Show and tell in Las Vegas

The National Hardware Show kicked off this week in Las Vegas with all the usual fanfare. Once again, the stars of the show are the products. Here are a few of them.

Portacool Cyclone 1000

Spot cooling is a specialty for the Cyclone 1000 (pictured above), a mobile evaporative cooling unit for outdoor areas or garages. The energy-efficient technology does more than move warm air around without cooling, and it leaves no undesirable mist. (Booth 1254, portacool.com)

Scotch Blue Platinum Painters Tape

The chemistry and physics are aligned in this upgraded 3M painters tape to create sharper lines, one-piece removal and faster projects. A quick rip by hand creates a straight, sharp 90-degree tear. (Booth N234, N236, scotchblue.com)

Tub-O-Towels

With BondBuster technology — good for multi-purpose use on anything ranging from desk cleaning to tough automotive grime — Tub-O-Towels manages to combine grit with a friendly formula that’s free of harsh chemicals. (Booth 5529, tubotowels.com)

Channellock Little Champ Pliers

The newly reintroduced line of Little Champ precision tools (now with reshored production in Meadville, Pennsylvania) is back in a slimmer, lighter profile with a better-balanced design. The tools are made with high-carbon steel and come in five plier varieties. (Booth 7226, channellock.com)

Flex Seal

Marketed as “the original liquid rubber in a can,” Flex Seal offers a user-friendly solution for coating, sealing and stopping leaks. The formula is designed to fill cracks and holes and dry to a watertight, flexible, rubberized coating. (Booth 5627, flexsealproducts.com)

Gardner Bender DualCheck 2-in-1 Tester

This LED GFCI tester from Gardner Bender offers 360-degree visual indication without requiring any illegible charts. It’s also packed with advanced ground circuit testing capabilities to assure low ground resistances. (Booth 2621, gardnerbender.com)

Mr. LongArm Smart Painter System II

The Smart Painter System isn’t just about getting to the hard-to-reach spots during interior painting projects (though a Twist-lok extension pole certainly helps). It also features a splatter shield to prevent messes, with single-handled operation to quickly rotate the shield. (Booth 5215, mrlongarm.com)

Concrobium Mold Control

Famously endorsed by TV personality and master builder Mike Holmes, Concrobium Mold Control eschews the use of bleach in the battle against mold — and to very effective ends. It not only kills existing mold, it also prevents mold re-growth and eliminates musty odors. (Booth 5024, concrobium.com)

Real Flame Wood Fire Pits

This particular model — the Crestone — is composed of a heat-resistant, powder-coated steel frame with tile top that burns firewood. Alternatively, it can be converted to Real Flame Gel Cans with the addition of Real Flame Outdoor Conversion Log sets. (Booth 10707, Outdr101, realflame.com)

Cashel Utility Sink

A new line of utility sinks range from basic to deluxe, including a metal towel rack and chrome pull-out faucet (shown below). When in Vegas, check out the “Can of Cash” sweepstakes. Havertown, Pennsylvania-based Cashel products will be showcased in the Made in America section. (Booth 8642, cashelllc.com)

Stanley Fatmax Professional Grade Water Hose

This rather technical hose uses PolyFusion technology (a unique combination of polyurethane and PVC) to make the hose more lightweight and manageable. Added bonuses: AntiKink technology for elasticity and a scratch-resistant veneer. (Booth 10621, 10721, N263, bondmfg.com)

BakerStone Pizza Oven Box

Compact and effective, this grill-top oven can match the baking temperatures of wood-fired ovens and bake pizzas in just two to four minutes. That’s all thanks to a combination of a stone-baking chamber with an enameled steel housing. It’s also good for preparing other baked goods and roasting meat, fish and vegetables. (Booth Outdr135, bakerstonebox.com)