Home

Good paint brushes will provide excellent service for years, that is, if they’re properly taken care of. Proper cleaning and wrapping of a brush is an essential part of making sure that it will be usable for the next several years; but not everyone cleans their brushes properly. Granted, having to stop basking in the joy of just having finished an interior decorating project, to clean your brushes isn't exactly something to bring joy to the heart. Many people put off cleaning their brushes but unfortunately, the longer you put it off, the harder those brushes are to clean. Leave them sitting long enough and they hard as a rock. Modern acrylic/latex paints are much easier to clean out of paint brushes than oil-based paints are. All that's required most of the time is some warm water and a little bit of dish soap. But if the brush has been dipped too far into the paint, allowed to sit with paint in it or used in a hot environment  where paint hardens quickly, they can be extremely hard to clean. In those cases, a brush cleaner may be needed. The problem isn't usually the paint that's on the ends of the bristles or even the paint which hardens on the outside of them. Rather, it's the paint that works its way up into the center of the bristles, close to the ferrule that holds the bristles and handle together. When this paint hardens, it eliminates the bristles' flexibility making it very easy for them to break. Even brushes with paint hardened up close to the ferrule can be salvaged, if one has the patience to work with them. Brush cleaners will soften that paint, allowing it to be cleaned out. Since the bristles are packed so close together, cleaning out that softened paint takes time, working them with a brush comb. As the brush comb pulls out the softened paint, the bristles will become more pliable. Once all the paint is pulled out (which takes quite a bit of work) the bristles can be cleaned with soap and warm water to remove the chemical cleaner. Not all chemical cleaners are created equal. Some clearly work better than others and some are limited in the types of paint they will work with. It's important to know what type of paint the brush has in it, before selecting a cleaner. Professional painters use different types of brushes for different types of paint, so this identification is easy for them. Most homeowners attempt to use the same type of brush for everything, so you'll have to look at the paint can labels to find out what type of paint you used. After cleaning any paint brush, it should be wrapped in the original wrapper, so that it can maintain a good shape. High quality brushes come with wrappers which are designed to be reusable for this very reason. If you don't have the original wrapper, you can wrap them instead in newspapers, being careful to shape the bristles correctly to form a nice wedge.For more information on what to look at in selecting the best brush cleaner in 2022, We have listed below the brush cleaner available for you to help you decide what product is best to buy.

The process of soldering differs from welding in that it connects two pieces of metal together by melting a third piece of metal, one with a lower melting point. Welding, on the other hand, actually requires melting the metal that is being connected together. While additional metal might be added to the weld joint, it is of the same type that is being connected together. Soldering can actually be used for a variety of purposes, such as "sweating" copper plumbing pipe together and making jewelry. However, when we’re talking about using a soldering iron, we aren't talking about those types of soldering. To solder plumbing pipe or jewelry, a torch is used. Although large soldering irons were used in the past by a tinsmith, in our modern era, the only thing a soldering iron is used for is making electrical connections. The main reason why a soldering iron is used for electrical soldering rather than a torch is to localize the heat, controlling it so that it can't damage the components. While you could probably solder wires together with a torch, if you were to try and solder a printed circuit card with one, you would destroy it. As electronic technology has improved over the years, there has been a need to improve the quality of soldering irons used for working on its components. The copper traces on modern circuit boards are much smaller than those found on electrical equipment manufactured 30 years ago. This means that the soldering irons must have better temperature control, as well as a smaller tip. A large tip or too hot a soldering iron could burn the board, detaching the copper traces. Professional soldering irons used in industry are fairly expensive devices, often costing several hundred dollars. The main advantage of these tool is that they provide very accurate and adjustable temperature control. This allows the user to set the ideal temperature for the work they’re doing and be assured it will maintain that temperature within a very small tolerance. For consumers, these soldering irons are a bit too much. I have one, which I've had for over 25 years, and it works remarkably well. But most of the soldering I do doesn't require that good a soldering iron, even when I'm repairing electronic equipment. On the other end of the spectrum, there are inexpensive pencil type soldering irons with no temperature control whatsoever. The only control there is comes from the rating of the heating element. A higher wattage heating element will put out more heat than a lower wattage one. These inexpensive soldering irons aren't good enough for working on printed circuit boards but if all you are going to do is to solder wires together, they’re adequate for the task. When selecting a soldering iron, you must select one appropriate to the purpose for which you’re going to use it. Always buy one adequate for your most critical task because that way it will work for less critical tasks as well. In this list, we are going to concentrate on soldering irons suitable for work on printed circuit boards, as selecting one for this application is harder than selecting an inexpensive one for simply soldering wires together. There are three basic power sources for soldering irons; plugging them into the wall, batteries, or butane. While plugging in a soldering iron is less convenient, these soldering irons are the best for working on sensitive electronics, as they are the ones which provide ideal temperature control. Battery operated soldering irons don't work well as they go through batteries quickly and as the battery is used, the iron temperature drops. Butane models are good for emergency repairs in places where there is no electrical power, but one must be careful about damaging electronics with them. We've compiled the best soldering irons in 2022.

