TekPicks

I will blame my lack of children on just finding out about Charlie’s today but the stay at home crowd has been all over this laundry soap for years. And if the reviews are even half right, I will be dumping my usual detergent very soon. So here is scoop…Charlie’s only needs 1 tablespoon to eliminate oders and eradicate stains. Stains like those found in a reusable diaper. Yeah, sounds like my marinara and grease stains should be child’s play for ole Charlie. The word is there is no need for fabric softner either so not only is Charlie’s cheaper per load (only $0.13) but you save on not having to buy all the extra’s like Oxy Clean and Downey. I just placed my order today for the soap and all purpose liquid cleaner so look for an update as soon as UPS drops off my loot.

Link: Charlie’s Soap Powder – 2.64 lb Bag (80 Loads)

Filed firmly under you can never own too many screwdrivers…our current favorite is this Klein 10-in-1 model. Bit Includes: No. 2 Phillips with 1/4″ slotted, No. 1 Phillips with 3/16″ slotted, No. 15 Torx with No. 10 Torx, and No. 1 square with No. 2 square. The reversible bit holder also works as 1/4″ and 5/16″ nut driver. The rubber grip is a nice touch as well.

Many would argue that one cannot be a true Vodka connoisseur, because vodka has no taste.  While it is true there is no real taste, Vodka definitely has different levels of harshness depending on what it was made from, i.e. grain, potato, etc and how it was distilled and filtered.  Over the 10 years or so I have been drinking my pallet has certainly become more refined.  Recently, I have switched exclusively to premium vodka’s like Grey Goose, Belevedre and Kettle 1.  These are all great spirits and perfect for a normal mixed drink but all three still have a distinctive alochol overtone.  It is not unpleasant, but is it definitely there. 

For Christmas I was lucky enough to recieve my first bottle of Hanger One.  Friends, let me tell you this is quite simply the smoothest vodka I have ever enjoyed.  Mix it with anything citrus and you cannot even tell it is there.  Until you stand up anyway…

Certainly there are more expenisive vodka out there but typically you are paying for a fancy bottle and not a better quality liquor. By comparison Hanger One is about $36 for 750 ML where as Kettle 1 comes in at $22 for the same amount.  So here is what I do…Kettle 1 for a nice weekday cocktail, Hanger One for Saturday nights and Three Olives in the Goose bottle for guests. Check out Hanger One’s excellent website for all the vodka porn you could want.

Link: Hanger One Vodka

Its time to update our flashlite recommendation. Over the last few years the Inova T4 has emerged as our go to unit for several reasons. First, is durability. The housing is aircraft aluminum the has been hard annondized. We have beat the heck out of it around the shop and in on the job site and they still look new. Next is size. The T4 is impressively small but still comfortable to handle. Finally, we love the LED bulb that can pump out up to 175 lumens for 2 hrs before killing your battery.

The kit comes with a Lith-Ion battery, charging cardle and both AC and DC plugs.

Link:Inova T4-WB 175 Lumen Rechargeable LED Flashlight with Knurled Hard Coat Anodized Aluminum Housing, Black

I have been looking to augment my home theather setup with a Slingbox, but for that to be possible, I will need to add an access point for additional dataport that I will need as I have no intention of taking my xbox offline. I have been looking around for a cheap but faster router for a few days and stumbled on the TRENDnet this morning. It has something the company is calling “green” technology where as the router is smarter enough to know what ports are actually in use, devices are on or based on the the length of the cable run. The reviews are great and the prices are right starting at just $14.99 so if you are in the market be sure to check out the whole line including the wireless-N options.

Link: TRENDnet Green Routers

It is no secret that I have hearted the recent explosion of Lith-Ion powered microtools from manufactures like Bosch and Milwaukee. The good news I am not alone in my admiration of these tools as they have proven to be a retail sucess as well. This means the 2nd generation of these tools are starting to roll of out the factories bringing some much appreciated improvements. The Bosch PS21 is a perfect example that you can no longer judge a power tool by its size.

