MugMate * Gimlets * Harmonica
We asked our readers what cool tools they are giving to their friends and families this year. Here are the final three in our series this week of suggested gifts mentioned in the comments that we are highlighting on the front page. Submit your own recommendation in the comments. -- ES
***
MSR MugMate
Bought this for my grandmother-in-law after she saw me using mine. Great for brewing single cups of coffee or tea. Easy to clean. Mine's in excellent condition after 6 months of regular use.
-- Steven Leckart
MSR MugMate
$17
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Cascade Designs
***
Gimlet Set
I'm giving gimlet sets to a few lucky in-laws this year. I've found them to be a great time saver whenever I need a hole drilled and precise placement is critical. A few twists and a lovely pilot hole is exactly where you need it.
-- Paul Steger
Set of Auger Gimlets
$9 - $16
Available from Garret Wade
Also available from Lee Valley
***
Hohner Little Lady
The Hohner Little Lady is made in Europe from brass and pear wood. It will play a full scale. Learn 13 songs here.
-- Tim McKinney
Hohner Little Lady Harmonica
$13
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Hohner
Favorite (15)
Comments
Leave a comment
A cool tool is anything useful that is superior to comparable items. If you think this tool is inferior suggest a better one. You are welcome to insult a tool, but comments containing insults to individual people will be deleted. Corrections of fact are always welcomed, if stated politely. Recommendations of better tools are dearly wanted and may be elevated to the front page.
greenmachine
great site! Regarding the MugMate, I don't have that particular brand (mine is a Finum), but I can say that I've used it at least twice a day for the last four years and it works great-no tea leaves in the cup!
Oryctolagus habilis
Auger gimlets are great: you wouldn't expect them to actually cut faster than powered, but in some cases they do; plus these have that old-timey wrought-iron appeal. Also gin gimlets: they work well too.
Eeyore
After searching every hardware store in the greater metro area, I gave up and ordered the gimlet set from Lee Valley. Not the best thing I bought all year, but close.
Davey
I'm curious about the gimlets: seems like the size of the pilot hole wouldn't matter all that much, as long as it makes a home for the drill bit. So why such a (apparently) closely graduated set?
Fred E.
The MSR mugmate is the same the thing as the Finum medium brew basket available on Amazon for less than $10, manufactured by the same company but marketed by MSR for campers and hikers at a 70% markup. Of course the reviews on Amazon even point this out.
Oryctolagus habilis
About the gimlets: some woodworkers are fanatical about pre-drill size relationships for different materials and screw types. For the rest of the market, I guess it's only worthwhile for them to sell seven at a time at the sub-$14 price? I'd be happy with 2 sizes for $5.
Alex
Just curious, what's the difference between the gimlets and a yankee drill? Is one better suited to a particular application than another?
A4
I have the gimlets from Lee Valley, and they are great.
Alex, you can make a pilot hole with a Yankee (push) drill, but you have more control with the gimlet, say if you didn't want to blast through the other side of a thin piece of wood. There is less stress on the gimlet than a yankee drill bit. I tend to break the yankee drill bits in the very small sizes, and it is hard to find replacements.
Davey, with the appropriate sized gimlet, you don't need to use a drill at all. Make the pilot hole with the gimlet, skip the drill, and drive the screw. If you use the appropriate size (I am not fanatical about this), it makes it easy to drive with a Yankee screwdriver, if that is your choice.
A4
seasparrow
Elon may I suggest you please add something to the title or text of the "Mug Mate" entry that describes more clearly what it is? After puzzling it out and following the links, my wife and I (both non-coffee drinkers) finally figured out what it is for-- making individual cups of coffee. (Or is it? We are still a little confused.) Until then, we weren't sure if it was a travel lid, or a new type of tupperware, or what... Thanks, and keep up the great work!
elon
@seasparrow: I see what you mean. We did without our standard subheads for this gift idea format. I just added some text that I hope will clarify. It's a single-cup coffee/tea brewer. Thanks.--es