Handyguys Podcast

Dare to be a sharp dressed handyguy! Those old jeans have got to go. They always get holes in the knees and you end up wearing them out on those tough handyguy jobs. Consider becoming a sharp dressed and smart dressed handyguy with the proper handyguy attire. You probably thought you could just grab the oldest clothes in your wardrobe (and you can) but your knees are too important to be left unprotected. Those old jeans always wear out on the more rugged jobs. Every handyguy knows how jeans get holes in the knees as soon as you get down and dirty working on your home. Before you know it, you don t have a decent pair of jeans to wear to church social events! Replace those jeans with Carhartt Canvas work pants . These pants protect your legs and keep you cool using a 7.5 oz lightweight canvas. These pants performed well for Paul during Katrina relief work on 95+ degree days! Despite hard labor, his legs came out without a scratch and he did not have to sweat over it. However, do be careful which Carhartt pants you purchase. Reserve the heavier 9.5 oz Carhartt pants for the winter months! This link will take you to our store where you can purchase the lightweight Carhartts. Depending on the work you are doing, it may be wise to invest in a good pair of workboots. Some have a steel shank to protect your feet from those nails that you step on when demolishing that old shed in the back yard. Others have a steel toe to protect you when you drop that cast iron drill press. However, many handyguys can get away with a plain ole pair of sneakers. Once you upgrade your handyguy clothing, you need to consider accessories although these accessories are not optional! Safety glasses and ear plugs or muffs should always be within reach. In addition, knee pads are a must for that tile job. Listen to the podcast for more details. Can anyone tell what music Handyguys Brian had on when the show started? Leave a comment if you know.

The Handyguys revisit a bit of advice on keeping your lawn green and discuss various types of glues, in particular, EcoGlue Premium Wood Adhesive Read on and listen to the podcast for details of a wood glue and tool bag giveaway from Eclectic Products. First off - Good advice or bad advice The Handyguys re-visit keeping your lawn green. Is the advice for making sure your lawn gets an inch of water a week sound? Yes, of course. What happens if you don t follow this advice? Listen to the podcast to find out. The Handyguys then discuss different types of glues Common types of glue discussed are: Epoxy Hot Glues Household glue s weight on the glue joint. Neither the yellow glue nor the EcoGlue Premium Wood Adhesive joint or boards broke. Brian, being a bit heavier, was able to break the yellow glue sample board while holding the drill press and the car battery. The EcoGlue Premium Wood Adhesive sample board still did not break. Finally, to break the EcoGlue Premium Wood Adhesive sample board, Brian reached for his Estwing framing hammer and gave the glue joint a sharp rap. The board broke into three pieces but the glue held strong. The Handyguys also tested scraping excess dried glue from the joint. The excess dried glue scraped off the same as traditional yellow wood glue. The Handyguys were very satisfied that the new EcoGlue Premium Wood Adhesive will perform as well as a traditional yellow glue yet have lower VOCs. OK, The Handyguys admit their test isn t very scientific. Below are the results of two tests performed by Eclectic Products. Click on the thumbnail image to see the results full size.  ASTM D 3164-03 Lap Shear Test  ASTM D-903 180deg Peel Test The Handyguys then go on to discuss a giveaway contest Eclectic products will be sending some samples of EcoGlue Premium Wood Adhesive to one of our listeners. The giveaway includes two containers of wood glue, a sample board and a nice portable tool bag. This is an entirely free giveaway. To enter the contest, you simply need to subscribe to our email notification of new podcasts. To subscribe, just enter your email in the box just below where it says Subscribe and get the new shows in your email inbox on the right side of our home page. You will be sent an email asking you to verify you really want to subscribe. Just click the link in that email to confirm your subscription. The Handyguys never spam. You will only get an email from us when each weekly episode is published. We will also use the address on occasion when we have other announcements.  The emails will usually arrive in your inbox every Thursday between 5PM and 7PM Eastern time. A winner will be drawn from the list of people who have signed up for our weekly notification. If you already receive our email notifications you have already been entered. If you get our episodes via iTunes or some other delivery method you will need to come to the site and provide your email address. A winner will be announced on our home page on August 7th. Thanks for listening and good luck.

The Handyguys discuss fixing that old BBQ grill that no longer cooks as well as it should. Does one side of your grill heat better then the other?  Does it take a long time to cook your steaks on your outdoor grill?  Don t go out and buy a new grill a couple new parts is all you need.  The Handyguys discuss how you can fix up your grill and get it working like the day you brought it home. In addition, the handyguys discuss grill accessories such as this handy stainless steel grill set. The Handyguys also provide some tips for purchasing a new grill. Listen to the show for their thoughts. As for Paul s busted down grill, he had good success getting his new burner from www.grillparts.com*.  He liked the fact that they had a phone number with real humans that you could call for service or orders.  This demonstrated their desire to ofter decent customer service. Check it out and if you do purchase from them, let them know that you heard about their store from this podcast (when I talked to them they had never heard of podcasts before). Here are some pictures of Paul replacing his burner with new parts.  This job took less then 1 hour. You can click on the picture to see it full size. Essentially Handyguy Paul had three primary steps. Your grill may be different. 1) Remove grates and clean everything well 2) Remove Knobs, trim and gas valves 3) Swap in new burners and re-assemble The grill now works as good as new. Last step is to clean the sink Paul. *This is a personal recommendation from Handyguy Paul and not a sponsored or paid referral.

The Handyguys built a simple garden trellis of their own design and address listener questions The handyguys built a simple garden trellis of their own design and decided to make plans available to anyone who wants them. Feel free to download the .pdf and pass it around to whoever may want it. Listen to the podcast for details on the design and construction. The trellis only uses one board and some screws. It will only take an hour or two to build. Before the Handyguys get too deep into the trellis project they answer some listener questions. First up is a question from Rob - Rob wants to remove a support pole from his basement. Don t do it Rob. We share some tips for incorporating it in your design. Second is a question from Roger about a white gritty substance in his hot water. Listen to the podcast for some suggestions. Its likely time for a new heater for Roger. Roger may find other useful information in our podcast entitled The Cold Water Heater Third is a question from Tilo - Tilo is stuck as to how to run crown moulding around a window that goes up to the ceiling. The Handyguys recommend building a valance. We discussed nail guns and compressors in our episode entitled Compress It! Tilo, you may want to also give that a listen. A nail gun will make your project a lot easier. Lastly listener Calster wants to know if they could glue a medicine cabinet to a large mirror in a bathroom. The Handyguys discuss some options but ultimately recommend removing the mirror. We will be talking about some new glues in an episode in a few weeks.But not likely something that will help Calister. On to the Trellis Tools and materials needed: Table saw Drill and bits Wood glue Spring clamps 5/4 x 6 x 8 knot free cedar or similar 4 exterior wood screws 1 1/4 exterior wood screws bar clamps square Steps to build: Using a table saw, rip cedar into 3/4 strips. You will be left with a small piece of wood about 3/16 wide. You want that piece to come from the center of the board, not the edge. Cut one of the slats into cross pieces as show on the next page Cut your 3/16 slat into eight 6 pieces. Assemble the base first as shown on page two. Use glue and screws. Pre-drill to prevent splitting. A bar clamp will help hold everything together while you are drilling and screwing. Attach the top cross piece first. Use spring clamps to hold it while you drill and screw. Attach the center and outer two slats first then slats two and four. Attach with 1 1/4 exterior wood screws. Use a square to ensure the first cross piece is square to the center slat. Attach the remaining cross pieces in the same fashion and make sure they are square to the center slat. We hope you find this to be a useful project. If you have any questions about it you can click on where it says comments right below this post and ask away. If you have any other questions about your home or other DIY project you can always call us at 615-676-0877 or email The Handyguys at us@handyguyspodcast.com or use the contact form on the website.

