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May 20, 2013
Product Test: Bit Sharpener
We sent the Drill Doctor Model 750X ($149) bit sharpener to 39 of our product testers who know the value of a good, sharp drill bit. After using it, 1...
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May 16, 2013
Tip: Basic Guide to Sandpaper
Sanding may rub you the wrong way because it seems like a never-ending process, and it comes at a time when you're antsy to get the job done. Well, ge...
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May 15, 2013
WTI: the New Festool Track Saw
Dan Cary is Executive Editor of HANDY.
This looks like a circular saw, but it's so much more. It's the new Festool TS 55 REQ, the latest version ...
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May 13, 2013
Video: Red Green, Move It or Lose It
Okay, you've spent the last five minutes aligning all the lumps in the couch with the dents in your reclining body, and you're settling in for an afte...
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May 09, 2013
This Giveaway Is Gonna Floor You
OK, we're guilty of picking that juicy, irresistible, low-hanging pun fruit when we say that this giveaway is gonna floor you. But it's true. In our B...
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May 08, 2013
WTI: Toilet Seat Guys Hate/Love
Gary Legwold is Web Editor for HANDY.
In the battle of the sexes, guys, we're getting our butts kicked. I'm talking about this issue of the toilet ...
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May 06, 2013
In Las Vegas, Wish You Were Here
As the entertainers out here in Las Vegas like to say, "Thank you! We're here all week!"
It's true, we are here at the HANDY/Gardening How-To Test ...
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May 02, 2013
A Scary Look at Table Saw Kickback
The video opens with this qualifier: "There will be lots of people saying that I am an idiot for doing this to make a video and they are correct."
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May 01, 2013
WTI: Women's Work Gloves
We tried three work gloves in this video, and we've got to hand it to Foxgloves especially for coming up with a work glove that'll turn some heads as ...
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April 29, 2013
Project Plans: Portable Fire Basket
Larry Okrend is Editor of HANDY Magazine.
On a cool spring or summer evening, a small campfire can provide an inviting gathering spot in your own b...
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April 25, 2013
Giveaway May Change Your Luck
"I never win anything!"
We've said that ourselves, and we've certainly heard it when it comes to running a sweepstakes. But we're hoping to change ...
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April 24, 2013
WTI: Tool Saves You From Bad TV
Gary Legwold is Web Editor for HANDY.
When I travel to see relatives, I take a tool bag because I don't want to sit and gossip and eat and watch ba...
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April 22, 2013
5 Stupidest Household Chemicals
T.S. Eliot's famous poem "The Waste Land" begins with: "April is the cruelest month ...." We agree, although for more practical reasons than Eliot's (...
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April 18, 2013
Project: Build a Compost Bin
This is an ROI project. That is, the materials for building this cool-looking compost bin do not cost much, but you'll quickly get a return on that in...
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April 17, 2013
WTI: B&D Matrix Quick Connect
This week's We Tried It video features the "one-man band" of power tools: the Black & Decker Matrix Quick Connect System.
The Matrix features s...
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April 15, 2013
4 Tool Testers Win Free Vegas Trip
It's hats-off time here at HANDY!
We've found four winners for our fourth annual Top Tool Tester Contest. We were wowed that more than 1,000 Handym...
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April 11, 2013
Easy, Inexpensive Raised Planters
This is a "three-fer" project.
First, building these planters helps you plant an efficient-and-attractive garden. Second, you get to work with wo...
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April 10, 2013
WTI: Cordless Electric Chain Saw
This is a chain saw that'll get high marks — especially from your neighbors. The Oregon 40V Max Cordless Chain Saw is quiet, so if you want to get off...
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April 08, 2013
Red: Do Others Think You're Rich?
Red Green is a blogger for HANDY.
Perception is everything. Here are ways to make neighbors think you're rich:
Have magnetic signs — Excelsior ...
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April 04, 2013
Build an Adirondack Chair
Vern Grassel is a custom furniture builder, cabinetmaker and woodworking designer in Elk River, Minnesota.
Because I grew up in upstat...
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April 03, 2013
We Tried It: Showerhead Plays Music
Here's the thing about Kohler's new and very cool Moxie Showerhead (see video): You better like cold showers.
You see, the Moxie has a built-in wi...
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April 01, 2013
Save Energy Costs: Ax Shade Trees
Huh?
This is a head scratcher. It seems members attending last week's annual meeting of the National Society of Home Construction (NSHC) in Las V...
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March 28, 2013
Giveaway: 5 Bosch Jobsite Radios
We're pretty upbeat about today's giveaway. Normally, we award one prize in our sweepstakes, but we're pumping up the volume for this Bosch Jobsite Ra...
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March 27, 2013
It's a Chip Clip for Heavy Bags
You can argue that the Chip Clip keeps the devil away from your door. It preserves your potato chips so that you're not forced — "The devil made me do...
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March 25, 2013
A Work Light for Knucklehead Fans
We wouldn't call you a knucklehead if you didn't love this work light, but our product testers might. Twenty-two of them tested the Knucklehead Rechar...
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March 21, 2013
How to Build a Basic Bench
Connie Bastyr is Managing Editor of HANDY.
A woodworking classic, the traditional five-board bench is a simple yet adaptable piece: You can build...
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March 20, 2013
Make Snowmobile From Water Heater
Today is the vernal equinox, so go ahead and think spring and dream about all those deck and outdoor projects you're going to do. However, if you know...
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March 18, 2013
Steamer Makes You Better at Loving
Now, before you get all steamed about a misleading and even steamy headline — after all, the topic here is a not-very-sexy power steamer — let us expl...
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March 14, 2013
How to Paint With an Accent Color
Open floor plans and master suites often encourage homeowners to paint adjacent spaces the same neutral color (yawn). To strengthen visual ties and ad...
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March 13, 2013
Product Test: New Weather Strip
We sent the Cinch Door Seal Kit ($30) to 134 of our product testers who hate when their homes have air leaks that cost them big bucks. The good news i...
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March 11, 2013
Don't Use E15 Fuel in Your Mower
It seems that E15 has received a grade of "F" as a fuel for lawn-and-garden equipment. That's the word from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute and ...
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March 07, 2013
Giveaway: 2 Toro String Trimmers
Cordless tools, of course, mean freedom, and that's especially true with a cordless string trimmer. You're free to roam, efficiently put the finishing...
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March 06, 2013
Project: Organize Your Kitchen
A good kitchen is like a good workshop, with lots of work surfaces, light and tools. Also, both are well organized because you spend plenty of time in...
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March 04, 2013
Tip: How to Work Safely on Ladders
Mike Tavis writes for HANDY Magazine. The month of March means ladders come to life as DIYers start doing outside projects again. While ladders and ...
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February 28, 2013
The Cat's Meow of Product Testing
Most of you probably came to the Handyman Club because of product testing. Hey, who doesn't want to test cool tools and innovative home-improvement pr...
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February 27, 2013
Red Green Invents the Shoe Tire
Red Green is a blogger for HANDY. You know you're getting a little older when there are certain phrases that you say a lot. Phrases like: "When I w...
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February 25, 2013
Get Your Tools Garden-Ready
Okay, raise your hand if you cleaned and sharpened all of your gardening tools before putting them away last fall. Yeah, we didn't do it either. We...
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February 21, 2013
Giveaway: Ryobi 6-Piece Combo Kit
We are giving away a brand new bag in our sweepstakes today — yes, a bag. But with that bag, you can scratch off lots of projects from your DIY to-do ...
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February 20, 2013
Tip: How to Use a Router Table
When it comes to versatility, a router is hard to beat. As a shaping tool, a router fixed to a table can turn an ordinary board into a piece of custom...
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February 18, 2013
Don't Go in a Dark Garage Again
A nice feature about a garage door opener (GDO) is that it lights up when you raise or lower the door. But what if you need to enter the garage — to t...
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February 14, 2013
Bathroom Valentine Gift You Sit on
You know, the roses-and-chocolate thing is fine, but you can fall back on that old gift for any Valentine's Day. This year, guys, show her what a soft...
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February 13, 2013
Pause to Consider the Paws
As we approach Valentine's Day, show some compassion and consider your pet's position: Everything is covered in snow and/or ice, and you have to go ou...
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February 11, 2013
Tighter Home Security: 10 DIY Tips
Joe Provey is a HANDY blogger. Burglaries have been dropping steadily for 20 years in the United States, according to the FBI, but that's small conso...
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February 07, 2013
We Need Your Entries—Again!
We made a big discovery about a big boo-boo. It seems that the online entry site for HANDY's fourth annual Top Tool Tester Contest shut down on Januar...
