Should the Handyguy consider “reconditioned” tools when making a purchase on the Handyguys Podcast store? The Handyguys talk about their experience with reconditioned tools and invite a listener the chime in on his recent purchase of a sweet Bosch compound miter saw through the Handyguys Amazon store.

There are many advantages to reconditioned, but before the Handyguys can detail their experience with the reconditioned market, they talk to Ryan from Grand Rapids about his Bosch tool purchase.

What exactly are reconditioned tools? There are probably some variations between manufacturers, but Porter-Cable explains their reconditioned tools:

Factory reconditioned occurs when a unit has come back to us. It could be for a myriad of reasons, i.e. could have been a demo tool at a show, a product that was returned within the first 90 days (per our, no questions asked, return policy), or it could have been damaged in shipment, or experienced a failure in some way shape or form. Regardless, the tools that do get returned to the National Disposition Center are refurbished, repaired, and retested. These tools are then backed by the same great warranty as if it were a new tool (however the user most likely purchased it at a 25%+ discount over the normal “new” retail price). If you look at the tool they are in new housings, and are in “new” working order, but instead of a yellow, or white and red box, they come in a cardboard “craft” box.

The Handyguys have purchased many reconditioned tools from Porter-Cable. They detail their experience and the pros and cons in this episode of the Handyguys podcast.

Oh…you may wonder if there are any downsides to purchasing reconditioned. Indeed, there is the problem of not knowing when a particular tool will become available as a reconditioned item in our store. They don’t make them that way. So check out the complete podcast and try out a reconditioned tool on your next purchase.

Related shows:

1. Top 10 Essential Tools For DIY And Duct Tape Uses
2. New Innovative Tools
3. Deck Material And Design Part 2

In this episode of The Handyguys Podcast the Handyguys Brian & Paul continue their interview with Paul Mackie from The Western Red Cedar Lumber Association.

This part of the interview contains discussion of:

• Can a handyguy build his own deck.
• Exotics versus cedar versus synthetics
• Quality of cedar in various markets

Tips and considerations for a DIYer when building a deck

• board spacing
• corrosion resistant fasteners
• hidden fasteners

Thanks to Western Red Cedar Lumber Association for this picture of a great looking deck. Click for full size.

What are some of the skills needed to build a deck? The Handyguys, Brian & Paul, discuss what it takes. The conclusion – if you are handy you could build a deck and save some money in the process. If you are building a second floor deck or if you deck is high you may want to consider having someone do the framing. Height ads complexity plus safety may be a concern. Listen to the Podcast for the full discussion.

The Handyguys wrap up the discussion talking about comprehensive landscape design. You may want to consider hiring a landscape designer to help you come up with a complete plan including hardscape, plants, shrubs and lighting.

Thanks to Mr. Cedar, Paul Mackie, of the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association for a great interview.

Brian & Paul continue to discuss the tools after Mr. Cedar signs off. There is a minimum compliment of tools you will need. The Handyguys like their tools and discuss some upgrades that would make building a deck easier. The table below shows the minimum tool and a possible upgrade. You can click each picture for a full description and purchase option for each tool.

Deck Building Tools

	Possible Required Tool	An upgrade to the required tool
Post Hole Digger
Plumb & Level
Saw
Hammer
Driver

Thanks to Timbertech for the image Click for full size

Related shows:

1. Deck Material And Design Part 1
2. Deck Woods And Deck Refinishing
3. Building a freestanding deck and dealing with voles

The Handyguys answers some questions and then discuss Garbage Disposals

First of all, please watch our videos from Episode #52 and  take our survey.  We would love some  more feedback!

A garbage disposal is something most of us have but the troubleshooting  instructions are probably missing..  The Handyguys discuss ways to fix these little beasts when they are no cooperating.  But first… the Handyguys answer some listener questions.

Hammer Drill Chuck Problems

Nathan writes to Handyguy Paul:

Paul, I had a question about the Makita HP1621FK that you bought for finishing your basement.  Did you ever have problems with drill bits spinning inside the chuck?  It seems with these keyless chuck drills I can never get the chuck tight enough to stop bits from spinning when drilling into hard objects such as concrete.  Do you guys have any tips for possibly reducing this problem in these keyless chuck drills? – Nathan

Thanks for he question Nathan.  Indeed Paul did experience this problem with this particular drill.  His solution was to hold the chuck tight while he ran the drill slowly to get the chuck good and tight.  He also pushed in the bit as far as he could — in some cases all the way to the base of the chuck — so that the bit would not slip.

Paul typically had a different problem with this drill, namely, removing the bit after using it to drill into concrete.  Listen to the podcast for more details and solutions.  This is a great drill for the price so hopefully we can get this issue resolved.

This isn't Larry. We're not sure this guy is going to get his mower started like this!

Reviving an Unused Lawnmower

The Handyguys also received a call-in question from Larry who is trying to save money in this down economy and wants to begin mowing his lawn himself.  Unfortunately, his lawnmower has been sitting unused for a few years and he wants to get it working again.  The Handyguys provide some tips in the podcast and also refer Larry to our show from last spring on prepping your mower for the mowing season.

