Recent content by rct

Grew up in Macedon east of Roc, currently live north of Buffalo in Niagara County so I get the snow you deal with. Problem with a beat up plow truck is will it run reliably? I own a Kubota sub-compact Bx2200 with a front snowblower. (I also use the mower and a front end loader.) We always have...

Concurr with The SnowPlow Orginal Snow Pushers being the best. Expensive but good. Would get another if it was stolen or lost. I don't think it will break. Here around Buffalo we use ice chippers that are pretty much straight garden hoes to chop ice too hard to shovel. I also keep an aluminum...

calculate a propane burn per hour, you may need a larger tank to meet the vapor draw and to run for several days. With a limited propane supply, a smaller generator that will run the essential draws may be a better choice. Even a dual or tri-fuel portable can be a good backup. Her CPAP may run...

I have a set of Witte drivers which are very nice. I also have a set of the red Tekton hard handles that are great screwdrivers and feel less delicate than the Witte's. Looking at the new Tekton pricing on the German drivers I feel like they missed an opportunity to keep the USA hard handles...

Modern Li-ion batteries in handheld power tools are fairly reliable these days so I wouldn't look at the battery warranty as the biggest reason to buy Rigid. Any cordless driver/drill set will be a huge step up if you don't have one. Drills are for drilling, drivers for screws. To pick a brand...

Whichever you choose, get the highest weight rating you can. The stability difference between a homeowner 225-250 rated ladder and a commercial 325-350 rated is very noticeable. Much less bounce and sway.

I've noticed in the warranty tabs on the Napa website, that for sets, there is no warranty on the "Set" but only the individual item warranties. For example I bought the 3 piece pump plier set, the warranty tab on the set page has no warranty, but the individual plier pages has a "lifetime"...

Wait, so now besides sockets, wrenches and ratcheting wrenches, I need to buy sockets that are wrenches or wrenches that have a socket? Will this lead to shallow, mid, deep and ratcheting saltus purchases? Don't tell my spouse....

In the main store for Buffalo (regional warehouse) this week I saw a section of Performance Tool brand sockets and wrenches. Although they also have Craftsman and some Gearwrench. Only saw the "new" Carlyle as some mini pliers which as above are the same as the old pliers with new handle colors.

My experience is only with 2 versions, 1990s Craftsman USA with interchangeable tips (useless pain) and a Harbor Freight set bought about 2016ish for a tractor project with big snap rings (craftsman too small). Have used the reversable harbor freight set for several projects like the tractor...

I like the Carlyle tools I've picked up, but that socket looks horribly cheap in appearance. I'm not impressed. Why pay Carlyle prices for evercraft or dollar store quality?

There are pre-made on slab products that avoid any water instrusion problems but for a new build might be worth looking into what it takes to include a concrete storm room as part of the build. https://survive-a-storm.com/residential-storm-shelters/

Electric heat is very power intensive. Project Farm on youtube recently reviewed diesel heaters. Might be worth a look. I'd also consider wood or pellet stoves, or a diesel drip heater. Fans and ignitors use much less electricity during operation.

I found this Rainbow Attic Stair online that has the "F" model for up to 15 foot ceilings. https://rainbowatticstair.com/all-products/f-series/

From Buffalo where we may snowblow several times during a storm while it keeps snowing, best you can do is brush off any excess snow accumulation on the flat parts of the blower and park it near the door for the next go. Your options are really a mat to park it on and contain the drips or as...