rd.com Blog: DIY Tools and Gear

Preventing Power Tool Eye Injuries

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Tue Nov 10 10:56:00 EST 2009

According to the 2009 Eye Injury Snapshot Project done by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, more than one in five of the eye injuries that occur at home are caused by home repair or power tools. The most common place for the injuries to occur is the yard or garden.

Some of us older DIYers require reading glasses or bifocals in order to perform close-up work. If your regular glasses don’t contain “shatter-proof” lenses, you are not fully protected. Safety glasses designed to be worn over regular prescription glasses do offer protection, but they’re heavy and uncomfortable to wear.

Did you know that safety glasses are available with the magnification built right in? I recently heard about them from a colleague and searched for them on the Web. There are many brands and configurations available, but first you need to determine what magnification you need. Have your eyes tested one at a time to determine the proper “power” you need. This is measured in diopters and takes the form of “+1.5, +2.0, etc.” Use the diopter number from your weakest eye, which will be the higher number.

The safety glasses I ordered have padded ends over the ears for comfort. They cost about $12, plus $5 for shipping. Consider more than one pair, such as dark lenses for use outside. Buying a second pair won’t affect the shipping price much. Be safe and protect your eyes: you won’t regret it!

--Jim Boyle, field editor

Magic Screws

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Mon Nov 09 17:05:00 EST 2009

About two years ago, this guy at the lumberyard hands me a 6-in.-long screw and a 12-volt cordless drill. “Try this,” he says, pointing at a block of Douglas fir. I think, “No pilot hole? No way.” But the screw spun right into the wood—without much groaning from the drill. Just like magic.

I haven’t used a lag screw since that day, for deck ledgers or anything else. Although structural screws are thinner than lag screws, they have just as much strength as lags because they’re made from better steel. My only complaint about them is the price—they cost about four times as much as lag screws.

Structural screws are available at most home centers, although the brand I like best (GRK) is sold only at lumberyards and online. For retail sources and details, go to grkfasteners.com.

--Gary Wentz, senior editor

Propane-Powered Leaf Blower

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Wed Oct 21 13:51:00 EDT 2009

I’ve been a fan of Lehr’s environmentally friendly engines ever since I tried them out at a lawn and garden event last January. Lehr has developed a 4-stroke engine that runs on propane—no hassles with using and storing gas, no priming to start the engine and almost no carcinogens or emissions released into the air. Instead, you just twist on one of those small, $3 propane canisters that you use with camping lanterns and stoves. One canister will power the engine for two hours at full speed.

The engine has been available in weed trimmers since last summer, and now it’s available in the Eco Blower, shown here. I’ve been using mine for the last few weeks. It starts on the second or third pull and runs quieter than gas-powered models (although it’s still loud!). And it’s plenty powerful enough to easily blow grass clippings and leaves off my driveway and sidewalk. The blower can also be used as a vacuum, and it comes with a bag to catch the debris.

Last Sunday, I drained the fuel from my gas engine toys. It’s nice knowing that I don’t have to winterize my Lehr engines. The Eco Blower costs $230. While that’s more than other models, at least you don’t have to hassle with stubborn starting and stinky gas issues anymore. You can find retailers on the company’s Web site or buy it at amazon.com

Lehr, (310) 839-9009. golehr.com

--Brett Martin, associate editor

Ethan Martin, the editor’s son, uses the Eco Blower to clean off their driveway.

