Deck lighting questions answered

In this video, the Handyguys answer some fan deck lighting questions. What is best: CFL, LED, Halogen, Incandescent? Does it really matter? What about low voltage? The Handyguys love their low voltage systems. Watch the video to find out the most important features in deck lighting.

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Below is an article from our friends at Zillow. We know all our fans expect to see video with each post, so The Handyguys decided to make a video showing some before and after of our messy, then clean (sort of) garages. Check out the article below and enjoy the video.

Tips for Cleaning Out a Garage

By Tali Wee of Zillow

Part of being a responsible homeowner is making the necessary improvements to keep the property safe. Organizing and cleaning out cluttered garages tend to be one improvement that homeowners delay to correct.

The thought of sorting through the boxes and piles can be overwhelming. But a cleaned garage brings satisfaction each time the homeowner pulls out a bike, locates a tool or accesses the water toys. The cleaned spaces also offer homeowners peace of mind knowing their garages aren’t havens for vermin, fire hazards, impassible escape routes or black holes for stored goods.

To find motivation to clean out the garage, think back to the days of searching for a home. Recall desiring a large garage to store goods, park cars and even act as an in-home workshop? Once homeowners feel inspired to bring their garages back to working condition, they can follow these six basic steps to make the process simple and successful.

1. Prepare

Before the big day of de-cluttering, organizing and cleaning, homeowners should gather the necessary supplies to make the process easier. Grab several large trash bags, empty storage containers, labels or tape and markers, newspaper for packing and fabric softener sheets for fresh scents. Don’t forget the cleaning supplies needed such as a broom, dustpan, cleaning solution and paper towels. Consider a radio or boom box to keep participants motivated with cheerful music. Lastly, have a large bottle of water for each person contributing. All the hard work leads to thirst, and leaving the garage for multiple water breaks halts momentum.

2. Commit to a Plan

The most efficient method of organizing the garage is to move items just once. Agree on a final layout of the space before starting. Choose a home for the tools, an area for the camping gear, skiing gear, holiday decorations and automotive supplies. That way, as the organizing commences, these items can be moved into a pile in their designated areas, eliminating multiple moves. Some garages are so full that the cleaners must move items to the lawn to get organized before moving back in. If possible, try to avoid the unnecessary moves by committing to a layout before launching the organizing process. Sketching out the desired final space can help keep homeowners on track.

3. Begin Sorting

Check the time and be sure to factor in a lunch break to avoid feeling burnt out or overwhelmed. Set up a trashcan, recycle bin and a box for charity. Start somewhere that feels right. Place the items in a pile in their designated new locations or in the proper receptacle. Don’t worry about putting the items away yet, just work on sorting through all the items and create sensible piles. In this stage, the garage may seem messier before it appears more organized. Stick with the program until everything is sorted properly.

4. Organize and Label

Next, begin organizing the piles. Pull out the storage containers and begin packing them carefully with sensible items. For instance, all the exterior holiday lights should be packed in one container, with each spool separated by a page of newspaper to avoid tangling. Then label the container “Exterior Holiday Lights” and stack it in its new home. Follow the same steps for the interior lights and fragile decorations. Pack gloves, scarves and extra blankets in a container with a fabric softener sheet to keep them smelling fresh and be sure to label the boxes or bins clearly. Put away tools in their designated locations, hang bicycles and organize paint cans. Be sure to label everything for easier access later.

5. Clean

Once the floors have been cleared of belongings, begin cleaning away the debris. Sweep or vacuum the garage, trying not to stir up too much dust. Mop the floors and clean off any surfaces. Make sure there are wide enough clearances to access stored items, to build in the workshop area or to park cars, depending on the homeowners’ desired usage.

6. Toss, Donate or Sell

Lastly, it’s time to get rid of the excess. Load up the trash in a truck and take it to the dump. Be sure to recycle everything that qualifies. Swing by a local charity to hand off all the clothes, vases and furniture that no longer have a place at home. Homeowners planning to have a garage sale should schedule the sale shortly after cleaning out the garage so the excess items don’t trickle back into the clean space.

After all six steps have been completed, feel proud. Cleaning the garage is a dreaded task for many, but it’s one of the many maintenance responsibilities that accompany homeownership. The space should be cleaned every three to six months to keep labor manageable. Make sure the items in the containers still match up with their labels and wipe down all surfaces with fresh-scented cleanser.

