High quality structural sheathing panel made of engineered wood delivers strength and durability.
Built-in vapor permeable water-resistive barrier eliminates the hassles of house wrap and felt. Engineered for enhanced drainage of bulk water and optimal permeability to allow water vapor to pass through and promote drying.
A continuous, rigid air barrier decreases unwanted air leakage for greater energy efficiency.
ZIP System™ tape with a specially engineered, high performance acrylic adhesive bonds with ZIP System® panels for a permanent protective seal.
Artisan® Shingle, the latest addition to the Aspyre Collection by James Hardie™, captures the natural look of cedar shingles, while delivering the uncompromising performance of James Hardie fiber cement.
Brought to life through a variety of individual widths and carefully detailed woodgrain patterns, Artisan® Shingle delivers a distinctive design that’s engineered to last.
It is available primed and with ColorPlus® Technology blends.
DAP is a staple in the hardware channel manufacturing premium caulks, sealants, adhesives and Touch ‘n Foam products. Our testers had the opportunity to review three versions of Touch ‘n Foam: Home Seal™, Max Fill™ and Mouse Shield™.
Home Seal is an all-purpose minimum expanding sealant designed to fill small cracks and gaps. It can be used for both interior and exterior projects while curing in virtually all temperature ranges—30° to 120°. The product is also water-resistant, fire retardant, sandable and paintable.
For larger cracks or gaps Touch ‘n Foam offers a Max Fill™ expanding sealant that expands 3x. With the enhanced expansion feature, the green label Touch ‘n Foam can fill spaces larger than 1”. Max Fill™ shares many of the same benefits as the Home Seal version but cures at a much narrower temperature range—60° to 100°.
If filling a gap or crack is to block mice or other pest, Touch ‘n Foam has Mouse Shield™. What sets Mouse Shield apart from the other Touch ‘n Foam SKUs is the expanding foam also contains a pest blocker. Click here to watch the difference when compared to other expanding foam product.
All of our testers were familiar with Touch ‘n Foam products but did not realize they offered different formulas to solve a variety of household issues: filling large gaps/cracks or pest repellant. The testers were also surprised to learn the unused product is reusable for up to three weeks after initially opened when stored properly. Each SKU trigger features a plug on the opposite end to stop the remaining product in the can from curing.
As fall is quickly fading away and the cold of winter has arrived many customers are searching for inexpensive, DIY methods to improve their home’s energy efficiency. Filling gaps and cracks in windows and doors, attics and crawl spaces is an excellent start to reducing those heating bills.
No Bull is a new entry to the hardware channel offering a premium line of ladder bumpers and ladder stabilizing bumpers. These bumpers were designed for the professional contractor, who use ladders daily and often store them on work trucks exposed to the elements.
No Bull utilizes the highest durability rated rubber for use in all weather environments. The rubbers are resistant to UV light that cracks and deteriorates lesser-quality bumpers, shortening their lifespan. To back this up, the company even offers a three-year warranty.
Our testers were a mix of professional roofers, painters and general contractors. All of them stored their ladders exposed to the harsh Florida sun and while our test was limited in time, all of the bumpers looked like they just came out of the package. Our painter had the opportunity to use them on an interior job and the bumpers did not mar or slip on a delicate wall finish.
If your store services the pro or active DIYer, then take a look at No Bull ladder bumpers. Your customers will be impressed with the quality and durability of No Bull ladder bumpers.
SureCan is an innovative solution to solving a few of the most common problems with portable gas cans—ease of pouring and elimination of awkward angles required to dispense. The traditional gas can has been around since the 1930s and while the materials have changed from metal to plastic, not much else happened until 2009. This was the year the EPA adopted the California Air Resources Board (CARB) rule that changed everything.
The new regulations eliminated the traditional vent, introduced childproof features and set minimum standards for emissions. Like many laws, it was created with good intentions but the implementation has left consumers frustrated. I recall my first time using a CARB-compliant tank to fill a hot lawn mower and spilling fuel all over the machine. Trying to balance a 5-gallon can and compress a springloaded spout proved to be much harder than I ever expected.
SureCan’s inventor was a general contractor and shared similar experiences as I did when filling equipment. After years of design and engineering, he created an innovative gas can while still meeting or exceeding the EPA’s regulations.
SureCan’s design relocated the traditional spout to the bottom of the can, enabling an easier method to dispense fuel. The cans also feature a thumb-release button that controls the flow of fuel and is self-ventilating, providing an easy-to-control pour. On the back of the can is a childproof cap that ensures safe storage.
Lastly, the can is made with six layers of high-density plastic and a middle barrier layer. While the six layers prevent fumes from escaping during storage, they also create an extremely durable gas can. Here are a few videos showing its durability: 1. SureCan: Roll Test 2. SureCan: Durability Test 3. SureCan: Sledge Hammer Test
All of our testers commented on how easy it was to dispense gas in various situations. One of our testers even took it on his boat and had no spills while the boat was rocking from the waves. SureCan is an excellent choice for your customers who are tired of the conventional filling method of dispensing flammable liquids and looking for a premium product that makes the process painless.
Duracell has introduced 1.5-Volt Optimum Alkaline AA and AAA batteries as part of its lineup of batteries. The all-new Duracell Optimum alkaline battery has a new, proprietary cathode system that can deliver extra life in some devices or extra power in other devices, versus other AA and AAA batteries.
Duracell Optimum Batteries are packaged in a new slider pack with a resealable storage tray that provides a more organized way to store your batteries.
