The Spooky Abandoned Railroad Tunnel

The Handyguys took a day off to discover a long lost Railroad tunnel. The big reason that few people have found the tunnel is due to the rough terrain. Brian and Paul fight through the thickets and make it to the tunnel. We had a lot of fun on our day off!

How to kill wasps around the home

Our neighborhood has a lot of wasps. They build small nests and find their way into all the protective hideouts provided by vinyl siding, drip edges, gutters and flashing. I don’t usually pay a lot of attention to the wasps unless they are building a nest very close to people such as on my deck or front porch. While two of my children were stung last year, the wasps are generally not aggressive and stay out of our way. They are also supposed to eat other insects which is a good thing.

This is a dead wasp that fell from the roof onto this flower

Perhaps my permissive “live and let live” policy went a little  far. These creatures began building more nests around the home and bothering my wife and kids who were trying to enjoy the outdoors. It was time to address the  problem and eliminate the  nests.

First, I used binoculars to observed the swarming wasps during the day when they are most active so I could see them flying in of out of their disguised homes. I then crept out one of our second story windows during the evening to get a closer look and access to their nests. This method can be very dangerous if you have a steep roof. You can either slip off the roof on your own or with the aid of angry wasps.

While on the roof, I used an Ortho Home Defense product which I purchased at True Value Hardware.  It works great and does not seem to stain the siding. It has the ability to spray at areas that are 12-15 feet away and its foam prevents the wasps from making a counter attack.

I identified nests in many areas including those shown here:

The largest nest was in the rain downspout. I could not believe Wasps could survive the water runoff but the nest was cleverly built on the inside of the spout away from the water which washes down the outside of the spout. If you look closely you can see the nest in the down spout:

When I was at the True Value store I picked up a Rescue WHY trap for wasps, hornets and yellow jackets. I was a little nervous about using the chemical spray in first floor areas outside where people like to hang out so I hung up this trap above the porch. After about a week of it being ignored, the Wasps finally started climbing in (perhaps because they no longer had other homes to return to…). I am going to keep using the Rescue trap and see if it continues to eliminate the remaining Wasps.

We were one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. We have been compensated for our time commitment to the program as well as our writing about our experience. We have also been compensated for the materials needed for our DIY project. However, our opinions are entirely our own and we have not been paid to publish positive comments.

The Handyguys Test Husqvarna Tools at their North American R&D facility.

We just got back from visiting Husqvarna and had an adventure playing with power tools and riding the rapids at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. We hacked away at trees (already dead), brush and grass with Husqvarna chain saws, mowers, trimmers and other specialty outdoor products.

Husqvarna provided the proper safety gear for our in-the-field testing. Brian is seen here adjusting  his protective mask with integrated ear protection.  Those are chainsaw chaps covering his Handyguys work pants.  They protect his legs from an out-of-control chainsaw blade. As you can see from the video above, both Brian and Paul have full control of those saws.

The Husqvarna R&D facility was full of outdoor power equipment.  We were fortunate to have the opportunity to see it both in the showroom

and on the field.

Did you know that Husqvarna also makes Poulan, Weedeater and Dixon? You have several colors to choose from!  We did not get a chance to play with these brands in the field…outside everything was Husqvarna orange.

We came away impressed at the power and design of both the residential and commercial product line of Husqvarna. Paul had a blast giving this hover trimmer a workout on the corporate park turf. The hover trimmer does not float like you may expect; it requires some force to move it around. However, it does work on steep hills which is much safer then using a push mower. It is probably not for the typical home owner but rather for the large landscaper or greens keeper.

The hedge trimmers were so powerful, they could cut right through a fence!  Great for escaping from prison…

We plan to share some more information about our favorite Husqvarna tools in a future podcast.  Also, look for the short video we have produced of this visit.

Note: This is a text, photo and youtube only post from the Handyguys. There is no audio podcast.

DISCLOSURE: Husqvarna provided  all travel expenses so that  The Handyguys could give these tools a workout. Please use proper safety gear and follow all instructions when operating any dangerous power or non-powered tools.

Also, we got this cool hat.  Don’t you like the Husqvarna hats?

In this audio episode The Handyguys discuss the advantages of a local True Value store and the latest line of Delta faucets.

Not Your Grandmother’s Faucet.  Handyguy Fan correspondent visits Delta Faucet

Mike from “thediygeek” went on a media tour of Delta Faucet in Indianapolis, IN. He reports in on this episode of the Podcast. You can find a detailed report of his trip here. Also discussed is Brian’s installation of a new Delta Kitchen faucet he picked up at True Value. Oh, and Paul, Handyguy Brian’s wife loves it!

Listen to the Handyguys discuss the Delta line of faucets on this podcast!

We were one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. We have been compensated for our time commitment to the program as well as our writing about our experience. We have also been compensated for the materials needed for our DIY project. However, our opinions are entirely our own and we have not been paid to publish positive comments.

Custom Closet Drawers

This is part of an ongoing series on building your own custom closet shelving.

A custom closet does not require drawers. You can simply design adjustable shelving using plywood, mdf, melamine or wire shelving. If you want a closet with more functionality and a sophisticated look, you will either need to purchase drawers or craft them yourself. You benefit from a DIY build because you get to select the materials and joint methods. However, expect this phase of the project to take the bulk of your customedesign closet building time. Here are some pros and cons of constructing drawers for a custom closet:

Pros

• You can use 3/4″ thick material.  When you buy drawers as part of a custom solution at your local home center, the wood used is often 1/2″ or less!  A 3/4″ drawer is much stronger.
• You decide on the joint methods.  The factory made drawers for assembly break down hardware which does not always hold up to rugged use.  You can often find failed drawers on display at the home center (drawers out of alignment, falling apart, etc.).
• You can custom size your drawers.

Cons

• Building your own drawers requires a lot of time
• If you decide to build drawers using melamine, there are design challenges.

