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?

The Handyguys Discuss the “Leatherman” for your yard.

Handyguy Paul wonders if there is an all-in-one tool that can edge, trim, prune, blow leaves and shovel your snow.  Well, with the exception of the snow, there is such a tool.  In fact several manufacturers make such a tool.  Stihl calls theirs the “Kombi” because it is truly a master combination tool for  your yard.

But first, the Handyguys answer a listener question about cedar siding:

I just bought a house with Cedar siding.  I live in Northern IL.  According to the pre-purchase inspector the siding is in fair condition.  It needs some sealant and to be retreated or painted.  What kind of sealant and paint or treatment would you recommend? I want to keep the current color of the wood as best as possible.
Thanks
Jas

Thanks for the question Jas.  Brian used to have Cedar siding on his old house so he has a definite opinion on the matter.  Listen to the podcast for his response.

Combination yard tools

Now on to the combination yard tools.  Brian owns and operates one of the Stihl Kombi tools and has found it very useful.  The main benefit is that you only have to maintain one engine for several different yard tools

But Paul is not convinced.  Can this single tool really do a good job with each task or does it have to make compromises?  And are there other manufacturers of these tools?

Brian explains why he likes his Stihl KombiSystem, but there are certainly other comparable tools: Ryobi, Echo, Husqvarna, Troybilt, John Deere.

Listen to the full podcast for Brian’s opinion on the tool and for the Handyguy’s overall opinions on this tool category.

The Handyguys answer a question about chainsaws and toilets!

Brian and Paul receive lots of good questions.   When we received a question from Suzanne about her toilet not flushing properly, we thought it would be an easy solution. However, upon studying the issue more closely, we realized that she had a non-standard toilet.

Here is what she asked:

 We are having a problem with our toilet not flushing properly.  The handle became hard to push down to flush, and eventually broke. We replaced the handle 3 times now but all have broken within a few uses.  It seems the handles aren’t strong enough to lift the flush valve.  It’s like it has a strong suction keeping it closed. Any suggestions as to what the problem is and how to fix it?

Our first thought was that the flapper valve was sticking and making it difficult to release with the handle.  We also suggested that Suzanne look at the handle mechanism itself to make sure it was moving freely.  But soon we found out that this toilet does not have a standard flapper valve.  Check out the picture:

This is not a common setup. The flush mechanism is made by Mansfield and uses non-standard parts.  If the entire flush mechanism is at fault, you have to remove the entire tank to remove the parts.  However, if just the flush seal is at fault, it can be replaced for about $2.00.

What was the solution?  Check out the podcast. The Handyguys also produced a show earlier in the year on general toilet troubleshooting,check it out here http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/58/episode-8-in-the-toilet

Another listener emailed about whether a particular chainsaw was a good buy.  Before we answer the question (I am not sure we ever answered the question?), we discussed two basic issues related to chainsaws:

1)  Should you buy, borrow, rent or steal a chainsaw?

 2) If buying, how do you proceed to identify the chainsaw that is right for you?

 There are two main types of chainsaws, electric and gas powered.  The electric are cheaper and less powerful but handy if you have a small lawn and only need to occasionally cut branches and such.  But be careful!  Brian recounts a dangerous episode with an electric chainsaw.

Gas powered chainsaws can do much bigger jobs and are not limited by the length of your extension cord.  If you are going to buy a gas powered chainsaw, it is not worth skimping with a cheap brand.  Look for a Husqvarna or Stihl so that you don’t spend all day trying to get the saw started.

Check out he full podcast for more recommendations and safety precautions when dealing with chainsaws.

In next week’s show we will take a closer look at Mighty Putty!  If you have any suggestions on how mighty putty can be used, please let us know.

The Handyguys, Brian and Paul, first take a question from our call in line regarding repair of rotted porch posts. We then move into a Head to Head tool challenge to test out jigsaws and then wrap up with a new segment Buy, Borrow or Rent. We also discuss tool borrowing Etiquette.

Listener Questions

First off, the Handyguys answer a good question from one of our listeners regarding the repair of some porch posts. Our caller listened to our episode regarding using Bondo to repair rotted wood.  His posts were too far gone for repair so The Handyguys recommend replacing the posts. Listen to the Podcast to hear the question and Brian and Paul’s response. Brian and Paul provide some good information to help you evaluate how to go about such a repair.

Head to Head Tool Challenge

The Handyguys then move to the garage to test out two jigsaws.  Their tests pit a cheap jigsaw against a finely tuned cutting machine. The Handyguys devised three different tests: cutting a curved line in 1/2″ plywood, cutting 4″ circle in 5/4 cedar and cutting a piece of 2x pressure treated southern yellow pine. The cut in the pressure treated lumber might be similar to creating an interesting detail on the end of a rafter for a pergola.

The tests were done with similar toothed blades in the same condition. The Bosch jigsaw handled all cuts without breaking a sweat. The Skill jigsaw could not even finish the cut in the pressure treated 2x material. The finished cut of the pressure treated material, using the Bosch, was square to the face of the board; a key indicator of a quality jigsaw. The Skill was almost uncontrollable in the thinner softer material and did not create a clean cut.

Buy, borrow, rent or steal

The Handyguys discuss the merits of renting versus borrowing versus buying tools. Being tool junkies, the Handyguys usually prefer to own their own tools but renting or borrowing makes sense if it is a one-time-use tool. What about borrowing? The Handyguys will lend certain tools to people and are not afraid to borrow tools either.

Listen to their take on Borrowing etiquette. Oh, and you cant borrow Brian’s chainsaw but he will be glad to help you with some cutting tasks.

Remember, its not too late to enter the drawing for our EcoGlue and tool bag giveaway. The winner will be drawn and announced August 7th. To enter the drawing just subscribe to our email announcement of new shows. More details can be found in our Episode 25 show on glues.