Phil

About Phil

Phil’s path to the pinnacle of success as HomeFixated’s Senior Writer was long and twisted. At various stages of his life, he worked as a framing carpenter, attended motorcycle mechanics school, served as an Army MP, did a hot and itchy stint installing insulation in Phoenix, owned and operated a small contracting firm doing residential renovations, and worked as an employee of a major airline (Motto: We’re not happy ‘til YOU’RE not happy). He is currently semi-retired, but continues to take on little projects, such as the total renovation of an old farmhouse. Yes, he is a slow learner. Future projects include a teardown restoration of his 1965 BMW motorcycle, and designing and building a kick-ass playhouse for his grandsons. Phil loves spending time outdoors, hanging out with family and friends, cool tools, and a cold IPA when beer o'clock rolls around.

DeWalt DCB104 Simultaneous Charger Review – Four Ports, All Sorts, Even The New Giant FlexVolt!

Phil November 28, 2018 2 Comments

Thanks to the growing number of powerful cordless tools, many job sites are much more efficient and productive than they used to be back in the dark ages of (shudder) power cords. Cordless drills, reciprocating saws, LED site lighting, and even miter saws and table saws are all ready to leap into action, without having to search out and fight for available outlets. Capable as all these tools are, though, they still need a power source to get their motors running, and in most cases that power source is a Lithium-Ion battery. A crew using several high-demand tools may go through several batteries a day, depending on the task. Lithium-Ion batteries tend to be pricey, so having a quick way to get them recharged and back to work is critical. The folks in Yellow and Black just sent us their latest product dedicated to making that happen – the four-banger DeWalt DCB104 Simultaneous Charger. We’ll check it out, and take a look at the beefy new DeWalt FlexVolt 12.0 Ah 60V MAX battery – at no extra charge! Read More

Milwaukee Heated Gloves Review – Foil Frostbit Fingers Fast

Phil November 15, 2018 Leave a Comment

My first job out of high school was as a trainee carpenter with a framing crew in Buffalo, NY. I started in the summer, and really loved working outdoors. However, summer in Buffalo is closely followed by winter in Buffalo. Winter seems to last a whole lot longer, and it’s not nearly as enjoyable to work outdoors in. I don’t regularly work outdoors anymore, but to exist in the frigid Northeast, I still have to deal with the snow and cold. That made me very interested in doing a hands-in evaluation of the new Milwaukee Heated Gloves. Read More