If you live in an area where it snows, cleaning up and digging out after a heavy snowfall is a simple fact of life. Sure, shoveling is the traditional way to get the job done, but your back, shoulders, and legs may be pleading for an easier alternative. Plus, with record snowfall pounding many cities [...]
Editor’s Review : Beyond the Basic Step Ladder
November 10, 2011 By 9 Comments
When buying tools—especially tools I already have and that still mostly work—the new tool better pay for itself in a hurry. On my projects, Little Giant’s Select Step ladder beats this criterion.
FixitUp Find: Get A Clip–Hyde Tools Bear Claw Clips
November 10, 2011 By 4 Comments
If you could see me right now, you’d be watching me get up on my soapbox. It’s a metaphorical soapbox of course, because I buy soap like everyone else (actually, I get a lot of it from hotels—I’m that, er, frugal—but when I dooooo buy it)…anyway up I go. And, while the direction of this [...]
Tool Kit: Lightweight Hammer
October 25, 2011 By 3 Comments
Today, of course, our hammers hang from our belts, and we drive most of our nails with pneumatic tools, so who cares if there is a new hammer on the market? Well, I do.
Containing the Dust: Hyde 09175 Vacuum Sanding Tool
October 15, 2011 By 1 Comment
There is one constant when working with drywall and joint compound: dust. Like the work or hate it, good at it or just beginning, it doesn’t matter. The minute you start sanding—and everyone has to sand—dust enters the equation. If you’re building an addition or new home, it’s not a huge deal, but for 99% [...]
MyFixitUpLife talk show: Live from New York it’s MyFixitUpLife
October 10, 2011 By 65 Comments
Tool up and tune in, we’re sneak-peaking Stanley Tools’ front line of next-gen products from their New York City premiere. We’re getting schooled when This Old House—and unimproveably nice guy—master plumber and HVAC expert Rich Trethewey radiates a pipeline plumb full of knowledge and warmth. He shares tips to how to get your home ready [...]
Draining an Air Compressor
September 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
An air compressor is what I would consider a main-frame DIY tool. For everything from trim to flooring to blowing dust out of the garage, compressed air is the go-to fuel to power hardworking pneumatic tools. And as well as most compressors work, draining them can be a real pain in the…fingers! Click here to [...]
Mark discusses ‘Feature-Rich Job-Site Table Saw’ in Professional Deck Builder!
September 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Ridgid’s R4510 delivers all three things that you should look for in a job-site table saw.
QuickTip: Hanging a Porch Swing
August 25, 2011 By 2 Comments
So you’re fired up to hang that porch swing. Lazy nights (a rare occurrence for the died-in-the-wool DIYer) swinging, watching the rain, enjoying the kids, taking a call…whatever…porch swings are great. And you’ve located the joists in the ceiling. Nice job. You drilled the hole for the eye bolts—bulls-eye, right in the center of the [...]
10 things you don’t need to own
August 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Home-improvement centers will rent you most, if not all, of the power tools you’ll need for a do-it-yourself project. The trick is figuring out how long, and how often, you’ll need the tool. If the project takes you longer than you expect, renting can turn out to be more expensive than owning. But renting can [...]
