A few years ago when I researched upgrading my aged penknife I discovered the Leatherman Multi Tool. What struck me about these handy tools is the functionality and oozing build quality. Having used a penknife since I was a lad and knew all too well how tricky some tools are to open, I’ll always love my Swiss Army knife, however now I carry a Leatherman Multi Tool – here’s why…

Leatherman Tool Group was founded in 1983 by Tim Leatherman. A Leatherman Multi Tool is a pair of pliers with additional tools stowed away in the handles. They are constructed from 100% stainless steel of the finest quality in a single piece construction with moving parts thereby allowing use of one component without loosing access to the others. They are the most essential tool to carry when camping, fishing, hunting, to have stowed away in the boot of your car and even to keep handy around the home and workplace.

They are perhaps the most important tool for professionals from electricians to farmers.

I only have memories of struggling to open my penknife and the risk of sheering off figure nails as the Leatherman Multi Tool easily opens and tools are effortlessly accessed. The huge advantage to the Leatherman Multi Tool is the butterfly knife design is that the handles house everything from a knife, saw, file, screwdrivers and depending on the model and by virtue of this design they transforms into pliers! The pliers come in a range of different forms including needle nose and blunt nose depending on the model.

What I find reassuring about the Leatherman Multi Tool is the safety benefits of locking blades with the introduction of the original Super Tool in 1995. The Super Tool is now 3rd generation. Furthermore, functionality is increased with one handed opening of the blades without even opening the pliers – no more bleeding knuckles! The Wave was launched back in 1998 and was the first to incorporating externally opening blades.

A comprehensive range available in numerous sizes from the keychain Leatherman Micra at just 51g to the massive full-size Leatherman Surge weighing 335g. Also they have a mid-sized or pocket sized range including the minimalist Freestyle. The tool when collapsed are unobtrusive and fit as well in the pocket as they do in a Pouch or handbag. The fact they are so lightweight and portable is amongst these pocket tools most brilliant features.

Every Leatherman tool Multi has a 25 year manufacturer guarantee.

Without a doubt the Leatherman Multi Tool is a handy little gadget/essential tool to have and an even better gift to share that can be used for innumerable purposes. I often find myself picking up my knife to assemble DIY furniture, tighten loose taps even safely open packages with the cutting hook. Certainly these Leatherman Multi Tools are the convenience tool of choice for professionals and DIYers alike.

Summer camp is like a tradition in this country and every teenager at least attended one summer camp during his teenager years. Summer camp gives experience to teenagers to live outside house and follow various programs designed to develop their social skills, outdoor lives as well as various knowledge based on the theme of the camp. For parents, it is quite challenging to find the best camp that meet their kids interest while they could be sure that they trust their kids to the right one. Here in Recreation.gov, you can find the most comprehensive camp information for this summer program. This is the best gateway to America’s outdoor experience including various summer camps programs in Federal national parks and wildlife reservations.

Another best source for overnight camps is Tips on Trips and Camps. This online portal is your trusted source for various summer camp programs all over the world. You can also get professional advice and guides to help you choose the right summer camp program for your son. Off course, the most important thing is your son’s interest and preference to determine what kind of summer camp to attend. You will also get useful guideline about finding the best summer camp program that meet your requirements including accessibility to your current financial situation.

The Indispensable Garden Tool

There is one essential tool that every gardener, whether a vegetable gardener or flower gardener, cannot be without. This critical tool is purely organic and does not leave a carbon footprint. The versatility of this tool is amazing due to its ability to do any and all gardening chores you can think of, from digging, planting, weeding, watering, fertilizing and harvesting; it does it all. It is the one tool that is absolutely indispensible because without it, nothing will get done, and if you abuse it and damage so that it cannot work, it nothing will get done until this tool is repaired.

By this time you have probably figured out that what I am talking about is you, Mr. or Ms. Gardener or at least your body. Before you jump into your gardening routine, take the time to assess your physical fitness. Being in fairly good physical condition is always helpful, but by doing some stretching exercises to loosen and warm up your muscles, you will alleviate the aches and pains that come with over doing the physical stuff on the first day.

Do not try to get everything done the first couple of days, instead spread the chores out over several days and work at a relaxed pace. Remember, gardening is supposed to be enjoyable, not punishment under the hot sun.

Taking care of your body is of the utmost importance and using good common sense while working in your garden goes a long way in staying fit and staying in shape. When you are working in hot weather, remember to drink lots of water, not carbonated soda, not beer, not tea and not coffee. These drinks are diuretics and will only increase the amount of urine in your system. Water is the safest and best beverage to ingest in hot humid conditions.

