Family Handyman July-August 2013

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com KINK-FREE GARDEN HOSE In a story a few months ago, you said the “best” garden hose doesn’t exist. I beg to differ. After trying two “non-kink” and very heavy hoses that invariably did just that, I invested in a 100-ft. Tuff Guard hose (about $95). It doesn’t kink and is much lighter than my other hoses. I love it! Charles Boysen, Subscriber The hose uses a “double helix” construction with an inner polyester fabric twisted around the water tube in the opposite direction of the polypropylene ribs you see on the outside. That makes the hose tough to kink, but also harder to coil by hand. It’s also available in 25-ft. ($35) and 50-ft. ($60) lengths. Find a dealer at tuffguardhose.com. Travis Larson, Senior Editor Got iron in your…

TOOLS & GEAR A REEL DEAL FOR ROOFERS Two guys sharing one compressor is common on a job site. So is tripping over a hose because the guy on the other side of the splice jerks on his hose just as you’re stepping over yours. And if you’re working on a roof, tripping on a hose could result in a career-ending tumble to the ground, or worse. Amflo makes a hose reel that has two ports attached to the reel itself, and two anchor bases, so it can be fastened to a roof. Because it’s a reel, you only have to pull out as much of the 75-ft. hose as you need. It’s not just for roofers, though. It’s a great tool for all carpentry, even on the ground. Buy…

FROM OUR READERS handyhints@thefamilyhandyman.com OUTDOOR SANDING STATION I do a lot of sanding, and to keep the fine dust out of my garage, I came up with this idea for an outdoor sanding station. I built a sturdy plywood shelf and attached threaded hooks to the back edge, which clip into eyebolts screwed into the garage wall studs. The front of the shelf is suspended by chains (or cord) attached to eyebolts at the front corners and then snapped into eyebolts placed up high on my garage wall. I position it so the shelf is at a comfortable height for my back. My temporary sanding station goes up and down quickly, and it keeps the dust outside. No-spill grocery bags It’s a pain to crawl deep into the trunk to…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Is your bathroom in need of a quick pick-me-up? Besides painting and replacing your cabinet hardware, what can you do that won’t eat up an entire weekend and your wallet? Plenty! Check out these great, easy to install products. They’ll solve common bathroom problems and instantly transform your bathroom from blah to brilliant. Install a vinyl wood plank floor Installing a floating vinyl wood plank floor is as close to “instant” as flooring gets. Luxury vinyl plank flooring (LVP) works extremely well in moisture-prone areas like bathrooms. Lumber Liquidators’ Tranquility Easy Click vinyl wood plank flooring (Rio Rosewood is pictured) is a floating floor that goes down easily and looks amazingly authentic. It can be installed with or without underlayment. It’s affordable, easy to clean, moisture resistant and durable.…

WHAT IT TAKES COST: $3,000 TIME: three or four weekends SKILL LEVEL: intermediate to advanced TOOLS: standard hand tools, a circular saw and a drill. Nice but not necessary: table saw, miter saw, nail gun and jigsaw. BUILD THIS MASTERPIECE DESIGNED BY A PRO editors@thefamilyhandyman.com In the past couple of decades, I’ve built a lot of garages and sheds, and at least a half dozen have appeared in this magazine. In that time I’ve learned how to build sheds quicker and better, and how to make a plain shed look great without spending an arm and a leg. This shed incorporates many of the building methods I’ve learned. It includes special features like custom brackets and homemade windows and doors, which set the shed apart from kits you’ll find at…

A decade ago, there were only a few cordless lawn mowers to choose from. But today, with the emphasis on environmentally friendly living and the introduction of new battery technology, there are dozens. They range from 14 in. to 19 in. in cutting width and cost anywhere from $240 to more than $600. In this article, we’ll compare seven cordless mowers from leading manufacturers. We’ll help you decide whether a cordless mower is right for you. Then we’ll compare battery types and mower features to help you pick the right machine. editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Can I replace my gas mower with a cordless version? The main benefits to owning a cordless mower are convenience and quieter operation. You don’t have to worry about storing gas, changing oil or tuning up the mower.…