There's nothing wrong with the tape measure — unless, of course, you're trying to measure something quite lengthy by yourself, trying to measure something over your head, etc. For those times, you need this Bosch DLR130K Digital Distance Measurer ($75) Using precise laser measurement technology, this handy tool reports accurate results down to the 1/16 of an inch, even for distances 130 long. It also offers four measurement systems — we particularly like the fractional inch measurements, which keep us from having to do feet to inch conversions in our heads — and offers a continuous length more for those really big projects.

Buy Now / $75

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Signature Branding Iron

Most artists like signing their work — and just because you chose woodworking as your artistic outlet doesn't mean you shouldn't get to put your John Hancock to it. With this Signature Branding Iron ($220), you can do exactly that. As you might imagine, it's a completely custom piece — you upload a detailed image of your signature, wait 6-8 weeks, and your personalized branding iron will arrive at your door, ready for you to heat up and sear your name into your work permanently.

Buy Now / $220

Like / 14 Tweet / 3 Stash / 259
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Outlaw Fasteners

Anyone who has ever built a deck knows what a pain fastening board after board can be — what with stripped screws, dropped nails, banged fingers, and pre-drilling holes. With Outlaw Fasteners ($30-$55), all of those frustrations become a thing of the past. They are made with an innovative multi-level hex head and a custom bit that creates 18 points of contact, eliminating stripped heads, making driving easier, and holding onto fasteners without the need for magnets. A self-drilling cutting tip helps get rid of screw wobble, while removing the need to drill a pilot hole. Available in a wide range of sizes, these fasteners are ready for any job you can throw at them.

Buy Now / $30-$55

Like / 216 Tweet / 14 Stash / 880
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Gerber Downrange Tomahawk

No matter how prepared you think you are for the day the dead begin to walk the earth, your zombie apocalypse arsenal just isn't complete without the Gerber Downrange Tomahawk ($285). This tomahawk is built with a triple-purpose ax head featuring a sharp beveled edge that can tear through drywall, doors, or pretty much anything that stands in your way. The other side of the ax head works as a hammer, letting you smash off door knobs, locks, and more. The cutaway grip on the ax head gives you excellent leverage to use the pry bar found on the other end — perfect for getting into heavily-fortified spaces, or getting out of a jam.

Buy Now / $285

Like / 397 Tweet / 25 Stash / 1608
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Leatherman Rebar

It's tough to think of anything other than Leatherman when considering a multi-tool — and for good reason, their history of making useful tools contained inside pliers started when they invented the things. The Leatherman Rebar ($75) is a nod to that heritage, though it's not without a few modern touches (things like the replaceable 154CM wire cutters). Measuring just four inches in length when closed, it packs pliers, a crimper, multiple knives, a file, a saw, small, large, and phillips screwdrivers, and an awl with a thread loop. Oh, and let's not forget the ruler, bottle opener, can opener, wire stripper, or lanyard ring, nor the stainless steel body and black oxide finish.

Buy Now / $75

Like / 175 Tweet / 47 Stash / 1379

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Squarespace

Making a website is hard. Especially for those of us who don't know how to code. Sure, you could always hire someone to make your site, but that can get expensive and time consuming. And make no mistake — you need a site. When you don't have time to learn to code, try Squarespace. This elegant service makes creating a professional and handsome website super easy. Pick from one of their many award-winning templates, then choose to leave it be or customize it even further. Even create your own logo or quickly build a secure online store with a shopping cart. Worried you won't get it? Start a trial and the first two weeks are free. There's no credit card required, either. So roll up your sleeves and start building — with only a few clicks.

Buy Now / $8+

Like / 25 Tweet / 17 Stash / 359
Featured Gear Question

Bellroy Slim Sleeve Wallet

Bellroy's Nude Approach delivers their slimmest, most sustainable wallets yet. We know that sounds like there might be some kind of voodoo magic at play, but there's a method to their naked madness. A crowd favorite, the Slim Sleeve has evolved even further with The Nude Approach. With a key focus on function and minimalist design, the wallet that started it all has now been stripped down to the essential elements: pretty much just vegetable-tanned leather and thread. It's elegance meets intelligence. There are no linings and less waste; leaving you with a noticeably slimmer silhouette that's also kinder to our planet.