Alternative Strategies:

One strategy is to build your own boxes but mail order false drawer fronts on the internet.  If you are making drawers for a melamine based closet, you can purchase thermofoil drawer fronts in the style you prefer.

In a future post I will discuss how I made the drawers pictured in this post.

Note: This is a text only post from the Handyguys. There is no audio.

Voles in the Yard or Lawn?

If your lawn looked like this after the winter thaw, you may have a vole problem. The Handyguys will discuss this pest on our next podcast.

Voles are rodents that spend most of their time under ground. They venture from their tunnels under the cover of snow and do the sort of damage you see here. I was able to take care of my vole with a snap mouse trap and a shovel. The mole did damage to about a 8′ x 8′ section of my lawn. I repaired the damage in the spring with some soil and grass seed.

Note: This is a text only post from the Handyguys. There is no audio.

Custom Handyman Closet

There are many custom closet companies eager to install a quick and easy (if not expensive) closet system for storing all of your belongings. I decided to save some money by building a closet using the modern marvel called melamine. This is the same material that most custom closet manufacturers use and it is available at your local home center. Be sure to look for the 15 3/4″ wide variety with pre-drilled holes. I will provide more pictures of the finished project when it is complete. For a basic DIY design of a custom closet, check out Gary Katz ‘s article.

Note: This is a text only post from the Handyguys. There is no audio.

In this audio episode of The Handyguys Podcast tiny houses are discussed as well as the announcement of office hours on Facebook.

Tiny Houses

Handy guy Brian read an article about small houses which prompted the discussion. The original article is here.  The article talks about how the market for tiny houses is thriving due to people concerns about sustainability, job security and the housing market bust.

The Handyguys discuss the pros and cons of living in a smaller house. Brian isn’t willing to give up his garage shop. It sure would make you re-think all the ‘stuff’ that has accumulated. Listen to the podcast for the lively discussion.

If you are interested in learning more about tiny houses you may want to check out the Tiny House Blog that we mention in the podcast.

Facebook Office Hours

Announcement - The Handyguys will be holding “Office Hours” all next week on Facebook. Make sure you visit the True Value Facebook page where The Handyguys will be fielding questions from anyone who happens by.

In this audio episode The Handyguys address a listener question about how to rejuvenate the hardwood floors in his new old house.

The question from Jeremy:

Hi guys, just found your podcast and I love it. working through the archives right now. I’m planning to refinish the original hardwood floors in the 1950s ranch house that I just bought as my first home. I will be pulling all the base trim off and want to go to a dark color to help hide any flaws in the flooring as well as future dirt. Can you please give me any advise regarding: proper prep work, proper tools, recommend a good stain (from what I read product quality can vary significantly), as well as any tips to make the job go smoothly. Lastly, could you please go over any basic wood repair techniques that would be helpful. i.e. filling gaps with stainable wood filler, patching gouges, etc. There are many projects I’m planning and I’m sure I’ll get some great tips in the archives! Thanks Guys.

The Handyguys respond:

Changing hardwood floors to a dark color

I wouldn’t go dark for the reasons you mentioned. Go dark if you like the look. Flaws can usually be fixed, dirt can be cleaned and dark stained hardwood may actually look dirtier faster than a neutral color.

Preparation of hardwood floors

Prep work will vary depending on the current condition of the floor. If they are in bad shape then all the old finish is usually sanded off, the floors repaired and cleaned before staining and finishing.

Tools for hardwood floor finishing

Again, this will vary based upon what the condition is. Sometimes a floor only needs a light sanding and then a fresh coat of poly. In a case like that a vibrating sander is ideal. If many heavy coats of old finish and some wood need to be removed then a drum sander is called for. Drum sanders can do a lot of damage if not used properly. You may want to hire that part out unless you are super careful and maybe have an inconspicuous place to practice. Your True Value may have a rental store attached that can guide you on sanders.

Hardwood Floor Stains

Tips for hardwood floor finishing

Jeremy sent us this picture in a follow-up email

Floor rejuvenation steps

The Handyguys recommend the following steps to Jeremy and anyone else who wants to rejuvenate their floors without completely removing the old finish.

Jeremy – Those floors do not look like they are in that bad of shape. As you do your other projects take care to not damage them.

1. Sand lightly with  a vibrating type floor sander. Don’t expect this to remove all the old finish. You are just touching up scuffs in the existing finish.
2. Do not apply a stain – You cant stain without completely removing the old finish.
3. Clean, clean, clean. You want to remove any dust. Use a damp rag or a tack cloth to make sure you do not leave any dust on the floor.
4. Apply 3 or 4 coats of water based poly floor finish. Sand with a fine grit paper between coats. Follow the manufactures recommendations here. You could sand in one day and if your water based poly drys fast enough you could get your 3 or 4 coats on in another day.

As always, listen to the podcast for all the discussion.

We were one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. We have been compensated for our time commitment to the program as well as our writing and productions about our experience. We have also been compensated for the materials needed for our DIY project. However, as always, our opinions are entirely our own and we have not been paid to publish positive comments.

In this audio episode of The Handyguys Podcast we start by discussing a question about ice makers not making ice and then get into some recent projects in our “What are ya doing lately” segment.

Ice maker machine not making ice

We received this question from a fan named Mary

Do you have any recommendations on getting the ice machine on our Kenmore side-by-side working again?

Well, when we recorded this episode we didn’t have any more details.

Mary – The problem is often that the defrost cycle doesn’t defrost enough to sufficiently melt ice buildup in the water inlet tube. I have heard some people recommend to put all your stuff from the refrigerator and freezer, put it into coolers, unplug the appliance, and then let it warm up, above freezing, for a couple of hours or over night. This thawing process will fix your ice maker IF the problem is a frozen supply line. Some others will use a hair dryer to warm up just the frozen spot. The problem with the hair dryer is you need to figure out where the freeze is! The manual defrost process is pretty simple and it doesn’t cost you anything to try. If everything mechanically and electrically seems sound then give it a shot.

