Danny Lipford » Tools & Hardware

Black & Decker Gecko Grip Level

Jodi Marks — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:01:08 +0000

These Gecko Grip Levels from Black & Decker are available in 24” and 36” lengths. Both come with rubber pads that grip the wall without leaving marks. The 3’ level has sliding marking targets for easy alignment of multiple holes when hanging pictures. The 2’ version comes with a built-in torpedo level and stud finder. Gecko Grip Levels are available at The Home Depot stores.

Handy Ladder Pail

Jodi Marks — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:55:37 +0000

The Handy Ladder Pail from Bercom holds over a gallon of paint or other liquids. A foldout metal bracket attaches securely to both step and extension ladders while the built-in magnet holds a paintbrush or putty knife when not in use. The Handy Pail is available at The Home Depot stores.

(677) Interior and Exterior House Painting Tips

Milwaukee Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum

Jodi Marks — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:43:45 +0000

The Milwaukee cordless wet/dry vac resembles a toolbox, making it easy to carry and store. Models are available in either 18 or 28 volt and use NiCd or lithium ion batteries. Available at The Home Depot stores. Watch this video.

Choosing Tool Gifts for the Holidays

Jodi Marks — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:19:17 +0000

With the holiday’s right around the corner, I bet you’ve got some pretty good ideas on what should be on your wish list this year. Maybe it’s a new circular saw or miter saw. Even a new router or drill press is just the right gift idea. But before you top the list with those nicer, “big toy” items, now’s the time to take a look at the smaller work horses in your tool box…there you might find some good ideas to pass along to your loved ones.

Start by dragging out all of your screwdrivers. Do you like the handles on your set? Would you rather have a rubber grip for easier handling or do you like plastic grips? What about sizes? Can you get into all those tight spaces with the ones you’ve got? Do you have five Phillips heads but only two Flat heads? Maybe it’s time to update or upgrade your screwdriver set. The best part is these sets can be found at great prices…usually just under $30.

Now, what about a hammer? Do you like the feel and weight of the one you have? Is the wooden handle cracking or is the rubber grip fraying? Maybe a 22-ounce weight is more than you should be swinging and a 16-ounce hammer would be better for your projects. And if you use brads instead of finish nails on your projects, maybe a tack hammer would be a great addition to your tool box. The best part is you can find a quality hammer for around $25 or so.

Pliers are another tool that I often reach for when working around the house. But they are each different and depending on the task at hand, you should have a variety of pliers to choose from. Tongue and groove pliers are perfect for quick adjustments and nothing beats long, needle nose pliers for bending wire or getting into “hard to reach” areas. Diagonal pliers for cutting wire are great to have on standby, too. Most pliers can be bundled in a set which is perfect for gift giving.

Other great gift ideas for filling up the stocking could a new tape measure…I like the one that has about a 10-foot standout before it bends and now you can get one that measures out to 40 feet. A new torpedo level is another little tool that can easily slide into the stocking and is so handy to have when your projects call for absolute perfection. And who can resist a new stud finder! All of these gift ideas range from about $30 and under depending on function or size.

Last but not least, where are you going to store all of these new gifts? Is your old toolbox worn out or falling apart? Everybody could use more storage to keep all their tools clean, rust free, and organized. There are so many options and styles available now that can fit into everyone’s holiday budget.

So, there you go! These ideas may not be the big ticket items that many folks want for the holiday’s, but I can assure you, these are the ones that are going to serve you most in all those projects you have coming up, and you’ll be proud how well each one turned out!

Re-Key Your Locks with Kwikset SmartKey

Advertiser — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:37:53 +0000

Re-key Your Locks. Reset your Security.

One of the quickest ways to improve the security of your home is to re-key the locks. Who has a key to your house? The previous owner whose mail still comes? The housekeeper you kept for a week? The contractor who never came back? You never can be sure how many copies of your keys are floating around.