The other garden tools that you will use also have a bearing on your well being.

Purchase tools that fit you, for example, if you are buying a shovel or a hoe, check to see if the handle is the right length. I have seen many people hunched over while working their garden instead of working in a more comfortable upright position which is much easier on the back, the source of most problems.  Tools also are available in smaller sizes which are scaled down for women, children and older persons.

Keep your body as erect as possible. Bend over as little as possible and if you have to pick something up, always lift with your legs, not your back. The spine is wonderfully complex but it is a fragile structure and if abused, it can cause much pain and many problems which can be long term and difficult to rectify.

Squatting is probably the best body position to have when gardening because it keeps the spine in alignment, but for most of us it is difficult to achieve a squatting position, so kneeling is an alternative way to get closer to the ground in order to work. To save your knees from grief and pain, use knee pads. There are also small hybrid carts on the market that carry your tools and can double as a seat for you to sit on while you roll up and down the plot or bed as you weed. These carts are especially helpful if you employ raised beds for your garden,

The good news from all of this is that while you are tending to your veggies, you are getting a great workout in the fresh air and sunshine. What more can you ask for?

Modern fireplace tools in contrast to antique fireplace tools might be compared no more than when they were made.  However modern or up to date fireplace tools sets can have a utilitarian and decorative effect on a home hearth.  While cast iron tool sets were common, new metals and finishes are in the marketplace.  A tool set still consists of a poker, shovel, brush, log mover and tool stand.  There might be some variants like combining a log holder and tools on one stand.

The finish of the tools is the largest variable in today’s choices.  Brass, pewter and copper are common finishes for tool sets. A great example of a brass finish set is the Uniflame five piece polished brass fireset (f-2191) this set is a wonderful representation of combining functionality and beauty.  Another example of form and function is the Uniflame five piece satin, pewter fireplace tool set (5UF-7547).  This set will look marvelous in any room where the metal finish of pewter is wanted.  And lastly the five piece copper leaded glass fireset will complement any room with a warm effect.  All of these examples are more than just tools.  They have an ability to have an enhanced effect on any room. 

When thinking of modern versions of a fireplace necessity, the log holder comes to mind.  The older styles did the job of holding wood beside the hearth but not too close to the fireplace to allow for ease in keeping a fire going with more wood.  Now, not only will the holder do just that, it will come in two pieces to make the job even easier to bring the wood inside.

The Enclume 5EN-LR10 actually has a separate canvas bag to carry the wood in with and then store it in the log holder. This helps with the transport of the wood inside.  As with all of the Enclume log holders they are very modern looking and durable for long service.  Also, Enclume is an American company.  Another quality, made in the USA product.

Modern fireplace tools will do the same job if not better than the older version.  Remember, get the flue cleaned prior to using it this winter and keep your wood dry and close to the back door. 

James Dahlberg

Avid gardeners realize the importance of having a dry safe place to store all their tools that make the work of managing a garden easier. Beginner gardeners all start out just having a few tools such as shovels, rakes or a couple hand tools. Not really a problem for storing; most people lean them alongside the house or in the garage.

Over time the amateur gardener will notice that the sun, rain and snow are all taking their toll on his gardening tools. As your gardening expertise begins to expand so does the requirement for more tools. This is where the novice figures out that it’s time for a garden tool shed.

Having a specific place just for storing your gardening tools out of the weather and easily organized all in one place is an ideal solution. Now is the time to answer some questions since you have concluded that you need a garden tool shed.

Are you interested in building a kit that comes with all the materials needed and you just supply some elbow grease? Do you want to buy a complete pre-fabricated garden shed and have it delivered? Whether you make it from your designs, build a kit or purchase the complete one; are you considering wood or metal?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of wood verses metal sheds? Aesthetically a wood shed beats a metal one hands down in appearance. Lets face it wood is rugged, pleasing to the eye and blends in well with most garden settings. There are some drawbacks to wood sheds; they require protection from the sun, wind and rain and they are chewing targets for every little mouse and rat in the area. If you don’t mind painting a wood shed every couple of years with a good quality wood preservative and replacing some chewed up boards periodically then a wooden one is probably the one for you.

A metal garden tool shed will never have the natural beauty that a wood shed has but it will stand the test of time.

