Bradd * Stratton’s Amplifi is a garden hose powering and storage system. Turn it on and the motor accelerates the water through your garden hose, multiplying the pressure and power of the stream. Essentially, it turns your basic garden hose into a sort of pressure washer.

At the end of the hose is a combo-tip nozzle with several spray and stream settings. Want to clean with detergent? No problem – a small refillable reservoir attaches right to the nozzle. The system also includes on-board storage for up to 75-feet of hose.

Overall, the Amplifi seems like a reasonably well thought out product.  Even so, we can see a couple of potential downsides. First, the Amplifi system is a bit pricey at $200. For the same amount of money you can get you a standalone pressure washer and a storage reel or container for your garden hose.

Second, the Amplifi needs to be plugged in. It does come with a 35-foot GFCI-protected power cord, so you can keep it plugged in 24/7 for always-ready convenience.

We’re told that Amplifi is great for washing second-story windows, watering a garden, soaping a car, and general outdoors cleaning. The powered setting provides 3X the pressure, 4.5x the force, and 2x the flow of a regular garden hose. This places it between a garden hose and pressure washer, which might be too powerful for everyday use.

Buy Now(via Lowes)

One Project Closer has been producing a string of really good How To’s lately, and their wooden planter box project especially caught my attention. It’s a simple woodworking project, but there are so many directions one can take in with a few customizations.

The project steps are laid out well, with clear photos and explanations. I have no need for a planter box at the moment, but following along gave me some nice ideas for a small tray design I have in mind.

Check out the full How To project over at One Project Closer. And while you’re at it, check out their incredibly detailed Pro-follow project guides.

Tool Skool discovered a very neat invention over at the 2012 National Hardware Show – an aluminum bracket designed to quickly create furniture out of 3/4″-thick lumber. These brackets, called 4LTX for their ability to create L, T, and X-shaped joints, can be used to build shelving and furniture of nearly any size and shape.

As soon as I saw the product demonstration video I thought of Rockler’s new I-Semble brackets, which I find to be quite appealing. But unlike that design, 4LTX brackets can be used with different board widths. These brackets are made from 5052-H32 aluminum and can be secured to 3/4″ wood materials with screws or nails.

4ltx brackets are reasonably priced – $6.50 each or $42 for 8. If you plan on making a LOT of furniture, you can buy a bulk pack of 125 pieces for $500.

First look via Tool Skool
More Info (via 4LTX)

(Check out Tool Skool’s site for additional NHS coverage. There are a ton of great previews over there!)

FastCap’s Handle on Demand and Double HOD are single and double suction cup handles that you can use in a variety of ways.

FastCap designed these handles to make it easier to lift and carry non-porous surfaces. Think sheets of glass, plastic, metal, coated plywood, and maybe even smooth-surfaced furniture. Each suction cup offers about 100-lbs of load capacity.

I sometimes need to move tool and supply cabinets around on rollers, but don’t want to install permanent protruding fixtures on most of the units. The double handle looks to be perfect for the job, and for $11 it’s an inexpensive risk if I’m wrong.

I’ve seen these handles used in random other ways, such as mounting points for clamp-on camera arms and such. Maybe FastCap will pick up on this and get creative with the next version of the HOD.

Buy Now(via Amazon)
Single Cup Version

Did you know that play sand is dirt-cheap? Actually, it’s cheaper than dirt. I was looking to order a couple of 15-20lb counterweights, and sandbags seemed like a good idea. Filled sandbags are only a little bit more expensive than empty sandbags, but shipping can cost a small fortune.

I decided to place an order for empty sandbags, and although they haven’t arrived yet I’ve been looking around for ideas on what to fill them with. Of course there’s construction sand, but I don’t really want to risk releasing such material inside my home or shop in case of a leak. Even double-bagging the sand isn’t 100% fool-proof.

There are a couple of other decent alternatives, but I’ll be filling my sandbags with play sand. At less than $4 for 50lbs via Home Depot or Lowes, it’s almost a no-brainer. It’s washed, screened, dried, and should be fine sitting in a bag for a couple of years.

$4 for 50 lbs of the stuff! And to think that I was considering filling the bags with lead or steel shot, pea gravel (which is equally as inexpensive), and even rice.

