Hot Tools & Equipment Posts
How To: Use hollow wall anchors
If you need to fix your plasterboard or drywall, you will probably need to use hollow wall anchors. In this tutorial, learn how to identify, buy and use hollow wall anchors with the Ultimate Handyman. Once you master this skill, you will be able to repair almost any wall easily. Hollow wall anchors are also very useful for hanging anything heavy on an otherwise weak wall. They attach to the back of the plasterboard with little legs so they are more secure than normal nails or screws.
How To: Remove a trimmer clutch from most line/string trimmers
If you need to fix or replace the clutch on your trimmer, you will be able to follow along step by step at the best way to take the trimmer apart so you can get to the clutch. There is a tip provided for removing those tricky clutch drum screws as sometimes you cannot get some parts out as easily as they look.
How To: Waterproof the inside of a planter box
Back with another great how to tutorial for your home, Ron Hazelton, from Ron Hazelton's House Calls, and ronhazelton.com is here to bring us another great tip to save us time and money on our household projects. In this video Ron shows us a great way to waterproof the inside of your outdoor planters, which will protect them from water, provide a longer life-span, and help your plants to be healthier, in a quick and easy to understand manner.
How To: Set the combination of an OnGuard lock
This video is a short tutorial to assist in setting the combination for an OnGuard Lock. In the event that a combination is compromised, it is important to change a lock to prevent from unwanted break-ins or theft. Watch this instructional video and learn how to reset the combination on an OnGuard lock.
How To: Use a reverse drill bit
Tim Carter demonstrates how easy it is to remove damaged screws with a reverse drill bit. Quick-and-easy solution for a drilling problem.
How To: Start a Briggs and Stratton Power Generator After 3 Years
My Briggs and Stratton power generator wasn't used for 3 years. Trying to start it again, lead to some problems. The video will show you the true story and the solution. The first problem was, that it lost some fuel - the fuel pipe was broken. In good hope I tried again to start it, but it stopped within seconds. A check of the spark plug to find a very dirty one. After cleaning the spark plug, the engine ran, but only for a few seconds. It lost a lot of fuel and stopped again. The fuel was c...
How To: Make a simple latex mold using liquid latex rubber
In this DIY guide from the folks at the TAP Plastics, we learn how to produce a simple latex mold using liquid latex rubber. It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this clip can present a complete overview of the technique in about seven minutes. For all of the details, take a look.
How To: Pick a combination lock using a soda can
In this tutorial, we learn how to pick a combination lock using a soda can. To begin, have your lock next to you and an empty soda can and scissors. When your lock won't open, cut the soda can in the middle so you have a small square. After this, cut off strips, then measure the size of your pinkie on the foil. Next, cut the foil out so it's the exact size of your pinkie and then stick this piece of foil into the lock. Move the foil around until it comes undone and you will have the lock unlo...
How To: Remove an armature bearing using a vise
If you don't have a bearing puller available and need to remove an armature bearing, you're in luck! You can actually use a cheap vise available at any hardware store remove an armature bearing if you don't have the bearing puller or if there is not enough space between the bearing and the armature.
How To: Use a rototiller to break up soil for a garden or new lawn with Lowe's
If you need to break up soil for a garden or a new lawn, a rototiller is the tool that will make the job a lot easier. This video from Lowe's will provide you with some key tips to using a rototiller successfully. Mike Kraft shows the best way to use your tiller. Learn what settings you should use for tilling, how you should prepare for tilling soil and garden safety tips.
How To: Refill a butane lighter
In this Home & Garden video tutorial you will learn how to refill a butane lighter. For this you will need any kind of butane lighter that has an opening for refill and any kind of butane refill can. Shake the butane can properly. Then remove the cap and you will see the nozzle. Now hold the lighter upside down and insert the nozzle in to the refill hole. Now press the can down and hold for about four seconds. Repeat this for three to four times. Then replace the cap on the can and try out yo...
How To: Easily replace the pad on an orbital sander
If you, for some reason, damaged the pad on your orbital sander, it's not the end of the world. The pad can easily be replace by just locating and removing the screws on the sander. Once that's done you can easily screw a new one in without much of a fuss.