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February 06, 2013
Door-Stopping Pin Is "A-Doored"
One thousand of our product testers installed the DoorSaver II ($4.99-$5.49), and 92 percent of them "a-doored" the way it protected their doors, wall...
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February 04, 2013
Workbench/Sawhorse Fits in Toolbox
You've all seen it, and maybe you've done it. You're working on a project that includes making just a few cuts. Instead of lugging the lumber to your ...
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January 31, 2013
13 Innovative Hand-Tool Designs
There's always a lot of buzz about power-tool innovations, but hand tools have been enjoying a bit of a renaissance as well. In recent years, nearly e...
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January 30, 2013
How to Repair a Hole in Drywall
Ethan Hagan is a HANDY blogger. Sooner or later you're gonna need to know how to repair drywall. It's as inevitable as taxes, and if you master this...
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January 28, 2013
Red Green's Fitness Video
Red Green is a blogger for HANDY. You may notice signs of aging when you see yourself in the bathroom mirror, or perhaps when a loved one says, "You...
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January 24, 2013
Project: Build a Fireplace Mantel
Dan Cary is Executive Editor of HANDY. This is a project that'll warm your hearth — and your heart — because building your own fireplace mantel is a...
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January 23, 2013
A Work Light You Can Drive Over
Not that you'd want to drive over a jobsite work light. But if you often find yourself weighed down with worry about stuff like that happening on the ...
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January 21, 2013
Paint Applicator Holds 18 Ounces
We sent the HomeRight PaintStick EZ-Twist Paint Applicator ($30.99) to 130 of our product testers, and 94 percent gave it the thumbs up. Pretty impres...
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January 17, 2013
Giveaway: Stihl Chain Saw
When we can combine a tool giveaway with a good cause, we jump on it. In today's Stihl Chain Saw Sweepstakes, we're giving away this Stihl MS 271 cha...
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January 16, 2013
Here's a Tip: Cleaning Old Chairs
Janet Anderson of Portland, Oregon, bought a set of old oak dining-room chairs at a flea market. They're well-constructed and sturdy but kind of dingy...
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January 14, 2013
Convert to a Dual Flush Toilet
It's easy to become attached to your trusty old toilet. After all, the two of you have been through thick and thin, intimately sharing the good times ...
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January 10, 2013
Project: Install a Hardwood Floor
Dan Cary is Executive Editor of HANDY.
In the past decade we've seen the introduction of a wide variety of flooring materi...
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January 09, 2013
The Poop on Easy TP Roll Changing
This new product is perfect for all people who poop. It's Moen's Pivoting Paper Holder.
Here's the thing: You know those sp...
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January 07, 2013
What a Kick—Leave Dirt at the Door
We really do try not to track dirt and sawdust into the house when working on an inside job. Initially, we dutifully put down tarps, and we always tak...
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January 03, 2013
It Growls, Roars & Saves Your Back
Up until two years ago, we thought we didn't need no stinkin' snowblower. Nah, we took pride in taking on Ol' Man Winter the way John Henry would have...
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January 02, 2013
Test Tools in Vegas — Free (Maybe)
Just as the holidays start to simmer down, we kinda like to get things warming up again in the New Year with our best contest. It's a DIYer's ...
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December 31, 2012
Open Beer Bottles With Power Tools
What does a DIYer do on New Year's Eve? Get down, get dirty and par-TAY, of course! Only we do it with just the right amount of flannel-shirt flai...
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December 27, 2012
Giveaway: $500 Gift Card
OK, you've done the seasonal drill, the one that says it's better to give than to receive and to put the welfare of others above yourself. All...
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December 26, 2012
Accessible-Bathroom Projects
The need for an accessible bathroom for aging folks and people with disabilities makes sense, but we can make a strong case that an accessible bath is...
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December 20, 2012
Red Cooks a Turkey Under the Hood
Yeah, holiday gatherings are fine, but it takes lots of time (which you don't have in December) to prep for the meal. Red Green can help, suggesti...
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December 19, 2012
A Table Saw, a Router and This
If you use a table saw, router and/or band saw, you'll want to use the DepthGauge ($6.99). It's a metal scale (marked in inches and millimeter...
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December 17, 2012
De-ice the Walk, Don’t Kill Plants
Given the choice of not falling on your butt on icy sidewalks vs. killing grass and plants with a salty de-icer, you would save your butt, right? But ...
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December 13, 2012
Earn $200 With Your DIY Tip
The other day we happened to hear HANDY Senior Editor Jenny Stanley moaning and mumbling these lines by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in The Rime of the Anc...
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December 12, 2012
Horrible Holiday Gift? Hand Cream
Our holiday cheer could have taken a serious hit had we gone ahead with plans to give a hand cream as presents to all the handy people in our life. Ho...
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December 10, 2012
Power Tool for Tree Stand Setup
This 27-second video will help you stop screwing around with the setup of your Christmas tree stand so that you can get to the fun part: hanging light...
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December 06, 2012
Giveaway, Festool and One Friend
Sorry, but you don't stand much of a chance at resisting today's giveaway. It's enticing because it involves you, a friend and Festool too...
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December 05, 2012
Project: Add Kitchen Storage Space
"Will you raise your hand if you have enough kitchen storage?"
If you put that question to a room full of homeowners, you won't see m...
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December 03, 2012
Tips on Buying a Drill/Driver
A drill/driver is so basic to a shop that we tend to take it for granted. Everyone knows the ins and outs of a drill/driver, right? Wrong. Newbies are...
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November 29, 2012
Giveaway: Polar Express Train Set
At $379.99, the prize for today's giveaway costs more than many jobsite table saws — but it's not meant to be used in your shop. It'...
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November 28, 2012
Tile Nippers With 3X Power
We sent out the QEP Compound Tile Nipper ($19.97) to 176 of our product testers. Guess how many said they would recommend them? 176.
Made from dura...
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November 26, 2012
A Tent in Your Attic Saves Money
The first heating bill for our house was an eye-popper, in large part because of heat-loss through the attic stairway. With no insulation above the st...
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November 21, 2012
Essential Power Tool for Parties
Thanksgiving is tomorrow, meaning it's "game on" for those who prefer to party pretty much all the way through Super Bowl XLVII in New O...
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November 19, 2012
This Tool Doesn’t Come With Yogurt
How does this new tool, Black and Decker's 4v Max Gyro Rechargeable Screwdriver, compare with a Greek gyro sandwich?
Both fit nicely in your ha...
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November 15, 2012
Project: Organize Your Workshop
It's not that you have to organize your shop our way. We're not saying that at all. It's your shop, so organize it any ol' way you wan...
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November 14, 2012
Grillin' and Chillin' in November
Grilling is often thought of as a summer fling, but consider this: If the experience of outdoor cooking is true love, it's possible to grill while...
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November 12, 2012
Can't Rip Plywood-Ripping Tool
Time for a "panel" discussion about rip-cutting. When ripping large panels of plywood, particleboard, melamine, MDF, etc., a circular saw is...
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November 07, 2012
Clamp Tape That'll Save Your Butt
The pressure's on to be a hero when your spouse or child asks you to repair a fractured item that's precious but is also delicate or odd-shape...
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November 07, 2012
Clamp Tape That'll Save Your Butt
The pressure's on to be a hero when your spouse or child asks you to repair a fractured item that's precious but is also delicate or odd-shape...
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November 05, 2012
Red Green's Cadillac Backhoe
Editor's note: Two things about Red Green's stuff:
The contraptions he builds actually work, given enough duct tape. Imagine producing this...
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November 01, 2012
3 Tips to Prevent Dryer Fires
Lint, that seemingly harmless fluff that you pick off your clothes, causes thousands of residential fires in the U.S. each year. Dryer venting can bec...
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October 31, 2012
Project: Install a Heated Floor
It's tootsie time! This heated-floor project will thrill those who like their toes to be nice and toasty during the winter months (like, all of us...
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October 29, 2012
Sawing Logs the Civilized Way
Look, we're not all professional lumberjacks and tree trimmers. We're homeowners, mostly, who pick up a chain saw a few times a year to clear ...
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October 25, 2012
Project: Choosing the Right Finish
It's funny (not) how you can work your buns off to build the perfect woodworking project and think that you're almost done — only to &qu...
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October 24, 2012
Tip: Remove a Stuck Light Bulb
We have some bright ideas for those who need to change a light bulb that was not screwed in correctly. If it won't turn in either direction, and y...
