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Pivoting Paintbrush Looks Like a Weapon

Reach for the sky — or at least the ceiling and trim. The Green Toad makes it easy for almost anyone to reach and get into those tough spots, thanks to its pivoting paintbrush.

Take this thing into your local hardware store, and they might think your motive is robbery. However, it’s really designed for quick and accurate painting. 

We say accurate because after hours of painting up and down, your hand can get pretty cramped up. However, the people behind the Green Toad worked with a team of physical therapists to make sure this brush has an ergonomic grip. Also, it’s got a 360-degree pivoting head that can lock into eight different positions so you have less discomfort after contorting your body to get a normal brush into an abnormal spot.

Speaking of which, there are also plenty of attachments, so you aren’t stuck with the same old paintbrush. There are multiple brush sizes, as well as roller options.

You wouldn’t know to look at it, but the Green Toad system is also, well . . . pretty green. Most of the parts and the various attachments are treated with Earthgreen polymers making them biodegradable and compostable.

The Green Toad System Starter Kit is available for $28.99;  the Complete System costs an additional $11. It can be ordered online or as an impulse buy during one of your QVC-watching marathons.

by Rachel Cericola

Written by editor on September 9, 2010 at 10:36 am
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Bosch’s Power Box Rocks!

The Power Box™ 360 Jobsite AM/FM Stereo looks like the robot friend I’ve always wanted. It doesn’t make cute sounds like R2-D2 or crack wise like Johnny 5 from Short Circuit. However, this box will rock your socks off as you work on the deck, the roof, the job site, or pretty much anywhere else. Basically, it will provide 360 degrees of sound, no matter what the scenario.

However, the Power Box 360 isn’t just built to rock — it’s as tough as one, too. And yes, I really mean that. This thing looks like it’s would survive blasts of varying degrees, whether from weather or wartime. It’s got an enclosed, weatherproof media bay that’s basically wrapped in an aluminum and rubber roll cage. In other words, it can take a fall much better than you can.

Other features include an internal battery, AM/FM presets, equalizer settings, an SD card slot, and a USB port, which can charge up compatible devices, such as a cell phone or MP3 player.

Bosch doesn’t list an MSRP on its website, but Amazon says the list price is $379. That seems like an awful lot to replace your trusty transistor. Luckily, Amazon is selling it at the much-reduced price of $185.

by Rachel Cericola

Written by editor on August 31, 2010 at 10:41 am
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Broom Groomer

Okay, I’m just gonna say up front that I’m not sure what the benefit of this product is.  It’s supposed to be a “sweeping improvement” in dustpans.  But why is it called the Broom Groomer?

Let’s check it out together, shall we?

What you have here is a dustpan augmented with a row of rubber teeth in the back.  When you sweep dust into the pan, these teeth supposedly clean the broom’s bristles, which eliminates annoying dust bunnies the sweeper has to dislodge from the broom by hand.  I wish I had a hunting license to bag as many dust bunnies as possible.  I’m sure I currently exceed the limit and could get fined by the cleaning police . . .

Sorry… got distracted for a sec there…

The Broom Groomer is made of durable plastic with rubber on the grip.  A footrest is built into the handle—which angles downward.  This is something that makes a helluva lot of sense to me.  I hate it when I’m sweeping and the dustpan crawls across the flow with each stroke of the broom.

The Broom Groomer is available for pre-sale at Quirky for $9.99.  Here’s the design pitch—and the guy makes quite a good argument about why this is a great idea:

I’m sold.  And believe me, I need it.  The dust bunnies are currently building a warren in my house . . .

by John Barker

Written by editor on August 29, 2010 at 10:05 am
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Cynthia Rowley Pretties Up Your Toolbox

Considering you are on FixItYourself.com, you may not know that Cynthia Rowley is a g0-to name when it comes to choosing an outfit or even a fancy handbag. You’ll just have to take my word for it.  

