Here's a very short clip of Dustin Hoffman playing Captain Hook in the movie Hook saying, "Bad form!"
You may want to watch a few of the other trailer clips to remind you of the magic in this wonderful remake movie starting Hoffman and the late comic Robin Williams, RIP.
Klein TI 250 Thermal Imager | This is an IR photo of my fiberglass front door. Yeeouch! HOT!
I had the opportunity to test the Klein TI 250 Thermal Imager over the past few weeks.
I love this dandy little thermal imager because:
This was not my first rodeo testing a thermal imaging camera. You might want to read my FLIR IR camera review too.
CLICK or TAP HERE to see the current low price for the Klein TI 250 thermal imager.
This Klein IT 250 reminds me of the old Instamatic cameras. You just take it out, turn it on, and BOOM you have a reading. Some other IR cameras require you to download an app and then you plug in the camera to your smartphone.
This IT 250 just works on its own. It's simple and elegant.
Yes, you have to buy a separate micro-SD card. I was really disappointed by this because small low-capacity micro-SD cards can be bought in volume for pennies. CLICK or TAP HERE to verify this - these are 2020 RETAIL prices! It's so frustrating to offer a feature on a product, but then say, "Sorry, you need to buy something else to make that feature work."
I asked Klein about this and they said the contractors they beta-tested the IT 250 with didn't think they'd use the take-a-photo feature of the thermal imager? So what? If you can put in a 25-cent card in the box, why not do it?
Check out these photos:
This is a picture of my Davinci Roofscapes roof. It's pretty hot on an August day!
This is an IR photo of my fiberglass front door. Yeeouch! HOT!
This is my iMac computer. Think how hot it is inside the case!
This is my HAAS wood-grained aluminum garage door. It's a dark brown. So the sun heats it up.
Blacktop and asphalt can get hot. Be careful with toddlers' tender bare feet!
This is a cream yellow fiber cement siding in the sun. It can get hot too.
Hah loooo, as Winnie the Pooh would say! Are you a brand-new subscriber? I thought so. This top spot in the newsletter is a place of honor, and it’s reserved for you. Thanks for subscribing.
You, though, could be a long-standing subscriber. Tell me, do you recall the video I recorded that shows the secret to tightening a loose doorknob? Who knew it was SO EASY????
CLICK or TAP HERE to watch this SHORT video.
Holy Tomato! That old saying is true, be careful what you wish for.
I asked what you have trouble cleaning so that I’d be sure to include your questions and my solutions in a FREE Deep Cleaning Tips & Secrets eBook I’m creating for you. Your input burst open the floodgates. Here’s an eye-opening snippet of just a few of the comments and questions you submitted:
I’ve been busy creating new pages on the STAIN SOLVER website to address some of your latest cleaning challenges.
But get this, many many of the questions you asked were already answered on the STAIN SOLVER website.
To locate them, all you have to do is enter one keyword and a list of related columns will pop up. Here are some examples of existing pages:
Give it a try. Just go to the STAIN SOLVER website and see if there’s an answer waiting for you.
You may be wondering if the extra expense of STAIN SOLVER is worth it. First and foremost, STAIN SOLVER is a certified organic oxygen bleach made in the USA. I've not been able to locate a competitor's product that's also certified organic.
I use the highest percentage of USA-made active ingredient in STAIN SOLVER. The popular name brand you may be using has far less active ingredient than STAIN SOLVER, and is almost certainly sourced in China, the land of many many bad things as we have come to discover in recent years and months. Remember the tainted dog food and the Chinese drywall that caused wires and pipes to corrode?
Are you finally convinced you want to try STAIN SOLVER? CLICK or TAP HERE for goodness sake, and just order the small sample size if you’re wringing your hands. I KNOW it’s going to work for you!
Just this past week, a good friend of mine finally used it on her kitchen countertop grout, and she was thunderstruck with the results. Do you want to be Thunderstruck? CLICK or TAP HERE.
Two days ago, Howard invested in one of my simple phone consult calls. He’s refinishing the cedar siding on his home near Toronto, Canada.
