Life In Modern Tool

Electric Stove Burner Repair Tips Electric stove burner repair tips: Simple fixes solve most problems If one of your electric stove top burners isn’t heating, it could be a bad burner, a bad connection in the burner socket or a faulty switch. To see if the problem is the burner, exchange the burner with one that you know works (Photo 1). If that burner won’t heat, the problem is either the burner socket or the infinite switch. (The burner prongs plug into the burner socket.) Connections in the burner socket can burn out and fail to provide power. If the prongs look burned, inspect the socket. If the socket looks charred or burned, replace it. Photo 2 shows how to replace a burner socket. CAUTION: Always unplug your electric range before working on it. Step 2: Replace the switch The knob you turn to control the stove burner temperature slides over the shaft of the infinite switch. If the switch burns out, your burner won’t get power. Test the infinite switch if you

How to Remove a Tree Stump Painlessly We'll show you how to do a tree stump removal. Use potassium nitrate stump remover to decompose old stumps. You can remove a stump by renting a power stump grinder, but another way is to buy a can of tree stump removal (available at most garden or home centers). Most tree stump killer brands are made of powdered potassium nitrate, which speeds up the rotting process. You simply pour the granules into drilled holes and fill the holes with water. The stump will become pretty spongy after four to six weeks. Keep kids and pets away. Then you can break out the rotten wood with an ax. For a completely labor-free removal, the manufacturers of tree stump removal suggest burning out what’s left of the stump by pouring kerosene or fuel oil (never gasoline) into the holes. Wait until the liquid completely penetrates the wood (this could take a few weeks). Then drop a match into the holes to start the burning process. The stump removal will smolde

You’re Arranging Your Furniture Arranging your furniture can be a tricky task. Both large and small rooms, along with awkward-shaped spaces, can make placing furniture in the right spot difficult. Don’t Be a Wallflower Give your furniture a bit of breathing room and never push it all the way up against the walls. Even leaving a few inches of space can make the room feel bigger. According to The Budget Decorator blog, try placing pieces on the diagonal. “Placing pieces on the diagonal carries your eye smoothly through the room, so not only does it look larger, it looks more interesting.” Try these 11 helpful ideas for organizing your living room. Lack of Conversation Areas When setting up furniture, don’t forget about conversation areas. Never position chairs and couches so they are facing away from each other. Decorating Den Interiors, a design company, notes, “The last thing you want to do is shout across the room when trying to have a conversation, so arrange yo

Truper Long-Handle Shovel This Truper snow shovel features a professional-grade premium North American white ash handle, which allows for optimum ratio of resistance and flexibility. Meanwhile, the 9-inch cushion grip gives improved control and reduced hand fatigue. “I always look for old coal shovels at garage sales but they are pretty few and far between these days,” begins one reviewer. “They are the best for snow if you have a little manly strength. This can easily scrape up icy patches that lightweight plastic or aluminum snow shovels just can’t handle. This shovel is very well-built and will last beyond my years and I’m 59. I personally expect 60 years of service with it.” If you’re considering investing in a snow blower, read this first. Suncast Big Scoop Snow Shovel with Wear Strip Featuring a no-stick graphite blade and collapsible one-piece steel handle for easy storage, this Suncast snow shovel is a solid piece of equipment for handling snow with ease. “C

Garant Poly Blade Ergonomic Snow Shovel Another great shovel for keeping back aches at bay, Garant’s snow shovel was designed to adapt to the body’s natural movements. The result is a product that allows you to lift and move snow with ease, thanks to its ultra-light, large aluminum handle. “This thing is amazing,” exclaims a reviewer. “It glides across the ground. I’m up in North Dakota where the snow is powdery but comes in heavily, this product is perfect for these conditions. As someone who stands 6′ 3″ and has consistently had back pain using standard shovels, this thing is a godsend. No more twisting or snow throwing, simply scoop the snow and use the sleigh-smooth bottom to glide onto the nearby ground and dump easily.” Are you prepared for winter? Check out these important things you should do before the cold hits. Suncast 12-In Kids Snow Shovel This snow shovel for kids makes the list for families who have little ones who like to get involved. They can also use the

