Some of us here at the home office have a special devotion to Betty Boop, the cartoon cutie who made Snow White look like Pluto. Which is why we snapped up these 9" x 4-1/2" zippered pencil pouches festooned with images of Betty on the front and a genuine, faux, black-leatherette back. Has a surprise polka dot interior and no, of course you don't have to use it just for pencils. Got intellectual property worries? This is an Officially Licensed Betty Boop product.

…is a very, very, very fine house. But it’s also complicated. Best get MyHome, a Snap Circuits® educational kit from Elenco®. Construct a house or tower with working 3D circuits to demonstrate how electricity travels and powers your home. Includes (7) colored base grids. Also features circuits, security systems, dimmer switches, automatic lights, alarms, motion sensors, fan speeds, appliance motors, generators and more. Includes an illustrated color manual with more than (30) projects and (60) parts. Ages 8 up to whatever.

Everything from Tolsen Tools is solid, and that includes this 8" long end cutting pincer tool with 1-3/16" jaws. It’s made of chrome vanadium steel, and you should get one for that reason alone. Not to mention the soft and grippy rubber-coated handles. Damn, we love quality tools.

You say you've always wanted a rooster, but you like to sleep in? Your mornings are safe with this 13” tall realistic rooster statue. In a medium gray, it looks and feels like concrete but is, like so much of modern life, poly-resin, so it weighs in at a rooster-like two pounds. Call it a fryer. Stands on an integrated 4” x 4-1/2” x 1” thick base. Nice as is, but it would make a dandy painting project, too. The Internets are full of dazzling chicken pics for inspiration. WFH bonus opinion: copywriter's spouse said “That is one good-lookin' chicken.”

There are plain ol’ planers and there’s the 42000 Planer from Tolsen Tools. This hand-held wood planer has a carefully sharpened, adjustable blade that can be used for soft or hard wood. Also has an anti-slip comfort PVC grip and a strong, plastic adjustment knob. Blade is 1-3/4” wide, and the whole shebang measures a compact 9-1/4” long. Store it in the sturdy cardboard box it comes in. Tolsen means quality, which sounds like an ad slogan, but it’s true.

From the world of Metal Earth® Kits, the domain of the sure-handed, comes this museum-quality 3D steel Star Wars™ model of an Imperial Shuttle. Clip the shiny steel parts from their matrix and assemble them with a tweezers—no glue, solder, or anything else but a steady hand required. Finished piece will be approx 4” tall. For ages 14+ on account of they’re toughies to assemble, but worth the effort.

From X-Acto®, the folks who make the precision arts & craft knives, the "Bulldog" is an old-school crank pencil sharpener with a translucent blue, green or red case so you can keep tabs on your shavings and watch the menacing teeth grind away. Unit is roughly 5" tall x 4" wide (including crank handle) x 3” deep. The square rubber pad on the bottom provides suction when the side lever is pulled. Works best on a flat surface, but you knew that.

This one does. Nap away the flight, car ride or afternoon with this U-shaped memory-foam neck pillow cosseting your head. The soft white knit cover has a skinny zipper so you can remove and launder it. Cover is 85% polyester and 15% rayon, made from bamboo and no, we don't know how either. We do know that bamboo is the new soybeans, though. Inside is gooshy foam that remembers. Go take a nap.

Lay a total of 1800 lumens on your work area with this 3-pack of hand-sized floodlights measuring 5-1/2" x 4" x 1-1/2" in weather-resistant housings with rubber corners and ratcheting handles/stands. Each has a 2-1/2" COB LED in the front rated for 600 lumens. Include max/low power settings and (4) disc magnets for sticking them up somewhere. The (4) "AA" batteries needed to power them are thoughtfully included. Also excellent for camping and emergency uses.