In the past, re-keying could be an expensive and time consuming endeavor. That has changed with SmartKey™ from Kwikset®. SmartKey is the only lock you can re-key yourself in less than 30 seconds. As easy as 1-2-3 you can re-key all your locks whenever you have the need. You can match multiple Kwikset locks to one key, or replace a lost or loaned key with a new key, all while the locks remain on the door. By using the included SmartKey Learn Tool and your working key, you can safely re-key your Kwikset locks without special training or outside contractors. SmartKey’s re-key technology also is secure against unauthorized key changing, by requiring both the working key and the SmartKey Learn Tool to re-key the lock. Now you can control who has access to your home and reset your security.

In addition to SmartKey’s superior protection, style and design remain uncompromised. Kwikset SmartKey is offered in a wide array of the latest styles and finishes in handlesets, levers, knobs and deadbolts to match any home décor.

Reasons to Re-key:

Recently moved
Your child has lost their key, again
Loaned out a key that you didn’t get back
Have different keys for your front, back and side doors

Reasons to Re-key with SmartKey™ from Kwikset®:

Control who has access to your home
Avoid re-keying costs by doing it yourself
Re-key in 3 easy steps that take less than 30 seconds
Re-key without removing the lock from the door
Re-key as often as you want

For more information on Kwikset SmartKey, visit www.kwikset.com/smartkey or call 1-800-327-LOCK.

Burglarproof Locks

Innovative Wood Drill Bits

Danny Lipford — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:00:25 +0000

These auger style bits from Ridgid drill through wood up to six times faster than standard spade bits. The self-starting screw tip pulls the bit into the wood while the sharp spur and cutting surface power cleanly through the wood. They have a 1/4″ shank and range in size from 1/2″ to 1¼”. Ridgid wood auger bits are available at The Home Depot stores.

A Homeowner’s Guide to Saws

Sheila Carlson Wilkinson — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:39:09 +0000

Handsaws come in a wide range of styles and sizes and are used to make straight or curved cuts on materials ranging from wood and plastic to metal and drywall. The teeth are set (bent) in an alternating pattern so the kerf (groove) cut by the saw is slightly wider than the thickness of the blade to prevent binding.

While most Western saws cut on the push stroke, Japanese saws cut when pulled toward you. This allows for a thinner blade and narrower kerf, resulting in a faster and smoother cut with less effort. On the downside, Japanese saws leave the rough edge of the cut on the face and deposit sawdust on top which can obscure the guideline. They’re also more flexible than their Western counterpart.

Japanese saws cut on the pull stroke

To make a cut with a saw, mark or score a guideline on the stock then hold or clamp the wood firmly in place. Position the blade on the line and draw the saw slowly toward you (away for Japanese saws), using your thumbnail as a guide. Once the kerf has been established, remove your thumb and saw along the line with long, even strokes. Support the waste piece during the final few strokes to keep the board from splintering.

Ripsaw

A coarse toothed saw that is used to make straight cuts in lumber with the grain of the wood. The teeth of a ripsaw are sharpened at right angles to the blade which allows them to follow a straight line rather than drifting with the grain of the wood. Ripsaw blades are usually 26” in length and have 4 to 8 teeth per inch (tpi).

Crosscut Saw

Crosscut saws are designed for making straight cuts across the grain in wood. The teeth are sharpened at an angle and beveled to a point, allowing them to cut cleanly without splintering. The blades on crosscut saws are generally 26” long and have 8 to 12 tpi for smoother cuts than ripsaws.

Backsaw

A back or tenon saw has a stiff spine running the length of the blade to keep it rigid and give greater precision when cutting. Backsaws are used in cabinetry and joinery work to make straight cuts for tenons, dovetails, and miters. Most have 10” to 14” long blades with 12 to 16 tpi for finer cuts than crosscut saws.

Dovetail Saw

A dovetail saw is a small, specialized backsaw used to make intricate cuts such as dovetail joints and fine miter cuts. They range from 6” to 12” long and usually have 14-20 tpi.

