Northwest Renovation » Gadget Guru

Power and Lighting Trends

Arti Lilien — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:29:34 +0000

My column this issue will focus on two technology trends I see as we move into the second decade of the 21st century. Number one on the list is battery power. This trend has gained tremendous traction in the past 10 years in the world of cordless tools, cell phones and laptop computers, with the [...]

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Power and Lighting Trends

Tripod Flashlights Revisited

Arti Lilien — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:58:54 +0000

Here we are deep into fall and wouldn’t you know, it’s getting dark outside really early. So now is the time I again become interested in a classic gadget, the flashlight. The last few years have seen some major innovations, number one on the list being the widespread utilization of LEDs for the light source, [...]

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Tripod Flashlights Revisited

Quick Align Hinge Shims

Arti Lilien — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:49:50 +0000

If you’ve ever removed a door from its frame to sand, paint or stain it, then you know the difficulty of rehanging that door. Few folks remember to label the hinge leafs so they can be returned to their original position, and even if one does, those pesky laws of physics (specifically the ones concerned [...]

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Quick Align Hinge Shims

Circuit Alert Tools by Gardner-Bender

Arti Lilien — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:35:27 +0000

Working near electricity can make even the bravest soul a bit squeamish. No one enjoys getting accidentally “zapped,” especially if your project doesn’t involve any electrical work at all. There are times, however, when basic household repairs can place one close to live wires (example: behind a wall) whose precise location just can’t be foretold. [...]

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Circuit Alert Tools by Gardner-Bender

Porter Cable Compact Belt Sander 371K

Arti Lilien — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:16:27 +0000

Palm-held finishing sanders are among the most popular tools purchased, and if you've ever spent time hand sanding even a modest-sized project, you know why. Their ease of use and ergonomics help speed a typically tedious job. But these advances in the current crop of sanders, so much improved compared to the old ¼ sheet 'vibrators,' have had an unintended effect. Consumers have demanded that these tools do more than 'finish,' and the increased availability of coarser grades of sandpaper that fit these machines has allowed said users to take these lightweight machines and ask them to do projects for which they were not designed.

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Porter Cable Compact Belt Sander 371K

The First Cordless Drill

Arti Lilien — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:40:01 +0000

The First Cordless Drill Here we are in the 21st century, and everything is just so high-tech. There are exceptions of course, and in the world of cool tools, there are plenty of oldies that serve a useful function while still having a neutral carbon footprint. So today I give you the Yankee Screwdriver, still [...]

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The First Cordless Drill

The Ultimate Tool Box

Arti Lilien — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 16:23:32 +0000

The tool box is a thing of the past. Tool “storage” is in. No more dumping and digging for tools. A place for everything and everything in its place. The line-up of tool storage bags from Veto Pro Pac, short for “vertical tool orientation, protected and packed”, is the ultimate expression of this concept, with [...]

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The Ultimate Tool Box

Lasers in the House

Arti Lilien — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:45:00 +0000

The invention of the laser beam is widely considered a ground-breaking technology. In commercial construction, lasers have replaced plumb bobs, chalk lines, measuring tapes, and even surveying instruments because of their unparalleled accuracy and ease of use. As this technology has moved into the consumer market (under $100), the race to the bottom has fostered [...]

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Lasers in the House