Rodents can’t hurt it, and the worst weather conditions are not going to affect the appearance or deteriorate the structure. Storing mulch, grass seed and fertilizer is easy without little critters running around inside and it won’t have to be treated for termites. Gather your shovels, rakes, hoes and pitch forks together to see just how much space you’re going to need for your new garden tool shed.

With the coming cordless power tools these days, and many options for batteries and power of these tools, which raises a lot of confusion for the buyer. The type of battery that really affect the usability of the tool? What voltage: greater tension tools actually has more power? Or is all this hype just a bunch of propaganda, designed to impress the vulgar and encourage them to buy?

These are good questions, but unfortunately are difficult questions to find answers. In this article, I will give you a short course, batteries, help me get through the advertising hype and make informed decisions.

For starters, there are three basic characteristics that affect the performance of a rechargeable battery, and in turn affect the performance of a tool with these batteries. They are:

* Battery Type document

* Battery Voltage

* Battery capacity (measured in ampere-hours)

As always, there is a commitment to this type of batteries that we will examine more advantages and disadvantages in costs, life expectancy, environmental tolerance, and the cooldown.

Material Type:

There are three basic materials used in Cordless Drill Batteries; NiCd (Nickel Cadmium, sometimes written Ni-Cad), NiMH (Nickel-Metal Hydride), and Li-ion (Lithium Ion):

1.

NiCd batteries are the oldest of the three types of batteries that were used for industrial purposes since the 1950s. Because of this long history, most NiCd rechargeable batteries real economic market. NiCd batteries are usually available in AA, making them convenient to replace standard AA batteries in all kinds of electronic products. Another major advantage of these batteries is their long lifespan, a NiCd battery can last up to 1500 recharges. Sorry, a NiCd AA is only 1.25 volts instead of 1.5 volts is present in non-rechargeable AA batteries. Another disadvantage of NiCd batteries is they have very low energy density, which means they must be loaded more quickly than other types of rechargeable batteries.

2. NiMH batteries have been the first attempt is to replace the NiCad batteries, a standard battery. Their most important and NiCd is their energy content is about 50 percent higher than NiCd batteries. This means that you can drill holes or cut 50% more material to 50% more before needing to recharge. Unfortunately, NiMH batteries are not charging handle well, and only the last fifth third number of charge cycles NiCd batteries. This is a problem that has been taken over NiMH NiCd, except for some electronics applications.

3. Li-ion is the new kid on the block – at least as much as cordless power tools are involved. The great thing about these batteries is that they have twice the energy density of NiCd batteries so the user can complete the duplicate work between recharges. Tools with lithium-ion cordless power later, a special circuit is integrated into the battery charger, so that these batteries to recharge (at a charge level of 80%) in as little as 30 minutes. This means that the average job, a worker (as a construction worker) did not even need a spare battery. They are also much lighter, which reduces driver fatigue. Although not so long life of NiCd batteries, these batteries last up to 1000 recharges. The disadvantage of these batteries is great cost. As a new technology on the market batteries cost about twice the cost of comparable NiCd batteries.

The current trend is to produce cordless power tools rather than the use of Ni-ion. It is expected that this trend will allow the falling prices of these batteries, beating the only negative point against them.

Battery Voltage:

It ‘clear that the battery voltage must be adapted to the instrument, the battery is used in placing the battery voltage can be higher than the utility tool, while the battery voltage is too low for the instrument is not sufficiently powerful tool to operate effectively.

There was a trend over the last thirty years or more to increase the voltage cordless tools and batteries returned. This trend has increased over the past ten years. A common advertising mentions about a cordless tool is his power. Makes the difference? Yes, yes.

In short, the higher the voltage of the motor (which is what they are talking), more power or more torque can produce. This is directly related to the amount of motive power of the tool. In other words, the higher voltage cordless drill can be screwed into the wood, and saw a higher voltage cordless can make deeper cuts through hardwoods.

Similar tools may be made by same manufacturer in 12-volts and 18v power tool battery

version. While the higher voltage version will probably cost more, it is a good investment. The extra power you will use this tool for things that you can not use the tool lower voltages.

The easy way to be tested is to compare any cordless power tool is a tool of the same type. Take a cordless drill, for example. Try to lead a cast saw two inches in a dry place 2 x 4 studs. There is a good chance that you will never get the screw to the end (unless you use soap or oil to lubricate the screw.) Then try the same with a corded drill. You may not only be able to drive the screw, but it will go faster, and perhaps end the screw head below the wood surface.

Battery capacity

Battery capacity refers to how much power a battery can hold. You may think this way, if you get a lawn mower gas, which is better, use a 1 gallon gas can, or use a 5 liter gas can? It ‘clear, 5 gallon gas can hold more fuel and avoid having to make another trip to the service station immediately.