How To: Use a Roof Rake (Removing Snow & Ice from Your Home's Rooftop)
For lazy children, winter snow means snowball fights, snowmen and snow days. For lazy homeowners, it can mean leaky roofs and costly repairs. Fortunately, where snowy roofs are concerned, a little bit of preventative maintenance can go a long way.
How To: Start a STIHL blower or any other leaf blower
Description: The New Stihl ‘simplified starting procedure’ eliminates the chance of flooding your machine during cold starting by mispositioning the choke.
How To: Use a cordless drill and taper tap to cut a threaded hole in steel
Trapping a hole is the process by which you give them threads so that they can accommodate a screw, and doing it to a lot of holes quickly can be a major pain. Fortunately, you can actually do it with a cordless power drill much more quickly and easily than manually. This video will show you how to do it.
How To: Easily weather seal your garage door
If you have a garage door attached to your home, it's important to know that it's a space that needs proper insulation as well. Not doing so can lead to a room that is cold to walk into and can cause other rooms in your home to become cold as well. In this next tutorial, you'll find out what you need to do in order to easily weather seal your garage door. Enjoy!
How To: Cut a hole into metal
Tim Carter shows simple ways to cut holes into metal. This easy-to-understand and well demonstrated video is a perfect guide for metal drilling.
How To: Make a clamp when you don't have one
Get some simple home repair and improvement advice from the H.O.W. TV team. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to make a clamp when you don't have one.
How To: Remove a DeWALT miter saw armature bearing
Removing a miter saw armature bearing on a DeWalt miter saw armature can be a bit tricky if because even if you have a bearing puller, you probably won't have enough space to get it in the armature to be able to get it out. You will get a great tip on how you can use a vise to hold down the armature so you can use both hands to work on getting that bearing out.
How To: Bend acrylics (like Plexiglas) with a hot air gun
Have you ever wanted to bend a small piece of acrylic? Well now you can with the help of a traditional hot air gun and this informative video. Make sure to wear safety glasses and gloves before trying this project. Clamp the acrylic to a work table, and proceed to turn the gun on and heat up the piece of acrylic, using a steady back-and-forth sweeping motion. As it heats up, you can use your fingers to gently bend the acrylic upward. Leave it at 90 degrees to cool down for a couple minutes, a...
How To: Cut metal with aviation snips
This is an instructional video featuring Doug Prime, founder of the Future Engineers Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Aviation snips cut small metal like aluminum, but not big pieces like nails. Nails and large pieces of metal should be cut with bolt cutters. Use eye protection during all cutting of metal. This video shows the cutting of pipe straps.
How To: Do sleeve welding
This video demonstrates step-by-step how to do sleeve welding. Do sleeve welding.
How To: Use an extension ladder safely
This video shows you how to safely use an extension ladder. To put the ladder up put the bottom against the wall and walk it hand by hand until the top is against the ladder. Then grab the bottom and pull it out. To make sure the ladder is at the correct angle and stand with your toes against the base of the ladder and stretch your arms out straight. You should be able to grasp a rod. If you can't reach it you should readjust it. Avoid over reaching to the sides.
How To: Use a nail holder to hammer a nail in tight spots
There's many times when you're improving your home that you'll find yourself in a tight spot when driving a nail. Don't hit your thumb. Let home improvement expert Danny Lipford show you how to use a nail holder to hammer a nail in tight spots.
How To: Use a hi-speed burnisher to polish concrete
Watch this video from the Concrete Network to learn how to clean & maintain concrete with this high-speed propane burnisher. Scrub & buff concrete surfaces to restore the original shine.
How To: Cut a threaded metal rod or bar to get a nut onto it and make a custom bolt
Threaded metal rods and bars are useful to have around because they allow you to make custom length bolt and nut combos whenever you like. Cutting them to the right length in such a way that your nut will still fit on the bolt can be tricky, but this video will show you just how to do it with a hacksaw and other tools.
How To: Fix a power drill grinding noise and chuck problem
Is your power drill making a funky high pitched noise when you try to use it? Or why your chuck on your drill doesn't spin? You first reaction may be to throw it on the ground in anger, but this could actually be simple fix. Sometimes, the gear switch can get stuck in-between gears, and can be fixed by simply moving the gear switch back and forth on your drill. Try that and see if it fixes your battery operated power drill.
