General Purpose Tools
Key-ring multi-tool
This 1.6 oz. tool, manufactured by the makers of the previously-reviewed Utili-Key, can fit on a key chain or in a coin purse, which is where I keep mine. I most often use it for tightening the tiny screws on my glasses, but the small #1 Phillips and flat, pliers, wire cutter/stripper, sheet shear and rule markings (bonus!) are all unbelievably useful at the frequent odd moments you need the right tool which is anywhere but near (particularly the pliers). I have yet to try to go through airport security with it, but the TSA says pliers/screwdrivers and "tools" less than 7 inches can be carried on.
-- Dale Simpson
Swiss Tech Micro-Plus 8-In-1
$10
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Swiss+Tech Tools
Related items previously reviewed in Cool Tools:
Atwood Mini Tools
Credit Card Survival Tool
Topeak Mini 6
Heavy-duty Velcro ties
I carry a roll of the Velcro Plant Ties in my tool bag, but also keep One-Wrap Velcro strips in the shop. While they're much more expensive, I’ve found the larger kind to be substantially bulkier and stronger. Here in Toronto, we have alternating weekly garbage, recycling and green waste pickup. We also have rapacious raccoons. I found if I add a simple loop of One-Wrap, screw it into the side of the green bin and loop it over the locking bail of the bin, the raccoons cannot open it. I first tried Plant Ties. They just wouldn't hold. For my purposes, a One-Wrap is good for about a year, after which it is easily replaced. It’s available in various colors and sizes. The lower-end of the One-Wrap line is a similar size to the Plant Ties, which are 13 mm wide; however, the One-Wrap also come as large as 22mm. It has deeper loop Velcro (thicker and fuzzier), and as the width of the tape increases, the size of the loops and their grip strength increases. Plant Ties really are great for handling all kinds of tasks, but One-Wrap is strong enough to bundle thicker rope, heavier hoses, and most importantly for me, they keep raccoons out of the recycling.
-- David Keldsen
I much prefer the uncut rolls rather than the precut pieces that are never quite the right size. You can get the rolls in widths ranging from 5/8" to 2" wide, in various colors. Snip off just as much as you need. All my computer cables are shortened by rolling them and wrapping with one-wrap. I use one-wrap anywhere I used to use twist-ties.
-- Charles Platt
Velcro One-Wrap
$4
(6 ties, 22mm)
Available from Amazon
$14 - 35
(1 roll; sizes vary)
Available from Feiner Supply
Manufactured by Velcro
Related items previously reviewed in Cool Tools:
Velstrap
Millipede Cable Ties
Dual Lock Fastener Tape
Guide to lifehacking
For two years I've subscribed to the Lifehacker.com feed for a steady stream of always awesome productivity tips and tricks, everything from Firefox add-ons (Buylater) to various household how-to's. Flipping through this book -- the second edition of hacks distilled and updated from the blog -- was pleasantly surprising. Somehow I managed to miss, dismiss or simply forget some great stuff. For instance, I stumbled on and immediately installed Noise, a Mac-based program that generates soft white noise. Now when I can't decide what to listen to and shuffled tracks seems too distracting, Noise steps in as the perfect default work-time soundtrack. The book has a good mix of desktop tweaks ranging from easy to advanced, affordable to free, and Windows/PC to Mac-specific. Some bits overlap a bit with Rule the Web and Getting Things Done, but I like to envision productivity and organization info charted out as a Venn diagram. The overlap is often what's most essential. Everything else is potential gravy.
-- Steven Leckart
Upgrade Your Life
Gina Trapani
2008, 450 pages
$20
Available from Amazon
Free PDF of Chapter 1: Control Your Email
Also see Lifehackerbook.com for table of contents and links to the original posts
Sample excerpts:
Hack 114: Have Your Mac and Windows, Too, with Boot Camp
You can have both a Mac and a PC on a single computer, using Apple's new Boot Camp software. Boot Camp lets you install Windows on your Mac in addition to Mac OS X. With Boot Camp set up, when you start your Mac, you can choose whether to use OS X or Windows. Boot Camp is a great way to consolidate computers in your life and to run essential Windows programs that aren't available on the Mac. NOTE: Setting up Boot Camp is not a trivial task because it involves repartitioning your Mac's hard drive and installing another operating system and drivers. Block out a couple hours for this project.
*
Remember 100 Different Passwords with One Rule Set
Remembering a unique password for the dozens of logins you have may sound impossible, but it's not. You don't have to remember 100 passwords if you have one rule set for generating them. Here's how it works: Create unique passwords by choosing a base password and then applying a single rule that mashes in some form of the services name with it. For example, you could use your base password plus the first three letters of a service name. If your base password were asdf (see how easy that its to type?), for example, then your password for Yahoo! would be ASDFYAH, and your password for eBay would be ASDFEBA.
Another example that incorporates numbers (which some services require in passwords) might involve the same letters that start (say, your initials and a favorite number) plus the first two vowels of a service name. In that case, my password for Amazon would be GMLT10AA and for Lifehacker.com GMLT10IE. (Include obscure middle initials -- such as your mother's maiden name or a childhood nickname -- that not many people know about for extra security.)
..One problem with rules-based passwords is that some sites have their own rules that conflict with your own, such as no special characters. In those cases, you have to document or remember the exception to your rule for those services. The next hack explains how you can keep track of passwords that don't follow a single rule...
*
Hack 73: Create a Virtual Private Network (VPN) with Hamachi
You can do things between computers on your local network that you can't from out on the Internet, such as listen to a shared iTunes library or access files in shared folders. But using the free, virtual private network application Hamachi (https://secure.logmein.com/products/hamachi/vpn.asp), you can access your computer from anywhere on the Internet as if you were home on your local network. This hack uses Hamachi to create a virtual private network between PC and a Mac and listen to a shared iTunes library over the Internet...
*
Hack 53: Bypass Free Site Registration with BugMeNot
..The web site BugMeNot (http://bugmenot.com) maintains a public database of shared usernames and passwords for free web sites. If you come across a site that prompts you to log in to view its content, bypass the registration process by heading to BugMeNot to search for an already created username and password. Not all BugMeNot logins will work, but you can see the percentage success rate for a particular login and report whether it worked for you as well. If you can't find a BugMeNot login that works, create one and share it with the BugMeNot community.
