Handy Man Fix Home Repair » Product Reviews http://www.handymanfixhomerepair.com How to Fix, Build, Install, Customize, Repair, Restore, Renovate, and Demolish your House and Home Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:43:49 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Review of CLR Outdoor Furniture Cleaner http://www.handymanfixhomerepair.com/review-of-clr-outdoor-furniture-cleaner/ http://www.handymanfixhomerepair.com/review-of-clr-outdoor-furniture-cleaner/#comments Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:46:16 +0000 keira http://www.handymanfixhomerepair.com/?p=644 clrCLR Outdoor Furniture Cleaner claims to be fast and easy. Supposedly you only need to wipe and rinse, as seen on TV.

What it is:

CLR is an instant cleaner for plastic or resin, rattan, wicker, wood, wrought iron, vinyl, PVC, and canvas furniture. On top of that it is biodegradable and will not harm grass.

Other pluses:

It supposedly helps protect from fading and discoloration. It is supposed to inhibit mildew. It is also supposed to absorb ultraviolet light. And it is supposed to protect metal.

Before you start:

The directions say to test the product on an inconspicuous spot for color safety. I chose not to do this as my furniture was light.

What I did:

I used it today to clean 8 chairs and 2 tables. 1 bottle (26 fl oz) was not quite enough to do the job the way it needed to be done.

Granted my chairs were super dirty. They had not been cleaned since Easter. And they were outdoors under trees. My furniture was beige plastic.

beforeandafter

How to use:

  • Use rubber gloves.
  • Spritz the furniture generously, then let it sit. I let it sit while I sprayed the next chairs. This loosens the dirt before you wipe it off.
  • Then for woven surfaces, cushions or fabric use a soft bristled brush to finish cleaning.
  • For smooth surfaces such as plastic, use a brush, cloth or sponge. I used a sponge.
  • Finish by rinsing well.

My take:

I had to rub thoroughly (hard) on some areas that were especially dirty. It might have worked better and faster if I had used a brush.

For the most part, it worked very well. All the chairs, except for one, came quite clean. That chair appears to be stained. Perhaps a second application will take care of it.

afterupclose

Have you used this product? What do you think?

Where to Buy CLR.

This product was tested and this post was written by a thirteen year old girl.

Originally posted 2009-07-10 20:50:07. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Online Stores ]]> http://www.handymanfixhomerepair.com/review-of-clr-outdoor-furniture-cleaner/feed/ 0 The Amazing Versatility of the Black & Decker Flex360 http://www.handymanfixhomerepair.com/the-amazing-versatility-of-the-black-decker-flex360/ http://www.handymanfixhomerepair.com/the-amazing-versatility-of-the-black-decker-flex360/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:28:06 +0000 keira http://www.handymanfixhomerepair.com/?p=1453

When it comes to guys, there are few things which are more impressive than a good tool. Whenever a new tool hits the market, there are some guys who are sure to want it right away. There are others who will wait until there is something which is highly useful and a great value. The recently released Black & Decker Flex360 seems to have everything no matter what kind of guy you are. This is more than just a light when it comes to completing projects around the house and in the workshop.

There are a few different things which make the Black & Decker Flex360 such an important addition to any toolbox. While many will consider the LED light to be nothing more than a flashlight, there are additions to the design which elevate it far past anything which is simply a flashlight. The 130 Lumen LED light has the ability to light any workspace with a definition and clarity that you will appreciate. Here are just a few more of the features which make this new design unique:

A Head that Rotates and Pivots

Getting light where you need it can be tough at times. With the Black & Decker Flex360, you will be able to rotate the head by a full 180 degrees and pivot up to 90 degrees. This will allow you to focus the light on exactly what you are working on. This means no matter what you are working on or where the flashlight is based, you will get the light you need.

A Clamp for a Sturdy Base

Every Black & Decker Flex360 comes complete with a great clamp. This allows you to have a flashlight which is completely hands free. You can attach the grips made of rubber to just about any flat surface. Large enough to be attached to a 2X4, you are sure to find it handy no matter what you are working on or where.

Attach in More Places with a Magnet

You will not always have the ability to clamp your flashlight down. This is why it comes in handy that the Black & Decker Flex360 comes with a powerful magnet. This way you will be able to get the light you need by simply affixing the magnet to any metal surface. This can come in handy when you are working on your car or if you are working under the roof. Any metal surface from an overhead I-beam to the hood of your car will suffice. If you run out of places to stick the flashlight, you can use a metal toolbox.

Adjustable Light

Another great thing about the Black & Decker Flex360 is the ability to adjust how much space the light will cover. You can widen the lens to include a broad area. You can even adjust the light so that it spotlights a single area. This will allow you to have as much or as intense light as you need. It is as simple as turning the dial on the flashlight to get the kind of light you desire.

Originally posted 2010-07-03 16:42:53. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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When you see pictures of gardens in magazines and online, raised beds are common elements. If you'd like to have one or more of those in your garden, now you can do so without the work and the hassle of building one of those beds. A raised bed created with the M Brace is an inexpensive and easy way to get that home and garden magazines look for own backyard.

