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Choosing the Best Garden Hose Reel

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Landscape and garden care usually requires a hose or two for general watering through the growing season. Unfortunately, it seems like there is no real good way to keep your hose laying about as it often gets underfoot, can cause you to trip, and generally become a nuisance when you have to mow the lawn. Trying to wrap it by hand is also usually problematic and still leaves it laying in the ground- which truly isn’t the best for its care either. Luckily you can purchase a hose reel that will not only help keep your garden hoses up and out of the way but also up off the ground for easy access and clean up.

Garden Reel Benefits

If you have spent time researching those options in our guide to the best garden hoses, then you definitely want to keep them stored properly. There are many benefits to investing in a garden hose reel, and not only because they are easier to store. Truly, one of the top reasons people choose a reel is safety. As mentioned above, they can cause you to trip, and since many hoses are of natural color, they blend well into grass and walkways. Many times the outside is also slippery.

A high-quality hose can cost a decent amount of money but are often worth the added expense because they last longer. They also do not knot or kink as easily as long as they are not forced into an unnatural position. A reel helps keep your hose wound correctly, plus many have a covering to help protect from drying UV rays- making your investment last even longer.

Many leaks in hoses occur at the water source as hoses are unnaturally bent and pulled. Many reels include a water connection to keep your ends from becoming loose and creating water leakage- which can become wasteful in both resources and cost over time.

Tips for Choosing a Reel

You’ll want to consider a few points before making a final decision on your hose reel purchase. The following provides a brief buyers guide to get you started:

What is the length of your hose?

Hose reels are sold by the size of hose they can effectively handle. This is probably one of your most serious considerations to ensure the reel you want is one that can properly store your hose. Most reels are well labeled, and if you are unsure of your hose length you can simply measure it for an approximate length as most hoses are in multiples of 10-foot lengths.

Do you need a mounted or portable reel?

If you have room for a mounted reel they can be quite handy and well up out of the way. You can mount them above your water source, to a side, or even along a fence. But if you have a smaller area to work within a portable choice may be a better solution, especially since most include a short connection to your water source, making it even more convenient to use.

How much effort can you apply to wind up your hose?

Some reels are simple and require you to loop your hose around it, others have a handle you turn to wind your hose up, or you can choose a self-retracting one. This is especially nice if you have a small work area near your water source, or you simply do not have the physical capabilities to be repeating winding and bending motions.

Is full hose protection important to you?

There are a few basic reel designs you can choose from, but they will either be open or enclosed. Open styles are usually those you self roll or have a handle to use to roll it up. Enclosed styles either have a handle or are self-retracting. If you live in sunny, dry areas it doesn’t take long for your hose to start to show the wear of this as small cracks form over time. Eventually, this will cause leaks. Protecting your hose can help keep it lasting longer.

Consider Accessories

Hose reel accessories are generally very simple in nature and involve ways to mount your reel or lock your reel into place if portable. Longer hose connections to your water source, as well as ways to turn the water on and off at the reel, rather than the source, can also come in handy.

Conclusion

A hose reel is an excellent addition to your landscaping tool arsenal. It can help keep your hose lasting longer, but more importantly, keeps it up out of the way for both aesthetic and safety reasons. Make sure to consider your hose needs, such as length, as well as placement of the reel when making your decisions. Personal preferences to design and physical access and also abilities are needs you may have and are easy to accommodate.

10 Best Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener

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Lawnmowers do fantastic job keeping your lawn neat and nicely trimmed. Having the best lawn mower blade sharpener will aid in you having a nice looking lawn. The blade makes the task of lawn mowing easier, fun, and it leaves clean cuts on the grass; the grass thus recovers quickly.

A dull blade will rip over the grass blades and leave a ragged look. This weakens the grass plants and exposes them to fungal growth and other diseases.  Sharpening your lawn mower blades is not a complex task; even a novice can do it remarkably well.

