Hammer Tacker
The FatMax Xtreme Heavy Duty Hammer Tacker from Stanley combines a stapler and a retractable knife, allowing the user to quickly switch from tacking to cutting without changing tools. The tool has room for two sticks of staples, which load from the bottom, and it features anti-jam technology. The auto-retractable blade mechanism accommodates three different blade types. The tool has a slip-resistant grip. Price: $40. 800-782-6539. www.stanleyworks.com.
Snips
MagSnips replaceable-blade snips, new from Midwest Tool and Cutlery Co., feature easily replaceable blades plus lightweight cast magnesium frames that allow the tools to weigh half as much as traditional forged steel tin snips. The line includes the M2210 left and straight cut model and the M2110 right and straight cut model. Their offset design moves material away from the blades for easier cutting without interference from the material, the company says, and it also keeps the user's hand safely above the material being cut. The line also includes the M1200, which makes straight and wide curves and can be used with either hand. Price: Unavailable. 800-782-4659. www.midwestsnips.com.
Snap-Blade Knife
Designed for precision-cutting needs, such as trimming wallpaper, the Olfa Standard-Duty Auto-Lock Cutter, model XA-1, features an UltraMax carbon tool-steel snap-off blade with 13 cutting edges, ensuring a sharp and ready-to-use cutting edge at all times. It includes an anti-slip grip, a stainless steel blade channel, and a removable pocket clip that snaps off used blade sections. Price: $7. 800-962-6532. www.olfa.com.
Pliers
Channellock has made enhancements to its 74-year-old flagship 420 tongue-and-groove plier. The tool now features a wider, more substantial nose, providing for a larger gripping surface and a stronger tool. The tool also features high-carbon drop-forged steel construction, a PermaLock fastener that eliminates nut and bolt failure, laser heat-treated jaws for maximum gripping strength, and an undercut tongue-and-groove design that won't slip, the manufacturer says. The 420 is offered with Channellock Blue or Code Blue comfort grips. Price: Unavailable. 800-724-3018. www.channellock.com.
Sander
The FastBreak sander from FastCap allows for simpler and faster easing of sharp and chipped melamine edges. The tool's shape accommodates common widths and allows for sanding two edges at once. Extra sandpaper can be stored inside the tool's handle. Price: $10. 888-443-3748. www.fastcap.com.
Tubing Cutter
The Ridgid PC-1375 large-capacity plastic-tubing cutter features an X-Cel blade, which provides fast, single-stroke cutting with reduced cut force, the company says; no twisting or ratcheting is required to make the cut. The tool accommodates a variety of plastic pipe–PVC, CPVC, PEX, polyethylene, and polybutylene–as well as rubber hose, with outside diameters of 1/8 inch to 1-3/8 inches. It features a spring-loaded handle for quick opening, an easy-turn thumb latch to hold the cutter closed, and ridges on the lower handle spaced 1/2 inch apart for easy measurements and a better grip. It is made of heavy-duty aluminum. Price: $30. 800-769-7743. www.ridgid.com.
Hammer Handle
Stiletto's new hammer handle is crafted with a fully jacketed fiberglass core; a durable, ergonomically contoured polypropylene outer body modeled after a hickory axe?style handle; and a built-in AirGrip EPDM rubber grip overmold. The firm says the handle offers more prying strength than hickory hammer handles and a better feel than standard fiberglass handles. Its tapered base allows for a relaxed grip and therefore less fatigue. A 16-inch curved version is available; 18-inch curved and straight will be available soon. Price: handle repair, $30 plus shipping; 12- or 14–ounce titanium hammer with 16-inch curved poly handle, $120. 800-987-1849. www.stilettotools.com.
Snap-Blade knife
Part of Tajima's Rock Hard line of heavy-duty snap-blade knives, the Aluminist Magazine Series knife accommodates extra-wide, extra-thick 1-inch-by-0.028-inch Rock Hard blades and features a removable five-blade magazine that allows for easy blade refilling. The knife features an auto lock that allows for fast retracting and a dial lock for fixed-blade operation. The die-cast aluminum handle comes in brushed aluminum or chrome-plated. Price: $28. 888-482-5462. www.tajimatool.com.
Pliers
Greenlee's new hand tool line includes a variety of new pliers that feature high leverage, hardened cutting edges, an ergonomic non-slip grip, and a custom grip area for users to add identification. The plier additions include side-cutting pliers in 8- or 9-inch lengths; angled diagonal-cutting pliers in four grip sizes; long-nose pliers with 6-, 7-, or 8-inch flared handles; and molded grip pump pliers in 10- or 12-inch lengths. Price: $21?$43. 800-435-0786. www.greenlee.com.
Cutting Pliers
WireMan cutting pliers are now available with the SmartGrip ergonomic, slip-resistant handle, which eliminates fatigue on the fingers, wrist, and forearm, says Ideal Industries. The handle has two layers of Santoprene: the first, hardened layer has a curved form for comfort and is durable; the second is soft and textured for a sure grip even when wet. The pliers have sharp, knife-to-knife precision blades for control and strength cutting a variety of wire types, crosshatched jaws to prevent slippage, and a built-in crimp die and fishtape puller. Price: $21?$41. 800-435-0705. www.idealindustries.com.