The best time to shop for a gas furnace is before cold weather hits so that you’re not forced to make a quick decision. While those who live in mild climates may have the luxury of shopping around— even in the winter— people in the colder areas will want their furnace in place well before any cold spell. Gas furnaces are a considerable monetary investment and must also be installed correctly, so it’s important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the furnace models you are considering.The following gas furnaces are not central units and instead are suited for more localized heating. We've selected furnaces that are relatively simple to install, although local codes and regulations may create their own challenges and not everyone will be comfortable doing the installation themselves. These furnaces range in price to suit every budget and nearly all of the following gas furnaces can be converted to use either natural gas or propane, expanding your options. Check out our list of the best gas furnaces in 2022 below.

Most do-it-yourself types and woodworkers look at glue guns as something for their wives to use for crafts projects. Nevertheless, all one has to do is look at how many ways hot melt glue is used in industry to realize how versatile it is. We find glue used for everything including electronics assembly, packaging, and furniture manufacturing. Hot melt glue has one major advantage over just about any other type of adhesive you can use and that’s its quick set-up time. Clamping of items glued together with hot melt glue is measured in seconds, not hours. The parts can literally be put together by hand and held for a few seconds while the adhesive sets up. Since hot melt glues are actually solid adhesives that are melted, they come out of the gun as a thick gel. This makes it possible to use the glue as a filler, when connected rough or uneven surfaces together. Unlike some adhesives, hot melt glue doesn't lose strength by being applied heavily. The gun provides the ability to apply the adhesive exactly where needed, in the exact quantity desired. This helps eliminate problems with damaged finishes, a common problem if adhesives get into the wood grain before the finish is applied. In situations where too much adhesive is applied, the excess adhesive can be cut off with a sharp knife. Parts connected together with hot melt glues can be machined. There are many different types of commercially available adhesives for use with the best glue guns in 2022. Typically, the only glues found in retail outlet are semi-transparent glue sticks used for crafts projects. In addition, there are glue sticks which have been developed for use on just about any type of substrate. If you’re considering using your glue gun with any of these types of glue sticks, you will want one that takes full-sized sticks as they don't come in the mini size. Heat guns vary considerably, ranging in price up to a couple of thousand dollars but most of us have only seen the low-cost consumer units. These are great for crafts projects, but may not be enough for heavy-duty applications. If you are working on a project where a lot of adhesive would be needed, you would be better served by buying one of the lower-cost industrial units, rather than a consumer unit. The higher heat output of these units allows them to melt much more adhesive, an essential when trying to glue large surfaces together. When looking at a glue gun, you want to match the model to your intended use. For those who need a lot of glue volume, the higher wattage units are much better. If you are using it for craft projects, where you may be gluing multiple parts together, a dual temperature unit would allow you to use a higher temperature glue for the first glue joints and a lower temperature glue for later joints. Trigger design on these guns is rather important, as the pressure you apply to the trigger is what pushes the glue through the heating element and out of the gun. A larger and wider trigger reduces fatigue from using the gun, especially when using it for longer periods of time. Some guns come with a built-in stand. While not absolutely necessary, these are a great convenience. For units that do not come with a stand, it is common to just lay them down on the work surface.

Heat guns aren't really one of the first tools that most people think of when stocking a workshop, but they’re surprisingly useful tools. You can think of a heat gun as an industrial strength hair dryer, providing more heat and air volume. Of course, that means that they consume more electricity as well so you want to be careful of what else you have one of these units plugged in with. Probably the most common use of heat guns in the home workshop is for stripping paint and varnish. Rather than use chemical strippers, many people prefer a heat gun. The gun softens the finish, allowing it to be scraped off the surface with a putty knife. Heat guns are also useful for removing linoleum floor covering or pretty much anything held in place with an adhesive or mastic. The heat from the gun softens the adhesive, just as it does with paint. This allows tile or whatever else to be scraped off. The only limitation is that you can't use it with wallpaper, as there's a good chance of catching it on fire. There are many other places where these tools can be useful, such as shrinking heat shrinkable tubing for wires, forming PVC pipe and thawing out frozen pipes. You can even use it for welding plastic. Once you have a heat gun, it seems that uses for it just seem to keep showing up. The key to an effective heat gun is of course how much heat it can put out. First of all, there's the power consumption of the gun as all but a very small amount of that power is being converted from electrical energy to heat energy by the electrical coil itself. The other major factor is airflow; the more air flowing through the gun, the less the heating coil can heat it up. While a large airflow is desirable, if it’s too large, then it reduces the actual output temperature. All of the guns I've selected have a maximum output temperature of at least 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. That's usually enough for most applications. Some of the guns provide you with temperature control circuitry and a LCD readout of the temperature you've selected. Others just have a high/low switch for you to select the approximate temperature range you want. Before selecting a gun, think of how you are going to use it. If you are mostly using it for heat shrinkable tubing, you don't need all that much heat or airflow but you do need a gun that concentrates the heat in a small area. If you're using it for stripping paint and tile, you're going to want a lot of heat and airflow. So, understanding how you are going to use it will help you pick the best gun for your needs. Check out our list of the best heat guns in 2022.