The trickier task is that of finding the right lawn mower blade sharpener. In this post, we’ll be shedding light on the best sharpening blades in the market today, and also how to sharpen your lawn mower like a pro.

Our #1 Recommendation: Best Overall


All American Sharpener 5000 for Mulching and Standard Mower Blades with M8x1.25 Pin Thread

The All American Sharpener 5000 is a portable and cordless sharpener. It holds each blade securely and is ideal for sharpening standard or mulching blades. You have the option of holding it in a vice or mounting it on a bench. You’ll also like its unique design that includes an attachable arm; this helps hold the grinder safely and securely so you can sharpen in different angles. Once you’ve set up the sharpener, you can sharpen multiple blades in a matter of seconds. So flexible is the grinder that you can even attach it on a truck or trailer.

Pros

  • Easy to use and set up.
  • Can be used for various blade sizes
  • Durable; made of aluminum and steel.

Cons

  • Durable; made of aluminum and steel.Not compatible with hot water

Our #2 Recommendation


AccuSharp 006C GardenSharp Tool Sharpener

The Garden sharp tool is all-around useful. It sharpens single-etched blades on lawn mowers, shears, scythes, and more. To this end, it has a diamond-honed tungsten carbide blade that does not need any oil to work. An interesting feature of this blade sharpener is that you can wash it in a dishwasher. Plus, the full-length finger guard protects your hand from cuts. The garden sharp tool sharpener is designed to sharpen all those single edged, hard to sharpen items in your tool shed, such as lawnmower blades, pruning shears (secateurs), limb loppers, hoes, shovels, scythes.

All can be sharpened to a razor edge quickly and easily with garden sharp. The full-length finger guard protects fingers while the reversible diamond-honed tungsten carbide blade puts your cutting edge in “good as new” condition. GardenSharp will not rust and can be cleaned with soap and water or washed in a dishwasher.

Pros

  • Uses a diamond-honed tungsten carbide blade
  • A simple option for a very reasonable price.
  • Made in the USA

Cons

  • You cannot exert much pressure to sharpen ASblade is very small and the rest is plastic which can separate a bit.
  • Needs better placement of the screws or more of them, or stiffer plastic.

More Great Buys


American Lawn Mower Company SK-1 Sharpening Kit

The American Lawn Mower Company SK-1 Sharpening Kit maintains reel blades in top cutting form. With the do it yourself kit provided, you can sharpen your mower blades at home without the need of any external help.

The sharpening kit contains everything you would need to make sharpening mower blades safe and effective; this cuts down on mowing time. This product works great and helps you save much time: you simply remove one wheel – pull off the gear and slide out the pawl and lay them on the table the way they came off. Remove the other wheel and do the same. Place the pawl and gear from the opposite side and reinstall the wheel. Do the same for the other side. This makes the reel turn in reverse when pushing which is what it needs to do when the compound is on to sharpen it. You will also get an application brush, a grinding compound, a back-lapping crank as well as a detailed user guide.

If you need to upgrade from 1705-16 or 1815-18 Push Mowers, Scott’s Reel Mowers, Great States or the American lawnmower, then the American Lawn Mower Company SK-1 Sharpening kit is the tool you need.

Pros

  • The kit contains all the components necessary.
  • It comes at a modest price
  • It is the best sharpening kit for push mowers.

Cons

  • It is not suitable for all mowers.Expensive

Yellow Hornet Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener


With the Yellow Hornet Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener, you will not need to look for someone to sharpen your mower blades as it allows you to sharpen them on your own professionally. The design is simple, with strong, durable materials that ensure it serves you longer.

With this sharpener, experiencing difficulties while sharpening edge angles will be a thing of the past as it can be set up to angles of up to 30 degrees. The grit flap disk makes a huge difference as it ensures you get a perfectly sharpened blade every time. It has no vibration whatsoever and always gives the correct angle.

