Hammer (Hardcore Hammers) ***

The USA has a great tradition in creating beautiful and very useful straight and curved claw hammers. However, carpenter Stephen Spencer was not happy with the milled straight claw hammers that he used on a daily basis. The milled face, an adaptation to get a better hit on the nail could leave marks on the wood and the teeth itself wore quite quickly. Recently, he introduced a hammer whose milled face on an disk is slightly deeper placed in the head. I must say the hammer looks very nice this way. Interesting new feature!

See more on: http://shophardcorehammers.com/index.php/hammers/hardcore-hammer-the-original-curved-natural.html .

Nail puller (Bahco / SNA) ***

Bahco has over the years introduced great innovative hand tools in their ERGO-line. Recently, the company introduced a very nice new tool to remove nails that are deeply embedded in wood. A nail puller ... The tool can be hit with hammer, has a lever to bend the tool over and has even two positions where the claw of the hammer can be introduced to get improved leverage. Interesting new approach.

On their website there is, apart from extra photographs, also an instruction video: http://www.bahco.com/english/products/nail_puller.html .

Fret Saw (Hegner) ****

There are a few great manufacturers of fret saws in Germany. Especially for frames that span around 30 cm (10 inch). Pebaro (Peter Bausch) makes a beautiful one. Also Hegner has a great tradition in making these. Some time ago they introduced a very sturdy square rod frame (bent in what we call the American way) in which the saw blades can be very easily put under tension. By turning the outer screw the tension can be adjusted to any preferred grade. How simple can a tool reach perfection? Great stuff this LS-series.

See more on: http://www.hegner-gmbh.com/index.cfm?contentid=91&subparent=91 ..