Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Tools for Yule

Ready to being a desperate search for just the right gift for the do-it-yourselfer in the family? Leave the anxiety at home, but bring along this list.

By JUDY STARK
Published December 10, 2005

	Ryobi's MultiTASKit
	Storm Station All-in-One Emergency Power Station from Black & Decker
	Husky Autoblade
	Duluth Trading Co. stocking
	The Detailer cordless vacuum, from Dirt Devil
	WD-40
	Clip-On Tech Ligh

More welcome than fruitcake and more fun than a tie, gifts from the hardware store or home center are always popular with those who think Santa's helpers in the North Pole workshop have the best job this season.

Building-equipment and supplies stores will take in 16 percent of their annual earnings between Thanksgiving and New Year's, the National Retail Federation says. That's $48.7-million worth of hammers, routers and cordless tools.

Here's a shopping list with a little of everything from stocking stuffers to big-ticket items.

Ryobi's MultiTASKit ($60) grips onto the wall with vacuum technology to perform a multitude of jobs. It functions as a laser level, but that's just the beginning. An extendable arm flips up like an extra hand to hold a piece of crown molding or chair rail in place while you nail it. Hook a tape measure over it for one-handed measuring. A magnetic tray holds screws and nails. A rotating worklight illuminates dark spaces.

- ALAN J. HEAVENS, Philadelphia Inquirer

We're all hyper-aware of the need for hurricane preparation. The Storm Station All-in-One Emergency Power Station from Black & Decker is a weather radio, power inverter and detachable flashlight. The 25-watt battery-powered inverter powers small household appliances like a cordless phone, and the 12-volt recharging port charges cell phones. You keep the station plugged into an electrical outlet so its battery is thoroughly charged and ready to go. A locator light goes on automatically when the power goes out so you can find the Storm Station. It's $99.99 at home centers, mass merchants and hardware stores.

- JUDY STARK, Times Homes Editor

Looking for an edge in building projects around the house? Give the Paslode cordless 16-gauge angled finish nailer a try. It is expensive ($359), but versatility - not needing an air compressor too - makes it cost-effective. The 11/4-inch to 21/2-inch nails are propelled by a replaceable gas cartridge triggered by a rechargeable battery. Nail depth is adjustable by hand-turning a small wheel on the frame. The tool gets into corners and other tight spaces and jams are cleared easily.

- ALAN J. HEAVENS, Philadelphia Inquirer

Refining a must-have item, the Husky Autoblade has release and advance buttons to remove used blades and load fresh ones. No need to turn a thumbscrew or get out a screwdriver to loosen a screw that holds the old blade. A storage chamber in the handle holds spare blades. It's $9.99 at Home Depot.

- JUDY STARK, Times Homes Editor

What to do with all those gift tools? Tuck them into this 19-inch-long stocking with clip-on bright-red suspenders. From Duluth Trading Co., the stocking is made of fire-hose cotton canvas. There are two exterior pockets for small items and a loop for long-handled tools. It's $19.50; order at www.duluthtrading.com or call toll-free 1-800-505-8888.

- JUDY STARK, Times Homes Editor

What does the keyboard tray at your desk look like? Full of crumbs and dirt, no doubt. How about the space around the console and cup holders in your car . . . or the inside of your desk drawer? The Detailer, from Dirt Devil, is a cordless vacuum 91/2 inches long, 2 inches wide, designed to fit into narrow spaces. A brush attachment gets into nooks and crannies, and it comes with a charging cradle. It's $19.99 at discount and hardware stores and home centers. View it online at www.dirtdevil.com

- JUDY STARK, Times Homes Editor

Every handy guy or gal needs a can of WD-40. But worry no more about losing the little straw that points the lubricant where you want it, as 80 percent of users admit they've done. The new can's swivel top has a permanently attached red plastic straw. Flip the straw up for a stream; flip it down to spray. Suggested retail: $3.99.

- JUDY STARK, Times Homes Editor

The Clip-On Tech Light slides onto the brim of a baseball cap. A bright-red LED light provides hands-free illumination when you're working under a sink or in a dark closet or walking the dog at night. The clip includes a minipen and a screwdriver with flat and Phillips heads. It's 1 inch by 2 inches by one-quarter of an inch thick. It's $11.99 at www.containerstore.com

- JUDY STARK, Times Homes Editor

[Last modified December 9, 2005, 08:25:05]