Cool Fix Tools

Fein Oscillating Multi-Tool

This is another one of my most used tools for interior and exterior work! From plunge cutting, to tile, grout, plaster and sanding...this tool does it all on Old Houses - wood, metal, plastic, etc. German made! DIY TIP: If you only need one for a job or two...try the Harbor Freight Tools version

RIDGID 14 Gal. 2-Stage HEPA Commercial Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum with Filter, Dust Bag, Professional Hose and Accessories-RV2400HF - The Home Depot

 Rigid HEPA Vac. This is one of my Top 3 Cool Tools for Old House work because it has so many uses! Rigid makes a great HEPA Wet/Dry Vacuum for all your remodel project needs, and at a great price compared to others that are $500+. I like the 14 gallon size because if you go too small, the smaller hoses tend to clog more easily/frequently. I also like it because all the regular shop-vacs that I have had in the past, blow a ton of dust right back into the room when it is running…not good – I like the HEPA filter and sealed upper unit to the lower canister on this Rigid model! Be sure to use bags for easy cleanup and disposal. The only cons: Sometimes the hose gets clogged (as all shop-vacs do) with my extension hose attached (smaller diameter) and it can be difficult to remove the bag sometimes if it is super full. You won’t find another HEPA vac at this price point – Amazon has matched the Home Depot price of $349.00 and FREE shipping. More info on the Rigid HEPA Vacuum HERE.

RIDGID High-Efficiency Size A Dust Bags for 12 Gal. to 16 Gal. RIDGID Wet/Dry Vacs (2-Pack)-VF3502 - The Home Depot

 Cool Tools HEPA Vac Bags Rigid dust bags – 2 pack Rigid Hi Efficiency Dust Bags. The HEPA filter dust sleeve will stay cleaner, and life of the HEPA filter can be increased for years by using the Rigid Hi Efficiency Dust Bags – 2 pack. The dust bags also make debris disposal and container clean up a breeze! 

Gekko Tile and Grout Cleaner

The new design for the Gekko SX7 head hardsurface cleaning tool expands on the versatility of the original by combining two tools into one. Instead of needing a tool for cleaning countertops and showers, and then another for cleaning hardsurface floors, this Gekko SX-7 head combines both a handheld and an upright tool into one for your Gekko wand. The SX-7's teardrop shape and front jet allows it to clean closer to walls and corners than any other tool on the market. The Gekko SX7 is aggressive with even cleaning, especially in small tight areas such as; bathrooms, closets, showers and more (wand attachment and carpet cleaning machine sold separately).Check out the VIDEO here - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2614545828848951(hover over link text,  highlight/select  the link text, right click, hit go to link)

Cleaning Kit with 12 or 24 Foot Extension Pole

Cleaning Kit with 12 or 24 Foot Extension Pole. Good for dusting and cleaning high areas out of reach like walls, windows, fans, and washing the outside of your house! Get the 12′ kit if you have a lower porch to work from so you can split the height – 1st and 2nd story. Otherwise the 24′ kit if working solely from the ground. You’ll also need a standard car wash brush head to screw onto the end as seen here… 

WM Bagster Dumpster in a Bag (Holds up to 3,300 lb.)-775-658 - The Home Depot

The Bagster. This is my favorite cool tool for trash/debris removal! The Bagster is one of the easiest ways to get rid of junk, construction debris from a remodel, or anything else that doesn’t require the size, time, and cost of a full-sized “roll-off ” dumpster. We’ve used THREE Bagsters so far and had a really good experience with them. They were packed to the maximum and super heavy, yet never failed! They are pretty tough!The Bagster is simple: Step 1: Unfold and fill the Bagster per guidance Step 2: Fill out attached tag and call to schedule pickup Step 3: You local waste management service will be dispatched for pickup – usually $75-100 depending on area – see service area link below. * 606 gallon capacity * Disposable * Rated up to 3300 pounds.

Scheduling and Pricing page

How much will it cost? Do they pick up in my area? Find out here – Waste Management Collection, Scheduling, and Pricing page

WORK AREA CONTAINMENT/PROTECTION

This quick guide shows you how to properly set up and quarantine your work area.

