Want to look important and transport lots of stuff while doing it? Get this blow-molded takeout black plastic case measuring 19" x 14-1/2" x 7-5/8" externally (17-1/2" x 13" x 6-7/8" inside) with two latches and a 4" wide handle. Bigger than a classic black briefcase, it’ll leave people guessing about what’s in it and who you are.

These cute clear glass jars measures approx 1-3/4" dia x 1-1/2" tall, counting the black metal gasketed screw cap. Hold 1 oz each. So now go invent a lip balm and get as rich as Burt and his bees before he lost them in the divorce settlement. You know those little jelly jars at breakfast joints? These are kind of like those. You’ve got a million uses for them.

These (3) different Blokko building block sets are compatible with you-know-what, including a (117)-piece candy machine, a (109)-piece ATM (candy of a different kind), and a (111)-piece desk organizer. Each will be approx 3" x 2" x 2" when assembled, and will give a kid a nice sense of accomplishment. We’ll send you (2) different ones. Ages 6+.

Sometimes called Linemen’s Pliers or TLs, as in telephone lineman, who we remember screaming as they slid down splinter-covered poles in the Army Pole-Lineman School at Ft. Lewis, Washington in 1966, but that’s another story. Anywho, you don’t need to be a lineman (or from Wichita) to need these 7-7/8" chrome-vanadium combination pliers with 1-5/8" jaws, 9/16" being cutters, 1/2" being pipe-grip teeth, and 1/2" being flat serrated grippers. They’re rubber coated and have braces/hilts on both sides. We love us some chrome vanadium!

Get your budding inventor a copy of Extreme Garage Science for Kids. Published by the Action Lab Channel on YouTube, the book outlines (30) fun and educational experiments using common household items and chemicals, plus a laser pointer, dry ice, glow in the dark stars, a basketball and common household gravity. Profusely illustrated, with easy-to-follow instructions.

Just like our famous cow popper, but this guy is a 5-1/4” tall rubber axolotl with a mouth big enough to take a 1-1/8” dia foam ball and spit it 20 feet when you squeeze it, as you will want to do. And if you’re axolotl-ignorant, they’re neotenic salamanders, the world’s cutest amphibians, and they also answer to “Mexican walking fish.” Ours come with (6) foam balls for your axolotl-squeezing convenience. For ages 4+.

Your better scissors, like these from Clauss, are made from titanium-bonded® steel and have serrated blades with a slip-joint fulcrum. Measure 8” long overall with 3-1/2” blades and recycled contoured plastic handles. Includes a black nylon carrying pouch with a belt loop for traveling crafters or gardeners.

The illumination oxymoron: bulbs don’t need to be bulbous in a world of LEDs. These LED bulbs from Philips have a traditional bulb profile but are 1” wide when turned sideways and still cast a 360-degree light. Draw just 10.5W but shine a 60W equivalent. 800 lumens with a 2700K color temp, which is “warm white.” Standard medium base and yes, they’re dimmable.UL.

Box of 50 brand new N95-rated particulate respirator mask from 3M measures 8” wide with elastic ear loops, and a metal nose-piece. Keeps you breathing right. Made right here in the US of A.

This is no joke, because even we can’t think of any multimeter puns. This one has auto and manual ranges for DC or AC 200mV to 600V +/- 0.8%, DC or AC current from 200u to 200mA +/-1.5%, and 2-10A +/- 3%, resistance from 200-20M ohms +/-1.2% and 20M ohms +/-2%. Also has a type K thermocouple with Fahrenheit or Centigrade readings. (The package is mismarked, but the range should be approx up to 392 degrees F or 200 degrees C.) Tests diodes/continuity and transistors via an access socket that will accept any standard K-type therm. Has a 2-1/8" LCD display, max and data holds, a backlight, and a battery test with load. Comes with (3) “AAA” batteries. Measures 6” x 2-3/4" x 1-1/8". IEC Cat III rated.

Big Peanuts® puzzles, 2-ft x 3-ft, with (48) big, thick pieces for easy handling by little fingers. Particularly nice depictions of the characters, with some perspective. We’ll pick a puzzle from the group, which includes: Snoopy as a flying ace; Woodstock and bird buddies; Franklin; Lucy; Linus; Peppermint Patty; Marcy; and Sally. For ages 5+.

You say your office is the coffee shop on the corner? You say you wish you had a desk like all the big kids in the offices downtown? You’re in luck because this all-black plastic desk set has everything you need in a 4-1/2" dia x 4-1/2" tall rotating pen stand, including (2) pencils, a pen, scissors, 6” ruler, (5) pushpins, a pencil sharpener, small stapler with (500) staples, (10) paper clips, a gum eraser and a staple remover. It’ll be like having a job!

Attention, device users (in other words, everyone). This 12VDC 5A adapter features a cigarette plug socket attached to a pair of 14” leads with insulated 3” battery clamps on the ends. This allows you to connect to a battery and run devices that have a cigarette plug. The package says the leads are 10 feet long, and implies an auto battery-charging application, but we know this adapter has other uses, and so do you. Not fused, and 5A max. The surplusiness factor is high, but we’re confident that you’ll find a fresh, innovative use for this. Or its parts.

