Category Archives: Yard & Outdoors

Finish Your Painting Projects Without Sacrificing Your Free Time

September 25, 2021   Matt

Finish Your Painting Projects Without Sacrificing Your Free Time

(ARA) – With a little planning, you can complete your painting projects faster than ever, without sacrificing all of your free time.
The first step is to get organized. Buy all your painting materials before the weekend, so that when it’s time to get started, you won’t waste time tracking down supplies. Your checklist should include paint applicators, a drop cloth, stepladder, screwdriver for removing hooks, switch plates and the like, masking tape for window edges, and of course, enough paint to complete the project.
Shortcut your painting prep by spreading it out over a couple of evenings, or do it the weekend before painting. Carve out manageable bits of time to do the routine tasks such as patching and filling holes, removing grease or crayon marks — even removing cobwebs from corners and ceilings. If your wall surfaces have mildew on them, try removing it using one part bleach in three parts water and then rinsing. Let everything sit for a couple days, so you’re ready to dive in and paint on the big day.
Some projects require more diligent treatment of surfaces. If you need to remove wallpaper, there are several power prep tools that can save time and elbow grease. For example, Wagner Spray Tech offers power wallpaper steamers in a variety of styles and sizes that can provide a fast, clean way to remove the paper without having to use chemicals, solvents or detergents.
When it’s time to start painting, consider using some of the newer products on the market that are designed to give fast, professional-looking results, such as Wagner Spray Tech’s new QuickTouch electric paint rollers. Simply attach a standard gallon-sized paint can, insert the paint hose, turn the unit to “paint” mode, and you’re ready to go. The rollers make it fast and easy, eliminate back-bending trips to the roller tray, and greatly reduce the potential for messy drips and spills by eliminating the need to pour paint.
Choose the QuickTouch version that fits your job: The QuickTouch Power Roller package includes painting project basics, including a 12-foot hose, 14-inch extension and spatter shield for approximately .99. The QuickTouch Power Roller PRO offers even more options to make bigger projects go faster, including a five gallon adapter, variable speed control, a built-in carrying handle, 18-inch extension cord and a trim pad, for approximately 9.99.
If you’ve got an especially large painting territory to cover, consider a battery-operated roller. Wagner Spray Tech makes a portable model, the 929 Variable Speed Power Roller, which can apply 20 gallons of paint (enough to cover five average-sized rooms) on one set of batteries. It’s not only easy to operate, it’s easy on the operator. It has an ergonomically designed handle with fingertip control, quick release for simple assembly and cleanup, and a paint distribution system that enhances the flow of paint for better coverage. At a suggested retail price of .00 to .00, it can provide fast, professional results for a relatively small investment.
After your painting project is complete, clean up can be quicker than ever, too. Try rubbing protective cream onto your hands before you paint — it’ll ensure faster and easier removal of paint from your skin. To remove paint from the electric or battery powered rollers, simply insert the paint hose into a bucket of water, switch the unit to “clean” mode, let water circulate for about 10 minutes, and you’re done.
When your painting is complete and your tools have been tucked away for the next project, there’s just one final task. Pack up your family and head for the beach — it’s the perfect place to relax while you’re waiting for the paint to dry.
For more information on painting equipment, including The QuickTouch Power Roller and QuickTouch Power Roller PRO, or other Wagner Spray Tech products, call (763) 553-7000 or visit www.wagnerspraytech.com.
Wagner Spray Tech Corporation, headquartered in Minneapolis, is the leading manufacturer of consumer and commercial power painting equipment as well as faux-finishing products.

Read More

The Tools Needed For Radio Controlled Hobbyists

September 20, 2021   Matt

The Tools Needed For Radio Controlled Hobbyists

Building a radio controlled project requires a huge amount of time and detail when you are putting the pieces together, or even cutting the pieces out to be assembled. Most people who do it as a hobby will have many different tools that they use throughout the course of assembling a radio controlled project. If you want to build something for the first time, you will need some materials that will come in immensely handy throughout the process. Here I will name some of the main ones, but you will most likely need to find some more specific tools to fit your personal needs.

Of course, the first thing you need is the raw material that will be used to construct the project. Most radio controlled projects are made out of wood. If your plans don’t call for a specific type, you will have to choose it yourself, which can be tough. Balsa wood is the most popular choice, especially for toy airplanes and helicopters. It is extremely light, while maintaining a good level of solidity. You can build an entire airplane frame out of it, and it will have a minimal amount of flex. IF you are building a larger model of an airplane or other vehicle, then balsa may be too soft, in which case you will want to look for other woods.

The radio and motor equipment is the 2nd most important part. If you are a really enthusiastic radio controlled hobbyist as well as an engineer of some sort, then you may consider making it all out of the various components. It is possible to buy all of the electric components of the radio and motor systems separately. However, if you do this you will have to deal with all of the electrical concepts and parts including transistors, resistors, and all those other things that make it so daunting. There is no shame in buying transmitters or motors pre-assembled and just gluing them wherever they need to go. It will definitely save you some time.

The first tool that should never leave the arsenal of a radio control enthusiast is a good old X-Acto Knife. Even if you are buying a kit that allows for easy assembly, you will still need the X-Acto knife to shave off any bumps or extra pieces of wood / plastic that are getting in the way. If you are building it entirely from scratch, the knife will be perfect for cutting outlines from thinner pieces of wood, cutting notches for the electrical equipment to keep steady, or just getting everything to the exact shape that you want it. You can buy them for just a few dollars at your local hobby store, or home improvement store.

Depending on the material that you are using to build your project, you will need some type of tack or glue to hold it together. There are many different choices for this area. You can use superglue, wood glue, or epoxy, and each one will hold fairly sturdy. Look up the type of wood or plastic that you are using, and see what type of tack is recommended to fasten it. If you are building a remote control boat or even a submarine, you will have to consider the matter of waterproofing it to avoid ruining the electrical components when you first put it in the water. This is usually accomplished through some sealing putty for cracks and a spray-on sealant to keep the wood from soaking.

At some point you will have to cut all of the wood into the segments that you require to piece together the final product. While it is possible with a handsaw, it is definitely not the best choice. A table saw works best for larger pieces, but for finer details you would be hard pressed to find a better tool than a Dremel Tool. They look like electric toothbrushes, and have quickly rotating heads that can grind away balsa wood in a matter of seconds. They allow for maximum accuracy, whether you are shaping a piece of wood or making holes for wiring.

Read More
« Older posts
Newer posts »

  • Subscribe

  • Batteries Plus

Support us!

If you like this site please subscribe