And now, when it comes to running carpet, rotating screws, and cutting wire, the New York designer is getting into the game with her Genuine Article line.  These items will stand out like a sore thumb in almost any toolbox, but not because they are designed for dainty hands. 

Proving that you can be pretty as well as pretty handy, each tool in the Genuine Article line has its own unique look.  There’s a patterned pair of pliers, a screwdriver, a tape measure, and even a flowered staple gun — yes, it’s important to be pretty when firing off staples with such force. Other items include a hammer, wire cutters, and a level. She’s even come up with a bag to keep everything in. And if you are more interested in a traditional toolbox, this one might be a match.   

The perfect gifts for the wife or girlfriend, it says you want her to be involved.  I’m going to get a set for myself, because I know my husband will keep his dirty mitts off.

Genuine Article items are sold for $10 each (the bag is $25). However, you can save a few bucks by buying items in sets, which retail for $25.

by Rachel Cericola

Written by editor on August 28, 2010 at 10:44 am
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He said, She said

Hey friends, here’s this week’s report from blogland. 

I discovered an almost brand new blog called Meet My Ugly Baby, a 367 day apartment-flip project in Vancouver.  Today, and I mean TO.DAY, they get the keys and the clock starts ticking.  

Any e-Bay aficionados out there?  There’s a great story at BossyColorBlog that features gin, a pretty shade of blue, and lots of cardboard. 

Russel Wright Iroquois casual china

Thinking about fall yet?  Grass Rooted has some good tips about rakes.  She says better to check your supplies now than when your hands are blistered and the job is half done. 

Subtraction by Addition – get it?  Home additions that make a house uglier. These are bad.   At  HomeOwnerNut.

If you didn’t make it to Atlanta this week for the 2010 International Woodworking Fair (IWF), here’s a sneak preview of some  new tools on the showroom floor. 

Until next week, happy weekend!

by Lisa Oram

Written by editor on August 27, 2010 at 9:36 am
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Your Next Mower

I suppose in some parts of the country, there are people who are counting down to the last mow of the season.  But, where I live in Florida, mowing the lawn is never out of season.  NEVER. 

Lucky for me, lawnmowers are going high-tech.  I’m one of those guys who will maintain my van without a second thought; I’m never behind on fluids, brakes, oil, or anything.  But when it comes to my lawnmower. . . well, I feel sorry for the poor thing.  And Snapper knows that I’m not the only person out there who isn’t diligent when it comes to mower maintenance.

In collaboration with BMW Group DesignworksUSA, Snapper conducted research on what FIYers like us would consider to be the ultimate lawnmower.

The result is the Snapper NXT series:

While the push start button and the multi-notched cutting system are cool, there are some other features that are also worth noticing.

The walk-behind mower apparently responds to the “pace” of the user with something called the REACT™ Drive System.  This intuitive system senses your inertia and compensates the mower’s speed accordingly.

The riding mower offers a tight turning radius, an ergonomic seat, and really bright LED headlights.

What interests me the most, however, is an option that comes on both mowers: a dashboard with a digital display.  On this you will find information crucial to the mower’s maintenance, including oil, filter, and spark plug status.

The mowers range in price from $499 (for the walk-behind) to $2600 for the rider – unless, of course, you can snag an end-of-the-season bargain!

by John Barker

Written by editor on August 23, 2010 at 11:03 am
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Duct Tape to Match Your Mood

How many times have you wanted your duct tape to reflect your mood? Never, you say? Well, that isn’t stopping the good people at Duck from creating a few options for you.

Put away those Sharpie pens. Now, duct tape comes in a variety of colors and patterns. Duck just announced a few new flavors of the craft/work favorite, making for over 20 different options.

Some of the new patterns include animal prints like Zig-Zag Zebra and Spotted Leopard, a trippy Cosmic Tie-Dye pattern, the flame-filled Hot Rod, and the military-inspired Digital Camo. They already have a ton of colors, such as red, yellow, aqua and purple as well neon shades Funky Flamingo (pink) and Island Lime (green).