The earliest patent for a tape measure was awarded in 1922. These early models were imprinted on cloth and were intended more for use by the clothing industry, but shortly afterward metal tape measures came into being for use by carpenters and other tradesmen, using a spring return patented a half-century earlier. Before the tape measure, carpenters used a folding rule. While effective, it was difficult to perform inside measurements with the folding rule and it was limited to six feet in length. If a carpenter needed to make a longer measurement, he had to measure it in pieces and add them together. Anyone who's ever done that knows that every time you add another measurement, you reduce your accuracy. Today, we have both metal and cloth tape measures available. Cloth is still in use by the clothing industry, but also for some longer tape measures (50 and 100 feet) used in the construction industry. Metal retractable tape measures have become the standard for construction work, as they are faster and easier to use than cloth ones. These steel tape measures now come in sizes ranging from three-foot-long pocket measures to 100-foot-long reels. The most common size for the construction trades is 25 feet, which is long enough to cross most good sized rooms. Blades are curved across their width, in order to provide rigidity. The wider the measuring tape, the more rigid the blade which makes it easier for one person to use on their own because if the blade is too flexible, it will buckle as it’s being extended, especially when having to support itself across a span. For the measurement to be accurate, the blade must be straight, not buckled. The end of most steel tape measures has a sliding hook on it, allowing it to be used with equal accuracy, whether measuring inside or outside dimensions. The hook slides to the appropriate position for the measurement. These hooks are held in place by four rivets on some tape measures, but better quality ones use four rivets. One very important feature of any tape measure is the locking mechanism. Since the tape is spring-loaded to return back into the case, a worker would have to hold the tape in place with one hand without a lock. Not all locks are created equal and any tape measure with a lock that doesn't work well ends up being more trouble than it's worth.  The tape itself is marked in inches and fractions with this varying considerably from manufacturer to manufacturer, with some being easier to read than others. Tape measures designed with carpenters in mind will have an obvious marking every 16 inches for stud spacing. A few tape measures come with both inch and metric markings, but that is rather rare. When using multiple tape measures on one project such as in construction, always do a side-by-side comparison of their markings before beginning the work. Some may vary from others, causing problems when one person is measuring the place where a piece of wood needs to be installed and another is marking the wood to be cut. Taking a moment to make this comparison can save a lot of wasted material. Check out our list of the best tape measures in 2022.

Anyone who's ever done any construction remodeling or tried to hang a shelf on the wall understands the value of being able to find a stud. If you can't find a stud in the wall to put your nails into, whatever you're trying to build is just going to fall down. Not all that long ago, the only stud finders you could find were magnetic. Magnetic stud detectors don't really find the studs, rather they find the nails used to hold the drywall to the studs. That means you not only have to find the stud horizontally, but the nail vertically. You could pass one inch above or below that nail and never find it. I remember many a frustrated time looking for a nail that way, but it was still better than tapping on the wall and trying to guess where the stud was hiding. Modern stud locators are a whole lot better than those old magnetic jobs because they don't just sense the nail, but the stud as well. But they'll go even farther than that, as they sense any solid mass behind the wall thicker than just the drywall. Some modern sensors also sense plumbing pipe or electrical wires but rarely will a stud sensor find both unless they are right up against the wallboard because they work by different means. Sensing plumbing is usually done by infrared while sensing wiring is done by the voltage going through the wires. Thus, it takes two separate circuits to sense both of them. There are also new sensors which will sense deeper than just the drywall and what's immediately behind it. Some of them will sense as deep as 4 inches, helping prevent you from putting a nail into a pipe or cutting a wire with a sawzall. Most of these sensors let you know when they've found a stud or other object by a combination of flashing LEDs and sound. A few have LCDs, but really don't give that much more information via the screen although some will let you know when you're getting close to the stud via the screen. Those that don't have a screen do this by a series of LEDs, which "count down" to the edge. Any of these best stud finders in 2022 will do an excellent job for you but each is unique in the features each unit offers. Picking the right one is mostly deciding which will be easier for you to work with, as well as taking into consideration any special needs like locating wires. More expensive units aren't necessarily more sensitive, but may present the information in an easier to use manner.

The knife is the oldest manufactured tool known to humans. Before that, all we had to work with were rocks and sticks. But after learning how to chip a knife blade from rock, we were well on the way towards the industrial age. Humanity’s creativity and curiosity would take that skill of making a knife and turn it into a myriad of tools.The knife is still one of the most common and useful tools. Many other tools we use, such as saws, are based, in some way, upon the knife. In a sense, they are nothing more than an improvement on that original stone knife which was able to cut different materials in different ways, but always depending on the sharp edge it gave us.Today, many types of utility knives are available to us. Many specialized knives are created for a specific purpose. However, there are general-purpose knives carried by people of all walks of life, typically just to have a knife handy in case of need.The utility knife falls into this category, being a general-purpose knife, designed for use by tradesmen of all types. Pretty much all construction trades offer opportunities where a good knife comes in handy even if it's for nothing more than opening packages of material. In fact, carrying a utility knife has become de rigor for workers in the construction trades. Many homeowners have them as well for those times when they are pretending to be carpenters or electricians.What makes a utility knife stand out from other types of knives is the replaceable blade. The thin blade is pointed on both ends so that it can be reversed when one side becomes dull. This is a great time-saver over having to stop and sharpen a blade. While the replaceable blades may not be as high quality as a high carbon steel blade, their thin profile and sharp point make them excellent for their purpose.Traditionally, utility knives have been designed so that the blade is retractable so they are safe to carry yet easy to use. However, the retracting mechanism does have an inherent weakness of not being strong enough so it’s often easy for the blade to be pushed back into the handle, especially with the lower cost knives.Many companies have now switched over to a folding utility knife design, some with locking blades. This may not be as convenient to work with but it ensures the blade will stay extended during use. As the knife blade is not designed for stabbing, there’s little chance of the knife folding, even without a blade lock mechanism.On-board storage for extra blades is also common, as it allows the tradesman to continue working, without having to go back to their toolbox or truck in search of blades. When a blade becomes dull, it is merely flipped end for end or replaced. Some of the better utility knives now offer tool-free blade changing, replacing the screw lock for a different sort of locking mechanism.Regardless, we've put together a list of what we consider to be the top five utility blades on the market right now. Check out the list below to pick the right one for you!