Orientools Collapsible Folding Snow Shovel This foldable shovel can be adjusted between three positions: folding, vertical and horizontal, making it great for multiple uses. The D-shaped grip ensures comfort, protection from frostbite while using, and the ability to get the job done with less power. The lightweight PP blade, with a durable aluminum edge, improves the ability of clearing snow. Amazon reviewers note it’s best used for the car. “Folds up small and about 3 inches thick as shown. Easy to fold up or unfold. Snow scoop is thick plastic with aluminum edge. Intended use is to keep in the car during winter as emergency snow shovel. Looks very well suited for that purpose.” These human-powered tools will help battle snow buildup whether you’re at home or on the go. Snow Joe Electric Snow Shovel Get fancy with your snow removal with Snow Joe’s electric shovel. Ideal for quick snow pickups on decks, steps, patios and sidewalks, the shovel features a 10-amp motor

Suncast Shovel With Ergonomic Shaped Handle This reliable snow shovel from Suncast features an ergonomic bent handle, galvanized steel wear strip, ribbed steel-core handle and an 18- x 12-inch blade. Amazon reviewers find the shovel to be good quality, and able to reduce muscle strain when compared to other shovels. “I could not wait to get a decent shovel that would not break my back,” a reviewer says. “The first time I used it, I knew I made a good purchase. It worked great and didn’t give me back pains, I am just so happy to have a decent shovel that is not 40 plus years old and worn out. When I used it some of the snow had begun to melt but it required very little effort to utilize. The shovel is well made and should last me a very long time.” Here’s what you need to know about restoring an aluminum snow shovel. True Temper Klondike Poly Snow Shovel This True Temper shovel features a versatile blade that can serve as both a scraper and a shovel. It is designed to b

Upgrade your snow shovel this winter to a product that’s Amazon reviewer approved. Snow Joe 18-In Strain-Reducing Snow Shovel This Snow Joe shovel is geared toward those who fight bad backs every winter as a result of shoveling. The product was designed to greatly reduce the effort, strain and potential injury involved in shoveling by up to 30 percent. Meanwhile, the ergonomic shovel grip is spring-loaded, capturing the expended energy from throwing the snow to return and reset the shovel. “These bad boys are a TOTAL back saver!!” an Amazon reviewer boasts. “I’ve ordered five of them… I have a crew of four up on the roof of our motel clearing off over 3′ of snow (on a 300 ft. run of roof!!) and THEY love them too. I’ve shoveled several hundred pounds of the white stuff myself, and I gotta tell ya, I will NEVER use a ‘regular’ snow shovel again! Having that extra handle is a God-Send!! If you’re [semi] old 🙂 like me (60) or a young buck that just needs something that w

Calculate concrete prices and how many cubic yards of concrete you need for a walk, driveway or basement. How much is a yard of concrete? Ordering concrete This article explains how to order concrete and concrete slab cost. We’ll use a 10 x 10 ft. slab as an example. Here’s a brief rundown of what you need to know about concrete and concrete prices. For example, how much is a yard of concrete? Find out the cost of concrete per yard below. Amount. Calculate the volume you need in cubic yards. Multiply the length (10 ft.) by the width (10 ft.) by the depth (.35 ft., or 4 in.) and divide it by 27 (the number of cubic feet in a cubic yard). You get 1.3 cu. yds. Then add 10 percent to allow for spillage and slab depth variations to help determine the concrete cost per yard. Strength. Call a local ready-mix company, tell the supplier what the concrete is for, and ask about the best mix (proportions of cement, gravel and sand). For a shed, the supplier will probably suggest a mix

How to Properly Mix Concrete Learn how to mix concrete so you get the right strength and consistency every time. Mixing bags of concrete isn’t complicated. You add some water, stir it up and pour it out. But to get the most strength from the concrete, you have to recognize when it has just the right amount of water mixed in. Too little water and the particles in the mix won’t stick together. Too much water weakens the concrete. In this article, we’ll show you what the perfect mix looks like. We’ll also show you a mixing technique that will ensure thoroughly mixed concrete with a minimum of effort. For most small jobs around the home, bagged concrete mix is the most convenient and least expensive way to go. You can use it for fence post footings, deck footings and even small concrete pads. For jobs requiring more than about 30 bags, consider ordering “ready-mix” concrete from a truck instead. Sixty- or 80-lb. bags of concrete mix are readily available at home centers, lumber