Sunex 30080 3/8-Inch Drive 80-Tooth Low Profile Chrome Ratchet with Teardrop Handle by Sunex

Confession time. I am not really a tool guy. This doesn't mean that I don't have just all of the tools that most guys have, it just means that I don't go in for the top-of-the-line tools. 

Priced at $32.77, this is by far the most expensive ratchet that I own. It probably costs more than both of the very basic metric and standard sets that I own - put together.

So, I took this ratchet to my father for his opinion. He worked in appliance repair for more than 30 years and knows his hand tools.

Here are his comments:

-Nice ratcheting action (the manufacturer is very proud of this - the ratchet has 80 teeth which means you don't have to move the ratchet handle much to get a new angle on things).

-He liked the fact that the handle has a fat part for you to hold in your hand - it's a simple touch but it makes it easier to use over the long haul (my cheap ratchets do not have a "fat" handle).

-He also liked the fact that the handle does not have grips in the handle. Over the long haul those grips start to hurt your hand. 

No eject button

-He did not like the fact that it does not have an eject button in the head to kick off the socket. If you use the finest sockets on the market, this might not be an issue, but...see my comments in the 2nd paragraph.

So, I rate this ratchet 4 stars out of 5 because of the eject button.

This ratchet can be found on Amazon.com here: Sunex 30080 3/8-Inch Drive 80-Tooth Low Profile Chrome Ratchet with Teardrop Handle.

Note: I received one of these ratchets as part of the Amazon Vine Program so that I could write an honest review.

Scotch-Brite Scrub Dots Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge, 6 Count by Scotch-Brite

So-So

This is a variation on the sponge with the scrubbing side glued to the sponge. The scrubbing side on these sponges is not nearly as harsh as the typical scrubbing sponge. Scotch-Brite does make a variation on this model that is a little tougher.

The sponge itself was excellent, but I found the "scrub dots" side to be a bit of a disappointment in a couple of ways. It was just okay - I found it to be less effective than the traditional scrub sponge and tended to collect grease from what I was washing rather than removing it. Even worse, the scrub side came loose after about 10 minutes of use.

So, I am giving this 2 stars out of 5. The sponge itself is excellent, the "scrub dots" are a disappointment.

Note: I received a free 6 count package of this product for review purposes as a part of the Amazon Vine Program.

The Scotch-Brite Scrub Dots Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge, 6 Count by Scotch-Brite can be found on Amazon.com here

ECR4Kids GelWriter Premium Multicolor Gel Pens in Coloring Box (36-Count)

Unlike many people who buy gel pens, I did not get these gel pens to color in one of those adult coloring books.

I got them to grade papers. Everyone thinks you have to use a red pen to grade but what you really need is a pen that is not black or blue. Gel pens are wonderful to grade with because they glide like a marker but write much more precisely. Plus, I like grading in non-traditional grading colors like orange and pink and with glitter.

So, how do they work? They are excellent. They flow smoothly and practically glide across the page.

Note: these are not fine tip pens so if you are getting them to color very tiny areas, these may not be your best choice.

The pens come in a cardboard box with an attached lid that you flip open. The box is about 50% bigger than a boutique tissue cube. Inside, the pens are all arranged by color so that you can see the lids and pick out your color. The lids match the actual color of the gel ink very well.

I rate this collection of gel pens 4 stars out of 5.

As of the time of this review this set of gel pens cost $14.95. It is available on Amazon.com here: ECR4Kids GelWriter Premium Multicolor Gel Pens in Coloring Box (36-Count).

Note: I received a free sample of these gel pens as a part of the Amazon Vine program.

ZIPIT Colorz Jumbo Pencil Case, Stripes by ZIPIT

Excellent Pencil Case

My almost 6th grade daughter has been using this case for the last month. She carries around a lot of colored pencils with her because she loves to draw. Turns out she had 74 in this case when I took the pictures that accompany this review and easily had room for 20 more. I asked her opinion on the case and enthusiastically praised it.

The case measures 9 inches by 5.8 inches by 0.8 inches. 

The case is one giant zipper that can unzip into one giant zipper, which is kind of cool but pretty pointless. The fact that it can unzip so much does make for an interesting feature, though, if you just unzip it twice it makes a sort of bowl so that you can get in and out of the case very easily. 

I would not recommend this case for younger children only because the temptation to unzip it all of the way may be too much and you could have a mess on your hands.

It seems very sturdy and comes with a one year warranty that can become a lifetime warranty if you register on the ZIPIT website.

There are four colorful designs in total: Stripes, Large Bubbles, Small Bubbles and Triangles.

At the time of the review, this pencil case cost $6.86 on Amazon.com and can be found here: ZIPIT Colorz Jumbo Pencil Case, Stripes.

Note: I received a free sample pencil case as a part of the Amazon Vine program.