I saw this picture over at Helpful Advice For Home Construction and I had to share it. The moral of the story is...BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN USING A NAIL GUN!!

I was helping my dad put together a stand for my mom's Nefertiti bust she just bought. We were using brass screws, and he warned me not to go too fast with the drill, because the brass screws strip easily. Alas, I went too fast with the drill and stripped the screw. This is why my dad doesn't let me help him very often.

He wasn't very mad, though, like he usually would be. He told me to go over to his tool bench and get the Grabit drill bits. He then easily removed the screw and drilled a new screw right into place. If he had not had the Grabit screw remover, this could have taken a very long time.

So, if you have a tendency to strip screws like I do, check out the Grabit stripped screw removers. It would save you a ton of time!

My buddy ChrisJob over at Curbly has a great series going about power tools. It's a great primer for people wanting to learn more about power tools and what is the right tool for the job. For the novice, this is extremely important information and even for the expert, there are some tips you might not know about. Go on over to Curbly and check these posts out:

Power Sanders
Circular Saws
Cordless Drills
The right tool for the job

The tools we are giving away are certainly necessities for any homeowner, but there are certain non-power tools you absolutely cannot live without. Here are 5 tools you had better have on hand, or else!

Hammer- Please, Hammer, don't hurt 'em! From nailing pictures to the wall to breaking geodes open with the kids, a hammer is an essential for homeowners and renters alike. You can even use your hammer to open stubborn jar lids- by tapping sharply on the lid, it will often break the seal. Just don't whack it too hard, you don't want to break the whole jar.

Screwdrivers- You'll need both flathead and Phillips head screwdrivers. Phillips tighten and loosen, well, everything. The flathead screwdrivers are good for prying up smaller nails and once in awhile you run across a screw that actually needs a flathead screwdriver, like outlet plates.

Tape measure- You're going to want to measure things. If you have kids, they're going to want to measure things. Rulers aren't long enough and yardsticks are unwieldy. What's a person to do? Get a tape measure, natch.

Duct tape- Let me tell you, internets. You need duct tape. If you can't fix it with duct tape, you can't fix it. But try using more duct tape before you give up on fixing the item. More duct tape is always a good idea.

Pliers- Needle nose, wire cutting, small slip joint, and locking. Yes, you need all 4 kinds. When I was a kid, I fell in love with needle nose pliers and have loved them ever since. I like the little "snap, snap, snap" noise they make when you are opening and closing them. And I love how they can get into tight areas where you need some plier-action. Ah, needle nose pliers. I heart you.

This is an excellent tool set for craft workers and even someone who loves to get on with doing it yourself projects and now you can save 37% on the list price.

The kit includes an ART372 Multi-Function Rotary Tool, ASD36 Cordless Screwdriver, AE02 Electric Engraver, and ASI30 Soldering Iron. The great thing about kits like this is the amount of jobs that can be done with them, these include: drilling, sharpening, engraving and soldering.

Features:

Versatile 4-tool hobby kit for grinding, polishing, drilling, sharpening, soldering, engraving, and more

Rotary tool features variable speed, spindle lock, rubber grip and flexible shaft attachment; Engraver features variable speed and rubber grip

3.6-volt screwdriver features 2-position handle, forward/reverse switch, and rubber grip

Includes multi-function rotary tool, cordless screwdriver, electric engraver, soldering iron, 40-piece accessory kit, flexible shaft, height adjustable mounting stand, wrench, (2) bits, magnetic bit holder, soldering stand, hard case

2-year warranty

The list price of this is $119 on Amazon the price $74.99 inc free shipping!

This is great, you can import photos of your own home and the software will bring up those images in the program, so when you are designing your layout, you can actually see what your design ideas would look like in your own home, with 3 D realistic imagery. No more worrying until you have finished your decorating or even structural changes to see what they will turn out like.

Being 3 D you can create a very good copy of the inside of your home and move around in it, this will give you an idea of color, shade and light the major factors involved in any project, you can change the color of the walls just to see which shade looks the best, there is nothing worse than looking at paint in the store and yet when it is on the walls it turns out to be darker or lighter than you thought. Now you check the shades before you get the paint.

FEATURES OF PUNCH! HOME DESIGN PROFESSIONAL – PLATINUM V8

2D/3D Exterior Home Design
2D/3D Interior Home Design
2D/3D Landscape Design
Punch! Master Landscape integrated
Precision Lighting Planner & effects
Foundation Planner
Electrical
Plumbing
HVAC
Ultimate Deck
Wainscoting
Object Organizers
3D Cutaway Tool
Clear View
Sprinkler System Design
Plant Finder
Detail Creator
Standard or Custom Roofs
Custom Door and Window Styles
Log home objects
Video (tool tip) tutorials
FREE Punch! Developer Kit

All this for a just $99.99!

Source  [Charles and Hudson]

http://www.charlesandhudson.com/archives/2007/06/home_design_software.htm

One of the many problems with having projects running and planning new project, especially if you are completely renovating a property is organization, it is all to easy to mislay important documents, paperwork and even cherished items, so in order to eliminate this problem it is far better to organize this, rather than just hope for the best and when an important piece of paperwork is urgently needed you have to spend hours trying to look this, when you could be getting on the work at hand.