The Handyguys complete their basement finishing series with an interview of a basement refinishing expert Roger German. Part 2 of 2 of Roger German s interview, Part 6 of the basement finishing series. Brian and Paul complete their interview with basement remodeling expert Roger German. Mr. German is the author of Remodeling a Basement from the Taunton Press Build Like a Pro series of books. This is the second half of our interview. In part 2 of the interview, Roger discusses the following: Basement Extras Lighting Drop Ceiling vs. sheet rock More on water mitigation Thanks to listening to this interview with Roger German. This post will conclude our 6 part series on basements. As always if you have any questions about any DIY or home improvement topics feel free to contact us. You may also comment on these posts. In next weeks episode we will address several listener/reader questions as well as provide plans and give guidance on building and arbor for your garden.

The Handyguys complete their basement finishing series with an interview of a basement refinishing expert Roger German. Part 1 of 2 of Roger German s interview, Part 5 of the basement finishing series. Brian and Paul are fortunate for the opportunity to interview an author and basement finishing expert. Roger German is the author of Remodeling a Basement from the Taunton Press Build Like a Pro series of books. Due to the length of this interview, it will be split up into two parts. In part 1 of the interview, Roger discusses the following: How Roger got started with his book To DIY or not to DIY Mistakes seen You can do it cheap, do it fast, do it high quality - Pick two Some code issues HVAC, heating, venting, cooling options Steel vs wood studs Water mitigation We wrap up the show talking about insulation, R values, vapor barriers, and mold prevention, etc. Thanks for listening. Buy the book or shop in our store to support the Handyguys Podcast. Next week will be part two of the interview.

The Handyguys discuss DIY appliance repair resources. In this episode Brian stops Paul from going too deep into his DIY washing machine repair without doing a little more research on the Internet.  Listen for the full story. What Kind of Appliance Parts Can I Buy Online? If you are planning any do it yourself appliance repair projects then you are likely shopping around for the best place to purchase your replacement appliance parts. Traditionally, some appliance parts were carried at your local hardware store or appliance store. If the store didn t have what you were looking for then you could special order the parts that you needed. Often, that was expensive and the parts could take some time to come in leaving you without a working refrigerator, washer, dishwasher or other useful appliance. Today there is another option. There are now internet websites that carry a large selection of parts for your household appliances. The best part about shopping internet websites is the large selection of parts that they carry and can ship to you immediately. Below is a sampling of some common parts that are carried by online replacement stores. Washer parts: Pumps, Couplings, Agitator Kits, Knobs, Valves, Motors, Switches, Belts, Hoses and Gears Dryer parts: Heating Elements, Lint Filters, Belts and Rollers, Thermal Fuses, Thermostats and Blower Wheels Refrigerator parts: Water Valves, Defrost Heaters, Thermostats, Defrost Controls and Timers, Shelves, Drawers and Bins, Doors, Handles, Door Gaskets, Compressors and Relays Oven parts: Igniters, Bake and Broil Elements, Knobs, Grates, Drip Bowls, Burners, Valves and Thermostats Dishwasher parts: Dish racks and Baskets, Rollers, Wash Spray Arms, Gaskets, Door Seals, Pumps and Valves These parts are carried for a large variety of manufacturers, like Whirlpool Parts, and many appliance models. It is worth checking an online appliance store if you have an appliance that is hard to find or older than 10 years since the online store might have the part that you need and save you the expense of replacing the entire appliance. Although online replacement stores carry large amounts of inventory, it is still very simple to find the exact part that you need. Many websites allow you to search by appliance model number, replacement part number or description. So, if you have an appliance that needs repair it is worth trying to find the part that you need at one of the online appliance stores that carry many parts. The Handyguys talk about AppliancePartsPros.com A few key features of  AppliancePartsPros.com are Live Help available on site via Live Chat, Toll Free Lines, or Email Very Fast Shipping with over 91% of in-stock orders delivered the next day Low Price Guarantee Over 1 million appliance parts in-stock Repair Forum available for those DIY ers who need a little extra help.  The forum has thousands of questions and answers by professional repair technicians sorted by appliance type. Detailed model breakdowns and photos for help finding the correct part.  Example http://www.appliancepartspros.com/partsearch/model.aspx?model_id=256714 Experienced Staff with years of appliance parts knowledge They carry parts for all the major brands including Whirlpool, Kenmore, Maytag, GE, Fridgidaire, and more.  They also carry parts for the high-end, harder to find brands like Bosch, Dacor, Thermadore, and more. Website allows to search by Model Number, Part Description, or Part Number The Handyguys would like to thank AppliancePartsPros.com for sponsoring this episode.