Identify Circuits the Easy Way

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Wed Oct 14 15:54:00 EDT 2009

Extech’s RT30 Wireless AC Circuit Identifier ($145) feels like a quality tool when you pick it up, and it proves its quality when you use it. I use mine for two things. The first is to trace electrical circuits in mid-run. This is a nice feature if you have open walls, a crawl space or an attic space where you have access to your electrical cable. To test the wiring, you either clamp the sender unit directly to the wiring or use the included clamp probe to attach it to the cable. Once you have the sender unit, or probe, clamped in place and sending a signal to the receiver unit, you go to the circuit panel and flip off the breakers until the receiver unit no longer receives the signal from the sender unit. Then you’ve identified your circuit. I also use the Circuit Identifier to determine which circuit outlets or recessed lights are on by using a light sensor on the sender unit. You simply plug a lamp into the outlet and turn it on. Or turn on the recessed lights. Then place the sender unit close to the lamp or the lights so the sender can detect the light. After the sender signals the receiver, you identify the circuit by flipping circuit breakers until the receiver stops receiving the signal. The tool is perfect for finding the circuits for those mystery wires in an attic or crawl space. It’s also ideal for people like me who work alone trying to trace wiring—I don’t need my wife to stand in an adjacent room yelling, “On! Off!” Overall, I find this a useful tool that’s easy to use for the weekend warrior. My only complaint: I wish there was a better way to trace electrical outlets than carrying a light around the house with me to plug in. Retailers for the Circuit Identifier are listed on the company’s Web site. Extech, (781) 890-7440, ext. 220. extech.com --Steve Schilling, field editor

Scramble Your Brains

Nell Merlino — Thu Oct 08 12:11:00 EDT 2009

Scramble your brains

The fabulous Count Me In Leadership Institute and a very positive Annual Board meeting really snapped me out of whatever last little bits of fear or doubt remained in me from the recession. Yesterday, I attended the Business Innovation Factory in Providence, RI (www.businessinnovationfactory.com) and it snapped me totally back into myself. I got to tell a few 'Take Our Daughters to Work Day' stories and brag about women growing micro-businesses into million $ enterprises. I also got to listen to some of the most incredible thinkers and innovations around, including Sweet Rioter and M3er Sara Endline, who's obsession with sweets has created new wealth for thousands of people living in developing countries, while also turning a tidy profit for her company, sweetriot. What a fascinating privilege to listen to people like Ethan Zuckerman, who we can thank for breaking open the internet in the early '90s for non-techno geeks to create their own webpages and publish their thoughts, creations and business ideas for a cyber audience. As a fellow at Harvard Law School's Berkman Center for Internet and Society, Zuckerman is now paid to ponder the meaning of the web and see where it leads him.

What I know is that meeting new people in different fields and businesses is the best way to scramble your brain so you can see solutions you never imagined before. So go get out there!

Believe in you,

Nell

Robot for Cleaning Shop Floors

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Fri Oct 02 11:18:00 EDT 2009

The iRobot Dirt Dog offers an interesting twist on the shop vacuum. As a member of the iRobot family—a line of robotic cleaning machines—the Dirt Dog has rotating brushes that automatically sweep your shop floor. The Dirt Dog maneuvers under workbenches and other hard-to-reach areas to clean up. When it bumps into walls or other objects, it simply changes directions. Its robotic brain tracks its progress to ensure that the entire floor gets swept.

The Dirt Dog does a pretty good job of picking up debris. I found that it worked well picking up sawdust, wood chips, leaves and small twigs. The iRobot web site says that the Dirt Dog also works on patios and decks. When I tried it on my patio, the Dirt Dog didn’t distinguish between the edge of the concrete and the mulched landscape. This caused the robot to get stuck in the mulch. If you’re going to use it in an area without defined borders, you’ll need some type of barrier to force the robot to change direction. iRobot sells a Virtual wall ($40; item No. 4960) that keeps the robot from crossing into areas where you don’t want it.

The Dirt Dog is available on the company’s Web site, starting at $130 plus $15 shipping.
iRobot, (800) 727-9077. store.irobot.com

--Jim Stapleton, field editor

Built a Pergola Last Weekend

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Tue Sep 29 16:15:00 EDT 2009

My buddy Dominic and I built this 16 x 20 ft. cedar pergola in just two days. It provides some shade for the patio and helps create an outdoor room. We set the posts in 42 in. of concrete so we wouldn’t have to worry about the posts heaving when the ground thaws after a brutal Minnesota winter.

