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The third episode of Milwaukee Tool’s PIPELINE tool and product showcase premiered last week. This episode was devoted to some new upgrades to tools on Milwaukee’s M12 and M18 battery platforms and included a look at the new and improved design of their second generation cordless SAWZALL. Here’s a quick rundown of everything of note from episode three of Milwaukee PIPELINE. Courtesy of Milwaukee Tool New and Improved SAWZALL Milwaukee Tool invented the first ever reciprocating saw nearly 70 years ago and the legend of the SAWZALL was born....

There are a hundred different low-maintenance decking products on the market, but the two most popular are composite and cellular PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Both will save you from your summer staining rituals, but there are differences between the two. And even within these two categories, there are many different manufacturers and a wide variety of products, but here are some general characteristics: Composite decking has been around since the early ’90s....

As pet owners, we welcome cats and dogs into our homes, and we hurt when they become ill or suffer an injury. Even worse, our hearts break if we can’t afford proper care. Through my work as an animal behavior consultant and author of 35+ pet care books, I advise pet owners how to prepare for the “what-ifs” we don’t want to think about. We’d rather spoil them by showing how much we love them....

What is a Gas Torch? A gas torch or blow torch is a torch that uses a fuel to heat objects. Propane and Map Pro (a type of propane) are the most common fuel sources for gas torches. Gas torches are used for a variety of jobs, the most common being soldering copper pipes. Gas torches are also used to loosen stuck and rusted bolts, remove air bubbles from epoxy finishes, strip non-leaded paint, activate shrink wrap and shrink tubing, weld certain materials, braze metal and even destroy weeds....

The nocturnal bed bug is a teeny-tiny, flat parasite that feeds off the blood of animals and humans. Most often found hiding in the folds and ribbing of cushioned furnishings, like couches and mattresses, a female bed bug is capable of reproducing hundreds of offspring in her approximate 300-day lifespan. It doesn’t matter if you sleep in a tidy home, a seedy roadside motel or a five-star resort, the chances of encountering bed bugs are the same....

As a pro, your goal is to do it right, prevent call-backs, and encourage repeat business when the time is right. So, what sets a stellar paint job apart from an average one? Let’s take a closer look. Do the Proper Prep Doing all the necessary prep work has a great deal to do with the results. Virtually any type of debris on your walls can prevent proper paint adhesion, whether it’s dust, dirt, sand, powder, oil, grease, old paint or dried adhesive....

Whom It’s For A MIG welder is the most user-friendly type of welder. If you’re looking for a general welding system that’s easy to learn and good for most welding needs, this is it. MIG welders have an automatic wire feed system. COST $250 and up. PROS Welds steel, aluminum and stainless. Can weld materials as thin as 26 gauge. Good for materials up to 5/16 in. thick. Relatively easy to learn....

Drop-in bathroom sinks are more common than other bathroom sink types, produced in a plethora of shapes and sizes with various materials. Since the sink is probably the most scrutinized fixture in a bathroom, the large selection is good news for the design-conscious homeowner seeking to make a style statement. Whether your bathroom vanity countertop features a high-end designer finish or a clean, utilitarian laminate surface, there’s a drop-in sink for you....

During the Victorian era in the late 1800s, wealthy landowners had their landscapers plant carpet gardens, featuring masses of flowers in elaborate patterns they could see from the upper floors of their country homes. Coleus, with its colorful leaves, was often featured in these gardens, especially if those areas received little to no sunlight (i.e. shade gardens). Even today, coleus is still highly regarded by shade gardeners. What Is Coleus? Coleus is a tropical plant in the mint family grown as an annual for its colorful foliage....

If you love having fresh basil on hand to add to sauces, salads or homemade pizza, you might try growing a basil plant on your kitchen windowsill. If you decide to plant basil outside, keep in mind that it’s a summer-only annual that can’t survive cold weather or frost. But because it is summer-only, it can do well in most USDA Plant Hardiness Zones. And here’s a fun fact to keep in mind with your outdoor basil: It naturally repels flies and mosquitoes....

