Got rafters to install? Or joists, or studs? A lot of builders use trusses for their roofs, even on otherwise stick-built homes; they’re strong, they go in quickly, and they eliminate waste. There are still a LOT of stick-built roofs, though, especially on custom homes, and on every job site, stick-built or not, I guarantee you pretty much every carpenter there will have a speed square. They’re cheap, sturdy, maintenance-free, have no batteries to charge, and are one of the most useful tools you can own. I’ll tell you what you can do with YOUR speed square after the review. (I didn’t mean that the way it sounds…) [Read more...]
The Johnny Square 7” Aluminum Rafter Square & Essential Speed Square Techniques
6 Things You Don’t Want to But Need to Do to Your Home This Spring
Time to get out of your igloo and get some sunlight, spring has arrived! For me and my other Florida neighbors, winter for us was harsh this year. Yeah, that was one tough Wednesday. So when spring arrives, we like to celebrate. And what better way to celebrate the coming warm days than with a few intensive back breaking home improvement projects! It’s too much fun to pass up all of that sweat equity you need to pour into your home season after season. So buck up, roll up your sleeves and get to work fixing your home and prevent all of the troubles that spring/summer’s fluctuating weather conditions can bring. [Read more...]
Tool News Nirvana – Irwin Performance Series Bits, Milwaukee Fastback II/Blades, Bosch 18V Oscillating Tool & Jobsite Radio
What time is it? It’s time for another Tool News Nirvana; that’s what time it is! And this edition of TNN is filled to the brim with the latest and greatest tool goodies as always. We’ve got great new impact bits and drivers from Irwin, Milwaukee expands their utility knife program and Bosch brings it all together with two new tools—the 18V oscillating tool and a groovy jobsite radio. So get comfy, kick your shoes off and stay awhile for this month’s Tool News Nirvana. [Read more...]
Four Fashionable Fire-Foiling Fixtures – Smoke Detectors to Alarm the Senses!
Whether your dwelling is a 1946 Airstream trailer behind a meat-packing plant, or a 12,000 square foot mansion on ten acres in the Hamptons, it’s your home-sweet-home, and you want to keep it safe and secure. One of the biggest threats to this safe haven comes from fire; according to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), more than 1,000 home structure fires are reported on an average day. This translates to 42 fires every hour, or one reported home fire every 85 seconds. In a recent five-year study period, home fires killed an average of seven people per day. The NFPA also found that almost all homes have at least one smoke alarm, but almost two-thirds of home fire deaths in 2006-2010 resulted from fires in homes in which no smoke alarm was present or at least one was present but none operated. [Read more...]
It Takes Skil to Bring Onboard Bit Storage to the Next Level
One of my first tools was an early Bosch cordless drill. It was back in the days before “Max” had to follow every marketed voltage stat, and before serious power made it into the cordless realm. One feature that it and some other tools at the time had was onboard bit storage. This tool had two double-ended bits that covered just about all the flat and phillips fasteners of the early cordless era. Despite all the amazing advances surrounding cordless drills and drivers, I have to say I miss having convenient bit access. Apparently someone at Skil missed that convenience too. Rather than just tack on a couple bit clips, they completely rethought cordless screwdrivers AND their bits. [Read more...]
Kobalt 32 Piece Double Drive Screwdriver Set Review
I don’t normally gush about new tools. In fact I don’t normally gush about anything. I’m not a gusher. At least not until I used the Kobalt 32 Piece Double Drive Screwdriver Set. Now I’m gushing all over the place. I absolutely love this great hand tool and I’ve already found a million and one uses for it around my workshop and home. It’s even earned a spot on my special tool bench where I keep my most used tools. Out of the last five projects I’ve completed since I’ve had it, I’ve used all five times. Oh and did I mention that I really love this screwdriver? [Read more...]
HomeHacks.com and HomeFail.com Launch
Deep in an undisclosed, carefully guarded third-world bunker, HomeFixated minions have been toiling away at a project so secret, only dozens of people knew it existed. Those that did know of this shadowy project were given only fragmented details, ensuring no single person could put together the intricate puzzle pieces. This top secret project had the potential to topple powerful governments and end human existence as we know it – but mostly it will just teach you cool stuff and make you laugh. So what is this ultra secret Home Fixated project? [Read more...]
National Hardware Show 2013 Coverage
Every year, I travel with several hundred thousand of my closest media and trade friends to the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas. Since NHS isn’t open to the public, coverage from intrepid media outlets like Home Fixated is one of the few ways to find out what’s new and interesting in the world of tools, hardware, and home products. Normally I allow several days to cover the million+ square feet of show floor, but this year circumstances dictate I cover the show in one day. I did that once before and vowed never to do it again given that the show is too huge to cover thoroughly in a week, but I’ll be breaking that vow today (not the vow people usually break in Las Vegas – don’t worry honey). As with prior years, I’ll cover what I can of the show live via Twitter, with follow-ups on interesting products trickling in on HomeFixated in the months after the show. If you’re not already following HomeFixated on Twitter, do it now and you’ll be among the first to know about some great new tools, products and shenanigans – straight from Vegas. Check out all the highlights from our NHS whirlwind visit here! [Read more...]
Cheap but Stylish Butcher Block Countertops From IKEA
I’m not certain, but I am pretty sure that IKEA is Swedish for ‘You’re about to spend a whole lot of money!’ Even when I think my wife is going to slip out of there with just one or two little items I find myself making 12 trips out to the truck to bring the ‘last’ of it in. Our latest trip to IKEA proved to be no different. It really is my mom and dad’s fault. For Christmas, they bought us a dishwasher. Our dishwasher had been on the fritz for awhile and we were going to replace it when we redid the kitchen. You see, besides the faulty dishwasher; the sink leaked, the cabinet bases were falling in and the old particle board countertop was flaking pretty bad. Despite the checkout shock that accompanies most IKEA trips, we were able to score a major bargain on a new countertop using an inexpensive Ikea butcher block top. [Read more...]
Tool News Nirvana – Bosch Demo Hammer, Dickies Tool Bags, New Bosch Grinders and Harley-Davidson/Craftsman Tool Storage
I hope you’ve got your vaccination! Because it’s time for another tool infected episode of Tool News Nirvana! We’ve got sick grinders and demo hammers from Bosch, Dickies unveils its cure for the common tool bag and Harley and Craftsman get ill together with their limited edition tool storage products. So get plenty of rest, be sure to take your vitamins and roll up your sleeve for your big shot of Tool News Nirvana. [Read more...]
