I know, I know, another grilling article. You’d think I’d be done by now and honestly, I was planning to be. Just one more and that was it. But then I was out back, giving my old Monument grill a long-overdue spring clean-up, and it hit me. I remembered the time I completely ruined one of my old grills by cleaning it the wrong way. I clogged the burners,  ruined them, and it was a mess. So I figured one more article on how to clean your grill after its winter rest.

To be fair, I leave my grills outside all year long, no covers, no shelter, just out there in the wild. So when spring rolls around, they look like they’ve been through battle. But over the years, I’ve figured out how to bring them back to life and ready for another summer gilling season. So before you fire yours up, here’s a no-BS guide to getting your grill clean, safe, and ready for action… without making the same mistakes I did.

Step 1: Do a Full Inspection First

Before you start scrubbing or spraying anything down, take a few minutes to give your grill a proper once-over. I like to think of this step as a grill health check, you’re not cleaning yet, just diagnosing. Pop the lid, open the cabinet if it has one, and take a close look at what you’re working with.

Start with the inside. If you’re like me and leave your grill outside without a cover, there’s a good chance you’ll find rust on the grates, maybe even on the burners or inside the firebox. Light surface rust isn’t the end of the world, but if things are flaking or falling apart, you might need to replace a few parts.

Next, look for spider webs, nests, or anything weird tucked inside, especially around the burner tubes. It’s surprisingly common, especially in propane grills, for spiders or bugs to block gas flow. I’ve also had the not-so-pleasant experience of finding mouse droppings or chewed insulation after a long winter. But it’s better to find it now than while preheating for burgers.

Don’t forget to check the gas lines and wires. On a gas grill, make sure the hose isn’t cracked and that the regulator still feels snug. Look around the ignition button too; if there are loose wires or corrosion, it might be time to repair or replace the igniter.

This step takes five minutes, tops, but it can save you a ton of frustration (and possibly an accidental flare-up). Once everything checks out, you’re cleared to move on to the fun part: deep cleaning the grates.

Step 2: Deep Clean the Grates (The Right Way)

Let’s be real, if your grill’s been sitting all winter, the grates probably look like something out of a horror movie. That’s okay. We can fix it. But here’s the key: don’t go at them like you’re sanding a deck. The wrong method (or the wrong tool) can damage your grates, especially if they’re porcelain-coated or cast iron, trust me, I found out the hard way.

Start by removing the grates and knocking off any loose debris with a stiff nylon or brass-bristle grill brush, never steel wire. Not only can steel damage the surface, but those bristles can break off and end up in your food later. If things are really caked on, soak the grates in warm, soapy water for 20–30 minutes, then scrub gently with a grill-safe pad or sponge.  I take mine off and use a power washer.

For cast iron grates, dry them completely afterward and wipe on a thin layer of cooking oil to prevent rust. Stainless grates? You can go a little harder, but still avoid anything too abrasive.  I use Barkeeper’s Friend on stainless steel and it works great.  For porcelain-coated? Treat them like nonstick cookware—gentle is the name of the game.

If your grates are beyond saving, pitted, flaking, or warped, it might be time to replace them. But if they’re still solid, a good clean will bring them back to life and help your food taste like grilled meat, not last summer’s leftovers.

Step 3: Clean the Burners, Tubes & Drip Trays

This is where the real performance of your grill lives and it’s often the dirtiest, most ignored area. The burners and drip trays do all the behind-the-scenes work, and after sitting all winter, they’re usually full of gunk, grease, rust, or worse.

Start with the burners. If you have a gas grill, pull them out carefully and look for clogs, rust, or spider webs—yes, spiders love burner tubes. A toothpick, small brush, or compressed air can help clear out the ports. Make sure the flame holes are clean and not blocked, or you’ll get uneven heating or flare-ups.

Next up: drip trays. Most grills have a removable tray or pan beneath the burners that catches grease and debris. These get nasty fast. Pull it out, dump anything solid, and soak it in warm, soapy water. If it’s lined with foil or has a disposable pan, now’s the time to replace it.  I have forgotten to replace mine and when a little water gets in there, it’s nasty.

While you’re in there, it’s not a bad idea to scrape out the bottom of the firebox. Just use a plastic scraper or putty knife and get all the flaky carbon and old food out. Trust me your grill will breathe better, and your food will taste cleaner.

Also check the Flavor bars or the bars above the burners.  I know they usually last for a long time, but if I see rust, I replace mine.  You can still use them but it’s just a thing I like to do.

Once the insides are clear and the burners are back in place, you’re on your way to a grill that not only looks better but cooks better, too.

Step 4: Don’t Forget the Outside

We spend so much time scrubbing the inside of our grills that the outside ends up looking like it just returned from a camping trip. But if you want your grill to last and look good doing it, you’ve got to give the exterior some love too.

Start with a damp cloth and a mild soapy solution to wipe down the lid, shelves, and control panel. For stainless steel grills, use a soft cloth and go with the grain, no scouring pads. If you’ve got years of buildup, a little white vinegar mixed with water can cut through grease without damaging the finish. Just avoid harsh chemicals or oven cleaners, they’ll ruin the look and may even damage painted or coated surfaces.

Check your knobs, ignition button, and thermometer, too. Make sure everything turns smoothly and hasn’t gotten brittle from cold weather. And if your grill has side tables or a cabinet, now’s a good time to clear them out and give them a quick wipe as well.

You don’t have to do this, but after I clean everything on the grill, I light it up and let it burn for 15 minutes.

What Not To Do

Here is a list of mistakes you don’t want to make that can turn a simple clean-up into a costly replacement.

Don’t use a wire brush with loose bristles. Those cheap steel brushes can shed tiny metal pieces that end up in your food, and trust me, no one wants to bite into a burger and end up in urgent care. Stick with a nylon bristle brush or a brass-bristled one that won’t damage your grates or your dinner.

Don’t use oven cleaner. It might sound like a good idea, but those harsh chemicals can corrode finishes, especially on stainless steel or porcelain coatings. Plus, they leave behind residues that can mess with your food’s flavor.

Don’t pressure wash the inside. Blasting the inside of your grill might seem efficient, but it can force water into burner ports, wiring, or insulation – setting you up for rust, mold, or worse. Save the pressure washer for the driveway.

Don’t forget to reconnect the gas line. Seriously. If you disconnected anything to clean, double-check your connections before you light up. A loose hose or regulator can turn that first cookout into a fire drill.

Wrap Up

Giving your grill a proper clean after a long winter isn’t just about looks, it’s about performance and extending its life. A little time now saves you from uneven heat, flare-ups, mystery smells, or the dreaded “why won’t this thing light?”.

I get it. Cleaning your grill isn’t exactly the highlight of Spring, but if you follow the steps above, you’ll be grilling with confidence in no time.

Or, if you’re feeling like skipping all the mess altogether, there’s always the other option: buy yourself a shiny new grill and pretend this one never happened.

The post How to Clean Your Grill After a Long Winter (Without Ruining It) appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

Spring is finally here, and that means it’s time to dig your tools out of hibernation and get them back in fighting shape. Whether it’s your mower, trimmer, blower, or chainsaw, nothing ruins a weekend faster than unsuccessfully trying to fire up a tool that hasn’t been touched since fall. That’s why a little spring lawn equipment maintenance goes a long way. With just a bit of time, you can get your gear running smoother, cutting cleaner, and lasting all season. In this guide, we’ll walk through exactly what to service, sharpen, and replace so your lawn equipment is ready to go when you are.  I understand that the world is changing from gas to battery, but we still need to maintain our OPE tools, plus there are still people who have gas.

What to Service

When it comes to service, the one great thing about a battery mower is you really don’t have to do anything for the service side except, charge your battery.  So this area really pertains to gas mowers, blowers, and other small engine products.

Change the Oil – If you didn’t do it in the fall before storage.

If your equipment has a gas engine – like a lawn mower, pressure washer, or tiller, changing the oil should be at the top of your to-do list. Dirty oil can wear down internal parts fast, especially after sitting idle all winter.

Clean or Replace the Air Filter

A clogged or dirty air filter chokes your engine and reduces performance. Most are easy to pop out and clean with compressed air, or you can replace them for just a few bucks.

Inspect Spark Plugs

If your tool’s not starting like it should, a fouled spark plug might be the culprit. Pull it, check for gunk or carbon buildup, and swap it out if it’s past its prime. It’s cheap insurance.

Drain Old Fuel / Add Stabilizer

Probably the number one reason these tools don’t start, bad gas.  Gas doesn’t last as long as it used to.  Gas can go bad in as little as three months.  Sure, it will work in a car because it runs hot, but not in these small engines.

Old fuel is one of the top causes of spring startup issues. Drain last year’s leftovers and refill with fresh gas. Consider adding a fuel stabilizer if your tools tend to sit unused for long stretches.

What to Sharpen

This section is geared towards gas and battery powered equipment.  Even though battery-powered is simpler, you still have to sharpen certain items as they wear down after use.

Lawn Mower Blades

If your mower blade is dull, you’ll notice the grass looking ragged after you cut. A quick sharpening helps ensure a clean, even trim. Remove the blade (disconnect the spark plug first if it’s battery, make sure you take the battery out), give it a few clean passes with a file or grinder, and balance it before reinstalling. If it’s nicked or worn down? Time to replace.

Chainsaw Chains

Chainsaw not slicing like it used to? A dull chain makes the saw work harder, burns more fuel or batteries, and puts more wear on the motor. Use a round file or chainsaw sharpener to bring it back to life, or swap the chain if it’s past the point of saving.

Hedge Trimmers & Shears

Manual or powered, hedge trimmers need a sharp edge to slice cleanly through branches and stems. Lubricate the blades after sharpening to keep them running smoothly and prevent rust.

String Trimmers

While string trimmers don’t get “sharpened” per se, make sure the line is fresh. Old line becomes brittle and snaps more easily. Replace it with new, quality line and check that your spool is feeding correctly.  Line isn’t that expensive but there is nothing more frustrating than when the line keeps snapping or breaking.

What to Replace

Some parts just wear out.  It’s the nature of working outdoors. Spring is the best time to take inventory and replace anything that’s cracked, stretched, brittle, or just plain worn down. Replacing these now can save you from a breakdown halfway through a mow or a mid-season trip to the repair shop.

Belts & Cables

On riding mowers, tillers, and even snow blowers that didn’t get cleaned before storage, belts can dry out, crack, or loosen. Cables (especially throttle or drive cables) can fray or seize. If it feels sticky or inconsistent, it’s probably time for a replacement.

Fuel Filters & Fuel Lines

Rubber fuel lines and in-line filters can harden, crack, or clog over time, especially if fuel was left sitting in the tank over the winter. Check for any leaks, brittleness, or discoloration and replace if needed.

Spark Arrestors & Mufflers

If you’ve noticed poor performance or louder-than-usual noise, your spark arrestor screen might be clogged, or your muffler may have rusted. These are often overlooked, but they’re easy to swap out and it can make a big difference.

String Trimmer Spools & Edger Blades

If you’re using a string trimmer, make sure your spool is full and feeding properly. For edgers, check your blade, it wears down faster than most people think. Swapping it out makes edging cleaner and easier.

