Generator tips

•     Clean/Loose Parts

As with all stationary appliances, dust build-up is inevitable. Carefully wipe away any build-up of dust or dirt to prevent particles from penetrating the generator. At the same time, check for any connections that may have come loose during generator operation. Perform these functions according to the manufacturer's guidelines, which is often every 100 to 200 hours the generator is in use. 

•   Oil Change

Maintaining a generator is similar to how a car or any other fuel-operated equipment is serviced. A generator requires lubricating oil for all the parts to run smoothly. You can check the oil condition using the dipstick method. Change the oil according to the manufacturer's guidelines; in general, the oil is changed yearly. However, if after a dipstick check the oil appears dirty, replace the oil as soon as you can. It is also important to drain or replace the antifreeze in the radiator every year.

• Fan Belt Care

Ensure that the fan belt is checked for any signs of wear and tear. If there is any damage present, change the belt immediately; however, most manufacturer's guidelines recommend to change once every two years.

•       Let the Generator Run

The best time to check for generator malfunction is while it is in operation. Therefore turn on your generator and listen for anything unusual such as loud vibrations; check for exhaust and water temperatures and keep your eyes open for signs of smoke or oil leakage.  For the best results, run it for thirty minutes once a month while connected with a small appliance`.

•     Other Considerations

These tips aid in the efficient running of a generator. The most reliable way to ensure your generator is in good working order is to carry out regular service maintenance in accordance with manufacturer's guidelines. However, if any irregularities are observed with your generator, do not wait until it is due for a service to have it professionally examined. Do not attempt to fix the problem yourself as this could exacerbate the problem. It is also a good idea to take out an extended warranty on older generators to avoid costly repairs.

Fuel Stabilizer

If you store your car, truck and yard equipment for long periods. here is a product to keep the fuel from going bad. It is called STA-BIL. Fuel stabilizer That will keep fuel fresh during storage, and help with good engine starting after storage.

Garbage Disposal Care

For the best use and longest life of a garbage disposal, follow these easy instructions:

• Feed small chicken bones or other hard food materials through the disposal occasionally. These materials help to clean the disposal by scouring food deposits off the sides of the grinding chamber.

•  Use cold water when operating the disposal. While hot water can be run down the drain when not in use, disposals work best when cold water is used. Cold water also helps solidify fats and oils, allowing easier flushing.

• Fill the garbage disposal with ice cubes. Turn the disposal on while running cold water. Do this once a month to remove oil and grease from the disposal walls.

• Allow the disposal to operate, with water still running, for 30 seconds after all grinding noises have stopped, in order to flush all waste from the system.

• Pack garbage loosely when using the disposal. Attempting to push too much waste through at once will jam the disposal.

• Cut a lemon into quarters and feed one at a time into the disposal while water is running and the disposal is turned on, to reduce disposal odors. Alternately, pour ¼ cup of baking soda into the disposal and allow to sit for 1 hour. Pour boiling water into the disposal to flush the drain.

• Use the disposal every time food waste is put into it. Acid from food waste may corrode the disposal if allowed to sit.
  
  
  If you use these tips, you will extend the life of your disposal and leave your kitchen odor free.

Emergency Safety kit For The Car

For peace of mind all cars and trucks should have an emergency safety kit in case the vehicle becomes disabled. This kit can easily be stowed in the car trunk or behind the seat in trucks.

Enter Our Drawng for a Free Emergency Road Kit!

Hurry for a great deal! Each order placed on www.thetoolticket.com by December 31st, 2013 will be entered into a drawing for a free Emergency Roadside Kit. Enter as many times as you would like! The winner will be announced on January 1st! Good luck and happy shopping!

 

Uses For Mothballs

Did you know you can use Mothballs to keep animals and bugs out of your flower garden? They are very effective. Animals and bugs do not like Mothballs.

