New Content Added to Advertising Page

Posted by cjs727 on Apr 24th, 2012 | 0 comments

I just added a few new things to my Advertising page. I encourage you to take a look and check back regularly as I do plan to add content more often from here on out.

Thanks

Some House Cleaning

Posted by cjs727 on Feb 6th, 2012 | 0 comments

In an effort to handle the different and new direction I’d like to take my site toward, I realized that I would first need to do some house cleaning … Therefore, I have spent some time this morning re-organizing behind the scenes.

The categories and general appearance of it’s layout was not exactly what I thought best for this new direction.

Anyway, now that I have a better idea as to how I want everything to “LOOK” I feel I am more motivated and hopefully that will result in more regular involvement.

I am working on a few articles that will focus on marketing tools such as traffic exchanges, safelists, classified ad sites etc.; their history, development and ratings. I will refer mainly to those that I am familiar with myself. However, as always, I encourage others to give suggestions and input on their experiences.

Marketing and Advertising Tools

Posted by cjs727 on Feb 2nd, 2012 | 0 comments

In the spirit of the New Direction I want to develop I have added a page that is devoted to Marketing and Advertising.

Since so many of us use and have websites of our own, gathering the advertising tools needed for development and growth can sometimes be difficult. Marketing, Advertising and Seo are all useful in attracting visitors to our websites and blogs. Success can be sustained and built when the tools are used regularly and monitored.

I have started this page in order to aid myself and others in staying on track with marketing and advertising tools.  As I have just begun the process of building this new page, there is not yet much to see there … but I do plan to work on this issue and have it full of many sites and tools designed to organize and assist myself and all visitors as soon as possible.

I encourage suggestions and ideas to help me and all visitors with their success.

A New Direction and Growth for Practical Tools

Posted by cjs727 on Jan 9th, 2012 | 0 comments

2011 has passed us by in what seems to have been a Big Race.  Or is it just me?

Whatever …

The New Year arrives bringing us hope and expectation. When I first started this site I did so with the goal to expand and share my love of Tools.  Now I have re-evaluated the direction I want Practical Tools to take. It has been and will continue to be about Tools, it is just that the definition of the term “Tools” will expand and alter a bit.

We use all sorts of tools in our lives, and as such, I have come to realize that by being so narrow in my use of the term I have hindered my opportunity for growth, education and enjoyment.  On that note, I have decided to broaden the term “Tools” to include a wider variety of things, be they physical utensils, digital aides or mental inspirations, each will be included to assist us towards a better way of life.

As always, I encourage all of your input and look forward to many comments and discussions.

I wish you all a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year …

 

A Practical Guide to Drill Bits

Posted by cjs727 on Nov 1st, 2011 | 12 comments

When starting a project that requires drilling you should first make sure that you are using the right type of drill bit. If you use the wrong type you could damage the material you are working on. You can determine which drill bit to use based on what material you will be drilling into. Here is a practical and basic guide about drill bits and which are best suited for some of the more commonly used materials used in DIY projects.

Metal

When drilling into a non-ferrous metal, you will need to use High Speed Steel (HSS) drill bits that are made with partially ground tips. Non-ferrous metals include: aluminum, copper, zinc, brass and non-alloyed steel. If drilling into stainless steel, a different type of drill bit should be used. For this material, drill bits made of cobalt-alloyed High Speed Steel (HSS-E) or drill bits which have a titanium coating are best. They are more expensive than regular HSS drill bits but they allow for drilling without having to worry about excessive wear to the bits themselves.

Wood

When drilling into wood, brad point bits are best. Brad point drill bits have a long centering tip with two pre-cutting spurs. These spurs are used to score the wood fibers before the internal cutting edges cut them out cleanly.  Forstner drill bits, hardware drill bits or hinge cutting bits are usually used for larger diameters and there are auger bits for boring deep holes into wood.

Masonry

Drilling into brick or concrete will require the use of an impact drill or rotary hammer. If you are drilling any such material that contains perforated stones with a porous material, only rotary drilling should be preformed (without impact). This also applies when drilling into porous bricks and boarded walls. In order to drill into these materials, you will need a masonry drill bit. Masonry drill bits have tungsten-carbide tips designed to give the strength needed to penetrate the hard material and used with a rotary drill to lessen the likelihood of cracking and splitting that would happen with an impact drill.

If you are not sure which drill bit to use, don’t guess because this could have negative results. Ask someone who is knowledgeable, either by way of experience in the use of drills or those trained in the sale of such tools. Those who work at hardware stores usually have the knowledge needed and will be able to assist you with which bit is best for each type of job and material you will be working with.

