Construction, Remodeling, Pro Tool Reviews, Best Practices, How-To Tips, Tool Buying Guides, Home and Garden, and Solutions to Remodeling Problems Targeted to the Professional and Do-It- Yourselfer
Ralph Mroz grew up in an extended family of tradesmen, and worked at the trades summers and weekends through school. He put those skills to good use in renovating the five houses he and his wife have owned. Even while working in the white-collar and law enforcement worlds, he's always had one foot in the construction trades.
*Or Almost Free In my main tool bag are six very small, very light, and virtually free tools that I use all the time. They take up virtually no space, add no weight and cost nothing to at most a couple dollars. Yet I seldom see those tools in other people’s bags. Here they are.…
RYOBI 18V Cordless Battery 2 Gal. Chemical Sprayer I would go so far as to say that the RYOBI ONE+ 18V Cordless Battery 2 Gal. Chemical Sprayer (model # P2830) is not just handy, but an invaluable tool in some circumstances. I’m thinking here of using a sprayer on an inclined surface, in a cramped…
SKIL Cordless 20V 4½-inch Circular Saw The SKIL Cordless 20V 4½-inch Circular Saw (full name: SKIL PWRCORE 20™ Brushless 20V 4 ½-Inch Compact Circular Saw, Model CR5435B-10) belongs to that class of tool that for most tradespeople gets occasional use…but is extremely welcome when it’s needed. True, there may be some production uses for it,…
Husky Folding Utility Cart The Husky Folding Utility Cart (model #00069) is something I’ve been waiting for for years. To my knowledge, it’s the first trades-capable, reasonably-priced, widely and easily available folding utility cart on the market. There have been other folding utility carts that were suitable for construction work, but they were quite expensive…
Shear-Cutting MARVEL Lineman’s Pliers (and Scissors) MARVEL pliers are produced by MARVEL Corporation, a Japanese company focused mostly on tools for the electrical trade. Their MVA-200 lineman’s plier is one of the few shear- (bypass) cutting lineman’s pliers available (as opposed to the traditional pinch cutters on almost all other lineman’s pliers). Since I’ve never…
Feature Rich BAUER Sawhorses from Harbor Freight The two BAUER sawhorses from Harbor Freight described here are cost-effective examples of feature-rich versions of this basic tool. After all, every pro and DIYer absolutely need a few sets of sawhorses, and today you have your choice of features over and above a basic stand. If you…
Irwin Quick-Lift: Less Expensive and Eats Less than a Teenager By now you’ve probably seen the ads for the Irwin Quick Lift (part number IRHT83100). It holds and raises/lowers items weighing up to 330 pounds in a controlled manner over a 10-inch range. Whether you’re installing cabinets, windows, pre-fab walls, stairs, drywall, or electrical panels,…
Their Reputation Precedes Them If you’ve been in the trades anytime during the last 20 years, you know about Knipex pliers. Knipex pliers from Germany have pretty much everyone who’s used them singing their praises. However, if you’re a pro, maybe you haven’t had an opportunity yet to try a pair out; if you’re a…
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