Viper Vacuum Scraper

The Oneida Air Systems Viper vacuum scraper ergonomic textured grip wet/dry vac Attachment with reversible tungsten-carbide blade. Allows you to catch lead paint and dust when dry scraping. Always use a HEPA vac! 

Warner 2 3/8" Triangle Carbide 100X Soft Grip Scraper, 10016

Warner. Round Carbide Soft Grip Scraper with a carbide blade that can be rotated many times for long life, this is one of my favorite scrapers, especially for profile trim, doors, etc.    

Warner & Viper Replacement Blades

Spealloy Replacement 2-3/8"(60MM) Blades Heavy Duty Carbide Tungsten Scraper Double Edge Carbide Razor, Fit Linbide,Warner100X,Oneida Air,for Paint,Floor,Stickers Labels,Glue and Concrete, Pack of 10

AllwayTools CS6, 6 Piece

Allway Tools. Need some supplemental profile scrapers that fit the contours of your doors, windows, trim, and mouldings? Well then, the Allway Tools Soft Grip Contour Scraper Set with 6 Blades. With many attachment blades (convex, concave, and pointed – large and small), there’s not much this set cannot do. It also comes with a plastic case for the extra blades and a metal file built into the handle so you can keep your blades sharp!

4 Pc Stainless Steel Pick Set

Perfect for removing those last bits of paint from cracks, crevices, and hard to reach areas on your trim, millwork, and woodwork! 

Bahco 625 Premium Ergonomic Carbide Scraper, 1", with Plastic Holder.Black

Bahco. The Bahco 625 Premium 1″ Carbide Scraper is my GO-TO cool tool when scraping ANY paint! If you are going to have one tool in your paint stripping tool box, it MUST be this one! Why? 1) It’s small surface area allows it to easily remove tons of paint, for its size, on flat wood/trim. 2) It is a must for cupped siding, warped trim, or any surface that is not flat (a wide scraper can’t reach the low spots and digs in on the edges) 3) The carbide blade lasts a long time (rotate 3 times before discarding the blade). I like it so much I have 2! I have used in on clapboard, flooring, trim, etc (for heavy stripping and final cleanup for that last bit of glaze down to 100% clean wood = less sanding). Don’t let the size fool ya! With less surface area than the larger scrapers, it is able to cut 10X more aggressively! You won’t be disappointed! Grab one here Bahco 625 Premium 1″ Carbide Scraper. 

Bahco 449 L-Inch Triple-Edge Triangle Scraper Blade

Bahco Replacement Blade. 1″ Carbide Scraper Blade replacement     

1" Carbide Scraper Blades - Pear-Shape

1" Carbide Scraper Blades Spealloy Pear-Shape Replacement Carbide Scraper Blade for Bahco 625 & Sandvik Paint Scraper. Helps to fit all your millwork and trim profiles!

Carbide Paint Scraper Replacement Blades for Bahco

Spealloy replacement blades - Round, Triangular and Teardrop Shaped Scraper Blades Fits BAHCO 625 Hand-hold Scrapers, for Removing Paint Glue Varnish Rust,3pcs/set

Bahco 665 Premium Ergonomic Carbide Scraper, 2-1/2"

Available in 1 -2 1/2" blade widths. These scrapers are well built, and have a metal end shaft where the blade mounts, so it is stronger and wont break/strip out. 

Bahco 665 Replacement Blade - 2"

Bahco Heavy Duty 2-Inch Replacement Scraper Blade #442

Speedheater™ Clapboard Paint Scraper

Eco-Strip. The Eco-Strip Speedheater™ Clapboard Paint Scraper. This one comes with the complete Speedheater™ Standard 1100 Kit, but is also available separately. The Speedheater™ brand of scrapers are among my favorite cool tools because they bite down 5-10 layers and you can get a lot of leverage on them to remove all the paint in one pull (as long as blade is sharp). I also like that it scrapes the flat while also the top underside edge, as well.   

Speedheater™ Replacement Blades.

