Gizmodo: tool

Electromagnetic Pulses Cut Through Steel in Milliseconds

Rosa Golijan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST

You need to cut up some chunks of steel. Mechanical tools are prone to wearing out and lasers are just too expensive, so what do you use? Fast-cutting electromagnetic pulses, what else.

Researchers have figured out that they can modify existing electromagnetic pulse technology and use it to cut hard steels about seven times faster than with a laser and at only a fraction of the cost of other methods. That's not even the crazy part though:

The impact pressure [of the pulse] on the steel is approximately 3,500 bar, which equates to the weight of three small cars on a single fingernail.

Three cars on a single fingernail. Three cars. One fingernail. Forget cool buzzing sounds from mechanical tools and the pewpewpew of lasers. That description alone makes this the coolest cutting method I've heard of today. [Phys Org]

Photo by Gerald Edwards

Can You Figure Out All the Uses for the Piranha Multitool?

Rosa Golijan — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:22:13 EST

When it comes to multitools, you can never have enough functions and the Pocket Tool X Piranha really takes that thought to heart. I can't even figure out half the things it's supposed to do. Can you?

I know that there's at least a bottle opener, a nail puller, a scraper pry ends, a double-ended bit holder, a bunch of wrenches on this thing, but it somehow looks like you're getting some sort of hidden functions for your $50. I just don't know what they are. [PocketToolX via Wired via Engadget]

Well Hello Five Windows Task Manager Alternatives

Jack Loftus — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EDT

Want to branch out a bit from the default Windows Task Manager tool that's probably helping keeping you abreast of the goings on of your PC right this moment? Look no further, for Lifehacker is here with another glorious top five list on that very subject! [Lifehacker]

An Alligetter Tool For Getting Things Out Of Drains, Garbage Disposals

Jason Chen — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EDT

This Alligetter LED tool isn't just a lousy pun, it shines a light into dark (and small) places where you couldn't normally see or reach. Places like drains, or garbage disposals, or behind the couch.

We'd not only use this to avoid putting our fingers in dangerous places, but dirty ones too. Dropping a ring in a toilet while the toilet is occupied is horrible, but now it can be one level less so. [Wireless Catalog via Nerd Approved]

Peak's Plasmablade is Sci-Fi-like Surgical Tool of the Future

Kit Eaton — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:20:00 EDT

Cutting open a person for surgery using a plain old scalpel seems pretty barbarian compared to this new cutting tool from Peak. Instead of a sharp metal edge, or even an electrosurgical cutter, the Plasmablade uses pulses of plasma generated around its tip to locally cut and cauterize flesh such as skin, fat and muscle. It has the advantages of not damaging nearby tissue since its generated heat remains short term and local, and there's less... uh... smoke to worry about than with electrosurgical tools. If you can stomach the idea, there's a pretty graphic demo video of the blade in action. Just don't be eating while you watch.

The FDA's just okayed it for marketing in the US, so it may be coming to an OR near you soon. [Peak Surgical via Medgadget]

Google Maps Catches Sophisticated High School Football Field Prank

Jason Chen — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 20:30:31 EST

There's not much to add to this other than "ha ha, you got penis'ed", but we're somewhat curious as to how this thing went down. Was this a prank from a rival school? Was it self-inflicted? Is this their mascot? (Go Fighting Wangs!) Is it still there? We suppose it's pretty apropos that the school is located on Shaft Road. [Google Maps - Thanks Daniel!]

Flickr Camera Finder Helps Your Next Camera Purchase

Jason Chen — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 15:30:03 EST

If you're on the verge of deciding between two different, yet equally fine cameras, head over to Flickr's camera finder. After choosing the cameras you're picking between, Flickr will show you either the "most interesting" (or latest, portrait, macro, landscape, action, and recent) photos taken by that model. Of course, if you're a camera noob your shots won't turn out nearly as good as the pros whose shots are marked "most interesting", but it's a good comparison tool between devices. – Jason Chen

Flickr Camera Finder [Flickr via Consumerist]

The BodyGard 5-in-1 Car Emergency Tool

Jason Chen — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 20:25:43 EST

If you're anything like us, you have a hard time sleeping at night thanks to the persistent nightmares of being stuck in a car underwater. Blame it on too many viewings of that one episode of BMW Films. Nevertheless, ThinkGeek has a 5-in-1 tool that lets you get out of a jam quickly and easily.

The BodyGard contains a glass breaker, safety belt cutter, sonic alarm, flashing red distress light, and LED flashlight. Five things that you should need in the inevitable event that you plow into a YMCA pool. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Think Geek]

CRT Killer: Stanley FUBAR Demolition Tool

Brian Lam — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 19:39:53 EDT

I have a friend...no, a friend of a friend, who hates CRT monitors, TVs, you name it. If it has a cathode ray tube inside, this "friend" goes rabid and reaches for the nearest power tool to give it a proper decontruction and retirement. The FUBAR by Stanley, is the perfect tool for such a job. It's formed around a single piece of high carbon steel, with appendages for pulling nails, drywall, carrying 2x4s, acting as a sledgehammer, wood splitter, or CRT killer. They say FUBAR stands for Functional Utility BAR. We know better. Only $40.–Brian Lam

Stanley FUBAR [Stanley]