Howard shared that he had used Thompson’s Water Seal and had disappointing results. He’s not alone in being unhappy with this product. Few people use Thompson’s twice.
Howard wanted to know what I’d use if the cedar siding was on my house. Easy!
CLICK or TAP HERE and scroll down the page until you see my boat dock frame up in the air. It’s backlit with a gorgeous NH sunrise.
Watch the short video on that page. You’ll see the product I told Howard to buy. It’s on the hood of my truck. No, silly, I didn’t seal my truck with the product!
Three days ago, Mary from Cincinnati reached out to me. Here’s what she asked:
“I have a brick house with cement sills that have been painted. The paint is peeling. What kind of primer and paint do you recommend that will last forever? The house is 107 years old.”
My response was:
“Mary,
Forever is a darn long time.
Read this column and CLICK the big paint can that has the green label near the top of the column. READ the label on the can for the recommended primer.”
That’s enough for a Sunday. I’ll meet you back here next week.
Tim Carter
Founder- www.AsktheBuilder.com
BEST Organic CLEANER - www.STAINSOLVER.com
Morse Code LIVES - www.W3ATB.com
Do It Right, Not Over!
P.S. Riddle me this. Do you think tar paper is good? Why isn’t it used more often? CLICK or TAP HERE and see how I feel about this century-old black paper.
You know that old saying, "Be careful what you wish for."
It's TRUE!
I asked you yesterday what you want to clean. I was inundated with responses on this page.
I decided to create a NEW VIDEO for you and I just uploaded it. But before you watch it, allow me to share one thing.
Many of the things you wanted to know about already had pages created on the STAIN SOLVER website.
All you have to do to find the page you need is type in one keyword.
For example, if you want to discover how to clean hardwood floors, type HARDWOOD into the search engine at the STAIN SOLVER website.
How about glass showers? I'd type in SHOWER into the STAIN SOLVER search engine.
See how EASY it is to find your answer? Go try it now.
CLICK or TAP HERE now to watch the new video!
A real AsktheBuilder.com newsletter will be in your inbox on Sunday.
Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Do (CLEAN) It Right, Not Over!
If you just subscribed, this is NOT a normal newsletter.
I'm about to start writing a SHORT FREE eBook sharing with you all of my Deep Cleaning Tips & Secrets.
But I want to know what you would like to see in the eBook.
What questions do you have about cleaning?
What do you have trouble cleaning?
I don't care what the question is, just enter it in the form on this page.
CLICK or TAP HERE and please share with me what you want to know about how to deep-clean ANYTHING with the LEAST AMOUNT OF EFFORT AND WORK.
I expect to have the FREE eBook for you on or before October 1, 2020. You'll get a link to it in a future Ask the Builder newsletter.
Thanks,
Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Do (CLEAN) It Right, Not Over!
I'm about to create a FREE new eBook for you.
You can help make sure it's the best one out there.
Just answer the two questions below. SUBSCRIBE to my FREE AsktheBuilder.com newsletter to get your FREE Deep Cleaning Tips & Secrets eBook. The eBook will be published on or before October 1, 2020.
As the old saying goes, "Be careful what you wish for." Check out some of your responses in the August 23, 2020 Newsletter!
Well, I’ll be gosh-darned. Dag nabbit, I’m certain you must be a new subscriber! This top spot in my newsletter is reserved seating for you. Put your real estate in a comfy chair and strap yourself in. While the ride won’t be as exciting as the Wild Mouse at Coney Island in Cincinnati, Ohio was years ago, it’s still going to be fun.
You, though, could be a follower who’s been nice enough to stay subscribed. Do you recall the video I did about how to mix drywall mud? You know, the one where I thought I was Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, and Harrison Ford all wrapped up in denim?
I know, I know, don’t quit my day job! CLICK or TAP HERE and get ready to chuckle.
Do you LIKE this newsletter and still want to get it each week? Good! I NEED YOU to CLICK or TAP HERE.
Several months ago, a senior YouTube team member reached out to me. They were starting a big project to promote some of the top YouTubers in each of the 50 states.