Perfect for that duct tape  prom dress. . .

 

Duct car . . .

 Or a duct couch . . .

 If you are looking for something special to do with that new funky duct tape (maybe a duct basketball hoop) the Duck website has plenty “Ducktivities,” which also include step-by-step instructions. They’re also always looking for new, creative uses, and invite submissions to the Duck website.

The new Duck patterns are on sale now. You should be able to find them at craft and home improvement stores, as well as anywhere else you’d find duct tape.

 by Rachel Cericola

Written by editor on August 16, 2010 at 10:43 am
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Bucket Buddy 2

Recently, I wrote a brief article about the Bucket Buddy, a device that assists in carrying and pouring heavy buckets of water.  It seems there are actually quite a few products out there named Bucket Buddy. There are Bucket Buddy chairs, Bucket Buddy grooming caddies, Bucket Buddy ATV carrier devices, and more.    

Take this Bucket Buddy for instance:

Larry

Larry Humphrey of Emory, Texas invented this sucker.  It was created out of necessity when he needed to clear some foliage around his assisted-living facility.  The prototype was so successful that he decided to start Bucket Buddy Products and applied for a patent on the device.  Unfortunately, it does not appear that this product has come to market.

Then there’s this Bucket Buddy — and this one seems made for me:

Made of recycled materials, the Bucket Buddy uses 30% less ice than a regular beer . . . um . . . I mean water bucket.  The design makes sense.

Divots around the outside allow for greater surface area coverage for the ice that goes in the center.  It comes in a variety of colors as well.

There are more items called Bucket Buddy.  Many more.  But I think I’ve made my point: If you have an invention involving a bucket of any kind, it would be best to avoid naming it Bucket Buddy . . .

by John Barker

Written by editor on August 15, 2010 at 10:43 am
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DIY HDTV Antenna

While I’ve not yet moved into the world of HDTV (I simply don’t have the money to blow on a new television when I have three perfectly fine older ones), I can’t help but admire this relatively new technology.  Not only is the video from cable, DVD, and Blu-Ray incredibly clear, but off-air signals are extremely impressive as well.

But some people don’t realize that the off-air signal may not reach their home.  So, there they are, stuck with a giant, rectangular sculpture  in the living room that picks up a few channels—but with artifacts and glitches through the picture.

But fret not, my fellow FIY-ers!  If you are in this situation, you are not alone.  And babblin5 at Metacafe has a solution: make your own.  With just a few simple materials (clothes hangers, washers, wood, screws, and a small length of cable line), babblin5 claims you can easily make a HD antenna that will outperform store-bought models.

The following (very well made) instructional video will walk you through the process:


See what I mean?  Easy and inexpensive!  And it appears to work really well!  What more could you ask for?

If anyone tries it, let us know how it works out. 

by John Barker

Written by editor on August 11, 2010 at 3:29 pm
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Pivot Power: Hot off the Press!

See that?  Looks like a regular power strip, right?

 But can your run-of-the-mill power strip do this?

 

Or this?

 

Nope.  That’s what makes the Pivot Power  so unique.

I’ve wanted something like this for a long time due to the cramped nature of my home office.  I can barely fit my legs under the desk thanks to all of the cables running to a power strip that I suspect has been in my family for at least two generations.

The flexible nature of the Pivot Power would make it possible for me to loop the strip in a corner away from my feet.  And with six outlets, I wouldn’t have any problem plugging in all of my stuff—regardless of the size of the adapter.  Couple that with surge protection, and my computer will be happy as well.

Here is the Pivot Power in action:

The Pivot Power went into production at the end of June 2010, and is available for both American voltage (110v) and European voltage (240v). 

So as I sit here and kick my current power strip, I know that I’ll be getting one.

by John Barker

Written by editor on August 4, 2010 at 8:38 pm
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