I had hoped to share great bits of wisdom about engine maintenance this week. However, it is not to be.
Although there may be some differences in the suggested maintenance routines of different engines, there are a lot of similarities. And they all remind me of maintenance on my car (no surprise there).
Our fix-it guy, Jack, gave me the maintenance manuals to two different small engines…the Briggs & Stratton 210000, 280000 and 310000 and the Honda GX120, GX160 and GX200. The maintenance info is VERY similar. So, rather than repeat last Friday’s post….
Watch the oil, air filter, spark plug and fuel filter. And, check your engine’s manual.
I’ll dig into better stuff next week. Watch out, Jack, here I come. I need info!
Narrow, wide, angled, straight, $14, .49. There are so many choices when it comes to paintbrushes. The hardware store can have bunches. But which one is right?
If you’re about to paint the exterior of your house, you’re bound to need at least one paintbrush. Even if you’re going to use a sprayer for the majority of the painting. Certainly a paintbrush is needed for some trim work. But which one?
BuyAceHardware.com’s resident paint expert, John, says the benefit of buying a higher end paintbrush is two-fold:
1) Higher end paintbrushes are easier to clean.
2) They will last longer.
“If you spend $14 on a paintbrush and take care of it well, it will last the rest of your life,” he said.
Taking care of it includes cleaning it well. If you use a latex paint, clean your brush with soap and water and let it air dry. For oil based paint, use Mineral Spirits (a.k.a. paint thinner) for cleaning.
Are you just starting to plan an exterior paint job? HGTV has some ideas.
I live in an off-grid home with a relatively small system. My water is well water. It tastes great! It also comes from a very deep well which means my well pump is pretty hefty.
Hefty well pump + small solar system = water conservation!
My easiest tip about water conservation that I don’t see everywhere else is this: While you’re waiting for the hot water to come out of the tap, put the cold water into something besides the drain. My favorites are the dog’s water bowl and my watering can. I also fill up used gallon milk jugs to put in my greenhouse for thermal mass.
I do this at the kitchen sink when I’m about to do dishes and in the bathtub while I’m waiting for the hot shower water. Easy breezy.
I was standing at the counter this afternoon, talking to our paint guru, John, about paintbrushes and a customer asked, “What’s the difference between Mineral Spirits and paint thinner?” According to John, there is no difference….at least when it comes to paintbrush clean up.
When you get down to the nitty gritty, there may be some minute differences though. Some suggest either Mineral Spirits or paint thinner are fine for clean-up, but not for paint thinning.
Speaking of painting, we’ll talk about paintbrushes and their cost on Thursday.
All engines, big and small, need a little TLC from time to time. Your Briggs & Stratton engine is no different.
Air cleaners and oil get dirty. Oil pressure gets low.
To keep your engine running smoothly and safely, please have it serviced on a regular basis. If you’re the do-it-yourself kind, the manual your engine came with has some valuable tips:
1) Maintain your air cleaner by washing in soapy water.
2) Replace the oil filter after every 100 hours of operation.
3) Monitor the oil pressure.
4) Check the spark plug every season and replace it if the electrodes are burned or worn.
5) Keep your engine free of debris.
Routine maintenance enhances engine performance, reduces fuel consumption and reduces emissions.
If you’re feeling a little creative this summer, or maybe just a little bored with your home’s interior, it’s time to pick up a paintbrush. Everybody says it, “Painting is an easy, inexpensive way to change the look of your house.” And so it is.
Why now? Much of the country has been a bit water logged this year. Painting the living room (or bedroom or bathroom) is a great rainy weather project.
Easy steps to painting the walls:
1) Choose your paint color, finish and brand. Oh, what fun! Go for something new and bold. Take a step back and mute the color a bit. The direction is up to you. Pick up some drop cloths, brushes, rollers, and masking tape while you’re at the hardware store.
2) Prepare the walls by cleaning with a soap and water solution and repairing any cracks or holes.
3) Tape off trim and anything else you don’t want to get paint on. Lay down drop cloths.
4) Put the paint on the wall! There are all kinds of theories on how you should get the paint on the wall, but I like Doug’s (from Trading Spaces) — Get in on the wall.
There are all kinds of specifics you can get into when it comes to painting — what to repair holes with, which kind of paint to use, which brush, etc. A quick trip to your local hardware store and you can have all your questions answered.
Fourth of July is just around the corner. It’s the perfect time to fly Old Glory.
Did you know there is a flag code in the United States? It has many recommendations, including how to display, wash and retire a U.S. flag.
There are also recommended holidays to fly the flag. The flag code was recently changed to encourage the flying of the flag on Father’s Day.
You may not be able to fly the Stars and Stripes from a fire truck ladder, but showing your patriotism can be done — either with a large flag mounted to your house or waving a handheld flag at your local 4th of July parade.
Happy 4th, everyone!
