We’ve had a ton of interest in our John Deere tractor articles so we thought we should provide even more detail on their newest utility tractors. We’ll start with the base model from their new 1-series the 1023E sub-compact…
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Timothy Dahl
We’ve been sharing our favorite home improvement apps for a few years so we decided to compile them into a helpful guide that is categorized according to your home improvement needs. Many of these apps are available for your…
Did you just (finally) invest in a dishwasher? Or has your family upgraded to a fancy new model? Good for you – this is one appliance that is vital to the efficiency of a modern home. Who wants to…
Delta Power Equipment Corporation is a new wholly-owned subsidiary of Chang Type Industrial Co. Ltd., a Taiwan-based manufacturing company and today they announced its deal to purchase the DELTA brand of woodworking equipment and machinery from Stanley Black &…
If you are a do-it-yourself type when it comes to home improvements, you may want to consider the same when dealing with real estate transactions. A licensed real estate agent is not required during a home transaction although if…
Winter is in full swing and hopefully at this point you’ve sorted out any home heating issues you may have had, but if you still find yourself a bit chilly we’ve got the perfect blanket to keep you and…
Yes, it’s the middle of winter and if you live in Southern California you can still wear shorts and a t-shirt. You can also surf while wearing a wetsuit and remain relatively comfortable. These days my regular surfing has…
Fireplaces have been getting a bad rap lately as they are to blame for pollution, losing heat, and being an overall hazard, but some of us still love the sound, feel and smell of a wood burning fireplace. One…
Ryobi is banking on their lineup of consumer focused TEK4 tools and the batteries that power them. They’ve diverged from the typical uses of power tool batteries and have branched out to create a convenient mobile phone/device charger that…
Last year Justin Bieber blew up and unless you live under a rock you’ve at least heard of him. That fact didn’t get past some exhibitors at CES this year and we thought we’d share only two of the…
When your lights are controlled by a dimmer switch, they utilize less electricity when you have dimmed the lights. In the long term, this will reduce your consumption of electricity which in turn lowers your electric bill. Changing out…
The NightWatcher is an outdoor security lighting system that separates itself from the pack of other security lighting systems because it not only turns on when it sense motion, but it will also track an intruders motion within it’s…
This inexpensive and easy to do project that can create a dramatic centerpiece to your table or outdoor area. It’s also a great conversation piece as no two will be the same and the oak wine barrel staves will…
Snow shovels should be included in a list of mandatory emergency equipment for your car if you live in an area prone to snow storms. Don’t lug around your home shovel as it’s too big and unwieldy to use…
Is it a flying saucer? It certainly could pass for one if elevated and at a distance. The Moen Envi fixed rain showerhead is a beautiful design that instantly becomes the centerpiece of any bath. The showerhead is huge…
Today we had a unique opportunity to tour the This Old House Los Angeles House Project. It’s the first house project that This Old House has taken on in LA. Hard to believe since they’ve been at it for…
We’re always on the lookout for new products. Or old products done better. Or anything, really, that gets the mind spinning with DIY possibilities. The Liteblok from Cresco Concrete is one of those products that offers environmentally friendly building…
Long known for their almost iconic wood/carpenters glue, Elmer’s Glue has re-worked their product lineup as well as their glue bottles and are targeting the DIY crowd. The new lineup consists of four glues all made based on a…
We just reviewed the Dremel Multi-Max oscillating tool and fortunately we also had a full-set of Bosch oscillating multi-tool attachments to test it with as the Dremel was scarce on included attachments. Bosch has their own line of 12V…
We’re super fans of oscillating tools and when we had the opportunity to review the Dremel Multi-Max we jumped at the chance. Hits: Variable speed and power Misses: Not enough attachments included Uses: Cutting, Sanding, Grinding As with the…
At the Builders Show Craftsman introduced a technology breakthrough in lawn tractors. While this doesn’t sound that exciting, keep reading. One of the most difficult tasks when mowing a lawn on a sit-down tractor is cutting into tight spaces.…
One of the most brilliant modern day conveniences is radiant heat flooring. The demand for this feature is becoming stronger each year and not only are people installing it in kitchens but its becoming more popular in common areas…
At the Builders Show this year, Sherwin Williams debuted some new interior colors but in a more innovative way than just sharing a bunch of swatches and samples. They’ve curated a lookbook that contains four palettes of up to…
Universal design continues to influence product design and this years Builders Show was no different. We saw a number of great products but one of our favorites was the Elevance Bathtub from Kohler. Unlike other universal design bathtubs the…
Word on the street is that Stanley Black & Decker is selling Delta Machinery to an undisclosed buyer and for an undisclosed amount. Delta Machinery is still listed on the Black & Decker website so the sale isn’t complete…
In a climate like Western Washington people are often wondering how to find house painters who can deal with wet wood and surfaces. Seattle is one of the wettest areas in the country you need to make sure your…
