Hot answers tagged product-recommendation
22
I wouldn't worry so much about blades flying out, even when using a cheap harbor freight saw. What is more likely to happen is the motor will burn out quicker than a quality tool. I've bought many harbor freight tools for "time to time" use. I've got a drill press that's lasted quite a long while ... granted I only use it a few times a year so I got my ...
14
There are at least three different types of stud finders; unless you understand what they're doing to try to locate studs, their results may baffle you.
Magnetic - these are a pitiful joke, but they were the only thing available when I was a kid. They don't sense the stud itself (unless you're in an office building that uses steel studs!), but rather the ...
11
If this is a one-off project it may be worth asking the ply merchant if they can do the cutting for you, which might work out even cheaper than a cheap saw. Other than that, I suspect that if you do buy a saw you will end up using it more than you thought you would and should give consideration to buying the dearer one, which in all likelihood will last you ...
10
I'll defer to the experts but personally, I wouldn't mix brands of chainsaw chains.
I seem to recall that Stihl chain designs help reduce/prevent kick-back and binding (which presumably explains why they're more expensive). Plus, they use a green and yellow color-coding system to help you select a powerhead, bar and chain combination that complies with ...
9
A 60 tooth is a fine blade for semi-smooth finish cuts. Cuts on flooring are always at the wall ends, so even a 40 is good for that since the baseboard trim goes over the cut. You should be leaving a 1/4 inch expansion gap at he ends anyway, so they won't show. The DeWalt 12" blade is a good long lasting blade. It has good balance, heat dissipation and takes ...
8
I've had pretty good luck with Ryobi tools in the past, and the drill you are looking at will certainly do what you want it to.
Normally I'd recommend a cordless drill to just about anybody, but if you find that you will hardly ever use it, a corded drill might be better. No point in having a cordless drill if the battery is always dead when you need it ...
8
The problem is, there are infinitely many jobs that a tractor can fill, if you look creatively at how to use that tractor. A small tractor can do some of those jobs. At some point, you will find that only a larger tractor can solve some more complex job. Of course, a larger tractor will take up more space to store. It will maneuver less easily in tight ...
8
Great question! My wife and I were examining laminate flooring a little while ago too. Not all of them are alike -- here are some things to consider.
Check the warranty. Cheaper laminate will usually have a shorter warranty with more conditions (e.g. 10 - 15 years only protecting factory defects). More expensive laminate will usually cover more ...
8
I am going to weigh in although I haven't had time to check specs etc on a couple of products I have used in the past. High moisture levels in a concrete floor can come form only two sources, insuffiecent curing time (new concrete) or ground water. The informal test you did with the plastic patch is a sure sign of excessive moisture in the floor. This means ...
8
More important question: Which contractor did you feel the most comfortable with and which has the best work history in your area -- have you checked BBB and something like Angies List? Who has the best relationship with their wholesaler/supplier and can get you support if you need it in case of roof damage?
Owens Corning and GAF make comparable products; ...
7
Mixing brands of chains is no problem, provided you use compatible chains. I'm no longer able to buy "original" chains for my old Homelite so I buy it off the roll at the local mower/chainsaw dealer, who also joins it up for me. It's worth noting that this particular dealer won't sell you a chain unless you know exactly what to ask for or bring in an old one ...
7
The weak points in any guttering system are where the various sections join. If the gutters aren't fitted correctly then any system will leak.
So look for a system that has an easy to fit joint, or perhaps one where the joints are bonded.
As long as they have the capacity to carry the volume of water you expect then any correctly installed system will be ...
7
Some aspects you should consider would be:
Size:
If you're just starting out with your tool collection, you may want to look into a tool set/tool box combo. The one from the link has several drawers with a bigger top compartment. You can also get an expanding tool box which lets you see where all your tools are without having to go through all your ...
6
To be honest, I'd probably be lazy here, and stick it back on with a thin film of a good commercial adhesive, thinly buttered on the back of the tile. Leave the old adhesive as it is. The old tile will fit perfectly. This is NOT something for superglue, but perhaps for something like liquid nails in a tube. Buy it in your local home center or a decent ...
6
A 5-stage reverse osmosis / UV filter will likely give you the results you want. This will filter out heavy metals as well as viruses and bacteria.
Downsides:
Cost (~$400, plus consumables)
Maintenance (new filters every 3-6 months, new UV lamps / membranes periodically)
Waste water (Every gallon of purified water produces at least 3 gallons of waste ...
