Untried
Since contributor Ryan Lewandowski apparently hasn't used the following item personally, I can't include it as a regular Cool Tool, but the online promotional video is so compelling, I encourage you to check it out at Sawstop.
The SawStop is a table (circular) saw that supposedly stops itself if you touch it with your finger. The video uses a hot dog as a finger substitute, which is marred by only a shallow nick before the saw arrests and retracts with a bang. According to the "how it works" section of the site, the safety system is electronically actuated by the capacitance of the human body. Since I have always felt uneasy using table saws, this innovation is of great personal interest. If anyone has used it, I'd love to hear about your experience.
Posted on January 29, 2006 at 05:00 AM
COOL TOOLS is about tools that really work and are worth buying or borrowing. The following items may be neither; they are Untried.
An awful lot of goodies featured in magazines and blogs are simply cool sounding items that no one has actually tried, or even seen. The tools I usually review here on the other hand are offered by someone who not only has used the tool, but loves it, and ideally has tried many similar tools and can truly say, "this one is the best."
However the temptation to forward cool-appearing stuff remains strong, and occasionally I succumb to it. This week I offer notices of untried items that others (who have not seen or used these) have passed to me. Or they've come from the actual inventors or manufacturers.
I make no recommendations about any of items below. I haven't seen them, don't know anyone who has used them, and I have no knowledge how reliable, honest, or competent the companies behind them are. All I know is that these look the most interesting and promising of all the blind suggestions I've gotten.
I list them here because it's the end of the summer, so I'm feeling a bit lazy, and I hope by sending them out a reader may have tried one or two and can let me know if they work.
--KK
Eyelighter
Radtech
Makes a hands-free light from lightweight led button. The whole thing weighs 10g.
 
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Stop Saw
SawStop
Don't know how this is supposed to work but this table saw is claimed to stop cutting if it hits flesh. In the video demo (pic below) it is tested on a hot dog. There's a small nick, but that's all. If it worked, it would be great for shop classes.
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EasyGlider
Gizmo
The site claims it is a cross between an electric scooter and water skiing. Without the water. You can use skates or a skateboard.
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eMachineshop
You use some simple software to design a 3D or 2D part and then you get an immediate price and if you like it, you hit the send button and in a few weeks your fabricated, machines, or milled parts come back, in any material of your choosing. I'm really tempted but I haven't found anyone who has used this yet. As usual, let me know if you do.
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Uli Inflatable Surfboard
Uliboards
Backpack a surfboard to a remote beach, or pack it in your carry-on to an easy to reach one.
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Roll-up Piano
Hecsan
Why not? You'll need a pair of headphones.
Posted on September 02, 2004 at 03:12 PM
I present these cool items with no recommendations. I haven't used these nor have I found anyone to review them. A couple were suggested by their inventors. They each appear to have potential so I am soliciting comments from anyone who might have experience with them. Please write if (when) you wind up trying these. You could mention Cool Tools to see if that gains you special access. Again, I offer these out of curiosity but without any endorsement. Buyer beware.
--KK
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Ceramic Low-Temperature Radiant Heater
The idea here is that the low temperatures of this "solid-state" electrical heater produces less vaporized dust, less danger, and less drastic heat. They also claim that because there is no visible light generated and the lower temperatures, the heater is 25% more efficient than hotwire electrical elements. Also comes in baseboard and ceiling models. Runs on household voltage. In theory it could work as claimed.
Available from Radiant Electric Heat
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Water Ball
It's a transparent plastic ball you inflate with a leaf blower or vacuum, then quickly unzip a zipper, slip inside and re-inflate. You can then roll on water. I imagine it could be fun. Or dangerous. Or both. Sumo waterball? Burning Man?
Available from Biz it
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Fuel Cell Generator
This generator provides 1,000 watts of 120 volts AC with no noise and no emissions, so that it can be used indoors. It uses Ballard's fuel cell technology for this silence and cleanliness. You need either tanks of industrial hydrogen or commercial metal hydride canisters to power it. Might be useful for mission critical power in clean rooms, medical operations, or in places where quiet is also essential.
Available from
Ballard
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Fluid Goggles
These underwater goggles are allowed to flood with water instead of air, which relieves divers of the discomfort caused by ordinary air-filled masks in deep dives. Being fluid, they equalize with the surrounding water pressure. They are engineered with corrective lenses to optically compensate for lack of air on your eyeball. In effect they give you seal eyes. Fuild goggles were perfected by freedivers, who rapidly descend hundreds of feet. They may be of use to ordinary scuba folk. Skin divers?
Available from Fluid Goggles
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ESP Personal Air Purifier
If I worked in a windowless cubicle I would give this thing a try. I can vouch that an amazingly powerful wind of electrons and ionized air is generated by this device with no moving parts, purely by electrostatic pressure. It smells like the breeze right before it rains -- ionized air. Particulates from the air accumulate on the inside of the oval which you can wipe off. Might be good for you. Let me know if it is.
Available from Brookstone
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Flowlab Board
A skate board designed to swoop. Curved multiple rollers seem logical to me. Needs street testing by someone other than myself.
Available from Flowlab
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Game Ready Treatment
An advance injury treatment device. It circulates cold water into a cyclically compressing bandage surrounding an athletic injury, so accelerates healing. Gets you back in the game twice as fast as ice bags. That's the claim. Has a decent website.
Available from Game Ready
Posted on December 29, 2003 at 02:00 PM
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