Battery Charger Tester

Check out this quality product:

MotoBatt Big Boy Battery Charger and Maintainer 12V at 1.25A http://www.thetoolticket.com/store/#!/~/product/category=7100223&id=32234211

Septic Tank Care

Septic Tank Diagram   Maintaining your septic tank system can be as easy as 1-2-3: Use RID-X® Septic Tank System Treatment monthly - The product is available in three formulas: gelpacs, powder and liquid. All formulas will work to help reduce the rate of sludge build-up to keep your system running smoothly until the next pumping. RID-X® Septic Tank System Treatment contains billions of bacteria and enzymes specifically selected to be the best at digesting septic system waste. RID-X® also contains cellulase, the only enzyme that will digest paper waste. RID-X® liquid can also be used to help keep drains running smoothly.      2. Have your septic system inspected and pumped regularly - Sludge in large quantities can be eliminated by only a professional pumper. You should have a pumper inspect your system to determine if the accumulation of solid waste is too high and needs to be removed. You should not inspect the tank yourself since the gasses that accumulate in the tank can be lethal. This should be done every 2 - 3 years.      3. Watch what you pour down the drains - The eco-system of the septic tank is very delicate. Some household chemicals like bleach and anti-bacterial soaps can kill beneficial bacteria, so you should avoid flushing them down your drains. Finally, make sure that you monitor how much water enters your septic system each day.

The Man Cave

Check out the man cave at www.thetoolticket.com for great gift ideas.

Solar Lights

What is best reason to use solar powered Christmas lights? They use sunlight for fuel. They are free operate. Better for our environment. Renewable energy. Outdoor solar lights.

The Ice Box

A:  Thomas Moore invented the icebox in 1800.

Before the invention of the refrigerator, in 1800, a fresh chicken would spoil in just four hours in the summertime. Milk would spoil even faster.

People knew that you could stop all this spoiling if food was kept cold, but ice was very expensive. It came in large pieces, and nobody had yet figured out how to use it in the home.

Then a man named Thomas Moore got an idea. He took the big wooden tub that was the family bathtub and put a metal box in the center of it. In the box was a chicken and some milk. He filled the tub with ice so that the tin box was completely covered.

Then he took a blanket of rabbit skins and covered the tub, ice, and tin box. The purpose of the blanket was to keep the ice from melting too fast. If the ice lasted several days, and the food didn’t spoil, he’d be on his way to solving the problem.

Several days later, the ice was still there, although some of it had melted, and the food was still fresh and unspoiled.

Three years later Thomas Moore was selling the first ice-box, which is just like a refrigerator except that instead of electricity, it used ice to do the cooling.

The term “refrigerator” was also coined by Thomas Moore.

The History of the Refrigerator and Freezers

Before mechanical refrigeration systems were introduced, people cooled their food with ice and snow, either found locally or brought down from the mountains. The first cellars were holes dug into the ground and lined with wood or straw and packed with snow and ice: this was the only means of refrigeration for most of history. 

Refrigeration is the process of removing heat from an enclosed space, or from a substance, to lower its temperature. A refrigerator uses the evaporation of a liquid to absorb heat. The liquid, or refrigerant, used in a refrigerator evaporates at an extremely low temperature, creating freezing temperatures inside the refrigerator. It's all based on the following physics: - a liquid is rapidly vaporized (through compression) - the quickly expanding vapor requires kinetic energy and draws the energy needed from the immediate area - which loses energy and becomes cooler. Cooling caused by the rapid expansion of gases is the primary means of refrigeration today.

Lawn Mower Maintenance

If you want your lawn mower to give you years of trouble free service, normal routine maintenance has to be done.  This includes the following:

• The oil and filter needs to be changed every 50 hours of use or once a year which ever comes first.  

•  The air filter needs to be checked every 25 hours of use or once a year and replaced if dirty.  

•  The spark plug should be inspected and cleaned every 50 hours. It should be replaced annually.  

