Review Resin 3D Printers
Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro Review: Resin With Auto Refill
A 10.1-inch 14K resin printer with a heated vat and automatic resin refill. What the automation saves, and the cleaning it adds.
8.0
Tool reviews
227 reviews, newest first. Scores are out of 10 and weighted toward how a tool holds up in real use rather than spec-sheet numbers.
Review FDM 3D Printers
Bambu Lab A1 mini Review: Small Bed, Same Easy Start
The A1's self-calibration on a 180 mm bed. When the smaller printer is the right call, and when its bed is the thing you will outgrow first.
8.1
Review FDM 3D Printers
Bambu Lab A1 Review: The Default First 3D Printer
A full-size, fully self-calibrating open printer that most beginners can run on day one. Where it beats an enclosed machine, and the recall history worth knowing.
8.7
Review FDM 3D Printers
Bambu Lab P1S Review: The Enclosed Printer for Real Materials
An enclosed CoreXY printer for ABS, ASA and the filaments an open bed cannot handle. What the enclosure buys you, and the rough edges Bambu left on it.
8.6
Review Wood Burning Tools
Colwood Detailer Review: The Wire-Nib Burner to Start On
Colwood's single-pen wire-nib burner, made since 1979. Why a wire nib changes how pyrography feels, and when to step up to the dual-pen Super Pro II.
8.1
Review Wood Burning Tools
Colwood Super Pro II Review: Two Pens, One Switch
Colwood's dual-pen wire-nib burner. Why two pens on one unit speeds up real pyrography work, and when the single-pen Detailer is enough.
8.4
Review FDM 3D Printers
Creality Ender-3 V3 SE Review: The Budget Printer, Honestly
The cheapest way into 3D printing that still prints well. What you give up against a Bambu A1, and who should still buy it.
7.4
Review Enclosed & CO2 Lasers
Creality Falcon2 Pro S Review: Enclosed, With a Camera
A 22W enclosed diode laser that adds camera placement and autofocus. Where it beats the xTool S1, and the corners Creality cut to get there.
7.8
Review FDM 3D Printers
Creality K1C Review: Enclosed, Fast and Carbon-Fibre Ready
An enclosed CoreXY printer with a hardened nozzle for carbon-fibre filaments. Where it challenges the Bambu P1S, and why it is louder and single-colour.
8.0
Review Resin 3D Printers
Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra Review: The Small Way Into Resin
A 7-inch 9K resin printer with tilt release and a camera at an entry price. When the small bed is enough, and when to buy the bigger Saturn.
7.8
Review Resin 3D Printers
Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra 16K Review: Big, Sharp Resin Printing
A 10-inch 16K resin printer with tilt release and a heated tank. What it gets right for miniatures and fine parts, and the mess and fumes that come with resin.
8.5
Review Desktop CNC Routers
FoxAlien Masuter Pro Review: An All-Metal Frame, Underpowered Stock
An all-aluminium 400 mm desktop CNC that is quick to set up and easy to expand. Why the frame is the good part, and why you will want a better spindle.
7.3
Review Desktop CNC Routers
Genmitsu 3018-PRO Review: A CNC to Learn On, Not Build With
The cheapest real way to learn CNC: GRBL, G-code, zeroing and toolpaths on a small machine. What it teaches well, and why its spindle and frame stop at softwood.
6.8
Review Desktop CNC Routers
Genmitsu 4040-PRO MAX Review: The Desktop CNC Worth Starting On
A 400 mm desktop CNC with linear guides and a 710W trim router instead of a toy spindle. Why the router is the upgrade that matters, and where its limits are.
8.1
Review Enclosed & CO2 Lasers
Glowforge Review: Still Worth Buying After the Restructure?
Glowforge sells direct, not on Amazon, and went through a restructuring in late 2025. What that means for buyers, and the CO2 laser we would buy instead.
8.6
Review Desktop CNC Routers
Onefinity Elite Review: Ballscrew CNC With a MASSO Controller
Onefinity sells its Elite series direct, not on Amazon. What its ballscrews, closed-loop motors and MASSO touchscreen controller offer, and the closest Amazon option.
8.1
Review FDM 3D Printers
Prusa 3D Printers Review: Core One and MK4S, Sold Direct
Prusa sells direct from the Czech Republic, not on Amazon. What the Core One and MK4S do better than anything else, and the enclosed printer we would buy on Amazon instead.
8.6
Review Diode Laser Engravers
Sculpfun S30 Pro Max Review: The Open-Frame Budget Pick
A 20W open-frame diode laser with automatic air assist and an expandable bed, for much less than an enclosed machine. What you give up for the price.
7.6
Review Desktop CNC Routers
Shapeoko 5 Pro Review: Ballscrews, Big Beds, Sold Direct
Carbide 3D sells the Shapeoko 5 Pro direct, not on Amazon. What its ballscrews and rails buy over a hobby machine, and what to buy on Amazon if you cannot go direct.
8.1
Review Wood Burning Tools
Walnut Hollow Versa-Tool Review: The Cheap Way to Try Wood Burning
A 25W solid-point burner with a temperature dial and 11 points. Good enough to find out if you like pyrography; not built for fine shading.
6.9
Review Enclosed & CO2 Lasers
xTool P2S Review: The Desktop CO2 Step Up
A 55W desktop CO2 laser with dual cameras and passthrough. It cuts clear acrylic and thick hardwood that no diode can - if you have room for 45 kg and an exhaust run.
8.6
Review Enclosed & CO2 Lasers
xTool S1 Review: The Enclosed Diode Laser to Start With
An enclosed, Class 1 diode laser with a big bed and no goggles needed. What it cuts, what a diode cannot do, and who should buy something else.
8.4
Review Joinery Jigs
3D Pantograph Router Jig Review
A pantograph jig for copying and scaling carvings with a router. What it does well, what it cannot do, and what to buy.