Available in AA and AAA battery sizes in: 4 pack, 6 pack, 8 pack and 12 pack.
Best uses are for personal care devices, toys and gaming console controllers.
LED Retrofit Kits are designed for a variety of uses and applications and feature longer life cycle, low maintenance costs, simple installation, affordability, versatility and high-performance energy efficiency.
Energy-efficient, high-quality design means that the end user will enjoy energy savings without any drop in performance. You will be able to sell superior illumination and cost-cutting operation with one product able to replace many existing fixtures.
Heat is the most significant enemy of efficiency and a longer life cycle. The hotter any lighting system operates at, the shorter lifespan it will have. This is why Optilumen spends more time on thermal management than any other competitor.
Other manufacturers will often accept operating temperatures of 70-100 Celsius, but Optilumen does not settle for such high temps. Its RKT linear fluorescent lighting fixture retrofit kits have a standard average operating temperature of 38-42° Celsius.
Vampire Tools is a hand tool company established in 2012 that is looking to break into the hardware channel with a line of premium pliers, shears and knives. The tools are made from S58C, a high-strength medium carbon steel, which is immediately noticeable when picked up. High-quality materials are only one way Vampire’s tools stand out, but it’s the innovation our testers immediately identified.
The pliers feature a unique vertical and horizontal serration at the tip (see picture) for gripping a screw head or nut/bolt. The serrations create a non-slip grip, making them a perfect tool to remove stripped, rusted or otherwise damaged fasteners in a confined space with ease.
Our testers had the opportunity to review the 8” Pro Pliers, 4” Mini Pliers and 6.5” Fiber Optic Kevlar Cutting Shears. The 8” pliers, in addition to their unique tip, feature a wire cutter and cushioned ergonomical grip. The 4” pliers offer similar features excluding the wire cutter. While our testers were extremely impressed at how well both pliers perform as a screw extractor, they were more impressed with the quality. As one tester noted, “It just feels like a high-quality tool the instant you pick it up.”
The 6.5” shears feature the same high-quality materials and excellent design like the pliers. They can cut numerous materials including Kevlar®, carbon fiber, canvas cloth and other materials requiring a sharp cutting surface. The blades also features micro-serrations to reduce slippage while cutting. The pivot point is also adjustable, allowing for modifying the tension.
If you are looking to expand your hand tool line with high-quality, purpose-driven tools, then take a look at Vampire Tools. Go to www.vampiretools.com for more information.
Walabot DIY Plus has brought new technology to the stud finder category, as it has the ability to quickly identify studs, pipes, wires, Cat5 cabling and so much more. Walabot utilizes Vayyar’s 3D imaging technology used worldwide in numerous industries from construction, medical and robotics, just to name a few. This enables the sensor to work on drywall, concrete, lath and plaster.
The Walabot DIY Plus stud finder connects to Android smartphones with an app from the Google Play store. Once the sensor is connected and calibrated the app offers three modes to show what is behind the wall. The first mode is the Pan Mode creating a panoramic view of what is behind the wall to include the distance between objects. The second is Image Mode giving a visual classification to quickly identify studs, pipes, wires and cables.The last mode is Expert mode displaying the raw data from the sensor, which can be used to trace wire, plumbing or even the presence of a rodent/pest behind the wall.
The reviews we received from our testers all shared one common theme—the ability to get a clear picture of what is behind the wall before the first nail, screw or drill bit is a game-changer. Our testers all preferred the Image Mode when trying to quickly identify a stud, electrical wire or pipe. The mode takes all the guesswork out of what the sensor is detecting. However, one tester noted the Expert Mode enabled them to trace an electrical wire back to its junction box, making for a much faster and less evasive repair.
Walabot also offers a line of sensors called the Maker Packs. Using the sensor’s 3D imaging technology coupled to a small computer the three versions of the Maker Packs give the user the ability to create their own uses for this powerful sensor while unleashing the power of radio frequency. For more information, go to walabot.com/diy or view this video.
iFixit is a global repair community with a line of industry-leading tools you may have never heard of before. iFixit was started in 2003 by two college students in California trying to fix an old computer with no instructions or the right tools.
As computers, gadgets and other devices have exploded, so has iFixit with the tools and know-how for the average consumer to repair everything from their smartphone to common household items. iFixit currently offers more than 50,000 free repair manuals and 150,000 solutions covering over 20,000 devices.
iFixit toolkits are created using the information from thousands of repair manuals and expert teardowns to ensure the average consumer has everything they need in one kit to tackle even the most complex repairs. Our testers had the opportunity to utilize a few of their flagship toolkits including the Pro Tech Toolkit, Essential Electronics Toolkit and Mako Driver Kit.
The Mako Driver Kit includes a 4 mm screwdriver handle with magnetic bit socket and 64 bits including some of the most unique bits: torx, torx security, pentalobe (Apple’s security bit), JIS and hex, just to name a few. The Essential Electronics Toolkit contains 16 4 mm screwdriver bits, suction cup handle and various prying/opening tools. The Pro Tech Toolkit is their signature all-in-one kit combining the bit set and the essential kit.
Our testers raved about the build quality of the tools, backed by a lifetime warranty, but also just how often they made use of the kits during common household repairs for power tools, kitchenware, vehicles, etc. As manufacturers expand their use of security and proprietary bits, having a well-stocked toolkit is essential.
As we enter the holiday shopping season, iFixit toolkits make a great addition to your gift idea inventory. The company’s website has an interactive map showing all retail locations offering their kits, which helps drive traffic to stores from their thousands of daily visitors. To see a video, click here.
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