Best New Tech for the Modern Handyman

Fixing things around the house has been a manly pastime for generations. While tools haven't changed much since your grandpa first started puttering around the house 80 years ago, there have been some upgrades in handyman technology that can make the life of a DIYer much easier. Here we highlight six awesome handyman gadgets.

BullsEye Auto-Leveling Laser and Stud Sensor Upgrade your old level with the Black & Decker BullsEye Auto-Leveling Laser and Stud Sensor. Simply mount the device to the wall and turn it on. Laser beams will appear on the wall on a level plane. It's auto adjusting, so if the device gets jostled while on the wall, it will level itself again. The BullsEye Auto-Leveling Laser also comes with a stud sensor that detects wood and metal studs and even A/C wires. $35

Handyman Sidekick iPhone App



The Handyman Sidekick iPhone app is like having a professional handyman right in the pocket of your overalls. The app consists of four calculators that help you plan for painting, wallpapering, flooring, and gardening projects. Tell Handyman Sidekick how big of a room you're needing to paint, and the app will let you know exactly how many cans of paint you should buy. Need to know how much carpet you need for a project? Enter the floorspace and-presto!-your Handyman Sidekick gives you the exact amount you need. Save time and money with this useful app! $1.99

Flashlight DVR



A sturdy and bright flashlight is every handyman's best friend, and this one also comes with a camera and microphone embedded into the front. You can record up to 2 hours worth of video and audio right into the camera. Instead of wriggling into crawlspaces to figure out where a leak is coming from, just stick your flashlight down there and hit record. Beats having a rat nibble on your face. $226.99

Thermal Leak Detector



In this tough economy, we're all looking for ways to cut down on expenses. The Black & Decker Thermal Leak Detector can help you reduce home energy costs by finding energy leaks throughout your house. Identify problem areas by simply scanning the rooms and nooks of your home with the detector. When the device hits a cold or hot spot, the LED display will light up. You can then take appropriate measures like adding more insulation so that your energy and money don't leak out with the air. $49.99

Ford Tool Link by Dewalt



Replacing lost tools can get very expensive. Wouldn't it be awesome if you could automatically do an inventory of your tools with the click of a button? With Ford's Tool Link by Dewalt you can. Two RFID readers are embedded in the bed of your Ford pick-up truck. You then attach the Dewalt RFID tags to your different tools. With a press of a button on your truck's in-dash screen, Tool Link will take an inventory of what tools you have in your bed and what tools are missing. Never leave behind a tool at a work site again. It's like something out of the Jetsons! $TBA

CarMD



Usually when the "Check Engine" light appears in the dash, you have to take your car to the mechanic where they run a diagnostic test with a computer to find out exactly what's going on. It's typically something minor, but they charge you $100 for the diagnosis. With CarMD you can run the exact same computerized diagnostic tests as they do at the dealer, but avoid the high prices. $98.

What handyman gadgets do you use around the house? Share them with us in the comments.

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Founded in January 2008, The Art of Manliness is a blog focused on reviving the lost art of manliness. With over 2 million monthly page views, The Art of Manliness represents a new kind of magazine for men, one that focuses on helping men become better citizens, fathers, husbands, friends, and simply all around better men. Husband and wife team, Brett and Kate McKay head up the up the blog. They live in Tulsa, OK.