7.0
Review Joinery Jigs
AWR Dovetail Master: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A dovetail jig no longer in production. What separates a good dovetail jig from a frustrating one, and what to buy now.
Review Planers & Thicknessers
Craftex / Busy Bee B2269 25in Dual Drum Sander Review
A Canada-only drum sander. What drum sanders actually do, the open-end trade-off, and the Amazon-available alternative.
9.0
Review Hand Planes & Saws
Chris Vesper Joinery Knife Review
A hand-made Australian marking knife sold direct. What a joinery knife must do, and the Amazon-available alternative.
9.0
Review Measuring & Marking
Chris Vesper Marking Gauge Review
A hand-made Australian marking gauge sold direct. Why wheel gauges replaced pin gauges, and what to buy on Amazon.
9.0
Review Multi-Tools & Rotary
ColdHeat Cordless Glue Gun: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
The ColdHeat brand is gone. What a cordless glue gun needs to work at all, and the current one to buy.
Review Grinders
Demain AGD-125H Angle Grinder: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A budget 125mm grinder from a brand no longer visible. What matters on an angle grinder, and the current safe choice.
Review Routers
Dyco Router Table: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A router table brand no longer visible. What actually matters in a router table, and the benchtop table to buy now.
Review Clamps & Workholding
EZ Smart Guide System Review
A circular saw guide rail system with an uncertain supply chain. What it did well, and the track guide that is easy to buy today.
8.0
Review Nailers & Staplers
GMC ATFRGK Framing Nailer: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
GMC's pneumatic framing nailer, gone since 2008. Which nails still fit it, what to service, and the current equivalent.
Review Workshop Accessories
GMC 4pc Hobby Tool Kit: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
GMC's rotary tool and accessory kit, gone since 2008. What to look for in a rotary tool, and the current standard.
Review Circular Saws
GMC DLS2000M Laser Circular Saw: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A budget circular saw with a laser guide, from a brand that went into receivership in 2008. The laser was never the useful part.
Review Joinery Jigs
GMC BJ110 Biscuit Joiner: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
GMC's budget biscuit joiner, gone since the brand left the market in 2008. What to check on a used one, and the current equivalent.
Review Drills & Drivers
GMC HD2G250M Hammer Drill: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A corded hammer drill from GMC, which went into receivership in 2008. And a note on why percussion is the wrong tool for concrete.
Review Circular Saws
GMC LS236LS Circular Saw: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A corded circular saw from GMC. The brand went into receivership in 2008 and support went with it.
Review Circular Saws
GMC LSTSAW Tile Cutting Saw: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A budget tile saw from GMC, which went into receivership in 2008. Tile saws are a category where cheap costs you tiles.
Review Air Compressors
GMC MOC6L Air Compressor: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
GMC went into receivership in 2008 and the brand disappeared. Here is what the MOC6L was and what replaces it.
Review Circular Saws
GMC MX355C Metal Cutting Saw: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A 355mm metal chop saw from a brand that went into receivership in 2008. And the abrasive versus dry-cut question.
Review Planers & Thicknessers
GMC PPM Palm Planer: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A one-handed mini planer from a brand that left the market in 2008. Where palm planers genuinely help, and what to buy now.
Review Dust Collection
GMC WVC50 Dust Extractor: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A shop vacuum from a brand that went into receivership in 2008. Filtration is where cheap extractors fail.
Review Sanders
GMC BD1500 Belt and Disc Sander: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A benchtop belt/disc sander from a brand that left the market in 2008. What abrasives still fit, and what to buy now.
Review Workshop Accessories
GMC CEN Arc Welder: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
GMC's budget stick welder, gone with the brand in 2008. Why duty cycle decides the tool, and what to buy now.
Review Drills & Drivers
GMC FQC54V and PFC42V Cordless Drivers: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
Fast-charge cordless drivers from a brand that went into receivership in 2008. The batteries went with it.
Review Drills & Drivers
GMC LSR13DP Drill Press: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A benchtop drill press from GMC, which went into receivership in 2008. Old drill presses are worth keeping if the quill is sound.
Review Jigsaws & Scroll Saws
GMC LS950SPJ Scrolling Jigsaw: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A scrolling jigsaw from GMC, in receivership since 2008. Blade guidance is what separates jigsaws, not the scrolling knob.
Review Mitre Saws
GMC LSMS210 and LSMS250 Sliding Mitre Saws: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
GMC's sliding compound mitre saws, gone with the brand in 2008. What decides whether a slider cuts square, and the current benchmark.
Review Lathes & Turning
GMC ML1000 Wood Lathe: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A budget bench lathe from a brand that left the market in 2008. What still matters on a used one, and what a modern lathe does better.
Review Routers
GMC R1200 Router: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
GMC's 1200W router, gone since 2008. What to check before trusting an old router, and the current plunge router to buy.
Review Nailers & Staplers
GMC ALN18V Strike Allnailer: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
GMC's cordless multi-nailer, gone with the brand in 2008. Why combination nailers compromise, and what to buy now.
Review Air Compressors
GMC DTC32L Dual Tank Compressor: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A twin-tank compressor from a brand that went into receivership in 2008. What the format offered, and what to buy now.
Review Hand Planes & Saws
HNT Gordon Block and Shoulder Planes Review
Australian high-angle wooden planes sold direct. Why the bed angle matters more than the brand, and what to buy on Amazon.
8.0
Review Workshop Accessories
Hold-It Magnetic Bit Holder Review
A magnetic bit holder. What makes one actually hold a screw, and the holder worth buying.
9.0
Review Air Compressors
Hyphone Air Impact Wrench and Air Tool Kit Review
A budget air tool kit from a brand with no clear retail channel. What decides an impact wrench, and the one worth buying.