When I stand back and look at the structure, it looks like it’s harder to build than it actually was. Granted, the double beams were plenty heavy to carry up a ladder, and the beams and rafters have angle cuts at the ends, but the project was really just a matter of setting four perfectly plumb posts, then screwing together a ton of lumber. We’ll show you how to build the pergola in our July/August 10 issue. But if you can’t wait that long, maybe you can figure everything out on your own by looking at these photos!

--Brett Martin, associate editor

Associate Editor Brett Martin and his friend Dominic admire the cedar pergola that they built in a weekend for about $1,700.

Perfect Angle Cut Every Time

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Wed Sep 09 14:32:00 EDT 2009

Craftsman’s new MiterMate miter saw is designed for homeowners who want to cut perfect angles. Since few corners are exactly 90 degrees, it takes some trial and error to get tight miters on baseboard trim or moldings. But Craftsman’s saw comes with an “angle finder,” which you slide open along adjacent walls. Then you place the angle finder onto the saw table and slide the fences, instead of the saw head, until the fences abut the angle finder. This gives you the angle you need to cut the trim or molding for a perfect miter.

I can’t see a pro using this saw, since pros have their own tricks for cutting perfect trim on traditional compound miter saws. But a DIY novice who needs to make a lot of miter cuts will appreciate that the angle finder automatically determines your angles so you won’t have to do any head scratching with math. I found the saw counterintuitive when I first used it since I’m used to swinging the saw head to the angle rather than adjusting the fence while the blade remains stationary. But after I used it for a few cuts, the saw started to feel more natural. The saw will be available for $250 in mid-September at Sears stores and sears.com.
Craftsman, craftman.com

--Brett Martin, associate editor

Slide the angle finder open in a corner to find the angle.

Place the angle finder on the saw and move the fences tight against the angle finder to get your angle.

Pocket Gopher Problem Solver

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Wed Sep 09 14:29:00 EDT 2009

Earlier this summer, I was having problems with pocket gophers tearing up my yard. Some days I’d come home from work and find three or four mounds of dirt in my lawn from those annoying critters digging tunnels. And if I didn’t get out the shovel and scoop up the mounds right away, the piles of dirt would kill my grass.
So I talked to my lawn expert, who has always given me infallible advice, and he recommended RCO’s Omega Gopher Grain Bait, which is basically strychnine. He told me to wait for a pocket gopher to dig a new hole, then sprinkle a few of the granules in the hole. I was skeptical—pocket gophers are hard to kill. You usually have to trap them underground. But the next day, I came home to see a fresh mound of dirt right smack in the middle of my front yard, so I applied the bait. That was two months ago. I haven’t seen hide nor hair of him since, and I never had to deal with cleaning a trap or disposing of a carcass.

I realize strychnine probably isn’t a popular choice for everyone, especially if you have kids or pets that like to dig around in the yard, but man, is strychnine effective. I don’t hunt and I normally coexist with nature—squirrels, rabbits, even deer in my yard—without any trouble. But I just had to stop these pocket gophers and save my lawn and garden. If you want to pick up the gopher bait, you can find dealers or buy directly on the company’s Web site. A16-oz. bottle costs $11. The label didn’t contain a lot of safety information. If you’ve tried the bait, let me know what you think of it and if you had any problems with it killing other animals.
RCO Inc., (800) 214-2248, rcogopherbait.com

--Brett Martin, associate editor

A Good Tool Belt is Worth the Extra Money

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Tue Aug 18 17:33:00 EDT 2009

As a weekend DIYer, one of my pet peeves is making endless trips back to my workbench to get the needed tool for every single task. Besides eating up my time, it’s tiring! My solution was to purchase a new tool belt with expanded pockets and pouches. If I’m working from a ladder or going up on the roof, I pack the tool belt with every tool I might need so I never have to get down until the job is done. My previous tool belt had a single pouch and I only used it for those occasional jobs that required a lot of fasteners.

