When a storm is about to hit, the last thing you want to do is waste time screwing plywood over your windows. PLYLOX window clips let you quickly cover windows with plywood without installing any hardware or modifying your window casings.
If you don’t own a surge suppressor for your whole house or building, the next best thing might be surge suppressors built right into key outlets around your home or office. There’s less clutter without the power strips, and you’re protected even if you plug your electronics right into the wall.
The Addalock adds an extra layer of security to most properly installed inward-swinging doors, even if there’s no lock on the door. It installs and removes quickly, so you can use it both at home and when you travel.
The creator of the Hook-Um Dano ladder lock must have been a fan of Hawaii Five-O, but then, who isn’t? We’re not exactly sure how this product relates to a cop show set in Hawaii — what it does do is secure one or two extension or step ladders to your ladder or roof rack, quickly and without tools.
While your buddy might get bored steadying the ladder and go off in search of a cold one, the Ladder Lock never will. Designed to prevent serious accidents, it connects to any standard-size extension ladder on either the right or left side, and its wishbone clamp secures the ladder to gutters, roofs, framing, or railings to hold it steady.
This innocuous little starfish will keep sliding glass doors from opening too far, especially ones where the door slides on the outside and you can’t use a bar to secure it. The SecureIt can also keep windows from being opened too far, much like a window lock.
If you choose to hang stuff from the SecureIt, the 3-3/8″ suction cup can hold 50 pounds. You can affix the 4″-diameter, 2″-thick SecureIt to any smooth, clean, and dry surface. If you need to remove it, simply pull the tab.
Available in Sky, Sea Mist Green, and Clear, a pack of two SecureIts goes for $20.
Unlike many fire starters, the BlastMatch from Ultimate Survival Technologies allows you to start fires using only one hand. You might not think this is an important feature until you’re alone in the wilderness with an injured hand.
How often does this happen to you: You’re lying in bed and the wife asks, “Honey, did you close the garage door when you came in?” You can’t remember, so you get out of bed to check. You can avoid this whole scenario if you install Xceltronix’s Autocloser.
These inexpensive little locks will secure a sliding window while it’s open, much like putting a nail in the sash keeps a double-hung window from opening far enough for someone to enter. Unlike a nail though, you can easily remove, replace, change their position, or even use them to keep the window shut.
I can think of a dozen times when, in the heat of a home construction project, I’ve whacked my head on something. It was just a matter of time before I did something really bad, so I’ve started wearing a hard hat more often. Now that my wife likes to help out with the projects, I supposed she’ll need to gear up as well, and you know she won’t want to use my nasty old brain-bucket — luckily GirlGear makes a hard hat that’ll protect her head without cramping her style.
Sure, putting the vehicle in park and setting the emergency brake are supposed to keep it from rolling, but nothing gives you that warm secure feeling while you work under the vehicle like chocking the tires. These portable wheel chocks fold to just 1″ high so you can take them with you in the trunk or under the seat.
You may not think that getting in and out of the shower or tub safely is a big deal — but if you’re injured, or have small kids, or take care of elderly parents, then it becomes a serious matter. If you can’t install grab bars where you need them most, you can position this tub-gripping grab bar from Moen in just the right location on just about any bathtub.
As the snow starts to melt, you notice that the snowplow driver took some liberty guessing where the road ended and your yard began. Don’t be too hard on him — it’s pretty tough to tell at 2 in the morning. Next time give him a break and mark your driveway or curb with a lighted solar driveway marker from SunForce.
Imagine installing a battery-operated smoke detector that communicates with other detectors around the house so they all go off at the same time — just like hard-wired smoke alarms. Now give them a voice telling you where the smoke is located and you’ve got First Alert’s ONELINK Talking Wireless Alarm.
The Wedge Alarm provides a quick way to make yourself feel more secure either at home or on the road. Don’t have a bathroom lock? Place the wedge behind the door and warn anyone trying to enter that the john is occupied. Worried about the maids walking in on you even when the “Do Not Disturb” sign is out? Make them rethink that decision.
The Wedge Alarm emits a piercing 110dB alarm for five seconds when it’s tripped. The hook-and-loop adhesive pad keeps the wedge in place on carpets, hard floors, windows, or wherever you decide to place it. It’s powered by an included 12V battery.
Pricing for the Wedge Alarm ranges widely, from $4 to $16.
The Wedge Alarm [Reliance Controls]
Street Pricing [Google]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
Have you been burned by the power going out in the middle of the night and screwing up your alarm clock? Yeah, most alarm clocks have a battery backup, but in my experience it’s always dead when you need it. Plug the PowerOUT! from Reliance Controls into a spare outlet and when the power fails you’ll know it by the 86dB alarm and bright safety light.
Do you stay awake at night while you’re on vacation wondering if your pipes are freezing or if your freezer full of beef is still frozen? If you had the FreezeAlarm from Control Products you might sleep more soundly.
Connect the Deluxe FreezeAlarm to your home phone line and it can call up to three telephone numbers and give a voice warning if the temperature is too high or low, if the power has failed, or if its own backup power is failing. If you’re curious you can always call the FreezeAlarm and it’ll tell you the state of those three things.
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Tool Talk #53: Old Hardware Stores & Pocket Knives
Tool Talk #52: Listener Calls & Reader Projects
Tool Talk #51: DIY Wedding Rings & Heirloom Shopsmiths
Tool Talk #50: Router Safety & Pointless Tools
Tool Talk #49: Bookcases & Ending Laziness
Tool Talk #48: Christmas & (Paint) Strippers
Tool Talk #46: Kitchen Drawers And GAS
One Beer Projects: Repairing Wood Surfaces
One Beer Projects: Fixing Simple Problems With Your Dryer
One Beer Projects: Winterizing/Storing Your Bike
One Beer Projects: De-Badging Your Truck
One Beer Projects: Staining Your Fence
One Beer Projects: Doing Your Own Brakes
One Beer Projects: Balancing Your A/C For The Summer
One Beer Projects: Installing A Dimmer Switch
Hands-On: Caterpillars Fix Wiggly Outlets For Good
Head 2 Head Hands-On: Bosch SPS10 vs LI3000 SmartDriver
Hands-On: Striker Magnetic LED Light
Hands-On: Dremel Duo Kit -- Dremel Driver
Hands-On: Elmer's ProBond Wood Filler
Hands-On: Duo-Fast DF350S Framing Nailer
Hands-On: Watco Danish Oil - Cherry Finish
Hands-On: Skil's 7-1/4" Sixty-Tooth Carbide Saw Blade
Budget Shop Truck Build, Part 3: Building An Engine Stand
Budget Shop Truck Build, Part 2: Pulling The Engine
Budget Shop Truck Build, Part 1: The Truck
How-To: Cut Angles With A Circular Saw
Project Garage: Yukon Engine Swap (Part 5) -- Complete!
Project Garage: Yukon Engine Swap (Part 4) -- Installation!
Project Garage: Yukon Engine Swap (Part 3) -- Fabricating Engine Brackets
Project Garage: Yukon Engine Swap (Part 2) -- GM Performance Parts