That brings us to the big issue at hand…

Garbage Disposal Problems

Picture thanks to http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike-burns/8907417/

A garbage disposal is an appliance that most of us have and yet it is still a mystery to most.  The garbage disposal is a great tool and when it works you don’t give it a second thought.  However, if you experience problems with clogs or poor performance, there is no set of troubleshooting tips printed under your sink.  The Handyguys discuss some methods for treating the typical problems you can experience with a disposal. Listen to the podcast for details.

The Handyguys then have a discussion about the best way to clean our disposal.

Check out the podcast for details and get your disposal unclogged!

Related shows:

1. Deck Material And Design Part 2
2. Installing Wood Floors On Concrete, Dripping Faucets And Finding Stains
3. How To Choose A Drill, Drill Type Comparisons

The Handyguys discuss and test drills

In this episode, the Handyguys discuss the basic variety of drills. They also answer a couple questions about the the best drill to use for difficult jobs like putting large holes in joists and drilling holes in concrete.

There is an amazing variety of drills on the market today so it is difficult to know where to begin — cordless, corded, or lithium ion — contractor grade or low-end. Hopefully you can build a solid, standardized drill arsenal by listening to this podcast.

In response to these questions, the Handyguys test out a table full of drills in the garage. For their tool challenge, they see which of the seven different drills can handle putting a large auger bit through a piece of tough oak. In addition, they set a cordless hammer drill against a corded hammer drill in a concrete hole contest.

Results of the 3/4″ auger bit through 5/4 Red Oak:

• Milwaukee Magnum 0234 (5.5a, 1/2″ 850RPM) — 3.59 seconds
• Makita HP1621FK (5.7a 5/8″ 0-2800 RPM) — 2.69 seconds
• Milwaukee #1630 (300RPM) — 5.20 seconds
• Craftsman 315.11441 (2.2a, 3/8″, 1200RPM) — Not enough power
• Bosch LIon PS20 (10.8v cordless) — Not enough power
• Porter Cable 9966 (12v cordless, 1/2″ L-425RPM, H-1300RPM) — Not enough power
• Makita LXT BHP451 (18v LIon cordless, L-300RPM) — 7.65 seconds

Corded vs cordless hammer drill test in concrete (2″ deep hole with 3/16″ tapcon):

• Makita LXT BHP451 (18v LIon cordless, L-300RPM) — 12.87 seconds
• Makita HP1621FK (5.7a 1/2″ 0-2800 RPM) — 6.50 seconds

Related shows:

1. Mowers, Drills And Garbage Disposals
2. Battery Versus Corded Reciprocating Saws
3. How To Choose A Nail-gun

It’s time for another Handyguys tool challenge. On this show, the Handyguys take two very different compressors and run them through their paces. The listeners get to hear the difference between a small Makita MAC700 2 HP 2.6-gallon “hot dog” compressor and an older Porter-Cable compressor similar to the CPF4515 . Both compressors do a good job shooting framing nails into wood, but that is where the similarities end.

But does a handyguy or handygal really need a compressor? Is this something you need around the house? It all depends on the kind of work you will be doing. A compressor and pneumatic nailer are invaluable for trim work, crown molding, and framing. If you are going to finish your basement or have significant trim work around the house to complete, get a compressor. It will save a lot of time and hassle. For those weekend warriors, a compressor can’t be beat.

There are two basic varieties of compressors: oiled and oiless. The advantage of an oiless compressor is simpler maintenance — no oil or oil filter changes and no mess! However, the oiless compressors are generally very loud. While the oiled compressor is easier on the ear, they must be kept close to level at all times so the piston can be lubricated properly.

The other major differences between compressors is the tank size. The larger tank compressors can power tools that require large volumes of continuous air such as impact wrenches, grinders, and some paint sprayers. Pneumatic nailers use air in short bursts and can normally function well with smaller tanks. The smaller tanks are also much easier to move around. A large 20-gallon tank will not be very handy to move around the house to nail in baseboard trim.

So for about 90% of most household projects, the Makita MAC700 is the compressor to get. It is built like a tank, yet it does not blast your ear drums when the motor kicks in.

Once you get a compressor, you will need to get some pneumatic tools. There are hundreds of options. Normally you can just add some air tools as you need them. Typically you will start with a finish or framing nailer. For framing nailers, we like the full head framing nailer from Porter-Cable. There are generally two kinds of framing nails — clipped heads and round heads. The clipped heads have a “D” shape and allow you to get more nails within a clip. The downside is that some local codes do not allow the clipped heads. This is particularly true in hurricane prone areas. The round head nails look like typical nails.

Typical finish nailers include the 15-gauge angle nailer, the 16-gauge, and the 18-gauge. These nailers are great for baseboard trim, window casing, and crown molding. In addition, the 15-gauge can be used for hanging doors. The 15-gauge is the biggest, and it has a larger rectangular head which provides better holding power. Unfortunately it leaves a more drastic hole and requires more putty and sanding to hide the mark. The 18-gauge is the thinnest of the three and barely leaves a mark when it is nailed into finish trim. As a result you will not want to use it on heavy wood such as large crown molding.

For more information on compressors and nailers, tune in to this week’s Handyguys podcast.

Related shows:

1. How To Choose A Nail-gun
2. Attic Venting And Air Compressors