Guides
How to choose it, and how to use it
Plain answers to the questions that come up before a job starts.
- How many pieces does a household tool kit actually need? For most homes, 15 to 40 genuine tools beats a 200-piece box. Piece counts are the most misleading number in the tool... Read the guide
- Rechargeable or disposable batteries in a portable light? Rechargeable for regular use. Disposable, stored separately, for emergencies. Built-in rechargeable lights cost less ... Read the guide
- Flashlight, headlamp or work light? If the job needs two hands, you need a headlamp or a work light. A handheld flashlight is the right shape when you ar... Read the guide
- Lumens explained: how much light do you actually need? Around 100 lumens for close work, 300 for a room, 1,000 for distance. Lumens measure total light output, not how far ... Read the guide
- Moving heavy furniture without hurting yourself Slide it, roll it or lever it. Lifting is the last resort. Almost everything heavy in a house can be moved without be... Read the guide
- How to jump-start a car without damaging anything Red to dead, red to donor, black to donor, black to bare metal. Order matters, and the last connection matters most. ... Read the guide
- What actually belongs in a winter car kit What actually belongs in a winter car kit Read the guide
- Ratchet straps or bungee cords? Bungees keep things tidy. Straps keep things put. The difference is elasticity, and it decides the job. A bungee cord... Read the guide
- How to work out what length bungee cord you need Pick a cord about two thirds of the distance you need to span. A bungee cord only works when it is stretched. Choose ... Read the guide
- Which documents to protect, and how Protect what is slow or costly to replace, not everything. The documents worth protecting are the ones that are painf... Read the guide
- Where to leave a spare key, and where never to A neighbor beats any hiding place. Under the mat, above the door frame, in the meter box and under the nearest flower... Read the guide
- What a home safe rating actually means Fire and burglary are separate ratings. Most small safes carry neither. Fire ratings are expressed as a temperature a... Read the guide
- Sizing boot trays and entry mats for wet weather Measure the pairs of boots you need to hold, not the doorway. A tray that is slightly too small is worse than no tray... Read the guide
- Garage floor coverings compared Interlocking foam for comfort, rubber mats for spills, coatings for permanence. Interlocking foam tiles are the least... Read the guide
- Tote, box or chest: how to choose and size a toolbox Buy for the tools you actually carry, plus about a quarter more. An open tote or bag is fastest to work from and best... Read the guide
- How to plan garage wall storage The fixing carries the load, not the rack. Wall storage frees the floor, which is the whole point of a garage. Plan i... Read the guide
- How tight is tight enough? Snug, then a fraction more. If it creaks or squeaks, you have gone past it. Over-tightening breaks more things around... Read the guide
- How to find a stud in a wall In most US homes studs sit 16 inches apart, center to center. Anything heavy needs to hang from structure, not from d... Read the guide
- Which drill bit for wood, metal, tile or masonry? Match the bit to the material, then slow down as the material gets harder. General-purpose twist bits in high-speed s... Read the guide
- Screwdriver types and sizes, explained A #2 Phillips fits more household screws than any other single driver. Four drive types cover nearly everything in a ... Read the guide