It’s called the United States of YouTube. They picked me as one of the top three in New Hampshire. CLICK or TAP HERE and then CLICK the state of NH to see me.
If you want the SHORT CUT, CLICK or TAP HERE to go straight to NH.
I’ve been a professional writer now for about twenty-six years. As I’ve traveled the path, I’ve become quite interested in how words come to be.
Think about the simple word - recreation.
What happens when you go out and have fun, play a game, water ski, go swimming, snow skiing, etc.?
You re-create your psyche coming back to your normal day or life all refreshed!
Now, how about that Girl Scout favorite - S’mores? You know, the graham cracker, marshmallow, and chocolate sandwich.
Well, I’d bet you a dozen dark chocolate Aglamesis pecandes it comes from, (muffled mouth full of s’mores saying) “I want some more!”
Jared reached out to me two days ago about my STAIN SOLVER product. I don’t know if he was planning to clean microfiber stuff at his house, but he did mention how it makes all his clothes smell spring fresh.
Here’s what he said, “I’m a 78-year-old disabled senior on a fixed income. I rely on STAIN SOLVER and have been using it for years. When the virus caused you to be out of stock, I had to go to Costco to get your competitor’s cheaper brand which is NO COMPARISON. STAIN SOLVER is simply the best.”
Do you need to clean microfiber towels or furniture? Look at these:
CLICK or TAP HERE if you want to see how to SAFELY clean all of the microfiber prizes in your home.
You have no idea how much I value you and your willingness to share great information. In the last newsletter, I shared how I made a mistake about not calling the local power company when we lost power. CLICK or TAP HERE to read the story and see the dramatic photo of what high-voltage power lines can do to a roadway.
Elaine got back to me, asking about surge protectors. I wrote about those years ago and I BEG YOU to CLICK or TAP HERE to discover something about them that you probably don’t know.
She also said to call 911 for a downed power line because they have a secret number to contact the power company. They’ll dispatch a fast-reaction strike team to the downed arcing line.
Brian, who hails from the great state of Tennessee, suggested getting in contact with as many neighbors as possible and having ALL of them call too.
The more people out of power from a single issue, the higher up the priority list it goes to get repaired. That makes all kinds of sense.
I told you last week’s quiz would be fun and fulfilling! Maybe you were one of the four-out-of-FIVE who got the answer RIGHT!
Congratulations! Look at the results from last week:
Now don’t be getting all high and mighty! Let’s see if you can keep your streak going.
You’re going to absolutely LOVE reading the story all about how today's quiz came to be. I give you a link to the story after you SUBMIT your answer.
For today's quiz, look at the photo just below. Do you think you can answer a question about these multi-colored wires? When you submit your GUESS, you're going to see a link to a story you MUST READ.
CLICK or TAP HERE to discover something new and FUN with this week's Fun Quiz!
That’s enough for a Sunday, right?
Are you a Stain Solver user? I’ve got huge news coming soon.
Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
BEST ORGANIC CLEANER - www.StainSolver.com
Morse - Are U Kidding? www.W3ATB.com
Do It Right, Not Over!
P.S. Riddle me this. You need to STOP WATER from getting into your basement or crawlspace. Or, you might want to reclaim your SOGGY backyard from the swarms of mosquitoes that currently have staked their claim to YOUR land.
CLICK or TAP HERE to see how I’d make your soil drier than the Atacama Desert.
Coefficient of Continuity | A large switch box with multi-colored wires like this was a perfect one to use when testing for the coefficient of continuity. (C) Copyright 2020 Tim Carter
I was an active builder and remodeler for over twenty years.
I can tell you that customers come in all different varieties as well as sizes. There are your quiet customers, there are the ones that require sedatives, there are some that are happy, there are the bluebloods, and there are the curious pesky customers.
You know this last type for sure. It's the person who lacks the social skills that allow you to notice when someone is busy. Think about this for a moment. Can you imagine the lowest-level employee in a hospital operating room starting to ask a bunch of questions to a brain surgeon just as he is at the most critical part of an operation where full concentration is required? You've seen this person. This person has bothered you once or twice while you're working.
