Author: Matthew McDisa

Matthew has an exemplary eye for details in products. His passion for exploring new things helps him uncover and discover product features that are totally unique. When he is not busy exploring a new product or putting it through tough tests, he enjoys playing Ultimate Frisbee and fishing. Matthew manages the Electronics & Automotive categories.

Categories
Arts, Crafts & Sewing DIY

7 Tips to Choose the Best Multi-Tool for Outdoors and Survival

Preparedness is one of the key elements in the outdoors. The wilderness is definitely a tough nut to crack. You’ll never know what’s lurking behind those humongous trees, ready to lurch at you anytime. Okay, I’m not here to throw cold water on your next outdoor adventure; I’m simply here to remind you that for your next outdoor trip, don’t forget to bring a – multi-tool.

A multi-tool and a Swiss Army knife both assist every outdoorsman out there. Yet, both have been interchangeably used by outdoor neophytes. The most striking difference between the two is the way the tools are arranged. A multi-tool is arranged in a way that the other tools are sticking out from the main tool – a pair of pliers. On the contrary, a Swiss Army knife is flat with all the other tools sticking out from the sides of a plastic casing which encapsulates the entire device. And speaking of plastic, you won’t find a single plastic component in a multi-tool which makes it a sturdier tool as an outdoor companion.

Of course, picking the best one doesn’t mean grabbing the first multi-tool you see at the hardware aisle because it looks as hard as nails. Don’t waste your time and money buying a substandard tool because it’ll most likely wimp out when you need it the most. So, consider these 7 tips in choosing the best multi-tools for outdoors and survival.

Tip #1: Portability

There are a handful of multi-tools which differ on how it’s set up to be carried. One is a keychain multi-tool which is relatively smaller than the rest. A pocket multi-tool which is self-explanatory and slightly bigger. The belt multi-tool for those wanting some extra robustness from the set of tools while showing it off by strapping it on their trousers. Last but not the least is the one-piece multi-tool which looks flat and slim and can be clipped on your keys, bag, or just about anything else.

Tip #2: Blade or Bladeless?

Some smart outdoor enthusiasts choose multi-tools which don’t include a blade for travel and security check reasons. For instance, most of these tools aren’t allowed on planes. So you’ll have to leave your multi-tool at home when going on out-of-the-country adventures. But if you frequent outdoor trips in your city or country, having a multi-tool which comes with a knife will absolutely come in handy.

Tip #3: Quality

This should be the first thing that pops up in your mind when choosing the best multi-tools; if it isn’t, I really don’t know if you’re going on an outdoor adventure or just fixing your bike. Choose a titanium handle because corrosion can kill the life out of your tool. You may also opt for a 420 stainless steel for the set of tools as steel is more durable.

Tip #4: Set of Tools

Sure, you want to have all the tools integrated into your multi-tool but did you ask yourself if you really need those for every camping or hiking adventure? If you don’t mind carrying a piece of equipment that weighs more than 10 pounds then be my guest, get the heaviest tool in the market. But you’re probably going to end up just using 20 percent of the tools, so don’t get ahead of yourself when you’re shopping for the best multi-tools. Who knows, a pair of pliers and a can opener for that cold bottle of beer might be all you need.

Tip #5: Safety

It’s an axiomatic fact that safety should be a major concern when buying the best multi-tool. Although you want the best out of your tool, when it comes to safety; all you need are three critical factors. One is to be able to utilize the tool using one hand. Next is to be able to use the tool while other parts are also accessible. Last is a safety lock and that’s about it for safety.

Tip #6: Design

They say when you’re buying a product, the first glance on aesthetics will allure you in scrutinizing the product further. But when you touch the product and the touch almost instantly feels right; that’s when you know you’ve got the right one. Choose a design that suits you and most importantly, choose a design that is a good fit when you’re holding the tool in your hand. Trust me, it’ll make a huge difference.

Tip #7: Warranty

Choosing a multi-tool with an excellent warranty means you can be confident for as long as the tool’s lifespan that the manufacturer is ready to assist you for any problems you might have in the future. Although these multi-tools are extremely sturdy and reliable, save for the cheap ones, a good 25-year warranty still gives you an affirmation that you got the best value for your money.

If you know the outdoor industry inside out, it should be easy for you to choose the right multi-tools out there. And while this might only serve as a guide for those who might not be the sharpest tool in the shed (pun intended); choosing the best multi-tool is still a matter of preference and lifestyle.