Wheels & Handles

Loose or cracked mower wheels and worn-out handles or grips are easy to ignore—but they affect maneuverability and comfort. Spring’s a good time to tighten, replace, or upgrade them while everything’s already out.

Other Items to Consider

Now that you’ve checked off the essentials, here are a few extra tools and add-ons that can make your spring lawn equipment maintenance faster, easier, and even more effective.

Fuel Stabilizer

Adding a stabilizer to fresh gas can extend its life and protect your engine, especially useful if you have equipment that doesn’t get used regularly. It’s cheap insurance against gummed-up carburetors.

Lubricants & Grease

WD-40 is great for freeing things up, but also stock up on proper grease or dry lube for things like wheel axles, trimmer heads, and cable housings.

Owner’s Manuals

Don’t toss them, use them. They’ll tell you the right parts, service intervals, and even torque specs. If you’ve lost yours, most can be found online with a quick search.  I can’t tell you how many I have tossed out thinking I won’t need them and then it bites me in the butt.  Yes, you can go online and find them, but it’s not always easy.

Spring Maintenance Wrap Up

Doing a little spring lawn equipment maintenance now means you’ll spend less time yanking on cords, unclogging filters, or replacing broken parts when the grass is knee-high. It’s one of those “pay now or pay later” situations—and trust me, it’s a lot nicer to deal with this stuff before everything grows wild.

But if all this sounds like a lot of work, here’s a pro tip: you can skip most of it by investing in some good battery-powered outdoor tools. No oil changes, no gas cans, no spark plugs, no drama. Just grab a battery, push a button, and go. You’ll save time, your back, and about 12 curse words per project. Just sayin’.

The post Spring Power Equipment Prep: What to Service, Sharpen, and Replace appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

When it comes to snow blowers, most people snow blower maintenance happens at the beginning and/or end of the winter season. This is fine for mild winters, but during extreme winter seasons or areas with excessive snowfall this is not enough. Extreme winter weather speeds up wear and tear, weakens snow blower performance, and can even decrease its lifespan. So, if you have already used your snowblower 5-10 times this season, we recommend mid-season snow blower maintenance to keep your snow blower in top condition.

Here are 6 things to check or replace on your snow blower to keep it performing strong all winter long. This list is helpful whether you have a gas or electric snow blower, but some of these snow blower maintenance tips are exclusive to gas machines.

Before You Start

There are two steps you need to do before you start any snow blower maintenance, or any OPE, to prevent injury to yourself, or damage to your machine.

Consult your snow blowers manual before you attempt any sort of maintenance make sure you are doing it in a safe manner and according to the manufacturer’s directions. If you are not comfortable doing it by yourself either have a friend or neighbor with small engine knowledge assist you, or take it into a small engine repair shop to have them give the snow blower a look over.

Your owner’s manual may even state the manufacturer’s tune-up recommendations.

Remove the power source before attempting any kind of maintenance to prevent injuries from accidental engine starts. For a gas snow blower you want to remove the spark plug, and for an electric snow blower you’ll want to either remove the battery or unplug your snow blower.

When finished plug the spark plug back in or you will have a hard time starting the snow blower the next time you need it. For electric snow blowers, just put the battery back in or plug your snow blower.

1. Check Your Oil

The first few tips are exclusive to gas snow blowers. When it comes to oil there is no single set recommendation. It’s best to start with the snow blower manufacturer’s recommendation. These are usually based on hours of use, but it’s also important to check the amount and quality of your snow blower’s engine oil.

Check to make sure your small engine isn’t running low on engine oil, and also if the engine oil is looking dark and dirty. If so, then it’s time to either add or change the oil.

I know it is not fun changing oil in frigid temps, but if you can find a day with decent weather it’s a quick thing you can do and one of the most important things to prolong the life of the unit. While you are changing the oil consult your owner’s manual on how to change the oil, what type, weight and amount of oil to fill the motor with.

2. Check Your Gas

Generally, if you are using your gas snow blower a lot then you are regularly putting fresh gas in it. However, if it’s been more than 30 days you might want to freshen up your tank with new gas.

If your snow blower is underperforming then may want to treat your gas with a fuel stabilizer. Bad gas causes most starting and running issues with small engines.

3. Clean Your Carburetor

Your carburetor has a direct impact on the gas in your snow blower. For regular maintenance you can add carburetor cleaner to your gas tank. However, if you’ve noticed recently that your snow blower is stalling, excessively vibrating or erratic when idling then you may need to clean the carburetor by hand.

If your gas snow blower has a rough idle, stalling, or even

I would also recommend adding some carburetor cleaner to the fuel in the gas tank.

4. Check Your Spark Plugs

Remember that spark plug that you took out earlier? Check it out. If it’s just slightly dirty then you can clean the spark plug. However, it’s really dirty and worn I would recommend you replace the spark plug since they are generally not expensive.

5. Check the Linkages

This is our last gas-exclusive tip. Inspect the linkages to ensure that the snow blower can perform optimally. This means checking the fuel line, looking for frayed cables, or any noticeable cracks, kinks, or rust. Some things may be easy and minor repairs. However, some things may need to be totally replaced and require a trip to the hardware store or repair shop.

6. Adjust or Replace Your Scraper Bar & Snow Skids

Finally, a tip for both gas and electric snow blowers. During extreme winter season where you’re regularly using the snow blower the blades can become worn, or the scraper bar could be moved. Check these items and the snow skids to make sure that they can operate effectively. On a single-stage snow blower you’ll also want to inspect the rubber paddles.

Even in a less severe snow season, these pieces could have been impacted by something under the snow, like a large rock. So, it’s good to regularly inspect them throughout the season, especially if you notice any unusual noises.

If any pieces are damaged then replace them immediately. If worn, analyze how much life they have left and then decide if you want to replace them now or at the end of the season.

7. Check Your Snow Blower’s Tire Pressure

Cold temperatures can cause tire pressure to go down, and if your snow blower is equipped with pneumatic tires then mid-season is a good time to check them. Improper air pressure could result in a flat tire, and no one wants to deal with that during or after a snow storm. Correct air pressure can also just make your snow blower easier to push, especially if the air is low.

Consult the owners guide to find the correct psi to inflate the tires.

Final Tips for Snow Blower Maintenance

Snow blowers are expensive, but with proper maintenance they can last for years. That is my hope for you to get with my 7 snow blower maintenance tips, and prevent any mid-season hassles.

More TIA Snow Blower articles:

• Electric VS Gas Snow Blowers: Which is Better for You?
• Snow Blower VS Snow Thrower. What’s Different? Which is Better?

[Originally published February 24, 2014.]

The post 7 Snow Blower Maintenance Tips for a Mid-Season Tune-Up appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

Swap out the holiday ham for perfectly cooked ribeye steaks this Christmas. Monument Grills recipe for perfect ribeye steaks with hot butter gives your table a new, bold and buttery bite that doubles as a beautiful centerpiece meal that challenges tradition. Yes, holiday cooking can be stressful and steaks for a crowd can be intimidating. But when prepared with one of Monument Grills newest grill models, such as the Denali 605Pro or the Mesa 415BZ, quality construction and tech features, like app-integration, eliminate the guesswork for a consistent cooking experience that allows anyone to know how to grill the perfect ribeye steak.

Monument Grills was founded by a group of friends in Atlanta who believed the best memories were created around the grill. This led to a mission to build the best gas grills that brought people together. This Monument Grills ribeye recipe is guaranteed to bring everyone together this holiday season and looking forward to the holidays yet to come.

How to Grill the Perfect Ribeye Steak

What makes a great steak? To us the most important elements are the seasoning, the sear, and achieving that perfect cook throughout. This Monument Grills recipe for perfect ribeye steaks with hot butter has it all.

The step-by-step instructions and full ingredient list with measurements can be found on the Monument Grills site.

Seasoning

This ribeye recipe gets its flavor from getting double seasoned. First the steak is seasoned all over with Monument Grills Texas Beef Rub and then placed directly on the grill for seared-in flavor.

Once off the grill the steak is topped with compound butter made from a blend of softened butter, fresh chopped garlic and parsley, Monument Grills Texas Hot Pepper Sauce, and Monument Grills Texas Beef Rub. Multiple layers of flavors coat the steak as the butter melts, resulting in a flavorful and succulent steak.

Sear

A hot grill is the key to a perfect sear. This recipe calls for a 600° F preheated grill, which is easy for the Mesa 415BZ and Denali 605Pro. These grills only need 10 minutes to hit 650-700° F and burn between 62,000-78,000 BTU’s. Both grills have dedicated side burners that are perfect for searing, but the Denali 605Pro has its own built-in ceramic infrared sear burner on the grill itself.

The porcelain enameled cast iron grates also provide an even heat throughout to provide a perfect even sear and provide a natural non-stick surface to prevent your perfect ribeye from sticking to the grill.

Perfect Temperature

There are a few different ways to guess the “done-ness” of your steak, but the only way to know without cutting your steak is to check the temperature. The Denali 605Pro comes with two meat probes, perfect for this recipe, that monitor your steaks’ temperature via the Monument Grills app. No more guessing. You’ll know when your steak is cooked to your preference.

Not sure what temperature you or Uncle Eddie likes his steak? Here’s a quick steak temperature chart:

• Rare = 120° F
• Medium Rare = 130° F
• Medium = 140° F
• Medium Well = 150° F
• Well Done = 160° F

To learn more about the Denali 605Pro and Mesa 415BZ read our TIA Article: Monument Grills – A Gift Idea for this Christmas Season.

MORE Christmas Dinner Ideas

Now that you know how to grill the perfect ribeye then you might be looking for other dishes to fill your table this Christmas. Monument Grills has over 100 grilling recipes that range from meat, to seafood, and veggies. You can find sweet and savory dishes from appetizers to desserts, so there’s something to grill for everyone at Christmas dinner this year.

The post How to Grill the Perfect Ribeye Steak for Christmas Dinner appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

As fall moves in and the temperature begins to drop there is a long to-do list to prepare our yards and homes for winter. But what are these tasks? And when is the best time to do them? Relax. Take a breath. We prepared all of this for you in our official TIA Fall Lawn Care & Home Maintenance Checklist. This list combines all of our favorite fall lawn care tips and our fall home maintenance checklist so your home is prepared for winter and also give you a jump-start on the spring season.

Yes, there’s a lot of tasks to check off this fall. Good thing we divided this list up by the fall months so you can breeze through this list instead of scrambling at the last minute.

Fall Lawn & Home Checklists

• September Lawn & Home Checklist
• October Lawn & Home Checklist
• November Lawn & Home Checklist
• BONUS TIPS

September Fall Lawn Care & Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

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Here is our list of fall tasks to kick off your fall lawn and fall home maintenance. The first official day of fall is September 22 every year. However, feel free to start these tasks as soon as September begins so you can breeze through the month.