9.0
Review Drills & Drivers
i-Drill 12V Li-Ion Cordless Drills: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
An early lithium cordless range from a brand no longer trading. Why orphaned battery platforms are worthless, and what to buy.
Review Multi-Tools & Rotary
i-Drill Oscillating Tool: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
An oscillating multi-tool from a brand no longer trading. Why the blade fitting matters more than the tool, and what to buy.
Review Workshop Accessories
Kwik-Stand: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A workshop support stand no longer on sale. What makes a roller stand help rather than hinder, and what to buy now.
Review Circular Saws
Laserkerf Laser Guide: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A circular saw laser guide that is no longer available. Why saw lasers fell out of favour and what actually makes a straight cut.
Review Measuring & Marking
MasterGage Classic and MasterPlate Review
A setup gauge system with patchy availability. What setup gauges actually fix, and the set to buy instead.
9.0
Review Sanders
Orbiter Drill Sanding Attachment Review
A drill-mounted sanding attachment. Where drill sanding genuinely works, where it does not, and what to buy.
8.0
Review Saw Blades & Router Bits
Pacific Saw Blades Review
A saw blade brand with unclear availability. What actually determines cut quality in a blade, and what to buy.
9.0
Review Workshop Accessories
Projecta IC1216 12V Battery Charger Review
An Australian multi-stage battery charger. What multi-stage charging actually does, and the widely available alternative.
9.0
Review Sanders
Renrut Sanding Block Review
A niche Australian sanding block. What a sanding block has to do, and what to buy that is easy to get.
9.0
Review Measuring & Marking
RoboToolz Crossliner Laser: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
RoboToolz is defunct. What self-levelling accuracy specs actually mean, and the current cross-line laser to buy.
Review Drills & Drivers
Ryobi "LiveTool" Power Tool Range: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
An older Ryobi range name that no longer exists. What survived it: the ONE+ battery foot, unchanged since 1996.
Review Saw Blades & Router Bits
G & G Industries Saw-Jaw Blade Tool Review
A blade handling tool with unclear availability. Why blade maintenance matters more than the tool, and what to buy.
9.0
Review Joinery Jigs
SignCrafter Sign Making Kit Review
A template-and-router kit for cutting lettering. Where it beats freehand carving, and the current kit to buy.
7.0
Review Joinery Jigs
SpiroCrafter Router Template Kit Review
A decorative inlay and design template kit for routers. What it does, where it frustrates, and what to buy.
7.0
Review Workshop Accessories
Veritas Tape Tip Review
A Lee Valley tape measure accessory sold direct. What causes tape measure error, and the tape worth buying.
9.0
Review Workshop Accessories
Veritas Toolbox Ends Review
Cast hardware for building a traditional toolbox, sold direct by Lee Valley. What to know, and an Amazon alternative.
7.0
Review Workshop Accessories
Tortech SD2000 Stepdown Transformer Review
An Australian-made voltage transformer. What a stepdown can and cannot do, and the widely available alternative.
8.0
Review Clamps & Workholding
Vac-Clamp VC4 Review
An Australian vacuum clamping system sold direct. How vacuum workholding works, and the Amazon-available alternative.
8.0
Review Drills & Drivers
Vertiacc Drill Press Accessory: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A drill press accessory no longer on sale. What a drill press table genuinely fixes, and the current option to buy.
Review Joinery Jigs
Woodhaven Biscuit Master Jig: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A router-based biscuit jig no longer sold. Whether a router can replace a biscuit joiner, and what to buy now.
Review Workshop Accessories
Woodworking at Home DVD Magazine: Discontinued — What to Read Instead
A DVD-format woodworking magazine, obsolete along with the format. Where that kind of instruction lives now.
Review Drills & Drivers
Hitachi D10VH Corded Drill: Now the Metabo HPT D10VH2
The D10VH did not die — the brand did. Hitachi Power Tools became Metabo HPT, and the drill carried on with a 2 on the end.
Review Mitre Saws
INCRA Miter Express Review
A sliding table that carries an Incra miter gauge across the saw. It fixes the two things a bare gauge cannot: support and tear-out.
8.3
Review Measuring & Marking
GemRed 82305 Digital Angle Finder Review
A digital protractor with a 200 mm stainless blade. It reads the angle that is actually on your work, which a bevel gauge cannot.
8.4
Review Joinery Jigs
Beadlock Loose Tenon System Review
Overlapping drilled holes make a mortise; a scalloped tenon fills it. Domino joinery for the price of a drill bit.
8.2
Review Measuring & Marking
Beall Tilt Box — and the Amazon Alternative
The Tilt Box was an early digital angle cube for woodworkers. The category is now crowded and cheap, and the technique matters more than the brand.
8.3
Review Table Saws
Betterley Tru Cut Zero Clearance Insert — and the Amazon Alternative
A zero-clearance insert stops tear-out and stops offcuts falling into the saw. Betterley sells direct; the fix is mostly shop-made anyway.
8.5
Review Drills & Drivers
Black & Decker RD1440: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A 14.4V NiCd drill/driver kit from the DIY range. Discontinued, and its battery platform is gone.
Review Drills & Drivers
Black & Decker SC1400: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
An early 14.4V lithium drill kit. Better than the NiCd tools it replaced, and still long retired.
Review Sanders
Torquata Blow Fly Sander — and the Amazon Alternative
Torquata is Timbecon's brand, sold direct. Any decent 5 in random orbit sander covers the same ground.
8.1
Review Mitre Saws
Bosch 3912 Mitre Saw: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
The 3912 was Bosch's 12 in dual-bevel slider on rails. The GCM12SD replaced it with a hinged arm and half the footprint.