There are many home security systems to consider when laying out your plan for home protection. The advancements in these systems grow by leaps and bounds as technology changes and prices drop. Real-time monitoring systems are now all expected…
The 2011 Builders Show was held in Orlando Florida this year and although it is still much smaller than it has been in years past it was about the same size as the show in Las Vegas last year…
At the Builders Show we asked all of the elevator pitchmen to give us their best elevator pitch, some declined but these guys stepped up to the plate and we’ll let you decide who won the Battle of the…
Stiletto Tools continues to innovate and the Stiletto Trimbone Hammer is their latest masterpiece. It’s Stiletto Tools first trim hammer and it’s DNA is straight from their iconic titanium Tibone hammer. The Stiletto Trimbone has quite a few new…
Keeping a chainsaw sharp is typically not a top priority when it comes to tool maintenance since most of us only use our chainsaw on the rare occasion that we need to trim large branches or clear fallen debris.…
Sears Kenmore will introduce a trio of new products at CES this year. These products are winners of the 2011 Innovations Design and Engineering Awards as well as a Best of Innovations honoree in the Major Home Appliances category.…
CES has expanded their Connected Home area and it seems that Kenmore and GE are leading the way with introducing their latest in home technologies. For a consumer brand as large as GE its surprising that this is their…
No longer a dream, transparent concrete is for real and is now being used as a building material. The Italian firm, Italcementi Group, unveiled their product which was built into the World Expo building in Shanghai. There are approximately…
Some words of wisdom about fixed prices from a contractor abroad for work order changes. I was recently asked to quote for and subsequently do a fairly small job – cosmetically tidying up a basement – building a wall…
These were the most popular articles on Charles & Hudson in 2010. Take a look! Rough Cut Woodworking with Tommy Mac 3D Virtual Room Planning Tools Tips to DIY While Pregnant 5 Ways to Make Shade DIY Concrete Countertops…
We welcomed 2011 with family, friends and a trip to the Nevada desert and a night in Las Vegas. We’re sharing our travel tips and a few photos from the weekend. Las Vegas Travel Tips 1. To avoid the…
2010 has been a whirlwind at Charles & Hudson. We kicked off the year at the Builder’s Show and also attended the National Hardware Show and Greenbuild Expo. But our favorite events of the year were presented by retailers…
Beyond the magnificent temples and shrines of Kyoto, Japan, you’ll find the headquarters of Kyoto Tools (KTC). They are the premier tool company in Japan and their quality is world renown. KTC was founded in 1950 by three craftsman…
Are you shopping for the ultimate work truck? The options on light-duty trucks keep growing to include increased comfort, power, and fuel-efficiency. We don’t hide our love for our 2001 F-150 which is still going strong but the 2011…
The Northeast is digging out today from record snowfall and people are putting their snowblowers and snow shovels back in action. Here are some tips for digging out from the snow safely and what to do in case you…
We’ve been avid fans of green building blog Jetson Green for a few years and it’s been great to see the site grow in popularity and influence. Founder, Preston Koerner, has always maintained a unique editorial voice that may…
Wishing you all good cheer this holiday season…
We recently returned from a few days in Japan visiting Tokyo, Kyoto and few towns in between. As steeped in tradition Japan is, they are also very progressive on some fronts and one of them is recycling. There must…
Automatic floodlights are one of the best investments for home security as they’re active 24/7 and cost very little to install and maintain. Home Depot offers a few options in the PAR38 standard floodlight size from Halogens, CFL’s and…
Even if you aren’t doing the job yourself, you should take steps to prepare your home and household before a major renovation begins. Once contractors start running around your home and the demo starts, it’s often too late to…
Given the endless amounts of CD-ROMs in the world today there is probably no reason ever to actually buy a set of coasters again. But the shinny discs have a couple of problems. First, these tend to stick to…
We wanted this project to have a bit of a Hi/Low feel to it and nothing says classy better than gold! This project has been entered into the ReadyMade 100 contest so if you like it please visit ReadyMade…
Tis’ the season for Craftsman tools! This holiday Giveaway is a bundle of joy for tool lovers and all of it could be yours, or if you win keep one and gift the rest. On December 25th, 2010 we…
The Makers The guys from hackerspace Pumping Station One built some DIY snowglobes and holiday bots. Our expectations were high for what these guys would create and for some reason we were expecting holiday bots and snowglobes on a…
During our time in Chicago for the Craftsman Experience Holiday Extravaganza, we had the pleasure to stay at the Hotel Felix in downtown Chicago. The Hotel Felix is Chicago’s first hotel designed to meet Silver LEED certification. During construction…
With the conditions of real estate today it remains very much a “buyer’s market,” yet that doesn’t mean it is easy to actually be a buyer. But Long & Foster Real Estate, the largest independently-held residential real estate firm…
As part of the Craftsman Experience Holiday Extravaganza, they invited the Chicago hackerspace, Pumping Station: One to participate and build some holiday projects like snow globes powered by Craftsman orbital sanders and hand-held fans as well as a holiday…
The Craftsman Experience is kicking off their holiday season this weekend and last night we had an opportunity to present the Ultimate Sleigh built by John Lamonica and his team at the Butler Street Foundry with some help from…