Duct tape is the number one repair material for a wide variety of situations. The combination of strength, adhesion and ease of use duct tape offers has made it literally the tape of 1,000 uses. It has been used for everything including patching clothes, patching wounds, building a cardboard fort for kids to play in and even building suspension bridges. This product has literally become an American icon in the century it has existed. The very first thing that could be called duck tape was strips of duck cloth which were wrapped around the steel suspension cables for the Brooklyn Bridge. By 1910, those strips of duck cloth were coming with adhesive on one side, making it into what we know as duct tape. During World War II, a number of uses were discovered for this “miracle material”. Tape was still a relatively new invention, so people were experimenting with it all over. Johnson & Johnson made an adhesive version of duct tape for use in sealing ammo cans against moisture. One requirement of the tape was that it could be ripped by hand, rather than needing to be cut. Soon thereafter, soldiers in the field started finding a number of ways of using this great tape, including for binding up the wounded. The duck tape name, prompted by the material that it was made from, stuck around until the 1950s, when it started being used for wrapping air ducts in HVAC systems. The silver-grey color of the tape blended ideally with the ductwork and soon heat and cold resistant versions were on the market. Since the workers who make the ductwork were known as tin knockers, the tape became known as tin knocker tape. Later this was changed to duct tape. Duct tape is  a cloth tape coated on one side to make it waterproof with the opposite side coated with a heavy layer of strong adhesive which will stick to just about anything. Besides this, the tape can be ripped straight by hand, either longitudinally or crosswise, making it easy to use without scissors or a knife. Today's duct tape comes in a wide variety of colors and printed patterns. The colors allow you to blend it in with the surface to which it is attached, making the repair job less visible. Not only is it used for repairing just about anything, but it is decorative as well. You can find it printed in your favorite team logo and colors as well as a number of other whimsical patterns. When choosing a duct tape, the two most important characteristics are the adhesion and the physical strength. Most duct tape backing fabric is still very similar to the original duck cloth, so you don't really see a lot of difference in that regard. The adhesive, on the other hand, can vary greatly; with high quality tapes having much more adhesion than the lesser expensive ones, a major factor I've used in selecting the tapes on this list. Keep in mind that regardless of the color shown, most of these brands produce a variety of colors. That's especially true of the "Duck" brand of tape, which has more colors and patterns than anyone. Several of these manufacturers also produce a duct tape that's 2.88 inches wide, for those applications where you need extra width.For more information on what to look at in selecting the best duct tape in 2022, We have listed below the duct tapes available for you to help u to help you decide what product is best to buy.

The original hand tool that could do what a router does was called a molding plane. Molding planes were specific to a particular type of molding, with a carpenter needing separate planes for each profile they would cut. In carpenter shops, where there were several carpenters working, each carpenter would use the shop's "mother plane" to cut the base on their own plane, ensuring everyone else in the shop had the same profile. Considering that moldings for homes were cut and shaped on-site, this was important. It wasn't until Stanley came out with their model 45 molding plane in the late 1800s that anyone could cut more than one profile with a plane. The 45 came with an assortment of different bits, several of which could be combined in the plane at the same time. This gave the woodworker the ability to create just about any profile that they wanted. For some smaller projects, a carpenter or furniture maker would use a scratch stock, which was nothing more than a piece of broken saw blade that had been filed to match the necessary profile and mounted in a handle. Much of the beading done on antique furniture was done this way. In more recent times, the plane has been largely replaced by the router, especially for cutting moldings and profiles. Power routers began to be used in the early 1900s, but it wasn't until the 1950s that power routers with replaceable bits came into the marketplace. Today, routers and shapes are used for all types of molding work. The original router bits were made of high-speed steel. However, due to the high rotational speed of the router, the friction between the bit and the wood can generate a lot of heat. This can burn the wood, but it can also remove the temper from the bit, allowing it to dull rapidly. Today, router bits are almost exclusively made with tungsten carbide tips welded to the bits. This provides a much harder cutting edge that isn't affected as much by the heat, allowing it to retain its sharpness for much longer and cut much cleaner. Properly used and cared for, a carbide router bit can be used for years, without any loss in cutting quality. These router sets provide an assortment of bits, allowing you to cut a variety of different profiles. As a bit can often cut more than one profile, by using different parts of the bit or using it from a different angle, you have more profile possibilities than there are bits in a set. However, the more bits you have, the more possibilities it provides you. When selecting a router bit set, you are generally better off selecting a larger set for the increase in profiles it offers you. This must be compared to the overall quality of the bits, as some manufacturers are known for making higher quality bits than others. However, it’s hard to see the difference between the products of different companies. So you mostly have to go by reputation, when trying to select a particular set. Most of today's routers use 1/2 inch shank bits, with the exception of compact routers, which use 1/4 inch shank bits. The larger shank provides more support to the bit, reducing vibration and helping prevent any possibility of the bit becoming bent from the high amount of force placed on it. Larger bits, such as those used for making raised panels, will only come with 1/2 inch shanks, while smaller bits may come in both sizes. While we've listed all 1/2 inch sets, the manufacturers typically have similar sets available for both sizes, with the exception of the larger-sized bits. Check out our list of the best router bits in 2022 here.

