TOOLS/HARDWARE

If you can find a slimmer toolkit for your bicycle, we’d really love to see it. Our 30-in-1 tool is 5” long when closed (a touch over 8-1/2” when open), 1-1/2” wide and a half-inch deep. Always a half-inch deep—and it’s made of black Titanium-coated steel! The Cycle-On’s (30) different essential bike tools include (12) wrenches (5mm-17mm), (5) Allen wrenches (3mm-8mm), (2) spoke clips and (2) tire levers, a cutter/stripper/crimper, a file, a ¼” bit driver, magnetic bit driver, medium Phillips driver, bottle opener and a ruler in both inches and centimeters. Even includes a case. Don’t ride without 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.

Our each is a set of (4) removable sink strainers with stainless steel mesh wells and flat rims. The set includes (1) 4-1/2" dia for 2-1/4" drains, (1) 2-3/4" dia for 1-1/8" drains, and (2) 2" dia for 3/4" drains.

Our smallest vise, and arguably our handiest around the house: call it the Jaws of Aluminum. Clamp this small table vise onto a surface up to 3/4" thick and let it be your third hand. The jaws are 1-1/2" wide and open to a maximum of 1-1/4".

These are the so-called miracle shears. They were designed for use by paramedics and others needing quickly to cut wire, light sheet metal, or other tough stuff that might stand between them and their quarry. They are normally demonstrated cutting a penny in two. Which they will do. But not as a steady diet. Let's dispel a few myths. While these are Pakistani stainless, we're not talking any miracles in manufacturing. They are good for their purpose, and real handy to have in the old tool box. But their purpose isn't making pennies into 5-mil pieces, and you will twist or break them at about the same time you find out that you've done the same thing to U.S. laws! For sheet metal or wire or fishing leaders or tin cans or whatever, be our guests.

Walking sticks have moved into the space age! This walker's/hiker's friend has futuristic features and the look of an inter-galactic weapon. The high-quality collapsible aluminum stick extends from a packable 27" to a full 43", and has a carbide tip with a rubber cover, a removable 2" dia disk to keep the stick from sinking into soft ground, and an internal shock absorber that can be turned on or off. At the top, a 5-LED flashlight with a 90° pivot is embedded in a molded-plastic cane-style handle to light your way. For mountain trekking, lengthen the stick, slip the adjustable canvas wrist strap over your hand, and clutch the stick by the padded foam section below the cane handle. Directions, diagrams, and 1100mm to 1350mm gradations are marked clearly on the 3-draw pole. We'll pick a black or anodized red, blue, or silver version for you.

This all-purpose scissors is the favorite of everyone at A.S.&S.: Pat uses his to cut and strip wire. C.J. uses his to slit the tape on packages. Mary Ann uses hers to open bags of pretzels. It's 6-1/4" long overall, with a very sharp 2" stainless steel blade and large, comfortable handles. It would sell for $9.95 retail if it was new, but it was used for one day to cut cloth in the assembly plant of a major car company, then discarded. Quality control is a wonderful thing.

This set of (6) tweezers is as useful as it looks daunting. The (6) stainless steel tweezers vary in size from 4-1/2" up to 7". Two of the tweezers have serrated tips one is inverse, one has a slide latch and the others are straight flat tip. The set comes in a clear front plastic carrying case. Good for model cars, planes or hard to reach splinters.

Any way you want it. This cast aluminum wire jig for jewelry-making measures 4-3/8" x 1" x 5/8" with (4) 1” x 1/4” steel pegs, semi-circular and triangular bending points, slots at 3/32",1/8" and 3/16" wide, plus one with a small divot to one side. Includes mounting screws so you can stick it to your workbench. Not into jewelry? Bend your own fishing hooks, S-hooks and soft metal strips.  

Cut your own. Our each is 16 feet of black flexible wire coated with 3/16" dia soft rubber, ready for you to snip off for your heavy-duty, padded twist-tie needs. Very nice stuff. Reusable. We're thinking cable bundling, sports equipments, tools, hoses, like that.

The boys in the back room called this IZoom Pro™ flashlight ludicrously bright, and they’re usually right. Rated at 300, 1200, and 2500 lumens with a strobe setting, light is through a reticular COB LED element with an adjustable focus lens. Takes (6) “AA” batteries, and they’re included. Measures 7” long x 1-1/2” dia in black aluminum alloy body. Has up to a 4-hour life, depending on the beam strength you use.

Stop wrapping duct tape around your vise, and protect delicate material the right way with this pair of hard-rubber, ribbed pads made to cover the jaws. The pads have (2) rare earth magnets embedded inside the rubber. Made for a 4" vise, they measure 4" long x 1-1/8" high x 3/8" thick with a lip along one long side. The rubber is 3/32" thick.

Yes, there’s a scientific explanation, but we prefer to think this magnetizing/demagnetizing tool relies on magic. Stick a screwdriver head in the bottom, it’s magnetized. Stick it in the top, it’s demagnetized. Fun for the whole family. Measures 2” square x 1-1/4” with stair-step ports for blades of different sizes. Never drop a screw again.

Teensy tiny brushes for cleaning teensy tiny tubes, airbrushes, spray guns, tattoo equipment, nozzles, etc. Think miniature bottle brushes. You get a set of (5) brushes: 1/32", 1/16", 3/32", 1/8" and 3/16" dia. All have nylon bristles, are 4" long, and are on a slip ring so you won't lose them.

Velcro®, Velcro®, Velcro®. We get so tired of all the time having to say “hook-and-loop fastener” that we get super-excited whenever we have actual self adhesive Velcro® brand Velcro® in stock. Which is what this is. Each piece is 5/8" wide x 13-1/2" long, in black, and includes both sides. Our package of (5) nets you (5) sets. Velcro®!, Velcro®!, Velcro®!

Our thinner picker-upper, but with a powerful 5-lb-pull, 9/16" dia magnet on the business end (for spilled nails, the screw that rolled under the stove, or the heavy wrench you dropped into the sump). The 5/16" dia x 5-1/4" long 4-draw barrel extends to a full two feet. Has a convenient pocket clip.

Pick up this 1-3/4" x 7/8" x 3/8" ceramic pick-up magnet while we still have it. It's in a heavy metal housing and has a stationary metal hoop, about 1/2" i.d., on top. The manufacturer tells us the magnet will grab up to 5 lbs of metal, however Pat and Magnet Testing Team #3 have repeatedly lifted 10+ lbs, so it's very strong. Especially if you're going to dangle it on the end of a cord to gather spilled nails or to fish your keys out of the lake/pond/sewer/drain!

..my sweet engravable you. Safeguard your stuff with this little battery-powered engraving pen. The 1/16” dia head vibrates to let you inscribe your ID on stuff  that might otherwise wander off. Surprisingly effective for a lightweight tool. Measures approx 6” long x 1” dia and works on metal, wood, glass, plastic, leather and more. Runs on (2) included “AA” batteries.