Recent content by MushCreek

I use a variety to tools- Drill, driver, sawzall, 1/2" impact, circular saw. I'm retired, so it is hobby use. I store the batteries in our basement during the hottest/coldest parts of the year, between 62-75 F. I really like the 5.0's. I have two; all of the rest are old 2.8's. The 5.0's are...

Yeah, I'd have to stretch to think of another tool I 'need'. Of course, this is Garage Journal, where we all need more tools....

Shady Groves doesn't have a very good rating- doesn't sound like someone to trust. Way Source has the best price so far, and they claim to be an authorized dealer.

My M18 batteries are getting old, and several of them seem to be losing their oomph. They run down and charge back up very quickly. I checked with Home Depot, and they have a deal with three 5.0 XC batteries for $215. Is that a good deal? Great deal? So-so deal? I'm afraid to buy them from...

Then there are the one star reviews where the person was totally happy with their purchase. Apparently they don't know how a star rating system works.

The flag only needs to be illuminated when it's being flown at night. A shirt in a drawer, or even on a hanger in a closet isn't being 'flown'.

I have an M18 and an M12. The M18 built my house, has fallen from roof height (more than once) and still keeps on ticking. I did have to put new brushes in it. It's about 16 years old.

I bolted a pair to the bar of a cheap electric chainsaw to control the depth cutting grooves for wiring in ICF construction.

A 10mm socket with a built-in tracker.

I wish I had insulated and finished the walls and ceiling before moving all my stuff in. Major hassle moving everything around to do it 12 years down the road. The mini split went in right after.

I do everything in my 28 x 32 space. Mill, lathe, welding, table saw, miter saw, band saw, planer, mechanical tools.

I was 60 when I built our house, and it darn near killed me. It also took me 3 years, but I was working alone most of the time.

I went on a similar adventure, starting 20 years ago. Our rural SC property is hilly, so I spent a lot of time studying the best positioning and orientation of the buildings. There was only one area that was practical for the barn. I built a 28X48 from barnplans.com. I lived in the unfinished...

When I started in the trade, part of our training was hand sharpening drill bits. They had buckets of dull bits to use as busy work when there was nothing else to do. They'd give us a big chunk of brass to test the results of our efforts. After thousands of drill bits, you get pretty good at it...

Heck, even my Bridgeport mill is older than 1970. My daily use wrenches are a set of S-K combination wrenches I bought new in the late '60's. I only have a few wall hangers; everything else has to earn its keep.