SS Before & After

Posted on by Tim Carter

Stain Solver Before & After Pictures

Here are the captions: The first one is algae and mold in cat water dish that was found after being outdoors for 3 months. The second one is a customer showing before/after on dirty cedar siding. Remarkable! The third is a grape jelly stain on an office chair. When you read the woman's testimonial, you can't believe it. She just dabbed some of the Stain Solver solution on and 20 or so minutes later it was gone. The picture doesn't lie. The fourth is a cedar deck. Can you believe that difference? The fifth is a iced-tea maker container soaked in Stain Solver. The after looks brand new. The sixth is dirty floor tile grout that now looks new. Look at the pink cheese cloth stained by wine. After soaking in Stain Solver, they look new. Below that is a before/after on a deck. You can see the photo was taken at the same spot. See the chair behind the glass doors? Then look at the custom jacket. See the gross red bleed stains on the left. Stain Solver SAVED the day!!!!! Each image (almost all) has been reduced to 300px wide in this view. The images are linked to the full size image, stored on the ATB Site.

Click on any image to view the larger image. Then it can be saved.

Or FTP to askthebuilder.com/httpdocs/artman212/uploads/1/SS_Before_After to get all the pictures.

Dish Before Dish After
Cedar Siding Siding Clean
Chair 01 Chair 2
Clean Deck Deck
Coffee Before Coffee After
Tile Before Tile after
Deck
Rags Before Rags After
Ron's Deck Before Ron's Deck After
Ron's Deck Combo Fowler's Deck
Riding Jacket Before Riding Jacket After

Bosch Orbital Sander Side by Side Test Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Hi, I'm Tim Carter. We are going to do a side-by-side comparison of orbital sanders. Watch this. We are checking vibration!! This one is so smooth ... like a baby's bottom.

Here is a link to the Bosch 3727DEVS 3.3 Amp 6-Inch Hook and Loop Random Orbit Variable Speed Sander/Polisher with Dust CanisterDisc Sanders) on Amazon.com. This is an affiliate link. I get a tiny commission if you purchase this item from Amazon.

Bosch Hammer Drill Driver Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Hi, I'm Tim Carter. We are going to try out this Bosch HDH181 01 Cordless Hammer Drill. Watch it in action on this concrete block. Lots of power and high RPMs for handle the concrete.

Here is a link for the Bosch HDH181-01 18V Brute Tough Hammer Drill Driver with (2) 3.0ah Batteries on Amazon.com. This is an affiliate link. I get a tiny commission if you purchase this item from Amazon.

Bosch Multi Tool Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Hi, I'm Tim Carter. You are not going to believe this multi tool and what it can do. I'm not making this stuff up. Watch this. Look how fast it removed that tile grout. You can image that it is a great tool if you have to make tile grout repair.

Here is a link to the Bosch MX25EC-21 2.5-Amp Multi-X Oscillating Tool Kit on Amazon.com. This is an affiliate link. I get a tiny commission if you purchase this item from Amazon.

Bosch Daredevil Spade Bit Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Hi, I'm Tim Carter. I want to show you the Bosch Daredevil Spade Bit and what it can do. This spade bit can really drill some holes fast. It is a great bit from Bosch.

Here is a link to the Bosch DSB5013P DareDevil 13-Piece Spade Bit SetSpade Drill Bits) on Amazon.com where you can purchase this drill driver. This is an affiliate link. I get a tiny commission if you buy the tool.

DeWALT Compact Drill Driver Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Hi, I'm Tim Carter. I've got the new DeWALT 20V Max Cordless Drill. Watch how fast this drills. It's pretty amazing. I'm telling you, it's just like I have a corded drill.

It's really cool. You're going to love it.

Here is a link to the DeWALT DCD780C2 20-Volt MAX Li-Ion Compact Drill/Driver Kit, 1.5 Ah on Amazon.com where you can purchase this drill driver. This is an affiliate link. I get a tiny commission if you buy the tool.

DeWALT Compact Hammer Drill Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Hi, I'm Tim Carter from AsktheBuilder.com. I am here at DeWALT's University testing a new cordless 20-volt Max drill. It is has a hammer drill feature. This tool drills like a corded drill, it has that much power. You are going to want to purchase one of these, that's for sure.

Here's a link to the DeWALT DCD785C2 20-Volt MAX Li-Ion Compact Hammerdrill/Driver Kit, 1.5 Ah on Amazon.com where you can purchase this item. It's an affiliate link. I get a tiny commission if you buy the tool.