At first glance, you might be wondering what the heck was Bosch thinking? This looks like a toy! But just see what the guys over at Tool Snob had to say…

“First off, the power out of this little tool is incredible. Not to mention that it’s smaller than the competition. We were stunned when it had no problem sinking a 6″ Timberlok screw into a 2×6. We tried out a few of the other 12-volt drivers we have around (including the older Bosch PS20) and the results were pathetic in comparison, they could hardly even sink the screw half way. We then used the PS21 as our primary tool building a workbench and it had no problem dealing with 3″ screws. Sure, it’s not as fast at a 14.4-volt, but it’s getting there.”

All we can say is WOW!

Link: Bosch PS21-2A 12-Volt Max Pocket Driver

With the death knell of the auto industry sounding loud and clear, Autonet Mobile is looking to expand is customer based by offering is in-car WiFi router to the mass via Amazon. The idea is sound, but in my opinion the execution sucks. The box runs off of any EV-DO and/or HSDPA network (i.e. Verizon/Sprint/AT&T, although the published coverage map is VZW’s EVDO coverage) and allows you to connect up to 10 devices within 150 feet of the vehicle at average speeds of 400 Mbps.

What I find lacking in the service is the sky high monthly fees paired with the minuscule data allowances. 1 GB for $29 or 5 GB for $59 with a 1 year contract. That is inline with the typical national wireless carrier aircard fees, but with the Autonet you are tethered to your car to use the service, at least with an aircard, you can use your data anywhere. Plus the Autonet rings up at a hefty $299 after a $100 rebate. Most aircards can be found for free after discounts and rebates. Sure it sounds nice to be able to have 10 users on the “network” at any given time, but if you really need that functionality, the MiFi is a much better option.

Link: Autonet Mobile KT-ANMRTR-01 Automotive Wi-Fi Router

We are a Nikon shop for all of our high DSLR cameras and accessories, but if you are ready to put down the point and shoot model and graduate to a “Professional Grade” camera the choices can be pretty overwhelming. In our opinion, if you are spending less than $1,000 on your camera most brands will not produce a discernible difference in quality.

One factor to consider are the accessories. You can easily end up spending more on your add-on’s then the camera itself. That is one of the reason we like the Canon Speedlite 270EX Flash. It small, but packs plenty of power, has a wonderful range of motion including swivel and a recharge time of less than 4 seconds.

The best part is at about $150 the Canon Speedlite 270EX Flash is half the price of other comparable models. Plus as you get more comfortable and want to explore other options Canon has a whole family of EX flashes available suitable for just about any need.

About a year ago, Kobalt (Lowe’s in-house tool brand), decided to rename and repackage the venerable multi-bit screwdriver as the SpeedFit System. In addition to the standard screwdriver bits, other tools including picks, files, an adjustable wrench and sockets were designed and launched to all fit in one universal handle topped with a standard quick change connection.

What initially intrigued me about the SpeedFit product line was its versatility and portability. Any product that can lighten the travel tool bag without compromising functionality is definitely worth a look. That is where the rub lies, the SpeedFit’s functionality. It just is not professional grade. Something that I found surprising, considering its Kobalt pedigree. While a relatively new line of tools, especially when compared to Craftsman, I have found the brand to a worthy competitor when comparing professional/contractor grade durability across other manufacturers.

The SpeedFit lives and in this case dies with its ability to quickly change bits on tools on the go. The problem was, this connection was also the weak spot of the tool. It was not as solid and secure as it should have been, allowing for a little “travel” in the bits and leaving concern of breakage in high torque applications. So for us the promising system was a no go. But we do see merit in it for the typical homeowner or as an emergency car toolkit considering the variety of combinations the system comes in and its reasonable price points. Let us know what you think in the comments.

I am not sure a backhoe really falls under a “need” category for me, but fits into the “want” one. I can think of a bunch of use for it from digging out a new fire pit, laying drain tile, loading rock or mulch, managing a really large compost pile or just digging holes for fun. DR designed its backhoe to be light enough to be towable by a utility vehicle, ATV or even a mower. Plus its even on sale right now.. Let us know how you’d use it in the comments.

Grab It: DR Towable Backhoe