The extra pouches on my new belt can carry more tools, but that also means more weight, so I bought one with the optional suspenders. This spreads out the weight between the padded suspenders and the tool belt. The suspender straps are adjustable, which lets me adjust the tool belt to a comfortable position on my waist. Not too high or too low. I bent over, kneeled and squatted to ensure that the belt would be comfortable when I’m working in various positions. I also wanted a tool belt with “hook and eye” connectors that fasten the pouches in place so they don’t slide along the belt.

Multi-pouch tool belts with suspenders are available at home centers, starting at $40.

--Jim Boyle
Field Editor

Field Editor Jim Boyle’s new tool belt with suspenders lets him work comfortably while holding the tools and fasteners he needs for a job.

Lithium-ion Screwdriver that Locks in Bits

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Tue Aug 18 17:30:00 EDT 2009

I own a battery-power screwdriver and a couple of small, inexpensive drill drivers. What drives me nuts is that they don’t hold the bits worth a darn. Instead of the bits pulling out of the slots in screw heads, the bits stick to the screws and pull out of the tool. So I’ve made Craftsman’s 4-volt lithium-ion screwdriver my go-to tool for any jobs around the house that involve screws. A quick-release/load collet locks the bit in place—that single feature makes this $40 tool a real gem.

The screwdriver set comes with 20 bits, a charger and a handy carrying case. Like other lithium-ion tools, it holds a charge for months so it’s always ready for use. My only complaint is that instead of a switch, the drive direction is on the trigger—squeeze the top for forward and the bottom for reverse—so it takes some getting used to.You can buy the screwdriver at Sears stores or sears.com (model No. 11398).

Craftsman. craftsman.com.

--Brett Martin
Associate Editor

A Better Way to Sharpen

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Thu Aug 06 17:28:00 EDT 2009

I remember the day I first picked up a framing nailer and instantly shot two 16d nails into a stud. I never wanted to use my hammer again. The Work Sharp 2000 gave me the same feeling—after using it for two minutes, I never wanted to use my bench grinder again.

Rather than a stone wheel, the Work Sharp sharpens with adhesive-backed discs, similar to the sanding discs used in orbital sanders. The broad, flat disc is a much better sharpening surface than the narrow, rounded edge of a stone wheel, so the speed and angle of sharpening is easier to control, and straight edges remain straight.

I’ve used the Work Sharp on a variety of tools, including an ax, a mower blade, some pruning tools, pry bars and hammer claws. I ground the gunk off putty knives and trowels and straightened their edges. But I really fell in love with this machine when I sharpened my long-abused chisels. The Work Sharp has a port especially for chisels and it works great. Just slide the chisel in and pull it out—a perfect edge with no skill required. It’s almost like magic. With narrow chisels (1/4-in.), the Work Sharp produced an edge that was slightly out-of-square. To compensate, I had to twist the handle slightly while grinding.

The Work Sharp 2000 costs about $120 at home centers, hardware stores and online (retailers are listed on the company’s Web site).

Professional Tool Mfg, (800) 597-6170. Worksharptools.com.

--Gary Wentz, senior editor

Senior Editor Gary Wentz sharpens his chisels and cat's paw on his Work Sharp 2000.

Never-Stop, No-Tap Weed Whacker Blade

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Fri Jul 31 12:53:00 EDT 2009

Three years ago, after being repeatedly frustrated by the string disappearing inside the head of my weed trimmer, I took a chance and installed the Weed Whacker Blade ($23) from SharperBlade. Rather than a nylon string, this is an actual blade made from polymer embedded with nylon that cuts just like a lawn mower blade—no more having to stop and tap the trimmer head on the ground to get more string. And you never have to replace the heads or fish string out of the holes.

