Digging a bit deeper and looking beyond the monster displays at the Builders' Show, we're looking forward to visiting these 4 booths that might be small on space but deliver big on product.
Parasoleil
If these architectural panels are as beautiful in person as on their website, we're sold!
RipCart
We're hoping they have a demo setup. Would love to see a circular saw rip some stuff up at IBS 2010.
Stilleto Tools
We'd love to take a swing with their TBII-15. Is the most expensive hammer out there worth it?
Carhartt
This clothing company keeps it simple yet rugged and stylish. We always pine for their latest but our current Carhartt coats never wear out.
We'll follow up with live tweets from these booths and blog posts later next week.
We asked our editors for some gift guide ideas and the first to respond was Deren. Here's his gift guide that is perfect for home improvement newbies.
In our part of the United States, low-priced "starter homes" are selling right and left. Impressive deals abound and new home buyers are rightfully benefiting from great market conditions.
In the spirit of new-home ownership, I assembled a list of 6 tools perfect for home improvement newbies. With these items you will be well on your way toward a comprehensive workshop for an array of products.
A few comments on selection criteria:
1. I have used all of these tools myself (or perhaps a slightly older model) and find them impressive to say the least.
2. My selections are based on VALUE. I hate pointless product features; they only appeal to people who don't know what they are doing. My selections are not top-of-the-line, all the bells and whistles, have-to-take-out-a-loan-to-purchase tools.They get the job done for a great price.
3. Below I will share the product link, but I won't explain every last facet of the tool. I figure Amazon does a better job at this. I simply tell you why I find the product to be such an impressive buy.
So, here we go!
Zircon StudSensor i60 Center-Finding Stud Finder
What It Is: A stud finder is, quite simply, a tool for pinpointing the location of wood (and in some models, metal) structural elements behind drywall, tile, or most other wall surfaces.
When You Use It: A stud finder is essential for many home improvement projects. Installing crown molding, baseboard, chair rail, putting in closet inserts, hanging heavy items on the wall; all require identifying solid backing.
Why I'm In Love With The Zircon i60:
1. The Zircon i60 is light-weight. Since you will be holding it to a wall or ceiling repeatedly, light-weight and maneuverability are essential for comfortable use.
2. The electrical current sensor. The Zircon i60 notifies the user when an electrical current is present in the wall, allowing you to avoid penetrating wiring when installing the fastener.
3. The Zircon i60 uses LED lighting displays, not LCD. LED (you know, the little colored light) is much more durable than LCD (like your digital watch screen). My stud finder takes a lot of abuse, and LCD would just not last in my toolbox. Besides, unless you want to download music videos and watch them on your stud finder, an LCD is overkill.
Bessey D-BKWH Quick-Change Folding Utility Knife
What It Is: A utility knife is an all-purpose cutting tool that uses removable, disposable razor blades.
When You Use It: Ummm, any time you cut something? I use mine to sharpen a pencil, cut through plastic sheeting or cardboard, open a tube of caulking, etc.
Why I Am In Love With The Bessey D-BKWH:
1. Extremely quick blade change. I mean, I can change a blade in under 6 seconds, no joke. (I actually timed myself. I admit, I am a total tool nerd...) Simply unsnap the lock bar, slide out the main clasp, change the blade, slide the main clasp back in and snap the lock bar in place. Done. No need for a screwdriver or any other tools.
2. Safety. Throughout the blade-change process, you are never exposed to difficult movements that create a cutting danger. I have used utility knives that force you to slide locks adjacent to the blade. Can't tell you how many times I nearly severed tendons trying to open a stuck slide lock.
3. The Bessey D-BKWH folds in half when not in use, allowing for safe and simple storage in a pocket or a tool belt. When working on my projects, I simply slide this knife into my jeans pocket at the beginning of the day, and never think about it again until I need to use it. When a need arises, I just grab it from my pocket, flip it open, and I'm ready to go.
4. Once flipped open, the knife is ready to go. I can't stand the knives that force you to slide the blade in and out. So often the slide gets stuck, creating great annoyance when you have to disassemble the knife just to fix the sliding mechanism. No hassle like this with the Bessey D-BKWH.
Newborn Bros & Co #111 1/10GAL Hex Rod Caulker
What It Is: A caulking gun, or caulker, is a tool used for dispensing any product out of a tube container.
When You Use It: Use a caulking gun for an array of projects that require caulking or adhesive. I use mine mostly for caulking paint-grade trim and adhering wall paneling.
Why I Am In Love With The Newborn Bros Caulker:
1. Durability. I dare you to break it. It's more durable than Tiger Woods' image. Oh, wait...
2. It showcases a whopping two features: A puncture tool and a spout-cutter. Both are used to open a new tube of caulking or adhesive.