Buy Now / $80

Like / 23 Tweet / 9 Stash / 298

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Black & Decker Gyro Screwdriver

Thanks to our smartphones and tablets, gyroscopes have become more and more commonplace. So why not put them to use for more than just rotating our photos and playing games? The Black & Decker Gyro Screwdriver ($30) does. Thanks to an internal gyroscope, it automatically senses whether you want to go in forward or reverse, and at what speed, all based on how much you turn your wrist. It can operate at up to 180 rpm and apply up to 35 inches per pound of torque, making it plenty powerful enough for most jobs, and it sports a built-in LED lamp to let you see what you're screwing — which is almost always a good thing.

Buy Now / $30

Like / 0 Tweet / 1 Stash / 57
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Makita LXT Cordless Autofeed Screwdriver

Let's face it, no one likes to spend their weekend doing chores — Saturdays are for sleeping and Sundays are for football. But the Makita LXT Cordless Autofeed Screwdriver ($420) makes quick work out of your household tasks, so you can get back on the couch where you belong. Its compact, ergonomic, lightweight design makes it easy to use, even for long periods of time, while its high capacity and screw compatibility suits it for a variety of tasks. The 4,000 RPM four-pole motor has plenty of speed, making it great for decking, drywalling, and more.

Buy Now / $420

Like / 1730 Tweet / 78 Stash / 630
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Trust Co. Restored Axes

Fall is the perfect time to gather around a campfire in your backyard, share stories, listen to music, drink spiked cider, and keep off the chill of a crisp night. Build yourself a pile of firewood that will last well into the winter with these Trust Co. Restored Axes ($125-$225). Each single- or double-bit steel axe has been ground, sharpened, and polished in their Portland, Oregon shop, returning them to their original condition. They fix each axe head to a high-quality seasoned hickory handle that will last for years. The axes come with a custom-fitted leather sheath, and are available in a range of lengths and styles.

Buy Now / $125-$225

Like / 220 Tweet / 13 Stash / 937
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Makita X2 LXT Cordless Chainsaw

It's hard to argue against the benefits of cordless, electric power tools — but sometimes batteries just don't cut it for a yard tool facing a bigger task. The Makita X2 LXT Cordless Chainsaw ($370) features two 18V LXT Lithium-Ion batteries instead of just one, giving it the power of corded tools, while still running on the same battery packs as the rest of your Mikita toolkit. Thanks to battery operation, this chainsaw is quiet, produces no emissions, and requires little maintenance. It has a 12-inch guide bar length, a chain speed of 1,650 FPM, and weighs in at just over 11 pounds with the battery packs attached.

Buy Now / $370

Like / 102 Tweet / 16 Stash / 295

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Tuls

For those of you who put a lot of thought into your everyday carry, you know exactly how important it is to make the best-possible use of your limited pocket space. The creators of Tuls ($22 and up) had just that in mind when they came up with the Stan, the Lucy, the Roul, the Ollie, and the Opie. These credit-card-sized tools are perfect for slipping into your wallet or money clip, giving you a huge variety of important gadgets without taking up much space. Whether you need a set of hex wrenches, rulers, bottle openers, or a smartphone stand that doubles as a cord wrapper, they've got you covered.

Buy Now / $22 and up

Like / 85 Tweet / 10 Stash / 995
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Vaughan Stealth Hammer

Whether you're framing a house, building a deck, or just hanging up some wall art in your apartment, it's important to have a tool that does most of the work for you. For that reason, a hammer with a heavy head can be your best friend — but also a source of fatigue if you're lugging around a bunch of tools. The American-made Vaughan Stealth Hammer ($50) gives you the best of both worlds: a lightweight hammer that swings with the force of a tool twice its weight. It features a 17-ounce, smooth-faced steel head with a magnetic nail starter, a side nail puller, and a straight claw that can handle just about any carpentry-related task you throw at it.

Buy Now / $50

Like / 64 Tweet / 13 Stash / 694
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Milwaukee Bottle Opener Wire Stripper

Nothing makes a tough project go by faster than a few good, cold beers — so give your tool chest a bottle opener worthy of sitting with the rest of your tools, the Milwaukee Bottle Opener Wire Stripper ($10). With a wide, cushioned, ergonomic handle that provides plenty of leverage, opening up a bottle has never been easier. It's made to be as durable as the rest of your tools, so no matter how much you put it through, it'll keep working. Plus, it has the added benefit of a wire stripper (for some reason), so it's really two tools in one.

