Micah's Man Cave

We Are Moved In!

After a couple weeks living in our brand new house, we finalized the sale of our old house. Though we’re still in the same community, our home seems two times as large primarily due to the design. The wife got the kitchen of her dreams and I finally have a huge basement and a very large three car garage. I realize I still have quite a while before retiring, yet we can certainly picture ourselves being in this place forever. Because our home sits on more or less a whole acre, I can finally justify getting the Craftsman riding mower I've been eyeing.

The place is not without some challenges but nearly all of those were known prior to completing the papers. The largest problem by far is definitely the roof, which will have to be replaced in the next couple years. Sure, it’s a major expense but the former owner did not have time to take care of it prior to selling so they knocked down the home price by quite a bit. There is plenty of landscape work and maintenance to do on the property as well as a couple trees which do not look so healthy and will probably have to come down.

The most urgent matter is the water heater. While it was recognized on the house inspection that it was about 15 years old, it had zero concerns back then. Today, I noticed a small water leak has developed. According to waterheaterhub.com, a standard water heater is not really intended to last more than 10-20 years therefore I figure a trip to Lowes is in order. But first, I’d prefer to see if it may be something which I can resolve. The hot water tank by itself is a 50 gallon type so it is plenty big for our requirements at this time and there’s really no valid reason to upgrade.

I found out the origin of water heater leaks is generally at the top or bottom of the water tank. When the water heater is leaking from the top, it is most frequently a bad pressure relief valve which supposedly is easy to replace (at least from the Youtube videos I have watched). Although, if the water heater is leaking from the bottom, it could possibly signify a much more serious issue such as a leaking water tank. In such cases, a complete replacement is necessary. I’m going through all of the troubleshooting tips but it does appear the leak is coming from the top of the tank somewhere and simply leaking to the floor. I’m having a hard time pinpointing the actual spot but a friend of mine who is a local plumber is coming over later in the day to take a look. Thankfully, it is not a significant leak so we are still able to use hot water for the time being.

I was thinking about getting the garage floor epoxy coated so it may be actually good to have this issue addressed now. Speaking of which, my garage wish list gets longer by the day. I blame it on the extra space and the simple fact that a home big box store is barely about 5 minutes away. Seems like they’ll be seeing a lot of me in the future.

Finishing Alternatives for Your Garage Floor

When you're similar to myself, you truly appreciate the appearance and design within your garage area. I have continually planned to do something concerning the flooring inside my garage and coating it is starting to become a well known method. There are many reasons for utilizing garage floor coating. For instance, a guy who uses the garage for working on his car during the weekend may want a floor that does not absorb engine oil the way a concrete floor can. A woodworker wants a yielding surface for those extended hours on his feet. And when the garage area will be converted into a recreation room or man cave, something good looking is necessary.

Tough Epoxy Coatings

These kinds of surfaces are very resilient and create an effective barrier to the concrete floor. The good thing is that installing it is a good do-it-yourself job to reduce costs on installation though certain safeguards need to be taken. The concrete must be very nice and clean and you have to be confident that moisture content is not seeping up from below the concrete otherwise you will probably experience adhesion complications. It is also imperative that you don gloves and safety glasses.

Epoxy flooring is available in various colors as well as speckled designs. Light colors are the best in work locations thanks to the reflection of light. An antimicrobial ingredient may also be offered.

Concrete and Masonary Waterproofing Sealer

Sealants equally do a good job of protecting the concrete. They operate within a way a lot like epoxy coatings while not being as cosmetic. A lot of brand names are a wonderful solution in locations that experience repeating hard freezes since they protect from efflorescence and spalling. Additionally it is rated for both exterior and interior application allowing you to use it directly out the garage door and over the driveway. An equivalent solution is a stain that's water based to which a sealer may be applied. When I first used my new Powerzone floor jack (the best floor jack ever!), I accidentally spilled a bit of hydraulic fluid. I was amazed how easily it cleaned up of the floor I had used sealant on.

Rollout Mats and Floor Tiles

One good thing about these two solutions is that they are so straightforward to install. As you might expect, they both offer a little bit of shock absorption. The mats tend to be more economical and installing is a lot faster but if your priorities are visual appearance and flashy style, then tile is what you want as mats are definitely more commercial looking. The tiles are also called modular tiles by a number of manufacturers. Those aimed at woodworkers are often called "anti fatigue tiles".

The truth is, the tile marketplace is massive with a plethora of colors and designs. One difference between manufacturers is the way they connect but they all connect with each other some way. They can be very costly however, you pay for what you get. A lot are manufactured from polypropylene (PVC) plastic which is very tough.

