5 Best Impact Drivers To Check Out This Year

Emery

Impact drivers are a nifty tool when you need to drive in long and large screws into tough wooden surfaces. From building decks to fixing tile backing board, impact drivers are great for a lot of woodworking activities. Are you on the hunt of a credible impact driver? Now, the current market is flooded with a wealth of impact drivers but then not all would be equally fantastic for you. Buying an impact driver is a considerable investment and you have to be extremely careful while choosing the tool. However, the good part is, the post below shares a brief on some of the best impact drivers you will find in the market today.

Milwaukee M12

You have a solid 12V driver here which can work with all kinds of screws and even 3/8” x 3” lag bolts. Thanks to its compact design, this makes an ideal tool when you need to work in constricted places. It comes with brushless motor and in-built LED light that helps you when you have to work in dark. Users are fond of its convenient speed-mode selector that enables you to choose from 3 modes. The M12 is widely used by contractors and can sustain daily use. The tool comes with 5-year limited warranty on driver as well as 2 years of free service for battery.

Black+Decker 20V

If you need a powerful driver on budget, swear by Black+Decker. This powerful 20V tool can be used for almost all kinds of screws ranging from deck screws, cabinet screws to 4.5” lag bolts. However, this is not the tool for professional use. If you need an economical and standard impact driver for your occasional handyman jobs, this would be a great option for you. Black+Decker impact driver comes with 2 years of limited warranty.

DeWalt 20V

The advanced DeWalt certainly bags a good place in the list of top 10 best impact drivers you will find today. Equipped with 20V power, 1,825”-lbs torque as well as huge 4.0 Ah (2) batteries, this one is one of the best professional-quality impact drivers. The driver offers you to choose from 3 power settings and its easy mechanical switch makes the whole process a breeze. DeWalt 20V comes with a reliable one-handed chuck while its 3 LED lights assure a properly illuminated working space for more efficient operation. If you are on budget, you can also buy the model with 2.0 batteries. The driver carries 3 years of limited warranty, 1 year of free service as well as 3 years of free service for the battery.

Bosch 12V

Are you looking for a credible impact driver for delicate woodworking jobs? Well, in that case, you can count on Bosch 12V driver eyes closed. It comes with low-speed torque which makes it a perfect for delicate projects. But then, while tested the Bosch  tool produced great results on larger and larger screws too such as 3/8” lag bolts. However, yes, the driver is slightly slower I operation compared to other high end models but then it can do your job pretty well. In fact, as per Bosch claims, this 12V model is capable of doing around 85% driving jobs in professional sites. So, even if you don’t want it as your main driver, you can have it as your backup driving tool in your workshop. It comes with 1 year limited warranty.

Ridgid 18V

This StealthForce 18V Pulse Driver stands out with its oil-pulse technology which lessens metal-on-metal contact. It consequently makes the driver way quieter  compared to conventional  counterparts. Besides, its sustained pulses make fastening quicker and that too with fewer RPMs and less torque. There is a simple easy 3-position mechanical switch which allows convenient switching in between speed settings. Mention must be made of 3 vibrant LEDs as well which do a lot to keep your working area i8lluminated for safe and easy operation. Ridgid 18V carries the very feel and heft of a good contractor-standard tool  and can drive large fasteners sans slowing down. It can also work with little self-tapping screws. It comes with Lifetime Service warranty.

So, you have quite a versatile list here. Choose a one according to your budget and project requirements.

Where to Find the Best Gardens in the Shreveport Area

Emery

When you plan a trip to Shreveport, most likely you are coming for one of two things. Well, maybe both (who knows) and we are talking about the casinos and crawfish. However, there is more here then you may expect.

There is our new convention center and Bossier City Boardwalk. We have more then just all of the nightlife excitement and good Cajun food. How about a peaceful stroll around Shreveport’s American Rose Center or a nice trot through a 585 acre park?

To celebrate America’s national flower, Shreveport, Louisiana brings us one of the most beautiful display of roses in the nation. There are several annual events, especially around Easter. April 1 is when the garden opens for the spring. To celebrate Christmas and the beautiful display of lights, the American Rose Garden opens on November 27.

Throughout the year, there are many things that the garden celebrates. April 4-5, is the Easter egg hunt and festivities. There is a Mother’s Day banquet in May. Then a Father’s Day banquet in June, as well. In the fall, there is a Harvest Moon stroll. Of course the garden stays open to celebrate Christmas with a beautiful display of lights. You can smell apple cider in the air as well as funnel cakes.

It’s an enjoyable place for the entire family. To become a member, you get many benefits. Memberships range from $49 to $140. Not to mention, you are also supporting the park, as well. For details about the garden, please visit the site by clicking on the link in the resource box.

