Gadgets - Home+Garden

A place to relate, share, care for, and support one another. A place to share about our daily activities and events around the home.
temporal1
Posts: 16279
Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2016 12:09 pm
Location: U.S. midwest and PNW
Affiliation: Christian other

Gadgets - Home+Garden

Post by temporal1 »

i haven't had a fire in my fireplace in a long while.
enjoying one now.

when i bought this house, the owner, a retired, but spunky woman, was "less than truthful" about a number of things. this wasn't my first rodeo, i did not contest her. at the time i was able to make an "as-is" offer, i did, we came to agreement, i set about with many repairs+replacements.

the fireplace.
she claimed it worked well, no problems.
when i first attempted to use it, thankfully before painting inside, it proved to be remarkably smokey.
it worked well, as long as it wasn't used! :lol:

it had some type of contraption inside, a series of metal pipes, in a U-shape, the idea was to push hot air into the room. it did, with plenty of smoke. it looked pretty monumental. i kept studying it. at last, i discovered it could be removed, it was not permanently fixed. :D
i removed it.

then, i noticed another fireplace gadget, a "smoke-free" fireplace grate.
at the time, i believe it was $99. 2008-ish.
http://www.orvis.com/p/smoke-free-fireplace-grate/72hc

i enjoy it every time i use it.
it keeps the logs to the rear, the smoke efficiently goes right up the chimney. easy. reliable.

my house was built, early 70's.
i'm not sure if this is a fireplace insert? it looks like it, i'm not sure. it's good sized. not huge.
the wall is brick. the chimney is in the interior of the building.

later, i added simple black framed hinged glass doors with screen doors on hinges. no brass or other. i like that addition, too. no closing the glass doors while the fire is going!

This thread is about gadgets that work, and gadgets that don't work. :D
0 x
Most or all of this drama, humiliation, wasted taxpayer money could be spared -
with even modest attempt at presenting balanced facts from the start.


”We’re all just walking each other home.”
UNKNOWN
temporal1
Posts: 16279
Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2016 12:09 pm
Location: U.S. midwest and PNW
Affiliation: Christian other

Re: Gadgets - Home+Garden

Post by temporal1 »

The contraption above ^^^ (i removed) looked a lot like this:
http://www.woodlanddirect.com/Fireplace ... aQodC2AEdA
0 x
Most or all of this drama, humiliation, wasted taxpayer money could be spared -
with even modest attempt at presenting balanced facts from the start.


”We’re all just walking each other home.”
UNKNOWN
MaxPC
Posts: 9044
Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2016 9:09 pm
Location: Former full time RVers
Affiliation: PlainRomanCatholic
Contact:

Re: Gadgets - Home+Garden

Post by MaxPC »

Good thread,T1.

Let's see: not exactly a gadget but it is a household product for resurfacing/restoring older wood decks.
Restore
It works well and was dry in 48 hours. Excellent traction for safe footing.
0 x
Max (Plain Catholic)
Mt 24:35
Proverbs 18:2 A fool does not delight in understanding but only in revealing his own mind.
1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God
temporal1
Posts: 16279
Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2016 12:09 pm
Location: U.S. midwest and PNW
Affiliation: Christian other

Re: Gadgets - Home+Garden

Post by temporal1 »

MaxPC wrote:Good thread,T1.

Let's see: not exactly a gadget but it is a household product for resurfacing/restoring older wood decks.
Restore
It works well and was dry in 48 hours. Excellent traction for safe footing.
hmm.
does it come in different colors?
is it more of a paint or stain? .. will it chip/peel?

how is it for upkeep?
does it have to be removed when it's time to re-do?
0 x
Most or all of this drama, humiliation, wasted taxpayer money could be spared -
with even modest attempt at presenting balanced facts from the start.


”We’re all just walking each other home.”
UNKNOWN
MaxPC
Posts: 9044
Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2016 9:09 pm
Location: Former full time RVers
Affiliation: PlainRomanCatholic
Contact:

Re: Gadgets - Home+Garden

Post by MaxPC »

temporal1 wrote:
MaxPC wrote:Good thread,T1.

Let's see: not exactly a gadget but it is a household product for resurfacing/restoring older wood decks.
Restore
It works well and was dry in 48 hours. Excellent traction for safe footing.
hmm.
does it come in different colors?
is it more of a paint or stain? .. will it chip/peel?

how is it for upkeep?
does it have to be removed when it's time to re-do?
It's a very thick coating that creates ridges for traction and comes in different colors. It's supposed to be good for sealing against water and the elements for 20 years. So far so good.
0 x
Max (Plain Catholic)
Mt 24:35
Proverbs 18:2 A fool does not delight in understanding but only in revealing his own mind.
1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God
temporal1
Posts: 16279
Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2016 12:09 pm
Location: U.S. midwest and PNW
Affiliation: Christian other