Whether you want a raised bed because you have very little space or you like to garden in them because it's better for many plants and easier to reach, the M Brace can help you build one in less than 15 minutes. You'll never have to follow complicated blueprints again in order to build a raised bed. With the M Brace you don't even need tools or fasteners like nails or screws. All you need are your set of 4 M Braces and enough two by fours to build the walls.

All you do is slide the wood into the braces and you're finished. There can’t be a simpler way to build a great-looking raised bed in your garden. Not only is the bed ready for you to add dirt and plants, but it looks fantastic from the outside. These braces are made from recycled materials and have attractive die-cut designs, or you can buy a solid set. Either way, they look attractive and really give a finished and professional look to the bed.

You can choose from several different designs on your set of M Braces like squiggles, a sun design, dots, carrots or other abstracts. The carrot design is particularly nice for vegetable or herb gardening, but you can choose any design that you would like in your garden. (If you plan to vegetable garden in a raised bed made with an M Brace, be sure that the wood you purchase is safe for use in vegetable gardening, because some scrap wood like that used to make pallets and railroad ties can leak unhealthy chemicals into the soil.)

One of the great things about the M Brace is that you can have a 12 x 12 garden plot one year or for part of the season, and then decide you want a different size later. It's easy to simply remove the boards and move your plot or rearrange it. You can have several raised beds in your garden that are all squares, or you can build a rectangular raised bed in front of your house for border plants or shrubs. There's really no limit to what you can do with a raised bed that you've built with an M Brace system.

You can easily order your M Braces online. They make great gifts for gardeners, too. You could even use them to surprise someone by building them a quick garden bed. Whether it's for the beautiful look of a raised bed or how easy it is to garden without the need to get on the ground, many more people can enjoy raised bed gardening because it's so simple to create beds with the M Brace.

Photo Credits: http://www.artofthegarden.net/

Originally posted 2010-04-28 18:32:52. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Online Stores ]]> http://www.handymanfixhomerepair.com/raised-bed-gardening-the-easy-way/feed/ 0 A Liquid Wrench For Every Job http://www.handymanfixhomerepair.com/a-liquid-wrench-for-every-job/ http://www.handymanfixhomerepair.com/a-liquid-wrench-for-every-job/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:06:48 +0000 keira http://www.handymanfixhomerepair.com/?p=1367 Liquid Wrench, a company that's been in business since 1941, knows how to make products people really need and use. Their product line includes lubricants, penetrating oils and protectants for people who know that one product can't do everything. While some products on the market today are hyped as all-purpose or multi-purpose, Liquid Wrench knows that you need the right tool for the right job, so they make products for specific purposes that do those jobs better than the rest. Some of their products can be used for multiple purposes but most are designed for a specific range of uses.

Dry Lubricant

Liquid Wrench's Dry Lubricant is designed to lubricate without leaving any type of residue that will attract dust or dirt. Unlike most liquid lubricants, it leaves nothing damaging behind. It can be used without fear of harming most substances and fabrics that a liquid or grease lubricant would at the very least stain. Paper, leather, most plastics, most fabrics, glass, vinyl, wood, rubber, windows and things like painted surfaces won't be harmed by the use of this dry lubricant. That makes it ideal for things like hinges and swivels where a lubricant used could come into contact with any of those surfaces. Rollers, lock cylinders, glides and hinges are also other ideal uses for the product.

The solvents in the product that provide the lubrication evaporate fast and their lubricating properties remain in a dry film without residue.  It lasts a long time and resists washing away, and can also withstand a lot of heat so it's a great product for use in machinery to keep the parts sliding together and help the machines last longer.

Silicone Lubricant

The silicone spray lubricant is perfect for open-air applications like drawers and window runners, doors and locks. Some sports equipment and shop tools can also benefit from the silicone lubricant over other types of lubricants. For equipment that doesn't have parts that need to move very fast, this is the ideal product. It shouldn't be used in any application where there's not enough airflow to allow for fast evaporation.

Buy: Liquid Wrench Silicone Spray Lubricant

Penetrating Oil

Liquid Wrench's Penetrating Oil is versatile and dependable. The oil is best for things like corroded pipes and other metal fittings, rusted bolts, and any type of metal machinery or mechanism that is squeaking or gummed up. It's also good for cleaning certain things like guns or typewriters that need a heavy-duty application and aren't just lightly soiled. Mechanics and people who do a lot of do-it-yourself projects can find many uses for penetrating oils, like frozen joints and stripped out, rusted bolts and screws.

The lubricating oil and penetrating oil may seem similar to people who don't use them regularly but there are vast differences. The penetrating oil is designed to get into things and get behind rust and other corrosion to loosen it up and allow bolts to be removed and parts to move against each other again. The lubricating oil has a different, lighter formulation and is designed to simply lubricate and loosen things up that require a less heavy-duty approach.