Yes, I know that using sandbox sand for sandbag weights may seem obvious, but the idea has completely escaped me until this morning.

Now, if only durable sandbags were cheaper.

There are many ways to bend sheet metal. If you’re looking for crisp and clean right angles, a brake is your best option. There are small brakes, large brakes, and super-expensive high-quality production brakes. And let’s not forget about the many, many homebrew brakes.

Although we’ve seen quite a few DIY brakes, several recent designs caught our attention for their clean appearances and well-thought-out functionality.

Homemade Mini Bend Brake - A small easy-to-build design by Instructable member Improbable Construct. The brake is mounted to a 2×4 cut-off, which is then gripped by a bench vise. Pop the brake into a vise when you need it, store it away when you don’t.

Large Sheet Metal Bending Brake - This <$100 brake is large enough to bend large multi-foot spans of sheet metal. The brake was designed by Dave Clay to help with his DIY aircraft fabrication project. (via Make)

Elegant Brake for Bending Aluminum Plates - This brake, designed by Runaway Brainz, is capable of bending thicker aluminum plates. The article also offers tips, such as how to use a circular saw to cut channels into aluminum plates to facilitate bending.

Do you use a homemade metal bending brake? Tell us about it!

Rockler has just released their new I-Semble slip-on shelf brackets, which are designed to make shelf building quick and easy. In addition to shelving units and bookcases, these new brackets can be used to build other types of furniture as well.

In order to build I-Semble furniture, the only tools you need are a drill and saw. I-Semble slip-on shelf brackets slide over vertical 1″ x 10″ (3/4″ x 9-1/4″) boards and are fixed in place at the desired heights with screws (included). Shelves are than mounted to the brackets to create a complete system.

Buy Now(via Rockler)
Buy Now (Via Amazon)

These slide-on brackets are made from ABS plastic and are sold in pairs of 2 for $15. And if you’re looking for more similarly quick and easy DIY-furniture-building hardware, take a look at Rockler’s I-Semble shelf blocks, which feature a fixed shelf height.

Too many DIYers buy safety glasses that are ill-fitting and poorly designed. And then, when a project calls for protective eyewear, the glasses are tossed aside for being too uncomfortable.

3M TEKK sent over a pair of their Forceflex safety glasses for us to try out. As the name suggests, these Forceflex glasses are designed with flexible frames for a more comfortable and effective fit.

The glasses are rated to ANSI Z87.1-2003 standards and are well suited for lawn and garden work, light construction, demolition, sanding, and general DIY projects. In addition to impact protection, the lenses absorb 99.9% of UV light.

The earpieces feature soft rubber accents that do not rub harshly against the temple – a well appreciated feature. I was concerned that the flexible frames would be too springy, creating a clamping pressure that would grow more uncomfortable throughout the day. But this was not the case, and at times I forgot I was even wearing the glasses.

At the end of the day, the glasses proved to be far more comfortable than most I’ve worn in the past. The frames and lenses are fused together, so there’s no chance of them falling apart even with rough handling.

A small microfiber storage pouch and neck lanyard are included. The glasses are available in dark blue with gray lenses, black with gray lenses, and black with clear lenses. MSRP is about $15.

Overall, we can easily recommended these 3M TEKK Forceflex safety glasses.

Buy Now via Home Depot
3M Safety Glasses via Amazon
More Info via 3M

Thank you to 3M for providing the sample for this review unconditionally. Review samples are typically returned, donated, or in some cases retained for further testing or comparison purposes.

Country of Origin: Taiwan (2-2012)

Our preference is to use the right tool for the job, but sometimes that just isn’t possible. If you don’t have a lathe and need to turn a few small pieces of wood, you can: invest in a small lathe jig for your drill press, opt for a small lathe bed for a handheld drill, or attach smaller workpieces directly to a drill or drill press.

One has to improvise with the tools available to them. Check out this poor man’s lathe, by Flickr member Funadium. While far from elegant, this is a simple solution, and as long as one is careful and takes proper precautions, it can be safe.

Photo by Funadium, used with permission.