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Disclosure: Post and giveaway sponsored by Makita, but all opinions are The Handyguys. Please see below for additional disclosure.

Impact Drivers

Impact Drivers are very cool tools. They are perfect for driving screws, a lot of screws. You can also use them for driving lag bolts, tightening or loosening nuts and other jobs around the house.

Makita was gracious enough to send us an Impact Driver along with their new Impact Gold bit sets to try. One of the issues with impact drivers has been the availability of good bits. In the early days of impact drivers, we ran the risk of breaking bits and ruining sockets. Now we have bits and sockets that are made for Makita Impact Driver and will last much longer. Another nice feature of the Impact Gold bits is the included magnetic bit holder. It makes working in tight spaces or odd angles easy.

Make sure you watch the video for more of our impressions.

Details from Makita

Makita Industrial Power Tools, the innovation leader, is teaming up with the world’s largest home improvement retailer. Impact GOLD is the latest in a long line of industry leading technology Makita brings to over 2,000 The Home Depot stores.

• Makita Impact GOLDis new innovation in fastening with a full line of insert bits, bit holders, nutsetters, socket adapters and more.
• Impact GOLD is designed for use with high-torque impact drivers, with high-quality steal engineered for longer life, and a precision-fit tip engineered to prevent “cam-out” and stripping.
• The Impact GOLD Ultra-Magnetic Insert Bit Holder and bits feature Xtreme Torsion Technology, which allows the torsion section of the bit and bit holder to flex under load and take pressure off of the bit tip for increased durability in high torque applications.
• The two-piece design of the Ultra-Magnetic Insert Bit Holder is engineered to allow the torsion technology to fully activate. The rare earth Neodymium magnet is two-times stronger than magnets in standard insert bit holders, so users get the added convenience of onehanded fastening.
• The 3/8 in. square drive socket adapter tilts up to 15 degrees for work in tight spaces, or can be used in the straight position. Also available in 1/2 in. square drive.
• The exclusive snap-ring on Impact GOLD Grip-It Nutsetters is non-magnetic and provides the holding power of standard magnetic nutsetters without the drawback of metal debris build-up.

Disclosure – Makita partnered with bloggers such as us for their tool review program. As part of this program, we received compensation for my time. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about any product mentioned in these posts or videos. Makita believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Makita’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

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In this video, the Handyguys discuss dishwasher detergent and why dishes often don’t get clean. We have received a lot of feedback on our video about fixing a dishwasher that won’t clean dishes and for many (too many) people, the issue is a poor design of the dishwasher. Exacerbating the issue is the fact that most dishwasher detergents have removed phosphates. Phosphate is a key ingredient in cleaners like dishwashing detergent, laundry soap, shampoo, household cleaners and deck washes. Phosphorus (P) is also a key ingredient in fertilizer, stimulating root growth and promoting plant vigor. Phosphorus is a naturally occurring element and is mined from the ground for commercial uses. It is also found in our body, bones, tissue and in our bodily waste.

Environmental issues with dishwasher detergent

The primary reason phosphates were removed is environmental. If too much phosphate gets into streams, ponds, lakes, etc., it promotes the growth of algae and other plants (remember, it’s a fertilizer too). Too much plant growth means less room in the waterway for fish. The fish populations become unhealthy and decline. (Of course, we are simplifying here). Another reason is money. In places where waste water is treated (you are on a city sewer), the process for elimination of phosphates costs money.

Unfortunately for most people, the trade-off of phosphate free dishwasher detergent is dirty dishes. In our opinion, poor performing detergent causes people to cycle our dishwasher twice or clean our dishes in the sink before washing them in the dishwasher. Far too many people have opted to purchase a “new and improved” dishwasher thinking theirs was broken. What was broken was the detergent.

Adding to the problem is newer dishwashers are less effective at washing. In the quest for more efficiency, dishwashers use less water. Less water means less rinsing and less rinsing means you need better, not worse detergents. It’s a double whammy! Poor performing detergent and appliances lead to unhappy consumers.

Dishwasher Detergent Options

So what can you do?

Hand washing helps but is not the final piece of the puzzle for getting clean dishes.

The Handyguys have tried many different detergents. We have researched home-brew detergents and evaluated different brands. What we have found is you CAN still find dishwashing detergent with phosphates. It just won’t be at your local supermarket. You need to get it from restaurant suppliers or online. Here is a link to Amazon where you can get it online
Cascade Automatic Dishwasher Detergent 85-oz. Box, 6/Carton

This is not the cascade you find at a typical supermarket. This is the commercial kitchen and restaurant version of the product and contains phosphates.