Part 4 in the Basement Finishing Series The Handyguys are becoming the Basementguys in this new fourth installment of the basement series.  The Handyguys discuss basement materials and revisit some old advice they gave about mowing lawns. First up a discussion about some advice that Handyguys gave in Episode #15 on lawn care.  Is it true what one of the Handyguys said regarding your mower height?  Handyguy Paul said that if you mow the lawn lower, the grass will grow faster in order to get more sun and generate more food for the roots.  It sounded too good to be true so he sought out to prove his own advice.  Paul performed a little experiment his backyard.  We could show you a picture here but Paul was a little embarrassed.  He cut a 30 foot swath down the middle of his back yard an inch shorter then the outside edges of his yard.  He wanted to see if it would grow any faster then the rest of the yard.  What was the result?  You will have to listen to the Podcast and see if the Handyguys offered good advice or bad advice. The Handyguys then discuss the many choices that you have in regard to basement materials.  You want to finish your basement but what materials will you choose? Should you use steel studs or wood?  What about the pre-fabricated basement systems?  Drop ceilings or sheet rock? The Handyguys also discuss sound blocking options. Photo © 2008 Bungalow Chronicles Good design will help your basement blend in with the rest of your house and not feel like a cheap addition. Planning and good material choices with a good decorating sense will go a long way. Material talk and more discussions about your basement on episode #19 of the Handyguys Podcast. Thanks for Listening

The Handyguys give an overview of how to plan for your finished basement. Part 3 in the Basement Finishing Series Now that your basement is ready to finish, you need to develop a plan to execute that construction job down under. The Handyguys know some creative visionaries can see the complete construction plan in their head and just start driving nails until they have a beautiful basement. However, for the rest of us, we need to write out some basic plans, study the building codes, and determine whether we have enough money to complete the work. That s right, you are going to need a handful of hard earned cash to get your basement finished well. But where do you start? First, you should determine if you can afford to finish your basement. The Handyguys tell you how much it will cost per square foot to get the job done. Make sure you can afford the job before you begin making your plans. Once you have determined that your wallet is up to the task, get out the graph paper or install a design program such as Google Sketch Up to draw out your new basement. The Geeky side of the Handyguys suggests using the computer, but it certainly is not required. The building inspector just needs a drawing that shows your dimension, windows sizes, outlets and other items that the Handyguys discuss on this episode. What about code issues? What do you need to consider to get those plans right? There is more to consider then just electrical loads, outlet placement, etc. You need to do load calculations on your HVAC system to make sure that it can handle the load of your additional living space. If your central heat cannot take the load, you will want to consider other sources of heat (generally you do not need to cool the basement space as the earth does a sufficient job). The links below may be helpful for fulfilling your local codes. However, you must determine the codes that are established in your local jurisdiction! That is the only way to be compliant. Check out the podcast for more information and view these helpful links: General code checklist Heat Loss and Gain Worksheet

The Handyguys help you determine whether your unfinished basement is suitable for finishing. Part 2 in the basement finishing series. Are you tired of that dirty old basement which is filled with all of the junk that you don t need? Have you been waiting to use that pneumatic nailer you recently purchased? Then it is time to begin finishing your basement. But before you shoot your first nail, you have to determine if your basement is a good candidate to be converted to living space. You don t want to spend a lot of time and money finishing your basement if water, mold and moisture are going to ruin your hard work. The Handyguys take a look at some of the hurdles you must face before even thinking of finishing your basement. They provide some tips for the do-it-yourself minded individuals who would love to see a nice play room, entertainment room or billiards room in your basement. Do you have enough electrical power to handle the new space you want to finish? If not, you may need to upgrade your service. Consider talking to an electrical professional to evaluate your current electrical service and panel. In addition, you must have adequate heating and a/c for the new space. The common problem you must correct before beginning finishing work is to mitigate against any kind of water or moisture penetration. You don t want that new Berber carpet to become moldy or soaked from a freak rainstorm. You should have a good water mitigation plan in place handle the threats that nature brings. If you have severe water problems, you may want to talk to a few local water mitigation contractors to see what products they offer to prevent water penetration. If you decide to have a drainage system installed, be sure to wait a couple of years to confirm that it stand up to all kinds of weather. You don t want to discover that your new system fails during that huge thunderstorm when the power goes out. Another common problem is Radon. This natural gas is not something you want trapped in your home. There are reasonably priced systems available to prevent radon gas from seeping into your home but you want to deal with this issue before you begin finishing the basement. It will make your life a lot easier. In addition to problems from the outside, there are potential problems already in your basement. Is your stairwell adequate? Is your ceiling height high enough for finished space? Are utilities and ductwork going to be in the way? Check out this week s podcast for more details. Part one of the Basement Series can be read and listened to here.

The Handyguys discuss how to evaluate whether finishing your basement is a job for the DIYer. They also discuss a new site for finding and reviewing contractors. Episode #1 in the Basement Finishing Series There are many projects to do around the house but sometimes the handy guy can bite off more then he (or she) can chew. The Handyguys discuss the basic issues to consider when determining whether a new projected should be contracted out or performed yourself. Some of the topics discussed include: How Long will it take? weeks, months, years to never finish How much will it cost? A little to a lot When to bring in a subcontractor DIY satisfaction Do you have the right tools and skills? Even if you have the ability to do the job, there are a lot of issues to consider before doing it yourself. In addition to carpentry skills, you need time, patience, lots of tools and a good back to finish your basement. If you are lacking in any of these categories, you may want to consider hiring a contractor for the job. The Handyguys then discuss an article from remodelingmagazine.com. Its their annual cost vs. value report. Some of the data is excerpted below. 2007 National Averages Project Job Cost Resale Value Cost Recouped Basement Remodel $59,435 $44,661 75.1% © 2007 Hanley Wood, LLC. Reproduced by permission. Complete city data from the Remodeling 2007 Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded for free at costvalue.remodelingmagazine.com. The Handyguys then discuss how to find a good contractor. Turn to your neighbors was Paul s suggestion. But what if you do not have a neighbor or friend who has had their basement finished? What then?It was agreed that just hitting the yellow pages may not be a good route. You need some good, objective advice. You can get that advice at www.homestars.com. This website is designed to help you review and research contractors that are in your local area. Check it out it may save you a lot hassle in the future. Check it out! Lastly - So, you are going to go through with it or you have already finished your basement.  The Handyguys will be continuing to talk about finishing your basement over the next few weeks. If you have finished your basement yourself and would like to chat with the Handyguys on the air about your experience just let us know. If you are in the middle of a project and would like to dialog on the air about where you are in the process we would be open to that as well. email us@handyguyspodcast.com or use the contact tab on the website.