Pros

  • The construction is durable.
  • Top quality material has been used to develop the device.
  • Sharpening edge angles can be adjusted up to 30 degrees.
  • Built in the USA.

Cons

  • It is not capable of sharpening Honda lawn mower blades.
  • Quality deteriorates over time

MAG-9000 Professional Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener


The Mag 9000 is a commercially dedicated lawn mower blade sharpener for use by professional landscapers. It can sharpen conventional lawn mower blades to consistent 30-degree angles. It can also sharpen both right and left-handed lawn mower blades. The Mag 9000 is a low-cost solution to rotary lawn mower blade sharpening. It provides a 60 second per blade sharpening performance in a small package.

Since it was released, it has been embraced by many lawn care professionals. The Mag 9000 sharpener wheels will not burn the blade. It is able to sharpen both right and left-handed blades easily with the single direction motor with ¾ HP and 3450 RPM. Safety tools and guards necessary for the use of the sharpener are also incorporated.

Pros

  • Made in the US.
  • Can sharpen a blade in 60 seconds or less.
  • Built with quality to last long.

Cons

  • High Price

Corona AC8300 Sharpening Tool


The Corona AC8300 sharpening tool is a 5-inch super carbide file that is suitable for sharpening all kinds of blades for tools in the lawn, garden, landscape agriculture or construction. The solid carbide used in its design is a top quality durable material which guarantees extended lasting use.

It has a perfect functionality while remaining comfortable to hold. It is easy to use as it incorporates non slip rubber grip that is useful in preventing slipping and ensuring you remain safe while sharpening. Taking time to practice the angling of the edge of the tool is recommended. This will prevent ineffective strokes.

It is perfect for those seeking portability as it comes in a small and convenient size that can be easily fitted in a tool bag or pocket.

Pros

  • It is suitable for all kinds of blades.
  • It is lightweight and pocket sized.
  • Has a comfortable non-slip grip.

Cons

  • May take a lot of time sharpening a lawn mower blade.

SHARPAL 103N All-in-1


The SHARPAL 103N All-in-1is a very versatile tool sharpener that can be used for pruners, knives, lawnmower blades, shears, scissors as well as axes and machetes. It includes three sharpening slots preset at optimal sharpening angles, a carbide bar and a ceramic bar for restoring and honing all kinds of blade edges.

This sharpener is also developed with a high-quality premium abrasive material. It has been tested on blades 10,000 times without any breaks on the material. The SHARPAL also boasts of a built-in lanyard hole. It also comes with an oversized handle to enable it to be used with gloves for the safety of the user while sharpening. A large safety hand guard is also featured in the SHARPAL 103N All-in-1; the guard it measures 1-3/8 inches in width for the protection of hands from blades. Versatility and safety make this sharpening tool suitable for use at home.

Pros

  • Versatility.
  • Fits on the hand.
  • Features a safety hand guard.

Cons

  • Features a safety hand guard.

 MAG-8000 Universal Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener        


It is the first sharpener in the market to enable users to dial in cutting edge angles starting at 25 to 45 degrees in 5-degree increments. The Mag 8000 design also incorporates various worktable blade rests to allow sharpening of different types of blades.The Mag 8000 boasts of being the first to enable the sharpening of both conventional (straight or flat) and mulching (cutting edges that are curved) lawn mower blades.

The Mag 8000 can also easily sharpen both right and left-handed blades with its single direction motor. It incorporates a full one HP continuous duty motor that can withstand lengthy tasks with little to no mechanical strains. The Mag 8000 is also capable of sharpening lawn mower blades in 60 seconds to two minutes, or less.

The Mag 8000 is suitable for sharpening both curved edge mulching blades as well as conventional flat lawn mower blades and is appropriate for service dealers, large lawn care professionals, and landscapers. When using Walker brand mowers, you get to enjoy the open free view when sharpening blades.

