I used to think those magnetic wristbands for holding nails were just a gimmick until I tried one on a tricky roof framing job in Boise last fall.

It kept a dozen 16d nails secure while I was 30 feet up on a steep pitch, and now I won't work without it, but what other simple tools have you guys found that actually live up to the hype?

3 comments

3 Comments

oliviac2218d ago

Honestly those things are a total waste of money and a safety hazard waiting to happen. They fall off way too easy and you end up dropping nails anyway, which defeats the whole point. Just use a good old fashioned nail apron like everyone else.

the_wesley17d ago

Watched my buddy swear by his speed square for years and never got it. Then he showed me how he uses the lip to guide his circular saw for perfect short cuts on rafters. The thing is dead accurate every single time. He even uses the degree markings for quick layout on tricky angles. It's basically a tiny, flat workbench that fits in your back pocket.

jamieburns7d ago

My grandpa taught me to use a speed square for marking rafters when I was about twelve. Olivia's comment seems to be mixing it up with a different tool, maybe a magnetic nail holder? A speed square doesn't hold nails at all, it's for marking lines and guiding saws. Once you learn all the notches and markings on it, you realize it's one of the most useful things in your tool belt. It's way more than just a square.