From the National Hardware Show: teaching junior DIYers

May 5, 2009

Build a young carpenter’s confidence by starting him or her off on basic building projects. Red Toolbox’s kits come with real hand and power tools, scaled down with their little hands in mind. Start by teaching 8 year olds how to assemble a classic wood toolbox or treasure chest where they’ll learn gluing, hammering, and filing. As their confidence grows, step up to level two and start using drills and cutting with a handsaw—on available kit is a working air hockey table, and then to level three. Choose from tools like a 7.2 volt NiCd drill, mini hammer, saw, C clamps, tool belts and an adjustable work bench. Tools range from $3-$43, with projects from $10-$50.

Live from the International Builders' Show: Portable Power from Generac

January 21, 2009

Generac, well-known for their high-power home and commercial generator systems, has rolled-out two new lines of portable generators. 

Live from the International Builders' Show: World's First Pellet Fireplace

January 20, 2009

Quadra-Fire has introduced the Edge 60, the first pellet fireplace.  Pellets are the fastest growing fuel category and allow people to burn hard and soft wood pellets with high efficiency and for maximum heat (output is rated at 60,000 BTUs).  It’s also multi-fuel capable so you can burn other fuel sources such as switch grass, shelled corn, wheat and walnut shells.

Live from the International Builders’ Show: Schlage Introduces Wireless Access System for the Home

The Schlage LiNK system is a new line of wireless-controlled locksets for the home.  It gives you total control over access to your home or garage with remote online management from a PC or cell phone with Internet capabilities.  The deadbolts also feature a push button keypad so you don’t have to worry about carrying a key.

Live from the Hardware Show: Spackling in a spray can

May 7, 2008

We've seen spackling packaged in buckets and tubes and containers that resemble deodorant applicators, and now, in a spray can. Jig-a-Patch makes the filling of cracks and holes in walls and ceilings about as easy as topping a pie with Reddi-Whip.

National hardware show opens in Las Vegas

May 6, 2008

The 2008 National Hardware Show, an annual exhibition where manufacturers try to tempt retail buyers with their newest and best products, opens its doors today in Las Vegas. Three thousand exhibitors are showing off everything and anything you can ever imagine being sold in a hardware store—paint, ladders, caulk, tape, tools, cleaning supplies, lawn furniture—and many things you can't.

Live from the Kitchen and Bath Show: Elkay's utility sink prototype

April 13, 2008

Before I begin this post, I should let you know this cool little sink is a prototype from Elkay, meaning it may never go into production, though it's such a great idea, I don't see how it couldn't. Designed to go in the garage or laundry room, it has a special bucket filler, which allows you to fetch water for things like washing the car or mopping floors with far less effort. (An idea that sounds great to me considering the persistent backache I have from carrying around a stack of press kits at the show.)  Below is a close-up of the paint brush cleaner accessory.  After cleaning brushes on the ribbed edge, you can attach them via magnets so they can drip dry. If only all utility sinks were this useful.

Live from the Kitchen and Bath Show: Qwinique's mango countertops

Mangoes are by far my favorite fruit, but who knew wood from a mango tree would look so delicious as a countertop? Qwinique is now offering the species, and a sample is shown here.

Live from the Kitchen and Bath Show: Ove's Integral Shelving

How can a bar of soap, which is supposed to get you clean, get so icky and dirty in the shower? Apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks about these types of things. Ove's Integral Shelf, which is located in the shower itself, solves this problem (and also lets you keep a dry towel and other items nearby). It's hard to tell from the photo, but the door of the storage unit opens into the stall, allowing you to open it to get what you need and then shut it again to keep the water out.

Live from the Kitchen and Bath Show: Linkasink's Mother of Pearl Mosaic Sinks

Wall mosaics are so Rome 64 A.D. If you really want to impress party guests, opt for the Mother of Pearl Mosaic Sink Linkasink is showing at K/Bis. From the outside, it looks like an ordinary bronze or white bronze fixture, but the inside is covered in tiles made of the lustrous lining of pearl oyster shells, each hand laid by artisans.

If that's just not enough bling for you, try a sink from the Swarovski collection, one of which is shown below. Made from 15,000 crystals, it costs a cool $12,000.