Preventing Woodpecker Holes

Posted on by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: Woodpeckers are systematically destroying some fence posts in my yard. I’m at my wits end trying to figure out how to stop them. Are there chemical sprays I can put on the wood that will repel them? What about decoys or something like a scarecrow? Do you know of anything that will work to stop them from making my fence look like a piece of Swiss cheese? Shirley S., Hamilton, OH

DEAR SHIRLEY: Oh I can absolutely feel your frustration. Woodpeckers used my past house to find their mates by pecking on my aluminum gutters at dawn. Who needs an alarm clock or rooster when you have these hard-headed birds heralding the start of another day?

It's almost impossible to stop woodpeckers from creating holes like this. But there is a way to fool them. PHOTO CREDIT: Shirley Sendelbach

It's almost impossible to stop woodpeckers from creating holes like this. But there is a way to fool them. PHOTO CREDIT: Shirley Sendelbach

Add to that the fact they used to peck holes in several of the fascia boards around my house just as they’re doing to your fence posts. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get them to stop.

They only stopped when they exhausted the food supply. You see, woodpeckers hammer at trees and other wood primarily for one reason: Food. Hidden just under the surface, woodpeckers can find all sorts of tasty insects including, but not limited to, carpenter ants, carpenter bee larvae, termites, bugs in general, etc.

I’m convinced that woodpeckers can hear or smell the insects. You don’t see woodpeckers in the wild randomly peck at wood that’s not infested with insects. I know as I live near the woods and I see woodpeckers all the time. They don’t bother wood that’s free of insects.

If this assumption is correct, then it becomes somewhat easy to prevent woodpecker holes. You keep the wood you have free from insects by preventing rot and decay. In the case of your fence posts, this means they need to be sealed regularly so that water can’t saturate the wood. Wet wood is very inviting to insects.

PHOTO CREDIT: Shirley Sendelbach

PHOTO CREDIT: Shirley Sendelbach

If I were you, I’d remove the damaged fence posts and replace them with wood that you’ve sealed with a semi-transparent water repellant. Be sure you allow the bottom and the top of the post to soak in liquid for an hour or so. This allows the end grain of the wood to soak up as much of the chemical as possible.

Don’t get rid of the damaged fence post. Move it away from the fence to some other part of your yard. Reinstall it in the ground and let the woodpeckers have at it. Make a humorous sign that says: "Woodpeckers and Insects Welcome" and hang this on the post.

The old post will satisfy the hard-coded survival DNA in the woodpeckers as they constantly forage for food. If woodpeckers are attacking your house, then you can try this same strategy using some old log you can find. Bring it home and put it up as a totem pole offering in your backyard. Hopefully the woodpeckers will be attracted to it assuming it’s full of tasty treats.

You may be groaning at the task of replacing your perforated fence post with a new one, especially if the old one is set in concrete. If that’s the case, this will be the last time you’ll struggle with this fence post location.

The trick is to set the new post with just soil or crushed gravel if you feel you need a masonry support collar. Crushed gravel will perform just as good as concrete. The advantage is that it’s so much easier to remove the gravel if you should ever have to replace the fence post in the future.

If you decide to apply the water repellant to the entire wood fence, you should clean it first. Use oxygen bleach mixed with water for this task. The oxygen bleach will not harm any surrounding vegetation. It will return the wood to it’s original color so the new fence post matches all the other fencing.

The oxygen bleach will remove dirt, mold, algae and sun-damaged wood fibers that are now gray in color. Rinse the clean wood with fresh water and allow it to dry a day before applying the water repellant.

Search online and you’ll discover other ideas to repel woodpeckers. Some are unreasonable and may get you in trouble with your neighbors. Who want’s a neighbor banging pots and pans or letting off fireworks in an attempt to get rid of the birds?

You can try to create large silhouettes of birds of prey that eat woodpeckers. These may work for a while, but don’t underestimate the intelligence of the little devils. When they’re hungry, they’ll soon probably test to see if you handiwork is a real bird.

If you want to attempt to use insecticides to kill the food source, be sure the chemicals are approved and will not hurt the water supply in your area. The last thing you want is to pollute the water and start to grow a tail or a third eyeball.

Column 887

June 7, 2011 AsktheBuilder Tips And Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

What's in This Newsletter?