Buy Now / $10

Like / 157 Tweet / 18 Stash / 182
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Trail Boss

The ultimate tool for trail workers and backcountry enthusiasts alike — whether you bike, hike, backpack, climb, or camp — the Trail Boss ($520-$565) is as versatile a tool as it is portable. This modular workhorse fits into most packs, and comes with either three or four handle pieces (16" each for three or 12" each for four) that connect to build a shaft to suit your needs. Three useful tools join with the handle, a mattock/axe combo, a rake/hoe combo, and a shovel, making it the ideal tool for a range of tasks: from filling washouts, to removing roots, and everything in-between.

Buy Now / $520-$565

Like / 109 Tweet / 17 Stash / 389
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Sigmo Voice Translation Device

If you've spent any amount of time traveling abroad, you've likely run into a language barrier, making it hard to get the most out of your trip. With the Sigmo Voice Translation Device ($50) you can avoid those issues, without resorting to learning a new language. This device connects to your iOS or Android device over Bluetooth and, using existing services, translates your voice into one of 25 different languages. Just speak into the microphone and it will translate everything you say, playing it back over the speaker. It's small and light, so you can bring it anywhere, attach it to your clothes, or hang it around your neck.

Buy Now / $50

Like / 567 Tweet / 63 Stash / 1181
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Seedbot

If you'd rather spend your weekend in your workshop building than out in the yard doing chores (and who could blame you?), we've found your ideal project — the Seedbot ($Free). With a pro membership to Instructables ($40 for two years), you can download detailed PDF instructions to build your very own grass-seed-spreading robot. Then all you need to do is purchase the necessary materials and start making. While the tech is definitely still in the developmental stages, who doesn't like the idea of building a robot to do our yard work for us?

Buy Now / $Free

Like / 72 Tweet / 15 Stash / 318
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Ringtool

Add a bit of functional simplicity to your everyday carry with the Ringtool ($25). While it's designed with the bicycle commuter in mind, we have a hard time thinking of situations in which you wouldn't want a multitool small enough to add to your keychain. It features a bottle opener, hex heads ranging from 3-8mm, a flathead, phillips, and torxhead driver, and two spoke wrenches, all in a two-inch ring. It's made from hardened and tempered stainless steel, and weighs just one ounce — perfect for your minimalist carry.

Buy Now / $25

Like / 199 Tweet / 36 Stash / 1482
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Handibot

With Handibot ($2,000), every DIY enthusiast now has access to a portable CNC (computer numerically controlled) mill. For those not familiar with CNC equipment, this industrial technology lets you programmatically, repeatably, and precisely cut, carve, or drill various materials. The Handibot lets you do all this at the job site or your home workshop, instead of a big shop, and removes the need for in-depth technological know-how using task-specific apps, controlled on your tablet or smart phone. All you need to do to cut that perfect notch, pocket, hole, or curve, is cue up an app and press the start button — pretty easy.

Buy Now / $2,000

Like / 391 Tweet / 46 Stash / 902
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Klein Leather Tool Bag

Since 1857, Klein Tools has been making American gems like this Klein Leather Tool Bag ($98). Made entirely of thick, tanned leather, this rugged, pocketless bag sports a large compartment for gear, reinforced ends, a double-ply base with steel studs, and triple-riveted rolled loop handles. Use it to tote your hand tools for the next 50 years or just use it to store your magazines in the living room.

Buy Now / $98

Like / 3 Tweet / 2 Stash / 240
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Milescraft Orbiter 360 Degree Drill Attachment

There's nothing worse than when you're halfway into a project and you realize your power drill or driver can't make an angle — it can be frustrating, and even dangerous. With the Milescraft Orbiter 360 Degree Drill Attachment ($24), no angle is too extreme, and no space too tight. This handy device attaches to the chuck of your drill, and both halves rotate 360 degrees, allowing it to face virtually any direction. It accommodates any 3/8-inch or larger drill bit, has a keyless chuck for fast changes, and sports a soft-grip design for comfortable working.

Buy Now / $24

Like / 64 Tweet / 17 Stash / 546

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