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Monday October 13, 2008

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Construction Home Improvement News and Articles

10/10/2008

Q&A: Should I buy a lithium-ion-powered cordless drill?
I’m considering finally replacing my trusty corded drill with a new cordless model. Does it pay to spend more for a lithium-ion tool? We’ve seen more makers of cordless drills and cordless tool kits abandoning nickel-cadmium batteries for lithium-ion, or Li-Ion, cells, which promise lighter weight and/or longer run times. How you plan on using the tool would play a critical role in that decision. If you’re an infrequent, light-duty user, it probably wouldn’t make sense to pay a premium for a Li-Ion-powered drill. If you use the tool frequently for heavy-duty tasks, it might make sense to buy a Li-Ion drill. But our latest tests, in the November 2008 issue of Consumer Reports, reveal that you might need to follow different charging and use patterns with Li-Ion batteries; otherwise they might not last as long as you’d expect. What’s more, Li-Ion replacement batteries are more expensive than the nickel-cadmium ones and can cost more than $100 apiece. Read our new review of cordless tools to drill down to the details on lithium-ion tools, use our buying advice to find the right model, and use our tips for better drilling. Essential information: Watch our exclusive videos on cordless tools, including pieces on how we test drills (right), basic shopping advice, and a tool kit with a problematic saw.

10/08/2008

Pest Patrol: How to control moles in your yard
Moles, common in backyards throughout most of the United States, are a frequently cited problem in our Pest Patrol forum. The two most common mole varieties—star-nosed and eastern—measure about 7 inches long from nose to tail. They have broad, outward-facing pads on their front feet, small and narrow hind feet, and tiny pinholes for eyes; their ears are not visible. Moles are voracious, high-metabolism feeders who use their large front paws to tunnel through the ground searching for ants, earthworms, and grubs; some species consume more than their weight in food daily. "They are pretty well adapted to life underground," says Craig Riekena, a compliance manager for Bell Laboratories, which makes the mole poison Talpirid. "Their fur lies and flexes against their skin in a way that lets them tunnel as if they're swimming." You'll know you have a mole problem if you spot visible trenches and dug-up soil in your lawn and garden. Look for the raised ridges that characterize mole feeding burrows, along with molehills, which look like miniature volcanoes with plugged holes in the center. These are often located close to the deep permanent burrows where moles nest and reproduce. Some molehills can be substantial enough to damage mower blades and housings. Flower beds are also at risk. "Since grubs gather around the roots of shrubs and flowers, moles scrape that dirt away and remove the plant's foundation and depriving the flowers of nourishment," says Stephanie VanSyckle, a spokeswoman for mole-trap manufacturer Victor. Whether you take action against moles will depend on the extent of the damage they cause and your personal threshold for how it looks. Consumers Union Senior Scientist Michael Hansen notes that the ridges and molehills are mainly an aesthetic problem; you can tamp down the ridges and water them to repair damage. Hansen points out that moles' preferred foods include several soil pests, especially grubs, so getting rid of moles could exacerbate other problems. To prevent moles from burrowing under or climbing into specific sections of your garden, experts recommend burying metal mesh hardware cloth 2 feet vertically below ground with another 6 inches showing above ground. Moles tend to tunnel closer to the surface in spring when soil is moist and go deeper in the summer. "Since moles have trouble burrowing through dense soil, arranging stones or dense claylike soil around a garden to a depth of 2 feet can also help," says Hansen. Another natural defense—using a castor-oil mixture—has been touted by a poster in the Pest Patrol forum who says he hit on the idea after hearing that moles sometimes avoid fields where castor beans are planted. There's more than a bean of truth to that idea—a series of studies by three Michigan State University researchers revealed that one castor-oil-based spray repellent did keep moles at bay for periods ranging from 30 to 60 days. Peter Sawchuk, a program leader in our Technical Department, reports good results using Spectracide's Mole Stop and Bonide's Mole & Gopher Repellent. "Both of these have worked well for me," Sawchuk says, "but keep in mind that you'll be driving the moles into the adjoining property, which might not endear you to your neighbor." Other posters are recommending cats as another natural way to control moles.

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