Few experiences compare with the thrill of winning an award in your field. Whether the prize is an Oscar or a Little League trophy, its presentation naturally piques anticipation among competitors, presenters and spectators alike. The stature of the statue depends not on its physical size but on how much it is coveted by contenders and admired by fans. Though Meryl Streep may not be holding her breath over this eighth presentation of the HANDY Innovation Awards, manufacturers and Club members have come to appreciate the significance of this honor. After all, the awards do more than recognize companies that introduce impressive new products (or add fabulous features to upgrade existing ones); they also celebrate exceptional thinking and creative design. Try out this year’s 10 award-worthy products (and the dozen that earned honorable mention) and you’ll be the winner — any of them will help make your DIY endeavors more efficient, enjoyable and rewarding.
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 | | Cocktail, anyone?
Mixing a precise 50:1 or 40:1 ratio of gasoline and oil for outdoor power equipment such as leaf blowers and chain saws can be tedious, but 50 Fuel and 40 Fuel from TruSouth Oil ($23.50 for a six-pack case) promise to eliminate this chore and improve engine performance to boot. The pre-measured, stabilized cocktails are designed specifically for air-cooled two-cycle engines and have a two-year shelf life, so excess fuel can be stored safely.
TruSouth Oil (50 Fuel and 40 Fuel), 866-950-3835 | | | |
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 | | Safer Shop Saw
Spawned by SawStop’s 10-in. Industrial Cabinet Saw, the new 10-in. Contractor Saw (starting at $1,599) features an ingenious braking system that stops the blade within 5 milliseconds when it detects an operator’s skin. In addition, its smaller size and lower price make it easier to maneuver and more affordable for hobbyists and contractors. The saw has a riving knife and a hands-free on/off paddle and can be used with a jobsite cart.
SawStop (10" Contractor Saw), 866-729-7867 | | | |
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 | | Innovation on a Roll
At first glance, Frog Tape from Inspired Technologies Inc. ($6 to $12 a roll) may look like a regular roll of
painter’s tape (except for its signature green hue). But the company’s Paintblock technology gives this tape an edge (literally) compared with traditional masking tapes: It forms a bleed-proof barrier that stops leaks and eliminates the need for touch-ups.
Inspired Technologies Inc. (Frog Tape), 877-376-4827 | | | |
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 | | Key to Convenience
Kwikset has unlocked a new chapter in home security by introducing SmartKey (about $30 to $190), a do-it-yourself option for rekeying locks. The system’s proprietary Learn Tool allows users to quickly change locks and swap out keys an infinite number of times without the hassle of hiring a locksmith or replacing locks. SmartKey is equipped to withstand lock picking and other break-in attempts and is available in a variety of styles and finishes.
Kwikset (SmartKey), 800-327-5625 | | | |
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 | | Perfect Paint
Now choosing the right spray paint for your project is simple: Rust-Oleum Universal ($6.50 to $8 a can) adheres to nearly any interior or exterior surface and expands and contracts with changing temperatures to resist cracking and chipping. The multipurpose paint also comes with a new trigger system that allows users to comfortably spray with
equal pressure at any angle — even upside down.
Rust-Oleum (Rust-Oleum Universal), 800-323-3584 | | | |
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| | Cut Right Through It
Like a super-powered pizza cutter, Skil’s new 3.6V Lithium Ion Power Cutter ($50) is equipped with a faceted circular spinning blade that effortlessly slices through 1/4-in.-thick cardboard, carpet, vinyl flooring, wallpaper, window screens, etc. The tool also features an AutoSharp system, which hones the blade with each rotation, and a blade guard for safety.
Skil Power Tools (Power Cutter), 877-754-5999 | | | |
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 | | Flashy Faucets
Proving that diamonds are a faucet’s best friend, the new Diamond Seal Technology from Delta Faucet Co. features a valve cartridge with two ceramic discs, one of which is diamond-embedded and continually polishes the other. The combination of this system with InnoFlex nonmetallic waterways prevents leaks caused by calcium and mineral buildup and helps to keep water pure by eliminating contact with potential metal contaminants such as brass, copper and lead. Delta Faucet Co. (Diamond Seal Technology), 800-345-3358
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 | | Shifting Focus
Just when we thought the cordless drill had no room for improvement, TTI introduced AutoShift for its Ridgid and Ryobi 18-volt LiON models ($229 for a Ridgid drill kit; $199 for a Ryobi drill kit). The new technology automatically starts the drills at high speed and downshifts when it senses high-torque applications. Eliminating this manual step for users will allow for easier, faster and smoother operation while helping to extend the life of the tools. Ridgid (AutoShift), 800-474-3443 Ryobi (AutoShift), 800-525-2579
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 | | Groundbreaking Gauge
Finding precise miter and bevel angles on table saws, band saws and other tools with standard 3/4-in. miter slots is simpler and more affordable than ever, thanks to the Craftsman Digital Miter Gauge ($80). It includes a magnetic accessory for attaching to blades and a 15-in. aluminum fence for extending work surfaces. Other amenities include a backlit LCD screen with rotating display and a tone that sounds at every tenth of a degree.
Craftsman (Digital Miter Gauge), 800-377-7414 | | | |
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 | | Rock-Solid Tools
Taking inspiration from the Stone Age, Steel City Tool Works is using rust- and warp-resistant granite instead of cast iron for various stationary-tool components. Granite's superior durability and vibration absorption make it ideal for flat surfaces such as table saw tops, jointer beds and fences (shown), thickness planer beds, etc. The company is even using granite wheels inside band saws for smoother, longer-lasting operation. Steel City Tool Works (granite components), 877-724-8665 | | | |
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 Honorable Mentions
These 12 products deserve special attention for their contributions to DIY endeavors.