For a detergent without phosphates, we recommend Finish Powerball Tabs. Finish tabs seemed to do a better job than most phosphate free detergents. Several of our listeners were hesitant to switch from their favored powder brand, but once they moved to Finish Tabs, their washes came out cleaner.

The post What is the Best Dishwasher Detergent? first appeared on The Handyguys.

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Installing an underground electric dog fence is a great 5 step DIY project to protect your pet.

5 Steps to installing an electric dog fence

1. Determine what kit to buy
2. Determine the area you want to confine your pet to
3. Install the hidden cable
4. Install the transmitter
5. Train the dog

When selecting your electric dog fence kit there are a few things to consider: the size of the area to contain the pet, the size of the pets collar, the number of pets you have and if your pet is stubborn or not.

You will usually want to start with a kit that contains everything needed to install the fence and train your dog. The kit shown in the picture has a rechargeable waterproof collar and is working great with Brian’s Beagle. You can this PetSafe Ultra in ground fence kit at Amazon.

The hardest part of an invisible fence is training your dog. Training can take several weeks. The installation kits come with suggestions for how to train your dog. You can also watch a training video manual on YouTube. Make sure you follow the steps and take your time with the training. You don’t want your investment of time and money in the system to be wasted because you didn’t properly train your dog.

Handyguy Brian’s eight year old beagle loves to chase deer, rabbits and groundhogs in the fields behind his house. Beagles are smart dogs but can be stubborn, thick-headed and obstinate.  The training took a week or two longer than described in the instructions but the dog now obeys the boundaries and will not leave the yard to chase the wildlife behind the house.

The post Electric Dog Fence DIY 5 Steps Video first appeared on The Handyguys.

The post Electric Dog Fence DIY 5 Steps Video appeared first on The Handyguys.

This video outlines a key component to water heater maintenance that is often overlooked, the expansion tank.

What does the expansion tank do?

The expansion tank will allow expanding water (water expands when it heats) a place to go.

Do you need one?

You need an expansion tank, if you are on a water system with a back-flow preventer (a one way valve). If you are on city water and do not have a back-flow preventer, you probably do not need an expansion tank. The city water system can absorb the expansion. Same with a well system.

Water heater maintenance on your expansion tank

Your expansion tank will have an outlet to connect up a pressure gauge. You can test the pressure at this port. It should match what your water pressure is set for. Watch the video for more details.

Problems when your expansion tank fails

If the expanding water has no place to go, it could leak out of your system through the T&P valve.. If your expansion tank fails, you can have leaks from the T&P relief valve, drippy faucets and faucet washers that wear out faster.

The post Water Heater Maintenance Video first appeared on The Handyguys.

The post Water Heater Maintenance Video appeared first on The Handyguys.

The Handyguys review a plethora of mouse traps all purchased at our local hardware store. Whether you have mice, voles or rats, there is a trap for you.

Why are there so many mouse trap choices? Everyone seems to be trying to build that proverbial better mousetrap!

Mouse Trap Types

There are two basic choices, to kill the mouse or a catch and release. If you opt for catch and release, please release far, far away from my house!

Kill traps

include various spring and glue traps.

No Kill traps

include boxes and cages that are mouse sized.

The post What is the best mouse trap? first appeared on The Handyguys.

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The Handyguys recently had the opportunity to visit the John Deere factory in Horicon, WI. While there, they learned about the company, its manufacturing, its people and its philosophy for doing business. On top of that, The Handyguys also saw a bunch of great tractors being made in the USA by a skilled labor force.

Watch the Deere Factory Tour Video

Deere Factory Paint Shop

Thank you for the opportunity to visit all the great people in Horicon.

John Deere & Company paid expenses related to this factory tour. However, our opinions are entirely our own and we have not been paid to publish positive comments.

The post Deere Factory Tour Video first appeared on The Handyguys.

The post Deere Factory Tour Video appeared first on The Handyguys.

Which sander should you buy? Its better to ask which sander is right for the job you are doing. In this episode The Handyguys discuss which sander is right for the job, the pros and cons of different types of sanders.

When deciding which sander to buy you need to identify what project you need it for and what projects down the road you may need it for.

