Yard and Garden
CRITTERS
Moles: Are maddening moles tearing up your yard? Let them choke on chewing gum, run from repellent, find a famine, get a noose around their necks or skedaddle to a newer lawn.
DECKS/PORCHES
Joist hangers: Building a deck or porch? Here's an easy way to get joist hangers to fit snugly, squarely and evenly against rim joists and/or ledger boards.
Removing long joists alone: If you need to remove a long joist single-handedly, here's an easy way you can do it by yourself without any help.
FALL
Splitting wood: Skip the ax! Harness the power and majesty of a hydraulic cylinder. They're powerful machines and dangerous when used improperly. Be sure to follow these safety tips.
GARDEN
Strawberries: If you hull them on the vine like the pros, you'll save lots of time in the kitchen -- especially if you plan to make jam or freeze them for smoothies. Learn this technique.
GRILLING
Charcoal chimney starter, Part 1: Start your charcoal for outdoor cooking quickly with this charcoal chimney starter. All you need are a few things from around the house.
Charcoal chimney starter, Part 2: Here's how a charcoal chimney starter works and how to use it. The metal gets very hot -- and the handle can, too! Use hot pads or oven mitts.
Fix your grill's igniter. If the igniter or electronic ignition on your grill isn't working, try this simple fix -- which is not often mentioned in the owner's manual.
Protect your grill from rust. Tired of discarding your rusty outdoor gas grills after only a couple of years? Guard against rust and protect your investment with this simple procedure.
LAWNMOWERS
Tuneup Part 1: Make sure your lawnmower blade stays sharp. A dull blade will tear the grass and expose it to disease. Hardware stores also provide this service for a minimal charge.
Tuneup Part 2: If your lawnmower has a four-cycle engine, you'll need to change the oil regularly. If you don't, you could end up changing your lawnmower regularly!
Tuneup Part 3: Changing the air filter will help keep your mower operating at peak efficiency. You may be able to remove dirt buildup with compressed air.
Tuneup Part 4: Don't forget to lubricate your mower's moving parts. It's a simple but often overlooked task and can prevent trouble -- such as rusted or broken parts -- down the road.
Tuneup Part 5: Change the spark plug in seconds using a spark plug socket wrench and a spark plug gap gauge. Spark plugs are available at your home center or hardware store.
Winter mowing: Mow the lawn in January? In Michigan? No kidding! It's the middle of winter, and there is not a drop of snow on the ground. You'll have to see it to believe it!
PATIO
Pella Sliding Patio Door Screen: Do you find the written instructions a bit confusing? See step by step how to easily install your Pella sliding door screen (Rolscreen).
Pella Sliding Patio Door Screen Latch: Sooner or later, this little $50 plastic latch on your Pella sliding door screen will break. Make this replacement yourself from a mirror clip.
UNDERGROUND SPRINKLING
Winterize your sprinkler system: Get your self-draining underground sprinkling system set for winter! (This is NOT for systems that must be "blown out" with compressed air.)
WINTER
Snowblower: Change the oil in your snowblower (4-cycle engines). It's less complicated than it looks, but you may need to use a little ingenuity. Sometimes, draining the oil can be messy.
Splitting wood: Skip the ax! Harness the power and majesty of a hydraulic cylinder. The log splitter is powerful (and dangerous machine if used improperly). Follow these safety tips.