• At the end of the mowing season the fuel tank should be completely drained of all fuel. (If fuel is left in the tank, fuel stabilizer needs to be added in order to preserve it.)

• This is also good time to clean under the mower deck and sharpen the mower blades. 

If you keep all of these steps in mind throughout the mowers usage, you will not only be ready for the next season, but the mower will be in good running order for years to come.
 

Test Run Generator

Now is a good time to test run your portable generator. Run it for 30 minutes once a month for a good test.

The Tool Ticket Facebook Page

Check out The Tool Ticket Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/thetoolticket and please like the tool ticket page. You will receive a 10% off coupon code to use on www.thetoolticket.com Thank You.

Cyber Monday

Today is Cyber Monday. Check out www.thetoolticket.com for great gift ideas.

Toilet Repair on a Budget

Toilets can waste a lot of water through leaky tank fill valves and flapper flush valves. To check the toilet for leaks put some blue food coloring in the toilet tank, wait a few minutes, and check the bowl. If the blue coloring shows up in the bowl, you have a leaky flapper flush valve or tank fill valve.  Start with the replacement of the flapper flush valve.   If the toilet tank fill valve still runs after the flapper flush valve is changed, it will need to be changed as well.

Replacing these valves is something you can do yourself.  The repair parts will cost less than $20 at a home improvement store.  If you find both the tank fill valve and flapper flush valve need to be replaced, a toilet repair kit containing both valves will cost less than $30.  Hiring a plumber for this repair will cost you well over $100.

The tank fill valve and flapper flush valve come with detailed installation instructions that are easily followed.  By doing these repairs, you'll bring your toilet back into tip-top working order, will save water, and cut down on the cost of your monthly bill.

Great Deals for the Holidays!

Great deals are happening just in time for your Holiday shopping!

 Check out www.thetoolticket.com and use coupon code:  WRBB9ADLONDY for your 10% discount.  (Offer expires 12/31/13 - excludes Bargain Bin items.)

Garbage Disposal Care

The Garbage disposal, located below the kitchen sink, is a handy tool for purging food scraps. It also needs regular maintenance and care to keep it in tip top condition.

There are items which can clog the drain line and should never be put in the garbage disposal.  These are:

• coffee grinds
• cooking grease
• dry fiber drinks (such as Metamucil)

When using the garbage disposal, do not over load it and use plenty of cold water to flush the unit. The blades on the garbage disposal should be sharpened once a month.  To sharpen, use a cup of ice cubes and flush with cold. A properly maintained garbage disposal can last for many years.

Winter Storage Tips for Lawn and Garden Equipment

Now that October is here, it's a great time to prepare your lawn and garden equipment for winter storage. This would include equipment such as lawnmowers, trimmers, chainsaws and generators.

Step 1:  Drain all gas from the fuel tank and run the engine until it stops. 

• Note:  If gas is left in larger fuel tanks, a fuel stabilizer such as STA-BIL can be used to keep the fuel from going stale. 

Step 2:  Change the oil, the oil filter and the air filter.

Step 3:  Check to make sure the spark plugs are in good condition.  Clean and replace as necessary.

Step 4:  Clean the equipment of all grass and dirt.

After applying these steps, your equipment is ready for winter storage.  When the snow thaws and Spring comes to life, your equipment will be clean and ready for use.

Easy Home Drain Maintenace

Clean, unobstructed drains make for happy homeowners.  There is nothing worse for a home than backed-up plumbing or clogged septic systems.  In order to ensure your home drains keep flowing freely, normal monthly maintenance should be done.  Here are some easy tips for your plumbing:

Keeping your drains flowing freely can be done inexpensively, using a mixture of 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 cup vinegar.  Once a month, apply this mixture followed by hot water to rinse it down, into each drain throughout the house.  If you have a septic tank, use a yeast or bacteria booster such as Rid-X once a month to keep the tank operating properly.

Doing this preventative maintenance will keep your home drains clean and in great operating shape.  It only takes a few minutes of your time, especially when you consider the consequences.   

