Repair & Improve
Great Gift Ideas For A D.I.Y. Holiday
by Tom Kraeutler, AOL Home Improvement Editor
Tom Kraeutler is the Home Improvement Editor for AOL. In this column, Tom offerrs tips for home improvement themed holiday gifts.
As you make your holiday shopping list and check it twice, you’ve probably got a range of tool-and gadget-lovers to please. Baffled by the shopping possibilities for the home improver in your life? Don’t be! Consider this selection of the season’s hottest home improvement gifts for the handyman or woman on your holiday shopping list.
New additions to the home workshop
Surprise the owner of a well-stocked toolbox with a gift that’ll help them make the most of what they already own. One great idea is Portamate’s PM7000 Miter Saw WorkCenter™, which allows bench-top planers, band saws, scroll saws, miter saws and more to be used interchangeably. More than one tool can be mounted and used at a time thanks to the long bed and four-outlet power center, and the universal machinery mounts snap securely to its aluminum top to make tool changes fast and easy. Three material supports, an 8-inch wheel, and a storage compartment are also part of the deal. And just in time for the holidays, Portamate is packaging the WorkCenter™ with two free bonus gifts: a heavy-duty, cast aluminum work vise ($49.99 value) and a work light with integrated machine mount ($19.99 value). Visit www.htcproductsinc.com for more information and retailer info.
When it comes to tool care and maintenance, the Drill Doctor 350X is an ideal addition to the home workshop. This handy accessory keeps projects on track by quickly delivering the sharpening power and precision needed to restore dull drill bits. The Drill Doctor handles high-speed steel, masonry, carbide and tin-coated bits ranging in size from 3/32” to ½”, and incorporates an easy, front-loading chuck for simplified bit alignment. An ergonomic low-profile design provides increased stability, and V-block jaws eliminate jaw twisting on small bits. Check it out at www.drilldoctor.com.
Practical pampering for the homebody
Entertaining at home for the holidays and year-round requires a fully geared-up kitchen, and InSinkErator’s Evolution Excel™ food waste disposer is an ideal addition to an existing or brand-new gourmet work space. Featuring the best of InSinkErator’s grinding and SoundSeal Plus™ noise-reduction technologies, it handles more volume and more types of food waste while making 60% less noise than standard disposers.
The Evolution Series is a high-tech kitchen thoroughbred. It includes features like MultiGrind™ technology, so you can put almost anything down the kitchen sink, as well as Jam-Sensor Circuits that can sense when a jam is imminent, automatically increasing the rotational torque of the motor while simultaneously pulsing at a rate of 60 times per second. These actions produce a powerful hammering effect that breaks through the toughest jams before there’s a problem. For more information, go to www.insinkerator.com.
A must-have for handy men and women
Finding a way out of tight corners and trimming away little project challenges is made easy with Black & Decker’s Cordless HandiSaw. This compact, lightweight tool works on materials ranging from 1-inch-thick wood to PVC to thin metal. One-hand operation makes it possible to cut in confined spaces, while soft grips provide comfort. What’s more, the keyless blade change system adds ease and speed. Check out www.blackanddecker.com for local retailers and to buy online.
Stocking stuffers for everyone
Multi-use tools that work great on the go are always a welcome gift, and we’ve got two winners for your shopping list. Loggerhead Tools has just unveiled the ImmiX™ multi-tool line, which blends the functionality of up to 34 full-sized tools in a compact six-inch, eight-ounce package. At the core of the ImmiX™ is a 6-inch Bionic Wrench™ head that automatically adjusts to fit 14 standard and metric fasteners. Two versions are available: the ImmiX™ 20X, which holds 20 of the most common screwdriver bits in its handles, and the ImmiX™ 10X, which has two retractable stainless-steel blades and 10 bits. Both models have a magnetic bit driver at the end of the body, creating a full-function screw-driving system with a torque-enhancing pistol grip. Visit www.bionicwrench.com for a demo and retailers near you.
With their powerful cutting action, Black & Decker’s Cordless Power Scissors will come in handy as the gift-opening ceremonies commence. They easily zip through heavy fabrics, cardboard, leather, vinyl flooring, wallpaper and that pesky plastic blister packaging. Ergonomically styled Power Scissors are ideal for quick, straight cuts, and their design puts your hand directly in line with the material you’re cutting for greater control. An easy-click universal blade set, lock-off mechanism, table mount, and charger complete this gift that keeps on giving. Cut to the chase and buy online via www.blackanddecker.com.
Note: Tom Kraeutler is the Home Improvement Editor for AOL and host of The Money Pit, a nationally syndicated home improvement radio program. To find a local radio station, download the show’s podcast or sign-up for Tom’s free weekly e-newsletter, visit the program’s website.
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