How To: Replace the line on a STIHL trimmer Head
In this video, we learn how to replace the line on a STIHL trimmer head. First, remove the spool from the head by stopping the engine and cutting attachment first. Then, grasp the body and insert your thumb into the tab on the head, then rotate around and press on the second tab. After this, press down on the spool and release it from the housing. Now, remove the star nut to remove the head completely. Now, you can replace it with a new one. After this, replace the parts that you took out and...
How To: Cut a lock with bolt cutters
This is a demonstration of how to use bolt cutters to cut off a lock. All of us have at one time lost a key to a lock, well now you can remove the lock with bolt cutters.
How To: Replace the broken power cord on your vacuum cleaner
The vacuum cleaner is the most elaborate piece of cleaning equipment many people have, and they should last a long time. Their power cords, however, are generally not very durable. If yours have gotten worn out or actually broken, it's not too challenging to replace it yourself. This video will show you exactly how to do it on a Hoover WindTunnel vacuum.
How To: Remove the wires from a 'Trap Door' power switch
Removing wires from a 'trap door' switch can be a bit tricky to do and of course you don't want to just yank them out. If you get yourself a thin pick to fit into the holes and just circle the wire to hit a spring you need to push down in order to release the wire.
How To: Make a spark and fire with a 9 volt battery and steel wool
If you're out in the wilderness at night and it's starting to get chilly, you sure as hell better know how to make yourself a campfire. But let's just say you forgot your matches and don't feel like rubbing two sticks of wood together hoping to create a spark.
How To: Easily fix a sticking Karcher pressure washer
Using a pressure washer to clean the outside of your home or driveway, is great and easy to use. But what happens when it becomes stuck and there's hardly any pressure? Well you're about to find out. In this next tutorial, you'll see how to fix a sticking Karcher pressure washer easily. It can take you a couple of hours to complete or a matter of minutes. Good luck and enjoy!
How To: Repair your lawn mower's pull starter with silicone spray
You're trying to mow your lawn, but the engine on your pull-string push mower isn't turning over— why won't it power up? Well, if your lawn mower was stored outdoors for a large amount of time, chances are that the recoil has built up some corrosion or is simply sticking. This video will show you a very simple repair, where you only need to remove 2 or 3 screws to gain access to the mechanism, then grease with silicone spray.
How To: Use a tile file to shape a tile
This how-to video explains how to use a tile file to remove a sharp edge from a piece of tile. To being you just need to buy a tile file (or a couple if you plan to use it a lot). A tile file would be used if a piece of tile has a sharp edge that you cannot hide in a corner or cover with another piece. To use the tile file simple rub the tile file against the tile like you would a piece of sandpaper on wood. Rub the tile file back and forth until the sharp edge has been smoothed out and then ...
How To: Use ceramic tile nippers to cut tile
In this short video, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com shows you how to cut ceramic tile using nippers. Nippers are good for cutting tile in an arc or for cutting irregular tile. Using them, you can trim your tile to the precise dimensions you need for your floor.
How To: Adjust the miter saw on a Bosch 4412 and 5412
A miter saw is a handy portable tool that almost every carpenter or handyman has available. It makes clean cuts to thin pieces of wood in various angles and makes quick cuts. So in this tutorial, you'll find out how to make adjustments to a Bosch 4412 and 5412 miter saw. Knowing how to adjust certain parts of the machine is important, because certain parts may need to be moved in order to get the right cut for the occasion. So good luck, be careful, and enjoy!
How To: Use a multimeter as a battery tester
Thanks to How To Make Anything, you can learn how to make and do pretty much anything! In this video, learn how to use a multimeter as a battery tester for those days your battery tester is out to lunch!
How To: Make a cutting disc for a Dremel rotary tool
Get a little use out of those empty tin cans you are going to throw away. Recycle them into a cutting disc. So, check out this video tutorial to see how to make a cutting disc for a Dremel rotary tool. These Dremel cutting disks are pretty easy to make. Just get a can opener, take off the lid of one of your junk aluminum cans, and begin to disc away. You'll need a Dremel sanding disc for a stencil reference. These are less dangerous than normal sharp cutting disks, not to mention cheap.
How To: Use a grinder to cut tile
Remodeling your home can be a daunting task when you don't have the right tools. This Home & Garden how to video demonstrates the proper operation and use of the grinder for cutting cement backerboard. Once you have mastered the art of using this appliance, cutting tile and remodeling your home will be a cinch.