Within this column, I sometimes have the opportunity to recap testers’ product reviews on products from my childhood. It’s not often someone fondly remembers a thermos in great detail unless it’s the iconic Stanley^® green thermos. For me, it was Little League football and our coach took his thermos to every practice and game. Even my father carried the green icon on all our fishing and camping trips throughout the years. I can even recall a Stanley print ad showing the thermos frozen in a block of ice dispensing hot liquid into the cap that also served as the cup.

Stanley was founded in 1913 and is much more than just a thermos company. They offer full lines of drink ware, food storage, coolers/jugs and camping cookware. We received a range of products from a few of their collection including hydration, travel essentials and camping gear. We elected to focus on the hydration and travel essentials to cover the widest group of stores.

First up was the 20 oz. Trigger-Action Travel Mug followed by the 24 oz. Quick-Flip GO Bottle. Both feature 18/8 stainless steel, double-wall vacuum insulation and unlike many stainless tumblers/cups they are dishwasher safe. The trigger-action push button also means they are leakproof and packable for travel. All Stanley products carry the “Built For Life^®” tagline backed by a lifetime warranty.

Normally our reviews are for specific uses and require specific testers. However, since both products are forms of drinkware our options were limitless. Our testers ranged from tradesmen to soccer moms. Each wanted a simple product that kept drinks cold/hot for hours and were easy to clean after a day’s use. Stanley bottles have survived bullets, 4,000-foot drops, Category 5 hurricanes and according to our soccer mom, the most difficult challenge—a child’s class field trip to the zoo.

All our reviews reported outstanding thermal properties keeping beverages cold/hot for hours on end. One tester reported accidentally leaving the mug on the kitchen counter overnight with the top off, only to find it the next morning with ice still remaining. Our soccer moms reported the thermos survived the field trip to the zoo, albeit with a few new battle scars.

There are numerous companies in the stainless steel tumbler/cups category. Stanley is still the benchmark after more than 100 years. The product line from Stanley is wide-ranging and sure to fit any hardware store’s product mix.

As one of the largest manufacturers of hand and power tools, Apex Tool Group is no stranger to hardware retailers, professionals and DIYers. Apex Tool Group brands include SATA^®, GEARWRENCH^®, Crescent^®, Campbell^®, Cleco^®, Weller^® and APEX^®. In 2017, the Crescent brand was expanded to include other popular brands from Apex. One of those brands is Wiss^®, which dates back to 1848 with the launch of their scissor factory in New Jersey.

We had the opportunity to review their 8.5” all-purpose scissors and the 11” high-leverage tradesmen shears. During unpacking, one item immediately caught my attention. In the upper righthand corner on the package is an icon depicting the use of the product—either general or job site. I thought it was a clever idea for consumers to quickly identify which scissors or shears best fit their usage.

The 8.5” all-purpose scissors feature a stainless knife-edge blade for smooth cuts. The 11” tradesmen shears have a titanium-serrated blade designed to handle a multitude of uses. Both are designed for right- and left-hand use and feature a limited lifetime warranty. Since the 11” shears are for job site use they also feature a spring-loaded handle to reduce fatigue and the metal blade extends through the handles for extra strength. Click here to view a quick video of the line.

We provided the all-purpose scissors to a mix of people for use around the house and in the kitchen. Since the tradesmen shears are meant for job site use, we contacted a few pros in various trades from landscaping to roofing. Both groups commented on the ergonomics of the handles and overall product quality. Our pros could not stop commenting on the various materials they cut and how easily the blade cut through it with limited hand pressure.

If you are looking for high-quality scissors or shears to stock in your store, look no further than the Crescent Wiss^® line.

Made in the U.S.A. Cable Ties

New line of made in the U.S.A. cable ties, constructed of solid-piece 6/6 nylon, are available in numerous sizes and colors, with varying tensile strengths and operating temperature ranges, which will accommodate diverse applications and bundle diameters.

Providing durability and reliability, each cable tie features a flexible self-locking design that allows for quick usability and secure fastening for whatever you need to pack, organize, contain or transport.

Possess a superior pawl design to allow for easy insertion and pull through, while the tough serrated edges provide secure and precise locking.

