I'm Giving Away a BLACK+DECKER 20V Cordless Drill and Circular Saw!

I spent the weekend at my parents' place, helping them with some budget-friendly home improvements as my Father's Day gift.  I have to laugh because last night, right before I was about the head home, there was a severe thunderstorm warning.  My weather app sent a warning to my phone about the possibility of golf ball sized hail, lightning, 100km/hr winds that could "push a large vehicle off the road" - even the possibility of tornadoes.  Hubby and I agreed that the weather looked too dicey for my hour long drive home, especially because it was getting dark.  I borrowed some pajamas and spent the night in town with my parents.  But first we darted out for some sundaes.  Lightning, shmightning.  Living by Lake Superior, you don't waste a single non-winter day!

Besides, we earned it!  We painted the kitchen walls and trim a beautiful blush pink, plus we prepped the cabinets for painting and got three coats of a gorgeous pale grey on the lower kitchen cabinets.  We still have to paint the uppers but, for a bonus round, we even installed curtain rods my Mom has been wanting to hang up for three years!  We were seriously productive.

BLACK+DECKER sent me their new 20V MAX 1 Speed Cordless Drill and my Dad and I were both anxious to try it out.  Did you know that BLACK+DECKER invented cordless drills in 1961?  I thought that was a neat bit of history!

My Dad was thrilled to try a new tool and eagerly unwrapped the BLACK+DECKER drill immediately.  It's lightweight and compact, so it was really easy to use.  We decided to install the curtain rods pretty close to the ceiling and it was perfect because his old drill wouldn't have fit! 

My Dad loved the BLACK+DECKER 20V Cordless Drill and was SO pumped when I said he could keep it.  

There is a lot to like about this drill, in addition to its compact size.  It's lightweight, which makes it easier to get more done before needing that sundae break!  It's a 20 volt, which has more torque than my Dad's previous drill, a 14.4 volt (which is actually an older BLACK+DECKER model).  You can easily buy a second battery for this drill and charge one while using the other - which is awesome for those DIY projects that drag on forever.  There's a light which shines on the task at hand, which helps illuminate in dim lighting conditions; sounds like a corny thing until you try it - it quickly becomes an indispensable feature!   There's also a two-speed available.  I had to take my photos quickly because my Dad swiftly absconded with this drill, excitedly chatting about how well it fits in a compact toolbox for jobs on the go.

My Mom was just thrilled with how quickly her curtain rods were hung up.  We worked quickly and now all three windows in the second story of my parents small, postwar home wear these beautiful French rods: 

We still have some work to do!  My parents have beautiful woodwork throughout the home that my great-grandfather, who built the house in the 1950s, crafted by hand.  On the main floor it still looks good, but upstairs the window trim has seen better days so my Mom and I are thinking about painting it a creamy white (the walls are freshly painted a light grey).  Then we're sewing softly gathered sheers from this mod fabric:

We're planning to tackle a lot of projects this summer!  I'm hoping for one of those delightfully long summers that stretches on into the fall.  Is that too much to ask for?

If you're keeping busy too, you might want a couple of new tools to add to your toolbox!  I'm giving away a BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Lithium Cordless Drill AND a BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Circular Saw to one lucky Dans le Lakehouse reader!

Entering is easy!  Take a peek at the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Cordless Drill and let me know what project you'd want to tackle with it first!  Leave a comment below - that's it!

UPDATE: CONTEST CLOSED JULY 4th

Congratulations, Amy!!  I'll be sending you an email shortly.

Thanks so much to everyone who entered!  I really wish I had a 100 of these to giveaway, so you could all win.  But I loved reading about all of your summer projects - thanks so much for sharing and entering.  If you've left your email or any personal info, you're welcome to remove your comment.

This post is sponsored by BLACK+DECKER but all content and opinions expressed are my own.

10 Awesome Father's Day Gifts for Handy Dads

I think the mistake we make with handy Dads is that we assume, because they're handy, they already have the tools they need for any job around the house.  But if your Dad is anything like my Dad, many of his tools and gadgets are probably old, maybe a little worn out, maybe a little stolen by his daughter but he can't quite remember which ones, but he probably won't treat himself to something new because his tools "do the job just fine".

For Father's Day, I've seen a lot of hipster Dad gift guides that probably won't appeal to Dads of a certain... "vintage".  So I chatted with Hubby and I made a list of great tools we have and love (that my Dad covets) and ones that look really enticing and perfect for a handy Dad.

WORX SWITCH DRILL AND DRIVER

Poll any handy person around and I bet you, dollars to donuts, that they have an old drill - I know we did!  It's probably a corded model, a little bulky, but it works fine so why spend the money on a new one?  If you're shopping for a Father's Day gift, spend the money for him and get a drill that's cordless and light, perfect for any jobs around the house.  This WORX 2-in-1 switch drill and driver is compact, plus it switches easily between driving and drilling modes.  We have added this to our "stuff for the boat" tool arsenal and I love how lightweight it is!

