Tools & Equipment Features
How To: Use and maintain a portable electric sander
In this video series, learn how to operate one of those tools. Our expert will demonstrate how to use and maintain an electric sander. He'll demonstrate how to load various types of sandpaper, how to empty the bag, and how to properly store the tool.
How To: Open a bedroom or bathroom door when you're locked out
Ahhh! You're locked out of your bedroom, or your bathroom! Well, watch this video and you won't be locked out for long. Fortunately, interior privacy locks are very simple to pick. There are essentially two kinds: one that requires a blade, or knife and the other which requires a long sharp "pin" like object to insert into the handle. Check out this video and never be locked out again! You'll need something like a flat head screw driver for locks with a "slot" in them, and something long and ...
How To: Keep a portable generator quiet by building an enclosure
Having a portable gas-operated or diesel-operated generator available for your home can be very helpful, but can also be very noisy. If you want to quiet a loud electric generator, take a look at this video to soften that sound on a budget. With a little wood and a few other materials, you can build a fan-cooled 'doghouse' to keep a generator quiet.
How To: Select the right disc for your angle grinder or cut-off tool
Angle grinders (or cut-off tools) are great for all sorts of major construction and repair projects. One of the reasons for this is that you can put all types of discs on them for different jobs. This video tell you all about the different types of discs and which ones you should use for different kinds of jobs.
How To: Use a rafter-angle square
This video teaches you how to use the rafter-angle square - also known as a speed square - measuring tool for measuring and drawing angles. Use a rafter-angle square.
How To: Replace the float valve in a toilet tank
If your system keeps filling up and won't shut off, you will probably need to switch out your toilet's float valve. Make sure to turn off the water before making any plumbing repairs! Watch this video home improvememnt tutorial and learn how to replace the float valve in a toilet tank.
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: Open a locked door with Barbara K
Have you ever been locked out of a room in your own home? Well Barbara K is going to show us exactly how to open a locked door in this video. This will let you get your bedroom door open when you have locked yourself out!
How To: Pick a lock easily with 2 paper clips
ZurplusFaction shows viewers how to pick a lock easily using 2 paper clips. First, you need to take your first paper clip and fold one end out. Fold it out again and straighten this out. Next, take the folded out in and fold in again so it forms boomerang shape with the paper clip. Now, take your pliers and squeeze this folded part together tightly. With a bigger paperclip, and use wire cutters to cut of a straight piece of the paper clip with a curve at the top. Now, you are ready to pick yo...
How To: Sharpen a lawn mower blade
Learn how you can sharpen your mower blade with this step by step tutorial. After time and use your lawn mower blade will dull. Watch this how to video and you can safely and easily sharpen your lawn mower blade.
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: 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: 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: 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: Magnetize a screwdriver
This will show you how to magnetize your screwdrivers. Very easy to do, and very handy when working in tight spaces. Don't drop any more screws. Do this!
How To: Sharpen riding lawn mower blades
In this how to video series, learn how to sharpen the blades of a riding lawn mower from riding lawn mower mechanic Paul Popplewell. Paul will demonstrate how to remove the deck from a riding lawn mower, how to remove riding lawn mower blades, how to sharpen riding lawn mower blades, how to replace the blades on a riding lawn mower, how to check the belts on a riding lawn mower, and how to lubricate the deck of a riding lawn mower. Sharpen riding lawn mower blades - Part 1 of 7.
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: Change the oil & filter in your riding lawn mower
This is a step by step tutorial of how to change the oil & oil filter on your riding lawn mower.
How To: Use a floor sander to sand a deck
If you don't know what you're doing, sanding a deck can be many hours of back-breaking work. But in this video, Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com demonstrates how to use a floor sander. By using a floor sander correctly, sanding a floor can be a much simpler process.
How To: Cut metal rods with bolt cutters
This is an instructional video featuring Doug Prime, founder of the Future Engineers Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Aviation snips are good for cutting small metal, but nail and steel rods require bolt cutters. Use safety glasses and clear the room as pieces could fly. Stand up as bolt cutters require strength and pressure.
How To: Texture walls with a hopper
If you have a tremendous amount of dry wall to finish and don't want to spend an enormous amount of time sanding, use a hopper to create a mild texture. This Home & Garden how to video demonstrates the proper operation and use of the hopper for adding texture to walls. Remodeling a home doesn't have to be such a daunting task with the right tools and equipment.
