Category Archives: Tools

Best Laser Level – CIGMAN CM-G16

Best Laser Level – CIGMAN CM-G16

Cigman Laser Level

I’ve been lucky enough to review several laser levels from Cigman. I’ve found the Cigman Levels to be among the best I have ever encountered. Today we’re going to take a good look at the Cigman CM-G16 (currently $139). The actual kit they sent me was the Cigman CM-G16T ($179) which comes with a 1.42 meter high Tripod.

And towards the end of this post you’ll see where Cigman surprised me with…….well, a surprise.

You’re going to want to see this.

Right now I need to you think back about the last time you hung a picture or even a shelf. Did you ever try to hang two pictures side by side that were the same size?

And when you back up to take a look they clearly weren’t level at all.

Even better, have you ever tried to hang photos down a stairwell in an ascending or descending manner where you want some semblance that they are all on the same line or angle? How about mounting a TV on the wall with a sound bar?

Cigman CM-G16 (click pics to enlarge)

The photo on the left shows the television alignment and the picture on the right depicts getting the sound bar straight. You know you need this tool around your house.

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Cigman CM-S05 12 Line Laser Level Review

Cigman CM-S05 12 Line Laser Level Review

I recently was contacted by Cigman to review their 16 Line Laser Level (CM-S04). Following that review they asked me to test and review their new Cigman CM-S05.

The principal difference between the two are the number of projected line and the fact that the CM-S05 can be gesture controlled. Conversely, that means once it is setup it doesn’t require touching to operate.

The line lights can be dimmed and turned on or off just by using hand gestures. Also, this keeps the CM-S05 from being touched by dirty or greasy hands and touching the machine to push a button could shake or move your alignment slightly.

My video below demonstrates the function of the gesture controls. Additionally, I show the components of the CM-S05 kit.

This is an interesting development in the world of laser levels.

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CIGMAN Laser Level CM-S04 – Keeping Things Straight

CIGMAN Laser Level CM-S04 – Keeping Things Straight

CIGMAN Laser Level

Have you ever put extra holes in the wall from hanging pictures until you got them level? Additionally, have you ever hung a crooked shelf? Have you failed miserably at trimming the bushes in an uneven manner? There is a cure for all that and more. It is the CIGMAN Laser Level CM-S04.

Hint: This is a tool. Dad loves tools. Father’s Day is coming up. You’re welcome.

Here is the Amazon link ($199 currently).

Seriously, Dad needs a tool like this for general household and yard maintenance. I can level our camper to perfection in literally seconds.

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Foxwell RT280 Thermal Camera

Foxwell RT280 Thermal Camera

You might not know it yet, but you need a Thermal Imaging Camera. This provides you a quick and easy diagnostic tool to see if something is running above its published temperature specifications. Conversely, it can tell you if something is too cold possibly indicating it isn’t working at all. Enter the Foxwell RT280 Thermal Camera. Below is a quick promo video I made just showing its form factor.

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ANCEL DS200 OBD2 – Pays For Itself With The 1st Use

ANCEL DS200 OBD2 – Pays For Itself With The 1st Use

I have had the pleasure of working with the great team over at ANCEL on a few reviews lately. So when they contacted me again with a list of items they offered up I honed in instantly on their ANCEL DS200 OBD2. OBD stands for On Board Diagnostics and has been standard on most cars since 1996.

I have tested a few OBD2 devices from a few different manufacturers in the past and all I can say is that they pale in comparison to the DS200.

Having this diagnostic data available to the you BEFORE you go to the repair shop can literally save you some serious money. This could pay for itself on the very first use.

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ANCEL BS200 Super Starter Review

ANCEL BS200 Super Starter Review

Have you ever tried to start your car and it just wouldn’t turn over? There is now a pretty great solution to that problem. Enter the ANCEL BS200 Super Starter. (currently $199.99 with a coupon at $164.99). Buy now in case that coupon expires!

The great folks at ANCEL (official site link) sent me their BS200 which is a essentially a super capacitor capable of supplying sufficient cranking amps to start an engine with a highly degraded battery state.

Did you ever hear your refrigerator compressor kick on? The concept here is kind of the same. That compressor will not start without a powerful jolt of electricity stored in a very large capacitor.

As it is with the ANCEL BS200 Super Starter. It is a very simple device that connects to your car battery using two simple leads. A positive and negative lead connected to your battery terminals. Once that super capacitor gets charged it can supply enough amperage to start your engine with even the most degraded battery.

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Foxwell Borescope Review

Foxwell Borescope Review

Foxwell Borescope

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.

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Ancel IR101 Thermal Camera Review

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!

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Dovoh Laser Level H3-360G Review

Dovoh Laser Level H3-360G Review

Dovoh laser level H3-360G
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.

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Justway Manufacturing Services Review

Justway Manufacturing Services Review

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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.

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