Pros

  • Sharpens both mulched and conventional blades.
  • Has a dial-in angle adjustment.
  • All tools and safety guards required are included

Cons

  • High cost.
  • Leaks after prolonged use

  Oregon 88-023 Professional 1/2 HP Lawnmower Blade Grinder

The Oregon 88-023 Professional 1/2 HP Lawnmower Blade Grinder is a powerful device that is useful for sharpening lawn mower blades. You can adjust the height easily with rotary knobs and adjustable handles. Safety is guaranteed with the Blade Grinder as it comes with an on and off switch as well as a reversing switch which allows sharpening left and right-hand cut blades.

You can also connect it to a grit collector that is sold separately; this ensures that the mess created is contained and kept out of the working area. The Oregon 88-023 features a sealed ½ HP motor, as well as a switch allowing you to grind blades in both directions and an 8 inch red stone that is hardened.

Pros

  • Contains a reverse motor that is powerful.
  • It is suitable for right handed and left handed blades
  • It is equipped with an adjustable light.

Cons

  • Quite costly

Oregon 88-025 Blade Grinder Economy, 1/3 HP

The Oregon 88-025 Blade Grinder Economy was developed to encourage users to sharpen their lawn mower blades instead of purchasing new ones. To use the tool, you do not need any special sharpening skills, and even a newbie can set it up easily. It has a lot of power. The Oregon 88-025 costs less than half as much as other sharpeners with similar power.

The Oregon 88-025 features a single direction, 1/3 HP standard duty 1750 RPM motor that is non-reversing to enable sharpening of cutting edges of any length. While many others are limited to 6 inches, it offers the ability to sharpen any blade length. Additionally, it utilizes an 8″ Oregon 88-048 or 88-047 grinding stone.

This is an economy grinder for anyone on a tight budget who still wants a sharpener that will get the job done fast and efficiently.

Pros

  • The construction is durable.
  • It incorporates a safety switch.
  • Offers easy adjustment of height.
  • Comes equipped with a powerful motor.

Cons

  • The 1/3 HP motor gets very hot (too hot to touch) under steady use, and this may shorten the lifespan of this unit over time.
  • It does not include a lighting feature.

Buying Guide

You may forget about the specs and brand names, but always have these tips in mind when buying a garden hose

A few things need to be considered before buying a lawnmower blade sharpener. You want a sharpener that will serve you well, one that’s durable, and basically, one that gives you value for money.

Here’s what you should always consider before buying a lawn mower sharpening;

  1. Sharpening speed

You need to pay attention to the working speed of the blade sharpener;  the ideal speed of the grinder should be related to the edge you are sharpening. Excessive speed is not always the best as it can cause damage to the blade or overheating.

  1. Material quality
  • You also need to ensure the lawn mower sharpener is made of high quality materials as low-quality ones will quickly become unusable.
  • It is therefore better to pay more for quality than less for mediocre products.
  1. Safety
  • The lawn mower sharpener also needs to be safe to use as the friction occurring during sharpening can be dangerous and result in injury.
  • A single safety mistake in the choice you make can result in regrettable consequences and costs.
  1. Usage simplicity
  • You need to ensure the lawn blade sharpener is perfect for you in terms of choosing between the options for right-handers, lefts handers or universal.
  • It is recommended you choose the best sharpener for your dominant hand to ensure your safety and comfort.

Wrap up

From the review, it is clear that the best lawn mower blade sharpener for home use is the all American sharpener 5000 for Mulching and Standard Mower Blades with M8x1.25 Pin Thread. It is easy to use, it is even possible to place the mounting brackets on trailers or trucks for portable sharpening.

It is also cost effective and takes the guesswork out of sharpening land mower blades, Even inexperienced sharpeners can be sure of an even and consistent grind every time.

The MAG-8000 Universal Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener is suitable for those in the professional lawn mowing industry as well as landscapers. It incorporates various worktable blade rests to enable sharpening of different types of blades as well as dial-in angle adjustment.

