My nickname years ago was Handy Hank. As a carpenter, I had tools and skills to be helpful. Here are some tips to help you be handy at home.
- Cordless drills with the right bit let you use 2” screws to hang pictures and mount chargers or shelf units. Buy drywall screws which have sharp points and don’t need pre-drilling for screwing into drywall or wood.
- Pro Tip: Scrape a bar of soap or a candle across the screw threads before screwing them into wood, to reduce resistance and effort.
- Cordless saws of every style are very convenient. I recommend purchasing tools that can share identical batteries. I like DeWalt, Porter Cable, Ryobi, and I look for light weight rather than heavy duty for handyman projects.
- Cordless lawn care tools are so much better than stinky gas versions. String trimmers, hedge trimmers and mowers, all without the extension cord hassle, are must-haves.
- My EGO (brand) blower and mower use the same battery and charger. No more cord, gas can, oil, or fumes with these.
- Less Stinky, Less Noisy: The EGO blower is perfect for last minute cleanup before guests arrive…no lingering fumes in the front yard (or on you).
- Get an electric pressure washer. The best option appears to be Sun Joe SPX3000 (Greenworx, under $200) with great reviews, available on Amazon. It does have a cord but has no smell and is quieter than gas models.
I wash lawn furniture, trash cans, deck and driveway stains, kayaks, muddy tools, (not the pets). My tip is to pre-spray appropriate items with bleach + water (50% max for bleach) before pressure washing, rather than filling the various reservoirs with Clorox.
These handy tools help you enjoy home ownership. Email me with your suggestions for future columns and with any questions you may have.
