You can’t “Fix” anything without the proper Cool “Fix” Tools…especially Old Houses! We have searched the internet so you don’t have to! Our Cool “Fix” Tools list is a roll-up of unique items you’ll need when working on an Old House! With this Cool Tools list, you’ll quickly find great products all in one place. Whether you like to DIY or not, our goal is to save you money! And, all from one page, by ensuring that YOU are a well-informed homeowner and consumer! Also, check back often, as we are always updating the cool page!
Finally, do you have a Cool Tools recommendation? Contact us, and let us know what Cool Tool is missing from the library!
Disclosure: There are some affiliate links below and I may receive commissions (at no cost to you) for purchases made through links in this post, but these are all products I highly recommend.
CLEANING
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…
Cleaning Kit with 12 or 24 Foot Extension Pole
DUMPSTER IN A BAG
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!
Get your Bagster here:
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
STEP 1: Quarantine the work area!!!
STEP #2: Gather your Work Area Containment Kit
Ram Board, Plastic, Tape, Support Poles, Zip Wall
Ram Board. Any time I need to protect floors or countertops, I use Ram Board 18lb Paper Drop Cloth. It is water, stain, and solvent resistant, and will protect your floors and/or baseboards throughout your project, whether new or existing surface. It also works well to protect floors as new appliances are moved back into a room!
AND DON’T FORGET THE “EASY RELEASE” TAPE!!!
STEP #3: Install Support Poles
2-in-1 Cargo/Support Poles – They will be the frame/bracing for your containment wall. You can find them at Harbor Freight (cheapest price) or from Amazon.
DUST BARRIER/PROTECTION
STEP #4: Install plastic and Zip-Wall
ZipWall. This is my pick of cool tools, any time I undergo a project in any room and want to quarantine all the dust, debris, and mess, I throw up a quick ZipWall Zipper. All you need is the zipper and some plastic sheeting. They are a fast, easy , and convenient way to keep the mess from spreading to the “sane” parts of the rest of your house, that aren’t being ripped apart!
3.5 Mil Plastic Sheeting. Wrap the plastic sheeting around your support poles to seal your dust containment area, or cover a door opening in preparation to install a Zip Wall Zipper.
PAINT SCRAPERS
Check out all the paint stripping items shown here over at the Exterior Painting and Stripping Technical blog
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!
Bahco. The Bahco 625 Premium 1″ Carbide Scraper
Bahco Replacement Blade. 
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.
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.
PAINT STRIPPERS
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.
FOR MORE INFO ON SPEEDHEATER PRODUCTS GO TO THE ECO-STRIP WEBSITE
Speedheater™ Demos
For professionals, add the Cobra to your Speedheater™ Standard 1100 Kit and any painted wood surface – big or small – can be stripped with the Speedheater™ Method. With its 20-year-tested infrared technology and with INCREDIBLE SPEED, the new Cobra strips paint, varnish, and adhesives.
*** See the Speedheater™ demo HERE: 1100 vs Cobra. ***
*** See the Speedheater™ Cobra demo HERE ***
*** See the interior paint removal demo HERE: Speedheater™ Cobra ***
FOR MORE INFO ON SPEEDHEATER PRODUCTS, VISIT THE ECO-STRIP WEBSITE
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.
Franmar. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
Respirator Fit Check, CLICK HERE
PLUMBING TOOLS
RADIATOR TOOLS
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.
Signature Hardware. Radiator Key. Larger, more decorative version of the ones above (square pattern only/no flat tip).
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.
RADON TESTING (Active)
SANDING
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.
PERRY SCAFFOLD (6ft)
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.
STUD FINDER (Std & Plaster Walls)
Note: I have the 5000+ (Blue). The NEW 6000+(Green), about $42, scans 1.7″ deep vs 1.5″ for the 5000+.
ProFinder 6000 DEMO
WINDOW
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.
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.
ELECTRICAL
Southwire Voltage Detector. Southwire’s new line of Non-Contact AC Voltage Detectors make it even easier to check for the presence of live voltage on outlets, wiring, circuit breakers, lighting fixtures and switches. This non-contact AC voltage detector features a built-in flashlight for user convenience. The flashing red LED and pulsating beeper indicate the presence of voltage to make this task as safe as possible.
You can’t “Fix” anything without the proper Cool “Fix” Tools…especially Old Houses!
You can’t “Fix” anything without the proper Cool “Fix” Tools…especially Old Houses!