We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of our links. The LA Times editorial staff was not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more

Featured
A new component is quickly emerging as a must-have addition for blenders — the travel jar. Travel jars offer the convenience of blending and enjoying your favorite drinks on the go. With their compact size and secure lids, these portable containers make it easier than ever to maintain a healthy lifestyle while keeping up with your busy schedule.
April 01, 2024
Bestcovery has tested several blenders over the past few weeks to help you find the best one for your home. If you still don't know which one to get, we’ve got another comparison for you! Below is my honest review and comparison of the Blendtec GO Travel Bottle and Base and the Beastmode blender by Beast. Whether you’re looking for convenience, versatility, or durability, we’ll break down the features of both options to help you make the right choice.
March 22, 2024
When it comes to finding the right blender for your needs, there are many options to choose from. From small compact blenders to high-powered, professional-grade models, every blender has its own features and capabilities. To help you find the perfect blender, Bestcovery put popular ones to the test! Below is my honest review of the Beast Blender, including what I liked, what could be improved, and whether or not I’d recommend it.
March 12, 2024
Most Popular
  • Are you on the hunt for a new blender but having a hard time making a decision? Feeling overwhelmed with choices? If so, you’ve come to the right place! Vitamix and Blendtec stand as major contenders in the blender market, so Bestcovery put them to the test. Check out my honest review and comparison below to determine which one truly reigns supreme in this ultimate blender showdown.
    February 23, 2024
  • In today's fast-paced world full of busy schedules, even essential tasks like oral hygiene can sometimes get rushed or overlooked. The Y-Brush Electric Toothbrush offers a promising solution to this common problem. Unlike traditional toothbrushes that recommend a full two-minute brushing session, the Y-Brush only takes 20 seconds to do the job.
    December 01, 2023
  • There's nothing quite like the feeling of a new pair of leggings, especially when you find one that fits just right. Athleta and Lululemon, two major companies in the athletic apparel industry, claim to have the best leggings. They're both popular brands with thousands of good reviews, but which one is better? We decided to settle the debate ourselves! We tested a pair of leggings from both brands to help you decide which one is worth investing in.
    October 13, 2023
  • The world of adhesive is vast and sprawling, but the king of the hill has to be epoxy. There is a special kind of epoxy for every application from simple, wooden joinery to plugging leaks in boat hulls. Choose the right one and the end result will be a joint or repair that is both strong and astoundingly long lived.We've narrowed down our selections to the most commonly-encountered types of epoxy, though this is not meant to be an exhaustive list of every type of epoxy that exists. Our recommendations take into consideration the overall effectiveness of each best epoxy in 2022, value for money, availability both off- and online, user reviews, and personal experiences with each.The following categories are represented below:Best All-Purpose EpoxyBest Wood EpoxyBest Metal EpoxyBest Plastic EpoxyBest Putty EpoxyBest Waterproof EpoxyWhere applicable, we've included multiple recommendations for your convenience. All of the epoxies selected here are great products, so it ultimately comes down to personal preference.
    February 03, 2016
Home
  • Torque wrenches are precision instruments, used to ensure that nuts and bolts are properly tightened in automotive engines, aviation and industrial applications. They provide a means of measuring the amount of force applied to the fastener, in order to tighten it. Without this measurement, there is no sure way of verifying that these fasteners have been properly tightened. If you’ve ever tightened up something just finger tight on your car engine and then forgotten about it; you probably have experienced the bolt or nut loosen up fairly quickly when the car was started. Since there is no opposing force to cause the nut or bolt to remain tightened, it is easy for it to become loose. However, a properly tightened bolt or nut won’t come loose, even after many hours of operation. The way that nuts and bolts work is that when tightened they put pressure, called “clamping force,” on the items they are holding together. As those items are more massive than the hardware holding them together, they push back, actually stretching the bolt microscopically. It is this stretching which prevents the bolt from coming loose. The stretching is like stretching a spring, allowing the bolt head and the nut to maintain pressure on the sides of whatever they are holding. There is a strong element of friction involved in fastener holding power. The friction between the head of the bolt or the side of the nut and the object they are holding, prevent the bolt head or nut from turning. As long as there is enough clamping force to maintain that friction, they won’t budge. While tightening fasteners to the proper torque is the way that we ensure that there is enough clamping force, this clamping force can change due to the type of finish on the fasteners and whether or