If you are ever sporting new steel toe boots, do not make the mistake I did. Keen sent over their Pittsburgh work boots, and I naively pointed out the steel toe feature to my four year old daughter. She then laughed maniacally after stomping on my toes relentlessly. That was was all fine. In fact, it was the first test for these Keen’s. I can now testify that the Keen Pittsburgh boots will protect your toes from wild, toe-stomping children. The problem came the next day when I was wearing some non-steel toe Keens. Thinking all Keens must surely have steel toes, my daughter decided to stomp on my un-armored feet. It turns out that’s surprisingly painful. So, if you have foot-stomping children around, I advise you to either wear your steel-toe Keens 24/7, or just have a little conversation about the difference between steel toe boots and conventional footwear. Read on for more details about the Keen Pittsburgh work boots, a public revelation about my anatomy, abusive hammer testing, and scintillating boot style commentary. [Read more...]
Keen Pittsburgh Boot Review, Toe Beating and Random Giveaway
Botanicalls – Plant Sensors That Call or Tweet You
Sometimes life gets away from us. I know it does for me, what with a couple of kids, work, school, and so on and so forth. Often some ‘lesser’ things get put on the back burner. Most of those lesser things include my household chores and our plants (both indoors and outdoors). I often don’t even think about plants until the leaves are drooped or falling off. It’s always been the best indicator for me. Apparently, it has also been an indicator for other people too, because a handful of students from NYU have created and are now marketing a way for your plants to let you know exactly how they feel about you and the quality of care you’re giving them. Their product, computer-age plant sensors called Botanicalls, can call you and now tweet you if it needs something. Sure, it’s not the same as “Feed Me, Maurice” but it’s still pretty creepy.
The Anal-Retentive’s Dream Nail Pouch – the MagnoGrip
I’ll be the first to admit it – I’m not much of a neat freak. My wife would use other words, but that’s not really all that important. The other day, however, I found myself in the tool aisle of my local ‘candy’ store partly shaking my head and rolling my eyes, yet also partly in fact kind of lusting for the MagnoGrip Nail Pouch. In case you can’t tell by the picture, or the name, it is a nail pouch – with magnets. At first look, I thought to myself, “Who in the world would waste money on a nail pouch that holds your nails for you?” I mean really, how long would it take you to do anything if you had to organize your nails first? However, I kept looking at it and in the back of my mind I found myself saying, “Uh, yeah, that could be pretty handy!” Who knew I could be so fickle?
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Wilton 1745 Tradesman Vise Review – A Crushing Blow To Vises Made in China?
As much as I love my Rockwell Jawhorse, there are many times when I prefer the precision and rigidity of a bench vise. At last year’s STAFDA trade show I was initially lured into the Wilton booth with their unbreakable BASH (Bad Ass Sledge Hammers). After learning about these brutish sledges, my attention was drawn like a tractor-beam to a brawny line of sleek vises. I’m not one to lust after the rear end of vise, that would be totally creepy, but there I was, transfixed to the rear end of the Wilton vise lineup. Not only did they sport a unique design, but they are made a country you’d never expect for beefy metal tools. Wilton graciously sent us a Trademan 1745 vise to review, and I’ve had some time to put it through its paces. Since I already used up all my Vanilla Ice “Vise Vise Baby” humor on my State of the Vise Grip post, I’ll stick (mostly) to the facts and dive right into how the Wilton vise fared. [Read more...]
Gorilla Tape With Mossy Oak Camouflage
As you may know, perhaps my favorite home construction product is duct tape. I have my preferential brands and types depending on use. So you can imagine my joy when in the mail I found a package with my name on it, full of several rolls of Mossy Oak® camouflage Gorilla Tape®. It really was almost like Christmas had come early this year! The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, since the rolls arrived just prior to shotgun season here in Delaware. I mean sometimes the stars just align. [Read more...]
Choosing the Right Work Gloves for your DIY Project
When I was about ten years old, I found a super cool button on the street. On it was a picture of a smiling balloon surrounded by hearts. It didn’t make a lot of sense to me, but not much back then did anyway (it was the late ’80s). Despite this, I decided to pin it on my jean jacket and wear it around town. It wasn’t until about five days later – days in which I had gone to school, grocery shopping and to the mall, and attended a friend’s piano recital – that my mom finally noticed what was adorning my jacket. And just like that, my button of the friendly balloon – which turned out to actually be a smiling condom with the caption “No Glove, No Love!” beneath it – was yanked from my jacket and whisked out of my life forever. [Read more...]
Coast HP7 LED Flashlight and HL7 LED Headlamp – LED Has Evolved
I was an early adopter when it came to LED flashlight technology. Like most early adopters, I also experienced some of the inadequacies of the first few rounds of products. I still have a LED pen light I bought eons ago that was just slightly brighter than a match. Even the cool and versatile Joby GorillaTorch we reviewed left a bit to be desired with a CREE LED that was blindingly bright at the center of the beam, but much dimmer around the perimeter. When Coast sent us their HP7 LED flashlight and their HL7 Headlamp I expected to see similar limitations. While LED has huge advantages in terms of efficiency and durability, beam and light quality just wasn’t an area I’ve been impressed with. [Read more...]
The Caulk Warmer – Who Wouldn’t Want One?
Seriously, I’m going to pass this chance up? To be the first on my block to review a caulk warmer? This is like the biggest freebie in the history of mankind. My wife can’t say a thing because this is legitimate journalism. Marc listed this as a product to review and I jumped at the chance to grab a hold and make it happen. Seriously. [Read more...]
Rockler Coupons and Bargain Hunters Deal Guide
Even before Rockler became a sponsor of HomeFixated, we revered them. They’ve been my go-to store to visit for projects around the house that are a little too esoteric for Home Depot or Lowes to handle. From specialized tools and accessories, to stains and finishes, to all things woodworking, Rockler is a great resource, whether you’re shopping online, or lucky enough to have a retail store close by. With today’s economic times being about as clear and certain as a foggy night, at the swamp, in a horror movie, we’d like to share a few options for stretching your hard-earned dollar when shopping at this great store that offers so much more than just woodworking products. You’ll find discounts like 10% off promo codes, free shipping, $5 off coupons and some general savvy shopping tricks and tips. [Read more...]
Rhino Tuff Puncture Resistant Insoles Protect Your Dawgs
I have on several occasions stepped on nails, as most anybody at a job site might do. And even though I have ‘Hobbit’ feet, I have more than once found myself nailed to a loose board. I must say, roofing nails are not all that painful, akin to a pebble in the shoe. But a large 16 penny nail straight into the arch of your foot will make you think of word combinations that you never thought were possible. Nails pose a real safety hazard for the ol’ feet. [Read more...]