The batteries have the same difference in ability. In comparing the two power tools, it is an important thing to consider. A battery with more capacity will be able to drill more holes, sink or screws cutting more trees than one with a lower capacity.

Some manufacturers make more than one version of their batteries. They may have low battery capacity 18v power tool battery and high capacity version of the battery itself. If you only use your cordless power tool for occasional repair, you may not need to spend extra money for high-capacity battery. On the other hand, if you use the same tool as a professional carpenter, you’ll want high capacity battery.

Conclusion

Hopefully this has helped to de-bunk the confusion about the cordless tool batteries for you. All factors related to the purchase of a cordless power tool, batteries are the most important factor.

Many of the cordless power tools are now sold as “bare bones” unit without the battery, which allows the buyer to make their own decisions on what they want to buy batteries. In addition, since many of the handyman, and artisans have several mobile devices, it is a common replacement batteries between the instruments (at least the tools from the same manufacturer).

The last point I want to do, no matter how you use cordless power tools, it is always a good idea to invest an additional battery, since this is a part of the instrument, which is likely to fail.

Avid gardeners realize the importance of having a dry safe place to store all their tools that make the work of managing a garden easier. Beginner gardeners all start out just having a few tools such as shovels, rakes or a couple hand tools. Not really a problem for storing; most people lean them alongside the house or in the garage.

Over time the amateur gardener will notice that the sun, rain and snow are all taking their toll on his gardening tools. As your gardening expertise begins to expand so does the requirement for more tools. This is where the novice figures out that it’s time for a garden tool shed.

Having a specific place just for storing your gardening tools out of the weather and easily organized all in one place is an ideal solution. Now is the time to answer some questions since you have concluded that you need a garden tool shed.

Are you interested in building a kit that comes with all the materials needed and you just supply some elbow grease? Do you want to buy a complete pre-fabricated garden shed and have it delivered? Whether you make it from your designs, build a kit or purchase the complete one; are you considering wood or metal?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of wood verses metal sheds? Aesthetically a wood shed beats a metal one hands down in appearance. Lets face it wood is rugged, pleasing to the eye and blends in well with most garden settings. There are some drawbacks to wood sheds; they require protection from the sun, wind and rain and they are chewing targets for every little mouse and rat in the area. If you don’t mind painting a wood shed every couple of years with a good quality wood preservative and replacing some chewed up boards periodically then a wooden one is probably the one for you.

A metal garden tool shed will never have the natural beauty that a wood shed has but it will stand the test of time.

Rodents can’t hurt it, and the worst weather conditions are not going to affect the appearance or deteriorate the structure. Storing mulch, grass seed and fertilizer is easy without little critters running around inside and it won’t have to be treated for termites. Gather your shovels, rakes, hoes and pitch forks together to see just how much space you’re going to need for your new garden tool shed.

Modern fireplace tools in contrast to antique fireplace tools might be compared no more than when they were made.  However modern or up to date fireplace tools sets can have a utilitarian and decorative effect on a home hearth.  While cast iron tool sets were common, new metals and finishes are in the marketplace.  A tool set still consists of a poker, shovel, brush, log mover and tool stand.  There might be some variants like combining a log holder and tools on one stand.

The finish of the tools is the largest variable in today’s choices.  Brass, pewter and copper are common finishes for tool sets. A great example of a brass finish set is the Uniflame five piece polished brass fireset (f-2191) this set is a wonderful representation of combining functionality and beauty.  Another example of form and function is the Uniflame five piece satin, pewter fireplace tool set (5UF-7547).  This set will look marvelous in any room where the metal finish of pewter is wanted.  And lastly the five piece copper leaded glass fireset will complement any room with a warm effect.  All of these examples are more than just tools.  They have an ability to have an enhanced effect on any room. 

When thinking of modern versions of a fireplace necessity, the log holder comes to mind.  The older styles did the job of holding wood beside the hearth but not too close to the fireplace to allow for ease in keeping a fire going with more wood.  Now, not only will the holder do just that, it will come in two pieces to make the job even easier to bring the wood inside.

The Enclume 5EN-LR10 actually has a separate canvas bag to carry the wood in with and then store it in the log holder. This helps with the transport of the wood inside.  As with all of the Enclume log holders they are very modern looking and durable for long service.  Also, Enclume is an American company.  Another quality, made in the USA product.

