6 Cool Tools to Carve a Better Pumpkin

Carving a pumpkin for Halloween is timeless. There’s nothing better than gathering the family around the table with a bunch of pumpkins, and seeing who can carve the scariest, most fun jack o’ lantern.

When it comes to carving pumpkins, people usually reach for one of those cheap store-bought carving kits with flimsy serrated knives and flattened orange spades. This is a shame because, aside from the fact that those kits are actually terrible for making jack o’ lanterns, there are so many more tools out there that are far superior for pumpkin carving.

Best of all, if you’re a diehard DIYer, you should already have most, if not all of these tools on hand. So this Halloween, don’t carve your pumpkin with a cheap serrated knife. Get creative, and turn to tools!

7 Pro Tips to Help Extend the Life of Your Power Tools

Power tools are big time savers that can cut any project down to size. But like anything else, they need proper maintenance to survive and perform correctly. A little bit of care will yield big dividends in longevity. Here are a few tips from the pros at HeltonTool to extend the lives of your power tools.

Tip 1: Treat Your Power Tools Right

Treat your power tools right, and they will treat you right. First and foremost, be gentle with your power tools. Try not to drop them. Don’t toss them to co-workers, or use them for purposes they weren’t designed for.

Tip 2: Keep Your Power Tools Clean

Keeping your power tools clean is also crucial to ensuring a long life. After each use, make sure to clean dust, dirt and grime off the housing of your power tools with a cloth and toothbrush. Use an air compressor to blow air through the vents as well. This will help your power tools run cooler and last longer.

Top 10 Must-Have Tools for Every Boy to be Considered a Man

 

 

 

 

 

It doesn’t matter how old you are, so long as you have the right tools. While it doesn’t really count as a tool, we need to kick off this list with good, old-fashioned duct tape. You can accomplish more with duct tape than you can with any individual fastener, and no toolbox should be without it.

Once you have at least one roll of duct tape, you need:

1. A Phillips-head screwdriver – Phillips-head screws have one important property that ordinary slotted screws don’t – they automatically center. Few people realize that Phillips-head screwdrivers gained popularity in the 1930s. They were primarily a tool of the auto industry before torque-sensing automatic screwdrivers were invented, so having one of these screwdrivers is like having your own piece of history.

If you want to go all-out, you can get a whole screwdriver set. That way, you’ll be prepared for anything.

Makita’s New “Star Protection Computer Controls” Technology

 

Makita is always coming up with the next best thing when it comes to cordless power tools. This time they have outdone themselves with the Star Protection Computer Controls technology. Star Protection is a communication software built right into your tool and battery. This technology allows the tool and battery to monitor conditions and exchange data in real time.

Overload Protection

Extended high-speed use can quickly overload your tool and drain your battery. This type of use requires maximum battery power for an extended period. Star Protection protects your battery by cutting power when put under abnormally high current draw.

Which is the right tool for the job?

Did you know, the first cordless power tool was designed by Black & Decker in 1961 in a partnership with NASA to be used by astronauts on the Apollo missions? However, it was not until the mid-70s that the first cordless drill was released commercially by Black & Decker. Since its release, cordless technology has come a long way and has inspired innovation in the tool industry. In the early 80s, the cordless drill gained popularity on job-sites, allowing tradesmen to move about freely without the concern of a power supply. Today, the technology is at its peak and the choices are wide and varied. This leaves us with the question; which is the right tool for the job?

Drill Driver, Hammer Drill or Impact Driver?

Hitachi Tool Chart

We have had a large number of customers inquiring about Hitachi power tool, battery, and charger compatibility. In order to meet the needs of our customers, we have made the Hitachi tool chart available on all of our Hitachi listings at HeltonTool.com. Simply download the Tool Chart PDF and hit Ctrl F on your keyboard to use the find function. Once the find box appears, type in the model number of your tool, battery or charger to find compatible items.

Hitachi Tool Chart

Battery Charging – Do’s and Don’ts

Being a tool distributor, we get many calls regarding best practices for charging batteries. Whether you are using NiCad, NiMH or Li-Ion batteries, I am sure you will find this article very helpful.
Battery University is the place to go for everything batteries.
Summary of Do’s and Don’ts
from Batteryuniversity.com