What else could it be? There is an arm that shuts the ice maker on and off. That arm could be stuck in the off position, push it down and you may be in business. Other problems may be more involved such as bad motors or circuitry.

Mary – send us some more information on your problem (comment on this post) and we will try to help you troubleshoot further.

This project involved "building a box" around some pipes for a radiator on the floor above. A traditional 2x wall was built, drywall and then trim.

What are you doing lately?

Brian

Brian recently completed an aeration project. Renting an aerator is a great way to improve the health of your lawn. When done in conjunction with over seeding you give your lawn a great jump on a healthy next growing season.

Paul

Paul also did some aeration and over seeding. The Handyguys then discussed a project they did for a local pre-school. It involved boxing in unsightly pipes and matching new trim to old in a 100-year-old Victorian.

In this audio episode of The Handyguys Podcast The Handyguys discuss granite care and granite counter-top maintenance

Granite Care

The Handyguys discuss:

1. Granite generally requires re-sealing every 1-3 yrs. Check with your installer to see what they recommend.
2. Topical vs Penetrating granite sealers (stripping/re-sealing/permanent/etc).
3. Granite should only be washed with dishwasher soap/water. No harsh cleansers. Exception is something like the Dupont product which is safe.
4. There are various tests you can perform to determine whether your current granite counter-top has been properly sealed.

Dupont Site FAQ

How can I tell if my granite or stone has already been sealed?

Apply a drop of water at least ½-inch in diameter to the top of the stone and let stand for at least 15 minutes. Cover with a glass to inhibit evaporation. If the stone did not darken then your stone is probably sealed against water-based stains. Testing for oil repellency is not as simple because if your stone is not sealed, you will have an oil stain.

Sealed Versus Unsealed Granite

1. You should avoid products with ingredients that include lemon, vinegar or other acids which can damage your counters.
2. The Handyguys try out a couple different granite sealers including DuPont™ Granite & Marble Countertop Sealer

We were one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. We have been compensated for our time commitment to the program as well as our writing and productions about our experience. We have also been compensated for the materials needed for our DIY project. However, as always, our opinions are entirely our own and we have not been paid to publish positive comments.

In this audio podcast we comment on the most common tips for hurricane preparedness, add a few of our own, and then interview a Handyguys Podcast fan and hurricane veteran.

Hurricane Earl from the ISS, click to enlarge

For complete preparedness tips please check out these resources:
www.nhc.noaa.gov
www.fema.gov
www.ready.gov
wikipedia.org

 

Here are some tips The Handyguys discuss:

• Check gutters and downspouts, make sure they are functional and well attached.
• Put things like lawn chairs, garbage cans, recycling bins, and anything that could blow away in a secure location. Look around at your neighbors property too. Help them get cleaned up. Their stuff could blow into your windows.
• Trim dead limbs from trees
• Ensure your sump-pump is operational, consider a water powered or battery backup sump pump
• Ensure you have a working flashlight and that you know where it is
• Make sure your vehicle(s) are filled with gas
• If you have a generator - make sure its in working condition, test it. Make sure you have a supply of fresh gas and that you know how to use it (and how you shouldn’t use it)
• If you have a chainsaw – make sure your blades are sharp and you have gas/oil, etc.
• Make sure you have a battery or hand crank operated radio so you can get storm updates in the event of a power failure
• Make sure your garage door is latched closed (helps keep water out and secures somewhat better against wind). Don’t close the garage door if you are running a generator in the garage
• Make sure you have supplies of medications, water, food, etc. (If you loose power frequently how long is it usually out?)
• Make sure your cell phones are fully charged.
• Identify the safest room in your house. It would be a room with no windows or exterior doors.
• Turn your refrigerator to its COLDEST setting a few hours before the storm.

These aren’t all the things you need to do. That will depend on the severity of the hit in your area. Make sure you keep safe and follow all emergency instructions and evacuations if necessary.
Make sure you subscribe to the podcasts or videos, our email newsletter, twitter or follow us on facebook.

You can also track hurricanes in real-time with the map below:

Our friends over at John Deere sent us some great lawn care information that we wanted to share with everyone before Labor Day. There is no audio or video with this post. A survey with Harris Interactive found out that 79% of homeowners and renters in the U.S. are planning to mow their lawns in preparation for entertaining at home this Labor Day.

Here are some quick do’s and don’ts from the experts at John Deere for an envious lawn this holiday weekend:

Pre Labor Day Lawn Care Do’s

• Adjust the height of the mower deck to mow only the top one-third of the blade of grass. This helps encourage a deep root system and keeps the lawn looking and feeling healthy.
• Mow in the mid to late-morning, when it’s cool and dry. After the morning dew dries off is the best time for the grass–it isn’t suffering from afternoon sun stress, but it isn’t so damp that grass clumps form in the blades.
• Water your lawn if you notice curling grass blades or “footprinting.” If you’re dealing with drought, mow on the high side.

Pre Labor Day Lawn Care Don’ts

• Fertilize just yet. It can help revitalize a stressed lawn but it takes time, and the lawn should stay clear of activity for several days to allow the fertilizer to penetrate.
• Cut your grass too short. Higher heights usually look better, provide for a deeper root system, and help prevent from invading weeds.
• Mow the same direction every time. This will leave streaks and striped lines that grow back irregularly and look rather unsightly.

In this audio episode of The Handyguys Podcast we discuss if giving a pre-teen free rein on painting her room with her friends is a good idea, we then discuss a vexing issue with Paul’s kitchen sink faucet.

Pre-teen Painting

She is 12, she wanted her room painted. She wanted to DIY. It was her birthday. Handyguy Brian decided to let his daughter pick her own room color and let her have her friends come over for a painting party. In the podcast Brian and Paul discuss how things went.

The girls didn’t get too far before running out of paint. Maybe that was because a lot got on the ceiling. Maybe it was due to three rollers getting soaked in paint. Maybe it was due to spills. Regardless the painting party only got so far which left half of the room for Handyguy Brian and his Handygirl wife to finish.

