Box Cutter (Martor) ****

As a juvenile I worked in a supermarket. Opening boxes and putting the articles in the shelves was a simple way to earn some money. To open the boxes I used a small knife that you normally use for peeling fruit. The German manufacturer Martor is an expert in making excellent knives for this purpose. Their MARTego box cutter is a true gem. It has an nice grip and a retractable knife (press the lower red part to cut). I recommend it to all supermarket shelf fillers in the world. No more leaks in plastic bottles or rice packages.

See more: www.martor.com/martego_122001.html?&L=4 ..

Side Cutting Pliers (Knipex) ****

To cut metal wire with moderate dimensions the most used hand tool is a side cutting pair of pliers. Copper wire is never a problem but piano wire is so hard that a lot of force is needed. The length of the two handles is crucial, the longer the more leverage can be applied. However, part of the fun of side cutting pliers is their modest weight and length. If you could bring the joint more in the direction of the cutting area, you could also increase the leverage. By constructing a two part joint that slides from the outer region to the central region a virtual joint is created at the end of the cutting area. It took Knipex quite some years (more than ten!) to fix this in an acceptable manner. But their TwinForce pliers is a true masterpiece of engineering. The pliers reduce the force needed to cut wire by fifty percent. Wonderful!

See more: www.knipex.de/index.php?id=1216&L=0&page=group_detail&parentID=1367&groupID=2028&artID=32478 ..

Hand Saw (Irwin) ****

Hand saws in general remained over the years more or less the same. In the cutting teeth, on the other hand, there was a lot of innovation. When you study the connection between the saw blade and the handle however no dramatic changes took place. A few years ago both Stanley and Bahco introduced ergonomic handles in different sizes, in case of Bahco even for the right or left handed user. These handles could be attached to a variety of separately sold saw blades. Competitor Irwin studied the ergonomics in their German research lab and after five years came to the conclusion that the angle of the grip of a hand saw could be improved. Their latest EVO-line has a grip fixed to the lower part of the blade. So far the innovation has drawn only little attention. It is difficult to improve the archetype of a saw that already functions very well. I like the new shape. Irwin claims less energy is needed for sawing, the cut itself is more precise and the blade is used over its full length. The new saw is manufactured by the Irwin factory in Denmark that has a great reputation (formerly called Jack).

More information on: www.irwin.co.uk/cdetail.php?catCode=822#b ..

Crimper (WEZAG) ****

Crimpers that help fixing electrical wiring often come in de shape of pliers. Two parts that join in the middle with a mouth that crimps the connector to the electrical wire. The trend to give all kinds of pliers a pistol shaped grip has recently been adopted by the German crimper manufacturer WEZAG. Their AE24 crimper has a nice ergonomic feel and works excellently.

See more on: www.wezag.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=73&Itemid=1 ..

Pocket Knife (Opinel) ***

Since my youth, I enjoyed my French pocket knife. This Opinel I got from my parents while on holiday in France. The Opinel company makes still excellent knives. Every now and then they introduce new versions. Other wood varieties for the handles, a mushroom or oyster knife, et cetera. Recently they broke with their wooden tradition. For the first time they made a pocket knife with a 2K-molded handle from synthetic material. The knife is intended for outdoor use and has new functionality. Part of the blade is serrated and on the rear part there is a whistle so you can warn people when you are in trouble. Four attractive colors. Nice modern look while the Opinel retained its Virobloc safety lock.

See more: www.opinel.com/tradition/specialistes ..

Measuring Tape (BMI) ****

A few years ago the German manufacturer BMI introduced a measuring tape that was so simple it fascinated anyone I showed it. Using the energy contained within the tape it could unroll itself over its full length. Based on the success of the Quicky, as this tape was called, BMI introduced a new version with a lever to ease its use even further. By pressing a lever the tape unrolls and after the lever is released it will stop. Very nice technology that is so different from ordinary measuring tapes from Stanley, Bahco and the likes. The tape is made from durable stainless steel and will sit on the table with its hollow site underneath. This makes measuring so much more accurate!

See more: www.bmi-quicky.de ..

Scissors (Fiskars) ****

Cutting some packaging materials, like the ones around electronics these days, can be a difficult task. The famous Finnish company that released the orange scissors 45 years ago, recently introduced a new ergonomic pair of scissors. By introducing the attachment to the handle in front of the joint the scissors (more towards the tip) the cut is much tighter than ordinary ones. Heikki Savolainen and his team responsible for the new Fiskars ServoCut scissors did a very nice job. I wonder if there will be smaller versions in the future. The shape is something to get used to ... But it works great!

See: www.fiskarscraft.eu/Products/Office/Scissors/ServoCut-Scissors/ServoCut-Heavy-Duty-24-cm ..

Hammer (Leborgne / Fiskars) ****

There are many hammer designs trying to alleviate the blows given by a hammer to the hand that holds it. So many different approaches. Study Vaughan & Bushnell, Peddinghaus, Estwing, Hultafors, Stanley et cetera. I especially like a new version from France. The manufacturer Leborgne (nowadays part of Fiskars) produced the new Nanovib hammer. To control the blow the hammer shaft has an absorbing part inside. With its bright yellow color you will not forget it easily when working outdoor.

See: www.leborgne.fr/outillage-main-tools_fr/294-produit-marteau-de-coffreur-nanovib.html ..

Fret Saw (Knew Concepts) ****

For cutting precisely in metal or wood fret saws can be used. In a frame simple thin saw blades (German and Swiss manufacturers) are placed in order to cut at low cost and with high accuracy. In the USA these saws are slightly different as the more expensive saw blades are accompanied by small eyelets in order to fix them to the frame. These saws that have the same objective are called 'coping saws'. Recently in the USA, a new version of the fret saw was introduced by Buster Lee Marshall and his firm Knew Concepts. By creating an open frame from aluminum or titanium he managed to make a saw that is not only very light but also remarkably sturdy. The exact trim of the saws can be adjusted by fine tuning. A great innovation for any craftsman in this field. Watch the many excellent reviews on YouTube.

See more on: www.knewconcepts.com ..