The Handyguys talk about keeping a green and weed free lawn. Now that you have your mower ready for the new season (after listening to show #14), it is time to discuss proper lawn care.  Anyone can hire a lawn service, but the Handyguys prefer the DIY method.  Get down to the home center, buy your weed and feed, and start fertilizing before the summer heat strikes.   Listen to the podcast for all of the details. Before beginning your lawn care program (or even if you have already started), it is good to conduct a soil test to determine that status of your soil.  The results from a soil test will reveal what nutrients your lawn requires and whether you need to add lime or sulfur to achieve the proper pH. You can add specific ingredients in your fertilizer plan or just follow a seasonal plan from a company like Scotts or Vigoro. These products should be designed for your region of the country. Some folks prefer more organic methods of lawn care.  More information on organic products can be found here: Dirt Doctor Richsoil  The fertilizer programs will only address weeds and nutrients. You may also have specific pests or disease. A healthy lawn is the best defense against lawn disease. Lawn pests include moles, grubs and even mold. Controlling grubs will eliminate a food source for the moles. Watering properly will prevent mold and fungus. Both Handyguy Brian and Handyguy Paul recommend a broadcast spreader for DIY fertilizer applications. So, how much should you water? The Handyguys, and their expert advisers, recommend about 1” of water per week. This means watering the entire inch at one time in early AM or late afternoon. Do not water at night as this can promote fungus. How do you determine you have applied 1” of water? You can use a rain gauge, a fancy timer, or you can just put out a soup can when you water and when it has an inch of water in it you are done. The rain gauge in the picture is only $1.99 in our store and comes with a separate sprinkler gauge. Just click here for the rain gauge. Don t forget to factor in the water from the rain. A deep soak like this will help promote deep root growth. What is the proper height to mow for a health lawn? It depends on the type of grass. Generally speaking you want to mow at 3” and never cut more than a third of the blade at one time. But if you really want to get lawn care right listen to our podcast. Please note an error in the podcast:  Paul incorrectly states that your second fertilizer application should occur before Labor Day .  He meant to say Memorial Day and that is what he thought he said but I guess recordings don t lie!  

The Handyguys discuss annual spring maintenance for your lawn mower For many of us in the northern parts of the USA, it is that time of year when we get the lawn mower out for the first time. Most of us probably use tradition walk behind mowers with combustion engines. Like our cars, these tools require maintenance to keep them humming along from year to year. The Handyguys discuss how you can handle these basic maintenance items yourself: We start off by talking about mower safety and some crazy mower stories before we get into the basics of spring mower tune-up. Basic Spring mower tune up consists of checking and maybe replacing the spark plug, cleaning or replacing the air filter, sharpening your blade, cleaning the deck and changing the oil. Changing the spark plug – The spark plug only needs to be changed if its black, burnt, or damaged. If it looks clean when you remove it only replace it if you are having trouble with the mower running smooth or not starting. This picture is an example of a badly fouled plug that needs replaced. Replacing an air filter – make sure you get the correct air filter. There are many sizes and styles. The filter can be cleaned with compressed air or a brush. If its really bad just go ahead and replace it. Some filters are foam and can be washed in warm soapy water. Do not re-install a washed filter until its completely dry. Sharpening a blade – You can use a file or a grinder to sharpen your blade. Make sure you use the same angle as the previous sharpening. Handyguy Brian got this heavy duty grinder for only $25, including the stand, at an auction. An inexpensive grinder will be fine for this task. A Dremel tool or even just a plain old file will do the trick as well. A sharp blade makes a better cut and helps keep your grass healthy. Cleaning the mower deck – Sorry I don’t have an after picture. Use a scraper and a wire brush to clean up the mower deck. This is especially important for mulching mowers. If you have rust, sand that and hit it with some primer and paint. Changing the oil – Do this every year. Make sure you use the proper oil and the correct amount. Most mowers will use SAE 30 oil. Do not use 10W-30, its different and will likely void any warranty you may have. Regardless – Check your owners manual first for the correct oil. Learn more by listening to this installment of the Handyguys Podcast! And remember – You can always ask The Handyguys a question about your DIY or home improvement project by calling us at (615) 676-0877 or using the contact form. We respond to all questions and may use your question in a future episode. Our podcasts are made possible through revenue at our store. Our store is a partnership with Amazon. Some of our favorite tools are listed here

The Handyguys answer questions about Hot water heaters (or is it cold water heater?) and discuss basic water heater maintenance. Please note: The Handyguys apologize for some technical difficulties which led to a broadcast with some snap, crackle and pops. We expect next week s podcast to have this problem corrected. Brian and Paul discuss the maintenance of your hot water heater. Everyone owns one but you don t always get instructions on how to maintain the heater in your home. We just expect it to work and it usually does. However,  every hot water heater will fail at some point and you will typically discover this one day when you have to settle for a cold shower. Even worse, you end up with water leaking all over your basement floor from the hot water tank. The Handyguys own gas water heaters but much of what they discuss in this episode applies to both electric and gas water heaters. What are the key components of a hot water heater? How do you maintain the heater? Are there maintenance tips to prolong the life of our heater and avoid the expensive plumber bill? The Handyguys discuss these basic questions in the first half of the podcast.  In addition to basic water heater maintenance, a sad story about an electrocution caused by a faulty water heater is discussed. The Handyguys also answer a couple listener questions about finicky gas hot water heaters with pilot lights that keep going out. Check out this weeks podcast on hot water heaters. As always - you can click on a thumbnail image for a full size view. If you like our podcasts please consider shopping in our Amazon store for your next online purchase or support our advertisers. Thanks - The Handyguys

Fixing Homes in Mississippi Gulf - Bay St. Louis The Handyguys start off with a reminder of their contact information: Use the contact us tab on the website, call 615-676-0877 or email us@handyguyspodcast.com. On August 23rd, 2005 hurricane Katrina came through Bay St Louis, MS with about a 30 tidal storm surge and 100+ MPH winds. The area was devastated. New Orleans got most of the media coverage in the days after the storm but many other areas on the coast were hit even harder.  Bay St. Louis was once such community. The Handyguys have done volunteer work, post Katrina, in partnership with Lagniappe Presbyterian Church (PCA). We are taking a time out from our regular style podcasts to do an interview with Curt Moore from Lagniappe. Please listen to this podcast to hear this featured interview with Curt Moore, Associate pastor and Disaster Relief Coordinator for Lagniappe. Curt describes Bay St. Louis before Katrina and then explains what it was like after the storm.  He also explains how Lagniappe church got started and provides a status update of how the area is coping two and a half years after the storm. To date Lagniappe has built 28 new houses in addition to the many houses they have repaired or restored. Curt describes planting a church that includes  a construction company, hotel, restaurant and travel agency in addition to a place to worship! Lagniappe has the capacity to house, feed and manage 350 volunteers per day for rebuilding efforts. The church ministers to people s physical and spiritual needs. Curt describes this concept as Participating in the declaration and demonstration of the Gospel . Brian had the opportunity to help out with two houses affectionately referred to as the twins because they share an identical footprint and are located in adjacent lots. Their configurations are slightly different. House one is a three bedroom one bath. House two is a 3 bedroom two bath. House one has a much larger porch, house two has more interior square feet. Below are a few pictures from Brian s recent trip. Please also take some time out to view a brief movie about Lagniappe http://www.maxcast.com/lpcvideos If you are interested in bringing down a team please do so. Contact Cammie Chapman for Reservations, group sign-up, etc. Additional Information for teams is also available. Remember - if you like listening to the Handyguys please consider supporting us via purchases at our store.