Preparation

Handyguy Brian’s daughter used some Jig-a-patch from True Value where we also got the EZ Care paint. She patch up holes and defects caused by posters and picture hooks. The key to using jig-a-patch is to not spray too much filler. A little goes a long way. We then liberally masked everything off with Frog Tape. We discovered Frog Tape last year and love it. It does a better job than traditional masking tape. The line left behind is perfect.

Painting

Handyguy Brian attempted to educate the gaggle of teens on proper painting techniques. Oh well.

Finished Product

Handyguy Brian and his wife finished up the painting and here are the results.

After thoughts

One of the side effects of having 5 girls with paint rollers and brushes!

Would I let my kids paint their room again? Yes. It was a fun time, a learning experience for the girls (I hope) and I think it came out pretty nice. The color wouldn’t have been my first choice but I don’t need to look at it too much. Were there mishaps? Yes – paint on the ceiling, paint on the carpet (despite many tarps), paint on the trim and lots and lots of paint on themselves. Fortunately it was water-based paint and cleaned up easily.

What do you think? Would you let a bunch of 12 year olds paint a room? Share your experiences and feedback in the comments.

The Kitchen Sink faucet

Handyguy Paul has had a weird problem with his new kitchen faucet. He has mentioned it a few times on the show and he may have a solution which will be discussed in an upcoming video. The faucet has a built-in pull-out sprayer. The entire faucet pulls out, not a separate sprayer. When the faucet hasn’t been used in a while the initial water looks foamy. Paul describes it “it’s like the foam when you pour a beer” and it has an oily smell. No other faucets in the house exhibit this behavior. Does anyone know what the problem may be?

We were one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. We have been compensated for our time commitment to the program as well as our writing and productions about our experience. We have also been compensated for the materials needed for our DIY project. However, as always, our opinions are entirely our own and we have not been paid to publish positive comments.

In this audio podcast The Handyguys discuss how to upgrade the entry doors in your house, with a Door Devil™, for increased security and then discuss a flowchart for determining if DIY projects are right for you.

Door Security

The Handyguys have discussed home security in the past but it usually involves systems that alert the homeowner or the police when there is a break-in. The device we talk about on this podcast designed to deter the bad guys from gaining entrance in the first place. The product is the Door Devil™ and Paul and Brian try it on for size!

Top 3 DIY upgrades recommended by Police

• Adding a 2nd 2 cylinder Deadbolt
• Adding a Peephole
• Adding a door frame reinforcement device

In some areas break-ins are on the rise. Some people’s first reaction is to say “we need to get an alarm system”. Unfortunately many break-ins occur in houses that HAVE alarm systems. The thieves don’t care because they’d kick the door and run in/out in Blitzkrieg or NASCAR Pit crew style before the alarm company was even notified or police can respond. Thieves are in, out, and gone in 4 minutes or less. Certainly, the alarms provide incentive for them not to linger, but don’t provide the deterrent or defense necessary to protect the home. One common denominator to many such break-ins is ‘Kicking the Door’. The Door Devil™ addresses this and addresses it in a robust and secure way.

Installation

You can upgrade the security of your entry doors with a Door Devil™ very easily. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. No special tools are required. The image below outlines the basic steps for most installations. In the podcast we discuss some of the special circumstances that you may encounter. Make sure you listen to the podcast for our impressions as we discuss the product, its installation and considerations you will need to make before installing one (or more).

Click this image to see it larger. Make sure you check out the free shipping promotion for our listeners!

DIY Reality Check Flow Chart

Its time for a DIY reality check! Have you ever considered doing a DIY project but have been uncertain if you have the right skills, time, ambition, money or help to get it done? Run your project through the DIY Reality Check Flow flow chart. We can’t take credit for creating this but none the less we like it, a lot. In the podcast you can hear us explain the flow chart. We run the previously discussed Door Devil project through the flowchart and got the green light to go ahead with the project. We then try the steps with a couple other projects and got a couple “stops”.

So, before you begin that next, new, uncertain, DIY project try running a reality check. It could save you some grief down the road.

We would like to thank Rachel from http://heart-of-light.blogspot.com/ for providing the flowchart. Thanks.

Door Devil has provided The Handyguys their products mentioned in this podcast and have compensated us for our production time. However, the opinions of The Handyguys are entirely our own and we have not been paid to make positive comments.

In this video we give or viewers a brief overview of the controls of the LA115 lawn tractor from John Deere.

Controls Overview

This video is a follow-up to our audio show Episode #118 – Controls, Maintenance and Cutting Techniques of a John Deere LA115 Lawn Tractor. Many of the controls are identical to other models from the 100 series.

Feel free to comment on this video if you have any specific questions about any of the controls.

In this audio episode of The Handyguys Podcast we introduce our participation on the 2010 True Value DIY Blog Squad and then discuss Carbon Monoxide detectors.

True Value DIY Blog Squad

First up – The Handyguys Brian and Paul would like to announce we have again been selected for the True Value DIY Blog Squad. We are excited to increase our hardware store visits and get started on some new projects we can share with our viewers and listeners.

The 2010 True Value Blog Squad is an excellent team. Make sure you check out all the other bloggers as they have some great content. The entire True Value Blog Squad is on Facebook and some are on Twitter. While you are there, make sure you follow True Value, and The Handyguys of course, on Facebook and Twitter.

Veteran Blog Squad Team

• Katie with All Bower Power
• Josh with Bungalow 23
• Layla & Kevin with Lettered Cottage

New Blog Squad Members

• Kate with Centsational Girl
• Gabrielle with DesignMom
• Kit with DIY Diva
• Joey and Lana with Joey and Lana Make a House a Home
• Roeshel with The DIY Show Off
• Sarah with ThriftyDecorChick

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detectors

Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless and tasteless, but highly toxic. On average, 170 people in the United States die every year from carbon monoxide produced by non-automotive consumer products. These products include malfunctioning fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, ranges, water heaters and room heaters; engine-powered equipment such as portable generators; fireplaces; and charcoal that is burned in homes and other enclosed areas. (CPSC Document #466)

The Handyguys discuss potential new rules coming to your area regarding CO detectors. Many updated building codes are requiring them. Where should you put a CO detector? Will you need one when you remodel or sell your house? Why would you want one if you have no sources of CO in your house? These are some of the questions The Handyguys discuss in this show.

