particular Wago model is for, some are for solid core, some for coarse core (few relatively thick strands), some for fine core (many fine strands).
Pliers are amazing. I have a set of nine that I keep in a separate spot and count them to make sure I didn’t miss any! 😂 It now needs to move to ten with the brass lined! Thanks for the great content!
Get the Knipex pliers wrench soft jaw covers! Dewalt the DCF601 screwdriver is just the kindest gentlest little driving tool, it's been around for a while, but those who know, know Also Dewalt, have you tried the bandfile yet?
I work in decor and lighting and my favorite tool this year is the high speed 1200rpm Vessel screw driver. Cuts down my lamp rewiring time significantly and without switching to a small impact.
the flammable cabinet looks like a worthwhile investment. they have something similar for lithium ion batteries for e-mobility devices like ebikes, electric scooters, drones, power tools, etc. some mom and pop scooter shops that service their products have a dedicated room surrounded in brick and have fire rated equipment and house batteries in anti flammable cabinets. it’s a rabbit hole into fire safety. i use a battery bag and store that in a giant ammo box for added safety. it’s portable which benefits in no commitment to a specific space.
My fpv lipos get stored in the lipo "fireproof" bags but I also have a metal tub with handles on the side that I'm putting sand in just in case there's a fire >_>
My favorite tool recently has been a Shinto rasp-it’s very good at removing material quickly yet predictably, and is just the perfect tool for that middle ground in precision between a belt sander and hand carving/sanding
Man I hate glue too. I only need CA glue or stronger like every 2 or 3 months. By the time I need it again, the bottle or tube is mostly hard and I have to destructively open it to get the last bit. One time I found a retail case of these tiny single application Krazy Glue tubes at a liquidator for $5. Seemed like a great idea at the time. How could it go bad if it isn't open? Well let me tell you, that stuff will harden all by itself eventually. They all went bad before I got halfway through the box. Think I at least got my $5 worth though.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Bernzomatic FirePoint Creator Tool: amzn.to/41qNtw7
DEWALT 20V Max XR Cordless Router: amzn.to/3OrqNEb
Infinity Bond MMA 310: www.infinitybond.com/products/infinity-bond-mma-310-medium-set-methacrylate-adhesive
SELSIL Plastic Welding MMA: amzn.to/499U6EE
Bamboo Cotton Swabs 500 Count: amzn.to/3Z253mY
KNIPEX Tools Wirestrippers: amzn.to/3V7nPIr
WAGO Level Nuts wire connectors: amzn.to/498d8eJ
Clay Red PRO PLA: www.matterhackers.com/store/l/pro-series-pla/sk/MP9RPWMP?aff=7553 (use code BESTDEALS and TESTED)
BambuLab X1C: www.matterhackers.com/store/l/bambu-lab-x1-carbon-combo-3d-printer/sk/M80GDCL5?aff=7553
Brass lined pliers: amzn.to/4iaMMg7
Justrite safety cabinets: www.justrite.com/
Savage Industries Sortimo T-Boxx: adamsavage.com/collections/our-products/products/savage-industries-sortimo-t-boxx
Disclaimer: Tested may earn a commission from purchases made via the links above.
I had got the ryobi palm/cordless router a few years ago and i will agree, adam, that it is a very useful tool, i've even found it useful for doing things i would have needed sharp chisels and a lot more time and effort for. its basically a portable mill i can get into tight spots and the bit wont constantly break like a rotary saw bit will.
I am very pleased with the cordless engraving machine. Kraissmann ❤
oh, wait, what was the channel Adam learned about the brass-lined pliers from? couldn't quite make it out
Even better than brass lined pliers are brass lined parallel jaw pliers
I am watching Adam handling that router and I am screaming inside.
He puts his hand right at the top of the bit. He puts the router on a table by a bit down.
Ok, at some point he removes the battery, so the thing actually can't be switched on accidentally.
But still. There are things that you just never do. It's like with gun. You just don't look into the muzzle.
I have cut my fingers while just handling a router bit. I have destroyed finished surface by dropping a bit on it.
I have not damaged a bit by accidentally hitting it with something hard (so it would chip and shatter when the router is started), but I totally can imagine that.
Please, Adam. Even though you don't like routers, handle them with care (actually even more care) so they won't have to dislike you back.
I love how Adam’s shop looks like an old neighborhood hardware store that you rarely see anymore in the era of Big Box home centers.
It's what he's always wanted!
I love the message when he is looking for something in the sortmos, "Sortmos currently out of stock!"! 🤣
That’s what a workshop is supposed to look like. I know some people like it very clean and shiny, but they’re wrong.
Those stores still exist, you just have to get out of the cities
My shop also has a little hardware store in the next room. For speed builds, it is a deal breaker to have everything in stock (and know where to find it.)
A long time ago in a wood shop far away, I was on the editorial staff of a nationally published woodworking magazine. Roundabout 1998, we would always come up with an ‘interesting’ article for the issue coming out at the end of March. Keep in mind, dead tree media was about the only news most people got so we were actually very careful about any fake news but we weren’t above having a little ‘nudge and a wink’ fun. One of the editors came up with the idea to slap a screw gun battery on top of an old trim router. He painted it up to match no brand in particular and heralded the dawn of a new routing age. Little did we know the utter crap storm we’d stirred up when after the issue hit the stands, we got calls from EVERY power tool maker wanting to know about this tech. To see Adam actually hoist one of these things up and run it on camera is my personal Star Trek moment.