The Handyguys answer a question about using bondo on rotted wood and they discuss the different varieties of ladders. The Handyguys Brian s and lately I ve noticed that some of the windowsills (exterior) have patches of rot. Replacing a windowsill seems like it might be beyond my expertise so I m wondering about removing the rot and filling it with something. I m told Bondo is a bad idea. Do you have any recommendations on what to use and how to tackle a job like this? Thanks for contacting us Moe. This is a great question. The Handyguys start off discussion what Bondo is and how it can be used for wood repair applications. Below are excerpts of The Handyguys email responses to Moe. More details are available in the podcast. My first inclination is to replace the rotted wood. Weather or not you need to do this depends on the extent of the damage. Feel free to email us a few pictures and we can give you a better assessment. In my opinion replacing the wood is actually easier and looks significantly better when done. I sometimes have trouble making a patch disappear after I paint. If replacing the wood is definitely out then you have a few general steps. 1) Remove ALL loose wood, rotted wood, dust and debris. If you do not get out the rot it may continue deeper. A tool like a Dremel can help with this along with scrapers, utility knives and so forth. Dremel http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/the-handy-guys-store?B0000302XV Carving Bits http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/the-handy-guys-store?B00005LEXW 2) Harden remaining fibers There are products made for this such as http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/the-handy-guys-store?B000BPINKS Or, if you had a ready supply of Cyanoacrylate (super glue) you could use that to harden the fibers (the liquid type, not the gel) 3) Fill with exterior grade wood filler such as http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/the-handy-guys-store?B000BQL0WA 4) Sand smooth 5) Prime and paint The hard part is when you have edge details or unusual shapes. I have never used Bondo but I do not see why your couldn t as long as you went through getting the old rot out and hardening the fibers first. Handyguy Brian And Paul s 2cents Moe, Just to piggy back on what Brian already said. I have used bondo on exterior wood applications and I like it. I used the version that is sold in the paint section of the big box stores for just this application. I think it is the same as the auto version. I have used Bondo on a rotted porch post. I cleaned out as much rot as possible and applied the Bondo. It hardens fast so you have to get used to it. In my opinion Bondo works better for exterior applications then most other wood fillers for this purpose. My porch posts have held up great. Make sure you prime and paint after it hardens. You can do this same day I believe because it hardens so fast. Here is a link to Bondo for wood. (Sorry, its not available in our store) http://www.3m.com/US/auto_marine_aero/Bondo/catalog_item27aa.html?itemNbr=119 Good Luck, Handyguy Paul The Handyguys then go on to speculate that Moe may need to work from a ladder and realize that they didn t include ladders in their home toolkit show. This evolves into a discussion about various types of ladders. Types of ladders discussed Typical A frames in fiberglass, wood and aluminum. Paul likes the ones with fancy attachments. Extension ladder pros and cons in fiberglass, aluminum and wood are discussed. Brian likes the Little giant type http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/the-handy-guys-store?B0000224MC Paul highly recommends a ladder stabilizer with any extension ladder. http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/the-handy-guys-store?B0000224MC

The Handyguys discuss decking materials and refinishing your deck. The weather is starting to get warmer and many of us are thinking about getting outside again to use our decks. If you have a deck, it is time to think about cleaning and refinishing your deck for the summer season. If you don t have a deck, then you may be thinking about building one. But what material should you use to build that deck? Most decks are built with pressure treated wood. However there are many alternatives to this common decking material. One of the more popular new materials is composite decking which is sometimes made with recycled plastics and saw dust. The Handyguys discuss their opinions on several kinds of woods and composites, including cedar, red wood, ipe and tiger wood. So whether you are considering composites or Brazilian hard woods, you should check out this podcast. The other issue that many of us face is refinishing that deck (unless you already have a composite deck). There are a few methods for cleaning and refinishing so check out episode 10 of the Handyguys podcast! Comments are always welcome. Also, feel free to contact The Handyguys with your DIY or Home Improvement questions.

The Handyguys discuss and test drills In this episode, the Handyguys discuss the basic variety of drills. They also answer a couple questions about the the best drill to use for difficult jobs like putting large holes in joists and drilling holes in concrete. There is an amazing variety of drills on the market today so it is difficult to know where to begin cordless, corded, or lithium ion contractor grade or low-end. Hopefully you can build a solid, standardized drill arsenal by listening to this podcast. In response to these questions, the Handyguys test out a table full of drills in the garage. For their tool challenge, they see which of the seven different drills can handle putting a large auger bit through a piece of tough oak. In addition, they set a cordless hammer drill against a corded hammer drill in a concrete hole contest. Results of the 3/4 auger bit through 5/4 Red Oak: Milwaukee Magnum 0234 (5.5a, 1/2 850RPM) 3.59 seconds Makita HP1621FK (5.7a 5/8 0-2800 RPM) 2.69 seconds Milwaukee #1630 (300RPM) 5.20 seconds Craftsman 315.11441 (2.2a, 3/8 , 1200RPM) Not enough power Bosch LIon PS20 (10.8v cordless) Not enough power Porter Cable 9966 (12v cordless, 1/2 L-425RPM, H-1300RPM) Not enough power Makita LXT BHP451 (18v LIon cordless, L-300RPM) 7.65 seconds Corded vs cordless hammer drill test in concrete (2 deep hole with 3/16 tapcon): Makita LXT BHP451 (18v LIon cordless, L-300RPM) 12.87 seconds Makita HP1621FK (5.7a 1/2 0-2800 RPM) 6.50 seconds