Indoor reception--always the safest choice. You know, in case it rains. But seriously, folks, do you love watching TV as much as we do? Pull in your stations with this refurbished passive indoor antenna from RCA. It’s passive--just like TV-watching! Has a pair of 5-draw 39" dipole antennas (or do you say antennae?), a 7" x 4" loop and a 54" cord with a coax “F” connector to hook to your TV. Base is a compact 5" x 3-1/4" x 1-1/4" so it’ll fit pretty much anywhere and won’t hog space, unlike some pets on some couches.

No bread involved, and they look like the world’s most complicated cribbage boards, but you circuit riders know what they’re for. These breadboards rated up to 30V at 3A each with stainless steel terminals. You pick the 1680-hole board at 8-3/4" x 5-3/4" x 5/8" thick with (4) columns of 5 x 64 points and (8) power buses total with (50) points each, plus (3) binding posts for power in and ground; or the 2420-hole board at 9-1/2” x 7-1/2” x 5/8” thick with (10) power buses total with (50) points each and (6) rows of 5 x 64 points, plus (4) binding posts for power in and ground.

Made to protect the noggins of British army cadets, these new, heavy black plastic Airsoft MK7 training helmets measure approx 11” x 9-3/8” x 7-1/2”, like a head, and are adjustable to fit yours. They feature a slight integral bill and ear coverings. The adjustable chin strap has ear pads and a quick-release latch. Made in the UK, because, well, they’re for their army.

Our all-time favorite misprint-special featured thousands of pencils marked “Pensil.” We don’t expect to top that, but we do have beaucoup black-ink gel pens with rubber-coated barrels and caps with mangled, mistaken, or over-printed promo messages. They’re yours for a song--or a half-buck each, whether you can sing or not.

Same here. So, when the world is too much for us, we strap on these 3D virtual reality goggles from Velleman® Multimedia and slip our smartphone into them. Most Androids and iPhones work, as long as the screen is 3.6” to 6”. Dial up Google Earth or some similar app and fly around the world, swooping down on the Grand Canyon, the skyscrapers of Chicago, the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China or the house you lived in during college--all in 3D. Goggles have 35mm lenses that adjust for up to a 95-degree field of vision and a shelf for your phone. Unit measures 7-1/2" x 4" x 4-3/4" deep with (3) adjustable head straps, a padded perimeter and a cleaning cloth. Don’t forget to peel off the film on the lenses, just like you usually do.

Like Sam Clemens, the reports of this tape’s expiration have been greatly exaggerated. It’s high-end, type-37 black electrical tape at 1” x 36 yards on a 1-1/2” core. The expiration date on the label is passed, but CJ, our Senior Tape-Tackiness Technician, assures us that it’s still “sticky as all get-out.” Made by the mighty Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing company. CSA.

We’ve got some excellent, snazzy glass-blown pendant necklaces here, each of them nice enough to wear out on the town on a Saturday night. You pick: vipers in assorted colors and in curled postures, between 3” and 3-1/2” long on 20” triple neck cords with clasps; or tusks/horns, which are curved to approx 2-1/4” dia, with polished steel end caps, and on very thin 17” snake chains. All come in assorted colors, and we’ll pick (1) that we think will go best with your eyes.

A big step up from the basic soldering iron, and much safer, our soldering station features continuously variable power between 5-40W, a 1.5mm pointed tip thin enough to use on surface-mounted components, a 4-foot cord, padded grip, iron holder, built-in cleaning sponge, and a stand-alone controller with a 5-1/2" x 4-1/2" footprint and a power switch. Grip is padded with a 3/16" dia shank. From Stahl Tools" for hobbyists, do-it-yourselfers and students.

Same here. Try the Ferrofluid Magnetic Display, a little sealed bottle with virtually fluid nano-particles of ferrous metal suspended in liquid. You’ll get (4) powerful 1/2” dia x 3/16” neodymium disc magnets, (2) of them attached to chess-pawnish holders. Move the magnets in assorted combinations around the bottle for fascinating effects. Sort of the marriage of science with desk toys, but students can’t spill these particles all over the place.

It’s faux hurricane season here in Chicago, and time to break out our faux hurricane lantern. Regardless of the season, though, it’s great as an accent light in any room, back yard or camper. Stands approx 10” tall x 5” wide, in steel with an antiquey copper finish. Has a carrying/hanging handle, and a push-button turns on both a 25-lumen flickering LED flame and an 80-lumen bright-white LED. Comes with (4) “AA” batteries.

Donut magnet you can take to town!! 74mm dia x 14mm thick with a 30mm hole. Very strong and well pedigreed - in fact, its kin are activating pacemakers. They are of a high permeability ferrite material with a lovely light blue or white epoxy coating. Okay, we have them because there is the odd bubble, slight scratches or the word MAGNET painted in the coating which ruled them out of the medical ball, but they're fine company nonetheless. Good display bases, paper clip traps, and super for classroom demos.