Looking for some nice small projects to tackle but don’t want to whip out too many tools or supplies? I’ve got a list of how-to, DIY, woodworking, metalworking and craft books I could recommend, but those types of projects are not exactly fun. Well, they can be fun, but not in a playful way as the ones found in the following highly rated books.

Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction by John Austin

A more appropriate title would have been Mini Weapons of Mass Distraction, but that doesn’t take away from its contents. This book, and its sequel, show you step-by-step how to build a small arsenal using common office and household supplies. Just be sure to fire the mini weapons at paper targets and not people or pets.

Buy Now

Backyard Ballistics by William Gurstelle

There’s no much else to be said after seeing the full title, which is Backyard Ballistics: Build Potato Cannons, Paper Match Rockets, Cincinnati Fire Kites, Tennis Ball Mortars, and More Dynamite Devices. There are 13 projects in all, with many opportunities to modify and build upon the designs.

Buy Now

Forbidden Lego: Build the Models Your Parents Warned You Against by Pilegaard & Dooley

There are only five projects – paper plane launcher, candy coated catapult, ping-pong cannon, all-terrain Lego and high velocity automatic Lego plate dispenser, but there’s plenty of skill-building opportunities buried within. If you don’t already have a stockpile of Legos in your home, you may want to skip the book and pick up a Lego Technic set.

Buy Now

Make Magazine

I’ve written about Make a number of times, and for good reason – it’s a fantastic magazine. You can order back-issues or pick up a newstand copy to see if it’s worth subscribing to. New issues come out quarterly, with one separate special edition every year or so.

The magazine covers a wide range of DIY interests and hobbies. You can also check out the Make website and blog for an idea of what’s in the mag.

Buy Now

If you’re not familiar with MakerBot or what a 3D printer is, check out this intro to 3D printing video. In a nutshell, 3D printers are CNC-like machines with additive plastic extruders that lay down threads of molten material in a pattern to create layered 3D objects.

MakerBot has become the name in consumer 3D printers, and they just announced their new machine, the Replicator. Described as the ultimate personal 3D printer, the Replicator has a new larger footprint – 300 cubic inches, about the size of a loaf of bread. There is also a dual extruder option that allows you to print in 2-colors at the same time.

MakerBot Replicator with 3D-Printed Samples

The price tag on the Replicator is a bit high – $1750 for the base model and $2000 for the dual-extruder model. The previous premium model, the Thing-o-Matic, is priced at $1100. Before the Cupcake model was discontinued, it dropped below $500.

The extruder works with a 1.75mm filament diameter, and can be used with ABS, PLA and other similar materials.

So what can you make with a 3D printer? Take a look at the samples in the above image, and then check out the library of user-submitted models at Thingiverse to find out.

MakerBot Replicator via MakerBot

Have you heard about “Kid Wood” and “Real Construction” tools? These sets have been out for a year or two now, so you may have already spotted them in stores or a TV commercial. Kid Wood is an orange foam-like product that’s designed to simulate real wood, and Real Construction tools, made out of plastic, are used to saw and modify the foam. These products are recommended for kids 6+.

From the manufacturer, Kid Wood material is specifically created to look, saw and nail like REAL wood, but is designed for safety and easy for kids to use.

While I can understand the rationale behind these products, that plastic tools and foam project boards are safe for kids, aren’t these just toys? On the bottom of the products you’ll see a warning that “adult supervision suggested.” Although children can be creative, I doubt that most 6 year olds can create the type of projects shown in the many sample photos on their own.

Quite a few online reviews complain about the lack of instructions, but we saw full instructions online, although in a non-printable one-step-at-a-time format.

An add-on "Real Construction" tool set

I remember having a small project set when I was young, maybe 9-12 years old. It came with a mini hammer, mini coping saw, a bunch of hardware, and some wood. I could have used a little more guidance with it, but I don’t remember ever injuring myself. But then again, I was exposed to tools and woodworking at a younger age.

I don’t think anyone will disagree that kids can benefit from adult supervision when woodworking or faux-wood working. So if there’s going to be supervision, why not bust out the real tools? There are plenty of kid-sized tools available, and there’s no real harm in teaching them properly at a young age.

You can check out the line of Real Construction starter kits, tools and hardware at Amazon.