Here is a quick overview of our TIA September Fall Lawn Care & Fall Home Maintenance Checklist:

• Test Your Lawn’s Soil
• Aerate Your Lawn’s Soil
• Fertilize & Overseed Your Lawn
• Check Your Vehicle’s Fluid Levels
• Check Your Vehicle’s Battery
• Change Out & Clean Home Air Filters
• Check the Hardness of Your Home’s Water
• Check Your Home’s Furnace or Boiler
• Clean Your Grill

Keep reading to go into depth on each topic or jump to our TIA October Fall Checklist.

Test Your Lawn’s Soil

September is the perfect time to prepare your yard for spring, but before you do anything you should know the state of your soil. Testing your soil is an essential part of fall lawn care because you can find out exactly what your specific lawn needs to thrive next year.

A soil test will tell you about your lawn’s pH, nutrition levels, salt levels, and organic composition. Not sure how to test your soil? Get a soil testing kit from Amazon.

Aerate Your Lawn’s Soil

What is lawn aeration? Simply put, lawn aeration adds air back into compressed soil. That is why it’s ideal to aerate your lawn in the fall after it has spent the spring and summer season be walked on, played on, or pushed down by heavy outdoor power equipment (OPE). This constant compression causes your lawn to thin out and can cause it to die or create bare spots. September is also ideal to aerate your lawn because it is still an active growing season.

There are two types of lawn aeration tools: plug aerators and spike aerators. Feel free to ask your neighbor, gardening friend, or research online about what type of lawn aeration tool is best for you.

Fertilize & Overseed Your Lawn

You got your soil test back. You have aerated your lawn. Now it’s time to think about spring, and fertilize your lawn. Fertilize your soil based on whatever your lawn and soil is lacking or you want to improve.

You will also want to seed your lawn, and actually overseed, so that your lawn comes back next spring lush and thick. The main thing here is to consider seed type. It’s best to seed with the same grass variety you already have or a variety suited to your climate or maintenance abilities.

Check Your Vehicle’s Fluid Levels

Time to get out of the yard and into your garage. September is the perfect time to check and top off your vehicle’s fluid levels, especially if you live somewhere where the temperature drops below freezing.

The vehicle fluids to check are:

• Engine oil 
• Windshield washer fluid
• Coolant
• Brake fluid
• Power steering fluid
• Transmission fluid

Depending on how much you drive, September can also be a good time to use fuel injection cleaner to get the best out of your vehicle’s mileage. I recommend using fuel injection quarterly, but every 1,000-3,000 miles may be better for avid drivers.

Check Your Vehicle Battery

Your vehicle’s battery is another essential fall home maintenance task because you want to check your battery’s life now while the weather is still warm. An older or damaged battery may work fine now, but once the temperature drops below zero you may find your vehicle unable to start. This is particularly distressing if you are in a hurry, away from home, or during an emergency.

The average life of a car battery is 3-5 years. However, anything that drain’s your battery can lead to a short battery life, such as:

• Leaving your vehicle’s lights on
• Leaving a door open or radio on
• Exposure to extreme cold
• Not running a vehicle for an extended period of time

How to Check Your Vehicle’s Battery Life

• Inspect battery for damage, such as a bloated battery case or a rotten egg smell.
• Check voltage meter is between 12 and 14 on startup. Batteries with voltage under 12 may need to be charged or ready to replace.
• Listen/count how long it takes for your engine to turnover during startup. A dying battery can have a longer startup.
• Check headlight brightness. Dimmed headlights can indicate low battery life.
• Use a battery tester.

A dying vehicle battery may also cause your vehicle’s check engine light to go on.

Change Out Your Home’s Air Filter

Regularly changing out your home air filter is one of the easiest ways to maintain the air quality in your home. Your home’s air filter is usually located at the in-take of your home’s furnace, but depending on your system they can also be located in your air return duct, in air handler cabinet, or even in your window AC cabinet. It all depends on your home heating and cooling system. The Home Depot has a great article: How to Change a Home Air Filter.

Air filters should be changed quarterly, monthly if you have pets in your home. However, fall and winter are vital times to prioritize air quality as the dry air can cause more lung irritation.

You can also invest in a home air purifier if you are really concerned about your home’s air quality.

Check Your Home’s Water for Hardness

Hard water can wreak havoc on our pipes, and appliances, negatively impact the taste of our home’s water, and damage our skin and hair – which can be compounded by dry fall and winter air. Test your home’s water for hardness to determine if there are issues with your water softener or if you need to invest in a system.

How to Check Hardness of Home’s water

You can buy a hard water home testing kit, or you can conduct the Quick Soap Suds Water Bottle Test by Spring Well Water Filtration Systems:

“One of the easiest and quickest options for a hard water test is the Soapsuds Test. To carry out this test, you need a clear, clean, empty glass or plastic bottle with a tight-fitting cap. Fill the bottle about one-third with water straight from your tap, add a few drops of pure liquid soap and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds. Next, set the bottle down and observe the solution.

If there are no fluffy bubbles in the water or it appears cloudy and/or milky, your water is hard. Soft water would foam up quickly and create bubbles, and the resting water at the bottom would be clear. You have to keep in mind, however, that some soaps are formulated with detergents, so they lather regardless of your water type. For the best results, use a basic soap, such as Castile. Soaps like this one have no dyes, detergents or perfumes.”

Make Sure Your Furnace or Boiler are Working

If your furnace or boiler aren’t working properly you will want to find out now before the temperature really drops. First, you will be more comfortable because you can fix the problem while your home is still at a comfortable temperature. Second, you should have an easier time getting a repair person to your home.

7 Ways to Check if Your Home Furnace is Working

Here is quick checklist for checking if your home furnace is working from Superior Mechanical Services.

1. Check electric controls
2. Inspect and clean burner
3. Examine heat exchanger
4. Test ignition system
5. Check exhaust system
6. Check gas pressure
7. Test gas and oil connections

How to Check Your Home’s Boiler System

Frederick Air has a great step-by-step checklist for checking your home’s boiler system. We recommend following the steps on the website, but the steps can be broken down into three main steps.

1. Test your boiler thermostat
2. Check boiler pipes for heat distribution
3. Check radiators and heat vents for heat distribution

Clean Your Grill

No, you don’t have to stop grilling just because the temperature is dropping. Eric personally believe in grilling outside in his shorts all year long. However, September is the perfect time to give your grill an end of season spa day. This is a thorough clean that can help extend the life of your grill.

Here’s our quick fall checklist for cleaning your grill:

• Remove grill grates, knock loose any food particles and vacuum inside, outside, and underside of grill.
• Soak grill grates in warm soapy water, clean and rinse. Scrub if necessary to remove built-up food particles.
• Scrub the interior of your grill with warm soapy water and rinse.
• Clean the exterior of your grill with warm soapy water and rinse.
• Empty and rinse your grill’s ash tray.
• Dry your grill with a microfiber.
• Heat the grill and oil the grates with a greased paper towel to remove leftover food and grease the grates.

Back to Guide

October Fall Lawn Care & Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

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Alright, you have checked off all of your September fall maintenance task for your lawn and home and it’s onto October. October temps are lower, the air is dryer, and the growing season starts to slow down. A lot of your October fall lawn and home maintenance revolves around keeping your home comfortable, treating the items most impacted by cold temps, and how to properly store items away until spring.

Here is a quick overview of our TIA September Fall Lawn Care & Fall Home Maintenance Checklist:

• Rake Leaves
• Treat Fall Weeds
• Check Your Vehicle’s Tire Pressure (spare tires too)
• Change Windshield Wiper Blades
• Setup Humidifiers
• Change Your Ceiling Fan Direction
• Flush Hot Water Heater
• Clean Chimney

Keep reading to go into depth on each topic or jump to our TIA November Fall Checklist.

Rake Fall Leaves

Okay, now this task likely isn’t a one and done activity, but raking fall leaves is a standard fall lawn care task.

Some people do like to argue that fall leaves can make a great fertilizer. However, unraked leaves can lead to bare spots in your grass. Personally, I think mulching your fall leaves after you rake them is the best of both worlds.

Treat Fall Weeds

The time of year provides different ways of treating weeds. Fall is actually the perfect time to perform “post-emergent” and “pre-emergent” lawn treatment for weeds. A favorite fall lawn care product is “weed and feed“, which is a weed killer and fertilizer combo.

Check Your Vehicle’s Tire Pressure – spare tires too!

Did you know that the cold can impact your tire pressure? While it’s good to regularly check your tire pressure year-round, it’s especially important to check it after big shifts in temperatures. This includes when the weather warms spring or after a dreaded winter “polar vortex”. It’s also good to check the air in your spare tires so you know that they are good to go when you need them most.

All you need to check your vehicle’s tire pressure is a tire pressure gauge. Most passenger cars should have a pounds per square inch (PSI) of 30-35 PSI. However, often you can find your vehicle’s recommended PSI on a sticker located inside the driver side door.

Change Windshield Wiper Blades

Fall is a great time to change your windshield wiper blades. It is recommended to change these every 12 months, in some instances every six months. However, fall is an ideal time to change because the blades have likely taken a beating from spring and summer rains, and it’s good to have a fresh pair before dealing with winter sleet and snow.

We also recommend inspecting your windshield wiper blades in the spring. You may not need to replace them, but it may be worthwhile if you live anywhere with extreme winter weather. Look for damage such tears or cracks in the rubber.

Setup Humidifiers

Setting up our humidifiers is a fall home maintenance must in my home! I personally just hate dry air, and one of my kids has asthma and is prone to flair ups in the winter.

For humidifiers you have two main options: small in-home humidifiers in individual rooms of your home, or a whole house humidifier. Or you can do a mix of both. A whole house humidifier requires minimal maintenance. Individual humidifiers require near daily maintenance of each humidifier. However, I prefer these types of humidifiers in at least all of my home’s bedrooms.

Remember to fill your humidifiers with distilled water only to prevent build-up or fogginess.

It’s also good to clean your humidifier regularly. A lot of manufacturers recommend cleaning every three days. I prefer to just look for build-up and mode when refilling and clean as needed.

Change Your Ceiling Fan Direction

This is probably the easiest item of your fall home maintenance checklist. Each ceiling fan should have two settings. One for cooling down and one for heating up a space by controlling the air’s circulation. Switching between the two settings couldn’t be easier.

First, make sure the ceiling fan is turned off and the blades aren’t spinning (also a good opportunity to clean the ceiling fan blades and glass). Then look for a switch. This is what most ceiling fans utilize to control the settings and the switch can be moved up and down. Generally, you set the switch down in the summer to “cool down” a space, and switch it up in the winter to “warm up” a space. In this instance, you’ll want to switch the ceiling fan from cool down to warm up.

That’s it!

Flush Hot Water Heater

Sediment can settle in your hot water heater which can cause corrosion, ineffective heating, and overall shorten the life of your hot water heater. Prevent these issues by flushing your hot water heater.

How do you flush your hot water heater? Follow this 7 step guide by Yes Plumbing.

It’s recommended to flush your hot water heater at least once a year. However, you may need to do this more if you live somewhere with hard water, or have older pipes (but maybe it’s just time to replace your pipes)

Clean Chimney

Nothing says fall home like relaxing in front of a warm fire. However, all types of fireplaces should be cleaned regularly to reduce the risk of fire or carbon monoxide related accidents. With woodburning fireplaces you want to prevent the buildup of creosote. Regularly cleaning a gas and electric fireplace ensures the valves work correctly.