Family Handyman Reduce Sump Pump Noise Our basement sump pump runs pretty often in the spring, and we can hear the vibration all over the house. To dampen the sound, I replaced a section of the plastic pipe with a radiator hose secured with hose clamps. To ensure I got the right hose size, I took a section of pipe to the auto parts store. It works great at reducing sump pump noise!...

Confused about the difference between an “impact drill” and an “impact driver”? It might help to know that there’s technically no such thing as an impact drill. There are drills, and there are impact drivers — they’re entirely different tools. Impact drivers have one main function, driving screws fast and well. Drills, also sometimes called drill drivers, can drive screws, too, but not as effectively as impact drivers. Drills are much better suited for boring holes....

Mike Rowe might not be the handiest of men himself, but he has long been a supporter of the skilled trades and an advocate for those called to them. The former star of Dirty Jobs and current host of Somebody’s Gotta Do It has spent his career redefining what success looks like in some of America’s lesser-known and less illustrious workplaces. Most people don’t realize in 2008 he also launched a nonprofit foundation, mikeroweWORKS, aimed at connecting students eager to learn a trade with schooling, training and job opportunities....

Family Handyman Running Your HVAC Fan Some people are big fans of running an HVAC fan continuously, especially to reduce indoor allergens. Should you? Here are the pros and cons: Pros: Less start/stop stress on the fan. Consistently cleaner air because of constant filtration. Keeps the ambient air at a more even temperature. Plus, learn these 21 air conditioner maintenance and home cooling tips. Cons: Higher cost. With a 500-watt motor, this can be significant!...

Car detailing in general is beneficial when done regularly so your car doesn’t fall into a state of disrepair. Detailing keeps your resale value up, and can even keep you safer. For example, dirty windows and headlights decrease visibility. If you’re debating whether or not to do it yourself or call on professionals, consider the following pros and cons, which point out that DIY car detailing can cost less, but…...

Insecticidal soap is helpful for all plant enthusiasts and gardeners to have on hand. Not only can insecticidal soap be used to control damaging insects, it’s extremely easy to make. While some pesticides can be dangerous to plants, animals and humans, insecticidal soap is much more eco-friendly. So how does it work? Made from the fatty acids of plants, insecticide soap disrupts the cell membranes of insects, killing them. It works on insects like aphids, spider mites, whiteflies and scale....

Family Handyman No matter how hard you try, if you live in a cold, snowy climate, keeping your floors clean in the winter can seem like a full-time job. While salt may come in handy for keeping your sidewalk, walkways and driveway clear of snow and ice, salt can wreak havoc on your floors. Here are some simple ways for dealing with salt on wood floors. Place Mats Inside and Out Doormats are a necessity, both inside your doorway and just outside the door as well....

According to the World Health Organization, a staggering 3.8 million deaths each year are caused by indoor air pollution. While many pollutants, such as kerosene or smoke from wood-burning stoves, are more common in developing nations, radon, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and mold and mildew are universal indoor air quality hazards. Because of these concerns, and because people are spending so much more time indoors thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, many homeowners are turning to air quality monitors....

via Clopay Picking the right garage door color takes consideration of several factors. Should your garage door much your house color? Yes, your garage door should match your house color but it can also complement your home’s color. What is the Most Popular Color for Garage Doors? White is the most popular color for garage doors. Sarah Fisher, vice president of marketing and design at H.A. Fisher Homes told Fagan Door, a Rhode Island garage door company, that white helps balance out almost all home designs....

via amazon.com If you had described a toilet as “smart” ten years ago, there’s a good chance you would have been on the receiving end of some questioning looks. Fast forward to the present day and it seems that if there’s a product on the market, it’s almost guaranteed that there’s a “smart” version of that same product available. Less guaranteed, though, is that that “smart” tag actually means something....