WORK LIGHTS

Work lights like these are awesome enough to cause major fights in my family, as whoever borrows them (me) tends to resist returning them to their rightful owner (my Dad).  They have been used so many times - they make late night DIY projects so easy and are perfect when you've cut power to an area of the house but need some light.  An extension cord and one of these makes midnight wiring possible - perfect for busy Dads!   

MAGNETIC BRACELET

Magnelex, this clever magnetic bracelet, helps keep track of nails and screws - such a genius idea, and way better than trying to hold a bunch of screws in one's mouth (we're all guilty of that).  I classify this as the type of thing Dad would never buy himself, only to use it all the time once he has it. 

MASTERCRAFT ARTICULATING LADDER

When we were shopping for a sailboat, every boat was on land and had to be accessed by a ladder.  Every older dude who showed us boats rolled up with a sketchy, rickety ladder.  I'm convinced that ladder sales must be slow.  Now that I think about it, I've never actually seen someone purchase a ladder.  And no one I know has a shiny new one, they're all the dicey kind that make my palms sweat.

This articulating ladder is worth every penny - we splurged and bought ourselves the exact model because Hubby and I are both afraid of heights (although one of us has been sky diving and so that someone has to clean the gutters because you can't pretend to be scared of ladders and then jump from a plane).  It's been handy for accessing the roof, reaching the smoke detector on our 13 foot ceiling, and so many others tasks that make my heart skip a beat.  It's so sturdy and really versatile, transforming into eight different positions, like a stairway scaffold - genius!

FIBER FIX

Looking for something funny to gift with a larger present?  Coax Dad to trade in the duct tape for Fiber Fix, a handy little product that can mend anything from shovels to hockey sticks and eek out a little more life out of whatever 100 year old shovel or fishing rod he won't let go of.

I was sent a sample of this stuff and it's so handy to keep around for making emergency repairs - with a more permanent hold than duct tape.  It's a one time use product, so go ahead and toss a few packages in your cart.  

DIGITAL MULTIMETER

Is Dad doing some electrical work?  My Dad is super thrilled that he was able to successfully repair my parents' washing machine after watching a ton of YouTube videos.  This digital multimeter is one we own and it's something we use a lot so I highly recommend it if your handy Dad doesn't have one!

BOSSE TOOLS ERGONOMIC SHOVELS

I actually have the Bosse Tools round point shovel.  We've been doing some "landscaping" - I use the word generously - around the property and Hubs and I sprint to the garage to get our hands on this first.  It was awesome for shoveling 1400 pounds of dolomite out of the back of the truck.  Oy.

It's really easy on the back when you're digging a lot - it improves your posture and the center handle rotates and locks in place for comfort.  Dads with aching old joints and backs will surely appreciate this!

RATCHET STRAPS

This is more a public service announcement than gift idea.  Because I log a lot of hours at Home Improvement stores, I have seen some seriously sketchy practices for getting lumber, plywood and other building supplies home.  The other day we saw a pick up truck with some kind of rolled up rug hanging four feet out the back of a truck, tail gate down, with no straps or anything, and it was bouncing around, threatening to impale the cars behind.  The driver was a left lane bandit, doing 30km/hr in a 60 zone, trying not to lose the carpet.  It was so irresponsible! 

People laugh at us because it normally takes us about 20 minutes (sometimes half an hour) and eight ratchet straps before we're ready to drive off with our precious cargo, but properly securing larger items is SO important - things flying out of a pick up truck or an SUV with the tail gate open can seriously injure or even kill other drivers.  But if your Dad is like my Dad, he might rely on a handful of aging bungee cords and hope for securing larger purchases because ratchet straps are too expensive.  Buy these ratchet straps for him.  Please.  

THERMAL CAMERA

Some of my gift ideas for handy Dads veer toward the practical - and affordable! - but if you're looking to splash out on an expensive and deliciously FUN tool, this FLIR TG165 Spot Thermal Camera (with image storage) could definitely fit the bill!  Just over $300, yes, but it could save Dad tons of money because you can use this handy gadget to find heat loss in a home, track roof conditions, spot electrical issues, etc - home inspectors love these.

Hubby is positively drooling for one of these.

LINCOLN ELECTRIC ARC WELDER

I'm kind of proud of the fact that the welder we own is actually mine.  We joke that my "Hope Chest" came fully stocked with dishware, a car, a welder.  All I'm missing is a goat and some chickens.  We were recently doing some welding - building an awesome new fire pit - and we chatting about some bigger welding projects we'd love to do.  Hubby has his eye on this Lincoln Electric Arc Welder for some heavy duty projects my welder can't handle.
 
These are just come suggestions based on tools/handy gadgets we have - and love - or things we think a Handy Dad would appreciate.  My best advice?  Poke around Dad's garage and check out his tool situation.  Treat him to a better, fancier version of what he's been using for years - or the thing you borrowed and never returned.  He might fight you on it ("oh I don't need it"), but he'll thank you for it later.

Feel free to chime in with your own suggestions in the comments!  Please note that for some, not all, of the products I recommended I was able to use affiliate links so I might make a small commission.  I never allow affiliate linking to drive the products I promote in any way.