One main component to keeping grilling fun and safe is the ability to see what you're doing. Grilling is normally a daytime endeavor but for some of us we want to extend the fun well into the evening. This list of best grill lights in 2022 was put together by looking at how each light stands up by first looking at the type of light because they come in a few varieties from florescent, halogen and LED. Second, we looked at what material the light is made of. For the most part these lights are going to be outside so we wanted to make sure they’ll stand up to the elements. Finally, we took into account their power supply, depending on where you are cooking your late night snack, you might not have a handy power outlet available.

Digital angle blocks are a relative newcomer on the tool scene, taking the place of a level in many instances. Like a digital level, they can give you an exact readout of an angle, off of horizontal or vertical, but are much more portable. Their compact design makes it possible to carry one in a pocket or tool pouch for use whenever needed. These devices are used for much more than carpentry, as they have worked their way into many other fields where precise angle measurement is needed. Digital angle blocks are used for custom automotive work, setting up saws and other tools, and even for aiming solar panels and satellite dishes. The fact they provide an accurate angle measurement gives them many possibilities for use. Digital angle blocks can be used either in an absolute mode, where they’re comparing themselves to a factory preset zero or a relative mode, and the user first sets a zero and then measures the angle. This second mode provides the capability of measuring the angle of difference between two planes, neither of which is exactly horizontal or vertical. Most of these units are less than 2-1/2 inches square and less than 1-1/2 inches thick although there are a few exceptions. Size is intentionally kept small for portability, however that does cause one disadvantage in that they measure the angle at the point where they are located. When used with warped or twisted lumber, they may not be as accurate as a level because they lack the natural averaging capability of the longer tool. The outer cases of these instruments are magnetized, allowing them to be attached to any ferrous metal object for measurement. If you are installing something with a steel frame and need an exact angle, simply attach the angle block via its magnets and adjust the frame until the right reading appears. This magnetic feature makes it possible to use these devices for setting the angle of table saw blades with extreme accuracy. As the technology for these devices has improved, some are starting to come out with an onboard level feature. A bubble diagram on the display shows you how close you are to level, giving a quick visual reference for leveling objects. Additionally, some of these tools have a hold button, allowing you to take a snapshot of the measurement and keep it in memory for later use. That feature is very handy when the angle block is used in a situation where you can’t see the display. Check out our list of the best digital angle blocks in 2022.

No matter if you’re just starting to cook or a seasoned professional, a meat thermometer can take your cooking to culinary greatness. The ability to accurately know the temperature of your meat is a huge plus in getting that perfect meal every time. It can keep you safe, as well, because undercooking meat and seafood can lead to serious food-borne illnesses.There are a few thermometers to gauge the temperature of your food. The probe type is left in your meat and the temperature is recorded to a separate device, the instant-read which is the common spike you see in most kitchens, and lastly the infrared which uses an infrared laser to gauge temperature.For this list, we’re going to focus on instant reads due to their versatility- probes are pretty specialized to mainly low and slow cooking, and infrared is handy for surface temperature only. We also took a look at how easy the temperature gauge is to read because what’s the point of using a cooking thermometer if you can't tell what it says? Finally, we took into consideration if the gauge was waterproof and easy to clean because the last thing you want is your thermometer transferring food-borne contaminants.

When we’re talking about digital protractors, we’re not discussing the kind you used to use in school for geometry. A geometry protractor is used for measuring an angle drawn on a piece of paper. As such, it really isn’t limited to size or configuration. About the only limitation is it’s possible to see through the protractor to the lines on the paper.Protractors used for carpentry work are used for measuring angles but these angles are on three dimensional objects. That limits the protractor quite a bit, as it needs to be able to fit inside or outside the angle. There is no integral means of determining the angle and in that sense, these tools are more a gauge than a measuring device.At its simplest level, a carpenter’s protractor consists of nothing more than those two legs, with a bolt and wingnut to hold them together. To use them, the two legs are placed against the two surfaces making the angle and the wingnut tightened to lock them in place. Once removed from the location, the angle between the two legs is measured or transferred directly to the piece to be cut. The protractor can also be used to set up tools for cutting operations. Once the angle is measured, the digital protractor can be placed against the blade and table of a saw, allowing the angle to be set exactly. While these digital protractors have everything simpler models do, they add a digital readout that measures and displays the angle formed by the two legs. This saves the step of measuring the angle of the protractor, while also increasing its accuracy. These digital protractors are a much more accurate means of measuring angles for carpentry, cabinetmaking, furniture making and general woodworking. Digital protractors come in different lengths and generally speaking, it’s easier to get an accurate measurement when using a longer one. However, long protractors can be limited by the spaces they will fit in. For some types of work, especially furniture making, shorter legs on the protractor might be advantageous. Besides size, the other major consideration when looking at a digital protractor is accuracy. While most units are more or less the same on this, low cost units might not be as accurate. Some low cost units have plastic legs, rather than metal ones, which could become more and more inaccurate over time. Check out our list of the best digital protactors in 2022.