Addendum

We would like to amend some of the comments we made during the show regarding CO and CO detectors.

Sources of CO

We said “Carbon monoxide comes, “as a result of burning fossil fuels.” – In actuality CO can come from ANY incomplete combustion. Most commonly, CO, if found in elevated levels in your home, would come from things like fossil fuel burning appliances or other burning sources like wood fires.

Molar Mass

We said “Carbon monoxide is lighter than air.” Yes, its lighter but not by a significant amount. Carbon monoxide has a molar mass of 28.0, which makes it slightly lighter than air whose average molar mass is 28.8. (wikipedia). Because its similar to air in is molar mass it will not easily rise to higher portions in your house.

First Response

We said “The first thing I would do, if I had a CO detector going off, is I’d open some windows.” This isn’t the best advice if you are getting the fire department involved. Best would be to evacuate the residence, but keep the windows closed and turn off the HVAC equipment. Why? Because it can help first responders more easily trace the source of the CO. If you have only one appliance, or other piece of equipment, that burns fuel, then the source of the CO is pretty obvious. If, however, you have multiple appliances that burn fuel, such as a gas-fed hot water heater, a gas-fed stove, and a gas-fed dryer, and a gas-fed heater, then it can be very difficult, if not impossible to trace the source of the alarm and differentiate a true alarm from a faulty detector. If the house is kept sealed, then fire department personnel can make entry (utilizing proper personal protective equipment) and take a gas-meter in with them that is equipped for CO monitoring. If the CO concentration level is far greater around the hot-water heater than anywhere else in the house, then they probably found the source. If the house is opened up and vented, then you lose that ability.

Hard Wired and Batteries

We said “You have hard-wired all of your smoke detectors, right? Why is that? So that if, um, you know, the biggest problem with smoke detectors is that the battery dies, so you want to have AC electricity to it, in case that battery is dead.” We meant to say that the battery is a backup for the smoke detector in the case of a loss of electricity. Those batteries should be changed regularly, the general recommendation is to change the batteries twice a year, each time you change your clocks.

Thanks

Thanks to an avid listener and firefighter for pointing out some of our mis-speaks. We always value input from listeners and strive to be as accurate as possible.

Making a Sandwich?

Handyguy Paul decided to play a trick on Brian and demonstrate how a true handyguy prepares his lunch!

The Handyguys discuss the controls and maintenance of a John Deere LA115 lawn tractor in this audio only podcast.

When Handyguy Paul first received his LA115, he sat on the seat, stared at the controls and realized he better read the manual. It is not as simple as turning the ignition and mowing the lawn. Your first step when using any power equipment is to read the manual and understand all the potential dangers involved. The Handyguys mention a couple of these safety warnings:

1. Any power tools with rotating blades are dangerous but mowers have the added danger of being mobile.
2. They will amputate any human limb that gets in their way.
3. They can hurl objects through their discharges.

Please review and understand all the controls and safety devices on the mower before using for the first time.

Do not allow children to play with or on mower. Do not give rides as it could encourage children to treat the mower as a toy. You don’t want children running out to a moving mower while you are mowing and unaware of their presence. Children should stay away from mowers and understand its dangers.

Controls

The Handyguys explain the controls and features of the LA115 tractor. Here are some of the features that the Handyguys noted in their podcast are:

• This model has a combined choke and throttle lever.
• There is a “window” under the seat revealing your gas level
• In order for the mower to start, you must have a brake depressed, the blades disengaged and be sitting on the seat.

Listen to the podcast for a full review of the LA115 controls

Maintenance

Like any mower, you must maintain the engine and chassis to keep it running smoothly. Most important, you must change your engine oil after the first 8 hours of mowing and every 50 hours after that. The Handyguys will be releasing a video detailing this maintenance within the next month. Be sure to check it out for details on basic maintenance, including changing engine oil, lubrication and removing the deck.

Technique

Handyguy Brian describes the technique like a football field. Mow the end zone and sidelines first and then in field. This technique will give you enough room to make your u-turn in a previously cut area.

Your owners manual has some good tips regarding technique. For a healthier lawn mix up your pattern from week to week. Essentially you will want to do the edges and around flower beds first then cut even rows over the remainder of your lawn. Overlap your cuts a little to make sure you don’t miss a spot.

The Handygys discuss three topics on this audio podcast – what tools are used to cut metal, are CFLs safe in kids rooms and are water saving flush valves a good investment.

Cutting metal

From time to time homeowners need to cut metal. What do you use to cut metal? Paul grills Brian on what tools he would use.

It will depend on several factors such as:

• What the metal is
• Quality of the cut
• How quickly you need to cut
• How easily you need the cut

Some possible tools are:

• Hacksaws
• Angle grinder
• Cutting torch
• Cut-off saw
• Jigsaw
• Reciprocating saws
• Snips
• bolt cutters
• Rebar cutters
• pipe cutters

CFLs in a kids room

CFLs in a kids room? What is the issue? Handyguy Paul has several young kids and is concerned that if a lamp gets knoced over he will have to deal with mercury contained inside a typical CFL bulb is the bulb breaks. Is this a valid concern? What are people doing? Is LED a viable option? Are there mercury free CFL bulbs? Rugged CFL bulbs?

Water Saving flush valves

Handyguy Brian came across a discussion regarding “water saving fill valves” for your toilet. The principle is they do a half flush (.8 gallons of water) when you do not have solids and a normal 1.6 gallon flush when you need it. In areas where water is scarce this is important, if you have a well that runs dry its extremely important to conserve every drop. The question is – Do these devices make sense for people who are in areas of the country where there are not water restrictions, there are not scarcity issues, and water is plentiful? If you are on your own well then no. How about those that pay for “city water”?

