First Impressions: Sequoia & Stalwart multi tools

I just got two new multi tools to review: the Sequoia 10-in-1 Multi Tool and the Stalwart Hawk Deluxe Multi Function Garden Scissors.   I haven't had a chance to really use either one much yet.  First impressions of the Sequoia tool are not good; first impressions of the Hawk Deluxe are much better.  I'll post full reviews once I've had a chance to test them both out.

Tool Reviews: Regal 19605 4.5" Diagonal Pliers

If you walk into a Home Depot or other hardware store, you can often find bargain-bin diagonal pliers for about $3.  These pliers are nothing fancy, but are usually sufficient for most basic jobs.  At Ace recently, I bought a pair of Regal diagonal pliers, model 19605, for about the same price.  Unfortunately, the quality of these Regal pliers is far below that of whatever bargain brand pliers hardware stores typically stock.

In theory, the Regal pliers seem like an average pair of 4.5" diagonal pliers.  The handle has grip, the plier jaws look sharp, and the pliers have spring tension.  But after using them just once, you can tell that very little care was put into manufacturing these pliers.

Even out of the packaging, the pliers already look used.  The handles look dirty, the jaws are scratched, and there are chips in the metal in three different places.  It's not just a bad pair that I got -- I checked out the other pliers that were in the same bargain bin, and they all looked similarly scuffed up.  It may have just been a shipment of cast-offs, but they definitely don't give me a good first impression for the Regal brand, and they sure weren't worth paying full price for.

The plier jaws don’t line up evenly with each other.  You can see space in between them when they are all the way closed, which means for very small things (like wires) it won’t cut them well.  Even just using the tip of the pliers, where the jaws do line up, the pliers are not sharp enough to cut a lot of things.

The closing action on the pliers is not smooth.  The pivot point looks like it wasn't forged smoothly, so when you use the pliers they stick for a moment as you squeeze the handles.  Lubrication on the pivot point didn't help at all.

I give these pliers half a star (out of 5 stars).  They barely function well enough to justify not throwing them in the trash, and they are certainly not a pair of pliers that you will be excited to keep in your tool box.  This is the pair that you toss in your trunk and forget about, just in case you ever need them.  But even for that purpose, you could easily find better pliers for the same price (or cheaper).  Amazon.com currently lists these pliers for $8.66 -- the picture shows the 6” pliers instead of the 4.5” pliers -- which is far too much to pay for this low-grade tool.

Regal tool reviews

Pliers:
- Regal 19605 4.5" Diagonal Pliers

Tool Reviews: Stanley 85-721 3-Piece 3/8" Drive Professional Grade Spark Plug Socket Set

Stanley is a reputable brand, known for good-quality tools. The Stanley 85-721 3-Piece 3/8" Drive Professional Grade Spark Plug Socket Set definitely falls into that category. The set comes with three different size sockets: 5/8", 3/4", and 13/16". These are three common sizes for spark plugs (the last size fits many lawn mower spark plugs) so it's a good basic set to have if you plan on changing or removing plugs. All three of the sockets use a 3/8" drive, so you'll need a 3/8" drive ratchet or an adapter.

The sockets are solidly-made, with Stanley's Max-Drive design for better performance. They won't damage your plugs, and they do a good job of both loosening and tightening spark plugs.  They seem very well-made, and so far have held up well over time.

The sockets come in a small sturdy plastic case which can be stuffed in a tool bag or hung from a wall or peg board.  The case can be hard to open at first, but it gets easier with use.

Amazon sells the Stanley spark plug socket set for $9.55, which is comparable to many other socket sets, and with the Stanley sockets you'll be getting good-quality tools that will last a long time. Eventually, you may want a larger spark plug socket set, but if you're just starting to work on engines or you don't work on a wide variety of engines, this set should work out well.  I give this spark plug socket set 4 out of 5 stars.

(Originally published on Epinions.com in slightly different form, November 2012)

Tool Review: Helping Hand 20600 12' Tape Measure

It's always good to have a tape measure around the house.  You never know when you'll need one.  A tape measure comes in handy for many normal household tasks, such as hanging pictures, centering a sofa on a wall, or measuring how much space you have for a new piece of furniture.  While brands like Stanley or Craftsman are well-known and respected, you can save a few bucks and buy a cheaper tape measure, like the Helping Hand 12' Tape Measure (model #20600).