The blade is completely maintenance free—no sharpening, ever. As you use it, the polymer wears down to expose new nylon. I’ve been using my blade for three years now. I’ve never done a thing to it, and it still cuts perfectly. But unlike string, it’ll send a stone flying just like a mower blade, which is the only downside. So make sure no one is standing around watching you do your Paul Bunyan thing, and aim the head away from any windows.

You can install the blade in five minutes on any trimmer that has a removable head (nearly all do). The company also has polymer blades for mowers and edgers, but I haven’t tried those yet. Buy the blades on the company’s Web site.

SharperBlade, (702) 598-5366. sharperblade.com

--Brett Martin, associate editor

Biscuit Joints Without a Biscuit Joiner

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Fri Jul 31 12:49:00 EDT 2009

Back in the days when a biscuit joiner cost a week’s pay, I bought a slot-cutting router bit so I could use biscuits without buying the expensive machine. And although I now own two biscuit joiners, I still sometimes use a router instead. Why? Because in some situations, a router is just plain faster. When I need to make long joints—for edge-gluing boards, for example—I cut continuous slots instead of several short slots. And when I have a lot of identical slots to cut—to make cabinet door frames, for example—I turn my router table into a speedy slot-cutting machine.

All it takes is a 5/32-in. slot cutter bit that has a guide bearing (about $25). Most slot bits cut a slot about 1/2 in. deep, perfect for no. 20 biscuits. You can also buy a slot bit set that’s designed just for biscuits (about $50). It will include three bearings sized for slot depths that match no. 20, no. 10, and no. 0 biscuits. The bits are available at woodworking stores such as Rockler (rockler.com).

--Gary Wentz, Senior Editor

Small, Powerful Flashlight

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Tue Jul 14 15:36:00 EDT 2009

LED flashlights have been around for years. I always take one on canoe trips because they’re ultra lightweight and the batteries last a long time. But the ones I’ve used are barely bright enough to keep you from stubbing your toe on the way to the outhouse. The new Leatherman LED flashlights are different. These things are super bright, like a regular old-fashioned flashlight but much smaller and lighter.

There are three choices: the Serac S1 ($30), Serac S2 ($55), and Serac S3 ($80). They cost more than other flashlights, but they have a 10-year warranty so you won’t need to buy another one any time soon. All three models are light enough and small enough to fit in your pocket, so they’ll always be close at hand. The clips are great for clipping onto a shirt pocket or the visor of your hat for hands-free operation. I clip on the little guy for reading in the tent.

Batteries are included—they last 1 to 36 hours, depending on the flashlight and the brightness setting (you’ll get more than 10 hours per battery with each flashlight on a low setting). Take along an extra battery or two for those longer camping trips. Since the flashlights are waterproof down to 3 ft., you don’t have to leave a dropped light at the bottom of the creek. Find retailers (stores and online sources) on the company’s Web site.

Leatherman, (800) 847-8665. leatherman.com

--Travis Larson, senior editor

Check the Fuse Before Tossing the Battery Charger

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Tue Jul 14 15:33:00 EDT 2009

My favorite tool over the last 15 years has been my DeWalt 9.6 volt drill/driver ($100 at home centers). I’ve always hated the monotony and strain of using manual screwdrivers. Early in my electronics repair career, I took a hacksaw to a Phillips screwdriver and chucked the bit into my 3/8-in. drill. Removing and driving the 20 fasteners on a typical TV set was no longer a chore.

My DeWalt drill/driver no longer looks new and has its share of bruises, but it still works like a charm. My main gripe is its battery life. It uses the old Ni-Cad batteries, which, if you didn’t already know, are insidious because of their “memory effect.” Ni-Cad batteries tend to only charge back to the level they were at when you started using the tool. A “full charge” gets lower and lower until it finally renders the battery useless. Manufacturers discovered that fully discharging the battery before charging it helps to offset the memory effect. To fully discharge my battery, I put it in a 9.6-volt DeWalt flashlight that I found for $1.50 on the bargain table at Home Depot.