During a recent trip to Lowes, I spotted a couple of Red Toolbox project kits for kids. If their tools and kits are a serious as the Red Toolbox workbench I wrote about a while back, then the kits may be worth a closer look.

I greatly enjoy building things myself, but some of my scratch-built and DIY projects are not exactly elegant enough for certain environments. As much as I don’t like to admit it, my level of skill is not yet at the point where I can build a shelving unit, bookcase, or display cabinet that will look great in the living room.

Earlier this week I spotted the new Rockler I-Semble shelf blocks (model 47512) in a magazine ad that really caught my attention. I-Semble brackets are simple L-shaped risers that anyone can use to create tables, open cabinets or shelving units. The design is not super-elaborate, but they look classy and can help you built a functional project quick and easy with just a couple of boards, a drill and the included screws.

I-Semble brackets are made from powder-coated steel, and although there’s no word about how much weight they can support, Rockler says that two brackets can support a maximum shelf spans of 36″.

The brackets are 10″ deep, making it easy to find laminate shelves at any home improvement center, and 13″ tall, a reasonably good height. It should be possible to even use these with 12″ boards for greater depth and storage capacity, but 14″ might be pushing it, at least in terms of aesthetics.

I-Semble shelf blocks will be sold in pairs for $17.99 at Rockler stores and online. Also included are 16 black truss head wood screws, 5/8″ long.

Buy Now(via Rockler)

While there are other supports and accessories on the market, such as 2×4 Basics shelving brackets, I have not yet seen anything else quite like these I-Semble ones.

I really like the idea of these brackets, and have been looking to upgrade my two Z-line Gemini bookcases (in silver and cherry) that have been filled to capacity for a while now. These blocks might just be what I need.

While you could just buy one of those all-in-one home tool sets, you get better variety and usefulness if you customize and piece together your own kit. This also allows you to spend more on tools you plan to use frequently and to cheapen out on tools you don’t plan to use as often.

By no means is this an all-encompassing list, but I’ve narrowed it down to the 12 basic and essential tools homeowners and aspiring DIYers should have readily available. Think of it more as the first 12 tools (or tool types) a homeowner should buy. I could have easily expanded the list, but had to draw the line somewhere.

0. Safety Gear – Goggles, Hearing Protection, Gloves

PPE, or personal protective equipment is so essential that it’s number 0 on our list. At the bare minimum you’ll need safety glasses, but goggles offer added protection against chemical splashes. Pick up a box of latex or nitrile gloves to protect against potentially harmful or gross substances. Rugged work gloves are an inexpensive addition to consider, and ear muffs or earplugs protect your hearing when using power tools or noisier kitchen appliances.

Safety goggle recommendations; Hearing protection: Peltor ear muffs

Also worth picking up – a pack of disposable or semi-reusable respirators. Make sure they’re rated N95 or N100, or P95 or P100 for added protection against oil-based aerosols. You only have one pair of lungs!

1. Utility Knife

Utility knives are handy for a wide variety of cutting tasks, and are far better for opening boxes and clamshell packages than cheap paper-cutting scissors. There are plenty of brands and styles available, with basic models priced at $4-7. Tip: be sure to always keep a few replacement blades on-hand.

ToolGuyd Favorites: Stanley QuickSlide (~$12 via Amazon) and Dewalt Folding Utility Knife

2. Tape Measure

Tape measures are especially important for new homeowners and will be heavily utilized when planning out empty rooms. There are many brands, sizes, shapes, and styles available, and it’s okay to start off with a basic model. I recommend starting out with a 25-foot model for home use, and perhaps a small 10 or 12-foot pocketable model to carry when shopping for furniture or room accessories.

Inexpensive 25ft: Stanley PowerLock (~$11 via Amazon); Super-compact: Komelon 10′ ($7 via Amazon)

3. Multi-Bit Screwdrivers

Everyone’s screwdriver needs will be different, but a multi-bit screwdriver is usually a safe bet and can handle most basic tasks. Budget-permitting, a screwdriver set is also a solid investment and usually offers better ergonomics and comfort. There’s also the slightly above bare-minimum combo option: a multi-bit driver plus a quality #2 Phillips screwdriver.