The Helping Hand 12' Tape Measure is lightweight and small (it can fit in the palm of your hand).  Like many tape measures it has a locking steel blade and comes with a belt clip.  However, the fractions on this tape measure are better-marked than many other tape measures; the number is written for every eighth of an inch, making it easier to read and quicker to take measurements.

The tape measure comes wrapped in a black rubber casing, which gives it better grip and helps protect it if it's dropped.  The blade extends and retracts smoothly, and it is fairly rigid when locked -- as rigid as an average tape measure is -- even when extended out several feet.  At 66 inches the blade can still support its own weight without buckling.

25' tape measures are nice because there are a lot of times you'll need to measure something longer than 12 feet, but they are also more expensive, bigger, and heavier.  It's hard to walk around with a 25' tape measure in your pocket, or even clipped to your belt, but this smaller 12' one is very portable.

Helping Hand products are often sold at grocery stores and drug stores, so you may be able to find it in a local store.  If you can find it for around $2 or $3 (it was $2 at the drug store I bought it from, but that was several years ago) it's a very good deal.  You can buy it from the Helping Hand website, but it's currently listed for $5.99 -- way too much for this tape measure.  For a new homeowner or someone who just wants to have a tape measure laying around, this one will fit the bill, if you can find it for a fair price.  Amazon.com used to sell it, but it's unavailable right now.

This tape measure is great to keep around the house or even in a tool bag.  If you don't need a longer tape measure for your project, the Helping Hands tape measure should do the job.  I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

(Originally published on Helium.com, October 2010)

Helping Hand tool reviews

Drain Cleaners:
- Helping Hand 10000 Zip-It

Tape Measures:
- Helping Hand 20600 12' Tape Measure

Tool Review: Helping Hand 10000 Zip-It

The Zip-It is one of those simple products that when you come across it, you kick yourself for not having invented it first. It's a handy little tool that makes use of a remarkably simple idea. The Zip-It is great at unclogging sink drains, and it only costs a couple of bucks.

Made of a thin strip of sturdy plastic about two feet long, the Zip-It has barbs that run down both sides. When it's inserted into a pipe or hose and pulled slowly back out, the barbs will snag whatever is causing the clog (hair, dirt, plastic army men, etc.) and drag it out. It has a finger hole on one end for an easy, comfortable grip.

I bought a Zip-It from Home Depot when I was looking for something to unclog the hose leading from my dishwasher to the garbage disposal. I'd never heard of the Zip-It before -- I just happened to see it sitting on the shelf, and it looked like it might do the trick. It was only two or three bucks, so I didn't have much to lose (and nothing else I'd tried so far had worked.)

When I pushed the Zip-It into my dishwasher hose and retracted it, it came back covered with a bunch of black gunk. I was surprised how well it worked. My only problem was that it wasn't long enough to clean the entire length of hose. I shaved off some of the plastic around the finger hole to make it thinner so I could insert it farther, but it still wasn't able to reach the end of the hose. I finally duct-taped a thin screwdriver to the handle and was able to make it reach that way.

Offering Zip-Its in several different lengths would be a nice improvement, but as for the tool itself, there's really nothing to be improved upon. It's flexible enough to bend when following the curve of a hose, and at the same time tough enough that it won't break easily.

One advantage of the Zip-It being so cheap is that it can be disposable. Once you've stuck it down a few clogged pipes, it starts to get that dirty water stink. If the smell gets too strong (mine's not quite there yet) you can just throw it away and buy a new one.

The Zip-It is a great tool for homeowners. It's simple and easy to use, and it can prevent a costly service call from your plumber.  I give it a strong 4 out of 5 stars for its combination of simplicity and effectiveness.

The Zip-It is available from Home Depot, Lowe's, Sears, and several other stores.  It may be branded as Helping Hand, or Cobra Products, or some other brand, but it's all the same tool.  Amazon lists the Helping Hand version for $8.73 and the Cobra Products version for $4.77 -- both of which are over-priced -- but the Helping Hand website currently has the Zip-It for $2.49.  Home Depot recently offered a deal where you could get a two-pack of Zip-Its for about a buck fifty.

(Originally published on Helium.com, July 2009 -- review has been updated)