Proper Furnace Maintenance

 

Proper home furnace maintenance can take the Brrrrrr out of winter.  As the chilly days of fall will soon turn into the cold of winter, now is the time to give your furnace a physical check up.  There are things you, as the home owner, should do and others that a service technician should take on. 

As a home owner, you should:

• Replace the air filter every thirty days (throughout the entire year).
• Inspect the heating vents to make sure they are clean and open.  (Closing off vents in certain rooms of the house will make your furnace to run more in the winter and your air conditioner to run more in the summer, creating higher utility bills.)

An experienced Service Technician should provide the following:

• Check the flue vent for any corrosion of the heat exchanger, as well as proper operation.
• The burners should be cleaned and also checked for proper operation.
• The fan should be checked for dirt and cleaned as needed.

If all of these things are addressed and maintained, your furnace should provide efficient heat all season long.  Make sure to set up that appointment with a service technician before the cold weather sneaks up on you and a clogged flue, burner, or fan shuts your system down in the dead of winter.  Layered clothing and chattering teeth should be used for play kept outside of the house!  

 

Featured BARGAIN of the Week!

Everyone needs the set above for their home.  This kit is our featured bargain of the week.  You can purchase it for only $36.74.  Don't miss out on the opportunity. 

Go to www.thetoolticket.com

While there, check out the other quality products available to you.  The Tool Ticket - where quality products and great customer service matter.

Bargain Bin Friday

Bargain bin Friday tool is Vise Grip 10CR Fast Release Curved Jaw Pliers at www.thetoolticket.com

Home Exterior Maintenance

Fall is an excellent time to inspect your home's exterior before the change of seasons brings on the chill of winter.  The following items should be addressed:

• Examine all windows and doors for missing caulk and weather striping.
• Inspect the sides of the home for cracks or missing siding.
• If the paint is worn or peeling, fall with its cooler temperatures is the perfect time to scrape off the old and replace it with a new coat.
• Add more insulation to the attic of the house. Most homes come with room to add more insulation. 
• Replace old single-pane windows with new double or triple-pane windows. 

Addressing these issues can keep your home warm and comfortable on the inside, as well as lower utility bills.  While the winter outside is cold and frightful, you'll be glad you tackled the problems early.

Tool of the week

Check out the tool of the week: WMU 25pc SAE Tool Set at www.thetoolticket.com

The Necessity of Home Roofing Inspections

Now that Fall is just around the corner, it's the perfect time to inspect your roof for any wear and tear left behind by obsessive heat or the summer storm season. Inspections should be done by an experienced home owner or roofing professional.

Your roof should be checked for missing, loose, or damaged shingles or tiles. Any issues found should be repaired or replaced.

Roof vents, and chimneys should also be checked for damage, or blockage. Roof flashing also should be checked for any damage or corrosion.  Now is also a good time to clean and inspect roof gutters and down spouts.

Repair any problems found!!!

With each of these potential problems addressed, you home can weather the winter months with ease and confidence. 

Proper Tire Maintenance

Tip for the week:

It's imperative that you maintain your tires for a multitude of reasons:  safety, life of the tire, and peace of mind.  A simple way to make sure the tires on your vehicle are maintained can be as easy as checking the tire pressure on a monthly basis.  A visual check weekly can save a lot of grief as well. 

The air pressure in each tire should be examined with a quality pressure gauge. In order to help you with this chore, you can find such a gauge under the Featured Product of the Week at  www.thetoolticket.com.

The features and benefits of this Milton tire gauge are:

• Milton precision engineered service gage provides accurate, long life trouble free performance
• Plated brass tube and 4 sided nylon indicator bar
• Calibrated 2 sides 10 to 160 PSI, in 2 lb. increments and 2 sides 80 to 1100 kPa, in 20 kPa units

Please check back frequently for more tips and deals in the wide, wide world of tools.