not the fasteners have been previously used. The threads of a nut and bolt pair which has been tightened and loosened a number of times (without rusting) become somewhat polished by the pressure. This will increase the amount of clamping force applied each time, if tightened to the same torque. Nevertheless, the torque values which are used for nuts and bolts take into account the type of material used in the fastener, the hardness of that material and any surface coating. Engineers use pre-calculated tables, which take all of those factors into account, when specifying the proper torque to be used. Most torque wrenches today are “click type” wrenches, meaning that they make an audible click when the fastener is tightened to a pre-determined torque. The torque desired can be set electronically, with a mechanical digital readout or with a vernier, depending upon the design of the torque wrench. Generally speaking, the electronic ones are considered the best, as they are the easiest to set and work with. Vernier calipers require knowing how to work with a vernier. Torque wrenches which have a dial or needle and gauge aren’t really torque wrenches, but rather torque meters. While it is possible to use them to tighten a fastener to the right torque value, it is extremely hard to do so accurately. Torque is measured in foot-pounds or inch-pounds. Conversion from foot-pounds to inch-pounds is simple; all you have to do is multiply the foot-pounds by 12. One foot pound is one pound of pressure applied over a lever, where the force is applied one foot form the fulcrum or rotational point. So, if you have two torque wrenches, one that is one foot long and the other that is two feet long, and apply the same amount of pressure, the actual torque would be different. That one pound of force would become two ft-lbs of torque with the two foot long torque wrench. When selecting a torque wrench, it is important to verify that he tool will cover the entire torque range that you will be setting. A torque wrench that has a maximum torque value of 120 ft-lbs. won’t do you a bit of good, if you have to torque a nut to 150 ft-lbs. Having all torque ranges you need may require having more than one torque wrench, although it is possible to get one torque wrench which will cover all needed torque values for working on a car engine. Check out our list of the best torque wrenches in 2022.
    February 03, 2016
  • Every workshop needs a workbench... or two or three. While some people like to build their own, it’s a lot faster and easier to buy a kit or one that’s ready to go. This also ensures that you’ll have a workbench that’s going to hold up under heavy-duty use, as sometimes DIY projects don’t go as planned.The workbench is the center of the workshop, providing a place to work on projects, set your parts when you’re not working with them, store tools, and whatever else needs to be done. Without a workbench, you’re stuck with trying to find somewhere else to work, and often that somewhere is someplace that’s going to upset your partner!Picking a workbench can be tricky, especially for those of us engaged in a variety of different projects. Check out our list of the best workbenches in 2022 and the buyer's guide below for some things to look for in your ideal workbench before making a selection.
    February 02, 2016
  • If a guy’s only going to have one shop tool in his workshop, it’s going to be a table saw. While other stationary power tools are useful, a table saw is all but indispensible. Oh, you can do many of the cuts that people use a table saw for with a circular saw, but you can’t do them with anywhere near the accuracy; especially if you’re trying to get a straight cut. The table saw is a very versatile tool. Although designed predominantly for ripping wood, it can also be used for crosscutting and miter cuts. All of them come with both a fence for ripping and a miter gauge for crosscutting and miter cuts. Some people pooh-pooh the table saw’s ability to do accurate crosscutting, but I’d beg to differ with them. I won’t argue that it’s easier to do accurate crosscuts with a miter saw or radial arm saw, but I’ve done miter cuts accurately enough on a table saw, to be able to make picture frames with expensive moldings. That requires a level of accuracy that’s hard to meet with any tool. If you do a lot of miter cutting on your table saw, you may want to consider investing in a quality aftermarket miter gauge. Even the best of table saws have rather simple miter gauges. However, there are some excellent after-market models around, most of which are much larger and much more accurate than the typical manufacturer's miter gauge. Like many tools, table saws have evolved through the years. Today’s saws have many improvements over the saw that my daddy taught me on. They also tend to be more accurate, which is extremely important if you are doing any sort of cabinet work. Before looking for a table saw, you really have to decide what you want to use it for. If you don’t need that large rip capacity, then there’s really no reason to pay for it. On the other hand, buying a small saw, which doesn’t have the capacity you need, will leave you frustrated, and probably set you up for buying a larger saw later. Take a look and check out our list of the best table saws in 2022 and the buyer's guide on table saws below, before looking at the lists of reviews we have prepared for you. This will give you a much better idea of the various saws out there and what you should be looking for in them.
