Deck lighting questions answered In this video, the Handyguys answer some fan deck lighting questions. What is best: CFL, LED, Halogen, Incandescent? Does it really matter? What about low voltage? The Handyguys love their low voltage systems . Watch the video to find out the most important features in deck lighting. The post Deck Lighting Questions Answered first appeared on The Handyguys . The post Deck Lighting Questions Answered appeared first on The Handyguys ....
Oct 21, 2013•12 min
Below is an article from our friends at Zillow. We know all our fans expect to see video with each post, so The Handyguys decided to make a video showing some before and after of our messy, then clean (sort of) garages. Check out the article below and enjoy the video. Tips for Cleaning Out a Garage By Tali Wee of Zillow Part of being a responsible homeowner is making the necessary improvements to keep the property safe. Organizing and cleaning out cluttered garages tend to be one improvement tha...
Sep 12, 2013•4 min
Disclosure: Post and giveaway sponsored by Makita, but all opinions are The Handyguys. Please see below for additional disclosure. Impact Drivers Impact Drivers are very cool tools. They are perfect for driving screws, a lot of screws. You can also use them for driving lag bolts, tightening or loosening nuts and other jobs around the house. Makita was gracious enough to send us an Impact Driver along with their new Impact Gold bit sets to try. One of the issues with impact drivers has been the a...
Sep 10, 2013•10 min
In this video, the Handyguys discuss dishwasher detergent and why dishes often don’t get clean. We have received a lot of feedback on our video about fixing a dishwasher that won’t clean dishes and for many (too many) people, the issue is a poor design of the dishwasher. Exacerbating the issue is the fact that most dishwasher detergents have removed phosphates. Phosphate is a key ingredient in cleaners like dishwashing detergent, laundry soap, shampoo, household cleaners and deck washes. Phospho...
Sep 05, 2013•7 min
Installing an underground electric dog fence is a great 5 step DIY project to protect your pet. 5 Steps to installing an electric dog fence Determine what kit to buy Determine the area you want to confine your pet to Install the hidden cable Install the transmitter Train the dog When selecting your electric dog fence kit there are a few things to consider: the size of the area to contain the pet, the size of the pets collar, the number of pets you have and if your pet is stubborn or not. You wil...
Aug 19, 2013•15 min
This video outlines a key component to water heater maintenance that is often overlooked, the expansion tank . What does the expansion tank do? The expansion tank will allow expanding water (water expands when it heats) a place to go. Do you need one? You need an expansion tank , if you are on a water system with a back-flow preventer (a one way valve). If you are on city water and do not have a back-flow preventer, you probably do not need an expansion tank. The city water system can absorb the...
Aug 07, 2013•7 min
The Handyguys review a plethora of mouse traps all purchased at our local hardware store. Whether you have mice, voles or rats, there is a trap for you. Why are there so many mouse trap choices? Everyone seems to be trying to build that proverbial better mousetrap! Mouse Trap Types There are two basic choices, to kill the mouse or a catch and release. If you opt for catch and release, please release far, far away from my house! Kill traps include various spring and glue traps . No Kill traps inc...
Jul 12, 2013•9 min
The Handyguys recently had the opportunity to visit the John Deere factory in Horicon, WI. While there, they learned about the company, its manufacturing, its people and its philosophy for doing business. On top of that, The Handyguys also saw a bunch of great tractors being made in the USA by a skilled labor force. Watch the Deere Factory Tour Video Deere Factory Paint Shop Thank you for the opportunity to visit all the great people in Horicon. John Deere & Company paid expenses related to ...
Jun 04, 2013•4 min
Which sander should you buy? Its better to ask which sander is right for the job you are doing. In this episode The Handyguys discuss which sander is right for the job, the pros and cons of different types of sanders. When deciding which sander to buy you need to identify what project you need it for and what projects down the road you may need it for. Random Orbital Sanders Random Orbital Sanders are the most common general purpose electric sanders on the market. You see them from every major t...
May 30, 2013•8 min
Handyguy Brian saw an interesting DIY Soil pH Test (pH is a measure of acidity) test described on Facebook. We try it out and also try a commercially available DIY Soil pH Test kit on this episode of The Handyguys Podcast. Here is the graphic from Homesteading / Survivalism on Facebook. You can also just purchase a home soil pH est kit. They aren’t very expensive and also test for nutrients. The post Soil pH Test video first appeared on The Handyguys . The post Soil pH Test video appeared first ...