Then there was the night when “singing pipes,” which are normal in my house, alerted me that water was running somewhere in the house. After checking everywhere, I stumbled into the garage and got sprayed with water from a broken washer hose. The water had drenched my workbench. That weekend I noticed that the DeWalt charger no longer worked, so I bought a new one. As my pile of batteries increased, I opened the “broken” battery charger and noticed a blown fuse. I replaced the fuse and now the charger works great.
DeWalt. dewalt.com

--Jim Boyle, field editor

Favorite Low-angle Block Plane

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Tue Jul 14 15:29:00 EDT 2009

A bunch of us editors were chatting about our favorite tools one day and I said one of mine was an old Stanley 60 1/2 low-angle block plane that I carry in my tool bag. Well, I got some pretty strange looks, even from the carpenters in the crowd. A common response was, “Really? A plane?” My response—yep.

As long as the blade is sharp, you’ll find all kinds of uses for a block plane. I like how the narrow Stanley plane fits my hand and is small enough to fit in a tool belt pouch. I used to do a lot of work in old houses and it seemed like I was always scribing moldings, trimming doors or just trying to get stuff to fit tight against crooked old walls. A block plane works great for all of these things because it’s short enough to follow curved or irregular lines, especially if you twist the plane so the blade is skewed.

At $40, this little plane isn’t cheap. But it’s not like a cordless drill that’ll end up in the landfill. This tool never quits working and you can pass it down to the next generation. Find retailers on the company’s Web site.
Stanley. stanleytools.com

--Jeff Gorton, associate editor

Associate Editor Jeff Gorton uses his favorite tool—a low-angle block plane—to trim a door that won’t close.

Pigskin Pruning Sleeve

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Tue Jul 14 15:09:00 EDT 2009

I love brambly roses. They’re gorgeous, wonderful smelling and nearly pest-proof. I also hate brambly roses. They’re sprawling, thorny and painful to keep tidy. So I’m gushing over the Pigskin Pruning Sleeve ($14.50) from the Duluth Trading Company. This very comfortable and thorn-proof protective sleeve has a flexible thumb grip and Velcro closures on the forearm, so it’s easily adjustable for different-size gardeners.

I love that the sleeve works equally well on the left arm as the right (lefties unite!) unlike so many tools that leave lefties in the lurch. I also appreciate that you can slip this tough-as-nails sleeve right over or under your regular gardening glove without it feeling tight or bulky. Now that I can snip, clip and whack my roses with abandon again, our love affair continues. Buy the sleeve on the company’s Web site.

Duluth Trading Company, (800) 505-8888. duluthtrading,com

--Elisa Bernick, associate editor

Associate Editor Elisa Bernick uses her Pigskin Pruning Sleeve while working in her garden.

Easy-to-operate Tractors and Skid-Steer Loaders

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Thu Jul 09 15:54:00 EDT 2009

Having grown up on a farm, I’m amazed by how easy new tractors and equipment are to operate. The tractors I drove back then had clutches and were sometimes hard to get into gear (believe me, I ground a lot of gears!). So the first thing I noticed when I jumped on Bobcat’s compact tractors is that they don’t even have clutches. The hydrostatic transmissions operate with just a gas pedal. You put the tractor in forward or reverse (there’s also a neutral), then hit the gas to go. You also have a brake, but once you let up on the gas, the tractor stops quickly. If you can drive a riding lawn mower, you can drive one of these tractors. The CT335, CT440, CT445 and CT450 compact tractors are available with an enclosed cab so you can stay comfortable with heat or air conditioning.

Bobcat’s new M-series skid-steer loaders are also simple to operate. But to be honest, the Bobcat loaders I drove over 20 years ago were also super easy to operate (the first vehicle I ever drove was a Bobcat loader when I was 10). What makes the new loaders better is the focus on operator comfort. The cabs are larger and sit slightly forward of where they used to be, which means you’re not cramped and you have greater visibility. Bobcat says the loaders have more power thanks to a newly designed hydraulic system, but if you’re just renting one for the weekend for a project, even the old models have enough muscle to get most jobs done. The first M-series loaders, the S630 and the T630, are out now. The S650 and the T650 are due in August.