Great story! Dream it into existence.
I do a "bit" of laminate work at my job, the Dewalt cordless laminate trimmer was my 3rd purchase after screw guns and an oscillating tool. Makita has a way better set of bases and I regret my decision. Makita has a better system.
@@jackbrady6600 There are a lot of aftermarket bases that fit the big brands, maybe look there. I saw one that was compatible with Milwaukee, DeWalt AND Makita for trim router, apparently it was pretty well made too and much more stable.
@@jackbrady6600They’ve had their cordless router since 2017 if I recall correctly. But same shape as their corded one so bases are interchangeable.
I love my battery DeWalt router. I recently added a bigger base to it with handles for other applications. I may buy a second for it's practical use for easy trim applications as it was intended to avoid switching the bases.
German mechatronics technician here.
There are two tools that i've come to love.
1) the Jokari wire stripper (Pro 4)because it has less tendency to bite the copper than Weidmüller or Knipex strippers. It is also a LOT cheaper than the other two. On the downside it doesnt deal as well with large gauge wires, or ribbon cables.
2) Knippex Pliers Wrench: if a monkey wrench and a pipe wrench had a baby you'd get this thing. Can be used as adjustable spanner, a pipe wrench that doesn't leave marks. Thanks to the reduction lever it multplies your grip strength and can be used to flaten or straighten out stuff.
Also a pair off Engelbert Strauss work trousers.
+1 on the Knipex wrench, amazing tool
I now trust you to buy the cheaper Jokari wire stripper
@@MatthiasDuyck The stripper is really just a choice of preference, so results may vary. And as i told you before there are some things where the expensive strippers are better, but not many. Tell me if you like it.
Im a carpenter, keep a small one of those pliers in my Engelbert Strauss's at all times 😂
My personal problem with the jokari wire strippers is that you cant strip ribboncales with it all in one go.
@@jannikn1606 Yeah i see that. This is definenitely a place where the flatbladed Weidmüller or Knippex strippers aare better.
My favorite tool has been an ultrasonic cleaner and jars. The jars is the crucial bit. Put the solvent in a jar with a lid, put the jar in the ultrasonic cleaner, and fill the cleaner with a water bath. Now I can switch between solvents without worrying about mixing issues. I found that NASA had also had the same problem I had, and this was something they studied. Yes, you have to be careful of flammable solvents, but you have to debe careful regardless of how you use them. Game changer for me
The glass doesn't reflect or absorb the ultrasonic waveforms at all?
I use plastic zipper sandwich bags. I don't think the glass will properly 'couple' the waveforms with the solvents inside. Of course, not all solvents will work with zipper bags, but I mostly use isopropyl and such for degreasing (I should probably check for compatability with mineral spirits instead).
@andrewh.8403 I haven't had problems. Both glass and plastic jars work fine as do zip lock bags. Glass just works with most solvents. If I remember correctly, there were other you articles and a NASA report going over all different containers affect the ultrasonic.
@@stephenjohnson4955 It's the opposite. Glass and metal are good transmitters for the ultrasonic waves. Plastics absorb the energy and decrease the effectivity, significantly.
@@garrettgreen9667another fun fact is that solid material such as steel or Pyrex is more effective at transmitting ultrasonic waves than meshed materials. The mesh actually disrupts the waves more than solid material will
As a hand tool focused woodworker with a small shop, agree that cordless versions of basic tools (router, orbital sander, jigsaw) get way more use because of the convenience.
Also pin nailer. On any small wood assembly pin nailer is invaluable. Nothing else can really do what it does, while for larger assemblies there are many fastening options.
Wago connectors are great. One thing I never see mentioned about wago connectors is that the smaller gauge ferrules fit perfectly inside and that has become my go-to for working with stranded wiring smaller than 16 gauge. I'll strip the wiring, crimp a ferrule on and it fits perfectly in the wago. Easy to remove and reuse as well without mangling the stranded wire.
You don't need a ferrule with the Wagos Adam showed.
@@hw2508 not needed but super nice
This!!
I will sometimes wrap electrical tape around a WAGO to prevent accidental loosening.
Ferrules in general are under used.
Pro tip for brass lined grippers, you can solder copper or brass fittings to them to make a custom gripper for one part that you need to make several of. When your done you heat them up and take off the fitting. I use silver bearing solder. Works on brass vice jawes as well.
The framing hammer has so many uses it's almost mythic. Lumber hook, beam nudger, chisel driver, nail puller, rough hatchet (really rough), wedge, shim, lever, fulcrum, board separator, pick/shovel, strap breaker, concrete form vibrator, arm extension, depth guage, pry bar, demo tool, paint can opener, hole punch ....
Heck, in a pinch you can even use it to drive nails.
Something I'd like them to do (that might get harder to do over time) is a very small recap of previous years tools, how they've held up and upgrades that have been made since they were exhibited in the favourite things videos.
Thanks for the suggestion!
That would be awesome!
Adam, try printing with 99 walls as opposed to 100% infill, you will get better strength as an output.
