My husband called and told me that we needed a wet/dry vacuum. Why, I asked him? Well, he said, for the new truck. We just got a brand, spankin' new 2008 Toyota Tacoma and I guess we need a wet/dry vac for it? Hmmm, now I'm not the one who ever needs an excuse to buy a new tool but our new truck is too new to even vacuum! But like I said, I don't need an excuse to buy a new tool and this is a great reason to research the various Wet/dry vacuums that are out there.

My first step was to find the right size for our needs. We are in the process of remodeling our house - - on the 5-or-so-year plan. So, we would use the wet/dry vacuum for cleaning up remodeling debris when we knock down walls, drywall dust, nails, and such. I am clumsy as well as being a bit of a neat freak and could use it to vacuum my garage and clean up spills and maybe I could even attach it to my Miter saw? Then, there's the car and the truck to clean. But we live in a 1100 Square feet, not-so-sprawling ranch home, so we don't have much storage for a large unit.

We need a wet/dry vacuum that will be small and portable, yet powerful and durable. Wet/dry vacuums come in a variety of sizes, from 1/2 gallon capacity to 15 gallon, 3-stage motor capacities. One feature I was looking for was something that could suck up small bits, wood chips and other sharp debris without putting holes in the hose or filter. I also want a wet/dry vac that will attach to my sander, miter saw and other power tools. Maybe the vacuum could even sweep my new bamboo floors. I'm looking for something that has a durable hose that won't kink and also accessory attachments for corners and upholstery. I don't need an enormous tank but I want a vacuum with powerful suction.

Do you have skills ?

With a Laser Cutter ?

and would like a chance to win a VersaLaser package worth $13,000?

Then click on over to Instructables.com, where you can find out all the information you need to enter the Laser Cutter Contest sponsored by Universal Laser. This is one of my favorite sites to see wacky and inventive things that folks are making.

To win the VersaLaser, just make a fantastic Instructable to show them what you're capable of. Your Instructable can be about anything, but they want to be amazed by your passion, imagination, and creativity. Make something fantastic and share your knowledge with the rest of the world. Remember, all projects of any type are eligible! Enter by December 16, 2007 to be eligible to win.

If you don't feel like creating an Instructable and just want to buy a Plasma Cutter, then click here.

Makita's 27.6 pound wonder saw ~ so light even your mama can carry it!

I just sampled Makita's LS0714 Compound miter saw and what a wonderfully precise and extremely portable tool this is. With a precision machined aluminum base, the LS0714 is powerful enough to support workpieces as large as 11-3/4" and yet portable enough, with a carrying handle right on top, to sit that baby right next to you in your truck.

Makita's LS0714 has four steel rails that are designed to support the motor head and provide deeper cutting capacity. It delivers 6,000RPM (with a powerful 10amp motor), which is more than most larger compound miter saws. This portable Miter saw is great for finish carpentry, molding, trim work, flooring, baseboard trim, interior remodeling and other woodworking applications. The only downside is that Makita's 7-1/2" compound miter saw is not big enough for crown molding applications.

If you install hardwood flooring and/or are a finish carpenter, the LS0714 is one tool you will want to check out.

Rick Schwolsky and Michael Springer over at TOOLS OF THE TRADE Magazine came up with this sweet Lithium-Ion Battery Power Tool chart/download. 

They basically tested every professional lithium-ion power tool available as of January 2007 and then compiled a handy 6-page download. That's 10 brands, 15 categories, 9 voltages, 21 battery styles, and 59 tools folks. It must have taken them a long time but their results are well worth a look-see.

Should you make the switch to lithium ion battery Power Tools?
According to Schwolsky and Springer, "It really depends on your jobsite needs, the condition of your existing cordless tool arsenal, and your addiction to chasing new technology. There's much that remains to evaluate about the technology of these tools, including claims of runtime, life cycles, and charging characteristics, let alone performance in the field. And because you will pay a high premium to buy into LI systems, calculating the balance between enhanced performance and increased costs is even more complex. Half of the brands are trying to soften the blow with cross-platform systems that allow the use of NiCad batteries in the LI tools or even the opposite."