Related items previously reviewed on Cool Tools:
Google Hacks
SpamSieve
Missing Manuals
Affordable, everyday cleaning clothes
Microfiber towels are listed in Cool Tools as great for drying and travel and camping, but have you used them for everyday cleaning, dusting and wiping? I buy my 16x16-inch towels in bulk. I've used the previously-reviewed MysticMaid cleaning towels and, personally, have seen no difference in cleaning power. Of course, mine may not last as long in the end, but they are are a heck of lot cheaper, so I'm more inclined to use them for everything and anything. And they really are holding their own so far. I've washed my current kitchen cleaner over 50 times with no loss in cleaning power (the packaging says good for over 100 washes). Dampen with water and you can clean the kitchen top to bottom without leaving a streak. It removes grease, grime, and the odd stuff on the stove top. Around the house it cleans glass without leaving a streak, removes the haze from inside of your auto windshield, cleans the car interior and removes all the muck the kids have built up on the plastic, doors and even car seats. Around the desk it cleans up coffee spills and rings. I've also used mine for cleaning monitor screens, brass, cameras (I collect Minolta 16 mm and Minox cameras), jewels, coins, glass objet d'art, lexan screens, fine wood carvings, some photos, and find no scratches or wearing away of labels, paint, or important stuff -- and I've looked hard with my loupes. Cleaning wood work is easy and quick, as well. And in the wood shop it does wonders in getting dust off surfaces before staining or painting. A bonus for ribs lovers -- it's better than any napkin or moist towelette.
-- Patrick J. Meyer
Microfiber Cleaning Towels in Bulk
(12 towels -- 16 x 16 inch)
$14
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Clean-Rite
Related items previously reviewed on Cool Tools:
Scooba Floor Scrubber
Bar Keeper's Friend
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
Pocket-size driver
The small size and stubby shape of this cheap driver allows me to reach tight spaces and still apply considerable torque. I've used it to adjust tension on folding knives and my SOG PowerLock multi-tool, and to open cases on remote controls, my PDA and cell phones. I have a set of jeweler's screwdrivers, Wiha Precision Tech screwdrivers and a Craftsman All-in-One screwdriver (overall length: 8.75 inches) with captive bits that store in the handle. The 2.5-inch Teeny Turner fits easily in a pocket; it's made of aircraft alloy shank, has a magnetic bit holder and the included bits (Phillips 00, Phillips 0, Torx 5,6 & 8, Flat 2mm and 3mm) are generally smaller and much easier to change out than my Craftsman. One small negative is the Teeny Turner has one more bit than storage positions, so you have to choose the least pointy bit to keep in the drive shaft if you carry it in your pocket. That said, the portability really is key. Plus, I do like the name.
-- Chris Jacobs
$6
Available from FireHawk Technology
Or $164 for a jar of 36!
Manufactured by Picquic
Related items previously reviewed in Cool Tools:
Picquic Sixpac
Switchblade Screwdriver
Doc Allen's VersaTool
Cordless, self-igniting soldering iron
I have used butane-powered soldering irons for about 17 years. This one is compact, well made and lighter than most other butane type irons I have used. It is made of a thermal plastic resistant to high temp and the cap is vented so you can put it back on while the head is still hot. The exterior is textured slightly, which makes it easier to hold. It gives a sharp, well-defined flame front with a very efficient burn. The torch has enough power to tin the ends of large cables and shrink large diameter heat shrink insulation. Unlike the cheaper ones from Weller, it comes with inter-changeable tips, including a hot knife tip, so I can use it occasionally on close pitch SM components. There's a wire rack in the case that allows you to set up the torch with a platform so you can use both hands. The fuel window is a nice feature, too. The run time is advertised at 90 minutes -- of course it depends a lot on how hot you run it. I usually use it at 50% or less. I always refill the butane whenever I store the torch in its case, so I have only run out once in 17 years of using this type of soldering iron (I was 35 feet in the air and that was the last time).
The lab I work in is busy and crowded, so I work outside of the lab a lot. I can tuck this soldering iron in my lab coat pocket and forget about until I need it. I use it two to three times a week. The iron is great for soldering crimped pins on a new cable and the torch is good for heat shrink when I don't want to go get the heat gun. I have yet to use it to cut poly rope, but it is nice to know I can. It is also great for lighting fireworks. I have not used the hot knife yet but I gave one of the kits to our mechanical engineer and he, being a sailor, thought it had real potential. The only draw back I have found is the TSA will not let you carry it on a plane.
Hint: I put the cap on the iron in the case and dropped a Leatherman E4 in the cap holder cut-out to create a more complete kit. You still need some flux cored solder, but one can tuck a small coil in the sponge can or carry a small tube separately.
-- Gary K.
Weller Portasol Portable Butane Soldering Kit
(model: P2KC)
$45
Available from Tool Barn
Or $53 from Amazon
Manufactured by Cooper Hand Tools
Related items previously reviewed in Cool Tools:
ColdHeat Soldering Iron
Third Hand
Jet Swet
Pocket-sized driver/Allen set
When I am wearing my 5.11 tactical cargo pants, this pocket-sized screwdriver/Allen-wrench with interchangeable bits always goes in the right-hand cargo pocket. I'll often use the screwdriver of my Leatherman several times a day, but the VersaTool does a better job due to the interchangeable bits (better fit to the screws). Also, the handle can be adjusted to provide additional leverage or to fit tight spots. To get greater torque, you just slide the handle into "T" or "L" configurations. Recently, I used it to reinstall a bathroom cabinet door that the kids somehow managed to detach. My kids are good at dismantling things, so having this on hand saves time and allows me to complete repairs immediately without having to remember to return to them later. In one weekend, I also managed to complete several repairs on my truck without having to grab the tool box. Interestingly, the hex adapter will disconnect and the VersTool will then accept any 1/4" socket so that it can be used as a nut driver. I do not have enough room left in my pockets for a set of 1/4" sockets, but I plan on buying a couple more VersaTools, one of which I'll be dropping in my briefcase long with a spare socket set.
-- John Rigby
Doc Allen's VersaTool
$13
Available from Duluth Trading
Manufactured by and also available from Doc Allen
Related items previously reviewed in Cool Tools:
Credit Card Survival Tool
Wiha Microbits
Offset Screwdriver
Ultra-bright mini-torch
As a flashlight enthusiast, I review many lights on CandlePowerForums.com, a site for "flashaholics." So I'm often asked which flashlight I reach for the most. My answer: the Fenix L1D-CE, a pocket-sizeLED light that uses only a single AA battery. At one time, LED lights were considered very efficient but not really bright enough, especially when compared to the ultra-bright, xenon bulb, 2x lithium CR123 battery specialist lights like the SureFire 6P, SureFire G2 and Streamlight Scorpions (the ones frequently used in CSI). The Fenix L1D-CE uses a newer Cree 7090 XR-E LED that is spec'd to produce 90 lumens at its maximum brightness, some one and a half times as bright as the typical xenon 2x CR123 lights, which are about 60 lumens. That's brighter than the typical 3D cell flashlight -- amazing for a single AA battery!