Review Lathes & Turning
Crown Ellsworth Signature Bowl Gouge Review
A deep-fluted bowl gouge ground to David Ellsworth's swept-back profile. The grind is the product, and it is not a beginner's tool.
8.7
Review Jigsaws & Scroll Saws
Delta SS250 Scroll Saw: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
The Delta 40-540 / SS250 was a popular 16 in scroll saw. Discontinued, and the DW788 is where serious scroll sawing went.
Review Joinery Jigs
Delta 34-184 Tenoning Jig Review
A cast iron carriage that holds a board vertical over the table saw blade. Heavy, fiddly to set, and hard to beat once set.
8.3
Review Sharpening
M.POWER Precision Sharpening System — and the Amazon Alternative
A guided sharpening jig with an angle setter. M.Power's distribution is patchy; the parts that matter are cheap and widely available.
7.9
Review Sharpening
DMT W250FCNB DuoSharp Bench Stone Review
A ten-inch double-sided diamond plate that will not dish, does not need soaking, and flattens everything else in your sharpening kit.
9.0
Review Drills & Drivers
Torquata Easy Riser Drill Press Upgrade — and the Amazon Alternative
Torquata is Timbecon's own brand, sold direct. A drill press table with a fence and stop block solves the same problem.
8.2
Review Sharpening
EZE-LAP Diamond Sharpening Stones Review
American-made diamond plates with a continuous surface. Cheaper than DMT, and the flat face suits narrow blades better.
8.5
Review Nailers & Staplers
Fasco GN-40A Brad Nailer: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
An Italian-made brad nailer with patchy distribution. Effectively unavailable now, and the category has moved on.
Review Dust Collection
Festool CT 22 E: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
The CT 22 was the mid-size CLEANTEC extractor for years. Retired, and the CT 26 is where that size class went.
Review Routers
Festool OF 1010 Router Review
The small Festool plunge router. One-handed, superb dust extraction, and genuinely the wrong tool for a router table.
8.5
Review Jigsaws & Scroll Saws
Festool Trion PS 300 EQ: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
The Trion was Festool's jigsaw before the Carvex. Retired, and the replacement changed how the blade is guided.
Review Drills & Drivers
Festool TDK Cordless Drills: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
Festool's TDK line is long retired, along with its NiCd packs. The current range shares nothing with it.
Review Measuring & Marking
GemRed 82412 Digital Angle Gauge Review
A magnetic box that tells you the blade is at 44.7 degrees when the saw's own scale says 45. Cheap, and it improves every cut.
8.6
Review Clamps & Workholding
MICROJIG GRR-RIPPER GR-100 Review
A pushblock that grips the offcut, the keeper and the fence face at once. Awkward to set up, and the reason narrow rips stop being frightening.
8.9
Review Outdoor Power
Hitachi RB24EA Blower — Now the Metabo HPT RB24EAP
A 23.9cc handheld two-stroke blower that moves a serious amount of air for its size. The brand changed, not the tool.
8.5
Review Outdoor Power
Husqvarna 575XP and 570: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
Two professional saws from the XP line. Both retired, and the 572XP that replaced them is a dealer product, not an Amazon one.
Review Workshop Accessories
HyLoft JR Storage System — and the Current Alternative
Ceiling storage is the only unused space in most workshops. The JR is superseded; the full-size HyLoft racks are what to buy.
8.2
Review Table Saws
Incra TS-III Table Saw Fence: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
The TS-III was Incra's positioning fence before the TS-LS. It is retired, and the TS-LS is where that design went.
Review Table Saws
Incra Wonderfence Review
A router table fence with split, adjustable faces and real dust collection, designed to bolt onto an Incra positioning system.
8.7
Review Saw Blades & Router Bits
Infinity Kitchen Making Set — and the Amazon Alternative
Cabinet door bits sold as a matched set. Infinity ships direct; Freud's adjustable Premier set is the Amazon equivalent, and adjustable is the feature.
8.6
Review Saw Blades & Router Bits
Infinity Miter Max and Ultra Smooth Blades — and the Amazon Alternative
Infinity sells direct. For a negative-hook mitre saw blade you can order today, the Diablo D1280X is the sensible equivalent.
8.7
Review Saw Blades & Router Bits
Infinity Router Bits — and the Amazon Alternative
Infinity sells direct and their bits are excellent. Freud's 13-piece Super Bit set is the Amazon answer for covering the common profiles at once.
8.5
Review Saw Blades & Router Bits
Infinity Dadonator — and the Amazon Alternative
Infinity sells direct. The Freud SD508 is the stacked dado set you can order today, and it does the same job: flat bottoms, clean walls.
8.8
Review Saw Blades & Router Bits
Infinity Combo-Max Saw Blade — and the Amazon Alternative
Infinity sells direct, not through Amazon. If you want a premium 40-tooth combination blade delivered, the Forrest Woodworker II is the one.
9.0
Review Saw Blades & Router Bits
Infinity Super General Saw Blade — and the Amazon Alternative
Infinity is direct-sale only. For a fine-finish 60-tooth blade you can order today, the Forrest Woodworker I is the closest equivalent.
8.8
Review Saw Blades & Router Bits
Jet Premium Bandsaw Blades — and the Amazon Alternative
Jet sells its blades through its own dealer network. On Amazon, a 93-1/2 in assortment is the practical way to cover a 14 inch saw.
7.9
Review Clamps & Workholding
Jorgensen Cabinet Master Parallel Clamp Review
The parallel clamp that undercuts Bessey. Slightly less refined, considerably cheaper, and clamps need to be bought in numbers.
8.3
Review Dust Collection
Karcher NT 361 Eco TE: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A professional wet-and-dry vacuum with a tool outlet. Retired from the range, and the replacement depends on what you extract.
Review Clamps & Workholding
Kreg Automaxx Right Angle Clamp (KHCRA) Review
A face clamp bent through 90 degrees, with 5 inches of reach. It solves one specific problem in pocket-hole assembly and does nothing else.