Doing the math

A toilet like this one doesn't use ANY water!

If you pay for water and, like we said, you are in an area where water isn’t scarce, these devices do not make sense. Here is why:

These fill valves cost about $25

The average cost of city water in the US is $1.50 per 1000 gallons or $0.0015 per gallon

That equates to an average cost per flush in the US of $0.0024

If you round the numbers that is about four flushes for one penny or $0.0096

If half the flushes required a full flush and half could use a half flush and the toilet is used 10 times per day you would save half a penny a day!

The savings would be about $2.19 per year. You would need to use the product for 11 years before you can see a return on investment (ROI).

Okay – we rounded the numbers and made some assumptions but the point is the same. If you don’t live in an area where you don’t have water restrictions or shortages you do not need a product like this.

Make sure you listen to the podcast for all the riveting discussion!

The Handyguys look at some subtle differences between two models of Sawzalls and discuss when you would want each.

Milwaukee Tools sent The Handyguys a press release describing two new Sawzalls. At first glance the specifications seemed the same.

The only difference is the “Stroke Length”. What is the benefit of a longer stroke? When would you prefer a shorter stroke? In this video The Handyguys actually do a test to see the differences in making a cut with each version. We were surprised at how noticeable the differences are!

The shorter 3/4” stroke length is ideal for better control in tight areas, while the longer 1-1/8”stroke length delivers more aggressive cuts for heavy demolition. Both saws do an awesome job cutting through wood embedded with nails (a common thing in demolition). See them in action, along with a much older Sawzall for comparison.

Our longtime fans may recall we did a similar “test” a while back where we compared a corded Milwaukee Sawzall to Makita Cordless reciprocating saw. We used an almost identical methodology in this video.

We hope you find this information useful when shopping for a reciprocation saw. Thanks for checking it out.

If you like the video go ahead and subscribe. If you have iTunes you can get our videos right on your computer the moment they are live. The RSS subscriptions are for a variety of readers and video players. And, of course, feel free to subscribe to our audio shows while you are at it.

Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation has provided The Handyguys the products used in this evaluation. However, the opinions of The Handyguys are entirely our own and we have not been paid to make positive comments.

In this video The Handyguys discuss installing a wall sconce to add ambiance lighting, that wont glare on the screen, to a basement home theater.

Glare is the issue, planning is the answer

When you are considering lighting for your home, whether it be for a home theater, television viewing area, home office, kitchen or other places, it is important to consider placement of lighting so it will not cause glare. When Brian finished his basement he included a home theater. (It’s really not that grand, more a movie watching area) The lighting Brian originally installed were some recessed can lights. Once the wide-screen TV was acquired, the surround sound set-up and the furniture placement finalized, it became apparent that light from the recessed cans would cause glare on the TV screen.

The solution became to install some wall sconces. Brian was lucky to find Rejuvenation Lighting out of Portland, OR. Rejuvenation has a large selection of wall sconces. Even better, they had lights that had an old-time movie theater look.

Installation

We wont cover fishing wire in this video, that will be sometime later this year maybe.

1. Locate box location, trace fixture box, cut hole for box
2. Shut off power
3. Test that the power is off
4. Pull wires into hole and then into box – half inch of the Romex sheath should be inside the box
5. Install box in cutout
6. Connect fixture wires to house wiring – white to white, black to black, ground to ground. If your fixture doesn’t have a ground wire, the Romex ground should be connected to the fixture bar ground screw.
7. Mount the fixture according to the directions that came with it

That’s it, in a nutshell, if you have any questions about installing a light or any other questions for The Handyguys feel free to contact us.

Yes, The Handyguys are planning to get a lot done on their Honey Do Lists but will also take some time for some fun with their families.

Summer is upon us and the Handyguys are busy working on some new projects. In this episode of the Handyguys Podcast, Brian and Paul provide a preview of things to come in the next few months.

Website Changes – Video

Before we preview our Summer content we want to highlight the changes to our website. We now have video integrated with our audio podcasts. You can subscribe just video or audio or both. We only have three videos posted now but we expect to have several new videos available over the next month or so.  Our videos can be viewed here on the site or through our youtube channel. In addition, you can view them via Apple TV and we hope to have them available on the Roku box as well. If audio is your thing, you will still find our regular weekly audio podcast on our website or via your favorite audio device (iPod, Zune, etc.). If you see anything wrong on the site or have suggestions feel free to let us know.

For the summer we have some exiting news.

For those with larger yards or those who just dream of a yard large enough for a lawn tractor, the Handyguys will be reviewing and discussing the John Deere consumer product line of riding mowers. Specifically, we will provide some video and podcasts on the highly acclaimed LA115 lawn tractor. We will discuss it in relationship of the entire JD consumer line to help perspective customers find the right mower.

For those who do not need a riding mower, you are in luck as well. The Handyguys are working with a leading hardware store to provide some exiting new podcasts and videos. We may even give away some new hardware to those who are short a screw…. I mean screwdriver.

We also have a new Whirlpool/Kenmore/Kitchen-aid dishwasher video for those who still have trouble getting your dishes clean. More videos are on their way so sit back, relax and enjoy your Summer.

Email newsletter

Please fill out out our email subscription form even if you subscribed in the past. If you subscribe now, you will get notices of our new podcasts and we plan to send out occasional special offers and we may create an occasional newsletter just for our email subscribers. Who knows, maybe we can even provide you with a discount on tools from one of our favorite tool vendors.

The Handyguys receive many questions from our listeners but there is one listener who has sent a plethora of questions all by himself. The Handyguys decided to tackle “Steven’s” questions all at once – rapid fire style.

Here are the topics covered in this lightening round. Listen to the podcast for our answers.