May 01, 2013•8 min
LED bulbs are the next generation of “green” lighting technology. The Handyguys talk about how LED Bulbs compare to CFLs and whether they are really friendly to the environment. What is an LED bulb? LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. LEDs have been around for a long time but only recently have become effective in lightbulbs. They use little electricity and can last a very long time. LEDs (the diodes) are very small elements that must be combined to produce one bulb that has an equivalent light...
Apr 09, 2013•17 min
In the latest episode, The Handyguys discuss several ways to unclog toilets. Yes, you can use a typical plunger if you have a clogged toilet. It works most of the time. What do you do if the plunger fails? Don’t despair, try one of the other techniques discussed in this video. Unclog Toilets Plungers Using a plunger to unclog toilets A plunger is the most common method to unclog toilets. The Handyguys discuss this method in depth. Toilet Augers A toilet auger can assist when you have a really to...
Mar 26, 2013•7 min
The Handyguys talk about ethanol mandates with Institute for Energy Research expert Daniel Simmons. We discuss the negative impacts of ethanol on our vehicles, small engines, the environment and food supplies. Background on Ethanol Mandate Daniel Simmons is IER’s Director of Regulatory and State Affairs. The Federal government mandated certain ethanol production increases for 2013 and beyond. That additional production of ethanol additive led the EPA to approve an E15 blend for automobiles (15% ...
Mar 12, 2013•25 min
A hammer drill, when equipped with a masonry bit, is designed for drilling into stone, concrete, brick or mortar. When a hammer drill operates, it rotates like a normal drill, and at the same time, has a forward, hammering, type action. Watch or listen to The Handyguys discussing when and why to use them. Types of hammer drills You can buy a dedicated hammer drill such as the big rig Hilti Rotary Hammer that Handyguy Paul shows on the video. More commonly, people will use a drill that has a hamm...
Mar 04, 2013•9 min
In this episode of The Handyguys podcast, The Handyguys discuss Ipe Deck Maintenance, how to clean it and keep it looking awesome. Ipe Deck Maintenance Brian’s Ipe deck looked great when it was complete. Eighteen months later, it was looking a bit dirty. The wood was still in perfect condition, no checking, no splits or splinters, it was just a bit dingy. After a bit of maintenance, it looked great again. To keep the deck looking new, it will take some annual maintenance. The Handyguys recommend...
Feb 21, 2013•8 min
There are hundreds of toolbox choices on the market. The Handyguys discuss the big and small, soft and hard, tool specific or generic toolbox choices in this video. Toolbox Choices Small Portable toolboxes These types of toolboxes are very common when you only need to carry around a few small tools. The Handyguys like their Bucket Boss system for carry tools to the job but they also find use for a ‘normal’ small toolbox . Tool specific toolboxes Blow-mold tool specific tool cases are loved or ha...
Feb 05, 2013•11 min
It doesn’t happen too often but it CAN happen – smoke alarm but no smoke. Yes, your smoke alarm can go off when there is no smoke. One possibility is dust. Smoke alarm, no smoke The Handyguys discuss how to deal with a “smoke alarm, no smoke” situation cause by dust. The post Smoke alarm no smoke – What to do first appeared on The Handyguys . The post Smoke alarm no smoke – What to do appeared first on The Handyguys ....
Jan 29, 2013•6 min
Installing a faucet and water filter doesn’t need to be hard. In this new video from The Handyguys, we show you the basic steps to installing a faucet and water filter. Installing A Faucet and Water Filter Faucet In this video, The Handyguys install the new Pfister Pasadena Kitchen faucet featuring: Install tool included Two-function spray-head Integrated flexible supply lines Water Filter The Handyguys also add The Filtrete High Performance Drinking Water System with Maximum Filtration Plus wit...
Jan 22, 2013•6 min
Garage Organization Handyguy Brian’s garage is a disaster. He has a mix of recycled cabinets, homemade shelving, pegboard and cheap, rusty metal shelves. In this episode, The Handyguys discuss garage organization and show off their new set. Redline Garage Organization offerings Here are a few of the advantages of using Redline’s Garage Organization offerings discussed in this video: These cabinets are not just closet systems repurposed. Paul discuss redline versus your “easyclosets.” Custom cabi...
Jan 14, 2013•10 min
In this episode, The Handyguys try out electric snowblowers, discuss advantages of electric over gas snowblowers, and why they may be the right tool for a homeowner and why they might not be the right tool for some people. Advantages Always start No need to store gas Lightweight Easy to store Disadvantages Limited by cord length Limited to light snows Narrower path If you want to try one of these Toro Power Curve electric snowblowers for yourself, head on over to Amazon and pick one up. Toro has...
