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.

Milwaukee AX With Carbide Teeth Review – A Real Nail Biter

Phil August 5, 2017 Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. Every year, the tool-making folks from the Cheese state host a huge event, where they unveil the latest and greatest in the world of RED tools. I made the trip to Milwaukee last year, and by the time I left, I was overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of tools and accessories they come up with. Sexy new tools like cordless miter saws and LED lighting tend to grab the most attention, while other not-so-sexy items sometimes get overlooked. One of those items, which actually made quite an impression on me at the time, is the Milwaukee AX with Carbide Teeth Sawzall blade. Read More

Makita XT328M 18V Brushless Combo Kit Review – A Teal Trifecta

Phil July 27, 2017 Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. Looking for a way to beef up your tool collection in a hurry, and save some money while you’re at it? Buying a combo kit is a great way to pick up some high-quality tools, along with a charger and a battery or two. Once you settle on a brand, and get those basics, you can add more bare tools down the line, saving yourself even more money. There are lots of tool combinations in the Combo Kit universe, and Makita has chosen three of the most useful to include in the Makita XT328M 18V Brushless Combo Kit: A hammer drill/driver, an impact driver, and a reciprocating saw. Add a charger and two full-size 4.0 Ah batteries, toss ‘em all into a heavy-duty contractor bag, mix well, and you’re ready to get to work! Read More