Random Orbital Sanders

Random Orbital Sanders are the most common general purpose electric sanders on the market. You see them from every major tool maker. They are good for finishing tasks in furniture building, trim carpentry where you may need to sand spackle, painting prep and other uses. They are not good for heavy paint removal, floor finish removal, drywall sanding and sanding into tight corners.

Detail Sanders

Detail sanders are good for light sanding, especially in tight spaces. Sometimes used in furniture building, in conjunction with a random orbital sander. Detail sanders are not good for paint removal, drywall sanding, or any heavy-duty sanding tasks. Some detail sanders can be had as part of a multi tool kit, others are sanders only.

Belt Sanders

Belt sanders are good for fast removal of material. They can remove paint as well as sand wood. They are aggressive. Care must be taken to only sand as much as you need to sand. They are not good for fine work and never for drywall.

Sheet Sanders

Sheet sanders are good for light tasks. They can be used to remove extra putty when filling nail holes or for a final sanding for furniture builders. They can somewhat get into corners if needed. They are most often used with finer grits of paper. They are not good for heavy sanding tasks.

There you have it, an overview of the most common sander types. Comment below if you have any questions, additions or suggestions.

PS – How do you like the shirt Paul is wearing in this video? Its part of The Handyguys wardrobe from Duluth Trading company. Its their CoolMax Polo

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Handyguy Brian saw an interesting DIY Soil pH Test (pH is a measure of acidity) test described on Facebook. We try it out and also try a commercially available DIY Soil pH Test kit on this episode of The Handyguys Podcast.

Here is the graphic from Homesteading / Survivalism on Facebook.

You can also just purchase a home soil pH est kit. They aren’t very expensive and also test for nutrients.

The post Soil pH Test video first appeared on The Handyguys.

The post Soil pH Test video appeared first on The Handyguys.

LED bulbs are the next generation of “green” lighting technology. The Handyguys talk about how LED Bulbs compare to CFLs and whether they are really friendly to the environment.

What is an LED bulb?

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. LEDs have been around for a long time but only recently have become effective in lightbulbs. They use little electricity and can last a very long time. LEDs (the diodes) are very small elements that must be combined to produce one bulb that has an equivalent light output needed for a bulb. In addition to the diodes there must be electronic circuitry to control them.

Advantages of LED Bulbs

Energy Consumption – The energy consumption is similar to that of CFL bulbs and much better than incandescent bulbs.

Dimmable – This is awesome, See a demonstration in the video. This is a huge advantage over a CFL.

Instant on – Truly instant on unlike a CFL. Its just like the real thing

Long life – between three and ten times the life of a CFL.

Color – Great color temperature that matches perfectly with the old incandescent bulbs.

Safer – No mercury. Did you know CFLs have hazardous materials in them?

Disadvantages of LED Bulbs

High initial cost – Prices vary. $30 and up is typical. Some home centers have some for $40 and $50 depending on the style and light output.

Shape/style – The initial LEDs have odd shapes and look a bit weird. We expect things to look more conventional as time progresses.

Reliability – We do not know much about longterm reliability yet.

Is there a cost savings? Lets do some math

CFL LED BULB Cost of each bulb $10.00 $31.00 Actual Wattage Used 15 Watt 12 Watt Number of bulbs to be replaced 1 bulb 1 bulb Electricity cost per year

(12¢/kWh)

$3.94/year $3.15/year Bulb Lifespan

(Continuous use, manufacturer supplied value)

8,000 hours 25,000 hours Actual lifespan

(when used for
6 hours/day)

3 years 7 months 25 days 11 years 4 months 30 days No. of times the CFL needs to be replaced during the LED
bulb’s lifetime 3 times – Total annual cost(Cost of bulb(s) replaced in a year + Electricity in a year) $6.68/year $3.15/year Time for the LED bulb to hit the break-even point: 5 years 11 months 14 days Total savings with the LED bulb(After 11 years 4 months 30 days): $19.25

Conclusions

There are a lot of ifs and assumptions to consider such as whether an LED will last its rated hours, will their price decrease and prices for energy. If energy prices stay stable then eventually an LED will pay for itself. Right now its not a compelling case. Saving $20 over 11 years is just too hard to justify for such a big initial cash layout.

If you decide the move to LED Bulbs is right for you we recommend buying your LED Bulbs online. Prices are a bit cheaper online, from us, at Amazon. Additionally, purchasing from Amazon by following our links helps us with a couple bucks of revenue.

Watch the show to see the discussion and more conclusions.

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