Bosch has an update to their compact impact driver with this 12V Max Lithium Ion Impact Driver (Model PS41-2A). It delivers more torque and higher RPM than the previous model but weights .2 lbs less at 2lbs. We like…
We’ve had our Flip Ultra HD video camera for about two months now and have honestly thoroughly enjoyed it. We don’t often review electronics but we’re so impressed with this unit that we wanted to share our findings. We…
The latest tool in the Craftsman NEXTEC line is the Right Angle Impact Driver. This is a fairly new category of cordless power tools and the Craftsman model is a definite stand out compared to some of the other…
Some of us homeowners are lucky to have space on our 1st floor to have a designated laundry room. Even if your laundry room is in your dungeon (Oh, I mean basement) you can incorporate these thoughts into your…
If a coffee maker can be sexy then the Bodum Santos is the one. Perhaps its the smooth hour glass shape or the delicate handle and top, whatever it is, Bodum has designed an incredible looking coffee maker. Our…
A reader recently informed us of the positive experiences they’ve had with multiple broken appliances because they were properly covered with appliance insurance from AHS. This isn’t an ad for AHS (American Home Shield) but because these homeowners were…
There are so many things wrong (or right) about this photo. We want to see your best captions in the comments below and the winner will receive a $50 Home Depot gift card. The rules are simple: 1. Enter…
The Cash for Appliances program that launched this year is still available in many states. It’s been up to individual states to dole out this stimulus money and some funds have already run dry but for many of you…
We’ve got some tips for choosing the right Christmas tree for your home. Choosing the right Christmas Tree Make sure you measure accurately the area you will keep your tree. Not just the ceiling height but also the diameter…
No that’s not a microscope, it’s a first-look at the Dremel Trio. This unique tool has almost as many functions as looks. Dremel has designed the Trio to work as a spiral jigsaw, edge sander and detail router. There…
Cordless drills/drivers should be included in any list of required do-it-yourself tools. The applications and uses are endless and they are extremely simple to use. If you’re going with the convenience of cordless you can use the tool to…
The hot tool of this year has to be the oscillating tool. Almost every major manufacturer has produced an oscillating tool as the demand has begun to skyrocket now that the public realizes the many uses and advantages of…
You know that awesome Black & Decker 24V Cordless Trimmer/Edger that we reviewed last week? It’s our next Giveaway and is only for our Facebook friends so head over to our Facebook page and “Comment” and “Like” the photo…
The alternative post for this was going to be “why design students never cease to amaze me”. Designed by Kristin Laass and Norman Ebelt from Germany, this clever project (spotted on freshome) is called “Small Type” and it has…
John Lewis is one of the most popular retailers in the UK and they are well known for their wide selection of kitchen offerings. You can now find John Lewis Kitchen offers on a special section of their website…
Milwaukee tends to breed a certain type of brand loyalty as their inked fans have proven. The Milwaukee Hackzall M12 follows in the grand tradition of Milwaukee tools but at a smaller size. This review of the Hackzall M12…
The RYOBI TEK4 Digital Inspection Scope is the latest entry in a “getting crowded” inspection scope/camera category. Inspection cameras and scopes were once the domain of trade professionals and the cost vs. use was prohibitive to most homeowners. Not…
We’ve been looking forward to the 2010 Greenbuild Expo in Chicago for a few months now and it definitely didn’t disappoint. The show keeps growing year after year and not only are the numbers of exhibitors increasing but attendance…
We’ve got a thing for handy no-nonsense knives so it makes sense that we fell in love with the SOG Flash II so quickly. From the comfortable handle to the serrated edge, there are a number of small details…
At Greenbuild this year, Kohler introduced it’s its popular Wellworth toilet which has undergone a redesign both cosmetically and internally. They’ve been selling the Wellworth toilet since 1936 and at a retail cost of $261 it is one of…
TOTO is well known for creating stylish toilets that have multi-functions such as the washlet. They were on hand Greenbuild this year sharing their latest innovations, two of which we found fascinating. Their eco-power faucets and double cyclone flushing…
We were looking forward to checking out the AirRenew Gypsum Board from CertainTeed at Greenbuild this year and had an opportunity to speak with Ashwin Himat of CertainTeed about the board. Here’s what he had to say about the…
We want to shed some light on a little known danger in the kitchen. Recently a one-year old child was killed when he climbed onto the open door of a stove and the range tipped over and killed him.…
The latest project on Instructables is an amazing kinetic marble track a Dad built along the perimeter of his son’s room and runs along the wall. As you watch the video the marble challenges seem to get more difficult…
The Craftsman Experience showroom is perfectly located almost under the “L” train in the River North neighborhood of Chicago. The urban industrial setting is the ideal backdrop to prepare you for the Craftsman Experience. We had an opportunity to…
Black & Decker has introduced an upgrade to their cordless trimmer/edger with a 24V model. It’s still light, strong and maneuverable but with much more power than their 18V offering. Hits: Ease of operation, Battery life, Clean, Power Boost…