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I landed a gig writing a column for a magazine, and the column's about gadgets. Well, this assumes that nothing changes between now and then, and things can always change. However. I have it for now.
Anyway, I'd like ideas. Where do you go to get your favorite gadgets? What are your favorite gadgets?
They don't have to be just geek gadgets - although they can be. They can be fun, whimsical gadgets.
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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I've always wanted to try one of those vacuum cleaners they show on TV that is just a little round robot and wanders around the house on it's own sweeping up stuff, then re-docks itself to re-charge.
That just sounds so cool - even it if didn't work well, I would want to try it
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Krups makes this electric can opener that opens in a totally different way than any other can opener I've used. It uncrimps the rim of the can and doesn't leave a sharp edge. It's awesome.
I love my Kitchen Aid mixer. It has so much torque. It makes fantastic cakes cause it just mixes very well without overmixing. Plus the power takeoff on the front is super cool. I don't have any of the little add-ons that you can get, but there are spaghetti noodle extruders and meat grinders and all kinds of cool doo-dads.
Oh, oh, I LOVE the little pen-light things that sense AC power and light up if things are electrically hot. Before doing any wiring, after you cut off the breakers, you can point this thing all around the panel or box in which you're about to work and if it lights up then you're still hot. Obviously you test it each time on a known live circuit to be sure it's reading and the battery is still good and stuff. But it's super neato.
Another gadget I covet, though I can't really think of a use I have for it to justify it, is one of those infrared temperature sensors that you just point the little laser light at the thing or place you want to measure and pull the trigger. It then displays the temperature digitally from reading the object's infrared spectrum. They are so awesome. You can diagnose so many mechanical problems with temperature. When bearings are hot they are about to fail, for instance. On a hydraulic system, the component that's hottest is often the one that's not working right. Of course they're great for checking air conditioners, fridges, and furnaces to be sure they're putting out air at the right temperature. I think you can even take children's temperatures with one of these things if you point it inside their ears. I want one soooo much!
Another super cool gadget that nobody should ever be without is a swiss army knife. In a similar vein, I also want one of those multipurpose tools that are like needle nose pliers with a ton of other tools tucked inside, swiss army knife style.
Nobody should ever be without their trusty Fluke multimeter, either. Autoranging and extremely durable, it measures AC and DC voltage, current, and resistance, and will beep for continuity. The only downside to buying a Fluke is that it'll never break so you don't ever get to get a new one with nifty new features.
I'm not sure if they count as gadgets but something I love to buy is mini spiral fluorescent lamps that screw into a regular incandescent bulb socket. They are more expensive than incandescent bulbs but last 7 - 10 years and use far less energy the whole time. In the summertime in air conditioned spaces, they save you twice over, for they give off less heat as well. They also will cause less damage and lower chance of fire with today's cheapo fixtures. But do go one step up from what the package says. For instance, the 14W mini spirals say on the package that they give off the light of a 60W incandescent bulb. This may be true for the first day or two, but they soon appear a good bit darker to me. So I just step up one size. The one that claims to have the same light output as a 100W incandescent bulb only uses about 30W. I use that one in place of a 60W incandescent bulb, and so on. Still saves much energy but gives plenty of light. Their greatest feature of all is that you don't have to change them but every 7-10 years or so. I'm gradually replacing almost all the lights in my house with these. (Note: they're not suitable for damp locations or if you want to be able to dim them.)
quote:Krups makes this electric can opener that cuts in a totally different way than any other can opener I've used. It cuts sideways through the rim of the can and doesn't leave a sharp edge. It's awesome.
That's how the Pampered Chef one does too. I love mine.
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Oh, FG, I read up on it and had to correct my statement. Apparently it doesn't have a blade at all, and it uncrimps instead of cutting. My mistake!
Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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Teshi, that metal rubber is incredibly cool stuff! Man I love things like that.
Farmgirl, Bob has a Roomba. He isn't all that impressed by it, if I recall, and it was his lack of appreciation for it that made me decide not to get one when I was buying a new vacuum cleaner some time ago.
Anne Kate, all of those are incredibly cool, aren't they? I've been trying to come up with a reason to get the temp. measuring gun, but haven't had much luck.
Anybody else get the American Science and Surplus catalog? There is always a great selections of motors, lenses, prisms, springs and such in there, and their prices are usually good.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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I recently bought a shark cordless electric sweeper that I loved so much, I bought one for my daughter and her husband for Christmas.
I couldn't live without my kitchenaide mixer that I've been using nearly every day since Christmas 1987 - when I moved to Hawaii I brought it in my checked baggage.
My newest kitchen gadget (well, if you stretch the definition I suppose) is a micrograter from Crate & Barrel. It's great for zesting citrus, grating hard cheeses and fresh ginger.
Posts: 2069 | Registered: May 2001
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Kitchen-Aid mixers rock. My mother has had hers longer than I've been alive and it still works great. The only thing she's ever had to replace was the beater - I think it was 20 years old at the time. I love mine too, though I've not had it as long as she's had hers.
Posts: 5879 | Registered: Apr 2001
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Noem, I adore the American Science and Surplus catalog! The only thing better is their website. Between what I order for myself, and what I order for the school science lab, I give them a fair bit of business.
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- when I moved to Hawaii I brought it in my checked baggage.![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Between what I order for myself, and what I order for the school science lab, I give them a fair bit of business.