Modern fireplace tools will do the same job if not better than the older version.  Remember, get the flue cleaned prior to using it this winter and keep your wood dry and close to the back door. 

James Dahlberg

Functional capability & complexity of data: This includes both the ‘transformation’ piece and the ‘cleansing’ piece. In general, the typical ETL tools are either geared towards having strong transformation capabilities or having strong cleansing capabilities, but they are seldom very strong in both. As a result, if you know your data is going to be dirty coming in, make sure your ETL tool has strong cleansing capabilities. If you know there are going to be a lot of different data transformations, it then makes sense to pick a tool that is strong in transformation. The more complex the data transformation / data cleansing requirements, the more suitable it is to purchase an ETL tool. However, if data transformations are simple, or much data cleansing is not required, then it may be sufficient to simply build the ETL routine from scratch.

Ability to read directly from your data source: For each organization, there is a different set of data sources. Make sure the ETL tool you select can connect directly to your source data / legacy databases. Ideally, the ETL tool selected should be able to read data from flat files, XML files, Excel files, Ideation services and some common databases like Oracle, SQL Server, MS Access, Sybase, IBM DB2, MySQL and PostgreSQL. It should also support connection to databases using ODBC and JDBC connectors.

Speed / performance & data volume: Available commercial tools typically have features that can speed up data movement. If the data volume ranges by only a few gigabytes, then an open source or even an in-build ETL process is sufficient. But if the data volume is more than 10 gigabytes or is in terabytes, then a commercial ETL tool with built-in performance boosting features should be used.

Metadata support: The ETL tool plays a key role in your metadata because it maps the source data to the destination, which is an important piece of the metadata. In fact, some organizations have come to rely on the documentation of their ETL tool as their metadata source. As a result, it is very important to select an ETL tool that works with your overall metadata strategy.

Cost: While deciding on an ETL tool, its total cost of ownership must be taken into account. This includes cost of licenses, cost of support, training and consultation from the vendor. Some tools like Informatica Power Center and Oracle Warehouse Builder require separate medium to high-end servers to be deployed. The cost of hardware required for the deployment of ETL tools should also be accounted for when calculating the total cost.

Learning curve / implementation time: This includes the time in which users can make themselves familiar with the OEM application development and start using it productively.

Vendor history & support: Should you decide to purchase an existing third-party ETL tool, you must then decide which one to buy. Often, there are a number of choices to pick from; some are well-known while others are not as well-known. When buying a third-party tool, you should consider the history of the tool vendor, its market standing, product reviews and support provided.

Not knowing when to use the right tools can sometimes cause more damage than good. If you have never tried anything but the clone stamp, you are really missing out. You should take the tiome to learn these extra tools, your retouching will be become so much better.

If you have been using Adobe Photoshop for a long time, you really need to learn how to use each of the tools available to you. Some work better than others, and you will learn by trial and error. Ideally, you should make sure you are watching new, and updated Photoshop CS5 tutorials. Photoshop CS5 has new functionality, that older versions just don’t have, so you should be watching the newest tutorials.

Clone Stamp Tool – The Clone Stamp, or Rubber Stamp Tool, was the first of it’s kind. This places you, the retoucher, in completely in control of the retouching. It takes years to become proficient with this tool. But, once you figure it out, there is little you can not do.

Spot Healing Brush – The Spot Healing Brush Tool can remove unwanted dirt from an image. This brush will create its own sample area, from the pixels around the marked section, and try to match in the texture. This brush works wonders on predictable areas, like gradients. Unfortunately, of you happen to be next to a contrasting area, you will definitely start picking up unwanted distortions..

Healing Brush – The Healing Brush tool is another tool that allows you to remove dirt or other blemishes. This tool allows allows you to select your own area that you want to sample from. Photoshop will then mix the color and texture of the two areas together.

Patch Tool – The Patch Tool retouches the image using a sampled area. This tool is a combination of the Healing Brush and the Lasso Tool. This tool does an amazing job of removing the unwanted dirt, but keeps the color and texture behind.

Content Aware Fill – The Content Aware Fill is about modifying objects in a selected area. Since this tool is automated, you have limited control over the results.

Vanishing Point – The Vanishing Point Filter is used to clone in perspective. Once you lay out the grid, you can then, quite easily, clone in 3-D space. It works along a dimensional plane, and is great for architectural needs.

Even if you know how to use one or two of these Adobe Photoshop Cloning Tools, you are really missing the big picture. Each one of these tools can great in one situation, but not in another. To become a skilled retoucher, you really need to learn how to use them all.