Wedge it Widget
Wednesday, July 6th, 2005
The other day I was hastily prying some quarter round wood trim from around a window. In my haste I discovered screwdrivers do not play well with fine wood trim. Thankfully I found a tool to save me from future wood-marring humiliation. The Multi Wedge made by Great King Tools makes a handy kit of wedges that you can use to pry, align and level. Mine are orange, which means they are made for softer materials. The black version is made for harder woods and surfaces. The set of three wedges is available for a bargain $6 from Rockler.
The measuring tape is over-rated! No doubt many of you are pros, wielding the measuring tape with deft accuracy and precision. Others prefer the motto, “measure once, cut at least twice.” For those in the latter group, and those who are efficiency minded, the HandyMark provides a welcome shortcut. The HandyMark fits over a roughed-in electrical box. Rather than “measure” where to cut the hole in your sheetrock, you simply position the sheetrock and press it against the HandyMark. Presto! Six small dimples perfectly outline your cut. 
If you are looking to pick up a date after hanging those cabinet doors, make sure you take this item off before leaving the house! Rockler sells this watch-like device with a magnet to hold those pesky screws and nails you work with. For working with small fasteners it may keep you from dropping them and then suffering the humility of searching for endless minutes on your hands and knees. If you embrace your wood-working geekitude, order one for about $8 at 
Our house is a bastion of old windows and truly decrepit glazing. I knew sooner or later I would need to scrape away whatever remains of the window putty. That time came sooner after I accidentally broke a couple windows. I ordered the Prazi Putty Chaser which I had seen months ago at Duluth Trading. The device has a simple design with a carbide bit at the end. You just set the depth for your window with a simple set screw and then attach it to a power drill that spins 2000-3000 rpm. The device works as advertised and makes short work of old window putty. In fact, it even ate right through the metal glazing points. However, the bit can be tough to control, and you definitely need a fast drill. It did do pretty well with my small projects, but I am not sure I would trust it to major jobs. FYI, the manufacturer’s site doesn’t behave well with Safari or Firefox if you are on a Mac. It suggests you “upgrade” to Explorer or Netscape and freezes navigation:
I will admit it, when I first saw Fiskars pruning tools at the local home improvement 
Anyone who has carried huge panels of sheetrock, glass or titanium armor plating knows what back-breaking awkward work it can be. Gross Stabil (that’s the company name, not a description) makes some heavy duty panel carriers designed for two people. Each device has a handle and two rubber coated cams that slide onto a panel of your choosing, allowing you to easily carry it at a convenient height. Although this tool is made by a German company (meaning it must be well-made), their website cautions against its use with cranes! The next time I am carrying titanium armor (or maybe sheetrock) I’ll grab a pair. 
As my first post, I only thought it fitting to start with the thing closest to my heart. . . That’s right, my reciprocating saw (aka Sawzall). When I was going on a tool buying frenzy I called up a pro. This pro (and friend) has hammered, cut, routered, chiseled and built just about everything, so I figured he’s the man for advice on a saw.