Coping Saw

Coping saws have a narrow steel blade mounted in a frame. They are used to make intricate, curved “coping” cuts in the ends of moldings as well as other curved cuts. Coping saws have a replaceable blade that is removed or rotated by unscrewing the handle. The blade is usually positioned with the teeth pointing towards the handle and cuts on the pull stroke to reduce blade breakage.

To make a fully enclosed cut, a hole is drilled in the work and the blade inserted through it before being attached to the frame of the saw. Various blades are available having from 12 to 16 tpi, making this saw extremely versatile and able to cut both wood and metal.

Keyhole and Compass Saws

Keyhole and compass saws are made to cut curved and straight sided holes in wood and other materials. Keyhole saws are smaller and narrower with 10 to 12 tpi while compass saws are a bit larger and range from 8 to 10 tpi. They have either a fixed or removable blade which comes to a sharp point. Since they have a narrow, unsupported blade, keyhole and compass saws have a tendency to bend when cutting. Japanese keyhole saws are available that cut on the pull stroke which reduces bending of the blade.

Drywall Saw

As the name implies, these coarse saws are used for cutting drywall or wallboard. They come with either a wide blade for straight cuts, or a narrow keyhole type blade for making cutouts in drywall around electrical outlets and switches. The sharp point of the cutout saw allows the blade to plunge directly through wallboard. Drywall saws commonly have 6 to 8 tpi. Wide saws have a 14”- 15” long blade while the keyhole version has a 6”- 8” blade.

Hacksaw

Hacksaws have a tensioned frame that holds a fine toothed blade. They are designed to cut hard materials like metal, plastic, tile, and glass. A close quarter or mini hacksaw is a smaller version with an open frame that is made for cutting in tight spaces.

Hacksaw blades are replaceable and are 10” or 12” long. They are available with fine, medium, or coarse teeth that range from 14 to 32 tpi. Hacksaw blades are rated on the Rockwell hardness scale with a higher number indicating a harder blade. While harder blades can cut through tougher materials, they’re also more brittle and prone to shattering. Bimetal and carbide tipped blades solve this problem by combining a softer metal blade with hard teeth.

A close quarter or mini hacksaw is perfect for hard to reach areas.

Hacksaw blades are available in a number of materials including (from soft to hardest) carbon steel, high speed steel, bimetal, and carbide grit.

Carbon steel blades are economical and are used for cutting wood, plastic, aluminum, copper tubing and other easy to machine metals.
High speed steel blades are just about shatterproof and cut wood, plastic and most metals.
Bimetal blades provide the longest life with a hardened cutting edge that resists wear and heat. They can be used with wood, plastic, and most metals.
Carbide grit blades are used for hard to cut materials such as glass, stranded cable, hardened steel, and tile. They cut on both the push and pull strokes which make for much longer wear.

Choosing the right handsaw for your next project, and keeping it sharp, will make the job go easier and give professional finished results.

Keeping Picture Frames Level

Joe Truini — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:58:08 +0000

To keep pictures level on your walls, add self-adhesive rubber bumpers (available at hardware stores and home improvement centers) to the bottom corners on the back of the frame. Not only will your pictures stay put, but the bumpers prevent the frame from marking the wall and can keep dust from collecting behind it.

Hyde PaintMiser

Jodi Marks — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:27:03 +0000

The PaintMiser from Hyde Tools is a multipurpose tool that helps remove every last drop of paint from the can. It has a paint can opener on one end, straight and curved scraping surfaces that contour to the inside and outside of the can, and specially shaped edges to clean under and around the rim. With paint savings of up to 7% per can, it can pay for itself in just three gallons. The PaintMiser is available at The Home Depot.

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Work Sharp 2000 Tool Sharpener

Jodi Marks — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:43:34 +0000

This motorized tool sharpener can put a fine edge on every tool in your shop. The grinding surface has interchangeable disks to make it easy to switch between coarse and finer grits. An angled tool port under the grinding wheel allows chisels and plane blades to be sharpened at a consistent angle while the air cooled design helps to keep tools from burning. The Work Sharp 2000 is available online from The Home Depot.