A Few Cool Tools and Other Neat Stuff

By Oscar H. Will Iii
Published on September 1, 2007
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Lucy, the author's Westie, directs thistle spraying from the seat of this Cub Cadet 4x4 LE UTV.
Lucy, the author's Westie, directs thistle spraying from the seat of this Cub Cadet 4x4 LE UTV.
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The Miltronics Driveway Alert system lets you know when something is headed up your lane.
The Miltronics Driveway Alert system lets you know when something is headed up your lane.
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The Miltronics Driveway Alert system lets you know when something is headed up your lane.
The Miltronics Driveway Alert system lets you know when something is headed up your lane.
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During the past year, I have accumulated a number of products that won’t fit neatly into a theme-based column in the foreseeable future. Some of these items are fantastically useful, others are entertaining and fun, while still others offer extremely high quality with a twist, but they all have one thing in common. I have been using them for some time, and I really like them.

Cub Cadet 4×4 UTV – First Look

I don’t know how I would have gotten the thistles under control in the back 40 without the help of Cub Cadet’s new 4×4 LE utility vehicle. This little truck’s 20-horsepower Kohler V-Twin engine, two-speed transmission and 1,300-pound payload capacity (900 in the cargo bed) had no problem hauling me and a 60-gallon spot-sprayer over hill and dale and through a very steep ravine to get at those pesky plants before they seeded. With all that weight in back, I didn’t need to engage the electrically activated four-wheel-drive system; however, I did engage the rear differential lock (with the flip of a lever) once to get through a muddy section of trail between two ponds.

In the months I have had it, the Cub Cadet 4×4 has come in handy for many other chores, including hauling fencing supplies to remote locations, hauling firewood and carrying pruning debris to the burn pile. The Cub Cadet UTV (www.CubCadet.com) goes anywhere with minimal impact and saves wear and tear on the pickup truck. Stay tuned for more reports on the Cub Cadet 4×4 LE (price: under $10,000) as we continue to put it through its paces.

Self-Adjusting Locking Pliers

I first discovered Lockjaw’s self-adjusting and locking pliers at the welding supply shop in Claremont, New Hampshire, while retrieving a couple of oxygen bottles for Kate, my glass-working wife. Kate had “borrowed” my Vise-Grips and Leatherman Crunch one time too many, so I decided the only way to keep my toolbox contents intact was to get her a set of locking pliers of her own. I was initially disappointed because the store didn’t handle Vise-Grips. What I found instead was a pair of innovative locking pliers called LockJaw (www.LockJawPliers.com) – they were very well made and incredibly easy to use.

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