A home filling system is what’s needed, this organize all your paper, plans and receipts so you know where everything is all in one handy place;

MyVitalFiles.com Home Office Filing Solution includes:

    * Eighty pre-labeled folders      
    * Ten unlabeled folders         
    * Forty four Additional preprinted labels    
    * Twenty two Black labels         
    * One Folder Focus Reference Guide.      

MyVitalFiles.Com Home Office Filing System will:

    * Allow you to get rid of your daily filing problem, 
    * Prepare you for an unexpected event or emergency,         
    * Eliminate paper clutter that may have been sapping your energy,         
    * Offer you a stress-free, peaceful mindset.      

Your essential documents should include, among others:

    * Birth, marriage and other certificates,
    * Receipts and warranties,      
    * Insurance papers,      
    * Trusts, wills and deeds,    
    * Vehicle titles,         
    * Passports.    

Systems like this one, can really be worth their weight in gold, if you have an emergency that requires you to produce the right documents you know exactly where to go and where they are, saving time and headaches, allowing you to continue on with the job, inste ad of stopping and starting.

Source  [Content 4 reprint]

Sorry about the pun, but there appears to be a very serious problem occurring in the states, so much so that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have got involved and are beginning to demand that more is to done about the growing trend for people who are carrying out home improvements, but instead of using the traditional hammer and nail, they are using the heavy duty nail guns that we see on the DIY shows and on building sites.

In fact the figures quoted by the CDC show that since 1991 the amount of nail gun related injuries has grown by over two hundred percent, with a massive 37,000 or more per year between the years 2001 and 2005, and yet with the same time frame, work related injuries for the same tool have remained the same, proving their point about the need for something to be done with the home improvement sector.

So why is there a rise in these injuries since 2001? The simple answer would have to be the availability of these tools, only in the past five years or so have the tools come down on price enough to make them affordable additions to the family home, yet these things are seriously dangerous and really do not have a place in the average home. The list of injuries are varied too, hands, feet and legs being struck by a nail fired by one of these guns.

Maybe there should government health warnings on tools of this nature, otherwise it could get out of control.

Source  [The Register]

I'm not especially into tools and neither is my husband, unfortunately. So when construction was completed on our house, imagine my surprise at the fact that I was actually going to have to go into the garage and haul some tools inside to do some work on the house.

Needless to say, I've never used so many tools in all my life and the number one tool that I utilized the most was a drill. I kid you not, I drilled hole after hole hanging rods, bars, racks, shelves, art, pictures, and such and I must say, after all was said and hung, it was a great feeling to actually have Done It Myself.

So, for Mother's Day I am asking for the Craftsman 83 Insert Bit Set, now on sale for only $15 at Sears. How could anyone go wrong with this awesome set of drill bits. I mean, it's totally affordable (because you can never have too many bits) and it has such a great selection, it is a must have for the DIY Mom. The bloggers at Toolmonger note that this set has "both 1″ and 2″ Philips, slotted, square, Pozi, Torx, and nut drivers". Beautiful!

I don't have to go into the garage and dig through my husbands junk tools just to get a job done anymore, I have my own little tool storage cubby in my laundry room only for me. So when a project arises, I know right where to go and what tools to use. This set would be a great addition to my little tool cubby. The only problem is getting hubby to Sears before May 5th since that is when this incredible offer expires.

I was recently checking out Toolmonger for the latest in cool tools and they had a great post about the fact that Black and Decker is now offering a complimentary companion ticket with the purchase of any of their "eligible" tools.....

"To receive the ticket you must purchase any tool(s) from their list, fill out the registration form, and mail it to Black & Decker with the UPC and receipt.  They then send you a voucher which you can use to book a companion ticket."

I've had my eye on the Handisaw for quite a while this little freebie might be just the thing to get me back to doing some work around the house.

You can register here!

I love this saw.

This is a Skil Magnesium Wormdrive Circular Saw. They're available in 2 flavors; magnesium and regular. I prefer the magnesium for it's two pound weight savings over the standard saw. Really makes a difference when you're trying to wrangle it over your latest project.

Due to its long plate, it has a tendency to cut nice and straight,how much do you love that? And the blade is on the same side as your eyes, so that you can see your cut, as you make it. Last but not least, it has tons of power--it never bogs down, no matter what you throw at it.

At Home Depot, the Mag sells for $179.00 and you can get a regular version for $159.00, but we got ours on ebay, slightly used for $75.00 plus $15.00 shipping. The price tag was still on the handle and it wasn't even dirty.

These saws have been the industry standard since right around forever and they deserve their reputation 100%. They have oil that needs changing from time to time. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to know that Skil thought their saws would live long enough to need changeable oil. Three cheers for excellent design.

So walk around the house and find yourself a home improvement project that will justify the purchase of one of these saws; you'll never regret it. In fact, you might very well be justified in whipping up a little glass-topped display case for your new saw. I'd recommend putting it right in the front entryway. This saw makes you happy every time you see it.

If you're into power tools and love to shop your local home improvement stores, you should definitely check out Home Depot's Ultimate Power Deal sale going on now until April 11th.

Evidently, you can save up to $500 on selected tools by shopping two ways.  By shopping in-store you will receive coupons for immediate redemption or if you choose to shop online you will receive a rebate by mail. Here's the breakdown......

Spend  $199-$399       Save  $35
Spend  $400-$599       Save  $75
Spend  $600-$1999     Save  $125
Spend  $2000+           Save  $500

They've got power tools, generators, compressors, wet/dry vacs and the list goes on so check them out and save some ultimate power bucks.