The Home Depot has great step-by-step guides for cleaning all types of fireplaces.

How often should you clean your fireplace? At least once a year. More if you use your fireplace regularly throughout the fall and winter.

Back to Guide

November Fall Lawn Care & Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

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In November we start to experience the lowest temps and sometimes even snow. The holiday season also kicks off in November, which creates a sense of urgency. Fortunately, our November fall maintenance checklist is short and sweet.

• Winterize Your Summer OPE
• Winterize Irrigation System
• Clean Gutters & Downspouts
• Vacuum Your Refrigerator Coils

Keep reading to go into depth on each topic or jump to our Fall Bonus Tips.

Winterize Lawn Mower & Summer OPE

Lawn mowers and other gas OPE that you won’t use in the winter need to be winterized to ensure these tools perform when you need them again in the spring.

The simplest way to winterize your lawn mower and gas OPE is to run them until empty. You can also manually empty them. Whichever method you choose, it’s best to not let gas sit. In fact, dispose of any leftover gas you have. You’ll want to fill your spring and summer OPE with fresh gas when they come out of hibernation.

Don’t have gas OPE? There are still steps you should take each fall to protect your summer OPE for next season, but it’s much simpler. Simply store your OPE batteries away from extreme cold to get the most life out of them.

Winterize Irrigation System

Don’t damage your hoses or sprinklers by forgetting to drain the water out of them before temps drop below freezing. Fully winterize the system by turning off the water supply and then running the system empty.

Clean Gutters & Downspouts

Cleaning your gutters and downspouts is an important task on your fall home maintenance checklist. Gutters and downspouts that are clogged with leaves and debris prevent water from draining, which can lead to roof damage.

Do you hate cleaning your gutters and downspouts? Invest in a gutter guard system.

Vacuum Your Refrigerator Coils

I bet you forgot about this list item. This is actually a great thing to do before you host any guests this holiday season. Use a crevice attachment to vacuum up the debris surrounding your refrigerator coils. You can also take it a step further and pull your fridge out from the wall and vacuum all around it.

WARNING: You may want to clean again after all your holiday baking.

Back to Guide

How to Embrace the Fall Season Checklist

Congratulations! Your lawn and home are ready for fall and winter, but are you prepared for the cold months ahead? These months can be hard on many people, especially those who prefer summer months and countdown the days until spring. My suggestion? Lean in to the fall and winter seasons to make this time more enjoyable.

Here is our TIA Fall Home Bonus Tips for enjoying the cold months ahead.

Decorate for Fall

For some people decorating for fall is decorating for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and some even pull the Christmas tree out as soon as school starts. However, this can be as simple adding pops of fall colors into your home.

I personally like decorating with warm tones like yellow, orange, and red and mix them with lighter neutral tones to combat the darker days ahead. I add these colors in with new pillow covers, blankets, and curtains – which creates a perfect opportunity to clean your spring and summer decor.

I also like to light seasonal candles. Spiced scents such as cinnamon are popular in the fall. I personally prefer brighter scents like cranberry and orange to give me energy over the darker, sleepier months.

Prepare for the Cold Months Ahead

Buy a new blanket, or a new hat and scarf. Refuse to give up your time outside? Get the outdoor space heater or finally build the firepit so you don’t have to give up your time outside.

As I see it, we can either complain about the cold, or we can make ourselves comfortable and enjoy this time of year.

Warm Yourself from the Inside

You don’t have to like pumpkin spice lattes to enjoy the fall season – I don’t! However, I do enjoy sipping a hot coffee in the morning and indulging in a hot chocolate in the evening.

If a warm fancy drink is something you look forward to then continue visiting your favorite barista, or finally get that espresso machine you have been eyeing, or buy yourself a new teapot. Or just get yourself a new mug or tumbler to enjoy your hot drinks on the go.

Embrace Your Favorite Fall Activities

Go apple picking. Go to the pumpkin patch. Make your favorite fall foods. Or just read a book while wrapped up in a blanket. Pick the best things about this time of year, even if it’s one single thing and lean into that make this time of year something to enjoy.

Did we miss anything? Tell us what you do every fall to prepare for the cold months ahead.

The post TIA’s Fall Lawn Care & Home Maintenance Checklist appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

Do you want to know how to make wood look distressed but are unsure about the process or the amount of skill it requires? Don’t be. SHOKARI Weathered Wood System is a new four-piece woodworking kit that allows you to easily give new, fresh wood an aesthetic distressed look in minutes. We have been experimenting with this new product at TIA and what to share with you what we have learned.

So, keep reading if you’d like to learn more about SHOKARI Weathered Wood System and how to distress wood in minutes with four simple steps.

Guide

• About SHOKARI
• How to Use
• Value
• Project Ideas

What is SHOKARI Weathered Wood System?

As we mentioned, SHOKARI Weathered Wood System is a woodworking weathering and distressing kit that allows you to give new wood a rustic distressed finish. What we didn’t tell you is that this proprietary four-step process was designed by professional cabinet makers. This system was designed as a quick and effective way to add a unique look to everyday cabinets.

The results were so well received and the process was so simple that this kit was created to help more woodworkers, carpenters, and DIY’ers achieve this finish.

Kit Includes…

• 1 brass wire abrasive wheel
• 2 nylon abrasive wheels
• 1 sanding block

Users also need a power drill in order to use the kit. Also, the kit comes with three different abrasive wheels. Users won’t necessarily use each abrasive wheel every time. The two nylon abrasive wheels in particular give the user some control over the level of distressing for a custom finish.

Back to Guide

How to Make Wood Look Distressed in 4 Steps

But how does SHOKARI distress and weather wood? You can either watch the above video for a quick tutorial, or read through the four-step SHOKARI wood weather process…

1. Attach brass wire wheel to your power drill and use to create grooves in smooth wood by running the edge of wheel along the wood’s surface and back. Work in lines and then go back over the whole surface with the brass wire abrasive wheel.
2. Remove brass wire abrasive wheel and replace with step 2 nylon wheel (should be labeled with a number “2”). Repeat the step 1 process with the step 2 nylon wheel.
3. Remove step 2 nylon wheel and replace with step 3 nylon wheel. NOTE: Step 3 is NOT required and only necessary if you’d like to enhance the distressed wood surface with a softer nylon abrasive wheel.
4. Set aside your drill and pick up the sanding block. Go over the same wood surface with the sanding block. Use the block to take down the edges.

All done! It actually only takes users 3-4 steps to artfully distress wood with the SHOKARI kit. From here users have the choice to keep the wood raw, stain it, treat it, paint it, burn it, or apply any other finish.

*NOTE: The four-step process does not cover the precautionary steps and measures mentioned in the SHOKARI instruction manual.

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Is SHOKARI Weathered Wood System Worth the Price?

For $34.95 on Amazon you get a sanding block and three different abrasive wheels, plus the whole step-by-step process on how to make wood look distressed. Not only is this a great price, but if you’re a woodworker interested in selling your products, you could potentially make all of your money back and more by selling your unique weathered wood works. At only $34.95 the SHOKARI kit also makes a great gift for new woodworkers ready to advance their skills.

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SHOKARI Weathered Wood System Project Ideas

So what can you do with a SHOKARI Weathered Wood System woodworking kit? Honestly, the ideas are endless. If it can be made out of wood then it can be distressed. Here are just a few project ideas we have at TIA (keep an eye out for them).

• Distressed wood dresser
• Distressed wood shelves
• Distressed wood table or end tables
• Distressed wood chandelier
• Distressed wood picture frames
• Distressed wood paneling

Also, don’t forget, distressing wood is just one way to customize a project. Once the wood is distressed the new texture allows you to achieve a unique look for a variety of finishes. We personally like the results of lightly painting or burning the distressed exterior. But feel free to experiment with a few different methods.

Alright, now that you know how to make wood look distressed in minutes with the SHOKARI Weathered Wood System, would you give it a try? Let us know yes or no and what projects you have in mind.

More TIA Woodworking Projects

• How to Build Wood Wall Art

The post SHOKARI: How to Make Wood Look Distressed in 4 Simple Steps appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

Spring is here and so are the spring projects…along with the leftover paint and project scraps that go along with them. Before you just toss these items in the trash, pause and think about how to dispose of paint and other building materials safely. You may not think tossing these project scraps in the trash can be harmful, but the more you DIY the more your impact adds up. Plus, you can be hit with fines for improper disposal.

Let’s avoid the safety issues and fines, and instead learn how to dispose of paint and other construction materials. Plus, Earth Day is April 22; let this be your one change towards reducing your environmental impact in 2024.

How to Dispose of Paint

Paint and other liquids used for home projects and construction pose unique hazards and can be complicated to dispose of. Some items require special pickups or drop-offs, others can be thrown away but require some treatment first.

We broke down the most common methods for how to dispose of paint.

How to Recycle Leftover Paint

Recycling your paint is the #1 best thing you can do with leftover paint because it reduces carbon emissions and gets recycled back into a quality product. There are few paint recycling centers that offer this service.

Here are a few paint recycling centers and how to find a center near you.

• EarthPaint – a Midwest-based paint recycling organization with centers throughout Chicagoland and into Wisconsin.
• PaintCare – has drop-off locations in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.
• Check Local Paint Stores/Suppliers – ask who sold you the paint about recycling and disposal options. Some options are in-store or can be outsourced through the supplier.
• Google “Paint Recycling Near Me” – the most straightforward way to be matched up with local recycling centers. Some of these are non-profits, government organizations, or are built-in to your favorite hardware or specialty stores.

How to Dispose of Paint Through Waste Collection Services

Some paints, stains, and lacquers don’t have recycling options. They can still be safely disposed of through waste collection services. This is not your standard city garbage service. These companies specialize in disposing of hazardous waste.

Jump to the “Building Materials” disposal section to learn more.

How to Dispose of Paint in the Trash

While we do recommend recycling your leftover paint, small amounts of leftover standard house paint for interiors and exteriors can be thrown in your standard trashcan. However, there are steps you should take beforehand.

Dry-out Your House Paint

Dry out your house paint.

Yes, you can put the lid back on but those only hold so well and can result in a mess. Instead, remove the lid and leave your paint exposed to air so the paint can eventually dry-up and harden. It’s also best to leave the paint somewhere it won’t be disturbed and is away from animals and children.

The less paint you have the faster this process is. However, larger amounts of paint can take days, a week, or more to dry up.

How to Speed Up the Drying Process

There are only a couple ways to speed up the drying process for larger amounts of paint, such as a half-full 5-gallon bucket, and that is to 1) increase the airflow, or 2) decrease the amount or thickness of paint. Here are three ways to do that:

• Use a Fan: Keep a fan running wherever your paint is drying to increase the airflow. If it’s possible, direct the fan towards your paint.
• Continue Painting: Look for other ways to use up the paint you have left. This can include touching up doors, windows, or projects you have lying around. You’re just trying to decrease the amount of paint you have. Even small painting projects will help you towards this goal.
• Change containers: Paint will dry the slowest in the bucket. The top will harden but the paint underneath will require more time due to lack of air exposure. Find a wider container that has more surface exposure and you don’t mind covering in paint. The wider the container the quicker your paint will dry.