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 | | Green Colors
Plenty of paint professes to be free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but that’s before it’s mixed with colorants at the store. The Freshaire Choice paint ($35 to $38 a gallon; available at The Home Depot) earns recognition because it’s the first line to incorporate zero-VOC colorants, so no matter which of the 65 hues you choose, the result is completely VOC-free.
AkzoNobel Decorative Paints US (formerly ICI Paints), 866-880-0304, www.freshairechoice.com | | | |
|
 | | Pounding Pliers
Admit it: Haven’t you used pliers to drive a nail at some time in your life? Now Gardner Bender makes that perfectly OK (no guilt over tool abuse) with its Circuit Alert Linesmen’s Pliers GPT-90 ($23.99). A true multitasker, the pliers feature a built-in hammerhead on the side of the jaws, a terminal crimper in the jaws and a voltage sensor in the handle.
Gardner Bender, 800-822-9220, www.gardnerbender.com | | | |
|
 | | Heat-Loss Detector
With the Thermal Leak Detector ($50) by Black & Decker, you can identify the exact areas in your home where heat (and money) are escaping. This DIY tool senses surface temperatures to locate leaks so you’ll know where to focus your energy and your energy-saving efforts.
Black & Decker, 800-544-6986, www.energysaverseries.com | | | |
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 | | Quicker Caulk
As a time-saver, Kwik Seal 3.0 ($5.99) caulk and sealant offers an award-worthy advantage for DIYers and professionals — especially when you’re sealing around a shower, tub or sink. It seals in just three hours, allowing exposure to moisture in about one-eighth of the traditional 24- to 48-hour wait.
DAP Products Inc., 800-543-3840, www.dap.com | | | |
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 | | Oscillating Option
With the Multi-Max Oscillating Tool ($100), Dremel offers versatility on a budget-friendly scale. This 1.5-amp multitasker cuts, scrapes, grinds and sands, so you can tackle tough jobs such as grout removal, flush-cutting trim or drywall and many other home-improvement and maintenance chores.
Dremel, 800-437-3635, www.dremel.com | | | |
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 | | Mighty Miter Saw
Festool USA now offers its own angle on cutting compound miters: the Kapex KS 120 10-in. Sliding Dual Compound Miter Saw ($1,300). The German-engineered compact tool boasts a combination of features worthy of its high-end pedigree: extreme precision, excellent dust extraction, adjustable blade speed and more. Its unique rail design provides a cutting capacity that's greater than that of many 12-in. miter saws.
Festool USA, 888-337-8600, www.festoolusa.com | | | |
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 | | Hold-Fast Fastener
NA spiral shank and larger head size are just two features that make the HurriQuake Disaster-Resistant Nail from Stanley-Bostitch exceptional and innovative. This new fastener offers twice the wind resistance of traditional construction nails at a cost of only about $40 more for a 2,000-sq.-ft. home. Peace of mind: priceless.
Stanley-Bostitch, 800-556-6696, www.bostitch.com | | | |
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 | | It’s a Wrap — and More
IntrodGranted, it’s not exactly a DIY product, but Nautilus wall sheathing by Georgia-Pacific is a boon to builders -- and ultimately to homeowners. By combining the steps of installing sheathing and house wrap into one process, this first-of-its-kind product saves contractors and home remodelers time, labor and money. That translates into savings for the homeowner as well.
Georgia-Pacific Wood Products LLC, 800-284-5347, www.gp.com/build | | | |
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 | | Tape-Shape Wiring
Securing National Electric Code approval for 120-volt AC service was a milestone in the development of FlatWire, a surface-mount wiring tape that eliminates the need to penetrate walls when installing electric fixtures. Now the company is in the process of obtaining UL approval as well. FlatWire’s creator, Robb Sexton, expects the product to transform -- and greatly simplify -- the installation of power in homes and commercial buildings.
Southwire, 888-352-8947, www.flatwireready.com | | | |
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 | | Nearly Clear Insulator
What makes Energy Film a standout is its heft. Available in three sizes (priced at $18, $27 and $35), the sheets are thicker than other cellophanelike films, making this energy-saver much easier to handle and apply. Even so, the extra body doesn’t diminish clarity; the film is practically invisible, yet it blocks 97 percent of UV light while allowing 77 percent of natural light to shine through.
Artscape Inc., 877-729-0708, www.energy-film.com | | | |
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 | | Two Tools in One
Before the Rapid Shark (under $25) combo tool made its American debut at the National Hardware Show in May 2008, several Handyman Club of America members ran it through its paces in product tests — and gave it a 97 percent approval rating. With its serrated blade and built-in wire cutter/stripper/crimper, this is a utility knife on steroids.
Rapid Tools, (905) 336-0553, www.rapidtools.net | | | |
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 | | Solar System
Velux America Inc. has efficiently incorporated its low-profile skylight design into a high-tech, earth-friendly rooftop water heater. Utilizing Velux’s leak-proof flashing system, the Solar Water Heating System ($7,500 to $10,000, installed) (photo 12) offers a secure and aesthetically pleasing way to significantly lower water-heating bills.
Velux America Inc., 800-888-3589, www.veluxusa.com | | | |
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