It also incorporates a powerful one HP continuous duty motor that can withstand abuse from employees with little to no mechanical feeling and it can sharpen both conventional and mulched lawn mower blades.

Enjoy your shopping, feel free to share your experiences with the above lawn mower sharpeners.

How to Choose the Best Pool Covers in 2019 – Beginner’s Guide

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For pool owners, pool covers are an essential accessory to have. Pool covers aid in keep out dirt, debris or algae; they are also a safety measures for children.

Pool covers also help to keep your pool safe if you have travelled and are away from home. They are also important during stormy weathers that could result in trees falling or roofs coming apart.

Always ensure that your pool cover is the right size for you pool to avoid it coming apart when you are not around.

 Choosing the best pool cover

In order to choose the best pool cover for you, let’s look at the options available;

#1.Mesh safety covers

  • Mesh safety covers are fairly light, making them the most manageable of the covers. They are able to prevent leaves and debris from falling into your pool when it rains. However, it won’t prevent rain water from passing through.
  • It also helps to keep the sun’s rays, which aid in the growth and spread of algae; a mesh cover is your best option when the pool is not in use.
  • The only major con of mesh covers is that they often trap dirt, leaves, snow, and other debris which makes make them heavy and cave in. Thus, it’s important to clean and brush the cover often. If you’re away from your pool for long moments, instruct someone to brush the debris for you.

#2. Automatic pool covers

  • These pool covers are very easy to use and don’t even require more than one person to put it together, with just a touch of a button the pool is safely closed and protected.
  • The major con of these covers is that they’re very costly, making them the most expensive of all the covers. They’re also only designed for square and rectangular pools; too bad if you have an oval or round pool structure.

#3. Pool safety nets

  • This safety net is different from other types of covers and usually anchored on the sides of the pool.
  • The main aim of this cover is to keep children away from the pool and to prevent accidents or drowning.
  • The disadvantage however is that it might not be able to completely keep away algae or tree branches from falling in the pool.

#4. Solar pool covers

  • This is the least expensive way to cover your pool. It’s one of the most ‘old school’ type of pool cover and its benefits include trapping heat in the pool. It also keeps away leaves, debris and algae from falling in the pool.
  • The main con of the solar pool cover is that it’s not safe and had had a track record of causing a lot of accidents and drowning of children.

With this information, you can now pick your preferred pool cover based on your budget and personal preferences. And of course, your safety and that or those around the pool must be considered; opt for a cover that can keep off little children from falling over.

All the best!

 

Gutter Cleaning- Step by Step Guide For Homeowners

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Gutter cleaning is essential for every home owner to clean the gutters in their home every once in a while. This being a dangerous task, most people hire a professional company to do the task but with the right safety procedures, it’s very possible to do it yourself. You should use a gutter cleaning tool that keeps you from having to climb a ladder and even using your hands to grab the dirt and grime. Gutters should be cleaned at least twice in a year and at best four times in a year.

In order to decide on whether to do the cleaning yourself or seek professional help check on the status of your gutter. If is damaged, for example; loose nails and screws, has bends and breakage or gaps in the walls. then I would strongly advise to get professionals to clean.

Professionals will do the job better and faster, saving you money that you would spend on frequent repairs and buying of the equipment’s needed.

If you do however, decide to do it yourself, then there are important steps to for you to follow.

Gutter cleaning essentials.

Gutter cleaning essentials.