3. I love simple tools, and this is the poster-boy for simple and effective tools.
It's our final week of the Great Gift Challenge sponsored by Martha Stewart & eBay. Previously we had discovered some great gifts on eBay ranging from a garden tool set, hideaway hitch-safe, wet/dry vac and laser range finder.
Our friends in Vermont bought an old barn and have spent the last 6 months converting it into their new home. It was in rough shape but they got a steal on the property and the barn had too much character to tear down. The process has been a learning experience and their collection of tools and equipment continues to grow (good thing they will be living in a barn!).
This week our price point is a gift at $300 (minus shipping) and this really expands the possibilities. The great thing about the perfect gift is to receive something that you normally wouldn't spend on for yourself but once you get it you'd wonder how you ever got along without it.
We think the Warn PullzAll fits the bill as a gift that you may never consider buying but becomes indispensable once you receive it. The PullzAll is cordless and will lift or pull up to 1,000 lbs. at the press of a button. The applications are numerous but become apparent especially when working alone or with little help.
It's week 3 of the Great Gift Challenge from Martha Stewart and eBay. Our previous gifts focused on tools for gardening and home security. We now turn our focus towards a couple of gifts that any do-it-yourself enthusiast would love to receive.
For $150 we were able to snag a new Bosch Digital Laser Range Finder and a new Craftsman 16-gal Wet/Dry Shop Vac, an incredible value for two indispensable workshop tools.
The Bosch Digital Range Finder makes quick work of measuring length, area and volume in feet and inches, decimal feet or metric. At 4" tall its small enough to fit into your pocket and is accurate up to 165 feet so it eliminates the need for long-distance awkward tape measurements which are not only inaccurate but time consuming.
We're sure someone asked Santa for power tools this year.
We can help this week with our latest Giveaway from SKIL. We've got an 18 Volt Ni-Cd 4-piece Cordless Power Tool Combo Kit that is just the thing for anyone getting into power tools and wants a flexible system they can build on in the future.
The kit provides an exceptional value with a 2-speed drill/driver, multi-finishing sander, orbital jigsaw, flashlight and one battery. It's also compatible with the SKIL 18V lithium ion battery system for a future option to upgrade.
***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
HOW TO ENTER
You've got 2 ways to enter to win this 4-piece Combo Kit from SKIL:
1. Leave a comment on this post with the words "I've got SKIL".
2. Tweet this post. See the green "retweet" button above. Just use it and tweet away!
Only one entry permitted per email address but each method of entry counts and so you'll increase your chance of winning if you comment and tweet. Please use a real email address so we can contact you if you win.
GIVEAWAY DEADLINE
The random winner will be chosen at 12 midnight EST on Dec 4, 2009 and will be notified immediately.
COMMENT HERE TO WIN
So you need a drill, jigsaw or sander, but you've only bought hand tools and you typically avoid the power tools aisle. Well, you're probably thinking: Where do I start? Doug Mahoney of the great blog Toolsnob helped us compile a quick and easy guide to help anyone buying power tools.
The most important consideration is value -- a personal equation involving cost, durability and lifestyle. A Bosch battery drill might cost $200, and it's going to withstand the beating of daily labor. But a Black & Decker might cost a quarter of that and as long as you're not planning on dropping it from a 20' extension ladder, it might be the right choice for you. I don't buy into the idea that the most expensive tools are the best because it depends on what you're using it for and how often you use it.
Take into account these other issues before your power tool purchase.
Ergonomics
This one is really important to me. If you're going to be doing a lot of work with a tool, it's got to be easy on your hands. This ties into safety as well. An awkward tool is a dangerous one.
Cost
Like I said above, high price or low price doesn't really matter as much as what I'll be asking the tool to do. It's a trade-off. The most durable, precise tools tend to be the most expensive.
Check out this video of Master Carpenter Norm Abram being interviewed at last years AWFS show by Popular Woodworking magazine. Great insights into his favorite tools and techniques.
Tools Norm Abram Value's the Most
Table saw - because it touches each project
Joiner - straighten rough lumber
Surface Planer - required to keep everything level and square
A couple weeks ago we won a Bosch PS20-2A from a giveaway by HomeFixated.
It's an awesome little drill and perfect for around the home. Wired recently did a round-up of mini-drills and included the slightly bigger brother of our Bosch, the Bosch PS30-2A. They declared it their winner and if it shares the same attributes (which it looks like it does) with the PS20 then we couldn't agree more.
We'd also love to get our hands on the Ridgid R92008. With 240 lbs. of torque this driver is definitely a cross-over to entry-level drills.
You've still got time to make your Dad happy and enter our Father's Day giveaway for a chance to win a 4-piece Combo 18V Cordless Powertool Set from SKIL.
Our friends at One Project Closer have saved us from cracking open the box by doing a great review of the 18V cordless drill driver. The biggest assets? Lightweight and powerful! What more do you want from a powertool!
