Category: Equipment and Book Reviews

I have bought several beginner lockpick kit sets before, but I did not get half the stuff for the price of this Lockpickworld Beginners Box.  What I did get typically, was not as high quality either.

I questioned the “spy card” and it seemed a little “tacti-cool” and gimmicky, but in reality, the picks in that kit tend to be my go to set. It is small, light, and easy to carry.

The practice lock alone runs half the cost of this kit. I can’t speak enough about how pleased I am with it.

More surprising was that my subject matter expert friend, who has kits costing hundred more than than mine was similarly impressed.

I use this kit in several other articles, like the one on how lockpicks work.  The practice lock is a really great addition to the kit.  It really helps visualize what is going on.

It also keeps the 6 year old’s attention when I try to show him how to do it.

This kit comes with:

• A full 15 piece Lock Pick Set with lock picks, tension tools and extractor
• A Secret Agent / Spy Concealed Credit Card Pick Set
• A fully-working, easy practice padlock with a see-through mechanism with keys
• A double-sided, see-through practice training lock with keys
• Our 43-page eBook with colour photos for Single Pin Picking

I had always wanted a lockpick gun, but figured they were a gimmick from TV cop shows.   However, when I finally got around to getting one I was surprised just how useful a tool this is.

If you have the tension on the wrench just right, I have been able to open a padlock with one squeeze. More often it takes 3 or for quick pops of the handle, but this is pretty easy.

This gun is high quality and very sturdily built. I think it is well worth the cost.

I got mine from lockpickworld, it was $44.99 and you can follow the link.

It takes some practice, but in under 30 minutes of playing Julian and I were able to both consistently open practice padlocks.  That was with sharing the same gun.

Today I would like to introduce the 2 piece Deiss ART Silicone Collapsible Funnel Set.

This set of two collapsible silicone funnels costs $10.28 and has prime shipping on Amazon.  I like how small these two funnels collapse down to.

Additionally, since I keep having problems with my plastic funnels cracking after being put in the dishwasher, I like how sturdy these are.

I originally wanted a collapsible funnel for camping with my son.  My wife said she would be willing to go “car camping” so I have been collecting gear.

However, after using these funnels a few times and seeing how easy they are to both use and store, I decided to keep them in the house.

I like how the cone body’s fold-able ledges allow the funnel to be firmly seated on bottle and jar openings of all sizes.  This helps the boy not spill when we work on his cooking skill.

The kit has two sizes of funnel endings, rounded and squared, for different containers and serving purposes.

The funnels are made of durable FDA-approved silicone and can be used at temperatures between -40 and 250 degrees Celsius. The odorless material doesn’t transfer any smells to your liquids. The funnels are oil- and stain-resistant, so it takes mere seconds to clean them up. Just throw them in your dishwasher or rinse them under water.

I have wanted a flex edge beater for my KitchenAid mixer for as long as I have had one.  A few years ago I bought mine from amazon at a deep discount as it was a certified factory refurbished model.

I use mine for more than just baking.  A favorite use for my stand mixer for meatloaf as well as for shredding chicken.

Unfortunately, when mixing batters, the edges of the bowl don’t get mixed as well as they should.  A flex edge beater is designed to conform to and touch the side of the bowl.

It reminds me of a windshield wiper actually.  This flexible edge wipes the sides of the bowl.  This causes the ingredients are sent to the middle to be mixed thoroughly.

KITCHPOWER Flex Edge Beater Review

I got this replacement blade from a different company than KitchenAid so the blade was much less expensive.  However, it still fit my power-head and matched up as tightly as the OEM blades that came with my machine.

It has a white enamel coating that seems to be very similar to the coating on my OEM blades.

Actually my only issue with the beater is that I bought one that was too small.  This is for a smaller model of stand mixer.  I could not really review the quality of the blade in use, so I focused on durability.

You are not supposed to put these types of blades in the dishwasher.  Even KitchenAid says it will remove the enamel coating.

The amazon few negative reviews for this $15.99 blade says that in the dishwasher the paint flakes off.  To test it I ran it though two consecutive heavy duty cycles in my dishwasher – one on the top rack, one on the bottom.

I did not have any flaking issues.

Of course that is a very light test.

I Don’t Need It, Do You Want It?

Since this is too small for my mixer, I will gladly share it with the first person to send me their mailing address.  You can use the contact form to send me an email.  As long as you have a 4.5-5 quart mixer bowl

It fits the following KitchenAid models:

• K45SS
• KSM1
• KSM100
• KSM110
• KSM120
• KSM15
• KSM16
• KSM75
• KSM8
• KSM9

I hope this is useful to you.

This has not been my month, In the past 30 day’s I have used roadside assistance 4 times.  Breaking down on the side of the road isn’t so bad when it is just me in the car.  However, once it was my wife and son alone.  That worries me.

So, car preparedness was on my mind with Zvelta offered to let me do a review on their 6 pack of LED road flares.

This led kit is good quality.  I like how it came in a nice orange package that both held the flares and makes them easy to find while digging though your trunk.  The magnetic screwdriver is also a nice touch.

They say that the flashers send an ultrabright warning signal that is visible up to 1 mile away.  I did not walk a mile away from my car to test it.  But I did stick the flares to my car and was able to use the light to see.  At least enough to do emergency repairs like changing a tire.

Another thing I like about the Zvelta Emergency Flares is that each flashing safety puck has a Magnetic Base and also a Mounting Hook

PACKAGE CONTENTS

• 6 x LED Road Flares
• 1 x Storage Bag
• 1 x Handy Screwdriver
• 1 x Instructions Sheet

The only thing I did not like about this kit is that each flare needs 3 AAA batteries (total of 18) and they did not come with any.  That added a significant cost to the kit.  They do say that on the Amazon page, so it wasn’t a surprise.  Additionally, I believe that even with the cost of the batteries, the feeling of security I get knowing my wife has emergency flashers is worth it.