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October 22, 2012
A Push Broom That Squirts Water
This push broom packs a punch, and it's perfect for many of the tough areas around the house that you have to tackle during fall cleanup. The Home...
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October 18, 2012
Project: How to Build a Coffin
This is a project that you're just dying to try: It's the toe-pincher coffin. We're providing the plans well in advance of Halloween, so w...
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October 17, 2012
Drill-at-Right-Angle Attachment
It's a prayer of thanks each time you have the right tool to drive screws and drill holes at a right angle in tight quarters. As 312 of our produc...
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October 15, 2012
What's 12, Makes Tool Makers Think?
The answer: the HANDY Innovation Award (HIA). Now in its 12th year, the HIA honors products that showcase initiative, creativity, invention, reinventi...
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October 11, 2012
Giveaway: Garage Organization Kit
Garages are great because that's one place where you can stop being a neat freak; you can be a little messy and it's no big deal. Heck, you ca...
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October 10, 2012
How Do I Learn DIY? Dumb Question?
How Do I Learn DIY? Dumb Question?
No, it's not a dumb question. You may have no confidence around tools or trust that your projects will turn ...
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October 08, 2012
Coolers, Canoe + Red Green's Mind
Red Green is a HANDY blogger.
When I was a kid, my dad used to haul a big metal cooler along on our fishing trips. It weighed a ton and didn't ...
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October 04, 2012
5 Tips: DIY Projects With Kids
Sometimes we take safety for granted when working on our own projects. Through experience, convenience or negligence we often put our own vision, hear...
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October 03, 2012
Turn a Knob, Clean a P-Trap
What's your relationship with your P-trap? You probably have none until you have P-trap problems. That's when things get personal PDQ. You'...
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October 01, 2012
Fresh Air in, Bugs and Pests out
Pretty tough to beat tinkering in your garage shop with the garage door open on a warm fall day. Turn on the game, tune out the world and work in comf...
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September 27, 2012
How About a Bay Window?
Our product testers got their needle stuck on a rating of 10.0 for this product. No matter what test criteria (quality, design, ease of installation, ...
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September 26, 2012
Product Test: Weld w/o Inert Gases
Some of our product testers wanted to weld but did not want to mess around with inert gases. They got their wish when they tested the Multiplaz 3500, ...
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September 24, 2012
Solar Post Caps Dress up Your Deck
September is when diminishing daylight really becomes noticeable. Too bad because evening temperatures are often perfect for relaxing after dinner on ...
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September 20, 2012
Giveaway: 3 Chain Saw Packages
We're going to cut to the chase because, with fall cleanup and firewood season fast approaching, you're going to want to jump on this giveaway...
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September 19, 2012
Build a Keepsake Jewelry Box
This is a "hero" project. It will push, or at least, fine-tune your woodworking skills, which will make you a hero to yourself. Also, you...
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September 17, 2012
DIY Gossip: A Dirty Little Secret
You and dirt are alike. No, no, were not dissing you by pointing out the common bond you have with the soil. We're just sharing a dirty little sec...
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September 13, 2012
Giveaway: NASCAR Collectible Cars
Just as soccer is big in Brazil and Great Britain, NASCAR racing is huge in the DIY world. Some of us work on our own cars, so there's that connec...
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September 12, 2012
Here's a Tip: Stripping Old Paint
Here's a primer on removing paint.
Paint is a little like body weight: It's a lot easier (and more fun) to put on than to take off. And the...
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September 10, 2012
A Robot That Cleans Your Gutters
We humans conspire to make robots to do tasks that we loathe, so it's not surprising that one of the first D-I-I (Do-It-Itself) robots cleans gutt...
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September 06, 2012
Gaga Giveaway: YOU Pick the Prize
Dream analysis — that's what this special Pick-the-Prize Sweepstakes is all about. You have two assignments:
Answer one simple question: ...
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September 03, 2012
Red Green's Cover-up
Red Green is a HANDY blogger.
I used to be kind of handy around the house. Fixing doors and windows and re-finishing rec rooms, that kind of thing....
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August 29, 2012
A Video Tip: Build a Prototype
The prototype process pulls you out of the paralyzing effects of "project perfectionism" when constructing anything. Because version one &qu...
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August 28, 2012
Addiction of Measuring Distances
Larry Okrend is Editor in Chief of HANDY Magazine.
Laser distance measurers aren't new, but they're still cool. They perform feats that are...
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August 27, 2012
Prune It Like You Mean It
Pruning small branches isn't a particularly thorny job, but it can be annoying if the cut branch falls out of your reach or gets hung up in the su...
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August 23, 2012
Giveaway: Ridgid Table Saw
The development of DIYers starts with owning hand tools and then grows by investing in such power tools as a drill/driver, circ saw and an oscillating...
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August 22, 2012
Here's a Tip on Washing Windows
In short, get a squeegee but don't get fancy.
Most window-washing haters are doing it all wrong. Leave the spray cleaners and newspapers for cl...
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August 20, 2012
Finally, a 48-Pocket Tool Backpack
It peeves us that so much time seems to be lost in toting tools and materials to and from the project site. Doggonit, setting up shouldn't be a pr...
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August 16, 2012
Build a Ground-Level Deck
Too late in the summer to build a deck? Nah! This ground-level deck project doesn't take long, and there's still plenty of time to entertain g...
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August 15, 2012
Conquer Your Fear of Concrete
Funny how some of the most doggone-it-let's-do-this DIYers seize up when it comes to concrete projects. Wide-eyed, they back away from the float, ...
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August 13, 2012
Bikes: Hang 'Em High
Bikes can be the big, bad guys among all the gear, tools, materials and toys that you store in your garage. So become the garage sheriff and treat the...
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August 09, 2012
Giveaway: Great Garage Workbench
If you win this month's Gladiator Workbench Sweepstakes, you may want to "baby" the workbench because it's so striking in appearance...
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August 08, 2012
Tip: How to Remove Wallpaper
Is there an easy way to remove wallpaper and the remaining glue?
Much depends on luck: the type of wallcovering, how long it's been the...
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August 06, 2012
The Plunger-Anxiety Breakthrough
Are you pleased with your plunger? We didn't think so. In fact, you probably want to flush that bad boy from your mind because, while it does its ...
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August 02, 2012
Red Green Says You’re Too Smart
Red Green, one of our HANDY bloggers, has a beef about each new generation — especially of relatives — being "denser than the last.&q...
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August 01, 2012
Real Football Fans Stick Together
Normally, tape isn't considered much of rouser product. Tape is tape is tape, right? Not anymore, not to true-blue football fans. Because Duck Tap...
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July 30, 2012
A Roof Tile That Eats Smog
You'll sleep a whole lot better at night if you install this new green roof tile over your head. It's BoralPure's concrete roof tile calle...
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July 26, 2012
7 Simple Table Saw Safety Tips
Dan Cary is Executive Editor of HANDY.
The table saw is a very versatile tool. I've probably used it more than any other tool in the sh...
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July 25, 2012
Clean a Roller—Don't Touch Paint
Love painting but hate the cleanup? Get in line. You can also get in line with our product testers who loved how the Curly-Q paint roller cleaner ($13...
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July 23, 2012
Can Your Nozzle Do This?
We don't think so. Other nozzles can't squirt an ultra-fine stream (image above), and that's just one of the features of this versatile Li...
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July 19, 2012
Giveaway: Deck-Siding Sealer, $200
We've got you covered with this month's giveaway. In our ZAR Sealer Sweepstakes we've got two prizes for two high-priority summer projects...
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July 18, 2012
Project: Install a Trailer Hitch
When we say this project was a huge hit, we mean it. After all, installing a hitch on your vehicle during the height of summer can mean only one thing...
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July 17, 2012
Tip: How to Use a Jackhammer
The jackhammer is an all-business tool that's a jiggling joy to use. It's without pretense or subtlety, with the sole purpose to bust things u...
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July 12, 2012
10 Seconds: Bosch Discount or Not?
We hate to rush you, but we're just being real here. You see, Ohio Power Tool is offering a discount on Bosch tools to our readers only, but the d...
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July 11, 2012
Project: Replace Rotted Deck Posts
This is a project that'll help you sleep better — especially if you like to nap on your deck. Have you taken a close look at your deck posts...
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July 09, 2012
Tip: How to Select a Birdhouse
If you haven't built a birdhouse yet, you gotta do it. This is a simple, change-of-pace project that's hugely rewarding whether you're a s...
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July 05, 2012
Red Green Can Write!
Apparently, Red Green picked up some schoolin' somewhere along the way — enough to learn to put his thoughts down in a coherent and colorful...
