Stuff We Love

Our favorite DIY tools, materials + gear.

- Spike Carlsen

QUALITY MATTERS

WATERING TOOLS THAT DELIVER

I’m not a huge fan of yard work, especially watering grass and gardens. So I pay attention to products that make it easier—and Gilmour has come out with two products that do just that.

The Circular Sprinkler with Spike Base (No. 3203) has all the features you want and need, and its design makes it intuitive to operate. You simply slide collars to adjust the spray pattern or pull up the top for full-circle watering. It has a simple lever for adjusting spray distance and an on/off switch to minimize back-and-forth trips to the spigot. Two sprinklers can be linked in series.

The Thumb Control Watering Nozzle with Swivel Connect (No. 4312) feels solid and has an easy-turn outer ring for adjusting the spray pattern. The volume is controlled by a sliding thumb lever—no squeezing or twisting to adjust the water flow.

The hose connection on both the sprinkler and the nozzle rotate independently, minimizing kinks and twists. They cost about $15 each. Learn more at gilmour.com.

READY TO BLOW!

PORTABLE INFLATOR

Air mattresses, inflatable beds, tires, balls, swimming pools— we spend a lot of time fiddling with hand pumps and air compressors. Black & Decker has made life easier with its MultiPurpose Inflator. This football-size tool can be powered three ways: 120-volt AC, 12-volt DC (via cigarette lighter adapter) or 20-volt rechargeable battery (it’s part of the B&D 20V MAX system.) And it’s packed with lot of great features: