As the temperature drops in most of the nation during the winter months, it is a good idea to review a few tips to prevent household pipes from freezing. Just a couple of extra steps can save a lot of headache after a night in the deep cold.
Most of the time pipes freeze in homes because they are built into an exterior wall. I have seen many houses designed with a window above the kitchen sink. If this is the case in your home you may want to observe at least three simple steps.

1. Open any under sink cabinets to allow warm air from the kitchen to come into contact with water pipes.
2. Use a space heater to add additional warm air to the area. Please note that if using a space heater you should use one with a blowing fan and place it in an open area away from other items or cabinets. Never place it in the cabinet.
3. Run your tap water from time to time on both hot and cold settings. Two different pipes feed your sink and both need to be kept free from freeze.

Note that if you wake up to running hot water, but not cold, your cold pipe may have frozen. The hot water will continue to run as long as there is a reserve of water left in your hot water tank.
Most pipes freeze during the early morning hours when the temperature tends to be at its lowest. Also, be aware that if you go out of town for a few days, the water will sit stagnate in your pipes and may cause freezing as well. Follow these tips before going to sleep at night and they could possibly prevent a huge problem in the morning.

The week between Christmas and New Year tends to be a little slow at Trade Tool Innovations. We usually take advantage of the time off and pop in and out of town as the weather allows.
This past Christmas day we were up in Boulder Colorado preparing for our Christmas dinner and I (Karen) came up with a tip that Tom acutally shared with me in our early days. I suppose when a man knows how to get all the soup out of a can, then it is definitely time to snag him up! Anyway, really, this tip DOES work! It works with any type of canned good that is packed into the can. Think soup and cranberries… stuff like that.
Since we were taking a break from the shop, I thought this might be a great “tip” to post.
No worries though, we’ll have plenty of sparks, smoke, welding, fabricating, fixing, metal bending and cutting, crazy (and not so crazy) shop projects in the new year!
Thanks to “Solar Dave”, http://www.solardave.com, my brother-in-law for his filming and editing expertise. And all his unpaid website consulting over the years… Krissy, you snagged a good one!
Merry Christmas to all our friends and family!

A popular way to prepare holiday turkeys is to deep fry them.  Tom purchased a deep fry kit from Bass Pro Shop for under $40.  The kit came with a burner, stand, hose and regulator with a 20 minute timer, a large pot and lid and a hanger for the turkey.  It is important to follow all directions that come with any deep fry kit.

It is best to use the fryer kit out of the wind.  Tom set up frying operations inside the shop.  Remember, frying indoors is not recommended, but Tom cleard a wide perimeter around the fryer.  A study shop table was handy to hold all the necessary items including a fire extinguisher, marinades and seasonings.  It is a great idea to fry up some mushrooms, cheese sticks and other battered hours’devous while you have your deep fryer out and ready to go.

Tom decided to cook two smaller turkeys that each weighed about ten pounds.  Smaller turkeys are easeir to monitor during the frying process.  An added bonus is that you can flavor each turkey with different seasonings.  Tom ordered his marinade kit from Bass Pro Shop.  The kit came with four different flavors as well as an injector.

Stainless steel welding wire works great when tying the turkey legs together.  It is extremely important to start out with a clean, well thawed, dry turkey.

When the oil reaches temperature the turkeys can be submerged.  A set of welding gloves helps protect Tom from any hot oil that may splatter.  It is also important to slowly lower the turkey in the carfully measured oil.  Most fryer fires occur when too much oil has been added to the pot.  When the turkey is added, the oil level rises and spills over onto the fire below.  It is also a good idea to be aware of pets who may be hanging around as well.

Frying a turkey can be a great way to share the holidays with family and friends.  Several extra precautions should be observed for a successful fry.

Remember

1.  Start with a clean, dry, well thawed turkey.

2.  Fry out of the wind and away from other objects.

3.  Follow directions on the fry kit.

4.  You might want to fry two smaller turkeys, instead of one large one.

5.  Welding gloves work for oil protection.

6.  Use stainless steel  welding wire to tie legs together.

7.  Be aware of pets and children in the area.

What To Look For In A Gas Grill from Dave Dugdale on Vimeo.

Dave asks Tom what to look for when purchasing a backyard gas grill.  A few years ago, Tom finally invested in a gas grill that wasn’t patched together from parts he had picked up from the town landfill.  He purchased this middle of the road gas grill at a Lowes store.  Dave was over for the weekend and wanted to pick Tom’s brain about his thoughts on purchasing a gas grill.

The first thing Tom mentioned was looking for a gas grill with a side burner.  Side burners come in handy when boiling corn or noodles.  Side burners often keep the heat, mess & cooking outside on a warm summer night.

Before purchasing a gas grill lift the lid.  Cast iron grates are nice because they don’t rust out.

Perhaps one of the most important things to look for when purchasing a gas grill are the burners.  Look for a gas grill with cast iron burners.  Normally, on cheaper models, the burners won’t be cast iron and tend to rust out fairly quickly.

Another thing to consider if you are looking at having a backyard gas grill is connecting your gas grill to a permanant gas source.  Tom ran propane gas out the back of the kitchen to connect to the gas grill on the patio.

Several things are key when exploring this option.  Check local building codes for remodel requirements.  Pipe specifications may vary from area to area.  Tom used black gas pipe.  Special pipe thread sealant is required when running propane as well.  Look for a propane listing on the label.

Make sure your system also includes a shut off valve, rated for propane, near the gas grill.

It is also important to do a gas pressure check after hooking up your new gas grill.  This involves isolating all gas appliance’s and then charging the gas line with compressed air.  Pressure is monitored in the pipe in insure it is holding contents.  Any connection beyond the isolated points should be checked using a leak detector found in any local hardware store.  If you are not comfortable running the test yourself then your propane supplier should also be able to come out and do a shut in test as well.

A good grill should last about ten years or so.  This grill has been in operation on the Gabriel patio for two to five years.  Depending on who you ask.

A pot rack is a great project to build with a ring roller.  This pot rack has the added bonus of a spinning feature. Tom began by rolling two rings using a Shop Outfitters Ring Roller. Both metal rings are made out of 2″ X 1/4″ hot rolled iron strap. The larger ring was rolled at about 30 inches in diameter and the smaller ring was rolled at about 12 inches in diameter. The larger ring serves as the main metal ring for the spinning pot rack. The smaller ring was attached to the larger ring by welding several chain links between the two metal rings.
The rotating assembly was made by attaching bearings (with an inside diameter of 5/8) from a wheel barrow wheel into a piece of pipe. Tom then welded a nut on a 4″ X 5″ X 1/4″ steel plate. Then he took a piece of 5/8 all thread and cut it and welded a nut on the end and then ground it off to look like a bolt. Tom left the all thread about an 1/8″ longer than the two inner bearing races. He could then snug the bolt up against the plate to secure it, so it wouldn’t work loose over time. If the bolt is simply placed in and the bearings crushed, the bearings will get ruined.
Tom supported the large ring off of the rotating pipe assembly by attaching 2″ X 1/4″ steel strap. The inside ring was hung by steel chain. The hooks were from an old pot rack and would be hard to find again. The hooks could be easily duplicated by using a Shop Outfitters Compact Bender. Two small hooks could be bent and then welded together back to back at the top.
The entire pot rack can be painted with flat black paint.
This particular spinning pot rack was mounted to a steel beam. Holes were drilled through the sheet rock and into steel beam. Tom then drilled and tapped the steel beam for 5/16ths bolts and then mounted the rack directly into the steel beam.

The first thing you’ll want to do is take everything out of your refrigerator. Check expiration dates as you remove items. Anything with an expired date should be thrown out.

Next, carefully remove your refrigerator’s shelves and drawers. You may fill the kitchen sink with warm water and a little bit of dish liquid. Wash off shelves and drawers with the warm water using a soft non-scratch cloth.

Dry using a paper towel. Meanwhile, you can wipe out the empty refrigerator using the same soft cloth. For stubborn stains and hard to reach corners you may use an old toothbrush.

When everything is dry, place shelves and drawers back into refrigerator. Try and catogorize your food as you place it back into your clean refrigerator. Salad dressings and condiments on the side shelf, lunch meats and cheeses in the snack drawer.

Lastly, don’t forget a box of baking soda for freshness.

Selections for kitchen flooring include tile, hardwood, laminate, linoleum, and concrete.  Each flooring type can be easily installed and cleaned.

Most new kitchens are open to the rest of the homes living areas. A great kitchen design includes a traditional “triangle”. As one designs a new kitchen, or plans for a remodel, plenty of counter space is a must. Another necessary consideration is cabinet and food storage matters.

The kitchen in our photos demonstrates good use of location and an open feel to the home. The kitchen is located at the far end of a large room that serves as the family’s living room. A change in flooring, like tile or hardwood, establishes a subtle distinction in rooms with out giving up a spacious open floor plan.

Every good kitchen utilizes a simple “triangle” base. Stovetop, refrigerator, and sink should promote a triangular traffic pattern. Most new homes include a wall oven in the kitchen. While not part of the traditional “triangle”, the wall oven should be conveniently located in the kitchen as well.

Counter space is a must in today’s kitchen. Chefs of all ages will appreciate lots of room to work as well as have ingredients readily available. The kitchen is also the gathering spot of many a family function and someone will inevitably end up using the extra counter space as a seat. Counter tops come in many types of material as well. Laminate, marble and concrete are just a few of the materials that counter tops are made of.

Last but not least, storage is key to a good kitchen. Dishes, utensils, small appliances, and food are all items that require a spot in a well designed kitchen. Cabinets can be made out of various kinds of wood. A unique example is the photo of our kitchen. This kitchen was designed using hickory wood. Notice how the silverware drawer is located just above the dishwasher. The pantry and refrigerator are located next to each other for easy grocery storage.

A well designed kitchen makes for a happy home.