The Cybertrek watch, in appropriately heavy metal, has no numbers on its diamond-patterned face, but uses a series of blue and red lights to tell time. From Gadgets and Gizmos, who do this sort of thing. Uses (2) CR2016 batteries that may or may not need replacing (inter-dimensional travel is tough on batteries). We look at this watch and wonder if Neo himself delivered it. Time will tell. Integrated chain-link wristband band is 8” long. Replacement batteries available here. CR2016

Why yes, it is. There are three kinds of stunts, actually, in this box of (3) styro stunt gliders, complete with nose pieces and (3) sheets of stick-on numbers and aerial decorations. From Dabble Lab™, which says you'll learn engineering, basic physics and forces of flight. We say you'll have fun flinging them around the back yard.

That would be a library, we think, but the word's been co-opted by the business community for fliers, brochures and hand-outs. This literature holder is a single, in clear plastic, 9-1/4" wide x 10" tall with a 3” deep front pocket that will take a 1-1/2” stack of literature. Stands up by itself on little easel feet, or hangs on a wall from a slotted hole.

Yes, unless you break this cork-rubber ring, and it's a pretty tough puppy. It's also the perfect example of surplus—a punch-out from a gasket manufacturer. You’ll get the leftover ring, which measures 10-7/8” OD x 8-5/8” ID x 3/16” thick, and we'd list the myriad cool things you could do with it but we’d hate to deprive you of the chance to exercise your imagination and creativity, because really, how much exercise are you getting these days? You’re welcome.

Polyresin death's head stash box. Comes in assorted designs and colors, and the office deadhead boogied on over and snatched one right up. Measures 3-1/2” x 4-1/2” x approx 1-3/4” deep. Has a substantial heft at just under a pound, and the rubber-gasketed seal on the lid ought to keep your gummy bears nice and fresh.

Made to work with any wireless charging-enabled device, this inductive charging pad measures 7-1/2" x 4” in flexible non-slip silicone for gripping any surface, including dashboards. Designed with a tray-like depression, so phones won’t take a hike, it’s also a phone stand so you can see the directions on the GPS maps. Though wireless, it also includes a USB charging cable, which we think is a nice touch.

This is the warranty-violator special, or just a MacGyvering guys toolbox. The black, 8” x 6” x 1-1/2” zipper pouch holds a rechargeable battery power pack with a USB output, which will power the little, quite gusty fan, the 5-LED flashlight, and the reversible torquey screwdriver with tiny Phillips, flathead, hex and square bits. Battery will also charge cellphones and other devices. 

When temperatures dip, we’re reminded of the only phrase we can still remember from freshman Latin class: semper ubi sub ubi. Literally, that’s: always where under where, and damn if we can remember the word for “long” because we just got a whole Roman empire’s worth of snug fitting, long-sleeve thermal tops and thermal top/bottom sets in all the popular sizes—you know, waffle shirts—to fend off the harshness of winter. They’re 65/35 cotton/poly, so expect some shrinkage and plan accordingly. Pat is a size large so he buys X-large. In white and cream/beige, like a nice warm cup of coffee or cappuccino.

Show your friends and neighbors what appears to be a spherical fossil and then bounce it off the floor or wall and watch their jaws drop. This 2-1/2” dia, soft, squeezable Fossil Ball is a textured reddish-brown with tan highlights. Looks a little like a frosted ginger cookie—except it’s a ball. Study the dino bones on the surface, and then bounce it again. Ages 3+.

This sturdy messenger bag from Wanderer Tech is made of durable black 1680 denier ballistic nylon with royal blue piping. Measures approx 15" x 12" x 3" when empty, but is eminently stuffable. Has an adjustable padded shoulder strap, front flap with hookenlooper closures, zipper compartment on the flap, (2) side mesh pockets, pen slots and a pocket inside, along with a 15” a 10-1/2” removable, padded laptop sleeve.

And his trained artisans are carving their fingers to nubbins keeping us supplied with clever wooden boxes with hidden compartments. They’re made with no dyes, paints or stains and only from hardwoods—primarily ebony, rosewood, birch, beech, and boxwood—and using only hand tools. Pull the secret pin and find the velveteen cranny for your secret stuff. You pick: the Flowered oval, 6-1/2” x 4” x 2”; the Rooster box, 6” x 4”; the Surfer dude box, 6-1/2” x 3-1/2”; the Tooth Fairy box, 4” x 3”; or the Christian Coffin box, 6-1/2” x 3-1/2”.

