Guides
Plain answers to the questions that come up before a job starts. What length of cord you need. How many lumens is enough. Whether a safe rating means anything. None of it is about our products — it is the stuff worth knowing whoever you buy from.
Tools and repairs
How many pieces does a household tool kit actually need?
For most homes, 15 to 40 genuine tools beats a 200-piece box.
Screwdriver types and sizes, explained
A #2 Phillips fits more household screws than any other single driver.
Which drill bit for wood, metal, tile or masonry?
Match the bit to the material, then slow down as the material gets harder.
How to find a stud in a wall
In most US homes studs sit 16 inches apart, center to center.
How tight is tight enough?
Snug, then a fraction more. If it creaks or squeaks, you have gone past it.
Storage and organization
How to plan garage wall storage
The fixing carries the load, not the rack.
Tote, box or chest: how to choose and size a toolbox
Buy for the tools you actually carry, plus about a quarter more.
Garage floor coverings compared
Interlocking foam for comfort, rubber mats for spills, coatings for permanence.
Sizing boot trays and entry mats for wet weather
Measure the pairs of boots you need to hold, not the doorway.
Security at home
What a home safe rating actually means
Fire and burglary are separate ratings. Most small safes carry neither.
Where to leave a spare key, and where never to
A neighbor beats any hiding place.
Which documents to protect, and how
Protect what is slow or costly to replace, not everything.
Car, cargo and moving
How to work out what length bungee cord you need
Pick a cord about two thirds of the distance you need to span.
Ratchet straps or bungee cords?
Bungees keep things tidy. Straps keep things put.
What actually belongs in a winter car kit
Assume you are stationary for three hours, in the dark, in the cold.
How to jump-start a car without damaging anything
Red to dead, red to donor, black to donor, black to bare metal.
Moving heavy furniture without hurting yourself
Slide it, roll it or lever it. Lifting is the last resort.
Portable lighting
Lumens explained: how much light do you actually need?
Around 100 lumens for close work, 300 for a room, 1,000 for distance.
Flashlight, headlamp or work light?
If the job needs two hands, you need a headlamp or a work light.
Rechargeable or disposable batteries in a portable light?
Rechargeable for regular use. Disposable, stored separately, for emergencies.