Latest News
Wall-Mount Pocket Doors
DeWALT Editors Conference
ExpertToolTips.com
DIY Solar System and Magic Crystals
Replacement Parts
AsktheBuilder Facebook Fan Highlights

Summer's here in all it's glory. We're having some glorious weather here in New Hampshire. I hope the weather is superb where you are.A few days ago I had a very positive encounter with Officer Kimberly Shelley of the Burlington, VT police department. It's a very long story, but suffice it to say she made a phone call on my behalf to shake loose a security deposit that was not being returned to me by an unprofessional property manager.

I was told to call the police department after talking with another police officer, Lt. Rob Robillard. I've recently come to know Rob, and after hearing my story he was convinced the property manager was very likely committing fraud.

I bring all this up to simply point out that on many occasions great police work goes unnoticed. The moment that I get my hands on the deposit money, I'll be writing a letter to the police chief in Burlington, VT telling him about Officer Kimberly and how she worked with me on the phone to resolve the matter. The letter will include a scanned copy of the returned check. If you're the recipient of excellent police work, be sure to take the time to contact her/his chief so the officer gets the professional recognition she/he deserves.

 

Wall-Mount Pocket Doors

LE Johnson Wall Mount Pocket DoorsMany people want to get rid of a traditional hinged door and replace it with a sleek pocket door.

But they are terrified of what's behind the wall. Or they don't have the skills to do the demolition, framing and redrywalling you typically have to do.

What if I told you that you could have a pocket door in place of a hinged door start to finish in several hours instead of days with NO DEMOLITION?

Yes, I knew you'd be interested. If you can operate a simple impact driver or a drill and a socket wrench, then you can have a sweet pocket door installed in hours at your home.

This product works GREAT on regular open archways where you now want privacy between two rooms that used to be open to one another. You can use this solution to add a door in hours where just an opening was before. It's easy to do.

Go to the link below to discover all sorts of color photos and ideas for your new wall-mounted pocket door:

DeWALT Editors Conference

Last week I attended the Stanley Black and Decker University.

It was a fantastic experience where I was immersed in the new 20-volt cordless tool line that's now here. The other editors and I also got to see many new hand tools that will now sport the DeWALT name.

DeWALT primarily targets the professional market, but their tools are perfectly suited for you if you're either a serious DIY'er or you desire to have a tool that will last for decades.

Understand that when you purchase a high-quality tool you get durability, precision, and ease of use. These all contribute to a job well done.

Soon I'll begin my own field testing of the tools I saw at the event. You'll be the first to know about each review as it get's posted to my websites. Websites you say? Read the next item.

 

ExpertToolTips.com

About six years ago, I created ExpertToolTips.com, but then got distracted. The intention was to create a website where I could share my 35 years worth of hands-on experience with tools.

The good news is that I've started to add more content to that website and intend to load more and more content to it as well as helpful eguides that show you secrets of using tools. I believe you're going to really like this tools website once it starts to get populated with content.

 

DIY Solar System and Magic Crystals

Over the weekend, I got an email from David Gates who lives in Duncannon, PA. He wrote:

"We received an email saying the average person can build their own solar system and sell back excess power to the power company using materials from a hardware! Any information and advice would be appreciated!"

The instant after reading it, I had a flashback to the Napoleon Dynamite movie from six years ago. If you saw it, do you remember the crude time machine that Napoleon and Kip tried? It was made from parts one could get at a hardware store and of course all it did was shock Napoleon and endanger his ability to procreate. The magic crystals he inserted in the romex connector did nothing to transport Napoleon back in time.

As the economy continues to crater and people become desperate for money, you're going to see many more scams like this. There are always going to be scams, and the worst ones happen when people are desperate.

The bottom line is that you can't build a solar electricity generation system, including the all-important PV panels and the inverter, by visiting your local hardware store. Don't fall for scams like this. Always check with me first.

 

Replacement Parts

Greg, from Las Vegas, also emailed me over the weekend trying to locate a replacement circuit board for a sauna. He did an exhaustive Google search and it shows the manufacturer is out of business. He's tried everything to get a part, but is having no luck.

The message here is that in this day and age, it's very possible that hi-tech replacement parts can be tough to find. Margins are thin, and companies that make products can disappear overnight.

You have to really think ahead when you buy things now. Make sure you think about parts and consider going with companies that have a great track record. You want them to be around when you need them.

 

AsktheBuilder Facebook Fan Highlights

Last week on the AsktheBuilder Facebook Fan Page, I shared my thoughts about how to protect yourself from tornadoes while in your home.