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Guest Post

Five places to visit in Budapest

Have you ever been to Budapest? Budapest is the capital of Hungary and commonly known as the “Paris of the Middle East”. Although, humans are living here from stone age time so the city is well famous for its old culture. This beautiful capital has two sides Buda and Pest along the bank of the river Danube which represents the two different characters of the city. The Buda and its historic castle offer medieval streets and houses, museums and caves. While on the other hand, Pest boasts the largest parliament building in Europe, riverside promenades, flea markets, bookstores, antique stores, and café houses. Book your tickets via expedia and get amazing discounts by using expedia coupons. Here are top 5 amazing places to visit in Budapest which makes your trip rememberable.

  1. Buda Castle hill:-

Buda Castle was the first royal Castle build in the hills of Buda around the time of 13th century. After the marriage of King Matthias Corvinus and Beatrix of Naples in 1476 in this Castle, the Budapest becomes an important European city. During world war 2, the Buda Castle was badly damaged to ground by bombs which were further restored again. Today, the Buda Castle is recognized as the World Heritage Site and has many must-see attractions, Gothic arches, eighteenth-century Baroque houses, and cobblestone streets. Though Castle has changed so much now since building began in the 13th century. But, there are some houses date back to the 14th and 15th century which gives the idea about how the Castle was looked like back then.

In front of the castle overlooking the Danube stands a bronze equestrian statue of Prince Eugene of Savoy, a hero of Turkish attacks on the city. Buda Castle Hill is also home to a large interconnected cellar system that consists of natural caves created by thermal waters and man-made passageways. The earliest traces of human life found here are 500,000 years old. You can reach the castle on the restored historic Castle Funicular Railway, which departs from the Buda end of the Chain Bridge.

Things to do and see on Buda Castle-

Your best option is to walk along the cobblestone streets and discover Castle Hill at your own pace. If you don’t have much time, visit Trinity Square, Matthias Church, and Fishermen’s Bastion. Various events are held at Castle Hill year-round.

  1. Parliament building:-

The Parliament building (also called as Parliament building of Hungarian) is more than 100 Years old and fits to be a perfect example of Non-Gothic architecture. The construction of this Parliament building was begun in 1885 and the building was inaugurated on the 1000th anniversary of Hungary i.e. in 1896 but the construction was not finished till yet and it completed in 1902. The most amazing thing about the Budapest parliament building is that it is the third largest parliament building in the world. The building has 691 rooms, 20km long stairs and 315 feet height which is almost same as the height of St. Stephen Basilica.

A highlight of a walk around Budapest’s lovely pedestrian-friendly cobbled streets is the area around the country’s architecturally pleasing Parliament building, and its neighbors, the Museum of Ethnography and the Ministry of Agriculture. The parliament’s legislature is the unicameral National Assembly, which has 386 representatives, elected for a four-year term. The election system is said to be one of the most complicated in Europe. Half of the representatives are elected in single-seat constituencies, half of them on party lists.

Things to do and see in Budapest parliament building-

Guided tours are available when the national assembly is not there and the tour almost takes 45 minutes to complete. The Hungarian Crown Jewels were lost and stolen numerous times. After World War II, they were transported to Western Europe and eventually given to the American Army for safekeeping from the Soviet Union. Best views of the Parliament are from the Danube (take a Danube cruise) or from across the river, especially from Batthyány Square, which is only one stop by subway from Kossuth square on the M2 line.

  1. The Hungarian National Museum:-

The Hungarian National Museum (Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum) is the oldest public museum in Hungary. The museum’s present building was built between 1837 and 1847, and it stands as a great example of Neo-Classicist architecture. The Museum houses the nation’s most important collection of historical relics in an impressive neoclassical building. The museum was founded in 1802 when Count Ferenc Széchényi donated his personal collection of more than 20,000 prints, maps, manuscripts, coins and archaeological finds to the state. The permanent exhibition includes furniture, textiles, weapons, metalwork, and ceramics. One of the most valuable items is the Coronation Mantle.

The garden, surrounding the National Museum, is a beautiful green spot in the center of the city. There are a few statues along with some beautiful townhouses, built by the aristocracy in the 19th century, overlooking the garden. The museum Exhibits trace the history of the Carpathian Basin from earliest times to the end of the Avar period, and the ongoing story of the Magyar people from the conquest of the basin to the end of communism. Other highlights include Celtic gold and silver jewelry, a huge 2nd-century Roman mosaic and memorabilia from socialist times.

Things to do and see in the National Museum-

The place is best to see the nation’s most important collection of historical relics. Also, don’t miss King Stephen’s crimson silk coronation mantle and the Broadwood piano, used by both Beethoven and Liszt.