Re: Gadgets - Home+Garden

Post by temporal1 »

Propane Weed Torch


i use to have one. i think someone borrowed, never returned?
thinking about buying another.

i have mixed feelings.
it's easy to use. :D

effective?
well, living on the prairie, knowing how burning fields (to promote plant growth!) is used, i'm not convinced this method has much value.

is it a weed killer? or weed propagator? :lol:

after watching this video, tho, maybe i was not spending enough time on each weed, letting the heat/flames get to the roots? probably not. if i try again, i'll have to watch for that. that could become tedious.

also, it's suggested as a non-chemical method for weed removal.
but, it uses propane. so? :?

i agree with the guy in the video, it's useless for winter ice removal from walkways.
0 x
Most or all of this drama, humiliation, wasted taxpayer money could be spared -
with even modest attempt at presenting balanced facts from the start.


”We’re all just walking each other home.”
UNKNOWN
User avatar
gcdonner
Posts: 2025
Joined: Fri Oct 21, 2016 11:17 am
Location: Holladay, TN
Affiliation: Anabaptiluthercostal

Re: Gadgets - Home+Garden

Post by gcdonner »

MaxPC wrote:
temporal1 wrote:
MaxPC wrote:Good thread,T1.

Let's see: not exactly a gadget but it is a household product for resurfacing/restoring older wood decks.
Restore
It works well and was dry in 48 hours. Excellent traction for safe footing.
hmm.
does it come in different colors?
is it more of a paint or stain? .. will it chip/peel?

how is it for upkeep?
does it have to be removed when it's time to re-do?
It's a very thick coating that creates ridges for traction and comes in different colors. It's supposed to be good for sealing against water and the elements for 20 years. So far so good.
I have an acquaintance in Canada that used that stuff on his deck and the very next season had to strip it all off as it was cracking, chipping and peeling. He was not a happy camper. (pun intended Max)
0 x
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed
rightly dividing the word of truth
.
temporal1
Posts: 16279
Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2016 12:09 pm
Location: U.S. midwest and PNW
Affiliation: Christian other

Re: Gadgets - Home+Garden

Post by temporal1 »

gcdonner wrote:
MaxPC wrote:
temporal1 wrote: hmm.
does it come in different colors?
is it more of a paint or stain? .. will it chip/peel?
how is it for upkeep?
does it have to be removed when it's time to re-do?
It's a very thick coating that creates ridges for traction and comes in different colors. It's supposed to be good for sealing against water and the elements for 20 years. So far so good.
I have an acquaintance in Canada that used that stuff on his deck and the very next season had to strip it all off as it was cracking, chipping and peeling. He was not a happy camper. (pun intended Max)
60 colors, and, tintable. wow.
http://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalo ... -deck-coat

as with most projects, surface preparation is key.
george, any idea if this may have been your friend's problem?

radical temp/humidity changes, as most places experience, cause problems, too.

i was thinking (professional) powerwash, but, it's not mentioned in this link.
(they are selling their products for surface prep.)
0 x
Most or all of this drama, humiliation, wasted taxpayer money could be spared -
with even modest attempt at presenting balanced facts from the start.


”We’re all just walking each other home.”
UNKNOWN
User avatar
gcdonner
Posts: 2025
Joined: Fri Oct 21, 2016 11:17 am
Location: Holladay, TN
Affiliation: Anabaptiluthercostal

Re: Gadgets - Home+Garden

Post by gcdonner »

temporal1 wrote: 60 colors, and, tintable. wow.
http://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalo ... -deck-coat

as with most projects, surface preparation is key.
george, any idea if this may have been your friend's problem?

radical temp/humidity changes, as most places experience, cause problems, too.

i was thinking (professional) powerwash, but, it's not mentioned in this link.
(they are selling their products for surface prep.)
I watched his preparation on Youtube and his application and it certainly was done in a professional manner. I believe it was product failure. As with any product, things that apply in heavy coats don't dry very quickly and often don't cure well. I wouldn't buy it and I had seriously considered it until his misadventure.
0 x
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed
rightly dividing the word of truth
.
Neto
Posts: 4579
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2016 5:43 pm
Location: Holmes County, Ohio
Affiliation: Gospel Haven

Re: Gadgets - Home+Garden

Post by Neto »

gcdonner wrote:... things that apply in heavy coats don't dry very quickly and often don't cure well. ....
I know nothing at all about this particular product, but it is my understanding that if a product cures chemically (and not through the evaporation of thinners or solvents, etc), then it should cure all the way through in a reasonable time.
0 x
Congregation: Gospel Haven Mennonite Fellowship, Benton, Ohio (Holmes Co.) a split from Beachy-Amish Mennonite.
Personal heritage & general theological viewpoint: conservative Mennonite Brethren.
Post Reply