https://www.old.toolrank.com/ https://www.old.toolrank.com/images/stories/toolrankcom_100x358.png https://www.old.toolrank.com/ https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/carpenter-makes-a-diy-domino-like-mortiser-201303281414/ https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/carpenter-makes-a-diy-domino-like-mortiser-201303281414/ I think we can all pretty much agree that the Festool Domino mortiser is one cool machine. We might not all need one, but we can admire the engineering and the capabilities of the tool. So how much more impressed are we that a Russian carpenter made a similar functioning machine out of some basic shop tools. Using a Bosch Colt Router, some scraps of plywood, a few miscellaneous parts, and a lot of time, Alex K. was able to design and build his very own portable mortising machine. As he demonstrates in... ]]> Thu, 28 Mar 2013 09:00:23 -0500 1414 2013-03-28 https://www.old.toolrank.com/media/listing/videos/original/e8/c2/94/F0FpgdzR56c.jpg https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/guy-builds-a-360-degree-milling-machine-out-of-legos-201303261412/ https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/guy-builds-a-360-degree-milling-machine-out-of-legos-201303261412/ You can spend tens of thousands of dollars and purchase a 3D milling machine, or you can do like one guy did and simply make one of Lego parts—though it probably wasn't at all simple to make. They both kind of do the same thing. The builder, Arthur Sacek, built this particular Lego 3D milling machine to compete in the 2011 World Robot Olympiad, but he has actually built a few different Lego machines that can do a number of tasks. As seen in the video, the 3d miller does a really good... ]]> Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:40:39 -0500 1412 2013-03-26 https://www.old.toolrank.com/media/listing/videos/original/fb/e7/41/oF0pMILT7_Y.jpg https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/homemade-dowel-making-jig-201208151268/ https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/homemade-dowel-making-jig-201208151268/ When you are working with exotic woods it is not always easy to find matching dowel stock. You might be able to find something from a specialty store online, but if you are in a hurry, good luck finding it at your local store. The best way to find dowel stock to match your project is to make your own This homemade method comes to us from IbuildIt.ca, and I like it because it is really simple to make and it can produce accurate dowels at the size you need. All that is... ]]> Wed, 15 Aug 2012 07:00:00 -0500 1268 2012-08-15 https://www.old.toolrank.com/media/listing/videos/original/e0/c0/68/dR9-gdNdZAA.jpg https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/diy-router-copy-carver-201205211201/ https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/diy-router-copy-carver-201205211201/ I was going to take a lazy day today, because it is my birthday, and not post an article, but I came across these videos over the weekend of Matthias over at WoodGears building a cool new router copy contraption and thought I would share them. His latest machine accepts a small trim router and allows the user to use a follower to duplicate an object into wood. In his first example Matthias was able to copy a wrench and get some pretty good detail. If you want more information, be sure to watch... ]]> Mon, 21 May 2012 18:20:14 -0500 1201 2012-05-21 https://www.old.toolrank.com/media/listing/videos/original/40/77/66/uGMTZ9PAXkA.jpg https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/roboreel-wicked-awesome-automatic-cord-hose-reels-201204041162/ https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/roboreel-wicked-awesome-automatic-cord-hose-reels-201204041162/ Here at Tool-Rank we see a ton of really cool tools and gadgets but I never would have guessed that I would be writing about a cord or hose reel that falls under the category of cool. So what makes a cord or hose reel cool? The title might provide a hint. I came across RoboReel the other day on the internet and boy was I impressed with their products. They make automatic reels for both garden hoses as well as extension cords. The main features for both include 360-degree head rotation and an... ]]> Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:00:00 -0500 1162 2012-04-04 https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/veritas-dust-extraction-shroud-for-hand-planes-201204011158/ https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/veritas-dust-extraction-shroud-for-hand-planes-201204011158/ There have been huge safety changes to power tools over these last few years by manufacturers, fueled by consumer demands to cut down on harmful dust particles. Manufacturers are coming out with great new dust extraction advancements each year, but the hand tool category has remained completely untouched. But that has all changed with the introduction of the Veritas hand plane dust extraction shroud. Everything that is in the air has the potential of making its way into our lungs; that includes everything from the smallest of wood particles, to even large wood shavings.... ]]> Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:05:34 -0500 1158 2012-04-01 https://www.old.toolrank.com/media/listing/videos/original/89/e1/62/YCpG3oxyGv4.jpg https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/docks4ipods-turns-tools-into-ipad-stands-201203201147/ https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/docks4ipods-turns-tools-into-ipad-stands-201203201147/ Love tools and love technology? Then how about mixing them together with one of these cool handmade iPad docks that is made out of repurposed tools. Put one of these docks in your workshop and it will fit right in; just don't accidentally reach for one of the tools and knock your tablet to the floor. Tears might soon follow. Docks4iPods has a couple of different iPad docks that are made out of tools and other building materials, but if you want something a bit more fancy they also has some nice looking rough lumber and finished... ]]> Tue, 20 Mar 2012 07:00:00 -0500 1147 2012-03-20 https://www.old.toolrank.com/media/listing/photos/original/60/36/5c/1147_hammer-dock-1332197689.jpg https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/how-to-drill-a-square-hole-201203141140/ https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/how-to-drill-a-square-hole-201203141140/ A couple of years ago I wrote about a new tool by Darrell Peart that allows users to drill square holes without the need for any specialized machinery. The tool was similar to a mortise chisel, but it was designed to work with a regular drill and a mallet. In reality, you can not really drill a square hole with this system, though a Tool-Rank users posted a link in the article comments that detailed the math that would be involved if you could. Today we take a look at a couple of videos that show that this type... ]]> Wed, 14 Mar 2012 07:00:00 -0500 1140 2012-03-14 https://www.old.toolrank.com/media/listing/videos/original/5d/56/33/rI-15fovYEY.jpg https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/coptool-builds-a-drill-powered-scooter-201108301019/ https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/coptool-builds-a-drill-powered-scooter-201108301019/ We have seen a few professionally made drill powered mini bikes in the past, but it is so much cooler when you can build one yourself; like Jay from Coptool did. Jay had the idea of building a drill powered vehicle and he let his inner child take over to dream it up. Jay started out with a KickBike scooter that he purchased from Amazon for around $260, this was going to be the body of his build. He chose this particular model scooter because it uses a large front wheel that adds stability. Jay also... ]]> Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:22:55 -0500 1019 2011-08-30 https://www.old.toolrank.com/media/listing/videos/original/b9/1c/c4/w3fReEuzb4k.jpg https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/clamptite-the-wire-clamping-tool-20110706988/ https://www.old.toolrank.com/tool-blog/cool-tools/clamptite-the-wire-clamping-tool-20110706988/ Need a hose clamp, but the ones you have are too big? Or maybe they are not big enough? The Clamptite might be the ideal solution to all of your custom hose clamping needs, or maybe just a cheaper solution for all hose clamping. The Clamptite is a fancy little contraption that allows its users to make custom hose clamps out of basic wire. This design also allows you to match the size and type to your needs. Needs a copper hose clamp? Use copper wire. The Clamptite sounds like a really cool product,... ]]> Wed, 06 Jul 2011 01:02:10 -0500 988 2011-07-06