When the lights go out, and everything else goes with them, grab this dynamo light, radio, siren and power source. The am/fm radio has an antenna; the flashlight switches from (1) to (3) LEDs, all through collimating lenses; and there are both a 1/8" headphone jack and a 3.5mm power output jack, plus a 22" USB jumper cord. All this in a packable 7-1/2" long x 2" dia hand-crank flashlight-shaped unit with a recharging storage battery.

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.

On a stick. This 6-draw telescoping tool has a 1" steel alligator clip on the business end. Extends from 8-1/2" (with a pocket clip) to 36" long. Use it to light pilot lights and over-primed grills, to hold a magnet and grab lost screws, to fish wires, or to deliver stuff to the guy in the next cell. Unscrew the gator and it's a simple pointer, or you can put anything else with a 5/32"-36 thread on the end.

These non-fog not-really-welding goggles are just what you need to cap off your costume. Sure, the flip-up dark lenses are too dark to see through easily (that's why they have conventional clear plastic lenses underneath them), but leaving them flipped up just adds to your zany, adventurous, steampunk persona. Aesthetics include side vents and an adjustable elastic head strap. And the goggles accept standard 50mm replacement lenses, but if you think the party is going to be that rough, we suggest that it would be cheaper and easier to just buy a couple of pairs at this price-from-the-past.

Long nose, like Cyrano. Unlike Cyrano, these pliers measure 6" long in nickel-plated steel with mostly serrated jaws and a cutting edge near the pivot, where it ought to be. Handles are dipped in rubber to help prevent electrocution.

Shove these down the throat of your bigger bottles or tubes and clean up. Measure 16" long over all, with 4" long x 1-1/2" dia spiral nylon bristles on a stainless steel handle and a small, but bendable, metal nub on the bottom.

Whip any number of small things into shape with our set of (30) assorted diamond burs and bits-cylinders, ball-tips, cones and points in graduated sizes. All with 1/8" shanks and all 180 grit, in a black-plastic case with a clear top. Not the super-expensive grade 3 quality, but these are definitely grade 2 and-are you ready for this?-better than the average bur!

Banish plastic calipers. Replace them with these brushed stainless steel locking calipers. They measure spans up to 5" in 1/16" increments and 125mm in 1mm increments, and these are real beauties. Terry's buying a pair to use as a paperweight and have them on his desk, just in case calipers go the way of the slide rule and micrometer. Figures he owes it to his future grandkids to introduce them to these cool tools.

Cut ceramics, glass, metal and plastics with this set of (2) diamond saw blades for rotary tools. The 1-3/16" dia blades have a diamond-encrusted tip. Includes a 1/8" shank. Everybody's got something that needs cutting, and these blades will do it with precision.

A 2-1/2" x 1-5/8" plastic-framed mirror swivels on a ball-joint mount at the end of telescoping handle that stores at 8" long and extends to 31". The contoured rubber-coated handle makes those double-shift inspection days a little easier.

This set of (10) diamond hole saws could (extremely theoretically) cut holes in diamonds, but mostly they're for glass, ceramic, marble, slate and tiles. You get 40-grit, diamond-core hole saws at 1/8", 5/32", 13/64", 1/4", 9/32", 5/16", 11/32", 3/8", 7/16" and 1/2" OD, all 2-1/2" long with 1/8" shanks.

That’s a seldom-heard auto and woodshop taunt. Also true of this, our largest ratcheting long-nose plier clamp. Measures 9-1/2” long with 3-3/4” long serrated jaws that have pivoting end pads. Opens to a yawning 3-1/8” and has a quick-release trigger.

This aluminum alloy Versa Beam® tactical flashlight has an astounding (6) modes: low, medium and high flashlight; strobe and SOS at up to 350 lumens; and a 200-lumen side beam, which turns the whole thing into a lantern when you pull both ends apart and expand it. Also has a magnetic base. Weather-resistant, it measures 1-1/2" dia x just shy of 6” long, sliding open to 7”. You add a trio of “AAA” batteries, conveniently available right here, for (5) hours of light.

This mini version has all of the big guy's abilities on a slightly reduced scale. The bench-top drill press measures approx 15" tall overall on a 6-1/2" x 9" x 1" cast-iron base with a 1-5/16" dia x 11-5/8" tall column. Max working distance is approx 6". Chuck opens to 5/16", throw is 3/4". It's 120VAC, and has (3) speed ranges, up to 5000, 6,500, and 8000 rpm. Includes (2) Allen wrenches, chuck key, and, believe it or not, an instruction booklet that is easy to understand.

Super-long Q-type tips are for people who don't want to get too close to their ears. Actually, these are tech swabs with cotton tops and wooden sticks for lab work, so leave your ears out of it. Good for other body parts, though, and for too many craft applications to list. You get (3) packs, for a total of (300) 6-1/4" long fuzzy-topped sticks.

It's stylish, it's handy, it has a slightly menacing look to it, and-truth be told-it's a lot of fun. It's a handheld butane torch, great for everyone: in the lab, under the hood, working with circuitry, heck, a chef can even use it to flambé the dessert. 6-1/4" tall, 3-5/8" x 2-1/4" dia base, 3-5/8" long at the top, with a textured grip, push-button start with safety, and air adjustment to control the size of the flame. Easy to fill with butane, which you'll need to do 'cause no fuel is included.

Small protective goggles, for kids or anybody else with, well, a little head. (You know who you are.) They're 5" across, or 15% smaller than standard goggles. Nice quality, with a plastic lens and indirect ventilation. They meet ANSI standards for protection from flying chips and particles. Flexible, clear-vinyl body with adjustable elastic headband.

Small, but mighty useful if you need a tiny tap and die set for threading wire or stripped screws. The micro set has a 3-1/4" long die plate and 14 taps (sizes 7 through 20 -- read 0.7 mm through 2.0 mm), and a mighty attractive price. A little oily in its vinyl storage pouch -- but it's all steel, after all, and has to safeguard its complexion.