The Barnwell Memorial Garden and Art Center is another great place to learn about more then flowers.There is a conservatory where you will learn about many exotic plants. There is a patio, as well as a gallery where you can host an event, like a reunion or wedding. The fountains and view of the river are absolutely beautiful.

Only flowers and plants? Actually no! There is more here then that. How about a breath taking art gallery that is full of great works by many well known artists. There are also classes and workshops for many forms of arts. There is an Iris Annual Convention that is coming up April 25 and is free for everyone. That sounds like a nice and peaceful outing for the family. If this place sounds interesting to you, check them out at the link in the resource box.

Another wonderful place to take the family while in the Shreveport area, is the C. Bickham Dickson park. This huge park is about 585 acres with a beautiful 200 area lake. The family can enjoy a day of fishing or horseback riding. There is also a playground as well as a hay rides. This sounds like a lot of family fun. At the largest park in Shreveport, you may want to sit and admire the scenery while enjoying a nice picnic.

You will also find that the park is home to the Red River Education and Research department. There is always some sort of research going on there. For instance, currently they are researching the water quality. For full details on the park, you may visit the link to the right, in the resource box.

Becoming a member helps the organizations in keeping the gardens nice and goes for research and education of flowers, plants, art and the ecosystem. Not to mention, they are a place where you can take the family for not only fun and excitement, but education as well.

Vintage Game Board Tray Project

Emery

This is a fun craft project that you can use to add to the vintage décor in your home. It is perfect for hosting a poker night or even a little friendly game of rummy. Use the game board tray to carry cocktails on and you will really set a fun and festive game night mood. This entire vintage game board tray craft project should cost you less than $25. You can probably make the entire project in one day. Just a lot some time for the paint to dry.

To Make a Vintage Game board Tray Craft Project You Will Need:

Sheet of Plywood (Cut To You Game’s Size and Shape)
Acrylic Paint
Primer
Paint Brushes
Painters Tape
2 Drawer Pulls
Screws
Screw Driver
Sand Paper
Wood Stain
Rubber picture stoppers
Black Paint pen or White Paint pen

To start you have to decide what kind of vintage game board you want to copy. Chinese checker, backgammon, checkers, Candy Land, Monopoly, or what ever you want it fine. I made mine to look like a Chinese checkerboard.

Cut your tray to size. You can have the home improvement store make the cuts for you of you do not own a saw.

Sand the rough edges of the game board tray. Then apply a coat of primer.

Once the coat of primer has dried you can paint your game onto the board. I recommend stepping back and looking at your vintage game and seeing what is the main color of your inspiration game board. Paint your entire wooden tray that color. Once this paint has dried you can start drawing off other shapes or taping them off.

Games like backgammon and monopoly work great because they have so many straight lines.

Once the initial colors have been applied and are dry use a black or white paint pen to outline and add words and other details.

To age your vintage game board lightly rubs it with a fine grit sand paper. Use wood gel stain to rub into the board and make it darken and appear older.

Allow all paint to dry and then paint and entire clear coat of polyurethane on your game aboard. This will protect it form condensation and other water.

You can also use a tinted wood was to get the same effect as the stain, but do not paint the vintage game board tray with polyurethane. It will not stick to the wax.

Now, apply the handles. I like the measure out where the holes need to be, put a small dot with a pencil and then predrilled the hole with the drill. This will keep you board for splitting when you put the screws into it.

You can find great vintage looking cabinet hardware at almost any home improvement store. Pottery Barn, restoration hardware, Target, and even Wal-Mart all have great old looking hardware. You could also use stainless steel pulls for a modern and clean touch to you old game board tray craft project.

Finally, apply some rubber picture frame stoppers to the bottom of your game board. Put one in each corner. These usually are self-adhesive, so they just stick right onto the bottom of the game board tray.

If you want to add a little more protection to the game board you could have a piece of plexi glass cut to the same size as your tray. Drill holes where the handle goes. Lay the plexi glass on your tray then apply the handles a normal.

You can make this craft project out of a real vintage game board if you what to. Just add the plexi glass to protect the surface and screw on some handles.

Things to Keep Away from the Bathtub when Young Kids Bathe

Emery

I don’t think anything of it when the kids want to take a bath, I usually just show them the hot and cold faucets in the tub and let them know where the soap, shampoo and conditioner is and lay out a few fresh towels and let them splash around in the tub with reckless abandon. However, the younger kids have taught me a thing or two about what to put out of reach when you’ve got kids in the tub, and what to put out for them instead. 

Unless you want a 6 year old shaving their legs with your razor, it’s best to put that sucker away when they’re bathing. Also, remove the bar of soap so they don’t slip on it or pop it out of their fingers so it lands in the toilet. Instead, supply an anti-bacterial pumping hand soap for them to bathe with to avoid bathroom mishaps.

