Got rafters to install? Or joists, or studs? A lot of builders use trusses for their roofs, even on otherwise stick-built homes; they’re strong, they go in quickly, and they eliminate waste. There are still a LOT of stick-built roofs, though, especially on custom homes, and on every job site, stick-built or not, I guarantee you pretty much every carpenter there will have a speed square. They’re cheap, sturdy, maintenance-free, have no batteries to charge, and are one of the most useful tools you can own. I’ll tell you what you can do with YOUR speed square after the review. (I didn’t mean that the way it sounds…) [Read more...]
The Johnny Square 7” Aluminum Rafter Square & Essential Speed Square Techniques
Johnson Level – Now Made of Grass
Johnson Level sent us their fastest growing level for a review. By “fastest growing”, I don’t necessarily mean market share. I’m talking literally here. Johnson has a new line of levels made out of bamboo (which, by the way, is technically a grass and grows insanely fast). We checked out the 24″ version of the 1601 Eco-Tech series bamboo levels, and they also make a four foot version. [Read more...]
Johnson Laser Distance Measure 40-6004 Review – Beam One Up, Scotty
Sometimes it’s hard to get excited about a tool when it’s, say, a hammer. Don’t get me wrong, hammers are great – but you don’t exactly walk around showing it off. (Or maybe you do. There are a lot of, uh, interesting people out there.) But when a tool points lasers and has an LED screen and computes numbers, it’s a totally different story and level of excitement. And that’s why I’m happy to provide you with this review of the Johnson Measure Laser 40-6004, because it is so much cooler than a hammer. (Again, no offense to you hammer weirdos enthusiasts out there.) [Read more...]
Hit and a Bit of a Mess – Our Johnson’s Hotshot Laser-Mouse Review
When Marc received a demo sample of Johnson’s Hotshot Laser-Mouse and asked if any of us wanted to review it, I jumped on the opportunity – mainly just so I could walk around my house and randomly shout “LASER MOUSE!” while pointing the red beam every which way (except in the way of my husband’s eyes. That’s a no-no with lasers). And while that never gets old, the performance of the Laser-Mouse (as intended by its manufacturers) was a bit of a mixed bag. [Read more...]
A Level Playing Field – the Johnson Glo-View
What more could you want in life? I mean, seriously. Just you and the other guy, same size, same weight, and the same willingness to talk things over, do a lot of pointing and waving and yelling, and then have a beer after it’s all over. A level playing field. That’s what I’m talking about. [Read more...]