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How to Drill a Hole in Ceramic Tile

Hubby and I recently conquered a major DIY phobia: drilling holes in tile.  In the townhouse bathroom we skipped it altogether by purchasing a tension shower curtain rod and suction-fit soap dish for our freshly tile tub surround.  With the lakehouse bath reno, we asked the tilers to drill the holes for the handheld shower bar and wriggled out of that task.  We were two for two!  You can imagine our dismay when we opened the box for our new toilet, only to realize that it required drilling THREE holes into our brand new tile floor.

Womp womp woooomp.  (Also, why?)

Spoiler alert: we did it, without cracking or damaging the tile!  Here's what we used + instructions for how to safely drill into ceramic tile, plus a couple of tips we learned the hard way (is there another way?)

Supplies:

• Drill with variable-speed trigger (comfy grip is a bonus!)
• Eye protection
• Spray bottle filled with cool water
• Old towel
• Brand new glass and tile carbide-tipped drill bit (3/16" to get our hole started)*
• Brand new glass and tile carbide-tipped drill bit (3/8" the size we ultimately needed)
• Painter's tape 
• Knee pads (optional)

*Purchase a brand new drill bit because the sharpness will reduce the risk of chipping or cracking the tile.  Because these bits are drilling into such a hard material, they do wear out quickly.  Ours was purchased from The Home Depot and was labelled clearly for ceramic tile.  Porcelain tile requires a different bit - ideally a diamond-tipped bit.  Again, at the hardware store these bits should be labelled clearly so you can find the right one for the job.

Step One:
If you're drilling into a wall, you'll want to protect the surface below - just in case you drop a drill bit (or the drill, thanks to a serious hand cramp).  We drilled into our floor tile, but we still put down an old towel to kneel on (knee pads would have been awesome) and kept another towel nearby to wipe up water and gunk.

Step Two:
We marked where we needed the holes and then applied a piece of painter's tape, marking again (measure twice!) where the holes should go on the tape.

Step Three (Optional):
We didn't do this but wish we had: apply a tiny bit of grease to your drill tip before using, because the water will cause some rust spots to form.  You need a brand new drill bit for drilling tile, so it's likely we won't use this much anyway.

Step Four:
We filled a spray bottle from the buck store with cool water and sprayed the end of the bit with a couple blasts of water.

Step Five:
Applying constant pressure and using a low speed (we did about 400rpm, you can even start at 100 or 200 rpm), we started drilling with the smaller carbide-tipped bit.  The tape helped keep the drill from skipping - and protected the floor in case it did.  With the hole started, we removed the tape and kept drilling.

You might be wondering why we did this miserable job twice?  Drilling a pilot hole helps guide the bigger bit.  The bigger bit on its own would probably run away more easily - you can see in the photo above its tip isn't as sharp.  Drilling a pilot hole also reduces the amount of work the larger bit has to do, which reduces heat and stress in the bit.  Ultimately, we wanted to avoid the bit breaking and applied the same practice from metal and wood working to our tile drilling job: start with a smaller bit to create a pilot hole.

Step Six:
This was a two person job: Hubby drilled and I continually sprayed the tip of the drill bit/hole (not the drill).  The water helps remove some of the dust and debris as well as keep the tile and bit cool, which prevents the bit from overheating and breaking.  Every now and then we'd pause, and I'd wipe up the water and mortar that oozed out, and then give it a fresh blast of water before we started drilling again.

Steps Seven (to a Million):
Drill, drill, drill.  Drilling into ceramic tile requires persistence because you have to work very slowly, being careful not to apply too much pressure on the drill.  We really had to clear our schedules for drilling these holes because the low speed meant this task took a long time, with a few breaks in between.  On one break, we quite literally watched an episode of 2 Broke Girls, on another, we made dinner.  I'm certain we were too cautious, because when the tilers drilled the holes they certainly didn't fanny about with them for an entire weekend (on the other hand, they probably had a better, more expensive drill bit).  Hubby says this really created some major pain in his hands from holding the drill for so long - just a head's up!

Step Eight:
More drilling!  When we were through with the smaller bit and had successfully drilled a hole, we switched to the larger bit and repeated the process to actually make the hole size we needed to install the toilet.

And, voila, a hole in our brand new tile floor (weep).  Please take some time to marvel at it, because a lot of energy went into making this one hole:

Rockwell Tools generously offered to send us a tool to get projects done around the lakehouse faster, and although I wanted a mini table saw, Hubby was pumped for this cordless drill and driver (our other drill is corded).

It was a good choice because we gave our new drill a spin during this project and there were some great features that helped make the task easier, like a comfier rubber grip (major plus) and a light, which helped us a lot because we were working in a dark corner of the bathroom. 

The shorter length made it easier to use in cramped quarters and the two-speed drive was just what we needed for drilling tile.  The handle is closer to the axis (the line of the drill bit), which makes it easier to put even, linear pressure on the drill when drilling - ie. downward pressure.  For future projects, like driving screws into drywall, the adjustable clutch is a plus (and something our corded drill didn't have), because an adjustable clutch stops the drill from over-driving screws.  The battery level indicator is nice so we don't run out of juice, mid-task. 

I'm so excited because the stone counter tops and aqua sinks are getting installed today!

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