How to Dispose of Building Materials

Construction materials can vary from wood scraps to leftover insulation, the old or damaged building materials you are replacing, and beyond. You can’t always dispose of these materials in the same location, but we made a quick guide for disposing of different types of construction materials and where you can donate or dispose of them.

How to Recycle Building Materials

There are actually a variety of options for recycling building materials. Donors have the choice of donating to a specialty recycling center or donating to an organization that can reuse or sell the materials. Here is a quick list of these places.

• Earth911 – Nationwide recycling database that connects you to recycling options and eco-friendly disposal services near you.
• Habitat for Humanity – Accepts paint, power tools, and leftover building scraps. Some donations are resold
• The Salvation Army – Accepts power tools, hand tools, and garden tools.
• Goodwill – Accepts power tools, hand tools, and garden tools.
• Post “Free Pickup” – they say “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” Post your extra building materials on your local community pages and you may be surprised to see how fast someone comes to pick it up.

To learn more about Tool Donation, read our TIA article: 5 Places to Donate Tools for Tax Credit.

How to Dispose of Building Materials

Here a some great hazardous and non-hazardous waste removal companies. They are great at removing waste from large projects but also can do smaller one-off waste removal services.

• CleanEarth – Nationwide hazardous and non-hazardous waste removal company, including electronics, and provides services for nine different industries, including: chemical, construction, government, energy & utilities, manufacturing & industrial, and pharmaceuticals.
• Dimension – Nationwide waste removal service that also provides dumpster rentals and allows you to request a quote for large or unique waste removal jobs. Provides recycling options as well.

Where to Dispose of Different Building Materials

Some individual building materials are actually fairly easy to recycle, you just need to know where. Here are some common leftover building materials and common places you can recycle them.

• Batteries – Check your local Home Depot or hardware store.
• Light Bulbs – Check your local Home Depot or hardware store.
• Windows – Look for window recycling options, such as Pella Windows & Doors.
• Power Tools – Broken or damaged tools can be disposed of through recycling centers. Old tools that you are replacing can be donated to organizations, such as: Habitat for Humanity, The Salvation Army, Goodwill Enterprises and more. Check your local donation centers for tool donations.

The Impact of Proper Disposal

When it comes to trash many people think “what’s one can of paint?”, or “I’m just one person and it’s not that much trash.” But these small actions add up and lead to the poisoning of air, water, and soil and can have damaging consequences to our health and ecosystem.

As a DIY’er or skilled trade professional, the biggest thing you can do this Earth Day is learn how to dispose of paint and other building materials safely and STICK TO IT! Just like bad actions add up, so do positive actions.

Whether you choose to donate materials or dispose of them through waste centers, you are working towards a positive impact.

The post How to Dispose of Paint & Building Materials appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

Welcome to 2024! This is the year you vowed to keep your garage and workshop more organized, right? Then you’re going to need a good storage system. Today we’re reviewing different types of wall storage for tools. With the right system, anyone can keep their garage or workspace clean. So, let’s check out different kinds of wall storage and find the one that works best for you and your space.

Tool Wall Storage Guide

• Benefits of Wall Storage
• Pegboard
• French Cleat
• Steel & Magnetic

Benefits of Wall Storage for Tools

Here are some of my favorite reasons why wall storage for tools works great in a garage or workshop:

• Makes use of walls which otherwise could be seen as wasted space.
• Floor space is usually for workspace and should be open. So there isn’t a lot of room for tools. The walls allow you to utilize vertical storage.
• Great visual storage system.
• Wall storage is generally customizable. This allows you to store even the weirdest shaped tools that don’t seem to fit anywhere. Tools can also be stored to be more accessible.
• Easy to DIY and can be done on any budget.

These are all my favorite reasons to use wall storage for tools. Did I miss anything? Leave a comment about why you use wall storage for tools and more.

Back to Guide

Types of Wall Storage for Tools

As we mentioned there are a variety of wall storage systems. Some may be more common than others and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. We are going over all of this so you can choose the best system for your garage or workshop.

Pegboard Wall Storage

A pegboard system may be the most common style of wall storage for tools. It’s likely this is because it’s a very affordable system that is easy to DIY. The materials for a pegboard wall can be found at most hardware and craft stores and some supermarkets.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: A pegboard system is affordable and easy to install and customize.
• Cons: Pegboard is lightweight and has a max carrying weight around 100 lbs. This max is lighter than some other options.

Pegboard Materials

We found standard pegboards along with hooks and accessories at The Home Depot, ACE Hardware, and Amazon. The standard style pegboards range from around $15-$40. Hooks and accessories (many available as kits) were anywhere from $9-$35.

A pegboard and your choice of hooks and accessories are all you need for a pegboard wall. Installing the wall is pretty simple as well. The only tools you need for that are a measuring tape, drill, screws, level, circular saw, stud finder, pencil, and eye and ear protection.

How to Hang a Pegboard

The Home Depot has a great video tutorial that walks you through all the steps of hanging a pegboard.

Back to Guide

French Cleat Wall Storage

Pegboards may be the most common type of wall storage, but French cleat shelves may be one of the oldest and most reliable storage systems. In fact, French cleats date back to the 1800s.

A French cleat is generally made from a piece of wood that has a 45-degree angle that points down and the flat top rests on the back of another piece of wood. The angle allows the cleat to sit securely into place and has fairly a strong hold. It also results in a clean look that hides screws and anchors.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Strong carrying weight capacity, it looks nice, completely customizable, easy to rearrange, and can be made from scratch or with store-bought materials/systems.
• Cons: From scratch systems can be time consuming and require some construction skill (or you’ll gain some), can be expensive, and more labor intensive to put up or take down.

French Cleat Storage Wall Materials

As we mentioned, French cleat storage system kits are available. However, if you want to make your own, custom French cleat storage wall then you are going to need a lot of plywood, measuring tape, a level, circular or table saw, stud finder, pencil, drill, screws, and eye and ear protection.

The materials you need for a French cleat system are not much different than what you need for a pegboard system. However, if you’re going the custom route it’s just going to take a lot more time, precision, and skill. You can also use a lot of similar accessories, such as hooks and baskets.

How to Build & Install a French Cleat Storage Wall

The Family Handyman has a great step-by-step article on building a French cleat tool storage wall.

Back to Guide

Steel & Magnetic Wall Storage

[Special mention: TIA reviewed the Wall Control System back in 2019. We liked it then and still think it is a great pegboard/magnetic hybrid system. Pictured above, Wall Control 4 ft. Metal Pegboard Standard Tool Storage Kit with Black Toolboard and Black Accessories on Amazon for $133.51. You can use Wall Control Hooks and Accessories, as well as any magnetic hooks you like. There are even some hook-and-loop magnetic straps that offer even more storage and organizational options.]

All-magnetic storage walls are probably the newest wall storage system for tools, at least that we’ll talk about today. These systems are getting more popular because magnets are getting better. Magnets also allow you to not just use your wall, but any magnetic surface in your garage or workshop. This can include tables, toolboxes, work benches, and so on.

There are a few different systems out there. Metal magnetic pegboards have been around for a while. They add a little extra holding power to your traditional pegboard system. Steel wall mount or steel bar storage system are other options. With this style you have freeform magnets, hooks and accessories that you can place anywhere you want and are not limited to peg holes or fixed shelves.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Strong carrying capacity, can offer a more secure magnetic hold, and can be used on any magnetic surface, easy to install and modify.
• Cons: Magnetic walls, hooks and accessories cost more, especially magnets strong enough to hold tools. Also, unless you have an auto-release magnetic they can be difficult to adjust.

Magnetic Storage Wall Materials

A magnetic pegboard or steel wall mount, plus magnetic hooks and accessories is all you need for the actual board.

For installation you need drill, screws, level, stud finder, and pencil. Some magnetic steel bars only require the adhesive they come with, but I recommend something stronger for tool storage. But all-in-all you actually need less supplies than the other storage walls.

How to Install a Magnetic Storage Wall for Tools

Gator Magnetics has a tutorial on how to install steel wall mounts. This process is actually pretty similar to magnetic pegboards and other magnetic wall systems.

Back to Guide

Wrap-up

So pegboard, French cleat, and magnets are the most popular styles of storage walls for tools. Which one do you like the most or think you are going to try in your space? Better yet, share your setup with us! Show us what interesting items you’ve managed to store with your wall storage system.

Did you like this article on organization? Stay tuned for more articles this month to help you stay organized in 2024.

The post Different Types of Wall Storage for Tools appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

Is it your year to host Christmas and you have no idea where everyone is going sit for dinner? Fortunately, one of our staffers is a holiday party master and she is sharing her ridiculously easy hack for turning a 6 ft. or 8 ft. folding table into a 10 seat dining table, and you only need TWO more items to do it and at a very low cost.

The great thing about this hack is that most people already have a 6 or 8 ft. folding banquet table…or your neighbor does, or your sister, or someone you know. Even if you don’t own a folding table or know anyone who can lend you one, they are readily available to buy from popular stores and retailers, such as Walmart, The Home Depot, and Amazon. The two other items for this hack are also incredibly affordable. You also can convert your 10-seat dining table back into a standard folding table when you’re done.

For today’s TIA DIY we are taking you through the step-by-step process of turning a 6 or 8 ft. folding table into a 10-seat dining table that has plenty of room for place settings, food, and decor.

TIA DIY Guide

• Supplies
• How To
• Q & A
• Resizing Your Table
• 6 ft. VS 8 ft. Folding Table
• Poster Puddy VS Mounting Tape

Supplies for 10 Seat Dining Table Hack

This hack only requires three key items.

1. 6 or 8 ft. Folding Banquet Table
2. Poster Putty or Mounting Tape
3. 5/8 in. thick or more 4 ft. x 8 ft. sheet of plywood

These are the only items required to complete the DIY. However, you may want to take the extra steps of sanding your table down and painting it. These steps smooth out your plywood so that your tablecloth doesn’t snag, no splintered edges poke through, or you can forego a tablecloth altogether. Sanding and painting or staining are also good steps to take if you want to use this hack again in the future.

We’ve included supplies and links for these optional, additional steps along with some of our decor items.

Optional Supplies

• 120 to 220 Grit Sandpaper
• Wood Stain (darker is recommended for plywood)
• Measuring Tape

Table Decor 

Christmas Dining Table Decor

1 of 5

• 90 in. x 156 in. Tablecloth
• 2-pack Rechargeable Table Lamps (we ordered two)
• Champagne Table Runner
• Winter Pine Garland
• White LED Table Top Christmas Tree
• Flameless Christmas Candle Holders Set

How to Make a 10-Seat Dining Table

Now that you have all your supplies it’s time to turn your folding table into a 10-seat dining table. We’ve divided this into three parts: Sanding & Staining, Converting, and Decorating. Parts one and three are optional, feel free to jump to part two for the hack.

Part 1: Sanding & Staining

Step 1: Take your sandpaper and sand down all the sides of your plywood until smooth or at least any rough edges. Once done, wipe down to remove the loose sediment.

