You may remember a posting I made some time ago regarding cordless tools:
http://www.blogsmonroe.com/backyard/?p=43

I had been looking to add another battery to my cordless tool collection. I have seen the batteries ranging in price from $36.00 all the way up to $50.00. Today I found a great deal. A drill kit with the 18 volt battery I was looking for was on sale for $49.99, $20.00 off its regular price. That alone meant I was literally buying the battery and getting the drill for free. I then found a coupon, good today only, for $10.00 off any purchase of a single item costing $49.75 or more.

The total cost for the kit including sales tax was $42.39. That gives me the extra battery I wanted, and I have a drill on the shelf which I can use if I ever need a second one. This new drill does not have as many features as my current one, but as far as I am concerned I got it for free. That makes it a great drill. There are wonderful ways to save money out there if you shop smart.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

This appears to be a fun project. A bucksaw is a very unique tool. It is also a very handy tool. I saw many of these in use when I worked on a Christmas tree farm. Most appeared to have been around for generations.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/Make-A-Hand-Saw.aspx

Whether you decide to make one or just get a chance to learn about a new tool, I hope you enjoy it. This may be one of my next rainy day projects. Feel free to post any thoughts or comments. Are you going to make one?

I’ll see you in the backyard!

I made a quick fix to a snow shovel today.

I was clearing off the end of the driveway after the road scraper came through. The plastic collar that held the shovel to the handle cracked. It was noticeable when I had weight on the shovel. The shovel was breaking away from the handle.

I simply drove three screws through the collar and into the handle. This secured the two pieces tightly together again.

The shovel seems to be working fine now. How long will the repair last? I can not be certain, but it will certainly give me more use out of the shovel than if it had not been repaired.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

Sometimes when used equipment is purchased it comes without manuals. Usually any information that we need to find can be found with an internet search. But there is another option.

I have found many manuals that will cover my equipment at our local library. These service manuals cover many items that you may have. They can be helpful with repairs or just to gain more knowledge regarding the equipment. Sometimes it is much easier to sit down with a book than a keyboard.

Just tonight I picked up a manual from the library to assist me with routing a drive belt. The books are usually in stock and it is much cheaper than buying a manual, providing a manual is still available. Many times older manuals are no longer in print.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

There is no worse feeling than losing or breaking a fastener while working on a repair. Unless it is late at night and you can’t find a replacement. Maybe the only place open sells hardware packaged by the piece and a simple replacement bolt, nut or other item costs a small fortune. I have found a much better way.

There is an initial investment but it pays off in many ways. I purchased a plastic bin of drawers that are available in many stores. I occasionally buy fasteners in bulk (I get them at a farm store) and use the drawers for their storage. The top row of my bin is all 1/4 inch bolts, nuts and washers. I use separate drawers for various lengths of bolts, and the last two are for washers (flat and lock) and nuts. I then go down the row with 5/16 inch, 3/8 inch and so on. I buy them a few at a time and the cost is manageable.

I use the extra storage for other items such as spark plugs, flywheel keys, screws, and the list goes on.

I save time and money by having these items on hand. A late night or weekend fix may keep a project going that would otherwise be on hold. They have been bought cheaper in bulk and I save time and fuel by not having to drive somewhere to purchase these items.

Another place to find parts and hardware on the cheap: Roadside trash.

Really. If you have ever driven past any outdoor equipment in the trash or just sat out free for the taking, you have driven past parts. From simple things like oil drain plugs and filler caps, gas caps, wheels and axle bolts.

You can also find air cleaner housings, throttle cables and so much more. When I do this type of thing I strip everything I can save and keep the brand specific items in a labeled container. The more universal items can be kept in a cabinet drawer if they will fit.

These parts are great to have for repairs and are wonderful when creating any home made, dare I say Frankenstein?, projects.