Not only that, but I have found with printers that aren't more than 99.99% properly tuned, the 100% infill means a slight amount of overextrusion will cause the excess material to buldge out the sides, or upward, compounding into poor surface finish (or a nozzle strike and layer shift). Sometimes, it even means zero layer adhesion/bonding in the z-axis within the infill. Not sure if I understand the printer kinematics enough to accuratly describe why I think this is, but the careful failure analysis I had to do from a failed part [foolishly, mea culpa] used on a pressure vessel unquestionably showed this to be the case.
I have not worked with the Bambus, but maybe they are that last significant digit of accuracy without manual tuning.
I'm also not a fan of Matterhackers. Their fiberglass tape they used to attach filament to the center of spools ruined many of overnight prints at my company by jamming the extruder (which no filament runout sensor beyond Prusa's loadcell will detect). I also recall it being stupid expensive. Stick with other brands like Atomic Filament, 3DFuel, or even PrintedSolid's Jesse line (excellent value!).
@@stephenjohnson4955 This won't be an issue if you tune pressure advance (linear advance for Marlin), extrusion rate (rotation distance or e-steps), and calibrate the flow rate in your slicer. Search for "Andrew Ellis 3D printer tuning guide" for the best way to setup your printer for accuracy.
yes, concentric infill might do the same @ 100% but the wall count is crucial to strength second to orientation.
Increasing wall thickness is what I use for my hydraulic 3D printed dies, to bend metals. This is way stronger than any infill, even with PLA
The Hakko desoldering tool is a big investment but has been worth its weight in gold for me. No more frustrating desoldering with suckers or wicks. Makes desoldering fun and has saved me countless hours. Hakko is also the only soldering tool brand I would stand behind, their products are top shelf.
Thank you Adam (and Tested Team) for all that you do to share, educate and help people create what inspires them. I will forever be grateful to you and the MB crew for what you did, do and continue to do for the creative, DIY and Hobbyists community. I will one day have a west coast trip where I have the time to swing by and ring the infamous shop door, to thank you in person (….provided I can find the shop the third time around)
This year I got my first 3d Printer (Resin, for printing higher detail models and minis), my first soldering iron (Pinecil64) and a (marketplace special) Airbrush. The Tested videos have brought me so much joy, and being able to finally start making things on my own has been amazing. I have a Filament 3D printer on my list next, so I can print larger things like helmets and weapons from Star Wars and Blade Runner to scale. Adam's shop is a dream space for me.
14:32 Adam I would HIGHLY suggest instead of doing 100 percent infill on parts to make it feel solid, you either combine it with or replace that with doing multiple walls. You will simultaneously save filament while getting more structure out of your prints. Most print profiles do 2 walls as a standard, and I was always told anything that will be housing stress or being drilled into to have at least 4 walls, MINIMUM. I have some 3d printed shelves that hold some spare tools that have 6 walls, and they are sturdy.
I've been enjoying videos using denser materials to void fill 3D prints ... Like concrete, to make a sturdy base. I'm sure sand would work too for some applications. Haven't done it myself yet but it's on the cards (plus just learning about adding mass and what that can do for the function of an object). I did immediately think when he said 100% infill that I'm sure I've heard that isn't the most effective way to do things - my biggest lesson on all this was to throw out injection molding mindset and embrace fdm printing for what it actually is and how it works. Make stuff geometrically chonky. Build things in my head in layers.
You're our favorite too, Adam! We're excited to see that you love fire as much as we do. Thanks for bringing the heat.🔥
Can confirm on the Knipex. A good quality wire stripper vs. a cheap knockoff is not to be underestimated.
Just Knipex full stop. Replaced al my cruddy pliers and grips with Knipex. Worlds apart
I love the addition of magnets to my scale modeling work desk. I've added strips of magnets along the edge of my desk and a second magnetic strip along my primary work light. Having tools I use daily like my assortment of go to files always within easy reach, always easy to see and sort. It's awesome! And they never clutter my work area as as soon as I'm done with them, I put em back on the magnet. Really happy with how magnetic storage is making my work more efficient and more enjoyable.
That's an awesome idea! 👍😁
I have magnets all over the back of my tractor, it's where I throw pins and stuff when I'm swapping implements.
Rare earth magnets on a cordless drill/driver is life changing. Hold all the screws you need to drive. Hold alternate bits that you need to swap between (eg. pilot hole drill and driver bit). Grab screws you're unscrewing with one hand while you hold the workpiece in place with your other. So useful.
I love the 2 wire linear wagos for things that require regular maintenance, like changing the ceiling fan capacitors
sometimes I use power poles but it's hard to trust the connection, your idea might be better for those semi-permanent connections.
It sincerely makes me happy seeing how much joy you get out of new tools, toys and consumables. As someone who does home renovations as my primary source of income and loves making things in all manners from woodworking to 3d printing and all sorts of stuff in between I deeply understand that joy of finding something. My family and friends don't get how much excitement I get from getting new little things like wagos or yesterday my favorite brand of clamps that were already on sale for the holidays had a super sale on a few sizes of parallel clamps and they were down to 15$ ea for 30" guys when they are regularly like 50$ ea and it just doesn't compute to them how someone can get so excited about something like clamps lol. My only regret was I noticed the sale right at midnight and got a couple but was probably going to get 2-3 more in the morning but by 7am they had sold out. But I hope I never lose that feeling because I know so many guys who are stuck in their ways and hate any sort of change or innovation. Before I had my own company I did a bunch of union work and also worked with an older guy who was a great dude but it literally took me almost a year to prove to him that cordless tools work as well or better than corded in most applications. He seriously didn't think that my cordless jigsaw was as good as his 20 year old corded one that was on its last legs lol. But I have met all sorts of people who absolutely hate things like wire nuts or shark bite fittings or even hard wax wood finishes. I am not saying any of those absolutely replaces any need for the tried and true methods but so many just hate the idea of something new.
