January 31, 2008
We've recently seen our share of multi-tools—Leatherman's pared-down Skeletool, the two-timing RakeHoe, and of course B&D's schizophrenic electrical oddity.
And now there's the SquareOne, which is a tape measure at heart. But that designation doesn't do it justice.
It's handy enough that the single spirit vial reads level, and that it not only holds a carpenter's pencil, but also has a built-in sharpener and a little scratchpad to mark measurements.
Cool, but it's been done.
There's still one more feature, though, that truly sets the SquareOne apart.
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January 30, 2008
Black & Decker has a new cordless trimmer due out in March, which they claim performs head-to-head with gas trimmers.
The headline on the press release: "Kickin' gas!"
Well, kinda.
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January 29, 2008
I roamed through Lowe's a while back and noticed a new breed of tile saws geared towards DIYers.
I'm no stranger to tile saws, or to the benefit of renting tools as opposed to buying them.
But, it seems like those big, heavy, very powerful rental saws were overkill for my 3x6-inch subway tile backsplash problem.
I was amazed. For about the same cost, or less, of renting a bigger tile saw for 24 hours, I could buy one of my very own.
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January 28, 2008
I like Titebond wood glue, and I've said so in the past.
I also like their Greenchoice line of low-VOC construction adhesives and sealants. Though these products are solvent-free, they still must pass the same rigorous ASTM and AFG-01 testing as their solvent-based competitors.
Eliminating the solvents improves indoor air quality, without having to give up the strength we've come to rely on with construction adhesives.
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January 25, 2008
Gonna be cold this weekend. It's never too late to learn how to insulate.
Click on the jump for a roundup of some recent HA action you might've missed.
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January 25, 2008
So we've introduced you to colorful globe lighting and incognito speakers in the past, but Moonlight USA is the first company I've come across that's combined the two features in such a delightfully luminous way.
The polyethylene spheres can be used inside your living room or out on your deck to get the party mood going, streaming groovy tunes along with their energy-efficient LED light.
As Apartment Therapy notes, the lights were originally intended for commercial use, but are available to homeowners upon request.
More pics after the jump.
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January 24, 2008
I'm all for durability, easy maintenance and quick installation when it comes to projects, so I can understand the benefits of using composite decking, like Fiberon's new sanctuary decking.
The product is fade-, crack-, and generally damage-resistant, plus its grooved and reversible boards make them quicker to install.
But when building a structure that's supposed to get you enjoying more of nature, I just can't see why you'd use something that looks so, well, unnatural.
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January 24, 2008
When we last wrote about cordless combo kits, Lithium-Ion batteries were just making the scene.
With lighter weight, longer run times, and quicker recharges, the new technology performs better, no question about it.
But it ain't cheap.
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January 24, 2008
It's a love-hate thing with this spray foam insulation.
I use canned polyurethane foam just about anything, but the plastic dispenser is flimsy.
Along came the professional spray gun, which worked great with much less mess, but was a bit costly.
Last week I wrote about spray foam kits, which are ideal for drafty walls.
With all this spraying, why haven't we reached foam nirvana yet?
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January 23, 2008
I inherited this Stanley level from an artist friend, who used the little torpedo to make certain that his framed works were hanging level.
While I don't proclaim to be an artist, I like to know that my work is straight.
This level is ideal for checking a shelf for level from front to back, and it comes in really handy when I'm hanging cabinets—I leave it on the cabinet shelf, and bingo.
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