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!

The Definition, Uses and History of Staples

Posted by cjs727 on Oct 1st, 2011 | 10 comments

A staple is a two-pronged fastener, usually metal, used for attaching or binding various items together.

The crown of the staple can be used to bridge materials butted together.

The crown can bridge a piece and fasten it without puncturing it, with a leg on either side, e.g. fastening cable to wood framing.

The crown provides greater surface area than other comparable fasteners. This is helpful with the many various thin materials you might want to adhere to one another.

Large staples are used with a hammer or staple gun for masonry, roofing, corrugated boxes and other heavy-duty uses. Smaller staples are used with a stapler to join pieces of paper together; these are permanent fasteners for paper documents, unlike paper clips.

Construction staples are usually larger, have a more varied use, and are delivered by a staple gun or tacking hammer. Staple guns typically have staples made from thicker metal. Faster and easier devices known as tacking hammers or staple hammers operate with a simple head, loaded with a strip of staples, to hit them directly. Some staple guns use arched staples for fastening small cables, e.g. phone or cable cords, without damaging the wires. Powered electric staplers or pneumatic staplers drive the staples easily and accurately.

History

In ancient times, the staple was used in buildings.

Large metal staples dating from the 6th century BC have been found in the masonry work of ancient Iran. In the construction of the Pasargadae, staples, known as “dovetail” or “swallowtail” staples, helped to hold large stones together.

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More Practical Garden Tools

Posted by cjs727 on Sep 17th, 2011 | 8 comments

Some practical lawn and garden tools to maintain the look and health of your garden:

Weeders: A simple hand weeder is used to get rid of unwanted plants. Even for those hard, deep-rooted ones like dandelions.  It is easy to rid your garden of these relentless weeds, just push the tines of the weeder down to the very bottom of the roots and pull up the weed. There are some alternatives that let you stand up and weed and also electric weeders that burn away weeds with hot ceramic plates. However, if you’re willing to do the work, the hand weeder is by far the best option.

Watering Cans: Choose a watering can with a long necked nozzle. These allow the water to come out at a gentle flow rate and are useful for reaching across distances. A good choice would also feature a detachable spray head; this type of watering can is perfect for watering young seedlings.

Trowels: The basic trowel may be one the handiest tools in the shed. It can handle a variety of tasks and is used for digging, planting, harvesting and weeding. There are plenty of alternatives, but a hand trowel trumps them all.

Garden Shears: These are used for pruning and removing foliage or branches. Don’t buy the most expensive shears until you decide that you do indeed like gardening. A good pair of clippers can keep many trees and shrubs neat and tidy and also harvest vegetables and flowers. They are also helpful if you need to clear away dead leaves and cut weeds away from the plants you want to keep.

Spading Forks: A spading fork is the best way to turn and aerate compost. As personal vegetable gardening continues to grow in popularity, home composting has too.  Every month there seems to be a new gadget available – an electric indoor compost bin, compost thermometers and more. Yet, a spading fork is all you really need to turn your garden waste and kitchen scraps into compost.

Aerators: use these during spring or fall to make holes in your lawn. This aids in root growth and helps supply the water, nutrients and air needed by all types of lawns. If you have a small garden just buy a hand aerator, but for a larger landscape you might want use a gas or electric powered model.

Garden vacuums: Either gas or electric-powered vacuums are popular among people anxious to keep a perfect yard. They suck up leaves and dirt, but that is a major problem … dirt belongs in the yard. Instead consider raking the leaves and other debris or simply leave them where they are. This helps create healthy mulch and compost, plus you don’t have to fill all those bags of vacuumed leaves and put them in the garbage.

Home improvement warehouse stores have all sorts of gadgets and devices aimed at easing your gardening work. However, many successful home gardens have been cultivated with only a few good hand tools. Besides, the high-tech alternatives often don’t help you grow a tastier tomato or brighter begonias.

Here’s another site of interest.

