We were pleased when we opened the mail recently and discovered that someone had sent us a sample of a new ratchet-style box-wrench. We were a little disappointed, though, when we thought that the package only contained two wrenches, not a full set. But it wasn't a partial set at all. The two wrenches constituted a full eight-piece set of box wrenches. Each of the two-box wrench ends is shaped into two sizes (two ends on each wrench, two sizes on each end, four sizes per wrench). Two wrenches -- eight sizes. Each end of each wrench boasts a reversible ratchet and a 5-degree ratchet lock. This means that the tool can be operated in a very tight space. If you live in an apartment and want the most tool for the storage space available, then you want to look into this one.

The tool is called the QuadBox. For more information on this product, go to www.gearwrench.com/.

When a major plumbing job arises, there is always the chance that a pipe wrench will be needed. But, for the smaller jobs, we like to use adjustable pliers.

We recently discovered that there is an adjustable plier that is made specifically for use with round stock like plumbing pipe. What makes this puppy different is its "V-shaped jaws." The curvature gives the jaw more contact surface on round or curved stock, resulting in a better grip with less force you need to exert.

We strongly recommend using adjustable pliers instead of a pipe wrench for most plumbing finish work. You can "feel" the pressure being exerted more readily with pliers. Over-tightening a connection is still possible, but less likely when using pliers.

For more information on V-jaw pliers go to www.channellock.com/.

There is nothing new about locking pliers. If you began looking you would probably find a pair in just about every tool box on the planet. Locking pliers have a screw at the end of the handle that adjusts the size of the bite so that various things can be securely gripped -- regardless of thickness or diameter.

Unfortunately, it sometimes takes two or three tries to properly adjust the tool to the task at hand. When you're in a hurry to get the job done, this can be an annoyance. omeone just invented a pair of "self-adjusting" locking pliers. There is no adjusting screw at the end of the handle because the tool automatically adapts to whatever size item you want to hold on to.

The tool is named Lock Jaw. For more information, go to www.lockjawpliers.com.

There are non-tool innovations that are equally as much fun to discover and work with. Here's one if you're planning a kitchen or bath remodel.

The little valves under the sink that are used to turn the water off to the faucet are called angle stops. The problem with these is that it takes forever to shut them off, and once turned off, they usually leak. Replacing them is heartache because the kind that work with copper have compression fittings and there isn't anything good about that kind of connection. They leak, they are almost impossible to replace and they are a pain to install.

We are used to placing a container beneath the angle stops that we have to work on to catch the drips that almost always occur.

Now, someone has designed a brand new style of angle stop with a quick shut-off feature. This particular valve can be completely replaced with the flick of your wrist. It comes with its own special piece of copper pipe (which has to be soldered into the line). In combination, the valve and the pipe marry via the push of a latch -- and reversing the process for removal is just as quick and easy.

By the way, we don't think there would be value in using this valve unless you were doing new construction or a remodel. It isn't something made for retrofit installation.

The product is called SureConnect.

For more on this valve go to www.brasscraft.com/.

And that's all there is to it.