The L1D-CE has become my EDC (every day carry) because of its versatility. Being bright and compact (about the size of a Swiss Army Knife) is a plus, but for closer tasks, a blindingly bright light is not really suitable. Most of the xenon 2xCR123 lights are just way too bright for close up work, as is the L1D-CE's Turbo setting (90 lumens).The L1D-CE also has a general mode that has 3 levels of brightness: Low (9 lumens), Medium (40 lumens), High (80 lumens), all accessed by a simple untwist of the head. This allows one to use the light at more appropriate levels for different tasks. Also, the head from the Fenix L1D-CE is fully interchangeable with other models. Fenix sells "powerpacks" with different combinations of heads and bodies, but they also let you purchase the bodies independently. Thus, the strategy is to buy one full flashlight and then just pick up the bodies as you go, like Fenix's L2D-CE (a two AA light) and even the P2D-CE (which takes a single CR123). By having the Fenix L1D-CE, I can also get the larger L2D and P2D bodies, which means having a 2x AA light that can manage 135 lumens and run on low for 55 hours. Or I can also use an even more compact 1x CR123 lithium light. So you can get three lights with one head and satisfy more needs. Like having your cake and eating it, too. Still, I always return to the L1D-CE configuration because it's just the right handy size, has brightness levels appropriate for most of my indoor uses, and I can use one rechargeable AA battery for almost no cost and environmentally-friendly illumination.
-- Vincent Tseng
Fenix L1D-CE Flashlight
$53
Available from Amazon
Also available from Fenix-Store.com
Manufactured by Fenixlight Ltd.
Related items previously reviewed in Cool Tools:
Stanley Tripod Flashlight
StylusReach Flexible Flashlight
Solar BoGoLight
How to cook, clean & live via vinegar
I recently became a vinegar convert after acquiring this book whose intriguing subtitle says it all: Over 400 Various, Versatile, and Very Good Uses You've Probably Never Thought Of. What's behind the cover fulfilled its title's promise: I am now using vinegar in several of the ways it suggests, primarily (so far) as a spray-bottle cleanser and flavoring agent/foodstuff. While I can't say for sure that all 400 uses will work as promised, I've had success with a number of them. Next up, I plan to leave a gallon of it overnight, with a gallon or two of water, in the bottom of my bathtub the next time it needs a major touch-up. Some other uses: deodorizer (e.g., of pet stains); recipe-helper (in a wide variety of roles); laundry-cleaning-helper; home remedy (e.g., against bug-bites and burns); pet cleaner/medicine; beauty/grooming aid. Compared to its alternatives, vinegar is inexpensive, easy on the environment, and versatile, which cuts down on my household "inventory." The author also wrote a book called Baking Soda, which I'm just about to plunge into.
Here are a few vinegar recommendations I've already used:
- Clean the microwave by boiling a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar until it steams up. Wipe clean.
- Add vinegar to a hand-pump compressed-air sprayer to kill weeds and grass growing in crevices in a patio and walkways.
- Make any dried bean dish less gassy or stinky by adding 1/4 cup vinegar to the soaking water.
- Make catsup and other condiments last longer when the bottle is almost empty by adding a little vinegar and shaking.
- Spread a cloth soaked in vinegar over a price tag you want to remove and leave overnight.
- Get rid of fruit flies by setting out a small dish of vinegar---it will attract and drown them.
-- Roger Knights
Vinegar
Vicki Lansky
120 pages, 2003
$9
Available from Amazon
Sample recommendations:
Make creamy scrambled eggs: as eggs thicken when scrambling, add a tablespoon of vinegar for every two eggs.
Rub vinegar on the cut end of uncooked ham to prevent mold.
Add a tsp. of vinegar and sugar to correct a too-salty taste (in any recipe).
Pour a dash of white vinegar on a cloth and lay it over a burn, including sunburn.
Try vinegar ice cubes to clean and deodorize a garbage disposal.
Pour a cup of vinegar into the dishwasher and run the empty machine through the whole cycle to get rid of soap buildup and odors.
Use a paste of vinegar and salt to clean tarnished brass, copper, and pewter, or the scorch marks on the bottom of an iron.
Renew sponges, loofahs, dingy white socks, and dish rags by letting them soak overnight in dilute vinegar.
Remove grease and grime from fan blades, oven interiors, tops of refrigerators, etc.
Pour 1 cup vinegar into a sandwich-sized or quart-sized plastic bag and tying over a scummy shower-head for an hour. If that doesn't work, unscrew shower-head and immerse in vinegar and salt, heating if necessary.
Clean toilet bowl rings by removing water from the bowl (you can use the toilet brush as a plunger to remove it), and laying vinegar-soaked paper towels on the ring for an hour or more.
Stretch any commercial window cleaner by combining it with 1/3 water and 1/3 vinegar.
Scrub fireplace bricks with vinegar.
Decrease static or dust accumulation of plastic or vinyl surfaces by wiping them down with vinegar and water.
Use vinegar on mildewed garments that cannot take bleach.
Wash new clothes with 1/2 cup white vinegar to eliminate manufacturing chemicals.
Remove odor and perspiration or deodorant stains by spraying vinegar on underarm or collar areas.
Make nylon hose look smoother and last longer by adding a tablespoon over vinegar to the rinse water.
Get salt stains off shoes with a dilute vinegar wipe.
Stop itching from insect stings or poison ivy by dabbing or spraying with vinegar.
To cut appetite and reduce weight, drink one glass of a mixture of vinegar, honey, and grapefruit juice before meals.
Pour vinegar wherever you don't want ants to congregate.
Add it to the kids' sandbox to discourage cats from employing it. Also, spray vinegar on outdoor surfaces you want a cat to leave alone.
Get rid of rust on spigots, tools, or bolts by soaking them. If necessary, add salt or heat (caution: stinky). Wash thoroughly afterwards and/or neutralize the vinegar with baking soda; then protect with oil or WD-40.
Tighten the cane in a sagging chair by sponging it with a heated solution of 50/50 vinegar and water.
Wash skinned game with a 50/50 vinegar/water solution to reduce the gamey taste.
Add vinegar to a pet's drinking water to discourage fleas and mange.
**
I saw in the blurb today for Vinegar uses, that it can be used as a weed killer -- that's true, but you have to be really careful because if you don't do it right you'll also sterilize the ground around the weeds. Vinegar can nuke all the beneficial biological processes soil. My neighbor found out about this the hard way. The previous owner got tired of weeds so he used vinegar all over the back yard and killed everything off. Nothing would grow. To 'restart' the soil my new neighbor had to work in a couple of cubic yards of compost for a year and a half. What a lesson.