One of the main essentials of gutter cleaning is to have the right gear. The right gear will aid you to work easier and faster without being self-conscious about getting an accident;

  • Protective Eyeware–This will help protect your eyes from any thing that might fall on you
  • Protective mask—For your nose and mouth to protect your from any discomfort that may occur due to the smell from the gutter
  • Gloves—This will protect your hands from any cuts from sharp metals and also enable you to grab dirt and filth with no fear of infections. Or use a tool that you do not have to grab the product in the gutter.
  • A Safe Ladder – Using a ladder designed to carry your weight and sets securely against the house is essential. Or you could use a tool that is designed to reach the gutter without a ladder.
  • Old Work Clothes—This helps to protect your body thus it’s recommended to wear long sleeved shirts and pants.
  • Tight Fitting Clothes—loose clothes can get caught by nails and other objects and cause serious accidents
  • Sunscreen—you may have to be on the roof or outside for a long period of time thus it’s important to protect yourself from the sun. This will save you another trip to the clinic after you’re done.
  • Gutter Cleaning Tool – There are many tools designed to make this job easier without getting on a ladder or hiring a professional. Go to this site for 8 of the Best Gutter Cleaning Tools. https://www.2kreviews.com/best-gutter-cleaning-tools

Once you have all these things it’s time to begin cleaning.

Steps to gutter cleaning

Steps to gutter cleaning

A Gutter Cleaning Tool

  • Ensure you have a scoop to help you collect all the dirt, junk and debris rather than using your hands to do it. This is especially so if there is a flood of water which will make it impossible to see what you are collecting.
  • Most people go up to the roof with a tarp in order to put the garbage collected in. Well, as much as using a tarp is very essential, going up to the roof with it is one of the major causes of accidents.
  • Leave the tarp at the bottom of your ladder and drop the junk in it from the roof.
  • Once you’re done, flush out the gutter with your hose. This is because the remaining residue is small enough to be flushed out. Flush it out till only clean water is visible.
  • Then to finish it off, clean the gutter completely! You might want to put 50% bleach in a spayer to clean any mildew off the outside of the gutter.  https://www.2kreviews.com/best-gutter-cleaning-tools/

Beginners Guide For Laser Tag Guns – How to Use and Play

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A laser tag gun has sensors that come from a LED device or a laser. The laser emits beams of light. The beam of light targets a vest which usually has a mounted detector. When the gun is shot and the laser hits the vest it produces the ‘tag’ or ‘hit.’

These guns are used to play games for people of all age groups and for many different events. You can introduce the game to your colleagues in corporate events, to your friends, at a party, or a family event together with children and adults.

The laser tag game is the same as playing paintball but it is safer to play and nobody can get hurt; plus it is less messy. While playing paintball or air soft there is a lot of cleaning up to do; but a laser tag uses beams, making it cleaner and definitely the better option.

How a laser tag gun works

  • Due to the fact that it uses beams and sensor detectors laser guns can be used both indoors and outdoors. This makes it fun to use while you are playing with a huge crowd and you can even add different challenges like blocks and hideouts to make it more exciting.
  • The beams are visible during the day even when the sun is out, very ideal to use at your own convenience.
  • It’s important know how to wear the sunband and how to loosen and tighten it to fit you properly. The sunband alerts the players that they have hit someone by lighting up
  • Because shooting the gun is the fun part of the game, the players have to master the different sounds the gun makes to detect different things throughout the game
  • The gun makes a different sound when a player is hit and when a player hits another person. Mastering the two sounds will enable the game to be fair and also enable your team to win.
  • The gun also makes another sound when it needs to be reloaded it’s very essential to know that sound too in order to reload fast in the midst of a high stake game
  • The gun also makes a different sound when a player is eliminated from the game

How to use a laser tag gun

In order for the laser tag gun to work well and for the game to also flow well and be at its maximum fun it has to be used well.

The general rules of using a later tag gun are;

  • To not go beyond the maximum sensor and beam range
  • Not to prevent the sensors from working efficiently with your hand
  • Ensure that your sunband is not tightened beneath any form or clothing
  • Be careful not to constantly drop the gun or throw it in the air to avoid it from getting spoiled

Games for laser tag gun

There are different types of games that can be played using a laser tag gun, such as;

  • Free for all
  • Immortal arena
  • Team elimination
  • Immortal arena teams

Now gather your friends and family and enjoy a game or two of laser tag!