The manufacturer says these magnetic canisters are “ideal for storing desk accessories,” although anything larger than paper clips or pushpins will be tough. On the other hand, they’re just the ticket for storing glitter, confetti and other tiny craft supplies. Our each is a 3-pack of 1-7/8” sq x 1-3/8” deep white plastic boxes with little disc magnets in the bottom. Tops have windows so you can see what you put in them.

We’re especially high on this 5mW red laser level with a prism for perfect pictures, level studs or unslanted TV's. Measures 4" x 2-3/8" x 1-5/8" in a housing with dual bubble levers, pushpins and gum to mount it temporarily. If Bonanno Pisano had had one, that tower in Pisa might not lean at all, but, sadly, Alessandro Volta didn’t get around to inventing batteries for another 600 years. Speaking of which, you’ll need to add a pair of “AAA”s to make that red line happen.

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.

A classic returns! Our extra-large punching-nun puppet features a pair of thumb controls that activate very impressive jabs from both sides. A Nun’s Story meets Raging Bull. She’s wearing pretty much the same habit that Audrey Hepburn sported in the aforementioned movie. Ladies and gentlemen...wearing black and white, standing 12” tall with an 8-1/2” reach, weighing in at 1/2-lb… the Super-Flyweight Ecclesiastical Champion of the World, from Niles, Illinois...Sister Mary Punchyerlightsout….

So you don't have a gas jet in the garage? You don't think Margie and Ted are old enough to handle the high temperatures of a Bunsen burner? Our alcohol lamp is the answer. It burns alcohol (available at the hardware store), and is hot enough to boil water, to soften glass tubing for bending, and to generate the chemical reactions generally called for in science projects. The lamp is shaped like a long-necked ink well, 3-1/2" tall x 3" dia at its widest point and comes with a wick assembly and a handy little glass lid/extinguisher.

These SPDT momentary rocker switches from Otto® have (3) 1/4” quick-disconnect terminals and panel-mounting tabs. Measure 1-1/8” deep x 1” x 3/8” and are rated for 10.1A at 125VAC. UL/CSA. On-Off-On.

This sturdy steel punch for leather goods has a coiled-steel spring, and (6) screw-in punches. Make 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4 and 5mm holes, even in heavy leather. 8-1/2" long OA.

And in black and gold only. This 4” dia, tilting political globe has landmasses in black against gold oceans, and is available at a particularly teacher-friendly price. On a 3” dia base, it stands 5-3/8” tall. Quite complete, with names in small type. Anyone who beholds this beauty will see the world in a whole new way.

Little solder girls also welcome, of course. Teach a kid to solder with this AmeriKit® Learn to Solder Kit from Elenco®. The kit will result in a working two-tone and flashing Euro siren, and comes with a 25W soldering iron, a speaker, dual LEDs, 4” side cutters and a spool of lead-free rosin-core solder. Includes detailed instructions for ages 12+.

Flip up the 2-1/2” brim on this soft, camo battle cap from the Italian military, and you’ll achieve something like a Beetle Bailey insouciance, with an Italian flavor. Call it sprezzatura. (Just go look it up, Sparky.) Sized M, but ours was a touch tight on a 7-3/8 capo, so think S/M. Has an elastic band in back, and little vents on the sides for you hotheads.

Or store it, so you don’t lose it. These Store More Stow & Go totes come directly from TV hucksters to us, so we could cut the price. You’ll get (3) woven polypropylene bags in exciting stripes with handles galore, all with little windows in case you forget what you put inside, plus self-repairing zippers and genuine gussets like your great-grandmother knew how to sew. Includes (1) XL at 46” x 22” x 16”; (1) Large at 30” x 26” x 12”; and (1) Medium at 21” x 19” x 12”.

And people won't crash into you, because nothing says safety like this high-quality reflective tape, the same material that's used to make stop signs. You get (4) glossy, self-adhesive red reflective tapes, 12" long x 3/4" wide. We're thinking bike fenders and helmets, dog collars, garage door frames, anything that could benefit from a heightened visibility.

Not life size, because we don’t a have a jar that big. These dinos average 2-1/4” long, and you’ll get (20) of them: (10) in red, green or blue plastic, plus (10) that glow in the dark, which is better than the real thing. Dinos include stegosaurus, pteranodon, brachiosaurus, styracosaurus, dilophosaurus, T-rex, parasaurolophous, allosaurus, ceratosaurus and acrocanthosaurus.

From France comes this fun mechanical plastic bird that really flies by flapping its wings. It is about 8" long and has a wingspan of 16" tip to tip. Snap the wings in place, wind up the rubberband drive and toss it gently into the air on its maiden flight. It flies up to fifty yards with a satisfying fluttering sound. Comes with a spare rubberband drive mechanism.

If you want something done right…. And yes, that includes laboratory slides. This 17-piece slide-making kit from Elenco includes (10) blanks, (12) cover glasses, labels, and static slide covers, magnifier, (2) vials & graduated cylinders, shrimp eggs, methylene blue, micro-hatchery, goggles, and more.

Diamond files never wear out, hardly, unless you file diamonds with them. This 10-piece set of diamond files has an assortment of wedges, flats, points and triangle files, all 6” long overall and up 5/16” wide. If you can’t find the one you need here, you probably shouldn’t file the thing in the first place.