$: Picquic multi-bit ($11 via Amazon); $$: Channellock ratcheting screwdriver; $$$: Wiha 12pc screwdriver set ($55 via Amazon)

Remember, one can never have too many screwdrivers!

3.5 Precision Screwdrivers

Most people neglect to buy precision/jewelers/mini screwdrivers until they really need them, at which point they run out and buy the cheap low-quality sets many retailers insist on pushing. For infrequent use, a 5 or 6-piece set for $5-10 set should suffice.

Trusted brands: Xcelite, Craftsman, Wiha, Wera, Felo, General Tools, Stanley (sometimes), PB Swiss, Moody.

4. Hex Key Set

Two words – IKEA furniture. Sure, a teeny tiny double-ended hex key is included with products that require it, but having full-size hex keys can make ready-to-assemble and knock-down furniture MUCH easier and quicker to assemble. It’s even better if you have T-handle drivers.

If you’re going all-out, ball hex drivers are better for accessing fasteners in tight spots, but straight-hex drivers can handle more torque. Consider buying an all-in-one hex key set for general purpose use and full-size 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm drivers for IKEA assembly and bicycle maintenance needs.

ToolGuyd Favorite: Bondhus ball hex (via Amazon), made in USA.

Tip: You’ll need both inch and metric sizes. Sometimes both sets are sold bundled together.

5. 16oz Claw Hammer + Dead Blow Hammer or Mallet

A 16oz claw hammer is great for driving in smaller nails here and there, and a dead blow hammer is useful for general pounding tasks. And yes, you’ll need both. For the claw hammer, there’s no need for anything fancy – a simple hickory-handled hammer should fit the bill. For the dead blow hammer, a 2 or 3lb model is a good choice, and at least one non-marring face is preferable.

Dead blow hammers can be expensive. If you’re unsure about needing one, consider a non-marring or rubber mallet instead.

Claw hammer: Vaughan or Craftsman; Non-marring: 24oz Vaughan ($20 via Amazon); Dead Blow: Nupla Power Drive ($37 via Amazon)

6. LED Flashlight

Think about a few of the times you may need a flashlight – when the lights go out unexpectedly, when an object rolls under a heavy piece of furniture, or when you hear a ruckus in your yard in the middle of the night. Do you really want to risk your flashlight failing during any of those times? For home use, a 2D or 3D Maglite is harder to lose.

Inexpensive and Trustworthy Favorite: Maglite LEDs ($15+ via Amazon)

7. Adjustable Wrench, Combination Wrenches, Ratchet and Socket Set

At the very least, you’ll need two adjustable wrenches – an 8-inch long model and maybe a 6-inch or 10-inch. Maybe even a 12-inch, but at that point you may be better off with a heavier duty pipe wrench. You can get away from needing longer versions by buying an extra-wide-capacity 8-inch or 10-inch wrench.

Two adjustable wrenches can accomplish a lot – one can hold a hex nut fixed while the other is used to tighten or loosen a hex-head bolt. Beyond adjustable wrenches, consider a adding combination wrenches, which offer greater versatility and improved clearance. A 9-piece metric and 9-piece inch/standard/SAE set should suffice until your needs grow more advanced.

You may not need one right away, but a ratchet and socket set offers even more accessibility options and a speed advantage. Prices range from $20 to $200+, and it’s okay to wait for a good sale to maximize the bang per buck.

Recommendations: Favorite adjustable wrenches; Combination wrenches: Craftsman; Inexpensive ratchet & socket set: Craftsman or Kobalt

8. Pliers and Cutters

This is another big category. To start off with, you’ll need long-nose pliers and either slip-joint pliers or combination pliers. Channellock or tongue-and-groove style pliers are also good to have. If pliers you choose feature built-in cutters, you won’t need a pair of diagonal cutters right away.

Mini bolt or heavy duty utility cutters and a wire stripper or general-purpose electrical multi-tool are also good choices if your budget allows for it.

Recommended brands: Stanley, Channellock and Klein

9. Saw – Hand, Hack, Corded or Cordless

At one point or another, you’re going to need to cut things. There are many, many tools that can handle the job, with new designs coming out every year. If you don’t know what you’ll need to cut, consider a jab saw that accepts reciprocating saw blades, and bundle it with a few general purpose metal, plastic and wood-cutting blades.