Step 2: Apply your wood stain as directed on the packaging. Allow it to dry, and then repeat until you’ve achieved the desired effect.

Note: I recommend staining your wood at least a week in advance so the stain has more than enough time to set.

Part 2: Converting

Step 1: Bring your supplies to where you plan to set up your tables. Since this isn’t a permanent conversion you don’t want to set up your table and then move it to where you plan to use it.

Step 2: Set up your folding table in the location you plan to use it. Make sure to account for the size of the plywood when positioning it, especially if you are using multiple tables.

Step 3: Take your Poster Putty or Mounting Tape and apply it to the top corners of your folding table and a few spots in the center. Not sure which one you should use? Check out our Poster Putty VS Mounting Tape section to help you decide.

Step 4: This part is easier with two people, but lift the plywood over the banquet table so that the length of each runs parallel. Center both the length and the width of plywood on the table. If you are doing this alone, gently lay the plywood down, but do not press on it. If you have someone helping you, have them keep the plywood slightly raised.

Check Table Alignment

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Step 5: Grab your measuring tape if you have it. Double-check the placement of the table.

If using a 6 ft. folding table and an uncut sheet of plywood, then the distance from the edge of your folding table to the edge of your plywood should measure 9 inches on the sides, and 12 inches on each end. Adjust as needed. Then you can press your plywood down onto the poster putty or mounting tape for secure placement.

Congrats! That is all you need to do to convert your folding table into a 10-seat dining table. From here you can decorate and use your table as you see fit.

Part 3: Decorating

This part is as much optional as it is personal. However, you are going to enjoy your table a lot more if you take this step. We included links to our Christmas table decorations above. However, maybe you are using your table to celebrate a different holiday or event.

Here are our notes on decorating your table for different holidays and events throughout the year.

• Tablecloth: You need a 90 in. x 156 in. tablecloth for a 4 ft. x 8 ft. tabletop. The tablecloth should rest just shy of an inch above the floor.
• Table runner:  You need at least a 8 ft. table runner to span the whole length of the table. A table runner that’s 10 ft. or longer can drape down the edges.
• Centerpieces: If you plan on placing serving platters on the tables then your decorating is done. However, if the tables are just for dining then you can go an extra step with centerpieces. You can keep it simple with a single centerpiece or use a few pieces. Whichever you choose, our recommendation is to keep it low profile and easily contained to the center of the table. This way guests can still easily see and chat with one another, and nothing is encroaching on their space.

Before & After

Table Before & After

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As you can see, the 6 ft. folding banquet table went from barely seating eight people to seating 10, plus more room between settings and space for either decorations or food. You could even possibly seat up to 12 people if you were to seat them on the ends.

Common Questions

Like what you see but have some questions? Well we got answers to the most common questions about this 10-seat dining table hack. If you don’t see your question below then ask us in the comments and we will get back to you.

How to Space Your Tables

Not sure you have enough space for a 10 seat dining table, or are you trying to figure out how many tables you can fit in a space?

Here are some standard guidelines to help you determine if you have enough space for your table.

Wall Space

It is recommended that there is at least 36 in. of space around your table so that people can easily get in and out.

Chair Space

It is recommended to allow 18 in. out from the table for chairs. If the chairs back up to another set of chairs then you should add another 6-12 in. so guests can get in and out without disturbing guests at the other table.

How to Resize Your Table

Is a 4 ft. x 8 ft. sheet of plywood just too big? Fortunately, you could have the plywood trimmed down at the hardware store before you leave.

Our 10 seat dining table creates 48 in. wide table. For a narrower table cut it down to a 36 in. or 30 in. width so that a standard tablecloth fits correctly.

Note: For a narrower table it may be more comfortable to seat four people along the length and one person on each end to seat 10 people.

6 ft. VS 8 ft. Table

This hack works with either a six or eight foot table and you should just go with whatever you have access to. However, if you are buying a table or renting then there are small advantages to each.

6 ft. Table Pros & Cons

A six ft. folding table will provide guests with more foot room and they will be less likely to kick the bars beneath the table if they are seated on the ends. However, you may experience slight bowing of the plywood. We experienced this initially, but it went away once we dressed the table. You could also fix this by creating some height with the poster putty on the corners.

8 ft. Table Pros & Cons

An eight ft. folding table will offer more stability and you shouldn’t experience any bowing. You could even go with a thinner plywood. The main drawback to an eight ft. table is a little less foot room.

Poster Putty VS Mounting Tape

Both of these products work great. Our TIA employee prefers mounting tape. However, as we mentioned the poster putty could be used to correct bowing by piling it higher to reverse the dip of the board.

In the end this will come down to personal preference or what you had access to.

Wrap-up

So that’s how you can turn a six or eight foot folding table into a 10-seat dining table. Not only will everyone have a place to sit, but you can invite even more people! If you do this hack, come back and share with us how it went.

Did you like this article? Check out our other TIA Holiday DIY & How-to articles:

• How to Make a Charcuterie Board
• How to Smoke a Turkey with a Pellet Grill

The post Easy Folding Table Hack for a 10 Seat Dining Table for Your Christmas Party appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

Look at who showed up at the TIA workshop. It’s Toolz, our Elf on the Shelf, or Elf on the workbench in our case! He must have heard us talking about him. He’s here to share his own special DIY Elf on the Shelf activities to do over winter break.

We are all parents here. Some of us have grown children, some have wee ones. And almost all of us have done, or are still doing “Elf on the Shelf”.

So when Toolz showed up in our work shop were were sure happy to see him. This year he wants our help getting as many kids as possible into woodworking and crafts – two things he loves!

If your kiddos are going to be home for a few weeks and you’re looking for some fun things for them to do; Toolz to the rescue! He has some great projects for your kids, and with a bonus. His ideas are projects your kids can proudly give as gifts for the holidays.

Here’s some Elf on the Shelf ideas for you.

Elf on The Shelf Activities Guide

• Tools & Supplies
• Elf on the Shelf Activities
• Recruit Your Own Elf
• More TIA Craft Projects

Not only are we giving you Elf on the Shelf ideas (you’re welcome), we’ve included links to all the props we used. And here’s the big bonus, these will keep your kids busy while they are home on break from school (you’re welcome, again).

Elf on the Shelf Tools from Toolz

“I brought you some tools so you can make this birdhouse for Grandma for Christmas. I’m sure she’ll love it because you made it. Working with tools can be dangerous, but I know you’ll be careful.” ~Toolz

REXBETI 10-Piece Real Hand Tools Kids Tool Set with Tool Bag

These are not play tools. This kit is made with tools for kids 8 and up. It comes with a hammer, a wrench, two screwdrivers, pliers, scissors, tape measure, two rulers, safety glasses, and a tool bag to put it all in. Don’t think of these as play tools. These are just slightly shrunken-down versions of their parent’s tools and are great for introducing kids to construction projects.

• Amazon Review: “I bought this for my son and he loves it. The tools are small for little hands but they work great and are actual tools. Would also make a good tool kit to just have in the house.”
• Where to Buy: Amazon

Paint Smock

“These projects could get a bit messy. Make sure to wear your paint smock, and try not to get any paint on mom’s furniture.” ~Toolz

Available in two sizes for kids ages 5-14.

• Amazon Review: “Perfect for my 4year old granddaughter who loves to paint. Very colorful and protective as well. And she loves it!”
• Where to Buy: Amazon

Back to Elf on the Shelf Activity Guide

Elf on the Shelf Activities

Toolz shared with us his list of Elf on the Shelf activities. However, he had a little trouble with the computer, so we went and found some activity sets to make gathering your supplies a little easier.

Build a Birdhouse

Maybe Grandma would like something else constructed by her favorite grandchild? Or maybe you’ll see a kit or two that you know your kid will want to construct and keep. You could grab one or two for them to work on over their school break, and perhaps Santa could bring a few more if you see your kids is a budding carpenter.

To build from scratch, check out our TIA article How to Build a Birdhouse. Prefer to have the materials sent to your house? We like this birdhouse kit on Amazon.

• Amazon Review: “We just made these with our boys (8 and 11). They only needed a little bit of help and quite enjoyed it. Can’t wait to see if we get some birds some time after we hang them in our trees. If not, they are a beautiful decorative item for our yard anyway!”
• Where to Buy: Amazon, or
• Build from Scratch: TIA article How to Build a Birdhouse.
• More Options: More birdhouse kits on Amazon.

Hand-Painted Custom Ornaments 

Toolz heard that Mom, Grandma, and Auntie all need some new ornaments for their trees. Let your kids gift them ornaments with their own festive flare!

There are tons of great ornament kits on Amazon, but this one is our favorite ornament painting kit.

• Amazon Review: “I hate writing this review. This is a quality craft kit—the wood ornaments are beautiful. Laser cut and sanded very smooth, makes painting on them an absolute joy.”
• Where to Buy: Most ornament kits range from around $8-25 on Amazon.

More Kids DIY Activities

Toolz really enjoyed the TIA article Home Improvement & Craft Tools for Kids & Adults. That gift guide has more projects he’d love to help the kids with.

Back to Elf on the Shelf Activity Guide

Elf on the Shelf Accessories

Toolz is positively flattered that you enjoyed all his tools and accessories. Lucky you, he told us where he got everything and even how to send one of his own elf friends to hang out on your shelf!

Recruit Your Own Elf

• Amazon Review: “This little guy has a lot of spunk. He never stays in the same place, and we find our things moved around a lot. He doesn’t steal anything, so he isn’t malicious. Of course, he sits perfectly still when we are looking at him, but after dark is when he seems to be the most active. We’re hoping he gets a job so he can start paying his share of the bills, as we now go through milk and cookies like never before. Other than that, he’s pretty cool.”
• Where to Buy: Toolz and his friends charge a one-time fee around $9-25 to continually add a little festive spirit to your home year after year.

Elf on the Shelf Props & Accessories

Elf on The Shelf Activity Props & Accessories

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• Tool Set & Toolbox: Amazon
• Paint Palette: Amazon
• Mini Birdhouse: Amazon

Back to Elf on the Shelf Activity Guide

More TIA Craft Projects

Did you enjoy this Elf on the Shelf activity? Toolz may be out of ideas but TIA certainly is not! Check out some of our previous DIY articles.

• How to Make a Charcuterie Board
• How to Make a Cutting Board
• Hanging Planter with Chalkboard Tutorial

The post Meet Toolz! He’s Here to Share Elf on the Shelf Activities for Winter Break! appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

We’re trying something new in the TIA Test Kitchen. We’re smoking a turkey with a Z Grills Pellet Grill and we’re taking you along for the ride. We’re also sharing our process so you can also learn how to smoke a turkey with a pellet grill. This is a fun spin on the standard Thanksgiving bird that adds a new flavor without tossing aside tradition (it also pairs great with the Thanksgiving charcuterie board we taught you how to make earlier this week).

So, follow along with us for this process.

FYI: You need to prep your turkey a few days beforehand. If you plan to smoke your turkey with a pellet grill, give yourself enough time.

