I’ve been using the Makita LXT211Lithium-Ion 2 peice combo kit with a 2 speed 1/2″ hammer driver-drill and a variable speed impact driver for a few months now and thought I’d take a minute to give you my impressions.  The previous cordless drill I was using was the Rigid 18volt hammer driver-drill, I had been using this drill for the past 3-4 years and it has always treated me well but it began to show it’s age when the new crop of lightweight, lithium-Ion powered drills came to market about 6 months ago.  You can click the links to get the full pecs on the drills from the manufactures websites but read on for my impressions.

There are three main things about the Makita drills that I really like, Weight, Power, & Battery run time.

Compared to my old drill I would estimate the Makita hammer drill to be about half the weight, this may only equal a pound or two but when you use them all day you’ll really start to appreciate the difference, most of which I think comes from the improved battery, when comparing to other lithium-Ion drills on the market I would say these are roughly 10% lighter/more compact.  the weight is a big help but so is the compact size, you really can squeeze them in places you never would have been able to with older drills.

Next is the power, before I bought this drill set I used one that our framer had on a job-site where we were building a deck, when I first picked it up I thought it was a kids toy, it was so small and light it didn’t feel like it could handle a full day of work, boy was I wrong! Hands down this drill set easily outperformed my old drills, it was almost comical how much more torque was behind these things.  The impact driver delivers 3x the torque of the drill and is even more compact, very handy when your installing long lag bolts or screws.  I haven’t had much time to play with other brands of lithium-Ion drills on the market but i would expect similar results.

Finally the batteries have always been the biggest drawback to cordless tools, with limited run times, long charge times, and overheating issues.  I can safely say that the Lithium-Ion battery packs are a vast improvement, in my real world use I’ve found them to last atleast twice as long at about half the weight.  the charge time for my set is 30 minutes which hasn’t improved drastically over my old ones that took about 40 minutes but after a full discharge with my old set I would have to wait 15-30 minutes to let the batteries cool down before they would even take a charge, I have yet to experience that with my new set.

There are some draw backs though, even though the cost is coming down you can still expect to pay a 30-50% premium for the new drills, and I would have like to see more in the box, like additional drill bits or screw drivers, also my kit included 2 drills and 2 batteries but only a single battery charger, having a dual charger would have been great.  After a few months of use I would highly recommend this or any other Makita set for a fellow contractor or even as a Christmas present for a do-it-yourself-er.  If you have any additional questions or experiences with other drills please leave a comment below.

Most of us have seen them on car doors, safes, and offices. Now there beginning to show up in residential homes; I’m talking about keypad entry systems. You have the option to use your key, or the option to enter a code to unlock your front door.

There are a lot of advantages for these units; for instance, you always have the opportunity to change the code at anytime if you believe the code has been compromised, you never have to worry about losing your keys, you never have to leave a key under the rug for company, and some of the newer models let you customize multiple codes for multiple users. Say for instance that your housekeeper recently moved on to another job, you can now simply delete her code without effecting your families codes, you no longer have to continuously update everyone with the new code.

Another feature that some of the newer models have is the ability to send you a text message whenever the lock has been used. You can now monitor who and when people are accessing your home. Say some relatives call you and say surprise, we’re at your front door, well now you can remotely let them in (or make sure they stay out if your house is a mess).

The prices on these units are pretty reasonable. Looking at Home Depots website they’re selling between $99 – $148. For more of the high tech remote control units I recommend looking at Schlage’s website, they offer a vast selection with great features and appealing designs.

If you or someone you know already uses keypad entry, please let us know your opinons about them in our comments section.

Winter is upon us and for those who have not winterized your home we have compiled 5 tips to help you stay safe, warm, and save this winter season.

1. Seal it up: Check the outside windows and doors to ensure that there isn’t cold air entering the home. If air is coming through caulk the windows and use weather stripping to seal the doors. And switch out all summer screens with its glass replacement.

2.Inspect the furnace: Have your ducts cleaned and your furnace inspected by a HVAC professional. Change your furnace filter once a month this will prevent your furnace from over-working and over-heating. If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, open the valves slightly and bleed them until water appears this will ensure the proper flow of water through the system. When the time is right you may want to consider switching to geothermal heating/air to save on your energy bill in the winter and summer. Also make sure there is a carbon-monoxide detector near your furnace and that it is operational.

3. Check the lid: Inspect the roof to ensure the shingles are in good condition. Consider adding extra insulation in the attic to prevent warm air from escaping through the roof and causing ice dams. Clean out your gutters and downspouts. Installing leaf guards will minimize debris in your gutters and prevent them from clogging. Check flashing to make sure water can’t enter your home.

4. Protect the pipes: Drain all garden hose and insulate all exposed piping. If you leave for vacation, keep the house temperature at 55 degrees to prevent your pipes from freezing. Make sure you know where your water main shut off valve is in case there is an emergency.

5. Keep the pest at bay: To make sure your home stays rodent free, rake all edible vegetation away from the foundation. Seal up all entry points and any cracks in the foundation. Inspect all sill plates for possible infestation.

We would like to keep a dialogue going with our clients and subscribers so if you have any specific questions about wintering your home respond to this blog with your questions. And remember the only dumb questions are the ones that aren’t asked.

JWC has plenty of plans in the works over the next couple months. Look for improved photo gallerys, more in depth project portfolio, more project wrap-ups, a redesigned homepage, more frequent blogs, informative videos included in blogs and the website, product reviews, and much much more.