Speedheater™ Profile Paint Scraper

Eco-Strip. The Eco-Strip Speedheater™ Profile Paint Scraper. This one comes with the complete Speedheater™ Standard 1100 Kit, but is also available separately. The Speedheater™ brand of scrapers are among my favorite because they bite down 5-10 layers and you can get a lot of leverage on them to remove all the paint in one pull (as long as blade is sharp). I also like that it has multiple profiles for crown moulding, etc.     

Profile Scraper Replacement Blade

Replacement blade. Can also be re-sharpened. 

Speedheater Boomerang Scraper

This durable 12 5/8” scraper is designed to help you complete your paint removal projects with the highest quality and ease. The long ergonomic handle ensures a comfortable grip while the laser cut Swedish steel blade provides the quality scraping your jobs require. This scraper comes equipped with two convex sides and one concave side, making it excellent for rounded edges, posts, and shutters. Utilize the boomerang scraper especially when working with tights and hard to reach areas.

Boomerang Replacement Blade

Replacement blade. They can also be re-sharpened. 

Eco-Strip. Speedheater™ Cobra.

With its gentle infrared stripping method and its incredible speed, Speedheater™ Cobra is in a class of its own! The Speedheater™ Cobra is the FASTEST (3-5 seconds!!!) infrared paint remover on the market. The Cobra is one of Eco-Strip’s perfect cool tools for DIY/homeowners stripping staircases, doors, windows, spindles, tight spaces, furniture, and more.

Eco-Strip. Speedheater™ Standard 1100 Kit.

The Speedheater™ uses infrared rays to warm paint and wood for easy stripping. The process is safe with no lead fumes and clean with little paint dust. The resulting wood surface is bare and immediately ready for priming and painting. No other paint removal method can achieve these high-quality results with so few steps. The infrared rays bring the natural wood resins back up to the wood surface to rejuvenate it. This method also reduces the risk of fire, environmental damage, and clean up time. Perfect for trim, siding, windows, doors, trim , and more. It’s not just for exterior and interior home restoration. The 1100 is one of Eco-Strip’s cool toosl can be used on boat varnish, furniture, flooring adhesives and more. Visit the Eco-Strip for more info on warranty, repair, returns, etc.

Eco-Strip. Speedheater Window Tool Kit.

Speedheater Window Tool Kit. This Window Tool Kit comes equipped with a Putty Scraper, Boomerang Scraper, and a Chisel with Roller to help you remove both paint and putty without damaging the glass. 

InfraRed Rack Kit

The InfraRed Rack Kit™ is an easy to use accessory, with minimal setup required. It inludes a quick-adjusting bracket assembly that holds your Infrared Paint Stripper and allows super-fast vertical and horizontal adjustments. It also has an integrated magnetic scraper "caddy", making it comfortable and convenient to store and swap between multiple scrapers on the job. The kit includes the technical data & shopping list for the Infrared Rail plus manuals and tutorials to assemble and operate your InfraRed Rack Kit. Exclusively from by My Old House Fix .

Blue Bear 605 Pro Coating Remover - One Gallon (128 oz)

Safer, more environmentally friendly paint stripper that removes multiple coatings in a single application. Comparable to the "Soy Gel" version that Franmar used to sell. 

Low Maintenance Med/Large Full Face Respirator

North (by Honeywell). Safety First, y’all!!! Any time I am sanding, scraping paint (especially overhead), etc, I wear a full-faced respirator like this one from North. The North 5400 Series Full-faced Respirator is my go-to mask for the past 10 years now (I’m on my second one) and will set you back around $120. In my experience, wearing it for hundreds of hours, my first one lasted about 6 years before it started sealing improperly around my face. After that time the silicone rubber starts to lose its shape, but that normal wear and tear in my book. Its a small price to pay annually to completely protect your lungs and eyes! 

North Full-Faced Respirator Fit Check - My Old House"Fix"

Respirator Fit Check

North 7580P100 Particulate Cartridge (2-pack)

North (by Honeywell). N P100 Particulate Filter Cartridge. Replacement dust filters for your 5400 Series respirator. The pair should run you about $10 or less.  

North 75SCP100 Combination Gas and Vapor Cartridge (2-Pack) by North Safety

North (by Honeywell). North 75SCP100 Combination Gas and Vapor Cartridge. Replacement gas and vapor cartridges for your 5400 Series respirator. 