Types of Electric Drills

Posted by cjs727 on Oct 21st, 2011 | 27 comments

Electric drills come in a variety of styles with different options. At times shopping for a new one can feel confusing. In order to assist you in making a Practical Purchase, this post is designed to explain the different types of electric drills available and what they are most commonly used for. Hopefully this will help you make a choice that better fits your specific needs.

Pistol Grip

A pistol grip drill is the most common type of corded drill. They are also the most versatile. The standard pistol grip has many attachments available to create a drill that can be used in most any application. You can purchase bits and attachments that will turn this drill into a sander, a small hand saw or a boring device.

Hammer Drill

A hammer drill, also called a masonry drill, is used most often along with concrete or brick. They are designed with a hammer mechanism that is able to rotate. The design of the hammer drill allows for heavier use while working on harder materials without breaking. Some types of hammer drills don’t have a drill only action while others can be used for either drilling or hammering.

The rotary style hammer drill will accelerate the bit with a piston design. A standard hammer drill uses a spinning cam instead. The rotary style drill tends to be more versatile, since it can be used as either a hammer or a spinning drill.

Drill Press

A drill press is a fixed style drill that is used on a workbench. They are most often found in workshops and are not portable. A drill press works when you clamp the material that needs to be drilled down, then you use a lever to pull the drill into the material. It takes less effort to create the holes, creates precision since the material can be fixed to the table, and can be adjusted to make angled holes. Attachments are available that will turn it into a sander, polisher, or honing machine.

Cordless Drills

Cordless drills are becoming more and more popular in household use and many professionals also have a few. A cordless drill uses a rechargeable battery pack. Depending on the jobs you plan on using the drill for, different battery voltages are available. A variety of attachments and drill bits can be added to make the drill an all in one tool.

The drawback to the cordless variety is you won’t have hours of use unless you have some backup battery packs fully charged and ready for use. The batteries self discharge after a period of time, requiring the battery pack to be recharged every day or two. A cordless drill is not designed to last forever, and needs to be replaced every several years.

 

This article contains information about electric drills gathered from Google, Wikipedia, ehow.com, doityourself.com and other sites during my research.

Prepare for Winter with Paint

Posted by cjs727 on Oct 15th, 2011 | 8 comments

Many of us have started or are considering some home maintenance to winterize our homes in preparation for the upcoming winter. One thing you may want to do is to slap a fresh coat of paint on your house. If you are going about this the Do-It-Yourself way, here are a few pointers.

In my opinion and probably the most important tip I can offer is to make sure you use quality products. By using professional quality exterior paint you will increase the time till you will need to repeat the process. By doing this you will save time and also a great deal of money. Using high quality interior paint is also highly recommended.  You may want to choose an eggshell or sheen finish as they hold up better when washing without removing the paint itself.

Needless to say, using top quality tools and accessories is also important. There are many styles of brushes and paint rollers available, if you are not sure which to purchase, you can ask for assistance at any paint or hardware store. The right brush can save hours of frustration and prevent the need to redo the job. There are many different brands of high quality paints and supplies available. Visit a hardware store or paint supplier for advice and have fun planning and shopping.

PREPARATION 

Planning and preparation are crucial to a successful project. The type of material and its condition will determine what preparation is necessary, whether new timber, timber with old flaking paint, steel, plastic, painted or unpainted brick work or an already painted wall. Preparing the surface will extend the life span of the paint thereby saving time and money.

Patching nail holes, removing switch plate covers, covering furniture and carpets with drop cloths, covering and taping off areas not to be painted should all be done before any painting is begun. Should your existing surface be flaking you will need to scrape off the flaking paint. Then lightly sand and clean to prepare for painting. Once this is done you can apply the base coat also known as undercoat or primer.

Most suppliers of paint are able to assist you in these steps. If you find one that can’t, you may want to consider choosing another one.

PRIMER

Using primer on an unpainted surface helps to seal it, creates a bonding surface for the final coat of paint and also extends the life of the job. Should you be painting over an existing darker color with a lighter color you should also use primer. It helps to hide and neutralize the existing darker color so the new color will cover easily.

FINAL COAT

It may seem as though you have been at this project forever. But, you are finally at the best part of the job … You can now apply your selected final paint. It will go quite quickly since you did the preparation work first. More importantly, the end result will have a more professional look and last much longer.

Tip: Your painting supplies; like brushes, rollers and paint trays, do not need to be cleaned each time you take a break. They can be kept moist if wrapped in plastic. Remember to allow each coat of paint to dry before applying the next. These tips will save you time and money.

Whether for maintenance, to prepare for selling or merely because you need a change, painting your home is an excellent way to revitalize it. Happy painting!