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July 02, 2012
Hose Can Cut Down on Your Kinking
Some hoses can drive you to drink because they leak, they kink up at the slightest corner and they make watering your lawn and garden a big hassle.
...
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June 28, 2012
Giveaway: Husqvarna Lawn Mower
How does a lawn mower raise itself above its competition? With one little lever. To quote a reviewer of the Husqvarna HU775H: "I purchased this m...
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June 27, 2012
Dang, THIS Is a Deck-Finishing Tool
Thank you, Wagner SprayTech! You've reminded us that the deck is a site of leisure and not a place of perpetual painting or staining. You've i...
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June 25, 2012
Perfecto—the Pop-Up Rain Barrel!
Poor rain barrels — they're victims of a shallow society hung up on appearances. They do a great job collecting rain water (and saving you m...
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June 21, 2012
Project: Coat Your Truck Bed
If a truck bed were a person, it would be one tough hombre — something like the early Clint Eastwood. But even a truck bed can use some TLC, whi...
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June 20, 2012
Tip: Don't Remove Table Saw Guard
Mike Conner is a building contractor in Minneapolis.
A few weeks ago, I was wrapping up a kitchen remodel. I had a lot to finish that day, ...
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June 18, 2012
Darn Drywall Dust—Do Away With It!
When DIYers gather for brats and beer at a summertime picnic, what's the quickest way to get them groaning? Mention drywall dust. It sucks; there&...
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June 14, 2012
Giveaway: $250 Home Depot Card
Mother's Day became an official holiday in 1914. When do you think Father's Day followed suit?
There were attempts in 1916, 1924 an...
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June 13, 2012
Build Backyard Pond and Waterfall
This is what we call an "abacus" project; you can count on it to be a huge hit in your backyard and neighborhood. The project: Build a pond ...
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June 11, 2012
Nipping Basement Flood in the Bud
Here's how you can nip a basement or bathroom flood in the bud: Use the Flood Buzz.
As a homeowner, you have to be ready for water prob...
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June 07, 2012
Pre-emptive Paint Patch-ups
Like a new car, a fresh coat of paint is a scratch/dent/ding magnet. It'll happen: Your newly painted wall is bound to lose its perfect complexion...
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June 06, 2012
Favorite Furniture-Moving Tools
Dan Cary is Executive Editor of HANDY Magazine.
Between working on a kitchen remodel at home and helping to rearrange the HANDY offices, I&...
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June 04, 2012
Yes, a Collapsible Tomato Cage!
Oh, what we tolerate for a tasty tomato! We plant tomatoes with juicy expectations that grow as the seedling gets taller and shoots off wild vines tha...
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May 31, 2012
Tip: How to Buy a Cordless Trimmer
When we first used a gas-powered string trimmer, we were easy to please. Heck, anything was better than those old pain-in-the-forearm manual grass cli...
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May 30, 2012
Bench Doubles as a Picnic Table
When walking a trade show as big as the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas, we tend to lose steam after a day or so of cruising the aisles, checking ...
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May 24, 2012
Giveaway: Char-Broil Gas Grill
Ah, the thrill of the grill! That's certainly our mindset as we approach the cookouts of the Memorial Day weekend. And wouldn't grilling be es...
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May 23, 2012
How Decks Can Wreck a Summer
Decks should be places that can make your summer, not wreck it. After all, on decks you can cook out, chill out and even make out, if so moved. But th...
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May 21, 2012
A "Happy Hour" Utility Knife
This tool reminds us of a "Happy Hour," except instead of two-for-one margaritas, you're getting two blades in one utility knife.
...
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May 17, 2012
Wanna Save $40 on Impact Driver?
If you do, you've got four days to do it!
Here's the deal: If you're a Handyman Club of America member (if you're not, you&...
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May 16, 2012
Prime Project: Paint Kitchen Cabs
Joe Provey has been doing DIY projects for decades.
Painting kitchen cabinets is a big project, and there are no shortcuts to a glassy-smoo...
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May 14, 2012
Gripping Video About Dried Glue!
A video about dried glue? Is this a joke? Not to woodworkers, because that dried glue is on — and then off — the bristles. This glue brush...
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May 10, 2012
Giveaway: $250 Lowe's Gift Card
We tend to think of Mother's Day as a given, something that's as old as motherhood itself. Nope. The first attempts to get Mother's Day go...
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May 09, 2012
How Soft Do You Like Your Water?
That's a personal question that affects most people; about 85 percent of us have a hard time with hard water. Some folks like laundry and shower w...
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May 07, 2012
16' Extension Ladder Fits in Car
An extension ladder can be an unwieldy back-breaker that you have to hoist on top of your truck or van. Well, we found a 16-footer that'll fit in ...
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May 03, 2012
Tip: How to Sharpen Yard Tools
Still can't part with that rusty old shovel you've had since 1970? Or how about that hand-me-down garden trowel that's more like a workout...
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May 02, 2012
Cool Corner Plates for Drab Decks
Eight screws! That's all it takes to turn a "wall flower" of a deck into a real looker. Dressing up a deck is so easy, thanks to Latitud...
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April 30, 2012
Best Fix for a Fuddy-Duddy Door
Cruise through almost any neighborhood, and it's plain to see that many homeowners are involved in an open-and-shut case of door neglect. They ign...
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April 26, 2012
Project Plans: 3 Easy Birdhouses
Looking for a simple, change-of-pace, springtime project? Build a birdhouse. It's so dang fun to design and construct one, and it's hugely rew...
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April 25, 2012
How to Cool a Hot Garden Party
Mother's Day (May 13) often means celebrating with a garden party. Normally, outdoor events in May are cool-to-perfectly-pleasant affairs, but wit...
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April 23, 2012
Tool Testers Win Free Vegas Trip
Wow! We had more than 660 entries in HANDY's third annual Top Tool Tester Contest. Each submission included photos of the entrant's primo proj...
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April 19, 2012
How to Work Alone—9 Simple Tips
Mike Conner is a Minneapolis-based contractor who writes for HANDY TOOLBOX.
Many DIYers like to work alone. You head for your garage or sho...
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April 18, 2012
Tested: DIY Garage-Floor Coat Kit
Coating a garage floor can be a hit-or-miss adventure, depending on the coating's quality. So it's impressive that the RockSolid Polyurea Grey...
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April 16, 2012
Mix and Use Concrete Out of Pouch
Concrete repairs can be such a production, and when the project is done, you often have a huge cow pie of mud left over. Hey, you always mix up more t...
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April 12, 2012
Project: Small Engine Tune-up
Nod if this spring ritual is familiar: You’re stoked to start your lawn mower or garden tiller — or any piece of equipment with a small en...
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April 11, 2012
Good Lookin' Landscape Lighting
This landscape lighting makes a home look almost as pretty as a soft summer night. The i-lighting LED Landscape Lighting System adds beauty, safety an...
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April 05, 2012
Giveaway: Craftsman 22-In. Mower
The beauty of today's giveaway is this: You'll fully understand the value of this sweepstakes prize, summed up in just four words: Craftsman m...
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April 04, 2012
Tip: How to Make Wood Plugs
Adding those all-important finishing touches to your woodworking projects often means hiding ugly screw heads under wood plugs. You can purchase plugs...
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April 02, 2012
Trench Drain=No-Threshold Shower
Have you ever considered re-designing your bathroom to a more modern style and for improved accessibility? Here's an easy way to get your feet wet...
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March 28, 2012
How to Hide a Body on Your Deck
No, we are not suggesting a life of crime (it never pays). We are suggesting — admittedly with a bit of hyperbole — this "hidden"...
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March 26, 2012
Casement Cable=Kid-Safe Windows
There are few nightmares worse than the vision of a child falling from an open window. Since spring is prime time for such things, parents and grandpa...
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March 22, 2012
Project Plans: Dog Feeder Station
Wanna pay back your pooch for all those times she/he has gotten your butt out of that Lazy Boy and taken you to the park? We've got just the pet p...
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March 21, 2012
Debris Bag Saves Time and Steps
This is one of those "no-big-deal-but-why-didn't-I-think-of-that?" lawn-and-garden products.
This debris bag holds the weeds ...
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March 19, 2012
Clean Brick in a Washing Machine?
OK, you know it's a bad idea to toss a brick into a washing machine spinning full-tilt. But it's good video, and it raises the question: What ...
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March 15, 2012
Tip: 4 Cardinal Rules of DIY
Here's good advice from Joe Provey, a DIY pro:
The biggest DIY project I ever tackled was reroofing my house — all 3,000 sq. ft. ...