7.9
Review Clamps & Workholding
Kreg Bench Klamp System Review
A clamp that drops into a plate flush with your bench top, holds work down from above and gets out of the way when it is done.
8.2
Review Joinery Jigs
Kreg K3 Master System: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
The K3 Master System was replaced by the K4, then the K5, then the 720PRO. Here is what changed, and whether an old K3 is still worth running.
Review Joinery Jigs
Kreg K2000 Pro Pack: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
The K2000 Pro Pack is long out of production. Here is what it was, whether it is still worth using, and the current Kreg jig that replaces it.
Review Mitre Saws
Kreg KMS7102 Precision Miter Gauge System Review
A miter gauge with a fence, a bar and a factory calibration, sold as one thing. It replaces the flapping steel triangle your saw came with.
8.2
Review Clamps & Workholding
Kreg Multi-Purpose Push Stick (KMA1000) Review
A long handle, a non-slip pad and a replaceable heel. It is a better shape than the offcut you have been using, and that is the whole pitch.
7.8
Review Measuring & Marking
Lee Valley Lumber Thickness Gauge — and the Amazon Alternative
A dedicated gauge that reads board thickness at a glance. Lee Valley sells it direct; a digital caliper does the same job and much more.
8.8
Review Joinery Jigs
Leigh D1600 Dovetail Jig: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
The D1600 was Leigh's 16-inch variable-spacing jig. It is long retired, and the D4R Pro is where that design line ended up.
Review Clamps & Workholding
Leigh Hold Down Clamps — and the Amazon Alternatives
Leigh sells hold-downs direct for its own jigs. If you want general-purpose bench hold-downs today, the answer is a pair of holdfasts.
8.0
Review Measuring & Marking
Lumber Wizard Metal Detector Review
A wand that finds nails in reclaimed timber before your planer does. One saved blade pays for it.
8.6
Review Saw Blades & Router Bits
LRH Magic Molder — and the Amazon Alternative
A molding head for a table saw turns it into a spindle moulder. LRH sells direct; Corob is the head Amazon stocks.
8.0
Review Clamps & Workholding
Magswitch Universal Featherboard Review
A featherboard that sticks to the cast iron instead of living in the mitre slot. Switch on, switch off, move it anywhere on the table.
8.6
Review Workshop Accessories
Makita BMR100W: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
An early LXT jobsite radio. Discontinued, and the current one charges batteries as well as playing them.
Review Drills & Drivers
Makita BDF452HW: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
An early 18V LXT drill kit. Retired, but the LXT battery mount it introduced is still the current one.
Review Circular Saws
Makita 5094DWD Cordless Trim Saw: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A 3-3/8 in NiCd trim saw from the era before lithium. Long retired, and the battery platform behind it is gone too.
Review Drills & Drivers
Makita 6270D: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A 12V NiCd drill from before lithium. The tool is retired and its battery platform is unsupported.
Review Drills & Drivers
Makita BTD142HW: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
An early 18V LXT impact driver. Retired, but it takes current LXT batteries, which changes the calculation.
Review Circular Saws
Makita BSS611 18v Circular Saw: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
The BSS611 was Makita's first-generation 18V LXT 6-1/2 in circular saw. It is retired, and the XSS02Z is its direct replacement.
Review Clamps & Workholding
MICROJIG MJ Splitter Steel Pro Review
A steel pin epoxied into your own zero-clearance insert. It is a riving knife for saws that never had one, and it costs less than a blade.
8.5
Review Joinery Jigs
Miller Dowel System Review
A stepped dowel driven through a stepped hole. It is a visible joint that needs no clamps and no jig beyond the drill bit.
7.9
Review Drills & Drivers
Milwaukee Black and Bronze Drill Bit Set Review
A 14-piece jobber set with an oxide finish that buys heat resistance, not hardness. Good bits in steel, unremarkable in timber.
8.0
Review Measuring & Marking
M.POWER 3D Combination Square — and the Amazon Alternative
M.Power's square has patchy US distribution. A precision double square covers the same layout work and is easier to buy.
8.5
Review Hand Planes & Saws
M.POWER Perfect Butt Profile Scriber Review
Five offset wheels that copy an irregular profile onto your workpiece. It solves scribing without a compass or a contour gauge.
8.4
Review Saw Blades & Router Bits
Northwood Dado Blade Set — and the Amazon Alternative
Northwood has limited distribution. What matters in a dado set is stacked versus wobble, and whether your saw takes one at all.
8.8
Review Lathes & Turning
Northwood Turning Tools — and the Amazon Alternative
Northwood is a value turning brand with limited distribution. For a first set of HSS tools on Amazon, Sorby is the safe answer.
8.4
Review Safety Gear
Ozito EEM-959 Electronic Ear Muffs — and the Amazon Alternative
Ozito is Bunnings-only. What matters in hearing protection is the rating and whether you actually wear them.
8.5
Review Circular Saws
Ozito MCG-960K Metal Cutting Saw — and the Amazon Alternative
Ozito is a Bunnings house brand and never reaches Amazon. For dry-cutting steel, the Evolution chop saw is the tool that category grew into.
8.6
Review Mitre Saws
Ozito MSS-001 Mitre Saw Stand — and the Amazon Alternative
Ozito is Bunnings-only. A mitre saw stand is judged on its supports, not its legs, and the DEWALT is the Amazon default.
8.4
Review Nailers & Staplers
Porter-Cable COIL250: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A coil siding nailer from Porter-Cable's pneumatic range. Discontinued, and Bostitch now covers that slot.
Review Nailers & Staplers
Porter-Cable FR350A: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A round-head framing nailer from Porter-Cable's pneumatic line. Discontinued, and the Metabo HPT is the usual replacement.