Vinyl Tile and Carpeting

These two options are inexpensive, easy to install, and work well for recreation rooms and "man-caves". The tile is offered with an adhesive backing or may be installed by spreading out an adhesive. Carpet can also be purchased in a tile form with an adhesive backing. For a DIY job, this specific installation method is less of a challenge than the approach of laying out padding. The only caveat with carpeting is it is not really appealing in excessively humid areas and you certainly shouldn't want to drive your truck over it. Garage Tool Advisor will supposedly be doing a full review of the best garage mats soon.

It's easy to see just how many options one can find for flooring materials. When reaching your choice look at the designed objective, your finances, and efficiency vs looks.

Gun Owner Safety and Children

Guns and youngsters are certainly not the most thought of combinations. This is one of the reasons we buy gun safes. In fact, several states will require guns to be kept in locked containers whenever kids (under 18) can be found in the residence. The truth, however, is that gun safety around kids is about considerably more than keeping it locked away. Knowledge is likely to go a long ways in protecting your child in the long term. The natural intense curiosity of a child is sometimes spurred by forbidden containers so it may be worth your while to sit down and make clear a number of the basic concepts behind firearms to your child when you feel that they are mature enough to treat the subject using the seriousness it deserves.

Keep in mind this is certainly no reason to get lazy about locking up your gun. Always keeping your gun safely locked away will be the best way to keep your child safe and sound and should be adhered to religiously. The truth is, in most states, you may be guilty of a misdemeanor or a felony should your child (less than 18) get your gun and either take it to a public area, injure someone, or kill somebody. The primary rule of gun safety and kids is you can never be too careful. In case you have no kids, there is always the danger that a relative’s child can come to visit so it’s crucial to practice safe gun ownership all the time. This consists of storing your gun unloaded and locked away with ammunition kept in a separate container. Simply put, get the best handgun safe you can afford.

Although keeping your gun locked up will be the primary line of defense in preventing unwanted mishaps there are extra methods for keeping your family safe around guns. Once you feel that your child is old enough to take the discussion seriously it might be time to discuss guns. By speaking regarding it you might dispel some of the mystery surrounding them and minimize the normal curiosity of your child. Be open to any questions and point out the dangers connected with guns as well as the responsibility necessary. It might be significant, depending on the age, to generate a powerful variation between make-believe and reality. Should your child come across a gun sometime, he or she will at the very least understand something about it and the dangers it presents and ideally not be so keen to figure it out for themselves.

Finally, you will need to lead by example and practice proper gun ownership. In case you instruct something and do another you will end up sending mixed signals that could weaken the basic safety basics of owning a gun. Should you ever use your gun around your son or daughter be sure to diligently practice the appropriate safety measures and present responsible gun ownership. And, yet again, never forget that whenever it comes to kids and firearms, you can never be too careful.

The Hunt For That Quiet Air Compressor is Over

I had developed great hopes for my T635-HD compressor made by Thomas after I bought it a number of years ago. At that time, it was considered as the most quiet air compressor in its class. When it came time to buy a rebuild kit, I was SOL. Looks like the company ran out of business or merely quit providing support for the series. Although I'm usually good about finding a hard to come by part, I decided it really was not worth it wanting to bring a well used unit back again. I do what I normally do and checked out Home Depot and hit the internet for some research. Stumbled on the site air-compressor-reviews.net and read through a considerable amount of reviews. This is one of the better sites since it tells you the specifications of each model including the noise rating. Noise level to me is probably the most significant numbers to know but it's also one of the most difficult to find.

Meet the Rolair JC10

After doing my homework, I decided on the Rolair JC10 to replace the Thomas and WOW am I pleased. Initially I assumed it was my mistake since it produced so very little noise. You have to (not) hear it to believe it. The compressor oozes quality. This thing reaches 100% capacity (125psi) in with regards to a minute and recovers in only seconds. This is by far and away the quietest 1HP compressor you can find. I'm not likely to let you know that you can run it under the dinner table as you eat and not notice it. Having said that, I am going to say that it runs under my work bench in my garage as I happily tinker away without annoying me in the slightest.

It isn't actually as ergonomic as the DeWalt 55141 I was also considering and a little more heavy but generates more air and I'm hoping it will eventually fill the gap that I have had for 8 years between light, portable and quiet and a do-everything air compressor. Very high quality fittings and gauges. Easy enough to carry upstairs and no-one will complain if you use it inside their house. The grip on the handle requires an upgrade, and I have already fitted a 90 degree elbow made of grass to ensure the pressure gauge points upwards so I can visualize it without tipping the air compressor on its side, yet it is certainly a keeper. Only time will tell if it does everything I need. It isn't a shop or two man compressor though.

I have now had it for two months and can enthusiastically "Recommend" this unit for anyone looking for a small and VERY quiet air compressor that appears to be built to last. A good compressor (for me) is once in a while the main difference between a good day and a frustrating day on the jobsite yet unfortunately, there are way too many sloppy compressors in the marketplace. I'm expecting this JC10 is as good as my expectations.