6
I own this cordless string trimmer: Black and Decker NST2018 ($100)
It comes with two batteries, so if the first one goes dead, you can pop in the second one and keep going. (Always keep the spare one in the charger!)
I am happy with its performance. My lot is 0.35 acres. I use it to trim along my driveway, sidewalk, swing set, and a few flower beds. I ...
6
This online store has them for $15.90 each, and claims to be compatible with Dremel Multi-Max.
EDIT: Taking shirlock's advice in mind, the right tool for the job can make all the difference. I did a bit of searching, and DeWalt has an angle grinder for pretty cheap - only 4x the cost of the multimax blade! Ryobi has one for about half that price too.
...
6
Yes they do make plenty of these. The problem being they are still super expensive due to the limited number of choices you have in purchasing one for home use right now. I did a quick search and came back with this one that seems inexpensive:
http://www.buy.com/prod/watts-up-pro-power-analyzer-watt-meter-usb-port/q/loc/66357/203915717.html
6
I haven't used KIRDI-BOARD itself, but I have used similar products. Mostly, the biggest advantages are found in weight and longevity of the material. The synthetic foam will last longer than traditional concrete and produce significantly less dust when cutting and installing.
The biggest disadvantage will be the cost. Synthetics (KIRDI-BOARD and similar ...
6
You can get sprinkler head cages to protect the sprinkler heads from damage. Some have bright colors (easier to spot and avoid) and somewhat rounded edges which probably would hurt less if you bumped your head into them.
6
With a roof line that low, I'd recommend a multi-position ladder because it can be used as either a step ladder or an extension ladder, making it useful for a lot of the projects that you'll probably be working on in the near future: getting on the roof, painting high up on the walls, getting up in the attic, etc. If your roof line was much higher than ...
6
Here is a suggestion that may make some sense on several levels. Buy an air tank. I have a moderately big one, that holds 10 gallons of air. Of course, it is heavy to carry around, being steel. But when I need to pump up a tire beyond the range of the several hundred feet of hose I have, or for whatever use I need, I just disconnect it from my compressor ...
6
For the duct work, since we don't know how many cables you are talking about, I suggest ENT (Electrical Non-Metallic Tubing). It is flexible, corrugated and comes in a range of sizes, same as PVC. You can even use PVC connectors on ENT if in a bind.
For termination, you can either use a box / terminating structured media center or make your own with a ...
5
Perhaps the most important point in installing vinyl gutters is to use expansion joints, rather than having rigid joints all the way through, for lengths over about 20 or 30 feet. Vinyl expands and contracts much more than metal, so you have to give it somewhere to go. Brackets used for vinyl should also be designed to allow some sliding movement, otherwise ...
5
My aluminum gutters leak, so I do periodic checks on them. Of course, they only leak when it is raining, at a time when I seriously don't want to deal with the problem.
Anything that carries water like this will probably leak eventually. So I know to check them on a yearly basis to deal with the leaks before winter. To be honest, I find that a clogged ...
5
Oregon (http://www.oregonchain.com/) makes chainsaw accessories, including chains that would fit my chainsaw.
Stihl chains are pre-stretched, so you won't get as much initial stretch on the saw.
I heard that Stihl chains are built to closer tolerances, but nothing authoritative.
It looks like the Oregon chain needs a slightly different sized sharpening ...
5
Equal Networks makes a power strip that relays power consumption through Wi-Fi. It looks like the target customer is commercial use, not residential, since I couldn't find pricing information on their site.
Product data sheet.
5
This does not sound like it will work. If you are sure that the moisture is coming up from below, paint will not stop it, it will only seep under the paint and start making bubbles. DryLok is a good idea, but it isn't made for the type of treatment a floor gets, I don't believe it would stand up well even if you covered it with a good quality paint.
I ...
5
There is no paint-on or other surface treatment that will solve the problem. It may mitigate slightly, but under no circumstances will a surface application dry your basement enough to allow it to be finished. Any flooring will mold up pretty quickly.
There are two solutions which will solve the problem: An internal solution, which is a french drain and a ...
5
Any sealant you put in will just have moisture build up under it and cause it to flake away after time, rot or disintegrate.
The problem is that the soil has high content of moisture.. if it was not like this 5,10 years ago it is most likely it will get worse, as somewhere nearby the ground water level is rising for some reason.
For most foundations on a ...
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