Show Notes: Cool Tools for Dad – On the House
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Show Notes: Cool Tools for Dad

By on June 13, 2015
measuring for plywood

Shopping for a unique gift for your dad, husband or very special person? We have some smart and useful gift ideas for your consideration, along with how to keep safe while working in hot weather and much more.

 

Father’s Day: Cool Dad Tools!

Father’s Day is right around the corner and we know Fathers, in general, tend to like tools, toys and gadgets!

The Maxxeon Workstar 620 Technicians’ headlamp is available for less than $30, has a rechargeable lithium battery, and is LED powered so it will virtually never burn out. Plus it has a serious “cool Dad” look to it.

http://www.coptool.com/fathers-day-2015-gift-guide/

Accutire Talking Tire Gauge

Accutire’s “Talking” Tire Gauge with patented voice recall function and last pressure memory

  • Operation Range: 5-99 PSI (in 1/2 lb units)
  • Patented voice recall function and last pressure memory
  • English / Spanish voice switching
  • Large, easy-read LCD
  • Auto-off
  • Ergonomic pistol grip handle
  • $11.99

http://www.sears.com/accutire-talking-tire-gauge/p-02815982000P

In1

The phone cases from IN1 not only protect a phone, but also provide the owner with tons of helpful tools. Think of this case as one step up from a traditional Swiss Army knife. This accessory is also TSA-compliant, which is great for dads who travel a lot. This case is available for iPhone 6 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S5, as well as the iPhone 5/5s.

Price: $25.95 (35 percent off MSRP)

In1case.com

Newer Technology Power2U AC 20A Outlet With 2 USB Charging Ports

For dads who love DIY and gadgets, this cool outlet makes a smart gift. In addition to providing an outlet for traditional plugs, as well as two USB outlets for charging tablets, smartphones, GPS units, and more.

The installation process is straightforward, so even dads who aren’t great at DIY can install this themselves. The outlet is also designed to prevent “vampire drain” when the outlet is not actively being used. Built-in smart circuits are designed to prevent over-charging, while shutters protect the USB ports from dust and debris when they are not in use. This is a thoughtful gift that you can install in dad’s living room, bedroom, or man cave.

Price: $23.50

http://www.newertech.com/products/power2u.php

 

Stay Mosquito Bite-Free All Summer With This Natural Hack

 Whether your propensity to attract mosquitoes is in your genes or not, the pesky bugs are a real summertime buzzkill.

Bug spray and citronella are effective at keeping them away, but according to a video by the San Francisco Globe, there’s an even easier, more natural way to get them to leave you alone. Just use a few ingredients typically found in your kitchen.

Using a two-liter bottle, warm water, brown sugar and some yeast, you can make a natural mosquito trap to use just about anywhere.

So get to work, and enjoy a summer free of itchy bites.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/12/mosquito-bite-hack_n_7569970.html?utm_hp_ref=huffpost-home&ir=HuffPost+Home
Take These Precautions When Working In A Hot Climate So You Can Be Safe This Summer.

 The summer solstice marks the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. It’s also a time when temperatures begin to sizzle, which can make home improvement tasks particularly challenging. There are precautions that you can take when working in hot weather that will protect your health and render more favorable results.

1) Keep Your Cool 

Working in a hot environment puts stress on the body’s cooling system. When heat is combined with other stresses-like hard physical work, loss of fluids, or fatigue-it may lead to heat-related illness or even death! Individuals over age-40 need to take extra care when the weather is hot, because our ability to sweat declines as we age. However, heat stress can also affect individuals who are young and fit. Water is crucial to helping the body adjust to high temperatures. The rate of water intake must equal the increased rate of water loss by perspiration to keep body temperature normal. When it’s hot, drink plenty of water! Don’t push yourself beyond your limits. It could be harmful to your health, and could put you at increased risk of having an accident.