-- Mark
Related items previously reviewed in Cool Tools:
Tips 23: White Vinegar vs. Toilet Bowl Rings
Gonzo Gizmos
Rough Science
Compact splinter remover
These are carry-all-the-time tweezers -- they're tiny and they slide into a guard that keeps them flat. Also known as "Uncle Bill's Tweezers," they are carried by some US military personnel on dog-tags, but you'll probably keep them on your keyring or attached to a Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman. The tweezers were designed to be extremely precise -- they come to a precisely matching pair of points which make it easy to select even very small items and apply concentrated force. -- they come to a precisely matching pair of points which make it easy to select even very small items and apply concentrated force. Their springiness provides a push-back force which makes them easy to operate. I've been carrying them around with me for two years now and have pulled a couple splinters out of myself and one from my girlfriend. Each one was much easier than with conventional tweezers, even full-size tweezers. There's no sign of their losing their precise alignment or the springiness that makes them easy to operate.
-- Jonathan Coupe
Field Tweezers
$6
Available from County Comm
Or $8* from the manufacturer A.G. Russell
[*Shipping isn't cheap ($6.95); however, like the Solar BoGoLight, the manufacturer claims your purchase will be paid forward: "For every pair sold, we will ship two pair to our troops." - sl]
Related items previously reviewed in Cool Tools:
Tweezerman
Adventure Medical Kits
Trix Tick Remover
Simultaneously power up multiple tools
Like most people I don't have a dedicated workshop, meaning my power tools share the garage with lots of things that aren't happy about sawdust wafting over them like the morning dew. The solution is a Shopvac, but it can be a real hassle remembering to turn it on/off as I turn on/off my table saw, hand sander, Ridgid Oscillating Belt & Spindle Sander, etc. I've been woodworking at home for perhaps 18 years, and the best solution I've found is one of these little outlet boxes, which powers up multiple tools automatically.
You simply plug your main tool into the top outlets, then plug your vacuum or work light into one of the other two accessory outlets. Whenever you turn your tool on, it will automatically turn the other outlets on. When you turn your tool off, it waits a few seconds before turning the accessory outlets off, which is useful for clearing the line of dust, etc. I have two in my shop -- one for each Shop-Vac so I never have to reconnect power cords or vacuum hoses!
I've been using these switches for four years. They definitely save time. On a given woodworking project, I generally turn machines on and off every few minutes and move from machine to machine. Without this switch, you would spend an extra 3 seconds and 2 steps turning it on and another 3 seconds and 2 steps turning it off. Doesn't sound like much, but in reality those seconds and steps really start to add up, so you'd just end up leaving the vacuum on or using some other less effective dust collection (for example, an on-tool dust collection bag).
I had a discussion with someone about 9 or 10 years ago about how you could build one - and I actually found schematics for a load sensing relay that you could make one with. But for $20, this switch certainly beats trying to round up the components and DIY.
-- Yitah Wu
Craftsman Auto Switch
$20
Available from Sears*
Manufactured by Craftsman
[*At this time, Sears' customer service says they cannot ship this item direct, so you must order it for pick up at your local Sears -- sl]
Pay-it-forward sun-powered torch
Buy one of these solar lights, and the company sends another to a developing country of your choice. I purchased two and asked for one to be sent to Iraq and another to Afghanistan. Aside from the feel-good proposition, the lights have a simple and effective design. There's only one switch (on/off) and one screw opens the battery chamber for the three rechargeable AA batteries, which are included. The six LEDs are bright enough to read by. I use one of mine about 30 minutes a night for bedside reading. There's even a hook to hang it over the bed. The package says you can get 4-5 hours of light on 8-10 hours of charging. Supposedly the batteries "last 750/1000 nights!" and the LEDs "last 20 years!" It's also "highly water and shock resistant," but I don't plan to test those claims. My favorite feature: you can charge a second set of AA batteries and switch batteries from one portable device to another.
--George Mokray
Solar BoGoLight
$25
Available from BoGoLight.com
Manufactured by SunNight Solar Company
Wallet-size multi-tool
I have two friends who've been carrying these slim, multi-tools for a few years now and swear by them. I've only used the mini-screwdriver and bottle opener, but those functions alone seem worth it. It's stainless steel and will add some weight to your load, but no more than the average metal beverage pop-top. Why junk up your keychain when you can slip another "card" into your wallet? Added bonus: can opener, straight edge, knife edge, et al.
-- Steven Leckart
Credit Card Survival Tool
$4
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by BCB Survival USA
Keychain-size, steel pocket utensils
The beauty of these tools is they feel like a fetish item in your hand and, due to their size, you can always have them with you. They're handmade by Peter Atwood and have incredible strength because he uses a specialty stainless steel made via a powder metallurgy process ("The powder is compressed under significant force to a homogenous, solid state and the steel is rolled to required stock size. Molecules are uniform, inclusions of impurities are insignificant").
Both of my EDC knives -- a Swiss Army Cybertool and a SOG Multi Tool -- have slightly bent tips on the main blades because I tried to open or pry something I shouldn't have. That will never happen with the Mini Son of Prything I carry in my pocket or my Prybaby. The trend in tools is to include more and more features. An Atwood piece - and there are a variety of them worth checking out -- is generally designed to do a couple of things really well, and it does: open a package, pull a nail, cut some tape, strip a wire, etc. There are obviously other discovered tasks -- like propping up a new power supply in my computer while I get a couple of screws in -- but it's calling on that intended purpose that is most gratifying.
-- Greg Needham
Atwood Mini Tools
$35+
Available from Atwood Knife & Tools
Time passage via the natural world
This beautiful, informative calendar has four panels representing the Earth's four natural seasons, either from equinox to a solstice or from a solstice to an equinox. Stepping outside the convention of having 12 pages full of squares, the calendar's four panels guide you through the astronomical season using several bands: Sky, Sun, Moon, Earth, Tide Chart and Gregorian Calendar from top to bottom.
I use the tide band to remind me when it might be a good time to plan a trip to the Oregon Coast. This year, I've already taken seven trips and have found an excellent low tide every time, so I've been able to see all kinds of cool critters, including chitons, crabs, starfish and large barnacles. I look at my ECOlogical Calendar every day and at the moon every night. I'm still working on learning to identify the planets and stars in the sky, which is a lot of fun, and the calendar serves as a perfect reminder.