Drain King 340 All In One Easy to Use Drain Unclogging Kit, 1.5 To 3 Inch

Drain King Drain Clearing Kit. G.T. Water Products, Inc. 340 1-1/2-Inch to 3-Inch Drain King All in One Kit IS my go-to plumbing tool for regular preventative maintenance (to keep all my pipes draining like new).  I really have nothing negative to say about the kit, except that it can drip a bit of water from the faucet connection if too loose OR over-tightened. And as a precaution, never let it build pressure for more that 2-3 minutes, just in case it over-pressurizes your pipes. That’s it! I love it! Need to clean a drain, get your Drain King Kit here.

Wal-Rich Radiator Bleeding Air Valve Key Chrome Plated Lot of 5

Radiator Bleeding Air Valve Key. Use these Radiator Bleeding Air Valve Keys to bleed down air from your radiators, – for for venting the system when draining down the boiler for flushing/maintenance

Radiator Key - Hardware

Signature Hardware. Radiator Key. Larger, more decorative version of the ones above (square pattern only/no flat tip).  Exclusive to Signature Hardware, this solid brass radiator key will last a lifetime and features a decorative criss-cross design. Perfect for hanging near you radiator for easy access. Available in your choice of premium finishes.

JONES STEPHENS COMPANY J40-030 RADIATOR SPUD WRENCH

Radiator Spud Wrench. This Radiator Spud Wrench removes the pipe flange that threads into the radiator – usually removed during radiator valve replacement. As long as the fitting is not stuck/frozen the tool will easily remove it. You will find multiple vendors with higher prices, but they are all made from cast zinc.   Note: Always replace the entire radiator valve “set” as new/old style threads/flange may differ , and may leak if old and new parts are mixed.

Corentium Home Radon Detector by Airthings 223 Portable, Lightweight, Easy-to-Use, (3) AAA Battery Operated, USA Version, pCi/L

Airthings. Do you have radon, or want to actively monitor for radon in your home, to ensure it is staying within safe levels? if so, Corentium Home Radon Detector by Airthings is your cool tools gadget of choice! It is portable, easy-to-use, light weight, made in Norway, and only requires 3 AAA batteries. It gives 1) Long term average reading 2) Short term – 7 day reading, and 3) Short-term 1 day readings. Just pop the batteries in, turn it on, and you are done! Our home tested super high at the time of the home inspection (more info on a previous technical blog), so I wanted one to actively monitor our radon. While many cost $300-$1000+, this one is actually affordable at around $150. Click here if you need a Home Radon Detector  

6 Piece 12 Profile Double Ended Contour Sanding Grip Set for Concave & Convex Profile Sanding. Large Size Grip Pads with Profiles. Crown Molding, Molding, Frames or General Woodworking Use

Rockler. Rockler makes some awesome Contour Sanding Grips for all of your trim sanding needs. I just finished using this set to sand the very detailed trim in our kitchen and I can tell you that they shaved off hours of sanding time vs all by hand. Check out the Contour Sanders in action HERE! The set is made of rubber, reusable, and are sized 1/4″ – 7/8″. Just wrap the sand paper around it and go! This is the best $15 bucks I ever spent! For more info on the Rockler Contour Sanding Grips click here.   

Pro-Series GSSI Multi Purpose Scaffolding, 6-Feet

Pro-Series GSSI Multi Purpose Scaffolding, 6-Feet. Perfect for many jobs around the house…BIG and SMALL! WIth a 1000lb capacity, 29″ width to fit through all standard door openings, and has easy 1-person set up and breakdown for easy storage. It is also versatile, as it can be used on stairs, and stacked up to 2 units high with additional supports and precautions

Precision Sensor ProFinder 6000+ Professional Stud Finder

Precision Sensors. If you have ever tried to find studs behind plaster walls, the struggle is REAL! Well, life just got a little bit easier with The ProFinder 6000+ Scanning Stud Finder. Unlike other stud finders with only 1 or 2 sensors, the ProFinder 6000+ has 13! This means triangulated, deeper scanning (up to 1.7″ deep) and it actually shows you the entire width of the stud you are scanning, so you know exactly where the edges are. Cons: For plaster and lath it IS a little more sensitive, as it tries to pick up the lath and the stud. The trick is to move it slower (up/down) and find the gap between the lath (all lights OFF vs ON), then move left to right, to find the stud. I was even able to scan through my 1″ bead board on the porch ceiling to hang my swing! I don’t know of another stud finder that can do this. For more info on the ProFinder 6000+ click here. Note: I have the 5000+ (Blue). The NEW 6000+(Green), about $42, scans 1.7″ deep vs 1.5″ for the 5000+.

