Category Archives: Tools

Foxwell Borescope Review

I first learned what a borescope is in the early 1980’s when I was an aircraft mechanic in the US Navy. To me it was a marvel of engineering and almost seemed like science fiction. Today you can buy a Foxwell Borescope (FY406D) that is probably a thousand times better than the one I first saw and certainly a heck of a lot less expensive ($189.99 currently on Amazon).

There is a less expensive version called the Y400 which you can buy for $129.99.

When given the opportunity to review this I jumped at the chance. Conversely, I have several really good uses for it. Additionally, I believe every homeowner should have one of these. Not too long ago we figured out rodents had tunneled into our flexible duct work under the house. I had it all ripped out and replaced. Additionally, I plan on using this borescope to routinely inspect the ductwork as far as the probe length allows. This could end up paying for itself quickly. And it provides proof to my wife that the critters have not returned.

Continue reading →

Ancel IR101 Thermal Camera Review

Having a Tech Blog almost certainly involves having some fancy tech tools. One of the coolest (pun intended) tools I’ve stumbled across is the Ancel IR101 Thermal Camera.

Thermal cameras are awesome for identifying heat related issues as well as a whole bunch of other uses.

And for full disclosure, as always, Ancel provided me this IR101 to review. I’m not being paid to post this, and I’m not an affiliate of theirs, and there is no pressure, nor payout for a good review.

The device pictured has an Apple Lightning connector and is for older iPhones and iPad’s with that connector. The Ancel IR101 is also available in a USB-C form factor for newer iPhones or Android phones. And there is a cable which can convert the lightning connector on the camera to a USB-C male connector. And in fact, I bought this cable, with my own money.

There are a lot of choices for smart phone thermal cameras and the strength really lays in the application or software used. So far, I am really loving the app (Ancel IR in the Apple App Store) and working my way through all the of software options. And there are a lot!

Continue reading →

Dovoh Laser Level H3-360G Review

1 Reply

Dovoh Laser Level H3-360G Review

Dovoh H3-360G

Like any ordinary guy I love me some tools. And the higher tech they are, the better. Laser Level manufacturer Dovoh provided John’s Tech Blog their high accuracy H3-360G Laser Level with their DR1 Receiver. Although the sample was provided for free the opinions you see written here are mine.

From a professional standpoint I could have used one of these in my working years. I aligned and certified Aircraft Visual Landing Aids at Navy and Marine Corps Air Stations. Surveying was a big part of aligning glide slopes. One set of aids consists of 4 boxes. The center of each lens should be within 1 inch of each box on average.

I could have set this up and verified that check in seconds. As it stood it took some time to survey all the boxes, record elevations, do some math, etc.
Continue reading →

Justway Manufacturing Services Review

2 Replies

Justway Manufacturing Services Review

I’m a MAKER. They used to call us nerds, and then geeks. I personally own a CNC machine, four 3D printers, 5 lasers, a vinyl sign machine and some of the best tools money can buy. Before I go to the store or head to the internet to buy something I stop and ask myself, “Can I make this myself”. A lot of times I can. Even sometimes when I can it isn’t practical for me to do so or I find that I can’t make it out of a preferred material. Or I have reached the limits of my machines. This is where Justway comes in.

Justway is a manufacturing service that can make ALMOST ANYTHING. They specialize in:

CNC Machining and Milling
Sheet Metal Fabrication
3D Printing
Injection Molding
Urethane Casting

Their services are ideal for almost anyone. And their services really excel in a few different areas. If you dreamed up a great idea and you needed to build a prototype but have no manufacturing ability then Justway is a perfect choice for you.

Continue reading →

Buying Tools Without Breaking The Bank

Leave a reply

We all need tools. Whether it be the occasional screwdriver or pair of pliers for mundane tasks…..we all need tools. Tools can be pretty expensive and for the most part “you get what you pay for” applies.

Analogy time. The golden age of stereo was probably the 1970’s. Vacuum Tube amplifiers ruled the audiophile roost while the transistor made it’s way onto the scene with gigantic receivers with beautiful silver faceplates and VU meters. To this day I lust after giant boat anchor Pioneer and Sansui Receivers.

As it is in the world of tools. Probably the golden age of hand tools was from the 1960’s to the 1990’s. Things were robust then. Men made buildings out of steel, and made in America appliances were built like tanks. Cars were muscle cars. Even the family car was substantial. Powerful, and reliable hand tools were a necessity. And everyone fixed their own stuff.

While I’m not saying that things today are poorly made, I am saying things are smaller, lighter, more electronic, and less repairable by and large. People that need the most robust tools are in shorter supply. Our love of inexpensive items made in China has affected the robustness of our tooling as well. Walk into Lowes or HomeDepot and the tool areas are filled with inexpensive tooling from China that is cheap and becomes even cheaper around Father’s Day or Black Friday, or Christmas.

The internet is full of web pages comparing those tools. I just watched one where someone welded a bolt to something and they used each brand of tools to the point of failure of either the bolt or the tool and then declared which tool to be the best. While that is cool, 99% of the people who pick up a wrench or a socket are not going to encounter that. 90% of the people who use a screwdriver aren’t going to do much more than change the outlet covers to the new kind their wife likes.
Continue reading →