The Handyguys talk about the dirty side of home improvement well, unless you clean it regularly. The toilet is something nearly everyone owns (unless you live in back woods Appalachia), and everyone has to address the persnickety problems presented by a toilet. When a toilet fails, you may be left with a water bill that is 10 times higher than normal. Before you have this kind of problem, it is a good idea to learn a little about how your toilet works. The toilet is composed of a bowl and a tank. Within the back tank, where the water reservoir is located, you will find two main components (just lift up the lid and look inside). The first component is the fill valve. This valve is connected to your house water via a short section of hose or pipe which connects to the fill valve at the bottom of the tank. This short hose or pipe is normally connected to a shutoff valve on the wall, which feeds water to the toilet. Older houses may not have this shutoff valve because it was not in residential codes a long time ago. The fill valve s duty is to add water to the tank when you flush. As the water rises in the back tank, a float rises up and turns off the fill valve at the proper time. Hopefully! The other main component in the tank is the flush or flapper valve. This valve opens up when you flush to allow the water to flow down from the tank into the bowl. Another important component that is more difficult to see is the trap underneath and in back of the toilet bowl. This trap keeps sewer gases from coming into the house. It also keeps the water in the bowl and helps to create a siphoning action of the water when you flush to suck out all the debris . Now let s address the problems common to toilets. The biggest problem is a toilet that leaks. In most cases you will hear the refilling when it is not being used, but in some situations there will be no auditory warning (thus a big water bill). How can you tell that the toilet is leaking at all and that your big water bill is not being caused by long morning showers? The simplest method to diagnose this problem is to put dye, such as food coloring, into the water tank. After putting the dye into the tank, come back in an hour or so to see if the colored water has migrated down into the bowl (the water will remain clear in the bowl of a toilet that is operating correctly). If the colored water has migrated to the bowl, you have a leaking toilet. There are two possible causes for this leak. The more common reason is that your rubber flapper valve is leaking. This is the valve or stopper at the bottom of the tank that lifts up when you flush the toilet. When the toilet is not being used, it should prevent any water from flowing down into the bowl. If this flapper fails, your fill valve will keep refilling the tank as the water level recedes. Normally you will hear this when it happens. If your flapper valve is failing, you can often fix the problem by cleaning around and under the flapper. In some situations, grit builds up underneath the flapper, preventing a good seal. On occasion, you can provide a longterm fix by cleaning the area on the bottom of the tank where the rubber flapper makes this seal. If cleaning does not work, you can easily replace the flapper for a few bucks. The Handyguys like the newer Korky flush valves, which can be found at the big box stores. Be sure that your new flush valve fits correctly. Test it by flushing the toilet to determine if the new flapper has a good seal. Also, lift up the float so that the tank fills up over the overflow tube, and confirm that the water runs through the overflow tube without running over the top of your tank. Paul has seen a situation where a wrong-sized flapper valve constricts the flow of the overflow tube and prevents it from working well. Once you learn how to replace the flapper, it is like changing a light bulb. If you have hard water, you may have to replace it every year. The other possible problem related to large water bills is when the fill valve is failing and slowly and continually adds water to the tank. You may not hear this when it happens. When you have this problem, your dyed water will run down the overflow tube in the tank and into the bowl. But how do you determine that the fill valve is the problem? One way is to mark the water level in the tank with pencil right after a flush and a tank fill. Make sure that your water is turned off when you do this test. Check back after 30 minutes and see if you water level has receded. If it has, your problem is probably with the flush valve as we stated above. But if your water level remains the same, then most likely your problem is with the fill valve. The water is continually running through the faulty fill valve into the tank and going over the overflow tube. How do you fix a fill valve? You can replace it completely or you can replace its washers (on some models). If you want to replace it completely, it will only cost about $15. Just turn off the water and flush the toilet to get the water out of the tank. You may want to use a sponge to get all the remaining water out. Remove the supply tube that connects to the bottom of the tank it is connected with a large nut. Again, make sure the wall valve is off before performing this operation! Since many toilet wall valves are not reliable, the Handyguys often turn off the entire house water before doing this procedure. After loosening the large nut, there is normally a smaller nut that connects the fill valve to the bottom of the tank that releases the fill valve unit. You can now lift the fill valve out of the tank. Another problem you may face is that your tank fills up too high or too low after a flush. Normally the water height can be adjusted. With newer toilet parts, there is a float attachment as part of the fill valve. This float device can be raised and lowered accordingly to get the correct water level (most toilet tanks have a mark to locate the proper level). On older toilets, there is usually an arm attached to a float bulb. You can often just bend this arm some to make the adjustment of the water level. What do you do if you discover that the toilet is leaking water onto the floor? This sort of leak could be caused by a bad hose connection to the bottom of tank. This connection may require adjustment or tightening. It is also possible that this nut requires replacement. In addition, the toilet may be leaking between the tank and bowl, or between the toilet and the floor. Listen to this Handyguys episode for their recommendation on fixing this issue. Hint: mopping up the floor only addresses the symptom, not the cause! The the other major quandary we all face is the clogged toilet. The Handyguys provide some suggestions for toilets that always seem to clog. Feel free to use the comment feature below to post your specific toilet questions.

The Handyguys discuss fixing windows, answering a question from a listener regarding the repair of glass on a modern vinyl window. But before dealing with that issue, the Handyguys discuss covering the glass with window films. There are two major window film products. Many of you have probably seen the product that covers the entire window unit to block air leaks during the cold winter months. You put up the plastic sheeting with double-sided tape and heat it up with a hair dryer to pull it taut. These work fairly well for older leaky windows. Another product is the Gila window film that is applied to block UV rays and to provide interesting decorative looks for your windows. The Handyguys understand how the Gila film could aid a home in the heat of the southwest, but does this product really pay off in the north? Let us know what you think. Bob from Tacoma, WA, asks the Handyguys how to repair a modern vinyl window that has been broken from an unknown projectile.Fixing a new vinyl window is a lot different than replacing the old wood windows we grew up with. You can t just go down to the hardware store and get a new piece of glass. The new windows typically use a double (or triple) glass window unit with faux dividers that snap in between the glass or on the surface. Some older vinyl windows are not repairable when broken. Your only option is to completely replace the sash. Fortunately, with most newer windows, the glass is removable by removing the stops. The pictures below document this process. Listen to the podcast for more details. Modern Vinyl Window Repair Remove sash Remove the stops Replace the glass (Handyguy Paul is showing us on a window he already fixed, so no pictures of this part.) Reinstall the stops Wood Frame Window Repair As far as fixing glass on a older windows, Brian gives us a lesson in glazing windows: Gather your tools a 5 in 1 tool, utility knife, scraper, heat (maybe). Remove old glazing You may need to apply heat to get it out. A 5-in-1 tool is also helpful. Remove glazing points with utility knife or needle nose pliers. Remove glass; scrape and remove glazing that glass was set in. Prime any bare wood with oil based primer or boiled linseed oil. Get new glass from hardware store, measured to size. You want glass to be about 1/8 smaller than the opening to allow for expansion. Now do everything in reverse. Put a thin bed of glazing compound on sash to set glass onto. Brian always uses Dap 33. You must knead it to warm it up. Get your hands into it. Put glazing points around glass. For smaller panes, you only need about one or two points on each side. Glaze Reach into the can of Dap 33 and pull out about a golfball-sized wad of glazing; roll it into a ball and knead it around a little so that it is more workable. Then roll it in your hands to form a long snake. Run the glazing around the edges of the of the glass. Draw off excess. Use a 1-inch stiff putty knife to draw off excess putty and make a smooth bead of putty around edges of the window mutton and the pane of glass. This takes a little practice. And Brian has another story about a funny incident at the hardware store fortunately there is no blood in this story.