The calendar is also very good for giving reminders of a number of phenomena you just wouldn't otherwise think about at all, such as the activities of amphibians, butterflies, worms, salmon, bats, eagle mating, fledging of birds; plus things such as the mushroom season and when bears start to hibernate. Most of us could probably keep track of some of those seasonal events on our own, but few could keep track of them all -- even a professional ecologist or farmer would have to be fairly compulsive to be mindful of everything on this calendar, simply by memory and/or Internet searches.
You could probably use the Calendar Band to note your regular doctor's appointments, interviews, and meetings if need be. But personally, I use a conventional planner for that, primarily because this calendar seems too beautiful to mark with my handwriting. It's as much a work of art as it is a practical tool for nature awareness. And how many art works change with the seasons?
-- Amy Scanlon
ECOlogical Calendar
$10
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Antenna Theater
[It's only July, so you could still get use from two of the four '07 panels; or you could obviously hold off until '08 (expect to pay about $16) - sl]
Grip for removing fishhooks & small items
The Hookout is specifically designed to get hooks out of fish that have swallowed them, but I have found it's excellent for getting a grip on anything in a tight space. My dad got mine for me in the early '70s. It was part of my fishing tackle box and I used it many times to retrieve fishhooks. I don't fish anymore, but use it all the time around the house.
I keep one in the kitchen drawer since it's especially useful for retrieving items from the garbage disposal (bottle caps, sippy cup valves, etc.). It's also great for automotive work -- retrieving hardware that has fallen into a tight space or, god forbid, down the carburetor throat.
It's perfect because it doesn't require a lot of space to open up, unlike needle nose pliers. The maximum jaw opening is only about 3/8", but the Hookout has a powerful grip. It's useful anywhere you would need some very long skinny needle nose pliers. The jaws are hollow, though, so you're much less likely to drop what you have just grabbed. It does not work like pliers. Instead, when you squeeze the handle, it pulls on a long rod inside the tool and that in turn pulls the little jaw closed. It's spring-loaded, so it opens when you open your hand.
I have the zinc-plated version that's about 9 " long. It looks somewhat cheaply made, but I've tried to bend it by over-squeezing the handle and it won't bend or distort. If I bought another one, I'd be tempted to pop for the more expensive stainless steel version -- just because I have a weakness for things stainless -- but the zinc-plated one has held up very well. I kept it clean and made sure it never saw salt water. After 30 years, it still looks almost new.
-- Jim Barbera
Hookout
$5
Available from Amazon
Super-bright, dual-output torch conserves juice
I own four G2s as well as SureFire's Defender (nasty little tool serrated at both ends), but I fell in love with the A2 and have been using it for two and half years. All of SureFire's 2-battery flashlights last about the same time (continuous 1 hour) and put out about the same amount of super bright intense light (65 lumens), but you don't necessarily need that much light all of the time. That's where the dependable A2 shines: there are two beams, high and low.
I'm a safety officer in a large prison, about 700,000 sq. ft., where I do inspections -- the whole place just me, my little light and my clipboard. I simply can't use the G2 at my job, because it has failed me while working. With the G2, I saw that when the batteries are used to the point they can't support the super bright bulb, that's it; they're done (with no warning). With the A2, the same batteries that quit on the main bulb will keep working for many additional hours on the much more efficient lower beam. I tested the batteries from my G2 with a good battery tester and there was plenty of juice left, but not enough to support the bright bulb. Then I put the same batteries in my A2 and they would run the low beam fine, but not the high beam.
The low light won't blind bears, but it will get you around until you get back to your battery box to replace them. I mostly use the low beam to conserve the batteries, but the high beam is great for looking into little dark places and into large dark locked rooms, through thick safety glass, to see what is being stored in there (it lights up the whole room), or as extra lighting when photographing in low light when a flash won't do. When reading very fine print or to signal other officers rather than shout at (or blind them), I use the low beam.
The neat little clip on the A2 is also great for slipping the light into your front or back pants pocket, shirt pocket, etc. and for attaching the light to your hat bill while trudging through the dark keeping your hands free (just don't look at your buddies or you blind them). You really don't need the nylon holster for short-term use, which is very handy. The A2 also has square edges so it won't roll around if you do put it down, and it has a rough as cob grip (no slip at all).
The U2 Ultra has six output levels, but it's $80 more expensive than the A2, which isn't cheap either. But is the A2 worth $200? Yes. If I lost it I would buy another as soon as possible. G2's are great, but I know my A2 will work at some level, all the time. That's what makes the A2 worth the extra bucks. I carry it all the time, use it all the time, under all conditions.
-- Larry R. Odom
SureFire A2 Aviator Light
$140
(LED: green or white only)
Available from Fox Fire Rescue Police Equipment
Or $188 from Amazon
(LED: white only)
Also $195 from SureFire
(LED: blue, red, yellow-green, white, green)
Manufactured by SureFire, LLC
Professional, shock-absorbing hammer
I drooled over and pondered getting this hammer for a year before I finally took the plunge -- and it was well worth the very high price tag. This hammer really absorbs the vibrations as you pound it. I have been framing for about 14 years and have been swinging an Estwing 25-oz. California-style framing hammer for most of that time. My elbow is almost shot from the vibrations of using those all-steel hammers. Since buying the much lighter titanium T-bone (15 oz.), I have noticed a dramatic difference in my elbow.
All-around it's an absolutely wonderful hammer. The magnetic nail starter isn't a new invention, but it's handy, and I use the side nail puller every chance I get instead of relying on the claw. The hammer also features a removable steel head (or face), which can be replaced with a milled waffle or smooth head (depending on which face you purchase to begin with). Stiletto makes other cheaper hammers with a titanium head and a wooden or fiberglass handle. They absorb a lot of shock, too, but tend to break fairly easily - unlike this model, which has a titanium handle covered in rubber.
If you are serious about building and/or want to lessen the impact on your elbow, arm, etc., this hammer is certainly worth the investment. I don't know offhand what a shot of cortisone costs, but they probably add up. I wouldn't recommend this hammer for the average Joe, but if you use a hammer a lot, this is the one to get. They come with a curved or straight handle. I have one with a curved handle, which just feels right.
-- Greg Morris
Stiletto Tibone Titanium Hammer
$233
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Stiletto Tools
Slim blade & wallet
I've used these money clips for 30 years, getting a new one every eight to ten years. This simple tool holds my money and provides an excellent knife that is always available in an unobtrusive way. The footprint is tiny: 3 cm X 5 cm folded,13 cm long when both knife and nail file are open. Most other "pocket" knives are bulky and complex, but this knife has a slim profile (it's just a knife, file and clip).
