Tools

Makita While having a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner at the ready is great for deep cleaning and other big jobs, it can be just as useful to have a smaller stick vacuum waiting in the wings. Not only are stick vacuums far more lightweight and compact, but they’re also more portable, allowing users to quickly and […]

Dimid_86/Getty Images Whether you’re starting a new project or simply looking to add to your toolbox, there are many reliable, cost-effective places to go to purchase new equipment. While many stand by big names like Home Depot (where you can find some unexpected items for sale) and Lowe’s, it would be remiss not to give

Here’s something you may not have thought about before: how do you test the efficacy of an air conditioner? Air conditioners are surprisingly complex pieces of technology, as they need to carefully blow out a combination of air and pressurized refrigerant to actually make things cool in a safe and efficient manner. Perhaps nowhere is

Wet-dry vacuums are one of the more underrated tools a person can have in their arsenal. Most people are familiar with your standard, run-of-the-mill vacuum cleaner for your floor, but a wet-dry vacuum does quite a bit more than you would expect. The reason they are called wet-dry vacuums is that they are able to

It seems like more and more tool brands are making cordless power tool options that share the same battery between tools. Like Ryobi and Makita, Milwaukee has a system that lets you use the same batteries and chargers if they are all part of the same line. For Milwaukee, it’s called the M18 system, and

S.Phoophinyo/Shutterstock A construction laser is a great tool to have on hand if you’re working on a home renovation or installation project. By creating a level plane, a laser can help you position objects in exact alignment, making this tool crucial if you’re installing tiles, hanging pictures in a straight line, or aligning fixtures.  Given

A neatly maintained lawn can boost your property’s curb appeal and value, and it might even be a requirement if you’re part of an HOA. The good news is that making a one-time investment in a lawn mower from a reputable brand like Ryobi, which has a history dating back to the 1940s, will help

Whether you’re a stickler for perfection or in the middle of a DIY job that requires tools that deliver precision and accuracy, a level may be a necessity. Long ago, inventive Egyptian and Greek engineers developed simplistic ways to determine whether a surface was level. While something like the plumb bob hasn’t evolved much, companies

Matspersson0/Getty Images If, like many homeowners, you struggle to find the time to clean outdoors and around the house, a pressure washer is a reasonable solution to consider. Whether you’re cleaning windows, decks, or a driveway, a pressure washer can cut your time cleaning in half while removing the manual labor involved. There are many

Alex Hevesy/SlashGear If you’ve been to a Harbor Freight lately and lurked around the socket sets and wrenches, you’ve likely seen the gold-plated ICON-branded ratchets sitting on the shelf and immediately had dozens of questions. «Why?» being the foremost, followed by «Is that real gold?» and «What is the purpose of such a tool?»  An

m.mphoto/Shutterstock Regularly cutting the lawn is essential to maintain your outdoor living space and enhance your home’s curb appeal. According to Gitnux.org, lawn companies in the U.S. charge on average between $30 to $80 per mowing session based on yard size. During the grass growing season, some yards require cutting every week, and hiring a

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. As an industry-leading multinational brand, Makita manufactures power tools in the United States and around the world. The brand has a history of making quality tools that are popular with both professionals and DIY enthusiasts, and one of these products is the 18V LXT Crown Stapler (XTS01Z). This stapler