The grasps on each end enable the user to grip and tighten the cable tie more securely and the nylon material resists abrasives and chemicals.

Mayhew Tools
800-872-0037
www.mayhew.com

MT Home Series Tiller

Equipped with Maxim’s medium-sized transmission, the MS50H provides great balance between power and tine speed (approximately 78 rpm max).

Tillers using the medium transmission have less bulk, making them easier to use in smaller places, while retaining the power to work heavy soils and pull attachments, thereby making them the company’s most popular homeowner tillers.

Features rugged all-steel construction, adjustable tilling width, repairable transmission, drag bar and heavy-duty welded tines.

Simplicity of design makes for ease of use and maintenance.

MAXIM, div. of Great Northern Equipment
800-621-2789
www.maximmfg.com

Limited Edition Steel Padlock

100-year celebration, limited edition 1921D covered laminated steel padlock features commemorative lion logo with vintage stamped key and complementary keychain.

2-1/8” wide reinforced laminated steel body for superior strength.

The high-security, reinforced, laminated steel body and hardened-boron alloy shackle provide maximum strength and reliability, while the weatherproof lock body and keyway cover protect against moisture, dirt and grime.

Master Lock’s limited lifetime warranty provides peace of mind you can trust.

Master Lock
800-464-2088
www.masterlock.com

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Yale Smart Delivery Box

There is a safer, more convenient way to receive packages that deters package theft.

With the August or Yale access app, you can lock, unlock, share access, view delivery history and receive notifications from anywhere. Never miss a delivery attempt again.

Remains unlocked until a delivery is made and then auto-locks. Packages are secured in the box until you’re ready to retrieve them. Works with all delivery carriers.

Protect your packages from weather and conceal your packages from porch pirates. Tether the box to your home or weigh it down with sand. Available with insulated cooler to keep temperatures for food and other perishable deliveries.

August Home/Yale Home
844-284-8781
www.august.com

Limited Edition Steel Padlock

100-year celebration, limited edition 1921D covered laminated steel padlock features commemorative lion logo with vintage stamped key and complementary keychain.

2-1/8” wide reinforced laminated steel body for superior strength.

The high-security, reinforced, laminated steel body and hardened-boron alloy shackle provide maximum strength and reliability, while the weatherproof lock body and keyway cover protect against moisture, dirt and grime.

Master Lock’s limited lifetime warranty provides peace of mind you can trust.

Master Lock
800-464-2088
www.masterlock.com

Now that we have officially entered spring and many parts of the nation are experiencing glimpses of warm weather my mind wanders back to my childhood. Growing up in the Midwest, spring was a special time of the year as we exited the drab cold of winter and began shifting our activities to outside. We would spend our time fishing, swimming, camping and inevitably enjoying the outside delicacy of toasted marshmallows or hotdogs cooked over the fire.

Back in the day, we searched for the perfect stick and dad would carve the end to a nice point with his trusted pocketknife. Brothers Tanner and Spencer Harrison have taken the outdoor tradition to a new level with the introduction of the Wolf’em Stick. The stick features a rotary handle with two attachments.

The first attachment is a backward-facing cooking fork that is perfect for marshmallows and dogs. The design prevents marshmallows from falling off the stick into the fire. What sets the Wolf’em Stick apart from other roasting sticks is the second attachment—a biscuit dough cooker. After applying the non-stick spray to the wooden attachment, simply mold any biscuit dough around the end. The result is a hollow biscuit perfect for filling with whipped cream, pudding or any other tasty treat.

We assembled a group of our most critical testers: children ages 8 to 12. The kids could not stop trying to come up with different ideas for filling their cooked biscuit bowls. Each one tried to outdo the other with a new creation from strawberries, cheese hotdogs and even Nutella.

If your store has an outdoor section, then take a look at the Wolf’em Stick, a well-built outdoor cooking device that is bound to put a smile on the faces of both kids and parents alike. Click here to view the Wolf’em Stick in action.

One of the most common repairs a homeowner, tenant or handyman performs is patching holes in drywall. Some are the result of removing hardware from a wall, doorknobs impacting walls or even simple nail holes from hanging pictures. Or in my case, an over-excited 80-pound puppy’s hip crashing into the wall while leaping into bed during a training exercise. Regardless of how the hole materializes, patching drywall is something everyone will encounter.