Square
Part of C.H. Hanson's new Signature Series, the Pivot Square brings modern touches to the traditional rafter square. The tool includes three UV-resistant vials to quickly determine roof pitches and angles, indicate grade, and mark angle cuts and even level and plumb cuts. Its locking function sets the angle for marking of repetitive cut lines. The Pivot Square, which is made of machined aluminum alloy, comes with a carrying case, a built-in belt clip, a carpenter pencil, and a technical guide to roof framing. Price: $84. 800-827-3398. www.chhanson.com.
Wrench
The Pro-Gear Bionic Grip from LoggerHead Tools features the company's Bionic Gripping technology, which distributes force around the flats of fasteners and automatically fits multiple sizes of nuts and bolts with the squeeze of a hand; an Interlock feature stays engaged while under torque load and the symmetrical grip is less likely to distort softer materials. The Bionic Grip is open-ended, allowing it to also fit a range of pipes and tubing, and it has a nickel finish for added corrosion resistance. It comes in 6-, 8-, and 10-inch sizes that cover 35 sizes of fasteners plus pipes and tubing from 5/16 to 1-1/4 inch outside diameter. Price: $29?$37. 888-564-4374. www.loggerheadtools.com.
Contour Scraper
Hyde Tools' stainless steel contour scraper removes paint, varnish, putty, caulk, or rust from virtually any surface, the company says, with six interchangeable blades designed to fit into corners, curves, small channels, and other areas. The blades are resharpenable, and the handle is comfortable, says the firm. Price: $12. 800-872-4933. www.hydetools.com.
Wallboard Saw
Great Neck Saw Mfrs.' 6-inch Double-Edged Wallboard Saw allows users to cut in two directions without changing grips. It also includes a sharp tip that allows for plunge cuts. The blade is made of hardened and tempered steel for strength and durability. The saw's handle is textured for a sure grip. Price: $5. 800-457-0600. www.greatnecksaw.com.
Scanner
The Metalliscanner m40 from Zircon finds studs under lath and plaster by indicating the nails used to attach wooden lath to studs. The tool locates ferrous metal up to 4 inches deep and non-ferrous metal up to 2 inches deep. It also will find metal plumbing, ductwork, and fasteners behind non-metallic surfaces such as drywall, tile, and stucco, as well as rebar in concrete. It features wide-field and pinpoint-scanning capabilities. Price: $40. 800-245-9265. www.zircon.com.
Wrench
A lever on Irwin's new Quick Adjusting Wrench allows its jaws to be adjusted with one hand two times faster than a traditional thumbwheel allows. The company also says the jaw locks securely in place, which means the wrench will not strip nuts, bolts, or fasteners. The tool comes with metric or SAE markings in 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-inch sizes. Price: $20 (8-inch). 800-464-7946. www.irwin.com.
Knife
The Flash II knife from Sog Specialty Knives & Tools features S.A.T.–Sog Assisted Technology–which propels the blade open when the operator initiates it with his thumb. The knife has a contoured glass-reinforced Zytel or machined-aluminum handle; a reversible, bayonet-mounted clip; and dual thumb studs for ambidextrous opening. The stainless steel blade is 3-1/2 inches long; the knife measures 8 inches overall. It weighs 3 ounces. Price: $72?$135. 888-405-6433. www.sogknives.com.
Hand Plane
Lee Valley's Little Victor plane is a close copy of Leonard Bailey's 1877 "Little Victor" #51 block plane. Great for small jobs, it fits easily in a toolbelt or apron pocket. It features an investment-cast steel body and a 30-degree-bevel O1 tool-steel blade and has a 45-degree bed angle and a fixed mouth. The sole and the working surface of the blade are lapped to a flatness tolerance of +/- 0.0002 inches or better, the manufacturer says. It measures 3-1/8 inches long by 1-1/4 inches wide and weighs less than 5 ounces. Price: $37. 613-596-0350. www.leevalley.com.
Snips
Lenox's new line of snips includes aviation snips with precision-formed blades ground to a point for long, even cuts, and offset snips with high-carbon-steel upper blades and forged lower blades. The snips feature durable springs, over-molded handles, and color coding and icons for easy identification. Six sizes are available. n Price: $16?$20. 800-628-8810. www.lenoxsaw.com.
Knives
Six lightweight lockback pocket knives have been added to Klein Tools' lineup. The knives open quickly and safely with one hand via a textured thumb stud. They include corrosion-resistant anodized aluminum handles; all but one have a removable pocket/belt clip. Price: $24?$49. 800-553-4676. www.kleintools.com.
Combo Square
This combination square features Empire Level's True Blue vial, which features two thick, dark-blue bands that increase contrast between the bubble edges and the leveling lines for enhanced readability. The tool is guaranteed accurate for squareness to a tolerance of 0.001 inch per inch. The tool also includes die-cast zinc heads milled using a single point of reference to ensure accuracy, an etched stainless steel matte-finished blade to reduce glare, a self-aligning drawbolt that holds the blade firmly but allows for easy reversal, and brass bushing. It is available in three blade lengths. Price: $8?$15. 262-368-2000. www.empirelevel.com.
Hammer/Cat's Paw
The Home Wrecker hammer/demo tool from FW Tools can be used as a traditional hammer, but the other side of its head has sharp cat's paw claws that dig deep to extract nails. The tool's raised top provides a striking surface to drive the claws deeper at embedded nails and provide leverage for extracting long nails without the need for a block of wood for extra support. The handle allows for comfortable swinging from both sides; its softer rubber absorbs vibration, the company says. A hole in the head can be used to bend foundation bolts into place. Price: $27. 615-261-9929. www.fwtoolsinc.com.