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March 14, 2012
Lighting for When the Power's Out
When the power went down, the thumbs went up on this product. That is, the Home Power Outage Lighting System ($99) was recommended by 98 percent of ou...
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March 12, 2012
A $6,400 Toilet? A Bit Cheeky
It's not that we don't like the Numi, Kohler's "most advanced toilet" (see video). Just the opposite. This stylish little throne...
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March 08, 2012
Project: Replace a Bathroom Faucet
Drip ... drip ... drip.
At first, you said the small leak in the bathroom faucet didn't bother you. And it only bugged a little bit tho...
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March 07, 2012
"The Porta John" & More DIY Music
We gotta give it up for Biscuit Joint who performs songs about the jobsite. BJ sings at trade shows (such as the International Builders Show) and has ...
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March 05, 2012
You Want to Find a Stud? Simple
Definition of typical stud finder: A device you throw at the wall after it sorta finds a stud in the wall — maybe. Maddening!
Yes, th...
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March 01, 2012
Giveaway: New Delta Scroll Saw
We love it when we scoop the market with our giveaway prizes. Get this: The Delta 20-in. Variable Speed Scroll Saw, Model 40-695, is so new (it's ...
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February 29, 2012
Save 40,000 Gal. in Your Bathroom
Really? Save that much water yearly in the bathroom? We're pretty sure our 21 product testers were suspicious about the Stealth System ($325). But...
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February 27, 2012
3 Tips on Marriage and Remodeling
One of the toughest aspects of many remodeling projects is imagining the results. Although some people can examine a space and easily envision what it...
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February 23, 2012
Your Next Easy Project: Wall Niche
Why a wall niche? Well, a wall niche transforms an empty stud cavity into a useful storage space or an eye-catching display area. We built a niche in ...
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February 22, 2012
Super-Silent Garage Door Opener
"Is that the garage door opening?"
With most garage door openers, is that even a question? They're too noisy! Not this Genie ...
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February 20, 2012
Wanted in Vegas: 4 Tool Testers!
"Had a ball and enjoyed meeting and working with everyone! Still can't believe it happened to me! What a great experience!" —Susan...
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February 16, 2012
3 Paint Rollers, 0 Roller Trays
Look, Ma! No tray!
That's the idea with paint rollers that deliver paint from can to wall; they're skipping the dipping. They have ...
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February 15, 2012
Go Bonkers Over This Saw Blade
We sent these saw blades to 500 of our product testers. They all loved the Bosch 7-1/4-in. Daredevil Framing Blade ($9.99), giving it a 100-percent ap...
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February 13, 2012
Test Tools in Vegas, Free (Maybe)
This is our contest's third year, so you can say we're on a roll! It's HANDY's annual Top Tool Tester Contest. Enter now and you could...
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February 09, 2012
Build a Mobile Workbench
Yes, you can get by on makeshift workbenches at a job site, but no real shop is complete without a good workbench. Here's one you can easily build...
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February 08, 2012
3 Must-Haves for Aging DIYers
Aging happens ... if you're lucky. DIYers, embrace your years because experience and well-earned wisdom come in handy with projects. Still, take i...
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February 06, 2012
A New Screw ... Who Knew?
Who knew? Well, now you do. From the moment we screwed around with this new screw, it was considered by our editorial crew to be a shoo-in for an awar...
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February 02, 2012
Sick of Winter? Sink Into This
It's a no-brainer that there's such a hubbub about home-and-garden shows this time of year. People have had it with the dormancy, darkness and dreary ...
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February 01, 2012
Never Talk Dirty Again—We Swear!
When we work on projects, everything around us takes a beating: our tools, clothes, hands and even our cell phones. Replacing a phone can be painfully...
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January 26, 2012
Giveaway: A Big-Screen HDTV
It's appropriate to end our historic HANDY TOOLBOX Super Sweeps Week (a TWO-giveaway week!) with the prize in today's Big-Screen Sweepstakes. After al...
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January 25, 2012
Project: Install a Backsplash
Whether you're a DIY newbie or an old hand, this project is sure to make a big splash in your house. Installing a backsplash is a great first-timer pr...
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January 23, 2012
Bad Ass Built Into Sledge Hammer
Look at the "guns" on the guy in the image above! When you wield a sledge hammer, you don't necessarily need those kinds of biceps &mdas...
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January 19, 2012
2 Videos: Tool Rap & Toilet Trauma
We applaud home improvement manufacturers when they hit us with some edgy humor in their promotional videos. Two examples:
DeStorm is "...
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January 18, 2012
A Toilet Gasket That Forgives
When you're on your hands and knees in the bathroom, you deserve some forgiveness, right? Well, testers found that the Sani-Seal Toilet Gasket is incr...
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January 16, 2012
DIY Tip: How to Avoid Disasters
Here's good advice from Joe Provey, a DIY pro:
I hate to admit it, but almost every DIY project I tackle turns into an epic struggle &m...
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January 12, 2012
Project Plans: Wall Mount a TV
Your new big-screen TV brings sports and entertainment stars — in all their HD, prime-time glory — into your home. Well, with these DIY pr...
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January 11, 2012
Pole Saw With 144-in. Extension
Don't like ladder work? You may not because you insist that you do your best work with two feet firmly planted on terra firma and not on a tipsy l...
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January 09, 2012
When Snow and Ice Are Good
Snow and ice are pretty (for a while) but they can get to be pretty rough on winter machinery and tools. Well, we found a $5.99 can that can help. It'...
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January 05, 2012
Giveaway: It Throws Snow 35 Ft.
We have one wish with our first sweepstakes of the new year: that the sky doesn't dump a dozen inches of snow on the winner before he or she receives ...
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January 04, 2012
Quick-Connect Pullout Faucet
This kitchen faucet looks good — and, as a bonus, it makes you look good as a DIYer. The Hydrolock installation system of Moen's new Benton Pullout Ki...
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January 03, 2012
3 Books for the Handy Person
a
These are good books for bad weather. Yes, when the weather outside is frightful, take the opportunity to delve into...
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December 29, 2011
Raising the Bar on a Sharp Tool
When we tried the Work Sharp WS3000 a few years back, we instantly liked this versatile sharpening system. Nevertheless, it fell short of its full pot...
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December 28, 2011
Right On: Rugged Steel Truck Box
Ten of our toughest product testers took on this truck box — and lost. They tried to find flaws but couldn't; thus, the UWS ProGrade Steel Truck Box (...
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December 27, 2011
Paint When Pink Turns White
Normally, sealants don't do much to excite us. They seal; big deal. But Red Devil's ColorCure Pink2White multipurpose sealant is not your typical seal...
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December 22, 2011
Best Version of "Deck the Halls"
We tried mightily to come up with a HANDY TOOLBOX holiday greeting that wasn't hokey, yet true to the DIY world and the season. But frankly, visions o...
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December 21, 2011
Project Plans: Build a Clamp Cart
The maxim, "You can't have too many clamps" is true because the little devils are just too valuable and versatile in the shop. However, you can have t...
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December 15, 2011
Money-Saving Weekend Project
Installing a new toilet is an afternoon DIY project that has as much impact on your bottom line as any. If your toilet was installed before 1996, then...
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December 14, 2011
This Pump Made Quite the Splash
How pumped up can you get about a new pump? Plenty, according to our 39 product testers who gave the Wayne Auto On/Off Utility Pump ($169) a 100 perce...
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December 08, 2011
Giveaway: DeWalt 4-Tool Combo Kit
Our special holiday giveaway will ensure that one of you lucky TOOLBOX readers will have a very "MAXy" Christmas. We're talkin' 20V MAX because the pr...
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December 07, 2011
Clean It Like You Mean It
You could define DIY as "making big messes in order to improve your home, auto and equipment." You learn to live with project messes, but then the pai...
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December 05, 2011
Garage Door Opener Beats Caffeine
We argue that this garage door opener is a better pick-me-up than caffeine, and we do so for three reasons:
The Chamber...
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December 01, 2011
Build a Drawer Box
One of the easiest methods of building a drawer box is to use rabbet-and-dado joints for the front, back and sides. This joint may not be as impressiv...
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November 30, 2011
Can a Hole Saw Make You Happy?
Can a hole saw make you happy? You already know how it can make you unhappy when it jams and you can't dig out the dang plug. Well, the bimetal Lenox ...
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November 28, 2011
1-Eyed Monster Frees Your Hands
We admit that wearing a headlamp may look a little goofy (or make you look like a Cyclops), but it's often the best lighting solution when conditions ...
