Websites
There are plenty of design and DIY blogs but the world of tool blogs is fairly small and among them a few stand out. These sites cover the latest tools and hardware from all the main manufacturers and they often highlight tool companies that are lesser known.
Some of these tool blogs skew towards the professional while others are geared to the weekend warrior types. Some of them are run by contractors who have relied on tools for years to make a living and know them inside out while others are run by tool fanatics who are obsessed with the technology and design of the newest tools.
In no particular order these are my favorite tool blogs and should be yours too.
ToolBoxBuzz
A fairly new site from Todd Fratzel who runs Home Construction Improvement. He's compiled a great group of editors and know their tools inside and out.
CopTool
The official blog of Ohio Power Tool and edited by Jay Amstutz (pictured above). You'll find great side by side tool comparisons and they run the incomparable Power Tool Races.
ToolGuyd
I've worked with Stuart a few times and he has a great grasp of the technology behind the tools.
ProTool Reviews
Tom and Clint publish new tool reviews daily and have an active forum of other tool fanatics.
Toolsnob
Doug has been writing Toolsnob for years and is one of the first tool bloggers I met. He covers all types of home product but his best reviews are on tools.
Tools In Action
This site has been around for awhile but Dan and Eric are working hard to give it a fresh look.
Tool-Rank
Chris has worked hard to build a great looking tool blog and I think he's succeeded. As a carpenter he knows his tools.
Toolmonger
Sean and Chuck keep the world's first tool blog humming along and they often have a unique take on the tool industry that sets them apart.
Honorable Mention
These blogs aren't necessarily tool focused but they do offer some great reviews and occasional Giveaways from major tool manufacturers. What you will mostly find are great home improvement projects, tutorials and product reviews.
A Concord Carpenter
HomeFixated
One Project Closer
Building Moxie
Home Construction Improvement
MyFixItUpLife
Ask The Builder
Extreme How-To
We had some fun with some of these tool bloggers and asked them to share what type of truck they drive. One brand was a clear winner.
It's been a crazy couple of weeks around here, but we're finally ready to pull the cover off our new project, Built by Kids!
We launched the site on Labor Day and the next day my wife Laura went into labor! Our son came a week early, so instead of sharing the news of our site launch we had more important tasks to take care of.
We've finally settled in a bit and catching sleep when we can but we're also excited to share Built by Kids with the world and our readers at Charles & Hudson.
There are plenty of great design and craft sites for kids online, but the resources for children and families who are interested in learning do-it-yourself skills and how to use tools we found very limiting. Home Depot and Lowe's do kid builder workshops and there are similar schools around the country that will teach children hands-on skills that don't involve a keyboard, but we wanted to create something more.
Our Mission at Built by Kids:
Built by Kids is created WITH, BY and FOR children. A lifestyle website that celebrates the parents, families, caregivers and educators who value the power of creative development and are nostalgic for a time when weekends were set aside for building a fort or making models.
We'll share projects divided by age and skill as well as holidays. We will also go through the process of teaching children how to use hand and power tools with safety a top priority.
But we want Built by Kids to be a collaborative experience and we encourage parents, families and caregivers to share the projects they've built with/by/for their children. Each month we'll run a contest and the finalists (chosen by our readers) will be featured on Built by Kids.
This month we want to see your favorite Cardboard Creations.
Instead of spending your cash on the movies or buying your kid another video game, why not build something with them that will not only bring you closer together but leave them with an heirloom object that they'll cherish for years.
Find these projects and more at Built by Kids.
This has been an amazing summer for us. We've been putting in the miles with media trips across the country and mixing in a jaunt to Paris...for a babymoon. Yes, Laura and I are expecting a boy in September! We're super excited and thought, why not make this extra fun (crazy) by starting a new website!
Built by Kids is a lifestyle website dedicated to expanding the imagination, creativity and hands-on skills of children everywhere. As technology continues to infiltrate the lives of our children, we are nostalgic for a time when kids built forts and played in sandboxes.
Our tagline, The ABC's of DIY, pretty much sums up our mission to become the premiere destination for dynamic, kid friendly projects that engage families, educators and caregivers on an emotional and practical level while providing an online community where they can share their own projects.
If this sounds like you and your family then keep reading as we need your help to get this project off the ground.
We're curating our favorite BUILT by YOU projects to feature on the site, and we know that you have some super sweet projects you've either stored in your attic or have planned for this weekend. Why not bring them to life online?!
Here's how it works:
+ Your projects will be organized into three categories: built BY your child, built WITH your child, built FOR your child.
+ We'll select our favorite projects and then turn the voting over to our readers.
+ The winner will receive not only our undying respect and admiration, but a glossy photo feature on the site, a prize of game show proportions, and well deserved bragging rights.
Simply send an email with your project description and photos to thedahls@builtbykids.com. Deadline for entry is August 22, 2011.
We look forward to seeing you online soon and in the meantime, follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates on projects, collaborations and events
Cheers! Timothy and Laura Dahl
Are you THAT type of landscaper? You know ... the one who's not just satisfied with a tidy, mowed yard, but who takes landscaping to the next level? With a new feature on John Deere's Facebook page, you now have a community to call home!
The recently launched Lawnscaping page is a great place to share advice and tips with fellow lawnscapers, described by John Deere as "those who love the smell of fresh cut grass and working on their lawns and gardens."
Not only can users post their own photos to the page, but can also interact with others and be the first to know about residential promotions available at local John Deere dealerships.
Plus, you can view videos on pattern mowing, which helps you transform your lawn into "ballpark perfection."