Routers are rather unique in the world of woodworking tools, especially amongst handheld power tools. They are the only tool which is designed for shaping the wood, rather than cutting it. Granted, these tools cut the wood in order to shape it, but the focus tool is creating the profile, the shape. Many consider the router an “extra” tool, when compared to more “essential” ones. That depends on what type of woodworking you are doing. If your main thrust is rough carpentry, there is little chance that you would use a router. But if you are trying to do any sort of finish work and especially if you are making furniture, a router is essential. A router works by spinning a bit which cuts a profile in the wood. They are most commonly used to form profiles on the edge of the wood, but can also be used quite effectively for cutting a relief into the surface of the wood. They typically work at extremely high speeds, as the higher the speed the router works at, the smoother the cut. There are two basic categories of routers, ones with a fixed base and “plunge” models. The fixed base is used for cutting profiles in edges and the plunge base is used for cutting in the middle of a flat surface. Combo routers come with one motor but two bases, allowing you to use the same router for both purposes. This is a great money saver, especially for those who are buying their first router. The motor on these routers is of medium size, typically about 1.5 HP. In comparison, some detail routers have .25 HP motors and some heavy-duty profiling routers have motors as big as 3 HP. The 1.5 HP motor is big enough to use with pretty much any of the small to mid-sized router bits, but is too small for use with the larger router bits. Larger bits have a 1/2 inch shank, which would prevent them from being mounted in some of these routers, which only have a 1/4 inch collet. However, the more powerful ones have both 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch collets, allowing them to accept all router bits. Since these are all combo routers, they are very similar to one another. The biggest difference is going to be ease of use. Some manufacturers just seem to make their tools in such a way that they are easier to use than what others do. In addition to that, we want to take into consideration any differences in power, as well as overall tool quality. Check out our list of the best combo wood routers in 2022.

Smoke detectors are an essential part of any household and frequently mandated by law to be included in rental properties. Although many people associate smoke alarms with cheap units that go off way too often (especially if things go awry in the kitchen) modern alarms are generally sophisticated enough to tell when there's a real threat, reducing the amount of nuisance alarms.Alarms can vary quite widely in their performance and price, with higher-priced models often including detection for both smoke and carbon monoxide, as well as the ability to network alarms together for a more comprehensive household alarm system. These best smoke detectors in 2022 incorporate both audio and visual alarms, as well as the ability to detect smoldering fires, full flames, and carbon monoxide. They are also easy to install and test, while including a mute button to quickly handle any false alarms. Not all of our picks detect multiple types of threats due but all offer the reliable ability to detect a fire threat.

The barbecue is over and now it’s time to clean up the mess. Cleaning your grill can be a really tedious task, and you should be sure to do it often, but you need the right tools. A grill brush with a long handle, reliable bristle material, and durable build can be hard to come by, but that is why we're here. We have listed the best grill brushes of 2022 so you can have a sparkling-clean grill after each time you use it. Plus, we have created a helpful buyer's guide to aid you in your purchase.

Grilling is for the most part an outdoor endeavor and with that in mind, you’re going to need something to protect the investment you’ve made in your grill. We compiled our list of best bbq covers in 2022 by looking at the cover material itself,  the most important aspect of any quality grill cover. Next, having an inside lining was major plus, as it helps extend the life of the cover and keeps you from having to continually replace them. Finally we took a look at what extra features the cover has, it's always good to have vents, or pockets to help enhance the grilling e xperience.

BBQ Grills come in all shapes and sizes. Depending on what you are looking for, there is something just right for you. While many like the standard gas grill with the electronic ignition, others enjoy lighting the coals and watching them glow. Infrared best bbq grills in 2022 will help you churn out the tastiest, juiciest steaks in a fraction of the time, and disposable grills will let you cook a legitimate meal in the middle of nowhere without having to clean up after yourself. If you know what you want, or even if you don't; these lists will help you make up your mind.

Anyone who really uses a drill is bound to end up dulling their drill bits, especially if they ever have to drill into harder materials such as metals. You can probably drill in softwoods for years without any problem, but any serious craftsman is not going to limit themselves to working in softwoods.For most of us, a dull drill bit entails a trip to the hardware store for a new one. All too often this ends up being a special trip because we don’t realize we need it until we’re already in the middle of a project. Having the capability of sharpening your own drill bits at home doesn’t eliminate the interruption, but it can certainly make it so you lose less time taking care of the problem. At the low end of the scale, you can actually sharpen drill bits freehand, using a bench grinder or honing stone. However, you’re not likely to get a very accurately ground bit that way. I remember trying to sharpen 1/2 inch bits on a handheld grinder for an emergency repair and it was a joke.Some bench grinders have a groove on the tool rest, intended for use in sharpening drill bits. While this can work, it takes an extremely light touch, as well as a good bit of luck to make it work out. The biggest problem in trying to sharpen a drill bit this way is trying to make the point come out in the center of the bit. It’s all too easy to end up offset to one side or another. That’s why it’s worth investing in an actual drill bit sharpener. Being made specifically for the purpose, they will give you the best possible grind, often as good as what you would find on a factory ground drill bit. In other words, used properly, these tools can make your drill bits as good as new.How much you spend on a drill bit sharpener depends on how many drill bits you go though. Ultimately, these tools pay for themselves by saving you on buying new bits. However, you would have to resharpen a lot of bits to pay for some of the more expensive units.There are two basic categories of drill bit sharpeners; self-powered which have a motor to drive their own grind wheel and those that depend on working with a separate grinder. We have an assortment of the two types here. While all of these tools do essentially the same thing, there are some differences which may make your decision for you. You can also check out our list of the best drill bit sharpeners in 2022. Depending on your personal needs, you want to pick one that will do what you need.The first thing to look at is the drill bit sizes the sharpener can be used for. Generally speaking, the more expensive the sharpener, the larger the bits it can be used for (however all of them will sharpen small bits). If you use large bits frequently, this is an important consideration. The second thing to look at is the types of grinds the sharpener can put on the bit. Some can only do one while others provide different types and point angles.One thing to remember with any drill bit sharpener is the very act of sharpening a bit will remove its coating. If you’re accustomed to buying drill bits with exotic coatings electroplated onto them to make them last longer, you won’t have that coating on the re-sharpened bit. However, the fact your bit needs sharpening essentially dictates the coating is no longer there anyway.