Review Nailers & Staplers
Porter-Cable NS150A: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
An 18-gauge narrow crown stapler. Discontinued, and worth understanding before you replace it with a brad nailer.
Review Drills & Drivers
Ryobi BID1211: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A 12V impact driver from a battery platform Ryobi no longer sells. The 18V ONE+ range absorbed it.
Review Table Saws
Ryobi BT3100 Table Saw: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A sliding-table contractor saw with a cult following. Long discontinued, and nothing quite replaced its sliding table.
Review Drills & Drivers
Ryobi CAD1402VK: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A 14.4V right angle drill. The tool is gone and so is the battery class, but the job it did still needs solving.
Review Drills & Drivers
Ryobi CDL1802D: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
An 18V drill from Ryobi's blue-era ONE+ range. Retired, but the battery mount it used is still alive.
Review Drills & Drivers
Ryobi CID1802V: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
An 18V impact driver from the older ONE+ line. Gone from the range, and the current brushless one is a different class of tool.
Review Drills & Drivers
Ryobi CID1823VK: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
An 18V hammer drill kit from the older ONE+ range. Retired, and worth replacing rather than repairing.
Review Jigsaws & Scroll Saws
Ryobi CJS1801K: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
An 18V cordless jigsaw from the older ONE+ range. Retired, and the current brushless one is a different tool.
Review Sanders
Ryobi EBS1310VK: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A corded belt sander from Ryobi's DIY range. Retired, and belt sanders are a tool to buy properly or not at all.
Review Circular Saws
Ryobi ECS1519 Circular Saw: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A corded 1500W Ryobi circular saw from the DIY range. Retired years ago, and the replacement depends on whether you want corded or cordless.
Review Reciprocating Saws
Ryobi ERS800K: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A corded reciprocating saw kit from Ryobi's DIY range. Retired, and the cordless replacement is genuinely better for this tool.
Review Mitre Saws
Ryobi EMS1830SCL: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A 12 in corded slide mitre saw from Ryobi's DIY range. Retired, and the blade matters more than the replacement.
Review Measuring & Marking
Ryobi SW109T Stud Sensor: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A single-sensor stud finder from Ryobi's accessory range. Retired, and the technology moved on in a way that matters.
Review Grinders
Ryobi HBG620 Grinder: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A 6 in bench grinder and stand from Ryobi's corded range. Retired, and for woodworking the replacement should be a slow-speed machine.
Review Drills & Drivers
Ryobi EID600VK and EID8102VK: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
Two corded hammer drills from Ryobi's DIY range. Both retired as the brand moved to cordless.
Review Drills & Drivers
Ryobi ONE+ System Review
The battery platform, not the drill. Every ONE+ tool since 1996 takes the same pack, and that promise is the entire product.
8.4
Review Bandsaws
Ceramic Bandsaw Guide Blocks — and the Amazon Alternative
Non-metallic guide blocks can run in contact with the blade without heating it. Space Age Ceramics sells direct; Cool Blocks are the Amazon ones.
8.6
Review Dust Collection
Sherwood FM-150 Dust Extractor — and the Amazon Alternative
Sherwood is Timbecon's machinery brand, sold direct in Australia. Here is what a portable machine extractor does and what Amazon offers instead.
8.2
Review Multi-Tools & Rotary
Sherwood OS-100 Spindle Sander — and the Amazon Alternative
Sherwood is Timbecon's brand, sold direct. An oscillating spindle sander is the machine class, and Triton's is the Amazon one.
8.5
Review Lathes & Turning
Sherwood SCA-900 Lathe Copy Attachment — and What Amazon Has Instead
A copy attachment traces a template to turn identical spindles. Nothing on Amazon does this, so here is the honest alternative.
8.4
Review Joinery Jigs
Sherwood TBM-160 Chisel Mortiser — and the Amazon Alternative
Sherwood is Timbecon's machinery brand, sold direct. A benchtop hollow chisel mortiser is the machine class, and the WEN is the Amazon one.
7.8
Review Nailers & Staplers
Snap-On 870015 Brad Nailer: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A rebadged brad nailer from Snap-On's air tool range. Long gone, and easily replaced.
Review Nailers & Staplers
Snap-On 21-Degree Framing Nailer: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
A tool-truck framing nailer, rebadged and long discontinued. The collation angle is the thing to carry across.
Review Lathes & Turning
Robert Sorby Modular Tool Rest System Review
Stem posts and cross bars you buy separately and combine. Fix the one thing that ruins more turning than blunt tools: a bad rest.
8.3
Review Lathes & Turning
Robert Sorby 67HS Turning Tool Set Review
Five or six proper HSS tools with full-size handles, aimed at someone starting out. Good steel, and more tools than a beginner needs.
8.4
Review Multi-Tools & Rotary
Stanley 10-788 Quick Change Utility Knife Review
A retractable knife that changes blades without a screwdriver and carries spares in the handle. The boring tool you use most.
8.3
Review Lathes & Turning
NOVA Cole Jaws Review
Rubber buttons on an aluminium plate that grip a bowl rim so you can turn the foot off. One job, and nothing else does it as safely.
8.5
Review Measuring & Marking
Torquata Digital Calipers and Height Gauge — and the Amazon Alternative
Torquata is Timbecon's brand, sold direct. A caliper that reads fractions is the one feature worth choosing on.
8.8
Review Routers
Torquata MJ-823 Circle Cutting Guide — and the Amazon Alternative
A trammel for routing circles. Torquata is Timbecon's brand; the MPOWER CRB7 does circles and six other things.
8.4
Review Dust Collection
Torquata DP-100 Dust Picker — and the Amazon Alternative
A hood and nozzle set for catching dust at the source. Torquata is Timbecon's brand; the underlying idea matters more than the product.