Jan 02, 2013•8 min
The Handyguys discuss inexpensive home improvement stocking stuffers, for the handyguy or handygal in your life, in this new video. Brian suggests these home improvement stocking stuffers 6-in-1 screwdriver – Not the 11-in-1 or 32-in-1 or 945973495-in-1 screwdrivers. Keep it simple and get the 6-in-1 screwdriver that has 1/4″ & 5/16″ nut setter, 2 PHILLIPS & 2 SLOTTED bits. Driver bits – A pack of driver bits that go with your drill or impact driver is also very handy. Mini MagLight – Th...
Dec 08, 2012•10 min
Wired networking has been around a long time and has progressed through many topologies and technologies. The Handyguys discuss the advantages of wired networking, when to use wired networking and what the pieces of a complete solution look like. Components of a wired networking solution Hub or switch The hub or switch is the central component of a wired networking solution. It acts a traffic cop for all networking in a home. Typically a switch is used. Get one with enough ports for your needs p...
Nov 28, 2012•10 min
In this show, The Handyguys discuss selecting pneumatic nailers also known as nail guns. Nail Gun Choices Below is a listing of different nail guns from small to large to specialty, this list will help you in Selecting Pneumatic Nailers. Pin Nailers 23 gauge pin nailers are the smallest of the lot. They are used when you need to nail small, delicate, parts and want the smallest nail hole possible. This type of nailer is usually used in furniture building. An Uffy Tools TH-T-CZ10 is shown in the ...
Nov 14, 2012•15 min
Moving to Home Improvement Videos and YouTube Then Handyguys Podcast is now moving primarily to a video format. To get all of our latest content and to see our home improvement videos, please subscribe to our YouTube channel. We will begin uploading new content in the next week or so and have already filmed 5 new episodes in the updated Handyguys Productions studio. Why the Change? We moved to home improvement videos because our content benefits from our ability to visually demonstrate our topic...
Oct 24, 2012•1 min
In this video podcast, Handyguy Paul tackles building a custom closet shelf system. This system is from easyclosets.com and it worked out great in this walk-in closet. What does Paul’s wife think about the custom closet? Read her thoughts and watch HER video on her blog, Musings of a Housewife . Make sure you subscribe, there will be more videos coming soon. easyclosets.com has provided the products used in this evaluation. However, the opinions of The Handyguys are entirely our own and we have ...
Sep 20, 2012•5 min
When I joined forces with Brian to create the Handyguys Podcast I had no idea that so many subjects for future posts existed in my kitchen. The newest is a water and ice dispenser problem with my GE side by side. My dishwasher problems (and fixes!) keep this site busy. My GE side-by-side refrigerator is now in a competition with the Kenmore elite (Whirlpool made) dishwasher as the worst appliance ever owned by Handyguy Paul. Last night I fixed one more water and ice dispenser problem that has dr...
May 29, 2012•4 min
In this video episode of The Handyguys Podcast, Handyguy Paul replaces the water tank on his GE side-by-side refrigerator. His tank was leaking so he found the part and replaced it. This repair will be similar for many different makes and models of refrigerators. The post Replacing Water Tank and Llines on GE Side-By-Side Refrigerator first appeared on The Handyguys . The post Replacing Water Tank and Llines on GE Side-By-Side Refrigerator appeared first on The Handyguys ....
Jan 17, 2012
Does a 5 minute fan take 5 minutes to install? The Handyguys find out. Watch this video to see if Handyguy Brian can beat the clock while installing a Hunter 5 minute fan . We picked up the ceiling fan and everything needed to install it at our local True Value . We were one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. We have been compensated for our time commitment to the program as well as our writing about our experience. We have also been compensated for the materials ne...
Nov 23, 2011
The Spooky Abandoned Railroad Tunnel The Handyguys took a day off to discover a long lost railroad tunnel, the Phoenixville Tunnel. The big reason that few people have found the tunnel is due to the rough terrain. Brian and Paul fight through the thickets and make it to the tunnel. We had a lot of fun on our day off! The post Handyguys Visit Spooky Abandoned Phoenixville Tunnel first appeared on The Handyguys . The post Handyguys Visit Spooky Abandoned Phoenixville Tunnel appeared first on The H...
Oct 31, 2011
In this video episode of The Handyguys Podcast, we showcase some of the features of a freestanding Ipe deck such as lighting, hidden fasteners, Ipe plugs and aluminum balusters. Some of the things show in this video are Ipe Deck completed construction Use of beam and joist flashing Use of low voltage lighting with concealed wire Using a boulder for a landing Use of hidden Ipe fasteners Use of Ipe Plugs The post Freestanding Ipe deck features and best practices first appeared on The Handyguys . T...
Sep 14, 2011