Bobcat’s tractors rent for about $80 per half-day. The new loaders rent for around $300 per day (smaller loaders start at $200 per day). To buy the equipment, contact a dealer (find one on Bobcat’s Web site).

Bobcat, bob.com

--Brett Martin, associate editor

Kick-butt Excavators

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Thu Jul 09 15:20:00 EDT 2009

I took a three-day trip to Bismarck, N.D., in mid-June to test-drive Bobcat’s new equipment. I got to operate a lot of heavy-duty machinery—skid-steer loaders, compact tractors, utility work vehicles—and while it was all very impressive, I was blown away by the new line of M-series excavators. The E32, E35, E60 and E80 excavators are amazingly simple to operate. After five minutes, I felt like a pro (by contrast, I never did figure out how to program the Sleep Number bed in my hotel room). The excavator controls are intuitive—joysticks control the boom instead of foot pedals. I’d never operated an excavator before, but I was able to climb in the cab and immediately start digging holes and trenches. It was a lot of fun too. I felt like a kid in a sandbox with these machines and could have easily spent all day digging holes.

An angled blade along the front of the excavators makes backfilling faster—you can push the dirt into the hole. The E32 and E35 models are equipped with an “auto-idle” feature. When you let go of the controls for four seconds, the engine automatically idles, saving you fuel and decreasing the noise level. When you start working again, the engine automatically throttles back up.

If you have any serious digging to do, make life easier (and a lot more exciting) by renting one of these machines. They’re available in a range of sizes, from compact models to 8-ton monsters. Expect to pay about $200 for a half day for a small excavator. Check with a local rental center to rent one. If you want to buy one, find a dealer on the company’s Web site.

Bobcat, bobcat.com

--Brett Martin, Associate Editor

Associate Editor has fun operating the new Bobcat E35 excavator.

My Favorite Earmuffs

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Mon Jun 29 14:59:00 EDT 2009

I have a whole drawer full of hearing protectors, but I never wear anything except my Peltor earmuffs. While most earmuffs reduce noise by 20 to 25 decibels, my Peltors cut noise by 30 dB. That extra noise reduction muffles even the loudest tools (like routers and hammer drills) to a tolerable hum.

But the best thing about my Peltor muffs is the comfort. With their springy yoke and spongy padding, I barely notice I’m wearing them. My one complaint is that they’re much bulkier than most muffs. And in tight spaces, it feels like I’m wearing Mickey Mouse ears and they can get in my way. Peltor H10A earmuffs cost about $20 at amazon.com.

Peltor, (800) 444-4774. peltor.com

--Gary Wentz, senior editor

Go-To Gardening Multi-tool

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Mon Jun 29 14:41:00 EDT 2009

I’ve been using the Leatherman Hybrid Gardening Multi-tool ($40) constantly for the past month, and it’s proven more useful than I originally thought possible. I’m not normally a multi-tool kind of gal. I prefer single-task tools that perform a specialized job well. But frankly, this “all in one” tool has saved me a bunch of trips to the garage.

The bypass pruners work well for cutting back hydrangeas, spireas and my other shrubs with relatively thin branches. But they had some trouble cutting through my lilacs and other woody perennials more than 1 in. in diameter. The little saw comes in handy for tearing through fibrous, difficult stems like dead rugosa rose canes, as well as tangled grape and honeysuckle vines that don’t always cut cleanly with a pruning tool. And I’ve been using the small knife blade to slice open bags of potting soil, mulch and manure (which sure beats the ongoing hunt for my utility knife). Also, the wire cutters let me snip sharp edges off my 14-gauge wire trellis. I haven’t had a chance to try the other side tools, which include a weed remover, a Phillips and flat-blade screwdriver and a “bark lifter” (guess I don’t lift bark very often).

