Originally published at: Power outlets have 2 hidden tools | Boing Boing
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Up next: did you know your caulk gun has both a foil piercer and a nozzle cutter included?
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As neat as it was to learn this new fact, I was even more delighted by Ms. Bolden’s friendly delivery and intro. I’ll be coming back to that channel to look for advice.
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She’s great. Her videos are geared to beginners, but I’ve learned things on subjects I thought I was knowledgeable about, including the wire stripper trick from this one.
ETA: I checked and an outlet I had lying around doesn’t have the stripping notches. Maybe it’s a recent addition?
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No. I just looked it up and you’re right. Amazing.
However my caulking gun has a cast metal handle and two bars instead of a half-round channel to hold the end, actually just like the one at the very start of this video.
So I have neither of these handy features. 
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They seem SO HAPPY to be helping people! I’m hooked!
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subscribed
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Personally, the delivery and pacing of the video drove me up the wall.
It was over a third of the video before she started talking about the two tools, and when she did, she glossed over the guage so fast I had to rewind and watch it again to figure out where it actually was (and then she showed a clip of stripping off significantly more than the guage indicated).
She’s obviously a really nice and friendly person, but could probably use an editor…
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Not every model or manufacturer includes them. She labels the brand in the video, Eaton.
It might be specific to them. I was vaguely aware of this, but haven’t seen one in a long time. We get this sort of thing through, or by recommendation of, my uncle the Electrician. And I don’t think a professional would have much need for that particular feature.
It’s on a different spot on pretty much every brand of outlet. But it’s clearly labeled “strip guide” often it’s just a printed line. The stripper slots are likewise clearly labelled where they exist.
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Neat! I totally forgot about their channel. The tape measure video blew my mind and I already knew about half of the tricks.
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TIL. I knew about the wire gauge but not stripper. I assumed that design where the stripper is was just a cost saving measure and/or to allow for some flex.
Good stuff.
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I have seen her videos before and really like them. She reminds me of one of my dear personal friends which may be another reason why I like her videos so much.
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Also, the plastic cap on the butt end of craft knives often includes a slot which you can use to safely snap off blade segments. And the little gas pump light on a dashboard faces left or right to tell you which side the car’s gas cap is on.
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For a lot of youtube how to/diy videos, I find playing them on 1.5-2x’s speed makes them much more palatable, this one was better at 2x.
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Just checked, and the two I have do not have either of these handy-dandy features.
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Harbor Freight?
Close. Lowe’s bottom bin.
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Lifehack: Did you know you can use your cheapo caulking gun as a rudimentary clamp?
Follow me for more limited-use alternative tool uses!
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Speed up. omg she speaks slowly.