When it comes to drywall repair there is no shortage of ways to repair holes from all-in-one kits, spackling, drywall replacement or toothpaste if you’re still in college and moving out of your dorm. The problem with all repair methods is the need to spackle, sand and then paint. It’s extremely easy to spot a drywall repair performed by the inexperienced. However, DAP aims to solve this problem with the introduction of the Eclipse Rapid Wall Repair Patch.

The Eclipse patch is an innovative drywall repair solution that requires no spackling or sanding and just a few coats of paint after application. The user simply selects the appropriate size patch—2”, 4” or 6”—applies the adhesive patch over the hole and paints the first coat. Once the first coat of paint dries, pull the pop-up tab from the patch revealing the repaired hole. With another coat or two of paint the drywall is now repaired and four times stronger than the drywall itself. Click here to view a demonstration.

We enlisted a mix of testers from a professional painter to a weekend DIYer who is just trying to complete his honey-do-list in time to watch the big game on TV. Our professional initially scoffed at the idea of a patch not requiring spackle or sanding, but quickly changed his opinion after the first job. He was quick to comment on the ease of application, but more importantly the impressively clean and professional appearance of the repair. Drywall repair used to take hours of his job time, but now it was less than 30 minutes and required no additional clean-up.

DAP Eclipse Rapid Wall Repair Patch is a must-stock item for any hardware store selling paint, drywall or spackle. Personally, I wished Eclipse was available when our lovable puppy put her hip into the wall and I was left with a 4” hole. It would have been significantly less expensive than the professional I hired.

As any parent can attest, young children love to explore the world around them by touching, tasting, smelling, poking, climbing as they learn. It’s this curiosity that leads parents to “childproof” their homes to limit the chances of this behavior turning into a life-threatening event. We all have heard, “it only takes a second…” and something happens to change everyone’s life forever.

One potential danger most parents do not recognize sitting in plain sight in virtually every room of the house is batteries. And more specifically lithium coin batteries. As a father, it never crossed my mind that young children would put a coin battery into their mouth or worse attempt to swallow it. Every year hundreds of children accidentally ingest lithium coin batteries. In as little as two hours, a harmful chemical reaction takes place putting the child’s life in immediate danger. Click here to watch a video of how one family’s life was turned upside down in an instant.

Duracell has taken a leadership role to help prevent accidental ingestion and educate parents on the danger of lithium coin batteries. The company has launched a new line of lithium coin batteries treated with a bitter coating to discourage ingestion. The new battery was awarded the prestigious award of Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA) Winners Seal of Approval. For more information on the product and campaign, click here.

This section is about using independent testers to try various products and write about their feedback. Since I could not encourage one tester to “take one for the team” and describe the taste of the bitter coating, I was left to do it myself. The taste is that of a mix of bitterness with a hint of acidic flavor. Think of a lemon on steroids with a prolonged bitter aftertaste.

The Duracell bitter coated lithium coin batteries are available in 2032, 2025 and 2016 sizes. The package is clearly labeled with a child with its tongue out and features a child-secure double-blister package design requiring scissors to remove the battery. Educate your staff and customers on the dangers of lithium coin batteries and how the Duracell bitter coating is a safe alternative. As for the bitter coating, it’s non-toxic so feel free to try it for yourself. However, I recommend it after lunch.

• The VersaSWEEP™ 4-in-1 Magnetic Sweeper can be used in 4 different configurations—tow, mount, hang and push—to quickly and easily clean up hazardous ferrous metal debris from indoor and outdoor traffic areas preventing costly injuries and repairs.

• Right tool to efficiently clear metal debris from sidewalks, loading docks and warehouse aisles to driveways, construction sites, parking lots and roads.

• Available in sweeping widths from 48” to 96”, the VersaSWEEP™ works indoors or outdoors, over any terrain and in any weather condition.

• The adjustable sweeping height allows for efficient cleaning of varying sizes of debris. The quick-release function makes cleanup fast and safe.

Master Magnetics
www.magnetsource.com
800-525-3536