The Ryobi Phone Works laser distance measurer is rated for accuracy within 1/16 inch of accuracy up to 90 feet away. Measurement categories include length, area and volume.There’s nothing worse than thinking you’re ready to tackle a project only to realize you lack the proper tools for the job at hand.
With more than 3 million apps available to Android and iOS smartphone users, there are many that cater specifically to developers and architects, from computer-aided design and material use calculators to floor plan mock ups.
But what about the phone itself?
In just one decade of existence, the smartphone has become indispensable, earning it a permanent place in the pockets of more than two-thirds of Americans, according to an October 2015 study by the Pew Research Center. And most of those users – 84 percent, according to a poll by Time Magazine – say they can’t imagine going a day without their device.
Since you’ve already got it with you, why not take advantage of your smartphone as a cutting-edge DIY assistant? While you’ll probably never use a $600 device as a hammer or to patch drywall, Ryobi’s Phone Works tool suite leverages the computing power of Android and iOS phones as the brains for a platform of accessories that make them even more useful at a job site.
The selection of Phone Works accessories includes:
* A moisture meter ($30) that plugs into your device’s earphone jack and can be used to measure environmental humidity and compare it to the moisture content of wood, drywall, cement and other building materials.
* A laser distance measurer with built-in level ($70 MSRP) rated for accuracy within 1/16 inch of accuracy up to 90 feet away. Measurement categories include length, area and volume.
* A stud finder ($20 MSRP) that calibrates itself via the smartphone and can detect studs with an accuracy of 1/8 inch through up to 3/4 inches of drywall. A button on the finder allows studs to be marked with a dimple using one hand while still holding the device.
* An infrared thermometer ($40 MSRP) that can track surface temperatures between -22 and 662 degrees in real time on your phone’s display.
* An inspection scope ($90 MSRP) for peering behind walls or inside pipes via a three-foot-long, submersible cable equipped with a camera. Via a Wi-Fi signal, the scope displays its camera view on your screen.
A caveat to potential Ryobi converts, however. All Phone Works accessories must be registered online, by serial number, before use and are permanently linked to one device, so no sharing accessories between phones on-site.
For serious DIY types or handy men, however, these high-tech upgrades to your tool belt will help eke even more use out of the device that’s probably already sitting in your pocket.