 

Pliers and Wrenches Need to be used Very Carefully

Posted by cjs727 on Sep 12th, 2011 | 8 comments

Almost 90% of the injuries that take place during the course of DIY projects are due to pliers and wrenches being used inappropriately.

What you should do is keep the following tips in mind.

Firstly, if you are working with electricity and the system is particularly complex, you will probably be dealing with a decent range of voltages. Certain hazards can be reduced if you ensure that a rubber covering exists between the pliers handle and your hand. Basically, no matter what – do not be foolish enough to work without some form of insulation.

Knowing which type of pliers or wrenches to use for a project you are working on is very important. Attempting to use the wrong type could end up causing you serious injury. Using a small adjustable pair of pliers when a large wrench is called for might make you put too much effort into the job. The end result could be that you sprain your wrist, or even worse, break the bones in your hand altogether.

As you can see, using these tools isn’t necessarily easy so if you are a beginner, it is highly recommended that you get some training before tackling a job. There are several videos available that will show you the right way to handle pliers and wrenches, how to know which to use and some that list their different uses.

Practical Care for Long Life

Posted by cjs727 on Sep 9th, 2011 | 1 comment

Taking care of your tools is the best way to ensure that they will be handy and useful for many years to come.

Use tools only for their intended purpose.  Tools are designed for specific tasks.  Here are a few examples, if you use your screwdriver as a pry bar, it won’t be in very good shape when you need to drive a screw.  If extra leverage is needed, just use a higher-grade pair of pliers rather than  standard ones. They give more cutting and gripping power.

There is much less chance of injury when you use the right tool for your projects.  If you try to use an inappropriate tool you will more than likely end up with a broken tool, a totally damaged project and some form of injury to yourself or someone either assisting or watching you as you work.

Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for proper cleaning, storage and maintenance.  Keeping your tools clean, dry, oiled and well maintained can mean the difference between having a reliable assistant or one that falls down on the job when you most need them. Caring for your tools will extend their lifespan which, in turn, can save you a ton of money.

Never use damaged tools. Throw them away, fix them or … Better Yet … Replace Them!

Types of Utility Knives

Posted by cjs727 on Sep 2nd, 2011 | 10 comments

Fixed blade utility knife

Large fixed-blade utility knives are most often used outdoors, such as while camping, fishing, or hunting. Outdoor utility knives typically feature sturdy blades from four to six inches in length, and are designed to withstand possible chipping and breakage.

The term “utility knife” also refers to small fixed-bladed knives, such as the X-Acto Knife, that are used for arts, crafts, hobbies and other artisan projects. These small knives utilize light-duty blades best suited for cutting thin, lightweight materials. The small, thin blade and specialized handle permit cuts that require a high degree of precision and control.

Construction or Workplace Utility Knives

The most popular construction or workplace utility knives typically feature retractable, replaceable blades. Some use standard razor blades while others use specialized double-ended utility blades. You can adjust how far the blade comes out from the handle. It can be used to cut tape on a package without damaging the contents or with the blade extended more it can tackle thicker materials. When the blade needs changed, it can be easily reversed or replaced.  Some models have a quick-change mechanism, so no tools needed, as well as a flip-out blade storage tray. The blades for this type of utility knife come in both double- and single-ended. Specialized blades also exist for cutting string, linoleum, and other materials.

Another style is a snap-off utility knife that contains a segmented blade. As the endmost edge becomes dull, it can be snapped off, exposing the next section, sharp and ready for use. When all the segments are used, the knife can be simply thrown away or refilled with a new blade.

An inexpensive utility knife often called a “box cutter” consists of a simple rectangular shaped sleeve handle into which single edged utility blades can be inserted. The sleeve slides back and forth covering or uncovering the blade and holds the blade during use. The blade holder may either retract or fold into the handle, much like a folding-blade pocketknife. It is designed to expose just enough blade edge to cut through one layer of cardboard, thus minimizing the chances of damage to the contents inside a box.

*This information includes some material gathered from Google, Wikipedia and other sites I found during my research.