Eventually you’ll probably want to pick up a hand saw and hack saw, and possibly even a corded or 12V cordless mini reciprocating saw, like the Bosch pS60. Most basic projects, such as cutting shelves down to size, are best accomplished with a circular saw.

You can hold off on buying a circular saw if you ask the home center or lumber yard to cut your boards down to size before you pay. Most places offer 1-2 free cuts per board, with a marginal fee for additional cuts.

Recommendations: Hand saw: Stanley; Hack saw: Dewalt or Bahco

10. Tool Box

You will need a tool box to help keep everything together. Otherwise, some of your tools will end up in a junk drawer, others will be in the basement, and the rest will be scattered elsewhere. A tool box, even an inexpensive $15 plastic one, will help keep everything in one place. As your tool collection grows, so should the size of your tool box. Alternatively, tool bags often feature a number of pockets and compartments that can help with organization.

Recommendations: Stanley, Keter, Craftsman

11. Cordless Drill Driver + Drill and Screwdriver Bit Set

Cordless drill drivers can be pricey, so it’s okay to wait until you need one to go shopping. Selecting the right cordless drill driver for your needs is a whole discussion in itself, so all I’ll say for now is to stick to reputable brands. Stay away from NiCd if you can help it – you can often find a very good 12V Lithium ion model for the same price as a just-okay 18V NiCd model.

As for drill bits, screwdriver bits and accessories, you get what you pay for. Beware of cheap drill bit sets, especially those by unfamiliar brand names.

General recommendations: Bosch, Dewalt, Kobalt, Makita, Ridgid, Milwaukee, Hitachi, Craftsman Nextec.

12. Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum

This is one of those things that you might not think you need until you NEED it. Shop vacuums are great for heavier messes, and when vacuuming up materials that household  vacs simply aren’t designed to handle.

Even an inexpensive shop vacuum will likely last for many years, stretching out its $50-$150 initial investment. As with most things, the more you spend the more you get. Higher-priced vacs come with larger capacity tanks, additional features (e.g. a built-in blower and water drainage valve), larger capacity and longer hoses, more attachments, and longer power cords.

Recommended brands: Shop Vac, Ridgid, Craftsman

PLUS

There are several other tools that, while not as absolutely essential as those listed above, can greatly improve project results or make certain tasks easier to accomplish. At the minimum, I would suggest the following layout tools: 12″ or 16″ combination square with detachable straightedge, 9″ torpedo level, 24″ level and a Speed Square (<$4 via Amazon). And if you’re going to be mounting anything to your walls, you’re going to need a stud finder.

I was going to make these layout tools #11 on the list, but technically you can get around not having them. But how are you going to drill anchor holes for new window shades without a drill?

I Disagree, I Disagree!

I don’t expect everyone to agree with my recommendations and welcome you to share your own opinions in a comment. If you’re a regular ToolGuyd reader, maybe you already have a fully-loaded toolbox. Or maybe it’s half-filled and you’re still building it up piece by piece. Think back – which were the first 12 or so tools that you purchased?

Simpson Strong-Tie offers a DIY workbench hardware kit that is based off of their RTC24 3-way right angle steel brackets. Although a Strong-Tie workbench requires more effort to build than a 2×4 Basics workbench, there are two main advantages – greater load capacity and the ability to customize the height of the workbench.

The Simpson Strong-Tie hardware kit (KWB1) comes with 8 steel brackets,  200 Strong Drive self-drilling screws, and plans to get you started. Construction is as simple as with the 2×4 Basics brackets – cut your 2x4s, work surface and shelving down to size, and then screw everything together.

Buy Now(via Amazon) ($40-$65)

One of our workbenches is constructed using these RTC24 brackets, although we purchased the brackets and #8×1.25″ self-drilling screws separately. Overall the workbench has stood up very well to abuse, and is topped with a 1-1/4″-thick IKEA countertop.

Here’s a PDF from Simpson Strong-Tie that shows a few of the example setups you can build using the RTC24 brackets included in this kit. Note that some of the examples are built using multiple kits.