1. Woodpeckers making unwanted holes in the house fascia.
2. Replacing an electric water heater with a gas unit. Considerations given to the on demand and high efficiency units and the venting of the heater.
3. Ants in the house. Watch out for food and water sources that may be attracting the bugs.
4. Trimming decorative Trees? So how do trim them? Please let the Handyguys know?
5. Priming paint repair jobs? When do you prime? What kind of primer? Oil or Latex?
6. Pressure Washers? Gas or Electric on house, driveway, car? Did he say car?
7. What do you do about a refrigerator that is frosting up inside?
8. Resealing a long driveway? Should it cost $1500?
9. Adding a storm window to a skylight.
10. How do you clean up the mess “Great Stuff” makes on wood floors?

A house like this would NOT be a likely candidate for an average Handyguy to tackle on their own.

Get your answers to all of these issues and more on this episode of the Handyguys Podcast.

To all our fans, followers, listeners and readers. Don’t forget you too can ask us a question. We try and answer every question we receive. Our contact information is on our contact page.

We will be discussing Skunks and Trailers in next weeks show…two very unrelated topics for sure.  Subscribe to the show so you dont miss next weeks discussion.

There are dangers lurking around around your home!

The Handyguys guys discuss some safety precautions that every homeowner and every Handyguy should consider when working around the home. We can’t cover every aspect of home safety in this podcast but we can provide a quick overview. If you are new homeowner or a handyguy, please pay attention to this podcast.

Fire Protection

In general, every home is required to have smoke alarms and many homes will be required to have sprinkler systems as well (this is being added to future building codes). However you should also have fire extinguishers in key locations like the kitchen and garage (or other work areas). Many people have fire extinguishers but don’t know how to use them or even forget where they are. Find your fire extinguisher and read the instructions.

Electrical Safety

Use voltage testers! Make sure you are not working on hot wires. Stop and Think before doing anything dumb.

Plumbing Safety

Watch out for fires when you are soldering copper.

General Carpentry Safety

Every tool is a safety hazard, especially power tools. Don’t wear loose clothing around them and be sure that you spend time reading the manual on those shiny new tools.

Lawn Work Safety

Eye and ear protection is a must and watch out for flying debris from the mower and other lawn tools.

Furniture Finishing Work Safely

You always hear about how you need “good ventilation” when you are working with solvents, but another danger is spontaneous combustion. When you dip rags into a solvent such as linseed oil, they can spontaneously catch on fire when they are crumpled up and disposed into a trash can.

Blood in the garage???

There are so many dangers around the home. The Handyguys should film a “blood in the Garage” video to convey those dangers. Anyone know a special effects guru?

The Handyguys discuss another challenge for home improvement, poison ivy. How to get rid of it and how to keep from getting the rash. We end the show with a follow-up to a brief plumbing question from last week.

Poison Ivy

Identifying it

Brian was always taught “3 leaves and shiny” but that is not always the case. The leaves are different colors in different seasons. It can be a vine, a bush, a weed. it can even look like a leafy tree if its completely covered and killed off a tree. In this post there are a few pictures compliments of http://www.poison-ivy.org . They have a great poster or card deck you can purchase that shows you what to look out for. Handyguy Brian has the poster on order.

Getting rid of it

You have two choices to get rid of poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. You can use an herbicide like Roundup or products made specifically for Poison Ivy. Roundup will kill everything it comes in contact with. If you don’t have too much to get rid, and you aren’t overly sensitive, then Handyguy Brian suggests mechanical removal. That’s right, pull it up, you MUST get the roots and all or it may grow back. If you go this route make sure all exposed skin is covered and then follow the guidance regarding prevention of rash below.

Prevention of the rash

If you have been exposed to the oils that cause the rash (called urushiol) you need to remove it. Remove it from EVERYTHING that came in contact with it. That includes skin, clothes (or discard them), tools and pets. The best way to remove the oil that Handyguy Brian has found is with a product called Tecnu. You can get it through The Handyguys Store, at drug stores or at some camping supply stores. Usually they sell it in 4oz or 8oz bottles. Those little bottles don’t go too far if you are washing clothes, tools and pets. The Target Pharmacy has ordered larger bottles for Brian in the past. The Handyguys Store carries Tecnu in 32oz jumbo size containers.

Plumbing

We wrap up the show discussing if propane is the right choice for soldering copper pipes or if MAP gas is a better choice.

The Handyguys discuss their favorite DIY and Home Improvements books.

The Handyguys have quite a selection of books that have accumulated over the years. We cant talk about all of them but we would love to highlight our favorites. You need to listen to the podcast for our commentary on each handyman tome. You can get these excellent books  through our Amazon affiliate store. You can look for them at your library, book store or home center but they are not always in stock.  And watch out for the shortened versions of the black & Decker books.

Electrical books

Black & Decker Complete Guide to Wiring

Plumbing books

Black & Decker Complete Guide to Plumbing

General home improvement books

	New Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual
	The Family Handyman: Helpful Hints

Basement Book

Remodeling a Basement

Advanced books

	JLC Field Guide to Residential Construction – Volume 1
	JLC Field Guide to Residential Construction – Volume 2

Home Improvement magazines

	Family Handyman Magazine
	Fine Homebuilding

Bad Books

Oh, and what are the bad books? There are a lot of mediocre books out there, some which have not been updated to account for newer products and codes. Avoid these books which gave been recalled:

The books contain errors in the technical diagrams and wiring instructions that could lead consumers to incorrectly install or repair electrical wiring, posing an electrical shock or fire hazard to consumers

The Handyguys talk to Wayne Gilchrist from http://www.ezdiyelectricity.com.

How does a homeowner get started working with electricity?

The Handyguys of been involved in electrical projects since they were youngsters.  Handyguy Paul stuck his finger in a light socket when he was in Kindergarten and learned firsthand about household AC!   Both of the Handyguys have done a lot wiring over the years, whether on their family home or as volunteer work for someone in need.

While we both understand the basics of home wiring, we are not experts in the field (as a matter of fact, we are not experts in most fields).  Since electricity is more dangerous then seeding your lawn, we thought it would be nice to have a master electrician on the podcast to give us his perspective on the handyguy and home wiring.

