DeWALT is recalling about 13,000 table saws because the pivot bracket can separate and cause kick back, posing a severe laceration hazard. The table saws were sold nationwide from April 2007 through January 2008 for approximately $500. The recall affects 10-inch DeWALT table saws with model number DW744 with date codes 200715 through 200740. The model number and date code are located on the name plate on the front of the saw. Saws stamped with an "X" on the name plate are not included in the recall. Consumers should stop using the saw and contact DeWALT at 888-742-9178 to obtain a free replacement table saw.
Although it is not a web site you would normally turn to for home improvement tips, Shape.com has a great article about creating a healthy home office. Here are the tips summarized:
Soothing colors - Use muted tones instead of bright colors and don't use white.
Ergonomic workstation
Fully adjustable seating
A footrest
Hands-free headset
Heavy duty paper shredder
Natural elments - Put in potted plants and fresh flowers
A calming foundation - Meaning, one of those tabletop water fountains
Proper lighting - The computer screen should be brighter than the overhead light.
One planner/calendar Read detailed explantions of each point at Shape.com. Also, you may want to check out some relevant home office articles on our site: Creating "Creating Your Home Office Plan" as well as one showing you how to make your home office more energy-efficient called "The Green Office."
I had heard of 'green roofs'—roofs that are designed to grow vegetation—on homes, but I had never before seen them on doghouses. Sustainable Pet Design's custom-built doghouses have green roofs which provide insulation, filter runoff water and dust while looking and smelling great. The doghouses are built to order to properly fit your dog and include the buyer's choice of style, color and plant type. Construction is done by hand using non-toxic materials. Sustainable Pet's online ordering system is being updated but interested parties are encouraged to contact the company directly.
Onward Manufacturing Co. is recalling about 4,800 Broil King gas grills because the bottom of the cook box that contains the burners can melt or crack as a result of a grease fire. The gas grills were sold nationwide from February 2006 through April 2008 for between $450 and $700. This recall includes the Signet, Sovereign and Sovereign XL series gas grills and involves model numbers starting with 986. Consumers should stop using the grill immediately and contact Onward Manufacturing at 1-866-7455 for a free repair kit.
Living in the Northeast, I can tell you from experience that shoveling snow is one of the most arduous tasks you will ever have to complete. Now, a company called I-Shovel is looking to automate this chore with a Jetson-style robot. Its patent-pending technology allows the robot to detect snow accumulation and determine the perimeter of the area to be shoveled. Once it determines the area has received enough snow, the bot goes to work. While only in the prototype stage, it looks promising from the video. The makers believe it will be affordable and hope to get a production model out later this year, hopefully just in time for next winter.
Way back in 2006 I wrote about an enterprising Australian converting his old television into a working aquarium. Now there's a web page documenting how to tackle this project. Amazing what the Internet makes possible. Considering there are two televisions for every citizen in America, there are a lot of potential aquariums out there, which can potentially save a lot of space in our nation's landfills. This is a great example of reuse and recycling, so have at it do-it-yourselfers!
Every organization is calling May their own. No sooner had I finished writing an entry about May being National Home Improvement Month, now I have another group calling it Safe Digging Month. Call 811 is the national phone number homeowners and contractors should call before beginning their digging projects. Digging safe is a serious business; it is estimated a utility line is unintentionally hit every minute in the U.S. These unintentional hits often result in injury, service outages, repairs and big penalty fines. Utility lines are typically buried only a few inches underground, so even shallow digging projects may be affected. No matter what the size of your digging project, be sure to call 811 before you start. Calling the 811 phone number from anywhere in the country routes your call to your local One Call Center. From there, operators ask the location of your digging job and forward your call to the appropriate utility companies. The utility companies can then send a professional locater to your site to mark lines. Hitting a utility line is something you never want to experience, so be sure to call 811 before starting any digging project.