I keep the unwanted items in an old barrel or two out behind the garage. When they are filled I take them to a scrap metal recycling facility and might even get a few dollars back.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

It seems there is always a repair to be made. One of my favorite things to have on hand is metal pipe strap that is found in the plumbing section of hardware stores, farm stores and home centers. Its main purpose is to suspend pipes in floor joists and that sort of thing. But I find many more uses.

I use it to make loops for hanging tools on the wall. I use it to block light switches I want left on or off.( I cut a piece, loop it over the switch and secure it with the switch plate screws.) I have used it to secure fencing to wooden posts and even cut short pieces to use as washers in a pinch. I can’t begin to list all the uses I have found for this strapping material.

What has me thinking about this right now is another repair I just used it for. The motor on my tractor has a clip that holds the dipstick tube secure. It mounts to the flywheel cover. It vibrated loose and fell off. I was fortunate to notice before I lost the dipstick tube and the oil. I used a piece of strapping and two self drilling screws to secure the tube to safely finish clearing the snow. I screwed one end tight and wrapped the strap securely around the tube. I then secured the other end tightly. This will be a safe fix until I can replace the actual clip. I just had to be certain the flywheel cleared the screws. I turned the engine over by hand to be sure there was room. One screw needed to be shimmed out with a washer for adequate clearance.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

My tractor with the snowblower has a manual lift. It has a large lever with a push button top. I occasionally have trouble with it sticking when snow and ice get in between the button and the tube. Usually a light tap with a hammer will release it, but that is obviously not a good way to do things.

Today it hit me. I could not have found a simpler or cheaper solution. I cut a finger off an old pair of rubber gloves. This will slip right over the top of the lift handle and completely seals the button from the weather. After trimming it for a neat fit at the bottom you could mistake it for a factory cover.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

I saw a story recently that mentioned an interesting product. I found an auger attachment that mounts to a chainsaw as a powerhead. I love finding tools that work with items I may already have.

The manufacturer markets it as an auger for planting trees as will as for setting posts. From what I read it can also be used as a large drill for putting large diameter holes in timbers, for such things as building log homes.

It may not be a tool that the average gardener may be able to justify, but it would seem to be a wonderful addition to a small farm. You can see the tool in the link below.
http://www.terratech.net/product.asp?specific=jnpprmm0

I’ll see you in the backyard!

My tractor is usually kept out in the weather. I just do not have the room to keep it inside in the winter. It stays out all year as a matter of fact. I try to keep it covered with a tarp as much as possible. I always cover the seat, but there are times that is all that gets covered.

I just added a cover for the ignition switch to protect it from rain, snow and ice. This is not a new idea by any means, but it does a good job. You may have seen similar setups used even on doorknobs to barns or other outbuildings.

All you need is a piece of heavy rubber, some sheet metal screws and a strip of metal. I used some scrap pond liner. A piece of old inner tube would work just as well. I also used a short length of angle iron. The metal you would need will depend on your application. In many cases a piece of flat stock will be a better choice.

The ignition switch on my tractor is mounted on a vertical piece of metal on the tractor. It is just below the dash which is nearly at a ninety degree angle to the panel the switch is located on. I placed the angle iron on the dash. After checking to be certain I could drill through the dash safely I drilled two pilot holes through the angle and dash. The angle can then have larger holes drilled to accept the screws. Drill the holes in the dash larger, if necessary. Remember: The screws can pass freely through the piece of metal, but need to screw into the dash.

Place the piece of rubber under the metal plate and poke holes so the screws will pass through. Line the holes in the metal plate up with the holes in the dash and fasten tightly. This sandwiches the rubber in place.

I used an angled piece because I fastened it to the top of the dash. The angle is pointing down which holds the rubber flap tight to the vertical metal of the tractor where the ignition switch is located. If the rubber was attached to the same piece of metal the switch was located, a piece of flat stock is all
that would be necessary.

This is a very quick and simple project. It is much better than having a frozen key switch.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

Photos of the weight box were added to the post where I talked about building it.

http://www.blogsmonroe.com/backyard/?p=605

I’ll see you in the backyard!