The blade is easily sharpened with any kind of small stone or diamond-imbedded file. It's not the highest quality steel but it's certainly good enough for my purposes. Because it is always with me, I always try to use this knife first for any task. Mostly I open letters/packages, but it also can be used for staple removal, as a mini screwdriver, scribe or awl, for removing splinters, etc. I work in the operating room as a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) and even there, with all the precision instruments, I've used this knife to cut off loose dressings (after the blade has been steam sterilized, of course). Interesting side note: the Zippo Company actually survived the demise of smoking by diversifying with products like this.
-- George Higgins
Zippo Money Clip Pocket Knife
$10
Available from Gunther Gifts
Manufactured by Zippo
Cheap, mini-tool storage
 
The Viewtainer is an inexpensive, flexible plastic tube with a rubbery cap at both ends. Originally, they were intended to hold small parts (screws, nuts, bolts, etc.). On one end the rubber cap has a slash in it, so when you squeeze the tube, you can dump the parts out. Although these Viewtainers may work well for storing parts, I've found that one of the larger Viewtainers, which is about 8" x 3", is an awesome mini-toolkit container that's easy to access and stash. It's amazing how many different useful (and in some cases, full-size) tools, you can fit into such a tiny container: screwdrivers, sockets, specialty bits, pliers, mini-saws, tire irons, flashlights, and on. I keep one in my car, one in my bike bag, and one in my study on the second floor so I don't have to run out to the garage every time I need a screwdriver.
-- Sam Mapadatha
Viewtainer
$4 (8" x 2.75")
Available from and manufactured by Viewtainer
Safer, swift package penetration
When it comes to cutting into thick, rigid plastic packages, it's tough to rely on scissors. Knives slip on the plastic and can be more dangerous. The clever feature of OpenX is that there are two blades in one. The razor-like, pop out blade is perfect for starting an initial cut, and then the main protected blade works great to slice the whole thing open. I've used this on every kind of thick plastic packaging imaginable and it hasn't dulled yet.
-- Boris Feldman
OpenX Dual-Blade Package Opener
$5
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Ranchmark, Inc.
[I remembered hearing about this one a while back and was skeptical -- until the company sent me one to try out. It's been such a time saver (I get a lot of packages) that it now lives in the top drawer of my desk. - sl]
[Note: Just wanted to drop a note about the Open X -- left handers need not apply. As a leftie myself, I was pretty disappointed when I realized that due to the locations of the button to extend the hidden blade, this tool can't really be used left handed. Once the initial cut has been made, it can be used, but the switch does get in the way a bit. Just thought lefties might want to know before they buy!
-- Ari Brown]
Ultra-loud, all-weather noisemaker
I found this incredibly loud whistle while putting together a disaster preparedness kit for my car. I did some non-scientific testing against my Fox 40 (rated 115 decibels) by having my son blow into each of them across a soccer field. The Storm (rated 118-120db) definitely sounded louder (decibels are based on a logarithmic scale with a base of 10, so the Storm's decibel intensity is almost 3 times the Fox 40). It is also advertised as working underwater (the chambers clear as you blow). I haven't tried it underwater yet, but regardless, this is the loudest whistle I have ever heard.
-- Mark Chow-Young
Storm Whistle
$6
Available from Amazon (limited stock)
Also from REI
Manufactured by All-Weather Safety Whistle Co.
A strong hold on brake fluid
Like other adhesives, this one can be used on metals, glass, wood and leather, but it is the only household product I have ever used that will withstand constant exposure to gasoline and/or brake fluid (DOT3 and DOT4). J-B-WELD will work in some cases, but you have to thoroughly clean and dry the surface or it will fail. Seal-All will seal a leak in a master-cylinder-reservoir (non-pressure side) even if you apply it over brake fluid that has already wept out onto the surface. I have also used it to seal an old Coleman fuel tank, and also a weeping fuel fitting on the bottom of a gasoline tank on my bike. This stuff is not what I would consider a toolbox item, but I ride my bike far from home on occasion, and this is one of the items I like to keep in the "just-in-case" bag.
-- Jackie Gregory
Seal-All Adhesive & Sealant
$1.50
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Eclectic Products
Classic urban survival multi-tool
I'm a computer geek, both by trade and by lifestyle, so I've accumulated several boxes full of tools for disassembling and reassembling all sorts of obscure computer stuff. Since I found the Micra, most of what's in those boxes sits unused in my office. Smaller than most pocket knives, and with the ability to unfold into a completely handy pair of snips, the stainless steel Micra contains two functional flat-blade drivers (micro and "regular") and a #2 Phillips-equivalent screwdriver, so I can achieve most anything I need to do inside a server closet or at a customer's desk. You could opt for the Wave, which features more tools. However, the less expensive Micra is lighter (1.75 vs. 8.5 ounces) and smaller (2.5" vs. 4"), and overall it's much more of an urban survival tool. It comes with tweezers, scissors, nail file, and a bottle opener, but the features that make it the most valuable to me are the "Phillips" blade (a flat blade shaped to fit into a Phillips head) and the micro flat driver blade. I'm constantly opening stuff - packages from FedEx (knife,) packages of sunflower kernels (scissors), laptops (micro screwdriver,) data racks (Phillips) and the like. This tool has everything I use on a daily basis in a simple, little package.
-- Steve Sussex
Leatherman Micra
$16
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
Wall wart solution
This in-door, out-door adapter is the best I've found for dealing with multiple wall-warts. The outlets are spaced just far enough apart to allow virtually any size wall wart to fit, and you can chain together the adapters (each outlet has five outlets, so every additional one in the chain gives you four more outlets). It's cheaper than specialty adapters like the PowerSquid, and it's inherently more organized. If you chain a couple PowerSquids together, you've got a mess of extra cords on account of that model's 'tentacle' design. If you daisy chain two Yellow-Jackets together, you've got a tidier package.
The Yellow-Jackets also feature cable restraints or 'cord locks' you can run the cables through. Personally, I cut them off to make the outlets more compact, but if you had five people working outside -- each using a power tool and each pulling the adapter in a different direction -- these restraints make it so that you'd have to pull a lot harder to cause an accidental unplugging.
-- Stephen Malinowski
Yellow-Jacket 5 Outlet Adapter
$9
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Woods Wire Products, Inc.
Super large plastic bags
These are big Ziploc bags that are extra sturdy and have a carrying handle. There are two sizes: 2ft x 1.7ft for the XL size and 2ft x 2.7ft for the XXL. They only cost a few dollars.
