YOUR PLACE IF THEY BUILD IT, YOU WILL GIVE.Byline: Jaime Spangrude Stumped for holiday gift ideas for your favorite handyman or tool-time diva? Don't fret. TV's home improvement hero Bob Vila Robert J. "Bob" Vila (born June 20, 1946) is an American home improvement television show host known for This Old House (1979–1989), Bob Vila's Home Again (1990–2005) and Bob Vila (2005–2007). is here to help. Lightweight, battery-operated tools and laser-enhanced measuring devices This is an incomplete list of measuring devices. word Measures accelerometer acceleration actinometer heating power of sunlight alcoholometer alcoholic strength of liquids altimeter altitude ammeter electric current, amperage are among the hottest do-it-yourself gifts this season, says Vila, who just celebrated 25 years on TV with ``This Old House'' and most recently ``Bob Vila's Home Again.'' Here's a list of the best bets: GO CORDLESS: The Craftsman 19.2 volt Cordless EX Drill Combo Kit with Trim Saw and Fluorescent Lights will save you time on projects that require assembly. ``The 19-volt drill drivers not only fill in holes in the walls, but drive screws and fasteners,'' explains Vila. Available at Sears for $159.99. POINT AND SHOOT: The Craftsman Laser Guided Measuring Tool can calculate the distance to an object, add multiple distances and computes area in square feet and volume in cubic feet. It also determines the capacity of humidifiers, air cleaners and air conditioners. Terrific for anyone who is math-challenged and needs to figure out square footage or the amount of materials needed for a household project. Available at Sears for $34.99. GET A GRIP: Hang shelves and pictures without marking your walls with the Ryobi Laser Level With Air-Grip. The vacuum base secures to glass, mirror and tile surfaces, and the laser line wraps around corners. Great for installing chair rails, tile and hanging pictures. Available at Home Depot The Home Depot (NYSE: HD) is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services. Headquartered in Vinings, just outside Atlanta in unincorporated Cobb County, Georgia, Home Depot employs more than 355,000 people and operates 2,164 big-box for $39.96. OCULAR SAFETY: Safety should always comes first, especially when working around the house. The Craftsman Long Life LED/Lighted Safety Glasses are ideal for low-light situations on the job or at home, indoors or out. The glasses have polycarbonate A category of plastic materials used to make a myriad of products, including CDs and CD-ROMs. lenses, and the lights adjust to most angles. Available at Sears for $19.99. WORKSHOP ON WHEELS: The Craftsman 5-Drawer Powered Project Center is a must-have with its full-extension drawers, compartments for small parts and reversible work top. Includes tool holsters, a power strip with three outlets and a 12-foot cord, shelf and cord management area. ``It keeps things organized and locked up,'' says Vila. Available at Sears for $249.99. TOOL TIME: With more features than ever before, the Leatherman 830040 New Wave Multi-Tool with nylon sheath comes with pliers pliers, n a tool of pincer design with jaws of varying shapes; used for holding, bending, stretching, contouring, and cutting. pliers, contouring, n , wire cutters wire cutters npl → cortaalambres msg inv wire cutters npl → cisaille f wire cutters wire npl → , bit drivers, a saw and a serrated serrated /ser·rat·ed/ (ser´at-ed) having a sawlike edge. serrated (ser´āted), adj having a jagged or notched edge; saw-toothed. knife all rolled into one Adj. 1. rolled into one - made up of several components combined into a single entity combined - made or joined or united into one compact unit. Available at www.amazon.com for $70. BEEFY beefy, beefyness 1. in dog conformation, used to describe overdevelopment of musculature in the hindquarters. 2. in cattle, used to designate the desirable physical conformation of a beef animal, but an undesirable character in dairy cattle. BOOKENDS: Add a vintage touch to your home-improvement library with the iron-bodied Vise Bookends - sturdy enough to hold a set of encyclopedias. The steel screws are propelled by turns of the wooden handles. The bookends are 5 3/4 inches tall and 5 1/4 inches wide. Sold in a set of two at Restoration Hardware for $65. INCREASED EFFICIENCY: Illinois Glove Co.'s SilverBack Magnetic Powered Gloves consists of a half-finger glove with powerful magnets mounted on the back of each. Small parts, fasteners and tools - including hammers and wrenches - can be held in place by these strong magnets, guaranteeing that they will not be not lost. The glove is made from soft suede cowhide cow·hide n. 1. a. The hide of a cow. b. The leather made from this hide. 2. A strong heavy flexible whip, usually made of braided leather. tr.v. and comes in small, medium, large and extra-large sizes. Available for $29.99 at www.silverbackgloves.com, or call (800) 767-4016. CAPTION(S): 6 photos Photo: (1 -- color) SilverBack Magnetic Powered Gloves David Sprague/Staff Photographer (2 -- color) Craftsman Laser Guided Measuring Tool (3 -- color) Ryobi Laser Level With Air-Grip (4 -- color) Craftsman Long Life LED/Lighted Safety Glasses (5 -- color) Vice Bookends (6 -- color) Leatherman 830040 New Wave Multi-Tool |
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