NEW PRODUCTS

It’s a product that takes the pain out of pinecone pick-up. Until now there has been no easy way to pick up pinecones, but the Coneivore makes quick work without the typical bending and reaching.

The lightweight-yet-durable Coneivore is a 36-inch handled tube that users simply plunge over the top of a pinecone snatching it off the ground and into the tube. The tool allows the user to pick up pinecones without bending over or raking them into piles. It also prevents sharp pinecone barbs from pricking fingers and causing infections.

The unit comes with two different-sized cone caps, each designed to accommodate pinecones of different sizes. The tube typically holds 15 to 18 cones and can be simply dumped out when full.

No assembly is required and the unit weighs less than 2.5 pounds. It also can be used to pick up fir cones, apples, pears, walnuts, magnolia pods, sweet gumballs, chestnuts and more.

Coneivore sells for $34.95 and is available at www.coneivore.com or by calling 888-CONEWIZ.

Stucco-Guard helps end stucco issues

New Stucco-Guard from Seal-Krete is a premium, water-based acrylic, low-lustre sealer that helps strengthen, revitalize and protect stucco surfaces.

Stucco-Guard meets American Society for Testing and Materials standards for wind-driven rain up to 124 mph to eliminate the damage and decay caused by moisture penetration. It also can be used as a primer and will buffer hot stucco, bind chalky surfaces, resist mold and mildew growth, and improve topcoat adhesion. As a topcoat, it provides a nonyellowing, breathable finish that prevents color bleed and premature color fading.

“Stucco-Guard is an excellent formula for any stucco surface, either as a primer or topcoat. It’s formulated to penetrate deeply into stucco and prevent moisture penetration and water intrusion from hurricane force winds,” said Tim Franklin, vice president of research and development for Seal-Krete. “Our emulsion yields exceptional penetration depth, and with low VOCs and no hazardous materials, it’s really easy on the environment.”

For additional information, visit www.seal-krete.com.

Council offers safety products for windows

Outdated window coverings pose a strangulation risk to children in any room of the house, not just the bedroom.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, since 1990 more than 200 infants have died from accidentally strangling in window cords.

The window-covering industry has redesigned all corded products and developed safety standards such as breakthrough safety tassels and continuous cord loops to help prevent an accident.

For those homes with older coverings, the Window Covering Safety Council will provide tassels, cord stops, tie-down devices and how-to instructions free of charge to anyone.

For more information, call 800-506-4636 or visit www.win dowcoverings.org.

Energy film offers invisible savings

Here’s a way to save money in the summer and the winter.

Energy Film, from Artscape Inc., is a thin, transparent window film that provides insulation all year long. It does not use a tint or mirrored surface to achieve its insulating properties and is practically invisible.

Energy Film is made of spectrally selective material that uses low-e technology to block out 65 percent of solar heat in the summer, retain 38 percent of escaping heat in the winter, block 99 percent of ultraviolet rays and still allows 85 percent of natural light into the room.

All that is needed for installation are: squeegee (included), window cleaner, utility knife, liquid soap, straight edge, spray bottle and paper towels. No adhesives are needed and the film is applied directly to the inside of the windows.

Energy Film is available in three sizes: 24 by 48 inches, 36 by 48 inches and 48 by 84 inches. Prices are $18, $27 and $35, respectively. Panels can be combined for larger windows or trimmed to fit specialty windows.

For more information, call 877-729-0708 or visit www.energy-film.com and www.artscape-inc.com.

Dish, glass combo lets you wine ‘n dine

It’s that awkward party moment.

You have a plate, a drink and only two hands. How do you manage mingling, eating and drinking all at the same time?

So much food, so much drink, so little space to set your glass down to eat from your plate. And trying to balance a wine glass on your plate can have disastrous results.

Even if you can juggle it all, how about when you put your plate and glass down somewhere? How do you identify them later?

One very practical solution is Metrokane’s Wine ‘n Dine Buffet Set. The unusual triangular plate has a custom-fit space for the glass to prevent spills.

Each set includes six multicolored plates and wine glasses that are translucent so guests can easily identify their sets. The plates are made of clear acrylic with a molded rim. Glasses are molded of high-clarity polycarbonate. Both are break-resistant and dishwasher safe.

The set retails for about $25. For more information, visit www.metrokane.com