Tools & toys
Posted on Saturday, March 22, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Style/220511/
Fiskars Garden Multi-Tool
What’s to love: Both sides of pruning-shear blades are sharpened for different uses.
What it does: The palm-size tool slices, saws, snips and cuts. Includes pruning / multipurpose snip, fineedged knife and serrated knife plus wire cutting notch. Made of hardened 2 3 / 8-inch precision-ground stainless steel blades.
Price: $ 20; available at Target, Sears, Wal-Mart.
Kithaus What’s to love: It’s a prefabricated 9-by-13-foot structure requiring no heavy equipment to install.
What it does: Installation by professional service or two or three people with some construction experience takes only a few days because of the built-in clamping system. Made of aluminum and ipe (a South American hardwood ) that resists insects, decay, mold. Floor, ceiling, walls are structurally insulated panels. Dual-glazed windows, doors have high thermal performance, locks and screens.
Sliding louvers on two sides operate independent of sliding doors. Pre-wired for data port connection box, ceiling hookup, wall switch. Never needs painting. Adjustable steel footings for uneven terrain (foundation usually unnecessary ). Comes with or without decks, louvers and canopies.
Price: Complete Kithaus $ 44, 900; base model $ 29, 500 plus shipping, installation, tax (if applicable ). Solar package available. View www. dwr. com.