October 2016 | Page 2 of 5

28 Oct 2016

Battery Terminal Quick Connect Review

Gear Review: Battery Terminal Quick Connect — Buy at Amazon

I bought these Battery Terminal Quick Connect from Amazon because I had a problem. Both my truck and my tractor have some short in them that causes my batteries to drain after a week or so of sitting. This causes me to either have to switch batteries a lot, or disconnect the batteries when I am done with them.

Having to continually disconnect the battery caused wear on the cheap terminals I had on the truck, and it was a pain on the tractor. I looked up solutions and found these $9.00 MOTOPOWER MP69011 Battery Quick Release Connectors Quick Disconnect Battery Terminals.

They were pretty easy to install and the Battery Terminal Quick Connect work by causing a clamping action on the terminals when the clamps are pressed down.

To remove, lift up on the clamp and the pressure will be removed from the terminals.

This set of terminal clamps work on most side and top mount batteries according to the instructions. I found they worked perfectly on a closed cell optima deep cell battery.

This does make life much easier, as it is now a no tool proposition to remove and replace the battery on my tractor. I still need a wrench to remove the battery from my truck, because of the battery hold down, but disconnecting it is pretty simple.

27 Oct 2016

How to Make a Nightstick: Perfect First Lathe Project

I bought a cheap craftsman wood lathe from craigslist. It was cheap because it had problems. The tube the tailstock and tool stand rode on was torqued out of place placing the tailstock 45% off center. It was rusty, and did not have a belt.

An afternoon of work brought it back functional and while I still need to build a stand and tweak it a little I am happy with my purchase.

I was looking for an easy first lathe project so I decided to make a nightstick

So far, the only thing I can do is turn nightstick shaped objects. My goal is to turn wood bowls, but right now all of my disposable income (and some that is not disposable) are building AR-15‘s in the event of another attempt at gun control that only makes guns more expensive.

My lather skills are non-existent, but my boy likes playing with the objects I have made.

27 Oct 2016

Basic Construction Techniques for Houses and Small Buildings Simply Explained

Basic Construction Techniques for Houses and Small Buildings Simply Explained is a great manual for the new builder. I like it because it easily explains how to build things in simple language.

It has helped me tremendously in my desire to build my own homestead. By following traditional building methods my outbuildings go up easier, faster, are stronger, and work better.

A I work on the land, I continually have the need to build things. Since I am not a builder by trade, sometimes I need some advice on how to do what I want.

Basic Construction Techniques for Houses and Small Buildings Simply Explained is that adviser.

26 Oct 2016

Raccoon Trapping Tips

Raccoons are common all over the United States. Although they have an adorable face and are fun to watch at times, they will cause havoc in your shed or attic and knock your garbage can on its side. They’ll even steal your bird seed and dog food, and because of rabies can pose a safety risk to your family and pets. If thieving trash pandas are giving you a hard time, you’ll be glad to know one of the best ways to get rid of them is through trapping. Here are some tips to help you through it.

Choose the Right Trap

Many people get upset when they fail at raccoon trapping, but don’t realize the problem is that the cage they choose was too small or not designed to catch the little bandits. To give yourself a fighting chance, you need a sturdy, metal cage that is big enough to hold a raccoon. The most common metal cage used for trapping is at least 32” long and 12” x 10” wide and tall.

Place Trap Strategically

If you want to catch a raccoon in a trap, you have to place the cage in a strategic location. The crafty nocturnal creatures are very clever, which means you have to be too, if you want to trap them.

To do this, you’ll need to put a trap in an area that you know raccoons are visiting. However, you can’t just drop a cage and think you’re going to get a mammal in it. Instead, you have to place the trap in an area without making it look suspicious. For best results, place the cage in a frequently populated area, but place it a few feet away from where you’ve actually seen the raccoons. Usually just a few feet off the beaten path should do the trick.

It’s worth mentioning you shouldn’t put the cage near anything you don’t want a raccoon to destroy. You also need to make sure the cage is in a shaded area, so it won’t be roasting in the sun.

Prepare the Area Around the Cage

After you’ve decided where you’re going to put the raccoon trap, it’s time to prepare the area around the cage. Remember earlier when we said you can’t just drop a trap in the woods and hope for the best. Well this has to do with the intelligence of raccoons. So after you’ve chosen the right location, you have to spend a few minutes preparing the area so it looks as it should and nothing sticks out.

When everything looks good move the cage to the side and dig a hole for the trap’s pan. Add a lure to the hole if you want to increase your chances of snagging a ‘coon. If you’re going to use a lure, there aren’t enough good things to be said about skunk essence. It works like a charm. If you don’t use a skunk lure think about adding white bread, sardines, or marshmallows. Raccoons love marshmallows.

After you’ve dug the hole and used a lure if you want, it’s time to set the cage back in place. Don’t cover the hole completely with dirt, or you’ll risk decreasing the effects of the lure. But do make sure to toss dirt all around the cage and use any brush nearby to cover the cage. Usually, it’s necessary to cover the back, top, and both sides of the cage with brush

Make sure you’re happy with the way the cage looks before you leave. Make any adjustments needed and then mark the area, so you don’t have to remember exactly where you left the cage. One good way to mark a trap is to tie tape around a tree or branch about 3’ feet away from the cage. Make sure to tie the tape off about 6’ high, so it’s at eye level when you’re walking towards it.

Conclusion

While raccoon trapping can be difficult, it is a great alternative to using weapons to kill the animals if they are being a nuisance or pose a health risk. But, if you do choose to trap raccoons, you must be aware of trapping laws in your state. Make sure you have a furtaker’s license, if needed, and check the traps every 24 hours.

Because trapping raccoons and other small animals takes patience and persistence, you might need to adjust your techniques to catch the mammal. Good Luck and Be Safe.

20 Oct 2016

Installing a USB Wall Outlet

With all the micro USB items that need charging at my house, my wife and I are always fighting over power cords. To solve this problem I found a neat outlet that contains two 115v outlets with 2 USB outlets.

It installed easily and looks great. More importantly, the outlet is behind my chair so I have dibs on the cords….

Seriously though, this is a great USB wall outlet and when I get around to building our house and a workshop, I will install many of these for the convenience.

This USB Wall Outlet was easy to install, but I needed to buy a new outlet cover.

Now that it is installed, I want to buy more, as this makes things a lot easier. I put this one by the sofa so I can charge my phones in the evening and still have them available.

I need one in the bedroom, and another by the computer. Additionally I think I need a couple in the conex box at the land.

These devices are not expensive, the one shown in the picture costs about $16.00. They are easy to install by any DIY’er. Best of all it impressed my wife as she thought it was amazing.

Monthly Archives: October 2016