8.0
Review Routers
Torquata ET-100 Double Edge Trimmer — and the Amazon Alternative
A hand trimmer for edge banding. Torquata is Timbecon's brand; a flush trim router bit does the same job differently.
8.3
Review Clamps & Workholding
Torquata BJ-50 Tool Guide — and the Amazon Alternative
Torquata is Timbecon's house brand, sold direct in Australia. The Kreg Accu-Cut is the track guide you can order today.
8.1
Review Drills & Drivers
Torquata DCAK Keyless Drill Chuck — and the Amazon Alternative
Swapping a drill press chuck is a twenty-minute job that removes a lost-key problem forever. Torquata sells direct; here is the Amazon equivalent.
7.8
Review Planers & Thicknessers
Triton TPT15 Thicknesser: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
Triton's earlier benchtop thicknesser. Retired, and the TPT125 is the current machine in the same slot.
Review Sanders
Triton TBD1500 Belt/Disc Sander: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
Triton's bench belt and disc sander is out of the range. The current bench sander is a spindle and belt machine, which is not the same tool.
Review Sharpening
Triton T8SH Wetstone Sharpener: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
Triton's earlier wet grinder. Retired, and the TWSS10 is the current machine in the same slot.
Review Workshop Accessories
Triton MSA200 Multi-Stand Review
A folding roller stand with a swivelling head. It is the accessory that makes a small shop able to handle long stock.
8.4
Review Planers & Thicknessers
Triton TP720 Power Planer: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
An 82mm handheld planer from Triton's earlier range. Retired, and the current Triton planer is a much bigger machine.
Review Sanders
Triton TROS125 Random Orbit Sander Review
A 5 in corded orbital at a fraction of premium money. Good pad brake, decent extraction, and it will not last a decade of daily use.
8.1
Review Safety Gear
Triton PRA001 Powered Respirator Review
A face shield with a fan and a filter that keeps clean air flowing past your face. The answer for anyone who cannot get a mask to seal.
8.4
Review Routers
Triton TRA001 3-1/4 HP Precision Plunge Router Review
A big router built around going in a table. The above-table height winder and the automatic spindle lock are why people buy it.
8.8
Review Routers
Triton MOF001 2-1/4 HP Precision Plunge Router Review
The smaller Triton. Same above-table features, two-thirds the weight, and the better choice if the router also works in your hands.
8.7
Review Clamps & Workholding
Triton SuperJaws SJA100E Review
A foot-operated clamping horse that puts 2,200 lb on a workpiece and folds flat. It holds things no vice can, and it is heavy.
8.6
Review Sharpening
Veritas Basic Grinding Set — and the Amazon Alternative
Veritas sells its grinding jigs direct through Lee Valley. For turning tools, the Oneway Wolverine is the system almost everyone ends up with.
8.9
Review Joinery Jigs
Veritas Dovetail Saw — and the Japanese Alternative
Veritas sells its dovetail saw through Lee Valley. A dozuki cuts a thinner kerf on the pull stroke and costs a third as much.
8.8
Review Hand Planes & Saws
Veritas Flush Cutting Saws — and the Japanese Alternative
Veritas sells its flush-cut saws through Lee Valley. A Japanese pull saw with no tooth set does the same job for a fraction of the price.
8.7
Review Hand Planes & Saws
Veritas Iron-Edge Block Plane — and the Amazon Alternative
Veritas planes come from Lee Valley direct. For a block plane you can order today, the Bench Dog 60-1/2 is the honest comparison.
7.3
Review Hand Planes & Saws
Veritas Low Angle Smoothing Plane — and the Amazon Alternative
The Veritas bevel-up smoother is Lee Valley direct. The Stanley Sweetheart No. 62 is the low-angle plane you can buy on Amazon, and it is a jack, not a smoother.
7.8
Review Sharpening
Veritas Mk II Honing Guide — and the Amazon Alternative
The Mk II is the best honing guide made, and Lee Valley sells it direct. The eclipse-pattern guide is the Amazon one, and it works.
8.0
Review Sharpening
Veritas Jointer Blade Sharpener — and What Amazon Has Instead
A jig that hones jointer and planer knives in place. Nothing on Amazon matches it, so here is the honest workaround.
7.2
Review Measuring & Marking
Veritas Poly Gauge — and the Amazon Alternative
Veritas's setup gauge is Lee Valley direct. A set of precision setup blocks does the same job for machine setup and rather more besides.
8.5
Review Clamps & Workholding
Veritas Power Tool Guide — and the Track Guide You Can Buy on Amazon
Veritas sells its straight-edge guide through Lee Valley only. The Kreg Accu-Cut is the track system you can order today, and it works differently.
8.1
Review Measuring & Marking
Veritas Saddle Square — and the Amazon Alternative
A square bent through 90 degrees so a line carries around a corner without resetting. Veritas sells direct; Shinwa makes the Amazon one.
8.4
Review Hand Planes & Saws
Veritas Medium Shoulder Plane — and the Amazon Alternative
A shoulder plane cuts right into a corner because the iron runs full width. Veritas sells direct; the Bench Dog 3-in-1 is what Amazon has.
7.5
Review Joinery Jigs
Veritas Shelf Drilling Jig — and the Amazon Alternative
Both jigs drill a row of shelf-pin holes at a fixed offset. The Veritas is Lee Valley direct; the Kreg is the one you can order today.
8.5
Review Hand Planes & Saws
Veritas Small Plow Plane — and What Amazon Has Instead
A plow plane cuts a groove along the grain with a fence. Nothing on Amazon really does that, so here is the honest workaround.
7.4
Review Hand Planes & Saws
Veritas Small Router Plane — and the Amazon Alternative
The small Veritas router plane fits where the full-size one cannot. The Kakuri Japanese router plane is the closest thing on Amazon.
