The Home Improvement Thread

[CowboyTaco]

I've read that the smaller tillers aren't real great. You need something with some weight behind it. Otherwise, they will not do real well in anything with roots and will jump up on you.

We have this guy:
Troy-Bilt Colt 24 in. 208 cc OHV Engine Front-Tine Forward-Rotating Gas Tiller with Adjustable Tilling Width-Colt FT - The Home Depot

The trade-off is that it can be a PITA to maneuver.

 

[Oswego]

On my drive home today I thought about it and I'm just going to continue hand tilling for now. Spent way too much $$ the past few months at the expense of my savings. Would be much quicker and easier to have a power tool do the work for me but if Ive made it 40 years w/o one I can go a few more.

This is also a hobby type deal - nothing I "need" or that will help me sell or rent the house. I wanted a small one for portability, but if I do buy the kind of land I want it would be useless and Ill need a bigger one like you have.

 

[Oswego]

going to take a 2-3 more nights after work or a solid day on a weekend.

 

[Taco Loco]

going to take a 2-3 more nights after work or a solid day on a weekend.

View attachment 17931

looks like a free gym membership to me!

 

[Taco Loco]

On my drive home today I thought about it and I'm just going to continue hand tilling for now. Spent way too much $$ the past few months at the expense of my savings. Would be much quicker and easier to have a power tool do the work for me but if Ive made it 40 years w/o one I can go a few more.

This is also a hobby type deal - nothing I "need" or that will help me sell or rent the house. I wanted a small one for portability, but if I do buy the kind of land I want it would be useless and Ill need a bigger one like you have.

Yeah that ahole @Taco Loco would probably say, don’t buy it and put the funds into the land your saving for,

 

[Oswego]

Don't feel like playing in the rain so I drew a basic plan up. It will help me plant them quicker + find out what grows best/worst in the future. Planting in groups of 5 to an area.

 

[Oswego]

Gave up on hand turning it all and switched to just pulling all the weeds, grass, moss, and roots. Once they are all out Ill rent a tiller and mix/aerate the dirt up good. I can rent one for $40 for a day locally and knock out the tilling quickly.

Dang "spot" weld cracked on my high end Chinese hand cultivator tonight so I had to stop early. Tell you one thing - my hand shakes going to be much stronger after pulling so many roots up. I'm amazed at the root systems some of the weeds and grass I have grow. Heck even the moss has what seems to be a root system. Oh and I cut out 20+ trees and a ton of bushes when I bought the house so I'm also running into a ton of old dead roots.

Haven't found any landmines, but did find a few seas shells, a shoe lace, and one marble.

 

[Taco Loco]

I hate these bastards, mounds from last night.

Took me 3 times setting traps to get this bastard.

Dirt Nap!

My Scotts seed spreader is about 20yrs old, it stopped working and I thought the plastic gear on the axle finally went, I was about to roll it out with trash when I realized it just lost the pin near the spinner plate. I cut a small piece of bailing wire and curled the ends, slid the spinner plate down then added some epoxy and it’s back up and running again.

Changed out the air filters, that were a few weeks overdue.

 

[Taco Loco]

The easy way to pull out dead shrub.

Going to have shovel out all the rock, wash it, add new weed barrier and decide on a replacement shrub that can tolerate S. Tx heat, of coarse this has been the hottest year since we moved here in 5yrs. August temps was almost 4* higher than normal and everyday so far in September has been above average with a few days breaking the record, and only 3/4in of rain in 3 months.

Shovel the rocks back in, they are drought resistant

And then pour concrete on top of it.

Exactly

and I thought I was lazy.

DONE.

 

[Anathollo]

DONE.
View attachment 18079

View attachment 18078

Love it!

 

[CowboyTaco]

I found a pic of @Taco Loco on Google...

 

[tx_shooter]

LMAO the most believable thing I have seen on here in a long time.

 

[Oswego]

I hate these bastards, mounds from last night.

View attachment 18072

Took me 3 times setting traps to get this bastard.
View attachment 18070

Dirt Nap!
View attachment 18071

My Scotts seed spreader is about 20yrs old, it stopped working and I thought the plastic gear on the axle finally went, I was about to roll it out with trash when I realized it just lost the pin near the spinner plate. I cut a small piece of bailing wire and curled the ends, slid the spinner plate down then added some epoxy and it’s back up and running again.
View attachment 18068

View attachment 18069

Changed out the air filters, that were a few weeks overdue.
View attachment 18074

Perfect timing - I was just looking up DIY squirrel traps last night. I caught one eating nutz in the engine bay of the Tacoma and lost my sh*t Saturday. Now the paintball gun is fully loaded and stays right next to the back door.

 

[Taco Loco]

I found a pic of @Taco Loco on Google...

I cannot confirm or deny this statement.

 

[balakay]

Perfect timing - I was just looking up DIY squirrel traps last night. I caught one eating nutz in the engine bay of the Tacoma and lost my sh*t Saturday. Now the paintball gun is fully loaded and stays right next to the back door.

My lab killed a squirrel this morning. She got extra treats. Fuck those little tree rats.

 

[Oswego]

Not sure if I ever showed a pic of it but they started eating my battery terminals. Between the tree rats, chipmunks, and mice - I need to step up my game.

Finally figured out after 15 years that the mice entering my house must have been using my HVAC penetrations and or my chimney to gain access to the house because ever since I took the chimney down last Nov. and used hydrolic cement on the other openings I haven't had a mouse in the house.

I need a dog. Or a bunch of rat snakes

 

[Anathollo]

Not sure if I ever showed a pic of it but they started eating my battery terminals. Between the tree rats, chipmunks, and mice - I need to step up my game.

Finally figured out after 15 years that the mice entering my house must have been using my HVAC penetrations and or my chimney to gain access to the house because ever since I took the chimney down last Nov. and used hydrolic cement on the other openings I haven't had a mouse in the house.

I need a dog. Or a bunch of rat snakes

I need to pick up one of these.

 

[Oswego]

Very interesting. Wonder why they don't sell the A18 in the US or Canada? Only have the smaller version of the A24 on their website for North America. Humane & Automatic Traps | Goodnature USA

I really like the fact it resets and the dead just fall to the floor.

 

[Taco Loco]

I need to pick up one of these.

Very interesting. Wonder why they don't sell the A18 in the US or Canada? Only have the smaller version of the A24 on their website for North America. Humane & Automatic Traps | Goodnature USA

I really like the fact it resets and the dead just fall to the floor.

this kinda takes away the fun of fishing from the breakfast table, but I do see the potential in this product to setting hooks while I’m gone.

 

[Taco Loco]

Just buy it on eBay from overseas then, ok!