He's the person that wanders up to a group of workers anywhere, looks at what they're doing, and starts to ask questions not caring for a moment that he's interrupting their work causing them to become less productive. He's oblivious to this work slowdown because he just wants his curiosity appetite satisfied.
I had my fair share of these customers and to a degree, I understand their excitement about progress being made on their new house or room addition. But seriously, do you have to stand there like a creeper and then start to ask questions while I'm trying to get stuff done?
Jim Klawitter was my electrician. He's the inventor of the coefficient of continuity. You'd think some famous mathematician was responsible, but you'd be wrong.
One day Jim, his helper, and me and my crew were working on a large room addition project. The husband owner of the house was there and walked in while we were all as busy as beavers. We said hello and just kept talking and working not trying to engage him at all. We knew what could happen.
Then the questions started. We were courteous at first but soon Jim got perturbed. Normally Jim was as placid as a mountain lake shielded from any type of wind. It took lots to get him whipped into a frenzy.
"Tim, when was the last time you checked the coefficient of continuity?" That was the signal that the fun was to begin.
"I did it about an hour ago. Do you think we should check it again?"
"Absolutely. We've got enough wire pulled we can do it."
I dropped what I was doing and started to walk over to a wall outlet electric box getting out a screwdriver from my toolbelt. As I was doing this I glanced at the homeowner. His face transformed from relaxation to one of high alert. I could see the gears spinning in his head. He, like every other customer, had never heard of this building term much less watch a live test be performed in front of him.
You could tell he was in the fight or flight mode. The questions stopped as he anticipated if the coefficient would be in the acceptable range.
Once at an electrical box I'd pull the stripped wires out and put my screwdriver across the ends of the wires holding them against the tip of my screwdriver with my one hand. The other hand would steady the handle of the screwdriver. I'd then bend over and put the handle of the screwdriver against my ear.
In the meantime, Jim would get out his voltage tester which also did continuity tests. This prank was highly effective against even the smartest engineer, but you had to be careful you didn't pull it on an electrical engineer. He'd see through the ruse immediately.
Once I saw Jim put his two probes on any wires where he was, I'd put my ear to the end of the screwdriver handle.
I'd blurt out, "I'm hearing about 580 hertz. Oh wait, it just peaked at 600."
"Go check the outlet across the room," Jim replied. It didn't matter what we checked or did. We were just trying to whip up a good ol' batch of anxiety.
I'd move to another outlet and mind you the wires in the boxes had not yet been connected to one another or anything. We weren't hearing hertz and we most certainly were not testing the continuity of anything.
"Okay, I'm ready," I'd proclaim with my ear against the end of the screwdriver.
Jim would once again touch his probes to the wires at his ceiling outlet or switch box.
"What are you getting now?"
"I'm at 650 with it peaking at 800!"
Jim would act puzzled. "We need two people testing at the same time."
He'd look at the homeowner and say, "Do you have a few newer screwdrivers with no rust and how's your hearing? Did you play an instrument in your high school band by any chance?"
Every time the homeowner said, "Uh, uh no. Uh, I wasn't in a band and I'm not sure I could hear what's going on. Plus, my screwdrivers are pretty beat up."
The next thing we knew he'd be gone. Once he was out of earshot for sure, we'd all have a pretty good laugh and get back to work.
I urge you to try this prank or a similar one. You need to have self-control and not laugh during the test. But you knew this!
The STAIN SOLVER Sale ends in 6 hours. (It ended at midnight on Sunday, August 9, 2020.)
FACT: The first thing I'm doing in the morning, and it will be very early, is to raise the prices of STAIN SOLVER.
Yes, I'm sorry, but I'm taking away from you the sale price. Everything has to end, right?
I have NO IDEA when we'll have another sale.
This is your LAST CHANCE to save money in the immediate future.
CLICK or TAP HERE NOW to purchase STAIN SOLVER at it's lowest price.
Thanks.
Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
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