Family Handyman April 2013

Why I’m a DIYer I enjoy the challenge of making something myself, or figuring out why something doesn’t work, or why it broke, and then fixing it. Advice for fellow DIYers Even the largest project can be broken down into small pieces. All you have to do is determine what they are and the order in which they need to be done. Then don’t be afraid to take the first step. It’s often the hardest, but everything else will usually fall into place. Proudest achievement I’m proud of them all, but maybe my proudest is the volunteer work I’ve done at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force to help restore the WWII B-17 bomber, the Memphis Belle. Current project I built this floor-to-ceiling bookcase using the basic techniques…

FROM OUR READERS handyhints@thefamilyhandyman.com Easier lawn mower oil draining I found a trick to make lawn mower oil changes a lot easier. Older gas mowers had a drain plug to remove used oil. But with many newer mowers, you have to turn the mower on its side to drain the oil, which is awkward. So I came up with the simple idea of clamping plastic tubing to a turkey baster and using it to drain the oil. I stick the end of the tubing into the oil fill hole and suck out the oil. I squirt the used oil into an oil pan and repeat as many times as it takes to empty the oil. 5-gallon bucket tool kit I worked in the electrical trade for many years, and my…

AFFORDABLE GENERATOR WITH NICE BELLS AND WHISTLES Life without power can be pretty uncomfortable. So don’t wait for a storm to hit before you buy a portable generator. Immediately after a storm, all you’ll find are the units nobody else wants. I shopped around and came up with one unit that’ll satisfy the needs of most users. At 8,000 watts (66 amps at 120V, or 33 amps at 240V), this Generac XG8000E portable generator is large enough to run your well pump, refrigerator, furnace and a few small appliances. It has a battery-powered electric starter, so if you keep it plugged in before the storm, you won’t have to yank a rope to start it. All the controls and indicators—on/off, fuel shutoff, choke, circuit breakers, watt meter and hour meter—are…

LET THE DEMOLITION BEGIN Most storm damage repairs start with some kind of demolition. Sure, you can bust stuff up and pull nails with a framing hammer, but you can do it a lot faster with the Pulverizer. Think sledgehammer meets pry bar meets nail puller. This tool weighs twice as much as a regular hammer, giving you the power to knock apart even the most stubborn studs. Each end has a built-in pry bar, and the Pulverizer delivers three different methods for pulling nails. Plus, it has a really cool name. You can buy a Razorback Pulverizer online for $40. Dry floors faster with an air mover Unlike regular fans, air movers concentrate air close to the ground, which makes them the ideal tool for drying a wet floor.…

Buying a Generator According to statistics gathered by one generator manufacturer, 97,000 utility customers, on average, are without power on any given day. That’s a lot of spoiled hamburger! A backup generator can really save the day when the power goes out. But buying a generator can be difficult because of the wide range of choices and confusing jargon. Here are 10 tips to get you on the right track. 1 A good size for emergency backup is 5,500 watts If you’re shopping for a portable generator—that is, one on wheels that’s not permanently connected to your home’s electrical system—a generator that supplies 5,500 watts is about the right size. This is enough to power a few critical appliances like a refrigerator, furnace, microwave, TV and some lights. Of course,…

You already know the obvious dangers of a natural disaster: collapsing buildings, downed power lines, flying or floating debris…. But in most disasters, more people are injured or killed by things that don’t seem all that dangerous, things they weren’t expecting or things most of us would never even think of. Here are some of those unexpected dangers. LIGHTNING: DON’T GET STRUCK INDOORS Your home is probably the safest place to be in an electrical storm. But lightning can still get to you through the conductive paths in your house; that means your wiring, your plumbing and water. Talking on a corded phone, taking a shower or bath, working on your desktop computer or handling power tools during an electrical storm isn’t much safer than standing outside. It’s best to…