    February 02, 2016
  • Purchasing a ladder can be a bit of a daunting task. On one hand, you want a ladder that you know will be strong enough to hold you up no matter what job you’re working on. On the other hand, you don’t want to pay a lot without sacrificing quality. The decision, ultimately, comes down to what you wish to use the ladder for. Will you be using it for general-purpose jobs around the home? Will you be using it in your garage? Will you be using it to gain access to your attic? The types of jobs you do, factor into what type of ladder you purchase. We have different lists available for a variety of best ladders in 2022 depending on what type you need. Rest assured that every ladder on the following list is the best of the best in each category.
    February 02, 2016
  • More than anything, reciprocating saws are demolition tools. There’s no finesse, no fine line of accuracy, and most of all, no “finish cuts” with a reciprocating saw. When you need to take something down quickly, a reciprocating saw will do it faster than anything else, except maybe a chain saw. These saws are often referred to by their nickname, “Sawzall.” This is the name that Milwaukee Tools gave their first reciprocating saw, and it seems to have stuck pretty well. While Milwaukee is still the champ of the Sawzall, there are plenty of other contenders to look at. Because these are specialty saws, most do-it-yourselfers have a hard time justifying their purchase. In that case, you might want to consider looking at the best reciprocating saws in 2022 that we have listed. While these are not as heavy-duty as the professional models, for the homeowner who occasionally needs to take something apart or cut up a fallen tree limb, they’re plenty. We’ve also included a helpful buyer’s guide below to take some of the guesswork out of your search.
    February 02, 2016
Health & Beauty
  • Most women desire a thick and lengthy pair of eyelashes. Unfortunately, we are not all blessed with such a luscious set. This, however, does not mean your only option is to wear false lashes. In fact, many people who use eyelash growth serum soon find that they no longer have a need to rely on the fake ones, and can flaunt their natural eyelashes when they go out. Looking to increase the growth of your eyelashes? Then this list of the Best Eyelash Growth Serums in 2022 is definitely for you.
    July 29, 2021
  • As your body ages, you become more prone to illness and other conditions. This is normal, but the experience can not only be inconvenient but also downright painful for some people. This is the case for those that suffer from arthritis, a condition in which involves the inflammation of joints.One of the most common forms of arthritis is known as gout, which is an especially painful form that typically affects one joint at a time. Because it's being concentrated in a single location, there are quite a few products out there that help with relieving the pain. One such product is gout relief cream, a substance applied on the surface of the skin to relieve this associated discomfort.To help you out, here are three of the best gout relief creams on the market in 2022, along with a buyer's guide to help you with your research.
    July 27, 2021
  • Yoga and meditation are known for posture enhancement and strength, but relaxation and stress relief are important reasons a lot of people enjoy the practice as well. None of these benefits are possible without proper equipment. In this guide, you will find the best yoga pillows in 2022 for better alignment, strength, and relaxation. Whether you are a beginner or advanced yogi, there is a yoga pillow to suit your meditation style, height, and flexibility. Support props such as yoga pillows are especially important for those who are less flexible, pregnant, or injured. Here are our top picks.
    July 27, 2021
  • Electrolytes play a vital role in sustaining human health. They regulate primary body functions such as muscle function, internal pH, hydration, nervous system function, digestion, and many other metabolic activities. Our bodies maintain electrolyte balance under normal circumstances, but sometimes, electrolyte deficiency may develop - and in such cases, electrolyte supplements are prescribed.Electrolyte supplements are exactly what they sound like - products that augment the electrolyte levels of the human body. They're used during spells of vomiting, sweating, diarrhea, intense exercise, heavy drinking, and other activities that lead to the excessive loss of electrolytes.Since you will be ingesting these products, you must make safe and effective choices – and we have the best electrolyte supplements in 2022 that fit the bill. In addition to a list of the best electrolyte supplements in 2022, this buyer's guide will also enlighten you on everything you must know about these supplements before buying one.
    July 27, 2021
  • From nerve damage to spine conditions due to chronic diseases, there are many health issues that can cause nerve pain or neuropathy. Burning, stabbing, prickling, and tingling are some of the sensations you can experience when you feel nerve pain. It can be extremely uncomfortable and sometimes hard to bear if not controlled. In most cases, it is a generalized feeling most of the time with no clear source of pain, making it harder to cope with.While there is no definitive cure for nerve pain, it can be treated. One of the more reliable ways to treat neuropathy is through nerve pain supplements because they can alleviate the symptoms and help with recovery. In this guide, we have reviewed the seven best nerve pain supplements of 2022 that can effectively relieve your nerve pain.
    July 26, 2021