Make your Saw Horse more versitile

Here is a great Idea to use in your shop to add use to your Saw Horse.

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Home Renovation, Now ??

As yesterday's ugly fourth-quarter results from Lowe's demonstrated, the housing slump is only beginning to leave its steel-toed boot marks on the bottom lines of Corporate America. Lowe's, the second-biggest home improvement retailer behind Home Depot, cited the “unprecedented” housing downturn in posting a 33-per-cent drop in profit.

And it warned there's more pain on the way.



True, Lowe's stock rallied on the results, but that was only because the per share numbers, although awful, were a few pennies less awful than some analysts expected. It's hard to see how anyone can put a positive spin on a quarter in which same-store sales plunged 7.6 per cent. For fiscal 2008, Lowe's expects same-store sales to tumble by 5 to 6 per cent.

So now May be the time to plan for the renovations to your home as the prices for materials come down.

There will be a lot of good deals on just about any tools and hardware.

Buying the New Latest Tool

Need a new Tool, be aware

Generally, it is only one person in a relationship that likes to buy tools.

If you are that person, you need to realize that the other person in your relationship may not understand if you come home with a new tool every week.

The best way to stay out of trouble is to put together a tool budget as part of your annual household expenses.

That way, you can get the tools you want-I mean, need-and not break the bank or your other half's temper.

Cordless Drill Battery Packs

Portable power packs that snap into various cordless tools, ranging in voltages from 3.6V to 36V.

Home repair cordless power tools should use 12V to 18V cordless battery packs.

Cordless battery packs are powered by numerous single batteries of 1.2 volts each.

Older battery packs used cadmium batteries which is both a heavy metal and toxic.

Look for battery packs that use Nickel Metal Hydride for better performance and environmental responsibility.

Take care and dispose of them properly

Cordless Drill Features

THE RIGHT CORDLESS DRILL FOR THE JOB



LIGHT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR

REPAIR AND REMODELING

HEAVY-DUTY CONSTRUCTION

Installing drapery brackets; drilling holes for drywall anchors; assembling a barbecue grill; putting new handles on cabinet doors and drawers; removing and replacing door hinges.
Building a storage rack; replacing deck railings and fence pickets; drilling pilot holes and driving screws in hardwood or plywood; making furniture; hanging drywall. Drilling holes for bolts and spikes in pressure-treated wood and landscape timbers; drilling holes in masonry walls; installing decking; drilling into steel.


FEATURES YOU'LL NEED These tasks are quick ones, so a tool with one battery will do.

For drilling holes and driving screws, get a drill with two fixed speeds; variable speed is an option. Also, look for an adjustable clutch.
Go with at least a 9.6V tool; you'll need the extra power. In fact, a 12V drill fits the bill for this job list, but the added power brings extra size and weight.

No question about it — you're in the big leagues. These projects — especially drilling large-diameter holes and driving long screws — demand a high-voltage tool.


NOTES For the best combination of power, portability and price, stay in the 6 to 7.2V range. The Ryobi HP61 is a nifty 6V, two-speed model.

This super-compact tool comes with a built-in level, onboard storage for two bits and a clutch. You also get four drill bits, a dozen driver bits and eight socket drivers.

A comparable tool is the Black & Decker 9099KB ,7.2V.
For these tasks, you'll want variable speed, two speed ranges, a clutch and a T-handle. Be sure to get a second battery so you don't run out of power in the middle of a project.

Drills in this category range from $60 to $140. Two professional-level 9.6V models that have all these features are the Hitachi FDS10DVA and Makita 6222DWLEK ).