2) Make Your Painting Project a Masterpiece 

Your painting project can turn into a disaster if air temperatures are too hot or humid. Most exterior paint is formulated to perform best when applied at temperatures between 50 degrees F and 80 degrees F. As the days become increasingly hotter through summer, the application and proper curing of latex and oil/alkyd paint can be negatively affected by excessive air and surface temperatures.The proper formation of the paint film can be seriously affected if paint is applied when air temperature is above 80 degrees F. Pinholing (tiny surface craters) can occur during application and direct sun on fresh paint can cause the film to blister. In addition, when the temperature of the surface is above 80 degrees F, it can significantly affect the dry and cure process and prevent proper film formation of the paint. Lap marks may result when the coating is applied to a hot surface.

3) Cementing the Deal

Concrete is also affected by temperature — too hot and it dries with cracks; too cold and it takes forever to set-up. Most small concrete projects should be poured when temperatures are between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, the concrete will begin to set-up in a reasonable time but won’t set-up before you have a chance to touch it up.Wet down all forms and substrate just before you pour in the concrete. This will reduce the rate of evaporation of the moisture in the concrete mix. Avoid adding water to the mixture because it will lower the strength, increase cracking and reduce the durability.Limit the time between placing the concrete and final finishing. Use a fog type spray nozzle to maintain surface moisture and to prevent evaporating away the “bleed” water out of the concrete mix before it can be troweled smooth. As soon as the concrete is finished, begin a moist cure by keeping the finished surfaces damp for a few days. On extremely hot or windy days, it may be best to reschedule the pour for a day with more favorable conditions.

4) Keeping Your Garden Green

Adequately watering your lawn to keep it lush and green is vital for giving that inviting first impression so needed in today’s real estate market. Giving your lawn an adequate hand soaking with a hose, covering all the bare spots that your sprinkler may miss can help green it up during hot spells. Avoid mowing your lawn too close during the summer months. Always keep grass an extra inch above normal during hot weather to avoid “burning” the grass. A nice soaking immediately after you mow will help revive your lawn. Avoid watering your lawn and plants too late in the evening. Watering at night can encourage diseases that can threaten the appearance of your plants and lawn. Keep potted plants well watered to prevent wilting. On particularly warm days, a saucer full of water underneath the pot will help plants thrive in scorching heat. Avoid severe pruning of hedges and shrubs during hot spells. This can cause browning at the top and sides where trimming was done.

 

More Toilet Talk!

The Loo, the Water Closet, the John. How many names are there for a toilet? Dozens and dozens. And that’s not even the most unusual aspect of the modern convenience that’s in every home and business in the United States.

“The modern toilet came about in 1596 when Sir John Harrington created a new type of water closet that involved a raised cistern,” says Adriana Miller, product manager at Mansfield Plumbing. “He designed a small pipe from the cistern. Water ran down that pipe when released by a valve. From that time on people have been trying to improve on the toilet.”

Today more than a million toilets are manufactured by the Mansfield Plumbing each year at the Perrysville facility.

Whether it’s called the Can, the Potty or the Throne, there are two “external factors” that make a toilet function — a person and toilet paper.

According to Toilet Paper Encyclopedia (an online source of endless fun facts), the average person spends three years during his or her lifetime on the toilet. And on average, consumers use 8.6 sheets of toilet paper per bathroom visit. Fast figuring computes this at 57 sheets per day, or a total annual average use of 20,805 sheets of toilet paper per year per person.

It still comes down to one key factor in many households — should the toilet seat be left up or down?

“In the worst case scenario, men ‘forget’ to put the seat down and women then go ‘splash’ during a nighttime visit as a result. I think we’ve partly solved this dilemma by offering the SmartCloseTM toilet seat. With a single touch this smart seat lid closes gently and quietly, which is a great compromise for everyone in the house!”

http://www.mansfieldplumbing.com

 

Website Mentions:

Brown Lawns Green – Paint Your Grass: www.brownlawngreen.com

Coast Lights, Knives: www.coastportand.com

 

 

 

 

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