  1. Fisherman’s Bastion:-

The bastion is located right behind the Matthias Church in the Castle District. It’s one of the most popular points in the city for tourists, with its views over the city and the Danube. The Fisherman’s Bastion was built at the site of an old rampart that, during the Middle Ages, was defended by the guild of fishermen, who lived nearby in Vízívaros at the foot of the hill. In the south courtyard stands a bronze equestrian statue of St. Stephen, the first King of Hungary.

Fisherman's Bastion

The construction of the Fisherman’s Bastion was started in 1899 by the famous architect Frigyes Schulek and the construction was completely finished in 1905. The white-stoned Fisherman’s Bastion is a combination of neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque architecture and consists of turrets, projections, parapets, and climbing stairways. The bastion is made up of seven towers – each one symbolizing one of the seven Magyar tribes that, in 896, settled in the area now known as Hungary.

Things to do and see in Fisherman’s Bastion-

The Fisherman’s Bastion is mainly famous of Margaret Island and you can clearly see landmark buildings such as St Stephen’s Basilica, the Parliament, the Academy of Sciences, Gresham Palace, and, in the distance, the Inner City Parish Church.

  1. Museum of fine arts:-

The Museum of fine arts is the Budapest’s most important and amazing art gallery which was founded in 1896. But, the Museum of fine arts was officially open in 1906. It houses one of the largest collections of works by the Old Masters to be found in Europe. Dedicated to paintings, drawings, and sculptures of European origin, one of the highlights of its permanent exhibit is the horseman sculpture carved by Leonardo da Vinci. The extensive array of Italian, Spanish and Dutch paintings are on display in a spectacular, classically influenced 19th Century building with long rooms for the larger paintings, cabinets for smaller and more intimate items, together with architecturally interesting space such as the Renaissance Hall.

The museum is divided into six excellent departments: Egyptian Art, Ancient Art, the Old Sculpture Gallery, the Old Painter Gallery, the Modern Collection, and the Graphics Collection. The museum also has an extensive collection of 19th and 20th Century paintings and it has the second largest Spanish art collection outside of Spain.

Things to see and do in Museum of fine arts-

There are many ancient sculptures to view. These sculptures include Italian works dating back to the 4th century, as well as French, English, German, and Dutch artworks from the 13th century. Egyptian and ancient art, Medieval drawings and Late Gothic paintings ar

Categories
DIY

Best Woodworking Tools for Home Improvement Project

The living room is considered the nerve center of the house as this is where most people will gather. It’s no wonder every house owner makes sure that their living room will make a substantial impact on their guests. Therefore, it’s a must that you’ll make the time to improve the view of your living room.

Some Useful Tips

  • If you’re planning on doing so, here are some excellent suggestions on how to redecorate without the expensive costs.
  • If you own wood furniture and they have chips and gaps, there’s no need to replace them with new ones. Here’s a list of the best stainable wood fillers to cover the damages.
  • Lighting can make your house look stunning. You might want to consider adding some inside to achieve the home you’ve always dreamed about. Here’s an excellent guide on the types of light that will fit your home (and budget).

If you’re thinking about making significant improvements, you must make sure first that you have the proper woodworking tools to do some DIY renovations on your living room.

  • Hammer

When doing repairs, you’re going to need to do some pounding and pulling on nails and tapping on things to put them in the proper place. All these things will require you to have a quality hammer. An effective one is long and light. It’s also useful when demolition is needed.

  • Putty Knife

A putty knife is effective in removing dry paint and glue, as well as in spreading paste, spackle, and putty. For scraping, it’s recommended that you use a 1.5-inch knife, and a 5- or 6- inch one for spreading.

  • Level

It is used to see if your frame is parallel to the surface of the earth or not. An air bubble is found inside in each of the vials, and when it’s in the center, it’s an indication that your frame is aligned.

  • Saw Blades

A collection of saw blades for reciprocating saws, jig saws, and circular saws will enable you to cut through plywood, lumber, wood, plastic, PVC pipe, steel pipe, steel, and sheet metal duct.

Here’s an excellent guide when choosing saw blades.

  • Tape Measure

With the tape measure’s spring-steel blade wrapped up in a tiny box, it’s convenient and can measure lengths that would need a huge folding rule. The only disadvantage of using this is the small hook attached at the end. It might cause inaccuracy in some cases.

  • Power Drill

Drilling means making holes. A power drill is the best tool when your hands are too tired after turning many screws.

A power drill is like a screwdriver on steroids. You can connect bits to it, to equal the screw you’re currently working on. You can also join drill bits so you can drill holes in wood, walls, etc.