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November 23, 2011
Drywalling With Tim the Toolman
If you've ever drywalled, you'll get a kick out of this challenge between Tim the Toolman Taylor and his sidekick, Al. Tim feels smug as he opens the ...
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November 21, 2011
How to Gussy up Your Grab Bars
Grab bars (AKA support bars) make a bathroom safer — and uglier. That is, they might look fine in a hospital but not in your bathroom, right?
...
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November 17, 2011
Giveaway: 6 Award-Winning Prizes
The 2011 HANDY Innovation Award winners are tickled pink about the honor. It's become a big deal in the DIY industry, so they want to brag it up a bit...
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November 16, 2011
Chain Saw: Quiet, Cordless and 40V
This is a chain saw that'll get high marks — from your neighbors. The Oregon PowerNow 40V MAX Cordless Chainsaw is quiet, not to mention lightweight a...
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November 14, 2011
Handy Tool for Gutter Cleaning
Gutter cleaning from a ladder gets high marks for being a high-anxiety, low-fun-factor task. So we're pretty excited to have found a tool that makes t...
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November 10, 2011
Project: Replace Your Kitchen Sink
A case could be made that replacing the kitchen sink is one of the most gratifying DIY projects of all. It saves a bundle of money to do it yourself, ...
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November 09, 2011
Have Heater, Will Travel
Sure, you can dress to stay warm on the job site or in your unheated garage workshop this winter. With the right workwear, it's OK. But doesn't it fee...
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November 08, 2011
Split Wood in Half the Time
The problem with most conventional log splitters is they are s-l-o-w. Yep, you position the log on the splitter, pull the lever to activate the ax-lik...
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November 03, 2011
Just the Idea of Blowing Snow ...
"Say it ain't so, Joe ... snow?"
Yep, it's that time again. Snow's coming (or already here), so select a snow thrower and ...
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November 02, 2011
Reasonably Priced Router—100% Yes
Routers are wonderful tools and pert' near indispensible — but they can be downright pricey. Well, the Skil 1830 Combo Router Kit (at $110) carries su...
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October 31, 2011
Our 5 Funniest DIY T-Shirts
Handy people have a huge sense of humor that can't be measured (get it?), and some of us wear our DIY funny bone on our T-shirts. We've taken the libe...
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October 27, 2011
Updating Tired Kitchen Cabinets
This project excites most homeowners because it can be rewarding financially, and it's not too difficult. Dressing up dull, dreary kitchen cabinets wi...
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October 26, 2011
Wall Scanner Superman Would Love
You don't need Superman's X-ray vision to hang pictures and cabinets, install shelving or to do electrical upgrades. A stud finder helps, but traditio...
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October 24, 2011
Keep Your Backyard Birds Safe
Building a birdhouse is a "two-fer" because you get two joys for the price of one. The first is in using your tools and moxie to pull off the construc...
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October 20, 2011
Giveaway: Blower-Shredder-Vacuum
Think twice before entering this giveaway. Don't bother if you want to take your sweet time raking and bagging leaves because you love soaking in the ...
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October 19, 2011
Crouch Without Singing Soprano
When we first heard about the Duluth Trading Company's Flex Ballroom Jeans, we thought the work-apparel company was going soft. Whoever heard of weari...
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October 17, 2011
Don't Let Wind Destroy Your Deck Furniture
Don't you just hate it when the autumn wind blows and bangs your deck furniture into the railings or your siding? Or when it really roars and carries ...
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October 13, 2011
Save Cash: Re-Do Your Entry Door
Our 80-year-old door made us snore and sneer. Not only was it a boring brown (to match the house trim), it was also beat up. Its paint was peeling, an...
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October 12, 2011
One Tool Blows and Shreds Leaves
It's not surprising that our product-testing team gave this handheld shredder/vacuum a 100 percent approval rating. After all, it blows yard debris an...
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October 10, 2011
Backyard Greenhouse? 12 Questions
When the garden winds down at summer's end, you may wish that the veggies and flowers could persevere throughout the winter. What about building a bac...
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October 06, 2011
Vote for HANDY Innovation Award
Each year, HANDY Magazine editors do the DIY world a good deed by presenting the HANDY Innovation Awards. The editors earmark new tools and products t...
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October 05, 2011
A New Toilet That Won't Overflow
It's an all-too-familiar scene: Your toilet overflows ("Yikes!!!"), and you're tip-toeing through the rising tide of sludge. Well, we have good news! ...
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October 03, 2011
If Jimmy Fallon Wore Workpants ...
Jimmy Fallon wears suit pants, which work for his line of work. Fallon's guest for his late-night TV show (seen in this hilariously awkward video) is ...
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September 29, 2011
Build This Woodworker's Bench
What is it about a woodworker's bench? After one project, the bench isn't just a work surface anymore; it's a friend and a tool — maybe the hardest-wo...
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September 28, 2011
95/100 = Yes for Oscillating Tool
Bosch has been deliberate in making its way to the oscillating tool party, but our product testers' response to the new MX25EK-33 Multi-X Oscillating ...
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September 26, 2011
Do a Dust Barrier in 5 Minutes
Usually in remodeling, you gotta bash before you can build. Truth is, demo-ing walls is a blast, but if the dust is not contained, it makes a mighty m...
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September 22, 2011
Giveaway: Two Go-To Bosch Tools
There are tools that you have, and then there are tools that you use. The ones you use are your go-to tools; you grab them when you're off to a job an...
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September 21, 2011
Manual Scraping? That's History
It's like manual sanding versus power sanders, right? Once you flip the switch and enjoy the sander's ride to smooth surfaces, it's tough going back t...
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September 19, 2011
$9.95 Handles for Hauling Leaves
We don't go hog-wild about leaf-hauling/loading devices that are often way overpriced. We watch our pennies and for our lawn, a rake and an old sheet ...
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September 15, 2011
Auto Hammer Has Some Chutzpah
We like a tool with an attitude — one that can handle fussy fasteners in need of a little friendly persuasion. Well, Craftsman NEXTEC 12.0 Volt G2 Ham...
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September 12, 2011
This Light Bulb Turns Us On
We hate it when light bulbs are sleepier than we are in the morning. While we like the green side of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL), we drum ou...
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September 08, 2011
You (We) Love This Portable Bench
DIYers, put this on your bucket list. Not only did the Handy Bucket Builder wow our product testers with a 92 percent approval rating, it also got a t...
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September 07, 2011
Set Your Butt Down on This
That's the thing about gardening, right? We love it but it's a pain in the butt, back and knees as we're forced to sit, squat, stoop and kneel just to...
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September 06, 2011
Red Green, Women and Handymen
Red Green can come off as a crazy ol' coot, but he's crazy like a fox. He says and does the darnedest things, and yet in the midst of it he'll drop in...
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September 01, 2011
Juiced: Boost Battery in 3 Minutes
We're calling this the "Save Your Butt" battery charger. You've been there: You're this close to finishing your epic project (and then go fishing with...
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August 31, 2011
Impact Driver Improves Sleep!
DeWalt doesn't dwell on it, but it's true: You sleep better with this impact driver under your pillow.
OK, not under your ...
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August 29, 2011
The Garage-Door Windows? Not Real
Even though those garage-door windows pictured aren't really real, we really like them because they increase curb appeal — without the hassle of repla...
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August 24, 2011
Make Garden Art and Cedar Frame!
Here are two head-turning projects that'll draw gawkers to your yard. Frankly, we don't know which project they'll be "oohing" about more, the steel a...
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August 22, 2011
Trailer Morphs Into Storage Unit
You want to be a hero in your house? Find storage. Indeed, your stock will be higher than any action figure in green tights if you can somehow find or...
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August 18, 2011
Easily Installed Deck Lighting
Got a drill/driver, a 7/16-in. bit and a hammer? Then you can install the I-Lighting Outdoor Lighting System.
The kit — ra...
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August 17, 2011
Socks That Can Help a Hangover
Doesn't happen often, but there are "mornings after" when getting outta bed and dressing can be a real chore. Well, we've found some socks that can he...
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August 15, 2011
21-Gallon Garden Water Bag—Wow!
Watering is wonderful for your plants but (groan) it takes time, especially if you have a flower bed or community garden plot that's too far from a wa...
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August 11, 2011
Disarm Your Killer Garden Hose
We hate it when this happens: With all this heat, we're watering, watering, watering, which means we're moving the hose. A lot. Unfortunately, it also...
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August 10, 2011
Design a Shop — You Deserve It!
This project is a bit different, but nevertheless, it is the parent of all projects. Because once you design a workshop that's efficient and comfortab...