Peggy asked how to install return air ducting and I gave her some advice.

I also suggested a great past column to read if you want to try to reduce the heat in a garage or an attic.

There's lots going on at Facebook. You should really be a fan. Facebook is free and you get automatic updates of everything I do there once you LIKE me. It's easy.

Window Box Installation Tips

Posted on by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: My wife wants me to install a window box or flower box, depending on what you call them. I’m pretty sure that if I’m successful, I’ll be installing a few more.

The boxes, when full of potting soil, plants and watered are pretty heavy. I’m very concerned that the box is going to fall and crash to the ground.

What have you found to work best when installing these decorative items. I sure need your help, as I don’t want to upset my bride. - Don B., Staten Island, NY

DEAR DON: Oh I’m quite aware of the wrath you might feel if your window box plummets to the earth scattering the plants and flowers.

Plants are Children - Beware!

My wife treats her plants like they are her children, and if I ever step on one or otherwise mistakenly cut one off with the weed trimmer, I’m in the dog house for quite some time.

Window boxes full of flowers can be used under windows or to add color to deck railings. They are sure to please. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

You do want to succeed at this task for any number of reasons. First and foremost is the safety of anyone who might walk under the window.

You sure don’t want a window flower box to detach from a wall and fall on someone’s head. It’s happened before and surely will happen again.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen that can install your flower boxes FAST!

There are several ways to support a flower box, the most common being metal brackets that are screwed to the wall. The challenge when using a bracket is to make sure the screws go into solid lumber. The only problem with this approach is that the placement of the brackets might not be centered under the flower box. Centering brackets on a masonry wall is easy, and it’s easy to anchor them for solid support. However, many houses have wood or vinyl siding with the wall studs undoubtedly off center.

This is why I usually don’t use brackets choosing to use hidden french cleats instead. A french cleat is a time-tested method to secure pictures, mirrors, mantles, and even a window box to a wall surface.

The french cleat is a two-piece connection system where the piece of wood or metal that’s attached to the window box interlocks with the mating piece that’s attached to the wall. The best part is that once installed the window box appears to be floating in mid-air with no visible means of support.

 

It’s easiest to use lumber to create a french cleat. I highly recommend using treated lumber in your case since the wood will be subjected to water. You don’t want the french cleat to rot over time and fail causing the window box to crash to the ground.

The french cleat can be made from 3/4-inch-thick material. You need a piece of lumber that’s about 3-inches wide and as long as the window box.

The magic happens when you cut the single piece of lumber into two pieces along its length. You need either a circular hand saw, or better yet, a table saw with the blade set at a 45 degree angle.

By splitting the piece of wood down the middle with the saw set at the angle, you create two pieces of lumber that look identical, but one actually interlocks with the other when mated together. This is what’s going to hold the window box to the wall.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen that can install your flower boxes FAST!

The piece of lumber that attaches to the window box is screwed to the window box so that the angled cut points to the ground and the long tip of the cut is not touching the back of the window box. The flat or square edge of this piece is usually flush with the top of the rear of the window box.

The other piece of lumber gets screwed to the wall of the house with the angled cut pointing up to the sky and the long point not touching the wall.

I’m sure you can see how when you bring the window box over to the wall and allow the two pieces of lumber to interlock that the box will be securely attached to the wall. The only tricky measuring you have to do is to calculate how far below the bottom of the window sill or window frame to attach the piece to the house.

Typically the top of the window box, once installed, is a inch or so below the window sill or the outer frame of the window. It’s easy to do the math to see where the bottom of the house piece needs to be in order for the box to be at the right height. If you started with a piece of lumber 3-inches wide, the square bottom of the house piece needs to be 4 inches below the bottom of the window sill or window frame.

The pieces of treated lumber that are screwed to the house as well as the window box need to be attached using galvanized or stainless-steel fasteners. These will not rust.

When you attach the one half of the cleat to the house wall, be sure it’s parallel with the bottom of the window sill or the window frame. You’ll be tempted to use a level for this task, but that could be a mistake. You don’t want the window box level if the bottom of the window itself is not level. It will look like you made a mistake after you’re done.

You may have to install one or two 3/4-inch blocks of wood on the lower rear corners of the window box to ensure the box doesn’t tip. The french cleat will hold the back of the window box away from the wall, so the blocks ensure that the top of the box is level front to back. These blocks will not be seen when you look straight on the box.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen that can install your flower boxes FAST!

Column 886