Buy: Liquid Wrench Super Oil Penetrant Spray

Lubricating Oil

Their Lubricating Oil lubricates and keeps things from squeaking and creaking. It can also be used to loosen things like rusted bolts or other parts when the rust or other corrosion isn't particularly bad. It can be used as a light-duty penetrating oil and can clean things like guns and typewriters that don't need the heavy-duty power of Liquid Wrench's Penetrating Oil. This oil is particularly formulated to repel and absorb moisture and remain in place for a long time to provide optimum long-term lubrication.

It can be used to clean and lubricate things that penetrating oil is too heavy for like sewing machines, casters, zippers, air conditioners and moving parts of a variety of things that just need a little bit of help. It leaves a film behind that inhibits rust and moisture and can be used to help dry out certain things like wiring, spark plugs and engines. It's also safe to use around things like certain fabrics, rubber, paint or even leather.

Buy: Liquid Wrench Lubricating Oil

White Lithium Grease

The White Lithium Grease in Liquid Wrench's product line is for heavy-duty applications where the grease needs to stay in place for an extended period of time and is exposed to outdoor conditions. This leaves a thick coat wherever you put it and it won't melt and run or freeze. It's ideal for anything that's exposed to the weather but that needs to maintain lubrication to stay in top working order. Boats and trailer hitches are two examples of places where White Lithium Grease is ideal. Lawn and garden tractors and any sort of outdoor hinges exposed to the elements are also good candidates for this lubricant.

Buy: Liquid Wrench White Lithium Grease

Chain Lube

While Liquid Wrench's Lubricating Oil can be used on things like chains, their chain lube is specifically designed to be perfect for just that application. It's a new and improved formula that won't leave a residue or any sort of grease behind and is just the right weight for things like motorcycle, bicycle and other vehicle chains as well as vehicle cables and wire cables. Even things like garage door chains can benefit from use of Chain Lube over other lubricants. It does the job of preventing corrosion and reducing friction so that the chain or cable works better but it won't corrode old chains or damage things like rubber O-rings.

Buy: Liquid Wrench Industrial Chain Lube

Liquid Wrench's motto is that "there's a wrench for every job." And their new and improved formulation in six of their top products helps to make their products the only "wrenches" you might need for any jobs. The products do what they say they do, and are precisely formulated to offer maximum lubrication, penetration or protection so that you won't have to jump from product to product just to get that one bolt undone or silent that squeak. The products work and if you make them the first you reach for, you'll find that you don't need to look for anything else.

Originally posted 2010-03-16 17:28:31. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Online Stores ]]> http://www.handymanfixhomerepair.com/a-liquid-wrench-for-every-job/feed/ 0 Skil 18V Circular Saw Product Review http://www.handymanfixhomerepair.com/skil-18v-circular-saw-product-review/ http://www.handymanfixhomerepair.com/skil-18v-circular-saw-product-review/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 02:54:12 +0000 keira http://www.handymanfixhomerepair.com/?p=735 circularsawThis review is for the Skil 18v, which is a cordless circular saw that comes in the Skil combo kit #2895LI-20. The saws own model number is 5995. The 5995 has very good stats for a homeowner/do-it-yourselfer’s circular saw. The 0 load rpm is 4200, and the unit only weighs about 5lbs. At first glance the saw had us a bit skeptical since it only had a 5 3/8” blade, and made use of a 1.3A battery. We had little hope for this to be a useful tool, but after some use n the shop, we found that our assumptions were quite wrong.

The saw has a D-handle on top that gives the user quite a bit of control over cuts. Coupled with the light weight of the saw, this affords for some pretty good accuracy. So basically what Skil pulled off here was a very good saw for the occasional user or homeowner who does not use a saw often, and needs that extra precision and control afforded by being lighter. The only thing we felt could use help was the saws bevel cutting ability, but being a 5 3/8”, there is not much that can be done.

In testing, we started out nice and easy. We had three things in mind that we wanted to test: ease of handling, how clean the cuts it made were, and how much battery would be left after an 8 foot cut. We chose some 1/2 inch plywood to start with. As expected, the saw cut the plywood with ease. Next up, we tried some 3/4 inch plywood. Again, the saw made short work of the plywood. Numerous cuts were made, and we even put extra pressure on the saw while cutting along with trying to turn the saw side to side while cutting to get it to bog down, but it took the abuse in stride. Quite a good deal of plywood was cut on a single battery charge. If it can handle that abuse, then it will work just as well with a homeowner taking their time to make good cuts.

Without going into further boring details, we put this saw through quite a bit of testing, and it did nothing but shine. Probably the most impressive thing this saw did was cut an 8 foot long 4x4 lengthways. It made the entire cut, despite extra pressure being put on it, and still had battery left at the end. We did manage to get it to bog down a bit, but the amount of pressure we applied is likely far more than any homeowner would actually use. Despite being cordless and a 5 3/8 inch saw, it powered through like a soldier, running smooth even in thicker cuts. So if you need a circular saw for home use but do not like sticker shock, give this saw a look.

Buy: Skil 5850-03 7-1/4 Inch 18V 120V Circ Saw Kit USA

Photo Credits: Dugbee

Originally posted 2009-08-28 03:41:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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