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August 08, 2011
Prisoners Pray for This Hacksaw!
For two reasons:
They want to escape (video). Invariably, however, these plots flop; either the law is one step ahead o...
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August 04, 2011
Giveaway: JawSaw, Trimmer, Blower
Think of your yard as a lion that needs weekly taming. Most of us are going about the task armed only with a chair (the mower), but to really whip tha...
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August 03, 2011
120 Testers Like This Light—Lots
We thought our product testers would yawn about this emergency light. After all, there are lots of these lights on the market. Nope. Our 120 testers b...
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August 01, 2011
The Toolman's Gut-Buster Video!
When we hear the word "guarantee," we back off and check our wallets. And we are even more dubious when we hear that a video is a guaranteed gut-buste...
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July 28, 2011
Build This Deck Storage Bench
We like this project because it decks out our deck with a beauty — and it provides comfortable seating and ample storage. This solid-cedar bench can a...
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July 27, 2011
Giveaway: 105 Acres of Pure Fun!
Many of us are farmers or grew up farming and find tractor pulls — with all that raw power and diesel smoke of competing pullers — to be thrilling. Wh...
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July 25, 2011
One Can Can Impress All Painters
DIYers tend to take the word "finish" literally. After working long and hard to build the project, it's time to finish with a coat of paint or polyure...
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July 21, 2011
Whack Weeds With Stand-Up Tool
Any time we can whack weeds without throwing the back outta whack with stoop labor, we're happy. So we're halfway to heaven when holding this stand-up...
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July 20, 2011
Key-Fob Convenience at Your Door
Television without remote control? Inconceivable! Car doors that open only with a key? Thoroughly un-modern!
Yes, we do lo...
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July 18, 2011
Really Safe Chain Saw With Jaws
We'll cut to the quick: Chain saws are dangerous, and that's bound to make you justifiably apprehensive. But we recently discovered a new kind of chai...
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July 15, 2011
Giveaway: Festool Drill/Driver!
Actually, we shouldn't beat around the bush — just send you directly to the Sweepstakes entry page. Because, really, nothing needs to be said when the...
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July 14, 2011
Build This Outdoor Dining Table
Simple yet very smart, that's what this outdoor dining table is. Simple in that you make it from standard dimensional lumber, and construction require...
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July 13, 2011
Stain and Waterproofer in One
Our product testers were defanged with this test. C'mon, a name brand, work-saving wood stain and waterproofer all in one? What's not to like?
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July 11, 2011
Work, Hearing Protection, Music
Quiz question: If you don't wear hearing protection when you're young and working on the job or in the shop, do you know which word you'll use most of...
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July 07, 2011
Unload Your Pickup in 30 Seconds
We try to avoid things that get us cranky, but not in this case. No siree Bob! This crank device helps us — or, more accurately, we help it — unload o...
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July 06, 2011
Green Thumb Plant-Care Sensor
Normally, we wouldn't consider a little plastic flower doohickey that plugs into a computer to be an essential gardening tool. But now we're not so su...
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July 05, 2011
Spade Aids to Ease Shoveling Pain
If you've ever handled a spade, shovel, pitchfork or just about any tool with a long handle, you're really going to dig these two handy, affordable to...
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June 30, 2011
Dangerous Dog Jokes for DIYers
Many DIYers protect their valuable shop tools with the help of a dog that's always noisy, often big and usually mean-looking enough to make bad guys t...
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June 29, 2011
Our Dream Drill Is the Real Deal
In our dreams, the fantasy drill/driver is cordless (of course!) and has 18 volts of power — AND it is smaller, lighter and tougher than a 12-volt mod...
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June 27, 2011
A Toilet Seat That's a Turn-on
In a bathroom filled with fabulous fixtures, attractive tile and a glamorous granite vanity top, isn't it a missed opportunity when your toilet seat i...
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June 23, 2011
Build This Luxury Deck Lounger
Some projects, well, you really look forward to finishing much more than others. It's not because they're less fun to build; it's just that you can't ...
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June 22, 2011
Stay Organized, Keep Dust at Bay
Remember R2D2, the super-handy little droid from "Star Wars" that was more versatile than a pocketful of Swiss Army Knives? Festool, long recognized f...
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June 20, 2011
Voice Smoke Alarm Beats Beeping
When it comes to safety, it's time to give your kids a voice.
According to First Alert, recent studies show that in an eme...
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June 17, 2011
Giveaway: a John Deere Mower
What we like about our June Giveaway is that it really hits home. This John Deer JS46 self-propelled walk-behind mower is the right product at just th...
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June 16, 2011
Raised Garden-Greenhouse Combo
Helps the back, helps the budget (grow your own) and helps with storage space. What's not to like about this 3-in-1 gardening helper, the new Plant In...
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June 15, 2011
Precise Cuts in Drywall, Plywood
Simple-and-effective building products make us smile, and this one has us simply beaming. The Mark-n-Cut Transfer Sheets are a godsend to folks instal...
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June 13, 2011
Pretty Pot, Ugly Deck Ring—Fixed
You've worked your butt off building a beautiful deck, porch or patio, and you want to make it even more beautiful with pots overflowing with colorful...
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June 09, 2011
Build This Raised Garden Bed
Guaranteed, this is a project that you'll not only love, but you'll build it repeatedly. It's the always attractive raised garden bed.
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June 08, 2011
More Mower, More Garage Space
You've gone cordless with many of your favorite power tools, so maybe it's time to consider a cordless mower. No gas smells or spills. No tendinitis f...
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June 06, 2011
Work Light You Can Bend and Fold
It can get creepy changing a tire on a dark and stormy night. Same with working in tight crawlspaces full of cobwebs and critters. About the best way ...
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June 02, 2011
Shop Humor: Origins of Celibacy
During his first three years of marriage, Frank — a big DIYer — tackled several huge home-improvement projects. At first, Frank's wife Pat loved how t...
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June 01, 2011
Start-to-Finish Project Updates
Besides recording their projects for posterity (ah, vanity), our testers gave this cool Timelapse ProjectCam an impressive 98 percent approval rating....
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May 31, 2011
5 Reasons to Join Us on Facebook
We love talkin' tools, projects and all things home related. If you've got an insatiable appetite for home improvement and tool talk, then you'll be i...
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May 26, 2011
Marvel at This Musical Ramp
You're looking at a long holiday weekend and you're good with wood, so watch this video on an awesome wooden musical ramp. It may inspire you to try n...
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May 23, 2011
Heavy Equipment Playground: Dig It
We would never encourage DIYers to dig themselves into a hole when they go to Las Vegas — until now. We're not talking about the casinos but the new D...
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May 20, 2011
Giveaway: Win a Thrill Grill!
We're calling this our Thrill Grill for two reasons:
Think of the thrill it would be to win our Stok Quattro Grill Swee...
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May 18, 2011
Double-Hung Gets a "10"
We found out that our testers do windows. The testers found out that installing Simonton's Double Hung Replacement Windows was a breeze. They gave a p...
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May 16, 2011
Portable, Pumps 200 Gal./Charge
Flooded laundry room? Overflowing toilet? Swamped kayak? To bail you out, we found something far better than a bucket or a coffee can. It's called Aqu...
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May 12, 2011
Test Tile Saw, Then Do the Strip
In Las Vegas, our four Top Tool Testers are too much! You'd think after two tough days of reviewing tools in the Product Test Shop (and tougher nights...
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May 11, 2011
Vegas Test--Skil Oscillating Tool
In Las Vegas, it was fun to read the faces of the four lucky Top Tool Testers reviewing tools now in the Product Test Shop. Recall that these three gu...
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May 09, 2011
The Vegas Test: Impact Wrench
Tool manufacturers gotta be pretty confident in their new tools to put them up for micro-analysis by our four Top Tool Testers. Recall that the fearso...
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May 05, 2011
Project Plan: Outdoor Easy Chair
Not all four-letter words are naughty. Take easy, for example. Woodworkers like easy when it describes projects that turn out as beautiful and functio...
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May 04, 2011
100% Raves for Multipurpose Saw
Right on, RotoZip! You've managed to do what few tool manufacturers have done — please 100 percent of our very picky TOOLBOX Testers! Your versa...
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May 02, 2011
Free Deck-Designing Software
It's almost a DIYer's rite of passage — to build a deck in springtime. A new deck is a dandy way to: Celebrate great weather Connect with famil...
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April 29, 2011
Wanted: 3 Winners for 1 Giveaway
For the merry month of May, we've gone away from the standard "winner takes all" giveaway that we — along with Handy Hal (pictured) an...
