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Cool Tools
www.kk.org/cooltools
34
Cool tools really work. A cool tool can be any book, gadget, software, video, map, hardware, material, or website that is tried and true. All reviews on this site are written by readers who have actually used the tool and others like it. Items can be either old or new as long as they are wonderful. We only post things we like and ignore the rest. Suggestions for tools much better than what is recommended here are always wanted. Tell me what you love.
#38797 in All , #10 in Gadgets

Red Pig 2-Tine Hand Weeding Fork

The 2-Tine Hand Weeding Fork (also called the Jekyll Weeder after prominent gardener Gertrude Jekyll) is the best tool for hand weeding whether you are getting out dandelions, clover, grass or what h...

13 h ago

MigrationWiz

After graduating college, my school email was going to expire and I wanted to keep all my emails. I spent hours and hours of research on how to automatically forward (or migrate, in industry terms) a...

1 day ago

Work Your Way Around the World

Its many a graduates dream -- pay your way as you travel around the world. I lived the dream myself when I was younger, so I know it is possible. Since then Ive been tracking this subject faithfully,...

2 days ago

Feather PaRaDa Nail Clipper

Despite their bizarre capitalized naming scheme, these are the nail clippers you want. They beat cheap drugstore clippers in two important ways. First, they start sharp and stay sharp for a long time...

3 days ago

Tear-Aid

Tear-Aid is watertight and airtight adhesive repair tape marketed for use in repairing outdoor products. I first found it when I was looking at options for repairing a tear in a self-inflating sleepi...

4 days ago

Stihl FSE 60 Trimmer

I have used several borrowed models of both electric and gas powered trimmers. The electric plug-in Stihl FSE 60 is my favorite by far. It is quiet and strong. The only concern is that when used cont...

25 may 12

Zebra Compact and Telescoping Pens

Ive always wanted a small pen to keep with me at all times for quick notes and such. Ive even considered taking a hacksaw to the venerable Bic ballpoint pen to keep in my wallet. One of the things th...

24 may 12

How to Find Free and Cheap Ebooks

Where I live, decent public libraries with connections to the software service Overdrive allow surprisingly easy checkout of "library books" wirelessly to your Kindle. The Overdrive system pr...

23 may 12

Codecademy

Learning to program has been a goal of mine for years, but its one that all too often gets set aside. This is fairly normal given the challenges that accompany trying to learn something as foreign as...

22 may 12

Earth Ponds

Ponds can be used for swimming, wildlife magnets, irrigation, iceskating, fire protection, water gardening, landscaping, and fishing. You can build your own pond in your backyard, farm, or wherever. ...

21 may 12

GGS Glass Screen Protector

When I buy a new camera one of the first things I do is affix a GGS glass screen protector over the LCD screen. I did this even on my prosumer digital SLR despite its scratch resistant glass screen. ...

18 may 12

Camscanner

Camscanner allows your Android or iOS smartphone to function as a document scanner. And while there are other competing apps from the few Ive tried its clear that Camscanner is the pack leader. This ...

17 may 12

Gantto

I am a self-employed writer who publishes a new book every 9 months and primarily works from home. For my first several books I struggled with time management and found I was constantly playing catch...

16 may 12

Rules for Radicals

Herein are pragmatic tactics for radicals and wannabe radicals of all stripes. Originally written for hippie revolutionaries in the 1970s, today both Tea Party and Occupy folks are quoting and studyi...

15 may 12

Cambridge Quad Notebook

Having just finished a year of math and science heavy coursework, I am confident in stating that the Cambrdige Quad Wirebound Notebook is one of the best tools Ive used all year. Notebooks may seem l...

14 may 12

Freesound

There are sound effects libraries that cost more than a small car, and theyre probably worth it to certain kinds of users — like movie studios or audio production houses — but not to me. ...

11 may 12

Big Foot Cargo Bags

Some weekend sports outings - climbing, skiing, camping, shooting, etc. often require many, many trips back and forth to the car to load and unload all of the things necessary for the weekend. I coun...

10 may 12

Manual of Field Geology

This book is an essential guide to how field geology should be practiced. It is simple, clear, and written in a style which is accessible to students and amateurs. Jargon is limited to the irreducibl...

09 may 12

Low-tech Magazine

I immediately thought of Low-Tech Magazine when I saw the previously reviewed Millers Falls Boring Machine. The web based magazine publishes a lushly illustrated and researched article every few mont...

07 may 12

Gloves Off Stain and Paint Remover

I carefully laid plastic on my bedroom carpet before painting my closet. But somehow my painting tool began to fall, and as I grabbed for it I dumped the latex paint on the carpet beyond the plastic-...

07 may 12

HandStands Sticky Pad

Several years ago, I bought one of these for its ostensible purpose: keeping my items from sliding around in my car. While it does that well, Ive since found these stickypads to be incredibly useful ...

04 may 12

Ticonderoga Sensematic Auto-Feed Pencil

Ive been using the Ticonderoga Sensematic Auto-Feed Mechanical Pencil (0.7mm, #2) from our college bookstore for awhile now. The difference between this and other mechanical pencils is that the lead ...

03 may 12

Eric Sloanes Weather Book

By means of insightful hand-drawn diagrams, Eric Sloane gives the best explanation I’ve ever seen of how weather works. Originally created to help sailors 50 years ago, it works for pilots, out...

02 may 12

Tritium-lit U.S. Military Wrist Watch

These days, wrist watches are hard to justify wearing; digital clocks are everywhere, and theyre generally always correct. But a Mil-Spec watch, made specifically for our military personnel, thats go...

01 may 12

Dropbox

Ive been using Dropbox for over a year now. It just works. It copies stuff you save to a specific folder on your computer to the cloud, while also keeping old versions around. Ive set up my daughters...

30 apr 12

Millers Falls Boring Machine

A "boring machine" (har-har) is an old hand tool for drilling up to 2" diameter holes in timbers, typically for timber frame construction. These boring machines (in this case, the Millers...

28 apr 12

ShopBot

The ShopBot is a low-cost CNC, or computer controlled router. Think of it as a large-scale milling machine. It is great for small-scale production runs of machine parts in wood or metal. A friend of ...

27 apr 12

Korean Stainless Steel Spoon and Chopsticks

Since experiencing the canteen at a Korean chaebol three years ago, Korean cutlery has been in heavy use at my house. The spoon — with its long, slim handle — is just the right size and h...

26 apr 12

Is This Thing On?

I teach Basic Computer Skills in the local community colleges continuing education program. Last year I used the previous edition of this book, even though it was 3 years out of date, because of its ...

25 apr 12

LowePro Fastpack

Ive been an amateur photographer for over a decade now, and in recent years my collection of gear has grown a lot. Back in 2008 I was planning a trip to Europe and needed to get a good camera bag tha...

24 apr 12

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