Thanks to all those who responded to our question about WD-40. The winner is Michael B. Michael will receive a Smart Straw can, a Big Blast can, and a No-Mess Pen all compliments of WD-40. We will be providing a review of the new Smart Straw on a future episode. Maybe Michael will also give us his feedback. Oh, and I almost forgot. What does WD-40 stand for? From the WD-40 site WD-40 literally stands for Water Displacement, 40th attempt. That s the name straight out of the lab book used by the chemist who developed WD-40 back in 1953. The chemist, Norm Larsen, was attempting to concoct a formula to prevent corrosion-a task which is done by displacing water. Norm s persistence paid off when he perfected the formula on his 40th try.

In this show, The Handyguys detail the basic Handyguy Toolkit that every homeowner should have. We also have our first free giveaway contest. Listen to the podcast for details. But first The Handyguys discuss a new Mantis Cordless Reel Mower. This new battery-powered mower weighs only 25 pounds and is powered by a 24-volt NiCad battery, which provides enough power to mow up to 2,500 square feet of lawn. This mower runs quietly and is environmentally friendly, according to the company. But what do The Handyguys think of this product? We have to be honest, we haven t used it and aren t exactly sure how it works. However, when he was a kid, Brian used a traditional reel mower to mow almost an acre of grass at his grandmother s house. Sure it was hard work, but he did not do any damage to the environment with it. (But what about those chemicals you spread on the lawn Brian?) Check out the Mantis Cordless Reel Mower before spring, or check out this no-carbon producing reel mower to satisfy even the pickiest environmentalist requirements. Since the grass is dormant in most parts of the country, we should be discussing tools, not mowers. The Handyguys tackle the job of listing the essential tools that should be in every homeowners toolbox. Listen to the podcast for details. The Handyguys starter toolbox: Assortment of Phillips-head and flathead screwdrivers 16oz hammer Bosch drill Adjustable wrench Pliers (needle nose, diagonal cut, regular) Vice grips (Made in USA) Alan wrench set Tape measure (25 ) Utility Knife 2 Level Wonder bar crowbar Leather gloves Stud finder (Electronic) or (Magnetic) WD-40 Flashlight Bucket Boss Duct tape!!! (or is it duck tape?) Let us know what you recommend for the basic Handyguy Toolkit. We may mention it on our show. Finally, the Handyguys have their first contest. We will be giving away something for free. All you need to do is listen to this podcast to find out what it is and how to enter our contest to win.

It s time for another Handyguys tool challenge. On this show, the Handyguys take two very different compressors and run them through their paces. The listeners get to hear the difference between a small Makita MAC700 2 HP 2.6-gallon hot dog compressor and an older Porter-Cable compressor similar to the CPF4515 . Both compressors do a good job shooting framing nails into wood, but that is where the similarities end. But does a handyguy or handygal really need a compressor? Is this something you need around the house? It all depends on the kind of work you will be doing. A compressor and pneumatic nailer are invaluable for trim work, crown molding, and framing. If you are going to finish your basement or have significant trim work around the house to complete, get a compressor. It will save a lot of time and hassle. For those weekend warriors, a compressor can t be beat. There are two basic varieties of compressors: oiled and oiless. The advantage of an oiless compressor is simpler maintenance no oil or oil filter changes and no mess! However, the oiless compressors are generally very loud. While the oiled compressor is easier on the ear, they must be kept close to level at all times so the piston can be lubricated properly. The other major differences between compressors is the tank size. The larger tank compressors can power tools that require large volumes of continuous air such as impact wrenches, grinders, and some paint sprayers. Pneumatic nailers use air in short bursts and can normally function well with smaller tanks. The smaller tanks are also much easier to move around. A large 20-gallon tank will not be very handy to move around the house to nail in baseboard trim. So for about 90% of most household projects, the Makita MAC700 is the compressor to get. It is built like a tank, yet it does not blast your ear drums when the motor kicks in. Once you get a compressor, you will need to get some pneumatic tools. There are hundreds of options. Normally you can just add some air tools as you need them. Typically you will start with a finish or framing nailer. For framing nailers, we like the full head framing nailer from Porter-Cable. There are generally two kinds of framing nails clipped heads and round heads. The clipped heads have a D shape and allow you to get more nails within a clip. The downside is that some local codes do not allow the clipped heads. This is particularly true in hurricane prone areas. The round head nails look like typical nails. Typical finish nailers include the 15-gauge angle nailer, the 16-gauge, and the 18-gauge. These nailers are great for baseboard trim, window casing, and crown molding. In addition, the 15-gauge can be used for hanging doors. The 15-gauge is the biggest, and it has a larger rectangular head which provides better holding power. Unfortunately it leaves a more drastic hole and requires more putty and sanding to hide the mark. The 18-gauge is the thinnest of the three and barely leaves a mark when it is nailed into finish trim. As a result you will not want to use it on heavy wood such as large crown molding. For more information on compressors and nailers, tune in to this week s Handyguys podcast.

The Handyguys talk about two big topics in home improvement today: a house that is “green” and a house that is organized. First is a discussion of a new product called the GreenSwitch. GreenSwitch is a wireless system that allows you to control several electrical switches and receptacles with a single switch. This switch provides an easy method to turn off all unnecessary lights and other electronics, thereby saving energy. You can even connect a thermostat to the switch to automatically set it to your away set-back mode to conserve power. The Handyguys like GreenSwitch, but the price is steep. They would love to see technologies such as GreenSwitch and other wireless home automation and security products a little more integrated. You can find out more about what the guys think about this new technology on the podcast. The other popular topic is home organization, which applies to garages, pantries and closets. Paul is getting ready to start a project on his master bedroom closet. It could use some attention, and his honey wants him to organize the space with some new shelving. Paul could probably build some shelving himself, but his honey-do list is long and he wants to get this job done sometime this year. At the same time, the budget is tight, so outsourcing this job to a custom closet company may be out of the question. What do you think he should do? Check out the show for details on how you can help!