7.0
Review Hand Planes & Saws
Veritas Small Shoulder Plane — and the Amazon Alternative
The small Veritas shoulder plane is for narrow work and tight corners. Amazon has no direct equivalent, so this is the closest thing and where it differs.
7.2
Review Measuring & Marking
Wagner MMC220 Moisture Meter Review
A pinless meter that reads moisture below the surface without leaving holes. Expensive, and the reason your panels stop cupping.
8.7
Review Outdoor Power
Westford Chainsaw Mill — and the Amazon Alternative
A chainsaw mill turns a saw into a sawmill for the price of a bracket. Westford has thin distribution; Granberg is the Amazon standard.
8.2
Review Workshop Accessories
AmpTech D87L 120Ah 12V Deep Cycle Battery: Not Sold on Amazon — Here's the Closest Alternative
The AmpTech D87L is a solid flooded deep-cycle caravan battery, but it is Australian-retail-only. If you shop through Amazon, here is the nearest equivalent.
7.0
Review Mitre Saws
INCRA Miter V27 Miter Gauge Review
Twenty-seven mechanical angle stops and a bar that expands to kill slop. It fixes the worst part of almost every table saw.
8.6
Review Clamps & Workholding
Bessey K-Body REVO Parallel Clamp Review
The K-Body REVO is the clamp most cabinetmakers end up standardising on. Here is what the 1,700 lb jaw actually buys you, and why you cannot own just two.
8.9
Review Drills & Drivers
Bosch Daredevil Spade Bit Set Review
The threaded tip is the whole product. It pulls the bit through framing timber fast — and that is exactly what makes it awkward in a hand drill.
8.2
Review Joinery Jigs
Dowelmax Classic 3/8 Joining System Review
An all-metal doweling jig built to furniture-grade tolerances, at a price that only makes sense if you actually need that precision.
7.9
Review Multi-Tools & Rotary
Dremel 4000 Rotary Tool Review
The corded rotary tool that still makes sense. A separate on/off from the speed dial, a proper 1.6 A motor, and the attachment range that is the real product.
8.5
Review Sharpening
Drill Doctor DD750X Drill Bit Sharpener Review
It sharpens blunt bits back to cutting, including split points, up to 3/4 in. The learning curve is the part nobody warns you about.
8.0
Review Dust Collection
Festool CT MINI I HEPA Dust Extractor Review
The smallest CLEANTEC is not the one with the most suction. It is the one you actually carry to the job, which is why it gets used.
8.4
Review Routers
Festool OF 1400 EQ Plunge Router Review
A 1,400 W router with a depth adjuster that reads to 1/256 in and a dust port that genuinely works. The price is the argument against it, and it is a real one.
8.7
Review Joinery Jigs
Festool Domino DF 500 Review
The Domino cuts loose-tenon joints faster and more accurately than biscuits, doweling jigs or a router table setup — the review is really about whether that speed is worth the price.
8.8
Review Sanders
Festool ETS 125 REQ Random Orbit Sander Review
A 2 mm stroke, 3.5 lb and a pad brake. The ETS 125 is a finishing sander, and buying it expecting a stock-removal machine is the mistake people make.
8.4
Review Saw Blades & Router Bits
Freud Up-Spiral Router Bit Review
Solid carbide, one flute climbing the cut. A spiral bit leaves a wall a straight bit cannot, and pulls chips out of a mortise on its own.
8.7
Review Joinery Jigs
Kreg Pocket-Hole Jig R3 Review
The clamp-on Kreg. No base, no built-in clamp, half the price of a K5 — and for repairs and site work that is the right trade.
8.1
Review Table Saws
Kreg KMS7200 Precision Band Saw Fence Review
An 18 in aluminium fence that adjusts for blade drift, on a rail that bolts to most 14 in saws. It fixes resawing on machines that came with a stamped steel afterthought.
8.3
Review Clamps & Workholding
Kreg 90-Degree Corner Clamp (KHCCC) Review
Kreg's Automaxx corner clamp squares up boxes, drawers and cabinets without a third hand — as long as you accept its price and its bulk.
7.8
Review Finishes
Minwax Wipe-On Poly Review
Thinned polyurethane in a can, wiped on with a rag. It is slower than brushing and almost impossible to ruin, which is exactly the trade it offers.
8.3
Review Workshop Accessories
Fenner PowerTwist Plus Link V-Belt Review
A V-belt made of links you can pull apart by hand. Fit it without dismantling the machine, and the vibration your old belt caused disappears with it.
8.8
Review Planers & Thicknessers
Ryobi AP13 Planer Thicknesser: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
Ryobi has retired its whole benchtop corded planer line, AP13 included. Here is what the AP13 offered and the closest current replacement.
Review Nailers & Staplers
Senco FinishPro 41XP: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
Senco has retired the FinishPro 41XP. Here is what it was, why parts are still easy to get, and the current 15-gauge nailer that replaces it.
Review Lathes & Turning
NOVA SuperNova2 Woodturning Chuck Review
The chuck most turners settle on after their first one. Single-handed operation, a 1045 steel body, and a jaw range that stays useful as the lathe gets bigger.
8.8
Review Hand Planes & Saws
Veritas Router Plane Review — and What You Can Buy on Amazon
Veritas sells its router planes direct through Lee Valley and nowhere else. Here is how they compare with the Bench Dog open-throat plane you can order today.
7.4
Review Sanders
WASP Sander (Drill Press Belt Sanding Attachment): Discontinued
The WASP Sander drill-press belt attachment has no current production or retail presence. Here is what it did and a current alternative.
Review Measuring & Marking
Wixey WR300 Digital Angle Gauge Review
A magnet, an inclinometer and a zero button. It replaces the combination square you were squinting at, for about the price of a router bit.
9.0