Using Leaf Blowers Vs Rakes And Repairing Leaky Showers

The Handyguys — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:58:09 +0000

Leaf blowers, rakes and a question about leaky showers

The Handyguys discuss the contest to giveaway a great toolkit, some possible problems with a leaky shower valve and weather a rake or a leaf blower is the correct tool for collecting leaves. To enter the contest you just need to leave a comment on Episode 87 and let us know what you think a valid use of duct tape is. We will announce a winner during our first show in December. We will take Thanksgiving off so this show is the last show we will discuss the contest. Our next show will come out on December 3rd.

Leaky Shower Valves

Don't let a leaky shower drive you crazy. Listen to the podcast as Brian & Paul discuss some possible fixes for Albert's shower. Note - the picture is NOT Albert, its not Brian or Paul either!

We then address a question about a leaky shower valve. Albert called in and asked us about his leaky valve. He gets water leaking out the shower head all the time. He said it was replaced recently. How could this be? The Handyguys discuss what some of the issues could be. Albert – we have a question for you. Does it leak from the shower head when you are filling the tub or all the time, even when water is off? We discuss both scenarios in the podcast. Likely it drips all the time. If that’s the case the the washer(s) are likely bad. If the valve is new the washers could have been damaged during installation.

If it is new, contact the guy who installed it for you. He could come back and make it right. If you installed it then just replace the washers and you should be good to go.

How do you replace the washers? That will depend on what you have. We recommend you shut off the water and take the parts to your local True Value and they will help match up what you need.

Rakes versus Leaf Blowers

The Handyguys love their power tools. We found this video on YouTube and found it interesting. Is a leaf blower the best tool for the job of clearing leaves? Watch this video and listen to the podcast to get our thoughts.

This video clearly shows the rake beating the leaf blower. If this is true then why is the leaf blower so popular? We think both tools have their place depending on circumstances. Listen to the show for discussion of when you may want to use a rake versus when you want a leaf blower. You can get both rakes and leaf blowers at True Value.

Enter the contest to win this toolkit!

Win this toolkit. Click on the picture to learn how! Hint: Valid use of duct tape wins

Disclosure

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

Mower Blade Removal, Metal Bending Brakes And DIY Mistakes

The Handyguys — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:59:14 +0000

Do you need to bend sheet metal? A "Brake" is the right tool foor the job. Click image to see full size.

In this show we address a couple of listener questions about mower blades and metal brakes and then talk about another expensive DIY mistake.

First up is a question from David:

Do you guys have or know of any plans for a DIY metal brake? I need to cover the sills of my home windows, and would like to have a brake to bend the aluminum nicely myself.

Thanks, David

David, we are not familiar with any decent DIY brake plans. A brake is a specialized tool for bending metal. There is certainly no better tool for covering your sills with metal flashing. We recommend that you try and borrow one or rent this tool. A brake requires some practice but once you get the hang of it you can make some nice capping for your window sills and trim.

We also got this question from Vishal:

What tools do you need to loosen/tighten a lawn mower’s blade?

Short answer – a wrench. Is that really the question though? The Handyguys discuss how to keep the blade from spinning when you remove the bolt and how to apply a little more leverage if the bolt is stuck. Also why do we remove a mower blade anyway? Blades require sharpening, balancing and outright replacement from time to time.

We covered sharpening blades and other basic tuneup tips in Episode 14, give it a listen.

Expensive DIY Mistakes

The Handyguys discuss another expensive DIY mistake

Whats the mistake? Paying twice. Why would you pay twice? If you underestimate your abilities, do a job poorly, and need to pay a pro to come in and do it correctly. Perhaps the mistake is really not knowing your abilities. The handyguys discuss how to avoid this costly mistake.

For this and more, give a listen to the podcast.

The Handyguys Podcast » rake