There is a saying among German craftsmen: "You can tell good pliers apart the from the rest by the fact that they have "Knipex" written on them."
I have my Knipex pliers for 40 years and they still do the job. I never buy cheap tools again in my life, no headaches and you save money on the long run.
All hail the Knipex Cobra and Pliers Wrench!
@TheElrondo If it's a weekend project that you wouldn't do again for a long time, you can go cheap. If you use it often, it saves money to buy quality.
With the exception of their strippers/crimpers. We tried another pair after the first was disappointing, and it wasn’t any better. My bil & I are HVAC techs. He is almost exclusively Knipix now, and I have a few of their tools and use them daily. But Southwire stripper/crimpers from Lowe’s worked better than the Knipex for us. YMMV
Project Farm pretty conclusively proved how amazing they are in his (somewhat recent) pliers test video!
My new favorite tool is a Phrozen Sonic Sabre Cutter, an ultrasonic knife that I'm using to remove supports from 3D resin prints. It just glides through the little nubbins and puts much less stress on delicate parts. I was on the fence, as it isn't cheap, but was an early Black Friday special from Amazon.
Knipex Parallel Jaw Plier... the tiny one #86 03 125. I literally got them as a joke from a coworker (aviation mechanics) and they have become my favorite tool and is in my pocket 24/7 next to a pen and a stubby ratcheting screwdriver (SGDMRC11AG). They fit in all spaces and can perform 80% of my daily tasks
the small and medium size of the parallel pliers are really good. Not as expensive and heavy as the big ones, but still able to do a lot because the jaws open like an Anaconda's mouth.
Wago benefits . 1. joining stranded wire (ex. light fixture) to solid wire-way easier than wire-nuts. 2. Bigger junction box with 3-4 conductors per leg (including multiple ground wires running everywhere) - ditto. 3. Clumsy guy (or gal) on a ladder hanging a light or fan- put Wagos on each leg first-now only single, simple lever connections need to be made while on ladder. 4. Three conductor Wagos work great for pigtails, giving choice to leave pigtail on device (no unscrewing) and just release it at the Wago. 5. For extra protection- use inline Wago with large heat-shrink tubing. 6. Connections can easily be opened and closed multiple times, often not so easy with 3-4 conductor 14- or 12-gauge solid copper in a wire-nut. 7. Finally, want to check voltage on a leg? Lever connecters have probe ports for sure contact without disturbing connection. Only downsides- higher cost (for bulk work) and maybe think about continuous duty, high current installations (18-20 amp?) as a Wago may run marginally warmer than a properly installed wire-nut connection.
Used a wago the other day for the second time. Worked great to fix a broken wire in the back of an electrical box. Game changer
Adam, one of my jobs that I have the privilege of doing is working on ambulances. I can tell you and everyone that leaver nuts and the wire strippers are an absolute game changer. I have been working part time in the auto repair arena for most of my adult life and dabbling in making things. Your channel has inspired me to do more. Thank You Sir!! The new torch set will be added to my workspace very soon.
My favorite and most used tool in my shop is my Milwaukee battery powered angle die grinder. I keep a 3" rotolock abrasive attachment on it. I use it for everything. Crafts, woodworking and welding projects.
I too have a love of good wiring tools. I'd add that wire ferrules with good ferrule crimpers is another must have. If you work with 18 AWG or smaller, putting a ferrule on the wire before inserting it into whatever is a game changer.
As a retired ET I have to agree. At my second job, I was introduced to the Phoenix line of products. As a builder of prototypes, with all that entailed, they were a lifesaver. It made connecting/disconnecting things together trivial. The crimper is probably very expensive, but it should last a lifetime. Another subject is the wire strippers. In a mil-spec environment, you are forbidden to use bladed strippers. It's either the type he showed, or thermal strippers.
Ive got the knipex ones like him that have a crimper built in. Its great because i don't have to juggle two pairs of pliers.
The Wagos also allow you to test the voltage through a little test window. Very helpful
I work at a very tiny Ace Hardware, and shortly after seeing your first video on the lever-nuts, I had a chance to use them in replacing some light fixtures for my mom. When I got back to work, I immediately added them to our inventory, because I knew how much better they worked in so many different areas than twist connectors. And with like 5 schools within a mile of the store, I'm sure some of the local robotics teams will be able to put them to good use!
Adam thank you for showing off the infinity bond mma 310. My company is the one who offer this. You made my day 😂
@Theforth09 - how do you recommend handling cartridges that aren't fully used up? Leave the mixing tip on the cartridge and let it harden, then replace the tip when ready for next use?
@ChuckYoung-l9g each of the cartridges on our website come with 2 mixers. Remove the used one and recap the cartridge and store ina room temp area till ready to use again. You want to avoid the 2 parts mixing.
I am loving Adam’s “hardware store” in the cave. Its totally inspiring, almost overwhelmingly so! You're constantly surrounded by cool stuff to make something out of nothing!
That little dewalt router has changed our life when it comes to cutting osb out in window and door openings. For framing, it’s a must have anymore.
