Geek Gestalt

AUSTIN, Texas--OK, that was a lot of fun.

I'm here for Maker Faire, and one of the things I'd been most looking forward to after spending two days watching people set up things was seeing the folks from the blog Toolmonger.com rip down the shack they'd built just for that purpose.

At Toolmonger.com's Maker Faire exhibit in Austin, they built a small shack only for the purpose of tearing it down. It's part of the blog's 'breaking s#!$ week.'

(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET Networks)

According to Chuck Cage from Toolmonger.com, they built the shack to showcase just how easy it is to, er, deconstruct something using the latest tools.

In this case, the tool is Stanley Tool's forthcoming FuBar III. And if you don't love the name of that tool, there's something wrong with you.

The FuBar III--according to Jimmy Addison, a product research analyst in Stanley's engineering and technology group--is designed for all kinds of things, as it has a built-in sledgehammer, a wedge, a board bender to rip out floor boards, a spanner wrench and a fire hydrant key. It's a beast of a tool, for sure.

Now, Cage and Addison are getting ready to tear the shack down, and the question is how long it will take. One woman estimates 29 seconds. I think it will take a bit more than that.

The Toolmongers.com guys and a representative from Stanley Tool's research and development team begin to rip apart the shack. The question is: How long will it take to tear it down?

(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET Networks)

They begin to hack away at it, pounding little holes in the plywood walls, and slowly making progress.

They're swinging their FuBars like baseball bats, and the effect is great: loud banging, instant holes and ripped out beams.

Slowly, but surely--well, okay, quickly, they begin to show the shack who's boss. First one beam gets kicked out, and then another.

Stanley Tools' product research analyst Jimmy Addison goes to work tearing down the shack.

(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET Networks)

Addison begins hacking away at a pair of corner beams, but they're not coming down. Someone from the audience helpfully suggests that he take advantage of leverage and hit the bottom. Eventually, he catches on and down the beams come.

It's great fun watching this, and though it's happening very quickly, it actually does seem slow because it seems like the shack should just come down right away, given the beating they're giving it.

Addison rips the frame out of one of the walls of the shack.

(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET Networks)

Now, two walls are gone, and they're working on the last two. Cage starts repeatedly kicking one, hoping he can knock it down with his foot. After a few futile blows, it does indeed fall.

Toolmonger.com's Chuck Cage attempts to kick down one of the last walls of the shack.

(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET Networks)

And then, there was just one wall. They whale away at it, and then, with the crowd roaring, the structure falls amidst billowing dirt.

All told, it took them four minutes and five seconds to tear the shack down. And every second was fun to watch.

And for Addison? "It was absolutely a blast."

After four minutes and five seconds, the Toolmongers.com guys and Stanley Tools' Jimmy Addison finished tearing the shack down.

(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET Networks)