My main complaints: The bypass pruning tool is just not heavy-duty enough for larger-branched shrubs, and the molded plastic handle hurts when I’m squeezing hard (maybe because I have small hands). I also wish the tool were a brighter color. The yellow and black handle (which quickly became a muddy yellow and black) blends in so well with the cedar mulch in my garden beds that it’s easy to lose sight of it. That’s not a problem for folks who carry the tool in the sheath on their belt, but I only use the sheath when I put the tool away at the end of a gardening day.

For the more serious pruning tasks in my spring garden, I’ll stick with my 15-year-old Felco hand pruners. But for everyday light- to medium-duty trimming, deadheading, soil prep and planting, the Leatherman Hybrid Gardening Multi-tool is a great addition to my gardening toolbox. Find retailers (including online sources) on the company’s Web site.

Leatherman, (800) 847-8665. leatherman.com

--Elisa Bernick, associate editor

Associate Editor Elisa Bernick puts her Leatherman Hybrid Gardening Multi-tool to work on some shrubs.

Comfortable Grip Stud Finder

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Thu Jun 18 17:45:00 EDT 2009

Zircon has redesigned its popular stud finder, the StudSensor EDGE, to make it more comfortable to hold. And you know what? It is pretty comfortable. The body fits nicely in the palm of my hand, with the on/off switch where I place my thumb.

The tool identifies both edges of wood or metal studs with a noise and by shining a beam on the wall. It’s simple to use and runs on a 9-volt battery (not included). If you’re looking for a no-frills stud finder that gets the job done without any bells and whistles, this tool is a sweet deal for only $12 on Amazon.com.

Zircon, (800) 245-9265. Zircon.com

Brett Martin, associate editor

“Floating” Glass Shelves

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Wed Jun 03 10:19:00 EDT 2009

This glass shelf system from Bluegate was one of my favorite products at this year’s International Builders’ Show. The shelves are super easy to install—no brackets or hardware required. Instead, the shelves use a tongue-and-groove system. The tongues are metal tangs attached to the glass, and you cut the grooves carefully into the drywall. The shelves come with a template to let you know exactly where to cut. Then you run a bead of adhesive caulk onto the wall and insert the shelf. That’s it!

The company says each 3/8-in. tempered glass shelf will hold 75 lbs. The shelves are available in a variety of lengths and shapes. Prices start at $37.50 for a 12 x 12-in. triangle—not a bad price, considering the uniqueness factor. These shelves are available from the website below.

Bluegate, (800) 679-4902. floatingglassshelves.com

--Brett Martin, associate editor

Brett Martin, associate editor, is sticking the glass shelf in notches cut in the wall.

I Love My Little Baby Makita Impact Driver

The Family Handyman Editors and Experts — Mon Jun 01 09:42:00 EDT 2009

For 30 plus years, I’ve been a slave to monster screw guns—replacing one after another when the batteries died. When it came time for another replacement, I realized that one of those new svelte lithium-ion powered impact driver might be the ticket. So I opted for the Makita 10.8-volt version for $175 (ouch!). But I do love it. I can drive 3-in. screws with this little dynamo. But man is it loud! Loud like a mini-Gatling gun. I guess that’s how the little monster can drive in big screws. It works like a hammer-drill, only the hammering is sideways instead of up and down. That keeps it from camming out screwhead slots too. But that hammering only happens when it has to get down to business and do some serious driving. At slow speeds without the need for much torque, it operates like a regular variable speed screw gun. I give it five thumbs up!

I thought the little LED headlight was a worthless gimmick. That was until I climbed inside a cabinet to drive some screws. Just a little pull on the trigger and the light comes on for a few seconds. Plenty of time to find that little pilot hole in the dark.

--Travis Larson, senior editor

Travis Larson, senior editor, shows off his Makita impact driver.