Awesome Hand Tools

Tools don’t get weirder looking than these extended pliers from Monster & Master. These 18″ long-necked hand tools let you access and securely grip hard-to-reach hardware from a distance. Both the pointed and 90º pliers have a remote lock mechanism and are made from durable high-carbon steel. Sold as a set. They also make a 15″ version.

This compact screwdriver set can handle a wide variety of screwheads, including Phillips, slotted, hex, Torx, square, Pozidrive, Tripoint, and Pentalobe. It comes with 4mm and 1/4″ magnetic bit holders, and its smooth-spinning aluminum handle has a second bit holder on its side for increased torque.

Adam Savage’s book Every Tool’s a Hammer is an excellent addition to any maker’s library. The Q took a page from the book – or 288 pages to be exact – and turned them into a usable hammer by saturating them in a durable epoxy resin, then cutting out the hammer shape with a jigsaw. We wonder what other tools you could make from books.

This multifunction digital construction tool combines a stud finder, laser measure, laser level, tape, and angle gauge in one device. It can also detect metal objects like pipes and nails, as well as live wires in the wall. Its tape measure also projects a 90º laser line for ease of marking. A companion mobile app stores captured measurements.

Ice seems like a terrible material from which to build tools. That didn’t stop JaDropping Science from giving it the old college try by making hammers from ice. The trick is to combine the ice with absorbent materials to provide strength. Place your bets now on which stuffing will best reinforce the ice hammer.

(PG-13: Language) A normal axe has no moving parts, so we’re not sure there was a need to complicate matters. Still, this spring-loaded axe from DiesInEveryFilm is noteworthy for its unique design and ability to demonstrate Newtonian physics by minimizing rebound.

This hefty hand tool from Rogan USA is ideal for prying items apart. It’s made from 1/4″ thick high-carbon steel and weighs 11 oz. Its triple-ground edge works as a chisel, and its full-tang construction means it won’t fall apart, even with heavy use. We suggest wrapping its handle with paracord for comfort and grabbing the optional Kydex sheath.

These versatile wire strippers add a couple of useful functions we don’t typically see. In addition to cutting and stripping solid and stranded wires, it has special tools for splitting jacketed wires down the middle and another for twisting wires together. It’s made from high-carbon alloy steel and has a comfortable grip and spring-loaded handles.

Most pliers open their jaws at opposing angles, but parallel pliers open them straight across from each other, providing better contact with flat surfaces. Pask Makes built two pairs of these unique pliers, explaining along the way how they work. Enter by 02.23.23 for a chance to win one of these handmade tools.

Hand Tool Rescue loves to take old patent drawings of unusual tools and recreate them in his workshop. This time, he made a wrench unlike any we’d seen before. It features a rotating jaw with grooves to help grip and turn tapered, smooth, and standard fasteners. The Canadian snow quench was a nice touch.

The Q typically spends his time building things that aren’t particularly useful. But this time out, he came up with a design for a saw that can cut through tree limbs twice as fast as usual. The saw uses a pair of blades and a spring to clamp down against the wood to double cutting speed.