There are probably a million uses for them. One great use we found is for our kids to bring bristol board projects to school. The bristol board is kept flat, clean and dry and is easy to carry. In the past we had to roll them up which resulted in them being curled instead of flat. Or placed in a green garbage bag to keep them dry which was awkward to carry and resulted in them being dog-eared and bent. The Big Bags would serve the same purpose for anyone who has to transport or store blueprints, prints, paintings, posters, etc.
-- Doug Jones
* Expand as needed to fit where totes won't go. Perfect for storing even your bulkiest items while helping to protect them from moisture, dust and pests. XXL holds the equivalent volume of a 75.7L tote.
Ziploc Big Bag
$5.50 for 3 XXL bags
Available from Drugstore.com
Or $7 from Amazon
Manufactured by Ziploc
Superior textile cutter
The Engel Hot Knife is fantastic for cutting and sealing synthetic ropes and textiles in one hot cut. Particularly when making kites, bags, tents, or anything with textiles this is faster by a factor of 10 than scissors, more accurate, and also seals the edges against fraying. It has two blade types, one long and arced, great for fast large things, one pointed and small for detail work. The fact it has a work light directed at the blade is a tremendous detail only the German's would have thought of including. I use it for other things as well, like sealing plastic bags and various plastic welding jobs. This is probably a misuse of the tool, but periodically I find that useful. I own two of these, and have owned them for 5+ years, and I love them.
-- Saul Griffith
Engel Hot Knife
$140, with one blade
Available from Rochford Supply
Small precision
This yellow plastic caliper is lightweight, reasonably durable (I lose it before it wears out) and pocket-friendly (only 4 inches long). I use it frequently during house or auto repairs to ensure the right size replacement part (such as nuts and bolts, or o-rings and sealing washers) comes home with me from the store or junkyard. I find this easier, quicker, and more accurate in many cases than using a small rule. It is not a precision machinist's instrument. However, in most of the work I need to get done, measurement to the closest 1/32 of an inch or 1 mm will get the right part or a fit which is good enough to work.
-- Ken Johnson
General Tools 141ME Pocket Caliper
$9
Available from Amazon
Also from Village Supplies and from Art Stuff
Easiest pipe cutter
 
The Craftsman Ratcheting Tube and Pipe Cutter is, like its cousin the Craftsman Ratcheting Screwdriver (reviewed previously), a well thought out tool. This Ratcheting Cutter works great for cutting pipe in tight spots and is so ergonomically correct I often use it to cut pipe on my workbench. The only reason I hesitate using it on the workbench is I don't want to dull the cutting blade too fast. Oh, did I mention it comes with a spare blade that is nested in the handle so it's sure to be there when you need it? It's also very well built, sturdy, and has the ever so wonderful lifetime replacement policy.
Certain tools are what I refer to as "lifers" -- buy it one time, have it for life, need it throughout your whole life, and it makes life so much easier. It would be a mistake for the homeowner and/or professional not to own this one.
-- Eric G. Yukins
Craftsman Ratcheting Tube and Pipe Cutter
$30
Available from Sears
Best backyard astronomy aid
After a telescope, this is the best astronomy educational tool I've seen. At night this AAA battery powered green laser pointer can seemingly touch the stars millions of miles away. Compared to a red laser pointer, the green beam remains visible and penetrates the air much farther. Because of its particular spectrum you see the beam and not just the end dot. Also, it's about 50 times brighter than an ordinary red laser pointer -- using the same safe low power. On a clear night it can easily shine a dot a mile away. With its sharp laser beam you can pinpoint the exact star you want, which greatly accelerates mapping and learning the constellations. I've been amazed at how much faster I've learned the heavens with one of these in hand.
The problem with green laser pointers has been their stiff price. Only recently have they dropped below $50, which is still a lot for an educational tool. Manufacturing green laser engines is more art than science so their actual power output varies by final pointer. The lasers are sorted after they are made. The select ones near to the legal "pointer" limit of 5 milliWatts are labeled as such and are priced around $100 these days. The others are labeled as "less than 5mW" or "guaranteed to be up to 5 mW" and are priced as cheap as $40, but their actual power is not stated. For a star pointer all you need is one of these cheap ones. I've been using an in expensive "up to 5mW" version that works wonderfully.
Incidentally, you can purchase higher powered green lasers from Wicked Lasers that exceed the mandated 5 mW. Their 15 mW green laser (6 mile range) goes for $100 and their scary/astounding 300 mW for $2000. These are incredibly bright at night, but overkill for an astronomy aid.
-- KK
BTG-2 Green Laser
<5 mW
$42
Available from Amazon
Starpointer
Full-powered 5mW
$110
Available from Sky Pointer
Wicked Lasers Classic
15 mW
$100
Available from Wicked Lasers
How to ...
Sooner or later, most people need to move something too heavy to lift or too awkward to handle. This little book presents the basic physics, tactics, and best moves. Lift that piano without fear of hernia. Get your truck out of the ditch without calling for help. Stand that 500 lb. 55-gallon drum up on end with a flick of the wrist. Here are the tools, knots, and safety precautions you'll need. The formulas and tables for calculating the capacities of ropes, chains and cables are here, too, all described in the proper lingo (e.g. "swigging" and "parbuckling " - very useful moves) and illustrated with the author's classy drawings. Long out of print, and really missed, this classic book is now available again.
-- J. Baldwin
Moving Heavy Things
Jan Adkins
2004, 48 pages
$11
Available from Amazon
Sample excerpts:
Precept Two: The Geezer Ploy
When the old fellows didn't have diesel cranes to pull their fat out of the fire, they were obliged to be fiendishly clever. Ask yourself how they would have set up for your problem in 1900, in 1800, 1700, and so forth.
*
Precept Five: Applied Sloth
As stated in the stagehand's axiom: "Never lift what you can drag, never drag what you can roll, never roll what you can leave." Creativity germinates in indolence, and the cleverest people are often the laziest: they are always looking for an easier way. The easiest way is often the simplest, most direct, and the best way.
*
*
Essential screw-aid
Long ago a contractor friend of mine turned me onto a simple fixture for a powerdrill. It's an inexpensive gizmo that allows anyone to drive long screws in straight and fast. That's a huge plus now that sheetrock screws have replaced nails for most homestead projects. The guide fits into any chuck. You slip the screw head-first into the extended tube. A magnet at the bottom holds it. You place the loaded guide with the tip of the screw poking out over the place where you want to screw and the tube collapses as the screw goes in. The result: no muss, no-hands, quick, straight-in screw first time. Kids and newbies really love it. I keep one permanently affixed to my drivers. I use it for short as well as long screws. In fact I had forgotten how dependent I had become on the guide until I misplaced one recently and had to work without it. Now I have multiple backups. I don't think the brand matters; I use a $5 one. Make your life easier: keep one on your driver.
