Innholdsfortegnelse for July/August 2015 i Family Handyman

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Not that long ago, battery-powered outdoor equipment was a promising idea, but not all that practical. But battery technology has improved, and the power of modern lithium-ion batteries has grown substantially. First there was 18 volts, then 36 volts, then 40, 56 and now even 80 volts from a single battery! When you combine these honkin’ big batteries with new motor technologies, you get tools that compete favorably with their gas-engine cousins. Chain saws powerful enough to cut 18-in. logs all morning. Mowers you can use for huge yards. Trimmers that will run longer than you can. And boy, do we love the benefits. Reliable push-button starting, quieter operation and no messing with gas (or worse, mixing gas and oil!). You’ll find most of the major manufacturers making these…

handyhints@thefamilyhandyman.com HIGH AND DRY We keep our wet boots in a boot tray by the door. The boots used to sit in water all day and never really got dry. Then we decided to elevate them from the tray using some old cookie cooling racks. Now they’re dry when we put them on, and the water evaporates from the tray more quickly. Robert Henikman Small-parts solution We buy chewing gum in these nifty reusable plastic containers. The tops open completely and they have a smaller opening that works great for dispensing small hardware items. We just glue one of the parts to the top so we can quickly identify the contents. Jerry Bullock Emergency mixing paddle I needed to mix up some joint compound but couldn’t find my mixing paddle.…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com What is MC cable? Metal-clad cable comes in several varieties, but the type you’ll find at most home centers is three insulated wires (two circuit conductors and a green equipment grounding conductor) protected by a flexible armor usually made from aluminum. MC cable is identified by the gauge of the wire, not the diameter of the armor. The most common sizes are 14 gauge, 12 gauge and 10 gauge. When electrical wiring needs extra protection, metal-clad (MC) cable is a great solution, and is often required by electrical codes. MC cable is easier to work with than rigid conduit, and it too offers protection from fire, vibration, gnawing pests and physical harm in general. The wiring methods are mostly the same as for nonmetallic-sheathed cable (such as Romex), so…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com As long as vehicle body panels are made from steel, they’re going to rust. Sure, you can lower your risk by applying paint protection film to chipprone areas like the front edge of the hood, and by frequently washing off road salt and waxing your vehicle regularly. But even then, you’re still going to get rust spots. If you ignore them, they’ll spread and turn your sheet metal into Swiss cheese in no time. However, if you deal with rust early, you can stop it from spreading and squeeze a few extra years out of your vehicle. Rust repair isn’t hard, but it is time-consuming (mostly waiting for primer and paint to dry between steps). Plan to spend about $100 on supplies like sandpaper, primer, masking tape and poly…

greatgoofs@thefamilyhandyman.com Julie and Scott Ortman RECESSED LIGHTING During our recent bathroom makeover, my husband replaced the outdated bath fan. That meant turning off the power to the bathroom, so he hung his new cordless LED work light between the joists and got to work. After installing the new fan box, he put up new drywall, taped, primed and painted. The bathroom looked fantastic. His next project was in the basement and one day I found him searching frantically for the work light. So I asked him the standard question: “Where did you use it last?” I could see the “LED” flash on in his head. He had left it in the ceiling above the drywall! Lloyd Lehn, Ph.D. Burned by a free barrel Many years ago, my mother lived in…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com What makes this shed so hard working? Well, for starters it has a pair of large sliding doors—you can open just one for normal use, or both if you need to move large items in or out. Inside the shed are three walls that are uninterrupted by windows, allowing plenty of space for shelves or hanging storage. Ventilation is taken care of by screens placed between the top and bottom ends of the rafters. And the row of high windows over the doors provides plenty of light. There’s even a covered outdoor storage area on the back of the shed that’s ideal for firewood, wheelbarrows and other bulky stuff. The construction couldn’t be easier. There are no fancy rafter cuts to make. And the siding is simply 4 x…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com PLAN YOUR LANDSCAPE Planning a pond or patio? A retaining wall or planting bed? Don’t just grab a shovel and start digging. Instead, lay down a rope or garden hose to map out the footprint. Stand back, survey the shape and make adjustments. Also check the layout from your kitchen window or a second-floor room. When you’re happy with the shape, mark it with spray paint and get to work. Use a GFCI outdoors House chores—especially outdoors—often bring water and electricity together. The best way to make those situations safer is to use a GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter). Newer homes have GFCI protection in bathroom, kitchen, garage and exterior outlets, but those GFCIs may no longer offer protection after 10 years or so. To be safe, plug your tools…