Very true Adam routers should be used with care because of their bite . As a healthcare provider in the ER that bite is also easy to spot lol “were U using Ur router today young man??? “ however as a wood worker on my day off the router has sooo many functions a little creative thinking and throwing rules to the wind one of the best tools to have and without having to worry about a cord I think will either increase use and or allowing even more flexibility
“…spinning death part.” got a big grin.
This DeWalt router is the single reason that I chose the DeWalt 20 V system. It’s literally my favorite power tool I’ve ever owned, I use it on just about every single woodworking project. It’s just such an incredibly great piece of kit
_[NOTE: YT's automoderation system has removed my first attempt, because it thinks I'm a shill or something. I've tried to mitigate it, and so the "Ch" in their name needs "annel" added. Also the "-C" needs to be replaced by "sy".]_
You can buy battery adapters these days. TorqueTestCh has shown off some, made by someone on Et-C, and they include the necessary resistance (resistor) on the specific pin(s) to "trick" the tool into running full speed (it thinks it has a genuine battery).
TTC is a great resource, literally making the big name tool companies become more honest with their labeled specs.
Or in the cases where they won't give a crap (like Chinese knockoff things; flashlights, etc), they at least allow us to make an informed decision when buying!
They occasionally test more than just power/hand tools, too.
What's great is they then send those tools out to people who subscribe to their taking tables (note: they *do* tell us the same info each episode), and then if the tool breaks they let us know!
To come back to the adapters, it's let them test certain power tools with the better batteries from other companies, to see if the tool has anything more to give. In other words, test the tool to it's full potential and determine if the power quality battery is holding it back.
_[NOTE: YT's automoderation system has removed my first attempt, because it thinks I'm a shill or something. I've tried to mitigate it, and so the "C" in their name needs "hannel" added. Also the "-C" needs to be replaced by "sy". _*_Attempt #4, breaking up the comment into paragraphs..._*_ ]_
You can buy battery adapters these days. TorqueTestC has shown off some, made by someone on Et-C, and they include the necessary resistance (resistor) on the specific pin(s) to "trick" the tool into running full speed (it thinks it has a genuine battery).
Well, I've tried to comment this 4 times, but YT's automoderation system doesn't want me to share useful info anymore, treating me like I'm a shill or a spammer 😮💨😞
I'll just say that TTC (Torque Test
@ good idea. I do sometimes cross batteries. But prefer to stay native when possible.
0:41 Missed opportunity to say "Propane and propane based accessories".
Ok Mr. Hill, that'll be enough out of you! 🤣
There's only one man i trust to sell me propane and propane accessories
“Butane is a bastard gas.”
I got on here in the comments to say just this! 😂
I was think the samething!
2 part glues are nice, BC they usually have longer storage life once opened... if you need their very best properties use them fresh... but usually its fine to use very old 2 part glues
That was a great recap and reminded me of my favorite new things this year. I invested some time and energy to build myself a tiny livingroom workshop, consisting of a custom shelf made out of 20x20mm aluminium extrusion and some pallet wood as well as a used solid oak sewing table. this tiny workshop space recently got an upgrade with a second light, wich is a normal ikea desk lamp, but instead of standing upright on the desk i mounted it to a wall mount monitor arm horizontally to one of the uprights of the shelf. now it swing freely 20cm over my head to the position i need it while painting or sanding.
Thank you for your constant inspiration.
I'll add companions to the brass pliers. That would be Teflon instead of brass, and parallel travel pliers where the teeth are replaced with surfaces that remain parallel.
I think Adam has talked about parallel action pliers before, but I don't know if he realizes that you can get the brass lined ones also in parallel action
I just got a ryobi wet/dry vacuum top. It fits on any 5 gallon bucket. Great size. The interchangeable nature works great for the farm. So now I’ve got a bucket of used chicken feed. Instead of mice. I’ve got a bucket of metal filings. I’ve got a bucket of saw dust and jars of saw dust in different colors. It’s a recyclers dream machine. I’ve been wanting to make linseed oil and rust barn paint for a while. This makes it easy.
Some time ago, Adam recommended a Japanese pull saw, which I purchased. I absolutely LOVE it! It's certainly not the most "exciting" or expensive tool, but it's a joy to use. Straightest cuts I've ever made!😃
I do a good bit of work on my own vehicles, lawn mowers, snow blower, etc. The best new tool I have gifted to myself recently was a set of different sized extended length hose grip pliers. They make it so much easier to reach in places, get a grip on a rubber or braided metal hose and work it on or off of it’s fitting. I got them at Harbor Freight (I know, real mechanics don’t use tools from HF) with a coupon for less than $9 for the pack of three sizes. They seem to be holding up pretty well and I have definitely gotten my moneys worth out of them already. Thanks Adam, I love the channel and keep up the amazing work!
Plenty of real mechanics use HF tools, they're just overshadowed by the people who are fanatical about Snap-On. I love half a mile from a HF and their Quinn and Icon tools are fantastic.
Thanks for the suggestions, and Adam likes Harbor Freight too!
At Harbor Freight, I found some 6" metal brakes with magnets that you put in the jaws of a 6" vise, and they're PERFECT for making small complex brackets for motorcycle stuff. I have never seen them anywhere else.
Happy Thanksgiving Savage Family!
Per your advice, I bought a Leatherman (this one is a Skeletool), and it has saved me so much time looking for things in the garage and when I am out and about, I always have it ready for whatever.