Looks like a missing part from the Starship Enterprisingly, but it’s really just a dandy little 12VDC piston-action water pump. Originally used for medical purposes. Draws 600mA, has a rate and lift on the low side but should be fine for continuous use for you fountain fans. Measures an L-shaped 5-3/8" x 4-5/8" x 3-1/2", with barbed 1/4” output and 5/32” input diameters.

Rock hammer with one squared chipping face and one pointy picking face, ideal for prospectors, rock hounds, construction and more. A single piece of forged and polished steel with a molded rubber grip makes this a solid and reliable tool that will last. 10-1/2" long x 6-1/2" across the 20 oz. head, 1-3/4 lbs. total. Well made. Good buy. Good bye!

Looks like a cheap kid-sized tennis racket, but brother, this ain't for the kids. It's actually a fine way for adults to work on their upper-body strength and kill bugs at the same time. 18" long, with a 6" wide paddle lined with metal grid. A coil in the handle sends high voltage through the paddle when a button is pushed, hit a bug with it and the bug will bug you no more. We've seen these in other catalogs for about twice the price, so buy it from us.  2 AA batteries, not included.

This stopwatch from Bollinger® Fitness has 3-line, large-scale back-lit displays and is water- and shock-resistant. Includes a belt clip and a lanyard, because what coach doesn’t have a lanyard? Back-lit displays include time/date, 10-hour countdown range, and 12/24-hour format. Displays fastest, slowest and average lap speed and stores up to (80) laps/split memory with 1/100th precision. Surplus factor! Comes with a dead, but replaceable CR2032 battery, which we will include a brand new one.

Look, Ma, one hand! These 10" Powerbuilt® wrenches have spring-loaded, self-adjusting jaws made to bite, hold and turn virtually anything--round, flat, hex or oddly shaped--that will fit. The jaws open to 2-3/8" apart and remain parallel. Designed so the jaws will generate 4X the clamping power of the ANSI pliers standard. Unlike you, its jaws have hardened steel teeth. Good to have a few in the garage, workshop and camper.

Nice, new 6-volt lantern batteries from Ultralast®, labeled for the international market. Standard 2-5/8" square x 3-3/16" high, standard spring tabs on top. Advanced Heavy-Duty the label says. We'll price it to save you a world of dollars, pesos and francs, Pat says.

Who doesn’t? Try this set of (5) low-profile white, red, green and blue LED accent light pucks. Measure approx 2-3/4” dia x 1” deep, they’re powered by (3) “AAA” batteries each, included and you’re welcome. Turn them on manually to switch between colors, or use the wireless remote. Also has bright or dim white settings, 4- and 8-hour cycles, and (12) color permutations for your color morphing pleasure. Remote includes a replaceable coin-cell battery and has a 15-foot range. Lights come with foam tape for mounting.

No, O-rings. Get ’em here, because we got ’em. These black rubber (neoprene, we believe) O-rings are nominally 1-1/2” ID and 1/8” thick, and made in the USA. Use them for crafts, tiny ring toss games, in dioramas or dollhouses, as vibration pads, or in actual O-ring applications. Because, after all, they’re O-rings.

We don’t know who invented this hat, but we're sure whoever did would want you to wear it with attitude. In black or brown polyester faux-felt, it’s a tall top hat adorned with decoratives gears. Measures 5” tall and fits a wooden mannequin head perfectly.

When temperatures dip, we’re reminded of the only phrase we can still remember from freshman Latin class: semper ubi sub ubi. Literally, that’s: always where under where, and damn if we can remember the word for “long” because we just got a whole Roman empire’s worth of long-sleeve thermal tops in all the popular sizes—you know, waffle shirts—to fend off the harshness of winter. They’re 65/35 cotton/poly, so expect some shrinkage and plan accordingly. Pat is a size large so he buys X-large. In all your favorite colors, aka. chocolate brown.