-- KK
Dewalt Compact Magnetic Guide
$6
Available from Amazon
Another way to have your tools "always on"
A carry-around tool that can pass through airports security (without me even taking it off) is the Tool Belt. It is designed for snowboarders but is useful all the time. The buckle can be disassembled easily (without removing the belt) and gives you a phillips, a flat head and 8, 10, and 11mm hex wrenches (which turn out to have handy standard equivalents). It's also a good tough and comfy belt which I have been wearing and using since 1999.
-- Alexander Rose
Tool Belt
$32
Available from Daddies Board Shop
Manufactured by 686 Enterprises
Unbreakable trash bags
 
My wife and I are renovating the bathroom on the second floor. We needed a way to get debris out of the house and into the dumpster parked on the street. Since we preferred to not carry buckets of plaster through our house, we needed an alternative. I found a link online and thought I would give Demo Bags a try. We sealed ourselves into the bathroom, filled the bags, and duct taped them shut. Then we threw them out the second floor window and dragged them to the dumpster. Not one of the 40 that we filled broke open. For a small remodel these are ideal! Our only mistake was to make them too heavy. Do yourself a favor: buy a lot of 'em, and make them light!
-- Matthew L. Cartwright
Demo Bags
$20 for 20
Available from Absolute Home
Manufactured by DemoBags
Electricity finder
This is a non-conductive (plastic), non-contact voltage sensor that glows red and/or beeps in the vicinity of an energized conductor. In other words, it lights up near a "live" wire. You don't actually have to make contact to see if the line is hot. It lights up even if there is no load on the line, since it senses the electric field, not the magnetic field. It's much easier to use than a contact indicator light or meter. It works for AC line voltages. Also it only lights up when near the "hot" line, not the ground or neutral, so you can immediately see if an outlet is wired backwards. Works great for finding the dead Christmas light bulb on a series string of lights too (not as easy though when you have two or more strands braided together.) I always rub it against my shirt first to see if it is working. Static discharge sets it off. A number of vendors besides Fluke make this type of device, but Fluke is a high quality name brand.
-- Bruce Bowen
Fluke Voltalert
90VAC to 600 VAC
$24
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Fluke
Best chainsaw
Long ago, I saw a tree guy toss a small Stihl chainsaw 25 feet to the ground. His partner picked it up, refueled it, and started it on the first pull. While I certainly don't plan to abuse any of my tools to that degree, the incident stuck in my memory.
I've used three or four other brands of chainsaws but when a 50-foot-tall, 34-inch-diameter walnut tree fell on my barn, I decided I needed a better chainsaw than I could get at Sears. A brand new Stihl model 280 with a 20-inch bar cost $420 USD at my local store and I don't regret one penny. I've run my 280 continuously (well, with stops for refueling and lemonade) for eight or nine hours without problem. I pinched the blade at one point (user error) hard enough that I had to use a come-along and bow-saw to get it free, but afterwards it still worked fine! The balance is excellent, the weight is manageable (the less expensive model 290 "Farm Boss" is heavier) and there is noticeably less kickback than any other chainsaw I've ever used. All Stihl saws have a "recommended" or "stock" bar length but are capable of running shorter or longer. I wanted the lightest saw that could actually cut through a 36" diameter tree... so I got the lighter 280 with an extra-long 20" bar which fits perfectly and runs fine; it's chewed through 34" of black walnut, 24" of maple, and 10" of oak so far without complaint.
I'm less than happy about owning anything with a 2-stroke motor -- after all, I've been using an electric lawnmower for decades and driving a Prius since 2001 -- but Stihl has even addressed that concern. Their motors use a 50:1 gas/oil mix rather than the 40:1 ratio of cheaper saws, and they sell a (relatively) environmentally friendly bar oil. They also claim to use 50% less bar oil than other brands, and unlike every other saw I've ever used my Stihl 280 never leaks oil on the ground or into the carrying case.
Real pros -- men who use chainsaws eight to ten hours a day for a living -- will want to spend around $900 USD for the model 361, with weight somewhere between the 280 and 290 and *significantly* more horsepower. For the rest of us, a model 280 or 290 is a big, burly tool that will be more than sufficient.
When asked why the word's best selling chainsaw (it's pronounced STEEL, like the metal) is not carried by Wallmart or Home Depot, Stihl representatives will proudly state "because we don't have to!" To find the Stihl distributor nearest you, use their web site's store locator.
-- Charlie Brooks
Stihl MS280 Chainsaw
$420
Manufactured by Stihl
Quick strong tie downs
These straps are incredibly strong. The tensile strength of these 1.5 inchers is 2000 pounds. With their cam locks these NRS straps are easily and infinitely adjustable and can be cinched down very tight. They have almost no flex/stretch and can be used in situations where a bungee would be too weak or stretchy and would not be "bomb-proof" like a cam strap.
If you are a river runner you are already familiar with these straps. They hold your boat, frame and oars on your truck for the drive to the put-in. You then use them to hold the frame to the boat, your bags, spare oar and rocket boxes to the frame. The originals are 1" wide and come in sizes from 1 foot up to 20 feet. As a commercial boatman I used these for everything from bundling firewood collected for that nights campfire to pulling a truck out of a ditch.
NRS has come out with a 1.5" model that is the perfect width. I have even been using one for several months as a belt. In a pinch it can be used (at the risk of my shorts heading south) to strap/bind/tow just about anything. I keep two of the twenty footers in my truck at all times. These straps are a permanent part of my kit, right next to the duct tape, bailing wire and channel locks.
-- Topher Stephenson
NRS 1.5" HD Straps
$7+
Available from NRS
Extra sticky duct tape
Sticks to a brick
Gorilla Tape is duct tape raised to a higher power. It is both stronger and stickier; you can use it on rough surfaces where duct tape won't stick. I have used a variety of similar tapes, from the Army's green 200 mph tape to the fabled Electric Boat tape that Submariners are familiar with. Gorilla Tape sticks better and holds longer than the best quality duct tape in everything I have used it for. It is also waterproof (once applied) and because of the thicker adhesive, less prone to peeling.
-- Stephen Young
Gorilla Tape
2" x 35 yards
$9
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Gorilla Tape
Moving up
 
When trying to move Very Large Objects don't forget the Hi-Lift Jack, still about 50 bucks and able to lift 7000 lbs 4 feet or more. After a flood moved a 60 ft. barn where I lived, I moved it right back where it belonged with that jack, and a few pulls on a come-along. The Hi-Lift is great for extracting fence posts, too. While living on a nature preserve, I jacked out several miles of steel fence posts and dozens of big gate posts complete with c | 