For our smoked turkey we are using the Z Grills “Backyard Warrior” Pellet Grill & Smoker. You could use another barrel-style pellet grill. However, this pellet grill has a lot of great technical features that streamlined the process for us. I even recommend this product and process to a beginner just learning how to grill and smoke.

With that in mind, let’s learn how to smoke a turkey with a pellet grill.

How to Smoke a Turkey Guide

• Our Process & Supplies
• Pellet Grill vs Box Smoker
• How to Brine a Turkey
• How to Smoke a Turkey
• Carving & Taste Test
• BONUS: Smoky Turkey Gravy
• Pros & Cons
• Final Review

Our Process for Smoking a Turkey with a Pellet Grill

Our process was broken into three major steps: brine, smoke, and serve. Each step is important, but you can’t do any of it without the right equipment.

We compiled a list of all the equipment and ingredients we used for this process, plus some links to simplify your shopping.

You Will Need:

• Pellet Grill (Z Grills, The Home Depot, ACE Hardware, Amazon)
• Pellets, preferably turkey pellets (ACE Hardware, Amazon)
• 14-16 lbs. turkey
• 2 cups Kosher or sea salt
• 2 gallons of water
• Large stock pot
• Turkey seasonings (we used, salt, pepper, and Blue Hog Dry Rub)
• Turkey roasting pan
• Extra large cutting board with “juice well”
• Turkey Carving Set
• Optional: garlic, onions, herbs, peppercorns, citrus, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, or dry white wine.

Once you have all of these items you can jump ahead to brining your turkey. However, keep reading if you want to know why we chose a pellet grill over a traditional box smoker.

Pellet Grill vs Box Smoker

Some of you are wondering why we used a pellet grill over a traditional type of smoker. The answer isn’t complicated. Simply, we have the Z Grills “Backyard Warrior” Pellet Grill & Smoker in the TIA Test Kitchen. Luckily, this was a great choice for us because 1) the technological features allowed us to “set and forget” the smoker and continue on our work day, and 2) none of us had smoked a turkey before.

We have reviewed more rustic and traditional-styled smokers before, such as the Oklahoma Joe Marshal Centerbox Smoker. I like that smoker so much that I keep it at my house. However, working with that is a much more involved process. You continuously monitoring and routinely adjusting the smoker’s temperature.

A traditional box smoker requires more attention than I can give it during the workday, and I’m new to smoking meats. The pellet grill was a better option for us right now, but maybe next Thanksgiving…

Back to Guide

How to Brine a Turkey Before Smoking

I did a 24-hour wet brine. All you technically need for a brine is two cups of Kosher or sea salt. I added a couple extra things but kept it simple since we wanted the focus of our turkey to be on the smoky flavor.

1. For the brine I combined 8 cups/half a gallon of water with two cups of kosher salt, and a half cup of sugar.
2. I stirred this until it came to a boil and the salt and sugar dissolved. I let it boil for two minutes and then turned off the heat.
3. I added the remaining one and a half gallons of water, one cup of Worcestershire sauce, and some parsley and rosemary I had on hand. Then I waited until the brine came down to room temperature. You can use ice cubes and/or some wine to speed up this process.
4. Once the temperature of the brine came down to room temperature I submerged the turkey (make sure all the giblets and extras have been removed from the two inside cavities) and put a lid on the stockpot.
5. I moved the turkey to the refrigerator and left it there for 24 hours to brine. However, you can brine your turkey for as little as 12 hours.
6.  After 24 hours I removed the turkey from the brine. I let it drip, then moved it to a wire rack on top of a sheet tray to drip dry. Then it went into the fridge, uncovered for another 12 hours to dry some more.

After this, I was ready to take my turkey to the TIA Test Kitchen and start smoking it.

Back to Guide

How to Smoke a Turkey with a Pellet Grill

Smoking or cooking the turkey consisted of three parts: seasoning, smoking, and resting. Here’s what I did.

1. I seasoned the turkey all over. Now, I seasoned it well, but it was not with traditional Thanksgiving flavors. We had some Blue Hog seasoning on hand so I used that plus some salt and pepper (spoiler: we liked it!)
2. Once seasoned all over I laid it in the roasting pan with the turkey on its back. We didn’t, but if you plan on smoking veggies and potatoes with your turkey then we recommend adding them now.
3.  I filled the hopper with pellets and preheated my pellet grill to 225-degrees.
4. Once preheated I placed my roasting pan with the turkey onto the lowest rack in the pellet grill. I then placed the meat probe, which is connected to my pellet grill, into the thickest part of the breast. Don’t place it so deep that you hit bone. If you do, just back up a little bit, otherwise you could have an inaccurate reading.
5. Let the turkey smoke in the pellet grill at 225-degree for three hours.
6. After three hours raise the temperature to 350-degrees and smoke for another three hours (checking in every hour), or until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 165-degrees. Check in multiple spots. Our turkey was fully cooked after two hours.
7. Take the turkey out of the smoker, and turn it off unless you plan to use it for something else. Loosely cover your turkey and let it rest for 30 minutes.

After your turkey has rested you are ready to move onto carving.

The Results

The one thing we would do differently

We would add the potatoes and veggies to the pellet grill in the beginning, not at the midway point when you raise the temperature like we did. We did this because we saw a lot of back and forth online about when to add these items and thought this was a safe bet. Wrong call.

Our bird cooked quicker than expected. The potatoes and veggies we added had barely any time to cook or soak up those flavors. We all agreed that cook times are unpredictable so it’s best to just put those items with your turkey into the pellet grill in the beginning if you want those. If gravy excites you more than just allow the drippings to collect at the bottom of your pan.

Either way, you won’t be disappointed.

Back to Guide

Carving & Smoked Turkey Taste Test

We allowed our turkey to rest and then Kiaya geared up and sliced that turkey for serving. We won’t lie, none of us had carved a turkey before. It’s handled by someone else in all of our families, but Kiaya makes roast chicken a lot and felt confident enough to do it.

This Bon Appetit video teaches you how to carve and plate a turkey way better than any of us could.

However, if you’ve broken down a whole chicken before, then you can carve a turkey.

Taste Test

Delicious. No doubt about it. We all like smoky flavors and enjoyed getting that flavor on our turkey. Whether you were eating white or dark meat it was really moist and flavorful.

The smoke flavor was stronger on the skin and in the drippings than it was in the meat. We’d like to experiment with a stronger smoke taste, but I think the way this turned out made it appealing for all people.

10/10 would do again.

Pros & Cons of Smoking a Turkey with a Pellet Grill

Some pros that stood out to us for smoking a turkey with a pellet grill were…

1.  One less item in the kitchen. The oven is freed up for other entrees and sides.
2. This particular pellet grill kept us aware of how the turkey was coming along. This helps a lot with time management, and it’s low effort so you can focus on your family and the other stuff going on in the kitchen.

We did have a few cons though…

1.  On the flipside the turkey is no longer in the kitchen. For families with one cook this might be an issue. However, the pellet grill was a great item to learn with so maybe it’s the perfect way to recruit some new help in the kitchen.
2. As Midwesterners we also have to point out that using a pellet grill means you are outside and in November that can be quite cold. However, we’re also crazy and built different and do this stuff all the time.

Really, that’s all the pros and cons we have particularly for smoking a turkey with a pellet grill for Thanksgiving. The only other con comes down to preference. Some people just prefer a deeper smoke flavor or don’t want to mess with gadgets when smoking meat. I get that, but for a busy holiday I thought this was perfect.

Back to Guide

How to Make Smoky Turkey Gravy

Our smoked turkey left us with this great amount of drippings and it would be a crime for us to let it go to waste. So, Kiaya made smoky turkey gravy!

Making a gravy from drippings is pretty simple and feel free to stick with your preferred recipes. We kept our recipe extra simple because we wanted to see how much, if any smoke flavor would come through.

For this gravy you will need:

• Small to medium saucepan
• Whisk and/or wooden spoon
• Two cups of turkey drippings. Add chicken stock if you have under two cups of drippings.
• A quarter cup of flour
• Three tablespoons of butter/fat (we used bacon fat)
• Optional: aromatics (we used a tablespoon of sliced green onion and a teaspoon of minced garlic)
• Optional: our secret ingredient (stay tuned)

Gravy Instructions

1.  Heat the saucepan over medium to medium-low heat until warm, about three to five minutes.
2. Add the butter, it should be foamy. If it isn’t foamy then your saucepan isn’t hot enough. If it melts quickly and browns then it’s too high. So, adjust as needed.
3. Add the green onion and garlic and stir with the wooden spoon. Sautee for one to two minutes, or until fragrant, and don’t let the garlic burn.
4. Add the flour and stir constantly. It only needs around a minute, but you want the flour to start to brown. It may clump together. That is fine. This is a roux.
5. Switch to your whisk and slowly pour in about a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of drippings/stock. Continue to whisk. The roux may start to get pasty. Whisk until smooth before adding the next batch of liquids. Repeat this until all the liquids are in the saucepan (about four batches total).
6. Turn the heat up to medium-high, continue whisking until the sauce starts to boil (this can take a while). Then reduce the heat down to low and let it simmer. Whisking or stirring occasionally.
7. Let the sauce reduce and thicken. This usually takes five to 10 minutes. To test your sauce, dip in your wooden spoon and take it out. Run a line through your sauce with your finger. If the line holds then your gravy is done, if the sauce drips over the line then it’s too thin and needs more time. If you think your gravy is too thick then remove from heat and add in more stock or water until it’s the consistency you prefer. Note: gravy also thickens as it cools.
8. Taste and season as you prefer. We found that the sauce was salty enough from the turkey seasonings and we could taste the smokey flavor. However, Kiaya felt like the gravy still needed something. For her secret ingredient she added around a teaspoon of pure maple syrup. It didn’t make it sweet, it alleviated some of the saltiness, and amped up the smoky flavor.

Back to Guide

Final Review

Not only was the smoked turkey very juicy and delicious, but smoking it with the pellet grill was so simple. We are already thinking of more ways to use it. So, don’t think that’s the last time we have a smoker recipe and tutorial for you.

I hope you enjoyed learning with us on how to cook a turkey with a pellet grill. Tell us in the comments how you are cooking your Thanksgiving bird this year and if you are considering using a pellet grill.

The post How to Smoke a Turkey with a Pellet Grill appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

Are you looking to one-up the neighbors with your pumpkin carving skills? Then you need to think outside the little $2.99 pack of pumpkin carving tools. The other night I decided to try pumpkin carving with the RYOBI Rotary Tool Station. I’m going to tell you all about the experience and walk you through the steps of this fun way to carve a pumpkin – even if you’re a beginner!

Spoiler alert: It was awesome!

RYOBI Pumpkin Carving Guide

• About RYOBI Rotary & Craft Tools
• Process
• Outcome
• RYOBI Rotary Tool vs Dremel
• Final Thoughts
• FREE Pumpkin Carving Stencils

About RYOBI Rotary & Craft Tools

RYOBI has made a name for itself in the niche market of specialty hobby and craft tools. I believe this started with the release of the RYOBI 18V ONE+ Cordless Hot Glue Gun in 2016. Since then, a lot of brands have released their own cordless glue guns, but RYOBI has gone on to create a diverse selection of different craft and hobby tools they call HOBBY+MAKER on their website. RYOBI is exclusive to The Home Depot, and if you search “RYOBI craft tools” on The Home Depot site you’ll get 1,852 results!