Thank you.

 

 

Bargain Friday

Friday is bargain bin day at the tool ticket tool shop page.  Check out the pliers and 6 in 1 screwdriver set. Please visit the tool shop at the tool ticket. www.thetoolticket.com.

Why Hand Tools Are Your Friends

Mythbuster:  Tools are not just for men but for women also.

My wife says hand tools are "her" friends because they keep me out of her hair.  (However I do spy her occasionally working a screwdriver or pounding down a chicken breast with my hammer.)  I believe hand tools are everyone's friends because they keep the world moving at a good clip.  Without tools you can't build, repair, assemble, or just plain make anything.  Every household needs a good tool collection.  Not hand-me-downs or rusty past-the-prime-of-their-life tools, but a solid collection of decent brand name tools.  At the very least, you should have a starter toolbox filled with the following:
Screwdrivers - both a standard and a Phillips head

• Small Hammer
• Pliers
• Ratchet and Sockets
• Hand Wrench with adjustable sizing
• Small Hand Saw
• Assorted Nails and Screws
• Electrical and Duct Tape
• Measuring Tape
• Small Flashlight

Obviously, the more you do around the house and yard, the more tools you'll need in your supply cabinet.  If you're in need of any supplies, please check out our website www.thetoolticket.com for all your home and tool needs.  If you find that we don't have what your looking for, let us know so that we can add it to our site. 

Good luck and happy tool time!

Top 10 DIY Tips

Top 10 DIY Tips

Posted 8/5/2013 on www.thetoolticket.com

 

I enjoy completing projects around the house and that accomplished feeling from looking at the finished work. One of my biggest pet peeves is wasting time searching for items or never even finding what I’m looking for to get exactly what I want out of a project.

I’m always looking for what’s new and cool in home improvement, the latest project ideas and best handy tools. Often I find myself going through exhaustive searches to find what I’m looking for. Here is a short list of some handy items to have on the ready when your next project pops up.

Top 10 DIY tools

1.    Mighty Minis’ = Even in the most well-stocked tool boxes, we guarantee there are some little but awfully useful things missing. Everyday items like pencils, pencil sharpeners, clamps, funnels, bit sets, fasteners, glue and tape selections all  make great additions to a good DIY tool collection, and they're sure to come in handy on virtually any job or project.

2.    Measuring Tape = Regardless if you are trying to measure the length of a bedroom or establishing the circumference of a kitchen table, you will need a good tape measure. Not one of those flimsy $5 tools either. A good tape measure costs a little more (around $25), but will be worth every penny. A good tape measure should reach a length of more than 25 feet, and the tape should feel firm and steady, even when stretched to its farthest lengths. The tape measure should also have a bit of flexibility so it can measure around curves and corners, too. Most DIYers already have one or more tape measures, but they could always use another. High-tech option - step it up and look for a laser measure, they are around $20 and make those across the room measurements much easier to get.

3.    Multitool = A good multi-tool is a DIYer's best friend -- or best travel buddy, if you will. The great thing about a multi-tool is its portability. Virtually any tool a DIYer could need is packed into a small, transportable unit. While you won't be able to use it to tear down a wall (mini sledgehammers don't pack much punch), you can whip it out to conduct impromptu furniture repair or open a bottle of wine. These handy little tools typically contain:

• pliers
• serrated and standard blades
• miniature saw
• wire stripper
• hard wire cutters
• Phillips and flathead screwdrivers
• corkscrew
• bottle opener
• scissors

They're the perfect tools for everything from minor car problems to appliance repairs. Best of all, they're small and lightweight (despite the impressive number of tools they contain), so they're ideal for a DIYer who doesn't want to carry his toolbox with him all the time.