How To: Make a hot knife for cutting plastic
Sometimes easy is the answer, as you'll see in this video on how I finally made a hot knife for cutting plastic. Make a hot knife for cutting plastic.
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: Disable a seat switch on your riding lawn mower
This video provides a tutorial on how to disable the seat switch on your riding lawn mower. The riding lawn mower will stall if you attempt to put it in gear and no one is sitting on the seat. This video will show you how to prevent that.
How To: Tighten & keep tight those loose bolts
Bob Schmidt teaches the secrets to tighten & keep tight those loose bolts in simple steps. First buy a removable blue thread locker and keep it ready to use. Check for any loose door locks or bolts in your house and remove its screw. Squeeze some thread locker out and apply it to the screw and stay away from carpets while squeezing it out. Let it set on the screw for about 5 minutes and fit the screw back. It can also be used in nuts and bolts and bath accessories.
How To: Sharpen an axe
In this video, Becky teaches you how to sharpen an axe.
How To: Use the swanson speed square
Learn how to use the original swanson speed square.
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.
News: Insanely Cool John Deere Insect-Tractor
Created by a now discontinuted John Deere subsidiary Plustech in Finland, this walking tractor is weirdly alien-monster-insect-esque. Reminiscent of Big Dog and Little Dog, but way bigger... This belongs in a sci-fi movie, not a farm. Amazing. Several videos in the gallery below.
How To: Use a hole saw
Tim Carter demonstrates how to use hole saws. These tools drill perfectly round holes from one-half-inch diameter up to 2 and 1/4-inch diameter using your standard drill.
How To: Make your lawn tractor faster in three easy steps
In this tutorial, we learn how to make your lawn tractor faster. First, add an exhaust to your lawn tractor with a one inch pipe out the back. Make sure it's secured so it doesn't fall down onto the ground while you're driving the tractor. Also, add on a 51" belt instead of a 52" belt to make the tractor run faster. The last thing you can do to make your tractor faster is to place a spring and wire around the throttle to start the machine faster. This could make your tractor go up to at least...
How To: Install screw hooks into the ceiling
Screwing hooks into a ceiling can be a real pain. In this how to video, home improvement expert Danny Lipford gives you a great tip on screwing hooks into the ceiling. All you need is an electric drill to easily install screw hooks into your ceiling.
How To: Sand a drywall patch with a wet sponge to prevent dust
If you've lived in your house for a number of years, chances are you got yourself a drywall patch, which when sanded, will create a lot of dust in the room. Watch this video tutorial from home improvement expert Danny Lipford to see how to sand a drywall patch with a wet sponge to prevent dust.
How To: Pick any lock easily
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to pick a lock. The material required for picking a lock is a tension wrench and pick. Begin by inserting the tension wrench into the bottom left slot of the lock. Put some pressure on the tension wrench as you pick the lock. Now place the pick into the lock hole and experiment with it. Continue fidgeting and raking the pick in the lock hole until the lock opens. This video will benefit those viewers who have lost the key to their lock, and would like...
How To: Remove a stuck drill chuck
If you have a stuck keyless drill chuck and need help on to repair it, check out this next video tutorial. In it you'll find out what tools you'll need for taking out the drill chuck. It can be a difficult job if you lack the right tools and are not careful. So check out the video tutorial above and good luck!
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: 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: Avoid stripping gears on a Rain Bird sprinkler head
Avoid stripping the gears in your Rain Bird 5000 Series Rotor Sprinkler Heads by never turning the turret against the turn. Sean Stefan from Sprinkler Daddy explains in this video tutorial that if you start turning from the left fixed edge to the right, never go back to the left until you've gone all the way to the right. If you don't follow these guidelines, you run the risk of stripping the gears in your Rain Bird 5000 Series sprinkler heads. Then what are you going to water your lawn with....
How To: Replace the deck belt on your lawn tractor
Owning a lawn tractor is a big responsibility. Just like a car, there are many areas that need constant care and attention. One area that needs to be checked regularly is the law tractor's deck belt. This is needed to help spin the blad that is located underneath the machine.
How To: Pick a door lock
Arthur Cavallin demonstrates how to pick a door lock. To pick a lock, you will need to push up the pins and align them so that the mechanism will open. You will need a tension wrench which you can make with an alan key. You will also need a lock pick which you can make out of a hacksaw blade. Use the tension wrench to apply pressure to the front pin. Then, use the lock pick to push up the back pins. You can also use a quick raking technique to push the pins in. Insert the tension wrench into ...