  • Nail Set

One of the essential woodworking tools you need to have is a nail set. It is used to sink nail heads below the wood’s surface, to allow you to stuff the hole with sand and wood putty, so the nail becomes hidden.

  • Utility Knife

You can use the utility knife in many ways. You can use it to scrape hides, cut cordage and hides, score drywall, and even trim the carpet’s edges. Some also use it for other purposes such as cleaning fish and butchering animals.

  • Mitre Saw

A mitre saw has a unique blade that enables you to cut at different angles. You can make cuts for window casings, door frames, picture frames, and even for crown molding.

The blade attaches on the swing arm allowing it to turn left and right to create angled cuts perfectly every time you use it.

  • Cordless Grinder

A cordless grinder is useful for grinding, smoothing, and metal cutting. You will surely need this tool if your project requires concrete and masonry.

  • Flat-head Screwdriver

The flat-head screwdriver is used to loosen or tighten screws. It’s undoubtedly the most used tool, and it’s very likely that every man on the planet owns one.

  • Phillips-head Screwdriver

The Phillips-head screwdriver is also known as the cross-head screwdriver. It’s more convenient to use with industrial and electrical tools.

Conclusion

There you have it. The woodworking tools listed above are among the most important if you’re thinking about remodeling your living room. There are still other tools that you’re going to need, depending on what you’re going to do.

You have to determine first what you wish to do with your living room. Plan carefully. Then, check out the tools and materials that are needed. Good luck and have fun!

Author Bio: Jimmy loves sharing his knowledge on Woodworking and Home Improvement techniques at Air Tool Guy. Follow his blog for more tips and tricks of tools around the house.

Categories
Home & Kitchen

Seven Furniture that increases standard home’s backyard patio

Picnic Bbq Grill Barb Fire Party Barbecue Summer

It is always great to have a back yard open place with your home that is usually called the back yard patio. After the all days hard work in office it feel great to spend the evening time in home’s back yard. Moreover this place is also an ideal place for older retired parson who can enjoy their whole day in that place. Back yard patio is also a nice place for gardening and family gets to gather as well. Some furniture is specially design in such a way that enriches the standard and beauty of this place. Today we’ll talk about some of that furniture that is ideal for your back yard garden or patio.

So lets start…

  1. Patio hanging and swinging chair:

This furniture is a must have for your patio if you love to spent some quality time for yourself. This is actually somehow between a hammock and a chair. This chair is so comfortable that you’ll forget about time when you sit on this special swinging chair.

  1. Patio Grilling Machine :

It is almost impossible to thing about a barbecue party without a grilling machine. If you love to have a family get to gather with a barbecue party in your back yard this this must have for you.

 

Picnic Bbq Grill Barb Fire Party Barbecue Summer
  1. Patio Sofa Set :

If you love to have your morning tea in your back yard or want to chat with your friend and guest longer time while sitting on your patio then patio sofa is another must have furniture for you. But before buy any patio sofa you need to be conscious because there is lots of design and varieties patio sofa is available in the market. You have to choose one that mostly suits your patio. For example if you want lot of people will come to your patio then you should go for the large one that consists of six or eight chairs. But if you want a patio sofa only for your family members use and if you don’t have a very big family then it’s always better to choose the small patio sofa.

  1. Zero Gravity Chair:

Probably one of the most common furniture for outdoor patio is zero gravity chairs. Its hard to have any outdoor patio in North America specially in USA who don’t have any zero gravity chair in here home or back yard. This is not only a patio furniture it’s also have many health benefits. This chair mostly popular because its very good to recover from back pain. Moreover it’s very comfortable and also very portable. You can set this chair at any place on your back yard and enjoy your day while laying on it. Moreover, this chair is easily foldable and very light weight. So you can easily fold this chair and place it in any corner of your back yard. There are different brand zero gravity chair available in the market. But if you want use it you’re your outdoor patio then Timber ridge zero gravity chair could be a wise choice for you. This brand zero gravity chair is now a day become so popular because of their top quality and durability.

  1. Patio Umbrella:

Patio umbrella don’t only protect you and your guest from sun and rain but also increase the standard of your patio a lot. There are different size and color patio umbrella is available in the market. You have to choose one that suit best for your patio and also your budget.