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April 28, 2011
Build This--Be the King of Swing
Apologies to our women woodworkers, but "King of Swing" has an irresistible ring. We hope you'll forgive us when you finish this build-in-a-...
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April 27, 2011
14 Hot Painting Tasks, 1 Cool Tool
We always try to paint in the shade, but inevitably we end up working in the heat on exterior jobs. Well, our tool testers found that hot painting get...
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April 25, 2011
Generator Runs on Most Any Fuel
DIYers often work at remote job sites and need "juice" to power corded tools. If we're not doing projects (it happens), we need power when we camp, fi...
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April 21, 2011
Yes, Personalized Garage Signs!
You're the go-to guy or gal for all things handy. If you're not lending tools to friends, you're toiling at your table saw in the garage, wrenching on...
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April 20, 2011
Take a Dim View With This Product
All winter, we whine about not enough light. Skylights and solar tube products help brighten a room and our spirits, but sometimes they help too much ...
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April 18, 2011
Most Mesmerizing Chainsaw Video
We can't tell you why, exactly, but we found ourselves locked into this video. There's not a man or women in sight, so the human-interest angle is not...
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April 15, 2011
Shop Humor: What's So Funny About Taxes?
Let's try to stay positive as we approach paying taxes on Monday. For a distraction this weekend, find a project, fix something, repair, remodel, do y...
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April 14, 2011
Product Test: THIS Is a Utility Knife!
You might say that with our handy testers, this utility knife made the cut — big time! To the point, the Clauss SpeedPak Utility Knife received a 99 p...
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April 11, 2011
Quiz Question: What Won't This Saw Cut?
This question must be a multiple choice, with one of the answers being, "None of the above." Because the Ridgid TwinBlade Saw R3250 is sort of the "ut...
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April 07, 2011
You Can Easily Build This Beauty
This lightweight yet sturdy bench was designed for outdoor use, but your backside will find it just as comfortable as an entry bench or even at the fo...
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April 06, 2011
Prudence & Patience, Dear Pruner
Winter whacks the best of us, especially our trees. We notice the damage during spring, and we're typically pumped to prune away the problems PDQ. Pro...
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April 04, 2011
Power — the Strong, Silent Type
Storm season looms, so it's prudent to become pals with a portable generator. It doesn't need to be a loud, overweight, fume-spewing beast. Indeed, we...
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March 31, 2011
Too Cold to Compost? Nope
Composting is almost synonymous to smugness. Seriously, don't you just feel so dang "eco" — and prudent when you consider the cost of compost — as you...
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March 30, 2011
Do You Like Your Peephole?
Probably not. In fact, most of us have peephole problems that we're rather peeved about. Why?
A typical door peephole c...
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March 28, 2011
Do Chainsaw Champs Do Diamonds?
Spring is springing, which means springing to action with our outdoor cleanup jobs. We're up to the task of trimming trees damaged by seasonal storms,...
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March 24, 2011
Sewer-Line Fix: Can You Dig It?
Sooner or later, your sewer line will command attention — and you're not going to dig it. (This is good news.)
Clarificati...
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March 23, 2011
What Happens in Vegas ... Gets Published!
The TOOLBOX and the Handyman Club of America have selected four Top Tool Testers to try out the latest tools and offer feedback from the Product Test ...
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March 21, 2011
Extreme Birdhouse! 38 Rooms
Come spring, many woodworkers — after being cooped up for the winter — are bustin' to build a birdhouse. It can beautify the backyard, att...
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March 17, 2011
A St. Patrick's Day Pick-Me-Up
With a bit o' luck, you may shut down the shop a wee bit early to celebrate St. Patty's Day. We'll join in, but we're skipping the green-beer-inspired...
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March 16, 2011
Impact Driver Had a Big Impact
It's DIY embarrassing but unavoidable, really — going to a hardware store and drooling all over the new power tools. But at least our tool testers don...
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March 14, 2011
Free Home-Design Software
Are you painfully paired with piles of paper and a pencil when making project drawings? You're not alone. Many who try computer-assisted design softwa...
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March 10, 2011
Kick-Butt Weather Protection
We think it's a good fit for a company that makes waterproof boots to also make a stylish, kick-butt rain jacket. The company, Magnum Boots, is known ...
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March 09, 2011
Birdfeeder Humiliates Squirrels
Squirrels humiliate us, openly. Day after day, these twitchy little twerps get the better of us. Even in winter, when there aren't many live plants to...
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March 03, 2011
Tip: Fix Ice Dams with Pantyhose
Talk about the winter of our discontent! With record snowfalls and frigid temperatures all over the country, this is it! And that big snow can lead to...
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March 02, 2011
Giveaway Lineup—Need Your Vote!
You can tell that the "G" Team (aka the Giveaway Team at the TOOLBOX and the Handyman Club of America) is into sports. Because the March tool giveaway...
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February 23, 2011
New Acrylic-Block Operable Window
Our handy testers almost never give 100 percent approval to a product; they're real fussy. When they do — like now — it's big. The product: Hy-Lite's ...
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February 16, 2011
Surefire Way to Please the Spouse
How? Install a backsplash. It never fails to spruce up your kitchen or bathroom, add color and please your spouse. And here's a product that'll please...
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February 14, 2011
DIY Valentine: 2 Adirondacks on a Beach
Never call us DIYers unromantic! Not only can we create this sort of dream scene on the beach (or at least in the garage), we also are the only romant...
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February 10, 2011
Giveaway: Compound Miter Saw
You've voted on Facebook for which Skil tool you'd like to win in this TOOLBOX giveaway, presented by the Handyman Club of America. Now it's time to b...
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February 07, 2011
How Did That Nail Get There?
Good question. There's no hole in the wood "finger" on the far left; and the space between each finger is too small to insert the nail through holes i...
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February 03, 2011
Great Party Needs a Great Grill
Here's a little secret about DIYers: Behind that measured, methodical, nothing-musters-me façade of folks who fix up their homes, there lurks a party ...
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February 02, 2011
A Slice of Americana
Break out the bean dip, the big football/tailgating extravaganza this Sunday is upon us! And what better way to celebrate this only-in-America extrava...
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January 31, 2011
Giveaway Line-up—Need Your Vote!
We've got the G Team working hard. The G is for giveaway; the Team is the TOOLBOX and the Handyman Club of America. Tomorrow is the start of another m...
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January 27, 2011
Giveaway: Drill/Driver, Recip Saw
You've voted on Facebook for which Ridgid tool you'd like to win in this TOOLBOX giveaway, presented by the Handyman Club of America. Now it's time to...
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January 26, 2011
Dull Blades? Not With This Utility Knife
DIYers and home-improvement geeks always look for better ways to accomplish a project — and we want the perfect tool for any job. Trades profess...
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January 24, 2011
Juggling Chainsaws ... or Not
Don't know whether it's authentic, but this Discovery Channel video hooks you right off the bat with the following claim:
...
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January 20, 2011
The Biggest Tool-Storage Roll Cab
This is a big, honkin' tool chest — the largest tool storage unit on the market. It's got almost 67,000 cubic inches of storage space, can hold ...
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January 19, 2011
Go All In: Build This Game Table
Whether you dream of reaching the final table at the World Series of Poker or your game is Monopoly, this game table is sure to provide many nights of...
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January 17, 2011
Pause to Consider the Paws
Put yourself in your pet's position ....
The sidewalk and ground are covered in snow and/or ice. You have to go outside f...
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January 13, 2011
Today's Giveaway: Compressor Kit
We've teamed up with the Handyman Club of America for our first January giveaway — and we listened to your vote. That is, we presented four Craf...
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January 12, 2011
Light Without Wires: Brilliant!
Every now and then we stumble across products that fall under the Brilliant Idea category, such as the wireless LED lighting options from Mr. Beams. S...
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January 10, 2011
Taking a Limp Duck to the Vet
A man took his limp duck to the vet, who listened for the bird's pulse with her stethoscope. "Sorry, your bird's dead."
"Y...
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January 06, 2011
Vegas, Free for 4 Tool Testers!
The TOOLBOX is teaming up with the Handyman Club of America in selecting four tool buffs — our Fantastic Foursome — to join us at the 2011 National Ha...
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January 05, 2011
This Project Was a Huge Hit!
Baby, it's cold outside — and we can only dream about sipping iced tea on the patio. Dream and plan, that is.
Now's the pe...
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January 03, 2011
Giveaway Lineup—Need Your Vote!
What a holiday hoot to start the tool giveaways in December! It felt good to call the winners, who were thrilled. In the interest of not killing the t...
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