Just a homeowner, not an electrician, but any time I'm replacing an outlet or a light I replace the wire nuts with Wago's. They're so easy to use and they make the box so much cleaner. The amount of loose wire nuts I've found in my house so far is horrifying, especially when joining stranded and solid wire.
Just finished your book: Every Tool is a hammer. Loved it thanks for putting it out into the world.
On the topic of Methacrylate glues. They are great. I’ve been using them primarily for metal for over 20 years. This year I glued some 1” angle iron tabs to some aluminum panels and sent them off them to be powder coated. Guess what, all 50 tabs made it through the powder coating oven!
Good stuff!
Thanks Adam, if you like brass lined pliers check out the "Bernard" style parallel pliers with brass lined jaws, they often come with clip on plastic covers too !
I splurged on a decent soldering microscope and I have never been happier. Being able to see what you are doing is a god send
I keep meaning to point this out, but EMA / Plastruct must have at one time sold plans for those wood shelves. My old employer (now closed) was a professional model shop, and we inherited the entire shop set-up from Monsanto Chemical Company in 1988. Part of the haul we got were multiple wood shelves identical to those you got from ILM.
Buster was the one who recommended the bamboo cotton swabs to Adam. What a guy. A national treasure. Always on time, and never a complaint. A true man of the people.
If your company's product is in this video, you should be proud. It is the highest honour to have this man's appreciation
Lever nuts are absolutely in my top list for the year too. Absolute game changer for DIY electronics and audio projects!
One tool I recently bought was a Wen 1/2 x18” band file. It was like $35 and I use it all the time. I bought some good ceramic belts for it and it works great for all kinds of stuff
I have the ryobi one, it is one of my favorite tools and has gotten me out of several binds
I just used it to make a comfortable seat for 2 of my motorcycles. It removed foam at a good rate without gouging or going too fast, and was perfect for shaping curves.
Equidistant measuring tool. Mine are made by trend.
It's a tool that gives you equal spacing between 6 or 7 points at a time and you can lock it in that setting with bowtie nuts.
I make furniture and when I build park benches where there might be 15 or 20 lats that need to start from the middle and need precision mortises cut this is the tool I do my layout with. Saves time.
Dude i was so excited when i learned about that style of wire strippers, and then so bummed when they didnt work well for small wires! Now im excited again woooo!
I just use plain black ASA for pretty much all 3D printing I do, sometimes polycarbonate. I don’t do 100% infil unless it’s needed. That’s kind of expensive for ASA. Thanks for the tips on MMA glue and Bambu swabs, though. Both were very timely for upcoming projects! Glad to hear the Mrs. is joining you! That’s awesome!
My favorite “new to me” tools this year:
*Mitotoyo 4” dial calipers.
*Knipex 5” pliers wrench.
* CJRB Pyrite Bowie pocket knife in ebony.
* Wera Toolcheck Plus / Icon locking flex head ratchet and bit set.
* Worksharp Precision adjust knife sharpener.
* Toughbuilt Stacktech tool storage and organizers.
* Vanquest FTIM 6x9 EDC organizer.
I got those calipers and Knipex this year also.
Thank you for sharing your list!
I've upgraded my kit based on Tested recommendations including the Knipix wire strippers, a TS80P USB soldering wand (both game changers! I do a lot of Arduino stuff) and a Proxxon rotary tool. I know Adam has upgraded his but the Proxxon is just perfect for my home office workspace and it's never disappointed me. I'm definitely getting some of those lever nuts, particularly for mocking things up where I often want to experiment with configurations a lot.
I'm grateful this Thanksgiving that Adam shares his time with us. It's made a positive and happy impact on my life. And I have a ruler tattoo to boot! My only tattoo... a functional upgrade. 😊
I too learned about lever nuts this year. I had several lights that I had to remove ballasts for a led swap. They saved me so much time!
Had a cordless router for a while now, so convenient!
The Bernzomatic tool 😘😍 Thank you Thank you Thank you. I had to get rid of my big torch because it just didn’t feel safe in my studio. The one you demonstrated will be perfect! Also loved your description of what pliers do 😂. Really impressed with the soft touch brass ones.
You really need the knipex push button wrench pliers, they are brilliant, different sizes available
Hi Adam! Huge fan here. The cable peeler is something i picked up 20-23 years ago and my collagues were laughing at them. They never had the guts to admit how wrong they were and just kept working with pliers. Wago is another great one! I used a ton when building my house and workshop.
It's weird how Waco's are a new thing in the US.
Here in Finland we've been using them for maybe 25 years now basically in all hose wiring. Twist lugs were a thing in the 80's :)
we move slow when it comes to UL ratings. I presume it's expensive. Also tradies are hard to change habits. Those Wagos are super satisfying to use and way easier on my aging joints. I also trust that connection way more. But I think they're much pricier at scale.
@@thefirebuilds Well we don't use lever waco's. It's a simpler model where you just push it in and it locks on place. Should be a lot cheaper. Obviously it doesn't work for braided wires but we don't use them for house wiring
@@samik83 We have push-in versions of these too, but you don't use them for maker projects, or anything else, where there is a possibility might want to remove the wire without having to make it shorter.
Same with wire strippers... how can someone like Adam not have come across these? They're very common in Denmark, and I assume they're available everywhere.