Toilet seats come in all shapes and sizes, but when you get down to it, they are either elongated bowls, or round bowls. All the accessories that come with them can be purchased at your discretion. As in the case of automatically opening seats, found on medicinal toilet seats, you will need a dedicated line of power to get them to perform correctly, but any licensed electrician will be able to help you here. Apart from your budget, and what kind of features you like in the bathroom, there are plenty of choices out here for you. This list is just a broad introduction. Check out our list of the best toilet seats in 2022

The way you use your thermostat directly effects the amount of money you spend on energy, so choosing the right thermostat to control your heating and cooling system can save you up to 33 percent on your heating and cooling cost, placing that money right back into your wallet. A thermostat you can manually program to fit your family’s schedule saves energy, and you no longer have to remember to adjust the temperature before you leave home, and should you chose a Wi-Fi thermostat, you can make those adjustments on the go. Whether you choose a WI-Fi or manually programmable thermostat, these list of the best thermostats in 2022 give you all the information you need to make the best decision for your home and lifestyle.

Most of home cooks can't afford to have a stone pizza oven at home, but that doesn't mean they can't bake delicious, authentic pizza. A pizza stone is widely considered to be the best piece of bakeware for making pizza in a standard oven. These stones are often made from ceramic or soapstone, materials that don't transfer heat easily, which means that pizza stones heat up slowly and stay hot for a long time. When selecting the best pizza stones in 2022, we looked for stones that are durable, relatively easy to care for, and capable of producing a perfectly crispy crust every time. You'll want to be sure to follow the care instructions for your particular pizza stone, but most cannot be put directly in a hot oven. Instead, stones should be placed in the oven before it's turned on and heated as the oven heats up.

I still have a radial arm saw in my workshop. When my friends see it, they ask me why bother when their sliding miter saw can do just about everything my radial arm saw can do. Well, what can I say, some of us like the old stuff. I will say if I was in the market for one, miter saws on the market today (especially the sliding miter saws), really make my radial arm look old fashioned in comparison.Power miter saws started out as a replacement for the old wooden miter box and back saw. They were essentially used just for cutting moldings on houses and maybe the occasional molding in a cabinet shop. Modern miter saws have gone way beyond, allowing precision double angle cuts in much larger and thicker material than ever before.Since miter saws are used for crosscutting a variety of types of wood, a blade which can handle a variety of materials is important. You need to buy a blade which cuts your toughest material thus ensuring easier materials are a cinch.It’s a shame to see someone spend hundreds of dollars on a high quality miter saw and use the cheap blade which came with it. The blade handles the actual cutting and ultimately decides the quality, and especially the smoothness, of your final cut. I’d rather have a cheap saw with a good blade than a good saw with a cheap blade any day. You can check out our list of the best miter saw blades in 2022. Lower quality blades will cause three basic problems: Make a more uneven cut with visible blade marks visible. Cause more splintering especially as a blade gets older and duller. Cheap blades dull faster, damaging material and requiring frequent changes.  So, what’s going to give you the best quality cut in all kinds of woods? Let’s look at these basics: You definitively want a carbide-tipped blade. Since wood is highly fibrous, it’s abrasive on saw blades. A carbide-tipped saw blade will last way longer than a steel blade. The more teeth on a blade will ensure a smooth cut. While you might be able to get by with a lower number of teeth, a higher tooth count will really show in cases where extra-smooth cuts are necessary. The blade is designed to avoid vibration either through the use of extra-rigid materials to avoid flexing or by laser-cut reliefs in the blade which dissipate vibrations. Adequate tooth design to avoid splitting. Manufacturers experiment with different designs in order to come up with a blade which isn’t going to damage your material.  There are a lot of miter saw blades available to choose from, so this was a difficult choice. While most of these probably aren’t available in your local hardware store, they’re worth the wait to order online. I’ve mostly stuck to 12” saw blades with a 5/8 inch arbor for this review, but you should know that the same blades are available in smaller sizes or for 1 inch arbors if you need them.

We all need to take extra care to ensure proper eye safety while working because it only takes a single speck of dust scratched across the cornea for a free trip to the emergency room. Unfortunately, many people seem to believe wearing regular glasses/sunglasses will be enough to protect them while in the shop but this is far from the truth.The first factor to consider when buying safety glasses is the strength of the lenses. All the list of the best safety glasses in 2022 that we’ve included below utilize ANSI rated lenses so you can wear them confidently knowing they’ll offer real protection when needed. Next, we considered area of coverage with the safety glasses presented here wrapping around your eyes to protect them from stray particles and not just those coming straight at your face. Lastly, we’ve listed pairs which are durable and will stand up to repeated use and wear. If lenses on a pair of safety glasses are easy to scratch then you aren't going to be able to see your work clearly, which is very unsafe. Similarly, it doesn't matter if the lens can take a beating if the frames fall apart, so buying quality safety glasses like these from the start makes a big difference.