  1. Hammocks :

If you have enough space in your patio and if you love enjoy summer while lying on hammocks then you can go for hammocks. Though people normally choose zero gravity chair or swing chair for their patio but hammocks can be an alternative for those patio furniture. But the problem is when you try to set hammocks for your backyards then there should have some big stand or tree where you can hang your hammocks. There are also different measurements for hanging hammocks so that you get the proper comfortable curve in your hammocks. You also need to hang your hammock in such a way so that it does not touch the ground when you are into your hammock. If you think all those things sound so complicated that forget is. Just buy a portable folding hammock that is specially design for home back yards. You can place those hammocks easily at any place of your home back yard. Moreover, you need not to think about any stand because all the probable hammocks comes with some strong stand that can hold our body weight easily.

  1. Fire Pit:

Fire pit is a handy thing to have in your patio. It’s not only increases your patio standard but also help to makes you hot in the cold weather. But it’s always a wise decision to place the fire pit from a decent distance for any flammable object in your patio. In some state of America there are also some rules and regulation of using fire pit. So before using this useful patio equipment make sure you are not violating any rule of your area.

There is also much furniture that is available in the market that increases the standard of your home back yard. But most of them are expensive. The list of patio furniture we mention above all not only increase the standard and beauty of your backyard but most of them are very handy and useful for your home back yard too. The most important thing is you need not to spend more than one thousand bucks to get all those furniture. Although here we mention some furniture that help to increase the standard of your patio but one thing is undeniable that if you don’t mention your back yard and if you don’t clean the area in regular basis then all of your cost will be in vain. So besides buying that exclusive patio furniture is always important to keep your back yard keep nit and clean.

 

Categories
Electronics

Things To Consider While Choosing The Right Power Backup For Your Home

In today’s day and age, people have come to expect unreliable power. More and more homes are experiencing power outages that are both annoying and disruptive to home life. Investing in a good power backup is gaining popularity.

On the topic of power backup, the first thing that comes to mind is a generator. A generator is a device that converts mechanical energy into electrical power for use in an external circuit. While the common generators in the market are internal combustion engine running on fuel, others like steam turbines, gas turbines, water turbines, and even hand cranks have been known to provide backup power.

These generators come very handy during a snowstorm or a hurricane. Times like these when you would need a reliable power source to keep things going while waiting for power to come back on. But before running to the nearest retailer and purchasing one, or going online and getting one delivered, it’s important to take into consideration several crucial factors that are essential in selecting the best generators for home use.

  • Power Requirement

No two homes are the same, which goes without saying that no two homes have the same power consumption. Generators are not a substitute for the normal power you get from your provider. It can’t run your entire house 100% during a blackout. Knowing the crucial appliances you want running when the power goes out is imperative. Things like lights, heat/AC, and a couple of fans are the usual items we want to keep operational during power outages. Adding a TV also helps to keep up to date with news, while some homes opt to allocate power for charging phones and laptops.

  • Portable vs. Standby

Generators typically come in two types: portable and standby. Portable generators are usually gas-powered that you manually have to start during a power outage. While standby generators are powered by natural gas or propane and start automatically during power outages.

Portable generators are the simplest way of supplying backup power to your home. It is usually advised to run these outside to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. The downside to portable generators is you have to run extension cords around your home to power the appliances you want to keep running. You are also limited to how many things you can plug in at once.

Standby generators automatically turn on when the power goes out. This is an ideal option if you live in a place where power outages are frequent. Best standby generators are powerful enough to run multiple appliances at the same time. One advantage standby generators have over portable ones is it is quieter. You also don’t need to store gasoline for power.

  • Determining the size

Having figured out your home’s power consumption, and the type of generator well suited for your needs next is choosing the size of the generator. They come in all sizes from generators small enough to run a few appliances to generators big enough to run an entire office building. Two factors are important to consider in choosing the size of the generator: running watts and starting watts. Running watts are the continuous watts needed to keep appliances running while starting watts are extra watts needed for two to three seconds to start a motor-driven product like a refrigerator or an air conditioning unit. Selecting the essential appliances you wish to power at the same time, and listing their running and starting watt requirement will help you in determining the proper size generator you’ll need.

  • Run Time

Choose a generator with a long run-time at half-load. The longer the generator can run, the less often you will have to refuel it. A generator with a run-time of at least 10 hours at half-load will allow you to get a full night’s sleep without having to get up to refuel.

  • Outlets

Select a generator with enough outlets to plug in all your essential appliances, including the right type of outlets. If you plan to run a higher wattage item, like a window air conditioner, look for a generator with a 30amp locking-type outlet.

With our power grids becoming more and more unreliable every year, power outages are bound to occur more frequently. If you want to avoid sitting in the dark, sweating profusely, with your usual form of entertainment unavailable and