@@thefirebuilds Exactly! Imagine telling an old school building inspector that these are all the rage with hobbyists and DYIers and he should watch the youtube reviews lol. We have soooo many state and local laws that we can't just adopt new standards overnight if we even choose to at all. Looking at you Metric system
That cordless Dewalt Router is so well designed. My favorite aspect of it is the ease of adjusting the depth of cut with the large ring.
have you tried the milwaukee or herculues(harbor freight) router to compare? dont have any dewalt batteries
@@CubeRhinoDevyou didn’t ask me, but if you have a popular brand of battery tool, just get the router they make. In this case get Milwaukee over harbor freight.
I discovered lever nuts this year. I LOVE THEM!
I had picked up the DeWalt router last week, where has this been all my life? For quick light jobs it is fantastic. I used it with to match the 1/4" plywood backing for a bookshelf to the outer edge frame of the book shelf. No cord to wrestle with, no handle without a lock-washer (I routered the top of two my fingers in high school when my shop teacher put the handle back on without a lock washer. I held with on hand while I moved the cord out of the way, as I was bringing my hand back to the handle, the router rotated and flipped the blade side up and caught my fingers in an instant.).
This is a shocking reminder of how fast a year just went by.
And shocking he is doing it before November is out.
Right?!
My favourite tool is a universal spanner, I work in polyurethane fabrication and engineering and constantly undoing nuts and bolts on projects of various sizes where a shifter won't fit, having something thin that's able to undo bolts at multiple sizes without the tool ever leaving my hand or having to stop for sockets etc comes in clutch everyday and boosts production love from aus
I broke my hand this year and had to find new lighter tools to achieve my tasks. I dipped my feet into a new to me tool line, and I have to say, I love the Milwaukee M12 power tool line.
That huge battery and how heavy it can be on the router you showed was all I could think about the whole time you were talking about it.
m12 impact guns are silly for how small they are, just for a start. truth.
He was using a ridiculously large battery on that router. I put a PowerStack 1.7Ah on that same router and it makes it so much easier to work with and still offers a lot of power. Unless the router is mounted into a table, you’re likely to use it for short bursts and don’t need to have a giant (long endurance) battery hanging off the top of it.
I feel that way about the dewalt 12v line. I can carry a driver, an impact, a sawzall, an oscillating multi-tool, and all my regular hand tools in 1 bag and do whatever work I need without killing my hands and shoulders. These new little tools pack a punch!
I got a few m12 tools on Black Friday a couple years back thinking they would be a good "house" set. I find myself using them 4x more than the m18 versions of the same thing. Goldilocks tools for so many things.
My favorite tool(s) from this year are the Klein Knect and modbox systems. I’m not an electrician, but these systems have completely changed how I think about tools/storage. I love that now all my tools are compatible with each other, take up WAY less space than my old toolbox, and are all impact rated.
Other than the Klein stuff, I’ve also gotten some Knipex Cobras that saved me with an emergency plumbing job, and a new Gerber MP600 Pro Scout multitool that lives with me now.
Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for sharing! The table top torch was awesome! 😊
Adam you are my spirit animal! I recently discovered the same thing and found my color of choice and started printing with 100% infill! Love all your suggestions!
0:42 Propane and propane accessories
Also love to see wago connectors! They're so useful.
I was so waiting for Adam to say that !!!!!!
Adam. On your floor mats in front of your paint cabinets, (and anywhere else), take a blade down the edge and make a clean cut. Those tabs are not necessary there haha. I ran duct tape down the length of the seams and cut along the underside on mine too. So the sections are all 1x4 tiles taped together. Keeps them together better and still able to disassemble when needed. And the cut finished edges are much more easy on the eyes.
I make my own by using loose cotton or steel wool on bamboo skewers. I learned this little trick when I worked in a conservation lab at a museum. All you need do is lay the skewer on the surface of the cotton or steel wool and let it grab a few strands while twirling the skewer. The cool thing is you can build up as much as you need for any particular use/job. There is a little learning curve but very soon you will be twirling your own swabs like a conservation pro. Really works great!
Great idea--it would also allow you to select the grade of steel wool. I've never seen a steel wool Q-tip, but it sounds useful. I'll have to give it a try.
Good and on a similar wavelength.
I discovered Wago a few years ago and I also often put 6-sided crimped ferrules on various signal and small-current wiring. Might not be necessary, but there's a useful max size that will fit into a Wago and these have a recess to accommodate the curved part of a crimp. Especially useful for semi-permanent or test rigs. Try the crimp ferrules if you've not used them.
I went with the CK-style automatic wire strippers and bought OE. Plenty of knock-off there, too. The KNIPEX might be better for very short lengths but I like the CKs.
I also have the DeWalt router and the kit I got also came with the plunge base. Bit of a faff to swap it between trim and plunge, but I'm not being paid for my router work and a single kit with both applications is fine. It also has good dust extaction (if you 3d print to match your hoses) and has very good lights as you show.
On the pliers front, try parallel pliers, if you don't have any? They were TOT's revelation tool a few yesrs ago, but I've been using them for many years for mousing shackles and working with stainless steel welding wire. They are also great at securely holding all sorts of parts (with parallel sides, obvs).
That shirt perfectly matches Adams hair. Sharp fit
I love my automatic wire strippers.
One of our students (now a head of department at ABB Switzerland) and went on a long, long rant about all the time he wasted not having those earlier.
They're just magic!