Show #3 The Cut-up Show In this show the Handyguys have their first Head to Head Tool Challenge, comparing a traditional corded Milwaukee sawzall against a Makita cordless reciprocating saw. But before they get to the tool challenge, the Handyguys finish their tips on the proper tools for a good paint job. There are not as many gimmicks for putting paint on walls as there are for cutting in (see Show #2 where we discuss edging tools). Most people use the traditional rollers, making this process is fairly simple. However, there are other options such as power rollers, paint sticks and spray-on tools. The spray-on tools do not make much sense for homeowners as you will normally have to go back and use a roller to achieve the proper texture. The paint sticks may make sense if you are doing a large job such as priming several rooms or a huge basement, but they require too much clean up time for smaller jobs. Despite the fact that the Handyguys love their power tools, painting is best done with the traditional roller. Make sure you use the correct nap and start rolling! But how do you clean those rollers when you are done? Check out the show for more details. And now it s time for the first Handyguys Head to Head Tool Challenge in Brian ’s garage. The guys take two reciprocating saws to see how they compare when cutting through a 2 4 board, embedded with a few 16 penny nails. One saw is a traditional 8 amp Milwaukee Sawzall running at 2800 SPM. This is the old standby and is battle worn and scarred. Its replacement is the Super Sawzall on sale with a great tool belt. The challenger is a brand new cordless Makita LXT 18 volt reciprocating saw running at 2900 SPM. How does the cordless tool stand up to the powerful Sawzall? Check out the show and see which tool can cut through the wood and nails more quickly. The blades used were the Milwaukee Axe demolition blades. These are about the best blades you can buy for rough work in wood with nails. Pick up a few at our store. Finally, the Handguys talk about great places on the internet to buy tools. Most savvy tool buyers already know about the places like Amazon, Rockler (exceptional customer service), Lee Valley and even Craigslist. All are great places to buy tools. The Handyguys have partnered with Amazon to offer you the Handyguys Podcast Store making your Amazon purchases via our store will help support future episodes.

The HandyGuys Episode #2: Wet Paint! Show Summary The Handyguys discuss HGTV s 2008 home improvement guide by Brandie Malay. This article can be found here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22419289/. The handy guys like some of the suggestions in this article. A lot of improvements can be made to your house without spending a lot of money! Replacing old or outdated plumbing fixtures are a great way to spruce up the bathroom or kitchen. These refreshing updates are recommended whether you are planning to sell or live in your house for years to come! The handyguys respond to their first question regarding paint. The following question is asked: Hey Handy Guys, In the past month, I ve heard two different cases of a wife picking a color from a paint sample and after the husband got 2 gallons (in one case) or 3 gallons (in the other) of the custom paint, it was generally agreed that the color was not right (too bright in both cases). Of course the paint could not be returned. How is a guy to pick the right custom paint color without having to chalk up the first 2 gallons under the category of lessons learned? Your loyal listener, Phil [For the full answer to this question, check out the podcast] This is an age-old problem that any D-I-Y house painter has faced. The fact is that you are never sure how a paint will look until you get some on your walls under the lighting and structural conditions of your home not the paint store! Listen to this podcast for some suggestions on how to address this dilemma (hint: try the stores where you can purchase small quantity paint containers). The handyguys also discuss why it is important to purchase good quality paint and paint brushes. They recommend checking out your local paint store for paint instead of the big box stores. Brian specifically recommends the Purdy angled brush for cutting in and for trim. Paint specialty stores typically have employees that know a lot about paint! They will give you the best advice about which paint to use for your project. Is the paint going to be more expensive than the big box store? Most likely but it will also be better quality paint and the good advice will make your visit worthwhile. If you do not get good service, find another paint store. My Odeo Channel (odeo/07a095de95cc6f8e)

The Handyguys attend the Philadelphia Home Show Today we attended the 2008 edition of the Philadelphia Home Show. The Home Show is probably coming to a city near you, so give it a Google search or look here. In this podcast, we review some of the products seen there, and we interview Tom Silva of This Old House! You may wonder what Tom Silva is doing talking to the Handyguys. Well Tom was very gracious to take a moment to talk to the Handyguys. You can check out the interview in this podcast. The popular items at the Home Show are basement finishing, hardscaping, home organization (i.e. closets and garages), hardwood floors and home security. There were some fine vendors in these categories so check them out. We really like the following home solutions: Hardwood Floors Direct This company had amazing, high quality, solid wood flooring harvested from renewable forests around the world. They assured us that their samples are consistent with the actual product delivered to contractors or DIYers. In other words, some less than truthful flooring vendors will show you high quality showroom samples, but deliver low quality product. Hardwood Floors Direct gives you a product with long, high quality boards, not warped cut-offs. See www.hardwoodfloors-direct.com EP Henry Most of you know this as the company that makes concrete pavers for patios and walkways. But they also make fantastic stone veneer for siding or other applications. EP Henry had great display modeling their various hardscape products. See www.ephenry.com Slide-Lok If you want to organize your garage, then you may want to consider this product. Garage organization is a growing category of home improvement. The garage is no longer the junk room in your home. (Or at least it does not have to be.) Slide-lok can send you an innovative garage cabinet system that can be assembled by the DIYer. If you want to spruce up that garage, check out www.slide-lok.com Ingrid This company makes an easy to install security system for complete home security. The interesting aspect of this product is not only the ease of installation but that it is a no-gimmick system that really works. We will be keeping an eye on this company because it seems to make home-security so easy that you don t need a handy-guy to install it. Check them out at www.ingridhome.com Other than these fine companies, you will be sure to find the side-show vendors marketing their gee-wiz products for $9.99. But the Handyguys advise you to skip these vendors and go get yourself a great cheesesteak across the street at the Reading Market! That s it for now check out the podcast!

In this show we introduce ourselves, the Handyguys (or Brian and Paul). We take the role of household handyman to an extreme. We have lots of experience with our hands and our power tools! For a full biography, check out the About Us tab at the top of this website. If you would like to submit a question to the Handyguys, click on the contact link. Please note that this first show does not have the best audio as we are just getting to know our podcast gear. We expect some improvements on the second show. SHOW CONTENTS The Handyguys discuss why this podcast could be useful for the household handyman or handywoman. We plan to provide more detailed answers to questions than the typical call-in commercial radio show. We hope to benefit those folks who are don t quite have the experience but do have the initiative to do it himself or herself. In this episode we talk about Amazon s best of 2007 list of top products in the home improvement category. The best selling product is the Black and Decker Handy Wrench. Brian is not too sure of this wrench. Is it a product waiting for a solution? Is it really better than the classic adjustable wrench? Paul notes that this tool gets good reviews. Check out their full comments on the podcast. In the most loved category, the Toro Ultra 12 Amp Electric Blower gets Amazon s top award. This category is given to products with the highest ratings. Neither Brian or Paul have used this particular model but Toro s generally make good products. In the most wished for category is the Leatherman. Both Brian and Paul are big fans of Leatherman products. Paul comments on the Leatherman Wave he pulled out of his pocket and the guys compare it to the new Leatherman Skeletool CX. Brian also highly recommends Spyderco Knives. We provide a summary of future shows and discuss some of our personal honey-do lists. Of course, our lists are long, but if you want to get a sampling, check out the podcast. As a hint, make sure you purchase a good toilet, such as a Kohler! (see our store) One last thing - In a future show, we will do a head-to-head comparison of two reciprocating saws. You don t want to miss it.