These craft and hobby tools by RYOBI range from glue guns, to soldering irons, to power cutters and carvers, sanders, and more. Most of the tools are part of the RYOBI ONE+ 18V lineup but also include some RYOBI 12V battery and USB rechargeable hand tools.

Now a little bit about the RYOBI ONE+ 18V Rotary Tool Station Kit. I believe it was released in 2022 and it’s marketed as the “quietest rotary tool in its class”, yet offers variable speeds of up to 35,000 RPM. This kit also comes with 36 different rotary tool accessories and a storage case.

Check out more specs and features below.

RYOBI 18V ONE+ Rotary Tool Station Kit

• Model #: PCL480K1
• Highlights: Variable speed trigger offers speed of 5,000 – 35,000 RPM, quietest in its class, built with a 36 in. flexible shaft pen that is easy to maneuver, and quickly and easily switches between 35 included accessories with the new Quick-Change Collet.
• Accessories: 35 included rotary tool accessories designed for grinding, cutting, sanding, and polishing, plus a wrench for secure accessory changes.
• Price: Sets without a battery start at $53.99; sets with a RYOBI 18V battery start at $95.
• Where to Buy: The Home Depot & Amazon.

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More TIA Articles on RYOBI Craft Tools

• #NTN: New Tools at The Home Depot from Milwaukee, RYOBI & RIDGID
• #NTN: RYOBI Adds Power Carver to Craft Tools Lineup
• RYOBI 18V Glue Gun Model P305
• RYOBI is at it Again – New Tool Release

Process

A couple fun facts about me and carving pumpkins. 1) I hated carving pumpkins as a kid and this was the first time I carved a pumpkin in decades, and 2) this was my first time using a rotary tool.

Because of this I broke the pumpkin carving process into three parts, along with some of my thoughts and opinions about the methods along the way.

How to Carve a Pumpkin

How to Carve a Pumpkin

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Alright, this doesn’t need much instruction. I recommend you pick a medium to large pumpkin with a relatively even surface that is easy to work on.

From there, buy one of those $2 to $7 pumpkin carving kits and when you get home use it to cut a large hole around the stem to make the lid. You’ll pull out the lid by the stem and with it a bunch of pumpkin fibers with seeds attached (AKA “guts”) should come out with it. I just pulled mine off and set it aside. More “guts” are inside the pumpkin. Your kit should include a pumpkin scraper. Use it to dig the guts out until the inside walls are smooth.

Bonus tip: Wash the fibers off the seeds using a colander. Allow the seeds to dry and then use them to make roasted pumpkin seeds.

How to Use Your Pumpkin Carving Stencil

Your pumpkin carving kit may have come with a few stencils, there are also a lot of free stencils available online. Find one you like or print out one of the FREE pumpkin carving stencils we found. Or you can even make your stencil, which is what I did. I just drew my design on some notebook paper.

I positioned my stencil on my pumpkin and secured it with some masking tape. I was out of toothpicks, so I used skewers to punch little marks along the outline of my design. Just poke into the skin, you do not need to pierce it all the way through the wall of the pumpkin.

I’ll admit it. I did this because my husband told me to. I would have preferred to go with my first instinct to draw on the pumpkin since this was my own design. But this method worked well.

Remove your stencil once you have finished outlining your design with a toothpick, skewer, or other pointy object.

How to Use the RYOBI Rotary Tool

Before you start, I recommend grabbing a damp paper towel or cloth to use as you go.

All you need to do before using your RYOBI Rotary Tool is…

1. Charge your RYOBI 18V battery.
2. Connect the battery to the RYOBI Rotary Tool Station.
3. Put on your preferred RYOBI Rotary Tool accessory.
4. Turn the variable speed dial all the way down.
5. Hold onto the base of the rotary tool pen with your dominant hand, hold it away from any surfaces and skin as you turn it on.
6. Hold the rotary tool like a pencil and start tracing the outline on your pumpkin with the tip of your carving attachment. Start slow and increase the speed as needed. For thicker lines, continue to trace along the edge until you’re happy with the thickness. For this method, I recommend not carving all the way through the skin.
7. Use the damp paper towel or cloth to wipe away loose pumpkin fragments as needed.
8. Continue Steps 6 and 7 until you are done carving out your stencil outline.

Note: For considerably thicker lines, like my “TIA” lettering, you can change out the attachment for one that creates a thicker line. However, the lettered area was small enough so I just used the same attachment throughout.

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The Result?

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Overall, I’m happy with how this turned out. It also went very quickly. I think I spent more time outlining the design than actually carving it out. I’m definitely going to do this again and try out different rotary tool accessories as well.

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Advantages of RYOBI Rotary Tool

Alright, you’re probably asking “Do I have to use a RYOBI Rotary Tool for this pumpkin carving project?” No. You can probably use any rotary tool, especially since this project works great on a low speed setting. I had a RYOBI Rotary Tool so that is the rotary tool I chose.

But why did I decide to use a rotary tool? As you can see in the process, I did not want to pierce the pumpkin skin. Instead, I wanted to shave off the surface. I like how this method allows the candle to give an even glow throughout the pumpkin. It’s also an easier way to carve things like the letter “A” or other letters and shapes that have details inside that you don’t want to lose.

So, in summary: The advantages of pumpkin carving with the RYOBI Rotary Tool are that it’s an easy way to shave (or carve) layers of the pumpkin without going all with way through the pumpkin wall, and to create finer detailing. It was also pretty easy as a complete beginner.

Disadvantages of RYOBI Rotary Tool

One thing I found difficult with this rotary tool was that it felt heavy after a while. However, I don’t think the weight of the tool was completely to blame. Because the flexible shaft pen is connected to the rotary tool station I felt like this pulled the rotary tool towards the station and I had to continuously pull against it.

It wasn’t unbearable, but was a bit fatiguing after a while. I felt like this could have been avoided if I had a small side table. However, placing the station on my kitchen table was too high and placing it on the ground was too low, and the pen was pulled in whichever direction I placed the station.

I’d like to try this again with the ability to place the station somewhere in between. However, a cordless rotary tool might be the best option. The Home Depot has a few RYOBI cordless options.

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Final Thoughts on Pumpkin Carving with the RYOBI Rotary Tool

In the end, I was incredibly satisfied with how my pumpkin turned out and that this is a great beginner rotary tool project. Pumpkin skin is much softer than wood or metal which you would typically use in a rotary tool project. Because pumpkin skin is so soft you should go with a lower speed setting, and a low speed is much easier to control especially as you get the hang of using the rotary tool.

All-in-all, I think this method is great. My kids are too young, but I think this project is great to use with older kids, and is actually a great first project before moving on to more advanced woodworking crafts.

FREE Pumpkin Carving Stencils

Want to try it out? Grab a rotary tool and one of these FREE pumpkin carving stencils.

• Pumpkin Lady FREE Pumpkin Carving Stencils
• Pumpkin Carving Stencils on Pinterest

The post Pumpkin Carving with the RYOBI Rotary Tool appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

Milwaukee just released a video on how to pair your One-Key tools to your phone and how to use the various features you gain while using the Bluetooth enabled tool. You can control just about everything on the tool now. You can control the clutch settings, how much torque the rpm of the drill. It get’s even crazier, you can enable or disable a torque user protection feature to the delay on the led light. The One-Key application also has presets that pick the best settings for the material and task at had. I have to say this looks really interesting personally. You can do a lot with this kind of control.

The post How to Setup and Use Milwaukee One-Key Tools appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

I have never had to climb up on my roof to remove snow. I have a bad enough time as it is climbing a ladder and being on a roof in the summer let alone winter.  Recently I came across this video of a device making roof snow removal a breeze. It looks to work like a charm, but look out below.
Check out a similar snow removal tool over at Amazon.

The post Get Snow Off Your Roof – The Easy Way appeared first on Tools In Action - Power Tool Reviews.

These days we have high tech tools for just about everything. From $5 voltage detectors to $2500 thermal imaging cameras, if you have enough money, theres a tool to help you find just about anything your looking for. This article is not about such tools.

If you’ve ever lived in the country, you know that locating ground water for a well isn’t really an exact science. You can hire a hydrologist, have a seismoelectric survey, or just drill until you hit water, but all these things take time and cost money. Fortunately, you may have another option. Some people claim to be able to use the practice to find gold and all sorts of other stuff, but this article is strictly about finding water.

What Is Water Witching?

“Water Witching”, also called “Water Dowsing” or “Divining”, is a method of locating groundwater using a number of different types of tree branches or rods. The origins of the process is subject to much debate and it is not widely regarded as effective by the scientific community. Some claim the process dates back to biblical times when Moses located water using “rods” in the Old Testament (Numbers 20:9-11). Others attribute the birth of the process to ancient Greece, others to 16th century Gemany, and so on and so forth. What everyone does agree on is that it’s been going on for a very long time. Wherever and whenever it started, the process has remained relatively unchanged over time. The Dowser, Witcher, Diviner, or whatever you prefer to call him/her, basically holds the branch or rods lightly in hand and walks around until the branch tilts or rods cross. When this happens, he/she should be directly over water. The species of wood or type of metal rod used all depends on personal preference, but is often done with willow, peach, hazel twigs, or in modern times, metal rods.

Does It Work? 

As I stated earlier, water witching is not widely regarded as effective by the scientific community. Numerous studies have wrote the practice off as nothing more than folklore and no more accurate than a 50/50 shot in the dark. That being said, most older country folk will tell you the know someone who can do it and cite several instances of them doing it effectively. Albert Einstein believed in it and was once quoted saying as much:

“I know very well that many scientists consider dowsing as they do astrology, as a type of ancient superstition. According to my conviction this is, however, unjustified. The dowsing rod is a simple instrument which shows the reaction of the human nervous system to certain factors which are unknown to us at this time.”

My dad can do it. He’s located septic tanks, drains, wells, you name it. I’ve seen him do it lots of times so I suppose I can’t deny that I very much believe in the merits of the process. I’ve done it myself a few times, though I’m not as good at it.

How It’s Done

He uses metal rods cut from clothes hangers. He makes a straight piece about 18″ long, then bend the handle about 5″ like so:

Some people prefer to place the handle in a small piece of pipe during use, but it isn’t really necessary. The key to success is holding the rod very loosely so your hand doesn’t restrict the movement at all. At this point you just hold your hands 6″-8″ apart, and walk very slow and steady. Once you locate water, the rods will cross each other on their own. Here is a video clip of my dad doing it. His water main runs under his sidewalk straight from the meter.

Conclusions

Whether you believe in the effectiveness of the process or not, it’s hard to imagine something going on for this length of time without there being at least something to it. It’s pretty simple to try for yourself though. Try finding some known stuff then move on to unknown veins. It’s kinda fun really. For more information check out these articles:

Heres and article written in 1970 on the subject

From Wikipedia: Dowsing

From Livescience.com (Deals mostly with mineral location)

There’s even an American Society of Dowsers

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