The Homeowner starting out with electrical work

Please listen to the podcast to get Wayne Gilchrist’ take on the following topics:

1. Know your limitations!
   • Do your research.
   • Do not tackle major projects such as connecting your service panel.
2. Follow these recommendations:
   • Use voltage meter.
   • Always, Always, Always, Always turn off the power before working.
   • Use Common Sense.
   • Respect electricity!

Wayne from EZ DIY Electricity

Some Questions for Wayne:

We asked Wayne about  the use of cheap outlets with back stab connections.  We also also asked about questions our listeners had regarding dimmers switches and 3-way switches.

Listen to the podcast to get all of Wayne’s answers to our questions and to learn more about his services. We did this interview because Wayne offers a great service. This is not a sponsored show and we were not compensated in any way.

We address a question about shed materials and foundations as well as briefly discuss LED light bulbs.

Sheds

The Handyguys received a call from Rick from Sawdust Chronicles and The Splintered Board podcasts.  He asked

What materials are good for shed siding? Do I need a concrete slab for my shed?

Great questions Rick.

Materials

Sheds can be built with many different choices in materials. Some people will build them with the same types of finishes of their house (siding choice, colors, etc) sometimes people would do something different. A quick google search will turn up thousands of different looks.

If you don’t want to try and go to the trouble of matching siding and roofing from your house, and want to keep things simple, there is a commonly used siding called t1-11. Its exterior rated plywood that looks like board and batten siding. You can also get a version made from OSB that comes pre-primed. I think that’s called “smart panels”. I really like fiber cement siding, i haven’t used it on a shed but its on the top of my list for my next shed. Some brands come pre-primed or pre-painted.

Foundations/slabs

You will want to check with your municipality to determine if you need a permit. In most places you do not need a permit if the shed is build directly on the ground, usually with 4×4 PT runners sitting on some patio bricks. When build this way its not considered a permanent structure. When you build on a slab it is usually considered permanent and will require a permit. Again, check with your code people as this varies. Some areas will also require anchors in the ground, or slab, to prevent it from blowing away in high winds.

Also consider having someone build one for you or deliver one pre-made. My last shed I was going to build it myself but a local company was having a sale. They were able to build me a shed for less money than I could have bought the materials. One man came with the shed pre-build in sections (walls, roof, floor) and pout it together in just a couple hours. I painted it and built a ramp. I saved a few hundred bucks.

Listen to this podcast for The Handyguys discussing all these points.

LED Light bulbs

Handyguy Paul came across a new LED Light bulb from GE. Some of the claims from GE’s press release are:

• Expected to consume just 9 watts—compared with 40-watt incandescent/halogen or 10-watt CFL, while delivering nearly the same light output;
• Expected 25,000-hour rated life—will last 17 years (4 hours per day), which is 25 times longer than a general service 40-watt incandescent or halogen bulb and more than 3 times longer than a standard 8,000-hour rated life CFL;
• LED technology delivers the instant full brightness of an incandescent or halogen bulb;
• Durable solid-state design with no filament to break;
• Contains no mercury and will be RoHS compliant; and
• Feels cooler to the touch than CFLs and far cooler than incandescent bulbs.

Discussing bulbs leads Handyguy Brian to make a clam that short life bulbs have planned obsolescence and that some of Edison’s original bulbs are still burning today. Maybe Brian was imagining things but there are definitely some very old light bulbs still in use today. The discussion further digressed into who preferred DC versus AV electrical, Tesla, Edison or Westinghouse. Seems Paul was correct. Edison was a proponent of DC electrical for the grid and Westinghouse was a proponent of AC.

From wikipedia:

In the “War of Currents” era (sometimes, “War of the Currents” or “Battle of Currents”) in the late 1880s, George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison became adversaries due to Edison’s promotion of direct current (DC) for electric power distribution over alternating current (AC) advocated by Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla.

Thanks Paul for setting Brian straight. Listen to the podcast to hear the discussion.

The Handyguys cover two topics in this show. We discuss fraud, abuse and lack of accountability with the U.S. government’s Energy Star program and then discuss basement egress requirements.

Energy Star Fail

The EPA has objected to our use of the word FAIL over their logo so we have censored it to avoid any confusion. The red censored artwork By Piotr VaGla Waglowski, http://www.vagla.pl (Own work) (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons

The better method for energy usage verification is to check the particular device for actual electrical usage. This is expressed in WATTS on a label or in the documentation. The lower the number, the less electricity the appliance consumes. The same method can be used for water usage. Items like dishwashers are measured in gallons per cycle or estimated gallons per year. Try and do your own apples to apples comparisons using the documented information instead of looking for a government sticker.

Unfortunately, the Handyguys have not had much success with these supposedly more efficient appliances. We ranted about appliances a while back in Episode #79. Well, we got started again in this podcast. Washing machines that hardly use any water just don’t get clothes as clean, dishwashers that use less water leave gunk on dishes.

You can read the GAO report here

and you can read the DOE/EPA response to the report here

The government is working to fix the administration of the Energy Star program by spending more taxpayer money. “EPA and DOE have launched a new two-step process to expand testing of ENERGY STAR qualified products…the steps are part of an overall effort by the Obama Administration” (paraphrased from Energy Star site).

Basement Egress

Bilco Doors being installed in new construction

The Handyguys set aside a few minutes to discuss basement Egress requirements and options.

If you are finishing your basement, be sure to check your local code requirements. A secondary means of exit from your finished basement space is a typical requirement. A basement bedroom also requires a direct secondary egress. Small windows wont cut it. Instead a window or door must be large enough for a person to exit easily and for fireman with an air pack can enter. Again, please check your local code requirements for egress.

Egress options range from large windows to walk out french doors for daylight basements. Brian and Paul discuss the pros and cons of the various egress options including the bilco Doors you see in the image. When planning your finished basement, be sure to plan and budget for proper egress.