A blender has been a staple of the kitchen for decades. Although they have been partially supplanted by modern food processors, a blender is still a kitchen essential.Our best blenders in 2022 picks will appeal to you, whether you are looking for a luxury blender to blend drinks, a budget blender for basic kitchen tasks, or an immersion blender to use in the cooking pot. All of our chosen blenders were selected for performance, value and reliability.

Finding a good dishwasher detergent is important because none of us have time to deal with the hassle of getting rid of tough food stains and grease. Though a cleaner may get rid of the food, it needs to leave a flawless finish to dishes. Dishwashers are very popular today since they are a no-hassle way to do the dishes. However, the dishwasher detergent used will determine just how effective that hassle-free dishwasher really is. Finding the right dishwasher detergent is not easy since all dishwashers are different, and some may want a tougher clean, while others are looking for a more environmentally friendly detergent. Dishwashers do use a lot of energy and water, so many like to consider both the tough fighting power of a detergent as well as its effect on the environment. We've scoured the internet for high-quality detergents for your dishwasher, and now present to you a list of what we think to be the top four on the market. We've also included a buying to guide to help you pick out the right detergent for you- read on to choose now!

At its core, a pressure washer is nothing more than a pump with a nozzle to direct the water. The idea behind it is that high pressure water will clean things better than water coming out of a garden hose at a typical 60 PSI. In practice, best pressure washers in 2022 do remarkably well, not only cleaning off dirt, but peeling off old paint and even removing graffiti. There is a fundamental difference between a pressure washer and a steam cleaner, although many people confuse them due to their similarities. Steam cleaners have a tank heater to being the water to near boiling temperature, so that it will better dissolve grease. They are intended for use in removing grease from automobile engines and other machinery. A pressure washer doesn't have this capability for heating the water, so it is not effective for cleaning grease off. Since providing pressurized water is the main purpose of a pressure washer, the pump itself is the most important part. There are three major types of pumps used in pressure washers: wobble, axial and triplex plunger. While all three can produce sufficient pressure, the first two don’t last, as the pumps are working at the top end of their pressure capability. This causes them to wear out quickly. Triplex plunger pumps, on the other hand, can handle the pressure without problem. There are some companies which are manufacturing what are essentially “throw away” pressure washers which have big name motors and cheap pumps. As the pump is the most important part of the pressure washer, buying one of these units is foolish. Pretty much any motor will work, as long as it has enough power. The motor is not likely to wear out, like the pump is. Speaking of motors, both electric motors and gas engines are used to provide power to these pressure washers. Either one works well, although the gasoline engine allows you to use the pressure washer in places where electrical power is not available. On the other hand, if the pressure washer is going to sit for long periods of time, that isn't good for a gasoline engine. You’d be better off buying an electric pressure washer in that case. Most pressure washers have some sort of soap injector which allows you to add soap to the water being pumped through it. This not only expands the use of the pressures washer, allowing it to clean things that need more than just water, but also allows adding chemicals for removal of painted graffiti. The two most important specifications for any pressure washer are the flow rate, which is stated in gallons per minute (GPM) and the pressure, which is stated in PSI. These two numbers are multiplied together by some manufacturers, to create a number called the “cleaning units” of the pressure washer. More than anything, this number provides a way of comparing different units to see which provides more overall cleaning power. Pressures washers come in all sizes, including a number of them which are intended for commercial and industrial use. For this list, we've limited ourselves to smaller units which would be appropriate for consumer use.

A flea fogger is essentially another name for a fumigation device. It releases a massive amount of insecticide into a room that saturates the air completely. By this action, virtually every nook, cranny and crevice becomes inundated with pesticide particles, turning the entire fogged area into a toxic unlivable space.In general terms, using a flea fogger should really only be applied as a last ditch method when flea infestation is so severe that other methods of control don't work. Extreme caution must be used when fogging, such as, all pilot lights and open flames must be extinguished, the entire room and/or household must be evacuated for up to 4 hours, and the entire premises must be aired out after returning.All flea foggers on this list will be effective, when used according to their label directions. Price will be no object, since effectiveness is the prime reason for using one, and the list of the best flea foggers in 2022 will work be effective immediately and have strong residual results to keep on killing long after the fogger has been employed.

Lawn mowers are about as American as apple pie. They come in all shapes and sizes, with horsepower ratings to match. Virtually every hardware store, department store, and small engine shop will sell some type or brand of lawn mower, yet picking the best one of the bunch can turn into a confusing jumble. First and foremost, a riding mower should be reliable and easy to use. Cutting grass is almost an afterthought because they were made to do just that. Each one will give a good account of themselves if you just want a lawn tractor to cut grass, but it just may come down to all of the other variables that might make or break a lawn tractor on anyone's best list.Price, performance and bang for the buck are what to look for here in the top rated mowers, and the best lawn mower in 2022 will feature a combination of all three. After all, they will all cut grass, but what you get for the money is going to make the biggest difference.