Handyman iPhone App

DIY Handyman Toolbox is a new app that comes in either a Metric or Imperial versions.

DIY Handyman Toolbox - METRIC, is a handy, easy to use application to help you work out common handyman calculations like volume (cubic metres), area (square metres) and also to convert measurements from imperial to metric, or metric to imperial.


Also included is an optional area to include the unit price of the material and DIY Handyman Toolbox will calculate the overall cost for you as well as the required amount.


FEATURES:
• Volume - Cubic metres & Price Calculator
• Area - Square metres & Price Calculator
• Conversion - Convert measurements from imperial to metric or metric to imperial.
• Very easy to use.
• Clean, professional user interface design.
DIY Handyman Toolbox is useful to the Home Handyman as well as professional trades people, as a quick and simple way for working out material amounts and total prices.

HANDY FOR CALCULATING ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ORDERED IN SQUARE METRES OR CUBIC METRES.:
• Flooring - Timber & Carpet
• Walls - Paint, Wallpaper and Plasterboard (dry wall)
• Gardens - Mulch & Gravel
• Concrete

This application will save you a lot of time when working on your home improvements and renovations.

Click here for more info on the METRIC version.

Click here for more info on the IMPERIAL version.

PullzAll - Portable Lifting and Pulling Tool

I just heard about this new product from Ateco Eqipment. It is a portable, and lightweight Lifting and Pulling Device called the "PullzAll".

The PullzAll has the ability to lift or pull up to 450KG. It comes in 2 models. A cordless (rechargable) version and a plug-in version. It has a 4.5 metres of 5.5mm diameter wire rope and a variable speed trigger, and an integrated directional switch that enables you to instantly change direction giving you precise control you need to stop and hold a load exactly where and when you want it.

The RRP of the PullzAll is $520 for the 230v Corded version and $865 for the 24v Rechargable version. (Prices are AUD inc. GST)

This is from the PullzAll website:

When you're in the shop, working near a power source, just plug in PullzAll™ and let it help you tackle those labour-intensive chores. Move heavy machinery. Hoist an engine block. Lift a load precisely into place, then nail it, weld it, whatever it. You think up the task, and PullzAll™ flat out revolutionizes the amount of work one man can do.

When work takes you to more remote locations, bring the mechanical muscle of the portable, cordless PullzAll™ with you. From tough tasks like pulling pipe to stretching wire fence, you'll come to count on PullzAll™ to get the job done quickly and effortlessly.

A strong motor and variable speed control allow you to move heavy items into place smoothly and precisely. These features equate to saving both time and money.

The PullzAll™ is for the tradesperson, farmer/rancher, or anyone that needs to lift or pull up to 450kg. This makes PullzAll™ ideal for construction, pipe fitting, iron work, equipment and plant maintenance, farm and ranch use, auto shops, garages, machine shops, home improvement, hunting, camping, and more.

Click here to go to the site for more info.

DIY Concrete iPhone App - Imperial Version Now Available

The Imperial version of my handyman iPhone app' DIY Concrete is now available on the iTunes App Store.

This version has a redesigned user interface and handles all the calculations you need to work out and order concrete for your project in cubic yards or in 80LB pre-mixed bags.

Click here to go directly to the iTunes App Store.

Click here to go to the DIY Concrete website.

DIY Concrete Imperial - is a handy, easy to use application to help you work out the volume and cost of concrete (cement) required for your project, in cubic meters or 80LB pre-mixed Bags.

DIY Concrete Imperial - is useful to the DIY Home Handyman as well as professional trades people, as a quick and simple way for working out concrete volume and price requirements.

This application calculates the volume you require when ordering for a large amount that will be delivered by truck, as well as a 80LB Pre-mixed Bag calculator for the smaller DIY Handyman projects.

As well as calculating the volume, you can also add the cubic meter price or bag price to give you an overall cost of the concrete order.

All you need to do is enter the Length and Width in feet and the Depth in inches. The price component is optional. Then press the "Calculate" button.

Click "Reset" to start again with clean empty fields.

Also included are a couple of DIY Concrete Tips for on-site 90 degree set-out and the ratio for a standard concrete mix.

DIY Concrete - New Handyman iPhone App

Here is a new app that I have created for the DIY Handyman, and it is also handy for the professional trades person.


DIY Concrete is a handy calculator to help work out the volume and pricing of your concrete projects. The application will calculate cubic meters and price for the larger projects that require delivery by concrete truck, and it also calculates the qty of 20KG Pre-mixed bags required for the smaller projects.This version only calculates in metric, but the imperial section will be added soon, and will be available as a free download when available.

Here is a link to the DIY Concrete website for more info.

Also, click here to go directly to the iTunes store and download the app.

How to choose the right nail for the job

Choosing the right nail for your job isn't always as simple as it may seem. And going to the local hardware store sometimes makes the job even more difficult with the large choice of nails available.

I found this simple guide for choosing the best nail for the job at the Readers Digest site.

Hopefully this makes it a little bit easier for you.

iPhone App for the DIY Handyman

Just found this handy iPhone application for all the DIY handymen out there.

The "iHandy Carpenter" turns your iPhone into a Plumb Bob and a Level in one go.

Here is the info from the website:

- THE PLUMB BOB, SURFACE LEVEL AND BUBBLE LEVEL BAR
Calibrate it first before any serious usage!

- USE THE PLUMB BOB TO MEASURE THE VERTILITY OF A WALL
Two ways to test the verticality of a wall:

1. Put your iPhone back-to-back onto the wall you measure (Recommended).

If the shadow of the plumb bob is on X axis (y equals zero), it then indicates your wall is perfectly straight and vertical to the ground. Please note that in this way the reading of "x" does NOT have to be zero.

The back of 3G iPhone is not totally flat. But it's accurate enough just to use the flat part of your 3G iPhone.

2. Put one edge of your iPhone on the wall you measure.

If the shadow of the plumb bob is on Y axis (x equals zero), it then indicates your wall is perfectly straight and vertical to the ground. Please note that in this way the reading of "x" does NOT have to be zero.

- HOW TO MEASURE THE SLOPE OF A SURFACE

A few ways to measure the slope of a surface:

1. Use the Surface Level (Recommended).
Put your iphone onto the inclined surface (The edge of iPhone should be in line with the slope direction of the surface. To verify this, just to check whether the reading of "y" is around zero).

The reading of "x" is the slope angle of the measured surface.

2. Use the bubble level bar
Put one edge or back of your iPhone stick to the inclined surface (The edge of iPhone should be in line with the slope direction of the surface).

The reading is the slope angle of the measured surface.

If the surface is almost vertical to the ground, we suggest that you use the plumb bob tool to measure the surface instead.

Click here to go to the website for more info.

The iHandy Carpenter is available in iTunes App Store.

Chalk Line - Must Have Tool

Here's an article on one of those handyman techniques that I take for granted. It is as simple as stretching out a piece of string covered in chalk, and then giving the string a flick. Now you have a straight line marked out in chalk. The first time people see it they are not sure what is going on, but after that first time, it is easy to perfect.

Here is a link to the Readers Digest site that shows a step by step guide to using a chalk line.