Hyde 45200 Window Opener

Hyde Window Zipper. Are your old double-hung windows stuck or painted shut? Don’t destroy the window and/or the trim trying to pry them open, try the Hyde Window Zipper. The stainless-steel saw tooth blade saws out paint between sill and sash on paint-stuck Windows. 4.4 out of 5 star rating, based on 88 reviews.

Klein Tools Glow Fish Tape

Klein Tools' first fully glow-in-the-dark fish tape. The unique clear case permits ambient light to easily charge the glow tape and tip, providing a bright glow for use in low light. The fiberglass tape is fully removable from case for one-way wall cavity, drop ceiling, and conduit pass through feeding. The anchor end features a stainless-steel fish rod connector so any of our fish rod accessories can be attached to the end of the fish tape, allowing this fish tape to also function as a super-flex glow rod. An optimal fish tape for installing wire or cable behind walls and ceilings, in short box-to-box runs and branch circuits, or in flexible tubing.

Milwaukee Electrician Pliers Set (3-Piece)

This MILWAUKEE® bundle includes a 9 inch High Leverage Lineman’s Pliers with Crimper, a 10 inch 6-in-1 Combination Electricians Wire Strippers, and 8 inch Long Nose Pliers. The High Leverage Lineman’s Pliers with Crimper has iron carbide edges for up to 2X more cuts. Both the Lineman’s Pliers and the Long Nose Pliers feature integrated reaming ridges and fish tape pullers for maximum versatility and productivity. The 8 inch long nose pliers has a 2 inch gripping nose for pulling wire and material through tight spaces. The 6-in-1 combination wire strippers for electricians feature a reaming head design for smooth edges on metal pipe from ½” to 1” and the capability to cut #6 and #8 bolts.

Southwire Tools 40116N NCV Detector 100-600V AC

Non-contact AC voltage detector quickly checks for the presence of live voltage on wiring and electrical devices. Features a built-in flashlight for added convenience.

The Perfect Stud Finder for Plaster Walls - YouTube

Stud Finder for Plaster Walls - ProFinder 6000. Check out the review on the "Cool Tools" page over at My Old House"Fix" https://myoldhousefix.com/cool-tools/

Wagner Wallpaper Steamer

A Great Way to Remove Old Wallpaper! Chemical Free Wallpaper Remover The 715 Power Steamer is ideal for quickly and effectively removing wallpaper using nothing more than steam. Designed for water-use only, it is chemical free and cost effective to use. Softens Adhesive for Easy Removal This handy tool will steam the wallpaper to soften the adhesive wallpaper backing, allowing you to easy strip and remove outdated wallpaper with ease. Two Steam Plates Included The steamer comes with a large 8" x 11" steamplate for large work areas and a small 3" x 6" steamplate for small or hard-to-reach areas. You’ll be able to tackle any job with this tool!

Wallpaper Scraper

PREMIUM BLADE: Our scrapers come complete with a sharpened, dual edge blade. Sharpening the blade on both sides is an extra manufacturing step but makes removal so much quicker. Dual edge sharpened blades dramatically outperform stamped/forged blades. ECONOMICAL: Blades are re-sharpenable and re-placeable, extending the life of the tool. MULTI_PURPOSE TOOL: In addition to wallpaper removal, this tool is ideal for removing paint, putty, adhesives, decals, signs, large stickers, labels, scraping glass, windows, mirrors, tile, walls, floors, and more.NOTE:  I DO NOT RECOMMEND THE WP CHOMP ROUND SCORING TOOL - it fell apart in literally 5 minutes of use! Do not buy!