Take away the nice shampoo and conditioner YOU use, unless you don’t mind your expensive products being poured all over in the water so the kids can have a bubble fest after they get bored washing their hair. Supply a cheaper product (like VO5) or a kid’s shampoo and conditioner that you don’t mind them dumping out all over so you don’t have to replace your $40 bottle of shampoo after a half hour adventure in the tubby.

Supply water bath toys so the kids can have fun in the tub. I have little rubber ducks that the kids can play with, and grape bubble bath that keeps them from whining in the tub. I also take out my body wash, nice wash cloths (I replace them with older wash cloths) and put away my blow dryer and straightener so the kiddies don’t get any ideas about trying to blow dry their own hair when they finally do pop out of the tub. It also keeps them from getting water all over my plug in accessories.

Hide the body lotion. Trust me. It WILL end up everywhere. Keep hair gels, hair sprays, and perfumes out of sight as well, and for that matter, any feminine hygiene products unless you don’t mind seeing your tampons ballooned out in the sink like big white fish.

Check on the kids often to make sure they’re not up to mischief. If you hear thumping around in there you better check it out. I caught the 6 year old bathing the cat in the water once, towels scattered all over the place to dry the sprawling, freaking out cat with. There was a towel in the toilet as well that got dropped in there when she was reaching the towel rack and dumped all the towels over.

Basically, my new rule of thumb in the bathroom is to clear it out just like I do when I bathe my dog. Anything I don’t want drenched, knocked over, dumped out, or ruined I put away before the kids hit the tub. The essentials I provide for them now (after trial and error) is a single towel, a cup for rinsing and playing, bath toys, a pump soap, a bottle of 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, and an old wash cloth. I clear the counter space of anything that will draw interest and knock on the door every 5 minutes to check up on the adventurous bather. Putting up the toilet paper is a great idea as well if you don’t want a new sopping roll hanging off the holder. The less you have out on display in the bathroom when you have younguns bathing in there, the better off everyone will be.

The Braun SmartControl3 Wet and Dry Shaver – Review

Emery

Have you been thinking about what to get your father, husband, or even brother for their birthday and have been pondering the thought of maybe getting one of those new Braun SmartControl3 Wet and Dry Shavers? If you have you might want to read this review to help make your decision on whether or not to buy the Braun SmartControl3 Wet and Dry Shaver.

The Braun SmartControl3 Wet and Dry Shaver comes with a safe three stage cutting system with one fixed head to help you get a close comfortable shave while shaving either with water or without. It also has a pop up trimmer for trimming or shaving your mustache, goatee, beard, or side burns. The Braun SmartControl3 Wet and Dry Shaver also comes with a rechargeable battery, a recharge electrical cord that plugs into an electrical outlet so you can recharge your electrical shaver, and a small black carrying case just incase you travel and need something to place your electrical shaver in.

Braun SmartControl3 Wet and Dry Shaver also allow you to shave dry or with shaving cream and water, but the choice is fully yours. However the males in my family still use shaving cream and water while shaving so they get that soft scruff free skin and they usually stick use their aftershave so their face wont feel dry and itchy. I guess when you shave dry it cause your face to be itchy and sometimes even peel after, so I would recommend to any of you who buy the Braun SmartControl3 Wet and Dry Shaver to use the shaver with a good brand name of shaving cream and some nice warm water.

The Braun SmartControl3 Wet and Dry Shaver is apparently easy to use with its on and off buttons that go up and down, and it becomes cordless when you don’t feel like having the cord attached when you shave. The battery in the electrical wet and dry shaver usually last around a half and hour and can be recharged in five minutes if you need to use it right away and the battery dies on you while shaving. However before the shaver dies it usually will alert you buy making a beeping noise and flashing a little red light that is built into it.

You can purchase the Braun SmartControl3 Wet and Dry Shaver at Wal-Mart, Target, Wal-Greens, Rite Aid, Best Buys, and Sears. The Braun SmartControl3 Wet and Dry Shaver usually cost in between thirty to seventy dollars depending on where you buy and what sales are going on in the store you purchase the shaver at. However you can find the Braun SmartControl3 Wet and Dry Shaver at a discounted price online at Amazon.com and the Ebay Store. However you may need the model number to get the exact electric wet and dry shaver that I am telling you about when you go and purchase it online or at a store and the model number is 4775.

I hope after you have just read the review on the Braun SmartControl3 Wet and Dry Shaver you have a better idea on how it works and whether or not to buy it for your loved one or not. I know when I bought it for my loved one they simply loved it. If you would like to read more about the Braun Smart Control Wet and Dry Shaver all you have to do is go to one of the links I have attached to my review and it will provide you will some more extra helpful information on this product.

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