My cordless router changed my whole workflow. It’s unlocked a whole bunch of things for me. I can pack it up with my set of bits so easily. Mine has one wrench which is so easy. I have the Hercules one from Harbor Freight and it holds up to scrutiny really well.
Every December I come to these videos to build out my Christmas list because I trust Adam to recommend quality, useful items! Thanks!
I took your advice on the Smoke Genie last year and it has been an indispensable cosplay tool!
Amazing!
Bernzomatic stand with the hose and gun is so fking awesome. If you use torches a lot this is a MUST HAVE it made me so happy to see you put that on here 😃
Thanks - we totally agree. Glad you love it as much as we do. 🔥
i have a pair of irwin wire strippers igot at sears decades ago. they are awesome i use them regularly they save so much time. adam do you have a zip gun? they tighten and flush cut zip ties. they tighten to adjustable setting. very nice.
I made a rod parter for 4 mm brass and stainless steel rods. There is barely enough leverage to cut the steel, but the brass cuts very easily. Nice for making pins with flat ends of any length over a few mm. Pro rod parters cost thousands to buy but I made one for around 500 with removable cutting bits (which were half the cost). Just happy to have designed something and save money, so it is my favorite tool now. It looks like a prototype but it works for my case.
Woo hoo! I love this series every year!! Always fascinating and fun!
I love parallel pliers. They aren’t too graceful when I use them because they’re close but if I have a job where even distribution is needed they are a luxury.
I first used the Infinity Bond MMA 310 type glue over 20 years ago when 3M came out with it. In plastic fabrication it "glued" together non-glueable plastic like P.P. and P.E. The glue joint was stronger than the material. They would/could not tell me how it bonded. I believed from hints it was molecular level bond.
Interesting, as I was lead to believe MMAs were only about 10 years old. I have used Infinity Bond MMA 500 on some plastic repairs and I am in love.
@@BenFenner This was back in the 90's for me. The shop I worked in did not like the cost of over $20 a tube. A short shelf life so we could not stock it. We only used it to guarantee an electrically sealed plastic weld joint. I do remember the cured material was very abrasive and so hard it dulled carbide and tool steel scrapers used to clean up joints.
Methacrylate chemistry has been used for microscopy since the 1960s. The monomers are low viscosity and penetrate dense materials and once polymerized can be sliced in slices of less than a micrometer in thickness. Had to use a diamond knife.
Just so you know: the producer of the best wire nuts - WAGO makes different ones for different types of cables. Not only size, direction and amount of wires but also different ones for wires that are made of many small wires or wires that are made out of one single copper piece.
I did not expect that Adam wasnt already using Wago!
He's probably started a war with the nut purists.
It is wild to me! I began my career as an electrician in Norway in 2009, and the twist-nuts were already considered obsolete by then.
Adam, I've always admired your true talent for creating! What I wouldn't give to explore your shop! I would be a kid in a candy store! From a humble craftsman to you, you are an inspiration! Thank you 🙏
Trap for Young Players with Wago's:
Check what kind of wire the particular Wago model is for, some are for solid core, some for coarse core (few relatively thick strands), some for fine core (many fine strands).
The thing I've heard about wagos is that they work on solid and stranded (and you can mix)
Great ideas the Bernzomatic tool solves a big issue for me, being able to pinpoint heat to an area and not melt the rest of the part . 👍🏽
We're happy to hear that the FirePoint Creator Tool helps you get the job done. Keep up the great work! 🔥
We have all the same shit, except the brass jaw pliers, I made my own, teflon too. Cheers!
Pliers are amazing. I have a set of nine that I keep in a separate spot and count them to make sure I didn’t miss any! 😂 It now needs to move to ten with the brass lined! Thanks for the great content!
Get the Knipex pliers wrench soft jaw covers!
Dewalt the DCF601 screwdriver is just the kindest gentlest little driving tool, it's been around for a while, but those who know, know
Also Dewalt, have you tried the bandfile yet?
I work in decor and lighting and my favorite tool this year is the high speed 1200rpm Vessel screw driver. Cuts down my lamp rewiring time significantly and without switching to a small impact.
the flammable cabinet looks like a worthwhile investment. they have something similar for lithium ion batteries for e-mobility devices like ebikes, electric scooters, drones, power tools, etc. some mom and pop scooter shops that service their products have a dedicated room surrounded in brick and have fire rated equipment and house batteries in anti flammable cabinets. it’s a rabbit hole into fire safety. i use a battery bag and store that in a giant ammo box for added safety. it’s portable which benefits in no commitment to a specific space.
My fpv lipos get stored in the lipo "fireproof" bags but I also have a metal tub with handles on the side that I'm putting sand in just in case there's a fire >_>
just upgrade to phosphates lol
My favorite tool recently has been a Shinto rasp-it’s very good at removing material quickly yet predictably, and is just the perfect tool for that middle ground in precision between a belt sander and hand carving/sanding
Man I hate glue too. I only need CA glue or stronger like every 2 or 3 months. By the time I need it again, the bottle or tube is mostly hard and I have to destructively open it to get the last bit. One time I found a retail case of these tiny single application Krazy Glue tubes at a liquidator for $5. Seemed like a great idea at the time. How could it go bad if it isn't open? Well let me tell you, that stuff will harden all by itself eventually. They all went bad before I got halfway through the box. Think I at least got my $5 worth though.