4.    Jigsaw = If you like to build as much as you like to repair, a jigsaw is a must for your workshop. Jigsaw blades cut up and down instead of side to side, allowing you to cut curves in wood, plastic and metal -- something that's impossible to do with traditional saws. Higher-end models usually contain a precision control system that secures the blade and prevents it from bending or wandering. Choosing a model that includes an adjustable dust blower will ensure those pesky shavings won't obstruct your view, meaning you'll be able to work both more efficiently and more safely.

5.    Portable Work-light = Have you ever tried to fix something but couldn't see what you were doing well enough to finish the job? Well, if you keep a portable work light handy, you'll never again have to worry about working in the dark. A work-light illuminates those hard-to-reach places and keeps you going long after the sun has set. Most portable work-lights are made from industrial-strength materials, so they'll keep shining no matter how many times they get knocked over. Many models also come with adjustable brightness settings so you won't risk blinding yourself when working in close quarters.

6.    Electric Screwdriver = Whether you are a novice or a pro, an electric screwdriver is truly a must-have. Regardless if you’re mounting shelving, assembling furniture or simply retightening the screws of some loose, old fixtures, twisting a screwdriver one turn at a time gets old (and will probably cause serious hand cramps). An electric screwdriver shortens mundane, uncomfortable tasks into no-hassle jobs that take mere seconds to complete. Using the tool is as simple a pushing a button. Models with an automatic spindle lock will allow you to manually start and finish turning each screw to prevent stripping, and directional controls will help you disassemble projects as quickly and easily as you build them. Attachable nosepieces can grant access to narrow, hard-to-reach spaces that, if armed with only a standard Phillips or flathead, would be next to impossible.

7.    Sledgehammer = Yes, the image of a DIYer with a sledgehammer might be a little cliché, but that's because these demo-ready tools are indispensable anytime you need to tear down something. Can you imagine demolishing a wall with a ball-peen hammer? No -- for that kind of job you're going to have to call in the big guns (or one really big hammer). In this case, size does matter, which is why a sledgehammer belongs inside every self-respecting DIYer's tool shed. We must advise, however, that unless you are a professional bodybuilder, you should go with an 8- to 10-pound model -- not a 16- or 20-pounder. The smaller of these giant hammers is capable of doing anything the big version can, and you won't risk throwing out your back.

8.    Laser Level = Any respectable DIYer knows how important a good level can be. From accurately hanging pictures to checking the alignment of doors and windows with the rest of a building, levels are an indispensable tool. But there's only so much a bubble or a simple pendulum can tell you, which is why laser levels have become so popular. They can do everything a standard level can do, only better. Yes, most laser levels still rely on the old technology, but reading one is as easy as looking for a beam of red light. Basic laser levels are fairly inexpensive (between $15 and $100), but if you could use it, you may want to consider investing in a self-leveling unit that needs little input or adjustment. Self-leveling units save time are more reliable that standard levels, the improved option does come with a higher price tag (anywhere from $100 to $1,000).

9.    Circular Saw = So what if they can't cut in curves? Circular saws are easy to use and, with the right blade, can quickly cut straight through just about anything. A standard blade can slice through any type of wood on the planet, and if you want to rip through metal without a high-powered blowtorch, a circular saw with an abrasive blade is your best bet. These ferocious-looking tools can even tear into demolition work as long as a nail-cutting blade is attached, so if the DIYer in your life ever needs to cut into, well, anything, he's going to need a circular saw.

10.    Duct Tape = You know you love it. Duct tape is the standard go-to adhesive for every DIYer, and with good reason. This shiny silver material can be used to cover holes in everything from boots to screen doors, and if the tape is applied properly, this sticky adhesive can last for years. It's so versatile that it is required cargo on all space shuttle missions! No, it's not going to permanently patch a leaky radiator hose, but it'll probably work long enough for you to get your car to the shop. Duct tape is something no handyman can ever have enough of, so it should always be stocked in your toolbox. New and improved=duct tape is now available in a large variety of colors and patterns making it even more fun to have on hand.

 

© 2013. The Tool Ticket. All Rights Reserved.