Call them the croupier's keepers of keepsakes. This pair of nesting wooden boxes are solid and handcrafted to look like white dice with black pips. Fully assembled, they have sliding hinges so the tops will stand open. Our each is a pair. The large one is an 8-1/2" cube; nested inside is a 7" cube. Both have finished white interiors. Will they compliment your decor? Life's a crapshoot—take a chance—but we bet these classic black-and-white bones will look good anywhere. Go ahead, count the compliments you get on them.

These little LDPE plastic spray bottles are the kid brother of ones you rely on at home. Fill it with (1) oz of disinfectant or water and stay safe or moist. Measures a totable 4" tall x 1-1/8" dia with a safety cap so you don't moisturize your pocket or purse. You pick red or yellow.

You can store a plethora and a half of things in this staggeringly cute set of a dozen screw-top clear plastic canisters, 1-1/4" dia x 3/4" deep, that fit perfectly inside this 6-3/8" x 4-3/8" x 1" deep clear plastic lidded box. How they got those circles in a rectangle is a Euclidean mystery.

Brand new 2' x 2' x 5/16" aluminum frame LED panel lights. 4000k (Cool white or neutral) and operates on 120vac with the included driver. These panels fit into standard drop ceiling tiles and draw under 40watts of power making them ideal as replacements for larger fixtures. 30,000 hour life span. Did we mention they are dimmable. Super Eco friendly and make an incredible light table. These will require some wiring as the driver just has wire leads and no plug on the end. Approx. 3800 Lumens

Please Note: Item is not available for expedited shipping. Retail store customers: available by special order only.

Only dentists and lawyers put their degrees on the wall. The rest of us need someplace to keep the virtual sheepskin. (Degrees have been on fake sheepskin since the 60s.) Try this hand-carved graduation keepsake safe box with a mortarboard, rolled scroll and uppity thumb on the top. Measures 7” x 3-1/2" x 2" with “to/from/date/ occasion” space inside. Carved with a hidden peg to unlock it so nobody can steal the proof of purchase for your education. Made from 100% exotic hardwoods with no paints or stains.

And it’s cute. Just 4-3/8" long with a pocket clip, it looks like a pen but it has (8) driver bits stored in the barrel. The 5/32” hex bits include slotted 2mm, 3mm, Phillips #1, #2  and torque T5, T6, T7 and T8. We’ll pick one in red, black or blue, because who cares? In assorted colors of red, blue or black. 

This digital instant-read lab thermometer measures 8-1/4" long total with a 5" long stainless-steel probe that's resistant to most chemicals. Has a removable cover with a pocket clip, on/off button, and C or F readings (-50 to +300C, -58 to +572F). Button-cell battery included.  

What's afoot? It's the thing at the end of your leg, with the toes on it. But the games that are afoot here are all updates on the classics you grew up with. We'll pick a pair from our collection that includes Frustration!, Who's There?, Naval Command, Inline and Ooops!, which is our favorite based on name alone. All for ages pretty-little and up, this electronics-free family fun is for folks hunkering down and running out of things to amuse themselves with. When the hunkering is over, though, the amusement continues with these timeless games.

These translucent plastic booties might remind you of what your grandmother wore in the 1950s if you’re a copywriter of a certain age. If not, then they’re plastic shoe covers with a white rubber sole. Package calls them “drizzle boots,” which is as cute as a grandmother, but it also says size Large, which is generous. Sole measures 11” heel to toe, so you decide, but definitely for your smaller large sizes. Closes over your ankle with a hook-and-loop strap.

The smart cutters and choppers these days are using ceramic knives because they stay so sharp for so long, and who remembers to have their knives sharpened? Ours measure 7" long over all, with a red, green, or deep aqua handle, a 3" blade and a sheath. Don't go into the kitchen without one. Slice, dice, chop and mince, and forget about sharpening. Like you always do.